Chapter 12: A Bit Too Effective

I didn’t think I was particularly into the group Clover.

Or so I thought…

Wait, did I… actually like Clover?

Honestly, this was the result of a number of coincidences stacking up.

Clover had debuted two years ago as a top-tier idol group after rising to fame through a legendary survival program.

At that time, I just happened to not have a main idol I was into.

And in the middle of all that, my biggest hobby was watching idol videos.

Yeah. Pure coincidence.

But all those coincidences came together—

[Applying stat boosts from !]
[Your understanding of the song is considerable. You unlock a new impression.]

—and created the current situation.

[<Character – Detailed Stats and Info>

Name: Kim Haram (Seo Jimin)
Dance: E+ (A+)
Vocal: F+ (B)
Visual: A (A+)
Charm: A~D (A+)
Luck: B+ (B+)

Trait effects currently applied.]

Countless moments from videos I’d watched over and over flickered through my mind.

The atmosphere of the music video.

The movement patterns and fingertip details in the performance video.

The expressions caught in the face cams.

The emotional progression on stage.

<4 Leaf>
Clover’s first title track, released right after finishing the program.

The message it carried was rather typical.

Gratitude toward those who had stuck with them through the grueling survival show and brought them this far.

A greeting that meeting you had been a stroke of luck.

A promise to turn all your support and efforts into happiness.

Clover’s members delivered all this like boys full of youthful greenery.

I think I get it now.

Behind me, the vivid green forest from the music video bloomed in my mind’s eye.

And through Kim Haram’s body, I began to paint that image.

The smell of earth, grass, and flowers wafted through the air.

“Step in time with your racing heart.”

The fluttering heartbeat of someone taking their very first true step.

“I don’t know why—why I’m not afraid.”

Each step overflowing with confidence and anticipation.

“It’s because you’re here.”

An acknowledgment of the person who made us possible.

“Thank you.”

A boyish, simple, yet radiant confession.

In the green forest at the peak of summer, I smiled toward the person I was grateful to.

I reached out toward the invisible presence and closed my hand around it.

I wanted to grasp the hand of the one who had made me who I am now, and move on to my next chapter together.

A world where you don’t exist—the one who brought me here—is a story I can’t even imagine.

Still holding that invisible hand, I stepped off toward a quieter corner of the stage.

Though I was alone in the small frame of this performance, this song had never belonged to Kim Haram alone. It was time to take a momentary breath.

As a brief stillness settled, the people beyond the performance frame came into view.

Choi Hansol was watching me with a face that screamed pure joy.

What? What’s so great about this? His expression made me want to mess with him just a little.

“Honestly, I can barely remember what we looked like when we fell.”

Spark. A good idea flashed across my mind.

I subtly adjusted my stride and stepped a little more toward center stage.

Yeah, you were originally one of the stars of this stage too.

Throughout the song’s upbeat vibe and bright smiles, there had been one moment—a single line—when a strange, decadent tension crept in.

Eyes always a little unfocused, an oddly lethargic and arrogant expression. A guy who seemed like he’d never beg for anything, uttering just one line:

“I don’t want to grow distant.”

The scene where you shone the brightest in this lush green world.

That moment…

I just stole it.

A strange murmuring stirred just beyond the impression I was projecting.

What’s wrong? Don’t like it?

Too bad. You’re the one who put me here.

A playful grin lingered on my lips for a while.

But the dreamlike vision the song had unfolded was short-lived, and the end came all too soon.

“Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

It was short, but I said everything I needed to say.

“Together, forever.”

Now it’s time to let the green forest fade away.

“Thank you.”

I smiled one last time.

And just like that—

The song came to an end.

*****

Haa… haa… haa… huu…

The sense that I was alone in the world vanished in an instant, leaving only my ragged breathing behind.

I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. The surroundings had gone unnaturally quiet.

Haa… haa… haa…

It was as if everyone was waiting for my breathing to settle…

Wait, hold on—what is this? I know this. This is… the ending fairy moment?

Am I supposed to do that now?

I raised my hand next to my cheek.

“Peu-i.”

The moment I flashed a peace sign toward the camera—

CRASH—BOOM—!

A tremendous noise erupted.

