The Maknae Has to Be an Idol

It was the day of Siren’s pre-recording. People who came to observe as audience members gathered in front of the broadcasting station and were keeping order. Among those who got closer after seeing each other in several events together, they all spoke about the same topic.

“Dong-Jun and Tae-Yoon are okay, right?”

“Yeah, I hope so…”

“A person I know is a reporter who wrote an article about that and they said Dong-Jun and Tae-Yoon weren’t hurt. I heard the criminal just pretended to threaten them and ran away.”

“Oh, I’m so glad then.”

“When I first saw the article, I was like what in the world…And I thought my heart was going to drop.”

The topic of their conversation by far was Bong Tae-Yoon and Park Dong-Jun’s attack by an unidentified assailant. Someone had made a nonsensical post that Siren’s fortune was filled with bad luck on social media in the past, but considering recent events, it felt as if there was some credibility to those words. It was crazy that Siren’s win on a music show and a mysterious attack happened on the same day.

The Siren fan knew that Siren was walking a different path from other idols, but she felt anxious because this seemed true in both good and bad ways.

“Well, let’s think of it as the worst being over.”

“I think their recognition increased after they came out on the news and stuff…”

“What if they’re labeled as ambushed idols now?”

“Ah, that’s going too far.”

People tried to interpret this issue in the best possible way.

“When something good happens, something bad happens, and the opposite is true vice versa.”

“At this rate, what if they really get the Grand Prize at the end of this year?”

“Then, that will be amazing.”

While people busily conversed to endure the boring waiting time, they saw Siren’s fan manager dragging a large box on a wheelbarrow. Judging by how the fan manager came back after doing an attendance check, it meant only one thing. It was even more evident by the box behind them.

“Everyone! I’ll be passing the gifts prepared by the members! Please stay in order!”

“Wow.”

Gasp!

“Awesome!”

Siren was doing a “return” gift. It was obvious that they prepared these gifts during the one-day off they had yesterday. The fans couldn’t believe they prepared a gift for fans on the one day they had a day off. Their hearts already started beating fiercely even before they received it. At the same time, they began to imagine what kind of item it may be. Was it an expensive sandwich that they gave out before? Or a lunch box?

Whatever it was, they were overjoyed as they were not happy about getting a gift but just the fact that they were ‘getting’ something. But…

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Ah?”

“Hahaha!”

An item that no one expected was placed one by one in the hands of fans.

–Siren’s signature soybean stew-paste!

–A premium soybean stew paste meal kit that contains Do-Seung’s secret recipe that you can’t taste anywhere else!

It was a soybean paste stew meal kit that was meticulously packaged with a sealing machine. The content of the meal kit contained broth, beef brisket, packet of vegetables, and a sauce that appeared to be soybean paste. The amount looked to be about 2-3 servings. But above all, the picture on the meal kit was by far the best.

“Are they ambassadors for soybean paste stew meal kit?”

“Yeah, right? Hahahaha!”

All the Siren members were dressed in white shirts like a photo shoot and holding a meal kit. The fans didn’t know who did it, but the background of the picture had been neatly cropped and pasted on top of the meal kit.

“They’re all dressed up like they’re advertising for cosmetics products, but why are they holding soybean paste stew in their hands instead?”

“Wow. Why is Do-Seung so good looking in this picture?”

“Is Do-Seung’s personal color soybean paste stew meal kit?”

“What’s up…with that…”

People poured out positive responses to the unusual “return” gift that no one had expected. Furthermore, it wasn’t even a commonly mass-produced product, and it was clear to the fans that the members had made each of them by hand. Even the explanation on the soybean paste stew said that it contained Kang Do-Seung’s secret recipe. The gift was especially appropriate, considering that rumors about Kang Do-Seung’s soybean paste stew recipe had spread among Siren fans before.

Siren members were seen eating soybean paste stew on the show, and when fans saw even Bong Tae-Yoon, who had a small appetite, finish his rice in an instant with the stew, everyone realized that it must be no ordinary soybean paste stew and desperately sought the recipe. However, even if they desperately tried to make it, they couldn’t as it was impossible to infer the recipes from only the scenes that were aired.

However, by receiving the meal kit, the fans now had a chance to try Kang Do-Seung’s soybean paste stew, which the members had eaten themselves. Everyone busily took out their phone and took photos.

“This is amazing, for real.”

“Wow, I had no plans to eat anything, but I’m suddenly hungry now.”

“I was planning to go to McNald after this, but I should go home and boil this.”

“If I cook this, I think my mom and dad will eat it all.”

“You should buy a portable stove and boil it in your room.”

“Are you a genius?”

People excitedly talked about the meal kits and quickly posted pictures of the items on social media at the same time. They wanted to spread this news widely to the public. What kind of group would think of making a homemade meal kit on their day off for their fans? The fans wanted to let as many people know about Siren’s gift out of gratitude and pride in their idols.

