Little Pink Starfish

I’ve gone through enough issues related to my parents to be sick of it.

It was hard at first.

I took second place in SNUMJE, receiving nationwide sympathy, but that sympathy became shackles on my ankles.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t escape the frame of being a ‘pitiful person.’

Well, my skills were only at that level too.

It was my immature second round after all.

After that, I put a lot of effort into controlling the media.

I tried to prevent my parents’ story from leaking out, but it was impossible.

Maybe I could hold it back for a year or two, but eventually, it would always leak.

But over time, I realized something.

I just needed to be good at music.

The only way to overcome issues related to my parents was skill.

If I was absurdly good, people wouldn’t pity me.

The story of my parents becoming vegetative patients would become part of the narrative behind my music.

I’m not saying I like it, but I don’t dislike it either.

So, how was our stage today?

What impression did people get watching our performance first…?

“Han Si-on.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you pretending to be calm?”

“What?”

I feigned ignorance at Goo Tae-hwan’s words, but…

Damn it, I know.

This emotionally volatile regressor idiot spouted nonsense before going on stage again.

Yeah, it’s about me.

“Wasn’t Si-on hyung like this during Coming Up Next too?”

“Be quiet.”

“But it’s not like you act like this on every stage. What’s your standard?”

“I don’t know.”

Then Goo Tae-hwan glanced at me and On Sae-mi-ro and asked.

“Where’s the manager? Why are you driving?”

We didn’t greet the PD after the music broadcast ended.

There was an issue related to my parents today. What would happen if we stood around in the hallway of the music broadcast station?

We’d end up like animals in a zoo cage.

Thankfully, the CP understood and had a good talk with the PD to let us leave.

But seriously, we’re not some mafia. Why do we have to swarm to the PD after a music show ends?

Anyway, after that, we had a brief meeting with fans.

Seo Seung-hyun team leader—no, I should say director now.

Director Seo Seung-hyun said it was good to meet fans, but we shouldn’t take photos.

It might look too indifferent.

So we spent a pretty fun time with fans, except for the photo-taking.

They really enjoyed it.

The fans, the members too.

It was the first time both for us and for the fans to meet like this.

But I was a bit surprised to see all the fans carrying folding chairs and water bottles.

Some even had leftover battery sockets.

Chairs made sense, but why the water bottles?

Of course, some weren’t carrying anything, but when I looked at them, they shouted defensively.

They said they didn’t throw them away but left them in a subway locker.

After that short fan meeting, we were now driving back to the dorm together.

I was driving myself.

As expected, Goo Tae-hwan was sharp.

He seemed to have sensed that something happened between me and On Sae-mi-ro.

It was a day filled with endless events, but not for On Sae-mi-ro.

His parents came to visit the dorm early this morning.

I could feel On Sae-mi-ro’s gaze, so I nodded.

After a short sigh, On Sae-mi-ro began speaking.

“Actually…”

His story continued dryly.

I quite liked that attitude.

Maintaining objectivity helps a lot when facing hardships.

Our first meeting wasn’t great, but now I’m satisfied seeing him grow stronger.

The members seemed quite flustered by On Sae-mi-ro’s story.

“What about you, Si-on? What did you talk about with Sae-mi-ro’s parents?”

“I found it odd, so I probed them a bit.”

“What do you mean?”

“They could know our dorm location. But why did they come?”

“What are you saying?”

“Normally, this kind of thing happens in the early evening.”

Three in the morning requires willpower.

Waking up at dawn (or staying up all night), getting dressed, taking a taxi, and breaking into the dorm—it’s unlikely to be a spur-of-the-moment decision.

That’s why I excluded the manager and security from this matter for now.

Director Seo Seung-hyun will have some talks, and I’ll investigate personally too.

But even if I can’t find solid evidence, I’m convinced Choi Dae-ho is involved in On Sae-mi-ro’s parents’ situation.

“Choi Dae-ho would go that far…”

That’s a rather aggressive remark for Lee Eon.

Even after their falling out, he kept calling him ‘CEO.’ Now it’s Choi Dae-ho.

One day, I’ll probably hear him call him ‘that bastard Choi Dae-ho.’

“No need to worry too much. We’re about 70% there.”

“70%? Toward what?”

“Toward beating Choi Dae-ho.”

Maybe even more than 70%.

“For now, I won’t do anything until the album releases next Monday.”

Same reason we didn’t take photos.

Right now, acting like nothing’s wrong could be more dangerous.

“So for now, you guys handle the issue-making.”

---

Sedalbaekil’s performance on SBN’s Gayo Taste became a huge topic.

The timing coincided with the issue related to Han Si-on, drawing public attention.

Thanks to that, they received rare algorithmic blessings for an idol group.

Seeing that, MBS and KBN hurriedly booked Sedalbaekil for their music shows.

Originally, Choi Dae-ho had blocked Sedalbaekil from variety activities, but that no longer mattered.

The entire nation now knew about Han Si-on’s family and the group’s upcoming album.

Not inviting them now would look strange.

People might get suspicious looks.

