Chapter 473
Chapter 473
The medical staff diagnosed Cha Yu-jin’s condition as "stress-induced delirium."
Since being a celebrity involves working in an industry where one encounters all sorts of bizarre situations, there had been several similar cases in the past.
"It’s possible that due to sleep deprivation, he suddenly snapped and started throwing things without realizing it..."
It was a vague assessment: he was awake, and his tests showed he was physically healthy, so there was a high probability he would recover once he found some peace of mind.
"I understand. Thank you...!"
However, just hearing a professional comment on "previous cases" seemed to put Kim Rae-bin at ease, as his expression brightened slightly.
"Excuse me, sorry, but just a moment..."
Keun Se-jin then began a separate conversation with the medical staff. He was likely asking about "measures to take if Cha Yu-jin doesn't recover on his own within a few hours."
The staff members were running around nearby, making calls and working like mad. Half were probably setting up meetings, while the other half were urgently rescheduling.
It’s a madhouse.
By then, it seemed this "Steer" Cha Yu-jin had also realized the strangeness of the situation. At the very least, he must have noticed this wasn't America the moment the medical staff and employees swarmed in speaking Korean.
"Moon-dae, do you want to stay here with Yu-jin for now? I think it’s better if we split up the tasks."
"...Sure."
He also realized that these strangers were acting as if they knew him well. However, he hadn't caused a scene during the examination.
—You want me to explain TeSTAR? I don't know.
—Oh... no. I was sleeping.
He simply gave lukewarm answers to the questions asked, maintaining a somewhat uncooperative attitude.
Is he sizing up the situation?
It was then.
Bang!
"Guys!"
"...!"
The person who burst through the door in a hurry was another member who had been in the middle of a schedule. However, it wasn't Ryu Cheong-woo, whom Keun Se-jin had said would arrive soon.
"Se-jin Hyung!"
It was a panting Bae Se-jin.
He must have run with all his might; his face was flushed red as he gripped the doorknob, trying to catch his breath.
"The... the filming ended early, huff, so I came straight here... Is Cha Yu-jin awake?!"
"Yes!"
It seemed he had been on pins and needles, and the moment it was over, he had rushed over without even checking his messages. He nodded to Kim Rae-bin and strode toward Cha Yu-jin.
I thought Ryu Cheong-woo would get here first.
Apparently, the filming location was close enough that Bae Se-jin arrived first...
Wait a minute.
...Bae Se-jin?
Suddenly, I realized something.
In my previous life—the one where I hadn't participated in Re-listing! Idol Inc. and hadn't entered Park Moon-dae’s body.
Back then... Bae Se-jin had also debuted and promoted as a member of Steer.
Briefly.
—Former 'Idol Inc.' contestant Lee Se-jin arrested on charges of drug distribution.
"......"
That was... until he appeared on the 9 o'clock news as a drug supplier.
Of course, it was true that Steer's activities hadn't been smooth from the start due to issues with their agency and fandom. However, it was clear to anyone that the drug scandal was the fatal turning point that ruined Steer's career.
"......"
And the person sitting in this hospital room right now...
"Oh."
...If he was the Cha Yu-jin of that "Steer."
Shit.
I immediately stepped closer to the bed. I heard Bae Se-jin asking worriedly from a short distance away.
"Are—are you okay?"
Cha Yu-jin didn't answer. He just stared at Bae Se-jin as if he were looking at something completely out of place.
Then, he opened his mouth.
"Lee Se-jin?"
"...!? Wh-why is he calling me...?"
[I think you guys picked the wrong person. Do I really have to deal with this junkie—]
"...!"
Dammit.
[Shut up.]
I hurriedly whispered to "Cha Yu-jin" in a low voice and then turned to Bae Se-jin.
"He just woke up, so he's acting a bit strange. He keeps saying he's in America."
"Th-that is correct!"
Kim Rae-bin agreed vehemently.
"Ah! He also mentioned brownies and chocolate chip cookies! Could the stress of restricting snacks during the promotion period be the cause?"
That wasn't it. But unfortunately, Bae Se-jin’s eyes turned serious.
"Is—is that so? ...Ah! There's a bakery right in front of here! I'll go buy some, so wait!"
"...! I see! I shall go with you!"
