Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 271

I had heard that this baseless broadcast was gaining popularity.

It felt strange, as if something was off, and I couldn’t attribute it solely to our group’s increasing popularity.

First, the number of stories starting with ‘This is Luminous’ has slightly decreased lately. If our fanbase had grown, it would be normal to have stories starting with ‘Luminous’ filling the airwaves, like in the old days.

Second, I heard that a considerable number of people in their thirties and forties are listening to this baseless broadcast in real-time.

Considering that our main fanbase is teenagers and those in their twenties, that ratio is strangely high.

Lastly, according to Lee Hyunjae, our broadcast was mentioned in radio recommendation posts.

This means that some people are encountering us for the first time not as idols, but as radio DJs.

“Hyung-nim [older brother/male friend], it’s probably because of you, hyung-nim.”

“I wonder.”

Perhaps it’s thanks to you, with your innocent and artless nature, sincerely empathizing with every story.

I vividly remember Seokjoon shedding tears during sad stories, yet comforting the storytellers slowly with an unwavering voice.

“Hmm, it seems like there’s a subtle balance.”

Originally, it’s not a bad combination to have someone who speaks coldly due to a lack of empathy next to someone who excels at empathy and mainly offers warm words.

A person at one extreme needs to be with someone at the other extreme for mutual complementation.

“You both worked hard.”

The PD [Producer] entered and greeted us.

“We’ll have guests next week.”

“Ah, is it Hoppin?”

“Yes. It’s fortunate that the broadcast is two days a week. We can fully focus on stories one day. Many people enjoy the advice segment.”

“I see.”

“I’m glad it’s turning out as I expected when I first cast the two of you!”

“Thank you.”

I don’t know exactly what you expected, but I smiled for now.

I tidied up my things, stood up, and headed outside. The commute home is always light.

“Hyung-nim, when was your first love, hyung-nim?”

“Huh?”

“As I was listening—I became curious.”

Seokjoon asked, walking beside me and lowering his voice.

“I don’t have one.”

I didn’t have the time or the thought to have one.

I don’t know what kind of life you’ve lived, but my life hasn’t been easy, Joon.

“Really—? I’m on the same level as you.”

Your choice of words is surprising, Joon.

I was so surprised that I stopped walking for a moment. On the same level, wow.

“I found another commonality today, same-level hyung-nim.”

“…Okay.”

I can’t bring myself to say I’m offended, but it’s actually defamation through factual claims.

* * *

“Wow, HighSix has a dating scandal.”

Ryu Ideun muttered, looking at his phone.

“…Oh my god, even marriage. Then it’s not even a scandal.”

“Really?”

They were declining, but still, they were a group that used to be classified as top-tier along with Blue Jack and TOT.

“Yeah. Well, considering their years, no, still, it’s a bit early.”

Ryu Ideun frowned deeply.

“Wasn’t that the group you respected?”

“Yeah, hyung. They’re a bit so-so now, but they used to sweep everything.”

Ryu Ideun was shocked, but I don’t really care.

It’s not my business unless it’s another group, or Ryu Ideun suddenly getting married.

“How can they even think about dating while they’re active? I really respected them, but their professionalism is… They haven’t even gone to the military yet…”

He still couldn’t escape the shock, muttering to himself, looking pathetic.

“We’ll gain some benefits.”

Lee Hyunjae, who was drinking coffee, grinned.

“I like raiding empty houses, as expected. I hope those who are leaving the fandom will watch our stage.”

In other words, it’s similar to a competitor going bankrupt.

The harvest that grows by feeding on the sorrows of others isn’t very sweet, but the fact that it’s a harvest is important.

“Ah, another idol of adolescence is falling.”

Ryu Ideun collapsed like a pitiful protagonist.

I don’t know why an active idol would even consider marriage, nor am I curious, but I hope it’s a decision made after rational thought.

If not, I might feel disgusted as someone in the same industry.

* * *

A community boasting almost complete anonymity.

Thanks to that, it’s a place where countless haters and troublemakers gather.

[Please promote new idols.]

The reason is not stated.

Comments:

—LOLOLOLOLOL The reason is too obvious LOLOLOLOLOL

└Even who they’re promoting is obvious. Where did the anonymity go?

—I had a bad feeling. I was skeptical when the rumors were circulating.

└F[uck] X, they were acting like X on stage, and they finally caused this situation.

—I can only say F[uck] X. What kind of trouble is this for the other members?

└Rather, they were all acting up on stage.

└I think this is just the beginning. Leave quickly, you idiots.

—I’m getting a strong reality check. Leave, you X.

└Leaving won’t bring back the dead, Mom…

└Should I make them a vegetable!!!! Put them on a respirator!!

└They say they’re already dead, so what’s the point?

—There are still people stanning [supporting] HighSix. What’s so good about outdated male idols?

Lee Hyunjae expressionlessly scrolled through the posts filled with primal language.

He’s been active in this community for quite some time, but he hasn’t written any posts criticizing anyone.

That’s too ugly, so he only writes promotional posts occasionally.

It’s also the place where the most posts criticizing them are uploaded, but Lee Hyunjae has a mentality that doesn’t waver from such things.

‘There’s no supportive public opinion.’

Well, it’s understandable.

He exits the post he was viewing and presses the write button.

He enters the subtle title [A group with no minor controversies throughout their activities] and copies and pastes a post he usually prepares for promotional purposes.

To someone whose house has collapsed, the house next door that hasn’t collapsed looks quite perfect.

If you look closely, you’ll find flaws, but at least the first impression is good enough to have an effect.

