The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 243
* * *
News of a new survival program always captured idol fans' attention.
It went without saying that survival shows held a thrill that stimulated the peripheral nerves, which was why even those who already had their own idols often ended up watching them unconsciously.
To compare with their own idol, to keep a wary eye on potential rivals early, or to seize this as an opportunity to switch.
[Flickt Boys, Queen's trainee scheduled to appear.jpg]
⎿Isn't GJW who was on TATA coming out? If he appears this time, I think he'll debut.
⎿Does a debut look like an X to you? And I don't really know about GJW since there's a rumor he joined the next debut team.
[Mude is really vicious, vicious. TOJ debuted how long ago and it's already a new survival show? They're really scrambling like they have to do it now or never.]
⎿Because of this, some girl group comeback survival scheduling got pushed back, they say ;; No, if a boy group came out, a girl group should come out too, right? It's f***ing weird.
⎿It's obvious even without watching. Regardless of TOJ blowing up, since it's not under their own umbrella but belongs to AG, they want to make a male idol they can use comfortably.
[MenteolgiireokeSaldaJukgi @mennnnheeriS2 ㅇㅅㅇ… What's so good about debuting without rest like this, pushing poor trainees to debut? ㅠ-ㅠ Even if they do, they'll just be a group below Sledix.]
[Anyone just come. I'm tired of my oppa's scandals now. I need a new oppa too.]
⎿If they're newly debuting kids, they'd be nephews, not oppas.
⎿Get lost.
Communities and SNS were the eye of that typhoon.
Centered around trainee candidates, they discussed whether he was ugly, handsome, whether he'd debut just by appearing, whether his appearance was even certain, and so on.
Speculations based on facts, lies, and probability ran rampant, one could say.
And among them was someone who, in the past, would have clearly surrendered herself to that flow, but no longer did.
"So you're going to go around to live broadcast events again? That sounds fun. You'll let me join again this time, right?"
"…What are you talking about?"
In the forest of buildings located somewhere in northern Seoul, at that sundubu-jjigae restaurant during lunchtime.
Neulbom Mireu, who was having lunch with a friend working at a nearby company after a long time, widened her eyes at the suddenly thrown remark.
But her friend spoke with nothing but excitement.
"I mean, Music Days is doing another new survival show this time. There weren't many kids to my taste during Targeting Star last time, so I didn't follow you around… but looking at the leaked photos of the kids, they seem pretty decent."
"Ah, that… but what are you talking about? It's been ages since I cleared all that. I'm not interested in other survival shows anymore."
"Cleared? Hey… a person's personality doesn't change that easily."
Her friend placed her spoon down on the table with a clank and made a frame with her thumb and index finger, shoving it toward Neulbom Mireu.
"You said it, you did. You said you hated them because once they debut, you can't feel the desperation anymore. You said trainees shine the brightest."
"Ah, come on."
"Why? Are you embarrassed by your past statements? What are you embarrassed about? It's somewhat true. Look, a new survival show is coming out. You, that Chun…."
"—Not Chunsik, but Chunyong. Chun as in spring, Yong as in dragon. Chunyong with red hair that I always show you."
"Ah, I know! Do you think I don't know your idol's name? And so what if the name is what it is? Anyway, he'll… forget him soon and grab a new trainee."
Her friend's voice held genuine sincerity.
That she would grab a new trainee this time and switch as she always had.
And had this been the past, Neulbom Mireu would have undoubtedly empathized with her a hundred times over.
TOJ had now more or less settled into their place post-debut, and as her friend said, Neulbom Mireu had a habit of rushing to new survival show trainees whenever they appeared.
The fact that Kim Chunyong, who debuted through Targeting Star, was occupying the longest-term ultimate bias position in Neulbom Mireu's life proved that her friend's judgment wasn't entirely wrong.
"……."
However, without talking back to her friend further, Neulbom Mireu was intent on shoving the food placed before her into her mouth.
"Gasp, Chunyong's exposed forehead today…!"
"Neulbom-nim, over here! Come this way. It films better here!"
"Thank you, Yongyongguri-nim!"
To all sorts of live broadcasts, music shows, fan sign events, year-end stages.
Last year, filled with things she was experiencing for the first time in her life, had felt like a dream….
"Still, there won't be another kid like Chunyong among the trainees coming out this time."
"Huh, how do you know that? You know what I'm saying now used to come from you, right?"
"My soul tells me, my soul."
Somehow, regarding Kim Chunyong, who was wholly worthy of being called the ultimate bias of her life, Neulbom Mireu held a certain conviction.
At some point, Neulbom Mireu began to think of Kim Chunyong whenever she saw the color red.
It also meant she thought of Kim Chunyong several times a day, too many times to count.
Even if a new idol appears, Chunyong will always be Chunyong in my heart.
He will be the indomitable number one in my heart.
Such a heart, such conviction.
"Anyway, I'm not planning to watch survival shows anymore. I'm going to focus only on Chunyong."
"Uh…."
Slightly flustered by Neulbom Mireu's resolute spoon movements, her friend awkwardly scratched her cheek and rolled her eyes.
'No, I didn't expect this kind of reaction.'
Neulbom Mireu, who used to view all idols cynically alongside her, had suddenly transformed into a celestial Chunyong stan, and she nearly felt a slight sense of disappointment.
"…Then what if you can compare them on-site?"
Before she knew it, her words came out a bit sharply.
"What?"
When Neulbom Mireu's eyes narrowed, her friend felt a slight tension, but what was done could not be undone.
It was a dual emotion.
Half a heart wanting her friend to return to the days when they'd laugh watching trainees together.
