Chapter 38
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 38
“Aaahhh!”
“Seo Ho-yun, you piece of trash!”
“What? What did you just say?!”
Security guards rushed in just before the fandom war could escalate into a physical brawl.
The result was something no one had expected—or if they had, they’d dismissed it with a "surely not." As the guards barely managed to break up the fight and escorted several fans out, a chilling silence settled over the hall.
“…Sh…”
One member of Today, unable to control his expression, started to mouth a curse before hurriedly covering his mouth.
“By being designated, Today will receive a point deduction! The total is now minus—”
“Cancel the show! Shut it down!”
Me? I didn't bother controlling my expression. I felt incredibly refreshed and vindicated, so why bother hiding it?
I looked back at my members. They were all frozen like meerkats, clearly having had no idea I would call out Today.
“H-Hyung.”
I quickly handed the microphone to a staff member who approached. After nodding to a few fans who looked immensely satisfied with the turn of events, I retreated to where the other groups were gathered.
The situation had become much more heated than expected, and the staff were signaling for the MC to wrap things up quickly.
Yoo Ji-ah held the microphone, driving the final nail in the coffin.
“The 4,200 points Today earned will be deducted. Please show the current totals.”
It wasn't just Today; everyone else’s jaws dropped. Following Nightmare, who had the lowest recognition, Today now sat in 5th place. It was quite a sight to behold.
“I’m truly looking forward to seeing if Today can turn this misfortune into a blessing. Please stay tuned until the next competition.”
Once the standard broadcast closing was finished, Yoo Ji-ah glanced briefly at the idol groups on stage. Only then did the red lights on the cameras go out. Everyone bowed their heads and hurried off the stage without even exchanging proper greetings.
“Get down, get down.”
“Move it, quickly!”
No one dared to look toward the audience.
Of course, I was the only one walking at a leisurely pace, nodding to the fans and scanning the situation as I exited. The atmosphere was so thin it felt like it could snap at any moment; one wrong move and fists would have started flying.
The moment we reached the backstage waiting room, Yoo Hyuk grabbed me by the collar.
“You bastard!”
Even the VJ following us looked horrified, hesitating over whether to turn the camera off or keep filming.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Hmm.”
“You really screwed us over. I didn't realize you were a total psycho.”
The other members of Today swarmed around us as well.
Surely they weren't planning on starting a fight right here.
At that moment, Kim Seong-hyeon abruptly shoved his way between us.
“Hey, hands off.”
“‘Hey’? Did you just call me ‘hey’?”
“Why? Last time you said it was fine to call you that,” I interjected.
When I sarcastically brought up the aegyo I’d done during the talent show, Yoo Hyuk’s eyes flipped.
“This little shit is really asking to die…!”
“Can’t you read the room? Don’t you see the cameras are still rolling?” Kim Seong-hyeon hissed coldly. I thought he’d be mad at me, but fortunately, his anger was directed at Yoo Hyuk.
Yoo Hyuk let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
“They’ll just edit it all out anyway, fuck. You think I give a damn about that?”
“Oh, really? Then is it okay if I throw a carton of eggs at you right now?” Kang Yi-chae added with an equally mocking sneer.
Yoo Hyuk’s face turned a deep shade of purple. As the stage cleanup finished and more staff, Yoo Ji-ah, and even the PD began to gather, Yoo Hyuk was forced to swallow his rage.
“Seo Ho-yun, you realize you just dug your own grave, right?”
“……”
“If you’d just stayed quiet, you might have stood a chance. You’re finished now. You’re going to get bashed until you’re nothing but ash. You should’ve at least tried to act pitiful.”
He wasn't wrong.
Most people wouldn't have chosen Today in that situation.
“You brought this on yourself. There’s no one left to cover for you now. We can just climb back up in the next competition. But you guys? What can you even do?”
“Senior.”
I brushed off my collar where he’d crumpled it.
“You’re awfully talkative today. I guess you really are pissed off.”
“You son of a…!”
Just as he was about to lung at me again, Seong Ji-won stepped in, unable to watch any longer.
“That’s enough!”
“Seong Ji-won, shut up and stay out of this.”
“You’re the one who should be careful. Keep flapping that long tongue of yours and you might find yourself in the gutter.”
“What…?”
“You think I only know one or two things about you?”
At Ji-won’s words, Yoo Hyuk flinched visibly and fell silent.
I couldn't hide my surprise. The incredibly soft-hearted Seong Ji-won was actually threatening someone.
