The Maknae Has to Be an Idol

Woon was going to have a career slump. I thought about the meaning behind the words, but there wasnt much for me to think about. If I didnt go to the practice room right now, Woon was going to go through some serious hardships. I couldnt get a sense of why that would be and what was happening to Woon right now that would lead to his slump, but I quickly moved.

Woon.

Yes?

UmWhy dont we put down our ice cream for a bit and go to the practice room together?

Why the practice room?

It bugs me that Woon is practicing by himself.

Thats true. It feels like he is too focused on practicing by himself.

Should we practice with him a bit and eat dinner together?

Yeah, lets do that. Yeon-Hoon took a bite of his ice cream and got up. Though I tried not to show it much, my sense of anxiety was rising.

Its making me nervous. It felt like something ominous was happening without my knowledge.

***

Woon ended his call with Hwang Jun-Kyul from YM Entertainment and stood blankly in the middle of the practice room. There hadnt been anything wrong about the call. It was a short conversation just congratulating Woon on his upcoming debut. Though that was the general summary of the content of the call, there was something about the nuance and tone of Hwang Jun-Kyuls call that bothered him.

Hwang Jun-Kyuls exact words had been this: I didnt think you would be able to become an idol, but its great that you got the opportunity, even if its late. I want to give you some advice as your senior, so lets have a meal together sometime.

Those words had been sufficient to make him feel uncomfortable and make him blank out like this. If this conversation had been with any close companion from his trainee days besides Hwang Jun-Kyul, Woon wouldve acted differently. He wouldve easily laughed off the guys words, asked how the other person doing, and wished for each others happiness. Yet, the problem was that this was Hwang Jun-Kyul who called him.

Hwang Jun-Kyul was the one who pushed him into a slump last time and made him think that he should give up everything to return to his hometown. Above all, Hwang Jun-Kyul was the one who took his pre-debut spot that couldve been his. His heart felt heavy recollecting those memories. And now that his heart felt heavy, he became more desperate and worried.

Woon began to search for choreography videos on his phone obsessively. Then, like he was possessed, he started to follow dance moves of genres that he normally wouldnt. As if he was trying to forget the pain in his heart with his physical pain, Woon made his movements bigger, more forceful, and more dangerous.

***

Yeon-Hoon drove the car and entered Next Waves building. As soon as he parked the car in the parking lot, I quickly went outside.

Why are you in such a hurry, Tae-Yoon? Yeon-Hoon asked me.

Ah, sorry.

No, theres no need to apologize butlets go.

Yeah.

Yeon-Hoon appeared taken aback by how urgently I moved, but I couldnt stop myself.

Theres definitelysomething going on

Whenever the system showed me a signal like this, it was the beginning of some kind of incident. Thus, I was worried about Woon. Furthermore, I had just made plans with Kang Hyun-Sung today to debut on June 3rd. Whether we debuted in June or July, that all became meaningless if Woon suffered from a slump. There was no point in continuing this work if my members were unhappy.

Moreover, is someone bothering Woon? Out of everyone I knew, Woon had the strongest mentality. He was someone who always maintained his own pace whatever the situation was. Thus, there was a high possibility that the reason for his slump came from external factors rather than internal problems.

Considering all these factors, I began to feel an intense rage that went beyond simple worry despite not even being completely certain what the cause of Woons slump was or who I was supposed to blame. All in all, many factors increased my sense of urgency about the situation.

As you say, Woon seems to be obsessing more about his practice these days. I wonder if hes really nervous before our debut or Yeon-Hoon seemed to have also come up with his own explanation about what happened, seeing how urgent I was feeling.

Eventually, we went down to the basement, where the practice room was and walked to the only brightly lit place in the area.

There he is. We saw Woons silhouette past the semi-transparent glass wall. Woon was deeply immersed in his dancing and a hazy human silhouette messily moved from here and there.

What choreography is he dancing right now?

