A One-on-One Fan Meeting
I rubbed my eyes. Was there something wrong with my vision? It felt like I kept seeing things that weren't there today. I pulled the photocard out of my pocket. This wasn't in the collection book. It was a special card given only to fans who came to the live recording today—did I even need to mention how rare that made it? Even if they released it in the next album later, this one had its own unique charm. The members of La Stella had written letters on the back themselves. Handwritten notes, pressed down firmly, character by character. The content was the usual: thank you so much for supporting us during this promotion, we’re grateful, and we’ll be back as soon as possible, so please look forward to the next one.
But I was the only one who received a different letter.
[In front of the 3rd-floor restroom in the Annex]
My letter didn't contain love for a fan; it held a threat that felt like something out of a crime thriller. This handwriting was undeniably Su-a's. When La Stella debuted, I had received a handwritten letter from Su-a as part of an event, and since I had scanned it and saved it on my phone, I could compare them immediately. The way she wrote consonants small and vowels two or three times larger. The way her 'ㅇ' was closer to a simple dot. I wasn't a professional analyst, but comparing the letter saved on my phone to the one on the back of the photocard, it was definitely written by Su-a.
"Ugh..."
As soon as the mini-fan meeting ended, I headed to the annex next to the main public hall. That meant today's live broadcast was a wash. La Stella's performance was pre-recorded, so it wasn't like I could see them perform just by getting into the live broadcast, but the final MC interview was waiting. That had its own entertainment value. If I bailed like this, it was safe to assume I wouldn't be getting into the recording studio. But what could I do? I had been called out directly. Of course, I wasn't obligated to answer this call. The exit was open. I could turn around and leave at any time. However, my curiosity had grown too large to turn back. I was dying to know how this situation was unfolding. Why my ultimate bias had been stalking me. Why she was treating me with such coldness. I didn't know a single thing from one to ten, and my head was throbbing. So, I chose the option of heading to the 3rd floor of the annex as the letter instructed.
...She wouldn't have some thugs waiting for me, would she? Like she borrowed the power of the underworld to keep my mouth shut?
"Nah, no way. That's not it."
I'd been watching too many movies. Still, just in case, I stayed tense as I climbed to the 3rd floor. I had already typed 112 into my phone, and I kept a sharp lookout to see if anyone was hiding and targeting me. I also kept my calves tight so I could turn around and run at any moment. The annex was deathly quiet. Since the recording was only happening in the main building today, the annex was completely empty. Was it okay to wander around like this? Obviously not. If a security guard caught me, I'd be kicked out immediately. The 1st floor was open for restroom use, but the 2nd and 3rd floors were not. Yet, here I was, already on the 3rd floor. If I got caught here, I had no excuse. So, I moved as stealthily as possible, muffling my footsteps.
"Anyway, where is it?"
There was one restroom at the far right and one at the far left of the 3rd floor.
"Hmm..."
It had to be one or the other. Let's try the right side first.
"Not here."
There was no one in front of the restroom at the far right. It must have been the left one. I immediately turned around. That was the moment I was about to head to the other restroom.
"Gah?!"
In an instant, my vision was blacked out. At the same time, my body was yanked backward as if someone was trying to drag me away. But because I had been keeping my body tense in preparation for something like this, I didn't suffer the misfortune of being dragged off, even though I nearly fell.
"Help—!"
"Be quiet."
Just as I was about to call for help from any security guard who might be nearby, a small voice came from right behind me. A pretty voice that didn't fit the situation of a crime about to happen. Wouldn't it be a miscasting to hire her as a criminal? I knew the owner of the voice the moment I heard it. Because it was a voice I had listened to every single day for nearly four years, at least ten times a day. The owner of the voice was definitely Su-a. I swallowed my scream and clamped my mouth shut.
"I'm not going to do anything bad, so just follow me inside."
Wasn't that a cliché line that bad guys always said before doing something bad? I planted my feet and stood firm like a wooden post. If I followed her in like this, I felt like I was going to be subjected to something terrible.
"...It would be better if you followed me quietly, wouldn't it?"
Poke!
"Hup?!"
I was startled by the hard sensation poking my side. What? What is this? It didn't hurt, but because my vision was blocked, my sense of touch reacted sensitively.
"Su-aKongtteok, let's have a 1-on-1 fan meeting with me."
"Ah... the..."
The 52nd debate was being held in my brain. A faction arguing that I should run away because I didn't know what would happen if I followed her in, and a faction arguing that as an otaku, this was a golden opportunity to have a 1-on-1 meeting with my ultimate bias and that I should go in immediately, were having a heated argument.
"The... 1-on-1 fan meeting is a bit..."
