The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 161

“Everyone seems to have gotten their fair share of screen time?”

“I barely did anything, so my presence was almost…”

“Come on, Si-hyeok, next week in episode 2, just showing you handling the fish that Ha-ru caught will give you tons of screen time. If anything, I’ll probably have nothing next week?”

“Th-that would make me feel even more uncomfortable, Brother.”

“It’s not like you’re the one who edited it, so why worry about it.”

CENTIX was gathered amicably in the living room, monitoring the live broadcast of 〈Memories Time Traveler〉.

With our impromptu fan song as the finale, CENTIX’s desert island episode 1, which had surprisingly evolved into a healing show, came to an end.

As usual, while checking people’s real-time reactions, I couldn’t help but laugh at one massive request that was pouring in.

“What’s this guy laughing about all by himself again.”

Seong-hwi, sitting next to me, squinted his eyes and sneakily looked at my phone.

Soon after, he wore the same smile filled with victorious relief as me.

“Honestly, tell me, brother. That fan song wasn’t something you made on the spot, was it?”

“Of course not.”

“See, I told you. We’re all just dancing in Ryu Si-hwan’s palm.”

“Ah, except for me.”

At Seong-hwi’s candid words, Kang Seon-woo raised his hand as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

When the younger members glared at him with ‘what are you talking about’ looks, he made an embarrassed expression and started fidgeting with his fingers—a truly spectacular sight.

“Before we went to film, Si-hwan suggested we should try making a fan song ahead of time. He said there might come a time when we could use a fan song, timing-wise.”

“How did Brother Si-hwan predict that? You didn’t know beforehand that we’d be going to a desert island, did you?”

“I don’t have spies planted at the broadcasting station, so how would I know? Besides, out of all those choices, Seon-woo personally picked that one with his own two hands.”

“Hey, buddy, everything’s fine, but could you not keep emphasizing that last part?”

I waved one hand lightly, ignoring Kang Seon-woo’s request.

Then I explained the previous situation to Yu Ha-woon, who was raising spy suspicions.

“You all knew that variety show schedules get arranged according to comeback timing, right?”

“We did.”

“Since we already had some variety show experience from our debut activities and were somewhat adapted, fans were probably hoping we’d show corresponding performance. So if we only chose overly conventional directions, there was a high chance the pattern would become monotonous.”

“So you decided to adopt a bit of a cliché! Looking at other idol seniors, they generally include fan songs in their second comeback or second album. The timing was appropriate, and if we suddenly announced we’d make a fan song on a variety show, we could break away from standardized patterns.”

Thanks to Kang Seon-woo adding appropriate supplementary explanations to my words, the members seemed to understand the context in which the fan song idea came up.

“It’s so funny how everyone’s asking for the official fan song audio release right after the broadcast ended. Will it go up on our official account tomorrow?”

“The manager said it’ll go up at exactly 12 o’clock tomorrow.”

The fan song we made on 〈Memories Time Traveler〉 was already properly recorded that same week.

On top of that, we also filmed a music video that combined making film and nostalgic elements.

With CENTIX’s fan song schedule being released all at once tomorrow, I felt somewhat sorry for the fans who were still clamoring.

‘Please just hang in there for one more day.’

* * *

“Ugh, this is exhausting.”

Ryu Si-hwan’s homma let out a sigh and stretched widely.

Even though it was still the chilly February before the weather had warmed up, sweat beaded on her forehead.

She’d been busy with various tasks—organizing the backlog of 〈Find Me〉 activity photos concisely and redecorating her Bluebird profile, among other things.

On top of that, she was swamped catching up on recording/editing the newly appeared variety content 〈Memories Time Traveler〉.

‘…Still, looking at it like this makes me feel even more emotional.’

The homma stared silently at her computer screen for a while.

〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 Ryu Si-hwan videos that were approaching their first anniversary.

Official account posts that had been carefully collected since CENTIX’s formation.

Photos she’d personally taken while running around with her own two feet during the 〈Chronic〉 activity period.

