6. Anyone Seen a Heart? (6)
Opportunities always arrived unexpectedly and quickly. Eunchan smiled when he saw his phone alarm go off right after entering the company and checking attendance at the practice room.
[CEO: Eunchan, let’s meet today.]
[Yes! CEO!]
In fact, since today was the day after the monthly evaluation, he hadn’t been particularly surprised, as he’d known the CEO would call for him. But he had worried over what words would effectively get through, so he felt unnecessarily nervous.
‘One hour from now... I guess.’
At that time, driven by nothing but the single-minded determination to debut, I had basically said yes to whatever the CEO proposed and hadn’t let my displeasure show. Terrified of falling out of favor and drifting away from my dream of debuting.
‘Honestly, looking back now, it seems like he was giving me special treatment, though.’
Eunchan was a case personally cast by the CEO. The CEO had come all the way down to the countryside just to scout Eunchan, and Eunchan was an eighteen-year-old boy who, unwilling to miss that opportunity, had dropped out of school, come up to Seoul, and earned his living expenses through part-time jobs.
That kid had grown up to become Yoo Eunchan.
Most trainees had commuted back and forth from home, but Eunchan didn’t have parents who could cover his transportation costs, nor did he have plenty of money on hand, so he’d had to find a gosiwan on his own.
‘He took good care of me, saying I was admirable for that, and often bought me meals, so it really was special treatment.’
Back then, when he was so desperate to debut, he hadn’t realized it at all, and only came to understand after Utopia debuted. Therefore, there was no need to accept the CEO’s opinions unconditionally.
“Hyung, does something hurt? No, I mean, you’re sick, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
Lost in thought after finishing his vocal lesson, Gaeul, who had been beside him, abruptly approached and spoke to him. Startled, Eunchan opened his eyes wide and met Gaeul’s gaze. Floating above Gaeul’s head were a heart and a number, just like yesterday.
[ ♡ +60% ]
[ system : Daily Affection Viewing Count (4/5) ]
‘But this... was it arbitrary like this yesterday too?’
Usually, you pull these out one by one when you want to use them, right? Like a trump card.
Perhaps because his dissatisfaction with the somewhat sloppy-looking system was plainly visible on his face, Gaeul’s expression grew even more worried as he looked at Eunchan.
“Your complexion looks bad. Couldn’t sleep?”
He had indeed tossed and turned last night. That damn insomnia was one thing, but he wasn’t insensitive enough to fall asleep soundly in a suddenly reversed situation. And besides, this time—
‘What if I fall asleep and go back to where I was before?’
Because of that anxiety, he simply couldn’t close his eyes.
“A little...? But I’m fine. It’s not like I didn’t sleep at all.”
He was smiling to hide it as much as possible, but was his complexion so bad that he looked tired at a glance? Bothered for no reason, he gently rubbed his cheek with a dry palm and glanced sideways at the area above Gaeul’s head.
Even at a glance, it wasn’t a low number. To the point where he wondered, ‘Is that really the affection rating applied to me?’
‘You little punk, pretending otherwise, but you’re following me after all.’
Eunchan felt inexplicably pleased and held back the smile that reflexively tried to surface.
Anyway, he had to learn how to use this affection viewing function freely first. If he wasn’t careful, he might collapse like yesterday.
Eunchan glanced at the space above Gaeul’s head and inwardly shouted every plausible word like ‘Stat Window,’ ‘System Window,’ ‘Tutorial.’
‘No, why isn’t it working?’
Frustrated and biting his lips, Gaeul placed his hand on Eunchan’s forehead and spoke in a worried voice.
“Hyung, do you have a fever?”
This cute younger brother with 60% affection seemed to have judged that I was sick, seeing my constantly changing expression.
“Is the gosiwon very uncomfortable?”
“...It’s fine.”
Did Gaeul know at this time that I was living in a gosiwon? He couldn’t remember such trivial details. It would have been nice to have a perfect memory.
“...Still, make sure you eat well. Especially get plenty of sleep. Look how skinny you are. Are you worried about the debut team?”
The real reason he couldn’t sleep today was because of the regression and the strange system window, but.
