Pen and Paper Translations

Kim Woohyun was already regretting his usual stop on the rooftop before work.

“Hey, Kim Woohyun.”

Because fate had decided his morning would begin with the one face he hated most.

“Ah, Manager Oh, just keep walking.”

Kim waved a dismissive hand and stuck a cigarette between his lips.

Oh flashed his signature annoying grin and leaned in to light it for him.

“Geez, that’s cold. How can you tell a guy to leave the second you see him?”

“It’s not like we’re buddies who meet at dawn to share a friendly smoke.”

“Tsk, tsk.” Oh clucked his tongue but still sat down on the bench opposite Kim.

“Let me ask just one thing.”

Then, in a level tone:

“When’s HS’s solo album dropping? Year‑end? New Year’s? Or is it coming right away?”

“What?”

“Even if the exact date isn’t set you must have a ballpark idea.”

Kim already knew that rumors were circulating inside Team 1: Hyunseung was working on something new.

People around the building kept pretending it was nothing while trying to squeeze him for updates on HS’s progress.

And yes, Hyunseung was indeed working.

But why had that turned into “He’s preparing a solo album”? Who knew.

Honestly, Kim thought, I’d love it if Hyunseung were working on a solo album.

In reality, he was writing children’s songs. He was paying from his own pocket because he said it was a personal project.

Even for a kids’ tune, Hyunseung never did anything ordinary.

Kim had wanted to talk him out of it, but he’d sensed it was for little Dohee’s sake and kept quiet.

The guy really does like kids, Kim realized.

And Hyunseung had asked that the project stay secret.

Not that secrecy was the only reason he stayed silent.

“Kim Woohyun, seriously? Same recruits, same company and you’re going to be cheap like this? We’re all just trying to make a living!”

Watching Oh lose his patience and whine made Kim even less inclined to share.

Plus, this jerk had rubbed salt in his wounds during the last chart war then won the office bet and took every hard‑earned won out of Kim’s wallet.

Sssss…

Kim drew on his cigarette, holding back the grin that kept trying to escape.

“Believe me, I’d love to tell you.”

Each word floated out on a thin trail of smoke, amusement tucked inside.
Oh noticed and pouted.

“Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious.”

“Like hell.”

Kim chuckled and poked harder.

“The lineup this time is so ultra‑luxury we’ve got no idea when the track’ll even be finished.”

“U… ultra‑luxury?”

“Relax. Once we have a rough date, of course we’ll share it. Feel free to schedule Team 1 as you like.”

Since it’s only a children’s song, there’s no way our releases will clash—Kim kept that part to himself. Let the guy squirm.

“So who’s in that ultra‑luxury lineup? Come on, just name one.”

Sure enough, Oh latched onto those words like a leech.

But Kim wasn’t lying. The roster really was unexpected.

When silence was all he offered, Oh’s neck veins popped.

“Hey, Kim Woohyun! Seriously? Team 2’s just gonna hog everything and leave Team 1 starving? You’ll get a stomachache from stuffing yourselves!”

“Manager Oh, get it straight. When did we ever hog anything?”

“You say that after looking at the charts? Team 2’s composers leave no room for us to breathe!”

Kim recalled what Hyunseung had said:

“Then they should just make better songs and release them.”

He’d scolded Hyunseung for that, but now it sounded perfectly right.

Fffff—

Kim stubbed out his cigarette and stood.

Then, gaze icy, he looked down at Oh and added,

“Then Team 1 should just make a better song and release it.”

A tiny revenge for insulting HS. It had nothing to do with the money he’d lost, of course.

---

If you asked Koreans to name one voice actor who represented the nation, most would pick Jang Jin‑woo.

Even if you didn’t know his name, you knew his voice.

— I’ll go to the ocean to find my friend!

With just one line he could send people wading into nostalgia.

Jang’s quick wit also made him a favorite on radio and variety shows.

Two days earlier, LS Entertainment had contacted him, asking if he’d sing a children’s song.

It felt unusual, but his daily routine had grown stale, so he thought it might be fun.

Does LS even produce kids’ songs? he wondered.

Still, the pay was excellent for an easy job, so he accepted.

Children’s songs are what… one minute tops? Let’s wrap this up fast.

Tap, tap.

He reached the booked studio.

Creeeak…

Peeking in, he saw a man in the control room wearing a helmet with a strange flame emblem.

Huh?

Worried he had the wrong place, he hesitated at the door.

“Are you going in or not?”

A fresh young voice behind him startled him.

He turned and recognized the speaker instantly. Jo Yeri, the visual center of the hottest girl group.

And right behind her,

“Oh? You’re Voice Actor Jang Jin‑soo, right?”

A tall woman greeted him warmly.

“Uh… wha—?!”

Realization struck and he actually took a step back.

It was world‑famous soprano Jo Kyung‑mi.

Someone he’d always dreamed of meeting; her schedule was so packed broadcasters said you needed to book her two years out.

Am I dreaming?

He pinched his cheek. The combo: a top idol, a global soprano, and a veteran voice actor—coming together to record a kids’ song? Unreal.

And then the helmeted man’s identity was the biggest surprise.

“Thank you all for coming. I’m HS, the composer and director of the song you’ll be recording.”

Jang froze half‑seated, blurting, “Excuse me?”

Glancing around, he saw Yeri and Kyung-mi were utterly unfazed.

Was I the only one who didn’t know?

Feeling sheepish, he sat. He had agreed blindly without asking anything.

But really… who would imagine the hit‑maker HS writing children’s music?

Dreamlike? Absolutely.

---

…If this was a dream, it was a nightmare.

A relentless, exhausting nightmare.

“Ha…”

Jang had been a voice actor for 35 years, debuting young, dubbing classic films, voicing lead roles in endless anime… his life was his voice.

Recording a film dub could run five hours straight and he’d never flinch.

Always he’d maintained that bright, youthful tone.

Now?

Even breathing felt painful, as if a rusty rasp would come out if he opened his mouth.

Children’s songs didn’t need high technique or soaring notes, but—

“Let’s match one last line: ‘We’re a happy family.’”

Through the booth window HS’s eyes gleamed with a manic light that drained everyone’s strength.

One last line….

Jang stole a glance side‑long.

Yeri’s legs were shaking like a paper doll; she was clearly spent.

Kyung‑mi, by contrast, stood tall and serene as when she’d arrived. She’s world‑class, indeed.

— ♪ ♪ ♪

The cheery, cutesy accompaniment started again through their headsets, sounding now like ominous horror‑film music.

But Jang decided to trust HS’s promise of last time and cleared his throat.

— Happy family, that is us!

Kyung‑mi’s elegant, mature voice rang.

— Happy family, that is us!

Yeri’s childlike, pure tone followed.

— Happy family, that is us!

Jang’s signature shounen‑anime voice blended in.

He cracked one eye open, peeking at HS beyond the glass.

Hmm…

HS scratched his chin, expression grave.

Naturally—

“Really, for real this time, let’s redo just the word family.”

Fooled again.

Right…

The pay was suspiciously high.

— ♪ ♪ ♪

As he listened to the accompaniment, Jang thought to himself.

There really is no such thing as easy money in this world.

---