When Kang Woojin first spoke with Asami Yusako, she introduced herself as both his devoted fan and someone who dreamed of becoming a voice actress. He had already picked up on it back then.
"Do you have a favorite work?"
"Oh! I love Howl's Moving Castle!"
The world-famous animation Howl's Moving Castle had a legendary OST. In other words, he knew the piece Merry-Go-Round of Life. He could sit down and play it on the piano immediately. And it was not only Merry-Go-Round of Life. Other famous tracks from Howl's Moving Castle also rose to the surface in Kang Woojin's mind at once.
That was thanks to the piano skill he had completely absorbed.
Of course, Woojin had listened to the Howl's Moving Castle OST before, but he had never seen the sheet music. Even so, he could play it clearly, as though he had performed it thousands of times on the piano. His fingers were itching to start right away.
The next thing Kang Woojin noticed was the white piano sitting inside the restaurant. The spacious dining hall was filled with guests chatting or enjoying their meals, while the staff moved busily in between them.
And at the center of all of it sat the grand piano.
'That thing really has style, doesn't it?'
Even at a glance, the white piano looked expensive and polished. Its presence alone was enough to draw the eye, and because no one was playing it, it almost seemed to be telling Woojin to come sit down and play.
So then, could it actually be played?
Honestly, at first Woojin thought the white piano might just be for decoration. Was it just there for display? In a low voice, he asked the female staff member guiding him, in Japanese,
"Is that piano just for decoration?"
The young staff member, who had probably never seen an actor in person before, stammered shyly.
"No. It's empty right now because it isn't time yet. The pianist will be here soon to play."
So there was a resident pianist after all.
Since it still was not performance time, Kang Woojin sat down with the cast of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice. The actors greeted him warmly and asked him all sorts of questions, but Woojin's gaze kept drifting back to the piano in the middle of the restaurant.
'It's bothering me.'
If the piano had not been there, he would not have cared. But with it right in front of him, it kept pulling at his attention. It reminded him of the piano in the high school music room where they had filmed The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice a few days earlier. Without even meaning to, Woojin murmured quietly to himself.
'Should I play it?'
It was a very simple thought. Nothing more than curiosity and interest. The white piano looked to be in excellent condition. Unlike the piano in the music room, this one seemed like it would produce an elegant sound. Besides, Kang Woojin did not have many opportunities to play the piano.
But if he suddenly played the piano here, it would definitely lead to annoying misunderstandings and false assumptions.
So what?
What was the big deal? Kang Woojin knew that perfectly well, but it was not enough to stop him. At this point, the area around him was already a swamp of misunderstandings. Something like this would only add more weight to it.
Then—
Woojin looked toward the entrance, where Asami Yusako was seated. She was happily chatting with her family, sitting in a way that overlapped with the image of his younger sister, Kang Hyuna. The song that naturally came to mind was, of course, Merry-Go-Round of Life. It was the most famous and beloved OST from the work she loved most. It was enough to support her dream, and enough to be given as a birthday gift. In truth, to Woojin, it was less fan service than it was a genuine gesture.
In other words, it was not calculated.
Then he turned his gaze toward Director Kyotaro, who was sitting across from him.
'Come to think of it, the director asked me once before to play the piano too.'
This was really two birds with one stone.
Kang Woojin rose from his seat without hesitation. Even in concept mode, he gave off the impression of someone decisive, but his actual personality was not the type to agonize over decisions for long. Tomorrow was tomorrow. If something became a problem, he could deal with it then.
When he asked a staff member who seemed to be the restaurant manager, he was told it would be fine.
"Mr. Kang Woojin, are you planning to play it yourself?"
"Yes. Would that be alright?"
"Of course. But have you played the piano before…?"
"Who knows. Maybe."
"What?"
And with that, the piano began.
Kang Woojin calmly pressed down on the keys.
♬♪
The restaurant filled magnificently with the piano melody of Merry-Go-Round of Life. Naturally, the guests in the dining hall began turning their heads one by one toward Kang Woojin seated at the white piano. In just a few seconds, every eye in the room had been drawn to him.
The piano melody was too dreamlike to ignore.
♬♪
The tune sinking into their ears was far beyond the level of something that could be learned in just a year or two. Caught in that kind of enchantment, the guests let out unconscious admiration.
"······That's lovely."
"Wow... he's really good."
"Hehe, isn't that amazing?"
Even about a dozen restaurant staff members had stopped working.
Yes. It truly felt as though time had frozen in that one restaurant alone.
