Self-loathing was, of course, the most glaring status abnormality with Yoo Seol.
Just a moment ago, Yoo Seol had been pushing herself, thinking she was strange for pretending to be nice in this competition.
Ironically, the very Yoo Seol who had been defending herself was the one harboring this self-hatred abnormality.
As I stood there, startled by Yoo Seol’s unforeseen condition…
“…Ah.”
Yoo Seol, who had been making a silly face at Seo Yoo-jin, finally seemed to regain her composure and stiffened her expression…
“…Step aside.”
She pushed me aside, blocking her path.
“……”
She paused briefly in front of Seo Yoo-jin…
Brush.
Then, lowering her head, she left without making eye contact.
I thought about following her but decided against it.
Pat pat.
The sight of her fleeing, looking so fragile, was just too heart-wrenching.
While I blankly watched Yoo Seol’s retreating figure, Seo Yoo-jin also mumbled while looking at her.
“…I see. Seol unnie… did that on purpose to me…”
“…Yoo-jin.”
Right now, my priority was undoubtedly Seo Yoo-jin, not Yoo Seol.
I approached Yoo-jin and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. I could feel her trembling slightly.
“Why… did that happen? Did I really upset her that much…?”
“It’s all because that unnie is greedy to raise her vote count. It’s not your fault.”
“……”
[Status Abnormality: Mild Depression, Mild Anxiety Disorder, Severe Separation Anxiety.]
I continued to check Yoo-jin’s status abnormalities.
Contrary to my expectations, there had been no change in her status at all.
‘What’s going on? Is it broken…?’
I couldn’t help but feel flustered.
I had expected Yoo-jin’s state to worsen.
But contrary to my predictions…
“Unnie.”
“…Yeah?”
“Shall we keep this a secret for now? If the outside finds out, it would really put Seol unnie in a tough spot.”
She quickly returned to her calm demeanor and even spoke in defense of Yoo Seol.
“Is it really okay…?”
I was the one taken aback by Yoo-jin’s suggestion to keep what had happened a secret.
From Yoo-jin’s perspective, it would make sense to resent Yoo Seol, who had wronged her, but suggesting to keep it quiet was practically saying she forgives her.
I tilted my head in confusion, and Yoo-jin casually nodded.
“I just don’t want to make a fuss over it.”
“…Ah.”
“More importantly, unnie, let’s hurry back. The production team sent me to bring you and Seol unnie.”
“Oh, really?”
Chin.
Yoo-jin grabbed my chin and led me back to the set.
“Yes, let’s get going.”
“…Okay.”
I had always thought of Yoo-jin as just a kid.
Arrogant, unable to control her emotions, and always acting on her whims.
But the way she led me by the hand now felt strangely…
‘Unfamiliar…’
She seemed more like an older sister than me.
And with that unfamiliar feeling, I followed her back to the set.
“I’m sorry, PD-nim. I was so surprised that I made a mistake…”
“Oh, no…it’s us who shouldn’t have discussed such a sensitive issue without consultation…”
Yoo Seol, who had dashed out earlier, was back in the set before us.
Worried about the camera, she bowed her head again, wearing her mask.
Shin PD also seemed to still be trying to comprehend the situation, bowing in response to Yoo Seol’s apology.
Seeing his expression, it didn’t seem like this would become a significant issue.
If there were more controversies this week, it would be disastrous for Na Ah Ah’s production team.
Having relieved some of my anxiety, I sat down with Yoo-jin.
“Unnie, you must be tired, right? I want to go in and sleep quickly.”
Yoo-jin’s suggestion to keep our last encounter a secret seemed genuine, as she acted like nothing had happened.
So I nodded along with her words.
“…Yeah, I want to rest quickly.”
That desire to rest wasn’t a lie.
Why do the production crew always decide to stir up trouble the day before a competition…?
Fortunately, considering the chaotic atmosphere, the production team let us rest earlier than planned…
Hours later.
“Now, we will begin Na Ah Ah’s 3rd team competition stage-!!”
…Once again, the day of the 3rd team competition had dawned.
“Waaaaah-!!”
Outside, the cheers of the audience could be heard, and the waiting room monitors showed another team’s stage performance.
Since our team was second to last, we had already prepared and were watching the other teams’ performances from the waiting room.
Of course…
Phew…
Haaa…
Feeling the tension ahead of the important stage, we were all soaked in stifling nerves.
I was just as affected.
“…Haa.”
Even though this was my third stage, the tension controlling my body showed no signs of easing.
My heart raced several times faster than usual, and cold sweat dripped down my back.
But even then, I…
“……”
Was continuously observing Yoo-jin’s reactions.
[Status Abnormality: Mild Depression, Mild Anxiety Disorder, Severe Separation Anxiety.]
There had been no change in Yoo-jin’s status. Even when she stayed over in my room last night, she hadn’t shown any signs of distress.
Even now…
Phew…
Yoo-jin appeared to be mind-controlling herself right before the stage, looking as if nothing had happened yesterday.
But…
‘That can’t be right…’
From my perspective, this was clearly not okay.
After the last competition tanked and people lashed out at her, was it all because her teammate stabbed her in the back?
If it were me, I would have been shaking with betrayal.
Though she had changed recently, Yoo-jin was still a conceited, 17-year-old who had difficulty controlling her emotions.
So, it made me even more anxious that she was acting like everything was perfectly fine.
So, after some hesitation…
“…Yoo-jin.”
“Yes, unnie.”
“Let’s talk outside for a moment.”
I stood up and called Yoo-jin outside the waiting room.
