Hard Mode Idol

“I’m in the debut lineup, but my dance and singing are both mediocre. That’s why I’m a sub-vocalist. I don’t know how I passed the debut lineup audition either. Among the 1st-tier trainees, there are many hyungs and dongsaengs who are much better than me.”

Why else would it be? You’re cute. Now that I see it, your personality is totally cute and gentle too. If you just fix your rash tendencies, you’ll be the perfect idol material. I was just silently nodding since he told me to be quiet, but I couldn’t help thinking that. Let him talk first, and I’ll speak next.

“Whenever I lost confidence, the one who cheered me on, led me, and took care of me was Jaehyuk hyung. I’m honestly not confident I can do it alone without hyung. I can’t do without hyung…”

Sounds like he followed him around like an imprinted baby bird following its mother. Since he misunderstood that I pushed that person out and came in, it makes sense he would dislike me. If I only heard his side, he really seemed like a good person.

“But hyung disappeared overnight. He disappeared because of you. That’s why I hate you. It’s hard for me to like you. This is my honest feeling. I’m sorry. I’ll try.”

I see. Are you done talking? Listening to the story, I became curious so I wanted to say something too.

“Can I talk now?”

“Tsk, do you really have no tact?”

What a disappointing thing to say when my tact is 100. It’s just that human relationships are difficult. You’d become the same if you were in my shoes.

The puppy rubbed his face with both hands repeatedly and then sighed.

“Ha, seriously. Fine. Go ahead and talk. I talked, so I’ll listen to you too.”

“Okay. First, I want to know why you think I kicked out that Jaehyuk hyung person and came in.”

I’m really curious. You wouldn’t recklessly misunderstand just because one person left and one person came in. I roughly deduced it, but this needs to be heard from them directly.

“I heard them say ‘We’re kicking out Joon Jaehyuk, and there’s someone to put in.’ I remember it exactly. But that day, as soon as you took the audition, they passed you and introduced you to us as a debut lineup member. That never happened before.”

“Who did you hear it from?”

“I accidentally overheard the CEO and manager talking when I went to ask about Jaehyuk hyung’s situation. With my own ears.”

“Aha.”

My curiosity was resolved. Seems he completely misunderstood. First of all, I wasn’t cast as the main vocalist from the beginning. I’m a visual member. ‘Kicking out Joon Jaehyuk’ and ‘there’s someone to put in’ were probably different contexts.

So to summarize, it’s a happening that occurred from combining ‘Let’s conclude to kick out Joon Jaehyuk’ and ‘There’s someone new we can put in.’ The two people implied it because they knew the situation, and the puppy misunderstood.

“What kind of reaction is that? Are you admitting it?”

“If I say it’s all a coincidence, will you believe me?”

“Would you believe it?”

I knew it would be useless to explain. Even if I elaborately explain, it seems it will only deepen the distrust. He already reached a conclusion, so it’s useless to say it’s not true.

“Well, it would be difficult. I get it.”

“You’re seriously annoying!”

Since there were clear reasons for the puppy to misunderstand and hate me based on the circumstances, I decided to just accept it. When the other members’ misunderstandings are somewhat resolved, his will probably resolve too then.

“Got it. Let’s go with that.”

“What? Are you joking?”

“No. I’m serious though.”

Suddenly, the puppy started huffing and getting excited. Did it sound like I was being sarcastic? I think he’s misunderstanding something. Don’t distort my sincerity.

“Calm down. I’m not teasing you or joking. I’m saying there’s no need to forcibly try to like someone you dislike.”

“…Huh?”

“You dislike me, right?”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

“It’s hard to get rid of feelings of dislike. So it’s okay to keep disliking me. I’m used to this kind of thing anyway, so you don’t need to be concerned. Feel free to hate me.”

It will interfere a lot with my main mission, but it can’t be helped. Since I have a long way to go, maybe I can put him off to last. Later, when the misunderstanding is resolved, it will probably change to neutral. Meanwhile, I have no choice but to diligently receive training and raise my stats.

“You’re used to it? How can being hated become something you’re used to? That’s too sa-“

“Do I have to say that much to someone who hates me?”

Does he think I’m a pushover? The puppy shut his mouth tight. He pouted his lips and then messed up the back of his own head.

“No, that’s not it. Ah! Come to think of it, why do you keep speaking casually to me?”

“You did it first.”

“I’m your hyung!”

My mental age is higher though. Despite how I look, I lived for 27 years and became 18 again.

“Then should I call you hyung? Do you want to hear me call you hyung?”

“No!”

“Then don’t make a fuss.”

“No, something’s weird. Huh? Wait. Argh. Then you’re going to keep calling me ‘you’?”

