Dating within idol groups is okay
Kwon Soon-young x Lee Ji-hoon
[1. I feel strange receiving such favorable gazes. I blush and lower my head.]
My whole body froze, and I couldn't even think of raising my hand, so I just kept shouting in my head, "Option 1! Option 1!" Seeing my cheek in Soonyoung's hand grow hotter and hotter, regardless of my will, and my head bowing down on its own, it seemed like the game was still going on even if I just said that to myself.
"........."
Soonyoung's hand, which had been stroking my cheek as if it were a squishy or slime, suddenly stopped. Soonyoung said nothing. The kid who had been constantly exclaiming, "Cute, cute," had stopped saying anything, so the practice room was incredibly quiet. It was so quiet that I could almost hear my heartbeat thump, thump, loudly outside, and my face flushed even more.
What should I do? Wasn't number 1 the answer?
Now that I think about it, there was a phrase telling me to choose carefully, unlike the choices that appeared when I first met Seungcheol. Maybe I have to choose the correct answer to proceed. I think I was so flustered because this guy kept looking at me like that that I couldn't think carefully.
Damn it. Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought that I might have made the wrong choice. This is always my problem. When I'm emotional, tears come first. Whether I'm sad, happy, anxious, or even happy, tears just flow first.
I lowered my head and strained my eyes even more. On days when tears flow down my face, I become a real emotional wreck.
Soonyoung remained silent. I couldn't tell how much time had passed. Each minute felt like a second, and if this continued, I'd be trapped in this world forever, held captive by Soonyoung. The thought sent a tingling sensation down my spine. Was this some kind of damned game? I had to get this going, no matter what. No matter how long I waited, Soonyoung didn't seem to want to do anything, so it was ultimately up to me to act.
I slowly raised my head again, staring at the tips of Sunyoung's sneakers standing tall in front of me.
"ah."
Soonyoung's eyes met again, and she opened her mouth slightly and let out a slightly foolish sigh.
Come to think of it, I must have looked terrible right now. My face was flushed, my eyes were tense, and tears were welling up. Ha... How could I not laugh as soon as our eyes met?
But then, as if red paint had been poured over Sunyoung's face, the color slowly began to spread. Finally, Sunyoung's ears turned red, and she avoided my gaze, rolling her eyes here and there as if she didn't know what to do.
...Why are you blushing and all? It makes people feel even weirder.
Then he pretends not to care and coughs slightly, saying,
“You... are blushing.”
"........."
You too.
I wanted to respond, but something felt stuck in my throat, and I couldn't speak. As I remained silent, Sunyoung's face grew more and more familiar.
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
.......yes?
What is this situation?
I stared blankly at the status window that showed Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increasing roughly once every ten seconds, unable to hide my bewildered expression. What, I didn't do anything, so why does this damn favorability rating keep rising?
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
Look, it's up again.
“Hello!!! We’re here!!!”
“Ah, Lee Seok-min. It’s a bit noisy.”
Just then, the practice room door opened loudly, and a tall boy who looked like he would cause a lot of trouble came in together with a skinny boy who looked quite noisy and annoyed by him. Only then did Soonyoung's hand, which had been cupping my cheek, drop.
“Hey, you guys, I told you to be here by 9 today. You’re late, you’re late.”
Seungcheol said something, but unlike his scary face, his words were gentle and he didn't seem to have any intention of establishing discipline. He seems to be a much better hyung than I thought. I was wondering how much of a jerk he'd be when he got older. Before I knew it, I was thinking about the oldest hyung from my days as a PD trainee. That son of a bitch who would always yell at me and bully me because of my age. He ended up leaving the company and I don't know what he's doing these days. Wait a minute. Then what will happen to me at PD?
Words of introduction were exchanged as I was lost in thought, my original reality and the reality of where I was now mixed up.
“Oh, you’re my brother? You don’t look like my brother at all. Well, we’re only a year apart.”
“Hello. Please take care of me. Don’t listen to what he says.”
“Haha....Hello, I’m Lee Ji-hoon...”
As soon as I heard my voice, which seemed somewhat weak, I felt Soonyoung, who was standing two steps away from me, glance in my direction. Then I realized that the status window saying my favorability rating was increasing wasn't popping up anymore. Until just a moment ago, it was automatically increasing just by doing nothing, so why wasn't it? I blinked, putting on a vaguely social smile, and tried to pull out only things related to Soonyoung from my many complicated thoughts. Come to think of it, the only time my favorability rating had been rising was when Soonyoung was grabbing my cheek. Hmm, no way.
