Chapter 100
Chapter 100
The showcase included not just performances but also a light talk show segment to communicate with the fans.
"All right, everyone! Wasn't that stage absolutely breathtaking? Wow, even watching from backstage, I couldn't keep my mouth shut! Sincerest congratulations on your debut!"
A host with a familiar face, one I'd seen at several showcases, kicked off the talk segment.
Oh, and by the way, we had politely declined the offer from senior Sim Do-yoon, who had contacted us first saying he'd use his <MAKE100%> MC experience to deliver a phenomenal hosting job.
I meant we actually refused, not just a polite turndown.
Just in case it ever came out that he was blood-related to the President and sparked another privilege controversy.
"First, we absolutely have to talk about the music video. The concept was truly unique—the games each of you took on... did you choose them personally?"
No sooner had the question landed than six pairs of hands, mine included, twitched toward the mic at the same time, hesitating.
Spotting that awkward sight, the host let out a cheerful "Puhaha," laughing heartily as he quickly stepped in to direct traffic.
"Ahem, are we a little too nervous for rookies? All right then, I'll just pick someone! Our HAZERD's reliable leader, Yuri!"
"Yes!"
"Grab the mic before you answer, first. You were given the very glorious concept of a bishounen dating simulation—was that because you're the top visual in the group?"
Kim Yuri looked at us, flustered.
"Ah, uh, was... that it? You guys?"
......That was the first time I'd ever seen that hyung stammer like that. He seemed way more nervous than the other members for some reason.
Unable to watch any longer, I picked up my mic.
"The game genre wasn't the important factor. After we received the music video storyboard, we decided by placing whichever member best suited the style of each part."
That was right. The storyboard was completed first, and we simply assigned members according to the costumes for each part.
Since I was already fixed in the role of the 'player,' I was the only member able to join the meeting, and honestly... I'd recommended all of it.
"......Then why was I in pajamas?"
Jeong Sowol muttered quietly.
The host laughed loudly, "Haha," and shifted the mood with the next question.
"I see, so you were assigned based on the outfits. Great. Then, could we hear about the most memorable moment from this music video shoot, or maybe a fun episode you'd absolutely want to share with your fans?"
As soon as the question ended, Baek Gyeonwoo grabbed his mic.
"It'll probably go up as behind-the-scenes footage later, but."
......I knew what this was.
"Seo Cha-gyeom broke my gun."
Of course.
I shot Baek Gyeonwoo a grim glare.
Feeling my gaze, Baek Gyeonwoo glanced back at me and mouthed a single word.
'What.'
What, he said.......
Sure, that was the catchphrase Baek Gyeonwoo always had on his lips, like a verbal tic.
It was just... I never imagined he'd do it in front of the fans, so I was a bit shocked.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly and prepared to lift my mic.
The host's eyes sparkled as if he'd just snagged a juicy story, and he pressed Baek Gyeonwoo.
"He broke a gun? But you had a sniper concept—what happens if the gun breaks! Please, give us all the details!"
Baek Gyeonwoo began explaining the situation as though he'd been waiting for this.
"Seo Cha-gyeom....... Chaegyeom kept fiddling with my gun, saying it was cool."
"Yes, yes."
"And then it suddenly broke."
"......What about the middle part?"
"I just closed my eyes and opened them, and it was broken."
I hurriedly grabbed my mic and started to explain.
"It wasn't so much something I did as my hand just......."
"Ahh, your hand did it?"
"Right. Oh, and I bought a replacement prop and returned it to him separately. Although Gyeonwoo still had to film with the broken gun."
"So the gun that appeared in the teaser is the one Seo Cha-gyeom broke?"
"Yes, I repaired it myself with tape. And it's currently at our dorm."
"Oh, where exactly?"
"Probably in Gyeonwoo's room......."
Kim Sanho cut in.
"The manager took it, saying he'd give it to his son."
"So he says."
With that, the talk wrapped up rather blandly, and a few more scheduled corners passed by.
After the segment introducing the album inclusions and a live stage performing one of the B-sides, it was somehow already time to race toward the showcase's finale.
"Now, the bittersweet moment is approaching. But! We can't just send our HAZERD members off like this, can we?"
"NO!!"
"So we've prepared something. How about we all enjoy a game together, get hyped, and then wrap things up?"
A heated roar erupted from the audience at the host's suggestion.
It seemed like a corner added on the spot as a fan service, and the other members looked just as slightly taken aback as I was.
But well, it's just a game. No way anything could go wrong.
"Yes, so the game we've prepared is none other than~ the Liar Game! Does everyone know it?"
"Yeeesss!"
"Haha, from the looks of it, the members don't really know it! Let me explain briefly."
The host's explanation was simple.
Five out of six would receive the same keyword, and only one would get a different keyword.
The important thing was that the liar didn't know they were the liar.
They would take turns describing the keyword with one word or a short sentence, and by listening to those descriptions, they had to figure out through sheer intuition whether they themselves were the liar.
If they suspected they were the liar, from that moment on, they had to bluff and lie to hide their identity—a high-level psychological game.
'...Easy.'
I nodded, thinking it was no big deal.
Soon, the host randomly handed out slips of paper with the keywords written on them.
