Hard Mode Idol

The IV drip stuck in my arm, the white bed, and the ceiling that didn’t look like the dorm no matter how you looked at it. It was a hospital. I was 100% caught. Everyone should have gone to bed early in the morning and started practice in the afternoon, so they should have woken up late…

Since the skill ended around 4 o’clock yesterday, it means I was in an abnormal condition until at least 10 or 11 o’clock. Is it a minimum of 6-7 hours? I should check what time it is now first.

“…Now, cough, cough.”

The moment I spoke, my throat felt scratchy, and coughs spilled out. Jung Ilhan held out a glass of water, and when Yoochan pressed a button next to the bed, the head of the bed rose with a small noise. This is convenient and nice. I want to take one home.

“Ilhan hyung, thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m glad you came to your senses.”

“Jin Haon.”

The only person who calls me by my full name is Seoho, but it wasn’t him this time. Yoochan called me with a serious face.

“If you’re sick, you should say you’re sick. What if you suffer alone? Do you know how surprised we were? Are you going to do this again?”

I’m tired of saying it now, but it’s not being sick; it’s an abnormal condition…

Let’s give up. Giving up makes things easier. I can’t explain it anyway, so it’s better to just make excuses.

“I didn’t hide it on purpose. I’m confused too, because I woke up in the hospital. What time is it now?”

Yoochan let out a deep sigh. He placed one hand on the bed and the other on my forehead. His hand was very cold. It was always warm, so why is it so cold?

“It’s a little past two. You have no memory of being sick for a whole day? It seemed like you opened your eyes for a bit in between.”

I opened my eyes? I have no recollection of that at all. I lost consciousness due to the abnormal condition, and when I opened my eyes, it was now. But the whole day…?

“Hyung, today is Saturday… right?”

“It’s Sunday.”

“What?”

My mouth fell open involuntarily. From early Friday morning until Sunday afternoon? An abnormal condition had never lasted this long and this seriously before.

Considering the system balance, it doesn’t seem like this will happen every time I use the skill, so it must be a penalty for forced termination. Then, was the severe fever symptom also a kind of penalty?

“But it’s a relief that your fever has gone down. The doctor said he couldn’t find the cause, the medication didn’t work, and you couldn’t regain consciousness. How do you think we felt?”

“Uh… worried?”

“Why are you saying that in a questioning tone? Of course, we were worried. In the future, I hope you tell us first, even if something is slightly off.”

Yoochan’s face showed clear signs of exhaustion. The faces of the members surrounding my bed kept entering my vision. Come to think of it, everyone looks haggard compared to usual.

Could it be that they stayed in the hospital room because of me? It’s no different from faking it. It’s something that goes away after some time…

“…Were you all here the whole time?”

“Of course.”

“Until I woke up?”

“Then where would we go?”

I was at a loss for words at the question that implied it was obvious. I’m sorry for worrying you. Thank you for worrying about me. I could have said that, but the words just circled the tip of my tongue as if my throat was blocked.

“Hey, Jin Haon.”

Seoho called me in a sulky tone. When I rolled my eyes and looked at him, I saw his severely bloodshot eyes.

“Say, I’m sorry for worrying you. And say, I won’t do it again in the future.”

“…You were worried about me too?”

“Is that even a question? You were wobbling like a piece of paper soaked in water, so of course, I was worried. I thought I was going to die because I was scared you might stop breathing.”

“So you cried again?”

Seoho’s face instantly turned red. It ripened red from his neck like tomato juice being poured into a transparent glass bottle.

“Aish, he’s completely recovered. Recovered!”

Seoho scratched the back of his head furiously and burst into laughter with a “Ha ha.”

“Hey, I guess I’ve grown attached to you. Seeing you chatter away puts me at ease.”

“I’m already very attached to you. If Seoho isn’t here now, I’d be bored.”

“You really can’t let a single thing go.”

Despite his grumbling tone, the corners of his mouth were turned up. I guess he likes that I said I’m attached. I like it too.

“Do you want to beat your younger brother that much? Hyung?”

“Ah, you’re only a younger brother at times like this! Forget it! Apologize to the hyungs.”

“Ah.”

Right. Of course. I should apologize. But when the stage is set like this, it’s a bit, too, embarrassing…

“Hyungs…”

As I hesitated, Yoochan suddenly burst into laughter. As if infected by that laughter, Seoho laughed too, and even Kanghyun made a sound like the wind.

“It’s okay, Haon. Your face is red. I’m afraid you might get sick again.”

It was a remark with a teasing tone. But still, hyung touched my forehead. It was cold earlier, but now it was warm.

“Yeah. No fever. You’re definitely embarrassed.”

This hyung is unexpectedly mean.

“Ah. Do you have to say that? I feel like I’m going to die of shame…”

“The apology is fine, but make a promise. Promise that you’ll definitely tell us if you’re not feeling well.”

“Yes, I’ll tell you. And… I’m sorry for worrying you…”

I mumbled the last part very quietly. I didn’t do it on purpose, but my voice volume naturally decreased. My whole body is so hot that it’s beyond a fever state.

