Chapter 86 Part 1: Produce 408

—Aren’t you Ren?

At that single remark, my exhaustion-laden mind instantly melted away.

‘····Am I caught?’

It took several tens of seconds to loosen my rigidly set mind and arrive at this single thought.

No, how did she figure it out?

I thought I had changed my voice sufficiently.

There’s the language difference, and the voice I used for work and my usual voice are very different.

The one I use for broadcasting now is my usual vocal tone.

Thanks to that, I was secretly confident that I wouldn’t be caught for a while…

To think there would be someone who recognized my real identity less than a year into my activities.

Considering her already confident tone, a flimsy excuse wouldn’t work.

But staying silent would be no different from proving her words correct.

‘No, more than that, who is that?’

My worries about protecting my already compromised real identity soon shifted to thoughts about the identity of the voice.

[No, are you crazy?!]

How can you ask about her real identity like that!

[Huh? Is that so···?]

Perhaps she couldn’t manage to mute herself.

Jumin’s flustered voice and that familiar voice came through.

Simultaneously, along with the ideal type world cup we just had, a name flashed through my mind.

“·····By any chance, are you Seolhwa?”

[Oh, you remember me?]

Then, a bright voice came from beyond the headset.

Cheon Seolhwa, real name Park Sehee.

The Korean idol I mentioned knowing before.

Wow, why didn’t I realize this from the beginning?

They say when you know the answer, the problem solves itself smoothly.

Listening to her voice now, even if I had just woken up, it was Cheon Seolhwa.

[?? No, um, really··· Do you know each other?]

Perhaps because I said her real name.

Jumin’s flustered question returned.

“Ah, yes.”

That’s right.

We knew each other a bit in the past.

Honestly, we only met once and mostly talked through Line, so I don’t know if I should say we’re close…

[See, I told you!]

Hearing such a bright voice, it’s also a bit awkward to say that.

By the way, to think our editor’s family member was an idol.

So that’s why she said she gets a lot of allowance?

“Yes···· Hello, Seolhwa.”

[Ah, hello!]

For now, I awkwardly greeted her once more.

‘Come to think of it, hiding it was impossible anyway.’

Forget everything else, my name is written on the employment contract.

From the moment Sehee was Jumin’s family and had met me, protecting my real identity was already out of the question.

Well, I never thought an idol from a neighboring country whom I had met only a few times would recognize me just by my voice.

“You, you’re my fan?”

To put it bluntly, there was a world of difference in recognition between a famous idol in the booming K-pop market and me, a Japanese idol from what was practically a collapsing shantytown.

The agencies, of course, but even the size of the industry and fandom were embarrassingly incomparable.

But what?

She’s my fan?

It was content that anyone on the street would treat as nonsense if asked.

[Of course!]

You’re the senior I respect the most, you know?

“Ahaha····.”

Senior.

Well, I did say that back then.

It’s been a while since I heard this in Korean.

As we talked about various things, old memories unknowingly surfaced in my mind.

---

The starting point of that “senior” title began in Korea, a few years ago.

To select new future idols, the two countries joined forces to run a program.

Produce 408.

An audition program jointly run by Korea and Japan to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Japanese popular culture.

As it was an audition program run by both countries, related figures from both nations also appeared.

Among them, our Cornelia, a famous rookie in Japan, also received an offer to appear.

There are many idols more popular than me in Japan, but still, if you include overseas recognition, I’m the most famous among them.

The company also thought it would be beneficial to participate this time and pick up some usable trainees.

‘Of course, since I’m already an active idol, I won’t be chosen·····.’

Still, since they invited me, it’s only polite to go.

Well, was it a Korea Idol vs Japan Idol concept?

Actually, perhaps because it was a position closer to a special guest, I was paid an appearance fee.

Well, maybe because it was a Korea-Japan joint program, it was a bit more than I expected?

‘The more money, the better.’

Huh?

My bank account was already reeling from paying off my parents’ debt last time; I couldn’t go through that kind of thing again.

Anyway, so I moved from Japan to Korea…

“Damn it, where is this place again?”

I immediately got lost.

It happened just three hours after leaving the hotel.

‘Damn it·····.’

If I had known this would happen, I should have just come with the others.

Why did I have to act up and say I’d come first to check things out?

The weather was already scorching, and on top of that, having to wear a hat and mask pressed down was truly hellish.

How long had it been since I started wandering the streets for a long time like that?

“Huh?”

