I'M A GENIUS IDOL BUT MY PASSIVE IS SUNFISH: Chapter 47

 

TL by Miru

I'm a Genius Idol but My Passive is Sunfish: Episode 47

While a handful of fans were privileged to spend precious moments with DASE in person, the vast majority were set to fill the void with the virtual presence of DASE through videos.

 

'Laptop, laptop!'

 

It was the broadcast day of DASE's first TV variety show, <It's a New Transfer Student!> Although it wasn't the same as seeing them in the flesh, the opportunity to see DASE in a school uniform was not to be missed. Boksoong found herself agonizing, endlessly refreshing social media, and generously liking posts about the fan meeting.

 

"Ah, this is insane. I don't usually even save previews..."

 

Previews, in this context, meant early glimpses, typically photos shared by the homepage masters before uploading the high-resolution versions. These were usually lower quality, taken by re-photographing a camera display with a secondary device like a smartphone, resulting in unedited, raw images. Their appeal lay in their immediacy.

 

'A Hamster with a Pikachu!'

 

The image of Baekya, cradling a yellow plushie while signing autographs. Despite the poor image quality, his charm and cuteness were undeniable. The fan who gifted him that plushie definitely struck gold.

 

"Gasp, oh no. My heart...!"

 

Boksoong writhed on her bed, clutching at her heart, feeling a pang of discomfort in her stomach.

 

"Are you alright?"

 

Her roommate, who hadn't been around for a while, eyed Boksoong curiously as she lay there, scrolling through her phone.

 

"It's- it's nothing. Just came across something adorable."

"What was it?"

 

Like Boksoong, her roommate couldn't resist cute things and moved closer with curiosity.

 

'No...!'

 

There was no way Boksoong could reveal her fan identity at this moment. She hurriedly closed the preview and refreshed her timeline to a cat photo, a picture of Jihan's fan.

 

'This is it!'

 

She zoomed in on her cyber friend's profile and presented the phone to her roommate.

 

"A- a cat! Isn't it cute?"

"Wow, that's really cute~"

 

Boksoong swallowed a breath of relief, having smoothly dodged a potentially awkward situation.

 

"By the way, what were you planning to watch?"

 

Beside Boksoong, a laptop lay open, displaying an advertisement for a live streaming service from a TV station.

 

"I was about to watch <It's a New Transfer Student!> Do you want to join me if you're free, unnie?"

 

She had asked merely as a formality, not really expecting any interest.

 

'Even if it's not about DASE, it's a popular show, so she probably won't find it strange.'

 

Yet, her roommate seemed intrigued.

 

"...Who's featured on it?"

 

Perhaps it was just her imagination that her roommate had paused before speaking. When asked about the guest, Boksoong pretended to struggle to remember.

 

"Who was it again... Daisy?"

"DASE?"

 

Boksoong jerked her head towards her roommate, who trailed off, mumbling that she had just happened to hear that name from somewhere.

 

"I- I saw it on YouTube."

"Huh? Yeah, it does seem like DASE. I think they're the new idol boy group from ID that just debuted."

 

An awkward silence hovered between them.

 

'What's with her? She seems suspicious.'

 

Exchanging wary glances as if probing each other's intentions, Boksoong and her roommate finally settled down. The roommate, who averted her eyes first, took a seat next to Boksoong and expressed her interest in watching together.

 

"Let's watch it together."

 

The two moved to the desk for a more comfortable viewing experience, and the show started just as they sat down.

 

 

* * *

 

 

[The Shrunken Jetty School]

[The Miniaturized Friends]

 

Crash!

The back door of the classroom flung open, and class president Hodin entered in a flurry of excitement.

 

"Guys, we're in big trouble! Everything has shrunk!"

 

With his large stature and round face, Hodin, who came from a comedian background, was one of the beloved nation's MCs known for his distinctive eloquence and joyful hosting. Dressed in a black uniform and uniquely donning a cape, Hodin rushed towards his classmates gathered at the back.

 

"You're as big as always though?"

 

The shortest student in Jetty School, always seated at the front because of his stature, was Sujae, as cheeky as ever. Sujae, another MC with a comedian background, was actually close friends with Hodin.

 

"No, it's not that. The desks, the chairs, everything's gotten bigger! It's like we've turned into dolls. Oh nyo~! What chu dwo~!"

 

As Hodin tried to act cute, cupping his cheeks, Daeyoon, the tallest in the class, commented in an unimpressed tone.

 

"Ah, he’s at it again."

 

Daeyoon, a former national basketball player, had recently become the rising star of the entertainment world, attracting much attention.

 

"Hmph!"

 

Feeling snubbed by the lack of response, Hodin huffed back to his seat with a stomp.

 

"Class president, could you quiet down a bit? It’s so noisy that I can't study."

 

Youngsam, pushing up his glasses, looked back. An active idol with 12 years of experience, Youngsam had been well-known as a variety idol before his military service. After a two-year break, he re-entered the entertainment world as a potential future MC. In Jetty School, he portrayed the enviable character of a guy who’s both handsome and smart, also known as the 'son of your mom's friend'.

//TN: Refers to how your mom would always compare you to her friend's child who's the ideal son and perfect at everything.

Then, at that moment.

 

[Rattle!]

[The New Students Makes an Entrance!]

 

The front door opened, and DASE with their pink hair walked in. The panel members, feigning surprise, turned to look at the members.

 

"Wow~ It's a walking doll!"

 

Sujae climbed onto his chair and shouted with enthusiastic cheers pouring in.

 

[The New Students Make Their Entrance One by One]

 

Minsung led the way to the center of the teacher's desk, and following him, the members started to settle into their spots.

 

"Hi?"

