Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: 하트 받는 탑스타-38화
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```html
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: First Music Show #1
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"Today's number one is...!"
A very brief silence. The MC swung the cue card dramatically, pointing right at us.
"That's right! B.O.Y! Congratulations!"
...Huh? What did they say?
Before those words could even sink into my brain, there was a poof, and confetti rained down from all directions.
The thunderous cheers made my ears ring. Someone patted my back, while another clapped loudly right in front of me.
Hold on, what the hell is going on here?
And amid the endless cascade of confetti, a glittering trophy came into view.
'Why that thing...'
I stared at it blankly like an idiot when suddenly the number one trophy—mic in hand—was thrust right in front of me.
I reflexively reached out and took hold of them.
"B.O.Y! Congratulations! A few words, please."
I could see the MCs' beaming faces. Every singer on stage had their eyes fixed on us.
The trophy and mic in my grip felt a little heavy. That weight jolted me back to my senses.
I quickly brought the mic to my lips.
"Uh, um..."
In that split second—less than two seconds—countless thoughts raced through my mind.
Not just the half year in a coma, but waking up to this crap about collecting likes or dying. Hell, I nearly died for real over that.
And that was just the start. Kicked out after seven years of training at my company, I lucked into another one, barely debuted, only to get tangled in bullshit rumors that almost pinned an assault charge on me...
'...When I lay it all out like this, it sounds even more insane.'
If anything, the sheer absurdity sharpened my focus.
It hadn't even been long since I woke from the coma, and every day since felt like a seatbeltless rollercoaster.
But somehow, we'd made it this far.
I cleared my throat and opened my mouth calmly.
"Uh..."
No, I thought I sounded calm, but my voice trembled enough for me to hear it myself.
Maybe it was the nonstop confetti—I could barely see straight ahead.
"I still can't believe it. I'm totally dumbfounded right now. We were shocked just to be nominated today. But number one...?"
As those words left my mouth, something surged up from deep in my chest.
The day I first became a trainee. The moments I collapsed in exhaustion. The time GH booted me out and I nearly gave up everything—they all flashed before my eyes.
Leaving every one of those behind, here I was, holding a mic and a trophy.
The dream I once chased, the one I figured I'd never even dream again—it had become reality, right here in front of me.
"Our members... must've had it so tough because of me..."
I glanced to the side and locked eyes with Lee Jae-ha.
He was grinning wider than I'd ever seen.
Kim Ha-woon had both arms raised high, scooping up confetti by the handful, while Park Tae-hoo was...
"Sniff, ugh."
His eyes red, brimming with tears.
Why's this guy crying when no one else is? Even the maknae Ha-woon was beaming like sunshine.
I let out a chuckle and tried to continue the speech.
"...Ugh."
But my throat clamped shut—no words came out.
Why now?
Then something trickled down my cheek.
'...Huh? Rain?'
It didn't take long to realize they were my tears.
Weird. The second I clocked that I was crying, a flood of pent-up emotion I couldn't hold back burst free.
Seven years as a trainee. All the recent chaos that exploded...
"Hic, ugh..."
I tried to force out words, but only sobs leaked through my gritted teeth.
"The one who suffered the most mentally wasn't us—it was the leader himself."
In the end, Lee Jae-ha smoothly snatched the mic from my hand and took over in a steady tone.
"We'll keep showing you even better from B.O.Y moving forward. Thank you so much!"
"Yes! That was B.O.Y's acceptance speech."
With that, time was up—the MCs launched into their wrap-up.
Huh? Wait! I still had so much left to say!
But they barreled ahead, strict on broadcast timing.
"Congrats again on this week's number one. We'll sign off here."
"Bye now!"
With their final wave, the instrumental intro to "Look at Me" swelled across the stage.
No, come on...
Is this my first number one speech? A few stammered lines, then bawling?
It hit me like a bucket of ice water. This wasn't the slick acceptance speech I'd fantasized about pre-debut.
Too late now—the chance was gone. The other artists greeted us and filed offstage.
...And that's it? For real?
'Where's the suave thank-you? The cool confidence?'
As those thoughts swirled, the music crested toward its climax, camera lights blinking out one by one.
Then Kim Han-soo came bounding onto the stage like a man possessed.
"Everyone!"
"Team Leader!"
It was the kind of emotional scene that demanded tears, but mine dried up like a desert.
'This is nuts...!'
Ah! Where the hell did my badass number one speech go?!
The next morning, after partying hard to celebrate our music show win with the crew, I woke to a scorching thirst.
"Ugh..."
My head throbbed. How much did I knock back yesterday?
I chugged extra out of sheer embarrassment from Lee Jae-ha and Kim Ha-woon reenacting my crying face...
They kept replaying the memes already blowing up online—Kim Han-soo and the road manager clutched their stomachs laughing.