"······"
"······"
"······"
At first, that was the mood. But gradually, a different kind of atmosphere formed. Who is that person? Who is that black-haired man? Who is the one playing the piano? Dozens of guests became curious about the man seated there. And before long, they realized it was Kang Woojin.
"That person... Kang Woojin??"
"Kang Woojin? Didn't he just come in and sit over there with the actors? I'm sure he was sitting by the window."
"Why is Kang Woojin playing the piano?"
Their shock doubled.
"Oh my god. Kang Woojin is playing the piano?"
"This is unbelievable, way too unbelievable??"
But Kang Woojin's playing only became more brilliant.
♬♪
Shock and wonder tangled together.
"Was that Korean actor originally a pianist?"
He played so well that no one would have been wrong to think a concert was being held in a grand hall.
Then, after reaching a peak, the sound of the piano softened.
The grand atmosphere became taut with tension. The overwhelming excitement settled somewhat, but no one in the room could take their eyes off Kang Woojin. It was because they were waiting for the next climax. His control of tempo was exceptional.
Tears welled up in the eyes of the girl in the wheelchair, Asami Yusako.
"······I told him I love Howl's Moving Castle*. So Kang Woojin played this song for me. Mom, Dad... I don't think I'll ever forget today. How could I ever forget a gift like this…?"*
He truly looked radiant.
The sight of that noble man calmly playing the piano. The very fact that someone like that existed in this world felt astonishing. Even if it were only a dream, it would have been enough. As long as this feeling, this emotion, remained, that alone was enough.
In the end, Yusako had to wipe away her tears.
But her parents did not even have time to comfort her.
"Are actors really like this? No. Playing the piano for the birthday of a fan he only exchanged a few words with…"
"Even setting aside the fact that he's an actor, his humanity itself is incredible."
The gratitude and emotion they felt were beyond anything they could put into words. It was powerful enough to wash away every pain they had endured while raising their daughter after she ended up in a wheelchair.
Tears welled in both the father's and mother's eyes as well.
♬♪
The piano melody struck people's hearts. It was not only them. Even among the other guests in the restaurant, there were a few quietly wiping away tears. Looking at Woojin, they were reminded of warmth from the past. It was the same melody, but the emotions it awakened were different for each person.
Some thought of the past. Some thought of the present. Some thought of the future. Some thought of someone precious to them. Some thought of the wounds they carried now.
A few people, unable to fully immerse themselves in the moment, took pictures of Kang Woojin instead. Some recorded videos. Some snapped photos. Some had begun filming from the start, some joined in halfway through, and some were only now pulling out their phones.
"Where else would anyone ever see something like this?"
It really was true. A famous Korean actor was sitting in a restaurant in Japan, playing the piano and captivating everyone there.
It was the kind of thing one could only imagine in a dream.
Right at that moment, someone slowly entered the restaurant filled with piano music.
Swish.
"······What?"
A woman with her hair tied back stood there. She was the pianist originally scheduled to play. By the time she arrived, Woojin's performance was nearly over, and she found herself frozen in place, listening without even realizing it. Then she abruptly furrowed her brows. When she asked a nearby male staff member, he too stood there frozen.
"What's going on? Did you hire another pianist instead of me?"
"What? Ah, no. That's Mr. Kang Woojin."
"Who, who?"
"Mr. Kang Woojin. The actor. The Korean actor."
"Wait a second... I know that part, but are you seriously telling me the person playing the piano right now is an actor?"
At that exact moment—
♬♪
The piano melody, which had been gradually quieting, suddenly stopped. Kang Woojin's performance was over. But no one in the restaurant moved right away. The afterglow and awe still clung to them.
"······"
"······"
Soon—
Swish.
Kang Woojin, who had been sitting quietly at the white piano, stood up. Only then did the dozens of guests come back to themselves, and applause began pouring out first from the table near the entrance.
Clap clap clap clap!
It was Asami Yusako and her parents. The three of them were applauding Kang Woojin fervently. Naturally, everyone else in the room also rose to their feet.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
The restaurant filled with thunderous applause. Every bit of it was sincere praise. Even if it had been only a brief moment, they were expressing deep gratitude to Kang Woojin for showing them something this beautiful. Where else, if not in a film, would anyone ever get to witness a sight like this?
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Amid the applause came scattered words of thanks, admiration, and amazement. Kang Woojin stood in front of the piano with a composed expression, but inwardly he was completely flustered.
