The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 125
“…Huh?”
She was about to dismiss it as just another fan here for a morning photo like herself, but her eyes narrowed.
It was a man.
About 180cm tall, with a small face half-hidden by a mask.
At first glance, it was easy to guess he was a trainee stopping by for a picture of his own ad.
But then came the details that made her pause.
‘Wait, those shoulders, that height. And that slightly long hair… those sharp eyes.’
‘Fireworksday’ quietly stepped back and covered her mouth.
They say hating someone is still a form of attention, right?
‘Isn’t that… Kim Chunyong?’
The accumulated interest, born from looking him up to mock him, remembering his fan nicknames to block them, had led to this moment—recognizing him in person.
“─”
As if to confirm her suspicion, the man walked right up to Kim Chunyong’s billboard ad.
Then, he took out a pre-written post-it note and stuck it on, before pulling out a Polaroid camera from his bag to snap a picture!
‘What the hell, he’s going that far for proof?’
‘Fireworksday’s heart raced as she watched.
The very target she’d been thinking about taking down was right in front of her.
It was still early in the morning, and she was the only fan nearby.
That meant she could easily remove the photo and post-it if she wanted to.
‘Damn. I know it’s a dirty move… but with so few people around, I could probably get away with it.’
But on an idol survival program…
However, her mind, consumed by the thought that her trainee had to debut, was slowly inching toward this unscrupulous idea.
After a few moments passed and Kim Chunyong left, she quickly rushed over to the spot.
Seeing the Polaroid of Kim Chunyong and the neatly written name “Kim Chunyong” below it, she let out a low whistle.
‘I’ll just see what’s written. Just see. And, well, if the situation feels right, maybe I’ll do something about it….’
That’s how fandoms worked.
One could be endlessly pure in devotion to their favorite trainee, yet turn into the worst of trash when it came to a disliked trainee.
She was no different.
But.
“Huh…?”
As she looked at the post-it Chunyong had left, her face slowly flushed.
The handwriting wasn’t the neatest, but each character had been carefully written.
[Hello? Chun as in Spring, Yong as in Dragon!
This is Chunyong.
Thank you so much for supporting someone like me, when I’m not good enough.
I’ll do my best to become a trainee you can be proud of.
– Kim Chunyong -]
“I’ll work really hard so that those who support me can feel proud!”
Seeing someone you like reflected in another person.
That was enough to change her mind.
“…….”
As Ji Hwa Sung’s words from the broadcast overlapped with Kim Chunyong’s post-it note, ‘fireworksday,’ who had momentarily thought about removing it and causing some trouble, felt an overwhelming sense of shame.
“Ah, damn it!”
Realizing how close she came to acting childishly and doing something pointless, she slapped her forehead a few times and gritted her teeth.
“…Alright. That’s enough.”
She carefully removed Kim Chunyong’s Polaroid photo and post-it note, and relocated them to a more visible spot, securing them with several layers of tape.
‘Wanting your favorite trainee to do well is something every fan feels. I won’t mess with something like this.’
Her actions were soon posted on SNS by an anonymous fan who had been secretly watching the whole process.
[(Photo) (Photo)
Whoa ㅠ A Ji Hwa Sung fan moved Chunyong’s Polaroid and post-it and taped them up better? Mutual support is amazing… bb]
[⎿ Wait, aren’t those two fandoms at odds? What’s going on? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[⎿⎿ Honestly, this looks way better than them fighting like dogs… they’re not going to fight if they debut together, right? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[⎿ Do you think they can debut together though?? Seems like you’re looking way too far ahead ;;]
[But listen, they actually get along pretty well. No? Their chemistry is amazing (link). Can you still not root for both of them to debut? Can you?]
[⎿ I support them, I stand with them, let’s cheer them on together.]
Things were turning out much better than she had expected.
* * *
Ping!
Just as I finished leaving my post-it note at the billboard and started walking away, messages from X came flooding in again with his usual nonsense.
– X: Dude, you should’ve taken the proof shot when more people were around ㅡㅡ
– X: That way it’d go viral properly, ugh!!!11
– X: Is it because you suck at taking selfies? Want me to send you tips? Should I give you that “3rd performance winner” skill?
“…What’s he even talking about? Idiot.”
I shot back a quick ‘ㅗ’[1] reply to X’s messages.
Sure, it would’ve been better to take the photo when there were more fans around.
I could have even had a short conversation with them and built a reputation as a trainee who interacts with fans.
Even the Targeting Star production team hinted that I should try to show some effort, as long as it didn’t cause any controversy.
But the reason I left my note when no one was around was simple.
I’m not completely proud of myself yet in front of the fans who still support me.
[Shooting REX @Shooting_REX
(Photo) (Photo)
In celebration of Rex’s birthday, we set up a subway ad ♡ Thanks to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser!]
Despite being a problematic member of the group, I’d received billboard ads more than once, thanks to the core fans like Shooting Rex noona sticking by my side.
[⎿ Oh wow, it’s so sad how she has to emphasize the word ‘fundraiser.’ ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Who is even going to fundraise for Trash Rex? ㅠㅠ That’s all his money, right~]
…They have no idea how much effort and pain goes into these things.
That’s why, this time, I wanted to be as quiet as possible, without making it seem like this was the result of my effort alone.
Not until I can fully repay them after debuting, at least.
…Well, anyway.
“Whew.”
With a soft sigh, I began to leave Apgujeong Station, which was starting to get crowded.
So, why did I bother taking a proof shot at Apgujeong Station, far from my own subway stop?
It wasn’t to confirm my rising fame from Targeting Star, as I mentioned before.
The real reason was…
– Is trainee Kim Chunyong inside?
During the Music Music Today pre-recording, someone had come to my waiting room and said…
“Oh, you’re here? I figured people would start crowding, so I came out early.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Let’s go then. It’s your first time using the practice room after switching agencies, right?”
“Uh, yeah… it is.”
The man chuckled lightly at my response, despite both of us being heavily disguised with masks and caps.
Even with only his eyes showing, it was clear how handsome he was.
The current, overwhelming number one on Targeting Star.
…Jae Ha hyung was waiting for me.
T/N:
[1] ↩
