The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 60

Chapter 60

 

‘After everything I did to secure that center position.’

Like a cold wind suddenly piercing through my heart without warning, a hot, painful feeling surged up from deep inside me.

I thought this was one of those easy quests.

Apparently not.

“To be honest, I don’t think I’m fulfilling the role of center properly.”

“…!”

“I feel like I’m holding the team back. I keep thinking it would be better for the team if we changed the center, even now.”

Yoo Hoseung’s voice trembled little by little, his eyes bloodshot red.

“No. You’re doing more than well enough.”

“But…”

His shoulders slumped, and his gaze remained fixed on the floor.

“Hoseung, where are you going to find someone who suits the center position better than you? What are you so worried about?”

He had obviously been shaken by the judges’ comments.

“Well… it’s just…”

Clear tears gathered in Yoo Hoseung’s large eyes.

‘Oh no. Is he crying?’

“To be honest, I know I’m lacking a lot!”

His emotions seemed to have overflowed, and his voice rose another octave.

“I can’t dance as well as Kang Chan hyung, and I can’t sing as well as Siwoo hyung…”

‘Well, that’s because the stat difference is huge.’

“It’s inevitable that everyone has different strengths.”

“But still… I’m so jealous of hyungs who have talent.”

In the end, the clear tears that had pooled in Yoo Hoseung’s eyes finally fell.

“Is it really okay for someone like me, who isn’t good at anything as an idol trainee, to be the center?”

“…What?”

“This whole situation feels uncomfortable and burdensome. I can’t even trust myself anymore.”

His eyes remained fixed on the floor, and his expression looked deeply anxious.

‘Why has his self-esteem dropped this much?’

“It’s okay.”

“…Huh?”

“Because I believe in you.”

The moment Yoo Hoseung looked up, his eyes wavered slightly.

“I believe more than anyone that you can do this.”

“…”

“So if you can’t trust yourself, how about trusting me this time?”

Yoo Hoseung was only seventeen years old.

‘In a brutal survival show where he has no one to rely on, maybe having something… anything… to lean on will help.’

“Siwoo hyung! Why are you so nice to me?”

For a moment, Cha Sihyeon’s image flickered behind Yoo Hoseung’s face.

“Because we’re on the same team.”

“…”

“But Hoseung, don’t you have something you’re better at than everyone else?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I’d even guarantee it… You’re seriously handsome.”

In an instant, Yoo Hoseung’s eyes sharpened.

‘That was a compliment…? Why is he angry?’

“That damned handsomeness…! Handsomeness!!!”

His face gradually turned red like a ripe tomato.

“Why does everyone only talk about how handsome I am? Why won’t anyone acknowledge anything else? I just want people to recognize my abilities!”

One more sentence, and it looked like he might explode.

“And being handsome isn’t what a center is supposed to be!”

“What are you talking about? It’s the most important role.”

Nothing captures people’s attention at first glance more reliably than a visual center.

“Let’s be honest. A center isn’t chosen just because they’re the best singer or dancer.”

“What do you mean…?”

“There are countless people in the world who can sing and dance well. But not all of them become successful.”

He looked at me as if I’d lost my mind, but I continued anyway.

“In a fierce idol competition, the center represents the team. So it should be someone who draws attention and leaves an impact.”

“…That’s true.”

“Hoseung, you’re the most handsome person on our team. Your facial expressions and expressiveness are excellent, and your presence is undeniable. That’s why you’re perfect for the center.”

“Do you really think that…?”

‘Yeah. You’re impactful enough to become a top actor someday, and your acting skills are incredible too.’

“I didn’t recommend you just because you’re popular. Damn it, I want to debut too… that’s why I recommended you.”

That was true, in a sense.

‘If I want to survive and debut, I need to complete this sub-quest.’

“So if you can’t trust yourself, trust me just this once!”

My words seemed to have gotten through. Yoo Hoseung’s expression became complicated.

‘Time for the finishing blow.’

“But even someone as perfect as you has exactly one weakness.”

“…What is it?”

His face darkened instantly, and his eyes shook slightly.

‘His expressions really are easy to read.’

No wonder he would become a top actor in the future.

“Confidence.”

“…!”

“Hoseung, why are you so lacking in confidence? You absolutely deserve to be a center, and you’re someone who can debut as an idol.”

“But when I read the comments, people keep saying I can’t dance or sing, and that I’m only first place because of my face. They criticize me nonstop.”

“Wait… you’ve actually been reading all those?”

“…Yeah. They say I only got first place because of my followers, that I’m shameless, that I survive unfairly because of my face. There are all kinds of insults.”

‘You foolish idiot.’

“Why would you read that stuff?”

Unless someone had been endlessly exposed to malicious comments as I had, most people would naturally get hurt by them.

Especially someone as young as Yoo Hoseung.

“Because I’m curious.”

“Filter out the nonsense and only pay attention to the good stuff, idiot.”

‘That’s much healthier.’

“Yes…!”

Seeing him nod rapidly, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Although, aren’t some of those comments technically true?”

“Huh?”

