Since the second finals were starting tonight, Han Iro and I needed to finish our brainstorming session as soon as possible.
We also had to scout the set. If we wanted to scare the other team, we had to find good hiding spots.
But first, I told Han Iro I needed a moment and headed to a quiet, camera-free stairwell.<Very well.>
The Star Hated by All emerged from its steel case and perched on my shoulder.<I already know what kind of help you seek.>
“Can you do it?”
I was sure it could, but I asked anyway.
<Of course. For this body, it’s a piece of cake. However…>
Of course. It could do it, but there would be a catch. I was used to this by now.
<I can transform you into a monster. But unlike transforming myself, turning you into one takes an immense amount of mana. As you know, this body is merely an avatar… Therefore, limitations are inevitable.>
“What kind of limitations?”<One hour per day. No more than that.>
“Damn it.”
I bit my lip.
“Could you transform Han Iro too, not just me?”
<That’s easily within my power. However…>
“Now what?”
<I can transform that bubbly creature too, but if I transform you both, the duration is halved.>
“So the time gets split evenly between the two of us?”
How… fair.
I crossed my arms and fell into thought.
If we had an hour, we might be able to pull it off. But thirty minutes? That was pushing it.
“Got it for now.”
I’d need to discuss the rest with Han Iro.
I headed to the 7th floor where Han Iro’s room was.
While walking down the corridor to catch the elevator—
“Oh! Hello!”
I ran into the last person I wanted to see.
“Ryu Eunyul! I’ve been enjoying your performances!”
…It was Jung Jinseon.
“Haha, hello? I’ve also been impressed by your work, Jinseon.”
I replied with my best fake smile.
<Heh. That sounded like an ogre snorting through its nose.>
The Star was clearly disgusted by my overly polite tone.
“You were ranked 5th, right? I’d love to be on a team with someone like you. Your vocals are seriously amazing.”
He talks so cold and aloof on camera, but in person he talks like that? I never would’ve guessed.
He was the only son of a politician, and he approached me with an unexpectedly friendly smile.
But I couldn’t let my guard down.
Jung Jinseon had disliked Han Iro since the third preliminary round.
He hadn’t caused any trouble in the first finals, but a screenshot of him glaring at Han Iro spread online, fueling rumors of discord.
“I’d love to be on a project team with you too.”
I decided to test him.
“…You know, with so many people gathered, sometimes weird types start clinging to you, no matter how high your rank is.”
“Totally.”
Jung Jinseon nodded.
“…That’s been hard for me too.”
“Did something happen?”
“Well…”
Jung Jinseon lowered his voice.
“It’s about Han Iro, your teammate this time….”
Jinseon started pouring out his frustrations like he’d been holding them in for ages, even pounding his chest.
According to him, Han Iro had requested a team change during the third prelims.
Apparently because the team wasn’t up to his standards.
“…What a jerk.”
He added with a scoff, continuing his tale.
After being denied the request, Han Iro allegedly led the team with a tyrannical attitude, deciding everything on his own, from blocking to choreography.
‘Knowing how meticulous and sharp Han Iro is…’
That honestly just sounds like him being his usual self?
Even if I were on his team, he’d probably drag me by the collar if I couldn’t keep up.
But according to Jung Jinseon—
“He even said this to me.”
‘What’s with your face?’
…That sounded like a misunderstanding.
Han Iro’s the type to watch people’s expressions. He probably picked up on some resentment from Jinseon and reacted to that.
‘…If you didn’t know the context, it would definitely sound like he was picking a fight.’
“So! I socked him.”
“…You hit him?”
“Ah, yeah…”
The proud expression Jinseon had been wearing crumbled when he saw my face.
“Are… are you mad, Eunyul?”
‘Crap, did I mess up my expression again?’
I’d flinched instinctively at the word “hit.”
“No, Jinseon. I’m not mad.”
I swept back my bangs and sighed.
“But Jinseon, let me ask—did Han Iro ask for a team change in front of you and the other members?”
“No… not exactly…”
He leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“…Aiden told me.”
…What?
What the hell?
“And Aiden consoled us after that.”
Jinseon went on about how Aiden had been so kind and encouraging and gave great practice advice, but I couldn’t focus on any of it.
‘Why is Aiden’s name coming up here…?’
That was the only thing echoing in my head.
‘Why?’
He might not be on Rowen’s level, but Aiden is still a member of Codess and a role model for aspiring male idols.
But that wasn’t the point. Just because someone’s talented doesn’t mean they’re good-hearted.
‘…Why would he do that?’
Why tell Jinseon and the others something like that?
It bothered me.
‘I really don’t think Han Iro would’ve asked for a team change.’
From everything I’ve seen of Han Iro, that’s not the kind of person he is.
So if that’s true, then Aiden manipulated the situation to divide the team…
‘Is he trying to promote someone?’
Even so, why try to drag down Han Iro?
Han Iro had too much spotlight to be taken down like that.
If someone wanted to boost another contestant, it would be smarter to aim for second or third place—not target the top.