Ah, how cute. I lived not knowing puppies were cute but this kid is really cute. Like a large dog.

“You only noticed now?”

I smiled with the corners of my eyes folded and patted the puppy’s shoulder. The puppy’s face reddened as he shouted.

“Call me hyung!”

“Yes, yes, hyung.”

“Ah…! You’re seriously annoying!”

He’s throwing a fit even when I match what he wants.

“Ah, right. Pu-… No. Wait a moment.”

What was his name? I quickly checked the mission window and saw the name ‘Lee Seoho’.

“Lee Seoho.”

“I said to call me hyung?”

“Okay. Seoho hyung.”

“What.”

“In my eyes, you’re someone who deserves to be in the debut lineup.”

“What are you suddenly saying?”

He was clearly bewildered, but he didn’t seem to dislike it. As expected, no one dislikes compliments. I felt good being complimented too.

“First, you’re cute. Others may be more handsome than you, but I don’t think anyone will be cuter than you.”

“Hearing that from you feels really weird…”

The puppy tilted his head with a face that looked very bitter, as if he bit into an unripe persimmon. Even that reaction was cute, so I instantly understood this is what makes fans fall for idols.

“Is that all? You’re kind. There aren’t many people who can sincerely apologize to someone they dislike? At least I’ve never met one. You’re the first.”

“…I was taught to apologize when I did something wrong.”

“Yes. That’s why I’m saying you have the qualification to be in the debut lineup. Looks, personality, skills. It’s all considered and decided.”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. Is the company playing around? So trust yourself. If you can’t trust yourself, then trust the manager who chose you. Anyway, what I want to say is…”

I looked down at the puppy’s large hand and said,

“You have a bad habit with your hands.”

“Wow, did you compliment me to say that?”

“Yeah. But it’s not empty praise, so don’t misunderstand. It’s best to fix the habit of raising your hand first. Wouldn’t you be more upset if it becomes a problem later and harms the group?”

“That may be true, but I don’t want to hear it from you?”

“I’m done with what I had to say. It’s up to you to decide whether to fix it or not. Then I’m going. Thanks for apologizing. It’s my first time receiving one, so it feels nice.”

I smiled and waved at the puppy, no, Lee Seoho. I need to get in the habit of calling him since I keep forgetting the name.

When I opened the vocal room door and left, I heard a voice behind my back saying, “Ah, right! I said to call me hyung!” If you want to be called hyung, act like one. Such a baby, a baby.

“Oh? Manager.”

The manager was looking this way with a slightly tense face. I wondered why, but it seemed she saw Lee Seoho coming out of the room I was in.

“Did you talk with Seoho?”

“Yes. I received an apology.”

The manager let out a thin, long sigh.

“I see. That’s a relief then. I told the kids one more time. That we would have kicked out Jaehyuk whether you joined or not. But they still don’t believe it. I don’t know why they’re so firmly misunderstanding either. But I’ll keep persuading them, so please wait.”

The manager doesn’t seem to know Lee Seoho overheard the conversation. I was about to mention it but just left it. What would change if I say it? The manager will be more concerned, and Lee Seoho’s distrust may only deepen. It’s not like they’ll explain the reason for kicking him out to the members.

“The misunderstanding will be resolved soon.”

I answered, shrugging my shoulders. The manager examined me as if trying to understand my intentions. When I smiled brightly, she laughed along with me.

“Yes. It should be. Strangely, when I see Haon’s smile, I feel like everything will work out well.”

“It’s because I’m a bit of a lucky charm.”

“Right. It seems so.”

It’s not though? I said it as a joke, but I became embarrassed when she agreed. I smiled even harder to fight off the embarrassment.

“Then what do you want to do now? The contract ended well too, do you want to keep practicing vocals? Or do you want to try dance training too? If you’re interested in acting, let me know. I’ll assign you a teacher. You need to study foreign languages too… But that can wait a bit.”

When I averted my gaze at the mention of studying, the manager changed the subject while chuckling. I’ll study foreign languages after raising all my stats. Since it doesn’t hinder success, even if I’m bad at foreign languages, it’s at the very bottom of my priorities. It’s not because I don’t want to.

“Hahaha… I want to continue vocal practice. Learning singing is so fun.”

“Okay. Yeah. Let’s all do dance training together when you get along a bit better with the kids.”

“Yes.”

She was definitely considerate of me a lot. Improving my relationship with the members. The manager wants it, and the mission wants it. Me… Hmm. I’m not sure yet.

Before looking into my heart, there was something I had to decide first. When I said I was going to practice, she smiled and let me go. Before meeting the vocal teacher, I need to go to the bathroom first. I need to raise my stats first.