Debut or Die-Chapter 388

The day of the returning Wise filming.

This time, without any shots of the CEO giving tips on stage, as soon as they announced the upper and lower classes at the dorm, they went straight into the main content.

‘Not the performance stage where eliminations happen, but the idol event they do before that.’

After the public service ad and the photo shoot, the next act is...

“This event is a guerrilla street concert.”

“Wow!”

“OMG....”

I can’t help but think there must have been some deal with the local government, but anyway, it means we’re going to perform on a temporary stage set up right in the middle of Myeong-dong.

[Oh, that sounds fun!]

From the viewers’ standpoint, sure. But as participants... I’m not so sure.

[Um...? Weren’t we doing stages we’d already done before?]

That’s true.

‘But the lineup changed.’

There were eliminations and new members came in, so the movements and parts probably need a lot of adjustments.

“This Friday, 6 p.m.!”

Look, they gave us two days on the shooting schedule.

‘They want us to work through the night.’

[...What a grind.]

So it’s overtime again this time.

No matter how fast those of us who remember get the choreography down, we can’t go in early and sleep. We all need to coordinate the movements together.

‘Of course there are people who will work even more than me.’

That guy talking to me now as I unpack my things on the bed. He basically leads the choreography practice for this label’s debut team.

“Welcome back, hyung. I really thought you’d be here soon, seriously.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Shin Jae-hyun, who warmly welcomes Ryu Geon-woo as he returns to the upper class for today’s shoot, holds out his hand without turning his back to the camera.

‘As expected, he doesn’t miss an opportunity.’

I shook hands with Cheongryeo, who sits next to me and has never moved his luggage out of the upper class dorm, and got a cutscene.

‘He’s planning to keep this image going.’

Never having fallen from the upper class, the perfect leader position.

Well, if you’re that consistent, it becomes your narrative and your character strengthens.

“The classes assigned by the show are just arbitrarily divided. Regardless of that, let’s think that we’re all debuting together and work hard.”

“Yes...!”

I wonder how many times he’s used that inspiring line.

I spent two days watching him pretend to take care of the other trainees to the limit.

And then today.

[Whoa...! A lot of people are already gathered?]

Well, it’s called a guerrilla event, but it’s announced three hours before, so of course.

As soon as it spread online, viewers rushed over.

‘Even without that, tourists were gathering.’

Since it’s Myeong-dong, there were plenty of foreigners interested in K-pop.

It was still the era when showing foreigners cheering was preferred. They probably aimed for that.

Anyway, whether it’s a first or a return, the participants are a bit excited in front of the open-air stage.

“Let’s shout our chant once and go up.”

“Yes I am! Wise Fighting!”

And then we went up on the small stage that had been used for a university violin recital just moments before.

Woooaaaah!

Raw cheers. Unfiltered, visceral reactions from chants to screams.

The sunlight, the wind, the smells.

Performing outdoors again after a long time had its own appeal.

‘Feels like we’re at an event.’

Of course, it’s a strange feeling that the setlist is all other people’s songs instead of our own.

And apparently I wasn’t the only one feeling that.

Outside the backstage camera’s range.

“I kind of miss it.”

Fifth-year idol Ryu Cheong-woo, who pulled off both the theme song and the team stage replacements, muttered.

Cha Yoo-jin grumbled.

“I want to do our song.”

Both of them spoke without any particles so as not to be picked up by the mic—impressive. I slowly nodded.

“Hyung Geon-woo!”

“Hm?”

Kim Rae-bin, who was stretching beside me, whispered seriously.

Come to think of it, I might have given off a suspicious vibe even though he didn’t remember...

“Is it possible the theme song could be suddenly excluded from the setlist?”

“...?”

“If the ‘our song’ that Cha Yoo-jin mentioned refers to the song for the common performance, then it would be the theme song, and saying ‘I want to do it’ implies currently not being able to do it.”

“.......”

“Then the conclusion is it’s been taken off the setlist...”

I barely opened my mouth.

“It probably means he wants to do it sooner. They always do the theme song last.”