“KIM HARAAMMMMM———!!!!”

Choi Hansol jumped from his seat and charged at me.

Whoa, he’s fast. Wait—he’s mad? Wait!!

Soram popped up in front of me, furiously waving a red system window.

Warning!! Pleaseevacuatethearea!!! Warning!! Warning!! Please evacuate the area!!! Warning!! Warning!! Please evacuate the area!!! Warning!!

Okay, I might have mimicked his role a little, but still!! Does he have no chill?!

What if that fist flying toward me is a power punch?

Please, use that on Lee Jiwon instead!!!

I raised both arms in a defensive stance.

“…?”

But for some reason, the power punch never came.

I cautiously opened one eye and looked ahead again.

“PD Jang! Ambulance! Call an ambulance!!”

And there he was—Choi Hansol sprawled out on the floor.

…D-Did I… take him out?

*****

I did not take him out.

What a shame. I had a chance to fully inherit 4 Leaf’s decadent charm part.

The shoot, which had been halted due to a mysterious fainting spell by one of the judges, couldn’t resume.

“I… I don’t want to see any more stages today….”

That comment from Choi Hansol seemed to have had quite an impact.

…The chills running down my spine—I’ll just chalk it up to my imagination.

Those who hadn’t yet performed would be rescheduled, and the shoot was completely pushed back.

Sorry. Not even Ji-min the possessee saw the complete derailment of the shoot coming.

The only silver lining was that I was scheduled near the end, so there were fewer contestants left to re-record. Most of our group had already completed their performances.

…Most of them.

“Ugh, Haram-hyung, seriously. You should be devastated that you missed your own performance. Do you know how incredible it was? Honestly, trying to explain it with words feels meaningless. I swear, I could see, like, these blue leafy… something… shimmering behind you. I secretly filmed it with my phone—wanna see it? No, actually, you have to see it.”

Lee Ji-won, the only one among us who hadn’t gone up yet, was quietly chattering beside me.

I mean—how can chattering be quiet? But with him, it somehow is. He’s low-key loud, if that makes sense?

Just a little while ago, Lee Hyunjae and Choi Woojin had been singing similar hymns of praise about “Rambior,” but both of them had dozed off, exhausted from the long shoot.

“Ji-won.”

“Seriously, hyung, if you just—huh?”

Wait, when did he pull out his phone?

Put that away. We’re not even supposed to be filming any of this.

“You okay?”

Ji-won tilted his head briefly, then nodded, as if understanding what I meant.

“Yeah. Of course. Just because the shoot’s delayed a day or two doesn’t mean my skills are going to change. If I keep practicing and doing my best like always, I’ll be fine….”

He’s trying. Really trying.

“Really?”

“Uh…”

All I did was ask again, but Ji-won started hesitating a lot more than before.

“To be honest….”

He glanced cautiously at the peacefully sleeping Hyunjae and Woojin before continuing.

“Honestly, I’m really nervous. I kind of wished today would just be over already…”

Yeah. I figured as much.

Ji-won opened his mouth again, much slower than usual.

“Everyone but me passed already… Oh, except Go Jeongeun. But he’s, well…”

A rare shadow crossed his usually unreadable expression.

“What if I’m the only one who gets cut? Wild card round? Could I even make it through that? The ones left by then are going to be way more cutthroat.”

He brushed the shadows from his face and sighed casually again.

“I’m worried.”

I was the one who asked if he was okay, but in truth, there wasn’t much I could do for him.

What, bribe the producers with my family’s money? Not a chance.

‘By what right…’

…could I crush someone else’s dream?

The contestants here today—sure, I didn’t know them personally, but I could tell. There was a truckload of desperate kids here, just like our own team.

As a mere contestant myself, all I could do for him was—

“Let’s go together. When it’s your turn to shoot.”

“Huh?”

Lee Jiwon widened his eyes and looked at me.

“Uh… are you sure it’s okay? They clearly said the people who were judged today didn’t need to come back for additional filming. You probably have work too…”

I don’t… Now that I’m in Kim Haram’s body, I’m completely alone. I didn’t have many friends to begin with.

“Yeah. It’s fine. Honestly, the production crew probably is expecting me to show up, at least a little.”