I couldn't tell if it was simple curiosity or what, but I wanted to check anyway. Behind the noisy, chatty, and joking 22-year-olds, six men came in one after another. While Seungcheol introduced myself to them once again, I took a step closer to Soonyoung. Then, despite having mustered up a lot of courage, I timidly grabbed Soonyoung's wrist with a gesture.
"uh...?"
My eyes met with Soonyoung's as she turned around. Yeah, that's it. If you're asking why, it's because Kwon Soonyoung told me to be comfortable. If Soonyoung were to ask, "Why are you holding my hand and acting so friendly?" I thought of an excuse and grabbed Soonyoung's wrist again.
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
Ha, crazy. I was skeptical, but it seems to be true.
Hey, if you skinship with me, your favorability rating will go up.
I was so dumbfounded that I let out a chuckle. I don't know what she was thinking when she saw me like that, but Soonyoung gently twisted my wrist, pulled it away, and then grabbed my hand. I was so surprised that my shoulders froze. My eyes widened, I looked at my hand in Soonyoung's hand, and then at her face. Soonyoung had a puppy-like expression that seemed to want to be praised, and when our eyes met, she smiled proudly.
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
And in the meantime, the favorability rating steadily increases.
“What, Kwon Soon-young? You’re acting friendly after only seeing me for a few minutes.”
“Can you tell me that you’re not pretending to be close, but just taking care of him? How awkward and shy would this little kid be around older brothers he’s just meeting for the first time? Huh?”
“A little kid...?”
Chan-i frowned slightly. I frowned too and looked up at Soon-young's profile. Of course, twenty-three was in my early twenties, but that didn't mean I was old enough to be called a child. Especially not from Kwon Soon-young, who was the same age as me. Soon-young, as if she hadn't noticed my furrowed brow, looked back at me and smiled brightly. She smiled so brightly that her eyes closed completely, creating a truly perfect eye smile. Seeing her face so cute, I couldn't help but laugh. A small heart, just like the one I'd seen from Seung-cheol, appeared on Soon-young's black hair, a hint of red filling it.
[Kwon Soon-young's favorability rating increased by 1.]
The favorability rating went up once more. And.
(Achieved 10 favorability! A hidden quest has been activated!)
(Note: If you complete the hidden quest, you will reach the ending right away without having to wait until the awards ceremony one year later.)
[Hidden Quest Success Conditions:
Receive a confession of love from a member who has achieved 100 favorability rating!]
Hidden Quest Success Reward:
The Return of Lee Ji-hoon]
Crazy. I thought it was an idol training simulation, but it's a dating simulation? Isn't this a total sales scam? Ha, I should've known since the favorability rating started going up. But, I'm a guy and these... these people are all guys? And they told me to debut as an idol. What kind of love confession is this after debuting as an idol? Ah, idols can't date, but if it's within the group, then it doesn't matter?
My head was racing with random thoughts, but my eyes were fixed on just one place.
Hidden Quest Success Reward: Lee Ji-hoon's Return.
Dating within idol groups is okay
Kwon Soon-young x Lee Ji-hoon
Because I'd practiced so hard since day one, I didn't open my eyes until around noon. My room still had a single bed, not the bunk bed I'd shared with my fellow P.D. Entertainment trainees. My phone was blaring "Taeyang!" and "Hot!", waking me up. I sat up, humming the song I'd been listening to all day yesterday.
“Turn up the music loudly and run through the world without mercy~”
My body swayed to the beat. Eight years of training, that's not going anywhere. Even though I only practiced for one day, my body seemed to have memorized the dance in no time. Should I be proud of this?
Jihoon, where did you learn to dance? Were you also an aspiring idol?
Yesterday, the members couldn't hide their surprise as they watched me quickly learn the dance and naturally master the movements.
This is a game, you are all game characters, and I am a real idol trainee!!
...I couldn't bring myself to say that, so I just smiled.
Despite all the ups and downs, yesterday's practice was definitely enjoyable. After all the times I'd covered other singers' songs, now that I truly felt like this was my own, my approach to practice was completely different. It was a long time since I'd sweated and practiced, and I was just so happy.
But this is just a game. Honestly, until yesterday, a corner of me still believed this was just a terrible dream, and that when I woke up after a good night's sleep, I'd be lying in my old room. But... no?
I really... think I should play this game.
Now I really had to accept this situation as reality and figure out a realistic way out of it.
I sat cross-legged on the bed and said to myself, "Quest." Then, the quest window given to me immediately appeared before my eyes.
