The Heavenly Demon's Illusion

The Heavenly Demon was casting an illusion.

But the production staff of My Idol Academia were demons who toyed with the human heart.

Right before the Mackerel Sandwich team was about to begin their stage, they threw in a commercial break.

"Ah, fuck— the ad timing is absolute shit…!"

"Why the hell would they shove a commercial in here."

One minute that felt like an eternity.

Throughout that minute, the company men stole glances at Sergeant Yu Changseon—Ha Yerin's most extreme fanatic—and cautiously spoke up one by one.

"But looking at the title earlier, it said Where Is My First Love!—isn't that a Tailors song?"

"If it's a Tailors song, why aren't they wearing cute outfits instead of…."

That was when one squad leader, whose social awareness had completely short-circuited, laughed and said,

"Since we're already here, how about we stan Yu Seol instead? Honestly, she might even be better than Ha Yerin…, and the military band next door is more into Yu Seol too…."

Of course….

"……."

"……I'm sorry."

He was immediately crushed under Sergeant Yu Changseon's murderous glare—the kind that looked ready to stab a man through the throat.

At the suggestion of stanning Yu Seol over Ha Yerin, Sergeant Yu Changseon dropped his voice low and opened his mouth.

"Yu Seol? You're telling me to stan that bratty little bitch?"

"…No, I just meant the military band also…."

"What do those old farts in the military band know?! Those geezers can blow a trumpet and scrape a violin—what the hell do they know about idols?!"

"……."

Among the military band, there were actually quite a few former idol trainees.

It was baseless hatemail, but Sergeant Yu Changseon desperately tore them down and controlled the narrative.

"Just shut up and watch with faith. Yerin's going to show us for sure this time too."

With Sergeant Yu Changseon's words, the commercial ended and the stage resumed.

But something was different from before.

"Hm?"

"They're sitting."

Before the commercial, the Mackerel Sandwich team members had been standing. Now they were seated at desks and chairs installed on the stage.

And those desks and chairs….

"Those are school desks."

"Ah, yeah, looks right."

Ordinary wooden desks and chairs you'd find in any school.

The Mackerel Sandwich team members sat in a row, profiles facing the camera, reading books with pink covers.

"Come to think of it, the outfits are school uniforms too."

"Looks like a high school girl concept."

"Feels like there's a story to it…, almost a little musical."

Even after the stage began and a good while passed, the Mackerel Sandwich team members simply sat at their desks reading.

Then, the next moment—

Thud.

Ha Yerin, seated dead center, suddenly closed the book she'd been reading.

She picked up a pen that had been prepared beside her and began scribbling something across the book cover.

"What? What's she writing?"

"Can't see it."

As if answering the company men's burning curiosity, the camera zoomed in and lit up the words Ha Yerin had written on the cover.

Flash—!

At the same time, the screen cut to a close-up of Ha Yerin's face.

"……!"

"……!"

Of course it was impossible—but for a split second, the company men felt as though Ha Yerin had looked straight at them.

Having seized their gazes once, the stage went dark.

And when the lights came back up—

With the fans' screams, the desks and chairs had all been cleared away, and the main stage began.

A bouncy beat and an intro brimming with fluttering anticipation.

But if there was one difference from the original…, it was that the bright atmosphere was dialed down compared to the original track.

Not that it diminished the stage's charm in the slightest.

Slightly timid movements and timid expressions.

Those small but definite actions somehow made the company men's hearts ache.

"There were kids like that when I was in school too."

"Same."

"Always sitting in the corner reading books."

The slightly gloomy kids who never mixed with the others, lost in their own little worlds.

Of course, the girls from their school days hadn't been this pretty—but still.

The Mackerel Sandwich team's styling and stage were more than enough to conjure up the company men's school days.

Especially Ha Yerin.

Despite possessing a more dazzling appearance than anyone…, how did that gloomy look suit Ha Yerin so perfectly?

Looking like a gloomy otaku beauty who'd just stepped out of a manga page, Ha Yerin made the company men break into bashful smiles without realizing it.

Of course, Ha Yerin wasn't the only one who fit the concept.

"That one's pretty too—what was her name?"

"Park Yujeong…, I think."

"Whoa…, I think Seo Yujin next to her is insanely pretty. Kind of cute but also…, just…, damn."

Even through Lee Hyejeong's bridge that followed, the company men kept gasping.

"Holy shit she can sing. Who's that?"

"That's her. You know Lee Hyejeong, the one who placed seventh on K-Star?"

"Ah, that's her? Jesus, she got insanely pretty."

"…So fucking cute. And that body, holy shit…."

The chorus after the bridge.

When the group choreography continued with bashful, heart-fluttering expressions all around, the company men nearly passed out.

"Aah…, I just want to nibble on them."

