Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 25

25.

‘…Why do humans live?’

I’m sitting in the movie theater, feeling a sense of futility.

On the screen, two-dimensional characters are bickering, trying to restore the ‘Golden Pancake’ recipe to save the world… Haa, let’s not even get into the plot.

Why am I watching this kind of movie on this precious holiday…….

“Huuu, hic, heok.”

…Even the kids aren’t crying, shut up, Seokjun.

In the screen, Alfred, personified as a grape, gets his leg stuck in a sugar rock, while Redin, personified as a melon, awkwardly stands still, having run away with the last pancake recipe.

Where on earth is there a point to cry here?

‘Redin, leave me and run!’

‘Oh my, Alfred, how could I…….’

‘To save the world, we need that pancake recipe!’

‘Alfred, without you, pancakes mean nothing!’

…Redin, that pancake recipe is quite meaningful in your world.

“Alp, heuheok, Red…….”

Just shut your mouth, please.

‘Oh dear… abandoning the world for failing to abandon a friend. How unfortunate, how unfortunate. Redin, don’t you know that friends mean nothing? It would be better to just abandon him and run away, wouldn’t it?’

A witch who looks like she’s seven heads tall starts persuading Redin.

She’s frustrating as hell too.

Instead of persuading him to abandon his friend, she should steal the recipe when Redin is being such an idiot, witch.

If I were you, the world would have already been destroyed.

“Witch, bad… bad witch, heuk, heok, hueok.”

…Jun, that’s not bad, that’s just stupid.

* * *

It was this morning when Seokjun came to find me while I was blankly sleeping on my long-awaited holiday.

“Hyungnim [term for older brother or male friend]― wouldn’t you― like to― watch a― movie with― me.”

He must have just woken up too, his words are slower than usual.

“…Why?”

“Actually― no one else― wants to― watch a movie― with me.”

“…Why?”

Maybe he’s being bullied or something among the kids.

“I― don’t really― know― either―”

If that’s the case, I’ll have to kill Ryuideen first.

“…Okay, let’s go.”

Then Seokjun was startled and delighted, shouting.

“Hyungnim, you’re really my love!”

“…But what’s the title?”

“Fruit World: The Fluffy Pancake Grand Operation.”

…What? Say it again, you dinosaur.

* * *

The problem is that I thought he was being bullied. I rarely felt sympathy because it reminded me of my school days, but what is this.

We came out after the movie ended. The only people watching children’s movies early on a weekday morning were young children and their parents, except for us.

…And surprisingly, we were the only group that included someone crying.

I carefully took out a handkerchief and handed it to Seokjun.

“Thank― heuk, you―”

…You look neat and serious like an actor on TV, but what’s wrong with your head.

I don’t want to believe in superstitions, but seeing a guy with a tear mole crying like this, I feel like I’ve found empirical evidence.

“…Shall we go in now then?”

“Ah! Just a moment― Iideen hyung― told me to contact him― when the movie ends―”

…Ryuideen, you son of a… ha. He wants to hang out but doesn’t want to watch the movie, so he used his brain, huh.

* * *

On an idol community, stories about The Next Ni members are being hotly posted.

[(TheNextNi) Saw Ji Donghwa and Seokjun at the movie theater]

I’m a CSV [convenience store] part-timer of 1 year

I was frying popcorn at the store when Ji Donghwa and Seokjun came and bought a nacho combo (I was unsure because they were wearing masks, but I was sure after seeing Seokjun’s tear mole and Ji Donghwa’s cat eyes)

Seokjun is my one-pick [favorite contestant], and I’m barely holding back my heart from exploding while writing this

But what’s funny is ㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋ this is the only movie playing at this time ㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋ

(Fruit World promotional poster)

Comments

(Omitted)

―Donghwa, I’m so excited to think about him watching that movie… It looks like Seokjun dragged him to watch it against his will

―Crazy ㅅㅂ [Korean slang for “f*ck”] ㅋㅋㅌㅌㅋㅋ Seriously, ㅅㅂ ㅋㅋㅌㅌㅋㅋ I can’t believe they’re holding nachos and watching that movie together from this morning, I’m going crazy

―OP [original poster])) Breaking news, breaking news, Seokjun came out of the movie crying and Ji Donghwa handed him a handkerchief.

―Ji Donghwa ㅅㅂ are you really crazy, what is this

―Wow… Seokjun crying while watching a children’s movie with that physique, and Ji Donghwa taking care of him with a handkerchief because he’s crying, wow, what should I do, it’s a little hard to breathe

―Writer… don’t you have more information…?

