The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 98
Chapter 98
“LSB, the tension is about to begin!”
The taut tension transformed into a pleasant excitement.
“Let’s finish the radio show well, then when we get back to the dorm, let’s celebrate properly together. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Sounds good!”
“Yeah, sounds good~”
Just as the warm atmosphere filled the waiting room, the door opened, and a staff member poked their head inside.
“LSB, it’s time to move!”
“Yes!”
As if we had made a promise, we all answered energetically and got to our feet.
It was time to complete the final puzzle piece on the road to first place.
☆☆☆
“LSB, you’ll be entering right now!”
At the writer’s booming call, I nodded reflexively.
At that moment, my eyes met those of the others beside me.
Without anyone taking the lead, we lightly bumped fists.
“Let’s do well.”
“Fighting!”
The radio booth we entered under the staff’s guidance was smaller than expected.
But the pressure that came with that compactness was anything but light.
Since it was a visible radio broadcast, cameras had been positioned all around the booth without a single blind spot, and the red ‘ON AIR’ signs were ready to light up at any moment.
This enclosed space would soon become the vessel carrying our voices across the entire country.
Six microphones covered with gray windscreens were lined up closely on the round table.
They looked like sensitive antennae determined to capture even the slightest sound of our breathing.
Click.
The moment the thick soundproof door closed, all outside noise was instantly cut off.
The walls covered in gray acoustic material swallowed every lingering echo.
Breaking the pleasant silence was a rather familiar voice.
“Everyone, it’s been a while.”
Turning my head, I saw a face sitting in the DJ seat that was quite familiar to us.
‘Huh? Was Yoo Haein originally the radio DJ?’
It was an unexpected reunion in an unexpected place.
As expected of a top-tier idol, Yoo Haein had even secured the DJ position for S Station’s flagship radio show.
“Wow… sunbaenim!”
“Hello, sunbaenim!”
This was our first meeting since the survival show, a little over a month ago.
Perhaps because it was someone familiar, the members’ voices rose by a full octave.
Wearing his signature harmless smile, Yoo Haein waved at us.
“Have you all been doing well? You look healthier.”
“Yes! Thanks to you, sunbaenim, we’ve been doing well.”
“We’re really happy to see you again like this.”
When we bowed ninety degrees once again, Yoo Haein nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Good. Let’s save the personal catching up for after the broadcast and start preparing first, shall we?”
“Yes!”
The moment I put on the headphones according to the staff’s instructions, it felt like I had been cut off from the world.
All external noise disappeared, leaving only my breathing and heartbeat ringing clearly in my ears like tinnitus.
“Everyone, we go live in three minutes.”
At the producer’s signal from behind the glass, I took a short deep breath.
Adjusting his microphone, Yoo Haein reassured us.
“Don’t be too nervous. Just think of it as having a casual conversation, okay?”
“Yes! We’ll do our best!”
Contrary to his encouragement, the members still looked visibly tense.
‘I think they’re even more nervous than before.’
“Three, two, one… cue!”
A cheerful opening jingle flowed from the speakers.
It had finally begun.
“Everyone, today’s studio is a little special. Our guests are the very people who shook up the charts immediately after debuting yesterday.”
As expected from a seasoned top-tier idol, Yoo Haein handled the broadcast smoothly.
“Today’s special guests! The frightening rookies who turned the music industry upside down the moment they debuted!
Please welcome Lucy Star Boys, the hottest rookies who made a dazzling entrance with ‘First Greeting Hello’!”
The moment Yoo Haein finished his polished introduction, Kim Sunyoo shot his hand into the air.
“One, two, three!”
“We are the shining stars! Hello, we are Lucy Star Boys!”
Looks like he was a little too enthusiastic.
The greeting exploded out with enough force to pierce the booth ceiling, making Yoo Haein jump before bursting into laughter.
“Wow, that rookie energy is incredible! You debuted yesterday and already have all members appearing today. It really makes me realize how hot you are right now.”
“Thank you!”
“I have a pretty deep connection with you guys, so this feels special. First, let’s have introductions for listeners meeting you for the first time.”
Starting with leader Kim Sunyoo, we introduced ourselves in order of age, giving our names and positions.
Everything was going smoothly until Kang Chan’s turn.
Because he was so nervous, he stiffened up and stumbled.
“My name is the main dancer–no, the main dancer!”
“Puhahaha!”
The booth erupted into laughter at Kang Chan loudly declaring his position twice in a row.
Even Yoo Haein held his stomach as he laughed and comforted him.
“Kang Chan-ssi, relax. We’re not going to eat you.”
“Yes! Yes! Sorry!”
His ears turned bright red from embarrassment, but that rookie-like innocence only made everyone smile fondly.
“LSB, the video of your debut stage uploaded yesterday has already surpassed two million views. That’s an overwhelming number. Does it feel real?”
It was true.
The music show video uploaded to QTube had reached two million views in just one day.
The members’ individual fancams were also pulling impressive numbers.
Watching the flustered members, I pulled the microphone closer.
“To be honest, I checked the views while leaving the dorm this morning and almost dropped my phone. The number felt so unreal.”
“Hahaha! You were that shocked?”
The conversation continued in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The members gradually relaxed and began handling their parts smoothly.
At this rate, securing broadcast points was practically guaranteed.
Because Yoo Haein directed questions to each member one by one, nobody was left out, and everyone had a chance to show off their speaking skills.
‘Yoo Haein takes better care of the members than I expected.’
For a moment, memories surfaced from my days as a paparazzo, chasing him around while pressing camera shutters nonstop.
His expression looked different from what I remembered.
‘You really can’t judge someone solely by appearances.’