Yeah. I wondered if any of our choreographies would require him to dance so roughly. Though it was just his silhouette, his movements were very intense and wide.

Furthermore, hes slightly off-beat. The melody that was seeping out of this practice door and the moves were a bit off.

Woon isnt the type to go off beat though. He was the type of person to catch someone going off even half of a half-off beat. My worries grew the more I watched.

Huh? (f)reenovelkiss

Then, the silhouette of Woons form suddenly disappeared across the glass wall.

What?

Yeon-Hoon and I quickly opened the door and spotted Woon collapsed on the ground. fr(e)enovelkiss

Boomboomboom

A melody with a heavy base sound continued to flow meaninglessly. There was a tablet PC installed on the floor, showing a very difficult and intense choreography video, and in the center, Woon was crouching over and clutching his ankles.

Woon!

We approached him.

Ah, when did you guys come here? Woon looked at me and Yeon-Hoon in surprise. But before I answered that we just arrived, Yeon-Hoon asked first.

Woon, did you use a cold spray?

Yes, but why?

How much did you spray on yourself?

Sorry?

Yeon-Hoon and I flinched because of how intense the smell of the pain relief spray reeked in the practice room. I spotted a pain relief spray placed in the corner and shook it.

Did you not realize that you used almost the whole bottle? I asked. Though we had bought it only recently, it was completely empty now.

You used all of it by yourself? Yeon-Hoon asked in shock.

I justlightly sprayed it whenever I felt some pain

I turned my eyes to the ankle that Woon was clutching. I didnt know whether I was imagining it because I was aware of how much pain relief spray he used or if it was real, but Woons right ankle appeared slightly more swollen than his left ankle.

Woon, your ankle is swollen, I said.

Huh?

It was common to get inflammation around the joints when dancing. Normally, we wouldve just glossed over it, but the system had warned me about Woons potential slump.

Did he perhaps, fall into a slump because of this? I wondered. Thus, I couldnt let go of this matter and suggested, Lets go to a hospital.

Huh? No. Its just a simple inflammation. I just need to rest a day or two

Lets go. You are hurt. Theres nothing simple when it comes to pain.

Tae-Yoon

Yeah, Woon, lets go. If its serious, it could get worse if you leave it be. Dont you want to dance for a long time?

Thats true but

Theres an emergency clinic near here. Lets go there, I said.

I will go get the car and drive it to the entrance. Tae-Yoon, can you support Woon upstairs?

Yeah.

NoIm really fine

Lets go. Why dont you slowly try getting up.

Yeon-Hoon left and I lifted Woon off the ground.

Just at that moment, the system gave me a notification.

[Mission successful.]

[You prevented Lee Woons slump.]

Seeing this, I thought, His injury must have really grown worse. I became certain that if we had left Woons injury alone, he wouldve suffered long-term pain that pushed him into a slump. It was fortunate that we were forcing him into a hospital now.

Tae-Yoon, I just need to put an ice pack on it like I always do.

We are going. It wont kill you to go to the hospital. Just go this once. I am just worried about you.

Okay.

Though I managed to block Woons slump, I didnt feel completely relieved. I wondered who pushed him to go this far. I knew very well Woon wasnt the type to go this overboard just because he felt pressured about debuting soon.

***

I brought Woon to the hospital with Yeon-Hoon. After getting a couple of check-ups and meeting with the doctor, Woon got a simple diagnosis.

You stretched your ligaments, the doctor said. It was a common happening when male students played soccer. In other words, it wasnt such a big deal.

See, I told you, it was nothing to worry about, Woon said, hearing the doctors words.

Ah, no its not that simple. Seeing the state of your ankles, you couldve ruptured your ligaments if you went even a little too far. You should consider yourself lucky for preventing what couldve been a really dangerous situation, the doctor firmly said, and Woon shut his mouth.

Shh! Yeon-Hoon placed his finger on his lips and shushed Woon so that he would properly listen to the doctors prescription.

