The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 82

Every time a situation came up where just Seong-hwi and I were left alone, I seemed to bring up this same thing.

But truly, there’s no relationship more persistent than this one.

This twisted measure of affection that started during the final grade evaluation was already unusual from the beginning.

From continuing to get two-shots captured at every ranking announcement ceremony.

Now we had even climbed onto the podium side by side at 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉’s final announcement ceremony.

Since both Seong-hwi and I had essentially confirmed our debut, we walked with relatively light steps toward the side stage where MC Go Hyeon-ju was waiting.

I wondered why the camera was moving so incredibly slowly in front of us.

‘They must want to capture more shots.’

Recognizing the director’s intention, I deliberately looked around more frequently and reduced my stride.

Thanks to that, I could see the fans who had come to the venue in more detail.

“Si-hwaaaaaan!”

“Hwi is handsome! So handsome!”

“Boys, we love you!”

When I shifted my senses, which had been entirely focused on the stage, toward the audience section, the size of the cheers felt remarkably different.

The moment I took in the sight of people crying and laughing at my every gesture.

An indescribable emotion seemed to surge up within me.

‘I was receiving such an overwhelming amount of love.’

I had always encountered it through text.

Review posts about being selected for the audience and watching the live stage.

Fan comments multiplying on SNS platforms like NeoTube.

Live talk that instantly appeared whenever 〈ISL 2〉 was broadcasting.

The only means to check fans’ reactions in real-time had been text alone.

No matter how much the national managers came to cheer for us at every round of competition, there were no opportunities for direct communication.

There was no time to observe the various colored placards or slogans up close like this either.

We just had to return straight to the waiting room after finishing our stages.

Until now, there had been no opportunity to respond to fans at such a close distance where I could reach them just by extending my hand.

I looked at one national manager who was gripping a slogan reading [I’ll follow you to the ends of hell, Si-hwan] with both hands.

Though I hadn’t intended it at all, my gaze seemed to naturally drift toward text that accurately pierced through my past.

The woman who had been staring with tears welling up was startled when our eyes briefly met.

When I even waved my hand at her, she literally jumped up and down in place like she was riding a sky bouncer.

“Ryu Si-hwan, congratulations on debuting!”

Though it was hard to distinguish individual screams amid all the cheers erupting around us.

That’s probably what she said.

Finally climbing onto the spacious podium, I took a deep breath and looked ahead.

‘Ah, they set up a screen over there too.’

Since all 20 participants had been looking only toward the stage where Go Hyeon-ju was, I hadn’t realized there was also a large relay screen behind us.

I chewed my lips slightly while looking at Ryu Si-hwan’s face zoomed in uncomfortably close on screen.

Expression management was essential at times like this, since all kinds of captures, article photos, and community posts would go up.

If I’m going to be photographed anyway, I should be photographed properly.

“It really took a long time to get here. We can’t not hear the thoughts of the 2 finalist trainees. First, trainee Seong-hwi? What emotions are passing through you right now?”

“Ahaha, well.”

That sly smile continued unbroken until the very end.

As the vast electronic billboards each reflected Seong-hwi’s face, collective groaning sounds erupted loudly from the audience.

“If you ask about emotions, I think the feeling of relief comes to mind first. The process of reaching this point really had many troubles and wasn’t smooth at all. To speak without sugar-coating it, there were really many crises. There were many situations that were too difficult for me to handle alone. But we eventually made it to this position, didn’t we? Since this is the moment my dream comes true, I think I feel really liberated and relieved. I definitely want to express sincere gratitude to the fans who helped a lacking trainee like me climb this high. I hope I can sit in the 1st place chair today to repay that support.”

As always, Seong-hwi started with a tone that might sound arrogant at first glance.

But like the clever guy he was, he wrapped it up very neatly at the end.

“Then our trainee Ryu Si-hwan. Trainee Ryu Si-hwan has climbed onto this 1st place finalist podium without missing it once from the 1st ranking announcement ceremony to the finals. How do you feel? Knowing the trainee Ryu Si-hwan I know, I expect you’ll be as calm as usual.”

“Hmm, today doesn’t seem to be quite like that.”

My turn for the interview had come.

MC Go Hyeon-ju had reminded me of my always calm and composed image from the broadcasts, but I was thinking of approaching things a little differently today.

Because it was the last time.

Because after today, I would never be able to stand in a place like this again.

“Actually, I was nervous every time I came to ranking announcement ceremonies. I tried not to show it as much as possible… Haha, seeing you say that makes me feel like my expression management worked well. I really held my breath every time I climbed onto this podium.”

“This is quite surprising. You always seemed so calm no matter how much I kept talking to you, trainee Ryu Si-hwan.”

“I was also incredibly desperate, and I knew what a tremendous honor it was just to climb onto this podium. That’s why I was so disappointed even when I narrowly took 2nd place the first time. When I achieved my first 1st place thanks to the excessive love from the national managers, I was beyond happy.”

