The day of filming 〈Wise〉 came back.
This time, without a cut of the president giving a lecture on the stage, the content started as soon as the honors and inferiors classes were announced at the dorm.
Following the public service announcement and photo shoot, the next topic was…
"This event is a street guerrilla concert."
(TN: Guerilla concert: A concert that is announced on short notice and most likely free.)
"Wow!"
"Oh my…"
I think there was some kind of deal with the local government, but this meant that we would end up performing at a temporary stage facility in the middle of Myeong-dong.
[Oh, that sounds fun!]
Viewers may think so. But from the participant's perspective… Well, it was fine.
[What… ? Uh, wasn't this a repeat of the stage you've already done? ]
That's right.
'But the number of people has changed.'
There were some dropouts and new people coming in, so there would be a lot of changes to the routes and parts.
"Next Friday, 6 PM!"
They were giving us two days because of the filming schedule.
'I'll have to stay up all night.'
[… Extreme job… ]
Now that it had happened, overtime work was confirmed this time as well.
Even if I was a guy with a good memory, it wasn't like I would be able to sleep any time soon. We all needed to coordinate our schedules.
'Of course, there are people who will work more than me.'
This guy was talking to me as I unpacked my things on the bed. In fact, he was the one who led the choreography practice in this agency's debut group.
"Welcome, hyung. I knew you would come soon, really."
"Yes, thank you."
Shin Jaehyun, who warmly welcomed Ryu Gunwoo, who returned to the honors class with today's photo shoot, extended his hand without turning his back on the camera.
'As expected, he never misses an opportunity.'
I pulled out a cut scene while shaking hands with Cheongryeo sitting next to me, who had never been booted out of the honors class before.
'Does this guy plan to continue with this image?'
A perfect leader who had never failed.
In fact, if he was that consistent, it would become a narrative and his character would become stronger.
"The classes given in the program aren't that significant. Regardless of that, let's think that we are all debuting together and work hard."
"Yes… !"
I wondered how many times that touching line had been used so far.
I spent two days watching him push other trainees to their limits while pretending to take care of them.
And on the same day…
[Oh, oh… ! A lot of people are already gathered?]
Wouldn't it be normal that they announced it only 3 hours ahead since it was a guerilla concert?
It seemed that viewers came running as soon as it spread on the Internet.
'Even if that wasn't the case, quite a few tourists did gather.'
Since it was in Myeong-dong, there were a lot of foreigners interested in KPOP.
It was a time when there was still a trend of preferring to select images that foreigners would enjoy as well. Maybe that was what they were aiming for.
In any case, whether this was their first time or not, the participants were a bit excited in front of the open outdoor stage.
"Let's shout our motto and go up."
"Yes I am! Wise, fighting!"
And then I went up to the small stage where a university's violin concert was held just before.
Wow!
Raw shouts. Unorganized peripheral reactions, from cheering phrases to screams.
The sun, the wind, the smells.
The first outdoor performance in a long time had a different taste.
'It feels like we're running an event.'
Of course, it was a strange feeling that the setlist was filled entirely with other people's songs rather than familiar ones.
And it seemed like I wasn't the only one who felt that way.
After making sure there were no cameras nearby…
"I kind of miss it."
Ryu Chungwoo, a 5-year-old idol who was the first among us to sing the theme song and fill in the team stage vacancy, muttered softly.
Cha Eugene grumbled.
"I want to do our own song."
Both of them had excellent speaking skills without mentioning the actual subject in case they were caught by the microphone. I nodded slowly.
"Gunwoo hyung!"
"Hmm?"
Kim Raebin, who was warming up next to me, whispered to me with a serious face.
Thinking about it for a moment, this guy didn't know anything, so we may have given him the impression that we were suspicious for no reason…
"Is it possible that the theme song may be suddenly removed from the setlist?"
"… ?"
"If the 'our song' that Cha Eugene referred to refers to a song for a common performance that everyone has to perform together, it would be the theme song, but since he said 'I want to' beforehand, I assumed that it meant that was no longer possible."
"…"
"So my conclusion is that it was excluded from the setlist…"
I barely opened my mouth.
"It probably means that he wants to do it quickly. The theme song is played last."
"… ! Okay! Thank you for your kind explanation."
He was truly one of a kind. It was a shame that the camera didn't catch that.