"Don't you dare eye Yerin, I'll kill you."

"Damn…, even that nerd-girl vibe is kinda hot."

The stage was progressing enjoyably enough without any major shocks—when suddenly.

Flash—.

"Huh."

"What the fuck, all of a sudden."

With lines that left a lingering aftertaste, just before the song entered the second verse, the stage went black.

At first the company men thought the TV had turned off, but that wasn't it.

Even the live audience on screen seemed startled by the sudden blackout, buzzing among themselves.

And when the lights came back on—

Flash!

"……!!"

The audience on screen…, the company men…, none of them could speak. They just sucked in a breath.

Because the members' stage outfits had transformed one hundred and eighty degrees from before.

The hair that had been tied up in a frumpy style now cascaded freely; the glasses had been flung aside; and the stifling long skirts had been swapped for somewhat daring short ones that bared their thighs.

In particular, Ha Yerin standing dead center—letting her hair down last and tossing her glasses aside—was the absolute highlight.

Was this how Actaeon felt when he stole a glimpse of Artemis bathing?

"……."

"……."

The company men could only freeze before the rapturous sight before their eyes.

And as if looking down upon those mere mortals with fondness, the goddess bestowed her mercy.

Smile—.

"…Huh?"

…She was smiling.

Ice Princess Ha Yerin, who had never once shown a smile on My Idol Academia.

Crack—.

As if a curse had been broken by the power of love, she grinned ear to ear….

Smiling with such pure happiness, even carrying the mischievous playfulness of a little troublemaker…

She pointed at the company men beyond the screen.

Ah.

In that moment, Sergeant Yu Changseon woke from his sleep.

"Hey! Get up already!"

"Huh…?"

"Hey! Yu Changseon! Aren't you going home? Get up, you idiot. Homeroom's already over!"

"…H-home? Wh-what are you talking about. I've still got seventy-two days of military service left…."

"What the hell are you on about, snap out of it, you moron. Did you have a dream?"

"A dream…?"

At his friend's words, high school student Yu Changseon wiped the drool from his mouth and looked around.

This was school.

Around him, the cleaning duty kids were sweeping the classroom…, and friends from other classes were noisily laughing as they packed their bags and filed out.

"Ah…, right, this is school and I'm a high school student…. I must've been dreaming. And a really fucking awful dream at that…."

"What kind of dream was it?"

"There was this one, fuck…. A dream where I was locked up for a year and a half in a place with dozens, hundreds of nothing but dicks."

"What, did you dream you went to prison or something?"

His friend clicked his tongue, clapped Yu Changseon on the shoulder a few times, and grabbed his bag.

"Tsk tsk, kid's not right in the head. Hey, I've got an urgent appointment today so I'm heading out first. See you next week."

"…Yeah."

Yu Changseon sent his friend off first, sat there zoning out for a bit, then stood up.

"Hwaaaah…, damn…, having a shitty dream like that…, I must've been really tired. No late-night soccer tonight."

And just as he packed his bag and was about to step out the classroom door—

Tap tap.

"U-um…!"

"Hm…?"

As if she'd been waiting for him all this time, the moment he stepped out the school gate, someone called out to him as though she'd been expecting him.

She's a girl from our class…, what was her name again….

Bushy bangs that completely covered her face, enormous round glasses that took up half her face. An outfit so frumpy and stifling it made even the viewer feel claustrophobic.

He didn't know her name, but the girl who'd spoken to him was in the same class.

She was the girl who always gloomily read books in the corner, so this was the first time Yu Changseon had ever heard her voice.

He answered in a somewhat curt tone.

"What? What's up?"

"Th-that is…."

Then the girl, as if wringing out every last drop of courage, shouted with a flushed face.

"T-to…, tomorrow's Saturday, so do you want to go see a movie together?"

"…What? A movie?"

"H-here. Read this at home…!"

Flash—!

"Huh? Hey! Hey…!"

She shoved some unknown envelope into his hand and bolted away at top speed.

"Seriously…, what was that all of a sudden?"

Rip—.

Ignoring her instruction to read it at home, Yu Changseon tore open the envelope right then and there.

And inside….

"Whoa shit…, heh heh, what the hell is this."

…Something he truly never could have imagined was written there.

She suddenly asked to see a movie, so he had a hunch—but this was a love letter?

What was this, a Japanese shoujo manga? Who confessed like this these days?

"Man, you really do see all kinds of things if you live long enough."

Yu Changseon roughly crumpled the envelope into his pocket and headed home, laughing heartily.

He still had his pride at school, after all.

He had zero intention of going to a movie with some loner girl who didn't even have friends in class.

But….

"Hss…, should I just go check it out?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

By the time he got home and lay down in bed, Yu Changseon started to waver.

