Chapter 90: Weekly Pocket Idol (2)

Dusty’s college student Yejin had forcibly sat her sister down in front of the TV to lure her in.

The idol she had recently fallen for—Stardust.

Back during Starf, she had enjoyed the show lightly, only voting once during the final round. But after their debut, she became genuinely invested.

Ah, to be exact, it was the moment she saw Kang Siwoo’s final stage of ‘Tied to you’.

Thanks to Kang Siwoo completely destroying that final stage, she had sent a text vote as if possessed during the live broadcast.

She was one of the key contributors to Kang Siwoo’s debut.

Yejin crouched on the living room floor, holding the remote in her hand.

As she flipped through channels, she muttered.

“I seriously debated whether to watch this or not….”

“What is it.”

“Our kids crying.”

“Huh?”

“Crying like a baby bird.”

Her sister wouldn’t understand, but there was a world only for Dustys.

On their 10th day since debut, no—barely past two weeks, our kids were living earnestly, truly devoted to being idols.

Her sister, who had only stanned top-tier idols, wouldn’t get it.

‘That’s what true desperation looks like.’

The idol spirit of crying when necessary.

Anyway, aside from the mental chaos, the pre-release video had gone explosively viral.

Everyone kept tagging her, asking who that crazy idol was.

In the meantime, a new account had popped up on JjaekJjaek.

It was an account made by a Dusty who had been deeply inspired by the last pre-release video.

Crying Bird at the Sight of Do Seohan @callingseohan_2

[Photo]

Beeeeep!! (Do Seohan is ridiculously handsome)

Crying Bird at the Sight of Do Seohan @callingseohan_2

[Photo2]

Beep! Waaah! Waaaaaaah! (Seohan, I love you)

Crying Bird at the Sight of Do Seohan @callingseohan_2

[Photo3]

Beeeeep…. (Damn it, I have to go to work on Monday)

They'd post one handsome photo at a time and cry like that….

“I can even feel the madness….”

There’s a saying that fans mirror their idols—this was exactly that.

Anyway.

The sister who had been dragged here unwittingly gave a disinterested nod.

“So who are they supposed to be.”

“The ones I like.”

Third-generation K-pop frontrunners and (future) top idols, Stardust.

With a proud voice, Yejin began rambling off TMIs about each member.

“That one’s Kang Siwoo. He debuted because he wrecked the ‘Tied to you’ stage during the finals. How many ranks did he climb again?”

“…….”

“That’s the center. Do Seohan, you’ve heard the name, right?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Just as she was babbling on—

The commercials finally stopped, and the screen changed to [Rated 12 and up].

“We gotta cheer for our kids.”

Dusty Yejin muttered with an excited face.

Weekly Pocket Idol.

Finally.

“It’s starting… It’s starting!”

One week ago.

The viewers wouldn’t know, but the actual filming atmosphere had been quite tense.

They’d already clashed once during the pre-meeting.

A subtle hostility that the cameras couldn’t capture flickered between the two teams.

Kang Ji-hyuk smiled as he looked back at Stardust.

Previously, Stardust had presented impersonations as their ‘team’s unique talent that could beat The Core’.

Following Do Seohan’s bird sound analysis, with the leader’s enthusiastic support and the other members rushing in out of curiosity, the filming set had turned into a literal bird sound trio.

The result: 1 to 0.

They had fallen behind from the very start.

Kang Ji-hyuk wanted to show something real instead of that damn crazy talent.

“Okay—next event!”

Dodo, the MC of Weekly Pocket Idol, brought the glass jar filled with colorful balls back to the center.

Rattle rattle—

MC Dodo, who dragged the jar all the way over, continued with a booming voice.

“This time, we’ll be drawing one of the talents The Core team submitted in advance to our production staff! Okay, Kang Ji-hyuk?”

“Yes!”

“Which talent do you personally hope gets picked?”

“Ah, I….”

Kang Ji-hyuk smiled as he held the mic.