The two of them scrambled out of the hospital room. They looked ready to sweep up every brownie and cookie in sight.
Thud!
"......"
Maybe it was for the best.
Whew.
I watched the closed door, suppressed a sigh, and sat in the caregiver's chair. I could hardly wrap my head around the situation.
Still... we need to talk first.
Now that it was quiet, I thought it was a good time. However... the problem was that I wasn't the only one waiting for the right timing.
Outside the room, everyone was busy with their own tasks. Inside the room, it had become quiet as people left. He had been observing the situation... and acted the moment attention was diverted.
"Excuse me. Umm, 'Moon-dae Hyung'?"
"......"
I turned my head. "Steer Cha Yu-jin," who had remembered and made use of the title Kim Rae-bin called me, spoke while sitting on the hospital bed.
[You know what kind of crazy shit is going on here, don't you?]
"......"
[Maybe I ate a special brownie and I'm having some ridiculous K-pop hallucination.]
He pointed a finger at his own hair. It was blonde.
[But I don't dye my hair anymore.]
At that moment, he reached out. He grabbed my shoulder and suddenly leaned his head in, acting quite intimidating.
"...!"
[And you recognized me. Every time I said 'Steer' or 'junkie,' you recognized what I meant.]
"......"
Cha Yu-jin didn't let go of my shoulder. Keeping eye contact, he slowly tapped my upper arm with his other hand.
[I don't know what the hell "TeSTAR" is, but if this is some kind of prank show, you better get ready to be sued. I don't remember signing anything.]
"......"
Sigh.
I took a deep breath. I felt complicated.
I can't exactly start by smacking him.
Given the circumstances, I wasn't even angry.
This just sucks...
I suppressed a headache and spoke.
"First of all."
[Hmm?]
"Do you really think there's anyone in America who would pull a stunt like this using a member of a disbanded K-pop group?"
"...!!"
"And you didn't take any drugs. Neither did Kim Rae-bin."
Though I have no idea why people in America would put drugs in perfectly good brownies.
"Cha Yu-jin's" eyes widened slightly. The moment the grip on my shoulder loosened, I brushed his hand away.
"But you were right about one thing."
"What?"
"Something crazy did happen."
"...Huh?"
I tossed his dazed hand back onto the bed. It was the maximum amount of kindness I could offer.
New members.
New activities.
A new development.
Before the two who went to the bakery returned, I briefly summarized the nature of TeSTAR's activities—not Steer's—to Cha Yu-jin. Of course, his reaction was exactly as expected.
[I think there are three possibilities. Want to hear them?]
"What."
[Either you're on drugs, or I'm on drugs.]
"That's two."
[Or we're both on drugs.]
Dammit.
Why is this guy so obsessed with drugs?
I barely managed to stop myself from clutching my head.
"Why does it have to be drugs? Because it's a hallucination? Is that a symptom?"
[That's what I heard.]
"......"
So he's never actually done them himself. Fortunately, it seemed he hadn't gone that far off the rails.
[Then am I crazy? Hey, do you have any idea how much an ER visit costs in America? Why would you just bring a crazy person to the hospital?]
"I told you, that's not it."
I pressed my temples and spoke calmly.
"Just look out the window."
"What?"
"Just turn your head. Look."
I slightly opened the blinds. Cha Yu-jin literally just shifted his gaze to check outside...
"...!"
"This is Korea."
The Korean signs and the familiar cityscape visible through the window. It was Seoul. Even if he said he was in America now, he must have spent several years based in Seoul, so there was no way he wouldn't recognize it.
"Holy..."
Rattle.
Only after Cha Yu-jin opened the window to confirm the physical space did his attitude change slightly.
[Are you serious?]
"Yeah."
This meant he was starting to consider the possibility that this was actually the truth.
"So we don't have to worry about hospital bills. We're a K-pop boy group. The company will handle the costs."
"......"
"You're currently in a group called 'TeSTAR.' And we're your members."
[Bullshit.]
[It's not bullshit.]
Hearing the footsteps of the two running back to the room—presumably having successfully purchased brownies—I muttered flatly.
"In just half a day, you'll have no choice but to accept it."
"We're heading out."
"Yes!"
Cha Yu-jin, being physically healthy and showing no signs of violent outbursts or seizures, was discharged for the time being. Of course, all schedules for the next three days had been canceled.
