The Star's Friendship

After the doctor finished my final examination, a nurse guided me through the discharge process.

Most of it was routine.

Sign a few forms.

Listen to instructions about rest and recovery.

Accept a small packet containing my medical documents.

The nurse explained everything patiently while I sat across from her desk.

"Your condition is stable, Miss Serena," she said as she handed me the papers. "However, you've only recently regained consciousness. Don't push yourself too hard."

"I understand."

She smiled.

"If you experience dizziness, headaches, or anything unusual, please visit a hospital immediately."

"I will."

The nurse seemed satisfied with my answer.

"Then that's everything."

Everything.

Such a simple word.

Yet hearing it felt strangely unreal.

Just three days ago, I had been drowning in the middle of the ocean.

Now I was being discharged from a hospital in what appeared to be an entirely different world.

I thanked the nurse and left the office.

Instead of returning directly to my room, I found myself wandering through the hallways.

My discharge papers rested in my hands.

The black card was safely tucked inside my wallet.

The questions filling my head, however, remained unanswered.

Eventually, my feet carried me toward a staircase.

I paused.

A small sign hung nearby.

ROOFTOP ACCESS

For some reason, I felt drawn toward it.

Maybe because I needed air.

Maybe because I needed space to think.

Or maybe because I simply wanted to see the world I had somehow ended up in.

Without overthinking it, I climbed the stairs.

The higher I went, the quieter everything became.

The sounds of nurses, patients, and machines gradually faded behind me.

A few moments later, I pushed open the rooftop door.

The cool breeze immediately greeted me.

My hair fluttered as sunlight washed over my face.

For the first time since waking up, there were no walls around me.

No curtains.

No hospital monitors.

Just open sky.

I slowly walked toward the safety railing.

And then I looked out.

My breath caught.

The city stretched endlessly before me.

Countless buildings filled the horizon.

Cars moved like tiny dots along distant roads.

Clusters of houses sat between larger structures, while mountains rose proudly in the distance beneath a brilliant blue sky.

The view was breathtaking.

And terrifying.

Because it made everything feel real.

This wasn't a dream.

It wasn't a hallucination caused by nearly drowning.

It wasn't a coma-induced fantasy.

This world existed.

I could see it.

Feel it.

Touch it.

A sudden gust of wind swept across the rooftop.

I gripped the railing tightly.

"Idol of Starlight..." I whispered.

The words disappeared into the wind.

The game I had spent countless hours playing.

The world whose story I knew better than most people knew their own lives.

A world filled with idols, music, friendship, and secrets hidden beneath bright stage lights.

And somehow...

I was standing inside it.

My gaze drifted toward the distant skyline.

Somewhere out there, the characters I had only known through a screen were living their lives.

The thought sent a chill through me.

I lowered my eyes.

There were still countless things I didn't know.

How I got here.

Why my belongings had followed me.

Whether I could ever return home.

The weight of those questions settled heavily in my chest.

Yet as I looked up at the endless sky, another realization slowly surfaced.

No matter how confused or frightened I felt...

This was my reality now.

And if I wanted answers, I would have to find them myself.

Just then, I heard the rooftop door open behind me.

__________

Yurika hurried up the stairs leading to the hospital rooftop. Her footsteps echoed through the stairwell as she pushed herself forward, her heart pounding for reasons she couldn't quite understand.

When she finally reached the rooftop door, she grabbed the handle and pushed it open.

The cool breeze greeted her immediately.

And there she was.

Standing only a few inches from the railing, Serena gazed silently at the world below.

From where Yurika stood, she could only see Serena's profile, but even that single glimpse was enough to leave her breathless.

The city stretched out before them, a sea of buildings, winding roads, and distant houses nestled beneath the towering mountains. Tiny figures moved along the streets far below, living their ordinary lives, unaware of the scene unfolding above.

Yet Yurika found herself unable to look at any of it.

Her eyes remained fixed on Serena.

Serena's long black hair danced gracefully in the wind, strands swaying across her face before drifting away again. The sunlight painted a soft glow upon her features, making her seem almost unreal—as though she belonged to the scenery itself rather than standing before it.

She looked peaceful.

Quiet.

Beautiful.

For a moment, Yurika simply stood there, watching.

The breeze carried the scent of fresh air and distant rain, but all she could focus on was the girl before her.

There was something about Serena's expression as she looked out over the city.

Not sadness.

Not happiness.

Something deeper.

A feeling Yurika couldn't quite put into words.

And as Serena continued gazing at the horizon, her hair fluttering in the wind, Yurika felt as though she were looking at someone who carried an entire world of untold stories behind her eyes.

Yurika's gaze remained fixed on Serena.

As if sensing it, Serena slowly turned her head.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Yurika's breath caught in her throat.

(Ohhh... No matter how long I stare at her, she's still unbelievably beautiful. It's like she's from a completely different world.)

Warmth rushed to Yurika's cheeks.

Serena tilted her head slightly before a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"Yurika?"

As she spoke, Serena stepped away from the railing and began walking toward her.

"When did you arrive?" Serena asked. "You should have contacted me."

Yurika froze.

Her mind immediately went blank.

(...Right. I could have done that. Why didn't I think of that?)

"Uh—ah!" Yurika stammered, her face turning even redder. "R-Right! Why didn't I think of that?"

Serena blinked in confusion before letting out a soft laugh.

"You ran all the way here without even calling me first?"

"W-When you say it like that, it sounds really embarrassing."

"It is a little embarrassing."

