People don't vanish from this world the moment they die. Their true death is when they are forgotten by the living. However, if you were forgotten by someone who is most important to you— would it not matter anymore?

「Have you ever imagined how it feels to be treated like you don't exist? You're right there, but you get treated like you're not. You're denied everything... every day your heart gets carved up and you experience disappointment again and again, but you have to smile anyway. Do you know how that feels?」

These thoughts lingered inside Aeri's head as she broadcasted them on a floating window in front of her. She looked around the white walls of her apartment's living room, feeling rather empty.

She was not alone.

Due to the situation, every player of the system who Minjeong was close with was gathered in this very place. It was to make sure that everyone aside from the non-players remembered her.

Because everyone else seemed to have forgotten her.

The first to notice these changes was Yizhuo. She immediately alerted Aeri of the situation, asking if she could use her special abilities if someone by the name of Kim Minjeong still existed in the real world, and in the system.

But there was none.

"All of you remember her, right?"

Aeri asked in a cold sweat, and everyone in the room replied with a silent nod. The air was filled with this huge mass and everyone couldn't help but have a worried expression.

There was the top player and Goddess present inside the room, and they couldn't even succumb to the ominous feeling... Gone. Kim Minjeong was truly gone.

And the worst part was knowing the only person she held dear in her heart had forgotten her as well.

Heejin sighed, "Jimin told me there was no such contestant named Kim Minjeong. I even searched through the internet and every little bit of trace of her disappeared."

Boa crossed her arms, deep in thought. "I've been a player for as long as I can remember, and never seen a case like this. Aeri, have you asked the other two Goddesses?"

Aeri pursed her lips, looking disappointed at herself. "I am nothing but a mere Goddess of the Entertainment category. Therefore, I have no right to answer questions that may lead to forbidden information about the system. All I can do is offer a bit of assistance. Guys, I'm really sorry."

In the corner, Yizhuo had her back against the wall and she clicks her tongue. She's been quiet all of this time, but if it wasn't for Minjeong, she wouldn't have gotten close with the people she was now good friends with.

"Can we do something about it? I mean, it does sound good for Jimin to forget about her... but if she had remained with those memories, I could already imagine the guilt and devastated look on her face. Would it be possible to bring Minjeong back?"

"That's why I gathered you guys here... to find a way." Aeri bit her tongue, "Because right now, all we can do is wait for a miracle to happen."

✩

| Jimin

"Again."

"Again..."

"Again!"

I stood there, frozen, as Jihye's words echoed in my ears. The disappointment in her eyes was almost too much to bear.

How did I manage to mess up the dance practice again? It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the strength within me to execute the moves with confidence.

My lack of self-assurance had cost me once again, and now Jihye's scolding words left me feeling utterly defeated. I was doing so well these past few days and won a performance mission by myself, but... why does it feel like a part of me has disappeared?

It's weird. It makes me feel dizzy sometimes, but then again— maybe I'm just tired.

"I can't believe you let the team down, Jimin. You were doing amazing. What happened to you?" Jihye's voice lingered in my mind. "You need to step up and believe in yourself. We don't have time for mistakes like this."

Her words cut through me like a sharp blade. I had always struggled with self-confidence, but today, it felt like it had reached an all-time low. The weight of my insecurities crushed my spirit, and I couldn't help but question whether I belonged in this world of dancing at all.

"Let's do it again from the top, and if one of you makes a mistake. We go again. Understood?"

"Yes!"

We all said in unison as we walked to our positions and began executing our dance steps when the music played. Though I was the one who looked the weakest throughout the entire performance, I managed not to make any mistakes thrice.

That continued for the next five hours until it was finally time to take our leave.

As the others dispersed and waved me their farewells, leaving me alone in the practice room, I sank to the floor, overwhelmed by my thoughts. Jihye was right— I had let everyone down, including myself.

How could I expect to succeed if I couldn't even trust my own abilities?

I closed my eyes, desperately searching for a glimmer of strength within me. But all I found was self-doubt, wrapped around my heart like a suffocating vine.

My eyes started to ache, and a sense of hopelessness washed over me. It felt as if I would never break free from this cycle of insecurity— The cameras are still probably rolling, but I didn't care anymore.

But amidst the turmoil, a small voice inside of my head suddenly chimed...

"What are you doing here?"

".̴.̷.̶T̸o̵ ̴c̸■■■r̶ ̷y̸■■ ̷u̵p̸?̷"

W...What the hell was that? The first voice no doubt, belonged to me. Though the second? It was too distorted for me to understand. The abrupt voices caused me to instantly open my eyes and look at the spinning ceiling.

Another chimed.

"Som■■ay that t