(Omitted)

―OP)) Breaking news, Ryuideen and Chae Hamin joined and just left. I didn’t know well because they were wearing masks, but I inferred from their physique and height

* * *

“Donghwa, where shall we go?”

“That’s right, we should go where our Donghwa wants to go.”

“I― will go― anywhere― Donghwa hyungnim― wants― to.”

…I want to go to the library if I could. I’ve never hung out with friends… so I don’t know what to do.

“…I don’t have friends, so I don’t know what people do for fun.”

“Why are you suddenly using honorifics, Donghwa hyung! We decided to drop the formalities!”

“…Just lead the way.”

“Oh, is this what they call banjondae [reversed honorifics]?”

Chae Hamin, who was listening to Ryuideen’s and my hopeless conversation, interjected and said.

“Then shall we go to the amusement park?”

…I don’t have friends, so I don’t know even if you ask, you rabbit.

* * *

So, following Chae Hamin, we went to the amusement park, bought tickets, and went inside.

‘It’s damn expensive.’

Will the cost-effectiveness come out?

Chae Hamin has been jumping up and down with Ryuideen since entering the amusement park, and Seokjun and I are slowly following behind them.

I looked at the surrounding scenery.

“…It’s romantic.”

The scenery, where nature and exotic architecture harmonize, was quite beautiful.

Come to think of it… I’ve been going out to play a lot since coming here. It’s new.

“Iideen hyung! What should we ride first?”

“Hmm, guys, are you all good at riding scary things?”

“…I’ve never ridden one before, so I don’t know.”

“Wow, Donghwa hyung, there’s something you absolutely have to ride if you come here.”

“…What is it?”

Ryuideen said I’d know when I see it and started running, leading us. I don’t know why he’s running, but there’s no reason to run, so Seokjun and I walked leisurely, and Chae Hamin looked back and forth between Ryuideen, who was running alone, and us, then ran towards Ryuideen.

‘He really can’t stand seeing someone alone.’

As Seokjun and I were walking without saying much, a bizarre building appeared in front of me.

“…Jun.”

“Yes―”

“…Is that it?”

“Yes―”

“…You’ll die if you fall.”

“Um― that’s― correct.”

Is that what they call a roller coaster? Why on earth do people pay to ride something like that.

I was blankly calculating all the possible ways to die, looking at the rotation, height, and angle of the rails.

“Donghwa, are you sure you’re okay with riding that?”

Chae Hamin grabbed me and asked…….

“Donghwa, it looks scary on the outside, but it’s really thrilling when you ride it!”

Ryuideen said with a bright smile.

“…Has that machine ever had an accident?”

“Wow, Donghwa hyung, you use honorifics even when you’re nervous.”

“…Ryuideen-ssi [formal address], be quiet and explain.”

“I don’t think there’s been an accident?”

“…I’ll try riding it once.”

I paid to get in, so it would be a waste not to ride the machine that they say you have to ride.

* * *

I’m going to kill myself from 10 minutes ago.

I’m going to start developing a time machine from now on, go back to the point 10 minutes ago, and lecture myself for 72 hours straight that life is more important than money… Wait, just a moment.

When the roller coaster reached its peak and stopped moving for a moment, I urgently grabbed Ryuideen’s wrist next to me.

“Donghwa, you have to raise your hands when it drops…….”

“Shut up!”

And at that moment, the roller coaster drops.

The guy, who was gradually accelerating from a high position, twisted and turned as if trying to make my soul leave my body…….

“Eueok!”

Rotated once…….

“Ryuideen, I’m going to, kill, you!”

Rotated once again…….

“Thrill is, bull, I’ll make, you feel it, yourself…….”

Fell down again.

I was driven to the point where my body and soul were about to separate, and as soon as the roller coaster stopped, I grabbed Ryuideen by the collar next to me.

“…Are you kidding me? What fun, this is just a preparation process for saying goodbye to this world.”

“Wow… Donghwa hyung… your vocabulary is no joke.”

Ryuideen replied with a grin.

As soon as the safety bar was released, I ran outside and collapsed on any bench.

Chae Hamin, who was looking at me worriedly, handed me a bottle of water that he had bought from somewhere.

“Are you okay, Donghwa?”

“…Hamin.”

He must have remembered that he was the one who suggested coming to the amusement park, and he replied with anxious eyes.

“…Why?”

“Help me kill Ryuideen.”