It had been way too long since he'd last dated…, and more than anything….

When I caught a glimpse of her last time, her base face seemed pretty decent.

The face of the girl whose name he still couldn't remember kept floating up.

If she took off the glasses, fixed herself up, and put on some makeup, she might be okay?

And so he fretted all night without sleeping, until….

"Ugh, what am I even doing…."

In the end, he went out to the movie theater at the appointed time.

I haven't seen a movie in a while either, so I'll just cleanly watch one film with her and turn down the confession.

Thinking that, Yu Changseon stuck his hands in his pockets and waited for her.

That was when it happened.

"Ch-Changseon!"

At the voice calling his name, he turned around….

"Ah…, could you hurry it up a litt…, ……huh?"

"S-sorry, did you wait long?"

…Without a doubt, the prettiest girl he had ever seen in his life was calling his name.

He couldn't help but panic.

"Wh-wh-wh-who are you…?"

"What are you doing…, stop joking around. It's me."

"…You? No way…, you're saying you're that girl…?"

He'd thought her base face was decent.

But how could taking off the glasses, letting her hair down, and dressing up a little transform someone this much?

"M-my unni said I was going out for the first time in ages, so she fixed me up a bit…."

"……."

"…How is it? Weird?"

"No."

A firm answer slipped from his mouth before he even knew it.

And at that firm answer of his….

"…I'm glad."

Bashful smile—.

The girl who had always been timid and gloomy…, for the first time, broke into a bright, sunny smile.

"……."

Ah.

A smile so pretty and so lovely…, that it was impossible not to smile back.

"Um…, so Changseon. Before we go into the theater, there's something I want to say…."

"……."

Thump.

Was there really something this absurd in the world?

A girl like this was going to the movies with him?

"About me…. I've liked you for a long time."

Thump, thump.

A beautiful girl who'd been hiding her looks behind giant glasses and frumpy hair liked him?

"I-if it's okay with you…, would you be my first boyfriend…?"

Thump, thump, thump.

And first love, at that.

This beautiful girl's first boyfriend was going to be him?

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

Yu Changseon could barely contain his heart, which felt ready to burst.

A girl who had awakened to love and transformed into a beautiful maiden.

Her first smile…, and her first confession.

This was truly a scene he would never forget…, for as long as he lived, until the day he closed his eyes.

"…Yerin."

Only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now did Yu Changseon recall the name of the beautiful girl before him.

"…Ha Yerin."

A name he must never forget…, a name now engraved upon his very soul.

"…Y-you really… me…."

And just as he opened his mouth once more, still unable to believe the situation—

"Hee."

Ha Yerin flashed a mischievous little smile and reached out her hand.

"Ah…."

And when Sergeant Yu Changseon came back to his senses, Ha Yerin on the screen was holding her ending pose.

"………."

He'd roughly figured it out from the middle, but sure enough—what he'd just experienced was an illusion.

An illusion that could never come true.

So did that mean he wasn't happy?

…No. That wasn't it.

It was an illusion, but he was happy.

…Happy enough that he could never forget it.

"Whoa…, Ha Yerin was fucking incredible. Sergeant Yu Changseon? Don't you thin—. …Huh?!"

One of the juniors turned his head toward Sergeant Yu Changseon, saw his face, and recoiled in shock.

"N-nosebleed!"

"Sergeant Yu Changseon! You're bleeding from your nose right now!"

Blood was streaming from his nose.

"Wait, why the sudden nosebleed…."

"Tissues! Somebody grab some tissues!"

"…I'm fine, so stop making a racket and gather up."

"…Sir? Ah, yes. Hey, everyone gather up!"

As Sergeant Yu Changseon clutched his forehead and gave the order, every single person in the barracks assembled in front of him.

Sergeant Yu Changseon pointed at the Mackerel Sandwich team on the screen and spoke before the gathered company men.

"…Vote for their team right now."

"Ah, Sergeant Yu Changseon. Only the live audience can vote for the team performances, so we can't."

"Is that so? Then…."

Sergeant Yu Changseon's eyes rolled as he continued.

"Next week's My Idol Academia broadcast is the ranking announcement, right? All of you vote hard and make sure Yerin takes first place no matter what."

"……."

"If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by any chance Yu Seol or anyone else gets more votes than Yerin, I'll thrash every last one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of you. Understood?"

…The company was only a few dozen men at best—could that even make a meaningful difference in the vote count?

The juniors found Sergeant Yu Changseon's order a bit absurd, but they absolutely could not voice a single complaint.

Because the emotion in his eyes…, was not that of a mere fan, but something filled with blind faith and madness directed at a single person.

"…Y-yes, sir! Understood!"

And from that day on, the security company made it a daily routine: every time they got their phones, they voted for Ha Yerin.