“Ah, I don’t know about this…”
“…Chunyong. I’ll trust you.”
Kim Joo An and Seo Bin looked at me with slightly annoyed expressions, but that didn’t matter.
They’ll thank me later.
“Remember, Ji Hwa Sung, scissors. Trust me, and you’ll find rice cakes in your dreams.”
“Okay, okay! What’s up with rice cakes anyway?”
(T/N: Rice cakes are another symbol of good fortune in dreams in Korean culture.)
Soon, the team leaders all headed towards the center of the stage to receive their signs from Choi Ga On.
The three simultaneously turned around, each choosing a sign to hold up.
“Now, leaders, if you’ve made your choice, please lift it high with your right hand.”
Ji Hwa Sung’s assertion about Jae Ha hyung frequently using rock in rock-paper-scissors was true. During the Arrows days, when determining who would do chores like dishes or cleaning the bathroom, Jae Ha hyung often chose rock.
But it was unlikely he’d changed much.
“Here’s your chance to switch! I’ll give you one opportunity to switch. Ji Hwa Sung, will you switch? What about Liu Wei?”
“Oh, I’ll switch!”
“Wow! Jae Ha is switching. He has lifted another sign! Now, everyone, close your eyes and turn around. We’ll reveal what everyone has chosen. One, two—”
Would Jae Ha hyung guess what Ji Hwa Sung would throw?
“Three!”
“Wow!”
“Ah!”
“……”
Ji Hwa Sung threw scissors.
And both Jae Ha hyung and Liu Wei threw paper.
“It’s strange. Ji Hwa Sung usually always throws rock!”
Jae Ha hyung expressed his disappointment as he returned to his place. I sent a thumbs-up to Ji Hwa Sung in the middle of the stage, who sent one back to me.
Oh, by the way,
“…Tsk.”
Liu Wei always throws paper, no matter what. I emphasized scissors, anticipating this.
“Did you really have a dragon dream? What’s this? It’s incredible.”
“Well, you know…”
I nonchalantly nodded to Kim Joo An, who was genuinely impressed for once.
Though I hadn’t actually had the dream.
After all, with a name like Kim Chunyong, all my dreams might as well be dragon dreams.
Ji Hwa Sung proudly declared that they’d perform first, followed by Liu Wei’s team and then Jae Ha hyung’s team last.
It was a good start.
* * *
Before the performance began, MC Choi Ga On, holding a microphone, rushed over to our team with an excited expression.
“Um, Kim Chunyong trainee?”
Unexpectedly, he spoke to me instead of Ji Hwa Sung, following the production team’s prompter. It seemed my actions had appealed to them more than expected.
I was grateful for the attention.
I greeted Choi Ga On with as kind a smile as I could muster, befitting a top solo artist.
“Ah, yes, hello!”
My greeting made Choi Ga On flinch slightly.
I lightly stroked my cheek, making a somewhat embarrassed face. Maybe my eyes still seemed sharp, just as Yu Chan hyung said.
However, Choi Ga On quickly resumed the conversation professionally.
“Nice to meet you, too. So, before the stage… I heard there were many hardships among the team members?”
“Ah…”
I briefly recalled the events of the week, pondering what to say.
Hardships, are those really hardships? Just a bit of squabbling among us, what kind of big ordeal.
Real hardships aren’t just about fighting, getting angry, or crying.
“…No! Mom, Dad, Nari!”
…They come unexpectedly.
Instead of explaining the greatest ordeal of my life with a stern face, I cheerfully responded while looking at the judges’ table.
“Ah, everyone tried hard, so there were some differences in opinion. But of course, it’s all resolved now.”
“Oh, what happened?”
“Well, it seems it will all come out in the broadcast anyway…”
I glanced at the production crew stationed on the opposite side of the studio and smirked.
“But now, I don’t think that’s important. What’s important is.”
This stage right now.
At my response, Choi Ga On looked slightly stunned.
Perhaps it was because I spoke such a straightforward truth, or maybe he was surprised by my unflustered demeanor.
Either way, it seemed to be one of the two.
“…Well, unfortunately, it seems we’ll have to check it out in the broadcast! Kim Chunyong trainee, do your best on stage. Fighting!”
“Yes, thank you. Fighting.”
Choi Ga On extended his fist toward me in encouragement, and I tapped it once with my microphone, nodding in acknowledgment.
Soon the lights dimmed, and the spotlight hit the stage for the first team.
It was the beginning.
YOU ARE READING
TMMIB!
Random**Story not mine** Title: The Malicious Member is Back! Nicknamed the worst malicious member in idol history, called 'Trash-Rex.' Stage name Rex, real name Kim Chunyong. As he was urgently arrested, with only the entertainment world waiting for him...
