Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: First Steps as Leader
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I immediately dragged Lee Jae-ha to a nearby cafe. Cutting straight to the chase, the moment our coffees hit the table, I asked.
"What's going on?"
Even after some time had passed, Lee Jae-ha's face remained grim. Even a total idiot would realize something was wrong by now.
Well, the system had dropped a hint, too.
'No way it'd pop up something like that randomly at this exact moment.'
But sure enough, Lee Jae-ha was still Lee Jae-ha.
"Nothing's up."
Nothing's up, my foot. It was like the word "worry" was tattooed right across his forehead.
I hadn't expected him to open up right away anyway—especially not from him.
But I couldn't just let it slide.
80 coins were riding on this.
"Really? You've looked off since earlier."
"Just tired."
Man, his defenses were rock-solid. If it were Jae-yoon, he'd already be prying into every little detail without me even asking.
'Who'd have thought I'd miss that kind of nagging...'
Either way, beating around the bush like this wasn't getting us anywhere. Time to go straight for the jugular.
'But I can't just throw out wild guesses...'
Let me think. His face had looked fine this morning.
Unlike me or Kim Ha-woon, who were wrecked from lack of sleep, he actually seemed in better shape than usual.
Maybe with that thorn in his side, Lim Joo-won, gone, all his worries vanished...?
Hold up.
'Lim Joo-won?'
Come to think of it, his mood had soured right after Kim Han-soo announced Lim Joo-won's dismissal.
'No way he's bummed out because Lim Joo-won got kicked out? Were they close?'
Nah, that was a stretch. If they were tight, he wouldn't have warned me about the debut lineup right after it was announced.
'Maybe he's worried it'll come back to bite us?'
He was the one who'd mentioned Lim Joo-won having connections with some bigwig at the company. Could be fretting over that.
Either way, it seemed tied to Lim Joo-won. Probing there might shake something loose.
"This about Lim Joo-won?"
Oh shit, too direct?
"......"
Bingo. Instead of an answer, his lips tightened just a fraction. That reaction sealed it.
"Don't sweat it. No matter who's backing that guy, the company can't ditch four of us for one. And the decision's already made."
I tried to reassure him as gently as possible, emphasizing there was zero reason to worry.
But his expression didn't budge.
"Sigh... It's not that."
Then what is it? I held back from pressing and waited.
After hesitating several times, Lee Jae-ha let out a long sigh and finally spilled his guts.
"He's still a hyung I practiced with for years. Even if he was a pain in the ass, maybe I should've put up with it more. I keep wondering if speaking up sooner could've changed things."
"......"
"Now he's got no clue when he'll ever debut."
He muttered bitterly, then gauged my reaction and quickly waved his hands.
"Ah! Not that you're in the wrong, hyung. I'm really grateful—it was the right call. Just... bugs me a little."
I was relieved once I heard it. Turns out it was something anyone might worry about—especially a long-time trainee like him.
People who are too nice really have it rough. We'd nearly blown our debut over Lim Joo-won, and here he was fretting like this.
Still, as a fellow veteran trainee, I got it.
"Fair enough. From his perspective, he did miss his shot. And after pissing off the executive director, debuting's gonna be tough."
If I were Lim Joo-won, I'd be pounding the ground in frustration right now.
Whether idol or solo, having debut right in front of you and then yanked away? Brutal.
But he'd blown it, and we couldn't afford to look back now.
"Thing is, if you're moping like this, what're the others gonna think?"
"Huh?"
"I'm the newbie, so I don't know the full picture, but Team Leader Kim introducing you first to me says it all. You're the one the company's betting big on, right?"
No way they picked him for the debut lineup first just 'cause he'd trained longer. This industry doesn't hand out spots like candy.
It was proof Pida saw him as a core member.
"If the guy who made debut first looks down, everyone's gonna worry."
Hell, he'd been wary of me at first, scared I'd ruin the vibe. Funny how things flipped.
"And you were all prickly when we met, but what's with the softie act now? Be like that again."
At my jab, his face flushed red as an autumn apple.
"No... I heard you got into the lineup somewhere else and flopped, so I figured something was off. Just trying to get the upper hand."
He must've been embarrassed about it. His face looked ready to explode. So why'd he do it then?
I grinned slyly and kept going.
"Anyway, we're a team now. Loosen up. You can treat me casually—gotta get comfy to really talk things out. We're stuck together for years."
"......Got it."
"No more suffering in silence."
With the serious talk wrapped, I leaned back in my chair casually.
This should tide him over for now. It wasn't vanishing anytime soon, but at least he wouldn't brood alone.
To lighten the mood, I tossed out a light joke.
"And honestly, we discuss the most important dilemma every day anyway."
"What dilemma?"
"What to have for lunch."
My killer line, but his face twisted oddly.
"Not funny."
He even looked offended. C'mon, don't embarrass me. At least chuckle.
Desperate to smooth it over, I dropped my voice low and gravelly.
"That sound like a joke to you?"
"Yeah. Our meals are set—"
"Ah! Salad with chicken or chicken with salad? Totally different, dude."
Finally, Lee Jae-ha cracked a smile. Looked like his mind eased up. Good.
I grabbed my half-empty coffee and stood.
Time to head back. Us two lingering outside might look weird.
"I'll go first. Sort your thoughts and hit the practice room. Guys are waiting."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
He feigned nonchalance, shooing me away like it was no big deal.