At that moment, Park Yoo-jung looked panicked.
“…Huh? Unnie, the stage is about to start. Why are you suddenly going somewhere with Yoo-jin?”
“I just need to talk to her for a moment. I’ll be back quickly, so don’t worry.”
“…Tsk, what secret are you two discussing…? Just go quickly.”
“Got it. Let’s go, Yoo-jin.”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
Yoo-jin tilted her head in confusion but quietly followed behind me.
We moved toward an area behind the set where fewer people were around.
And then…
“So, unnie, what did you want to talk about?”
“Well, Yoo-jin, here, eat this.”
“…Huh?”
…I took out a chocolate from my pocket and handed it to Yoo-jin.
It was high-end chocolate that Kang Hyung-man had given me when Na Ah Ah’s activities started this week.
Yoo-jin’s eyes widened as soon as she received it, and she asked me.
“Unnie, this is….”
“…I originally had a lot, but I forgot about it, and now only one is left… So it’s a secret from the others.”
I didn’t want to shake Yoo-jin’s mental state even more by saying unnecessary things just before the stage.
So I chose to give her the last remaining chocolate.
Chocolate has the effect of uplifting one’s mood, after all.
It might seem pointless, but I hoped it would at least improve Yoo-jin’s spirits like this.
And Yoo-jin…
Pfft.
She looked at the chocolate I handed over, giggling softly as she spoke.
“Unnie. Is this because of what happened yesterday?”
“…Huh?”
“You’ve been so restless since yesterday. You were worried that I might get hurt because of what happened, right?”
“That’s…”
Lately, it seemed like her insights had sharpened…
As I hesitated, Yoo-jin smiled again and replied.
“But unnie, I’m really okay.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, it’s not like I’m completely fine… but I can endure it, and I don’t hate Seol unnie.”
“…Why’s that?”
If I were in Yoo-jin’s shoes, I wouldn’t have been able to say I didn’t hate Yoo Seol, even if it were a lie.
Curiously, I asked as she answered seriously.
“…I think that just as I desperately want to become an idol, she desperately wanted that too.”
“……”
“If someone is in a state of desperation… they might make such choices… I also admit that I was rude back then.”
“……”
“So I think it’s not Seol unnie’s fault but rather my own karma from the past, so it doesn’t bother me.”
Is this an illusion?
At that moment, I felt that Yoo-jin’s eyes were filled with profound wisdom.
Comparing this to the first time I met her, the change felt like a complete overhaul.
Unconsciously, I placed my hand on Yoo-jin’s head.
“…Yoo-jin, you’ve grown up, haven’t you?”
I muttered in amazement.
Then, Yoo-jin took my hand and rubbed it against her cheek, saying.
“…Thanks to you, unnie.”
“……”
She placed the chocolate I gave her back on my palm, continuing.
“…But unnie, I haven’t had chocolate for the last three years.”
“…Huh? That doesn’t make sense! You haven’t eaten chocolate for three years?”
“Chocolate is too high in sugar and calories.”
“Ah…”
Certainly, chocolate isn’t suitable for idol trainees who need to manage their weight.
Feeling flustered, I asked.
“So are you giving it back? Not going to eat it?”
“No, it’s not that… Please feed it to me.”
“…Huh?”
“I want to eat something that you feed me.”
Yoo-jin’s expression as she said that was cheeky yet childlike and innocent.
I smiled and unwrapped the chocolate, bringing it to her mouth.
Yoo-jin held onto my wrist as she brought the chocolate to her lips.
And then…
Squish.
“…!”
Her soft tongue licked the sugar off my fingers.
That soft sensation left me momentarily stunned, and as I paused, Yoo-jin savored the chocolate and said.
“…It’s sweet.”
“……”
“…It’s extremely sweet, unnie.”
Her expression changed as she ate chocolate for the first time in three years, almost as if she were intoxicated.
Once Yoo-jin finished the chocolate, she fiddled with my hand and said.
“Oh my, they absolutely tell us not to eat chocolate at the company… But how could I not eat what you gave me…?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, unnie. Instead… please take responsibility.”
“…What?”
“Please take responsibility for me, not just for this stage… but for the next competition, after our debut… and even after the group formed from Na Ah Ah disbands…”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as if she had envisioned that future.
“Please take care of me until the end. I promise I won’t leave your side.”
That’s when it happened.
[All conditions have been met!]
[From now on, you can make Seo Yoo-jin your subordinate!]
[Do you wish to make Seo Yoo-jin your subordinate? (Y/N)]
“…!”
Suddenly, a status window alert I had never seen before popped up.
‘Yes….’
Without fully reading the content, I unconsciously shouted ‘Yes’ in my head.
And then…
[Seo Yoo-jin’s trait has been newly added!]
“……!”
Another new status window alert rang out. I couldn’t help but be flustered.
It wasn’t the unblocking of a locked trait… Instead, a new trait had been added that hadn’t existed before.
This was unprecedented.
Feeling a bit dazed, I opened Yoo-jin’s status window and checked…
[Trait: Arrogant/Conceited (Locked) – Currently locked.]
[Trait: Left Guardian Law – You have received grace from that individual and have become their person. You have decided to dedicate all of your ability, body, and feelings to that individual. On the day when the sky of magic is established, you will share all glory at their feet!]
[Trait Effect: My Sky, My Master: When you are with a trait holder of Sky Demon, all stats slightly increase! You gain additional effects when the Sky Demon uses skills! Your obsession toward the Sky Demon significantly increases!]
“……Eh?”
I was left stunned by her new trait.
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