Hard Mode Idol

“Haon, try jumping a bit higher. Lightly like a feather! Your landing is too heavy!”

How am I supposed to jump lightly like a feather when I’m not a feather? And on a sandy beach where my feet sink deep!

“Don’t frown, be joyful! Smile with a happy face!”

I’m not happy right now. My stamina is barely hanging on. But it’s not like I can ask for a break on the filming set because I’m out of energy. We have to film the designated scenes within the designated time.

Honestly, I let my guard down. In my previous life, when I was active as an idol, my role in the music videos was really minuscule. That’s why it ended quickly and wasn’t tiring. I spent most of my time waiting for the other members’ filming.

But for some reason, I was the main character in the music video for this debut song. No wonder I had the most scenes to film among the members…

There’s another reason for my carelessness. I had been living a routine of dancing and singing for a while, so my stamina was draining slowly, and at some point, I mistook that. I thought the rate at which my stamina drained was originally this slow. Getting used to something is really scary.

Thanks to that, I properly experienced for the first time in a long while how quickly my stamina drained when my dance grade was F. And that was still considered slow compared to now. I felt a sense of crisis when my stamina dropped below 10.

In the midst of this, my acting stat increased. That’s not what’s important right now. I deliberately collapsed on the sandy beach, pretending my knees gave out.

Absolutely no abnormal conditions allowed!

I deliberately panted heavily, making my breathing louder, and the director clicked his tongue. Let’s fake it. Let’s pretend to be sick. Will my acting experience increase too?

“The kid has really poor stamina. Let Haon rest for a bit, and let’s film the next kid first. Seoho! Get ready!”

“Yes!”

Seoho answered from afar. In the meantime, Jung Ilhan swiftly ran over and covered me with a blanket. He said I can’t let the sweat dry and lower my body temperature. The beach in late February was unexpectedly cold, so I gladly accepted it. Of course, thanks to running continuously, I was very hot right now.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s hard…”

“Want me to piggyback you?”

Honestly, I was tempted, but I refused because there were many eyes watching. If I go that far, it feels like I’ll be treated as a patient. Judging by my current state, I had a feeling I would be called the epitome of poor stamina among the staff. I can’t add ‘patient’ to that. I’m an idol, you know!

“Hey, Jin Haon. You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha, are you trying to make people worry by wobbling around? As if anyone would say you’re not paper-thin.”

“You do well too.”

“I will!”

Seoho glanced at me a few times, then responded loudly with a “Ye-es!” at the director’s second call. Then he took off the padded blanket he was using and threw it at me.

“Wear this until I come back. How did you come to the beach without properly bringing outer clothing?”

After thoroughly mocking me, Seoho quickly walked away. Seeing him rubbing his arms and shivering, he seemed cold too. That’s because our debut date was set for April 6th. The music video filming outfits had to be light. I thought it would end quickly. He’s one to talk.

Jung Ilhan picked up the padded blanket and placed it on top of the blanket he had covered me with. He headed to the temporary waiting room, tightly wrapping the blanket and padded blanket around my shoulders.

The temporary waiting room was just a tent with the wind whooshing through. I sat on the uncomfortable folding chair placed there. Yoochan turned the heater towards me and held out a cup.

“It’s warm tea. Warm up your body a bit.”

“I’m not cold right now.”

“You’ll get cold soon. The sea breeze is no joke.”

That’s true. I gratefully accepted the warm tea to maintain my body temperature. The music video filming had just begun, and I was already dying. Later, we have to do a photobook shoot on the sandy beach when the sun sets. This is serious. It’s a really big deal.

How do I overcome this crisis? I must have had a serious expression on my face without realizing it because Yoochan tapped my forehead with his index finger.

“You got wrinkles on your forehead.”

Ah, the behind-the-scenes camera. I diligently managed my expression while secretly observing my precarious stamina. Maybe because the seat was uncomfortable or because I felt cold as the sweat evaporated, my stamina wasn’t increasing. I can’t rest forever, so what should I do?

Is there a skill that reduces the rate of stamina depletion? Among the ones I have now, the only usable one is ‘I’ll Die, but FIGHTING! (F)’.

But that skill doesn’t show the duration or anything, so I’m a bit hesitant. Since I didn’t have a proper place or time to test it after it was activated, it’s still a skill with unknown effects.

Moreover, the problem was that after the skill ends, you’re guaranteed to have an abnormal condition. Based on the current rate of stamina depletion, it’s 100%. We move as a group with the staff throughout the music video filming, so where can I run away and hide for an hour…?

It’s better not to use it when I can get away with faking it like now. But using the skill is a hundred times better than getting an abnormal condition while filming. Let’s keep it and try to endure as long as I can.

“Haon, are you okay?”

The manager asked as he handed me the hot packs he had brought. His face was full of worry. I haven’t done anything for him, but he’s so dedicated to us.

“Hyung, can I rest in the van?”

I wonder if I can’t because of the behind-the-scenes filming.

“Oh! Of course. Want me to take you there?”

“No. Just give me the car key, and I’ll stay inside.”

I carefully took the hot packs and received the car key. Jung Ilhan, who doesn’t have a beach filming scene, said he would come with me. The manager readily allowed it, saying he was worried about sending me alone.

