Chapter 2: The Troublemaker and the Burden

HIGH-5, a five-member boy group also known as High Five, was a failing idol group.

Now, though, they were rising like a miracle.

All because of three children’s songs they had sung on a kids’ TV show early this year, which unexpectedly became huge hits.

The titles were “Chika Chika Song,” “Yum Yum Chomp Chomp Song,” and “Hello Hello Song.”

The songs spread beyond a passing trend and became a full-blown syndrome.

The music videos swept through online communities and social media, celebrities parodied them, and ordinary people rushed to copy the moves.

The melodies were so addictive that they even reached overseas communities and settled in as a fun meme.

The first success they had ever felt was thrilling, and it led to even more success.

CF offers came pouring in, variety shows invited them on, and their old songs were rediscovered and started climbing back up the music charts.

But trends are bound to fade.

Even without anyone telling them, every member of HIGH-5 knew that.

They knew they only looked like popular idols, but in reality, they were not.

Strictly speaking, what had gained popularity was not HIGH-5 itself, but the children’s songs.

Once the songs’ popularity died down, interest in HIGH-5 would naturally fade too.

Whether they would end up as a momentary sensation and then disappear, or use this opportunity as a stepping stone to level up, depended entirely on their future activities.

And at that critical moment, Zenon had to go and cause an incident.

Whether it was amnesia, an identity disorder, or a hidden consciousness waking up, if he did not return to normal soon, their activities were sure to suffer a massive setback.

“That is enough.”

“Let us just drop that bastard.”

Moon Haeil broke the uneasy silence.

He pointed at Zenon as he criticized him.

“No drive, no talent, and no teamwork either.”

“We have done more than enough coddling him and dragging him along this far just because we are a team.”

“Haeil.”

“Hyung, are you not tired?”

“Honestly, I am tired.”

“It has been four years of dealing with someone more sensitive than a teenager.”

“He is always crying, always letting his bad mood show……”

“And now he tries to kill himself in the dorm?”

“That guy should leave for his own sake.”

Zenon, shoved into a corner of the kitchen, shouted something.

But he was gagged with a necktie, so no one could understand what he said.

Was he saying he wanted to leave the team, or that he did not want to?

As Han Hoseong saw it, either way was a problem right now.

“Honestly, that guy should never have debuted.”

“What idol hates being in the spotlight?”

“Rather than keep doing something that does not fit him and making everyone around him miserable, he would be better off going down a different path now.”

“He would have to work out the contract and complicated stuff with the company, though……”

“Seol Itae, what do you think?”

“I do not think we need to kick him out.”

Moon Haeil glared at Seol Itae.

Whether he glowered or not, Seol Itae calmly went on.

“Anyway, today’s incident has not leaked outside.”

“It is not like Zenon committed a crime like drunk driving or gambling.”

“So you are saying we should hold onto a bomb like him?”

Moon Haeil pressed.

Seol Itae nodded.

“Yes.”

“Think about it coolly.”

“The benefits of Zenon staying active are bigger than the benefits of him leaving.”

“That is only if he can actually function.”

“He does not even know who he is.”

“He probably cannot manage daily life, let alone group activities.”

“We will have to wait and see.”

“If Zenon leaves without any notice, all kinds of rumors will spread, and in a bad direction.”

“There is no need to take on that risk.”

“……What do you think, hyung?”

All eyes turned to Han Hoseong.

This was not a matter to be decided by majority vote, but he could not help feeling the burden as if everything depended on his answer.

Han Hoseong looked back and forth between the two and spoke.

“I think there is something we need to think about first.”

“What?”

“We have already finished recording.”

“……”

“The choreography has been done for a while too.”

“We could fix things up to here, but what about the music video?”

There was only one month left until the release of their ambitious seventh mini-album.

Since it was their first album after gaining attention from the children’s songs, they had prepared more seriously than ever.

They had hired only the top experts in each field, which meant the highest fees, and spent a lot of money on the music video.

It was a bold investment, unlike the always-broke Sosori Entertainment.

‘If we fail this time, we will not get another chance.’

‘What are we going to do?’

Investment was supposed to bring profit, but at this rate, they would be lucky to break even.

Han Hoseong forced down the creeping worry.

“Retouching all of that is practically impossible.”

“Unless we completely reshoot it.”

Only then did the album issue sink in.

Moon Haeil bit his lower lip.

He had probably known from the start that it was hard to make Zenon leave.

Han Hoseong said, trying to soothe him.

“First, I will talk to Zenon.”

“Forget it.”

“He is not someone you can talk sense into.”

“Still, I have to try.”

“What if he goes crazy again?”

Just then, Zenon let out a growl.

