I’m a Genius Idol but my Passive is Sunfish Chapter 101

Yulmu’s hunch was exactly right.

 

“Yes! Today on Burning Friday, we are joined by a special on eternal life! The Immortals!”

 

Declaring that the Burning Friday members were not human just for today, the MC shouted for their entrance, and the regular cast members walked out from one side of the set.

 

Since it was an immortality special, the members’ costumes were unusual. Among them, the MC spoke first to the eldest, Matae.

 

“Was there a mistake with the costume delivery today? You stand out quite a bit, in a different sense.”

 

“Isn’t this an Eternal Life special?”

 

“Eternal Life? Isn’t that word choice a bit too old-fashioned?”

 

The MC teased Matae playfully.

 

“Anyway, eternal life is correct. But it looks like a fox has intruded on the filming set.”

 

As the MC jokingly asked for the phone number of the wildlife rescue center, Matae answered with embarrassment.

 

“I’m a Gumiho.”

 

“What?”

 

“A Gumiho.”

 

Matae fiddled with his white fox ear headband and smiled benevolently. Despite his calm expression, his reddened ears betrayed just how embarrassed he was.

 

“As expected of someone who looks like he promotes adopting stray dogs, he’s personally demonstrating his love for animals even on a day like this.”

 

The turn passed to the next member.

 

“I am the symbol of longevity. A sea turtle.”

 

Taehyeok, a variety star with a sturdy physique, turned around to show off a turtle shell on his back.

 

“A green outfit and even a turtle shell! I really thought a sea turtle had crawled up onto land. You match well with the animal mister over there.”

 

“That’s why I stood next to him.”

 

Next was the mascot of Burning Friday. Seungji, a girl group member in her 10th year since debut, stood with her eyes closed and arms spread wide.

 

“Seungji, what are you doing right now?”

 

“I am an angel.”

 

Wearing a goddess-like dress and cute angel wings, Seungji spun around elegantly.

 

“Oh boy. There she goes again.”

 

Beom, watching from the side, frowned and chimed in. However, when his turn came, he straightened his face as if he hadn’t said anything and brazenly lifted his head.

 

“I am a Dokkaebi.”

 

A famous drama OST played in the background, and CG flower petals scattered around him.

 

Finally, Soyoung, a comedian who played the role of a scene-stealer on the program, walked forward while contorting her body bizarrely.

 

“Urrghhh….”

 

At that moment, the lights on the set went out and a scream rang out.

 

“What? What’s happening!?”

 

As the startled MC and members made a fuss, the set brightened again. The MC, who had hidden under the desk, peeked his head out to check the front.

 

“Geez. You hid again.”

 

Beom scolded him disdainfully, and the MC claimed he had just slipped for a second before sitting back down.

 

“Are you a zombie?”

 

“Urrgh….”

 

Soyoung nodded her head slightly.

 

“Is that your concept?”

 

“Urrgh….”

 

“Still, once recording starts, please fulfill your duties. It would be troublesome if you really became a zombie.”

 

The MC joked around and sent the members back to their seats.

 

“Alright! Today’s guests are a group that debuted just one year and five months ago—still very fresh rookies!”

 

DASE’s WANT ME began to play softly on the set.

 

“An ice-cold idol group! Trendsetters from the moment they debuted! Rookies you just want to take a bite out of! Please welcome DASE~”

 

As the upbeat introduction continued, the background music grew louder. The cast cheered and applauded to welcome DASE.

 

Senior singers Seungji and Beom even followed along with the WANT ME choreography.

 

— I want to stick to you all day

You play with me

 

Yulmu walked out cheerfully, bowing at the waist, followed by Baekya, who trailed behind Yulmu with a nervous face.

 

“Yes, everyone! The dolls are coming to life and moving.”

 

At the MC’s cringeworthy comment, Baekya lowered his head.

 

The two stood in the center of the set as instructed beforehand. The music volume gradually faded, and a countdown began.

 

3, 2, 1.

 

— Touching fingertips, hot as if burning

Yeah, come to me like that

I feel the warmth that will be the last

 

Yulmu’s part from the comeback title track NAN played. Skipping the formation, the two stood side by side and began the choreography.

 

While Yulmu was a sub-vocalist who handled dancing quite well, Baekya was a bit stiff and robotic, though it was at a level that could be seen as cute.

 

As the chorus ended, the two struck the ending poses they had hastily put together in the waiting room. Yulmu stared at the camera with a languid expression as if holding a transparent wine glass, while a single peach stood smiling brightly, suppressing his embarrassment.

 

“Wow~! This week on Burning Friday, we are with DASE!”

 

Amidst applause and cheers, they took their seats, and the recording began in earnest.

 

  * * *

 

The two sat side by side next to Seungji. When the MC asked for a greeting, they exchanged glances, and Yulmu led the chant.

 

“For your days!”

 

“Hello. We are DASE!”

 

As soon as the greeting was over, Baekya stood up from his seat and bowed. At the sudden action of his fellow member, Yulmu also stood up and bowed along with him.

 

“Oh my~ The kids are nervous~”

 

Beom clapped with a proud ‘motherly smile,’ looking as if he found them unbearably cute.

