Chapter 37: The Idol's Technique That Never Fails

- What did you find?

When Hwang Saebi asked, Park Sunjae replied.

“There are name tags on the bottom of the plaster statues. Oh, Joo-won hyung is here.”

At that moment, An Joo-won and Shin Jiwoon, who had been searching elsewhere, arrived at the art room. An Joo-won looked at the name tags on the bottom of the plaster statues and said,

“The names have changed. This one is Agrippa, and this one is Julian.”

“Really?”

Min Jihoo came over, intrigued, and immediately peeled off the name tags on the bottom of the plaster statues, changing them as An Joo-won had said.

Then, the monitor in the art room, which had been off, turned on.

“Hey, what’s this?”

While the members were taken aback, text appeared on the monitor.

Shin Jiwoon spoke into the walkie-talkie.

“Hyung Haewon, it says, ‘Only a good scientist will know this.’ Joo-won is a good scientist.”

- Is that so? Then Joo-won is not the villain.

At that, Min Jihoo nodded and said,

“I don’t think I could trust anyone in the world if Joo-won hyung were the villain.”

An Joo-won looked embarrassed.

“It’s not that bad.”

Then, Hwang Saebi’s voice came through the walkie-talkie.

- Guys, if there’s a good scientist, there must be a bad scientist, right? Or... a mad scientist?

As soon as he finished speaking, all the members in the art room turned their gaze to Min Jihoo. Min Jihoo asked, looking aggrieved,

“Be honest. You’re looking at me because of ‘mad’ and not ‘scientist,’ right?”

“You don’t need to be honest; it’s just that.”

Han Hyoseok’s words made Min Jihoo chuckle.

“Are you picking a fight again, Hyoseok?”

“...”

“We’ll try to fight less. Okay?”

Min Jihoo laughed. Then, Hwang Saebi said,

- Anyway, you guys should come here. If it’s about scientists, you should check the science lab. Maybe you’re in a science club or something?

“I don’t think I’m a scientist...”

Park Sunjae protested, but the situation seemed to indicate that they should go to the science lab.

* * *

Before gathering in the science lab, a break was given.

Hwang Saebi and I left the annex and headed for the main building. As we were walking, we heard a thunderclap and both stopped.

“Why is the weather like this today? It’s scary.”

Hwang Saebi, who seemed startled, muttered, and I nodded. Hwang Saebi glanced at me and asked,

“Are you okay? You don’t look good.”

“It’s probably motion sickness. I’ll be fine after a rest.”

“Just...”

Hwang Saebi started to nag but stopped. I took the phone from the manager.

“I’ll be back after a call with Hyung I. I’m curious about the fan song.”

“No, you should rest during break time.”

“Okay, okay.”

After saying that, I parted ways with Hwang Saebi and entered an empty classroom without cameras.

I thought I had gotten used to being in front of the camera, but with the bad weather today, it wasn’t the case. My heart sank every time I heard thunder, and I couldn’t return to a calm state.

“Why is my mental state like this?”

I felt that smoking just one cigarette would calm me down, but I needed to take care of my voice, so I couldn’t.

I sat down under the window and took deep breaths. My hands were trembling and numb, so I alternately rubbed them. The end of June felt cold. I thought I should get a jacket from the stylist.

I leaned my head against the wall and imagined this place as a studio.

Maybe I feel a sense of stability after leaving my room and being stuck in someone else’s studio.

A 27-inch monitor filled with Logic Pro, Focal speakers on the wall, and neon lights with Hyung I’s English name.

A sofa that isn’t particularly comfortable but where I can fall asleep easily, a foldable bed leaning against the wall, and a chair that cost a lot of money.

I thought about that place where we would quickly switch to talking about music after discussing what we ate yesterday.

During the two years of pondering why people disliked me, my thoughts would always end up being about music when I entered the studio. What a cozy space.

I called Hyung I with my phone. As soon as he answered, I asked,

“Is the studio good?”

-Damn, you never ask about my well-being. But the pre-chorus you sent, isn’t it a bit weak?

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that too.”

-When did you make this? You didn’t mention this when you left the studio yesterday.

“On the way from the shop to the shooting location.”

-Did you go to Jinhae or something?

“It’s Gayang-dong.”

-So you made it while going from Cheongdam-dong to Gayang-dong and sent it?

“Yeah.”

In response to my answer, Hyung I cursed and hung up.

