Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 188

“Yes, it’s a secret. Of course, I know it, though.”

Team Leader Jang Hae-jin shouted as if wanting to make me jealous. Ryu Iden’s social skills lecture: if the higher-ups clearly want something, at least pretend to follow along. I followed Ryu Iden’s teachings.

“I’m so jealous.”

I replied briefly. Ryu Iden bit his lip for a moment, lowered his head, and shrugged his shoulders, seeming to be genuinely laughing.

“…Okay, next time, please bring your soul too, Dong-hwa.”

“I’m really jealous.”

“Okay……”

Seeing Team Leader Jang Hae-jin’s expression full of disillusionment, I realized that doing as I was taught was also a very difficult task. Lee Hyun-jae, you’re even more amazing.

A building full of yellow, pink, and green. A place where the bizarre patterns of the architecture make you excited just imagining which crazy architect built it.

We stood blankly in front of it.

“This is where we’ll be working today!”

The PD said, but we didn’t really get a sense of it.

“…What kind of place is it?”

Courageous Ryu Iden, I praise you.

“It’s a children’s welfare center.”

Wow, has Mok-hwa developed this much? No way. Would that kind of design really help children’s emotional development? Just looking at it makes my mind go blank.

Unlike me, who was shocked, the PD naturally began to explain the location and goals of this labor.

“There’s something called a ‘caregiver classroom’ here, where lower-grade students who are waiting for their parents after school, or preschool children, can hang out and play together. Educational programs are also conducted.”

“Ah, so are we like, one-day teachers?”

Ryu Iden’s words made me realize my own shortcomings. What kind of teacher could I be? Even if I could impart knowledge, my character is too lacking to lead children who haven’t grown up yet.

“‘Teacher’ is too grand, isn’t it? It feels like there’s too much responsibility. Just think of it as a helper. I asked the teachers, and they said that if you’re nervous in front of the kids, it’s easy to get teased. It’s better to go in with a lighter heart. Just think, ‘Let’s play together!’”

Oh dear, Ha-min is in big trouble. He’s going to be selected as a major target for teasing and be a mess all day.

“Our goal is to work here for three days.”

Oh dear, Ha-min is really in big trouble. He’ll be teased for three days straight.

“Then, shall we go get some training first!”

I turned to the side. I saw the other members smiling comfortably and following the PD. It’s funny, I don’t know why Ryu Iden is the most reliable. The thought suddenly crossed my mind: could there be anyone better than this guy for children’s education?

Lee Hyun-jae probably wouldn’t be able to understand the children’s hopes, Chae Ha-min probably wouldn’t be able to understand the children’s dark sides, and Seok-joon probably just wouldn’t know.

“Iden.”

“Why, hyung.”

“I’m counting on you.”

For the record, saying “I’m counting on you” is a threat to kill him if he makes a mistake. But even after seeing me for years, he still hasn’t gotten used to my language, and Ryu Iden’s face rapidly changed in the order of ‘doubt—panic—admiration—affection.’

“Oh, that’s kind of lovely? Can I give you a hug?”

Shut up, that’s why I can’t say nice things to you.

* * *

After receiving the guidelines from the teachers, we stood in the hallway.

“…Wow, it’s so noisy.”

“They’re at the height of their playtime. It’s always like that when the teacher isn’t there.”

It’s beyond noisy. I almost grabbed my head, feeling like it was ringing. Can I endure it, inside there?

“Okay, the caregiver classrooms are run by grade level. So, the teachers will also be divided into classes.”

At one teacher’s words, I was inwardly horrified. Please, don’t let me be assigned alone.

[Who are you praying to? Me, perhaps?]

Shut up.

[Impertinent, but your wish has been granted.]

You just predicted it, don’t act like you did me a favor.

[Disappointed.]

“There are two classes: lower elementary school students and preschool children. We call them the Cat Class and the Dog Class.”

Shouldn’t it be Chick Class and Rabbit Class, teacher?

“Oh, I feel like I already know who’s going in where.”

Chae Ha-min grinned. Of course, the gazes shifted to me and Ryu Iden.

“Yes, right? We took your faces into consideration a lot. So, Ha-min Teacher and Dong-hwa Teacher will be in the Cat Class, and Iden Teacher, Joon Teacher, and Hyun-jae Teacher will be assigned to the Dog Class.”

“Oh my god.”

Unlike me, who felt like I was falling into the abyss, Chae Ha-min nodded with satisfaction. It’ll be okay, right? Nothing big will happen, right? I hope I have patience.

“Um, if Joon hyung is assigned to the same class as me, I feel like I’ll be showing the kids a lot of non-educational scenes. Is that okay?”

“Even if you say that, we’ve all confirmed that you two are close!”

Lee Hyun-jae lowered the hand he had confidently raised at the teacher’s response. He seemed to sense that he couldn’t change it because it was a directive from the broadcasting station. But he couldn’t help the deep sense of frustration that was rising within him, so he squeezed his eyes shut and raised his head to the sky.

“Righ―t. Hyun-jae. We’re so― close that I’m afraid the kids will learn from watching us.”

No, Joon. Hyun-jae isn’t confident that he won’t slam your head in front of the kids.