Thanks to resting comfortably in bed, my stamina was replenished to some extent, and all that was left was being discharged. However, due to the strong opposition from the members, I was tightly tied to the bed.

As I had no choice but to lie still, the manager hyung thrust his scary face at me.

“Is Haon conscious?”

His fiercely raised eyebrows were sharp, as if they would stab me. Without realizing it, the words “I’m sorry” spilled out. If he hits me wrong, he won’t even be able to collect my bones!

“…What do you have to be sorry for? It’s all my responsibility.”

The manager hyung spoke glumly, still with eyebrows that looked like they would stab someone. Does that mean his expression right now isn’t angry? Then how much scarier would he be when he’s angry?

While having those strange thoughts, I lifted my body from the bed. I couldn’t help it because I felt too embarrassed to just lie still and press the button to change the bed angle.

Jung Ilhan quickly grabbed me and propped up the pillow. I don’t need this kind of consideration now because I’m completely healthy. But it was so obvious that he was worried about me, so I just accepted it. The atmosphere had lightened up, but only Jung Ilhan remained serious, so I decided not to tease him.

“I got permission for discharge, but do you want to rest a little more? Or do you want to go back to the dorm? Let’s do what Haon wants.”

The manager hyung’s calloused hand touched the back of my hand. The bumpy and firm texture was new to me, so it was fascinating. This hand is the hand that protects me.

“Then I’ll go back to the dorm.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

The moment I tried to get up from the bed completely, Jung Ilhan put his arm under my knees and lifted me up. I flailed about and reflexively wrapped my arms around Jung Ilhan’s neck to maintain balance.

“…Ilhan hyung?”

“You’re still a patient.”

“I’m all better now.”

“Still, you can’t. I’ll take you to the car.”

It was no use trying to stop him.

“Yoochan hyung…”

“Listen to Ilhan.”

This side is firm too.

“Kanghyun hyung?”

“…”

He avoided my gaze and quietly opened the door to the hospital room. Hyung, you weren’t like this before.

“Seoho?”

“Behave yourself, you idiot!”

I’m not weak. I’m a very healthy person. If there were no stamina limitations, I would run around more healthily than you guys. I felt wronged, but on the other hand, being held in someone’s arms felt unexpectedly soft and cozy, so I just pouted my lips.

“I said I’m fine.”

No one listened to me. I just rested my cheek on Jung Ilhan’s shoulder and entrusted my body to him. Well, it’s not like I’m the one having a hard time.

“Our kids, getting along so well… Kids, I’ll do better… I’ll protect all of you, so if anything happens, even the trivial things, tell hyung. Don’t hide it when you’re sick. Okay? Yeah?”

The manager hyung seems to be very emotionally sensitive. I thought he wasn’t like that at all, but he was different from how he looked. Unlike his fiercely raised eyebrows, his eyelashes were moist with tears.

Let’s reflect on ourselves. I should get rid of the habit of judging people based on their appearance. In my previous life, I boasted quite a high level of accuracy.

I was too busy reflecting on my prejudiced attitude that I overlooked one fact. No matter where you are, being carried around by someone draws attention. Especially when good-looking kids with great proportions are grouped together, it’s easy to attract attention…

I buried my head in Jung Ilhan’s chest and lowered my head deeply, and Yoochan made a fuss.

“Haon? What’s wrong? Are you hurting again?”

“…Everyone is staring. I’m just embarrassed.”

I quickly clarified before the misunderstanding deepened. Yoochan looked around and chuckled, “Hehe.” Then he patted my head. He’s treating me like a kid.

Monday morning.

I was comfortably sitting on the sofa, munching on an apple that Yoochan had personally given me. Unlike the members who were moving busily, I was the only one at leisure.

“Is Seoho still not up?”

Yoochan came out, drying his wet hair with a towel. After confirming that Seoho wasn’t in the living room, he went to the opposite room and shouted, “Seoho!”

In the meantime, Jung Ilhan, who had finished cleaning up after breakfast, came to my side.

“Haon. You’re going to rest well today too, right?”

“Yes. I will.”

“You must rest.”

“Yes, yes.”

The director ordered me to rest until today. Normally, I would have tried to persuade him somehow, but today I obediently accepted it. The members will probably come back early in the morning, so I was thinking of going to test the skill during that time.

First, I should go to the studio where I used to live. If the director hasn’t informed them of my whereabouts, there’s a high probability it’s still there. If the room is already taken, I’ll have to come back, lock the door, and do it.

Thanks to that, I was leisurely watching the members leave by myself. Seoho, who was dragged out by the scruff of his neck by Yoochan, had his eyes half-closed.

“I’m sleepy…”

That slacker.

“Ilhan! Can you open the bathroom door?”

“Okay.”

Jung Ilhan offered a helping hand. I turned around with my arm half-draped over the back of the sofa. Yoochan put Seoho in the bathroom and closed the door as it was.

Kanghyun and I are the type to wake up early in the morning, get ready alone, and leave. We only move together when our schedules occasionally overlap. So today was the first time I saw what the others look like when they go to the practice room. I don’t know the reason, but watching them was fun, so I was puzzled.