Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 128

In truth, I hadn’t been able to spend any time alone with Joo Wooyoung lately. Despite my own efforts to get closer to him, the opportunities simply didn’t present themselves.

 

It wasn’t particularly strange. As soon as <Idol Classism> ended, our schedules began immediately, and we’d been running nonstop ever since. From the moment I opened my eyes, it was a cycle of recording, practice, or beauty management. Being dragged around for various tasks had become my daily life.

 

We had to roam from place to place to shoot music videos, take photos, film content for NewTube, or record brief interview clips. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that spending quiet time with Wooyoung and building trust between us had been impossible. I bet we were busier than Joo Wooyoung’s actual Hero party back in the other world. At least a Hero’s party occasionally stopped at a village or a mercenary tavern to rest and restock supplies; we didn’t even have that luxury.

 

‘It’s not like things were relaxing back at the dorm, either.’

 

Yes, it was the same even after returning to the dormitory. We weren’t even in the same room. While Wooyoung could relax comfortably with Kim Haejun in his room, I had to deal with Jung Taehee, Baek Suhyeon, and Kim Taeyeol all by myself.

 

‘Seriously, dammit. Thinking about it now, it’s really unfair.’

 

That wasn’t all. As the showcase drew closer, there wasn’t even enough time to simply lie down and rest. Even after realizing that the quest revolved primarily around Wooyoung, I still couldn’t find time to speak with him privately—that alone should say enough about how busy we’d been.

 

‘Being an idol is even busier than I imagined…’

 

I already knew that idols preparing for their debut were so busy they barely had time to sleep, but…

 

‘I didn’t think it’d be this bad.’

 

“…….”

 

But,

 

“…….”

 

Despite all that,

 

“…….”

 

Lee Unha understood. Although I hadn’t gotten close enough to Joo Wooyoung yet, I could sense what he wanted. I could tell that he was paying an extraordinary amount of attention to me.

 

After all, we’d still gone through enough together that I’d become familiar with his habits and expressions. As I said, I hadn’t spent much time with him since the show ended, but even in the midst of that chaos, Lee Unha never stopped observing him—what he did, what he said, his expressions, his thoughts. Even the most minute, trivial details.

 

Having analyzed Joo Wooyoung with the same intensity I used to watch my Master—that mad dark mage—in the other world, there was no way I could miss even a small change. Right now, Joo Wooyoung was looking at Lee Unha with different eyes. They were clearly different from his usual gaze.

 

Throughout the entire car ride…. I could feel him eyeing me, wanting to spend time specifically to talk with me.

 

“You did great! As expected of our Fantasia! That’s exactly what Fantasia is!!!”

 

“…….”

 

“I’ve been saying it all along—yesterday, the day before—I knew our Fantasia would pull it off! I told you, didn’t I?”

 

“…….”

 

“You know we’re appearing on the same music show as Kingdom today, right?! Let’s send those guys straight to the bottom and prove ourselves! Huh? Prove it! Right?! Let’s show everyone once again what Fantasia is all about!”

 

Even while the tactless Director Oh continued rambling without pause, Joo Wooyoung kept looking at me. He wasn’t observing me as openly as he did when we first started recording Idol Classism, but he seemed to be stealing glances and looking for an opening to speak.

 

To be honest, his gaze feels intense. His attempts to make eye contact to investigate my eyes were making me flustered.

 

‘Is that suspicion?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Or is it worry?’

 

Because I couldn’t tell whether it was suspicion or concern, I grew even more uneasy. Of course, Joo Wooyoung seemed to have placed me in the comrade category already… but who knew? If he realized demon blood flowed through my veins, there was always the possibility that the Demon Slayer from our previous world would resurface.

 

‘Is it time for me to defend myself?’

 

“…….”

 

‘But… when on earth is Wooyoung hyung going to ask? Can’t he just be honest?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Is it because of the other members? Is it too awkward? With his personality, he won’t be able to beat around the bush… and he can’t exactly cast a silence spell on everyone else here either….’

 

“…….”

 

Should I be the one to force an opening?

 

“…….”

 

Just as I was considering various possibilities. Suddenly, my phone began to vibrate. At the uncanny timing, I looked at Joo Wooyoung and he gave me a slight nod, indicating it was him.

 

[Unha.] [5:55 AM]

 

A message had arrived.

 

‘Ah. Right.’

 

We could’ve just talked like this from the beginning. Like me, Joo Wooyoung hadn’t quite shaken off his other-worldliness yet. Naturally, I replied immediately.

 

— [Yes? What’s up all of a sudden, Wooyoung hyung?] [5:55 AM]

 

[No, it’s nothing… I just have something I’m curious about. (Smiling emoji)] [5:55 AM]

 

‘Stop using those ahjussi style emoticons, hyung.’

 

— [Huh? Something you want to ask me? All of a sudden?][5:55 AM]

 

[Yeah. ㅎㅎ] [5:55 AM]

 

— [You can just ask me directly… why are you texting me? Are you trying to tell me a secret or something :)] [5:55 AM]

 

[Yeah… a secret… mmm… right.] [5:55 AM]

[I guess you could call it that… It’s hard to ask when the others are around… . I think it’d be best if we could talk somewhere privately, but we just haven’t had the chance… I’ve been thinking about it for a long time before deciding to ask.] [5:55 AM]

 

‘Right. It is hard to find the right timing.’