“Man, this guy has no feelings.”

I grumbled and put my phone in my pocket.

Still, hearing Hyung I’s somewhat sarcastic praise improved my mood. As I was about to get up and leave, Min Jihoo was standing in front of the door.

“What are you doing?”

“I was waiting for you, hyung.”

“Why?”

“Just a habit.”

Min Jihoo said and gestured for me to hurry.

The members were listening to the fan song in the 3rd grade, 1st class, where the shooting started. Shin Jiwoon said,

“What about releasing it before the regular release?”

Min Jihoo clapped once and said,

“Oh, I’ve been wondering what this feeling was. It’s the pre-release feeling.”

Indeed. Releasing the fan song as a pre-release isn’t the problem...

“Is the song good?”

I asked, and Min Jihoo replied,

“Yeah. It feels like your song, and it also feels like my heart.”

“...Does it feel like Super Power here?”

I asked, and Min Jihoo laughed.

“Of course. It feels like eternal sunshine. When I meet you, the world is clear. That’s Super Power.”

While thinking he’s a simple guy, it somehow feels right. Hwang Saebi, who seemed to have used up all his energy, glanced at me and said,

“You suggested writing the fan song yourself, so why are you so nervous?”

“Isn’t a fan song supposed to be nerve-wracking? It’s a gift, and the recipient should like it.”

“Haewon, are we only going to have one fan song for our entire lives? We will continue to be grateful to our fans and make fan songs with that mindset. It’s just one of many fan songs. It doesn’t have to represent our feelings 100%.”

They seem smarter today. Is it because they’re using their heads?

While I was thinking, An Joo-won added,

“It might be a bit nerve-wracking as it’s the first time conveying our feelings. But I really like that it’s the first fan song we’re giving.”

Then, other members chimed in, saying they liked it too. It’s a relief.

While we were talking, Han Hyoseok, who had been listening to the fan song, took out his earphones and said,

“I think it would be good to release it as a special video.”

Min Jihoo agreed.

“A special video sounds good. We can suddenly release it on a rainy day!”

“The company doesn’t work that way... This isn’t a fight.”

“Are you worried? Yeah?”

Min Jihoo teased and giggled. I told Min Jihoo,

“Don’t be too annoying.”

“Okay, okay. I think the suns will like it. What should we do? I can’t wait to let them hear it.”

“Then, let’s consider the special video idea... Shall we take a break first?”

I asked, thinking it might be too much to work during break time, but the members all shook their heads.

“This is our break.”

“I have an idea.”

Shin Jiwoon raised his hand and continued,

“What about performing it in an empty auditorium?”

Then, Park Sunjae immediately responded,

“Wow. I like it. I really like it.”

At that moment, Min Jihoo quickly knelt down and clasped his hands.

“Let me give a message at the end. Please.”

“What do you want to say?”

I asked, and Min Jihoo said,

“I have two. ‘I miss the suns’ or ‘Let’s meet the suns soon!’”

“Since Min Joo is kneeling, we should let him, right?”

I asked, and Shin Jiwoon replied sarcastically,

“We can’t let him do everything just because he kneels.”

“He’s cute.”

“Look closely. He’s not cute at all. I’m cute.”

“No, your standard of cuteness is wrong.”

“Do you dislike me, hyung?”

“I don’t dislike you. It’s objective.”

“Wow, just dislike me then.”

After a noisy discussion, the shooting resumed. The rain seemed to have stopped a bit.

I pressed my palm firmly on my heart, which was beating erratically. Since the shooting has progressed quite a bit, I thought I could endure a little longer.

* * *

All seven members gathered in the science lab. With seven flashlights, it was a bit brighter, but the members who were easily scared were frozen in place.

And all the easily scared members were everyone except Hwang Saebi and me. Hwang Saebi said to me,

“Looking at them, we’re not easily scared, huh.”

“Yeah. Cowards.”

I had no choice but to ask PD Kim Jaesung,

“PD, can you please turn on the lights? We can’t proceed at all.”

“Wait a moment, let me consult.”

The production team, who didn’t know the members were so easily scared, gathered to discuss. After a while, the lights in the science lab finally turned on.

Unlike the classroom, there were four experimental tables that could seat six people each. There were several cabinets, and on top of them were toolboxes. Shin Jiwoon looked at the cabinets, covered his face with both hands, and