Chapter 65

65

"Hey, Ho Yun. Long time no see."

"Hello."

I stuck the name tag that had fallen off back on and greeted him. After arriving at the 'Victory is Mine' venue, I had been making the rounds to greet the members when I ran into PD Kim Hee-young in the hallway after a quick bathroom break.

Kim Hee-young, whom I hadn't seen in a while, had a very smooth face.

"Wow, you look the best!"

...Yeah.

"Are you the main PD this time?"

"No, I just came along to fill in the numbers. This damn slapdash company…."

PD Kim Hee-young had been resting after finishing Shining Star. Well, it's not like an idol needs to take on consecutive major programs. It seemed he had been dragged in to fill in this time.

"Anyway, I saw you win first place this time. I'm a bit late, but congratulations."

"It's all thanks to PD. Without your warm consideration, how could I have made it to first place?"

"Wow, you sure know how to say nice things."

PD Kim Hee-young chuckled. Just as I was about to pass by with some warm words, Kim Hee-young tilted his head.

"But, what's up with Joo Sung?"

"Excuse me?"

Is this kid blowing up?

"No, it just seemed like the kids here were looking at Joo Sung in a really intense way…. I don't know much about it, though."

"Oh."

He hasn't blown up. Instead of saying, 'It's because he lives like trash,' I nodded silently, and Kim Hee-young shrugged.

"You're close, so take care of him if anything happens."

"No, I can't."

I wasn't in a position to worry about others with my ex-girlfriend right in front of me. Suddenly, a wave of depression hit me, and I rubbed my forehead.

Forgetting only one side of a memory is really... a despicable thing.

"...I'll go first."

"Okay~."

I left the carefree PD Kim Hee-young behind and walked over to sit with the members.

"Ha…."

Jung Da-joon, who was looking at today's schedule, widened his eyes and asked.

"Bro, why are you suddenly like this? Did someone make you angry?"

No, I just had a sudden wave of depression...

The members, who were as innocent as a newborn baby Bambi, chimed in one by one.

"Who? Oh, did someone start a fight with you?"

"Did you already take someone down?"

"..."

"Come on, if it's Ho Yun, you must have handled it well."

Innocent, my ass.

What the hell are you saying? As I was about to retort, a familiar voice cut in from behind.

"Seo Ho Yun."

One of the few idol group members and centers whose name tag can be crumpled in his pocket and still be recognized by everyone, Joo Sung, was there.

"Ah, Senior Joo Sung, hello!"

"Hey, hello."

Was Black Call also participating in this 'Victory is Mine'? The members were standing together nearby.

Joo Sung looked around the venue with a wistful gaze and muttered.

"I really didn't want to come…."

"You have your reasons…."

You've dated most of the people here….

Joo Sung sighed and plopped down in a chair.

Why are you here if you didn't want to come, and this isn't even your level of program?

"Why are you here?"

"…To cheer on a junior?"

"Me?"

"No way. My direct junior is over there, high-five."

Joo Sung nodded towards the other side. I knew the direct junior group of Black Call, but Joo Sung didn't seem to care at all if he was here to cheer them on.

'Strange.'

They wouldn't just push a junior group to get Black Call to appear... But I soon reached a conclusion.

'Ah.'

He must have been pressured.

They probably told him that if Black Call didn't participate, the junior group wouldn't get to appear on music shows. It was a common tactic used by broadcasters.

No matter how much he was half-threatened by the broadcaster... to come all the way here where he would run into his ex-girlfriends every three seconds!

I decided to reassess Joo Sung's mental state when he made a disgusted face.

"What are you looking at me up and down for? It's making me feel bad."

I shrugged and turned away, ignoring him. Behind Joo Sung, the Black Call members, who had been standing in a line, were looking at me with curious eyes, waiting for a chance to speak.

"Hello."

"Could it be that...! Are you the one who reformed our clueless Joo Sung?"

"Hey! What are you talking about."

"Yes."

I greeted them first, bypassing Joo Sung, and the leader of Black Call approached, shaking my hand repeatedly and expressing his gratitude.

Without knowing what was being said, the fans were both uneasy and cheering, saying that the seniors and juniors in the group seemed to have a close relationship.

"Thank you so much, I was really worried about when this kid would grow up. After meeting Seo Ho Yun, he changed like 'our child has become different.' What kind of magic did you use…."

"I didn't do anything. You've really worked hard."

"Wow, even the virtue of consideration! You really have it all."

"They really know how to play it well."

Joo Sung sneered, but the leader of Black Call smiled contentedly. He must have been worried about having a playboy in the same group.

"This is Jung Da-joon, our maknae."

"Ah, I've seen you on TV a lot."

"Senior! Hello!"

We were assigned seats close to Black Call, and we chatted amicably. By the time we finished, the competition had already started.

[The 14th 'Victory is Mine' is now beginning!]

"Fourteen years already?"

"Indeed."

The opening ceremony was brief. The national anthem was played to fit the concept.

The fans looked puzzled, thinking, 'Why here...,' but they reluctantly stood up, not wanting to disgrace their idols.

After a short opening ceremony, the events began one by one. The first event was track and field. One member from each idol group was to participate.

Our representative was...

"Kim Sung-hyun, fighting!"

Of course, it was Kim Sung-hyun, who excelled physically. As he stretched, the Black Call vocalist also came out.

I put my arm around Kim Sung-hyun's neck and leaned in, speaking earnestly.

"Kim Sung-hyun."

"Surprised. Why?"

"Please, please, please, get first place."

If not, I'll create another black history.

After the last act of cuteness, I didn't want any more hits to my reputation, but everyone has basic human rights, right? As I clung to him and begged, Kim Sung-hyun furrowed his brow.

