TeStar's 3 days off was a story I had heard a long time ago.
This was because the general manager's remark that 'artists can only show their skills when they are in good condition' was surprisingly not retracted and was put into action.
'Even though he doesn't invest in the management office for things like that.'
In fact, rather than caring about the company's singers, he seems to have more of an obsession with his management philosophy... Anyway, it was our benefit, so I had no intention of objecting.
Thanks to him, I'd be able to spend three days alone quietly.
Besides, there were some expectations.
'I can do some monitoring then.'
The only thing I've seen on the screen lately were furry four-legged beasts, so I was bitter.
"... ... Hmm."
Although I said that I would control my usage, I didn't mean that I wouldn't monitor anything during our break time.
At this level, negligence of duty was not honey, but high-fructose corn syrup.
So, I was going to take advantage of the time when they go back home and do my job.
And rest alone quietly.
... Of course, I've never really enjoyed a vacation thinking like this until now.
'Because I've never been on vacation that many times in the first place.'
This time, after blocking all variables, I would definitely be alone. I had such an idea...
But then an unexpected incident occurred.
I mean... maybe in a good way.
"Hyungs, what do you think about MT... !"
It's because Kim Raebin said this right before vacation.
"MT?"
"It's an abbreviation of membership training, it means a short trip to strengthen harmony and teamwork among colleagues."
"Hey, Raebin, we know that~ I asked if you meant that you wanted to do MT!"
"Ah, yes!"
Kim Raebin nodded enthusiastically at Keun Sejin's question.
The funny thing was that Cha Yoojin was doing the same thing next to me.
'Did the two of them work together?'
I thought that my guess was right when I heard the following words.
"I hope to make up for the unfortunate point of not being able to share topics other than work while digesting a busy schedule!"
"Let's go play, I want to go to the sea in Korea!"
Support shot. Activated once.
Ryu Chungwoo answered softly with a slightly embarrassed face.
"Is that okay? It's vacation time, so will it be okay if you don't go home?"
"3 days? Ugh, I can't go to America! My parents are busy!"
Cha Yoojin answered coldly.
'Hmm, I guess I know roughly what the situation is.'
Cha Yoojin couldn't go to the United States just for three days. And it would be ambiguous for his parents to come to Korea because it was not the holiday season.
'He'll be bored since he can't go home, so he'll have to hang out with the members.'
I was pretty sure that was why.
I shut my mouth, but suddenly I had a flash of realization.
'... If this fails, will Cha Eugene stay at the dorm for the rest of the vacation?'
Hey, no way.
*I am not advocating full use of vacation time. It's just a plan to do MT in a remote place for 2 days and 1 night from the day before the vacation, and then return home in the morning of the first day of vacation!"
"Oh, I like it? How about the rest of you?"
"I-I think I'll be fine too...!"
"... A day would be fine."
Votes were pouring in from everywhere. It seemed that Kim Rabin's opinion of taking a short trip while preserving the vacation as it is was quite plausible.
"What do you think, Moondae hyung?"
I answered quickly.
"It's good. Let's go."
"...! Yes!"
I waited until the end to put the emphasis on 'Let's go' so that people wouldn't say anything else.
I had an idea.
'Someone has to make Cha Eugene go to their house afterward.'
Maybe during the MT, I would manage to avoid the situation, and some other members would invite Cha Eugene to their house for vacation.
"Oh- Moondae is active!"
"Yeah, it's good to go once. Is there a place Raebin has in mind?"
"I have one in mind too! It's the sea at Gangha Island!"
"It's pronounced Ganghwa Island! ... And yes, hyung, I've seen a few places I'd like to stay at."
I contemplated when I touched my chin.
'Hm, are Ryu Chungwoo, Keun Sejin, and Kim Raebin candidates?'
The other two weren't in sync with Cha Eugene or felt burdened, so the possibility was extremely low.
I came up with a plan of my own while watching the guys talk about their destination.
And after a while...
"Then, considering the location and interior, we'll make a reservation here on Ganghwa Island. Are you all okay with that?"
"Yes, yes~"
"I'll talk to the company.
"Then, thank you for that."
I was ready to ask for the company's understanding and establish an emergency contact network.
We would only be there for a few days, so the destination being leaked wasn't a concern.
The car was also rented to the manager, so only the driver and Ryu Chungwoo would be registered together, so there was less worry about being traced.
'And he said that he would wait for the manager to come if it was necessary.'
The manager had recently become noticeably cooperative. It seemed that the plan to form a dedicated team was in full swing, so he had a sense of crisis.