When I entered the van and laid my body in a comfortable spot, my stamina started to recover. What should I do later when filming variety shows? Compared to variety shows, music videos are a friendly environment for me. At least the staff here are people we hired.

But variety shows are unforgiving. In the end, the key to preparing for variety shows is utilizing the ‘I’ll Die, but FIGHTING!’ skill. I need some time to test the skill. I wonder if there’s a way to make time for it.

“Haon, are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine after resting a bit.”

“Want to catch some sleep, even for a little while?”

Yeah, let’s sleep for now. There’s nothing better than sleep for stamina recovery. That’s why I came into the van in the first place, to sleep. As I reclined the seat to lie down more comfortably, Jung Ilhan adjusted the heater temperature.

“Keep the padded blanket on, and give me the other blanket. I’ll cover you.”

“I can do that much myself.”

I pulled out the blanket from under my back and covered myself well. Jung Ilhan, whom I thought would leave, sat on my right side.

“Hyung, you’re going to stay here while I sleep?”

“Yeah. You’ll be lonely if you’re alone.”

“Ah… Hyung, were you lonely when you were alone in the studio?”

“It was fine when I was focused.”

Meaning he was lonely when he couldn’t focus. I knew it. There aren’t many people who are fine being alone. Even if someone was okay, the longer they spend time alone, the more they deteriorate. Because loneliness is a sharper and more painful weapon than anything else. At least that’s how I felt.

“If you feel lonely while in the studio again, call me. I’ll come anytime…”

“…Okay. Rest.”

A warm hand covered my eyes. Thanks to the blocked light, I quickly drifted off to sleep. Maybe it’s because someone is watching over me by my side. Just before falling asleep, I felt warmth covering my right hand. It was warm and cozy. I don’t know why this makes me feel at ease.

“Haon, you need to wake up. They say Seoho’s filming is almost done.”

Shake, shake. My body was shaken. A gentle voice called me. It’s already a heavy bass voice, but when he whispers softly, I don’t know if he’s trying to wake me up or make me sleep more. But the content was clearly the former, so I should get up.

“Ugh. I’m stiff.”

After stretching, I checked the current time and my stamina. An hour had passed, and my stamina had risen to 50. I was a bit surprised that my stamina had recovered more than I thought. What’s the difference? It seems to have risen much more than when I sleep at home.

“Are you awake? Your complexion looks a bit better, are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. You held my hand the entire time, right?”

“Oh? Yeah. Was it uncomfortable?”

“No. It was warm and nice. Wasn’t the position uncomfortable for you?”

“No. It was fine.”

Jung Ilhan’s lips softened gently. At the urging to hurry, we headed back to the filming set. This time, I must get an okay sign no matter what. It was important to finish before my stamina drops.

When we arrived at the filming set, Seoho’s filming was just wrapping up. As I returned the borrowed padded blanket, the fierce sea breeze fluttered the clothes wildly. It’s cold…

“Is Haon ready?”

“Yes! I’ll finish it properly this time.”

“Okay. You need to jump lightly like a feather and land lightly. Got it?”

“Yes!”

I answered brightly, but I was still worried because I couldn’t actually become a feather. Is the music video filming getting delayed because my acting stat is poor? I think I need to raise my acting stat, even for the sake of managing my stamina.

I ran around on the sandy beach, smiling brightly. Lightly like a feather. Feather. I’m a feather. A feather fluttering and scattering in the wind.

“You’re swaying too much right now!”

“…Yes!”

I guess this isn’t it. My desire to raise my acting stat grew immensely. I thought it might be easier to dance while singing.

Huh? Wait. I can sing, right? The music video will have post-recording anyway. It means it doesn’t matter what I say.

Ah, but lip movements can’t be corrected.

Instead, let’s sing internally. I thought about dancing while singing the most joyful and light song I know. I’m not running on the beach but stepping. A dance that makes my body look light.

“Okay! That was great! It was filmed very beautifully! You’ve got it!”

Along with the system message, the okay sign was given. The director seemed very pleased. I, who quickly finished filming, finally let out a sigh of relief. I maintained my stamina and learned the knack. I feel like I barely survived.

“He jumps like he’s dancing.”

Who else could it be but Baek Kanghyun? He’s a genius at dancing. How did he know?

“I thought about dancing while jumping. I didn’t know how to do it like a feather when I’m not a feather.”

“No wonder the movements changed.”

“It’s much better doing it this way. Hyung, if it doesn’t work well for you, try this.”

“Okay.”

“Hey, they say it’s our turn to film together now.”

Seoho said, tapping my shoulder. I was worried because it required much more natural acting than before. Since he said he has a talent for acting, it should be fine as long as I do well…

As expected, the filming was delayed because I kept acting awkwardly. I wanted to think of this as dancing too, but it wasn’t easy with Seoho’s face in view. It was much better alone. Music video filming is so hard.

We succeeded by a very narrow margin.

“Kids, we’re moving! Gather quickly!”

The manager gestured towards us. The next filming location was a nearby forest. And tomorrow, we’ll be riding in a car again to film by a river and in a field. After finishing the outdoor filming, we still had indoor filming left. My stamina… Will it be okay until then?