'If he had remembered, he would have been tormented by a conscience that it was unfair.'
Even if Kim Raebin appeared in the team draw right away, I would have to awaken him only after this program ended.
Afterward, the mini-concert continued for a full 50 minutes.
The death match stage with Jin Chaeyul while wearing a marine look was also recreated quite late in the film.
Of course, it wasn't a marine look, but rather a baseball jumper, but in the end, it seemed that the CEO, compromising with the public's opinion, couldn't remove the song from the list and added it.
This was indeed a capitalist decision worthy of the head of an entertainment company.
Chaeyul. This guy seemed a little excited, perhaps simply because he felt recognized.
"I think President Kim Taein also appreciated our performance because he saw it several times! They might like this performance as soon as they see it…"
"That's right!"
The way he and Shin-Oh were laughing was very similar to when they were in VTIC.
This guy seemed to gain fans every time his bright-headed side was revealed on TV. It looked like there he had no wrinkles.
Even when he was in VTIC, it seemed that the data that captured him was expensive as well… Well, anyway, he was definitely high in demand.
'I think he'll leave an impression easily.'
After briefly concluding, I came off the stage, waving to the people.
And at the end of the performance…
"Thank you!"
Kyaaaaaak! Aaaaahhhh!
After the theme song performance was completed, the number of people increased to the point where it was blocking traffic. It was a crowd mentality where seeing a crowd made outsiders want to join the crowd themselves.
'They must think it's fun to cheer..'
Gunwoo! Wowww, you look handsome!
Yes… Thank you.
Anyway, I reacted as soon as my name was called. Being praised didn't feel bad.
After the camera received enough response from people…
Finally, a surprise event that was not announced to the participants in advance occurred.
"We will welcome the passionate viewers who came to the guerrilla concert today to the podium~"
"Oh my gosh!"
"Right now?"
It was a surprise fan meeting.
'I thought it would be like this.'
When I looked before going on stage, it seemed like they were selecting a few people and sending them forward.
"Hmm."
"Welcome… So it turned out like this."
I shook my head inwardly as I looked at the faces of the participants who were starting to get more excited and more nervous.
'It's been a while.'
After getting hit with a plastic bottle during my debut showcase, we almost never held instant raffles for an unspecified number of people for fear of getting into another accident.
Soon, two or three people came up. And then each person went towards the participant they were rooting for.
"Wow! Oh my god, what should I do?!"
"You can come here and say hello."
"Ahh!"
I walked up the stage and shook hands with a few people who came in front of me and gave them a quick hug.
Most of them were trembling, and I wasn't sure if they were excited or nervous. I guess it was because it was a public place. This… It wasn't much different from when I was Park Moondae.
So what was the difference?
"Ahhhhhh, you're so handsome…"
"Thank you. … … I'll take good care of myself… ?"
"Oh, I love it…"
The frequency of 'handsome' was overwhelmingly greater than that of 'cute'.
And… They didn't even ask for things like me poking my cheek.
'… I guess it's because it's an instant raffle.'
Or maybe it was because it would be filmed and it wasn't just filled with a bunch of idol fans. I didn't know, but it felt like they were being more cautious.
In other words, less comfortable.
'… Is it because Ryu Gunwoo's impression is different?'
No, I wasn't saying it was disappointing.
In any case, the production team may have recruited appropriately, so there was no unfortunate incident in which a participant didn't have a fan to meet.
People also went to Ryu Chungwoo, whose appearance had barely been aired just before.
[This… Will this be something that you'll look back on years later and think that it was an incredibly lucky experience? ]
Hey, it would be a problem if I was still stuck here in a few years.
[Oops.]
Whenever there was no one in front of me, I would chat with this guy and wait for the next person.
"We will welcome the last people~"
And when the three or four people who had waited the longest came on stage…
"… !!"
Among them, I immediately recognized the first person to step onto the stage.
That person…
[Huh? Hyung's fan!]
Yes.
So… She was a fan of TeStar's Park Moondae. How did I know this?
Because it was the first homma that strongly asked me to poke my cheeks during
And I also met her when I wore a dog mask and went to look at the billboard of myself. It was hard to forget, but she continued to watch it after that.
[Wow, she's here too!]
… I know.
I re-strengthened the posture that I almost lost for a moment. And kept my expression.
'If I look too closely, I might seem crazy.'
