Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 12

4:30 AM. I grabbed the arrangement results and set out to find the others.

To be honest, I ran into trouble the moment I said I’d arrange it in connection with Faust. I didn’t realize so many people hadn’t read the book, or even heard of it. I was lucky Lee Hyunjae had at least heard of it.

I remembered that time.

After I finished the long, long summary of Faust, Ryu Ideun was the first to snap out of it and react.

“…So, you’re saying we should adopt Mephi-whatever as the concept?”

It’s not Mephi-whatever, it’s Mephistopheles.

“Yes.”

“That Mephi-whatever is a character who falsely tempts the protagonist and other characters.”

“And he has a playful personality, and hates humans, right?”

“Both are correct.”

Good job, Ryu Ideun and Lee Hyunjae. The rest of you failing students who were spacing out instead of listening, please drop out.

“But wouldn’t various concepts be possible then?”

Oh, failing student 1 (Park Woojin) spoke up. I’ll hold off on the dropout.

“That’s right. Basically, the concept is a demon who tempts humans, creating a gloomy, dangerous, crazy, or even sexy atmosphere. All sorts of things are possible. The concept isn’t forced while changing the mood of the song, so it’s good in its own way.”

As I explained at length, Lee Hyunjae looked at me as if I were a mysterious phenomenon.

…Are you also amazed that I’m talking so much?

“Then which one do you think is the best?”

Finally, failing student 2 (Kim HyunJin) spoke. But I can’t forget the initial dominance incident, so please proceed with the dropout as soon as possible.

“That’s what we need to decide now. What kind of demon do you want to be?”

…That’s how the theme was selected. Of course, I didn’t know such a theme would be decided.

I should go to the practice room and let them hear it quickly.

* * *

#A Team Practice Process Edited Version

At 4:30 AM, Ji Donghwa enters the practice room and is greeted by a pile of corpses. Ji Donghwa looks blank, as if he doesn’t understand the situation, and subtitles appear below.

‘The devastated practice room, Ji Donghwa trainee left alone’

Ji Donghwa cautiously approaches Ryu Ideun, hesitates to shake him, and then quietly sits next to him, turns on his laptop, and starts working.

The screen passes in fast motion, and the clock overlaps, with the hour and minute hands moving quickly. And the time is 7 o’clock. Ryu Ideun wakes up startled, unable to believe he had slept. Then he sees Ji Donghwa working on the song alone and is even more surprised.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen hyung [older brother/male friend] wake up at 7 o’clock.’

“…Did you get any sleep?”

“Weren’t you the one who said we should stay up all night?”

“…That’s right, um… that, uh, sorry.”

“It’s okay, come and listen to the arrangement. The concept was (beep) so it was difficult to work on.”

* * *

As a result, the arrangement was well-received. The lyrics matched well, and changing the major key to a minor key made the atmosphere eerie, which wasn’t bad. Now, all that’s left is to adjust the part distribution and choreography.

The atmosphere isn’t bad. I feel like a ship with the wind in its sails. Maybe if we keep going like this, it’ll end well, no matter how the other team comes out. Of course, that’s only if a storm doesn’t come.

But unfortunately, weather anomalies are not within the realm of human prediction. What I mean is… a storm has occurred.

The part distribution wasn’t bad. From the start, I had modified the main vocal line to the point where only Lee Hyunjae could handle it, so the other guys couldn’t even try, and they appropriately divided the parts within their capabilities.

I brought Lee Hyunjae, who has the highest vocal range, so I have to use him properly, right?

Anyway, the problem arose when choosing the main dancer, and Ryu Ideun and failing student 2 started competing for the position.

Yes, competition can happen. Even though it’s a team battle, it’s still a solo battle in essence due to the nature of the survival show.

But……

“Hyung is slightly less skilled than me.”

That rude failing student 2 crossed the line first……

“Um, how about we both practice and show it to the others to get a vote?”

Ryu Ideun suggested a graceful and fair competition……

“It feels like a waste of time when we don’t have much time left……”

Failing student 2, who had eaten grace for breakfast since the initial dominance incident, opened a dirty debate.

Failing student 2’s dropout is urgent, really.

