Superstar 785
by CristaeEpisode 785 of Superstar from Birth
After finishing his final schedule related to the WTV Awards with a live broadcast alongside the sprouts, Seojun returned to Korea.
And returned to his everyday life as usual,
“Exaaaams!!!”
At the sight of Han Jiho wailing, Seojun nodded with a smile.
Yeah.
It was the same as always—a peaceful, ordinary life.
The end of October.
Midterm exams for the second semester were underway at Hanyeh University and other colleges.
“It’s absurdly free. Why is the exam period two weeks long…!”
“Direct that complaint to the past Han Jiho who signed up for the class.”
Unlike high school, where all exams ended within three days, the ridiculously free schedule of college allowed professors to set exam dates at will. Students could end up taking exams alone while others were off, take more than three exams in a day, or go through over two weeks of exam hell.
Han Jiho belonged to the last group.
From Monday to next week’s Friday. The exam dates for each class were scattered across the two weeks.
“Like I ever expected this to happen…”
Before the food they ordered arrived, Han Jiho clung to the empty table with a groan.
At that, Seojun and the kids burst into laughter.
As always during exam season, Seojun and the kids had gathered to study together. Now it was lunchtime to fill their hungry stomachs.
“For classes where the exams are done, we still have lectures, so I have to attend those and study at the same time. My head feels like it’s going to explode…”
“That’s rough.”
At Seojun’s soulless consolation, the friends giggled.
“How about you guys?”
Jeon Seongmin looked at Kim Jookyung and Yang Joohee, who would be graduating at the end of this semester, and asked. Kim Jookyung replied with a smile.
“I finished all my required credits this semester and completed my graduation credits too, so I think I’ll graduate safely.”
“Well, no way Jookyung or Joohee would get an F.”
At Kang Jaehan’s horrible suggestion, Kim Jookyung and Yang Joohee shuddered.
That would mean they couldn’t graduate.
They’d have to retake the class and stay one more semester.
“That’s absolutely not happening. Do you know how much tuition costs!”
“Right. It’s a waste of time too.”
As if they were twins, Kim Jookyung and Yang Joohee nodded at the same time, making Seojun and the others burst into laughter again. Ahaha—
“Your food is here.”
-Clink.
Then, with the part-time worker bringing their food, the room went quiet.
“Thank you.”
As if they’d never laughed, Seojun and the kids calmly received their dishes and thanked the worker. Once the server left, they looked at each other and burst out laughing again.
“What’s with you guys, why’d everyone go quiet?”
“It was instinct.”
At Park Siyoung’s amused question, Han Jiho replied with a mock-serious face. Seojun and the kids nodded in agreement. Another round of laughter erupted.
A table full of food.
The kids began their lunch.
“But talking about graduation like this… it’s really starting to feel real.”
“Same here.”
At the words of Yang Joohee and Kim Jookyung, Seojun looked around at those seated at the table.
Kim Jookyung, Kang Jaehan, Han Jiho, Yang Joohee. Then Park Siyoung and Jeon Seongmin.
Friends who had gone through Yeoul Middle, Mirinae Arts High, and now Hanyeh University together were sitting before him.
“We all entered together until now, and we always graduated together, but this time we’re graduating separately.”
At Seojun’s words, the kids looked around at one another.
“Hmm. You’re right. It feels weird.”
“It’s kind of amazing, too. I never thought we’d stick together this long.”
At Han Jiho’s words, everyone nodded.
Even friends who once got along well or were incredibly close could fall apart over a small mistake or a tiny misunderstanding, yet Seojun and the kids had kept their friendship strong for nearly ten years.
“Still, I guess Jookyung and Joohee won’t be around for the next exam prep session.”
“Yeah, true.”
Kang Jaehan made a regretful expression as he imagined the empty spot in their regular study room. Seojun and the rest of the friends looked at Kim Jookyung and Yang Joohee with sentimental eyes.
Fans would’ve loved them enough to shake the Earth, but to Seojun and the others, Kim Jookyung and Yang Joohee were faces they’d seen for almost ten years—familiar in every possible way.
“We felt the same when you guys were in the army or on leave.”
“And there were times you couldn’t come because of filming too.”
“Ah.”
Right, that did happen.
The four guys who went to the military and Park Siyoung who had taken a leave of absence made sheepish faces.
“And we still have finals left.”
“…Finals!”
Fiiinaaals!!
Han Jiho exclaimed with a look of utter shock.
“…Don’t tell me finals will also be spread out over two weeks?”
“Oh? Then Jiho will be the last to finish the semester?”
“Should we go on a trip while Jiho’s taking his exams?”
At Seojun’s playful suggestion, the friends nodded seriously.
“Shall we?”
“Where should we go?”
“How about a ski resort? Skating rink sounds good too.”
“You guys…!”
Han Jiho let out a low growl at his friends, who he couldn’t tell were enemies or allies. Seojun and the others burst into laughter again.
“Being a student is the best.”
At the sight of Lee Jiseok smiling warmly while listening to his story, Seojun chuckled.
“You really do sound old now, hyung.”
“Sad but true. When I was still a student….”
As he folded his fingers one by one, Lee Jiseok shook his head.
“Can’t believe I’ve aged this much… It’s scary just to count.”
“Ahahahaha.”
Seojun, who was behind the wheel, laughed loudly. Lee Jiseok soon joined in.
“How did your exams go?”
Having heard through BananaTalk that midterms were over, Lee Jiseok asked, and Seojun nodded.
“Yes. I wrote everything I knew.”
“If you wrote everything you knew, I bet you did well. You’ve always been good at memorizing.”
Lee Jiseok said with a smile from the passenger seat.
“Feels like just yesterday when I first met you. That tiny kid memorized all his lines and even analyzed the script so thoroughly.”
