Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 141

141.

After a really short trip, we returned to the music show. Today, we heard the news that we were nominated for first place.

“To be nominated and keep rising after only two weeks of activity…”

Ryu Iden muttered in what sounded like an emotional voice.

“I know, right? I guess we’re pretty successful. Wow, what should I do, Juna? I’m so nervous!”

Cha Hamin also seemed moved, raising both hands in the air and shouting. Despite Cha Hamin’s words, Seokjun had his face buried in his phone. He seemed to be up to something strange again, so I decided to ignore him for a while.

Cha Hamin didn’t seem to care much and ran to Lee Hyunjae, hugging my much smaller tutoring student tightly. What are you doing to a student right now?

Studying might not be the most important thing, but inflicting physical harm on someone striving for their dreams is not right.

“Hamin, come here and have some tea.”

Today, I didn’t forget to add honey to the ginseng tea.

“I’m nervous. I think I’ll always be nervous about being nominated for first place, no matter how many times it happens.”

I nodded involuntarily because it seemed so true, Hamin. Cha Hamin took a sip of the tea but didn’t seem to calm down, getting up and dancing to ‘Heung.’ I might need to submit it as academic data that rabbits dance when placed in stressful situations with positive stimuli.

Ryu Iden made eye contact with me and naturally picked up his phone to start filming. Playing ‘Heung’ was a bonus.

“Hamin-ah! Look here and do it one more time!”

“Okay!”

Cha Hamin responded to Ryu Iden’s words with a passionate dance. Ryu Iden seemed to get excited too, fixing his phone on a stand and rushing in to dance like crazy. Lee Hyunjae watched the scene with a slightly disdainful look. Seokjun, who had been focused on his phone since earlier, was still engrossed in it amidst this chaotic scene.

I felt like I was losing my mind in this utopia of animals realized in human society.

“Hyungs, upload that.”

“Oh, Hyunjae! You want to share it with the fans because you’re watching it!”

Lee Hyunjae frowned slightly and muttered.

“The fans have a right to know what you guys are doing…”

Saying it like it’s a national right to know makes it sound like that dance is illegal, Hyunjae.

“Hyunjae, don’t you think the fans expect this much?”

“…Isn’t seeing it in person different? It’s more shocking to witness a crime than to just know about it.”

That’s true. The shock is greater when imagination can’t intervene.

And regardless of that conversation, Ryu Iden and Cha Hamin were happily checking and uploading the video.

“There’s some kind of challenge going around these days, let’s make a ‘Heung’ challenge, Hamin-ah.”

“Wow, hyung, are you a genius? Let’s dominate SNS [Social Networking Services]!”

Do you think you can, you fools? People on SNS have intelligence, so they won’t participate after seeing a bizarre video of two beasts running wild.

That’s how the commotion ended. I liked the silence that returned.

“Wow…”

A gasp like a death cry cut sharply through the silence.

“Oh, God…”

At first, I thought Team Leader Jang Haejin was nearby.

“Thank you!”

Oh, it was Seokjun. I didn’t realize it because he was talking so fast.

“Thank you!”

Everyone’s attention turned to Seokjun. Even I was going crazy wondering why he was doing that.

“Really, thank you so much! News of a new Fruits World production! Thank you!”

Gi-saeng, is this your doing?

[No! I’m not very interested in anything in this world except you and the people around you! There’s no way I’d be involved in making a children’s movie!]

Then if it wasn’t something divine, what are you thanking?

“Hyungs! I’m buying everyone snacks at the cafeteria today! I’ll buy them tomorrow too! Fruits World! Fruits World!”

Why? Wouldn’t it be better to use that money to buy fan merchandise when the new movie comes out?

“Wow! Juna! Let’s go!”

“I’m going to eat macarons.”

“Hyunjae! Eat up! Today is the day to eat and die!”

The members except for me approached Seokjun and took his wallet first.

I’m the one making the most money right now, so I don’t want to get a free ride with my younger brother’s wallet, so I should stay still.

“Iden hyung, Donghwa looks like he’s trying to slip away again, let’s drag him along.”

“Yeah! You have to go too, Donghwa hyung!”

Speaking informally, amazing.

That’s how I was grabbed by Ryu Iden and dragged along. I thought about switching my card with Seokjun’s in the middle. In that state, Seokjun wouldn’t even notice the switch.

* * *

[Idol Workshop Review. (Caution: Insects)]

(A picture of a praying mantis sitting elegantly on the grass.)

(A picture of a fallen stag beetle.)

(A meme of people staring blankly with their mouths open.)

I think this is the most accurate summary.

Comments

―I acknowledge and acknowledge again, teacher. I was stuck on that part for 10 minutes while watching the video.

―Is Ji Donghwa really crazy? ㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅌㅋ I thought he was the most rational ㅅㅂㅋㅌㅋㅋㅌㅋ

―The quietest madness in the world.

―Rational madness, even the modifier is paradoxical, what is he…

―The thing I was most worried about while stanning [supporting] these flower boys has happened… the collapse of the last bit of reason…

Those who frequented the Blossence fan community burst into laughter at the Idol Workshop episode that aired today.

From the pink sketchbook that a grown adult man was holding during the hidden camera shoot, to the members’ blank expressions at the nonsense about insect idols, the short play by Ryu Iden, who is number one in social skills, and Ji Donghwa, who is number one in catching on to the leader’s intentions, and finally, the chaos of the other members who didn’t want to see only the two of them die.

Whatever my babies do, how could it not be cute, but this time, the situation itself was funny, according to many.