For now, I will give you a cast, and let's meet again in two weeks. I will also prescribe some anti-inflammatory and pain relief medicines that you should take after your meals. If your pain gets worse, come visit the hospital, even if its not this week. Why dont you get a shot before you leave today.

Yes, thank you.

My heart calmed down hearing the doctors clear and reasonable prescription.

I need to wear this cast for two weeks? But Woon appeared to be displeased about his diagnosis and said, Our occupation requires us to move our bodies

It seemed Woon wanted to avoid having to wear a cast at all costs.

Unfortunately, you have to wear a cast. If possible, you should just rest.

Ah

The doctor was firm and soon afterward, Woon got his cast, shot, and medicine.

Do you really not need crutches?

.No, I think I will need it actually.

Should I bring the wheelchair? I asked.

Thats going overboard, Tae-Yoon.

Yeahthats too much.

All right.

Like that, Yeon-Hoon and I brought Woon back to our dormitory. On our way back, we bought a water bottle and made Woon immediately take his medicine.

I will lie down for a bit. The meds are a bit strong, Woon said. It seemed the medicine was really effective as Woon headed to his room right after we arrived back and lay down. When I checked up on him again, he was soon fast asleep.

Woon is sleeping, I noted to Yeon-Hoon.

Thats good. Its probably better for him to go to sleep.

Perhaps, it was because it felt as if many big events rushed after the other, Yeon-Hoon and I dropped onto the living room sofa.

Sigh. "It was so hectic.

It really was, I replied and thought to myself, It was so nerve-wracking.

I had been shocked when the system warned me that Woon would fall into a slump. Yet, though I was happy to have prevented such a big happening somehow, I soon regained my senses with Yeon-Hoons next line.

I wonder whats going on with Woon?

It was too early to be relieved. I worried about what sort of matter could push someone like Woon to such a corner. At that perfect time, I heard the door lock unlock.

Beep, beep, beep, beep

Im never going to the gym again.

Just follow me for two weeks. Exercising is fun.

I think I will die within that time

Dong-Jun and Do-Seung returned home. Based on their conversation, it seemed they were coming back from exercising. This was a normal thing to do, and I didnt think much of it.

Huh?

What are these crutches for

It was then, that Do-Seung and Dong-Jun spotted the crutches leaning against the entrance wall.

Are those Woons? Do-Seung asked us in surprise.

Ah, yeah, Yeon-Hoon said.

Yes, it is Woons, I said.

What? Seriously?

Woon is hurt?

Do-Seung and Dong-Jun both stared at us for an explanation. Do-Seung especially looked like he wanted to seek Woon out and interrogate him for the details.

Dont try to talk to Woon. Hes sleeping, Yeon-Hoon said.

Ahreally?

Yeah. After taking some medicine, hes sleeping.

Buthow did he get injured? Hes someone who usually takes care of himself so well.

WellWe dont know the exact reasons either. He was just injured when we went to the practice room.

What do you mean?

And that was how we explained what happened with us and Woon in the practice room. We told them how Woon had been dancing so intensely that he sprained his ankle, and the doctor told Woon that his ligaments were on the verge of collapse. After listening to everything we said, Do-Seung hesitantly opened his mouth.

So, Woon got injured while dancing too roughly?

Yeah.

Yes.

Hm. Thenmaybe thats it.

Huh?

Do you know something?

Well, while I was exercising today, I suddenly got contacted by a guy who used to be a trainee with me in my past company.

With your past company?

Yeah, the place where I used to be with Woon.

Oh.

He probably felt very frazzled after getting contacted by someone from there.

As soon as Do-Seung mentioned his past company, I could draw up a general picture of what happened. Do-Seung and Woons previous company was a place called YM Entertainment. By current standards, it was a sizeable idol management company.

But I recall that company breaking apart because the company CEO and even the artists committed all sorts of crimes there.

From the future that I remembered, YM Entertainment was a company that set an all-time crime record among all entertainment companies.

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