Since he couldn’t say that as it was, he simply reached out and gently stroked the head of Gaeul, who was worrying about him. It was a soft texture different from the brittle hair of twenty-six-year-old Gaeul, which had become damaged from repeated dyeing.
“I’m not really worried about that... anyway, the dorm is...”
“What dorm?”
Mumbling with a hazy mind, he immediately realized his mistake at the sudden question.
Eunchan finally gathered his half-wandering senses and faced Gaeul. Then he barely curved his eyes into a smile.
“...I said I want to get in one.”
Eunchan inwardly flinched at Gaeul’s reaction, tilting his head. The dorm had only been mentioned by the CEO after the debut team was announced, so it was natural to get this reaction since it was before the announcement now. It was his mistake.
Resolving to be more careful with his words, Eunchan withdrew the hand that had been stroking Gaeul’s head. Fortunately, Gaeul seemed more focused on his condition than on those words.
“...But you seem a bit calmer?”
...What? What was my personality like back then? Was I brighter than now? Maybe a little brighter.
Surely it wasn’t to the point where I looked strange to others?
“Huh? It’s probably just because I’m tired.”
“Is that so...”
“Yeah, it’s a secret from the other kids. They’ll worry for no reason...”
“Secret?”
Eunchan nodded. There was no benefit to saying this or that in this situation. If it became a variable and twisted things, it would only be a headache. But he couldn’t explain all of this to Gaeul either.
“I’ll treat you to the convenience store next time, so let it slide.”
“No, Hyung still sees me as just a kid. I wasn’t going to tell anyone anyway. Well, it’s not like I’m going to refuse the offer.”
“Hyung will buy out the whole convenience store for you. You’re really an angel.”
“Why are you being so creepy?”
Even though he said that, he didn’t push away my hand stroking his head. It must be because his worry was greater. Gaeul was so admirable, as if he were my own child.
Well, he had always been mature. Even when we completely messed up our 1st through 4th albums, he worried about me first.
Gaeul, Hyung will definitely take good care of you. Eunchan felt his chest tighten for no reason and sent a watery gaze toward Gaeul. The recipient perhaps found it burdensome and quickly turned his head away to avoid his gaze, but.
‘Anyway, I’m glad I somehow got through it.’
If he had pressed further here, it would have gotten a bit tricky.
Ding-♪
Just then, his phone rang. It was the CEO. Eunchan headed to the CEO’s office with a strange feeling.
***
“Eunchan, what do you think about a seven-member group?”
“Excuse me?”
Over the past few days, he had simulated what to say to the CEO based on his memories. But the CEO’s words now were slightly different from his memories.
When Chilwol Chilseok was first formed, clearly,
—Wouldn’t an even number of members be better? Having members pair up two by two fits the current trend.
He had said so.
Not knowing what the CEO had meant at the time, I had strongly recommended Hyeon Juin, who hadn’t even been in the debut team.
—CEO, we absolutely need Hyeon Juin. He doesn’t want to be an idol? He has the highest recognition. He’s handsome... If... if he says no, I’ll try to convince him. Okay?
Looking back now, I don’t know why I did such a thing without knowing what lay ahead.
Anyway, that was how it was, but now he was saying something completely different.
Where had things gone wrong? It felt like a button had been fastened incorrectly—firmly so.
“...Well, wouldn’t seven members be too many, and since it’s an odd number, wouldn’t it be a bit awkward?”
“Hmm, is that so?”
If he got caught up in what the CEO was saying now, it would be bad. Eunchan glanced at the CEO’s expression and trailed off.
‘How nice would it be to see the CEO’s affection rating right now.’
It showed automatically earlier, but right when I need it, it doesn’t show. What the hell, how am I supposed to use this.
As he muttered inwardly like that, the affection rating appeared above the CEO’s head.
[ ♡ +55% ]
‘Ha...?’
It was automatic, then manual—it did whatever it wanted. Someone please tell me how to use it.
[ system : Daily Affection Viewing Count (3/5) ]
[ system : When you are aware of the system and think that you wish to view affection ratings, an event will occur. ]
He was dumbfounded by the system window that seemed almost conscious of him, but he had to manage his expression now. The CEO’s gaze looking this way was sharp.
‘Anyway, if it’s plus, that means it’s high, right? I feel like I can just go for it, counting it as a shot in the dark.’
