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“…Do you still have someone to see?”
“No, um… I was just going to leave, but I’m a little curious.”
About what?
However, contrary to his words, Min Jiheon yawned as if he was not interested and rubbed his eyes.
I was about to ask what he was curious about when an icy feeling came over me again.
Uh-huh!
Let’s not ask.
I turned my head and tried to move on. If his dialogue window doesn’t even pop up, he’s definitely not helpful in progressing the scenario.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Aren’t you going to act, Seo Hoyun?”
“…?”
But then Min Jiheon asked me as I was trying to pass by without any problem.
“The CEO must have asked you. If you want to act.”
“How do you know that?”
“Oh, I mentioned it. How about letting Seo Hoyun try acting?”
“…You, Min Jiheon-sunbae?”
I didn’t expect this development.
With a trembling face, Min Jiheon looked at me up and down.
“Actually, the sequel to the Please Bring Me Cider I filmed last time is coming out. It’s called Please Bring Me the Camera… The writer really liked Seo Hoyun after watching Shining Star. He said that you’d fit the image of the next character very well….”
Suddenly, the back of my head felt heavy. So, it was you who made the CEO suddenly ask me!
You breathed into the CEO’s ear?!
“Yu Jia also said that Seo Hoyun would be good.”
Min Jiheon continued to speak, regardless of whether he knew my displeasure or not.
“So, what did you answer?”
“I said I wouldn’t do it.”
“Really? That’s such a shame?”
A shame?
At this point, I was getting suspicious, so I asked nervously.
“…Do I have an incredible talent? So much that Min Jiheon would ask?”
“Uh?”
Did he really need to approach me like this?
I was actually being sarcastic, but Min Jiheon laughed as if he took it seriously.
“Ahahaha, I don’t know!”
“…?”
What’s going on…?
Ignoring my confusion, Min Jiheon hummed and babbled on.
“I don’t really know by looking at faces. There are people among the other stakeholders who know right away…. I think it’s really divine inspiration?”
What the heck was this guy…?
“Anyway, I’ll tell the writer that you can’t do it.”
Min Jiheon, who didn’t seem like the person who stirred up the CEO, calmly accepted my refusal and soon received a phone call from the manager. He quickly made a bland face and said, “Yes, yes,” trailing off.
As soon as he hung up, he looked at me and waved his hand.
“Goodbye~! Stay healthy in the meantime!”
“…??”
Suddenly, the atmosphere became festive.
He acted as if he was saying his last goodbye to someone he wouldn’t see again, so I opened my mouth in astonishment as Min Jiheon turned around and walked slowly away.
What’s really up with that guy?
I called up the system window.
“Hey, show me Min Jiheon’s stats….”
But there was no answer.
“…Hey?”
Only after Min Jiheon had been gone for a while did the system window pop up.
[Yes?]
“I called you earlier.”
[I didn’t hear it~.]
The system window pretended not to hear me and then disappeared. I raised my eyebrows at that.
This is new?
The system window…
Now it even lied right in front of my eyes.
***
“Hyung, come here!”
I thought I would finally have some relatively free time after finishing all the music show schedules, but Kang Ichae suddenly became enthusiastic.
“What is it?”
“We’re going on Victory is Mine. We need to practice quickly, so write down your desired events.”
Ah, right.
This program, held every year at the end of May, was always popular. The fact that it was still held every year despite idols getting hurt and causing chaos showed its popularity.
“What events are there?”
“Running, archery, wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, and esports!”
“Esports?”
I was familiar with the other events, but e-sports was new. Kang Ichae shook his game console excitedly.
“There are even more events within e-sports! I have to win first place in this for my pride.”
“What’s the prize for first place?”
“…Honor? Glory?”
“Korean beef!”
Jeong Dajun seemed to be burning with passion for the prize.
“Are you working this hard just to eat Korean beef now?”
“What are you talking about? This is our ‘pride’!”
“Don’t hang your pride just anywhere.”
“Men’s pride is cheap, after all.”
Kang Ichae insisted that he must win first place no matter what, with another nonsense reason.