“...! You’re right! Thank you for kindly explaining.”

He really is one of a kind. It’s a shame the camera didn’t catch that.

‘If he had remembered, he’d have been tossing and turning over fairness and it would’ve shown.’

Even if Kim Rae-bin gets eliminated in the next round, I’ll jolt him awake only after this program ends.

The mini-concert continued for the full fifty minutes.

The deathmatch stage with Jin Chae-yul in sailor uniforms was recreated well into the latter half.

Of course, they weren’t actual sailor uniforms but baseball ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) jackets, since the company president eventually compromised with public opinion and couldn’t remove the song from the list.

Truly a capitalist decision worthy of an agency president.

Chae-yul seemed genuinely excited, probably feeling recognized.

“President Kim Tae-in watched our stage so many times that he seemed to appreciate our true value! He might love this one the moment he sees it...”

“Yeah, yeah!”

Shin Oh and his giggles looked exactly like VTIC back then.

I heard that whenever his innocent, bright side shows on air, fans flock to him. He looks so unflappable.

Even VTIC had expensive data showing that, but... anyway, demand is clear for him.

‘He’ll probably make it through smoothly.’

I quietly drew that conclusion and waved to the crowd as I stepped down from the stage.

And toward the end of the performance.

“Thank you!”

Eeeeeek! Ahhh!

After finishing even the theme song performance, people swarmed so much they were blocking the passage. Crowd psychology calling more crowd.

‘Maybe they just enjoy cheering...’

“Geon-woo hyung! You’re so handsome!”

“Y-Yes, thank you.”

I reacted every time someone called out. Nobody feels bad getting compliments.

After the camera captured enough audience responses.

Finally, the surprise event that hadn’t been announced to the participants was triggered.

“Let’s invite our passionate viewers here on stage who came to the guerrilla concert~”

“Gasp!”

“Now?”

A surprise fan meeting.

‘I figured this much.’

Before coming on stage, I saw them picking out some people to bring forward.

“Ahem.”

“Please come on up... like this.”

I silently shook my head as I watched the participants’ faces, now more excited and nervous.

‘It’s been a while.’

Since the debut showcase when I got hit by a plastic bottle, I’ve almost never done impromptu drawings for the general public.

Soon, groups of two or three people were brought up. They each went to the participant they were supporting.

“Eek! Oh my—!”

“You can just come here and say hello to me.”

“Ahhh!”

I went up and shook hands and lightly hugged a few people who approached me first.

Most were trembling, maybe from excitement or nerves—makes sense in a public place. It wasn’t much different from when I was Park Mundae.

Then what’s different?

“Well, you’re so handsome...”

“Thank you. ...I’ll take good care of myself...?”

“I love you so much...”

‘They say “handsome” way more than “cute.”’

And... they hardly asked for cheek pokes.

‘Maybe because it’s a quick draw.’

Or maybe because it’s a broadcast, not just idol fans. Hard to know, but they seemed more cautious.

In other words, less comfortable.

‘Is it because Geon-woo doesn’t have a good image?’

No, not that it’s unfortunate though.

Anyway, they must have selected people appropriately so no one participant ended up with no fans.

Even Ryu Cheong-woo, whose footage had just barely aired, had people come to him.

[This kind of thing... years later I guess I’ll think back and realize how unbelievably lucky an experience this was?]

Hey, you can’t stay here until years later.

[Oh.]

I small-talked with him whenever I had no one in front of me, waiting for the next person.

“Last few, please come up~”

And when the four who’d waited the longest went on stage.

“...!!”

Of them, the first person I recognized immediately.

That person was...

[Oh? A hyung fan!]

Yes.

I mean—I used to be Park Mundae’s fan, that person did. How did I recognize them?

‘Because they were the first pamphlet.’

The first hardcore fan who had insisted I do a cheek poke at the AJUSA premiere press conference.

I even met them wearing a raccoon mask at an ad board certification. Hard to forget, and I’ve seen them consistently since.

[Wow~ I see you here too!]

...Indeed.

I almost froze mid-pose but regained my composure and held my expression.

