9. Debut Preparations (3)
[ Seo Juhyeok ]
Appearance ★★★★
Vocal ★★☆
Dance ★★★★★
Talent ★★★★
Luck ★
‘Why is his luck stat so low?’
It was only natural that Juhyeok’s dance stat was maxed out. Even so, wasn’t a luck stat at one-star level a bit much? Though when he thought about how his previous debut had fallen through, it wasn’t impossible to understand.
Eunchan looked down at Juhyeok.
Juhyeok, who seemed indifferent to everything, was unusually interested in group affairs. Moreover, he was quick to grasp situations, so unlike the others who appeared to think of nothing beyond being happy about making the debut team, he looked quite nervous.
“What did the CEO say?”
“No. It’s just… since the debut team is all set now. I asked because I thought you would know, Hyung.”
Should I say his personality was just upright? Whether it was during his Chilwol Chilseok promotions or now, Juhyeok was unchanged—always charging straight ahead without hiding anything.
Well, from Juhyeok’s perspective, he couldn’t help but be obsessed with the group and debuting, so this behavior was understandable.
Juhyeok had been one of the TOP 10 debut team members of a public broadcast audition program that aired a year ago. Not just that—he was first place. Thanks to his outstanding dance skills, distinct individuality, and handsome appearance, he had comfortably secured a spot in the debut team and even signed a contract with the debut team immediately after the show ended. If there had been no issues, he would definitely have been promoting by now.
‘…If only that crazy bastard hadn’t run off.’
The problem occurred afterward.
Right as the program ended, the debut team was formed and they were practicing, when the agency CEO who had promised to take charge of the debut team ran overseas with the invested money. Literally without leaving a single trace behind.
Juhyeok’s story of switching agencies in despair with no other choice quickly spread online until it became common knowledge.
So it was only natural that he had this kind of reaction toward group affairs.
“The CEO mentioned it lightly, so it’s probably not finalized. I don’t care. If anyone wants to be leader, speak up!”
Eunchan smiled and spoke to the members.
He didn’t exactly remember what image he’d had with these guys at this time, but one thing was certain.
“I was just asking because I was curious.”
“I like it when Hyung does it!”
“Sigh… you’re so loud.”
“What about Rion?”
“I don’t care.”
That these guys were never the type to back down.
None of them had easygoing personalities, so if they hadn’t liked it, they would have kicked up a fuss long ago. The fact that they showed no interest in that decision despite already knowing about it meant they had no complaints. Eunchan muttered hollowly.
“…Wow, simple.”
He didn’t know what the members thought of him, but he could tell that he was trusted, at the very least. His chest swelled with pride—he hadn’t lived his life in vain after all.
Let’s do better this life. Let’s work hard enough that the six of us can gather every year on our debut date to celebrate, and hold concerts and fan meetings. We can do it.
As Eunchan stood with his arms crossed, Gaeul, who had been standing behind the maknae Rion across from him, approached.
“…Hyung, honestly I was a bit nervous, but I’m glad we can debut together.”
Gaeul spoke quietly in a small voice that wouldn’t be heard by those around them. Did he come all the way here just to say this? Well, Gaeul had always had a somewhat cute side like this.
At first he had kicked up a fuss saying he hated acting cute, but later he would bombard them with aegyo before anyone even asked. The moment he finished speaking, Gaeul whipped his head around and, perhaps embarrassed, took a step back.
“…It’s a bit embarrassing after saying it. Anyway.”
“I told you it would be fine.”
“You’re right.”
Reflexively, he recalled the monthly evaluation he had watched with Gaeul. This kid, embarrassed to even say something like this right now. Eunchan had the urge to tell him, *‘In the near future, you’ll become an aegyo machine.’* Well, even if he told him, Gaeul would just tell him not to tease and wouldn’t believe it. Eunchan looked into the distance and lightly patted Gaeul’s back as he cooled his flush.
“You were always good at this.”
Most people lack confidence right before debut.