“Pull-up bar hanging?”

“Our leader hyung’s got natural muscles.”

“Oh! I was born a muscle spoon! Confident?”

“Exactly.”

MC Dodo swirled the colorful balls inside the jar with enthusiasm.

And the ball he finally picked up….

“Wooooow!”

“Wow, this one came out!”

[Long Hang on the Pull-up Bar]

It was the exact talent Kang Ji-hyuk had hoped for.

Kang Ji-hyuk clapped and jumped up from his seat.

“Ah, I’m definitely winning th—”

—He was confidently declaring, when he locked eyes with Kang Siwoo, who had been quietly sitting down.

Huh?

Kang Ji-hyuk subconsciously swallowed hard.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋYou’ve got a tough opponent, huh?

-Ah Ji-hyuk, you’re so cute ㅠㅠ You just flinched a little, didn’t you?

Now that’s what you call born with a muscle spoon.

Was that a Pacific Ocean on his shoulders or what.

Swallowing curses in his mind, Kang Ji-hyuk forced out an awkward laugh.

“Still, I think I’ve got a fair shot.”

The camera zoomed in on Kang Ji-hyuk’s face, brimming with confidence, and The Core’s fans went wild.

Ji-hyuk just flinched ㅠㅠ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

But having a good build doesn’t always mean strong muscles, we’ll have to see

Ji-hyuk’s been bulking up like crazy lately!!!

Meanwhile, the pull-up bar prepared by the production team was being set up in front of the camera.

“Wow, the tension is no joke already.”

MC Dodo looked between both sides, then laughed heartily and stepped forward.

“Then, from our Stardust and The Core! Who will be the representative players?”

“I’ll go.”

As if he had been waiting, Kang Ji-hyuk stepped forward, his gaze fixed on one person.

When it came to a strong contender, there was someone who naturally drew the most attention.

‘It’s probably going to be Kang Siwoo.’

Even with a quick scan, Kang Siwoo was the only logical choice.

Among the members, he had an overwhelmingly large build and was the only one who posed a real threat.

Just as Kang Ji-hyuk was sizing things up, Ha Junseo grabbed the mic and spoke.

“Yes, from our Stardust team, I think it’s the friend everyone expected….”

“That’s right.”

“When it comes to strength, of course…”

God Leader Kang Siwoo

Our Husky!!!

Siwoo, go crush it!

“Do Seohan!”

Huh?

Kang Ji-hyuk’s eyes widened.

‘Did I hear that right?’

Why that hamster who looked like he’d fly away if tapped.

Why are you coming out here?

Huh? What? Why?

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋSeohan, why are you up there

Sudden Mam-Seohan, what the heck

I was drinking soda and choked ㅋㅋㅋ what is this seriously ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Are… are they serious?

They were serious.

“Ah~.”

Seohan rolled his arms and stepped forward.

That faint smile on his face even gave off a strange sense of déjà vu.

Dustys instantly caught that familiar feeling.

That expression… could it be?

That’s the face he made in the Byo-Seohan concept video

└Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ right

└The face he made, convinced he was sexy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└He probably believes he looks strong now?

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ brutal truth incoming

└Seohan, you lo──└ you look weak ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

No matter what, he still looks like a hamster in front of a giant bear ㅠㅠ baby ㅠㅠ

└Even though I’m a Dusty… do you think our Seohan can… win?

└Nope

└He can’t win

└Feels like he’ll fall the moment he grabs the bar

└Muscle-spoon Do Hamjji…?

Is this for real?

Kang Ji-hyuk let out a disbelieving laugh.

Even a boastful remark came flying out from this side.

Just a little brat.

“I think I can win this easily.”

Even better.

Only one person treated the match as if it were life or death.

Seohan stared seriously up at the high pull-up bar.

It was taller than an average adult male.

If he played it by the book, he’d surely lose to Kang Ji-hyuk.

