Just Once, They Said

“Of course, it would be fine if he just focused on activities as an idol.

To be honest, Yuseong is quick to judge situations and speaks well, so he could do well in variety shows, but he’s so passionate about establishing the label that he’s probably under more stress than us.”

“Honestly, we thought we could just casually figure out things like legal counsel by finding a good law firm and lawyers, but Yuseong brother is really digging into it deeply.”

Among members who can compose, write lyrics, and create songs and choreography, Yuseong, who came from a non-trainee background, decided his role would be something other than producing.

“But, even in the midst of all that, he says he needs to be helpful, so he splits his time and is studying MIDI programs more than usual, on top of everything else…….”

The image of Yuseong, who had been sleeping peacefully in Hanbyeol’s mind, was suddenly jolted out.

He splits his time down to the minute?

Or does he have some kind of time-turning clock like the friend of a protagonist in a fantasy novel?

“He’s doing all of that, brother?”

“……Sorry.

We should have stopped him more.”

Only now did Hanbyeol understand.

Even though he was a student preparing for exams, and his parents were busy often leaving him home alone, he would be an adult in just three months.

The members of Channel (Cha.N) couldn’t have not known that.

Yet, the reason they welcomed Hanbyeol coming and going from the dorm was because they wanted Hanbyeol, Yuseong’s actual younger brother, to look out for him in their stead.

“So, that’s why you allowed me to come to the dorm?”

“There’s a bit of that feeling, isn’t there?

Sorry for taking advantage of you being sick.”

“No, it’s okay.”

‘I’m actually grateful.’

Using the excuse that Hanbyeol was unwell and his older brother needed to look after his younger sibling, the Channel (Cha.N) members had managed to disrupt Yuseong’s insane schedule.

Now that Hanbyeol had time on his hands, he wondered how best to deal with the older brother who, claiming he would tutor his exam-preparing sibling, had started solving high school senior workbooks.

Does that guy not know how to rest?

Does it make any sense to grind yourself down to that state?

Hanbyeol was at a loss for what to do with his brother, who was peerless in his diligence.

****

Hanbyeol was now in a slightly flustering situation.

“To brother’s company right now?

Why me?”

–Uh…… Remember that thing, before, that thing.

“Don’t just say ‘that thing,’ explain properly.”

–Um, is there anyone around you……? It sounds a bit noisy there?

“…….”

There was Taeha.

After all his classes had finished, he had stayed in the classroom with friends, their desks pushed together to study.

Since the two friends who attended academies had left first, he and Taeha were left studying alone at the large classroom table.

Of course, there were a few other friends scattered around the room doing self-study, but the phone had rung right as the break bell sounded, so he had answered it right there in the classroom, making it highly likely Taeha sitting next to him could hear the conversation.

“Taeha-yah, I’m just going to go talk to my brother for a bit.”

“Huh?

Okay.”

Taeha, who had been checking a problem, nodded as he took off his glasses.

Hanbyeol went to a less crowded area and put the phone back to his ear.

“It’s just me now.

Why?”

–Remember what we talked about before.

That, Danyeong brother said your pheromones were his type.

“……Shouldn’t you be saying things like ‘idols shouldn’t do stuff like dating’?”

–Ah, Hanbyeol-ah.

It’s not like that……. That brother isn’t thinking of it in that way.

Anyone would interpret ‘my type’ in that way when they hear it.

Of course, Hanbyeol also didn’t think Danyeong had romantic feelings for him.

During the few days he had been going to the dorm, most of what Danyeong had said to him was at the level of looking after a younger brother.

Since Danyeong thought of the members as family, Hanbyeol had also become family’s family.

To Hanbyeol’s perception, he was just close to being family to Danyeong.

[‘You had your second-term midterms last week? Hanbyeol-ah, you didn’t skip breakfast, did you? What? You usually don’t eat breakfa……? This kid is saying something seriously problematic!’]

[‘We were thinking of ordering chicken for a late-night snack, and you say you don’t eat late-night snacks……? That’s nonsense! If you’re a student, you need to eat well! Come out right now!’]

[‘Hanbyeol-ah. Take the nutritional supplements in the living room before you go. Got it? It’s non-negotiable. You don’t know which ones to take? Just take one of each.’]

……The nagging was a bit intense, but anyway, it was family.

That person said he liked his (actually, his brother’s) pheromones, but what on earth did that have to do with him needing to go to the company now?

“You know I’m preparing for exams, right?”

–Hanbyeol-ah.

Brother has a lot of money.

You don’t have to study well.

