Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Haru's Invitation
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After returning from the MT, our comeback preparations kicked into high gear.
We were perfectly prepared, enough to get on stage right away.
The members and I gathered in the living room, logged into the JR Entertainment YouTube account, and watched together.
The company had just informed us that the MT video had already been uploaded.
[Yes. We'll be playing a game of Mafia, acting out the roles written on the cards you've drawn. The mafia will act out a fake role while trying to eliminate the citizens. I'll give you a more detailed explanation after we finish dinner.]
The video ended right after the dinner scene.
“Even though the video is only 15 minutes long, the original filming was quite long. They must have had a tough time editing it down.”
“Yeah.”
“But they edited it really fast.”
“At this rate, they must have worked overtime every day to meet the deadline.”
I sent my silent condolences to the company's in-house content production and editing team.
‘They must have worked so hard to get this up before Creatin’s promotions ended and before RE-V’s began.’
[To be continued]
The screen faded to black, hinting that the video would continue.
“Should we check the comments?”
“Let’s.”
As I moved the remote, comments began to appear one by one.
↳I really want to see the Mafia game!
↳AH! AH! AH! AH! AH! Please give us more. Give us more. I'm begging you. I'm desperate here.
“The Mafia game was absolute chaos.”
I nodded vigorously at Park Ji-ham's words.
“I was keenly reminded that Haru is a foreigner during this trip.”
“Me too.”
“Hey, it can happen. The words written there were too difficult. Honestly, I think there should have been an advantage for foreigners.”
Haru raised his voice slightly, sounding wronged.
“How can someone who memorized his contract after reading it perfectly without a translator not understand that?”
Haru wrinkled his nose at Park Ji-ham’s blunt remark.
“That and this are different. A contract binds you for life, but a game is just for fun.”
“Well, it’s fine. We didn’t have much screen time in that last video, but I bet we’ll have a ton in the next one.”
Just as Park Ji-ham said, we didn't have much screen time in the video we just watched.
↳I can't believe it was possible to see Leon, Creatin, and RE-V all in one place.
↳Wow. So Creatin's Jae-hee was the one and only friend of our Leon.
↳But why did Jae-hee want to hide it?
↳Wasn't it because he was worried about controversy? Like rumors about him using Leon's name, or that he debuted thanks to Leon. I get the feeling that's why Leon deliberately explained everything in such detail.
↳Our boy is surprisingly sweet.
↳LOL Jae-hee's shocked expression is hilarious.
It was mostly focused on Leon and Creatin.
As a result, the comments were also more about Creatin and Leon than about us.
↳Leon and Creatin actually have pretty good chemistry.
↳Why does RE-V have so little screen time... Guys. Say something.
↳Are our boys shy around new people? Or are they just being too cautious?
↳*sob*. Our boys really aren't talking. Guys, can't you say something? You two already know each other.
There were also comments from fans who were disappointed by our lack of screen time.
“They’ll find out as soon as the next video is uploaded. The reason we were edited out is that we have too much screen time in part two.”
I thought so too.
The reaction would surely change drastically once the next part was released.
‘We were all going wild during the Mafia game.’
We might even be flooded with requests to play Mafia just by ourselves later on.
“I heard Creatin got first place today, right?”
“Yeah. They said they got first place in the last week of their promotions. That’s great.”
Creatin’s song was objectively good.
However, they hadn't gathered a large fanbase yet, and their public recognition was still a bit low, so it inevitably took some time for them to reach number one.
“The company must be thrilled.”
“I bet.”
Creatin was the only idol group under JR Entertainment that hadn't won first place.
It wasn't a huge problem since they were rookies, but the company must have been anxious.
“Actually, this isn't the time for us to be congratulating other groups.”
“That’s true.”
“Our music video will be released next week.”
Haru quietly turned off the TV.
“Plus, we have another promotion right after this one ends. We won’t even notice how time flies.”
“That’s right.”
“Still, don’t you think we’ll get a real long vacation after these promotions are over?”
“You think so?”
“Yeah.”
I had a vague feeling that the company would give us a vacation after this promotion cycle.
After all, we had moved up the schedule by changing our original full album to a mini-album.
“What’s everyone going to do during the vacation?”
“I’m thinking of visiting Japan.”
Haru said in a low voice.
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s been too long. I kept putting it off, saying I’d go after I succeeded. Don’t you think it’s about time I went?”
“You should go. You’ve succeeded enough.”