Eunchan muttered as if talking to himself, recalling his own past. He didn’t know if Gaeul understood or not, but he was satisfied with Gaeul’s nod.
‘Maybe because we’re close in age, but I can’t help but care about him.’
Me, the eldest hyung, and Yeon Gaeul, who was a year younger than me.
Perhaps because we both belonged to the hyung line, there was a strange rapport that only I felt. Though it was questionable whether a difference of a few years warranted it, there was something subtle about being first and second in age order.
Moreover, perhaps because Gaeul was the first person he had seen upon returning to the past, he couldn’t leave him alone in a dejected state. Gaeul had been the member who supported Eunchan the most among the Chilwol Chilseok members, so affection was inevitable.
“Ah, did you hear about the dorm?”
Uncrossing his arms, Eunchan asked the members. Judging by how they already seemed to know about the debut talk, they would know they had to live in a dorm too. There had been talk for a while that the debut team would live in a dorm.
“Sigh… I hate communal living.”
Rion muttered softly.
Seeing that the others didn’t say much either, it seemed they all knew.
Eunchan shoved his face right in front of Rion, who was letting out a deep sigh. Rion didn’t flinch or avoid him, merely furrowing his brow.
The strong-willed maknae was just the same as ever. Eunchan grinned.
“Let’s decide roommates!”
Eunchan clapped and shouted quite loudly, but only a few responded positively. Juhyeok and Rion were even stretching and yawning.
“Yeah.”
Well… he hadn’t exactly wanted cheers or booming answers, but wasn’t this too quiet? Guys, you are happy, right? This is really awkward.
“Eunchan Hyung.”
While the members were getting up, Eunchan was thinking of the room division method that would generate the fewest complaints. It seemed better to do it randomly rather than letting people choose, but they didn’t have the materials to draw lots right now…
“Hyung!”
“Ah! Huh? Sorry.”
Eunchan flinched at Juhyeok’s voice. Juhyeok, who usually spoke little, had called him twice—so he definitely had something to say.
“Can I move in a bit late? I think it’d be better to have my stuff sent from home before I come in.”
“Ah, that’s it. Of course.”
“…Is that okay?”
“Yeah, since there was no word about when to move in, just come in at a reasonable time. Just don’t be too late. It’s not like you’ll move in after we debut, right? Come when it’s convenient.”
Only then did Juhyeok’s expression relax, as if relieved. Well, Eunchan lived alone in a goshiwon near the company, so moving out was easy, but the other kids who commuted from home to school and to practice couldn’t proceed as quickly as it sounded.
‘So for now, it’s safe to say I’ll practically have the room to myself.’
Especially Iseon and Juhyeok, who attended an arts high school famous for producing many idols, had to commute, so they’d be even later.
Juhyeok was the type to check in at the practice room even when sick, so there was no need to worry. And Iseon never skipped if Juhyeok was there. So there was no need to worry much about these two.
But the other three weren’t the type to discuss things beforehand, so it would be nice to at least get a confirmation from them.
“Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors, fair and square. How about it?”
***
The results came quickly. There was no need to repeat it several times.
Byeori and Gaeul got the small room by the entrance,
Juhyeok and Iseon got the small room by the kitchen (Juhyeok was startled but had to cleanly accept the result),
and Rion and I got the biggest room.
‘There’s a four-year age gap between us, but it should be fine…’
Rion was mature for his age, but as the maknae, the eldest hyung might find it a bit uncomfortable.
Fortunately, unlike Juhyeok, he didn’t show his distaste on his face.
The moment he was put in the same room as Iseon, Juhyeok’s expression was, how should I put it… as displeased as someone who’d taken a bite of shit. In contrast, Iseon seemed to be in a good mood, clinging to Juhyeok’s side and acting playful. He was babbling about how they could go to school together now, and while it looked like Juhyeok would punch him before long, it wasn’t something to intervene in.
