I'M A GENIUS IDOL BUT MY PASSIVE IS SUNFISH: Chapter 63

 TL by Miru

I'm a Genius Idol but My Passive is Sunfish: Episode 63

The display screen only showed the group shot during his part, so Yulmu's expression wasn't visible. But as he moved to the side after finishing his part, the camera zoomed in on him solo. Yulmu's wry smile at that moment could truly be called a legendary scene.

 

- I want to stick to you all day long

You can play with me

Want me

You want me too

 

Minsung’s ethereal beauty took over the chorus. As he moved from the end of the formation to the front row, the formation changed significantly. With three members in front and three in back, DASE performed the main choreography with refreshing energy. As Minsung moved, the jewelled epaulettes on his outfit reflected the stage lights, creating a shimmering effect. The transparent multicoloured lights not only illuminated Minsung’s face but also spread to Baekya and Chung next to him.

 

- A day without you is boring

Take me with you

Want me

You want me too

 

Perhaps because of the large audience, Baekya looked more nervous than usual. Yet, his uncanny ability to find the camera made it clear that Baekya was born to be an idol. The camera caught a close-up of the smiling baby peach. But before fans could fully appreciate it, the camera switched to the audience, prompting curses from all sides.

 

“Agh! Are you crazy?!”

 

Sparrow was one of them. She swore it wasn't intentional; it was purely instinctual.

Fortunately, the camera quickly refocused on the stage. However, Baekya had already moved to the back row, leaving Sparrow with a forlorn expression, blinking in disbelief. Meanwhile, Nara was in a festive mood, as the screen was now filled with a close-up of Jihan.

 

“Jihan-aaah!”

 

Unlike the other members who had turned sideways, Jihan faced forward alone. The choreography involved large upper body movements, but as he had to perform the rap part, his motions were relatively simple, only suggesting the dance the others were doing.

 

- Whisper in my ear, then

Shine a light, my world brightens

Like a star, my universe is painted

I’m only looking at you

Just take my hand

 

Jihan, nodding his head as he sang "Just take my hand," was truly mesmerising. There were casualties everywhere. In fact, there was one right next to Sparrow.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Nara clutched her heart, her face contorted in pain. Yet, her eyes never left the screen. She couldn't afford to miss a single second of the fan chant she had memorized.

 

“Sparrow-nim, my heart... WANT ME!”

 

As she shouted, “WANT ME” with all her might, the final song was reaching its climax. In an inverted triangle formation, the Bermuda Triangle of vocals took centre stage.

 

- I am the knight who protects you

Don't be afraid, fall asleep in my arms

 

Yulmu's solid yet clear voice blended with Minsung's delicate tones, creating a perfect harmony.

The image of them harmonising filled the display screen, and the song's tempo shifted dramatically. As the slow tempo build-up ended, Yulmu and Minsung stepped aside, revealing Baekya, who had been hidden behind them, ready to deliver his iconic part.

With an unrestrained high note ascending flawlessly, the live performance felt exponentially more thrilling than any broadcast could convey.

 

- I wa-a-a-ant

 

His powerful voice easily surpassed the capabilities of the microphone. As his pitch climbed, his pink-tinted fingers mirrored the ascent.

 

“Ahhh! So freaking cute!”

 

Encircled by the other members, Baekya stood at the centre, belting out his high note. As his part concluded, the group formed a circle and began to spin, with Baekya seamlessly blending back into the formation. The stage continued with parts from Yuyeon and Chung, and the formation gradually shifted.

With the performance nearing its end, the members at the edges moved inward, merging smoothly into the centre. This segment was notorious for Baekya's frequent missteps. Yet, today, the peach maintained his timing perfectly, calmly finding his place next to Yulmu.

 

- Eyes closed, waiting for you

My day ends, longing for you

 

With Baekya's voice bringing the song to a close, DASE struck their final pose, eyes closed, marking the end of their performance.

 

 

* * *

 

 

[<Challenge the Limits(1)> Complete!]

[Quest Reward: 4 Star Points]

▷ Current Star Points: 8

 

“Php!”

 

As Baekya opened his eyes and saw the status window, he covered his mouth in delight. Luckily, the microphone was off, or that weird exclamation would have been heard by everyone.

 

“What's up? Why are you so excited?”

 

Yuyeon, pushing Baekya’s shoulder, looked at him curiously. The other members were already leaving the stage.

 

“Let’s go quickly.”

 

They needed to clear the stage for the next group.

 

“Yeah, let’s go. Hey, I didn’t make a single mistake today.”

“Is that why you’re so excited?”

“Yeah! I’m super happy!”

 

Was it really something to be that happy about? Although Baekya had made more mistakes recently, he had been performing consistently well. He might have been a bit clumsy, but during their debut when members made mistakes in turn, Baekya was the only one who was never criticized.

 

“Yeah. It was worth helping you out.”

 

Yuyeon chuckled and raised his hand. Understanding his intention, Baekya high-fived him with a bright smile.

 

“Yeah! So just wait a little longer. This time, I’ll definitely succeed.”

“In what?”

“Just something.”

