I’m a Genius Idol but my Passive is Sunfish Chapter 82

“6AM, going to Imjingak.”

 

The list included a group Baekya knew well. It was nice not having to see that detestable face, but the fact that the temperature was warmer than last year was a bit disappointing.

 

‘There’s supposed to be a once-in-a-generation cold wave, so cold your teeth chatter just standing still.’

 

His thoughts showed plainly on his face.

 

“You’re thinking something weird again, aren’t you?”

 

Noticing this, Yooyeon raised one eyebrow, trying to figure out his mind.

 

“No, I’m not?”

 

If it were anyone else, maybe, but he couldn’t tell Yooyeon since he was close with Harang.

 

Baekya, who had a firm misunderstanding of the relationship between Harang and the members, picked up his phone again.

 

“Again?”

 

“Course, I mean, of course.”

 

Baekya, who had recently picked up Cheong’s clumsy Korean habits, shook his head in surprise at his own words. (TL note: The original word is Dang-geun(carrot), which Cheong apparently mistook with Dangyeon-haji(of course).)

 

That guy was at least good at English. Baekya, who only knew Korean, was destined to speak zero languages if he let his guard down.

 

“Watch out for Cheongcheong—no! Stop trying to probe me!”

 

“…I didn’t say anything.”

 

“Whatever! I need to practice. Go play with Cheong.”

 

Baekya plugged in his earphones and focused on the choreography video.

 

There were three award ceremonies left. DASE had achieved the splendid feat of receiving Rookie Awards at every ceremony except for S-Company’s.

 

Thanks to that, Baekya had achieved more than half of his quest.

 

‘Now I just need to get one more.’

 

At this rate, it seemed DASE could easily secure the Rookie Award at M-Company as well.

 

Baekya had regained much of his composure compared to when the quest first appeared. At the very least, signs of nervousness could no longer be found in him.

 

“Seriously, he’s doing everything on his own….”

 

“Hamster watching again? He must be practicing for the Random Play Dance. Let’s do it too!”

 

Cheong, who had perked up at the suggestion to play, only got riled up instead. Minseong watched the maknaes focusing on the choreography video with a pleased expression.

 

“Rascals. Turning a year older already made them more admirable.”

 

So this was what people called positive synergy.

 

To the genius tamer who could even calm down a wild-foal-like Cheong, someone offered premium chocolate.

 

“What’s this?”

 

It was a hamster-exclusive treat ambitiously prepared by the leader, who had received a special order from the company to fatten Baekya up!

 

Baekya took out his earphones and showed interest in the softly glowing wrapper.

 

“You haven’t tried this, have you?”

 

Minseong spoke, channeling the vibe of Jeomsun offering spring potatoes. When Baekya nodded with sparkling eyes, Minseong stuffed a handful of chocolate into his pocket, telling him to eat it all himself.

 

(Note: ‘Jeomsun offering spring potatoes’ is a reference to the famous Korean short story ‘Camellias’ (Dongbaek-kkot), where a girl named Jeomsun aggressively offers potatoes to the protagonist as a sign of affection.)

 

“But why give them only to me?”

 

“Shh!”

 

The leader lowered his voice, saying it would be a headache if those hyenas found out. Except for Baekya, the other members were currently under strict diet management.

 

“Only you eat it. Only you. Got it?”

 

Minseong repeated emphatically that what he just gave him was the quota Baekya had to finish today.

 

In the meantime, DASE arrived at the venue. As they headed to the waiting room, a familiar face welcomed the members.

 

“You’re here~”

 

Yulmu was sitting on the sofa, leaning back as he waved his hand. As a member of M-Company’s special stage, he had left for the venue earlier with Deokjin for pre-recording.

 

“Did the recording go well?”

 

“Obviously~ Who do you think I am?”

 

At Minseong’s question, Yulmu answered boastfully. At that, the leader immediately rushed over and slapped his thigh.

 

“Ah! What is it? Why hit me all of a sudden?”

 

“Humility, humility! You human, be humble!”

 

Minseong scolded him, asking if a one-year-old rookie already felt too comfortable at broadcasting stations. Yulmu straightened up, suddenly serious.

 

“Was I really that cocky just now?”

 

“A little?”

 

Yooyeon’s answer clearly shocked him; Yulmu’s face stiffened.

 

“No way…. I’m disappointed in myself.”

 

…Platoon leader?

 

Baekya flinched instinctively. Yulmu reminded him of someone who always said that the moment he opened his mouth.

 

As the sunfish shivered with goosebumps, Cheong, who was next to him, sniffled and asked.

 

“Are you cold?”

 

He had thrown his coat aside saying they were moving by car anyway, and now the California Boy had eventually caught a cold.

 

He’d been told not to underestimate Korean winters….

 

“What is this foreigner saying?”

 

“Cold! Feels cold!”

 

“You’re cold?”

 

Normally, this level of conversation would have been possible without issue, but perhaps because of his stuffy nose, communication was exceptionally difficult today.

 

“I told you, you should have dressed warmly….”

 

Baekya looked at Cheong with an ambiguous expression, unsure if he was feeling pity or disdain. Cheong, standing next to him, thumped his chest in frustration as the conversation went nowhere.

 

“Forget it! I’m not playing with you right now.”

 

Declaring a temporary break in friendship, Cheong tried to go to Yulmu. Baekya quickly grabbed Cheong’s hood and stopped him.