It’s probably the sponsorship issue…
However, the moment the word 'sponsorship' left his lips, Ji-won risked ruining himself as well. It was a card that could easily backfire if played recklessly.
“Stupid bastards…”
“……”
“Have fun being failures together.”
Yoo Hyuk ground his teeth and stormed off.
My eyes met PD Kim Hee-yeong’s, but I passed her without a word. I was back in The Dawn’s waiting room packing my things when Kim Seong-hyeon turned me around to face him.
“Seo Ho-yun.”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you do it? Tell me you didn't just charge in because you were actually angry.”
“Seong-hyeon.”
“I need to know. I took your side in front of everyone, but this isn't a problem that’s just going to blow over.”
From their perspective, it must be maddening. I understood that completely.
Kim Seong-hyeon stared at me with sunken, frustrated eyes.
“People were already calling us ‘PD picks’ and saying the show was rigged, but public opinion finally started to turn after the guerrilla concert. People were criticizing Today. But by choosing Today here, it’s like you’re asking to be hated.”
“Hyung, Ho-yun hyung is the biggest victim here,” Da-jun chimed in.
“I know, that’s why it’s even more frustrating! Why do you keep doing this alone?”
Kim Seong-hyeon is sensitive. He looks out for every single member and tries his best for the team as a leader and the eldest.
But I wasn't that type of person.
“I told you to trust me.”
“Hey, Seo Ho-yun!”
“How can you waver already? You said you’d trust me even if I did something completely repulsive.”
“What is wrong with you?”
Even if I explained why I did it, there was no way they would understand.
“I do feel bad for you guys, in my own way. It’s true that the team will take a hit. So, just play the victim, guys. Say you suffered because Seo Ho-yun went crazy. I’ll take all the responsibility.”
“Hey!”
“Hyung, hyung.”
As Kim Seong-hyeon gritted his teeth, Kang Yi-chae held him back. Then, in a tone uncharacteristically calm and soothing, Yi-chae spoke.
“Hyung, Ho-yun hyung must have his reasons.”
“……”
“I said this would be fun, but I didn't expect it to go this far.”
Yi-chae let out a hollow laugh. He seemed a bit exhausted. Then he looked at me.
“Ho-yun hyung, I won’t tell you to take responsibility. That would be selfish. But you should at least think about Seong-hyeon hyung’s feelings for once.”
When I tilted my head, Yi-chae just shrugged.
“You’re smart, hyung. You’ll figure it out soon enough.”
* * *
“G-Guys. Should we go get some tteokbokki?”
“……”
“You guys liked that place over there last time. My treat, what do you say?”
“It’s okay, Manager… I’m not really hungry.”
Jeong Da-jun answered timidly, sensing the mood.
Inside the van on the way back to the dorm, you could have heard an ant crawl. The atmosphere was so icy it could have rivaled the Arctic.
Despite the manager’s efforts, the mood didn't shift until we reached the dorm. Eventually, the manager dropped us off with a tearful expression.
Kim Seong-hyeon didn't say a single word even after we arrived. I went to the room to grab my phone, but thinking Kang Yi-chae might feel uncomfortable, I stepped back outside.
“It’s cold.”
The weather was getting chillier. I crouched down on the stairs in front of the alley and checked my phone.
As expected, it was blowing up. I opened the message from Im Hyeon-su.
[[IMG_1]]
[Im Hyeon-su: Hey]
[Im Hyeon-su: I heard the news. You basically want to retire, don't you?]
[Im Hyeon-su: If you have nowhere to go, you want to be a staff member at my studio? You’ll have to be my servant, though.]
[Me: I’m good.]
I sent a brief reply. Next was Seo Ho-jin.
[Seo Ho-jin: Hyung, did something happen today?]
[Seo Ho-jin: Hyung]
[Seo Ho-jin: Never mind]
[Seo Ho-jin: Just turn off your phone]
“Look at this guy.”
[Me: Seo Ho-jin]
[Seo Ho-jin: What?]
[Me: Did you eat?]
[Seo Ho-jin: Not yet]
[Seo Ho-jin: What about you?]
[Me: You internet addict, go eat something.]
[Seo Ho-jin: -_-]
I closed the chat after that.
It was obvious Ho-jin was acting like that because he was worried.
Since I was already thinking about it, I checked the internet reactions. People were out in force, venting their anger.
