Little Pink Starfish

[Hello, everyone. This is Rowen. Surprised to hear my voice all of a sudden?]

“His voice… so cool…”

I murmured, totally entranced.

“Hey now…”

Han Iro pressed his finger into my shoulder, deadpan.

“You’re really into Seol hyung, huh? This is when you’re supposed to go, ‘Why the heck is he here?!’”

Oh—right.

I cleared my throat.

“Ahem! What?! Why is Rowen-sunbae narrating this?!”

“…Too late, Eunyul.”

[I never imagined I’d meet you like this. It’s nice to be here. I’ll be narrating the behind-the-scenes of the CYB male idol division’s third prelim round.]

Rowen’s voice was lower than usual, like when he gave feedback—not his usual cheerful tone.

So he was narrating the behind-the-scenes and commenting over the Gravity team’s performance clips?

…That’s kind of terrifying.

Han Iro sighed while staring at the screen.

“…You really never know where that guy’s gonna pop up.”

True enough.

Snack crumbs were spilling from the bag I was holding. I grabbed one, trying to come back to my senses.

“I really didn’t see this coming…”

“…Nope. Never even imagined it.”

I pictured Rowen with his usual teasing grin.

The video kept playing.

It was structured like a documentary—figures.

Before the male idol division footage, they aired some of the other categories’ behind-the-scenes clips.

In the female actor category, for instance, they had to recreate past Gate-era events as a short film.

So the male idol division wasn’t the only one with a performance rooted in mourning or tribute.

In those cases, the editing was more subdued and solemn.

Which suited Rowen’s deeper narration tone perfectly.

“Seol hyung usually doesn’t do this kind of thing. Kinda surprising.”

Han Iro commented.

“That’s why I like it…”

I mumbled dreamily.

He wasn’t someone you could move with money. Maybe the organizers used the symbolic weight of Jeju Island to win him over.

Whatever the reason, it was a perfect casting.

Han Iro and I both fell quiet, eyes fixed on the TV.

[I’ve performed in Jeju several times. Even before the Gate incident, Jeju was a special place in Korea. But now… its significance feels even greater.]

“When you found out the third round was going to be in Jeju… how did you feel?”

Han Iro tilted his head toward me slightly as he asked.

Well…

At the time, I’d just finished destroying the core of the Abyssal Sea King Muddorok.

Never expected I’d be sent to a site where an S-rank Gate had opened right after that.

But I couldn’t tell him that.

Still, I figured I could be honest about something else.

“I’m from Incheon.”

Arms crossed, I said,

“So I figured Jeju would be… maybe about the same level as Incheon. Or just a little worse. Just that much.”

The TV, as if mocking me, showed the contaminated parts of Jeju.

Ruined buildings.

Distorted natural landscapes.

Exhausted purification priests reporting mental and physical fatigue.

I thought I’d become desensitized to Jeju’s condition during our stay, but seeing it through the camera lens gave me a different feeling.

…It was so dramatic.

Not how it felt when I was there.

[The Demon God sought to conquer the human realm and make it his new home.]

Right. That’s what the lingering remnant of Abrilah had said in Jeju.

Was this what a demon’s “home” was supposed to look like?

What do you think?

I directed the question to The Star Hated by All, who was probably flailing inside the Bluetooth case.

<I don’t know.>

That was a short answer.

<I had no hand in the Demon God’s plans. I’ve never once cared what they truly desired.>

Are you… like, not the King of Hell but just the King of Hell’s outcast or something?

<Hmph. Invading the human realm is such a dull, outdated idea. That sort of scheme was already passé thousands of years ago. And it always failed.>

Well… yeah, fair point.

I rested my chin on my hand, agreeing.

Still, how many lives had been lost to those “failed plans”?

As I watched Jeju’s wreckage on screen, the thought haunted me.

Anyway, the first on-screen question appeared as a subtitle.

[Q. How did you feel when you arrived in Jeju?]

[A. Han Iro: It felt like a good place to perform. Jeju has a dark atmosphere overall… and I’d say, carefully, that the Gate made it lose its natural beauty. So I thought a performance to restore that beauty was fitting. That’s why we’re in CYB—to become people who can do that.]

Han Iro answered with a soft smile, pausing just the right amount.

“You’re up first, huh?”

I nudged his arm with my elbow.

“…Guess so.”

He was unfazed.

A few more contestants gave their answers, including me.

On screen, I was smiling nervously, talking about Incheon.

“…So weird. Watching myself on TV like this.”

“Everyone says that at first.”

Han Iro chuckled.

“You’ll get used to it soon. Just think of it like looking in a mirror.”

…A mirror, huh?

It didn’t feel like one. The me on screen looked a bit different from the me sitting here now.

I wanted to argue that—but I nodded instead.

[A. Jeong Noeul: I felt nostalgic. I mean, I don’t know Jeju that well… but still…]

Jeong Noeul’s response came next.

That guy could make that kind of expression?

During rehearsal, he was always grinning. But now he looked kind of solemn.