 

“Sit down, sit down. You don’t have to be that nervous. We don’t bite. Just have fun and relax.”

 

Seeing the unmistakable rookie energy coming off them, the MC smiled kindly to ease the tension.

 

The self-introduction time continued.

 

“Hello~ I am DASE’s Yulmu. I am in charge of sub-vocals and being the tallest in the team. Please take good care of us~”

 

“Yes, and I am Baekya. I am the main vocalist of DASE. I will work hard.”

 

Once the introductions were over, applause rang out once again.

 

“Okay, great. But before we start, let me just address one thing. Mr. Baekya.”

 

“Yes?!”

 

Baekya widened his eyes in surprise and straightened his back.

 

“The ‘Biting Heart.’ Is it true that you created this yourself?”

 

“Ah….”

 

Baekya glanced to the side. Meeting his eyes, Yulmu shrugged with a relaxed face, as if to say, ‘See?’

 

“Yes, well… somehow it happened….”

 

The Burning Friday members buzzed at Baekya’s answer. Seungji and Beom spoke up excitedly, vying to be first.

 

“Awesome! Someone amazing has come today~ I’ve done that biting heart so many times.”

 

“Me too! When I do fan signings, fans request that heart so much.”

 

The heat of embarrassment crept up Baekya’s face.

 

Because the outfit he was wearing was quite thick, a drop of cold sweat rolled down the side of Baekya’s forehead.

 

At that moment, Soyoung, who was sitting to Baekya’s left, spoke to him cautiously.

 

“Excuse me… are you okay?”

 

“Y-Yes?”

 

Startled by the realistic zombie makeup, Baekya flinched and leaned slightly toward Yulmu.

 

“Ms. Soyoung, what is it? Is something wrong over there?”

 

The MC, having calmed down the excited Seungji and Beom, asked Soyoung.

 

“No, his hands were fidgeting so much under the desk, so I took a peek, and there was blood next to him….”

 

The camera zoomed in on Baekya’s face. Due to his dyed hair, a streak of red sweat trickling down was captured on screen.

 

Checking his condition, Baekya wiped the sweat with his hand, and laughter escaped from Yulmu, who was watching.

 

“Pfft.”

 

“No, th-that is…. Because of the dye, if I shed blood, the sweat… no, the blood… no, ahhh… I’m sorry.”

 

Babbling incoherently, Baekya buried his face in his hands.

 

“What are you apologizing for? Does anyone have tissues?”

 

Matae asked the staff for tissues and handed them over.

 

Filming resumed. The MC continued the conversation on the same topic.

 

“Mr. Baekya, if you feel hot, you can take off your jacket.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

“You’re grateful, right?”

 

“Yes. Thank you for taking care of me.”

 

“Right, then please do the biting heart for us once.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

Having done it to the point of exhaustion over the past year, there was absolutely no sign of embarrassment at the request for the biting heart. There was only a professional idol who automatically assumed the preparatory stance.

 

Finding his camera, Baekya bit the heart without hesitation. Chomp.

 

“Aww~”

 

Reactions erupted from everywhere, as if they were watching a grandchild’s talent show.

 

His ears turned red, but the peach tried his best to act nonchalant. The MC, seemingly satisfied as well, smiled contentedly and proceeded with the segment.

 

“Okay, then let’s continue moving forward. The song you just showed us was Nan!”

 

“Yes?”

 

Taehyeok asked back with a confused face.

 

“Not Nan (Me), but NAN. Night After Night. Mr. Yulmu, what kind of song is it?”

 

“Yes! Our song NAN expresses the courtship of a man who has fallen in love at first sight. The music video also contains our universe’s lore, and um~ there are b-side tracks of various genres, so please give it a lot of interest.”

 

“First love~ So it’s love at first sight?”

 

“Yes! That’s correct.”

 

Yulmu, who had buffered for a moment in the middle, nodded slyly as if nothing had happened.

 

“Then Mr. Baekya, what is DASE’s outfit concept today?”

 

“We are vampires.”

 

The peach’s cheeks flushed pink.

 

“If you’re vampires, do you have fangs? Say ‘Ee’~, try ‘Ee’~.”

 

At the MC’s words, Baekya bared his teeth at the camera. Baekya showing his blunt canines was caught in a one-shot close-up.

 

“He must be a baby vampire who hasn’t been born long.”

 

Apparently liking the comment, Yulmu’s smile didn’t fade.

 

“DASE members, you know what kind of program this is, right?”

 

“Yes! We know.”

 

“Yes~ Listening to songs and correcting the wrong lyrics~”

 

“Exactly. First, we’ll play the song, and later we’ll show you lyrics mixed with incorrect parts. You need to recall the song, fix the wrong lyrics, and then come forward to sing them correctly. Simple, right?”

 

“Yeees~”

 

“Please note that we play it at 1x speed only the first time, and from the replay onwards, it’s 2x speed. Now, let’s really proceed with the segment.”

 

“Excuse me. That’s already the third time you’ve said those words. Please, just start.”

 

Tired of waiting, Beom grumbled impatiently. Slightly embarrassed, the MC immediately introduced the first song.

 

“The first song today is by the ancestors of our baby vampires. It is a song by VIVA!”

 

The studio buzzed as the song was revealed.