“But still… what if the other contestants…”

Ah, so you heard too?

To be honest, the whole time we were filming, there were quite a few contestants who looked uncomfortable with my presence.

They probably think it’s unbalanced. And today’s performance only confirmed that for them.

But so what?

“So what?”

I turned my body slightly toward Lee Jiwon, which had been facing forward the entire time.

“If a hyung wants to cheer on his dongsaeng, what’s the big deal?”

“Ah…”

That shut him up.

Lee Jiwon looked dumbfounded, lost for words.

I turned back to sit facing forward again.

“Let’s go together. I’ll cheer for you. Let me know when your schedule’s set.”

I could sense that Lee Jiwon’s gaze, which had been on me, turned forward again.

Neither of us could see the other’s face, but—

“…Yes. Thank you, hyung.”, somehow, it felt like I saw him smile for the first time.

*****

“…Are you two done talking?”

“Huh?”

A voice came from the seat in front of mine, just past Lee Hyunjae.

“What is this… a youth drama or something? Were you two always that close?”

Ah. So Manager Woo was there.

Well, yeah. It’s still a bit early for self-driving cars to be cruising around the inner beltway on their own.

Manager Woo let out a low groan.

“Wow, way to ruin the mood.”

“Mood? What mood? I was too busy staying quiet.”

“…Same here.”

What the— you were awake too?

Lee Hyunjae slowly opened his eyes and sat up.

Don’t tell me Woojin too?

“Szzzt— szzzt—”

…Nope, he’s really out.

And just like that, we’ve made one more memory—one that only Woojin missed out on.

“Okay.”
“I’ll go with you too. I want to cheer for Jiwon as well.”

“Oh come on, Hyunjae. Why are you getting like this now?”

“If this keeps up, how am I supposed to drive?”

Manager Woo’s half-hearted threat made both Hyunjae and me chuckle.

“Huh? What? We’re here?”

At that voice, Choi Woojin opened his eyes.

Lee Jiwon looked around at us with his usual expressionless face, then finally opened his mouth.

“Seriously, having both of you hyungs thinking of me like this… I don’t know what to say. I know there’s not much time left, but I’ll give it everything I’ve got and live up to your expectations. Please trust me. I’ll do my best. So, on that note—anyone up for late-night snacks tonight…?”

Close your mouth. Now. Bring the carrots.

You were just speaking normally a moment ago—what the hell happened?

“What? What is it?? What’s going on???”

“Aaagh—I’m not driving anymore! You guys do it!!”

“Hahahahahaha!”

“Why aren’t you driving, manager?! Huh?? Why not???”

What a mess. What even is this.

So-ram, for whatever reason, was dancing in the air, doing a little bouncy shimmy.

Well… I guess it is kind of fun.

With a chaotic but weirdly warm atmosphere, the car made it safely to the dorm.

And waiting in front of the dorm was—

“Go Jeongeun?”

Go Jeongeun was crouched down, his head buried in his arms.

You really don’t have anywhere else to go, huh? After all that drama, and you end up right back at the dorm.

“Jeongeun, get up.”

Lee Hyunjae gently nudged his shoulder, lifting his upper body.

“You’ve been crying?”

Why even ask. Of course he has. His eyes are so swollen they’re half their size.

“Don’t just sit out here—come inside. Why are you out here like this instead of going in?”

Lee Jiwon, who was slightly bigger than Hyunjae, helped support Jeongeun to his feet.

“Ugh…!”

As he took a step, Go Jeongeun winced, slightly limping from the pain.

Wait a second—looking closely, this girl’s condition is seriously…

“You didn’t walk here all the way from the filming site, did you?”

His shoes were caked in dust, and his top was soaked in a mix of sweat, tears, and snot… He looked like a complete mess.

With brisk steps, I walked over and tugged Go Jeongeun by the arm.

He pressed his lips tightly together, clearly unwilling to answer.

You really are… a spectacle in every possible way.

“Let’s go inside. Wash up first, then we’ll talk.”

There was no point arguing out here in the open.

Also, you probably smell a little right now. I’d really prefer if you took a shower.

Reluctantly, Go Jeongeun followed after me.

‘You should’ve just done that from the start.’

In more ways than one, it had been an incredibly long day.