A guy who wouldn’t even open his mouth and would only be looking at the ground and praying if Chae Hamin was here is acting like a thug is king in a place without a rabbit [acting tough when the real competition isn’t around].

Ryu Ideun seemed a little angry, but he didn’t want to ruin the team atmosphere, so he quietly sighed.

Lee Hyunjae is the same age as Kim HyunJin at eighteen years old, and he’s not the type to step up in these situations due to his personality, and failing student 1 didn’t seem to care much.

‘Ugh, I hate this.’

If possible, I want to get through this without conflict, but it’s an unpleasant and unfair thing for someone to be deprived of an opportunity for such an illogical reason.

“Saying it’s a waste of time is nonsense.”

The attention is focused on me the moment I open my mouth.

“Skill is important for the perfection of this stage, but since the concept is what it is, how well you can digest the concept is also an important factor. So, instead of thinking it’s a waste of time, it would be better for both of you to practice and ask the dance trainer for their opinion.”

Then failing student 2’s expression turned embarrassed and soon distorted. What a load of crap.

“…Why, why are you taking Ideun hyung’s side?”

Ah, I really hate this. What confidence do you have in front of the camera?

“Does giving a fair opportunity look like taking sides?”

“If Ideun hyung had said that like me, would you have done the same?”

I gently dropped the honorifics I had been using for the public meeting.

“It’s unlikely that Ideun hyung would say that, but if there are more than two people who want to do it and they insist on doing it without even checking their skills, I’ll oppose anyone.”

Then everyone makes a flustered expression.

…Why are you flustered? What should I do if you’re flustered even when I’m saying the right thing?

“That, hyung! You’re roommates with Ideun hyung, so you’re closer to him, and that’s why you’re saying that to me!”

Failing student 2 starts to rush. How unaesthetic. I stared at him with cold eyes.

“I’m not saying that because we’re close, but because it’s unfair to take the position of main dancer by being stubborn and without going through any competition.”

“……”

“You should have argued that you should be the main dancer in a more reasonable way.”

He glances at Ryu Ideun. He seems to want him to mediate the situation, but what’s the point of sending a look asking for help to the person you screwed over……

“Let’s stop, Donghwa.”

He’s helping.

I nodded and closed my mouth.

“Haha, I’m screwed.”

Then Ryu Ideun starts laughing in vain. The atmosphere is ruined, so let’s shut up.

“I failed to see Donghwa panicking.”

That’s right, me panicking… um?

“Hyung, how should we wrap this up?”

Kim HyunJin asks Ryu Ideun seriously.

“It’s over, right?”

Lee Hyunjae starts laughing softly as if he can finally laugh.

I slowly grasp the situation. But, I don’t know?

“…What’s the situation?”

Then Ryu Ideun shouted loudly.

“It’s been a hidden camera all along!”

Kim HyunJin sighs in relief as if he’s finally relieved and runs to Ryu Ideun and hugs him.

“Hyung, I was really scared. Please exclude me next time you do a hidden camera on Donghwa hyung.”

“Okay, HyunJin. I was scared too, watching from the side. Ugh, what, cold air was coming out when he was talking.”

I slowly watched the situation and realized.

I was tricked. Damn it.

“…Who’s the mastermind?”

Then failing student 2 immediately falls away from Ryu Ideun and cautiously points to Ryu Ideun with his finger. Ryu Ideun looks at failing student 2 with a betrayed expression and whispers.

“HyunJin, you said you’d do it with me.”

“Ideun hyung, Donghwa hyung is a little scarier than hyung.”

With that, Kim HyunJin laughed playfully and ran out of the practice room.

…I’ll hold off on failing student 2’s dropout. I murmured a small apology in my heart to failing student 2 for the harsh words, even though it was just in my thoughts.

After that, I looked at Ryu Ideun, who was left alone, with a slight smile.

“…We really wasted time.”

“I, that’s……”

“The mid-term evaluation is in two days.”

“……”

“I’m trying to save time, so I stayed up all night arranging and then came straight to the meeting without sleeping, but someone has been planning to waste time deceiving others.”

“…I’m sorry, Donghwa-nim [formal suffix].”

