I’m a Genius Idol but my Passive is Sunfish Chapter 26

The members’ sightings were popping up here and there. At first, for the first once or twice, I thought the kids were getting around surprisingly well. But the sightings were becoming too periodic.

 

Just as the question, ‘Are these guys actually preparing for a comeback?’ started to arise, a fan raised the suspicion that DASE might be filming a reality show.

 

When the timelines were matched, it was a very plausible theory. Neverland, the campsite, Paju—these weren’t places you could just go to like a convenience store near the office.

 

Moreover, there was a word that never failed to appear in the sightings: ‘Camera.’

 

The fans began to get excited.

 

– Reality show for real?

 

– They say DASE filmed a reality show!

 

The suspicion soon became a conviction, and social media was buzzing. The agency, which had been watching the situation, released an article at the right time.

 

[DASE’s first solo reality show returns as a YouTube Original! <DASE HAPPY DAYS> Filming Complete]

 

***

 

ID Building, underground practice room.

 

Baekya was lying face down on the floor, his face buried between his arms.

 

‘Ah… I’m going to die.’

 

Everything except the dance skill he actually needed had come out, so his arms and legs had taken the hit. Rolling onto his back, Baekya stared at his reflection on the ceiling.

 

‘To think that’s me.’

 

He had always been a decent-looking guy, but after drawing the new appearance skill, he was shining even more.

 

“This is why the plastic surgery controversy started.”

 

After the controversy, it was revealed through the voluntary testimony of his classmates that Baekya had not had plastic surgery. But there were still many people who didn’t believe it.

 

‘One day, he was eating a Pi-X-chu and took off his glasses, and he became super handsome!’

 

It was a part of a post that Yookyung had uploaded on social media to clear his name, but to be honest, he probably wouldn’t have believed it either.

 

Starting with Baekya’s graduation photo, the members’ past photos were also revealed one after another. Of course, their photos boasted an extraordinary appearance from the very beginning.

 

“I wonder if the plastic surgery controversy will come up again when we have our comeback this time.”

 

The members said that pink hair really suited him, and they had thought it was all because of the dye, but it wasn’t.

 

The appearance skill Baekya was currently equipped with was <Face Genius(A)>. It was, by far, the best reward he had gotten from the draw.

 

It had been a few days since Baekya had been to the salon for the music video shoot. His pink hair, which had faded in some places to a golden hue, really looked like a ripe peach.

 

“Baekdo, let’s go. Hyung said to come out.”

 

The practice room door opened, and Yooyeon appeared. ‘Baekdo’ (White Peach) was the nickname Yooyeon had been using instead of Baekya’s name these days.

 

Was it because the fans kept calling him a peach? Now, even the staff were calling Baekya a peach, so he felt more comfortable with the nickname.

 

“Did you practice a bit? You have to wear your hat.”

 

“Ah, right.”

 

Baekya headed to grab the hat he’d tossed into the corner of the room. Yuyeon also had pink hair, but with his cap pulled low, you could barely see it.

 

Classic pre-comeback idol behavior—extra careful about hiding hair changes.

 

DASE, deep in the final stages of album production, had wrapped up their music video shoot not long ago. Thanks to pushing things forward, their schedule felt comfortably relaxed.

 

Now, all that was left was stage practice, but why were only two people left in the practice room?

 

“I did it ten times, you know?”

 

“It’s not about the number of times.”

 

The two same-aged friends bickered.

 

Baekya, whose dance skill was still at C-rank, had stayed behind to practice choreography. Meanwhile, the producer had asked Yooyeon and Jihan to re-record parts of a B-side, which delayed their departure.

 

Jihan wasn’t feeling well these days, so Yooyeon had said he would go alone and sent him to the car first.

 

“So, did your recording go well?”

 

Yooyeon might be a step above in dancing, but vocals were another story.

 

Among the DASE members, there was no one who could be smug about their vocals in front of Baekya. These days, he was known as the A&R team’s favorite idol.

 

“Ah… so this is what it feels like? I did my best.”

 

Yooyeon answered, turning off the practice room lights. The two, with their hair completely wrapped, headed for the emergency exit.

 

It was now past 12 o’clock.

 

Since the elevator had been stuck on the 4th floor for a while now, Yooyeon had even come down to the practice room via the stairs.

 

“…Why are we going this way?”

 

“The elevator isn’t moving from the 4th floor. So I also came down the stairs when I came here.”

 

Baekya’s face slightly stiffened.

 

‘I heard there’s a ghost story that goes around at ID, could it be…’

 

But Yooyeon, who didn’t pay much attention, opened the emergency exit door without hesitation.

 

Flinch.

 

Baekya, who had a bad memory of the emergency exit, grabbed Yooyeon’s collar.

 

“…What is it?”

 

“I-it’s not that I’m scared!”

 

Yooyeon turned his head. His deep dimples and pursed lips seemed to be holding back a laugh.

 

Come to think of it, Baekya was known within DASE as a certified scaredy-cat. Just in time, he remembered the Neverland haunted house. Yooyean looked at Baekya intently.

 

“As expected. You should have been on the same team as Cheong then.”

 

At that, Baekya’s eyes shot up sharply.

 

“As if?!”

 

Baekya pushed him away and then started to climb the stairs with big strides. One step, one step. At the sound of the peach’s emotional footsteps, Yooyeon quickly followed.

 

“Are you sulking? Is Baekdo sulking?”

 

No answer. The soft peach had hardened.

