Idol Revive: If I Don't Debut, I'll Disappear

An unfamiliar figure appeared from the door. He halted when he saw the two members in front of the screen monitor, observing them.

"SEEDZ?"

Rayen and Adrian nodded at the same time.

"What are you doing here?"

With a charming smile, Adrian answered, "We're just curious about the pre-recording process."

"I-Is that so?" Watching Adrian's smile, the person was dazed for a moment. "You're the rookie of the week, right?"

"Yes," Adrian said, still smiling.

"Then, good luck."

As soon as he said that, he walked away in hurried steps, as though running away from something. Rayen watched him with an odd gaze.

Finally, when the person disappeared from the hallway, Rayen turned to Adrian. "You know him?"

"Yeah. One of the show's staff."

"Oh."

'Does he know everyone here already?'

"No. I just saw him running errands everywhere."

"Okay."

With that, the awkward silence returned. However, Adrian didn't put up the scenario again. Instead, he just turned to the screen monitor, observing the happenings onstage just like what he said to the staff earlier, so Rayen just did the same.

ATOMIC's song leaked out from beyond the door. It was a timely song about the changing of seasons. April had just started, so the snow had already melted, with flowers starting to bloom. But there came the lingering feelings from a past one could no longer go back to.

Seeing ATOMIC's simple casual outfit, Rayen was a bit jealous.

'Well, at least their clothes don't have charms on them...'

Rayen could only console himself with that thought.

As the two of them watched, Ren also arrived. When he saw their figures, he heaved out a sigh.

Ren approached the two of them. "You're here?"

Adrian nodded. "Yup, Eyeliner Babe."

Ren no longer complained about this ridiculous nickname. Having been with them for a few months, he had already gotten used to it. He just focused on the group performing on the screen monitor.

"What are you doing here?" Ren asked.

"Guess?"

"Gathering intel?"

Although Ren knew it wasn't just the sole reason.

"I know back in your home,

You tore the calendar on the wall,

Waiting for someone to call your name back in the past~"

"What do you think, Eyeliner Babe? Are they good?" Adrian suddenly asked.

However, Ren just pursed his lips. Adrian chuckled dryly.

"How do I know? I can only compare them with ours."

"So, how is it compared to ours?"

"I think they're doing decent," Ren eventually said.

"Are you confident?"

Ren didn't answer.

Just then, another person's voice echoed in the hallway.

"Oh, you're here!" Yeo Haru immediately joined the two, but when his eyes landed on the screen, his eyes immediately widened. "ATOMIC!"

Yeo Haru intently watched the performance, his eyes glinting in nostalgia.

"They're really doing so well now..." Yeo Haru said.

The three simultaneously turned toward Yeo Haru. When Yeo Haru noticed it, he stepped back.

"What's with you all?"

"What do you mean they're doing so well now?" Adrian asked.

"Have you known them before?" Ren followed up.

From their lessons, they just knew that ATOMIC was the no.1 group in their generation. If IMMORTALS is the king of the third gen, then ATOMIC would be their successor, being the king of the fourth gen.

Most of the songs they learned and modified was also from this group. However, as for the tiny details such as what ATOMIC was before their peak, they had no idea.

They had so many things to learn that Plotter considered it bothersome for the managers to teach these.

Yeo Haru continued, "Well... Before I died, they were just a rookie group from an unknown company, but they're already rising in fame just after their debut. All my girl classmates were talking about them all the time."

When he uttered the last sentence, Yeo Haru seemed to be gritting his teeth.

'Is he jealous?'

Yeo Haru continued, "When we studied them during our lessons, I was so surprised to know that they've become one of the top groups, and their company became one of the Big Four. Win is absent with military service, though. So I guess their performance these days isn't up to par."

Win... They also learned about this center who was out in the military. Even though Atomic isn't complete, they would still hold a comeback every now and then to keep the group from sinking into the unknown.

They silently went back to watch the performance onscreen.

"'Cause you're longing for that time,

When you could call 'him' as 'mine'."

After a few more minutes, Xi Huan and Xu Jiji also arrived in the hallway.

"Adidi, everyone~" Xi Huan approached with Xu Jiji in tow. "What are you guys doing? The group manager is calling for you."

"Wait, I'm still watching ATOMIC!" Yeo Haru exclaimed.

"We'll go as soon as the performance is finished," Ren said.

Xi Huan also noticed the monitor and patted the three guys' shoulders.

"You're doing a good job scouting for information! Keep up the good work! I raised you all well!" Xi Huan puffed out her flat chest, seemingly proud of her members.

The corners of Rayen's mouth twitched.

A few moments later, ATOMIC's performance finally ended.

"ATOMIC, you're the best!"

"ATOMIC! ATOMIC!"

When the show's crew signaled for the successful recording, whistles and the sound of applause from ATOMIC's fans filled the whole venue, but since Rayen and the group were backstage, the sound was muffled. Still, the door seemed to vibrate with how loud the cheering outside was.

The members of ATOMIC waved to their fans while they descended from the stage.

"They're pretty good," Xi Huan said. "But we're better."

"Watch out. Someone might hear."

Xi Huan only chuckled. "No worries, I can just hypnotize them to forget what they heard."

'That's a crime, you know?'

When ATOMIC's four members finally got off the stage, they encountered Rayen and the others.

Immediately, Monde's eyes landed on Yeo Haru, his gaze seemingly looking at an interesting specimen. "Hi!"

Meanwhile, the man with slanted eyes stared at Yeo Haru with undisguised hate. Noticing it, Yeo Haru immediately stood straight, unwilling to admit defeat.

"Minjae." A mellow-looking man held the shoulder of the man with slanted eyes.

From what Rayen and his teammates studied about ATOMIC, this mellow-looking man is their leader, Sigrid.

He then turned to Rayen and the others with an apologetic smile. "Sorry. He's just lacking sleep."

As usual, it was Adrian who responded with his charming smile. "No worries, Senior. We also have someone who usually acts differently when they don't have enough sleep."

From the side, Xu Jiji puffed out his cheeks. Sigrid laughed dryly.

Despite the weird gaze that Monde and Minjae gave them, the two groups still bade goodbye to each other politely. When ATOMIC finally disappeared from the hallway, Rayen immediately frowned.

"What's with those guys?"

Adrian also crossed his arms and stared at the empty corridors. "What do you think?"

Rayen shrugged.

"That guy on the last line just smirked at us, didn't he? Who's he again?" Xi Huan asked.

'You already forgot their names?'

Yeo Haru answered, "Jino, their lead dancer."

"It seems like I'm not the only one who noticed," Ren said.

Adrian nodded. "What do you want to do, then?"

Rayen snorted, but ignored him.

Instead, it was Xi Huan who answered on his behalf. "Crush them!"