Anyway, finally, the reservation for the lodging was easily completed. It seemed that the price was high even in the off-season because of the security and facilities.
"Okay, the reservation is complete. Let's go and have fun!"
"Woooow!"
"Rae-Raebin, thanks for the good suggestion…"
"That's too much. Thank you for your willingness to agree!"
Everyone was excited.
I stretched out my arms and laid down on the sofa.
'... Besides the content we recorded in the past, it's the first time I'm going somewhere with this number of people.'
Travel, not work, was fresh.
In fact, it was more like a workshop from the point of view of co-workers... But no one was particularly uncomfortable, so I didn't have to say anything.
Even Bae Sejin seemed to be looking forward to it.
Seriously, this guy even said something like this in the rental car that day.
"... It's the first time I've done something like this."
Bae Sejin, who was in the seat next to me, looked at me regretting when he said it even after he took it back, but the reaction was already over.
"Really?"
"Have you ever participated in various events such as school trips?"
"... I didn't like stuff like that, so I didn't go."
"I see! Certainly, traveling with dozens of people is often inconvenient and limited in choice."
Kim Raebin nodded happily as if he had accepted it as an honest expression of likes and dislikes, but everyone else seemed to notice the subtle nuance.
'It seems that he didn't mix well with the school group life.'
It wasn't particularly surprising.
At that time, Seon Ahyeon raised his hand.
"I-I haven't been to many...
Bae Sejin's face, which was full of harsh words against himself for saying useless things, improved a little.
"... Is that so?"
"Yes!"
Should I help out a bit too?
"I haven't been to many either. We just have to have fun when we go."
"..! Th-that's right I think today's trip will be fun, so I'm looking forward to it...!"
"... Me too."
Bae Sejin turned his head and murmured. It was strangely painful.
'Why is the atmosphere like this?'
Fortunately, this shriveling atmosphere was destroyed the next moment.
"I also have high expectations. The options were perfect!"
"I like the sea!"
"Haha, the atmosphere is really warm, isn't it? We just have to choose a song here~"
It was because Ken Sejin played a song behind the clear remarks of those who had no idea.
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo!
This... It was the Magical Boy EDM version.
'When did he get it from Kim Raebin?'
"Ah, today~ Let's forget about work and just have fun with each other~ Let's go, TeStar!"
"Haha!"
Ryu Chungwoo in the driver's seat laughed.
'Does it take an hour and a half to reach Ganghwa Island?'
That was enough. Keun Sejin was sitting in the front seat, so he'd be in charge of dealing with Ryu Chungwoo.
'I'll take care of myself.'
I leaned my head against the backrest in the midst of the guys singing along.
These guys would definitely arrive and do everything from games to running, so I thought to enjoy the peace of the body while I was still able to.
"I met you tomorrow! You you you you!"
"Hahahaha!"
And this judgment was correct.
* * *
It was past midnight that day.
"Cha Eugene!!"
"Wah ha ha ha!"
The two youngest guys were running on the beach.
'They're not tired.'
They weren't working, so these guys didn't get tired.
-BBQ! BBQ!
-Is there a karaoke machine here?
From the moment we arrived at the lodging, they felt full of energy even after doing everything from grilling meat to the heated pool.
'I thought it would stretch out by this point.'
Hopefully, they'd be there all night.
What was even funnier was that we were currently doing static work right now.
Fireworks.
"Yes, it is pretty."
"I know.
Of course, they were nothing grandiose, just holding a few sticks and waving them near the silver water pool in front of the lodging.
'Because if we do it at the beach, we might end up getting into an illegal fight.'
It was illegal at the beach.
And just now, Cha Eugene was trying to take a picture of fireworks with the beach in the background, but Kim Rabin caught him and was being chased.
A voice was heard from far away.
"It is unconventional to pour water on... Whoops!"
Well, they were playing well.
I pulled out the burnt firecrackers in my hand and tried to clean them up.
It was then.
"Moondaemoondae~ Beer?"
In the hands of the Keun Sejin who spoke to me...
There was a can of imported beer covered in thin ice.
... It was a type of fruit beer with low alcohol content.
"We came to play. You haven't been drinking for several months, so I thought it might be okay to have a drink since you're in a good mood~"
"..."
Not really.
Without saying a word, I took the can and opened it.
Tak.
Then, I heard a chuckle from the side.
"Is it that funny?"
"Hey, it's not that~ It's just because it's warm."
Keun Sejin giggled and laid down on the sunbed next to me.