‘The fact that nobody criticizes his looks really proves how ridiculously handsome he is.’

“An idol needs to sing and dance well, but they also need to match what fans are looking for.”

“…!”

“Think about it carefully, Hoseung. One reason you’re currently ranked first despite lacking in singing and dancing is that you’re exactly the kind of person the National Directors want.”

“The kind of person they want?”

“Exactly. So instead of getting hurt by malicious comments, how about taking pride in that fact?”

The idea seemed to shock him.

His eyes widened as he opened and closed his mouth speechlessly.

“Wow… I’ve thought this before, but the way you think is really different, hyung.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Honestly, this was the best way to live.

If you reacted to every hateful comment, you’d end up stressed to death.

“And the people insulting you are usually just jealous and insecure. If you pay attention to all of them, you’ll wear yourself out. Besides, haters aren’t fans, so just ignore them whenever possible.”

“But they’re still opinions about me…”

“Not all opinions are worth the same. By the way, I get tons of hate comments too.”

“…”

‘Why aren’t you arguing with that one?’

He must have looked up my hate comments too.

“Personally, I only read what I want to read. There’s already not enough time to read messages from the fans who genuinely care about me. Why would I waste time on hate comments?”

“Siwoo hyung…!”

Looking at his complicated expression made my chest tighten.

‘Seriously, what kind of trash leaves hate comments for a kid this young?’

The punishment for malicious commenters really needed to be harsher.

“Oh, and your singing and dancing have improved a lot compared to before.”

‘Not that I’m exactly in a position to talk.’

“Really?”

“Yeah. And since it’s just the two of us, can I say something?”

“…What?”

“Why not just enjoy it?”

“Enjoy what?”

“If I had your face, I’d make full use of it.”

“Pfft—! Hyung, what kind of advice is that?!”

His smile looked far more relaxed than before.

‘I’m serious, though.’

If I had a face like his, quests would probably be a lot easier.

“I’m serious! Next time someone brings up your looks, don’t get upset. Just say, ‘Jealous?’ and enjoy the whole situation!”

‘I never realized Yoo Hoseung had worries and insecurities like this.’

Growing up in such an unusual environment must have caused him plenty of struggles he could never talk about.

‘Still, he’s endured it well. I’m proud of him.’

Feeling affectionate, I placed a hand on top of his head.

My fingertips naturally settled onto his hair, brushing gently through the soft strands.

As I smoothed down his slightly messy hair, Yoo Hoseung lowered his head shyly.

“Hoseung, confidence is everything. Got it?”

“Got it. I’ll trust you, hyung, and try to enjoy things with confidence.”

“That’s right. And if anything gets difficult, tell me anytime. I’ll help you.”

“Yes!”

‘Phew~’

The bomb that had suddenly landed in my lap had been successfully defused.

He always looked cheerful and bright on the outside, so I never even realized he was carrying worries like these.

‘I’ll have to keep encouraging him and building up his confidence whenever I can.’

“You made the right choice. Our team’s center is counting on you!”

“Yes. Thank you for listening to me, Siwoo hyung.”

“Good. Now let’s get inside and sleep. We have to wake up early and practice again tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Hearing Yoo Hoseung’s energetic response, I grabbed the dormitory door handle.

The door opened halfway with a familiar sound.

At that moment, a familiar scent drifted past my nose.

An unexpected person was standing motionlessly in front of the entrance.

‘Holy crap!’

“…Kang Chan?”

While I was calming my startled heart, Kang Chan opened his mouth.

“…Why?”

‘Why what?’

“Huh?”

“This is a survival show. So why do you keep helping other people?”

‘Did he hear everything?’

Apparently, the dorm’s soundproofing was terrible too.

“Well…”

‘Because it’s a quest.’

First and foremost, I needed to survive.

If I failed the quest, I’d be dead before I even debuted, so in a way, my kindness was mandatory.

‘Not like I can tell him that.’

“Because we’re on the same team. Who knows? We might even debut together with this lineup.”

“…!”

Kang Chan stood there frozen, as if someone had just smashed him in the head.

He didn’t react for quite some time.

“Can I go inside now?”

‘Move aside already and stop blocking the door, idiot.’

Coming back to his senses, Kang Chan quickly nodded.

 

☆☆☆

 

Inside the practice room lined entirely with mirrors, footsteps and breathing merged into a single rhythm.

Every time the members stomped their feet against the floor, the bounce reverberated through the room, and sweat slowly rolled down their foreheads.

‘Phew… this is brutal.’

I understood it intellectually, but my body refused to move smoothly.

After all, learning choreography created by someone with an A+ Dance stat in such a short time wasn’t easy.

In the middle of practice, with everyone tense and impatient, the music suddenly stopped.

‘What now?’

The one who had turned off the music was Kang Chan.

“Let’s have a quick meeting.”

“…What kind of meeting?”

“I kept thinking about the judges’ feedback from the midterm evaluation. There’s something I want to change.”

‘Don’t tell me…’

‘Has this bastard changed his mind and decided to go after the center position?’

A cold sense of suspicion spread through me.

“We…”