As Lee Ho-jun said, even though we hadn't been paid yet, we'd won first place and even performed in the US. That was definitely a success.
“Exactly. But it’s been so long, I think it’ll feel awkward.”
“How many years has it been?”
“I auditioned right after seeing a K-pop idol concert when I was in middle school. I was probably around fifteen, so it’s been almost ten years. As soon as I passed the audition, I packed my bags and came to Korea.”
It doesn't get more determined than that.
Even I, who just moved from one part of Seoul to another, often thought about going home whenever dorm life got tough. How much harder must it have been for Haru, at such a young age, in a completely different country?
“You’re really amazing, hyung.”
“I think so too.”
Haru shrugged as if it were no big deal.
“At this point, haven’t you forgotten your Japanese?”
“Sometimes. I want to speak in Japanese, but Korean just comes out. It feels like my language-switching speed has slowed down. I’ll be on the phone with my mom or dad and find myself speaking Korean. So now my parents are being forced to study Korean.”
True.
I had never seen Haru let slip even a word of Japanese by accident.
Usually, when you’re flustered or surprised, your native language comes out automatically, but Haru would still speak Korean even then.
He was an honorary Korean.
“Still, it must be nice to go to Japan.”
Haru smiled shyly and nodded at Jung Eun-woo's words.
“It’s been so long since you’ve been home, you’re not going to get lost or anything, are you?”
“It’s not that bad. Though it might be awkward.”
Going back to Japan after ten years would probably feel both joyful and strange.
“...So, I was wondering, would you all like to go to Japan with me?”
“Huh?”
“My parents said that if you guys wanted to come, they’d like to gift you the plane tickets and everything.”
Judging by Haru’s expression, he wasn't joking.
“I was actually wondering how to bring it up. If you come, you can stay at my parents' house and go sightseeing. All you need to bring are your clothes, just like when we went to the US for our performance.”
“Wouldn't it be an imposition if we all went?”
“What do you mean, an imposition? Did you think I was being a nuisance when I ate at your houses and kept in touch with your parents?”
“No, of course not.”
At Jung Eun-woo’s answer, Haru nodded as if to say, ‘See?’
“Still, I don’t think it’s right for us to accept tickets from your parents. We’d feel too bad. The plane tickets alone would cost over a million won.”
Round trip tickets would be at least 600,000 won per person.
If they bought tickets for all four of us, that would be 2.4 million won.
‘Plus, they’d have to provide a place for us to sleep and prepare food for us. That's just not right. How could that not be an imposition?’
“Haru. We really appreciate the thought. But I don’t think we can. It’s too much trouble. We’ll buy our own tickets and go after we get paid.”
Park Ji-ham said, meeting Haru’s eyes, his tone implying he would only accept the sentiment.
“It’s really okay. My parents were the ones who brought it up first when I told them I was planning to visit Japan soon. They said it’s not polite to refuse too much, that it’s a Korean virtue. And you all just admitted it’s not an imposition.”
Haru didn’t back down easily.
He seemed like a child throwing a tantrum.
“No. The cost and time involved when you come to our houses are completely different.”
“My parents said they want to see you. And I want to go with you guys, too.”
“Why? You should spend some quality time with your family. Get closer to your younger sibling.”
But Park Ji-ham didn't back down either.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Japan, so I’m scared. Can’t you come with me?”
Park Ji-ham’s shoulders flinched at Haru’s act of playing pitiful.
“I’m going back to my home country for the first time in ten years. I don’t think I can go alone.”
Park Ji-ham’s lips pressed together tightly.
Just a moment ago, his stance had been firm, but he was suddenly starting to weaken.
Park Ji-ham was the type of person who couldn’t be blunt with someone who seemed vulnerable.
“Please, just come with me. Just like how you wanted to keep the trophy in the dorm, I want us all to go to Japan together.”
Haru didn’t miss his chance.
“I’m going back after ten years as a success, but I haven’t even been paid yet, so I can’t even bring a single gift. What will people say when they see me like that? My family will say it’s fine, but others might think that since I’m not making money yet, I haven’t really succeeded and just came back because I couldn't endure it anymore. So please, come with me. So I won't feel intimidated. And my parents feel bad, too, like I’m being shameless for always relying on your parents.”
“Ugh...”
Park Ji-ham finally let out an unidentifiable sound and lowered his head.
It was a kind of declaration of surrender.
As the most steadfast among us crumbled, Haru’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the rest of us.
‘Looks like I’m unintentionally going on my first trip abroad.’