The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 25
So, what the heck.
What’s going on here?
I sighed quietly while sitting awkwardly among my roommates, who were unaware that the camera was rolling.
I tried to smoothly guide the situation, trying to keep things casual.
“Uh, so, should we introduce ourselves? I’m Kim Chunyong, 20 years old….”
“I’ll go next.”
Someone interrupted me and shouted while getting up from the second-floor bed.
Bam!
“Ouch.”
Of course, because of the commotion on the second floor, I ended up banging my head against the bunk bed.
Ignoring it, the guy got up again and shouted confidently.
“My name is Gao Yan. A 19-year-old Hong Kong guy in Korean age. The person I respect is Gao Yan.”
“Oh… Did you just say your name is Gao Yan?”
“That’s right. I only respect myself. There’s no man more fabulous than me.”
Gao Yan, a private trainee from Hong Kong.
Thick eyebrows, pronounced facial features. Peculiar way of speaking, overflowing with confidence, which I didn’t know where he got from.
“In the end, everyone who will debut with me has come to this room. Just as I expected.”
I’ve never performed on stage with him, so I don’t know the details, but from what I know, he dropped out of <Targeting Star> and became a famous influencer with 15 million followers.
“I want to rank first on Targeting Star and let the world know about my awesomeness. 18th place will be nothing more than a stepping stone.”
Back then, I was too preoccupied to pay attention, but he had this kind of personality.
No wonder he has 15 million followers.
By the way, I had 300,000 followers, and 90% of them were anti-fans who followed me just to curse at me.
“Next is me!”
Perhaps inspired by Gao Yan’s fantastic self-introduction, the guy sitting opposite me also jumped up from his seat.
Even though they could sit, why do they keep standing up so boldly?
The skinny guy, who had placed bandages on his joints, spoke in a soft translated voice.
“I’m Ishikawa Ryota. I’m here because I admire Korean idols, and I really want to debut.”
Ishikawa Ryota, who started dreaming of becoming an idol after reading manga related to K-pop. We had teamed up once. Although his basic dance skills were lacking, he was quite good at singing.
Ryota… After dropping out of <Targeting Star>, it seemed like he went back to Japan. Perhaps he joined a project group in Japan.
“Hmm, Ryota. What place are you?”
Gao Yan asked Ryota with a conceited expression.
“I’m 15th. I was too nervous, so I couldn’t dance properly.”
In response to Ryota’s answer, Gao Yan extended his left hand and said arrogantly.
“You’re better than me. Indeed, Ryota, it seems like you’ll debut with me.”
“Thank you, Gao Yan. Let’s create a great group together. I dream of our group’s future every day.”
Both of them won’t debut.
The conversation between the two of them was so far beyond the realm of common sense that the other one rolled his eyes and stammered.
The party who opened the door for me first, as I hesitated in the doorway.
A Korean-British man with what looked like puppy ears flapping beneath his hair.
“Oh, Holy. Um, I’m Logan Lee. I’m from Liverpool, UK, and, uh, I’m 19 years old, the same age as Gao Yan in Korean age.”
Logan Lee.
A talented trainee who already has the ability to produce at a high level, and after Targeting Star, he goes to a famous British audition program and takes first place.
But the reason he didn’t make his debut on Targeting Star wasn’t because he failed.
“…I returned to the UK like this. But it was such a good… experience. Thank you so much to the fans who supported me. Really, thank you.”
It was because he was dropped off in the middle of a shoot.
“I’m, uh, an only child. Uh, what’s it in Korean? Anyway, because of that. It’s so fun to meet new flatmates. Let’s have fun together!”
He arrived with such a happy expression, so what could make him depart with such a sad face?
“Anyway….”
I casually inserted a bone-dry remark with a smile.
“So, there are four people in this room right now, and all four have different nationalities. Right?”
“Wow. That’s right, a Korean, a Hong Konger, a Japanese, and a British!”
“It would have been nice if all four were Hong Kongers. But since I’m the only Hong Konger here from the beginning, it couldn’t be helped.”
“No one comes to our room. Looks like we’re complete on our own.”
That’s what I meant.
Why doesn’t someone higher up come to our room and push us out?
“Scissors, rock, paper!”
“Ahh!”
“Since I’m 3rd place, well… Yes. I’m sorry. I’ll use this room!”
In the other room, someone’s popping out, whining into the camera, and playing rock, paper, scissors.
No, who knows, maybe if I wait long enough, this member will change. Maybe Yu Chan will suddenly open the door and come in.
There’s no way I would be alone in a room of confusion and chaos like this.
… Right?
– “All trainees have been assigned to their quarters. Trainees, after organizing your belongings and resting, please report to the dining hall on the first floor by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.”
However, the small speaker attached to the corner of the room cruelly crushed even my small hope.
“Wow! Now we’re real flatmates! Nice to meet you, mates!”
“Yeah, sure….”
Instead of despairing at Logan’s excited voice, I quickly made up my mind.
At this point, I was going to make the best broadcast possible with these multinational friends, no matter what.
Camera exposure was vital in my survival debut. I couldn’t just give that up.
And I made up my mind, as the first thing I did was:
“Gao Yan, Ryota. Logan, listen to me for a second.”
“Huh? Why?”
“In Korea, you call someone older than you ‘hyung.'”
It was a simple clarification of titles.
“Hyun… Oh, Sorry. What?“
“No, it’s okay. Just follow along. When you call me, say ‘hyung.’ Call me Chunyong hyung.”
“Chunyong… Aniki*.”
(T/N: Japanese term, similar to ‘hyung’)
“No, it’s ‘hyung.’”
This is a country of Confucianism, you kids.
