Hard Mode Idol

When I suddenly jumped up from my seat, Jung Ilhan looked up at me. I winked at him with one eye and took a deep breath. Then I belted out the hook part of our debut song in a loud voice.

The three of them reacted simultaneously. Even in the midst of their distracted minds, they unconsciously danced our choreography. And precisely, the moves for the part I sang.

The timing of their stops was slightly different, so it wasn’t exactly the same, but no one was wrong. In the midst of it, I wanted to stick a praise sticker on Kanghyun hyung, whose angles were the most on point.

“…Hey! Why are you messing around when I’m already anxious!”

Seoho grumbled as he awkwardly lowered his raised arm. With the attention focused on me, I smiled even more confidently and said,

“We practiced a lot. Enough to accurately react to a song I sang by surprise.”

“Ah.”

Yoochan hyung let out an exclamation as if he had a realization. Seoho also agreed, saying, “That’s true…” Kanghyun hyung made a deflating sound, “Huh.” I guess he didn’t even know he was nervous.

“That’s right. We practiced a lot. Enough for the choreography to come out unconsciously. We put in that much effort.”

The end of his mumbling tone was filled with strength, unlike the beginning. A smile returned to Yoochan hyung’s face.

“Wow, I guess I was really nervous. My hands are soaked with sweat.”

Seoho wiped his palms on his pants.

“Jin Haon. How did you think of this? Thanks to you, I feel like I’ve gained some enlightenment.”

“Unlike someone, I’m smart.”

“Gosh. I told you not to praise him.”

Seoho’s beagle charm was back. His pouting and grumbling just looked cute.

“Alright. We can do it!”

Yoochan hyung suddenly shouted while clenching his fist. It seems the mind control is over. He’s really like soft tofu. Soft, soft tofu.

The atmosphere in the waiting room changed to a much more comfortable one. The manager came back with lunch boxes. I asked the manager to check if there were any issues with the sound or microphones. He reassured me, saying he was checking thoroughly, so I shouldn’t worry.

Not long after eating the lunch boxes, it was time for the quick rehearsal. The members became nervous again, but it wasn’t a collective mental breakdown like before.

Originally, a quick rehearsal was a session to simply check the stage condition while checking the formations. But as rookies, we performed the intense choreography with full power. As a result, we had to catch our breath for a while after coming down from the stage.

So far, there doesn’t seem to be any problem…

The unexpected situation from the sub mission wouldn’t leave my mind. I was very concerned about it, but Yoochan hyung stretched his shoulders with a big smile.

“I think we did well. Right?”

“Yes. Everyone did well.”

When I agreed, Seoho indulged in self-intoxication, saying, “Of course! Who do you think I am~” Who was the one who broke down from nervousness a little while ago?

“Seoho. Come here for a moment.”

“…Huh? Oh, why?”

When Kanghyun hyung called, Seoho hesitated. Hyung also summoned Jung Ilhan. Jung Ilhan, who was next to me, looked at me like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse. For Jung Ilhan’s sake, I pushed his back and sent him to Kanghyun hyung.

“I’ll teach you the lacking moves again in fast mode.”

I knew it would be like this.

It was an expected outcome for all of us. I quietly stepped back to manage my stamina. Even Yoochan hyung, who was shrugging his shoulders, eventually joined the fast-paced practice, resulting in me being the only one resting. It felt awkward to sit. But I still need to rest…

The members’ practice continued until the time for the actual rehearsal approached and we changed into our stage outfits and did hair and makeup. The members, who received a scolding for sweating so much before getting makeup done, were discouraged. Unintentionally, I was the only one who received praise.

We successfully finished the actual rehearsal and gathered comfortably in our uncomfortable stage outfits. Throughout the rehearsal, I was on high alert, checking if there were any signs of an accident. For now, nothing happened.

Since it said the debut showcase would fail if the mission failed, it makes sense that nothing happens during the rehearsal. However, I couldn’t rest comfortably because I thought I might be able to notice if there were any signs.

After touching up our makeup, we gathered in the waiting room until the start of the actual press showcase. It seemed like the tension that had dispersed for a moment was gathering again. Unlike the rehearsal, it was the first stage where we would stand in front of people for the first time.

Honestly, I was nervous too. A new world. A restarted life. And the members who like me. It was the first stage we were doing under the name of our group DIAS.

“Haon.”

“Yes?”

“Let me hug you for a bit.”

“…What? Why all of a sudden?”

Has that hyung gone crazy? Why does he suddenly want to hug me?

“I’m nervous, that’s why.”

I wanted to refuse because the only thing I lose from physical contact with a man is stamina, but, well. Whatever. Let’s use some stamina for Yoochan hyung’s sake.

I can rest while moving after the stage. Just in case, I changed the settings to be able to see my stamina and answered.

