Chapter 335
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 335
The moon had set and the familiar red dawn had broken over Hawaii after the vlog shoot, but Ju Woo-seong still had his lips poked out in a massive pout.
"I’m going to report every single video that goes up... from the old workshop footage to what we shot yesterday."
"Excuse me?"
"...No, I mean, our junior here is a total variety show genius."
"You should be grateful."
You should be glad I’m not the one editing it.
If I were, your career would be over the second it aired. Finished.
I clicked my tongue inwardly. The guy, who had been crouching and grumbling while leaning his upper body against a large suitcase, slowly straightened his back and looked down at me.
"Anyway, I’m heading out now."
For someone whose group, Black Call, wasn't even active, he was busier than The Dawn.
Even though it was early morning, he was already decked out from head to toe in the luxury brand he represented as an ambassador, his schedule clearly packed. The only thing not from that brand was the black cap he was currently twirling around his finger.
"Right. It was a truly bizarre itinerary, but get back safe. And let’s try not to see each other in Korea if we can help it."
"Listen to you. You think I wanted this? When did you say your members were coming?"
"Probably tomorrow?"
"So you’re alone today?"
When I gave a casual shrug, Ju Woo-seong rubbed his chin and brought up something completely out of left field.
"Hey, make sure you look after your members' mental health."
"Why?"
"I have a feeling they’re going to take some heat once the content from this workshop actually drops."
What? Because of you and me?
"I already expected that much from appearing with you, Ju Woo-seong."
It might be different for a group like Black Call, whose popularity had transcended dimensions, but for most idols—even if the public didn't care—their relationship with fans was inseparable. Since fan love was a vital element of their success, idols were sensitive to even the slightest backlash.
The fact that the company ordered additional filming meant that my association with Ju Woo-seong was ultimately more of a gain than a loss, though.
I narrowed my eyes, not understanding how that led to looking after the members' mental health. Ju Woo-seong let out a deep sigh.
"No, not me."
"Then who?"
"Don't you remember? What Lee Ji-hyeon said the day before yesterday."
High Five?
Ju Woo-seong saw my expression and gave a slight nod before continuing.
"Around my first year, they forced a rivalry on us, and we clashed like crazy. Looking back now, it’s just a memory, but the atmosphere was seriously hostile back then."
"Did you guys actually get into a fight?"
"Hey, that’s violence. You’d end up at the police station. But it really was no joke. It’s gotten much tamer lately. In my day, I was actually scared to leave my apartment. You’d better prepare yourself to get cursed out like crazy."
"Aha."
I snatched the cap out of Ju Woo-seong’s hand.
There was no reason for him to be holding onto it when his hair was already styled; he clearly intended to give it to me.
"Yeah, I got it."
"……."
"I’ll live a long, long life fueled by all those insults."
As I pulled the cap low over my head and retorted, Ju Woo-seong wrinkled his nose and burst into an incredulous laugh.
"You really are something else, in more ways than one."
He gave the brim of the hat a light tap with his fingertip, waved, and rolled his suitcase out of the hotel.
As if I have time to worry about stuff like that.
I’d rather spend that time practicing or running through my schedule. I adjusted the hat and returned to the room alone.
"I’m a bit tired."
I went straight to the sofa, buried my face in a cushion, and flopped down. After a moment, I pushed myself up and headed to the balcony. When I opened the door, the ocean view—which had become somewhat familiar after a few days—spread out before me. I slumped into the wooden table where I’d had breakfast with Ju Woo-seong and closed my eyes, letting the sound of the waves serve as background music.
Perhaps it was because I finally had a moment of downtime.
The time I was dropped alone into 'Unknown Actor Tycoon' suddenly flashed through my mind.
"Hey."
I slowly sat up and called for the system window.
Just as I tapped the table a couple of times with my index finger—
Ding!
[It’s been a long time!]
Along with the familiar notification sound, the window appeared, flickering with static as if it were in poor condition.
I stopped my tapping and asked the question I’d been wanting to verify.
"Show me my points."
[Points: 174,000]
A new window overlapped the fading rectangle, displaying the numbers.