The time has finally come to carry out the Ryuideen assassination plan, which was a long-cherished project.

“…Um, if we’re using poison.”

Seeing Chae Hamin hesitating at my words and then answering with determined eyes as if he had made up his mind, I thought.

‘…Crazy bastard.’

* * *

“It’s peaceful, Donghwa.”

“…It is.”

I sent Ryuideen, who wanted excitement and only wanted to ride crazy machines, away with Seokjun, and I’m riding the merry-go-round with Chae Hamin.

I grab the handle and enjoy the natural scenery. Chae Hamin also seems to like this peacefulness, smiling brightly and looking around.

“…If it’s this peaceful without Ryuideen, maybe I should really assassinate him…….”

Hearing those words, Chae Hamin chuckled and asked.

“So, Donghwa, is the memory you talked about last time resolved well?”

“…Halfway.”

“That’s a relief, I was really worried after that incident. That was the second time I saw you having a hard time.”

“…Second time?”

“Yeah, the first time was the day I went to animal therapy with you!”

Ah, that snake feast.

“Come to think of it, my grandmother called me that day and said you were my benefactor.”

…I shouldn’t have cursed fortune-telling as superstition.

“…Does being a benefactor change anything?”

Then Chae Hamin pondered for a moment what it meant, then nodded and smiled.

…He’s only quick-witted about things like this.

* * *

After the merry-go-round, we rode bumper cars and even a water boat that children can ride, and we reunited and stood in front of a place at Ryuideen’s insistence.

“…I, Ryuideen, am extremely uneasy that you strongly insisted on going.”

“…Still call me hyung, Donghwa hyung. Anyway, this place is really going to be fun, you know?”

So the four of us walked into a place called ‘Horror Express.’

As soon as we entered, a low level of illumination and an atmosphere that seemed to recreate a tomb unfolded.

Oh, so we’re walking around in this kind of space.

It was after walking for about 2 minutes. I stopped walking for a moment due to the heavy steps and looked around.

Seokjun grabbing my arm from the right, Chae Hamin grabbing my arm from the left, and Ryuideen bowing his head behind me.

I endured the heavy body and asked.

“…What are you doing.”

“It’s― obvious― that hyungnim― isn’t― scared― of this― kind of thing.”

Turning my insides out with his slow speech…….

“Donghwa, I, I’m, a, little, scared.”

Making me want to shout to turn off the power because he’s trembling so much…….

“Donghwa hyung! Don’t stop and go!”

…I’m angry at the ridiculous hyung sound.

As we walked like that, a ghost suddenly appeared and grabbed me. At that moment, the other guys screamed and moved away from me.

“…Um, I’m sorry, but I have to go forward, so would you please move aside?”

Then the ghost actor hesitated slightly and slowly brought his face, which was made up without eyes, to me.

I can feel the joys and sorrows of the worker.

“…I really appreciate your hard work, but please allow me to pass.”

When I spoke, the ghost laughed and ran away from me.

“Donghwa, aren’t, aren’t, you, scared of, ghosts?”

“…Why would I be scared of something that doesn’t exist?”

People are scarier. Besides, that person isn’t a real ghost, he’s just a worker?

Then Ryuideen raised his hand and shouted.

“No! I’ve really seen a ghost before!”

“…Are you mistaken?”

As we listened to Ryuideen’s ghost story, we slowly moved forward.

After countless repetitions of screams and fast running from the rest except me, we broke through to the last course and went out the exit.

All the guys except me were half out of their minds, and Chae Hamin, among them, couldn’t even stand properly and was rolling on the floor.

“…Let’s go eat.”

I picked up Chae Hamin and approached Ryuideen and Seokjun, who were hugging each other and crying.

* * *

And the next day, we gathered in the practice room and started listening to team leader Jang Haejin’s briefing.

“Okay, everyone, you know that the 4th competition will be broadcast this Saturday, right? To let you know in advance, the elimination announcement will be made 5 days after the 4th competition is broadcast.”

Then, at the solemn atmosphere, Jang Haejin paused for a moment and soon opened his mouth.

“Only 6 of you will proceed to the final mission, and we plan to show a total of two songs live at that time.”

And Jang Haejin said as if solemnly declaring.

“But the practice period is short to do two songs, right? So, before the eliminated contestants are confirmed, I’m going to give you a heads up about one of the group song missions in advance. I especially hope Ji Donghwa trainee listens carefully.”

…What on earth is he talking about. What if I get eliminated by any chance?

“One of the final competition missions is self-production.”