"Seo Ho Yun, do you want first place?"

"Yes."

"Got it."

Kim Sung-hyun's expression became even more determined.

"I owe you one."

"Hey... you...!"

I'm not that kind of person, but I was momentarily moved, looking at Kim Sung-hyun. Wow, there's a reason they call him 'God Sung-hyun'...

"I'll be back."

Kim Sung-hyun stood at the starting line. As the 100m men's preliminary was announced, each athlete was introduced. When Kim Sung-hyun's face appeared on the screen, the crowd roared.

"Wow!"

"Kim Sung-hyun! Kim Sung-hyun!"

"Kim Sung-hyun is popular."

Seo Ji-woon murmured contentedly, and I nodded calmly.

After the bullying incident was resolved well and the editing of Shining Star was favorable, he was quite popular even among fans of other groups.

Kim Sung-hyun's lane was 5. As the camera focused on him, the commentators naturally began to talk about him.

[Wow! Kim Sung-hyun, he looks ready.]

[This is the guy who caught a thief on the street, right?]

[Yes, to catch a thief, he must be really fast! I'm looking forward to it.]

As everyone got into position, the starting gun went off. From the start, Kim Sung-hyun took the lead, and the commentators jumped up in excitement.

[Oh! He's fast! Kim Sung-hyun is fast!]

[Even faster! Kim Sung-hyun is leading!]

[Oh! Black Call's Jung Woo is catching up! No, but Kim Sung-hyun is pulling away! Kim Sung-hyun is going all the way to the finish line! Go-ooal!!]

[Kim Sung-hyun! Kim Sung-hyun is first!]

"Bro, amazing!"

Kim Sung-hyun ran all the way to the finish line and even hit the sponge wall. The Black Call vocalist followed and bumped into him, and they both got up, patting each other. It was peaceful on their side, but the commentary booth was in chaos.

[How can he run so fast?]

[Amazing, amazing! No wonder he could catch a thief!]

"Go, go, Kim Sung-hyun!"

The members of Daeun were dancing excitedly. I was the only one quietly clenching my fist among the dancing members caught on camera.

If he does this well in the preliminaries, the finals are a sure thing. Kim Sung-hyun smiled brightly, waving at the camera and the crowd.

I clasped my hands together, praying earnestly.

"Bro, what are you doing?"

"Praying with a glass of water."

"Where did you put the water?"

I left the puzzled members behind and believed in Kim Sung-hyun like a god. Please, please, kid.

While waiting for the other preliminaries, Kim Sung-hyun went to the fan section, chatted for a bit, and came back with an even more energetic face.

[Oh~, Kim Sung-hyun looks even better than before!]

[But this time, it's not easy. Last time, Mars won the gold medal in the men's 100m.]

[What was Mars' record?]

[It's in the record books. Third best ever!]

A member of Mars walked out casually. That record is faster than Kim Sung-hyun's earlier time.

Even though I wasn't a participant, I was on high alert. Kim Sung-hyun, however, politely bowed. The commentators were impressed.

[Even in this situation, he's still bowing! This is what an idol is!]

[No, no. This is a way to gauge the opponent. By the angle of the bow, he can judge how light and flexible the opponent is.]

[Such deep meaning!]

"..."

"Risky move."

The commentators were babbling, but it didn't matter. I was still clasping my hands, praying for Kim Sung-hyun to win.

[Wow, the members of Daeun are cheering so much.]

[There, Seo Ho Yun is already praying with clasped hands.]

[What a touching team spirit!]

It was almost touching.

Because my life is so hard.

[The men's 100m final is about to begin.]

Everyone lined up and got into position. Kim Sung-hyun's face hardened again. The starting gun went off.

[They're off!]

Kim Sung-hyun shot out like a rocket. He moved so fast it seemed like he was using a teleportation spell, covering space in the blink of an eye. His long legs and arms made him even faster than before.

[Oh! It's a close race with Mars' Kamel, a close race!]

[Kamel is faster. No, no!? Now, Daeun's Kim Sung-hyun is taking the lead, Kim Sung-hyun, Kim Sung-hyun!]

[Shouldn't this guy be a track and field athlete instead of an idol?!]

The excited voices of the commentators filled the stadium.

Kim Sung-hyun ran like a madman until the very end. He was neck and neck with Mars' Kamel almost until the finish line. In a close race, Kim Sung-hyun hit the sponge wall and fell back.

"Who, who is first?"

"Probably Sung-hyun?"

[First place is-!! Daeun's Kim Sung-hyun! The record is the best ever in 'Victory is Mine'!]

"Wow! Best record!!"

The stadium buzzed. Kim Sung-hyun, who had been lying on the ground panting, jumped up and smiled brightly. He took care of the other group members and ran to where the members were.

Ah!

I raised Kim Sung-hyun well!

"Hey! I'm first!"

"Wow, Sung-hyun, you're the best~."

Seo Ji-woon welcomed Kim Sung-hyun with a bright smile and applause, while I made a small 'nice' gesture with a clenched fist.

"Did you see that?"

"You did great!"

"Indeed!"

I smiled and patted Kim Sung-hyun's back. He ran to the fan section, excited and flushed, and the fans cheered for him.

"Wow, he went straight to the fan section... This is what... God Sung-hyun is, right?"

"Your group doesn't have a Kim Sung-hyun, does it?"

Kang Eun-jae and Jung Da-joon murmured proudly. I had a similar expression, so I didn't feel like picking a fight.

Ding!

[Feeling good?]

Stop using informal language.

['Victory is Mine' Quest: 1/3 first place wins]

Two more. Two more.