“Please, may I have the peace of mind……”

The two teachers smiled brightly as they watched the two men’s conversation, then clapped their hands.

“Then, shall we go?”

“Guys, if you get any complaints from the parents, tell me right away.”

Ryu Iden muttered with a serious expression, glancing subtly in my direction. Could it be that this beast is worried about me? Even though I have experience raising Mok-hwa.

“Hyung, if two people are fighting, you have to grab Hyun-jae first with your strength. Seok-joon doesn’t even have the concept of fighting in his head.”

“Hey, I know that too.”

“Everyone, you won’t have time to worry about that once you go in.”

The two teachers looked at us with satisfaction before throwing out a word.

“Because you won’t have any energy left to fight.”

A bad omen. The teachers’ faces as they said that were so detached, as if they could see the future clearly. If the Buddha were to be reincarnated, wouldn’t he have that kind of face?

* * *

Kijisaeng [a supernatural entity the protagonist can communicate with].

[Yes.]

I’ll pray, save me.

With two children hanging on each of my arms, spouting out unknown words like crazy, I reflexively smiled and sent an SOS signal to Kijisaeng.

[I only predict.]

I’ll apologize, save me.

On the other side, Chae Ha-min was also buried by two children, laughing. That guy is really laughing. Crazy rabbit.

[Eat shit! Hahaha]

The teacher smiled as she looked at us.

“Okay, everyone, stop now.”

“Yes!”

What is it? You didn’t listen when I told you to stop. Do you guys already know what power is?

“Everyone, these two are the teachers who will be helping you with your studies for the next three days.”

“Wow! I saw you on TV!”

“That’s right, Hye-ji! Isn’t it more fun to study when handsome oppas [older brothers/male figures] are helping you?”

No, regardless of their faces, these kids don’t seem to have any intention of studying. These guys are definitely aiming to kill us.

“Yes! I’ll work hard!”

That kid is already wearing a mask. I’ve heard that kids these days are cunning, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. Their social skills are definitely better than mine.

The other children, like the child called Hye-ji, shouted as if they were going to tear the classroom apart.

“Okay, good. Before that! We should listen to our teachers’ introductions, right?”

Embarrassing.

We stood in a line next to the teacher. As soon as the words were spoken, Chae Ha-min waved both hands and smiled brightly.

“Nice to meet you, everyone! I’m the cute rabbit Ha-min Teacher who will be studying with you.”

Amazing, Ha-min. Is it true that you’re saying that on your own in this broadcast without a script?

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be studying with you.”

“Cat.”

“This is Ji Dong-hwa Teacher.”

Oh my god, Ha-min, what are you doing? Inserting a word in the middle of my introduction, and even accurately targeting the part where I usually take a breath due to my speech habit.

However, Chae Ha-min avoided my gaze and suppressed his laughter.

“Teacher, teacher, your ears are red!”

“Are you sick somewhere?”

Hye-ji and the child next to her, who looked like an angel, asked. Ah, these children are so pure that they wouldn’t even know if they were stabbed with a knife. They’re doubling my shame.

“The teachers have introduced themselves, so we should give you some free time, right? Ask the teachers questions, ask them to play with you! You understand, everyone!”

“Yes!”

“But you can’t make it hard for them!”

“Yes!”

Teacher, if you tell the children to make it hard for us and then tell them not to, which beat are we supposed to follow? It’s like commissioning a murder and then saying that you can’t kill that person.

However, Chae Ha-min was still smiling brightly and running towards the children, as if he was the only one who didn’t feel burdened by this situation.

“Kids! What should we do!”

“Teacher, teacher, I want to do this coloring book together!”

“Wow, that sounds like so much fun. But what’s your name, friend?”

Sociability. Action. All other social skills are several times mine. I see, as long as the other person doesn’t have bad intentions, there are few social beasts like Chae Ha-min. Because the other person is a child, he can be really pure and bright socially.

I gradually realized why Ryu Iden’s worried gaze was fixed on me. Ryu Iden’s social skills lecture is only useful when dealing with adults who basically have dirty and ugly inner thoughts, and it’s no different from garbage here.

Mok-hwa was a quiet child. Even my only weapon, experience, is not helpful. Ah, is this how it feels to realize you didn’t bring your ID to the SAT [Scholastic Aptitude Test] test? This is a big problem.

“Teacher, teacher, can you play the piano?”

A child grabbed my pant leg, holding a piano textbook.

“This is, very, very difficult.”

Escape route found.

“Um, if there’s sheet music, shall I play it for you?”

The child’s expression brightened noticeably.

“Yes, yes! Piano, piano!”

Okay, my role today is a jukebox. Chae Ha-min will play with the kids, and I’ll play the piano.

* * *

However, I didn’t know that children are creatures that can love even a jukebox.

Endless song requests and a crowd gathered around the piano sound. I was the only one playing the piano in the middle of it, and my mind was going blank.

“Teacher, teacher, this too!”

When a child put up sheet music, I played it appropriately, and then more sheet music came up, I played it, and eventually, a bet was placed on who would put up the sheet music first, the children fought, cried, were comforted, and then I played the piano again.

I want to quit being a jukebox.

“Dong-hwa, I’ll take over.”