 

<It's a New Transfer Student!> was based on the premise that new students transferred to the school every week, and the concept was that everyone, being in the same grade, spoke informally to each other.

 

"What's this, what's this? The doll talks!"

 

Yuyeon burst into laughter, covering his mouth at Hodin's over-the-top antics.

 

"Why are all these guys so handsome?"

 

Daeyoon, sitting at the very back, lamented how unfair the world was.

 

[Handsome Next to Handsome]

[The Walking Dolls]

 

Minsung, after exchanging looks and signals with the members, tentatively raised his hand and spoke.

 

"Then, let’s introduce ourselves…?"

 

The classroom fell silent at Minsung's voice.

 

"We are dolls who tore through their boxes to transfer here from 'Go High School.'"

 

[For your Days! DASE!]

 

The unified voices of the six members resonated powerfully through the classroom, greeted warmly by the clapping Jetty School friends.

 

"Hi? I'm Yulmu Tea of DASE! Well, just call me Yulmu~"

//TN: Yulmu's name means "Job's Tears (aka Adlay Millet)" which is a type of plant in Asia people use to make tea or medicine.

 

Yulmu, standing at the innermost, started the introductions. The DASE members finished their brief introductions one after another, each with a name tag over their uniforms.

 

"Is this your first time on a variety show?"

 

Chung, standing right in front, responded to Sujae's question.

 

"Yeah. Why? Is there a problem?"

 

The foreign intonation might have sounded a bit aggressive. Chung's eyebrows twitched nervously. Despite being the youngest, his presence was formidable.

 

"No, no... just saying..."

 

Sujae retreated with a diminishing voice.

 

"But you're quite natural with informal speech, huh?"

 

Sujae's second attempt to dominate the conversation followed. It seemed like a formidable new student had transferred to their class. Yuyeon, standing next to Chung, chimed in.

 

"Chung has lived abroad for a long time. He's only even spoken informally."

"That's right. I'm learning how to use formal speech. But are we not all friends here?"

 

Chung, wondering if he had made a mistake, received reassurance from Youngsam.

 

"We are friends. You can be at ease."

 

Youngsam, comforting Chung, scolded Sujae.

 

"Stop with the territorial attitude. We should get along as friends," Youngsam glared at him, saying, "You always pick fights when you see someone handsome."

"Sujae! You're on warning!"

 

As Hodin joined in, supporting Youngsam's words, he apologized.

 

"But you know, at our school, new students have to showcase a talent. Have you guys prepared anything?"

 

Daeyoon mentioned that failing to show a talent might mean transferring to another school, asking for their special skills.

 

"Of course, we've prepared~"

 

Yulmu smiled confidently.

 

"Really? Then, you go first."

 

Encouraged, Yulmu nodded and headed towards the back of the classroom.

 

"Where's he going?"

 

Sujae snickered, wondering if he was trying to escape. Meanwhile, Yulmu picked up a basketball from inside the arcade basketball game.

 

"Huh? That's yours, isn't it, Daeyoon?"

 

Yulmu, twirling the basketball on his finger, smoothly launched a one-handed shot. The basketball swooped cleanly into the hoop.

 

[The Basketball Swooshed in Instantly]

 

"Whoaaa!"

 

The panel erupted into excitement.

 

"My special talent involves basketball~"

 

Yulmu declared, prompting Sujae to ask,

 

"But are you sure you’re up for playing against a former national player?"

 

Yulmu glanced at the camera with an awkward smile.

 

"Hmm~ I know right? Suddenly, I feel like it might not be such a good idea."

"Well, that won’t do. It’s your special talent, after all."

 

As Daeyoon overheard their conversation, he chimed in,

 

"Did your agency ask you to do this?"

"Yeah!"

 

His cheerful affirmation made the panel burst into laughter.

 

"I like your straightforwardness!"

"Thanks~"

 

Hodin gave Yulmu a thumbs up.

 

"But what exactly are you planning to do with the basketball? Score a bunch of goals?"

 

Daeyoon approached, standing beside Yulmu.

 

"I do enjoy that, but I’ve got something even more amazing to show. It’s a special talent, after all."

 

Yulmu, with a basketball tucked under each arm and waist, also held one in each hand.

 

"Can you help me out?"

"What on earth are you trying to do with all this?"

"Just place one more ball on each of my arms."

 

With Daeyoon's help, Yulmu stood ready, holding six basketballs. His prepared talent was to bounce all six basketballs simultaneously.

 

"Start!"

 

At Hodin's cue, Yulmu dropped two balls to the ground. With a calm expression, he began to bounce the balls, timing them so they rose and fell in sequence.

 

[Expert Basketball Skills]

[Not the Skills of a Novice]

 

Yulmu handled the six basketballs with the finesse of an orchestra conductor.

 

"Uwahh!"

 

Youngsam marvelled at the sight he had never seen before.

 

"...What did this guy use to do? Daeyoon, can you do that too?"

 

At Youngsam's question, Daeyoon tilted his head uncertainly.

 

"I don't think I can..."

 

Saying that at this rate, Yulmu might keep bouncing the balls until they went home, Hodin intervened. At the urging of his friends, Daeyoon also attempted the challenge but quickly failed after a few bounces.

 

"That's an impressive talent."

 

[Hodin Couldn't Take His Eyes Off Yulmu]

 

Pleased with the reaction, Yulmu beamed proudly.

 

"Now, who's next?"

 

When Sujae asked, Yuyeon raised his hand.

 

"I'll go."

"Alright. What have you prepared?"

 

Sujae asked prudishly. Yuyeon, with a meaningful smile, walked to the center of the classroom and dropped a bombshell.

 

"Who's the best dancer here?"