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

"Is Plotter the name my original incarnation told you?"

"... Beep, it's you!"

Despite Rayen's late reaction, this new Plotter still giggled, her voice completely feminine. Hearing it made Rayen question himself if he was in a dream — no, maybe a nightmare.

But then, Rayen was reminded of it... Back then, the one who attended their fan signing event also had a similar voice to this Plotter. It was definitely the same!

"That's right. I'm the one who went to your fan signing event, not my original incarnation," the female Plotter said.

"....."

'I didn't say anything yet...'

"Your face says it all."

But Rayen completely ignored her words as his head hurt in confusion.

'Is Plotter a she or a he?'

"In this identity, I am female."

"... What did you say your name was again?" Rayen could only ask.

He didn't want to dwell on Plotter's true gender again. It was too exhausting to even think about.

"I'm Hiraya."

Rayen took note of this name.

"Is that your true name? I mean, is that also the original Plotter's name?"

"Hmm... Guess?"

'Alright. It was a mistake to even ask you.'

Rayen would just think of them as two different people. With this, it would be easier to distinguish which Plotter he would be referring to. But then, he suddenly recalled his—err... her earlier words.

"When you said 'in this identity,' did that mean you have other identities?" Rayen asked.

Hiraya nodded. "We have a hundred other identities."

Hearing her words, Rayen's vision churned. With only two Plotters, he already felt deeply stressed, but it turned out there were a hundred more.

'Is the world ending?'

"Actually, we've even formed the Prickles for you."

"....." Rayen was rendered speechless. "So, that explains the username..."

Hiraya nodded with a smile, her eyes turning crescent.

"What's up with that fandom name? Couldn't you have chosen a better one?" Rayen complained.

But Hiraya's smile only widened. "Do you have any suggestions?"

Once again, Rayen was stumped. How could he answer that? He was known for having a terrible sense of naming! Probably, he could come up with something, but he couldn't make sure it was even passable.

Hiraya's words seemed to imply one thing:

'Don't complain if you can't even think of a good replacement!'

Rayen laughed dryly, accepting defeat. "It doesn't matter now. Prickles or not, you're still an Eden."

Hiraya nodded once more.

Later, Rayen would have to thank Adrian for coming up with Eden's name and ridding his fans of that awful Prickles name.

Going back to business, now, Rayen had to serve this odd fan of his.

"What do you request for me, then?"

Hiraya touched her chin, seemingly thinking. "Hmm..."

Rayen patiently waited.

Five minutes later, at last, she turned her attention back to Rayen. "I just want one thing."

"What is it?"

"Tell me you love me! Act like I'm your sweetest little sister and tell me how much you love me!"

"....." Rayen was rendered speechless.

'You wasted five minutes just to think of this?'

Not that Rayen would complain. Wasting five minutes was even beneficial to him because he wouldn't have to do more requests from her.

"I'll record it and show my other selves to boast." Hiraya giggled.

'This person is crazy...'

And so, Rayen did what the crazy person requested. He wouldn't narrate it because it was too embarrassing.

Finally, the tenth minute arrived. As soon as the clock struck at the exact time, Rayen immediately switched character from a loving brother to his normal self.

"Thank you for your support! I will have to meet the next fan," Rayen said with a smile.

Before Hiraya could even speak, Rayen waved goodbye and ended the call.

He sighed.

If it were any other fan, they would surely protest online after that, but since she was essentially Plotter, Rayen did not have to worry about it.

Still, that was exhausting!

'I hope the next fan is truly a fan...'

[YourBroIsMyBro]

Rayen proceeded to accept the next fan to the room. However, as soon as he saw the face of the last fan for today's meeting, Rayen's hope was immediately dashed.

He kept staring at the monitor, his jaw almost hanging down in surprise.

'Why is he here?'

Jared frowned. "Is he lagging?"

He waved his hand at the camera to try and get Rayen's attention.

Finally, Rayen blinked. Closing his mouth, he tried to find the right words.

"I thought you were lagging. Shit internet here," Jared said.

Rayen still remained silent.

"Long time no see," Jared greeted.

"Yeah... Long time no see," Rayen responded.

Then silence again.

Rayen just really didn't know what to say at the moment.

What could he even say? He ran away after letting Jared see that scene in his apartment. That must have scarred him, right?

It was Jared who finally broke the silence. "So, who are you, really?"

Rayen gulped. How should he even answer this question? Jared actually found him and even did something unthinkable just to be able to ask this.

Imagine, Jared uncharacteristically watched an idol show, voted for one participant, and purchased a K-pop album and merch... If the world wasn't ending, then what the hell was happening?

Once again, Jared asked, "Why is your name also Rayen?"

"C-Coincidence?"

Jared only frowned. The skeptical nature of this friend of his was still the same, as expected.

"How can that be?"

Rayen could only laugh dryly. "O-Our mothers were best friends and agreed to name us the same when they got pregnant."

"Ra-yen's older than you."

'Oh, well... Damn.'

"Can't it happen? My mother asked to use it and his mom agreed!"

"Are you kidding me? Who would agree to that?"

"His mom did."

In Rayen's mind, he was cursing Plotter.

'Why did he give me a Life Book with the same name as mine?!'

"You're also good at singing," Jared said, the skeptical tone in his voice never leaving.

Beads of sweat formed on Rayen's forehead.

"Well, you have something different though."

"... What is it?"

"My friend hates dancing. You, on the other hand…" Jared said bluntly, his words trailing in the middle. "But I did watch your audition. You were terrible at it back then too. Your cactus chips dance was also..."

Despite the incomplete sentence, Rayen's heart was still beaten and blue by it.

"I even questioned why you wanted to be an idol with that kind of skill," Jared continued.

It was fortunate that Rayen wore the Eye of the Beholder today to keep note of his expression. Rayen could only smile awkwardly, trying to stop the corner of his mouth from twitching. But with every word that left Jared's mouth, Rayen's control of his face loosened.

Then, Jared's lips gradually turned up. "You're really similar, it's quite funny to think. You're indeed blood-related."

As soon as he said that, Jared laughed. Rayen also let his emotions show on his face, lips twitching.

'Bro, aren't you too happy dissing me in my face? You dissed me in my past life, now even at my current one, you're still dissing me?'

Rayen shifted the conversation away from this annoying topic. "So, as a fan, what do you want me to do?"

"Oh, you even have to do this kind of fan service?"

Rayen nodded. "Yeah."

"Tough life."

'Right... If I could, I'd just keep being a band member.'

"It's still fun, though," Rayen said.

"Fun? How come?"

"For example, it's fun to see the fans happy with everything I do."

"Oh." Jared smiled.

Seeing Jared's reaction, Rayen felt proud. This was the sensation he hadn't felt when he was in Adrift.

Back then, he just had to sing and create a song and the fans didn't expect much from them. So Rayen didn't really connect with them much. But now that he had to please his new fans, he could see just how genuinely those people love them.

'Have I become a people pleaser?'

Though it's fine if it's for the fans. Besides, he truly needed to please them to keep on existing, so he's not on the losing end here.

"As a fan, what do you want?" Rayen repeated his question, his tone became even more relaxed.

Sensing his casualness, Jared smiled. "But I'm not here as a fan."