By Zephyria 
I was so surprised that I could only gape, unable to speak.
Ra Ho-yeon added in a soft voice.
“Yujin was focused on recovering in the hospital for a while due to the injuries he sustained back then, so I’m very happy that we can appear together on such a wonderful program like this.”
‘Wow….’
I realized for the first time here that Ra Ho-yeon, who was like an ice awl, could smile so brightly.
It was obviously a business smile, and I knew it was just flattery.
But I didn’t feel bad.
I opened my mouth, pretending to be shy.
“…It wouldn’t have been possible without the members. It’s thanks to them following me so well.”
In reality, I had been throwing them into the air, telling them to kiss and fight.
Whatever the truth, a heartwarming atmosphere was created.
“Wow, this atmosphere of praising each other for doing well. It’s very warm and heartwarming. It feels like spring only here.”
After that, the show proceeded smoothly. Singers who were scheduled before us showcased their performances. Even though I didn’t know them well, the songs sung by quite well-known idols and singers were very sweet to listen to.
When I turned to the side, I could see that the members, for now, were listening to the songs coming from behind the stage of other singers and waiting for our turn to come.
‘Like Cha Si-yoon said, I don’t really have anything to do.’
After singing, we would have a conversation with the MC on the studio stage, but it seemed that the members had already decided to keep me out of it as much as possible.
I was grateful for that.
An unfamiliar place. A field like an otherworldly experience that I was tasting for the first time.
I quietly closed my eyes and enjoyed the songs of others.
It was a bit funny to think this way before our first performance.
‘…It’s really peaceful.’
A peaceful daily life where you’re not attacked by monsters even if you just sit still.
Being possessed by someone else’s body, someone I didn’t even know, and somehow ending up living as an idol was more amazing than that.
‘What is Jae-ha doing?’
He must be hiding somewhere to avoid the government’s pursuit. I wonder if he’s feeling suffocated.
The MC’s voice woke me up from my daze.
“Next, we will listen to the song of the idol group Secrety, as the last performance.”
Finally, it was our turn.
The program was now coming to an end.
‘They said that we just have to sing together with the members in the last segment, right?’
I was about to tidy up my clothes and check if the microphone was properly attached to prepare to go on stage.
But the MC suddenly made a suggestion to us.
“It’s a shame to end like this, so shall we play a small game?”
“A game?”
The MC winked at Ra Ho-yeon’s words.
“It’s Yujin’s first stage since his recovery. It would be a shame to just listen to Secrety’s song and end it like this. Just one person. We’ll randomly pick a song and have just one person sing it. How about picking with rock-paper-scissors?”
Potato muttered.
[ I’ve heard that this program sometimes gives guest singers a random song and makes them do a surprise performance. It was true. ]
I guess so.
The good thing was that they weren’t giving us a song that we didn’t know at all.
During the pre-meeting, they subtly informed us of the random song candidates for the guest singers participating in the recording, so it wasn’t something to worry about too much.
‘However, this only applies to the Secrety members except for me.’
Because the given date was tight, I was already struggling just to focus on learning Secrety’s title track and B-side tracks.
So, I was relieved because the other members, excluding me, said they would take charge of the randomly selected song performance.
But with rock-paper-scissors…. I had a bad feeling.
“Just one person… you mean?”
A short but intense exchange of glances passed between the members.
All four Espers glanced at me.
They had expressions that seemed to say, ‘It would be good if only he doesn’t get picked….’
‘I don’t want to get picked either, you know?’
I had only crammed the songs that Secrety had released, so if I got caught, it would be a disgrace to the entire Secrety.
Secrety’s image was finally improving, and if I got picked here and ruined the stage….
[ It’ll go straight back to rock bottom. ]
I know, so shut up.
It would be quite embarrassing if they asked me to sing a song I didn’t know.
The probability of me, the dud, getting picked was one in five.
“…We’ll do it.”
Since there was no real reason to refuse, Ra Ho-yeon accepted the MC’s suggestion.
I couldn’t confess that ‘Yeon Yujin’ had lost his memory and was only now adjusting.
‘Please, don’t let it be me.’
I had a 20-year gap, so it would be a big problem if I got picked. If a song released while I was dead came up, I would just gape like a goldfish and be completely humiliated.
I prayed, even though it was useless to pray after practicing so hard…….
I was a guy with terrible luck.
“…….”
I was the one who ultimately lost in rock-paper-scissors.
The MC said innocently, not knowing anything.
“Ah, Yeon Yujin will be the ending fairy for today!”
“…Yes.”
“Please do your best!”
I was screwed.
I was completely screwed.
I had to go on stage alone and sing without any members to cover for me.
I could already feel the gazes of the people sitting in the seats below the stage, and it felt burdensome.
Did I have stage fright? I don’t know. I wanted to run away from here right now.
The faces of all the Secrety members except for the MC turned pale.
The song was already coming to an end. I quickly stared at the lyrics on the tablet that the staff handed me.
‘Please let it be a song I know!’
I prayed desperately in my heart.
But.
‘…Huh?’
The song that was requested was a song that I knew very well.
If it’s this… it’s not bad.
The stage where Secrety sang their songs passed by like a flash.
Originally, it was a dance song, but in order to hide my lack of complete mastery of the choreography, the released songs were arranged and sung in an acoustic medley version.
I didn’t remember what spirit I sang with. I was so busy paying attention to the stage manners and camera gaze that I had learned from the members’ harsh guidance, and most importantly, singing my part without making a mistake.
Moreover, I had to take care of something called facial expressions these days, so I barely managed to sing with a subtle smile. It was fortunate that it was performed without choreography.
‘Fortunately, there was no stage accident.’
It was worth learning so hard.
I did my part as a member 1 who wasn’t too bad.
I was satisfied with the fact that I couldn’t find any disgust from the audience I encountered.
The MC mentioned a surprise random stage as the finale to decorate the stage.
“Today’s random singing protagonist is Secrety’s member, Yujin. The song that Yujin picked is
As soon as the MC’s comment ended, a sign fell from the writers on the other side.
I swallowed hard and slowly opened my mouth.
“Hello, I’m Yujin, a member of Secrety. I will sing
A faint and sad song prelude flowed out.
I didn’t hesitate and sang the lyrics of the song I knew as if reciting them.
Do you remember that autumn night?
The night when the round full moon illuminated the whole world The day when you and I held hands perfectly There was a story I wanted to tell you
The words I had been holding in for a long time The words that I love you
I could sing this song with my eyes closed.
Because it was the song that Hyeon Jae-ha, Jae-ha, liked the most.
The song that Jae-ha had asked me to sing over and over again even made me feel a faint nostalgia.
Those words I couldn’t convey back then Can I convey them to you now?
Can they reach you?
To the far side where you are
If I shout with all my might
Will my heart be conveyed as well?
Only one person came to mind while singing.
‘Where are you now?’
Could Jae-ha also hear this song somewhere?
Since he was hiding to avoid the government’s pursuit, he wouldn’t be interested in such entertainment programs.
‘I hope he can recognize me.’
If a miracle could happen, I wish it would.
The song ended.
“…Ah.”
Only then did I come to my senses.
‘…Did I do well?’
I was so engrossed in thinking about Hyeon Jae-ha that I couldn’t even tell if I sang well or not.
The MC gave the closing remarks next to me. The red light of the on-air sign went off, and the staff conveyed their congratulations.
When I rolled my eyes around and looked around, I saw the frozen members.
‘…Did I screw up?’
I was half relieved because it was a song I had sung dozens of times in my past life. Was it not good?