A few days ago, a new video was uploaded to YouTube.
Its title read:
[EXCLUSIVE/Fancam] CYB Male Idol Division Group Song ‘WAVE’ Ryu Eunyul Fancam 4K | Fancam by SugarBomb_20XX.09.29
From the title alone, the content was obvious.
A focused fancam of me during the group performance.
It wasn’t unusual—ever since the finals began, it was common for fancammers to select one contestant to focus on. CYB itself uploaded solo fancams of all participants to Neobus.
But what mattered was the name of the uploader: SugarBomb.
In other words—Sugarbomb.
Sugarbomb had been active during the time I was deep into stanning Rowen. A few years ago, to be exact, when they used to upload videos regularly.
Sugarbomb’s filming sense was simply exceptional.
Just one of their fancams of Rowen during his Codess days had over 30 million views.
They once helped a little-known boy group climb the charts with a single fancam.
‘But that idol got caught drunk driving…’
After that, Sugarbomb disappeared from the scene.
Which meant that their YouTube channel, dormant for years, had now resumed activity—by uploading my fancam.
‘Even the channel’s profile picture is my face now…’
I was stunned.
A renowned fancammer like Sugarbomb filming me?
‘I’m grateful enough to want to bow in thanks…’
A fancam by someone famous like them was a massive boost.
Though the video had only been uploaded recently, it was already trending in YouTube’s real-time popular videos.
The response was explosive.
― Sugarbomb chose our merman!!!!
― No exaggeration, Eunyul’s voice should be bottled and sold at pharmacies. You cured my mood disorder…
ㄴ 22 idols in the group and no voice like his. First time I’ve ever heard anything like it.
― 2:46—when he hits his solo, I got chills. I knew he was good, but seeing the tear-shaped mole glint under the lights… I wanted to pluck it and swallow it whole.
― The way Sugarbomb moves the camera… that’s craftsmanship. Trying so hard to keep the subject centered yet steady. Welcome back, Sugarbomb…
― Eunyul’s voice is saving the world…
― Never stanned an idol in my life, but I keep rewatching this after stumbling on it in trending. What’s happening to me…
― He’s so beautiful when he sings, it’s borderline sacred.
― Sugarbomb is really back? I’m a fan of another contestant, but just the fact Sugarbomb’s filming again is making me emotional ㅠ
The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
Sure, some people liked me, but many were just thrilled Sugarbomb had returned after years of silence.
‘My performance…’
Watching my busy self on stage gave me a warm feeling.
‘…came out pretty good.’
“You look happy.”
Min Heejae asked with a soft smile.
“Yeah…”
It was a bit embarrassing, but I answered honestly.
“Hey, Eunyul. Why do you want to be an idol?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Before I could answer, Heejae continued.
“You’ve been a trainee for quite a while, right?”
“There are others who trained longer than me.”
“Really? Must’ve been tough. I don’t know much about idols. I did my research and even trained a little, but I don’t have a favorite group or idol dreams. I just love music. That’s all. I want to be an idol… because it’s the dream my childhood friend couldn’t fulfill. That’s it.”
I believed him.
While preparing for the first round, I saw how much Heejae loved music.
But I never got the sense he dreamed of being an idol.
He simply enjoyed playing and creating music.
He lacked the core desire that defines the word “idol”—the aspiration to become someone’s icon.
“I think…”
I said,
“I always believed the world must look peaceful from the stage. That’s why I wanted to be an idol. I just wanted to see that peaceful scenery.”
“That’s it?”
Heejae’s brows lifted.
“You could see that from any kind of stage, not just as an idol.”
“Well… I figured it’d be even better if I could see it with others.”
“So why not join a band instead of being an idol?”
“Maybe I just wanted to look beautiful. It’s something I thought of as a kid…”
“…That’s definitely a childlike dream.”
Heejae chuckled.
“But I like dreams like that. My friend’s dream ended in childhood too. So maybe by fulfilling it for them, I’m dreaming a kid’s dream myself.”
“Yeah… I guess so.”
“So you want to see a peaceful world. That’s why you want to become an idol.”
I nodded.
“I just want to see people happy and smiling.”
“I think I get it.”
Heejae placed his hands on the keys.
And began playing.
“This is Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 2. A good piece for when you’re feeling happy.”
He smiled as he played, his expression serene.
“Eunyul, I’ll be here most nights when I’m free. It’s quiet, and I really like this synth.”
Then he looked at me and smiled.
“Come visit sometimes. You’re my instrument, after all.”
“…I’m not an instrument.”
I laughed weakly.
“Still, thanks for listening, Heejae.”