I’ll take responsibility.

“Ah, stop saying nonsense.

Just tell me the reason.”

–Well…… It seems Danyeong brother has included you in his grand, ambitious dream.

“A grand dream, what…… Huh?

Wait, Danyeong brother’s dream?”

Hanbyeol was startled.

Yoon Danyeong.

Age twenty-four.

Before debut, when he appeared on [Pick, My Dol!], he was the only participant in his twenties among the roughly twenty alphas.

With his tall stature and handsome looks, the tenacity to see things through, a usually playful and affectionate demeanor that transformed into a charismatic presence when practice began, he had successfully garnered a lot of popularity.

Also, his usual playfulness made him a rather unpredictable person.

Midway through the [Pick, My Dol!] program, there was a corner for letters to their future selves.

It was a letter to their post-debut selves.

Most wrote messages to their future busy, newly-debuted selves, or expressed joy to their future selves who would be celebrating a music show win, saying because the present self exists, the future self exists.

Trainees ranked low enough that debut seemed impossible wrote to their post-program selves, saying they were practicing hard like this and had no regrets, sometimes shedding tears, which increased fan solidarity.

The lessons and practice sessions on [Pick, My Dol!] were notoriously difficult; there were even occasional eyewitness accounts of trainees from famous agencies being taken to the hospital emergency room during the training camp.

Amidst the participants who dreamed of the future while enduring grueling practice yet sometimes burst into tears out of frustration, Danyeong, who was always responsible for making those around him laugh, stood out remarkably.

[‘To the thirty-five-year-old Yoon Danyeong.’]

While others were moved by the participants running towards their dreams despite the arduous training, Danyeong, at twenty, delivered a blow to the back of the heads of those cheering with his shining eyes.

[‘By now, you must be happily hearing the news of a daesang win for a junior group you produced with your own hands, or participated in producing, right?’]

Hanbyeol recalled the flood of question marks that filled the chat window as soon as Danyeong’s broadcast segment aired.

To think he was serious…….

–Danyeong brother is serious about creating a junior group…….

He said that if we establish our label, we should be able to recruit trainees in the near future.

It was because the members’ skills were so good.

From debut, the producing rights for the album that grabbed first place with self-composed songs largely belonged to Channel (Cha.N).

“I’d rather you tell me the ‘your pheromones are my type’ thing seems like romantic feelings.

Then I can end it cleanly with a rejection.”

–Unfortunately, it’s not…….

He thought things had gotten complicated because of Yuseong’s health condition, but all sorts of bizarre things were happening.

“First, tell him I’m not coming.”

–I did tell him that……? That Hanbyeol would definitely not come.

“But, why?”

–But…… Danyeong brother is being very serious.

“I’m serious too! I have no intention of becoming an idol! My dream is to be a composer, I told you!”

–I’m going crazy too…….

So, about that, couldn’t you just come once and talk it out?

“Why?”

–If you see him in person and reject him, then brother won’t think about it anymore.

‘Is this bastard trying to feed me to him?’

When no answer came from Hanbyeol, a small sorry came from the other side of the receiver.

–Even if it’s not that, you still need to come to the practice room…….

“Why?”

–At the dorm, since you come and go, the pheromones might have attached, but at the company, it’s just not…….

‘f*ck.’

Hanbyeol gritted his teeth.

****

“So, Hanbyeol-ah, we would like you to become a member of the idol group we plan to train—”

“I refuse.”

‘So’ what?

I’m not doing it.

Having missed his chance to respond during the lengthy explanation that started as soon as he got in the car, Hanbyeol cut off Danyeong’s final words and shook his head.

Danyeong’s eyes widened in surprise as he asked.

“Why?”

“I have no intention of becoming an idol.

Besides, I’m not suited to be one either…….”

Danyeong made a subtle expression as if he had heard the most absurd thing in the world.

“In what way?”

“……Huh?

Well, first of all, idols need to speak well.

I’m not particularly eloquent…….”

……But you are?

The manager driving in front and Danyeong sitting next to Hanbyeol seemed to share the same thought, falling silent.

Danyeong, who had been quiet for a moment as if trying to understand Hanbyeol’s words, blinked a few times, then nodded as if he understood.

“Well, that’s subjective.

Any other reason?”

“Yuseong brother is really handsome, right?

But I’m not like that.”

“……Any other reason?”

“You need talent too, but I’m not particularly……”

“Another reason besides that one.”

You need more reasons?

Hanbyeol tilted his head.

His relatively light brown eyes held a look of puzzlement.