 

***

 

===========================

[DASE_Official]

A reality variety show that captures DASE’s happy days! <DASE HAPPY DAYS> will be released every Tuesday at 6 PM from July 1st. Please look forward to it~

#IDon’tKnowWhatYou’llLikeSoIPreparedEverything #YouTubeOriginal #DASEHAPPYDAYS

===========================

 

A post announcing the first broadcast of the reality show was posted on DASE’s official social media account.

 

The fans cheered. Because anyone who had been a fan for even a little while would know that this reality show was the signal for DASE’s comeback.

 

The most recent music video filming sightings were proof enough. And after a long wait, the reality show finally aired—sweet from the very start.

 

[DASE HAPPY DAYS EP.1]

 

[A cold day in January]

 

The moment of the 1st place announcement on a music show. DASE was seen huddled together in a corner, clapping.

 

[Today is the last broadcast of DASE’s first debut activity ‘No Games’]

 

The members, who had returned to the waiting room, were in the middle of preparing to leave. Just then, Baekya was seen entering the waiting room with a VJ.

 

[Baekya: Um… by any chance, Namkyung hyung, are we filming something more?]

 

[Manager: Uh, huh? (Flustered)]

 

[VJ: It’s just a short video that’ll be uploaded on the company account, so you don’t have to worry.]

 

[Overcoming the crisis with the VJ’s help!]

 

[The innocent DASE suspected nothing.]

 

[Completely unaware of what was to come…]

 

Baekya was shown running away while Yulmu chased him around teasingly. Just as smiles spread across viewers’ faces, the screen suddenly went dark, eerie BGM fading in.

 

[DASE gets into the car]

 

[The members think they’re heading back to the dorm…]

 

[Meanwhile, a secret meeting between the manager and the production team takes place]

 

[And the place they arrived at a little while later is]

 

[A haunted house in Yongin]

 

The production team, who had recognized the white Carnival van that was leisurely entering from afar, moved busily. Soon, the back seat door opened, and Baekya was the first to appear.

But he was not getting out?

 

[Baekya (Wary meerkat): ????]

 

[Yooyeon (Dimple deer): What’s wrong?]

 

An empty lot in front of an abandoned house, not the dorm.

 

While the flustered meerkat and his deer friend were suspicious, the passenger seat door opened, and Minseong got out first. Switching targets, the VJ rushed toward him.

 

[Minseong (Startled rabbit): Wh-wh-what is it?!]

 

[Our leader is very surprised by the appearance of the production team]

 

The members were also startled by Minseong’s scream-like shout. At the unimaginable development, DASE froze.

 

[Members assessing the situation]

 

[Jihan (Quick-witted cat): By any chance… is this a reality show filming?]

 

[( •͈ᴗ-)ᓂ-ෆ Correct]

 

[Welcome to the haunted house!]

 

To the members who didn’t know because no one had told them, the production team first put on their microphones. A kind of handcuff.

 

A silent pressure that they couldn’t go back until they finished recording.

 

The scene changed. DASE sat side by side in front of the haunted house. Maybe because of the season, the wind alone made things feel ominous without any added effects.

 

[DASE’s first Day is]

 

[A happy day with ghosts♡]

 

[Yulmu (Social puppy): Wow! This is going to be so fun~]

 

[Cheong (Californian wolf cub): I hate ghosts…]

 

Unlike the cheerful Yulmu, Cheong had a miserable face. Baekya, next to him, also didn’t look well. It was a face that said, ‘How can the words ‘ghost’ and ‘happy’ coexist?’

 

On the other hand, Yooyeon, Minseong, and Jihan looked calm.

 

Before entering the haunted house, the production team said they had to decide on teams through a draw.

 

A small box was placed in front of DASE. Inside were pieces of paper folded in half. Since there was no MC, Yulmu decided to take charge of the proceedings.

 

[Yulmu (One-day MC): Now! There are a total of three numbers in this box. From 1 to 3. The people who draw the same number will be a team. Do you understand?]

 

[DASE: Yes~]

 

[Yulmu: Then let’s draw. Shall we start with the maknae?]

 

[Cheong: No, I’ll just draw last.]

 

[Yulmu: Then from the oldest. Respecting age and hierarchy, right?]

 

Turning from the youngest to the leader, Yulmu naturally handed the box over. Minseong laughed and picked a slip.

 

[Yulmu: Please don’t unfold it right away. It’s more fun to open them all together. I’d appreciate it if you could wait a little~]

 

The production team was pleased with Yulmu’s smooth proceedings. Following that, the remaining members also drew a piece of paper, and the last one was taken by Cheong.

 

Having decided to unfold them at the same time on the count of three, under Yulmu’s count, the six’s numbers were revealed.

 

As a result.

 

[Team 1 (Bouquet): Jihan & Yulmu]

 

[Team 2 (Peach): Baekya & Minseong]

 

[Team 3 (Pizza): Cheong & Yooyeon]

 

The rules were simple. Each team just had to find the item in the parentheses and show it to the gatekeeper to escape!

 

It also meant that if they couldn’t find the item, they had to stay trapped in the haunted house. Baekya and Cheong became more and more quiet.

 

– It looks like Cheong and Baekya have fainted with their eyes open lol

– Ah, it’s already hilarious lol

– A haunted house from the very beginningㅠ oh yes

– I’ve been there, it’s really scary. It seriously feels like a haunted hospital

 

With the release, comments were also being posted in real-time.

 

[Team 1, the same-aged team, enters]