“Now, if you’re idols, you can’t skip aegyo, right? Starting with Cha Siwoo, the master who showed overwhelming aegyo during the survival show—please give us some aegyo!”
A devil wearing the disguise of a senior sat before me.
The dark memories of the forced aegyo performances caused by the system flashed through my mind.
A vicious headache instantly stabbed my temples.
Ding.
And, right on cue, the unwelcome translucent blue window appeared before my eyes.
—
[The flower of radio programs: fire off some aegyo! If you do not choose an option within 5 seconds, one will be selected randomly.]
- Uuung~ If you do that, Siwoo will be in such trouble~!
- Hehe. (Wink) I’ve been dying to show everyone my aegyo anyway~ >_< Kkyu!
- Aing! Aing!
—
‘…Seriously.’
I had wondered why the system had been quiet lately.
This damned system always appeared at the worst possible moments to destroy my social dignity.
‘Please, I’m begging you. Can’t you give me a normal option for once?’
[3… 2…]
The countdown neared its end.
‘Ugh. Which one?’
Option A was cringe enough to make me want to bite my tongue off.
If I chose B, I’d never be able to show my face in public again.
In the end, I squeezed my eyes shut and chose the shortest one.
“Aing! Aing!”
A nasal voice that I refused to believe came from my own mouth was broadcast across the country through the microphone.
“…”
The radio booth instantly fell into a silence as devastating as a nuclear explosion.
The writer behind the glass froze with their pen in hand, while the members stared at me as though they had just seen a ghost.
‘Was it really that bad?’
Three seconds.
No, an eternity later, Yoo Haein’s hearty laughter finally shattered the silence.
“Puhahaha! Siwoo-ssi, your destructive aegyo is still as powerful as ever!”
This bastard was definitely enjoying himself.
The lingering echo of my own voice through the headphones made the tips of my ears burn.
‘Yoo Haein, just wait. I’ll remember this.’
After wiping away tears from laughing so hard, Yoo Haein straightened himself in front of the microphone again.
He seemed to have calmed down, but the mischief still lingered in his eyes.
“Next is the team’s maknae, Hoseung! Shall we see some aegyo?”
“Yes!”
As if he had been waiting for it, Yoo Hoseung confidently performed the trendy three-stage aegyo currently popular on short-form platforms.
‘Wow… being an influencer really does make a difference.’
He fully embraced his role as the youngest member without a shred of embarrassment.
“Hoseung-ssi, you’re really good at cute aegyo!”
“Thank you!”
“Next, Sunyoo-ssi, show us some aegyo too.”
“Yes.”
Kim Sunyoo smoothly cleared the hurdle as well, delivering polished and natural aegyo befitting an experienced idol.
The problem was the remaining three.
Watching their expressions become more and more tragic as time passed, Yoo Haein flashed a wicked smile.
“Next, Kang Chan-ssi! Please show us some aegyo!”
In an instant, Kang Chan’s complexion visibly turned pale.
“…Ugh!”
“…?”
As I looked at him in confusion after the strange noise escaped him, Kang Chan clenched both fists tightly, his ears turning bright red as he trembled.
“Kkukkkeuuung…”
His deep voice echoed through the studio like the groan of a suffering beast.
‘He really tried hard.’
“Chan-ssi, was that… perhaps your aegyo just now?”
Yoo Haein asked in disbelief.
“…Yes.”
“Puhahahaha!”
Yoo Haein finally slammed the desk as he burst into laughter.
The members also bent over, choking back laughter throughout the booth.
“Chan-ssi, your face is completely red. You’re not going to explode, are you?”
“It may sound strange, but I really gave it my best.”
His face looked ready to explode at any moment, proving he was being completely sincere.
With tears in his eyes, Yoo Haein declared him a success.
“Next is Rua. Please show us some aegyo.”
“Yes~”
Instantly managing his expression, Rua perfectly recreated the aegyo song I had once performed on the survival show, raising the mood effortlessly.
As expected, someone nicknamed a born entertainer was on a different level.
“So the true aegyo master of LSB is Rua! Lastly, Hayul-ssi, you’re ready, right?”
Seo Hayul, the final contestant, stood before the microphone with a solemn expression.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
“Show us right away.”
Seo Hayul raised both hands beside his ears.
“Meow. Dear fans, I love you, meow.”
‘…Have you really decided to become a cat now?’
It sounded exactly like a villainous cat from a cartoon I had watched as a child.
Maintaining his cat pose proudly, Seo Hayul continued meowing with unwavering determination.
He had practically achieved enlightenment.
“It really feels like a cat is sitting next to me. Hayul-ssi, good work.”
“Phew… thank you.”
With Seo Hayul’s sigh of relief, the hellish aegyo segment finally came to an end.
As the atmosphere warmed up, it was time for talent demonstrations to earn broadcast points.
Rua showcased a talent none of us had ever seen before.
He imitated the sound of cleaning windows.
It wasn’t just random squeaking noises.
“Ppokak, ppokak-ppokak—!”
“…!”
‘Why… is he even good at something like that?’
It sounded so realistic that it genuinely gave me chills.
Not only Yoo Haein but even the staff beyond the glass burst into laughter, their shoulders shaking.
Kang Chan went even further.
Inside the cramped radio booth, he started a dance performance, showing off the latest trending challenge dance.
It was a strategy that fully utilized the visible-radio format.
Watching Kang Chan somehow throw his body around in such a tiny space, I clicked my tongue in amazement.
Everyone was taking their talents so seriously that the first-place trophy clearly seemed to be dancing before their eyes.
‘Right. If we’re doing this, we should do it properly.’
“So, Siwoo-ssi, what’s your special talent?”
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