Chapter 232
Chapter 232
The absurd plan to add a new member to VTIC began with a fresh load of nonsense.
"First, Junior, you’ll do a pre-debut. Alone."
"..."
A solo debut all of a sudden?
"If there are no major mishaps this year... winning the Rookie of the Year award in the male solo category should be easy. There won't be any competition."
He said it so nonchalantly.
"Didn't you say this agency doesn't support solo activities?"
"I think I can convince them for something like a pre-debut."
Cheong-ryeo offered a calm, positive answer.
Is he really that confident, even if it's just a teaser activity before a formal debut?
As expected, the fact that this agency excluded soloists to an extreme degree was likely due to this guy's influence.
I crossed my arms.
"Where’s the guarantee that I’ll get results even if I debut like that? As a male soloist."
It had been ages since a male idol without an established group had seen any success as a soloist.
However, Cheong-ryeo just chuckled.
"Ah, not as a performance-focused idol, but as a vocal-focused singer."
"...!"
"You’d be the first junior coming out of LeTi since VTIC. The buzz is guaranteed, right? And since the field is different, you’ll avoid some of the hostility."
He was right.
Furthermore, unlike dance-oriented soloists who try to act like idols, traditional male soloists who aim for the digital charts—ballads or indie—have a decent success rate.
As long as the song is good.
"And early next year, you’ll release a collaboration track with a VTIC unit. It would be good if it’s the kind of song that shows off some performance."
"..."
So, he wanted to appeal to the fact that I could perform while linking me to VTIC.
"There are plenty of precedents for collaboration tracks within the same agency, so even if there’s backlash, it’ll be manageable. If the results are good and your role is clear, the fans' resentment will soften."
I understood what he was getting at by now.
I opened my mouth.
"...And when the scandal with your main vocal breaks, are you saying you’ll actually accept the nonsense like 'Just put Ryu Gun-woo in' and have me join the group?"
"Smart. Exactly."
He meant to slot Ryu Gun-woo in as a replacement for VTIC's main vocal as naturally as possible.
This is insane.
It was obvious. I had told him about the main vocal's scandal because it was the most expensive piece of information he would be desperate for.
Besides, even though the scandal breaks in a year or two, the cause happens right around this time.
In other words, it was easy to verify. I judged that it would be an easy way to build trust by proving I came from the future.
But instead of thinking about preventing the controversy to maintain his group's form, this bastard was thinking about swapping him out for me.
I furrowed my brows.
"You can stop the incident from happening. I don't understand why you're making this proposal."
The expression vanished from his face.
"People aren't things you can fix and reuse."
"..."
"Keep that in mind. It’s a fact that will come in handy later."
He treated people like pure spare parts.
He’s definitely a lunatic, but...
Let's let it slide for now.
Anyway, to put it simply, he wouldn't keep a source of discord he couldn't control, even if it meant the group took a hit.
And in his place, he would put someone obedient and desperate—and someone useful enough that he needed to keep an eye on him anyway.
"So, will you do it?"
He meant me.
I can't believe I'm experiencing this.
To think I’d get the chance to be in the same group as this guy.
I opened my mouth.
"No. I'll pass."
"..."
No matter how I looked at it, that plan was a recipe for disaster if even one thing went wrong.
And wouldn't it be like handing him the hilt of the sword entirely?
This guy could coat everything in sweet talk and then, if the situation changes, just leave me rotting after the pre-debut.
Besides, if this were just a dream, it would be one thing, but everything I was doing now was to find a hint to wake up from my coma. I shouldn't take unnecessary risks.
I'll stick as close to reality as possible.
...Even if I couldn't recruit Bae Se-jin, there would be another chance once the Aju-sa program collapsed.
I clenched my fists.
However, since there was no need to make an enemy of him, I offered a very plausible excuse first.
"I'm not sure if the solo Rookie of the Year category will fit the mission. If only an idol group Rookie of the Year counts, I'll just die."
"Aha."
I knew this would work. Cheong-ryeo crossed his arms and laughed cheerfully.
"Haha, then we could just try a different method next time. You still lack a sense of challenge."
"..."
I shouldn't talk to this guy for long.
Afterward, Cheong-ryeo left, saying he would give me a month to think about it, leaving the offer on the table rather than withdrawing it immediately.
He seems so certain that I'll give up within a month.
What an unpleasant bastard. I’d almost prefer the version of him in reality who just sends dog pictures when he's bored.
I suppressed a sigh and stood up.
Let's move on to the next task.