As Eunchan watched Iseon and Juhyeok bickering with their arms crossed, he felt a tug at his collar and turned around. Rion was looking up at him, continuously pulling at the end of his cardigan.
‘What’s with him? Maybe he thinks sharing a room with a hyung four years older is a bit much after all…’
Hiding his unease, Eunchan looked on. Rion swept his long bangs aside and faced Eunchan.
“Why?”
“Hyung, when can we use the room?”
“Huh? We can use it from now.”
The moment Eunchan answered, Rion let go of Eunchan’s collar as if hearing the answer he wanted and nodded. Eunchan tilted his head. Still, it seemed his roommate didn’t dislike him, at least.
“Then I’ll move in tonight. Is that okay? When will you come, Hyung?”
“Me too, today…”
“Hmm, got it. I live alone anyway, so I’ll just head over right away. Send me the address and password.”
Orion [ ♡ +15% ]
[ system : Daily Affection View Count (2/5) ]
He didn’t know what the maximum affection value was, but since it was at least positive, it couldn’t be bad. That aside, he had already used it three times. He felt like he had to save the remaining uses.
[ Orion ]
Appearance ★★★★
Vocal ★★★★☆
Dance ★★☆
Talent ★★★
Luck ★★★★
‘Rion’s luck stat is pretty good too? But what on earth is this luck stat used for?’
Wasn’t it a bit ambiguous as an idol’s ability? His own luck stat had been perfect too. Well, it was better than being low, at least.
Having heard what he needed from Eunchan, Rion nodded and cut the conversation short with a “See you then.” Though there wasn’t much more to say anyway. As expected, the maknae was the most mature.
***
After deciding roommates, it was personal time.
Rion bowed at a 90-degree angle to the hyungs and disappeared leisurely out the door. Juhyeok left the company as if dragged away by Iseon. Gaeul and Byeori weren’t much different.
After locking up and stepping out, he stopped by his goshiwon to pick up his packed things and headed straight for the dorm, but Rion had already arrived first.
‘Well, it’s not like I didn’t foresee this situation at all.’
Were kids these days always this quick to act?
As the eldest hyung, he had planned to check in first to do some cleaning, and the fact that he had tried to scrape together whatever money he had to generously send Rion taxi fare for coming that same day was embarrassing.
‘He really seems like a kid who had been preparing, full of anticipation.’
No matter how early he left, could he really arrive this fast? The goshiwon where Eunchan stayed was a 15-minute walk from the company and 10 minutes from the dorm, making it the closest among the members.
In contrast, he knew Rion lived somewhere that took 20 minutes by taxi. Unless he had packed his bags and been waiting for this very day, he couldn’t have arrived this quickly.
“I thought I came pretty quickly too… what are you so fast for, Rion?”
“…This much is to be expected. I wasn’t even on the bubble for the debut team.”
‘Aha…’
In short, he had been looking forward to moving into the dorm.
Even though he always spoke in ways unbefitting his age, Rion was still a kid after all, so Eunchan found him cute anew. The moment Eunchan put his bag in the corner, he sneakily pinched Rion’s cheek. He was still young so his cheek flesh stretched well—that’s what he was thinking when Rion smacked his hand away. The earlobe peeking through his hair was red.
‘…Ah, did he dislike being touched by people?’
Back during Chilwol Chilseok, Rion had devoted himself entirely to composing once the group stopped releasing songs. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he lived in the studio, so it had been a long time since they’d seen each other, and his memory was hazy.
He’d have to be careful. Eunchan sheepishly withdrew his hand that had fallen through empty air.
“Hyung, this.”
Rion rustled around in the corner of his bag, pulled out a sheet of paper, and shoved it brusquely in front of Eunchan. As Eunchan took it reflexively, Rion’s gaze flew to him and fixed him in place.
‘……?’
As Eunchan slowly read the paper covered in dense writing, the corners of his mouth began to twist in a strange way. The kind of expression where he should laugh but couldn’t, yet it was also awkward to put on a straight face and pull down the corners of his mouth.