It’s easier to induce stanning by watching a proper stage even once than by hearing the name flow by once or twice, and since it’s a group that’s going to fail anyway, he’s not too afraid of incurring the fandom’s animosity.

This community is originally a place that gets heated when there’s an issue, and it’s good to promote a group that doesn’t have members with barriers to entry due to personality or actions.

A subtle tempo and content that doesn’t incur animosity, a prepared post as if he was going to upload it anyway.

Although it’s not a huge deal, it would be good if even one person watched us.

* * *

What is it, is love in season these days? Starting with HighSix, additional dating scandals suddenly erupted.

Why is this scene so turbulent? As someone who just wants to happily do activities with the fans, I can only feel sorry.

“It’s very noisy.”

Lee Hyunjae laughed cheerfully. He’s a common human type who enjoys watching other people’s houses burn.

We gathered in a corner of the waiting room, whispering in voices that only we could hear, so it seems there’s nothing to be concerned about.

“I knew about this one.”

“Really?”

Ryu Ideun came to me and whispered.

“I reported this to my sister. She said they’ve been badmouthing us for a month.”

I smiled contentedly.

Perhaps the celebrities who are close to him don’t know what his sister does. It’s something only I know among us.

“Good job.”

“A reporter with an industrial spy, my sister is so lucky.”

“You’re definitely a convenient tool, Ideun hyung.”

“Wow, speaking informally, how exciting.”

It’s just a coincidence that two groups are riding the train to hell during our activities. Fortunately, our comeback became a hot topic long before that.

“We’re lucky that we don’t have such things.”

Lee Hyunjae took out a snack and put it in his mouth.

“If even a minor controversy breaks out, either Ideun hyung or Donghwa hyung will kill them, so who would do that?”

“Why would I?”

Ryu Ideun and I opened our mouths at the same time. How unpleasant.

“Hyunjae, Donghwa is more likely. How much does he cherish you guys?”

“Ideun, your body is the one that can physically kill someone.”

“You’ll kill them mentally, Donghwa hyung.”

“Speaking informally, how exciting.”

I sneered.

“Where else can you find someone as gentle as me?”

* * *

“What is this.”

I suppressed the annoyance rising from within.

Talk about discord within the team. When did this old rumor resurface?

Last time it was some tabloid YouTuber, but this time it’s a formal article, which is bothersome.

Moreover, the background of this photo is our waiting room, so the only possible scenario is that someone from the company took it.

Team leader Jang Haejin is trembling with insane anger and investigating everyone, so I hope the results come out soon.

“Wow, is this how we look from the outside…?”

Ryu Ideun laughed as if it was fun.

In the photo, I was grabbing Ryu Ideun’s collar with contempt, but Ryu Ideun’s face wasn’t visible, causing a minor misunderstanding.

He must have been smiling playfully, damn it.

“It’s amazing that something like this can be made into an article.”

“That’s what reporters are like. We’re currently raising our stock!”

I’m just worried about Lee Hyunjae. No matter how much he’s grown, I don’t know what he’ll do if he’s put in the same situation.

Back then, I just thought, ‘Oh, someone’s barking,’ but now I feel unpleasant.

“Anyway, we released a rebuttal right away, so whatever!”

Ryu Ideun grinned as if he had no worries.

“Should we upload some photos we took together? Like a big release of old memories.”

“…In those, I’m probably despising you in all of them.”

Because you suddenly came up to me and asked to take a picture.

“Hey, how can a person always be like that. Surely there’s one where I’m smiling happily with you.”

Ryu Ideun rummaged through the gallery, looking at the photos one by one, and his voice decreased and his expression darkened. Glancing sideways, they were all like that.

“…Hyung, do you really hate me?”

Ryu Ideun’s cautious question. He was afraid of what would happen if it was true.

“…Yeah.”

I also answered cautiously. Ryu Ideun pretended to be shocked and then smiled brightly.

“It’s okay. I still care about you as my younger brother.”

I also laughed foolishly.

“What to do, this article is so unpleasant.”

“The gentle hyung endures and moves on. What can you do? From now on, just treat me with a smile!”

“Ha.”

It’s physiologically impossible. I’ll try, though.

I smiled and devised a primal solution.

It’s enough for that reporter and that company to officially issue a correction article and bow their heads.

I’m more suited for this kind of dirty work than Ryu Ideun. Although I am insignificant, the connections I have built are not so insignificant.

I sent a few short texts and closed my phone.

“Done.”

“What did you do?”

“I sent a text to someone I know, asking them to comfort me because I’m having a hard time these days.”

“…Donghwa.”

Ryu Ideun made a horrified expression.

“Why?”

“No matter how I hear it, it sounds like you’re asking them to kill the reporter.”

“That can’t be. Anyone who sees it would think I’m just an child pestering an adult I know.”

Because I really just sent, word for word, that I’m having a hard time these days and need comfort.

“Donghwa, no! We have to think about getting rid of the rumors by getting along well!”

“I’ll try, but it’s better to eradicate the roots.”

Donghwa and Ryu Ideun getting along, it’s more convincing to say that atomic nuclei and electrons are intimately connected.

And even now, I don’t grab Ryu Ideun’s collar anywhere except in the waiting room, practice room, and dorm. It’s Ryu Ideun’s collar that I want to grab all the time, but I’ve been enduring it.

“If you keep doing this, your expression when we go skydiving together will become controversial again!”

There was deep joy in Ryu Ideun’s face as he shouted that, which is just absurd.