Apparently, the judges were asked the same question.

[A. Aiden: It felt like visiting a place full of memories. Whenever Codess did a tour, we always included Jeju. After the team disbanded, I had no reason to come back. So… a lot of old thoughts came flooding in.]

After the expected first question, the scene shifted to the team formation process.

I remembered trying really hard to react appropriately since the teams had already been decided in advance.

Most contestants tried to look cheerful for the cameras.

Some, playing the underdog angle, acted confused or discouraged.

As for me, I was caught off guard to find myself paired with Madojin.

The camera showed me staring blankly at him.

[Q. How did you feel when your team was finalized?]

Second question.

[A. Madojin: I felt good.]

…That’s it?!

I told him to prepare better answers!

“Is that all?”

Apparently I wasn’t the only one unsatisfied.

The interviewer audibly asked again.

Madojin tilted his head, as if wondering what more there was to say.

“Were you nervous…? Worried that being paired with a strong contestant would reduce your role…?”

The interviewer’s voice was broadcast without cuts.

[A. Madojin: I didn’t think about that. I just felt good.]

“That guy…”

Han Iro spoke up.

“He was like that during Round 2 too. He’s playing a really unique character. Might get some antis, but it’s probably an effective strategy.”

“…Nah.”

I decided to correct his professional assessment.

“That’s not an act. He’s for real.”

“For real?”

Han Iro looked at me in disbelief.

I silently met his gaze.

“…He’s really for real, huh?”

He laughed and reached into the snack bag.

“You must’ve had a tough time, huh.”

“Yeah. Thanks for getting that…”

I leaned my head back and let out a tired laugh.

I’d trained myself for all sorts of personalities I might meet in CYB—both difficult and impossible to explain.

Like people who went through other contestants’ wallets, or sniffed them, or covered them with fairy stickers…

<Creature.>

Huh? What?

<…Your imagination is unhinged. Do you have some traumatic past involving wallets?>

The Star Hated by All had clearly been listening in.

I ignored him.

Still, I really hadn’t expected someone like Madojin.

But I had expected people I wouldn’t be able to understand.

Han Iro must’ve known that too.

“…Hey.”

I turned to Han Iro, who was staring at the screen blankly.

[A. Jeong Jinseon: I was excited to team up with the famous child actor Han Iro. I figured I’d learn a lot from him. Rather than feeling like a team, it felt more like being his junior.]

That guy… he was on Han Iro’s team.

The team dynamic revolving around Han Iro probably wasn’t something he intended.

So that’s the guy.

I could tell right away.

His overly deferential tone, every word felt like setup for drama about Team H.I.R.

“You must’ve had a rough time too.”

I said, and Han Iro gave a short laugh.

“No way. I’ve been in the industry since elementary school.”

Maybe.

But the person you were back then is different from the one you are now.

And that’s why I didn’t say anything more.

[Q. How did you feel when the song was announced?]

The third question.

…Here we go.

[A. Kim Jungho: (On the verge of tears)]

Jungho’s devastated face said it all.

The screen cut to the moment he learned he’d been assigned a Holly song.

[Holly…]

Rowen’s voice dropped to a reverent tone.

[Such great seniors. I didn’t expect to see one of their songs picked. If I choke on an avocado sandwich right now, I won’t complain.]

…That was oddly specific. Did he actually choke on one?

Probably enjoyed it too.

[Jeong Noeul: Hamin hyung… are we… in trouble?]

[Lee Hamin: Uh… well… we just have to try hard.]

[Jeong Noeul: Will trying hard be enough…?]

[Lee Hamin: Of course! Hah!]

So they did have that conversation.

As the screen showed the two murmuring in shock, appropriate background music played.

Hamin’s forced optimism stood out, a clear sign of cognitive dissonance.

Team H.I.R’s reaction, however, was different.

[Jeong Jinseon: Wow! Iro-ssi has great taste in music too!]

[Han Iro: Ah, well… I just got lucky.]

[Jeong Jinseon: Luck is a skill too!]

It all looked cheerful on the surface, but his words had a bit of a bite.

It felt like the show was setting up viewers to dislike Han Iro.

Team name: Han Iro.

Song selection: Han Iro.

Team members: following Han Iro.

If you weren’t already a fan of his, or if you supported someone else, it’d be enough to create resentment.

Who was this guy?

But there’s no way someone like Han Iro didn’t notice.

I looked at his expression.

Why was he playing along?

I was just about to ask—

[Meanwhile, the production crew also interviewed local citizens invited to the performance.]

After showing the contestants gearing up for the stage, the scene transitioned.

Rowen’s narration faded, and the interview segment with the local audience began.

Women, men, girls, boys, and then…

An elderly woman’s face appeared.

An old woman.

She stared blankly into the camera as a caption appeared below.

“How did you feel when you received an invitation to the third-round performance?”

That was the question.

The old woman continued to stare blankly at the camera—

Then finally opened her mouth.

“…The lodging where the boys were staying…”

She spoke slowly.

“…That’s where my child died.”