"Yu-jin, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
"No. I'm fine."
Cha Yu-jin answered Ryu Cheong-woo, who was asking gently from the front seat, very politely. However, he soon turned his head with an uncomfortable expression and muttered.
[What a fucking weird world...]
"Watch your language."
Cha Yu-jin looked back at me with an expression that said, 'By what right?' but soon answered obediently.
"Sorry. It's been a few months since I've been free."
"......"
I remembered. The three who had been active as a unit under the name Steer until the very end: Ryu Cheong-woo, Kim Rae-bin, and Cha Yu-jin. I remembered that even those guys, who had been exceptionally dedicated to group life, hadn't been heard from since the disbandment.
And among them, this "Steer Cha Yu-jin" seemed to have returned to his home country, America, as soon as their activities ended.
But... "free," huh.
He must have really disliked idol life.
Then again, "doing a job properly until the end" and "liking the job" aren't necessarily the same thing.
Well, the situation was pretty shitty.
Even knowing that, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"This is the dorm we moved into. If it doesn't help you feel stable because you haven't lived here long, be sure to tell us!"
"OK."
Cha Yu-jin, who had been silently looking out the window the whole time in the car, didn't become particularly talkative even after arriving at the dorm. He just seemed to roughly check out the state of the place.
What happened next was the issue.
"This is our music video playlist. I brought it because I thought watching it might help Cha Yu-jin snap out of it faster!"
"That's a good idea!"
"It's been a while since we've watched them, too."
And so, they began a marathon of TeSTAR's music videos, starting from their debut, "Magical Boy."
"......"
To be honest, I debated whether showing him this was the right move...
But if I don't show him, I don't think he'll ever be convinced.
Cha Yu-jin might not seem like it, but he was surprisingly a thorough realist. In this situation where there was no friendship, he would only cooperate if there was evidence he could accept.
And sure enough.
"...This."
"Cha Yu-jin! Do you have something to say about this song?"
"How did you do it?"
"...?"
—Ah, I'm dizzy~
What he pointed at... was the music video filled with TeSTAR members laughing and dancing in baseball uniforms on a school field under an impressive blue sky.
It was "High Five."
Originally, it was the song the company had prepared as the debut title track for the Aju-sa group. It was supposed to be a lukewarm disco-style track that didn't fit the concept.
But.
"The company originally wanted to go with a disco vibe, but we used a PPT to convince them. We told them to go with a refreshing rock sound."
"......"
"And Rae-bin did the arrangement."
Cha Yu-jin silently watched the "High Five" music video until the end. Then the next music video, and the next. Finally, the moment they reached "Better Me."
"OK, I'll admit it."
"...?"
"TeSTAR."
Steer Cha Yu-jin looked up. On his face as he pronounced "TeSTAR" with a Korean accent, there was something heavy—neither realization nor bewilderment.
It was like a shadow.
"......"
For some reason, it didn't feel very pleasant.
Still, at least we've reached the starting line.
From now on, I just need to control him so he doesn't do anything unexpected...
"...??"
"What is Cha Yu-jin saying right now?"
...Of course, after I explain things to this side as well.
A few minutes later.
"So... this Yu-jin is the Yu-jin from when Moon-dae was Gun-woo Hyung, before he became Moon-dae? Um? Is that the right way to put it?"
"I think so... uh, yeah."
Ryu Cheong-woo and Bae Se-jin exchanged confused remarks. No matter how many strange things they had been through, this was a first, so everyone seemed flustered.
But at the same time, they seemed relieved.
"...Anyway, since it's not that Cha Yu-jin is sick... is that a relief?"
"Identifying the cause is certainly a step forward."
Kim Rae-bin muttered blankly.
"Still, to think he debuted in an Aju-sa where Moon-dae Hyung didn't participate... I can't really imagine it."
"Right? I don't think I would have debuted. Ah, is it okay if I ask who did debut?"
Keun Se-jin asked. It was partly out of pure curiosity and partly an attempt to get a feel for this Cha Yu-jin.
At that, Cha Yu-jin grinned and rested his chin on the table.
"No, it's not okay."
"...!"
"It won't mean much to you guys even if you hear it. So I'm not telling. Got it?"
The atmosphere froze in an instant.