Chapter 26

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 26

Chapter Title: Seventeenth on the Charts

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All eyes were glued to the screen.

Amid the five members' shallow breaths, the ticking of the living room clock slipped in, keeping perfect rhythm.

Kim Han-soo handled the phone as if it were a fragile baby, his finger moving cautiously. 95th, 94th, 93rd...

That's when Kim Ha-woon asked with an anxious look on his face.

"We'll have at least one in the top 100, right?"

"Of course we will."

I answered confidently. Partly to reassure Kim Ha-woon, but mostly because I wanted to believe it myself.

83rd, 82nd. The higher it climbed, the more my heart pounded against my chest. It felt like my ribs might crack under the strain.

'Please...'

My arms, crossed tightly, tensed up involuntarily. Squeezing until my biceps ached eased the tension just a bit.

We've been active even before debut, stirred up some buzz, and the showcase was packed enough. That has to mean decent reactions, right?

'...Packed meaning maybe 300 people at best.'

Honestly, digital chart rankings were basically decided by fandom power.

Otherwise, it'd have to be one of those massively popular songs blasting everywhere on the streets.

But ironically, to become a mainstream hit, you needed to chart first.

Chicken or egg, right? But that's reality—nothing we can do about it.

'...This is driving me insane.'

The debut I'd dreamed of didn't involve this nail-biting suspense.

In my fantasies, I devoured the charts right out the gate and skyrocketed to top star status. Rookie of the Year? Nah, straight to grand prize. Practicing with those delusions feels like yesterday.

74th, 73rd. Now that things had come to this, I started thinking Kim Han-soo was being too much.

Why not just tell us first? We could've read it from his face.

While I was thinking that, the chart had already reached the 60s.

Park Tae-hoo muttered with a grim expression.

"We didn't make the chart, did we?"

"Ah, what kind of talk is that! Seriously, hyung! Don't jinx it!"

Park Tae-hoo couldn't even retort to Kim Ha-woon's sharp reaction. Normally, they'd bicker right away, but he wasn't in the mood now.

Yeah, quit with the jinxing. What if we really miss the chart because of you?

'No, stop. I shouldn't think like that either.'

Words and thoughts are much the same. Might as well stick to positives. As I shoved the anxious thoughts aside...

Kim Han-soo suddenly stopped scrolling.

"Huh?"

What? What's going on?

"Why is this at 41st?"

Everyone's eyes shot to the screen—to be precise, the song title at 41st place.

"Huh? That's the song Do-jun hyung sang during busking!"

Right. I'd performed it at busking, on the radio, and even as a solo stage at today's showcase.

A song released five years ago was charting.

Kim Han-soo, whose face had been stone-cold the whole time, cracked a small smile.

"Looks like it climbed because Do-jun sang it."

"Really?"

Kim Ha-woon's words spoke for everyone. Hard to believe, but no other explanation fit.

If that's true, doesn't that mean we can get our hopes up?

Gulp.

Someone swallowed hard in the tension. As if on cue, Kim Han-soo's finger resumed scrolling up.

But passing 40th, 30th, 20th—our song still hadn't appeared.

'Top 10 might be a stretch...'

We weren't a big agency, and top 10 for a rookie idol debut was no easy feat.

Now I wondered if Kim Han-soo had misread. Me singing it landing 41st? That didn't add up.

The others seemed to think the same; the briefly heated anticipation cooled rapidly.

That's when it happened.

"I-it's there. 17th!"

"Wh-what place?"

"Team leader, you sure you're not seeing things?"

"You saw that right?"

17th? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠For real?

The impossibly high rank had every member wide-eyed in shock, no exceptions.

As we all just stared at each other, Kim Ha-woon snatched the tablet from Kim Han-soo's trembling hand.

"I'll check!"

He rubbed his eyes repeatedly, then jumped up yelling.

"Whoa! Hyungs! It's really 17th! 17th!"

"Me too! Show me!"

Park Tae-hoo rushed over, checked the screen, and soon screamed, hugging Kim Ha-woon.

"They say words become seeds! Straight to 17th!"

"That's not how you use that saying! You said we might not chart!"

They bickered but grinned ear to ear.

Lee Jae-ha, who'd been quietly staring at the screen, offered me the tablet with slightly reddened eyes.

"Hyung, you not looking?"

"...Of course."

I hesitated, scared it might be a mistake. But now? I had to see for myself.

I reached out and took the tablet. It was vibrating—or was Jae-ha's hand shaking?

Or mine?

Either way, I gripped the shuddering tablet with both hands and peered at the screen.

"Ah...!"

There it was, our song, solidly at 17th.

I got why Kim Ha-woon had rubbed his eyes so much. I turned the screen off and on repeatedly.

Our song stayed put.

"We're really 17th? Without even music shows?"