And half a heart hoping this wouldn't ruin her relationship with her.
Her lips, once opened, moved quickly of their own accord.
"…It doesn't seem to have reached your timeline yet, but TOJ might appear on this survival show. As mentors."
"What, seriously? Hey, how many months has it been since they debuted! They're total newborns."
"What I'm saying is, that means you have to watch that survival show to see Chunyong. You get it?"
"Uh, uhh…?"
Neulbom Mireu, who had stood with her mouth agape at words that tumbled out faster than her brain could process, soon nodded with a determined and resolute expression.
"…I guess I can see a new Chunyong. If he appears, I'll watch. And I'll go to music shows too."
"I bet you'll grab a new trainee there."
"Wanna bet?"
"Yes, that's what I was getting at!"
Sparks flew from both their eyes.
One person determined to make her friend return to her old self this time.
And one person whose spine tingled at the fact that her established idol might appear on a new program.
[They said it's airing in the first half of this year, so filming will probably start next month at the latest? dddd]
⎿Busy, busy idol world.
[Flickt Boys TOJ rumor, real? Then what about the Jung Yeonwoo rumor I heard?]
⎿They say both are fake and only Lee Seryeong is real, but still seems unreliable.
[Always Yeonwoo @Yeonwoojung___(Video)
Yeonwoo who says he'll probably be able to share good news this year… ♡ A pro idol who said he can't say if the rumors lately are true but that it's certain we'll see his face again♡ #2X0112_Mongjungmongseol_video_call_fansign #Yeonwoo cut]
Just as those two, as well as other idol fans, were talking about "what trainees and idols will appear in this survival show."
"No, what is this…."
"Hey, Kim Chunyong. Your mom says come eat lunch. She says she's not sending you back to the dorm until you gain 5kg."
"W-wait! I'm happy about it, but wait. Let me just…."
"Are you a high schooler, huh? Why are you still so obsessed with your phone?"
Kim Chunyong, Neulbom Mireu's indomitable one-pick, was flustered by the news he had learned while returning to his parents' home after a long time….
"…."
The person who would become one of the new survival trainees was locked up in a pitch-dark room once again, having a conversation with someone on their phone.
- ??: Another survival show, right ;-)
- ??: You've done it so many times, you'll do well this time too
- ??: Let's really make it to the end this time!
A conversation that, had Kim Chunyong known about it, would have made him grab someone by the collar or stare with a deathly pale face.
* * *
All year-end stages had roughly concluded.
Honestly, calling them year-end stages was ambiguous since they stretched into early January, but anyway.
In other words, it meant TOJ, who had been running intensely with almost no breaks, was finally getting some meaningful rest.
Having achieved two Rookie of the Year awards at the KPCA and Seoul Seoul Zerone Music Awards, it was understandable they'd rest.
And that also meant….
"Hey, who keeps looking at their phone while eating? Living outside has given you bad habits, you brat."
"Ah, noona…."
"Hand it over. Confiscation. No, what is it? What's got you texting so hard? Let me see too."
"Ah, no! It's company, company confidential. It's important."
"If it's that important, look at it after eating! Mom cooked so much the table legs are bending!"
It also signified Kim Chunyong's early-year visit to his parents' home.
"Ow, ow! Ugh…."
"Winning Rookie of the Year has made you fierce, hasn't it? Even after getting smacked on the back like this, you won't put down your phone…."
"I am a bit like that, yeah."
"Are you bragging? Ugh, forget it. It's awkward to feed a guy who's on a diet more…."
Kim Chunyong, who had begun to read his eldest sister's mood—imbued with the disposition of a firstborn daughter to her very bones—smiled awkwardly and stuck his nose back into his phone.
Honestly, Kim Chunyong would have preferred to focus on the meal with his family rather than dealing with this news.
Since Kim Chunyong was the one who shouted "Let's all eat together" during his Rookie of the Year acceptance speech, of all things.
Such a person could not refuse home-cooked food laid out to bursting and family chatting excitedly before him.
Except, except.
- X: How is it?
- X: Do you think the hacking worked? Huh? Check it, check it
- X: Ah, as expected, I'm competent hahaha
Making it difficult to focus on that, the guy who could be called his only partner had caused an accident.
"What the hell…."
"Oh my, this side dish is well-seasoned. Try it, son."
Kim Chunyong, who had unknowingly opened his mouth wide again, had to chew sloppily on the jeon his mother shoved into his mouth without properly biting.
"Hoo…."
He had told him to try a rebellion he normally wouldn't, but still.
[WARNING!
This s?? is currently unavailable for arbitrary use??
Overlap (F): When the skill caster performs an action that may become the target's trigger, memories of that time surface and charm correction applies (demerit possible)
Effect: Charm to target -10 percent ~ +10 percent]
Because he never thought he would simply hack it and use it in an unlocked manner.
"…What, what's wrong? Did your company catch fire or something?"
"No. It's not that. Personally, I'm a bit… on fire."
"What nonsense, really."
Not knowing Kim Chunyong was showing strange reactions in front of his family, X grew more excited and blabbered on.
- X: It wasn't that hard, actually?
- X: Ah~ that bastard I said annoyed me so much, g—
- X: This is how that guy did it too!!
- X: If he could do it, what can't I do? -3
-Do it.
And they could think of a solution after that.
It was a historic moment when X, who had constantly complained to Kim Chunyong about being "reckless," was inspired by his partner and stepped on the accelerator mercilessly.
To such an extent that Kim Chunyong, panicked as he was, forgot to ask X, "Who is that guy you're talking about?" — Just like that.