‘It’s a clumsy strategy.’
It felt amateurish.
“Jinseon, everything you just told me—was it all true?”
I asked. Jinseon nodded emphatically.
“Honestly, I just wanted to mess things up a little. I knew Han Iro was going to hog the whole stage anyway….”
His expression softened.
“…Hitting him was too much. I got carried away. So during the first finals, I just followed along obediently.”
He didn’t seem like he was lying.
If he was, he was pulling off an act I couldn’t even begin to see through.
‘He probably believed it because Aiden told him so…’
And he might’ve been feeling inferior to Han Iro at the time, too.
“Thanks for telling me, Jinseon.”
I smiled as brightly as I could and held out my hand.
“Let’s both make it into the final lineup!”
“Definitely!”
Clasp.
After shaking hands with Jinseon, I hurried to Han Iro’s room.
‘We can get to the bottom of this later.’
Right now, the priority was doing well in the second finals test.
Ding-dong.
I rang the bell.
“It’s open! Come in!”
Han Iro’s cheerful voice rang out.
‘Why do so many people hate you so much?’
I twisted the doorknob, wondering that.
Squeak—squeak—
An unpleasant sound greeted me.
Like twisted, rusted metal.
“Han Iro?”
I called his name and stepped inside.
The room was filled with crimson foam, as red as blood.
I walked through the bubbles, and then—
“Heeheehee…”
A creepy laugh echoed.
I headed toward the sound.
Then—
“GRRRRAHH!!”
With a beastly scream, Han Iro—his head grotesquely deformed—lunged at me.
“…Wow.”
That’s a solid costume.
I watched as he clung to me, thrashing around.
“Grak! Gurk!”
He really was a former child actor. The snarling was shockingly realistic.
“…Ryu Eunyul.”
Then Han Iro peeked up at me.
“Why aren’t you scared?”
“Why would I be?”
“…So boring.”
POP!
All the bubbles burst at once, disappearing without a trace.
Han Iro’s figure was now clearly visible.
“How do I look?”
He struck a dramatic pose and asked.
“…I’m impressed.”
It was like something from a top-tier special effects YouTuber.
“It’s a bit obvious in bright light… but the set’ll be dark, so it’s fine.”
I poked at his face.
“Hey! Don’t press the ripped-off nose part.”
He grumbled, but I couldn’t resist touching it.
Han Iro’s makeup was probably maintained by Love Born with Bubbles.
‘So it’s good for more than just looking pretty, huh… even special effects makeup.’
“Amazing, right? It’s my Constellation’s work.”
Han Iro spun around proudly in his grotesque getup.
“Yeah. With this, we’ll definitely win.”
“Oh, but… my Constellation can only decorate me. You’ll need another way.”
“That’s not a problem.”
I declared confidently.
“My Constellation’s power should be able to make me look just as good as you.”
“Really? What’s your Constellation, The Savior Who Is One and All or something?”
…That’s the guy who tried to kill The Savior Who Is One and All, you punk.
“It’s not that amazing. I can only use it for one hour a day. So I can’t show you now.”
“…Hmm. Well, I’ll believe you. You’ve always pulled through in a pinch.”
Saying that, Han Iro ran a hand across his face.
Fwoosh!!
The bubbles scattered, revealing his usual face.
“Eunyul.”
Han Iro looked at me, face serious.
“I really want to win this test. So help me. I’m glad I got paired with someone I can ask for help.”
“We’re rivals, not friends. Even if we’re teammates right now….”
The reason Han Iro desperately wanted the N-LIVE broadcast time was obvious.
He wanted to cement a more approachable image.
I remembered the day we checked out the billboard.
‘He wants to connect with fans more directly. Show his real personality, even to people who aren’t fans.’
In CYB’s child actor division, participants were young, so there wasn’t really any hate or fan wars.
And if there was, it usually got shut down quickly by public decency.
‘So from his perspective, having haters probably bothers him. Especially with all the media focus.’
I understood.
“You say we’re rivals, but your face doesn’t look like you see me that way.”
Han Iro smiled brightly.
“Be honest—it’s fun being with me, right? It’s comforting, right? You’re happy, too…”
“Don’t you feel embarrassed asking that?”
“Not at all. Because it’s true.”
“Ugh, whatever!”
I turned away from him.
“Let’s go check out the set already.”
“Wait a sec!”
Han Iro ran into the bathroom to gather something.
‘…He’s covered his mirror with a bunch of tape.’
It caught my attention, but I didn’t ask.
“Let me water the babies before we go.”
Holding a spray bottle of fresh water, Han Iro declared.
‘Oh, he has a ton of plants in here.’
Guess he really likes them.
“Do you really have to water them now?”
I asked without thinking… and that was my mistake.
“Eunyul, you should never have kids. If you feed them with that attitude, you’re disqualified as a dad. Got it?”
Han Iro glared at me like an angry parent.
I was dumbfounded.
‘Between Jeong Noeul and this guy, what is with everyone….’
…Why is everyone so invested in the fate of my future children?
Little Pink Starfish 
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