I was certain I wouldn't be able to keep my rank in this round's ranking announcement.
The muggle votes would go to muggle favorites—most likely to Kang Hyunjin, who had a lot of screentime in the 3rd mission. And because of the villain narrative layered on me this episode, a certain number of votes would also chip away.
But that was all. The core fan votes wouldn't budge because of this episode.
If this villain narrative had been attached back in the early stages, maybe it would've been dangerous. But by now, fandoms had already formed for the trainees who survived—including me.
And this villain narrative simply didn't have the firepower to shake those fandoms.
'That's probably why they attached it to me only now.'
They must've judged it safe enough to tarnish my image a bit to produce a provocative storyline. Bitter for me and the fans, sure, but the broadcast company had no reason to care about that.
I ended up being the sacrificial lamb for this mission, but it couldn't be helped.
Even if it had been a necessary decision for the stage, the villain edit was ultimately something I had brought upon myself.
'…If I hadn't acted in that moment, I probably would've been labeled an incompetent leader instead.'
No matter what I did, I probably wouldn't have escaped being the target of an evil edit. From the moment I was teamed up with Kang Hyunjin, I'd known I'd take some damage. There was no point being bitter now.
But the other trainees seemed to feel differently.
***
"I'm pissed."
"...."
"So pissed…"
"Cut it out."
While we were riding the taxi, I quietly warned Aiden Lee to shut him up from muttering nonstop.
Aiden went quiet for a moment, but soon glared at me resentfully and asked:
"Yuha, aren't you upset?"
"What's there to be upset about? It's a broadcast."
Even though I spoke calmly to soothe Aiden—who seemed more worked up than I was—he still wouldn't calm down.
"…If it wasn't for you then, our team would've collapsed."
"Mm~. I totally agree. After watching the broadcast, our mid-evaluation was a complete disaster."
"…Yuha even gave Kang Hyunjin extra time, but they cut that part out too. It's too much."
"Right? Yuha really did everything he could."
"I should've said something too. I stayed quiet like an idiot. Because of that, all the negative focus went to Yuha…"
With Aiden agitated and Joo Danwoo now spiraling into endless self-blame, I hurriedly opened my mouth to stop these fools from digging deeper.
"That's all in the past—stop talking about it. That's not why we're meeting today."
"But…"
"Still…"
Their faces looked like they still had a thousand more things to say, and I let out a small sigh.
The other trainees also texted me with concern, but these two seemed the most affected—probably because they were in the same team during the mission and felt more involved.
"I'm really fine. I have no hard feelings about the broadcast."
"What? You should!"
…No, I really don't have to.
At Aiden's outburst, as if he was offended on my behalf, I continued with a helpless tone:
"We already knew from the start they were setting up a rivalry between Hyunjin-hyung and me. I went into the mission fully prepared. I don't really have anything to lose from this episode. That's enough."
"But the reactions…"
Even after my explanation, the two couldn't shake their discomfort and started spiraling again. The one who stopped them this time was Cheon Serim.
"Still, Yuha-hyung's right. There are just as many defending you as there are criticizing you."
Serim said that, then looked at me with a meaningful grin. When I furrowed my brows, not understanding, he spoke slyly:
"Hyung, did you know you got a new nickname?"
"A nickname?"
I hadn't seen that while browsing last night, so I asked back, and Serim answered, amused:
"The Tragic Leader."
"...."
Not a nickname I was happy to hear.
While I was frozen somewhere between laughter and tears, the taxi came to a stop. I turned my head to look outside—and couldn't help being surprised.
"Oh."
"Wow."
"…I'm pretty sure we arrived before opening."
Even though it wasn't open yet, a long line had already formed at the event café.
People were waiting for the doors to open, shielding themselves from the harsh sunlight with parasols and hats.
"Whoa, the queue is seriously long."
"Should we line up too?"
We hesitated inside the taxi. The plan had been to quickly visit before a crowd formed, take a photo for proof, and leave. But there were far more people than we expected.
"…Let's get out first."
Since we'd come this far, turning back wasn't an option. I pulled my hat low and grabbed the door handle. With masks and hats, I figured we could blend in enough until opening.
The moment we opened the doors, thick, humid heat hit our faces. After I, Aiden, and Danwoo climbed out, Serim stepped out from the front seat.
Fans waiting in line fanned themselves in the heat, but when their gazes brushed past us—
I realized just how naïve I had been.
"...?"
"...!"
The moment we made eye contact, a silent shock rippled through the line.
"We're opening now!"
…But none of those frozen gazes turned away, even after the café announced it was open.
***
"Ha…"
"Wow."
Some time later, drenched in sweat, we were huddled in a corner of a quiet café, gasping for breath.
It already felt surreal, like what had just happened was a dream. As we silently caught our breath, Aiden was the first to speak.
"…That was wild."
It was a short comment—but we all agreed.
After we'd arrived at the café, the silence had been broken when one of the fans in line asked:
-By any chance… Aiden-ssi?