‘They’d be crazy if they recognized me.’

Better stay quiet.

[I’m just so happy to see you! I only ever did it when you were on your status screen!]

Lucky for me he’s making a fuss on my behalf, so I don’t have to.

The fan, with brimming confidence, approached the participants on stage, passed me by, and went to Jin Chae-yul next to me.

“Hello!”

...to him.

[Really, I’m rooting for you. You’re so cute and cool, you’re the best. Do whatever you want, Chae-yul.]

“Eek! Thank you!”

“...”

I quietly adjusted my stance.

That was the end of Ryu Geon-woo’s guerrilla fan meeting.

I already knew.

Ryu Geon-woo and Park Mundae have quite different looks, and even if they’re somewhat similar, there’s a clear difference.

Is it only appearance? There’s a difference in public image too.

‘Demand is bound to differ.’

So there’s no rule that someone who likes Park Mundae will definitely like Ryu Geon-woo.

[Hyung...]

It’s fine.

Right after the guerrilla concert ended and before the performance content started, we had a few hours for shooting prep.

Since there was that gap, I just organized my thoughts.

To face reality.

‘Am I a complete idiot?’

This isn’t reality, so why did I naturally believe it would flow the same way.

And even if it were reality, whether each individual continues to support an idol is up to them, right?

No need to think further.

...As an idol, Ryu Geon-woo is not Park Mundae. Don’t forget.

[I think you look cool no matter which version you are! Really!]

This guy is so selfless and unashamedly generous.

Even knowing they’re the same person, someone might prefer only one side. It’s not a real relationship—it’s one-sided support, so it’s natural.

[That’s not necessarily the case! For sure there’s that unique idol vibe only you have, even if your appearance changes, bu...]

“.......”

I was reading the comforting pop-up messages I’d written, and suddenly thought.

No matter how altruistic he is, isn’t this... a bit too much?

Especially considering his position.

‘You... don’t you feel at least some discomfort about my sitting in the body you passed the civil service exam for?’

[......]

Even if I don’t mind, he should at least feel uncomfortable about the situation.

He’s without a body, floating, while I’m using both bodies.

The pop-up trembles.

[But... I really don’t mind.]

I watched the pop-up appear one word at a time and felt strange discomfort.

This isn’t to comfort me—it’s genuine.

And he feels discomfort about that too.

[Is this strange? I’m not sure. Maybe I’m not human anymore...]

‘You are human.’

I cut in immediately.

‘What’s not human about someone who worries so much about others.’

[No no we’re... not other peopleㅠㅠ sniff, anyway thank you...]

The pop-up returned to its usual mood as if relieved, but my mind, unshown, grew more tangled.

‘Can I summarize this as a deepening loss of humanity?’

Perhaps there’s no one else to talk to in this situation, and since he never discusses himself with me, it might have accelerated.

‘...I need to have a proper talk.’

But damn, my head is so cluttered I don’t know where to start.

‘Pathetic.’

I quietly sat down in a camera-less hallway, lowered my head, and closed my eyes. I decided to stay like that until my brain fully understood the situation.

I don’t know how much time passed.

“Um... are you okay?”

A quiet voice.

Not a participant, but a staff member, I guess.

They thought I might be spacing out in the hallway, so they spoke.

“Yes.”

Meaning I’d come to my senses and enter when I was ready, I nodded slightly.

They wouldn’t bring a camera because I looked bad... or would they? Well, if it’s the network staff, they totally would.

Sure enough, I heard light footsteps running down the hallway, then coming back.

Did they bring a camera?

“Here.”

But what was thrust in front of my face... is warm steam.

Steam rising.

I opened my eyes.

“When I’m not feeling well or low on energy, drinking a warm beverage helps me.”

In a hand holding a white paper cup.

Inside, a dark drink with steam curling up.

“Of course everyone’s different... but warmth is universal. Would you like to try some?”

I accepted it and took a sip.

...It was hot chocolate.

I looked up.

“Kicking back with a hot drink can be surprisingly calming.”

Black hair.

Seon Ah-hyun in his mid-twenties was there.