The Ryu Si-hwan who appeared on 〈ISL 2〉 had never spoken words like this out loud.

Perhaps because he was that kind of Ryu Si-hwan, the national managers were reacting extremely to every single word echoing through the stage.

Not just tearing up and sniffling, but truly wailing.

“I want to savor that joy to the very end, and because I must repay the faith you’ve placed in me, I want to finish today in 1st place as well.”

“Those were truly heartfelt aspirations. Now, which of these two trainees’ hopes will become reality? I’ll announce it now.”

The tension-building BGM and red lighting returned once again.

I loosened my grip on tension slightly, expecting the announcement wouldn’t come out immediately anyway.

When I glanced to the side, Seong-hwi seemed to have the same thought.

When our eyes met, he actually grinned and mouthed something.

‘He wants to hurry up and go back to the dorm. This guy’s head is really scrambled.’

Seong-hwi was excellently living up to the name [Crazy Narcissist] saved in my phone.

As time continued to pass, making everyone’s blood run cold.

I was starting to feel more fatigue than tension.

‘I think I understand why Seong-hwi said he wanted to go back to the dorm and rest…’

Go Hyeon-ju, who dragged it out for a full 5 more minutes, finally seemed to make up her mind and opened the envelope containing the results.

“〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉, the trainee who will enjoy the glory of debut along with the joy of the center position is… is… trainee Ryu Si-hwan! Congratulations!”

Confetti burst from all directions.

And fans cheering for Ryu Si-hwan shot their voices forward for nearly 10 seconds straight, a sound so tremendous it wasn’t drowned out by that noise at all.

“Brother Si-hwan, congratulations. Ah, in the end you won again.”

The first to pat my shoulder was Seong-hwi.

His lines carried a nuance of disappointment, but his grinning expression didn’t look that way at all.

I smiled slightly at the same team member I’d be seeing annoyingly often from now on.

“If we end up roommates too, I’m going to throw up.”

“Hey, why are you saying such hurtful things? You know what, Brother?”

“What?”

“If you say negative things like that directly, they really become reality.”

“If that happens, it’s my karma, so I won’t say anything.”

“Hahaha! Oh, and Brother.”

Seong-hwi laughed heartily before speaking in a serious tone.

“After we finish signing all the contracts and officially move into the dorm.”

“Why are you talking in a way that makes people anxious?”

“I’m going to speak casually to you.”

After dropping that bombshell news on me, Seong-hwi returned to his spot.

Looking at him calmly giving his 2nd place acceptance speech, I was truly dumbfounded.

“…Now that we’ve heard trainee Seong-hwi’s thoughts too, the microphone naturally passes to trainee Ryu Si-hwan. Trainee Ryu Si-hwan, you’ve finished the race in final 1st place. How do you feel right now?”

“I said most of what I wanted to say when I shared my thoughts earlier…”

I gripped the hand microphone tightly and closed my eyes for a moment.

The time I had to endure to reclaim my life that ended unjustly.

The dream of debuting.

The longing to stand on stage.

The second chance I gained by enduring and persevering through all of that.

And once again, the dream had become reality.

“I had a dream. To make everyone feel the emotions I wanted to convey. To hear cheers loud enough to make my ears ring. And to stand on stage and feel that I was truly alive. Thanks to everyone who supported someone named Ryu Si-hwan until now, my dream has come true today.”

It certainly hadn’t been a short time.

Even looking back now, 50 years was an absurd figure.

But even if I returned to when I first fell to Asphodel and met the judge.

My answer wouldn’t have changed.

“I will always know how to cherish the stage. I won’t lose my initial passion. I will become an idol who can receive even greater love by proving my own worth. To everyone from 〈Idol Stove League〉 staff, the trainers, the coordinators, and finally the national managers who gave me this opportunity. Thank you, truly thank you.”

When I bowed my head, the venue that had been quiet heated up again.

Half sounds of wailing, half sounds of cheering.

But to me, it sounded more beautiful than any melody.

“You’re making my heart feel heavy too, Brother.”

“Let’s go up now.”

I turned around with Seong-hwi.

The members who had already climbed to the highest point of this filming location were waiting for us with both arms spread wide.

We exchanged hugs one by one as we reached the 1st place throne.

And when I quietly sat in the chair and looked down below.

“…It’s beautiful.”

A murmur escaped me without realizing it at the view of the stage shimmering like fallen stars.

It would be a memory I’d never forget for the rest of my life.

When I was briefly lost in such emotions.

“〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉. The announcement of the anticipated 1st place trainee is now complete. But there’s still one empty throne remaining.”

MC Go Hyeon-ju’s words, breaking the touching moment, echoed above the gymnasium.

“Then, we’ll finally reveal the 6th place trainee who will enjoy the glory of debut.”