Chapter 79
Chapter 79
As social media buzzed with accounts of TeSTAR’s fan signing event, a sudden swarm of malicious accounts began to latch on, causing several of Park Moon-dae’s fans to suffer a relapse of Idol Inc. PTSD.
The antis worked hard to incite public opinion against Park Moon-dae by spreading subtly distorted logic across various online communities.
Their main points were: "He’s selfish for preparing a separate gift by himself," "The miraculous cost-efficiency of acting like a big shot with just lollipops," and "Useless attention-seeking using fan-sign props."
Of course, these claims hardly gained traction in sensible places, but the act of defending against them was mentally draining in itself. If a fan reacted emotionally, the antis would use it as bait.
Just as the confusion was about to turn into fatigue, a notification popped up on TeSTAR’s official account.
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Hello everyone.
I am Moon-dae 🐶
This is today’s recap. (Photo)
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Attached were selfies of Park Moon-dae wearing the props he received at the fan sign, one by one. Looking at the background, he seemed to be inside a car.
But that wasn't the end.
Immediately, another notification appeared.
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There’s more. (Photo)
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A series of photos with a similar concept featuring the other members followed.
They had even swapped the items they received, adding a fresh touch. The photos were so well-composed and professionally taken that it was almost bewildering.
Before the fandom could even react to the sudden influx of content, another post went up.
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Next up is #ShiningStar! (Photo)
p.s. All seven of us are doing this~ Please look forward to it ♡
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The post included a selfie of Keun Se-jin making a V-sign at his chin, with Park Moon-dae in the background opening a delivery box.
Inside the box, one could clearly see individually wrapped, colorful lollipops.
That was it. Park Moon-dae hadn't planned this alone from the start.
He had been wary of doing a solo event while the TeSTAR fandom was still largely a collection of individual fanbases. And naturally, the first person he recruited was Keun Se-jin, who was overflowing with confidence regarding fan signs.
The fans were instantly set ablaze.
With that, Park Moon-dae’s fans finally felt at peace. Now, no matter what nonsense was spewed, they had the ammunition to beat it down and drive it away.
With responses like these, the trolls would either quietly disappear or leave behind the message: "This comment has been deleted."
The fans enjoyed the excitement until the next day’s fan signing and were able to sleep soundly with a sense of relief.
Amidst this festival-like atmosphere, many fans faced a massive internal conflict. Sensing the momentum, the agency announced an additional fan signing schedule.
No one knew yet that shortly after, everyone—fans and idols alike—would be horrified by the cut-off for the additional fan sign, which had soared to 180 copies.
Rumble, rumble.
I woke up as my body jolted. A raspy voice came from the front.
“…Hmm, are we there?”
“A little further to go.”
“Yes…”
The conversation between Ryu Cheong-woo and the manager drifted through my sleep-deprived mind.
‘…Right.’
We were currently in transit.
I felt like I would fall back asleep if I stopped thinking for even a second, so I moved my body. First, I turned on the modern man’s best friend: my smartphone.
[Fri AM 4:35]
‘It’s been… two and a half hours since we left.’
The schedule was truly something else. I rubbed my throbbing head.
‘I felt relieved because there were no pre-recordings this week, but they’re filming a variety show at dawn?’
I never imagined we’d have to go all the way to Gyeongsang-do. Thanks to that, I hadn't even touched the recap from yesterday’s fan sign.
‘Should I post something at least?’
I hesitated while looking at TeSTAR’s account on my phone, then uploaded a few group photos we had taken at the dorm.
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I am Moon-dae 🐶
TeSTAR got matching pajamas. (Photo)
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‘…Hmm. Is this too much?’
After posting it, I wondered if anyone actually cared about someone else’s pajamas. While many people ask idols for TMI, they often end up disappointed when it’s actually shared, so I had to choose the information carefully.
‘I’ll have to adjust the scope based on the reaction this time.’
As soon as I finished uploading, I felt a presence beside me.
“Uuugh…”
Seon A-hyun opened his eyes in a daze, then jumped in surprise when he made eye contact with me, fully awake.
“—! A-Are we there?”
“No.”
“Oh…”
“Go back to sleep.”
After saying that, I closed my eyes again. There were still two hours left until arrival, so I intended to get whatever sleep I could. Given his personality, he definitely wouldn't be able to sleep if he knew the person next to him was awake.
“…….”
However, when I next opened my eyes, we had already arrived at our destination. Fatigue had swallowed time. Furthermore, a bizarre request was waiting for us.
“Blindfolds?”
“Yes. The reaction when you find out which profession you’ll be experiencing for a day is important.”
“Mm, okay~”
Because the manager stepped in and settled it, we ended up wearing blindfolds without any choice. They were even thorough enough to make sure we couldn't see anything outside.
It didn't really matter to me, but since they were putting blindfolds on guys who were already sleepy, a few of them looked like they were losing their minds. Cha Yu-jin, who was on the verge of nodding off, only snapped out of it after being poked in the ribs.
“Ehehe… Ah!”
“Alright, let’s go!”
Following the production crew’s guidance, we shuffled along.
“Now, please take off your blindfolds~”
“Yes!”
And the sight that greeted us after lowering the blindfolds was…
A lake and an open field.