Even while gagged with a necktie and tied up with chains in a corner of the kitchen, he did not seem the least bit intimidated.

Han Hoseong looked down at him with uneasy eyes.

“Let us take the gag off first.”

“All you need for a conversation is a mouth.”

“……Fine.”

“And can you guys leave us alone for a bit?”

“What?”

“Will you be okay, hyung?”

The two flinched as if they had just heard something out of the ordinary.

Han Hoseong deliberately kept his composure.

“It is fine.”

“Zenon tends to listen to me.”

“Even when he was listening, he ended up like that, so that is the problem……”

“I will talk to him properly, so do not worry too much.”

In Han Hoseong’s opinion, the current Zenon did not have the presence of mind to communicate with several people at once.

It was probably better for the leader to take responsibility and talk things through calmly.

Above all, Han Hoseong himself wanted to know.

He wanted to know why Zenon had tried to kill himself, and what his current state really was.

“……If anything happens, shout.”

“I will come running right away.”

Moon Haeil finally got up, treating Zenon like a dangerous beast.

Seol Itae led him out of the kitchen.

The kitchen went quiet.

Han Hoseong placed a low stool in front of Zenon and sat down.

Zenon looked up at him with bloody eyes.

Through the gap where the gag was clenched between his teeth, a rough, ragged breath slipped out.

‘He really looks possessed.’

He felt like an exorcist.

In horror movies, that kind of role is always killed first to show the power of the evil spirit.

Fortunately, Han Hoseong was not the easily scared type.

He brushed Zenon’s bangs out of his face and spoke.

“Zenon.”

“……”

“Frustrating, is it not?”

“Having things you want to say but not being able to.”

Zenon opened his eyes wide as if to ask if he was being mocked.

Han Hoseong met his gaze and spoke calmly.

“If you promise not to yell like before, I will take off the gag.”

“Nod twice if you agree.”

Zenon remained stubborn.

He did not move at all, let alone nod.

Just when Han Hoseong thought the negotiation would fall through, Zenon gave a tiny nod.

It was such a small movement that it would be easy to miss unless you were looking closely.

“You are not going to yell, right?”

“……”

“I will trust you to stay quiet.”

“I will take it off.”

Han Hoseong reached for the knot of the gag.

It was tied so tight with a necktie, not even a rope, that the knot did not come undone easily.

Where in the world had Moon Haeil learned a skill like that?

A pointless question crossed his mind for a moment.

“There.”

At last, the gag came off.

Contrary to his worry, Zenon kept his mouth tightly shut.

It seemed he was planning to size up Han Hoseong.

“Let me ask you this first.”

“Why do you think you are not Kim Jeguk?”

If Zenon was going to take the lead, so much the better.

Han Hoseong asked right away, and Zenon opened his mouth.

“……Because I am not Kim Jeguk.”

“Then who are you?”

“Woo Yeongchan.”

It was a name he had never heard before.

As far as Han Hoseong knew, there was no such name among idols.

Even if he widened his range to actors and comedians across the entertainment industry, it was the same.

‘Is it someone Zenon personally knows?’

‘Or a completely fictional character?’

Making his own guesses, Han Hoseong asked.

“Who is Woo Yeongchan?”

“Wow, so philosophical.”

“‘Who am I?’”

“F*ck.”

“Why are you swearing?”

“Can you explain who you are if someone asks you?”

Was this because he had almost died and come back?

He had completely changed.

Was this not the same Zenon who used to speak timidly and call him ‘hyung’?

Now he was speaking however he pleased.

“You do not know me?”

“You do not remember anything?”

“How would I remember?”

“This is our first meeting.”

“Then you really do not know me.”

“Fine, I will introduce myself first.”

“I am Han Hoseong.”

“I am the leader of HIGH-5, the idol group you are in.”

“My position is main vocalist, and I am twenty-six……”

“Wait.”

“Idol?”

Zenon cut in.

Han Hoseong nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Idol.”

“You are an idol?”

“Those jerks from earlier too?”

“That is what I said.”

“Why are you talking like it has got nothing to do with you?”

“You are an idol too.”

“Are you really idols?”

“I have never seen you on TV.”

Zenon threw out a casual jab.

When you thought about it, it was a self-destructive comment, but for him, who had lost his memory, he would not have been hurt at all.

Besides, even before losing his memory, Zenon was not the type to feel upset about their low recognition.

“Because we are not popular.”

Han Hoseong had to admit it himself, and it stung.

Seeing whether he knew or not, Zenon casually spoke.

“Yeah, I can tell.”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Who Exactly Climbed into My Bed in the Girls’ Dormitory?

Female ProtagonistRomancetransformation

Read Now →
Not interested