[Quest success conditions:
Debuting with and receiving the Rookie of the Year award a year later!]
Hidden Quest Success Conditions:
Receive a confession of love from a member who has achieved 100 favorability rating!]
Even though they're confirmed to be the debut group, there are still two months left until their debut. And after debuting, there's still another year to wait until the year-end awards ceremony. What if I spent a year as a rookie idol in the game and failed to win the rookie award? I quickly shook my head from side to side. The quest window only listed the reward for success, not the penalty for failure. What if I failed? I'd be trapped in this game. The terrifying thought sent shivers down my spine.
Of course. It's better to aim for the hidden quest. There's no need to drag it out for a year.
It didn't matter that I'd never been in a relationship until I was twenty-three. That's right, it's Lee Ji-hoon. I'm going to show you that I haven't been wasting my time watching all the dramas, movies, and webtoons. I haven't been able to because I've been busy with my trainee life, but if I put my mind to it, I can, huh? I can seduce anyone, man or woman!
After making up my mind, I hurriedly took out my phone and opened a notepad.
I haven't played many dating simulations, but I think the right way to do this is to just pick a male lead in your heart and kill him right away, rather than just randomly flirting with this person and that person.
I wrote down the members' names and their impressions of me when I met them yesterday in a notepad.
Choi Seung-cheol (24)
- Favorability 10
- Contrary to his appearance, he is very picky and clingy to the members.
- When someone sees me eating three hamburgers at once, their favorability rating goes up to 10 at once.
-The members often say, "You have to share my dorm with me." Is there some kind of magical charm to it?
Yoon Jeong-han (24)
- Favorability 50
- Someone more adorable than Kwon Soon-young...who always says "cute, cute". My name is Guo Yeo-wo.
- Just by saying one word to Jeonghani, her favorability rating goes up because she thinks she's cute. By the time she leaves work, her favorability rating has already reached 50.
- Someone who would think I'm cute if I said, "Hyung, are you crazy?"
Hong Ji-soo (24)
- Favorability 15
- He doesn't act like a fussy person like Yoon Jung-han, but his favorability rating keeps going up by 5 at a time, saying, "I'm cute."
...
Kwon Soon-young (23)
- Favorability 15
- A weird guy who keeps treating me like a baby even though we're the same age
- When you skinship, your favorability gradually increases by 1
-If I don't do skinship, it seems like you're not that interested in me?
...
Kim Min-gyu (22)
- Favorability 10
- I think we would get along well personally, as he seems to be a person who is serious about eating.
Every time I open my mouth, I find the dialect fascinating.
...
Boo Seung-kwan (21)
- Favorability 10
A guy who is two years younger than me but secretly tries to eat my friends
-I like singing... It was fun to sing like we were at a karaoke during break time.
- Even if I just make eye contact with Chan, we fight
Lee Chan (20)
- Favorability 5
- A person who feels like the youngest in a real idol group
-It seems like he hates Seungkwan, but it also seems like he doesn't.
I stared intently at the things I wrote down as they came to mind.
Even though it was only the first day, their affection towards me had already risen considerably. Furthermore, one of them had a whopping affection level of 50. Considering that affection levels are capped at 100, this was a significant amount of progress. This game developer really messed up the balance patches. Thanks to him, I'm getting a free lunch.
Now you need to choose a target to attack. In fact, there's no need to worry about this.
I lightly tapped the part that said 'Yoon Jeong-han' with the tip of my fingernail.
I've decided on you, Yoon Jeong-han!
He nodded with a proud face as if he had already cleared the game, but then his expression hardened.
I'd wanted to check since yesterday, but I was too afraid to see it with my own eyes, so I tried to pretend not to know. I slowly opened my phone's contacts. There were the members' phone numbers I'd saved yesterday, as well as the contact information of several employees from Hive Entertainment's new talent development team. That was it. The contact information of countless senior and junior trainees and employees who had passed through P.D. Entertainment was completely erased. And... my mom and dad's numbers too. I thought I knew what this meant, but I also didn't. No, maybe I already knew, but I was trying hard to deny it.
I pressed each of my mom's numbers. I debated whether to call or not, but then gave up. I knew I couldn't stand hearing things like, "The number doesn't exist," or "You can't connect." I pulled my knees to my chest, hugged them, and curled my back into a curled up position.
I had quite a few new contacts saved in my phone, but none of them were easy to reach, and I suddenly felt terribly lonely. Much more so than the day I first came to Seoul with my dream of becoming an idol.
* * *