Everything still felt vividly fresh as if it had just happened, but before she knew it, CENTIX was solidifying their firm position in the harsh entertainment industry.

The original intention of editing Ryu Si-hwan’s individual cuts in this timeline format was to get that feeling of growing together.

With 〈Memories Time Traveler〉 ending with a fan song, making the wistfulness surge to extreme levels, the homma was overwhelmed with emotion.

‘If the official audio gets released and later comes out as an ending song at a concert…’

Just imagining it felt like her tear ducts would explode.

For now, she knew that indulging in such fantasies could wait until after the actual audio was released.

Rave Entertainment was surprisingly good at handling CENTIX-related work. Especially when it came to matters that received MILLENNIUM’s unanimous support.

So she believed without a doubt that the fan song audio that many fans wanted would be released soon.

[Centix Official Fan Song 〈Reminder〉]

“…!”

At 12 o’clock, crossing into the next day, a new video was uploaded to CENTIX’s official NeoTube.

The thumbnail was a group photo of the members in casual clothes, smiling brightly at the camera.

The homma, who had covered her mouth the moment she saw the words “fan song,” exhaled softly and clicked the video.

The intro consisted of Ryu Si-hwan’s guitar accompaniment.

Seeing her bias sitting alone in the recording studio, meticulously playing the melody with careful hand movements, made her heart sink once again.

Light humming combined with subtle electronic sounds of future bass layered over the guitar, creating a comfortable melody.

「I already turned another page of the calendar today

time goes too fast, I can’t catch it

So many things have changed

Both me and everything around me

But I know

There’s always a place to return to」

Ryu Si-hwan’s voice flowed sweetly.

Scenes of him wearing headphones and busily moving his pen appeared one after another on screen.

There were so many papers filled with black ink that it was visible at a glance.

Ryu Si-hwan crumpled those papers and picked up his guitar again, repeating the composition process.

She found herself emotionally invested in his absorbed appearance, but when his face wearing glasses appeared in the middle, it unconsciously triggered some fangirl gushing.

“That’s definitely a capture-worthy moment.”

The homma, who had spoken loudly without realizing it, slapped her cheek and focused on listening to the lyrics again.

「I remind myself there every day

I am always me

Even if I seem to have changed at a glance, I’m always the same

It was always you who told me that

Yeah, you’re my reminder」

Seong-hwi’s distinctive tone moistened her eardrums.

After receiving various coaching from Ryu Si-hwan and Kang Seon-woo in the practice room, Seong-hwi entered the recording studio with his characteristic smile and looked at the camera.

Then he triumphantly finished recording and made a V sign while winking playfully.

「There were so many difficult times

I shed tears frequently too

I wondered every day if this path was right

Days when I wanted to give up are still vivid

But I still remember

What you gave me that day」

Yu Ha-woon’s part flowed more quietly than usual.

Using his slightly high-pitched voice in a low tone, he seemed to be calmly expressing the sincerity within himself.

The video perfectly included flashback scenes that matched the lyrics about difficult times.

Watching Yu Ha-woon’s explosive crying scene from the 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 finale, the homma felt like her over-immersion syndrome was reaching its peak.

「Blooming endlessly

These stars that filled my heart completely

I always remember, you’re by my side

Keep reminding me forever like now

Remind us who we are」

No flashy arrangement methods like other title tracks were used.

Despite the simple structure created by just guitar accompaniment and future bass electronic piano sounds, it felt incredibly rich from the listener’s perspective.

Listening quietly to the chorus, the homma realized the reason.

‘I can hear each member’s voice individually…!’

Choruses are generally handled by the main vocal. In fact, CENTIX’s songs often had Ryu Si-hwan’s solid vocals taking charge of chorus parts.

But 〈Reminder〉 had all six members’ individual voices included in the chorus.

And it wasn’t a sound mixed from recording together all at once, but a mashup of tracks where each member recorded the chorus separately.

That’s why the members’ voices were more audible and the sound felt rich even without special gimmicks.

