Chapter 19

19

"Hey, guys, we made it to the real-time charts!!"

Despite the accumulated fatigue from practicing in the studio since dawn and then moving by car to prepare for the showcase, the members' excitement showed no signs of waning. Not only the music video views, but Second Chance had also entered the real-time charts of three major music sites, including Tinkerbell and Tap.

"Well, it did drop out again…."

Even though it was only 91st place, it still counts.

"I didn't sleep all night, refreshing the page…."

"Bro, I did the same…."

Seung Ji-won, now more relaxed, was chatting with Jung Da-jun. However, I was still on edge.

What's left is the Mango Chart.

"Didn't they say the Mango Chart was revamped yesterday…? What does that mean?"

Kim Sung-hyun tilted his head.

Hmm, the timing is perfect.

"Originally, you needed 24-hour performance to enter the chart, but this time they changed it to a mix of real-time performance percentages."

"Oh, really? I didn't know that."

I listened to the conversation from the back seat, just as the article I read yesterday said.

Back when I was a PD… so about a month ago, I heard this from an insider.

'Am I crazy to judge 24-hour performance?'

How can a rookie enter the chart in just one day? It's like reaching for the stars.

Ding!

[…You seemed so confident, but you were already lying down to see where you could stretch your legs, weren't you?]

Of course.

'I don't gamble.'

Even though he couldn't hear me, I tapped my phone in response. The revamp is real, but due to the 24-hour streaming performance being mixed in and real-time performance not being reflected during the night, the chart entry was delayed.

"Hmm… I don't want to file for bankruptcy."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind."

Of course, this performance is crucial, and for the bet with the representative, Second Chance must enter the chart.

While I felt proud that the music video turned out well, I couldn't really feel it until I saw the external reactions.

Kim Sung-hyun, who was chatting with Kang Eun-chae, tapped me.

"Look at this."

"What is it?"

"Already, there's an interpretation of our MV."

"Already?"

It seems we have more firepower than I thought.

Then I realized I hadn't checked the community and SNS yet. I took the phone Kim Sung-hyun offered and read the post.

[Title: The Dune MV Interpretation - Our boys' MV, after a long hiatus, is finally here!!!!

The meaning of our boys wearing uniforms is that they are handsome. The meaning of holding guns and flipping cards is that Seo Ho-yun is a god. The meaning of Kim Sung-hyun suddenly running is that he is a super god. …]

"…Kim Sung-hyun."

"Why, why."

"Did you want the interpretation of 'super god'?"

"That's not it!"

Kim Sung-hyun, a bit embarrassed, quickly scrolled down. A proper interpretation was appearing.

"Keep reading."

[…☆God☆Cheongbeom's money-drenched beat clearly indicates that this MV is an apocalyptic SF.

Seo Ho-yun/Seung Ji-won are the government forces suppressing the revolutionaries. Kim Sung-hyun is the leader, Kang Eun-chae is the assault team, and Jung Da-jun, who is the key, is the revolutionary force that is always looking for an opportunity to confront the government forces.

However, there is one peculiarity here. Seung Ji-won, who is the enemy, does not kill Kim Sung-hyun but commits suicide and regresses to the start. From 'In other words, I'm back' and 'I can't miss this opportunity,' we know that Seung Ji-won is a regressed person.

Meanwhile, Seo Ho-yun, who wears the same uniform as Seung Ji-won, appears. (Seo Ho-yun had a stage name 'Hoohoo' but changed it, and it doesn't appear anymore…) Seo Ho-yun holds five cards on the table and reveals each one. The Joker represents Jung Da-jun, who is the key. He is important to both the government and revolutionary forces. Seo Ho-yun seems to have expected this and flips through them, but he smiles meaningfully at the last card.

'Running Jung Da-jun, Kim Sung-hyun's clip. gif'

After that, Jung Da-jun and Kim Sung-hyun run away from the government forces. They encounter Seung Ji-won, but with the lyrics 'Strange déjà vu, you are not afraid,' they feel a strange sense of familiarity.