I’d already laid the groundwork, so it was time to drag out the guy living in seclusion.
...The Seon A-hyun of this dream.
*
The hospital room was quiet.
Only the white noise of medical equipment and people moving far down the hallway softly wrapped around the private room.
It wasn't just his status as a public figure that led to him having a private room.
It was because the patient using this room had still not woken up.
"..."
Seon A-hyun quietly sat on the caregiver's chair.
Park Moon-dae had no relatives. Not a single person claiming to be a distant relative had appeared, even after TeSTAR became immensely successful.
So, other than the hired caregivers, only the connections he had made since starting his life in the entertainment industry frequented this room.
Led by the members who had regained consciousness, company staff also opened the door occasionally.
However, the numerous gifts sent by fans were still undergoing inspection. Thanks to that, the hospital room felt hollow and empty.
"..."
Seon A-hyun placed a fluffy knitted doll on the table. He had made it himself.
The hand pulling away from the doll trembled.
Get it together...
Seon A-hyun held his breath.
He was the member who could visit this room most often and at least pretend to look after him.
Because Seon A-hyun... was hardly injured.
Unlike the other members who needed treatment for fractures or were busy fighting with the company, he had been able to move around from the beginning.
And even though there was absolutely no need for it, he felt a burning sense of guilt over that fact.
I couldn't say a single word...
When the other members were trying to persuade or report the former manager, he couldn't bring himself to add a word.
It wasn't that he was frozen in fear.
It was because he was worried that someone like him, who couldn't even speak properly, would only get in the way if he tried to step forward.
"..."
Seon A-hyun quietly clasped his hands over his knees and froze in his chair.
The younger ones were fine. They were the younger ones.
But while the two same-aged members were persuading the former manager, there was clearly a problem with him doing nothing.
It was the same after the accident.
Even if he had brilliant or brave ideas, his lack of eloquence meant he needed someone to cover for him when dealing with public opinion or the company.
Even when I get angry at the company, it doesn't feel like it gets through properly...
He felt like a useless, incomplete person.
It wasn't as if he suddenly gained medical knowledge to help with Park Moon-dae's treatment, either.
All he had done was lead the members to the ambulance that arrived after the report. Because his body was fine.
But even that was done while he was half out of his mind.
Seon A-hyun clenched his fists.
Pathetic.
So, he really was useless. At least, that’s how it felt to him.
However, due to a much larger real-world worry, his self-loathing was pushed down the priority list.
Park Moon-dae... had been unconscious for five days.
Even though he heard the surgery was quite successful, it seemed the shock was too great and the blood loss too severe.
I should have sat in the back seat then...
That would have been a much better result. Moon-dae wouldn't have been hurt as much...
"..."
Seon A-hyun wiped his face.
He couldn't shamelessly cry over something like this.
He should spend that time praying instead.
To be healthy... for nothing to happen, for there to be no aftereffects.
I hope he comes back soon.
*
"Wow, we meet again! Nice to see you!"
"A-Ah, h-hello..."
"..."
Lee Se-jin, with an almost artificial friendliness, and Seon A-hyun, who couldn't even lift his head, exchanged greetings.
I watched the scene in silence.
My head throbbed.
...They haven't even dropped formalities?
I thought they would have, since they were both Gold rank.
This meant that Lee Se-jin hadn't felt the need to force a friendship with Seon A-hyun.
With a face like that, Lee Se-jin would usually try to poke him once for networking purposes.
It also meant that something had gone wrong with the quality of Seon A-hyun's performance and the broadcast editing.
Actually, I’d seen the broadcast, so I knew what had happened.
...He was targeted too heavily.
It was because the others had forced him into parts that didn't suit him during the first team match and treated him like shit.
To make matters worse, the editing wasn't very favorable toward Seon A-hyun, who had been subjected to this.
Seon A-hyun's teammates were also getting cursed out, but the sentiment that "he deserved to be scolded" was also quite strong.
Because of that, comments like "Kids like that shouldn't come on survival shows" were getting the most upvotes and causing a mess.
And the Seon A-hyun here... had been directly hit by the negative voting and was on the verge of elimination.
I pressed my temples.
"..."
I managed to get him out for now, but...
I already knew where he lived, so going there to talk to him wasn't difficult.
Fortunately, I visited while he was packing up his room and convinced his parents by using my status as a "LeTi trainee" to take him with me.
They were so worried about Seon A-hyun's condition that they fell for the agency's name value, which had managed its image well with artist care.