***

While waiting for the pre-recording, my members and I sat in the waiting room and looked at the reactions of our gifts posted on social media. We had already finished our outfit fitting, makeup, and hair setting, and we now had about 10 minutes left to go up on stage. However, no one got up from their seats because they wanted to see more of the fans’ reactions right before we went up.

“The fans really liked our gift.”

“I’m so glad.”

“There’s a fan who said she’s going to bring a portable stove home.”

“Hahaha!”

Honestly, we hadn’t given that anything special considering the selling price, it would probably be only about 15,000 won. I was sure that almost everyone would be able to buy a 15,000 won meal for someone that likes them so much. However, I felt proud and happy that our fans liked our small gift so much.

“Let’s go and work even harder today!”

“Let’s really crush the stage today.”

“Ohhhh!”

“We got this, Siren!”

The members showed a 100% increase in morale and strengthened their resolve to do well in the pre-recording. Honestly, we didn’t have to raise our morale so much for a pre-recording, but it was definitely better than doing a sloppy job.

“Siren, please be on standby!”

“Yes~”

We came out of the waiting room under the guidance of the production team. After we went on stage, we shared a casual conversation with our fans. I couldn’t hear them too well because I wore an in-ear, but it was possible to share a basic greeting.

“Please enjoy the soybean paste stew!”

“I pressed the sealer! Really hard!”

“I packaged them!”

“The recipe! It’s mine!”

We each boasted to our fans about our roles in making the soybean paste stew meal kit. The fans poured out various reactions every time we said something, but it was hard to exactly what they said. I could only infer what they said through the shape of their mouth and the muffled sounds. After we finished our greeting, our performance began in earnest.

The song, “Blue Summer Night, which we had now become very familiar with, rang out. We continued the choreography that we had done on stage and practiced many times. Whenever the fan’s cheering chant reached through my in-ear, I had to force myself to hold back my laughter. However, unlike me who held back my laughter, Yeon-Hoon looked at the fans with a big smile. In the end, I stopped repressing my laugh and followed Yeon-Hoon by looking at the fans while praying hard that only happy days like these would continue.

***

After the pre-recording, we had no choice but to busily move again. We had to do the filming that was delayed from yesterday, and of course, we also had to fulfill the schedule planned for today. After the pre-recording we finished the morning radio schedule without having time to eat breakfast and then moved back to the next entertainment schedule. There wasn’t enough time to eat lunch, so we ended up eating kimbap in the car.

After that, we went to a music show again. We did the performance one more time on a live show, and we saw Only One on today’s show. Since both of our groups were first-place candidates, we’ve been called to all kinds of events. The Only One members rushed towards us and worriedly asked whether Dong-Jun and I were hurt by the madman who ambushed us. Whenever that happened, we had to say several times that we were okay and were not hurt.

In particular, Kang Hyun-Sung sneaked over to me and secretly asked me if I was really okay. I wondered what in the world was wrong with this guy, but I ended the conversation by saying I really was okay. After that, we competed with Only One for first place until the end of the show, and the first place today went to Only One, not us.

–This week’s first place is Only One’s <First One>! Congratulations!

Only One members’ eyes widened in surprise as they hadn’t expected to win first place. Even Kang Hyun-Sung, who seemed indifferent, looked at me with surprise. The question was, why did he look at me at that moment? Well…I didn’t think too much about this as people just looked at anyone when they were surprised. We left the stage to give way for Only to enjoy their victory. Although it was a shame that we couldn’t win first place that day, there was no time for us to feel disappointed.

“Tae-Yoon! Look over here!”

“Dong-Juuuun!”

“Yeon-! Hoon-! Here-!”

“Woooon!”

“Do-Seuuuung!”

On that day, we had a fan signing event and communicated with the fans. It was nice to win first place, but I like communicating with the fans a bit more.

“I ate soybean paste stew today!”

“Really? Then did you also come to the pre-recording today?”

“Of course! That soybean paste stew was delicious.”

“Yeah, Do-Seung is really good at cooking.”

“Tae-Yoon, what other food do you like besides soybean paste stew?”

“Hmm…I like braised short ribs made by Yeon-Hoon’s mom.”

“...That’s very detailed.”

“What about you, nuna?”

“Hmm…I…”

After a few fan signings, I felt like I was getting better and better. I still felt the excitement and tingles, but it felt like only unnecessary anxiety disappeared. After that, we performed our side-tracks in front of the fans. The fan signing event concluded by taking pictures together.

“Ahhhhh!”

“We worked extremely hard today, roger-”

“Where did you pick up that weird way to speak, Park Dong-Jun?”

“It’s my choice, roger-”

“...How aggravating.”

We returned to our dorm and fell on the floor or on the sofa to destress at the end of the day. A very ordinary period of activity that was nothing special was coming to an end.

***

The next day, we gathered together and kept our promise to the fans before we did our pre-recording. I uploaded the deleted part of Siren’s humorous video and part 2 of Yeon-Hoon’s cover of “Blue Summer Night”.