‘I mean, it’s not like I’m competing in the Olympics or anything, so losing doesn’t really matter…’

But he didn’t want to lose to Kang Ji-hyuk, of all people.

On top of that, Seo Ian was also watching from the other side, so he couldn’t just give in like that.

So he came up with a usable strategy.

“Can I climb up?”

MC Dodo’s eyes widened.

It was just a game of long hang on the pull-up bar, with no rule about what posture one had to use.

MC seemed flustered but nodded after checking with the production staff.

“Yes, it’s allowed! You’re going to climb up?”

“Yes!”

“Wow, that’s a creative approach!”

Would that unusual tactic actually work?

Soon, the whistle signaled the start of the match.

Fweeeet—

As soon as the whistle blew, Do Seohan used his light body to leap up.

Grabbing the bar with one hand in midair, he twisted his body up and over it in one go.

Wow, that’s how you use your height

He climbed up instantly daaamn

Insane Seohan, are you a genius????

Look at that agility, like a true hamster ㅠㅠ

└That’s the vibe of a hamster on a wheel

└He’s human though

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“Whoa, what the heck?”

Seo Haim jumped up in surprise.

While Kang Ji-hyuk was hanging from the bar next to him, Stardust’s youngest had shown an unusual trick by climbing on top of the bar.

Carefully perching himself atop the pull-up bar, Seohan flexed his arms to steady his position.

“He’s going to sit up there?”

“Oh, that does look more comfortable.”

“Hanging down is pretty tough after all.”

“Nice, nice!”

Seo Haim bounced excitedly as she cheered for the youngest.

“Wow, our Seohan is a genius?”

The voices of his hyped-up hyungs added to the energy.

Kang Ji-hyuk, watching from the side, furrowed his brow.

‘What kind of bullshit stunt is that?’

Wasn’t that basically cheating?

He was struggling to hold up his entire body weight with both arms, while that guy had climbed all the way on top of the pull-up bar.

He began to regret not using a similar trick, but his stamina was already starting to drain.

Now, trying to climb up with all his strength would be far too risky.

‘Damn it.’

Just as Kang Ji-hyuk was cursing internally, Ha Junseo looked at Seohan with a puzzled face and asked.

Now that he looked closely...

Something seemed off?

“Seohan?”

For some reason, he had been trembling in the same position, arms shaking, for a while now.

Weren’t you supposed to sit down?

“Why? Is it hard to get in position?”

“The position... the position...”

Seohan’s breathing grew strangely heavy.

The camera zoomed in on his face.

His handsome face had turned especially red.

Not knowing the reason, Dustys watching the broadcast began commenting.

Why is he holding himself up with strength?

His arms are shaking, but he’s still holding on

Hamjji, you’re supposed to find a comfortable position

He climbed up, but why does he look like he’s suffering???

At that moment.

There was one Dusty who figured it out.

[Hey but… can a guy sit like that up there?]

Isn’t that not allowed?

You know… structurally?

?? What are you saying?

Ah

└Ah

└Aaaaah

└Aaaah!

└Wtf

└Se...Seohan?

Dustys realized too late.

Do Seohan, get down!!!

Hamjji, get down!!!!

No, Seohan!!!

Weekly Pocket Idol’s signature narration kicked in with a sad BGM.

A comment reminiscent of a nature documentary flowed out.

[The hamster realized a mistake had been made, albeit a little late.]

“That… position’s a bit uncomfortable.”

“Seohan?”

Tremble tremble—

While Seohan was barely hanging on with his head resting against the pull-up bar,

"Ah… that’s a shame…"

Thud.

Kang Ji-hyuk couldn’t hold on any longer and let go.

MC Dodo approached and shouted loudly.

“Kang Ji-hyuk, eliminated!”

Even though the announcement of Kang Ji-hyuk’s elimination was made right next to him, Seohan remained in the same position.

“Why isn’t he coming down?”

“Seohan, it’s over!”

“I… I can’t get down…”

It had been fine going up, but now he was stuck, unable to come down.