In particular, Luminous, who collects ‘Ji Donghwa Disillusionment Memes,’ also existed after seeing Ji Donghwa imitate a praying mantis and briefly fail to manage his expression, taking time to realize reality.

Seokjun’s nonsense moments, Cha Hamin’s kind-hearted fool moments, Ryu Iden’s leader moments and moments when he’s serious about teasing Ji Donghwa, and Lee Hyunjae’s maknae [youngest member] moments, embarrassed by those hyungs [older brothers/male friends].

All of these things are revealed in one video, and it was ranked in Luminous’s personally selected official ‘Top 10 Videos to Watch After Becoming a Fan.’

The Luminous were riding high on ‘Heung,’ which took off as soon as they shed the title of rookie, and if they were provided with such a content video on top of that, it couldn’t help but become something beyond a festival.

“…Our Hamin is so awesome.”

Cha Hamin’s fan naturally blushed with embarrassment, watching Cha Hamin’s GIF with a dazed expression, looking at the community, and repeating the process of watching the GIF again.

“Stanning Roomnuts… is so satisfying, Hamin-ah.”

An idol’s fan has several desires. One of them is the desire for the idol I stan to succeed and be able to meet them for a long time. Equating one’s own success with the success of others may not be so desirable, but if it makes both sides happy, wouldn’t it be okay?

‘There will be a lot of new Roomnuts flowing in now.’

This ‘Heung’ activity is subtly continuing to gain popularity. The fans in the idol scene aren’t so patient as to leave handsome Confucian scholars wearing hanboks [traditional Korean clothing] alone. On top of that, they also appeared on Idol Workshop, which is treated as a human resources office in the idol scene—meaning it introduces which idol to stan. It seems like it’s time for a lot of new peanuts to grow.

‘The whole world needs to know that my baby dances well, damn it. I’m just this kind of human.’

Therefore, she is making GIFs for inducing new fans today as well. I hope the whole world knows!

‘…But if they go overseas, I won’t be able to attend in person, so I’ll be a little sad.’

So even if the whole world knows, I hope Korea knows a little more!

* * *

Two weeks before the last music show for ‘Heung,’ today’s ending fairy was Cha Hamin. He was standing in front of the camera with a bright expression, making hand hearts, and he was slightly heaving as if he was out of breath.

…How can that not be embarrassing? I’m always curious about that.

“Hyung! This time, Fruits World is!”

Stop it, Juna. Please. I can’t stand hearing the same story over and over again.

But I only think that way in my heart, and I listen quietly for now. Maybe there will be new news today.

“The concept is hip-hop! After only trying musical attempts, finally! Focusing on the character Kaiper, who appeared briefly in the past!”

Um, I’ve heard that story. I just nod.

“Let’s go see it together when it comes out, hyung!”

“…Okay.”

Just don’t cry this time, Juna.

“But, will we be able to watch a movie in the theater?”

Ryu Iden quickly jumped in and poured cold water on it.

“Why?”

“Because I think we’re going to be very busy now. We’re going to do follow-up song activities too.”

The follow-up song activities were decided because we wanted to meet Korean fans for a longer time before going on the overseas promotion schedule. We’re not thinking about the results, and we’re planning to perform a stage just for the fans for about 3 weeks.

“It’s okay! Either way, it’ll be on the screen around the time our activities end to match the schedule!”

I miss the days when Seokjun spoke slowly. Recently, his tension has been excessively high because of the new Fruits World movie.

After finishing the general schedule, the road manager said something to us as we headed to the dorm.

“Seokjun-ssi [Mr. Seokjun]. Seokjun-ssi, I received a call asking you to come to the company with me before going to the dorm.”

Finally, the fact that he is the only dinosaur in existence has been revealed. Actually, all birds are classified as dinosaurs, so it’s not wrong. Anyway, I don’t think the agency can handle it alone.

“Did I, uh, do something wrong!”

Seokjun seemed to be worried for no reason, perhaps because he had a history of cleanly spoiling a big secret and being scolded last time.

“No. It seems like a schedule has come in? Don’t worry too much and just go with me!”

* * *

The dorm became quieter after Seokjun disappeared. We gathered in the living room and started guessing what the schedule would be.

“Juna has good physical condition, so maybe it’s a sports entertainment show?”

“If they call him on an entertainment show, I think his character will be clear.”

“Or maybe it’s a rap content?”

I nodded at Cha Hamin’s suggestion. He’s a dinosaur who raps really well.

While various guesses were rampant, the door opened and we heard something slump down.

We hurriedly went to the entrance and saw Seokjun kneeling and crying.

“Ju, Juna!”

Cha Hamin shouted and ran over, adding words of comfort asking what happened and if he was scolded.

What on earth happened? Seokjun cries easily, but he’s not the type to cry for no reason. I just hoped that he wouldn’t have to call the company people ‘company bastards.’

“Hy, hyungs! Hyunjae-yaaaa!”

Seokjun’s wail. We all felt sorry for him and knelt down together at the entrance to listen to the story.

But, why does his voice sound happy?

I looked at Ryu Iden. Ryu Iden also frowned as if he was wondering.

No way, this bastard.

“I’m participating in Fruits World as a voice actorrrrr!”

Silence. Only Seokjun’s crying flowed through the silence.

You crazy bastard, you’re going to screw us all over like this.

“My dream! My dream!”

I ignored the nonsense I heard in the back and went back to the sofa to cut a pear for Lee Hyunjae. Let’s fulfill the desire to receive fruit while studying by changing the subject and object.

“Hyunjae, is there anything difficult about studying?”

“No, hyung. I’m very happy these days.”

“My dream has come true!”

Shut up, you damn bird.