No matter how much she was the idol I loved most in the world, it was impossible to kill the flower of survival instinct that bloomed automatically in the face of danger. That was when it happened.
"But I want to~"
Su-a pulled my arm as if she were hugging it. In the process, a soft sensation pressed firmly against my forearm. Based on experience and imagination, a picture was drawn in my brain. Su-a's round breasts, pressed flat like a pancake.
"Th-then... just for a moment..."
With the appearance of the massive weapon that was her chest, the atmosphere of the debate room flipped instantly. I was dragged along like a young child being taken to the dentist by their mother. I kept all my senses on high alert. I didn't feel any other presence. It really seemed like it was just the two of us. An idol and a 1-on-1 fan meeting in a broadcasting station restroom... Oh my!
I shook my head internally. Even if it was just for a moment, lewd thoughts began to sprout. What could I do? I'm a man, too. A man in his mid-20s. My libido is functioning perfectly, not like a teenager's, so when bait is given, I naturally let my imagination run wild and connect it to sexual desire. An idol. A restroom. A situation where we're alone. If you connect these, it's doing the deed in the restroom...
You crazy bastard, you're a real lunatic! Get a grip! Just because I'd been neglecting my lower half for a few days, my head was filled with dirty thoughts the moment I had one. I usually have good self-control. But with the situation and the partner as they were, I couldn't help but have those kinds of thoughts. What can you do? For a solo-virgin, this is just too exciting a situation. And maybe Su-a actually likes me...
But! Even if there was a one-in-a-million chance that Su-a really liked me, I would never, ever think of getting swept up in that and doing this or that to her. Isn't that the attitude of a true fan who loves an idol? An idol is a star. Su-a is the brightest star among all the stars. Everyone looks at that star with eyes of admiration. Just by looking at her like that, you gain joy, you gain happiness, and you gain the vitality to live a life full of stress. Monopolize such a star? Setting aside whether it's possible or not, it's something that shouldn't be done. It's also for Su-a's sake. If an idol dates a fan, it's the same as boarding a train straight to ruin. Of course, once they've been in the industry for a while, younger fans mature and celebrate their idol's marriage with a congratulatory heart. But for 20-year-old Su-a, that's too far off a story. La Stella hasn't even debuted for a year yet. But if a scandal breaks out already, what would happen? The ending is obvious. Su-a's future is bright for at least 10 years. I can't let her ruin it because of a guy like me.
It was when I was downing my umpteenth bowl of wishful thinking like this—
-Click. I heard the sound of the door locking. I felt the space shrink instantly. It seemed we had entered a restroom stall.
-Swish. The darkness vanished, and I faced the light. My vision stung. I squinted and waited for my eyes to get used to the light. A moment later, my vision returned.
"Gasp...!"
Su-a was right in front of me. Generally, it's narrow for two people to fit into a restroom stall, so the distance between us was very close, as if it were less than 30cm. Too close! Su-a's chest was maintaining a precarious distance, as if it were about to touch my torso. Su-a was looking up at me with bright, rabbit-like eyes. The sight of a girl who hadn't even lost all her baby fat lifting her chin high because of our height difference was fatally cute. Besides... she smells good. It wasn't the smell of restroom air freshener. A fragrant perfume scent and the fresh scent of a young girl wafted from Su-a. Sniff, sniff. My nose twitched on its own, trying to enjoy the scent. The smell of sweet strawberry candy was mixed with the savory smell of milk. Can a person's body smell this good?
"Nostrils flaring."
Su-a, who had been squinting, tapped my nose with her fingertip.
"Ah... ah... I, I'm sorry."
I hurriedly covered my nose with my hand. Then, this time, Su-a asked with a pout.
"...Do I smell weird to you?"
"Th-that's impossible!"
I took my hand off my nose and waved both hands desperately.
"It... it smells incredibly good."
"How good is it?"
"It's so good that I want to bury my nose in it and smell it for 24 hours."
It seemed like I had blurted out strange things without my brain filtering them, but Su-a smiled bashfully as if she liked my answer.
"Really?"
It's bad for my heart. Is it really okay to be this cute? Being alone with an adorable living creature in a narrow space, my heart's lifespan was being shaved off in real-time. I'm really so happy. ...This isn't the time for this! There's something I definitely need to ask Su-a. She must have called me out separately to talk to me about that, too.
"Hey...!"
"Do you want to smell it?"
"............Excuse me?"
"The smell coming from my body. Do you want to smell it?"
Su-a put both arms behind her back and thrust her chest forward seductively, as if telling me to bury my nose in her chest and smell it.
"If it's Su-aKongtteok, maybe I can give you a special fan service?"