“If it helps.”

I took half a step closer to Yoochan hyung, and he hugged me tightly. He held me tighter than I expected, so it was a bit stuffy, but the warmth was nice. Somehow, I feel like the tension is easing. Is this what it means to rely on someone?

“Ha, I think I’m less nervous now.”

Deus? I thought you read my mind.

Huh? Wait. I think my stamina just went up by one? Is it just my feeling? Just in case, I was keeping a close eye on my stamina.

“Oh? Then me too.”

Suddenly, Jung Ilhan joined. He hugged me and Yoochan hyung from behind at the same time. Seoho, who was alone at the end of the waiting room talking to the camera, saw us and ran over.

“What! Me too!”

Seoho put his arms around Yoochan hyung and Jung Ilhan’s necks and bent his waist to bring us close together. Everyone gathered except Kanghyun hyung. What are we doing?

“Kanghyun hyung! Come here too! Quickly!”

Seoho called the last member. There’s no way that hyung will join.

“…”

Kanghyun hyung didn’t answer. My view was completely blocked, so I couldn’t see, but wouldn’t he be looking at us with disdain? But surprisingly, the only empty spot on my right side was filled.

Kanghyun hyung stood by our side a bit awkwardly but obediently. Yoochan hyung released his arm that was wrapped around me and pushed Kanghyun hyung inside. Hello. I didn’t expect you to come too.

“Guys. Let’s rely on each other like we are now. I feel like I can do it if I have you.”

It was a serious tone without any playfulness. When he says it like that, he seems like a leader.

“Yeah!”

Seoho answered cheerfully.

“Yeah.”

Kanghyun hyung’s blunt answer followed, and,

“Yeah.”

A pleasant, low voice was heard above my head.

“Okay.”

I was the last one. I had a smile on my face because our appearance was funny. Ah, it’s embarrassing but touching. It’s ridiculous but reassuring.

At that moment, my stamina went up again. Ah, this. I guess it’s judged as rest when I’m psychologically stable. It means my current condition is that good, right?

The sound of a cell phone camera was heard. Click click. When we turned our heads to look in the direction of the sound, the manager was diligently taking photos. Yoochan hyung’s voice trembled as he called the manager.

“…Jeonggon hyung?”

“Huh? Don’t mind me. Keep going. Keep going.”

When you set the mood like that, it’s too embarrassing to continue. Those who couldn’t be shameless like me awkwardly separated.

“What? It’s over already?”

Seoho clung to Yoochan hyung, disappointed. I was standing still with Jung Ilhan clinging to my back.

This is absurd. My stamina is rising even now, isn’t it?

Wait. Something is different? I compared the situations where my stamina was draining and rising until now. Then I realized that it doesn’t match the current situation, and it occurred to me that there might be hidden conditions I don’t know about.

When I feel a sense of security and comfort. In other words…

Like now, when I’m being hugged or holding hands. Every time, I always thought it was warm. Is that recognized as rest?

Ah! That’s right.

There was a time when I slept in the van on the first day of the music video filming to recover my stamina. At that time, Jung Ilhan held my hand the whole time, and when I woke up, my stamina was much higher than usual. I brushed it off as insignificant, thinking the van was comfortable, but I guess that wasn’t it. That was also a kind of hint.

However, my stamina didn’t rise when I was practicing with the members as usual. It meant that it’s not simply because I feel psychologically stable by being together. I think this is it. Contact.

“Guys, let’s get ready now.”

The manager called us. Now that I’ve got the hint, let’s check it carefully. I should put off the things that can be checked slowly when I have time and solve the sub mission in front of me first.

“Aah! Wait! What’s wrong with your hair! Did you rub against something? Especially Haon!”

Ah. Oops.

I didn’t think of this. I guess I was more nervous than I thought. We had to be scolded again and fix our hair and makeup.

After that, I moved behind the stage with the very nervous members. The showcase hadn’t started yet. We were frozen stiff, huddled together in a place where we wouldn’t disturb the staff.

I carefully checked my microphone pack just in case. Whether the cord was plugged in properly, whether it would come loose during the performance. After checking mine first, I was going to check Yoochan hyung’s, but he was already checking it himself.

“You guys check it one last time like Haon.”

“Okay.”

“Okay!”

I was going to check for them, but it’s better for them to do it themselves. However, while I could trust the others, I couldn’t trust Seoho. I followed his checking with my eyes and confirmed it.

“…Hey, why are you looking at me like that? You don’t trust me?”

“Yeah. You’re clumsy.”

“Argh! It’s frustrating that I can’t deny it!”

“Come here. I’ll check it one more time for you.”

When I said it with a smile, Seoho pouted his lips. Then, as if he was also anxious, he lifted his shirt to show me.