episode_0204

I first asked Han Si-woo how I could solve my lack of singing ability.

“Vocal? Yerin isn’t even the main vocalist, so why are you suddenly concerned about her singing ability?”

“… It’s true that I’m not the main vocalist, but I do get a lot of parts in the song.”

“That’s true.”

Objectively speaking, I was the most popular one among the Rookies.

So, I received quite a few parts in even though the concept didn’t fit me, and this time in , I became a main character and received the most parts.

However, despite the many parts I was given, I didn’t have the singing ability to match them.

“I feel like the song quality is dropping because of me… Producer Han Si-woo. Is there any way to improve my singing ability in a short period of time?”

“… … .”

As I spoke earnestly, Han Si-woo looked at me with wide eyes and then began to speak calmly.

and….

“I like Yerin Yang.”

“… … Yes?”

When I heard his words, I couldn’t help but be terrified.

I think this has happened before… .

As I frowned and moved back a little in my seat, Han Si-woo waved his hand and hurriedly made an excuse.

“Oh, no…! I don’t mean that I like you…!”

“… … .”

“After, junior idol…! I mean I like you as a junior idol…!”

At his hasty speech with a blush on his face… I erased the look of disgust in my eyes.

Only then did Han Si-woo cough in vain and continue speaking.

“I don’t know about Yerin, but… Actually, when I was young, my dream wasn’t to be an idol, but a dancer.”

“… Huh?”

“I became an idol because the current YW CEO said I could dance as much as I wanted on stage… , but in fact, until I first debuted, I only knew how to dance and I was terrible at singing.”

I perked up my ears at the unexpected past story of our country’s top idol.

Han Si-woo began to reminisce with a look of intense reminiscence.

“But as you were promoting your first album, didn’t you feel the limitations? At that time, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to succeed as an idol with just dancing. Just like Yerin now.”

“… So?”

Han Si-woo later became an all-round entertainer who could dance and sing, to the point of doing solo activities.

“Have you found any way to improve your singing skills in a short period of time?”

So I asked just in case… .

“No.”

“… … .”

“There is no such thing, Yerin. The only way to improve your singing ability is through rigorous practice. I, too, was barely able to get on track through hard work.”

As expected, the answer was as expected.

practice.

Certainly, without the luck of a status window, the only way to improve your singing ability is through practice.

When I made a gloomy expression, Han Si-woo lightly patted my shoulder as if to comfort me and said,

“The reason why I like Yerin Yang is because I see my old self in Yerin Yang now.”

“… … .”

“Yerin has a unique voice. I also have experience improving my singing ability by making use of that part… Whenever the Rookies have a free schedule, I will give you vocal training. Then, your skills will improve in no time.”

Even Han Si-woo said he would take the time to watch my vocal training despite his busy schedule.

This must have been said from Han Si-woo’s perspective, thinking very deeply of me… .

“… Then it’s late.”

“… Yes?”

“Today is the 150th day of Rookies. Now, for me… , Rookies only have about 200 days left.”

“… … .”

From my perspective, I couldn’t help but feel impatient.

As time goes by for Rookies, I feel like their popularity is cooling off compared to before.

“This music show is the same.”

“Is this a music show?”

So naturally the conversation flowed to music.

When the music show story came up, Han Si-woo scratched the back of his head and said.

“Yerin Yang. It’s hard to expect much from digital singles on music shows.”

“… Still. If had the same grades, it could have been #1 on the music charts alone.”

It’s not impossible to win first place on a music show with a digital single.

If the music source performance is overwhelming, there are cases where it even takes first place on music shows.

is currently ranked #1 on music charts, but it is not a result that can be called overwhelming.

But if it was the music chart performance at the time of … .

They could have won first place on this music show too.

“… Are you worried because you didn’t get first place on the music show?”

“… … .”

When Han Si-woo asked with an awkward smile, I shook my head.

“No. It’s not just because of the music show… . It’s just… .”

And then, just like Han Si-woo had done earlier, he looked up at the sky and spoke as if talking to himself.

“The music chart performance has also declined compared to the last promotion… , During the last promotion, we won first place on music shows from the first week… , But this time we couldn’t do that… .”

“… … .”

“I think it’s become less popular over the past few months… So… I’m a little confused.”

Music show rankings don’t really matter.

I just felt like the fact that the results were lower than before meant that the Rookies’ popularity had cooled down a bit… Especially since I was the main character in this activity, I felt bad because I thought it was because of me.