Between the compensation for the error and the points I’d accumulated in 'Unknown Actor Tycoon,' the balance was quite substantial.
"...How many points did you say a Partial Reset costs? The one to restore Seo Ho-jin’s memories?"
This time, the answer popped up instantly, as if it had been prepared in advance.
Partial RESET
An opportunity to initialize a specific portion of reality.
Required Points: 300,000
Looking at the shimmering blue window made my throat feel parched.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to act nonchalant, and asked, "Have you lost interest in me lately? Why aren't you giving me any quests?"
[Hey, why would you say it like that?]
Ever since my conversation with Min Ji-heon at the workshop and securing Seo Ho-jin’s safety, I had been thinking about the system window constantly.
Quests had been sparse lately, but after returning from 'Unknown Actor Tycoon,' they had stopped entirely. Not knowing the reason for this sudden vacuum made me feel uneasy.
[To be honest, it’s because I’m exhausted.]
[To be more specific, there was sooooo much work to do after you came back from that side.]
"Because of Kang Yi-chae?"
Sometimes, silence feels like the strongest affirmation.
This was one of those moments.
[...It was an unexpected development.]
Just as I swallowed hard and lowered my gaze, the notification sounded again. Ding!
[Just because I’ve constructed the framework of this place doesn't mean I can control everything.]
[The advice I can give you here is: don't forget what happened with Seong Ji-won. There won't be a next time.]
Is this advice or a threat?
I looked up, staring intently at the text.
[It’s already overwhelming just to fulfill the inevitability of the idol 'Seo Ho-yun.' If the discrepancy widens any further, you already know who will suffer the most without me having to say it.]
The answer was obvious.
It was either me or the "someone" who was supposedly sacrificing themselves.
"Right, well..."
I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.
"I didn't plan on letting that happen anyway."
It was unthinkable.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. A wave of fatigue washed over me, making my entire body feel heavy.
Seo Ho-jin’s memories, Kang Yi-chae’s suspicions, The Dawn, Ju Woo-seong’s advice, the competition, the Grand Prize...
As I delved into these complex, intertwining elements, my thoughts eventually reached the question of what would happen once I finished the game.
"……."
I mouthed a few unsatisfactory predictions to myself before standing up and walking away.
The only thing that followed was the sharp thud of the sliding door closing.
.
.
.
"—...This hyung is sleeping so soundly—"
"I know—. He must be— tired—……."
I must have fallen asleep when I only meant to close my eyes for a second. I was still wrapped in a hazy daze, but my sharp hearing woke up first, catching the sound of whispering nearby.
"He really sleeps well on the sofa, though."
"Shh, shh. Don't wake him up."
"Aw, Ji-won hyung! Who do you take me for? I don't wake people up when they're sleeping peacefully~."
Then came the impact.
"……Psych!!"
"Ack!"
Weight was distributed evenly across my entire body. It was Jeong Da-jun, who had slid right on top of me. As I groaned under his weight, Jeong Da-jun—now as heavy as an elephant—beamed and greeted me.
"Good morning, Ho-u Ho-u!"
"Get off me, you prick……."
"Okay!!"
Having been greeted with a curse right off the bat, Jeong Da-jun winked cutely and hopped off. He then started whining about how I’d been treating the youngest member too harshly lately. He looked so much like a certain rapper that a sigh escaped me automatically.
I wondered if I’d slept so long that I hadn't noticed the members arriving, but when I checked the time on my phone, it had only been a few hours since Ju Woo-seong left the hotel.
"Weren't you guys supposed to come tomorrow?"
"We came a day early! As a surprise!"
Seong Ji-won said with a bright smile.
"...In those outfits?"
Seong Ji-won tilted his head as if asking what was wrong. Behind him, in a row, were Jeong Da-jun, Kim Seong-hyeon, and even Kang Yi-chae—all with flushed faces, wearing Hawaiian shirts and flower leis. I could give the others a pass since it was their first time here, but Kang Yi-chae was definitely doing it just because he thought it was funny.
"Don't come near me."
"Eh~, why?! I’m going to stick right! next to Ho-yun hyung the whole time!"