“We can join up with another team, but first, I need to check your skills. I roughly know Jeong Dajun’s abilities.”
“Ah, hyung! I can do well, you know?”
“What’s up?”
Wiping his towel, Seong Jiwon showed interest, and Kim Seonghyeon, who hadn’t had anything to do for a long time, quietly approached and joined the conversation.
“Esports?”
“Do you guys play games?”
I was the only one feeling down among them. Lying flat on the sofa without any enthusiasm, I responded.
“Your hyung doesn’t do esports. I want to do something else.”
“Ah, hyung~! Just try it once. We have exactly five people, right? I’ll let you choose your favorite role!!”
So whether I choose or not… I really don’t play games.
“I have a feeling that you’ll be good at this game with this cold demeanor! Good judgement! Mental strength! I bet Hoyun-hyung will be good at gaming!”
“…”
Kang Ichae’s eyes boiled with the same passion as practice bug Seong Jiwon, who would usually shout for practice. It’s surprising to see this usually indifferent guy get this heated, but…
It’s annoying…
“Really annoying…”
“Are you not even trying to hide your true feelings anymore?”
Kang Ichae looked at me with dissatisfaction and shook his head vigorously while trying to persuade me.
“Hyung, hyung, just once!”
I tried to ignore Kang Ichae’s whining by putting on earphones, but suddenly, a system window appeared after a long time.
Ding!
[Victory is Mine is indeed the flower of a multi-entertainer!
Win the 1st place in the Victory is Mine event 3 times.
(Acknowledging 1st place wins from group members as well.)
Success: 3,000 points.
Failure: You will do more embarrassing things.]
“What more embarrassing things can there be…?”
[ㅋㅋ]
What? Why was it suddenly laughing? I looked at the system window with a slightly uncomfortable feeling.
[There are many dialogue scenes.]
What?
[New idol’s bold behavior in front of the camera… Whoever sees it,
“Real legendary dark history… (see more)”]
“…”
Seeing the list of dialogue scenes laid out by the system window, I clenched my teeth and got up abruptly.
“Hey, let’s go to a PC room.”
“Eh! Really?”
Kang Ichae was happy, not knowing the hidden intention behind my decision.
I wonder if these kids knew the feeling I had to hide while showing them this side of me…
“Dajun, sometimes hyung’s life is hard…”
“What are you talking about?”
I stroked Jeong Dajun’s head out of habit. He looked at me incredulously, but he didn’t avoid my hand.
***
One hour since we entered the PC room.
“Am I dead?”
“…Yes.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“…No, hyung is just… not suited for this role, I guess. Shall we try support?”
At first, Kang Ichae was gentle.
“Hyung, why did you use flash there?”
“Am I not supposed to?”
Two hours passed, and he started grinding his teeth.
“Why is your mana full right now?!”
“Am I not supposed to save it?”
“How can you have such creative thoughts?”
Three hours since we entered the PC room.
“…Hoyun-hyung.”
Looking at me dying by being hit by the enemy’s turret, Kang Ichae quietly put down his headphones.
“Hyung. I learned an important lesson this time.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t have prejudice against people….”
“Are you insulting me?”
“You catch on quickly.”
He must be disappointed because he thought I would be good at the game, but I wasn’t…
I glared at Kang Ichae and sighed. I understood what he was saying, but my hands couldn’t keep up. I was full of those “ah” moments after messing up. Of course, every time that happened, Kang Ichae gradually lost his words.
“Hyung, go next to Seonghyeon-hyung and eat some ramen.”
“…”
In the end, Kang Ichae completely lost interest in me. It’s been so long since I’ve been treated so coldly that I got a little sulky.
“Hey, how good are you to…?”
Kang Ichae quietly raised his hand to the monitor.
“Hyung, just look at this once and then say it.”
“…What is this?”
I asked, feeling deflated as I stood up from my chair. No, it’s fine. It’d be great if Kang Ichae did well.
If they get first place, that’s good for me.
Giving up easily, I started wandering around and observing the others. Kim Seonghyeon, who had dropped out long ago, asked me with a raised eyebrow, having received harsh criticism earlier.