 

Maybe I should ask the company if I could occasionally schedule one-on-one counseling sessions under my authority as the leader. Once things settled down a little, anyway.

 

— [Ah, does that mean I shouldn’t tell the others that you messaged me?] [5:55 AM]

 

[Yeah… I’d prefer if you didn’t say anything.] [5:55 AM]

 

— [Come on ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Now you’re making me curious ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Is it a really serious topic?] [5:55 AM]

 

[It’s not exactly a serious topic… no, it is serious in a way… It’s not a serious conversation, but I’d like you to take it seriously.] [5:55 AM]

 

— [What does that even meanㅋㅋㅋㅋ Anyway, okay! Ask me anything!] [5:56 AM]

 

[Have you been feeling anything strange lately… or noticed any changes in your body…?] [5:56 AM]

 

— [Huh? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ] [5:56 AM]

— [Hyung. Are you filming a hidden camera prank right now? Is this for our self-produced content! Are you filming content behind my back!] [5:56 AM]

 

[No. No. I’m asking very seriously.] [5:56 AM]

 

— [Are you really?] [5:56 AM]

 

[Yes. I’m serious.] [5:56 AM]

 

— [Mmm… well…] [5:56 AM]

— [Mmm… strange feelings? Changes in my body…?] [5:56 AM]

 

[I know my question won’t make sense… but I really need you to answer.] [5:56 AM]

[Especially… how are your eyes? Are your eyes okay?] [5:56 AM]

 

— [Mmm… since you seem so serious, hyung… I want to answer seriously too, but honestly, … I don’t really know.] [5:56 AM]

— [I guess there’s a bit of a strange feeling? Something like that, maybe…] [5:56 AM]

 

I decided this was the right answer.

 

‘It would be weirder to hide it completely, right?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Right. There’s no benefit in hiding it. It’s better to just keep pushing forward.’

 

[What symptoms exactly?] [5:56 AM]

 

— [Well… I don’t think it’s serious enough to go to the hospital or anything. Honestly, I don’t even know if it’s an actual symptom. Doesn’t everyone feel like this? Sometimes my eyes just get tired…] [5:56 AM]

 

[How exactly are they tired? I mean, when do they get tired?] [5:56 AM]

 

— [It’s just like I told you before. It seems to happen whenever it wants. Usually, I think it happens when I stand on stage. At those times, it’s not just my eyes that are tired, but I feel like all the strength is being drained from my body.] [5:56 AM]

— [It’s felt more like that recently, maybe because I’ve been especially fatigued.] [5:56 AM]

 

[Can you tell me more in detail?] [5:56 AM]

 

This was getting a bit… weirdly investigative. I stole a glance at Joo Wooyoung; he wasn’t looking at me, but staring intently at his phone. He looked very….

 

‘Anxious, right?’

 

That was the expression of someone who was anxious. He looked on edge. Out of habit, he stroked his chin and fiddled with his right earlobe. No, he looked frightened. Was he afraid of losing a comrade? Or…. was he afraid of the situation where he might have to kill a comrade with his own hands?

 

— [I don’t know how to explain it more specifically. Everyone gets tired after a stage. I feel drained, and my eyes naturally hurt because of the lights….] [5:57 AM]

 

[What about besides your eyes? Is everywhere else okay?] [5:57 AM]

 

Is he aware of the Siren’s Voice?

 

— [Ah, my throat hurts too. I guess I need to get it checked.] [5:57 AM]

 

[If there’s anything else, tell me. Even if it’s something really small. Unha. Even if it seems trivial. Tell me everything you know, everything you feel. Where it hurts and how.] [5:57 AM]

 

— [Well. My chest hurts a bit too… no, instead of hurting, it feels like a heavy stone has plopped down on me along with the fatigue.] [5:57 AM]

 

This was my description of mana exhaustion.

 

— [As for my eyes, they feel a bit… dim? My vision doesn’t change dramatically or anything. To be precise, my eyeballs sting a little. Ah! I think it was especially bad during the showcase.] [5:57 AM]

 

This was my description of the Succubus’ Eye.

 

— [I don’t know how to describe the throat pain. My vocal cords feel uncomfortable… but it gets better after some rest! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ] [5:57 AM]

 

This was my description of the Siren’s Voice.

 

— [I’m just saying this in case, but please don’t tell the agency that I’m sick or unwell. You know they’ll just make me get all sorts of tests for no reason. And like I said, it’s not like I’m in extreme pain or anything.] [5:57 AM]

 

— [It’s just a slight discomfort. It’s not a big enough problem to make a fuss about!] [5:57 AM]

 

I didn’t know whether I’d answered well, or if I made the right choice. Looking at Joo Wooyoung’s reaction, I couldn’t predict anything. For some reason, the uneasiness inside me only continued to grow.