I nodded in satisfaction. Lee Hyunjae started laughing like crazy again.

* * *

#A Team Stage Before VCR Edited Version

[Q. Which member had the most trouble during the team practice process?]

Behind the question subtitles, Kim HyunJin, whom Ji Donghwa calls failing student 2, comes out and starts answering.

[I think it’s Donghwa hyung. He probably only slept about two hours a day during the practice period, right?]

This time, Lee Hyunjae comes out.

[Q. Which member had the most trouble during the team practice process?]

[Um, Donghwa hyung. I think I received a lot of mental help from Donghwa hyung. Whenever I was having a hard time, I went to hyung for counseling.]

Next, Ryu Ideun and Park Woojin, failing student 1, come out and briefly answer Ji Donghwa to the same question.

This time, Ji Donghwa comes out.

[Q. Which member had the most trouble during the team practice process?]

When given the same question, Ji Donghwa tilts his head and answers.

[Objectively speaking, everyone had a hard time, so I don’t think anyone had a particularly harder time.]

And the following question.

[Q. I heard you’re planning a conspiracy against Ryu Ideun trainee, is that correct?]

[Yes.]

The screen changes and Ryu Ideun comes out.

[Q. Did you know?]

[He just says that, I’m confident that Donghwa won’t die even if he stabs me with a knife.]

[Q. Is that possible?]

Ji Donghwa comes out and answers again.

[That hyung is not human, he’s a machine, so it’s possible. So, I’m planning to poison him.]

[Q. Kim HyunJin trainee said he respects Ji Donghwa trainee, did you know?]

[Did HyunJin say that himself?]

Kim HyunJin briefly appears on the screen and answers.

[Yes (laughs).]

[I don’t know what his intention is, but please tell him that I won’t unconditionally take his side.]

* * *

Junseong watched the stage that had come again. The competition being held this time is a 5-on-5 team battle. According to the documents submitted yesterday, Ji Donghwa worked hard to arrange his team’s song this time as well.

‘Reminia’s ‘Genie’… It’s either a hit or a miss.’

Since the concept of a genie granting wishes is so firm, a major overhaul such as rewriting the lyrics would be necessary to change the atmosphere.

‘The A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team will help, but there are limits.’

If the trainees’ ideas are not supported, the stage will inevitably be ruined.

Personally, I hope that Ji Donghwa’s team, which includes Hyunjae and Ideun, who spent their trainee days together, wins, but as a judge, I have to evaluate them coldly.

Shortly after, standby was called, and the judges all moved to the backstage, and then the audience began to enter.

I heard that applications were received for the audience for today’s team competition even before the first episode aired, so it seems that this program is subtly becoming a hot topic in the idol scene.

* * *

‘I haven’t returned to the scene yet. I’m just here to get a taste. Just.’

She, who had left the fandom and declared that she would never return to this damn idol scene when her main fandom collapsed due to a sexual harassment issue, accidentally watched Ji Donghwa’s introduction video that a friend had shared.

A face reminiscent of a cold stray cat, but a voice dripping with honey, a warm atmosphere when he smiles, but he’s shy and his ears turn red easily, damn it, what was he going to do if he didn’t become an idol?

But she has absolutely not jumped back into fandom.

However, it’s just curiosity.

She just happened to be watching all the videos of Ji Donghwa on the official YouTube channel of [program name] because she was a little bored, and she accidentally found the application form for audience seats and applied out of a very small curiosity.

That’s how she rationalized to herself that she wasn’t stanning Ji Donghwa.

The panel in her hand read ‘I’ll give you hope, Ji Donghwa’. She had been debating until the end with the phrase ‘I want Ji Donghwa’s ears’, but she decided on the former because the latter was too perverted.

But even so, she is absolutely not stanning Ji Donghwa.

“Okay, we’ll enter in order from application number 1! It’s not a standing seat, and the application order is the seat number, so you don’t need to run!”

As the staff shouted loudly, she checked to make sure that the paper with the number 3 written on it was safely in her pocket.

‘Let’s get a grip. I’m only watching once. I decided not to jump into the idol scene anymore.’

She took a deep breath and moved her steps, clutching the panel she had printed out last night.