Let's be quiet. Be quiet.
[I'm glad to see her! It was when I was the status window!]
Since this guy was making a fuss on my behalf, there was no need for me to do the same.
The fan walked towards the contestants standing on stage with quite brisk steps, and she came right in front of me.
And passed by.
"Hello!"
… Next to me, toward Jin Chaeyul's seat.
"I'm really, really rooting for you. You're so cute, cool, and the best. Chaeyul, do whatever you want."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"…"
I quietly adjusted my standing posture.
That was how Ryu Gunwoo's guerrilla fan meeting ended.
• * *
I knew it.
Ryu Gunwoo and Park Moondae had quite different impressions, and no matter how much we mixed, there was still a difference in appearance.
Was it just appearance? There was also a difference in public image.
'The demand is bound to be different.'
So, there was no way that someone who liked Park Moondae would necessarily like Ryu Gunwoo.
[Hyung…]
Okay.
After the guerrilla concert, there was a gap of a few hours to prepare for filming before the performance content began.
Just… Now that I had time, I organized my thoughts.
Let's become aware of reality.
'I shouldn't act like a fool.'
This wasn't reality, so why did I naturally believe that things would go the same way?
And even if it were reality, wasn't it up to each individual to decide whether or not they would continue to support their idol?
There was nothing more to think about.
… As an idol, Ryu Gunwoo was not Park Moondae. Let's not forget.
[I think you're cool no matter what you look like! Really!]
That was because this guy was so selfless that he seemed like he had no wits.
In fact, even if she knew that I was the same person, she may only prefer one side. It wasn't a real interpersonal relationship, so wasn't it natural to support one-sidedly?
[Not necessarily! She will definitely feel that feeling of being an idol that only hyung has, and even if your appearance changes… …]
"…"
As I was reading the pop-up that was eagerly writing down words of comfort, this thought suddenly occurred to me.
No matter how altruistic this guy is, this… Wasn't this a bit excessive?
Especially considering this guy's position.
'You… Don't you hate the fact that I'm sitting in a body where you even took the civil service exam?'
[…]
Even if he didn't hate me, shouldn't he at least feel repulsed by this situation?
I was using up both our bodies while he was floating around without a body.
The pop-up was shaking.
[But… I really don't feel anything.]
As I quietly watched the pop-ups pop up one by one, I felt a strange sense of discomfort.
This wasn't an attempt to comfort me. He was truly sincere.
And I also felt uncomfortable about it.
[Is this strange? I do not know. I guess it's because I'm not a person anymore… …]
'You are human.'
I said right away.
'How can a person not be a person who worries so much about others not be a human?'
[N-no… It's not like that ㅠㅠ Heokheok anyway, thank you… …]
The pop-up seemed relieved and returned to its usual atmosphere, but my mind became more complicated, although I didn't show it.
'The phenomenon of dehumanization has become more severe… Is this a situation that can be resolved?'
Maybe it was accelerated because I was the only person to talk to in this situation, and even with me, he barely talked about himself.
'… We need to talk about it properly.'
But damn it, my head was so complicated right now that I didn't know what to do first.
'That's pathetic.'
I sat quietly in the camera-free hallway, lowered my head, and closed my eyes. I was planning on doing that until my brain fully understood the current situation.
How much time had passed?
"I… Are you alright?"
A low voice was heard. Not a participant, but a staff member?
There was a guy in the hallway who was spacing out, so I guess he wanted to check on me.
"Yes."
I nodded slightly, indicating that I would go in when I came to my senses.
Don't tell me it was one of those broadcasting guys… They would try to record me in a bad condition.
And, as expected, the sound of footsteps lightly running down the hallway was heard, and soon they came back again.
Did he bring a camera?
"Here."
But in front of my face… There was warm steam.
It was rising slowly.
I opened my eyes.
"When I feel unwell or have no energy, I find it nice to drink a warm beverage."
I didn't know where it came from, but I saw a hand holding a white paper cup.
A dark drink could be seen inside the steaming paper cup.
"Of course, it's different for each person, but… Because the warm temperature is the same. Try some."
I took it and drank it.
… It was hot chocolate.
I raised my head.
"How is it?"
Black hair.
"Even people who don't like sweets say it's okay in times like this. Would you like to try some more?"
Seon Ahyeon, in his mid-20s, was there.