“Seo Hoyun, want to order some ramen?”
“Don’t order Kang Ichae’s.”
“Of course, why would I?”
Seonghyeon and I badmouthed Kang Ichae, but it didn’t get us anywhere. We slurped up our ramen and started watching more intently.
“What about Jeong Dajun?”
Next was Jeong Dajun.
“Dajun is alright.”
“Yeah!”
Dajun cheered and clenched his fist.
“Seong Jiwon.”
The only one left was Seong Jiwon. His skills were probably about the same as mine. I waved at him, thinking he would be eliminated without even watching.
“Seong Jiwon, come and eat ramen quickly. It’s getting cold.”
“No, wait a minute, guys. Please don’t bother Jiwon.”
“Eh?”
But Kang Ichae couldn’t take his eyes off Jiwon’s screen.
“Hyung, how long have you been playing this game?”
“Umm… not that long.”
“Wow, what’s…?”
Next to them, Jeong Dajun and Kang Ichae were getting excited. Seong Jiwon dived into the enemy tower, hit the opponent with three ghostly skills in a row, and set the opponent on fire with a chat.
[“You fucking bitch”]
Somehow, Seong Jiwon figured out they were cursing at him and said innocently,
“Wow, they are cursing at me.”
“Mute them.”
“What’s mute?”
As Seong Jiwon followed Kang Ichae’s instructions to mute the other team, his brow furrowed slightly, and he quickly turned his hand with the mouse. At that moment, he dodged a grab flying from the bushes and killed the opposing team.
[‘Practice guy’ is going crazy!]
[‘Practice guy’ Double Kill!]
“What the!”
“Amazing…”
[“Oh;;;”]
[“Well, fucking practice”]
Even their teammates started praising them. A rare sight in Korea: someone playing a game and hearing kind words. Kang Ichae peeked at Seong Jiwon.
“Hyung, about the cursing earlier…”
“Huh?”
“…You don’t care?”
“Ahaha, I get cursed at all the time.”
An idol indeed!
“Sensibility and mentality…?”
Kang Ichae, who was always serious about games, looked at Jiwon’s screen with a moved expression. Following that, Jiwon wrapped up the team fight safely.
[‘Practice guy’ Double Kill!]
[‘Practice guy’ Triple Kill!]
[“No one can stop ‘Practice guy’!”]
[Victory]
When the tower was destroyed, and they returned to the main screen, medals were awarded in a flurry. It was the MVP given by the people who played together.
“Wow! I guess I did well.”
“…”
“…”
“…No?”
Kang Ichae and Jeong Dajun were silent. Then they nodded simultaneously. Dajun grabbed Jiwon’s right shoulder, while Ichae grabbed his left.
“Hyung, what do you want to do?”
“Huh?”
“Choose any lane. I’ll push all of them for you. I can support, and you can be the attacker.”
Kang Ichae was as serious as an Olympic athlete preparing for a competition. Jiwon was still puzzled about the situation, but Dajun and Ichae grinned.
“I saw Seonghyeon, and we have to give up on him.”
“Yeah. Hoyun is worse than Seonghyeon. It’s over for him.”
“Why am I done for?”
I expressed my displeasure, but it didn’t reach the two of them, who seemed to be wearing some protective gear.
“Let’s do this. We’ll bring Jiwon, one from Nightmare, and one more from Refined. Then we’ll have five good people.”
“How were the people you brought?”
“Not bad. We can win with that level. We just have to train hard with Jiwon for the remaining time.”
Kang Ichae clenched his fist, full of enthusiasm.
“We’ll win this match.”
Kang Ichae and Jeong Dajun sang “I Thought of You and the Championship~” with Seong Jiwon in the middle. It was a surprisingly life-or-death atmosphere for such cheap pride.
While they were busy creating a new narrative, Kim Seonghyeon and I were peacefully eating ramen with rice.
“What are we going to do?”
“Let’s do archery or something.”
“Then I’ll do athletics.”
If they just get 1st place, I just have to sit back and enjoy the rewards.
It couldn’t have been more peaceful.