-Ah, yes~!
-Gasp...!
The moment Aiden answered far too cheerfully, we were practically escorted inside the café.
-Ah, no, your turn…
W–wait, you don't need to stay in line…
It's too hot, get inside quickly!
You'll get heatstroke!
Originally, we were only supposed to take a proof photo outside the café, but swept along by the situation, we ended up inside and were led to the photo zone prepared within the café.
While people watched, we removed our masks and hats and took our proof shots. By the time we finished, each of us had our hands full—stuffed with countless paper bags.
Our surprise at the unexpected gifts lasted only a moment.
We're fans, Yuha. Thank you for letting us like you.
Thank you, really… Thank you for appearing on
I'm enjoying your stages so much. You worked so hard this time too! Good luck next round!
With all those words of support being given to me, I couldn't help going blank for a moment.
I had met fans once before when we went to see the subway ads AINET had arranged, but back then we only snapped quick photos for filming and dispersed. This was the first time I'd directly faced fans with no restrictions.
Debut for sure, Yuha! I'll keep supporting you!
Their expressions all resembled each other somehow.
Faces that looked desperate, overwhelmed. Words filled with courage and excitement.
Fans didn't ask for much. They simply wished—sincerely—that I would debut, that they could see me for a long time.
Seeing their supportive words and their hopeful expressions, a single thought rose inside me:
I can't disappoint them.
A primal instinct.
…Unlike my previous life, which now felt distant.
'Back then, I couldn't help but disappoint them.'
Endless scandals and incidents. A useless leader who couldn't even protect his group in the end. A broken product who could no longer stand on stage.
That was why the fans' words of thanks felt so heavy.
Even though my reason for joining
Yuha, don't listen to the bad things—only the good ones. We believe in you. Just know that. We'll stay with you until the end.
The moment I met that unwavering trust, my brain malfunctioned; all I could do was repeat "Thank you" several times before fleeing the café with the others.
It seemed I wasn't the only one whose soul had been sucked out by the sudden downpour of affection.
"I think I heard more 'thank yous' today than in my whole life…"
"Hyung, just how unfriendly have you been living until now?"
"Serim… don't ruin my emotional moment…"
"Haha, kidding, kidding. But… I agree. I'm glad we came today."
"…Yeah."
While everyone sat there bashfully touching the gifts or letters in their hands, I picked up my phone.
For a brief moment, yesterday's incident flickered through my mind, making me wonder if my actions right now were really the right thing to do.
But then I remembered:
Let's meet often, Yuha! Please!
The letters in the gift bags, the words the fans said in the café.
And before I knew it, I was already searching on my phone.
Once I found the result I wanted, I held it out to the other three and said:
"Let's go to a few more places."
Three pairs of eyes locked onto my screen. What I showed was a map connecting the subway advertisements for the four of us.
***
"Ugh…!"
A stifled scream burst out, and one student doing self-study looked over with a horrified expression. The high school fan, holding her phone with her head bowed, was practically groaning like she was going into convulsions.
"What now?"
"…I—I want to leave early."
"Are you crazy?"
Watching her friend with concern, the student saw the high school fan's dazed, deranged-looking eyes and was left speechless.
The high school fan writhed as if truly torn, then sagged back down, knowing her words were impossible. She looked at her phone again, swallowing her sorrow.
'Why… why am I here right now…'
Won Yuha appeared at a subway station ten minutes away… TEN MINUTES… and she was stuck in school!
The high school fan, who had never once won a spot for the live broadcast, was deeply invested in seeing Won Yuha in person someday.
She was desperately waiting for
'It's literally the next town over… I could really get there in ten minutes.'
Of course, by the time she arrived, he would already be gone. But just knowing that her bias had been that close—within walking distance—made her want to cry.
Won Yuha, along with the so-called "Roommates," was currently making the rounds of their subway ads in real time and taking proof photos.
Their first stop had been the joint event café for the four members.
The high school fan, seeing the photo again—Yuha inside the café, hat and mask off, wearing that handsome face with that gentle smile—let out another choked groan. Yet she still saved every photo diligently.
Meanwhile, SNS was exploding with real-time Yuha sightings.
Ugh Yuha is so gentle and cute… he kept saying "thank you, thank you" and basically doing folder bows to fans… awkward like everything was new to him but his eyes were insanely kind… I've been struck by the sheer Mercedes-quality of Won Yuha…
He tried to make eye contact with every fan calling his name, and whenever fans got too close he politely asked them to keep a safe distance… seriously born-to-be idol… Won Yuha is crazy
WHAT is going on with that face… thank you Karma, thank you for sending Won Yuha onto
From this moment on, Won Yuha and I are one body, any attack on him is an attack on me blah blah whatever—JUST DEBUT PLEASE
Watching fellow fans gush just like she felt, the high school fan kept saving each newly uploaded Yuha photo the moment it appeared.
And then—
"…?"
She found one photo among the smiling Yuha sightings… one that felt distinctly wrong.
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