Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 235

Let’s rewind a bit to before the ‘Dong-hwa is corrupting Joon-ie again’ incident within Blossoms.

Seok-joon launched into a manic explanation, triggered by his long-dormant obsession—apparently, Ryu Iden had been suppressing it all along, quietly maintaining the team’s peace. I even joined in, enjoying a conversation with Seok-joon after so long, peppering him with questions.

“So, this one beats that one?”

“Yes!”

It defies common sense that a seemingly innocent creature could defeat a radioactive rat, especially considering the historical evidence of the Black Death, now compounded with radiation. Shouldn’t that spell the end of humanity?

“It’s because of the types in the Cube!”

Seok-joon then presented a neatly organized chart. I’m not sure whether to admire him for carrying that around, Joon-ah.

The chart had axes labeled with things like Earth, Water, and Plague, with symbols indicating which was dominant in each cell.

“You memorized all of this?”

“Yes! It took a long time. I’m proud of myself.”

Seok-joon smiled brightly and patted his head. He has such a handsome face, like an actor, but somehow, our Joon-ie…

“…Lend me that for a bit, too.”

Just as he had shown interest in my notebook earlier, Seok-joon responded with a mix of surprise and joy.

“Here you go!”

Come to think of it, none of us really understand Joon-ie’s hobbies.

The world of fandom is vast and profound. To have a conversation with Seok-joon about Wizney and the Cube, you need so much prior knowledge that we usually just end up saying, ‘Ah… okay!’

Which really means, ‘I don’t really get it, but okay! If it makes you happy!’

If Ryu Iden was a dam controlling Seok-joon’s obsession, there’s no reason I can’t be a sluice gate in that dam. With a bit of studying, I might be able to hold a conversation.

I quickly grasped the rules from the thin chart. If only I had a photographic memory, but alas.

[Ugh, you’re so dumb!]

Shut up. I’m still human compared to an immortal being.

Anyway, as I was figuring out the rules, I frowned. Things like Fire and Water were easy to understand, but what’s a Fairy, and why is it strong against Dragon?

Going by medieval history, goblins were also called fairies, but I’ve never heard of a goblin defeating a dragon.

About five minutes later, Seok-joon cautiously asked,

“Is it fun?”

“…Yeah, I think I’ve memorized most of it.”

It’s kind of fun, memorizing it. It sparks a bit of a challenge.

Seok-joon clapped and smiled as if he expected it. He seemed quite pleased that I was taking an interest in his hobby.

“Are all their types written down?”

“Yes! I wrote them all down! In case anyone asks, I wanted to be sure to tell them…”

Amazing. I’m so proud. I’ll be sure to tell the Luminaries [elite members of their group/organization].

These days, the fans are forgetting our team’s fundamental madness and calling me subtly mad. As if that makes any sense when you’re around.

Some even say you’re fake mad and I’m the real mad. I don’t know when the meanings of fake and real changed.

* * *

Seok-joon suddenly seemed to be in a good mood, humming and tapping to a rhythm.

The off-beat rhythm was definitely hip-hop, so I guess he really is a rapper. Like the modern language Mok-hwa taught me, it’s hip [cool or fashionable].

Of course, to me, he’s just the only non-extinct dinosaur who loves radioactive rats.

That rhythm even continued into the broadcasting station’s conference room. He clearly looked like he was saying, ‘I’m excited.’ I need to stop him before the meeting starts.

“Why are you so excited?”

“Because of you, hyung [older brother or male friend].”

“Plag—”

—ue.

“You have to watch the Cube movie with me when we get home today.”

“Okay.”

“And play the game with me.”

“Sure.”

“And battle me.”

“Of course.”

“And after that, watch the animation together!”

“…Can we do all that today?”

“With you, hyung, I’d go to the ends of hell!”

Slow down. Don’t prove you’re a rapper only at times like this. And why do we have to go to the ends of hell to watch games and cartoons in the first place?

Seok-joon grinned. Just as I was hearing about how he had an extra game console just for times like this, I realized.

He must have really wanted to do this together.

But everyone else has their own hobbies, so he probably couldn’t ask them.

If only Lee Hyun-jae had shamelessly pressured Ryu Iden like, ‘Do it, or our relationship will suffer,’ Seok-joon could have done that and everyone would have given in.

“…Okay.”

Let’s do it, damn it. Let’s do everything. It feels like the dam is collapsing instead of just opening the sluice gate, but so what.

At that moment, Seok-joon immediately stood up, cheering and clapping. And at the same time, the door opened, and the writer came in, startled.

She let out a short, ‘…Oh my,’ before the door closed again, and I smiled.

“Joon.”

“Yes!”

“Sit down.”

“Yes!”

Why is the shame always mine? How unethical is it when one person’s responsibility is transferred to another? Jonas, what do you think?

The writer, who had come back in, put on a calm face and smiled.

“Hello, Blossoms! You can give me your luggage, and I’ll take care of it.”

Seok-joon’s treasure pouch, the sticker storage he’d collected over the past few months, was handed over to the writer, and I also handed over my small clutch bag.

And I definitely checked that the notebook was inside before handing it over.

* * *

The time was when I was focused on Pocket Monsters. I had two monitors set up in the studio, connected to the game so I could play with Seok-joon.

“…This one’s not great either.”

“But, but this one’s cute!”

“That won’t help you in battle.”

The damage output is calculated honestly based on data fragments. I’d understand if you were going easy on them because they’re cute.