[Title: I defended him, but I’m seriously sick of this
The time I spent defending him was a waste.
└ Fuck, what defense? It hasn't even been that long since the incident, did you even defend him for a single day?
└ What?? Is this about that?
└└ Yeah, SHY
└└ What happened?
└└ Look at the popular posts, but it might get deleted soon]
[Title: The group that actually benefited from this
Nightmare
They looked like they were in total despair, but Seo Ho-yun is such a psycho he saved them lol
└ Did you see Today’s faces? They were literally swearing out loud.
└ I would’ve sworn too lol. The PD pick was acting out and got egged, and Today got blamed for no reason, the fandom atmosphere was so toxic.
└ Feel bad for Today x2
└└ They had a rough time]
[Title: Am I the only one who likes SHY?
Honestly, the Today kids were mocking them and making a scene.
Seo Ho-yun chose Today instead of Nightmare lol. It was so satisfying.
└ Agreed lol. The underdog rebellion was so fun to watch.
└ He’s a character we’ve never seen before lol.]
[Title: But it looked like The Dawn members didn't expect it either
Didn't Seo Ho-yun do this on his own?
I only feel bad for The Dawn members.
I don't feel bad for Seo Ho-yun, he’s a madman.
└ Whatever, they’re rigged anyway.
└ Lol, but I think it’s true. Did you see how panicked they looked? Only Seo Ho-yun was calm. I thought he was a sociopath.
└└ This. If they had known, they wouldn't have been that shocked.
└ No, Seo Ho-yun is the pitiful one, the production team made him announce it like that.
└└ If you saw his face, you wouldn't say he’s pitiful. He’s just a complete lunatic.]
Hmm, good. I’m the only one getting properly bashed.
The members of The Dawn weren't getting as much hate as I’d feared. That was a relief.
Episode 1 has already aired. Episode 2 is in a week. The next competition is in ten days.
Not much time left. That should be enough time for the heat of the reaction to stay simmered but not die out.
Just as I was about to put my phone down, a notification popped up at the top.
It was Kim Hee-yeong.
[PD Kim Hee-yeong: I’m sorry.]
There’s no need to apologize.
I was debating whether to send a reply when a voice spoke up.
“What are you doing out here?”
It was Seong Ji-won.
“Aren't you cold?”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Wait a second.”
Ji-won pulled a can of citron tea from his pocket. It was warm. When did he have time to buy this?
Ji-won scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Actually, I saw you out here. So I bought two.”
“Thanks.”
Ji-won squeezed in next to me on the stairs. I rubbed my hands against the warm can, popped the tab, and took a sip. It was surprisingly sweet.
After savoring the tea in silence for a few more sips, I asked casually.
“…What about Kim Seong-hyeon?”
“Haha, he’s sulking, obviously. He has this specific face he makes when he’s pouting.”
Ji-won imitated Kim Seong-hyeon. When he narrowed his eyes and raised his eyebrows, he actually looked quite a bit like him. A laugh escaped me.
“I don't know what you’re thinking… but please understand even if Seong-hyeon is angry. It’s just because he has a strong sense of responsibility.”
“He has every right to be angry. It’s a negative influence on the team.”
“No, it’s not that,” Ji-won said firmly.
“Seong-hyeon is angry because you’re trying to shoulder everything alone.”
“……”
“It’s been like that since the guerrilla concert. No, actually, from the very beginning, you’ve tried to do everything by yourself, Ho-yun.”
Ji-won toyed with his tea can.
“You told us to trust you, but you don't actually trust us. That’s why he’s upset.”
“……”
I was caught off guard by his insight. When I couldn't find anything to say, Ji-won let out a small chuckle.
“I’m not really one to talk, since I’m not doing anything either.”
“Seong Ji-won.”
“Yeah?”
“Back then, were you really going to take the microphone?”
Without hesitation, Ji-won nodded.
That couldn't have been an easy thing to do.
“Who were you going to name?”
“Who else would I pick? Today, of course.”
Ji-won giggled.
“So the result would have been the same anyway. I just feel bad that you’re the one taking all the heat.”
Ji-won’s mental state hadn't just improved; it had become incredibly solid. I rested my chin on my hand and quietly organized my thoughts.
To hear that someone was 'upset' with me—it had been a very long time since I’d heard those words. Usually, people just said they hated me or despised me.
Was it because they were naive and young that they were forgiving me, or was I just too jaded?
On an impulse, I spoke.
“Were you the center of Today?”