'No need to worry,' Seung Ji-won does not kill Kim Sung-hyun. Instead, seeing Jung Da-jun, who is severely injured, he realizes the situation is wrong and points the gun at his own head.

'Seung Ji-won pointing the gun at his head. gif'

He is trying to regress by committing suicide. This is the scene we saw at the beginning.

In fact, Seung Ji-won was on the side of the revolutionaries. However, there is another twist: Kang Eun-chae, who was thought to be a revolutionary, shoots Seung Ji-won to prevent his regression.

'Kang Eun-chae holding a sniper rifle. gif'

The gunshot we heard at the beginning was not Seung Ji-won's but Kang Eun-chae's…!!!!

This indicates that the initial regression failed.

'I ain't gonna miss this time,' Kang Eun-chae was a government spy and calls someone over the radio.

The scene that follows is the appearance of Seo Ho-yun, marking the start.

'Strange déjà vu, you are not afraid.'

But the song continues. 'No need to wander, I will find the way.'

Seo Ho-yun has already set the plan. Seung Ji-won's regression failed, and the revolutionaries are now in Seo Ho-yun's hands, including the 'key' Jung Da-jun. Seo Ho-yun knew this from the beginning.

'Seo Ho-yun flipping the card to check. gif'

The card that appears is the King of Hearts, Carolus the Great. Do you know what this card is called?

The Suicide King1)...

Seo Ho-yun not only knew that Jung Da-jun would become the Joker but also that Seung Ji-won, who he thought was on his side, was actually trying to save the revolutionaries by committing suicide and regressing. He knew this from the beginning...

This seems to continue, but I don't know how it will end...

Do you think I look like I'm shedding tears over this god story's MV?

Instead of wiping my tears, give me some views.

It's been a while since I've been this excited about K-pop idols, and it's The Dune...]

"Wow…."

'Really well-written interpretation…'

I nodded involuntarily as I read. At the same time, I felt strange and asked Kim Sung-hyun.

"Who wrote this with such passion?"

"Our fans… fans, I guess."

Kim Sung-hyun's voice lowered, a bit embarrassed. With this level of skill, it's natural to have fans, but he didn't think so.

I also felt strange. It was awkward and strange to see someone write about me like this.

'Do I have fans?'

This feeling persisted even when we arrived at the showcase venue. We reached the Live Hall, a prime location for showcases, and saw our large photos hanging. At the entrance, people were already lining up, even though the showcase was hours away.

"Those people…."

"Hey, there's another performance here, right?"

The members dismissed it, thinking we had no fans. They all got out of the van.

"Ji-won! Seung Ji-won!"

"Eun-chae, Sung-hyun, look here!"

…We were wrong.

As soon as the members got out of the car, we heard our names being called. We turned around, surprised.

There were only a few, but they were waving tickets and taking photos of us.

Seung Ji-won stammered.

"What, what is this?"

"Say hi, quickly."

As we fumbled, we heard them calling again. Bending down in confusion, a cheer erupted.

"Da-jun is so cute!"

"Are… are they our fans?"

Jung Da-jun mumbled, bewildered. Even though we were second-generation rookies, it was surprising.

I also bowed next to Jung Da-jun.

"Ho-yunaaaaa!"

"……!"

Startled, I looked up to see a fan waving a sign and shouting at me.

"Go, Ho-yun!"

"You're so handsome!!"

…Me?

I mumbled, taken aback by the new reaction. Pointing at myself, I asked, and they nodded.

"Ho-yun, if you smile, I'll be happy too!"

Unable to process the reality, I blinked. Kim Sung-hyun, seeing me standing there, pressed the back of my neck and said with a smile.

"What are you doing? Say hi."

"Ah… yeah."

I bowed, unsure of what to do. The fans' cameras clicked.

What is this…? Confused, I hurriedly entered the Live Hall, where Kang Eun-chae teased me.

"Bro, I've never seen you so flustered."

"Yeah, you were always so calm… but one cheer from the fans and you're flustered."