Through my vision, which was slowly starting to be consumed by the heat haze, a figure came into view.

Whether staff or celebrity, people in this industry have a unique aura.

Whatever it was, that person was an entertainment industry insider.

“····Excuse me.”

“Ah, yes?”

As I cautiously approached and spoke, a woman wearing a mask looked at me.

“Could you possibly tell me how to get here?”

With those words, I showed the woman my cellphone.

On the screen, a map provided by the organizers beforehand was displayed.

“Ah, um··· Are you, Korean·····?”

“I’m Japanese.”

I corrected the woman’s misunderstanding with the kindest smile possible.

I’ve felt this since before, but when I come to Korea, this moment is the best.

The sensation is always thrilling.

“I-I’m sorry!!”

You speak Korean so well, I naturally assumed you were Korean···· I’m sorry!!

“·····Yes?”

But, I didn’t expect this kind of reaction at all.

Wasn’t my expression relatively kind just now?

While I was lost in thought, the stiffened woman spoke to me once more.

“Um, are you perhaps a Produce participant?”

“Yes, well···· Something like that.”

Actually, rather than an audition participant, I’ll perform and then go sit in the guest seats, but.

Still, I am participating, right?

I’m definitely not doing this because I want to look young.

“Wow!”

I’m participating too, would you like to go together?

Simultaneously, friendly eyes, reminiscent of a puppy, stared at me.

…Well, it’s not a particularly difficult task, so it should be fine.

She also looked younger than me and was cute, so I decided to just go with her.

“By the way, are you an idol after all?”

“Well, yes.”

“Um, could you possibly tell me your group name?”

How long had it been since we started walking, chatting amiably like that?

The stage where we had promised to perform beforehand came into view.

“Hmm·····.”

The stage quality is definitely good.

At this level, it’s comparable to the Tokyo Dome I went to last time.

Perhaps because Korea-Japan relations were also involved, I could keenly feel that they had definitely put in a lot of effort.

We can’t lose to you in quality.

Well, is that it?

“Hoo·····”

“···Are you nervous?”

Perhaps overwhelmed by the large stage in front of her.

The idol next to me let out a sigh as if nervous.

“Ah, yes.”

I’m a trainee····· This is my first time standing on such a big stage.

“Don’t be too nervous.”

If you are, even things that would work out won’t.

This is advice born from pure experience.

Having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, this kind of thing is good.

“Then, fighting!”

After finishing the stage inspection, I parted ways with her and headed to the waiting room.

Our Japanese kids will be participating here too, so I should go and cheer them on a bit beforehand.

‘Let’s see··· The waiting room is·····?’

The moment I turned the corner.

Tuk-!

“Ah.”

“Oops.”

I bumped into someone walking out from the opposite corner.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“No, my apologies.”

The one I collided with was a man.

He definitely looked young, but older than the trainee I had just met.

If I had to guess, around my age or a year or two older?

…What, am I old even by Korean standards?

No, I’m still 19.

More than that, is this person also an idol?

Looking at his well-done makeup and physique, he seems to be active.

Well, anyway.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me·····.”

“Ah, excuse me···.”

I quickly passed the man and moved towards the Japanese waiting room.

Usually, I might have talked a bit more, but I’m a bit busy right now.

Not only do I have to boost the morale of my juniors, but I also have to practice for the stage before filming, so I couldn’t attend to every trivial matter like this.

For that, well, I’ll ruin my first impression to some extent.

After continuously wandering the maze-like corridors, I was finally able to find it.

“Ah, I finally found it.”

[Japan Team]

The Korean team’s room was close to the stage, but why did they put ours in such a remote corner?

And when I opened the door, what greeted me were not idol hopefuls.

-Hwaaak!

“Ah.”

What hit my face was none other than scorching heat.

Amidst that hot hellfire, numerous trainees were preparing.

Wow, this is quite a memory.

We used to be like that in the old days too.

Of course, if they told me to go back into that hellfire now, I would decline.

No matter how much the fans like it, that’s too much.

“Hoo···· Alright, hello everyone?”

After somewhat adjusting to the hot air in the waiting room, I opened the door again, went inside, and greeted them.

“Eueh…?”

“Oh, Ren… Senpai?!”

“Hey!”

You haven’t even debuted yet, what’s with the senpai!!

Then came the even hotter reactions from the juniors.

Wow, this is quite thankful, isn’t it?

If I had known this would happen, I should have bought ice cream as a gift instead of snacks.