The sun hung lazily in the late afternoon sky, casting golden hues across the pavement of Hongdae's bustling streets. The city was still alive with motion, but everything moved with a mellow rhythm—as if even time had slowed to match the warmth of the hour.
Lee Jihoon stepped out of the subway station and took a deep breath. The air was warm with the scent of street food—grilled skewers, sweet honey pancakes, and crispy fried snacks from stalls lining the sidewalks. Hongdae, with all its chaotic charm, had always felt different from other parts of the city. There was creativity in the air. Expression in the streets. A kind of gentle rebellion against uniformity.
He hadn't planned to come here today. It had just happened.
After running a few errands, he found himself walking with no clear direction and ended up on the train. Now, here he was, wandering through familiar alleyways filled with color and energy.
With a can of cold tea in hand, Jihoon moved at an easy pace, weaving between people, taking in the city's soundscape. Artists sketched caricatures on the sidewalk. Boutique cafés displayed hand-painted signs and indie posters in their windows. A young couple passed by holding hands and matching tote bags.
But it wasn't the visuals that stopped Jihoon—it was the sound.
A faint guitar melody drifted through the air, a little uneven but full of emotion. It wasn't loud, but it cut through the hum of the crowd like a whisper through silence.
Curious, Jihoon followed the sound until he saw him.
A young man sat near the corner of a mural-covered wall, perched on a small foldable stool. He held an acoustic guitar, worn and slightly out of tune, but his fingers moved carefully, lovingly over the strings. His hoodie sleeves were pushed up, revealing thin wrists and bandaged knuckles. A small amp sat at his feet, humming softly.
Before him was an open guitar case. Inside it were a few coins, a single crumpled 1,000 won bill, and a piece of cardboard with messy handwriting:
"Saving up for studio time. Thank you for listening."
The musician began to sing—not a cover, but something original. Jihoon recognized it immediately. The lyrics were too specific, too personal to be anything else.
The song spoke of trying again and again. About getting laughed at. About failing quietly while everyone else seemed to be moving forward.
His voice cracked slightly near the chorus, and he stumbled on a chord. But he didn't stop.
He kept singing.
Jihoon stood at the edge of the small crowd—only a handful of people. Some stopped for a moment, others walked past, indifferent. A couple of high schoolers whispered to each other before dropping a few coins and moving on. One man commented under his breath, "He should just sing IU songs if he wants money."
The musician bowed slightly as the song ended. There were a few claps—light, hesitant. The energy felt awkward, like people didn't quite know how to respond to something so raw.
The musician didn't seem to mind. He adjusted the strap on his guitar, took a sip of water from a plastic bottle, and looked down at his setlist taped to the pavement.
Jihoon remained still. His chest felt heavier than expected.
The kid reminded him of someone—maybe himself, back when he was just trying to make it through each day unnoticed.
And that song… it meant something. It wasn't perfect. But it was real.
Ding!
[New Kindness Challenge]
Recognize someone who hasn't given up, even when the world didn't notice.
Reward: 44,000 KRW
Jihoon reached into his wallet and pulled out a folded 10,000 won bill.
He stepped forward, bent slightly, and dropped it into the case.
The musician looked up, startled by the amount. His eyes widened slightly, and his voice caught in his throat.
"W-Whoa, thank you so much."
Jihoon smiled. "That last song—was it yours?"
The musician nodded, visibly nervous. "Yeah. I wrote it a few weeks ago. It's… still rough."
"It was good," Jihoon said with quiet certainty. "Raw. Honest. It stayed with me."
The young man looked down, bashful. "Most people don't stop. Or if they do, they leave fast. I thought maybe it wasn't working."
Jihoon's voice was calm, steady. "It's not about how many stop. It's about whether the right ones listen."
The musician blinked, as if stunned by the words. His lips parted in a small, genuine smile—his first of the day.
"You're the first person to say something like that today."
Jihoon sat down on a nearby bench and stretched his legs. "Play it again."
The musician hesitated. "Really?"
"Yeah. This time, play it like someone is listening."
Something shifted in the young man's expression.
He adjusted his guitar. His fingers found the chords again—stronger this time. His voice, though still a little shaky, found its rhythm. The melody was the same, but this time it carried something more: confidence. Hope.
People began to stop.
Two girls removed their earbuds and stood nearby. An elderly man leaned on his cane, tapping his foot. A child tugged at her mother's hand, motioning toward the music.
And when the chorus hit, more people clapped along.
The song ended to genuine applause.
The musician looked overwhelmed—but in the best way. He bowed deeply, a wide smile spreading across his face.
He glanced at Jihoon, who stood again.
"Keep going," Jihoon said. "You're doing something right."
"Thank you," the musician said, his voice softer now. "Really. You helped more than you know."
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 44,000 KRW
Jihoon gave him a small salute and turned to walk down the nearby alley. The melody of the song still lingered behind him, now full of life, now real.
As he passed the mural wall, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"A little recognition can reignite someone's flame. You never know how close they were to giving up."
Jihoon smiled faintly.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
End of Chapter 46
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