The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 126
* * *
The debut reality show filming, which had been full of all sorts of incidents and accidents bubbling beneath the surface the entire time we were preparing.
“ToZ members, great work everyone!”
With the members’ individual interviews as the finale, the curtain fell, and the cameras set up everywhere around the dorm finally finished withdrawing too.
If I had to sum up the emotion on the faces of the members currently sprawled on the sofa in just one word, well.
“It’s, it’s so hard….”
“Right? Wow, my body aches from sleeping one night in the camper van. Ugh! Ugh! I’m going to bed!”
“Hwaseong, if you’re going to lie down, wash up first… No. Let’s just lie on the floor together, uh. That’s the right call.”
“Oh, mate? You’ll catch a cold like that. We’re debuting soon; everyone needs to watch their health.”
“And you’re crawling on the floor too, Logan!”
Was it exhaustion?
“Huu….”
While Jaeha-hyung went into the bathroom to wash up for a moment, I rubbed my face against a rolling cushion and counted on my fingers everything that had happened since we returned to the dorm.
Really, there wasn’t just one or two things we’d finished while crazily running through schedules.
“Yongyong-hyung, Yongyong-hyung!”
“Yeah, yeah, Jihwasung. What? Why are you calling me like you’re in such a rush?”
“No, it’s nothing much… this. I found it in the bushes while messing around with Logan earlier. What do you think? Would Jaeha-hyung like it if I gave it to him?”
“…Are you asking me that even though Jaeha-hyung is right next to you?”
“Ah, asking directly about this kind of thing is a bit embarrassing….”
“So what, punk. If you’re going to do that, pick one up for me too!”
“Haha… Hand it here, Hwaseong. So four-leaf clovers really do exist. I thought people individually glued the leaves on all this time.”
Not only had the previous issue between Hwaseong and Jaeha-hyung been resolved, but Jaeha-hyung’s burdens had also been somewhat lightened.
“Recording. Minus the people who were out… basic choreography, twice. And… the bridge part, the collapse. Let’s… practice.”
“Um, Dasol-ssaem. The members seem too tired, so how about we rest for five minutes and then go? Not too long!”
“…Let’s. Do that. Everyone drink water… 10 minutes, then….”
“Wait! Dasol-ssaem, if Yongyong-hyung asks, we can rest? When I asked to rest, you stared at me with a face like I was pathetic for a whole minute!”
“…….”
“Huh, Hwaseong. You’re making that face again. Apologize quickly.”
Recording schedules, dance practice, and the music video shoot all proceeded safely and finished.
“I… like it. I was already thinking it was a bit uncomfortable. The distance… it was bewildering.”
“Agree. Honestly, ever since you said you were a Man U fan, rebellion welled up from the depths of my heart. Oops, is that a bit bad of me?”
“Haha! It’s fine, Logan. In the end, Hobin-hyung is our manager now, right? That’s great! I already liked him somewhat. Please take care of us, hyung.”
“…I look forward to working with you too. Really, you can trust me.”
The manager with the prefix ‘former,’ Jo Tae-uk, had been kicked out, and we’d secured a new manager too.
“Wait, someone succeeded at the Morning mission?! Who on earth?”
“…Ahem.”
“Um, Yuchan-hyung? Why are you suddenly walking over to the production staff alone? You clearly told me my mission was stealing Logan’s guitar.”
“Yuchan, mission success! Please reveal the mission content to the members!”
“My mission was… ‘turning off all the members’ morning alarms first’!”
“No way! You said you were letting me sleep longer out of consideration, you said that!”
Since the campsite shoot had also ended relatively well without any trouble.…
In a way, this fatigue was only natural.
While I was organizing the various thoughts swirling in my head, the phone screen I’d turned on to use the notepad flickered with a message.
- X: Yongyong Yongyong chunyongnyong~~
- X: Look at your face, all the fat is gone, you’ve really been through a lot huh ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
- X: Hey, hey, so now the only thing left is the real debut?? When’s the showcase?? Next week??
- X: Wow it’s deeply moving, deeply moving, Rekseuregi! You’re really debuting at the end of the survival show
Perhaps because he quite liked my recent moves, X’s messages, which were even more toxic than before, clearly revealed his joy.
It felt like this guy and I had become pretty close now too.
- X: ㅎㅎ You know it’s just starting from now, right?
- X: Oof chunyong just thinking about how your path of hardship is wide open makes me incredibly happy
- X: Let’s do well, yeah?? You don’t want to go back to the past, do you ㅠㅠ
No, cancel that.
“You insolent punk….”
Similar messages poured out from the thoroughly excited X, but I turned my phone face down and lightly ignored him.
Even without seeing or hearing X’s fuss, I obviously knew there was a lot to do from here on out.
As proof of that, I could hear someone punching in the dorm password outside.
Beep, beep, beep… beep.
Click—
“…Did everyone rest a bit?”
“Wow, Hobin-hyung! Seeing you come into the dorm comfortably like this, you really seem like a manager now!”
“Yes. Because I really am the manager.”
Eavesdropping on the conversation between Hobin-hyung and Jihwasung in the living room beyond the room, I rubbed my eyelids that were blurring from fatigue.
“Hyung, since you’re here, would you like to eat? From what I know, today is somewhat relaxed!”
“I’m fine. I ate roughly on the way over in the car. I don’t usually eat much anyway.”
“Hmm, still, it would be good if you ate more. Then, what’s the occasion today since there’s no work?”
“From the next schedule onward, I have to inform ToZ, pick you up, and take you there myself. I also adjust the schedule. So I adjusted things today as well.”
“…Huh?”
“If you’ve rested a bit, let’s slowly start preparing to go out again. If you want to be relaxed the day before the showcase, it’s better to sacrifice today.”