This wasn't a dream, was it?

After zoning out for a while, it hit me. This was real. The realization washed away all the prior anxiety and tension.

I leaped up, shouting.

"Wooo! Yes!"

Kim Ha-woon, who'd been bouncing around, tackled me in a hug, yelling "Yes!" too.

"Yes! Party time! Chicken!"

"Pizza this time!"

Late as it was, the dorm filled with cheers.

❤

Time slipped away as we ate and drank. The party wrapped up at dawn.

I was left alone amid the chaotic aftermath: PET bottles, a few beer cans, snack bags, chicken, and pizza boxes strewn everywhere.

Kim Han-soo had headed back to the company ages ago, citing work. Kim Ha-woon, the minor, crashed early—maybe sugar-high or something.

Park Tae-hoo and Lee Jae-ha, who'd been chugging beers like it was a contest, passed out simultaneously.

In the middle of the messy living room, piled high with cleanup, I gazed at the suddenly appearing system window.

Shop Inventory

Fatigue recovery, huh. Obvious prep for our busy schedule ahead—work instead of sleep, basically.

No time to inspect further before more alerts poured in.

Ding.

'Cheapskate.'

You know time's what I need most, yet you pull this.

If you're giving, go big.

But tonight, I wasn't in a bad mood.

"Heh heh heh."

17th place. Our debut track at 17th.

Maybe the beer, but giggles kept bubbling up with my elevated mood.

"This real life?"

Still unbelievable, but my spirits soared. I refreshed the comments over and over.

A few hate comments mixed in, but they didn't faze me. Show me a celeb without haters.

Each supportive comment swelled my chest with emotion.

Opening my eyes in the hospital, seeing Flame take #1 with their debut—that blackened my vision.

Like some famous song lyric, it felt like that spot should've been mine.

But now? Different. As B.O.Y, I'll catch up to Flame someday. No, I will.

Not #1 yet, but escaping a future with no stages and achieving this dream? Pure bliss.

'Keep this up, and #1's possible, right?'

No music shows yet, but with schedules, the chart could climb higher.

And best of all, I finally had time.

Coins I'd burned on time had nearly recovered 200 in hours post-showcase. Still climbing fast.

Especially the group photo with members post-showcase outdid even the one with Lee Jae-yoon in likes.

At this rate, no worries about time shortages. Hooray!

"Screw it! Good mood!"

I chugged the last beer ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and splurged on items for the first time.

Skipped 'Perfect Weather for Skipping Rope'—not super useful, and I had leftovers from rewards.

Bulking up like that felt satisfying, wallet notwithstanding.

"Hey, buy 10, get one free, right?"

Tested ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, but system stayed silent. Well, stocking up early's smart anyway.

"Oh!"

Right, almost forgot.

"The new talent for debut celebration?"

It popped up like it'd been waiting.

...Am I imagining it responds to me?

But the system ignored me and continued.

'What triggers?'

And random chance? Give a percentage at least. Selling like this? Get the boss!

Reread it hopefully, but the guitar talent felt way better—not just my imagination.

'Hey.'

Tell me the odds at least?

But no more output.

'Sigh...'

Fine. Good mood saves you. Watch it next time.

I swelled with pride watching likes steadily rise. Coins dropped twenty, but with plenty left, no regrets.

"Hyung, not sleeping?"

Grinning at my phone, Lee Jae-ha emerged from his room. Freshly woken, eyes heavy with sleep.

"Can't sleep. Weren't you out?"

"Woke up."

He plopped beside me instead of returning, dreamy-voiced.

"Thought it was a dream, but no."

"Yeah."

"Living room's still a wreck."

His cleanup worry made me chuckle. Everyone thinks alike.

"Same, scared it'd vanish if I slept."

Silence settled. No clue what to say.

We'd talked plenty over beers; Jae-ha wasn't one to initiate...

"Hyung."

Wrong.

Jae-ha spoke softly, steadily.

"Our company's debuting idols for the first time. Honestly, I was anxious. But thanks to you, great start."

Unexpected; I flushed, embarrassed. Beer heat?

"Hey, not just me. We all worked hard."

"Still, articles everywhere cuz of you."

Our eyes met. He smiled relaxed.

"Thanks."

Whoa, vibe shift.

Unfamiliar; fumbling.

I coughed awkwardly.

"Then buy me coffee later."

"Two cups."

"Nah, not coffee."

"...Huh?"

"Thanks but capping at 10,000 won?"

Brief bafflement, then he burst laughing. Yeah, better than grim faces.

'Oh, right.'

He'd looked off after that call. What happened? Ask? Looks fine now.

Checking his expression, he suddenly stood.

"I'll buy the car. Like foreign ones?"

"...Huh?"

My turn to freeze. But Jae-ha just teased and bolted to his room.

...For real?