"Serena!"

The corner of Serena's lips curved upward as Yurika puffed out her cheeks in protest.

"Shall we go out and have some fun while we're at it?" Serena asked.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Yurika shouted without a moment's hesitation.

A bright smile spread across Serena's face.

And just like that, the two left the hospital behind.

For the first time in days, Serena felt the weight pressing against her heart begin to fade. The worries that had haunted her thoughts seemed distant beneath the warm afternoon sun.

At the same time, Yurika found herself forgetting about the mysterious message she had received the night before. Whatever it was, it could wait.

Today was for them.

The two spent the afternoon wandering through the city.

They visited parks lined with blooming flowers and towering trees. Yurika eagerly dragged Serena from one place to another, excitedly pointing out every little thing she found interesting.

"Look! Those ducks are following that old man!"

"I think he's feeding them."

"Then let's feed them too!"

"Yurika, we don't even have bread."

"Oh."

A moment later, they both burst into laughter.

They stopped by a cozy café afterward.

While Serena quietly enjoyed her drink, Yurika couldn't sit still for more than thirty seconds.

"Serena, look at this."

"Hm?"

"And this."

"You just showed me that."

"Oh. Right."

"And that was five seconds ago."

Yurika buried her face in her hands.

"Why are you bullying me today?"

"I'm not bullying you."

"You absolutely are."

The gentle smile on Serena's lips suggested otherwise.

As evening approached, they found themselves in a small arcade.

The moment Yurika spotted the claw machine, her competitive spirit ignited.

"I'm winning that bunny plush."

"You've said that ten times."

"And this time I mean it."

Ten attempts later, the plush remained exactly where it was.

"..."

"..."

"That machine is rigged."

Serena couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.

The sound caught Yurika completely off guard.

For a second, she simply stared.

Serena was laughing.

Not the polite smile she usually wore.

Not the gentle chuckle she sometimes let out.

A genuine laugh.

Bright.

Warm.

Beautiful.

Yurika felt her heart skip a beat.

The arcade lights reflected in Serena's dark eyes as she laughed, and for a moment, Yurika found herself smiling too.

The two continued spending the evening together, talking about anything and everything that came to mind. As the city lights began to illuminate the streets and the sky slowly darkened, neither of them wanted the day to end.

For now, all that mattered was the time they shared together.

As the night grew darker, the two finally found themselves standing at a crossroads.

"I guess this is where we part ways," Serena said with a gentle smile.

Yurika scratched the back of her head.

"Yeah... I had a lot of fun today."

"Me too."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Yurika suddenly pointed a finger at Serena.

"You better call me next time!"

Serena blinked.

"Shouldn't that be my line?"

"Details aren't important."

A soft laugh escaped Serena's lips.

"Alright. I'll call you next time."

"Good."

Satisfied, Yurika nodded before waving goodbye.

"See you later, Serena!"

"See you, Yurika."

Yurika turned and disappeared into the crowd, her cheerful figure gradually becoming smaller and smaller until she was gone.

Serena stood there for a few moments.

The smile on her face lingered as she watched the bustling city around her.

Today had been nice.

Far nicer than she had expected.

Taking a quiet breath, she turned and headed toward the hotel district.

Since she had nowhere else to stay for the time being, finding a place to spend the night seemed like the most sensible option.

A short while later, Serena arrived at one of the city's most luxurious hotels.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated the grand lobby, while polished marble floors reflected the warm lights overhead.

The receptionist offered her a professional smile.

"Good evening, ma'am. How may I assist you?"

"I'd like to rent a room."

"Of course."

The receptionist began preparing the necessary paperwork.

"May I have your identification and payment method?"

Serena reached into her bag and retrieved a sleek black card.

The card had no visible numbers on the front.

Only an elegant emblem engraved in silver.

The moment the receptionist saw it, her eyes widened.

Her professional expression instantly vanished.

That card...

She had only seen it once before during her training.

A card reserved for the hotel's highest-ranking VIP guests.

People whose status and wealth were beyond ordinary imagination.

The receptionist immediately straightened her posture.

"Welcome to Evermont Hotel, ma'am. Please allow us to provide you with the finest service during your stay."

Her voice became noticeably warmer and more respectful.

Serena smiled.

"Thank you."

The receptionist quickly bowed her head.

"There is no need to worry about availability. We will prepare our finest suite for you immediately."

Before Serena could even respond, several staff members appeared as if they had been summoned from nowhere.

One took her luggage.

Another prepared the room information.

A third offered refreshments.

The receptionist smiled brightly.

"Please stay as long as you like, ma'am."

Serena looked at the black card in her hand.

(Hmm... I didn't expect people in this world to recognize this card.)

"Please bring my things to my room. I'm going out for a bit," Serena said.

"Of course, ma'am," the receptionist replied with a respectful bow.

Serena handed over the room key card before turning toward the exit.

The cool night air greeted her as she stepped outside the hotel.

The city was still alive despite the late hour. Neon signs illuminated the streets, while people laughed and chatted as they moved from one place to another.

With no particular destination in mind, Serena simply walked.

A few minutes later, her attention was caught by a poster attached to the wall of a building.

She stopped and read it.

[Wanted: Singer]

For One Night Only

Reward: ¥1,000

Serena stared at the paper for several moments.

Then a faint smile appeared on her face.

It had been a long time since she had done something purely for herself.

"Well then," she murmured.

"Let's have some fun for a bit."

Without hesitation, Serena pushed open the door and entered the building.

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