The last music show that booked Sedalbaekil was M-Show’s M-Mixdown.

At the same time they booked Sedalbaekil, M-Show quietly released the previously hidden Coming Up Next videos.

They even released some unreleased cuts, blatantly focusing on Han Si-on’s related clips.

At first, Titi thought M-Show had gone crazy for views and was trying to spotlight Han Si-on’s dark personal life, and panicked.

But surprisingly, that wasn’t it.

They showed how Han Si-on woke up an hour early every day to train his tone.

How Choi Jae-sung, who felt regret after Seoul Town Funk, joined and made it the team culture, leading all Sedalbaekil members to start waking up early.

They unfolded these stories slowly.

The general public didn’t show much interest, but the fandom was different.

-Whatㅠㅠㅠㅠ Our kids aren’t just born geniusesㅠㅠㅠ It was all hard workㅠㅠㅠ

-Wow, M-Show really has no sense. Why release this now? They should’ve done it earlier!

-Doesn’t this look like M-Show groveling to Sedalbaekil?

-Yeahㅋㅋㅋ They’re booked for Mixdown too.

-Wow, we’re appearing on all major music shows now?!

-One of those seats better be mine!

-Did you see the fan accounts from Gayo Taste?

-Insanely jealousㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ They chatted in the parking lot for about an hour after the music showㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Jae-sung even gave out some <???> photocards he had.

-But apparently, they were all Si-on’s?

-Si-on hyung carried the animal onesie photocard around to use as blackmail if they bullied himㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Ha, seriously so jealous. If only I were there…

-Don’t be jealous. They’re not fans anymore.

-Huh? Why?

-They’ve ascended.

-Ah.

-Understood.

As someone said, this was M-Show sending a signal of reconciliation to Sedalbaekil.

M-Show shares profits with Take Scene, but Sedalbaekil and Take Scene are no longer on the same level.

The two won’t be tied together or share the pie anymore.

In this situation, it’s better for M-Show to get along with Sedalbaekil.

If Sedalbaekil accepts this reconciliation gently, they might even get the label ‘M-Show’s idol.’

No matter what hidden stories exist, Sedalbaekil was a group born from M-Show after all.

-So, I’ll be producing this new variety show.

“What’s the format?”

-We’ll see after the writers gather, but I’m thinking of busking overseas. With missions along the way.

“One of those shows where Spanish public broadcasters are amazed by Korean singing skills and Madrid citizens are shocked?”

-…I can’t deny it.

It was PD Kang Seok-woo who could smooth over that relationship.

While the fandom was chewing, biting, tasting, and enjoying this feast of new content, the general public’s perspective was a bit different.

-He’s a diligent young man.

-I’m sure his parents are watching his impressive growth too.

-The song was a bit hectic, but his talent is undeniable^^

-It reminded me of my son, brought tears to my eyes.

Outside of the 10-20 age range immersed in idol culture, sympathetic opinions were strong.

Even if Han Si-on and Sedalbaekil achieved great results in their main careers, it didn’t resonate as much with these people.

But Han Si-on had always planned to reveal his family story alongside the album release.

It just came out a bit earlier because of Choi Dae-ho, but he had anticipated this.

Of course, he had countermeasures prepared.

The first one was…

[The Masked Singer! Challenging for honorary graduation: MyHeart’sMiro!]

---

MBN’s The Masked Singer was a stable show.

Though its live ratings fluctuated sometimes, its re-run ratings were consistently high.

In other words, once people tuned in, they didn’t switch channels.

That’s the format’s nature.

You stay curious about who’s behind the mask.

In that sense, MyHeart’sMiro, who appeared like a comet three weeks ago, was still an unidentified singer.

Meaning, MyHeart’sMiro had remained champion for three consecutive weeks.

What made MyHeart’sMiro so talked about was the competitors.

The contestants over the past three weeks were incredible.

From week one.

Nuts, one of the top ballad singers.

Ben, the top R&B singer.

Oh Jae-hyung, Korea’s best band vocalist in the late 90s.

But the pattern was:

MyHeart’sMiro beat Nuts, beat Ben, beat Oh Jae-hyung.

Same the next week.

Beat Breed, beat Shin Jung-ah, beat Kito — all defeated by MyHeart’sMiro.

Week three was legendary, crushing a lineup of absurdly skilled singers.

That ‘someone’ was none other than…

[Take Scene’s Joo Yeon!]

It was Joo Yeon.

Viewers were shocked by how well Joo Yeon could sing.

But revealing Joo Yeon’s identity meant MyHeart’sMiro won again.

Now week four.

The Masked Singer allows an honorary graduation after four consecutive wins.

But there’s a jinx.

So far, only Do Jae-wook, called the god of vocals, succeeded in honorary graduation.

The rest lost brutally and were forced to unmask.

Funny how people feel oddly pitiful when someone fails the honorary graduation and has to unmask.

Now MyHeart’sMiro was challenging for that honorary graduation.

“Dad! It’s starting.”

“Okay, I’m coming.”

And it was being broadcast live across the nation.