Of course, it was conditional on convincing him personally.
I proceeded to have a private talk with Seon A-hyun in his room.
Seon A-hyun either didn't respond or kept his head low, but in the end, he nodded.
He looked quite unwell... but he’d get better once he ate and slept well.
If he can just practice and debut properly, his mental state will improve.
Because Seon A-hyun is the type of guy who, even if he looks like fragile tofu when his mental state breaks, has good resilience.
...I've seen it many times.
I just... need to comfort him well. I made an objective judgment.
And a moment later.
"A-hyun, just a moment."
"..."
Seon A-hyun, with his head low, left with his parents to meet the agency officials.
Then, Lee Se-jin asked me in a subtle tone.
"They're putting that guy in this group too?"
"Seems like it."
"Hmm~ I see. I heard earlier that you convinced him yourself. Is that true?"
"..."
"Wow, you've got quite the skill~"
Lee Se-jin sat right next to me. I suppressed a snort.
Has his mental state returned a bit?
Just as I was thinking he seemed about the same as when we first met in Aju-sa.
Lee Se-jin, sitting next to me, said in a passing, socially adept tone.
"Hmm... did the company say they have any other friends in mind?"
"...Why do you ask?"
I wondered if he was curious about the other members. But Lee Se-jin waved his hand and replied lightly.
"Oh? No, I mean, that guy might leave~ Just in case!"
"...!"
I felt a strange nuance... as if he was certain he would leave.
I asked immediately.
"Why do you think so?"
"Huh? He only came here because he's scared of you."
"...!!"
"It's obvious... Ah, was it not your intention to scare him a bit to motivate him? Haha, sorry~"
"..."
I... looked like that?
There's no way.
I convinced him in the most moderate way possible. I never coerced or shouted at him.
I just said that Seon A-hyun was needed...
At that moment, Seon A-hyun's condition flashed through my mind.
A state where his self-esteem had hit rock bottom and his mental state was shattered.
And the words I used.
...It could have sounded like it would be his fault if I couldn't debut because he didn't come.
So Seon A-hyun couldn't even talk back and just came along.
"Well, anyway, you don't really know who else is coming either, right? Okay~"
"..."
After wrapping up the conversation appropriately, Lee Se-jin walked out of the practice room while fiddling with his smartphone.
I thought.
Was the Seon A-hyun I knew that kind of guy?
Was the Lee Se-jin I knew the kind of guy who would say things like this?
...No.
They weren't.
At that moment, my train of thought suddenly began to shatter.
Standing still, I... looked back at my course of action.
It doesn't add up.
What was I saying when I started this whole thing to debut exactly like in reality?
To find a hint to wake up from the coma?
Where is the guarantee that I’ll find it, and there’s even less of a certain reason why it has to go exactly like reality.
It's just my assumption.
Then, the reason why I tried to push through while being so certain of this assumption was...
Fuck. It was just because I wanted to.
Because I wanted to recreate the life I lived as Park Moon-dae exactly as it was.
"Ha."
I gasped for breath and slumped down in the practice room.
And I remembered the message from the status window.
So that's why it was a daydream.
A daydream means a vain fantasy.
...In other words, this was my desire.
I must have wanted to take the life I lived as Park Moon-dae exactly as it was. To make it mine.
But I already knew the answer.
It was what I had said to Cheong-ryeo myself, with my own mouth.
It was an impossible task.
It could never be the same...
Then why had I been rationalizing this bullshit?
"..."
I thought, with my head pressed against the giant mirror.
And finally, I admitted it.
It's probably because the past two and a half years as Park Moon-dae were also my life.
Even though I experienced it in Park Moon-dae's body, all the choices, thoughts, and experiences were mine.
Because my mind experienced them directly. That couldn't change.
Even if all this madness ends and I return to my original body, Ryu Gun-woo... the fact that those were my experiences won't change.
Now I know.
"Whew."
I lifted my head from the mirror.
The mirror was fogged up, and I couldn't see my face.
"..."
Even if what should be seen there was 'Ryu Gun-woo's' face, this dream still wasn't my life.
Enough.
I’d been here too long. I wanted to go back to reality now.
To 'my reality' where I live.
It was at that moment.
Ding.
"...!!"
[Function Unlocked!]
[Function: Gacha (Consumable)]
A pop-up... appeared.
And one more thing.
Something I had left behind in reality.
[Remaining Gacha: 1]
[Draw Treasure Trait ☜ Click!]
I raised my hand and tapped it repeatedly.