Chapter 65
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 65
“Oh, Ho-yun. Long time no see.”
“Hello.”
I pressed down on my peeling name tag and offered a greeting. I had arrived at the venue for Victory is Mine, made my rounds greeting the members, and happened to run into PD Kim Hee-yeong on my way back from the restroom.
It had been a while since I’d seen her, and her face was practically glowing.
“Wow, you’re looking the most handsome of them all!”
…Sure.
“Are you the main PD for this one?”
“No, I just tagged along because they were short on staff. This damn haphazard company…”
PD Kim Hee-yeong had been resting for a bit after finishing Shining Star. Well, it’s not like she’s an idol; there’s no need for her to jump from one flagship program straight into another. It seemed she’d been dragged in as a last-minute substitute.
“Anyway, I saw you guys hit number one. My congratulations are a bit late, but seriously, well done.”
“It’s all thanks to you, PD-nim. How could I have ever reached number one without your warm consideration?”
“Man, you sure know how to say the things people want to hear.”
PD Kim Hee-yeong chuckled. I was about to move on after exchanging a few pleasantries, but she tilted her head curiously.
“By the way, is something going on with Ju Woo-seong?”
“Pardon?”
Did that bastard finally get caught?
“No, it’s just that the atmosphere among the kids here whenever they look at him is… savage. I don’t know the details, though.”
“Ah.”
So he hadn't been caught. Instead of replying, ‘That’s because he lives like trash,’ I simply nodded silently. Kim Hee-yeong shrugged.
“You guys are close. If something’s up, look out for him.”
“We’re not.”
I wasn't in a position to worry about others when I was standing right in front of my own ex-girlfriend. A sudden wave of disillusionment hit me, and I briefly pressed a hand to my forehead.
Being the only one who kept their memories… is a truly petty thing.
“…I’ll be going now.”
“Yep~.”
Leaving the oblivious PD Kim Hee-yeong behind, I strode back and took my seat next to my members.
“Sigh…”
Jeong Da-jun, who had been reviewing today’s schedule, looked at me with wide eyes.
“Hyung, what’s wrong all of a sudden? Did someone annoy you?”
No, I just had a sudden reality check…
Our members, whose purity levels were on par with a newborn baby Bambi, must have overheard, because they each started chiming in.
“Who? Gasp, did someone pick a fight with you?”
“You didn’t already tear someone a new one, did you?”
“……”
“Eh, if it’s Ho-yun hyung, I’m sure he handled it fine on his own.”
I take back the part about them being pure.
As I was about to tell them to stop talking nonsense, a familiar voice popped up from behind.
“Seo Ho-yun.”
It was Ju Woo-seong—one of the few idols so famous that everyone recognized him even if he crumpled his name tag into his pocket. He was the center of his group.
“Oh, Ju Woo-seong sunbae-nim, hello!”
“Yeah, hey.”
It seemed Black Call was also participating in this Victory is Mine, as his members were lined up beside him.
Ju Woo-seong scanned the venue with a distant, melancholic look in his eyes and muttered, “I really didn't want to come here…”
“I can see why you wouldn't…”
You’ve dated almost everyone in this room…
Ju Woo-seong let out a sigh and plopped down into a chair.
If he hated it so much, and considering the program’s prestige didn't even match his status, why on earth was he here?
“Why did you come?”
“…To cheer on my juniors?”
“Me?”
“As if. My direct juniors are over there—High Five.”
Ju Woo-seong jerked his chin toward another section. I knew of Black Call’s direct junior group… but Ju Woo-seong looked like he couldn't care less for someone who claimed to be there to cheer them on.
Something’s fishy.
There was no way the Black Call would show up just to push a single junior group… but I reached a conclusion almost instantly.
Ah.
He got power-tripped.
The agency probably heard that if they didn't get Black Call, their junior group wouldn't be able to appear on music shows. It was a tactic broadcasting stations used often.
Even if he was being semi-blackmailed by the station… to think he’d actually grace this place with his presence, where he’d run into an ex-girlfriend every three seconds!
Just as I was about to re-evaluate Ju Woo-seong’s mental fortitude, he shot me a disgusted look.
“What’s with that look? Why are you scanning me from head to toe? It’s creepy.”
I shrugged and ignored him, turning my head away. I could see the Black Call members standing behind him, their eyes sparkling with curiosity as they looked for a chance to speak.