Just in case the other members tried to peek, I leaned back and checked my keyword.
[Fan]
......Classic.
It was an entirely predictable keyword.
Given that this was a debut showcase, the intention was probably to have us each say a heartfelt word to the fans like this and wrap things up warmly. Not a bad choice.
My turn was fifth. The first runner, Kim Yuri, took a moment to steady his breathing and started.
"Umm......."
The sound of his eyes rolling around was audible even from here.
After agonizing deeply for a long while, Kim Yuri finally opened his mouth.
"I want to be together forever?"
All the members, myself included, nodded.
After all, it was a description that suited the keyword 'fan.'
Next was Kim Sanho's turn.
"My side......."
"My side? Oh, you mean 'side' as in 'taking sides,' right?"
When Kim Yuri added that explanation from the side, Kim Sanho bobbed his head down.
And once again, all the members nodded. This too was a safe description that matched 'fan.'
'Good. Neither of them is the liar.'
I eliminated the candidates one by one in my head and waited for what the third runner, Han Neuti, would say.
"Ah, this is......."
"What's wrong, Neuti? Is the keyword difficult?"
"No, it's not that... it's just a bit hard to describe......."
Han Neuti even furrowed his brow, mulling it over seriously.
'What, like he was about to say something deeply moving.'
Still, I was kind of looking forward to it. He was a hyung with a surprisingly rich emotional side.
After hemming and hawing for a while, Han Neuti finally spoke.
"A bit... scary?"
'.......'
Scary, my ass. Was he joking?
I instantly became certain that Han Neuti was the liar and urgently scanned the other members' reactions.
But, unexpectedly, everyone nodded again. Even a few had an expression that said, 'Yeah, that can be the case.'
Startled, I quickly rolled my eyes around, then awkwardly nodded along.
'Well, sure. It can be scary. Sometimes.'
Maybe I had been thinking too narrowly. The word 'scary' wasn't only used in a negative sense.
Alright, let's move on.
After that, the fourth turn was Baek Gyeonwoo's.
Baek Gyeonwoo gave his answer right away without any hesitation.
"Sometimes they're annoying."
"Hold on."
I raised my hand and stopped Baek Gyeonwoo.
"Gyeonwoo, you... you....... You're the liar, right?"
"No, I'm not."
"No, you have to be the liar."
Do you want this to end the moment we debut?
Convinced that Baek Gyeonwoo was the liar, I looked around at the members once more. This time, for sure, I'd caught the real one.......
"......?"
The mood was... strange.
'Why are they looking at me?'
Not Baek Gyeonwoo, but me?
And with those subtle expressions?
'Why?'
I didn't even do anything.
Since we were playing among ourselves, the host had temporarily stepped back. To settle the chaotic atmosphere, Kim Yuri stepped in.
"Okay, okay, let's all calm down. Now it's Chaegyeom's turn, so let's hear Chaegyeom's description first."
Still unable to shake my suspicion of Baek Gyeonwoo, I gave the answer I had been thinking of since earlier.
"They're my power source."
At that, Kim Sanho tilted his head and asked.
"......How... do you get power?"
"Huh? Oh, just by looking....... No, I shouldn't give too many hints."
Kim Yuri enthusiastically backed me up.
"Right, right. As expected, our Chaegyeom is sharp. Great, now finally, our youngest So-wol!"
Before Kim Yuri had even finished speaking, Jeong Sowol declared with absolute firmness and clarity.
"A fool."
'.......'
An ominous premonition that something had gone seriously wrong slithered down my spine.
When I just stood there frozen, unable to say anything, Kim Yuri burst into laughter, nearly gasping for breath.
He had been giggling, but then he coughed awkwardly and forcibly managed his expression before speaking.
"Ah, uh, hold on. Hm. Ah, I really have no clue who the liar is. This is way too hard! Let's just do one more round. Okay? I feel like I'll know for sure after one more round!"
"Then you go first, Yuri."
"Yep! Ah, then for me... umm......."
Kim Yuri pretended to ponder seriously again and then said,
"At times like this, I think they're kind of cute."
And Kim Sanho continued.
"......They're kind."
Next was Han Neuti.
"They have a bit... of a naive side?"
Next was Baek Gyeonwoo.
"Are you really a fool."
"Gyeonwoo! You're supposed to give a hint!"
Now the last one was... Jeong Sowol, who skipped right over me as I stood there completely dazed and dumbfounded.
"They used to be my role model."
"Used to?"
"I'm going to think about it a bit more going forward."
At that moment, the host, who had been holding back laughter far back in the darkness, walked out to the center of the stage.
"Now, I don't think we need to point out who we each think the liar is... do we? Right, everyone? Seo Cha-gyeom?"
"......Huh?"
I answered blankly.
"I'll display on the screen behind you the keyword the other members received, so uh, Sanho, could you cover Chaegyeom's eyes for a moment?"
At the host's words, Kim Sanho rose from his seat and strode right over.
"......Don't come. Don't do it."
However, Kim Sanho prioritized following the host's command, not mine.
A moment later, gasps and laughter mingled together from the audience.
And finally, the hands covering my eyes came down.
The other keyword displayed on the screen was.......
[Seo Cha-gyeom]
......Ah.