Definitely more relaxed than before. I left the cafe with him behind me.
That was when it happened.
Tik.
Quest Window
Be recognized as leader by your group members!
1/3
Oh?
❤
A hectic week of full-on debut prep flew by, and we finally moved into the dorm. A pretty nice villa right near the company.
Kim Han-soo beamed proudly as he opened the front door.
"Here you go—this is your dorm from now on."
"Whoa..."
"Wow! Way bigger than I thought!"
It was nicer than expected. No wonder he was proud. Plenty of idols start in basements.
Sure, smaller than what Flame's debut lineup had, but they had double the members and a bigger company.
'Two rooms, so two per room, huh.'
Big deal. Living together was one thing; sharing a bedroom was another level.
Even Flame, who'd trained forever together, had early roommate drama and swapped a few times.
'Probably best if Jae-ha and I pair up?'
He was the first guy I met at Pida, and we'd gotten way closer since Lim Joo-won's exit.
Mulling that over while checking out the place, Kim Han-soo slipped his shoes back on.
"Gotta head back to the office, so you guys sort out roommates and rules yourselves, yeah?"
"Of course! We're not kids!"
"Sounds weird coming from Ha-woon, but... anyway, see you tomorrow. I'll pick you up at 7."
He really was swamped—door shut behind him in a flash.
Beep.
The door locked, footsteps faded, and Kim Ha-woon lit up.
"Hyungs!"
"Yeah?"
"Let's celebrate the move with chicken!"
Oh, chicken sounds good.
'Wait, no—'
It was 10 p.m. Way too late for weight-conscious guys like us to eat.
Even if it weren't, chicken was banned. Flour and oil? Disaster.
One bite, and weeks of salads, chicken breast, and black coffee went down the drain.
"Ha-woon, what're you talking about?"
Before I could say more, Park Tae-hoo narrowed his eyes.
"Chicken? You serious?"
Good call. As the older one over the maknae, he had to stay strong on diet.
"Nights like this call for pizza, not chicken."
"What?! Chicken's the way!"
"Pizza's fairer for everyone. And we eat chicken with salad daily anyway."
"That's chicken—this is fried chicken!"
They bickered loudly, hyping their food's perks.
Wait, is our diet not the priority here?
Lee Jae-ha cut in firmly.
"Enough. What're you idiots eating at this hour? Wanna get fat-shamed onstage?"
Yeah, you're the reliable one.
But Kim Ha-woon wouldn't back down. He'd apparently googled it—shoved a chicken pic at Jae-ha.
"Hyung, you don't want any?"
Somehow, the photo smelled amazing. That 4D thing?
"Want it, but gotta hold back."
Jae-ha's resolve was ironclad. Spear vs. shield had nothing on this.
Sensing defeat, target switched to me.
"Do-jun hyung! You want some, right?"
Pizza-pusher Park Tae-hoo nodded furiously behind him, realizing stalemate meant nothing.
Determination was clear, but no meant no.
I said firmly,
"Chicken's chicken, so chicken brea—"
Didn't even finish—Kim Ha-woon deflated, having predicted it.
Then, a forgotten quest pinged.
Be recognized as leader by your group members!
1/3
It'd ticked up after chatting with Jae-ha—I figured it'd rise with anyone once we bonded. But nope, others hadn't budged.
Tried everything last week. Zilch. At this rate, no perks—just shop prices jacking up.
Maybe solve their personal woes? Jae-ha's went up after I listened to his funk.
'Grant the chicken wish...?'
80 coins or chicken? Coins, duh.
"—ain't cutting it. Chicken's chicken."
"Ooooh! Do-jun hyung gets it!"
Kim Ha-woon whooped and bounced around.
"What about pizza instead?"
Park Tae-hoo still schemed for pizza amid the chaos.
Lee Jae-ha stared at me in disbelief.
"Hyung too...?"
His voice dripped betrayal. I averted my eyes.
Sorry. Gotta eat to live.
"No delivery—trails. We'll go out!"
Kim Ha-woon bolted for shoes post-hype.
Park Tae-hoo followed, then me. Jae-ha sighed shortly and trailed. I patted his back reassuringly.
"Yes! Chicken wins!"
"Ugh..."
Rock-paper-scissors must've happened—Kim Ha-woon hopped victoriously, Park Tae-hoo sulked.
Yeah, chicken over pizza any day.
"At least no fried."
"Huh? Fried's the best par—!"
Excited rebuttal froze—like he'd seen a ghost.
Lee Jae-ha glared lasers from beside him.
If stares jailed people, Ha-woon'd be locked up.
"What about fried?"
Gulp.
Throat bobbing, Kim Ha-woon answered.
"......Ruin the flavor? Haha. Roasted's king. That smoky taste!"
Easily subdued the maknae. Jae-ha eyed me next.
One wrong word, and he'd call Kim Han-soo. Nope. I nodded fast.
"Downtown's close—head there."
Worried fried-ban might crush Ha-woon, but he perked right up outside, skipping again.
Loves it that much. Fair—he's young; all protein's no fun.
"Chicken! Chickeeeen! Legs and sauce too!"
We strolled downtown to his weirdly catchy mystery chant.
"Wow, crowded."
Saturday neon thronged with people.
"No seats at chicken spots? Pizza then."
"Hyung! I won! Don't say that!"
"If no seats, we pivot."
Bickering along, we hit a roast chicken joint.
Kim Ha-woon, most tense yet, pushed the door open.