"It’s embarrassing, so everyone stay at least ten meters away from me."
Seong Ji-won scratched his cheek and added tentatively to Kang Yi-chae’s words with a faint smile.
"It’s my first time in Hawaii too...!"
"...Fine. The flowers look good on you."
"Boo! Boo! Why is the reaction so different?!"
While I watched the members chatter excitedly about being in Hawaii, my phone vibrated. A text had arrived from Ju Woo-seong.
[Ju Woo-seong: https://moonjin.co.kr/article/G18550130]
[Ju Woo-seong: Aren't you embarrassed?]
《The Dawn Departs as a Group: 'Already Reeking of Hawaii'》
The article featured vivid photos of The Dawn members at the airport before departure, already fully equipped with sandals and flip-flops, waving and smiling brightly.
What’s with the three lines drawn on Kim Seong-hyeon’s cheeks?
"Let’s go get acai bowls!"
"No."
"Seo Ho-yun, this hyung experienced it all early by himself, so now he’s like this!"
"So mean, so mean~!!"
I ignored Jeong Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae as they shouted in protest with their hands in the air and flopped back down on the sofa.
But the members wouldn't leave me in peace. They circled around me, barking.
"Was playing with Ju Woo-seong sunbae-nim that satisfying?!"
"You don't even care about your fellow Dawn members anymore!!"
"Seo Ho-yun, who enjoyed Hawaii all by himself, must repent! Repent!"
"Ah!! Damn it, I’m going! I’m going!"
Ten meters. I am definitely staying ten meters away from these people.
Firmly resolving to keep that distance, I sluggishly dragged myself up.
* * *
[Guys, The Dawn is in Hawaii too LMAO]
> [Wait, what are they doing? lol... Aren't you guys on a break right now? Why? Is another album coming out? Did you film a music video?]
> └ [No, there are way too few staff members for that....]
> └└ [But they look so excited, I can't even say anything]
> └└ [lol Truth. Even Kim Seong-hyeon looks hyped]
[You guys better do a lot of hotel lives while you're abroad. Isn't that the unwritten rule for boy groups?]
> └ [Have a safe trip]
> └ [Someone photoshopped Ho-yun into a school trip photo]
> └└ [LOL they edited him in with a sour face, so cute T_T lol]
[They met up with Ho-yun! A photo of all five of them huddled together eating acai bowls and making V-signs was posted on Pop-Pop! You guys are seriously so close lol]
> └ [Seriously, it looks like photos sent by nephews having a blast]
> [I’m your auntie~!!! ^^!! Call me!]
The news that all members of The Dawn were in Hawaii spread quickly across social media and online communities.
[The Dawn + Group Trip Abroad + A slight hiatus = Legendary content. This is the standard.]
[And look at them going right around their debut anniversary. This means something big is coming.]
[Omg, is a fan song coming out? They release one every year T_T]
Just as the fans' expectations reached a fever pitch, a teaser was uploaded to The Dawn’s official Nutube channel as if on cue.
【THE DAWN - Name This Feeling (self-cam)】
It was a short video, about 20 seconds long.
A guitar melody reminiscent of a blue summer dawn.
Accompanied by a clear, pure vocal tone.
【Yes I'm asking you】
Lyrics that openly channeled the vibe of 'Will you go to prom with me.'
Kang Yi-chae and Jeong Da-jun making hearts with their arms wide open in a sun-drenched plaza.
Kim Seong-hyeon lying on the grass in a blue and white varsity jacket, smiling brightly.
Seong Ji-won turning around to give a radiant smile against the backdrop of an orange sunset.
It looked as though the members had filmed it themselves, capturing their fleeting emotions and the essence of their youth.
【When you smile, my heart flutters】
The scene shifted.
In a dark street where lights flickered sporadically, the camera approached Seo Ho-yun, who was crouching and looking at his phone with a lollipop in his mouth.
A soft smirk played on his lips as he took the candy out of his mouth, met the camera's gaze tenderly, and began to sing.
【How do you name this feeling
Tell me, you know what this is】
'Name This Feeling.'
It was the third fan song, dedicated solely to Noeul.