 

He took off his own coat and handed it over.

 

“At least wear this.”

 

“Why give this to me?”

 

“You said you were cold. Put it on.”

 

“When did I ever say I was cold? And this is too small, it doesn’t fit.”

 

Having offered kindness only to be beaten by facts, Baekya staggered toward the sofa. Sitting next to Jihan, the crumpled sunfish made a sullen face.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I’m not playing with him.”

 

Wondering what happened, Jihan looked at Cheong, but he seemed just as clueless about the reason. Cheong just shrugged his shoulders with an American gesture.

 

“Guys, change your clothes. Let’s get dressed quickly and do a round of the waiting rooms.”

 

“Okay~”

 

A moment later, Namkyung returned with the staff. DASE, having taken a brief break, hurried their preparations.

 

* * *

 

– Please!! Stop putting male idols in suspenders! I think I’m going crazy because it’s so cute ㅠㅠㅠ

  └ Pink hair concept execution is insane

  └ Headband + Suspenders combo is genius

– From camera work to Yooyeon’s shoulders, beauty, dance, gaze, headband… everything is crazy. What’s with that center dominance;;

– My small and precious human keyring (Baekya photo.jpg)

– Everything’s perfect except one hole. Who’s that cat-looking kid;; absolutely mesmerizing

 

“All cast members, please come up to the stage!”

 

With only a few minutes left until the New Year. About twenty teams of singers waiting in the hallway went up to the stage following the staff’s guidance.

 

Having successfully finished the main performance and even Yulmu’s special stage, DASE shouted the countdown with excited faces.

 

5!

 

On the dual live broadcast, the MCs and singers at Imjingak were visible on the electric signboard.

 

Spotting Harang, Baekya turned his head away with unfocused eyes.

 

4!

 

“Is this already our second New Year countdown? I wish it could be like this for 10, 20 years.”

 

As Minseong gathered the members, he draped his arms over Jihan’s and Cheong’s shoulders. The taller members tilted awkwardly, but Minseong had no intention of letting go.

 

3!

 

“Since Dangbaek’s officially an adult now, he should learn how to drink from this hyung~”

 

“What are you talking about? I don’t drink. And stop calling me that, it sounds like a dog’s name.”

 

“Sugar (Dang) one hundred (Baek) percent! Shortened to Dangbaek.”

 

The sunfish was putting up an iron wall of defense against Yulmu, who wanted to teach him drinking as a senior of life by one year.

 

“He’s a lightweight.”

 

Listening to their conversation, Yooyeon teased Baekya with a face full of conviction.

 

“No, I’m not? Even I don’t know that, so how would you know?”

 

“You just look like you can’t drink.”

 

Citing the famous saying that ‘face-reading is science’, Yooyeon drove the nail in. And that remark firmly poked Baekya’s pride.

 

2!

 

“I bet I’m stronger than you!”

 

“Wanna bet?”

 

“Yeah! Let’s do it!”

 

Caught by the swindler’s bait, the sunfish flopped with competitive spirit.

 

1!

 

“Guys, congratulations on our 1st debut anniversary.”

 

Minseong said, pulling up the corners of his mouth.

 

“Let’s do well this year too! Let’s work hard!”

 

Minseong’s voice rang out loudly along with the confetti firecrackers announcing the New Year. It was quickly buried by the boisterous atmosphere, but it was heard clearly by the members beside him.

 

“I look forward to working with you too.”

 

Smiling, Baekya took in the sight of his members.

 

“Happy new year!”

 

“Cheong, there’s a person next to you.”

 

As Cheong shook Minseong’s shoulder, unable to contain his excitement, Jihan reached out. Worried he might hit someone with his wide movements, Minseong pulled him.

 

“Let’s get lots of good luck this year~”

 

“You too.”

 

Yulmu, with his arm around Baekya’s shoulder, offered words of blessing.

 

“I just thought of this, but our debut date is kind of cool.”

 

Yooyeon looked up at the falling confetti with a proud face.

 

‘Come to think of it, what was last year like?’

 

He searched his memory, but nothing clear came up. Just that it was really cold, really white, and his palms hurt.

 

Everyone probably had been too nervous to do anything but clap before leaving the stage.

 

When Baekya glanced sideways, he saw singers greeting their colleagues.

 

‘Maybe it’s because we’ve already gotten past one big hurdle. I feel lighter.’

 

They say peace of mind comes from money. But Baekya’s came from quests.

 

[<Genius Idol (1)> Completed!]

 

The status window that appeared before his eyes along with the Rookie Award just a moment ago.

 

Should he call it a past life or pre-synchronization….

 

Anyway, as far as Baekya knew, DASE was a flop idol group quite famous even among the general public, so he had worried a lot about what to do if they didn’t get the Rookie Award.

 

‘Well, I need to know something to worry properly.’

 

Even someone from the future, who knew nothing about the future, had no choice but to doubt every moment.

 

“Baekdo is spacing out again. Let’s go down.”

 

While he was lost in thought for a moment, Yooyeon tapped Baekya’s back.

 

‘In the first place, I don’t understand how they became flop idols with faces like these.’

 

Were the songs bad? Or the concept?

 

The idol world was still hard to figure out, but for now, things seemed to be going smoothly, so Baekya decided to just wait and see.

 

The award ceremony now only had Boys World and S.AM’s performances, and the Grand Prize announcement left.