"Ah, the atmosphere is nice~"
Looks like he drank some too. I slowly drank my beer and breathed in the night breeze.
... Certainly, I felt fine.
Still, I didn't particularly want to drink alcohol like crazy or desperately wanted to drink more.
It was calm.
"..."
It was clear proof that these few months of sobriety had an effect.
Habitual links were broken.
'I should say thank you.'
I briefly glanced at Bae Sejin, who was choosing the second stick of fireworks over there.
And Keun Sejin suddenly spoke.
"We're doing fine just as we are now, right?"
"..."
"Hey, really... If you went back three years and told me that we'd sell 1 million albums, I wouldn't believe it."
"Everybody thinks the same way."
"Is that so? Yes!"
Keun Sejin laughed. I could see Seon Ahyeon, who was watching, smile along with us.
"Anyway, I really like this team... Really. My friends, I love you a lot- Let's do well this year too!"
"Yes! L-let's do it!"
Please let go of my arm first. The three of us were about to fall off the sunbed.
Still, it was okay to say something like this
"Let's do our best."
"Good!"
The hand that was harshly patting my back stopped...
Well, it didn't feel bad.
I decided to stop laughing.
"Ah, Moondae. But is the drink actually non-alcoholic?"
"The packaging was the same. Uh, but I think it's okay~ You didn't know that it was non-alcoholic. I think you can actually have a can or two from now on."
"I-I think you've improved a lot...!"
I guess this was a little over the line to laugh at.
imm, but should I move on from the good results and start thinking about how to deal with Cha Eugene for a while?
It was when I was contemplating the decision...
Tadadang-dadadang-!
Suddenly, a strange ringtone rang.
"Oh, it's not mine."
"Me too."
I immediately checked the smartphone in question on a nearby sunbed.
[Noona]
It was Kim Raebin's phone.
"It's Raebin's. I'll bring it to him."
"Okay~"
"Sh-Should I go with you?"
"It's okay."
I moved my feet to the beach. Fortunately, the two guys who were chasing each other around were back near the lodging.
"Cha Eugene, you lack social style...!"
"Raebin, you have a call."
"Oh, thank you!"
Kim Raebin, while drenched in seawater, bowed his head politely, even though he acted vigorously. Then, he picked up his still-ringing smartphone to answer the call.
"Noona. Yes, I'm fine...
Having completed my purpose, I was about to return to the front of the lodging.
The feeling came without warning.
"... Uh?"
"... … !"
Kim Raebin's question was suddenly mixed with a strange expression
A pitch that I would immediately recognize.
It... It was like the bewildered sound people made when they heard something very shocking.
Reflexively, my feet stopped.
I turned my head.
"Uh... No, wh-what...."
".... ..."
"Kim Raebin?"
As if he couldn't hear Cha Eugene's voice, Kim Raebin stood on the dark beach holding his smartphone.
He was trembling.
"I-I don't know... Why?"
"Raebin?"
Ryu Chungwoo saw the strange atmosphere from nearby and intervened and grabbed Kim Raebin's arm.
It was only then that Kim Raebin, who got off the phone, was shocked with his hands shaking.
"Gr-grandma... I-I think need to go back…"
At that moment, the atmosphere on the beach changed completely.
"Wait, was that your sister?"
"Yes, yes…"
"Where did she call from?"
"H-Hospital...? I mean... at home.."
"Is there a big hospital near your house?"
"Yes, yes…"
Kim Raebin had a face that couldn't even cry.
Of course, something happened on a trip again.
As if past situations were repeating themselves... I mean.
"What?"
*What's wrong with Raebin?"
The other members ran around.
Ryu Chungwoo immediately patted Kim Raebin on the back.
"Raebin, take a deep breath."
"Yes, yes…"
"First, change your clothes…"
I immediately ran to the lodging.
"Moondae?"
And right at the front door, I grabbed the car keys and ran back to the beach, and spoke to Kim Raebin.
"Get in the car."
It wasn't the time for that. It was just clothes, and he could do it all in the car.
"... Park Moondae, you don't have a license. Calm down."
Right.
I handed the car keys to Ryu Chungwoo at the words of Keun Sejin who whispered in a small whisper.
"... Yes, Raebin. It's better to move right now. Change your clothes in the car."
"..."
Kim Raebin nodded.
Then, we went straight across the beach to the parking lot and got into the car.
I got stuck in the corner of the back seat of the car.
"Did everyone get on? Let's go."
"Yes."
The car started right away.
… So, the first day of vacation began.