“…Hyung, you’ve been catching only this one for the thirtieth time.”

“Because I can’t get the stats I want.”

Based on Seok-joon’s explanations and my own research, everything in this game is about numbers.

Converting value into numbers to evaluate targets would be a problem in the real world, but it’s encouraged in this game, so it’s different.

“This isn’t the Cube, hyung…”

“This is the essence of the Cube, Joon.”

“The Cube is about playing with the kids with affection!”

“It’s also a game that encourages those kids to fight.”

How cruel. Suddenly invading their territory, using violence, and capturing them without any constitutional protection just because they’re beasts, then locking them in a round prison.

Some Pocket Monsters even have ‘language skills,’ but they don’t receive any legal protection. After being caught through violence, they’re treated as possessions. It’s antisocial.

After being locked up like that, they’re constantly trained when they come out, and if they get tired and want to rest, they’re forcibly taken to the hospital for a 3-second treatment and then trained again.

The only command they receive is to kill the opponent. It’s amazing that Pocket Monsters don’t develop mental disorders.

Seok-joon seemed to want to refute everything I said, but he just mumbled and finally managed to reply.

“It’s for all of our dreams…”

“Not ‘we,’ it’s for my dream.”

The title of Pocket Monster Master is bestowed upon me, and the Pocket Monsters are just being exploited for that honor.

They were great warriors, but it’s a system where only the owner who sends slaves to the Colosseum benefits, a system that has existed since Rome.

“Hyung!”

I couldn’t help but smile as I spoke.

Hanging out with Seok-joon has a nostalgic feel. I used to play like this with Mok-hwa when I wasn’t working as much.

“Still, they’re cute.”

I nodded, watching the one I finally got with all the stats I wanted smiling brightly. Its form is amorphous, but its cheerful smile is impressive.

“Right! He’s another friend I like! He’s in the notebook I gave you, hyung.”

Ah, should I take a look?

I took out the clutch bag and rummaged through it. And I paused for a moment when I realized there was only a book and a sewing kit inside.

All the memories related to the clutch bag instantly flashed through my mind.

I haven’t opened it once since putting the notebook Seok-joon gave me inside. My memory is highly unlikely to be wrong. What is it?

Seok-joon, who was watching me stop, looked at me with a puzzled expression and smiled.

“Maybe, a present?”

Joon, this is pretty serious. If you’re so cheerful, I’m going to feel sad.

“Um, Joon.”

“Yes, hyung. I’m looking forward to it.”

Please don’t.

“It’s gone.”

Seok-joon tilted his head, confused. And my eyes, probably unusually for me, were shaking.

I put down the clutch bag and looked at Seok-joon.

“Your notebook.”

There was clearly no moment in my memory where it could have fallen out, but it was impossible to make up a lame excuse. I apologized first.

“I’m sorry…”

“…Huh?”

Seok-joon couldn’t understand. Like a philosopher or critic contemplating the meaning of words, he was trying to understand the meaning of everything I said.

All I could do was think about how to find all those stickers again.

I have a lot of money. The problem is the bread that gets thrown away without being eaten. But to apologize to Seok-joon, wouldn’t it be okay to cause a little trouble to the planet?

I stood up and faced Seok-joon. Seok-joon finally seemed to understand and opened his mouth slightly.

Eye contact with me. It was a short time, but that moment felt like an eternity.

After a while, a tear ran down Seok-joon’s cheek. Even the clueless Pocket Monster shed tears through the speaker.

Ah, it’s been so long since I’ve made someone cry directly. And it’s so clearly my fault, too.

“I’ll buy it all again.”

“Ah, ah, no, it’s okay…”

“I’ll eat all the bread, too.”

“It’s okay, hngh…”

Seok-joon cried, then stood up and bowed, saying he would go in first.

He was polite to the end, but I could tell how great his disappointment was.

* * *

I sat in my seat for a long time, staring blankly at the damn monster that was smiling brightly and crying, before returning to the dorm.

It’s not a problem that what I lost was a popular sticker these days. Most things in this world can be bought with money, and you can overcome scarcity with money.

But the problem is that it was given as a token of trust.

Then the fact that it was lost becomes an act of betraying trust. Even if I buy it again, that fact doesn’t disappear.

Seok-joon’s world is pure and transparent, so he can trust and entrust precious things to those he trusts. Moreover, it was something he lent me because he was grateful that I was indulging in his hobby.

He wanted me to play with him while looking at it.

“Um, sorry, are we talking about the stickers, right?”

Ryu Iden tilted his head as he listened to my story.

“Is it… a really… big… deal?”

The explanation session took place with Seok-joon covering himself with a blanket and crying continuously in his room.

As I was explaining why he was crying, I mentioned the word trust, and he gave me a dumbfounded look. He seemed to think it was an exaggeration.

Lee Hyun-jae gave Ryu Iden a clear answer.

“That’s symbolic. When I was curious and looked at it for a while, he was trembling next to me, watching to see if it would wear out. If he lent something like that to Dong-hwa hyung, it’s given more meaning than just a simple sticker notebook. It’s like the feeling of collecting stones with a friend when you were young.”

Lee Hyun-jae turned his head with a subtle smile and made eye contact with me.

“And Dong-hwa hyung lost it.”

You sly bastard.

“…That’s right.”

I buried my face in my hands. Ah, who the hell is it? Was there a thief in the broadcasting station? But they didn’t touch anything else, what are they doing?