Park Tae-hoo tried joining in but clammed up at his own clip, bawling even harder.
In the chaos, I hadn't noticed, but he'd practically collapsed, sobbing his guts out.
'Guess I'm better off in that department?'
Lost in dumb thoughts, I practically rolled out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen, yanking water from the fridge.
The cold rush down my throat dulled the thirst haze. Headache lingered, though.
The table was still littered with yesterday's wreckage. When the hell we cleaning this?
"...Urp."
Poking at food to tidy up triggered a dry heave. The smell alone had my stomach in revolt.
'Ah, I'm dying here.'
Too long since I pounded drinks like that?
I gulped more water and shuffled to the living room. The trophy by the TV hit me first.
This thing's really ours? Well, technically ours.
Still...
'Can't deny it feels good.'
Solo trophy or group effort, number one was number one.
'On top of that, with our debut album.'
It'd feel great anytime, but nailing it this quick definitely lightened the load.
I stepped over, picked up the trophy.
'Damn, it's light.'
Spending seven years training for something this flimsy hit different.
Weekly giveaway from all sorts of stations, sure—but I couldn't just shrug off its worth.
Even now, trainees at GH, Pida, agencies everywhere were grinding for one just like it.
'Speaking of, how long did it take Flame?'
I vaguely recalled glimpsing an article in the hospital. Didn't stick.
Not like I wanted to read it properly then.
"..."
Thought about searching, let it go.
I sank into some indefinable mood.
Early morning hush, faint birdsong outside. I stared at the trophy for ages.
Congratulations on your first music show #1!
Now I read the system's alerts without the initial shock—second nature.
Yeah, about time I got used to it. You knew, so hit me with something. Coins would be ideal.
User has achieved the condition <Music Show #1!>.
System upgrade conditions have now been fully revealed.
"Huh?"
What the—? Where's my reward?
The system will upgrade once the user's cumulative Likes reach 500,000.
Cumulative Likes: 322,677 / 500,000
"No way. What the actual fuck?"
It was such a ridiculous number, a curse slipped from my delicate lips unbidden.
And amid all that, I'd racked up over 230k Likes? When? So where the hell did all those Coins go?
Coins in Possession: 1,101 Coins
872:32:51
Blink, blink.
I hadn't even called it up, but my remaining Coins and time floated right there.
...Fine. Got it. Spent 'em there, huh.
A surge of frustration hit me. I hadn't even bought what I wanted, yet here I was feeling those Likes drain away in real time.
"Fuuu."
Whatever. Cough up the reward first. Do Coins from rewards convert to Likes too?
But the system stayed silent—no more responses.
"...Hey?"
I called out softly. Nothing. Just to be sure, I waited five full minutes, still as a statue.
But...
"What the?"
No way this is it? No other reward? For a music show number one?
"..."
...Seriously?
"..."
...For real?
A week blurred by in a frenzy.
The second the assault rumors blew over, events and music shows flooded back like magic.
Still rookies, so no A-list gigs, but we were at the point of picking and choosing.
Ten days back, I thought the world was ending.
"Life's full of twists..."
My mutter drew a lightning response from Park Tae-hoo, mid solo plank.
"Oh, I know that one. Means good stuff comes with a ton of bad, right?"
"Nah, not even close."
The timer bell rang—he hopped up, mopping sweat with his towel, mumbling.
"Why not..."
Why? 'Cause it's wrong.
His sulky brown eyes reminded me he was mixed-race.
His Korean was flawless in convo—no accent—but proverbs and idioms tripped him up?
He caught my stare and looked over, those vivid irises locking on.
"What?"
I hesitated, then went honest.
"Nah, just... your eyes are seriously pretty."
"Oh, thanks."
He beamed and added,
"They're the same color as my heart."
First I'd heard. Must've gotten it from his mom.
"My little sib's got 'em too. Though sib took after heart in hair color."
"Little sib?"
Before Tae-hoo could reply, the door flew open—Kim Ha-woon in uniform burst in.
"Yahoo! Bros! I'm here!"
Bag barely down before Kim Han-soo poked his head in, herding us.
"Alright, let's roll. Time's tight."
Looks like Tae-hoo's story waits.
Today's a university event.
Kim Han-soo flipped when the first uni invite hit.
'Universities are real-time buzz detectors.'
True—our recognition had spiked.
Everywhere we went, fans spotted us, belting our songs louder than before.
"Hurry to the car. Timing's iffy—gotta rush."
"Isn't it an 8 AM slot?"
"Yeah, but accident jammed the road ahead."
He fretted while grabbing gear.
"Sky's looking rainy too. No clue how bad the traffic—let's hustle anyway."
"Got it!"
Ha-woon, buzzing from school, led the charge—we all piled into the van.
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