The homma clasped her hands together tightly while watching scenes of CENTIX’s formation and winning first place on music shows with 〈Chronic〉 appear in sequence.

「I couldn’t even believe it

That someone was listening to my story

That someone saved me

When I was standing at the edge of a cliff

So I’m always grateful

For the fact that that someone is you

You’re the reason why I stand here

You’re my reminder」

Kang Seon-woo’s rap lyrics were also straightforward.

Rather than borrowing metaphorical expressions, they were lyrics that conveyed gratitude to fans who had sent endless support.

But contrary to those touching words, the music video showed Kang Seon-woo pulling on bunny ears and acting cute, which almost caused cognitive dissonance.

The moment Ma Si-hyeok, who had handled the 〈Sketchbook〉 unit part together, appeared in a single camera shot, the part naturally transitioned.

「I always just wanted to do well

Even if it might be greed, I always wanted to do well

But what came back was rather suffocating shackles

The key that unknowingly locked me away

Now I understand, it wasn’t simply wanting to do well

I wanted to become your sanctuary」

Chae Ha-ru’s part that followed was also delivered as melodic sing-rap.

Compared to Kang Seon-woo and Ma Si-hyeok, the speed was a bit slower, but since Chae Ha-ru had always only handled vocal parts, this was such an unexpected development.

However, his voice conveying the lyrics excellently like he’d been rapping for a long time made her heart ache.

「The truth is, I was always scared

Every time that happened, you lifted me up

On days when I only experienced pain and hardship

You made me realize I was alive in this world

That’s why I’m still here

I’ll sing for you for the rest of my life like this」

「Blooming endlessly

These stars that filled my heart completely

I always remember, you’re by my side

Keep reminding me forever like now

Remind us who we are」

All the scenes that appeared after entering the climax were precious.

The members playing pranks on each other while filming the music video.

Running somewhere together without any particular thought during outdoor filming.

And giving each other encouragement together backstage during this comeback.

‘The MILLENNIUM high is really hitting…’

This is what a real fan song is.

The homma, who applauded while savoring each lyric until the song ended, felt like her energy that had dropped earlier was quickly replenished.

Just when she thought it was really ending with Ryu Si-hwan’s guitar accompaniment appearing again near the end.

「MILLENNIUM, thank you always. As much as I know you’re cheering from places we can’t see better than anyone, I’ll always sing for MILLENNIUM. I love you. —Si-hwan」

“Gasp!”

A groan escaped involuntarily at the handwritten message slowly appearing on the gray screen.

The homma watched in a dazed state as each member’s handwritten messages were generated one by one.

…As always, CENTIX seemed to know too well how to make fans emotionally overwhelmed.

After the fan song 〈Reminder〉 truly ended with Ma Si-hyeok’s message, the homma logged into the community while replaying it.

Today, she had enough energy to only talk about this all day long before sleeping.

* * *

Along with the comeback, we had successfully pulled off variety shows and the fan song in succession.

What I had resolved most during this mini-album 2 preparation was ‘we absolutely must meet people’s heightened expectations,’ and things seemed to be going well somehow, which made me feel good.

And thanks to album sales and music chart rankings that had flown far beyond normal trajectory, I was relieved of worries.

‘It would be really good if things continue like this.’

But February wasn’t entirely smooth sailing.

“Guys, I’m really sorry…”

“If that guy is bowing so low, isn’t this really a serious matter?”

“I think so too.”

February 22nd.

After 〈Memories Time Traveler〉 desert island episode 2 received good reviews and we safely finished this week’s activities, what greeted us was our manager who had become completely deflated.

His appearance, hanging his head low unlike usual, was pitiful yet unsettling.

“Actually, the thing is. Originally, settlements were supposed to happen quarterly, meaning once every three months according to the contract.”

“That’s right.”

“But the company had to pull forward a lot of personnel costs and external activity expenses, causing strain… and there were also remaining parts that should have been paid to QS from before.”

“Ah.”

Just hearing this much, I could quickly understand what he meant.

Looking around briefly, this was the same for the other guys too.

‘This means settlement is delayed.’