Trapped in the Idol Universe

“Last week’s pre-release didn’t just sweep the charts—it stole our hearts. Now, shall we meet the Shooting Star who’s here to steal our hearts again with ?”

“Welcome to Music Stay~”

As the MCs who had been introducing Shooting Star stepped aside, five strapping figures appeared.

Shy under the audience’s cheers, they were Shooting Star, called the miracle of a small agency. This five-member idol group is now in its third year.

Debuting with the unique concept of idols by day and beautiful warriors protecting Earth by night, they’ve recently caused a sensation in the Korean idol world.

“Greetings. Two, three! Hello~ we’re Shooting Star.”

The members bowed in unison.

“Shooting Star, great to have you here~ First, our fire-attribute maknae, Roy. What kind of song is this comeback title, ?”

“Yes! is a song that tells our world-view story of the third battle against the Chaos Evil threatening the world.”

“Then, does Shooting Star have a weapon unique to defeating Chaos Evil?”

At the MC’s question, the group’s leader, Taeeon, took the microphone.

“Since each of us has our own unique abilities, that’s enough—but if I had to add something, it’d be our charismatic gazes?”

Next up was the team’s main vocalist, Han-gyeol.

“Powerful vocals?”

Meanwhile, main dancer Yeon-woo, who had been suppressing a smile watching the members’ businesslike replies, quickly grabbed the mic.

“And intense performances.”

Yeon-woo made a proud V-sign under his chin and nodded.

“Wow~ that’s Shooting Star for you. When can we see Shooting Star’s full-power performance against Chaos Evil?”

At the MC’s question, Taeeon held the mic again.

“Yes~ you can see our Shooting Star’s performance shortly. But first, let’s see the ever-changing charm on ASDF’s stage.”

“Music~ cue!”

Shooting Star thrust their hands toward the camera and shouted the cue.

Monitoring the broadcast from the waiting room, the manager took out his phone to check SNS reactions.

└ Watching them so shy they can barely speak lol, now they’ve turned into smooth operators ㅜㅜ

└ They flipped the K-pop scene in just a year

└ Kim Ho-jin ㅜㅜ with that mix of rugged charm and refined elegance, and his glass heart that starts crying at the slightest tease—killer point

└ And to top it off, he controls water—perfection

└ CEO really had foresight several moves ahead

Fortunately, the reactions were positive.

After finishing SNS monitoring, the manager prepared cold water and towels for when the members returned.

A little while later, the members came back to the waiting room after the number-one announcement.

“I’m so tired~”

Roy flopped onto the sofa, whining.

“Good job, everyone.”

The manager handed out towels and comforted the exhausted members.

“Just a little more energy—next is the fan sign event, so change quickly and be careful not to mess up your makeup.”

“Do we really have to go to that?”

“Are we pretending not to?”

“No, but it’s in Daejeon.”

Roy despaired, asking who would schedule a local fan sign during comeback week.

“I told you it was a mistake by the company. I’m sorry. I’ll buy you bread if you go.”

“I’m on a diet, you know?”

Roy covered his face with the towel, deliberately showing his pout after being told not to mess up his makeup.

Their leader intervened. Taeeon, who had claimed the seat next to Roy, pinched his cheek and shook him gently.

“Why the grumpy face~ You’ll be the most excited when we get there. Didn’t I tell you to sleep early last night?”

Because Roy hadn’t listened and played games late, he got an earful about doing what’s right.

Roy wrenched his hand free and cuddled into Ho-jin’s arms, playing the spoiled maknae who knows exactly where to stretch out his feet.

“Wahng. That hyung is bullying me.”

“I don’t think he’s bullying you...”

“What? Are you taking Taeeon’s side over me? I’m disappointed in you.”

At the word “disappointed,” Ho-jin’s pupils trembled. Only Taeeon saw the maknae’s cunning act clearly.

Then Yeon-woo stepped in and separated the two.

“Come on, stop bullying him.”

His rich dialect struck their eardrums. Feeling sorry for Ho-jin being played by the maknae, Yeon-woo couldn’t stand it any longer.

Yeon-woo’s hand forced Roy away, and Roy curled his lips and looked up.

“I wasn’t bullying him.”