“Ho, Hobin-hyung?”
“I will really devote myself sincerely and wholeheartedly to caring for ToZ.”
You trust me, right?
When I heard Hobin-hyung ask ‘You trust me?’ yesterday, it was truly touching and gave me strength.
“Noooo!”
“You have to do it even if you don’t want to. It’s all for ToZ’s benefit.”
Along with Jihwasung’s scream echoing through the living room, I pulled my cap down low and shuffled toward the living room with zombie-like steps.
Yeah. I obviously knew there was a lot to do.
* * *
If you asked whether only the main characters were busy preparing for the debut, that wasn’t the case.
No, perhaps there were people even busier than them.
“Why are you taking off this day, exactly? Is it hard to move? It’s a bit troublesome. We’re in the middle of a project right now.”
“Ah, I’d like to come in if possible…! It’s, uh. An unavoidable family occasion. I’m sorry.”
“Tch, fine. I’ve already fixed the schedule, so after you come back that day, work hard.”
“…Thank you!”
For example, this person raising a middle finger into her pocket at the retreating back of her superior with a displeased expression.
‘No, I’m trying to use my annual leave; why come to me and nag me like this? I just need to do my job well. Crazy old geezer.’
Son Jaeha’s named fan, AG Trading Company, for instance.
‘He left early before because he had to take care of his girlfriend’s cat. He can do it but I can’t? Hope you get a cat allergy, really.’
Having fervently prayed in her heart for his romantic endeavors to fail, she soon looked back at her computer and regained her happiness.
That was because the internet window she’d secretly minimized was full of the reason she’d taken her leave.
[ToZ: Six-leaf Clover Premier Showcase Winner List]
“Uwaaah…!”
AG Trading Company, checking her own name clearly listed in the roster below once more, had to force herself to hold back the cheer threatening to burst from her lips.
‘Our Jaeha’s debut showcase, crazy. I absolutely can’t miss this. Other music shows? Might not be able to go! But this is the debut showcase!’
The tearful debut scene of the survival trainee she’d cheered on until now.
Son Jaeha finally becoming a ‘real’ idol as he greeted with a trembling voice and took the stage there.
To her, who had waited so long, there could be no greater reward than this.
Moreover, what were the reactions toward ToZ in the vast internet ocean right now?
[ㅇㅋ to sum it up, the teasers released so far before the MV drop seem to be this
1. All ToZ members are boy scouts of an island called Six-Leaf Clover
2. There's a dog named Zenia that the members took turns taking care of (fandom name speculation in progress), but it disappeared
3. Now even among the members, they're suspecting who stole it and trying to find it
4. In this process, the boys learn the truth and cast off their boyhood]
[⎿Moon Yunha you crazy bastard I like it]
[⎿No, this is an idol debut concept scenario?? Crazy…]
[⎿⎿Calling their survival show days 'boyhood' is really good. Using the survival show image while breaking away from it??]
[⎿The person who cursed at them for philosophizing as an idol, where did they go ㅠ]
[⎿⎿Ahem, they got a 4-week fracture from ToZ's mood sampler and went to the hospital. Please refrain from speaking.]
[Sihwuhada @singsingull_ll11 (link)
Group order form for Siwoo's member ID card is open♡ I'll send one Siwoo member ID card + one ID photo to one person who shares this post!]
[⎿(Blocked account)
This might be part of the album components; is it okay to just make it like this?]
[Neulbom Mileu @NBML__0412 (photo) (photo)
Debut album pre-orders have already surpassed 480,000! If we just buy 20,000 more, it's 500,000?! Shall we push a little more for our ToZ to break the all-time debut album sales record for rookie boy idols?!]
So hot it was almost too much, or perhaps on the verge of exploding.
“Haa….”
AG Trading Company calmed her swelling emotions for no reason, quickly checked if anyone was passing behind her, then switched screens.
‘Now, after tonight when all the album specs are revealed, and the concept photos and music video teaser come out, all that’s left to wait for is the real debut.’
She was ready to take ToZ, Son Jaeha, to that peak.
She wasn’t the only one.
All the fans who had watched since ToZ were scruffy trainees were like that.
Because they had cheered so much. Now, because those kids were finally trying to take a step to achieve their dreams.
Even if the size or method of each person’s heart differed, their direction was the same.
And, in the midst of that.
If there was just one problem….
[Bullnasseoyobul @fireworksday
But honestly, I still don't really feel attached to the other members... Son Jaeha and Jang Siwoo are fine, but Kim Chunyong? I don't know about him, ah ㅋㅋㅋ Please push Hwaseong more, a tall blonde high schooler isn't common]
[⎿How long are you going to keep 'accidentally' posting on this account? At this point it feels like a concept too]
The fact that the fans hadn’t united into one yet.
“Tch, this person got completely shredded by Neulbom-nim before and is at it again….”
AG Trading Company naturally pressed the report button along with the text [Posted harmful content], wearing a slightly worried expression.
To be sure, the current reaction to ToZ was unprecedented even among rookie boy idols.
However, perhaps because they were survival-show-born idols, the rift among fans still existed.
Of course, it was inevitable for troublemakers and aggro-seekers to latch onto a successful idol group, but even so, the increasing frequency was bound to be a source of worry for devoted fans.
‘A named user keeps writing troll posts like that periodically, really. The kids are debuting soon…!’
Just like that, while AG Trading Company was piling worry upon worry instead of doing her work.
[WeTube Live Broadcast Notification! Tap to join the live broadcast]
“…Huh?”
An unexpected method to quickly unite those fans had arrived.
[Hello♡ It's our first live!]
It was precisely a livestream created by squeezing time out of a schedule that had lacked a competent manager, showcasing the members' chemistry.