“Hello.”
“Wait, could this be…! The benefactor who reformed our immature Woo-seong hyung’s personality?”
“Hey! What are you talking about?”
“That’s me.”
I bypassed Ju Woo-seong and greeted them first. The leader of Black Call practically lunged at me, shaking my hand repeatedly and offering his thanks.
The fans, unaware of the actual conversation, were in a frenzy, alternating between confusion and cheers at how close the seniors and juniors seemed to be.
“Thank you so much, seriously… sigh, I was worried about when this guy would ever grow up. Meeting a noble person like Seo Ho-yun has changed him to the level of Our Child Has Changed. Just what kind of magic did you use…?”
“I didn't do much. You must have had a very hard time until now.”
“Oh, such modesty and consideration…! You truly have everything.”
“You guys are having a great time, aren't you?”
Ju Woo-seong sneered, but the Black Call leader just smiled happily. He must have been anxious, having a playboy in the same group.
“This is Jeong Da-jun, our youngest.”
“Ah, I’ve seen you on TV many times.”
“Sunbae-nim! Hello!”
Since we were seated near Black Call, we chatted back and forth. In the meantime, the competition officially began.
[The 14th ‘Victory is Mine’ is now officially open!]
“Has it really been fourteen years?”
“Seems so.”
The opening ceremony proceeded quickly. They even blasted the national anthem to fit the ‘athletic’ concept.
The fans had looks on their faces that said, ‘Why on earth are they doing this here…?’ but they all forced themselves to stand up with the mindset of ‘I can’t let my bias look bad.’
After the brief opening ceremony, the events began one by one. The first event was track and field. One person from each idol group was to participate.
Our runner was…
“Kim Seong-hyeon, fighting!”
Naturally, it was Kim Seong-hyeon, who had an outstanding physique. As Seong-hyeon stretched his limbs, the vocal from Black Call also stepped out.
I draped an arm around Kim Seong-hyeon’s neck, lowered my body, and spoke desperately.
“Kim Seong-hyeon.”
“Whoa, you startled me. What?”
“You must, must, must get first place.”
If you don't, another dark past of mine will be created.
After the previous aegyo incident, I didn't have much reputation left to lose, but still, a human being deserves a minimum level of dignity. When I grabbed him and pleaded, Kim Seong-hyeon furrowed his brows.
“Seo Ho-yun, do you really want first place that badly?”
“Yes.”
“Got it.”
Seong-hyeon’s expression became even more solemn.
“I have to repay the favor.”
“Man… damn, you…”
I’m not usually this type of person, but I looked at Kim Seong-hyeon with genuine touched emotion. Wow, there really was a reason people called him ‘God-Seong-hyeon’…
“I’ll be back.”
Seong-hyeon stood at the starting line. The introductions for the men’s 100m preliminaries began. When Seong-hyeon’s face appeared on the screen, the screams of the Dawn-Na-Ri erupted.
“Waaaaah!”
“Kim Seong-hyeon! Kim Seong-hyeon!”
“Seong-hyeon is popular.”
Hearing Seong Ji-won mutter proudly, I nodded calmly.
After the school bullying incident was resolved favorably and with the great editing he received toward the end of Shining Star, he had become quite popular even among fans of other groups.
Seong-hyeon was in lane five. As the camera focused on him, the commentators naturally began talking about him.
[Whoa! Kim Seong-hyeon, his form looks quite good.]
[Seong-hyeon is that guy from before, right? The hero who caught a thief on the street.]
[That’s right! To have the speed to catch a thief! I’m looking forward to this.]
As everyone took their marks, the starting signal soon went off with a bang. Everyone ran for their lives, but Seong-hyeon pulled ahead from the very start. The commentators jumped to their feet in excitement.
[Oh, oh, oh! He’s fast! Seong-hyeon is fast!]
[The Dawn! The Dawn’s Seong-hyeon is pulling ahead!]
[Oh! Black Call’s Jeong-woo is starting to catch up! No, wait!? Seong-hyeon is widening the gap even more! Seong-hyeon is going, all the way to the finish line! He’s in!!]
[Seong-hyeon! Seong-hyeon takes first place!]
“Hyung, that was amazing!”
Seong-hyeon ran with everything he had until the very end, crashing into the sponge wall even after crossing the finish line. The Black Call vocal crashed into him right after, and the two of them laughed, patted each other, and stood up. While they were peaceful, the commentary booth was in an uproar.
