Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Fandom Feud
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Before I could even catch my breath, I was hit with a bewildering sight.
"Ah, that bitch is here again."
"Let's get outta here. If we get tangled up with her, we'll just look like the weird ones."
"She's a toxic fan, that one."
Eh?
Don't fans all share this sticky bond, cheering for the same idol together? Why the hell were they acting like that?
"Come on, let's go."
Some of them even deliberately shoved Oh Hana's shoulder hard as they passed by. Crazy. Shoulder-checking like that? Isn't that something you only saw in middle or high school?
[I Love Riki!]
"Yes! Got a good spot."
In the midst of it all, Oh Hana just smiled like it was nothing and hoisted her picket sign even higher. Was she really okay with it?
Bullshit. No way.
If it didn't faze her at all, she wouldn't be muttering nonsense like that. That deliberate, showy smile was clearly a reaction to their provocations.
"Hana, you okay?"
All I could do for her was stick by her side.
"Got another picket sign?"
"Huh? No, I don't. And don't worry about it. It's all just barking dogs anyway."
They really were dog-like.
The moment I stood next to Oh Hana, the glares aimed at her sharpened even more. You can really feel people's stares, huh.
I could kind of see why she picked up on my desires. My face was burning up, totally out of place for the occasion.
"Riki! Riki!"
Genesis Eleven hadn't even shown a single hair yet, but Oh Hana was calling out her favorite's name louder than anyone, cheering him on.
The more she did, the fiercer the glaring eyes got.
Why the hell?
'Should I ask her, or not?'
While I debated whether to ask Oh Hana about it, various idols and celebrities started arriving one by one in sleek black vans that were all the rage among entertainers.
"Hello, we're School Band!"
School uniforms? Is that even allowed? At some point in Korea, the rules on wearing uniforms got super strict—aren't they banned from stages like this?
"Oppa, you know that? They're actually high schoolers. Some just graduated middle school and are fresh into high school."
Ah, so that's safe then?
Are those real school uniforms? Nah, probably not. What school makes kids commute at 5 a.m.?
「Click, click」
Shutter sounds rang out noisily as flashes popped nonstop. It was still around 6 a.m., and winter sunrises were late, leaving everything dim—yet the flashes made it flicker like broad daylight, bright then dark over and over.
The School Band kids who were greeting fans had already ducked inside with their managers. That was probably some agency strategy too. And those reporters snapping pics just now—wonder how they'll spin the article.
'Hmm.'
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't imagine it'd be positive. Every time I scrolled the internet, the top-viewed articles were always negative, tearing down whoever was featured.
That stuff got all the attention. Tons of comments too.
'Never thought I'd have anything to do with the entertainment world after middle school.'
A bit later, more groups showed up.
Some barely got any shutter clicks. Honestly, even I could tell they were nobodies, and if I'd seen them before, I doubt I'd have been blown away.
To put it harshly, it made me think even kids like that debut. It also explained why agencies pull every trick in the book—even noise marketing—just to grab some attention.
An idol without attention looked even more pathetic than me working the convenience store counter.
"Oppa, the number of idol trainees recently broke 1.3 million. Even tons from overseas."
"1.3 million?"
Our country's population is around 57 million, and they're always whining about low birth rates and declining numbers—how's 1.3 million even possible?
What? Is this some world I'm out of the loop on?
"And only about 414 actually debut."
"……."
Then what's the competition rate like? Hell, 414 seems like a lot to me. I couldn't even remember any idols who debuted in 2024.
"Genesis Eleven nearly died off for their first two years too, you know? They even thought about some members leaving the group and quitting idols altogether."
"Re...ally?"
I figured they blew up right away. Weren't they hitting 100 million views overseas from the start?
Oh Hana wouldn't be wrong about this. Not with her level of fandom.
"That's why they're even more amazing, and I wanna cheer them on harder."
"Uh, yeah. Got it."
Honestly, I didn't feel like rooting for them. Sure, overcoming hardship is inspiring anytime. But with my own life being one big struggle, where would I find the energy to cheer for someone else?
"Ah, they're coming soon! Oppa, hold my picket?"
"Huh? Oh, sure."
I ended up holding that mortifying [I Love Riki!] sign on reflex, and in the meantime, Oh Hana rummaged through the heavy bag she'd dragged here and pulled out a camera.
It was bubble-wrapped for protection like a pro. Not her first or second time, clearly.
Now I got why she'd been frantically packing yesterday.
