Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 48

The trainee summoned by the announcement was Trainee No. 54, Han Jungmin.

 

Since he was called to the interrogation room at this specific timing, I thought there was a high probability he was the suspect. Yet, he was such an unexpected person that I couldn’t help wondering if he’d actually been called in for something else.

 

After all, he was very different from the image of the suspect I had initially envisioned. Han Jungmin wasn’t even in the debut range. His follower ranking was around 30th place. It wasn’t bad, but it was an awkward position to justify risking everything just to steal Kim Haejun’s bracelet.

 

It wasn’t like he had a powerful agency behind him either. He didn’t have an impressive résumé or overwhelming talent, and he wasn’t the type to get much camera time. The whole thing felt strange.

 

The only thing that stood out was that he was in the same rapper position as Kim Haejun. He was somewhat noticeable on stage, but ultimately, he was a generic trainee you could find anywhere.

 

The most absurd part was… he didn’t even know Kim Haejun personally.

 

‘Was it just… a massive inferiority complex?’

 

Did he do this purely out of jealousy or envy? Of course, I couldn’t be certain Han Jungmin was the culprit yet. Since he wasn’t an idiot, he wouldn’t have stolen the bracelet where cameras were rolling, so there likely wasn’t any definitive physical evidence. They probably just identified the trainee most likely to be the suspect based on the circumstances.

 

‘He could keep denying it.’

 

Or…

 

‘He might admit it more easily than expected…’

 

Or even…

 

‘He might not be the culprit at all…’

 

We wouldn’t know until the results were out. That was why Kim Haejun, JH, and I anxiously waited for news from the broadcasting staff.

 

Just as the waiting started to feel unbearable… a staff member called for Kim Haejun. Following the staff member naturally, I saw Han Jungmin sitting with the PD. Seeing him sobbing, it was clear he had confessed.

 

As I was choosing my words, the PD spoke up first.

 

“Trainee Han Jungmin admitted to it. We confirmed it through CCTV, and he also admitted to being the one who uploaded the video. Given the severity of the matter, Trainee Han Jungmin will be processed for withdrawal. We plan to release the video that was uploaded today along with the official news of Han Jungmin’s departure from the show.”

 

“…….”

 

“We haven’t decided yet whether to disclose the full reason for his withdrawal or only part of it, but even if we only reveal part of the information, we’ll provide enough of an explanation to justify your actions, Mr. Haejun.”

 

“Ugh… sob… wahhh….”

 

“We’ve already finished talking with Han Jungmin’s agency… Ultimately, the fault lies with us for being negligent in management and allowing this to happen. Let me apologize first.”

 

“Yes, PD-nim. But… why on earth…?”

 

“He said he was jealous. After seeing you get 160,000 followers… sigh….”

 

Ridiculously enough, the guy named Han Jungmin didn’t even apologize; he was too busy crying for himself. I hadn’t expected genuine remorse, but he looked more upset that he’d been caught than anything else.

 

The nameless PD watched him, put a cigarette in his mouth, and continued.

 

“Mr. Jungmin… do you have anything to say?”

 

“I’m sorry. Haejun hyung… hic… PD-nim… please, just once, forgive me just this once. I… I have to debut. Hic….”

 

“…….”

 

Kim Haejun looked speechless. It was such a shameless sight that even JH clicked his tongue.

 

“Then… my… bracelet…?”

 

“Mr. Jungmin. Go get the bracelet.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’m sorry… hic….”

 

“No, I mean, don’t just keep saying you’re sorry…”

 

“I’m sorry… waaaah… uugh….”

 

‘This… crazy bastard….’

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

‘Did he… throw it away?’

 

Kim Haejun immediately bolt out of the room.

 

“Huh? Mr. Haejun! Trainee Kim Haejun!”

 

The PD’s voice called out from behind, but Kim Haejun didn’t stop running. The sudden youth-drama sprint caught me off guard, but I had a pretty good idea where he was headed.

 

‘The trash dump.’

 

Since the garbage truck likely hadn’t come yet, he was going to try and find the bracelet there. Naturally, I chased after him.

 

Just moments ago he’d been so furious that he’d claimed he didn’t care about the bracelet anymore and only wanted to leave this place, but now that he was faced with losing it forever, nothing else seemed to matter.

 

And then…

 

‘Ugh. Why is it raining now?’