“I wasn’t a baby then. I was six years old.”
Seojun replied with a slight pout. Seeing him like that, Lee Jiseok laughed again.
“Six years old is still a baby.”
Thinking of young Subin, Eunsu, and Harang, that definitely seemed true.
‘You were adorable.’
Looking at Seojun driving and smiling like a doting dad, Lee Jiseok spoke.
“That little kid is already driving now. Time really flies.”
“Ahahahaha.”
Even though they often exchanged messages or phone calls through BananaTalk, Seojun and Lee Jiseok’s conversations showed no sign of ending.
“By the way, Seojun. You’re not planning on getting your own car?”
At Lee Jiseok’s question, Seojun glanced around the car.
He was driving, but this car belonged to Lee Jiseok, not him.
“Hmm. I don’t really need one yet. I take public transport to school, and Taehwoo hyung picks me up when I go to the company. If I go somewhere else, I just use the company car or take the subway.”
Plus, showing up to school in a car would draw attention.
Even if he used his ability, Seojun still had to put in effort to blend in and live a normal student life without standing out.
“Public transport, huh? Seojun, your stealth skills are really something. I wish I could learn that.”
“Ahahahaha.”
Lee Jiseok could also use public transportation, but he had to put up with the occasional commotion.
But for Seojun, who would undoubtedly cause a much bigger scene than him, it was amazing that nothing like that had ever happened—not even once.
With Seojun’s level of fame, even ordinary people—let alone fans—would surely recognize him.
On top of that, he had a face that couldn’t possibly be ignored. Whether it was being cast on the street, receiving phone numbers, or getting cheered at(?), Seojun’s looks would definitely draw people’s eyes.
At Lee Jiseok’s admiration, Seojun just grinned slyly.
That was when it happened.
Screeech—!
A truck on the opposite side of the road tipped slightly while making a turn and ended up spilling its load.
……!!
With loud clatters, plastic crates and the soju bottles inside them came crashing down onto the asphalt, shattering in plain view of Seojun, Lee Jiseok, and passersby.
Roll, roll—
One unbroken soju bottle rolled all the way to the front of Seojun and Jiseok’s car. The crates and bottles had spread so widely that it seemed impossible to drive forward.
Seojun and Jiseok’s eyes widened at the accident that had occurred right before them.
The truck driver stepped out in a panic. Judging by the soaked road, it seemed like these weren’t empty bottles being collected after use, but unopened bottles meant for delivery, making the scene all the more unfortunate.
“Let’s go help him, Jiseok hyung.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Seojun and Jiseok put on the celebrity essentials—masks and caps—and got out of the car.
Even though two people in caps pulled low stepped out of the vehicle, they didn’t particularly stand out.
That was because pedestrians on the sidewalk, store owners and workers nearby, and even drivers from other cars had already come out and were helping sweep the broken glass and crates using brooms or whatever they had.
“Oh, thank you so much.”
“No problem at all.”
The truck driver bowed repeatedly, grateful as he watched the people around him. Though a bit shy, everyone diligently cleaned up the soju bottles and crates as if it were nothing.
“I always wanted to do this—help out and then casually walk away like it’s no big deal.”
“Me too!”
With their lips curling into satisfied smiles, the people carefully worked to clear the road. Since the broken bottles posed a risk, they were mindful not to cut their hands.
“Ah!”
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“I think… Wait, no. I’m fine?”
It felt like a sharp prick, but the finger was completely fine. Even pressing on it didn’t hurt.
The person who tilted their head in confusion quickly assumed it was their imagination and resumed picking up the bottles.
[(Pre-activated) Sap of Tibe (Lower-Mid Grade)]
[(Pre-activated) Sap of Tibe – Lower-Mid Grade -]
Tibe is a medicinal herb tree where everything from root to leaf has healing properties.
Quickly heals external injuries.
A passive ability carried for emergencies quietly kicked in.
‘No one should get hurt while doing good.’
With a black mask covering his face, Seojun smiled and swept the shattered bottles into one spot with a plastic crate. Lee Jiseok, also with his cap pulled low, helped swiftly and efficiently.
A few minutes passed.
The road, now cleared, was observed with satisfaction by the volunteers, who then returned to their original tasks as if nothing had happened. Somehow, everyone’s footsteps seemed lighter.
Seojun and Jiseok got back into the car and resumed their journey.
“Hm.”
As he took off his mask and cap and wiped his hands with a wet tissue, Lee Jiseok hesitated.
“What is it, hyung?”
During a red light stop, Seojun—using the tissue Jiseok handed over—asked while cleaning his hands.
“I’m wondering if I should contact Seong-oh.”
“Ah.”
Right.
At the mention of his manager Yoon Seong-oh, Seojun blinked.
“You think it’ll end up on the news? I feel like I saw someone recording earlier.”
“Then yeah, it probably will.”
In today’s harsh world, there was no way a wholesome act like this wouldn’t be newsworthy.
“But it’ll be short, right?”
At Seojun’s question, Jiseok nodded.
“Yeah, it’ll probably be a quick segment.”
Hmm.
Seojun and Jiseok debated whether to tell their manager or not.
It could just quietly pass without being mentioned anywhere. Otherwise, it might stir up unnecessary attention.
Seojun shrugged and said,
“Still, better to let him know. He’ll be shocked if it suddenly pops up on the news.”
He knew from experience during his driver’s license test.
Even though it was a positive story, people were still surprised when Seojun (and the car he was driving) suddenly showed up on the news.
“That’s true.”
Jiseok also remembered how startled he’d been when he saw that news.
Chuckling at the memory, he pulled out his phone. Since Seojun was driving, he decided to wait until they reached their destination before making the call.