[How can he run that fast?]
[This is incredible, incredible! It wasn't for nothing that he was able to catch that thief!]
“MILK-WHITE SKIN, KIM SEONG-HYEON!”
The members of The Dawn danced in excitement. The camera caught them, and among the dancing members, I was the only one silently pumping a fist.
If the preliminaries were like this, the finals were as good as won. Seong-hyeon waved brightly at the camera and the Dawn-Na-Ri.
I clasped my hands together and prayed fervently.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
“I’m praying with a bowl of water set out.”
“Where did you put the water?”
Ignoring the bewildered members, I put my faith in Kim Seong-hyeon as if he were a god. Please, please, you bastard.
While waiting for the other preliminaries to finish, Seong-hyeon went to the fan section to chat briefly and returned looking even more energized.
[Oh~, Kim Seong-hyeon looks to be in even better condition than before~!]
[But it won't be easy this time. Mars won the gold medal in the men’s 100m track and field last time.]
[What was Mars’s record back then?]
[It’s listed here in the all-time records. Third place overall!]
A member of Mars walked out confidently. That record was faster than Seong-hyeon’s time just now.
Even though I wasn't a participant, I was on edge, while Seong-hyeon politely bowed in greeting. The commentators, catching this, were impressed.
[He’s still making sure to greet people even now! Is this the true idol spirit?]
[No, no. This is a psychological play. He’s measuring how light and flexible his opponent’s body is through the angle of the bow.]
[Such deep meaning!]
“……Hmm.”
“That’s a stretch.”
The commentators were talking nonsense, but I didn't care. I remained with my hands clasped, desperately wishing for Seong-hyeon to win.
[Ah~, the members of The Dawn are cheering so hard.]
[Look over there, Seo Ho-yun is already praying with his hands tightly clasped.]
[What tear-jerking teamwork!]
I was almost moved to tears.
Because my life is so miserable.
[The men’s 100m final begins now.]
Everyone took their marks at the lanes. Seong-hyeon’s face hardened again. Simultaneously, the starting signal rang out.
[They’re off!]
Seong-hyeon burst forward with terrifying speed. It was as if he were using magic; the space seemed to fold with every blink as he surged ahead. Perhaps because he was tall with long limbs, he was much faster than before.
[Ah! It’s neck and neck with Mars’s Camel! Neck and neck!]
[Camel is a tiny bit faster. No, wait!? The Dawn’s Kim Seong-hyeon is pulling ahead now! Kim Seong-hyeon! Kim Seong-hyeon!]
[Shouldn't this person be a track athlete instead of an idol?!]
The excited voices of the commentators filled the stadium.
Seong-hyeon ran like a madman until the end. Until they reached the very end of the track, Mars’s Camel and Kim Seong-hyeon were dead even. The fierce battle continued right to the finish line, and Seong-hyeon once again crashed into the sponge wall and collapsed.
“Who, who got first?”
“I think it was Seong-hyeon hyung?”
[First place is—!! The Dawn’s Kim Seong-hyeon! His record is, incredibly, the all-time best for ‘Victory is Mine’!]
“Heol! They said it’s the all-time record!!”
The crowd buzzed. Seong-hyeon, who had been lying down gasping for breath, jumped up with a bright smile. After checking on the participants from other groups, he ran over to where the members were.
Ah!
I raised Seong-hyeon well!
“Hey! I got first!”
“Wow, Seong-hyeon, you’re the best~.”
While Seong Ji-won welcomed Seong-hyeon with a bright smile and applause, I pumped my fist and made a small ‘nice’ gesture.
“Did you see that!”
“I did good, right!”
“Of course!”
I gave a wide, beaming smile and patted Seong-hyeon on the back. Seong-hyeon, quickly becoming excited, ran toward the fan section with a flushed face. The Dawn-Na-Ri cheered and welcomed him.
“Wow, look at him going straight to the fan section… Is this… God-Seong-hyeon?”
“Your groups don't have a Kim Seong-hyeon, do they?”
Kang Yi-chae and Jeong Da-jun muttered with proud expressions. My face wasn't much different, so I didn't even think about nitpicking.
Ding!
[Happy now?]
Don't use informal speech with me.
[‘Victory is Mine’ Quest
Number of 1st place wins: 1/3]
Two more times. Just two more times.