 

As if on cue, the rain began to fall. Running much faster than me, he arrived at the recycling area and began frantically tearing open trash bags in the rain to find the bracelet.

 

He looked desperate. JH could only stare blankly at Kim Haejun, unable to find the words to say. Then, he suddenly spoke.

 

— Shaman-nim… it’s okay now… please tell him it’s okay.

 

“…….”

 

— It’s just a cheap bracelet anyway… it’s not that important.

 

“…….”

 

What… Was his heart breaking?

 

“…….”

 

To JH, Kim Haejun had always been something like an idol, so perhaps he simply couldn’t bear seeing him crawling through a garbage dump like this. I looked at Kim Haejun for a long time and saw JH sobbing too. He seemed to be feeling an emotion I couldn’t quite explain, but it wasn’t something I needed to know right now.

 

Finding the bracelet was the priority. I also jumped into the trash dump and started rummaging through the garbage.

 

“Unha.”

 

“I’ll help you.”

 

“No, you don’t need to…”

 

“No, I’ll help.”

 

“…….”

 

“In exchange, if I find the bracelet, you have to grant me one favor.”

 

“…….”

 

There was no verbal answer, but I saw Kim Haejun nod. Maybe he’d thought I was the type who cared too much about staying clean, because he clearly hadn’t expected me to rummage through trash this enthusiastically.

 

‘You have no idea where I’ve rolled around before.’

 

Naturally, this was nothing. I had dug through piles of corpses before and swum through slime mucus. Back when I was a slave, I’d been forced to wallow in filth too disgusting to even describe; why would this trash be a problem? Aside from it being a bit of a tedious chore, I felt nothing.

 

Of course, the people who threw away food scraps without properly draining or washing them did annoy me, but dirtying my hands a little was something I could easily put up with

 

Yet…

 

‘Why am I even going this far?’

 

I was certainly aware of that question. While it was true that I wanted Kim Haejun on our team—specifically, Joo Wooyoung’s and my team—even so…

 

‘I’m totally overdoing it right now, aren’t I?’

 

Yes. I was fully aware that I was doing something unlike the usual Lee Unha. Was it because of Kim Haejun and JH? If someone asked if their coming-of-age drama backstory moved my frozen heart, the answer was no.

 

‘Seriously… why am I doing this?’

 

I couldn’t understand why I was enduring this nauseating smell and sensation on a rainy day.

 

‘Am I possessed by a ghost?’

 

Then again, did I really need a reason? Whether it was out of cheap sympathy or a calculated motive, I was doing it because I wanted to.

 

Strangely, it didn’t feel bad.

 

‘If I were the Lee Unha who was a slave in the other world, I would never have helped them. I wouldn’t have done something like this at my own expense.’

 

As those thoughts struck me, my mind actually cleared up a bit. It was a bit embarrassing to say, but I felt like I had found a bit of the old Lee Unha.

 

‘What am I even saying?’

 

As I continued to dig through the trash with my hands…

 

— H-here! It’s here! Shaman-nim!!

 

JH’s voice rang out.

 

I carefully grasped the bracelet in my hand and reached out toward JH. It was an impulsive decision made without a thought for the consequences.

 

“I’ll give you 10 seconds.”

 

— Huh..?

 

“You said you had something you wanted to say to Haejun hyung, right? Say it.”

 

— Really?

 

“Yes. Exactly 10 seconds.”

 

The moment JH grabbed my hand, an unfamiliar sensation washed over me. As soon as I felt JH’s soul enter my body, my field of vision widened.

 

JH slowly walked toward Kim Haejun. With slightly awkward steps, he moved slowly, very slowly.

 

At first, he seemed determined to speak calmly and composedly, but the closer he got, the more he seemed to lose his cool, his expression filled with intense nervousness. He looked as if he would burst into tears at any second.

 

But no tears fell. Instead, with a somewhat relieved face, he handed the bracelet to Kim Haejun.

 

“Unha… you… why…?”

 

“…….”

“…….”

 

“Make sure…”

 

“…….”

“…….”

 

“Make sure…”

 

“…….”

“…….”

 

“Make sure you debut together in one team, hyung.”

 

“…….”

 

“Promise me.”

 

The moment he finished speaking, I felt JH’s spirit quietly leave my body. There was no magical phenomenon or bizarre visual effect.

 

Just… his voice couldn’t be heard anymore.