"……."

The other members added their comments as they passed by. They were also excited, but my reaction was the most unexpected.

I still couldn't believe I had fans.

'Really?'

I used to only get eggs for being a bad PD. The endless kindness was unfamiliar.

Logically, I could accept that I had a few fans with this level of popularity, but it still didn't feel real.

Even as I was led to the waiting room to get makeup and change into my outfit, I couldn't come to terms with it.

"You look great today, Ho-yun."

The stylist kept praising me as he adjusted my clothes.

I saw myself in the mirror, wearing in-ear monitors. Agreeing with the stylist's suggestion to go for a techwear look for the first time, I awkwardly looked at myself with stage makeup.

'…Feels weird.'

My phone vibrated. Messages from Im Hyun-soo, Joo Sung, and Seo Ho-jin.

[Seo Ho-jin: Bro]

[Seo Ho-jin: Tear up the stage]

[Seo Ho-jin: If you fail, I'll change the front door password so you can't come home]

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Yeah, why am I here?

Taking a deep breath and turning around, I saw the members, except Seung Ji-won, gathered, trying to hide their nervousness. Jung Da-jun, with a tense face, said to me.

"Bro, we're about to go on. Get ready."

"Where's Seung Ji-won?"

"He said he's in the bathroom? He's late."

"I'll go get him."

I know what's going on.

Leaving the waiting room, I headed to the bathroom. Bringing Seung Ji-won back to the stage would be just in time.

I habitually nodded to the passing staff and, when no one was around, hid slightly behind a vending machine and whispered.

"Item Shop."

[Opening the Item Shop.]

Various items appeared, as if asking to be bought. Scanning them, I immediately chose the one I had noticed before.

"Buy Calm Pill."

[Buying Calm Pill.]

[300 points spent.]

Simultaneously, I clenched and unclenched my hand, and a small Calm Pill wrapped in gold foil appeared in my palm.

Wow, this is so cool.

After checking my surroundings, I got water from the vending machine and found Seung Ji-won.

'As expected.'

I found him, pale, next to the stairs by the bathroom.

"…Hey."

He was breathing heavily and smiled awkwardly when our eyes met.

"Is it Ho-yun?"

"What are you doing, not coming?"

"Ah… just, a bit nervous."

Not just a bit.

His face was so pale, I thought he had been to the emergency room, not me.

"Sorry… I'll make sure not to let the team down."

I sat next to him silently. There was still some time left. Seeing Seung Ji-won muttering weakly, I felt the showcase would fail if I didn't help him.

His breathing was also a bit labored, and he looked like he might collapse at any moment. I looked at him calmly.

Ding!

[Support Seung Ji-won to successfully complete the showcase!

Seung Ji-won is exhausted from a long trainee life.

He is very nervous about the sudden good fortune.

Support Seung Ji-won 0/1 Successfully complete the showcase 0/1

Success: Charm +30, Dance +10, Singing +10

Failure: Charm -50, Dance -30, Singing -30]

'Fix the failure balance, you bastards.'

"Hey."

I handed Seung Ji-won the Calm Pill and water. He frowned slightly.

"Take it. Calm Pill."

"…How did you know I was nervous?"

"From before, you always showed it. How could I not know?"

Even during recording. He did well in practice but struggled in real situations, as if he had some trauma.

"I don't think this will help."

"Just take it."

"No, it's fine-!"

It's expensive.

I threw it into his mouth as he spoke. It went in easily. My experience nursing Seo Ho-jin when he was sick as a child came in handy.

Seung Ji-won, unable to speak with the pill in his mouth, quickly took the water I offered and swallowed it reluctantly, glancing at me.

"…You feed it to me so strangely."

"I have a younger brother. He eats like a dog when I throw it like this."

"Are you calling me a dog?"

I watched Seung Ji-won, making small talk.

[Seung Ji-won's tension is easing!]

It seems to be working. His breathing is improving. Seung Ji-won blinked.

"This is good. What is it? A placebo effect?"

"Good."

Objectively,