Eunchan slowly opened his mouth.
“Yes... I would like it to be six members.”
“Six members all of a sudden? Why?”
“It’s just... if it’s an even number, it’s easier to move around, and it’s good for forming teams on variety shows and content...”
He stammered, repeating exactly what the CEO had said in the past. He didn’t know if this would work, but the CEO couldn’t have not thought along similar lines. After all, it was something he himself had said.
“Haha, you’ve already thought that far?”
“Ah... well, I can’t help but feel a lot of affection for it!”
“Well, since this is a group that was planned starting with you, Eunchan... I’m glad to hear you say that.”
Confirming the CEO’s face had relaxed considerably, Eunchan slowly released the strength from his fist, which he had been clenching without realizing. For words spoken without filtering, the reaction seemed pretty good.
“Hmm, I’ve already internally formed the debut team. See here? The top seven from your last evaluation. The rankings came out exactly as I’d originally envisioned.”
But at the CEO’s attitude, seemingly willing to listen yet not, the corners of his smiling lips twitched. No, it’s not like he’s playing hard to get with me. It seems the 55% affection wasn’t much help after all.
‘Well, I suppose the affection rating isn’t some kind of cheat key.’
System, just go away. You picked the wrong owner.
“Do you see this?”
Yes, CEO. I can see it very clearly.
Yoo Eunchan, Seo Juhyeok, Hong Byeol, Do Iseon, Yeon Gaeul, Orion.
...And Hyeon Juin. The sight of seven names lined up in a row.
‘Why did you suddenly make this choice......?’
Who knew things wouldn’t go as planned from the very first round?
Who was he supposed to grab and blame at a time like this.
“Wouldn’t Juin be busy filming a drama right now? I think he leans more toward wanting to act.”
Cold sweat ran down his back.
To be blunt, he wasn’t very good at handling situations.
First, he’d panic trying to think his way through with a head that didn’t work, and stammering through his words, he could never steer things in a good direction. Even when he lied, it showed on his face.
Moreover, the system window, which he had thought might help somehow, was blinking before his eyes and only making him dizzy. It had done its part now, so please just turn off......
‘Since it’s come to this, it’s all or nothing.’
Rather than letting it show that he was lying, it was better to speak honestly and openly. Maybe it was better to cling desperately than to attempt persuasion clumsily?
If his emotions showed plainly on his face, he could use that in reverse. That way, his desperation would be conveyed well too.
“I think six members would be good. Juin is already acting, so I think it would be hard for him to focus on this side.”
When there are no excuses, speak honestly! Eunchan took a direct approach.
Even if they ended up debuting with seven members, it couldn’t be helped, but knowing full well that things would go off track later, he had to at least give it a shot.
‘...Is he angry?’
The CEO looked at Eunchan like that for a few seconds, then nodded silently without a word.
‘Well, at least he doesn’t look angry.’
The CEO wore a subtle smile on his lips. It was difficult to grasp what meaning that expression held, but it seemed he wouldn’t press the issue any further, so Eunchan could breathe a sigh of relief.
“It’s not without merit... Let’s give it some thought. Anyway, that’s enough of that. About the group name.”
Then, as if to say he wouldn’t talk about it anymore, he changed the subject.
‘Group name?’
Eunchan slightly raised his head and followed the CEO’s finger with his gaze to the tablet screen.
“Yes.”
The moment had come.
Seeing the four characters ‘Chilwol Chilseok’ floating on the tablet screen, Eunchan found it difficult to maintain his expression.
A group name that was hard to get used to even facing it again. A name he now desperately wanted to forget.
“You’ll be debuting on July 7th, right?”
“...Wow, that feels amazing! Lucky seven! CEO, you really have an eye for this.”
He tried overacting, unlike his usual self, but it didn’t particularly have an effect.
“That’s why—what do you think of ‘Chilwol Chilseok’ as the group name? That’s exactly what came to mind, so I was going to make it seven members too.”
“...Excuse me?”
“I even thought of stage names. Juin, who has the best visuals, as Gyeonu, and you as Jiknyeo. But that’s too obvious so......”
‘What the hell is that guy saying right now? He’s even taking it a step further than back then!’