How was he supposed to descend from that position?

“Ah… ah… hold on.”

“I’ll help you.”

“Get awaaay!”

When Cha Seongbin approached with the intention to help and ended up unintentionally pushing him, Seohan became extremely sensitive.

Ha Junseo shouted loudly, looking confused.

“Just sit down!”

“It hurts!!!”

“Ah.”

Ha Junseo stepped back as if he had a great realization.

“Dude, hang in there.”

[This hamster is facing the crisis of a lifetime.]

[The hamster, with ears perked, threatening his members.]

[A sign of distress.]

Sign of distress lolololol

└First time I’ve seen the maknae yelling at his hyungs lololol

└That posture lololol it looked so desperate just now lololol

└Do Seohan is cursing a hundred times in his head right now

└If it were me, I’d have cursed and gotten kicked out of the industry

└lololololololol

└Almost lost the center of Universe Dust

Yo lololol “Hang in there” who said that?

└Jin Sehyun

└Ah lolol why aren’t you giving him a solution, your MBTI is extreme T type ㅠㅠ

└Doesn’t know the solution, just laughing with Cha Seongbin

“Ahahaha! Ahahaha!”

Then the camera captured Cha Seongbin laughing so hard he looked like he’d pass out.

Following along, Jin Sehyun, who had been laughing like crazy, finally offered a solution.

“Just fall, Seohan.”

“I’m scared…”

Our maknae even had a fear of heights.

Seohan peeked down and freaked out.

It was just too high to come down on his own.

When he climbed upㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ he wasn’t scaredㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

But seriously, that height is kinda scary

└Just looking at it, it’s clearly high ㅠㅠ

└22222

└Going up and coming down are totally different

└It’s taller than he is lol how did you even get up there

└Good athletic ability, but poor cerebral nerves type

Do Seohan is definitely smart, but it feels like he does something dumb just one day out of the year.

└That’s so mean ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└Can’t even deny it

└This is the truth

└Why did that one day have to be today ㅠㅠ

└He’s clearly smart, but he’s occasionally sloppy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└It’s because he’s still a baby

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Sh-Should I sit down?”

“Don’t give up!”

“Hey, you’re still young. Think hard!”

Cha Seongbin shouted energetically to lift the mood.

It didn’t really help.

Don’t give upㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└That line carries way too much weight

└Seriously, Byo-Seohan is so cute I want to put him in my pocket

└Seohan is being very serious right now

└Seems like the biggest crisis of his 18 years of life

└Young… damn it, what is Cha Seongbin even sayingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└Seongbin is such a maniac ㅠㅠ

Do Seohan, who could neither do this nor that, clung to the pull-up bar like a sloth and stubbornly tried to secure some screen time.

At this point, it felt like Weekly Pocket Idol should give him some kind of special feature.

“Hyung, do something.”

“Should I… should I catch him? Seohan, hang on!”

“Ugh… aaack….”

In the end, the poor maknae was barely rescued by Ha Junseo.

Ha Junseo supported Seohan with one hand so he wouldn’t fall.

“I’ve got you.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Flap—

Seohan flailed his arms and finally descended to the ground.

“Ugh… aaah….”

Wriggle wriggle.

Apparently, it had scared him quite a bit—his weak little fluttering flailed through the air.

Thanks to Ha Junseo’s support, his feet finally touched the ground.

Only then did his senses return.

“Ah, I’m alive.”

Seohan spoke as if his throat were choked up.

Having stepped on solid ground after a long time, his face looked emotional.

Then, MC Dodo clapped with a high-tension voice and walked out.

“Long Hang on the Pull-up Bar event! Congratulations, the victory goes to Stardust!”

“Waaaaaah!”

“Stardust! Stardust! Stardust!”

Our team’s victory...

All of that was great.

But.

Seohan muttered in a dazed voice.

“What… exactly did I gain from this?”

“Honor?”

“I feel like that’s the first thing I lost.”

Where is my honor.

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