 

The two of them walked over to join the rest of the members who were waiting for them.

 

“What were you two talking about that’s so interesting?”

 

Yulmu asked, draping an arm over Baekya's shoulder.

 

“Ah, you're heavy.”

"But it’s comfortable~"

 

Baekya frowned and twisted his body, but Yulmu didn't budge. Eventually, Baekya gave up and walked down the hallway with a sullen expression, only to see Siyun and Daehwan approaching from the opposite direction. They had been greeting members of another junior group but quickly raised their hands when they spotted DASE.

 

“Oh? Hey guys!”

 

At Siyun's voice, the members of DASE exchanged glances and quickly ran over to him.

 

“Uh, you didn't have to run over like that...”

 

Siyun seemed flustered by their eagerness, while AIM's youngest member, Daehwan, looked at him with a somewhat exasperated expression.

 

“Then you shouldn't have called them over.”

 

Chiding Siyun, Daehwan extended his hand to the approaching juniors.

 

“Nice to meet you. I'm Daehwan from AIM. I can finally meet you guys.”

 

Minsung, representing DASE, shook his hand and bowed politely.

 

“We've been looking forward to meeting you, sunbae-nim.”

 

Seeing how tense DASE was, Daehwan earnestly asked them to relax and treat him comfortably.

 

“Would you like something to drink?”

 

Daehwan pointed to a vending machine, indicating that he had come out to get some drinks.

 

“We saw your performance. You did great.”

 

Siyun patted Chung on the shoulder and led DASE towards the vending machine.

 

“By the way, where's Namkyung hyung? Weren't you just coming off stage?”

“Yes, that's right.”

 

When asked why they were walking around without their manager, Minsung answered with a pitying expression.

 

“He has a stomachache...”

 

Namkyung was currently suffering the consequences of eating tteokbokki. Siyun frowned, regretting that he had asked.

 

“And you must be Baekya, right?”

“Yes? Yes! Hello!”

“We already greeted earlier.”

 

While Siyun and the members exchanged light conversation, Daehwan kept staring intently at Baekya. When their eyes met, Daehwan didn't say anything nor look away, making Baekya avert his gaze first. After a while, Daehwan finally spoke up.

 

“Why, why are you...?”

 

Sensing the unease, the sunfish shrank back, just as Daehwan posed a cryptic question.

 

“How high can you go?”

“What... do you mean?”

 

Baekya looked around, wondering if he wanted him to climb on something.

 

‘Is there something to climb on…?’

 

Out of the blue, being asked how high he could go made no sense. His eyes landed on something resembling a shoe on top of a vending machine. Hesitantly, he pointed to the dusty vending machine.

 

“Oh! Is that your shoe, sunbae-nim?”

“Why are you talking like that all of a sudden?”

 

There was an unfamiliar military tone in Baekya’s speech. Jihan, standing nearby, expressed his confusion, but Baekya pretended not to hear.

 

“Not that. I mean, how high can you make yourself?”

“High... you mean height?”

 

Baekya, completely bewildered by the repeated questions from the difficult sunbae, mentally rounded up his height. Unfortunately, with a decimal of 0.2, it couldn't be rounded up.

 

“Well... I can't really round it up, so I'm 175cm at most...”

 

However, he added with a forced smile that their team had a tall member, Yulmu, whose help they could rely on. Daehwan scoffed in response, his expression clearly indicating disbelief.

 

“You’re funny.”

 

The slightly cold remark made Baekya turn pale. He wondered if he had answered incorrectly, his hands trembling, but then Daehwan's face relaxed as he asked another question.

 

“How high can you go in octaves? I saw you hit a high F in full voice on stage earlier.”

“Oh... the vocal key?”

 

Daehwan was renowned for writing and composing his own songs and was acknowledged as a genius among famous composers. Many of AIM’s representative songs were his creations, and he was the origin of the term “composer idol.”

 

“I haven't tried going higher than that yet...”

“Why not?”

“The producer told me to save my voice...”

“Hitting a high F already seems like pushing it.”

 

Mumbling to himself, Daehwan suddenly handed over his phone, asking for Baekya’s number.

 

"Can you give me your number?"

 

Baekya, never having been asked for his number before, awkwardly took the phone. With his dainty hands, the sunfish carefully typed in his number and handed the phone back.

 

“But sunbae-nim... When I'm promoting, I have to turn in my phone, so I might not be able to reply immediately...”

“That's fine. Just don’t block me.”

 

Baekya, shocked at the suggestion of something he couldn’t even imagine doing, frantically shook his head and assured him he wouldn't.

 

“What's up? What's going on?”

 

Siyun, who had been handing out drinks to the other members, approached Baekya and Daehwan. Urging them to pick their drinks, he glanced at Daehwan's phone screen and chuckled.

 

“You finally got the number after pestering me so much.”

“See, if you had given it earlier, it would've been easier.”

 

From their conversation, it seemed Daehwan had repeatedly asked Siyun for Baekya’s number.

 

“Baekya, you’re in for it now~ He's going to bother you a lot.”

 

Baekya looked blankly between Daehwan and Siyun, unsure of what to make of the situation.