Han Si-woo listened to my words calmly and then answered in a slightly cold tone.

“That’s… , there’s nothing we can do about it. Right now, Rookies are getting a little carried away.”

“Is it mulberry?”

“Yes, because NaaA was so popular, the rookies born from NaaA were also riding on that popularity… . Hasn’t it already been a few months since NaaA ended?”

“… … That’s right.”

“Actually, during their last promotion, Rookies’ popularity was overheated to the point of being excessive. They are in the process of normalizing now, so don’t be too sad.”

“… … .”

When I made a blank expression at Han Si-woo’s words, Han Si-woo continued speaking with a slightly bitter expression.

“Yerin, you should also gradually get used to your popularity fading away. That’s something that all idols have to go through.”

“Fate…, right?”

“Yes, as they get older…, their appearance deteriorates…, etc., the popularity of idols eventually declines. This is a very sad thing.”

This story of Han Si-woo sounded like my own story.

… No, it seemed like his story was true.

“Especially project groups like Rookies, who were at the peak of their popularity right from their debut, are going downhill even faster. Now that Naaah has lost his popularity, we can say that the downturn has already begun.”

“… … .”

Popularity is declining… .

After hearing Han Si-woo’s words, I thought about what my future self would look like.

“If the popularity wanes and the fans leave…, I think it will be very disappointing.”

I still vividly remember the cheers of fans on stage and their passionate support.

If those fans leave… I think it would be very sad.

but….

“No, Miss Yerin. No matter what, you shouldn’t think like that.”

“Huh? Why… .”

“It’s not like we left anything up to the fans, is it?”

Han Si-woo’s mind seemed a little different.

“Fans love and support us blindly. Without asking for anything in return.”

“… … .”

“The reason we are known and active as entertainers is because of our fans. We shouldn’t be sad when those fans leave.”

As he spoke, Han Si-woo’s expression was filled with laughter again, as if he had never been bitter.

At that moment, I was able to find out why the man in front of me had risen to the top idol position and why he was still loved by people.

“I always feel indebted to my fans.”

“Debt…, right?”

“Yes, we have to repay the fans for all the love they give us.”

“… … .”

“So I plan to do my best until the last fan leaves. And… I hope Yerin will continue her idol life with this kind of mindset.”

Han Si-woo was laughing and telling me to become a debtor again.

To this I smiled back at him and answered.

“Producer Han Si-woo. Do you know what I do best?”

“What is it?”

“I’m paying off my debt right away.”

Ha Ye-rin, 19, spent her entire life paying off her parents’ debt.

The reason I became an idol was to pay off my parents’ debt.

Before I knew it, I had become an expert at paying off debt.

Idols owe a debt to their fans?

I have to do my best to pay off that debt?

‘That’s my specialty.’

Yeah, even if my popularity has dropped a bit, aren’t there still a lot of fans left who blindly love me… Rookies?

I just have to do my best to repay my debt to them.

Thinking like that, I somehow felt at ease.

Han Si-woo got up from his seat, perhaps feeling that his worries had eased a little when he saw my brightened expression.

“It’s fortunate that paying off debt is your specialty. Yerin will definitely be a beloved idol in 5 years, or even in 10 years.”

“Thank you. Thanks to producer Han Si-woo, I feel a little more relieved.”

“Then shall we go in now? Everyone will be waiting.”

But I shook my head at his suggestion that we go in together.

“No, I just want to get some fresh air. Producer Han Si-woo, please go in first.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Han Si-woo nodded to me and went inside first.

I put my arm over the railing for a moment to catch some air… .

“Status window.”

I turned on the status window.

[Remaining stats: 3]

I was wondering where to invest my remaining stats, and I just made up my mind.

“Invest 3 stamina.”

There are two ways to raise your stats: by directly pressing the status window with your finger or by saying it like this.

Paat.

[Stamina: 96]

As I spoke, my stamina increased from 93 to 96.

My stamina, which was already at the level of two hearts, had been strengthened a little more.

“I have to work harder in the future to pay off my debt.”

There are now a little over 200 days left for the Rookies’ activities.

Until the end of Rookies, I hope that the fans and I will have no regrets.

‘There’s no such thing, Yerin. The only way to improve your singing ability is through rigorous practice. I, too, was barely able to get on track through hard work.’

‘I always feel indebted to my fans.’

‘We must repay the endless love our fans give us.’

If my schedule is busy, I will do my best even if it means cutting down on sleep… I was planning to do my best, even though my stamina stat of 96 was not enough.