Made me curious what else was in that bag.
"Genesis!!"
"Genesis!!"
Like some cult gathering, as two vans pulled into the parking area side by side, voices exploded from the crowd.
This was the power of a popular idol.
The temperature had dipped to minus 5 degrees, but it shot up in a flash.
Shutter clicks erupted even before the van doors slid open with a rumble.
Flashbang city.
"Hello, everyone. Hi!"
"Don't take too many pictures!"
"It's fine, hyung. They waited in this cold—pics are the least we can do."
Managers desperately shielded the idols, while a few bull-like fans charged past the lines.
Of course, the security guards waiting beforehand blocked them, so no real trouble broke out.
"Sign this, please!"
"Oppa, I love you!"
...Yeah, this place was tough on me in every way. For a guy like me who hadn't even dated, this level of female passion was a whole other world.
Even more surprising: Oh Hana, who chased them to Cheongdam-dong's after-party shops at dawn, was surprisingly chill here, just snapping pics.
Then something astonishing happened.
"Thanks for coming again."
Some Genesis Eleven members waved warmly at Oh Hana with kind smiles.
"……."
Oh Hana didn't stop photographing, but she slyly hid behind me, her face flushing red.
Riki glanced at her, waved casually, and hurried inside the station.
"Kyaa, what do I do...."
...Seriously, what do you do?
I hadn't expected this at all. The situation was already hard to keep up with, and now my brain just froze.
Did they know she was pretty? Yeah, Oh Hana's looks weren't exactly average. Thinking about it, she could probably make bank just from SNS like Insta without cafe gigs.
No, that's not the point.
'I kinda get why she's hated now.'
For starters, Oh Hana was beautiful.
I might not know much, but I knew pretty girls get jealousy from some other girls. I just hadn't realized what that jealousy led to.
And it wasn't just targeted at her— she was getting special treatment, fact. If I were a fan, I'd feel a bit salty too. Real fans showing up this early? Their inner rage might have them fantasizing devil's bargains.
"It's that bitch again. So ugly."
Hey, go look in a mirror.
"She's ruining the fan club discipline. No wonder new member sign-ups are dropping."
"No way she's a real fan. She's giving the oppas a bad image."
Wow, straight-up savage talk.
They were just venting pent-up grudges emotionally. I shot them a subtle glare like chasing off a convenience store Karen, and they clicked their tongues, turning away.
"Oppa, I'm fine."
"Yeah?"
"I told you, it's all bullshit. And right now, it doesn't even register as noise to me."
At least I knew she wasn't the type to just take hits lying down.
"Hey, what the fuck did you say, you bitch?"
Gasp, scared me.
Talk about explosive. My heart dropped. I'd relaxed a bit since it was all girls, but then a chick twice my build came charging at Oh Hana, spewing curses.
Felt like some giant manga showdown.
"Did I say anything wrong? Woof woof! What am I supposed to do about the barking next to me?"
"You fucking bitch, you wanna get hit!"
Oh my god.
No joke—she charged at Oh Hana, fist raised. Oh Hana didn't flinch, raising her own fist in response.
What the?
Were we filming a drama on the sly? Or was Oh Hana secretly some gang boss?
No, that wasn't important right now.
I stepped in front of the raging bull that looked ready to snap me in half.
"Hey, calm down!"
"Fuck off, let go!"
"Ugh...."
No cap, she was strong as hell. And heavy. If she got drunk and I had to taxi her, calling the cops or ambulance might be faster.
"What the hell's going on here!"
"Fuck you, watch your back. Next time I see you, you're done."
"Piss off. You better prep for jail. You think Korean law's a joke?"
Luckily, the on-standby security—guards, whatever—intervened. Otherwise... There were more girls behind the charging bull glaring at Oh Hana.
If fists had flown, the excitement could've spread, turning into a brawl... or a group beating.
"Calling trash like that fans. Idiots."
"……."
She was trying to play it cool, but Oh Hana's thighs trembled faintly. All I could do was gently hug her from behind.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine, I said. I'm used to it. Hitting one would actually be a favor—makes fan-girling sweeter after."
"……."
"Anyway, let's head to the nearby cafe. Genesis Eleven rented it out for fans. You can score new photocard there, and sometimes members drop by."
That one day drove home how her head was packed full of Genesis Eleven and idol fandom.
And with that, Genesis Eleven's domestic schedule wrapped up after just 12 days.