“So… is it safe to say your affection level toward me rose by at least 20 points? You like me now, right?”
“This isn’t a dating sim, there’s no ‘+20 Affection’ floating in the air…”
I sighed.
But I smiled with my head lowered.
“…But I do know now—you’re a good person.”
Next Day, Saturday
There was no schedule on weekends, so I got up late.
After a rare good sleep and a refreshing shower, I felt like all my fatigue had washed away.
Next week, scores from the first round would be posted, and our rankings would be officially decided.
<Are you nervous?>
“It’s a bit late to be, but…”
I chuckled at the Star’s question.
My estimated “value” from that round, calculated in points, was fairly high.
With Sugarbomb’s surprise support, I doubted I’d be ranked low.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.
‘Come to think of it…’
I’d been watching Sugarbomb’s fancam on my phone when the thought hit me.
<What, trying to imitate Narcissus, falling for your own reflection?>
The Star scoffed from my shoulder.
<Not going to stop you, but watching you like this is sickening.>
“Sorry about that. You’ll have to endure it—I’ll be watching a lot more. Besides…”
I paused the video.
“I’m not watching this out of vanity.”
Last night, I’d been too shocked to notice.
But there was something strange about Sugarbomb’s video.
I tapped the “More” button under the video’s description.
<Hmm…?>
The Star raised an eyebrow.
<Is that… a code?>
“Maybe…?”
Normally, a fancam’s description just had info like the song title or performance date.
That was true of Sugarbomb’s other videos too.
But mine had a long string of what looked like random letters.
Like something straight out of a mystery novel.
“Any ideas?”
<I don’t know your human codes. I fell into hell before you lot even got a foothold in this world.>
“You could’ve corrupted yourself a little later. Or better yet, not at all.”
<A whelp of just 18 dares lecture me over aeons of history…>
“Okay, okay…”
I scratched my head and squinted at the phone.
It definitely looked like a cipher, but I had no idea what it meant.
“…Guess I’ll eat first.”
Muttering to myself, I stood up.
It was already past noon.
The cafeteria was quiet—probably because there was no schedule.
‘Well, being cooped up for a month will do that…’
I filled my tray with soft tofu, tomatoes, and chicken breast salad.
“Hmm?”
That’s when I spotted Han Iro eating alone with his back turned.
“Hey, Iro. Sleep well?”
I called out from behind him.
“Wah?!”
Han Iro jumped in surprise and turned around.
“Oh… Eunyul. Hey. Here for lunch?”
“Who’d you think I was to get that spooked?”
I placed my tray across from him.
“Well…”
Han Iro’s expression dimmed.
“Dojin-ssi keeps following me around. He’s huge, but somehow he moves with no presence. He just pops up like ‘Han Iro-ssi? Han Iro-ssi?’ out of nowhere…”
“He does that…?”
Dojin always seemed like he couldn’t care less about the world.
“Well, I answered his questions a few times. Now I think he sees me as a walking answer machine.”
“…Ah.”
That made sense.
Despite being quiet, Madojin often asked questions like a child asking a parent.
“Anyway, Eunyul!”
Han Iro grinned.
“You’re famous now! You’re killing it on YouTube!”
“Oh… you saw.”
I felt a little embarrassed.
“They’ll probably release the rankings next week, right? You’re going to be high for sure. Trending helps your score.”
“…Ha. If we’re talking about scores, no one’s beating you.”
I wanted to win, of course, but…
I placed my phone on the table.
“By the way, Iro.”
I fiddled with my phone and asked,
“Do you know anything about… ciphers?”
“…Ciphers? Random much?”
“Well…”
I decided I could trust him—and told him about the weird part of Sugarbomb’s video.
“That is weird.”
Han Iro examined the strange message.
“Looks like something a serial killer would send the police…”
“Please don’t say things like that.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
He chuckled and popped a chicken cube in his mouth.
“I’d help if I could… but you know I can’t, right?”
“…Yeah. I just thought I’d ask.”
Neither of us had anything to do with codes. No way we could figure this out.
Unless someone here had contracted with a Constellation that specialized in codebreaking…
“It’s a Caesar cipher.”
A blunt voice came from above.
“GAH—!!”
Han Iro turned pale.
“It’s a kind of monoalphabetic substitution cipher. Not a hard one.”
“I-I see…”
I turned around with a forced smile.
“…You know about ciphers, Dojin-ssi?”
Madojin tilted his head.
“I don’t know them well. I know as much as I know.”
“…Haha. Right.”
…Why are you suddenly a cipher expert?!
Little Pink Starfish 
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