“…??”
‘What is this?’
Naturally, I wasn't the only one confused.
“…I’m awake, right?”
“Where are we?”
Before anyone could say more, a portable banner was brought out by the staff and placed in front of TeSTAR.
[Congrats! National Stock ★TeSTAR★ Visit!]
[The Birds of Korea Welcome You!]
[In Junam Reservoir]
A colorful, rainbow-hued drawing of a bird fluttered in the wind.
“……?!”
The underlined Malgun Gothic font gleamed.
“…??”
I turned my head to see Lee Se-jin staring at the banner with his mouth agape. He looked like he couldn't process the situation.
And before anyone could utter a word, a middle-aged man with a benevolent impression appeared, chuckling.
“Hello, everyone~ I’m Kim Jung-won, an ornithologist!”
“A-Ah, hello!”
“Hello!”
Perhaps their experience filming the survival show hadn't gone to waste, as everyone snapped to attention and bowed deeply.
‘…Well, they’re definitely awake now.’
But their faces still showed they hadn't understood the situation. The ornithologist chuckled and offered a handshake.
“I heard you’ll be experiencing the life of an ornithologist for a day here~”
“Pardon? Yes. We were told we’d be doing a one-day job experience…”
“Yes, yes. That’s right~ Today, let’s perform the basic tasks of an ornithologist with me~”
“Ornithology…?!”
Everyone was flustered as a profession they had never even imagined popped up. But the ornithologist didn't seem to care.
“Ah, they are such charming friends. Today, we will have time to observe those friends in more detail~”
“Uh…”
“We’re going to film migratory birds!”
“Gasp.”
Cameras were distributed in an instant. TeSTAR only seemed to come to their senses after receiving the equipment handed out by the staff who had brought the banner.
“A-Ah!”
“Birds are great!”
“We’ll work hard!”
The ornithologist smiled warmly.
“Haha! You young fellows have great energy~”
“Hahaha!”
Finally, harmonious laughter broke out. Seon A-hyun approached me cautiously with a look of slight anticipation, as if relieved.
“I-It sounds like it’ll be fun, right…?”
“Yeah. Moon-dae, you’re good at taking photos too!”
“…….”
These guys… naturally, they have no idea.
But after checking the camera, I barely managed to change my response.
“…It’ll be rewarding.”
“Haha, exactly!”
Right. It will be only rewarding…
I recalled a tearful story I’d heard from a club senior whose name I couldn't even remember.
—Fuck, if you want to photograph migratory birds, it has to be winter.
—In the summer… there aren't many places they visit.
—And you’ll feel like you’re dying from the heat…
“…….”
I was already worried about whether these guys would be able to appear on the afternoon music show in their right minds.
“Hahaha! Then, let’s move!”
“Yes!”
The ornithologist’s laughter was starting to sound like a professor capturing a master’s student. The TeSTAR members, like clueless undergraduates, followed the researcher.
“Wow, the weather is great!”
“The sun is already up and shining bright.”
Listening to the conversation of these guys who would soon be desperately craving shade, I silently moved my feet.
And I kept moving.
…And moving.
“……?”
As everyone grew flustered by the never-ending march, Ryu Cheong-woo took the lead.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Um, how much further do we need to go?”
The ornithologist smiled brightly.
“Haha! We have to walk until we see the migratory birds!”
“……!”
“Ah~ Do you happen to know when we might see them?”
Keun Se-jin quickly jumped in. The ornithologist waved his hand dismissively.
“A-hem~ Only God knows that~”
“…!!”
Just as the members were about to freeze up as they finally grasped the atmosphere, Keun Se-jin quickly spoke again.
“That’s true, isn't it~? Still, I hope God blesses us with good luck so we can see them soon~ Haha! Right?”
It was a signal to stop ruining the mood and just laugh for the variety show.
“Ahaha!”
“You’re right.”
The atmosphere was forced back into being amicable. And the march continued.
Thud, thud.
The endless reservoir and greenery stretched on.
At this rate, it felt like the show would turn into a documentary about physical endurance rather than a variety show.
Fortunately, Keun Se-jin kept talking to the ornithologist to secure screen time. Being polite and sociable, he seemed to be exactly the researcher’s type, and the conversation flowed well.
“That’s why parrotbills are this slim in the summer.”
“Ah~ Then the photos we usually see on the internet must not be from the summer!”
Thanks to him, I could move while just providing reactions.
‘He’s definitely earning his keep…’
However, since every answer eventually led back to parrotbills no matter what was said, I wasn't sure what kind of footage would actually come out of this.
And at some point.
The ornithologist raised his arm.
“See that willow tree over there? There are birds!”
“Ohhh!”
“Wow!”
Faces brightened instantly at the thought that the march was finally over. Cha Yu-jin tried to run toward them openly.
“Whoa, you shouldn't get too close! The birds will fly away!”
“Oh, okay…”
As Cha Yu-jin tried to walk carefully again, the ornithologist smiled broadly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Now, let’s move while crouching~”
“…….”
A moment later.
Everyone began to move toward the water’s edge in a duck walk.
‘Is this a boot camp experience?’
I think I know why the first episode of this variety show flopped.