“That’s what bullying is. And Kim Ho-jin, I told you not to keep indulging him. He’s not a kid anymore, okay? You ever seen a kid bigger than your fridge?”

“Um...”

Ho-jin grudgingly nodded, but in his eyes Roy still looked like a baby.

With no one taking his side, Roy fully pouted and made a sad face.

Just a music broadcast was enough, and now they had to go to Daejeon for a fan sign event. A little whining was to be expected!

It wasn’t just a six-hour round trip, either. As soon as they returned, they had another music show scheduled.

Roy stood up, glowering at his hyungs with a sulky face.

Everyone burst into laughter at how cute he looked, when—

Clang!

A shattering sound rang out, and the intact mirror exploded into pieces.

“Whoa, that startled me.”

“What was that?”

“It’s Roy’s fault, of course.”

“Is it really?”

Startled for a moment, the members, relieved no one was hurt, began teasing Roy playfully.

“It’s not my fault!”

Roy retorted, and the members laughed together. No matter what, the hyungs adored the maknae’s cuteness.

✧

In the quiet car. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Exhausted from being dragged around since early morning, the members collapsed into sleep the moment they got in.

“Kuuuh.”

From the passenger seat came a cute sound. Roy had climbed up next to the manager, insisting on company instead of resting in the back.

Claiming his youth meant no fatigue, he soon fell into a state of unconsciousness.

“He’s so funny.”

Unable to help but smile, the manager sped onto the highway.

Expecting tight timing, he was relieved the road was clear and they wouldn’t need to rush.

After some time, the rearview mirror flashed with a blinding light.

Looking back, the car behind flashed its headlights and honked its horn.

Braaang!

Must be a lunatic.

Preparing to let the other car pass, the manager signaled right and checked the second lane—but just as he began to turn the wheel, the vehicle shuddered and a grotesque face suddenly appeared.

Sallow features and bloodshot red eyes.

The moment their eyes met, the mouth curled into a grotesquely high grin, revealing beastlike fangs.

“Aaah!”

Startled, the manager screamed and jerked the wheel.

Screeeech!

Woken by the commotion, Roy turned his head.

“Hyung...? What—”

But he couldn’t finish his words.

Before anyone could react, the van barreled into the central guardrail and collided head-on with an oncoming truck.

Kraang! Clang!

With a bone-crushing impact, the windshield exploded into shards.

Kshhhh!

At the same moment, something sharp pierced Roy’s abdomen.

In that instant, Roy knew.

Ah. I’m going to die.

They say people live up to their names—I thought this would be fitting, like a shooting star lighting up the night sky before vanishing, a finale worthy of our group.

“Kuhng.”

Thick, warm liquid surged up and Roy coughed.

‘It hurts like hell.’

As death approached, memories of his hyungs flashed through his mind like a slideshow.

Just when I thought I’d finally get some reward for all the hardship—life’s such a joke.

‘My hyungs... they have to be okay.’

That was Roy’s final wish, fading as consciousness slipped away.

[BREAKING: Shooting Star’s Han-gyeol in critical condition after head-on collision; Roy undergoing surgery]

[(FLASH) Shooting Star’s Roy pronounced dead in traffic accident]

[Shooting Star’s Roy’s death mourned across the music industry]

[Late Roy’s funeral service held with members in attendance; burial site undisclosed]

✧

I was sure that was the end...

The moment I opened my eyes, I was sweating in a pitch-black space. The cramped confines made even the slightest movement painful, triggering a claustrophobia I never knew I had.

And this ceiling... isn’t it too close?

‘What is this place?’

Thud!

When the fire-attribute maknae kicked the ceiling, his sense of entitlement surfaced.

Fwoosh!

The coffin lid burst open, flames billowing.

“Eek!”

Startled, Roy leapt from the rectangular box.

Flapping frantically to extinguish the fire on his sleeve, he suddenly felt countless eyes on him.

Creak...

He lifted his head and saw people sprawled on the floor—faces he’d never seen before.

If anything connected them, it was how pale they looked, as if they’d seen a ghost.

“Um... are you reporters?”

Roy asked cautiously.

One man, dazed, whispered.

“Re... re...!”

“Yes?”

“Re... resurrection...!”

That’s right.

I’d done the number-one thing you shouldn’t at a funeral. I resurrected.