'Oh wow, that startled me. What am I supposed to do in a moment like this? Is it okay if I just stand here?'
Even though it was only a few dozen people clapping, to Woojin it felt like the applause of thousands.
'Ah, right. I should greet them first.'
Maintaining a blank expression, Woojin gave everyone a light bow. Then he turned his gaze toward the entrance.
His eyes met Asami Yusako's.
All he wanted to say was simple.
Happy birthday. I'll cheer for your dream.
Yusako, who seemed to understand exactly what he meant, kept bowing her head over and over from her wheelchair.
The only words the girl could manage were a few simple ones.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Of course, not everyone in the restaurant knew the story between Kang Woojin and the girl.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
At least, not yet.
──────────
Inside the restaurant, the applause for Kang Woojin continued.
Meanwhile, the The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice team by the window remained frozen in place. Aside from a few actors clapping, none of them seemed able to move. They were utterly stunned.
Mifuyu, who had been sitting beside Woojin just moments earlier, looked completely captivated.
"This is insane. How can that possibly be 'just basic piano playing'? What is this? This is cheating. He's ridiculously cool."
The other Japanese actresses were much the same. Their expressions looked almost identical. Director Kyotaro, with his graying hair, wore a similar expression too, but what he felt was somewhat different.
'His acting is incredible, and he knows Japanese and sign language too. His singing is top-level. With that much talent, why is his piano playing like this too? Why on earth…'
Director Kyotaro simply could not understand it. No, realistically speaking, was that even possible? And yet that impossible thing was unfolding right in front of his eyes. There might not have been any formula for it, but the answer clearly existed.
He did not know.
He could not understand it at all.
And so Director Kyotaro reached almost the same conclusion as Choi Sunggeon.
Right. Yes. What matters is that Woojin exists. That alone is enough. Mm.
He gave up trying to make sense of the situation. He decided he would simply accept what he saw as it was.
Around then—
"What on earth is this—"
Choi Sunggeon rushed into the restaurant. Whether he had heard the news late or not, he came hurrying in wearing casual clothes and slippers. He paused for a moment at the sight of the guests standing and applauding, then quickly made his way toward Woojin, who was still standing in front of the piano.
Understanding what had happened could come later. For now, getting him out of there came first.
Swish.
The moment they stepped out of the restaurant, Kang Woojin and Choi Sunggeon got onto the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, Choi Sunggeon asked him,
"What happened?? What happened in there? Why were all those guests applauding you? Were you acting in there too??"
He asked in a rush, but Woojin's answer was low and simple.
"There was a piano there, so I played a song I knew."
"...What did you play?"
"The piano."
"The piano."
"Yes. I got the idea for it from the fan girl I met earlier."
No, that is not the point. Why is piano suddenly even part of this?
That was what his eyes seemed to be saying, but after taking a long breath, Choi Sunggeon said nothing more. This was not the first time something like this had happened.
Asking questions only destroyed common sense.
"Ah, right. The piano. You played a song you knew."
"Yes."
"There just happened to be a piano in the restaurant."
"That's right."
"Yeah, the piano. Good job."
"Thank you."
Meanwhile—
"Wow!! Kang Woojin!"
"That was incredible! I can't believe we got to see that! Did you record it?"
"Of course!"
"I wanted to hear one more song!"
"Starting today, I'm a Kang Woojin fan."
Back inside the restaurant Woojin had just left—
"He definitely played piano before becoming an actor."
"At that level, he probably gave concert performances too. Should we look him up?"
The whole place was filled with talk about him.
──────────
Two days later, on Sunday, January 31st.
Sunlight streamed in through the window. Thanks to it, motes of dust drifted gently like dancers, settling over the various instruments lined up by the window. It was a music room.
All around it was stillness. Only the faint scent of wood and the sound of wind slipping through the slightly open window could be heard. Every now and then, the beige curtain swayed in the light breeze.
At that moment—
"Hi—action."
Along with that voice from somewhere, the door to the music room creaked open. Someone entered. About ten seconds later, footsteps that had been standing still near the door finally started to move.
Tap. Tap.
Click.
Someone sat down in front of an old black piano. The movement was slow, and a hand was gently placed on top of the lid.
But it was not opened.
The hand simply rested there.
As though the moment it opened, countless memories might spill out all at once.
"······"
But in the end, the lid was opened. The black and white keys lay in orderly rows beneath it. The slightly worn keys looked quite old.
Then both hands were placed on top of them.
Inhale.
It was Iyota Kiyoshi.