I returned the mascot costume before sunset and went back home to Seon Ahyun's house. It felt like my whole body was steamed with moisture for being inside the costume.

'It's hot.'

The expenses were a considerable amount. In addition, I was tired too. It didn't feel bad, however.

'Is it because I only heard positive things today?'

The reaction I got when I finally took off the costume was interesting, but I think it was actually more interesting when I went around wearing it.

It was a refreshing experience to see people laughing and wanting to take pictures together, or handing over printed photos of me and snacks.

'Of course, I didn't know... these kinds of printed pictures would show up.'

There was even a photo with a collage of animals with yellow ears.

I carefully put the items I received, including the photo, in my luggage. I was thinking of taking a look at the items more later and immediately went to take a shower.

'I feel much better.'

I felt more refreshed after drying my body and changing into new clothes. As I sat on the bed and drank cold water, the new group chatroom began to ring endlessly.

When I looked up and checked it out, there was a video uploaded of Cha Yu-jin shouting 'Thank you!' and running away after he's been caught once.

'It's not surprising, for some reason.'

Hey, Moondae went around fifteen places. That's amazing. Such a strong-willed Korean citizen. Let's all give him an applause.

I smirked and replied.

I turned of the group chatroom where emojis were being excessively used and logged on to social media.

'Let's take a closer look.'

I was going to check if there were any strange comments such as 'Don't go running around during freetimes and go practice, or do you not have a brain'.

'Hmm.'

Fortunately, there were no such comments. Everyone seemed to be happy.

I scrolled the timeline a little higher.

At first, people seemed to think it was a joke between fans, when they noticed that four people wearing mascot costumes went around each looking for advertisements of different participants.

However, after Cha Yu-jin got found out and the other guys took off their masks one by one, the atmosphere turned into a melting pot of astonishment.

//TN: noona: a title for a guy to use to refer someone, who's a woman and a little older

After that, people started to talk about whether this was filming for , but when the costume rental shop posted a review with an autograph, people started to feel happier.

//TN: maybe they're criticising the shop for posting it i'm not sure

'...I'm glad they're enjoying it.'

It was a bit embarrassing, but since people seemed to like it so much, it was tolerable. Although, why do they keep calling me cute... I don't understand.

'Is it about my feelings?'

It was a mystery to me. I shrugged and laid down on the bed. Then I realized.

'I haven't eaten anything today.'

I forgot because I was so busy running around all day wearing a mascot costume. But strangely I didn't feel hungry. Should I eat something and then sleep? I briefly thought, but soon fell asleep.

It was a dreamless sleep.

The early evening sleep lasted until noon the next day.

Well... it was a fruitful break.

* * *

I lightly exercised for half a day and had a good rest.

And the next morning.

We headed to the filming set to prepare for a live talk show. Of course, Seon Ahyun, who came back from the trip in the middle of the night bringing some walnut cookies, also came along with me. The walnut cookies were delicious, by the way. It had soft white kidney bean paste as a filling.

"So you're Moondae. Did you rest well?"

"Yes."

As we entered the waiting area of the filming site, Ryu Chungwoo, who arrived first, greeted us. Seon Ahyun was called by the production team, so he wasn't present.

"Hyung, did you rest well?"

"Well.... yeah."

Ryu Chungwoo smiled but his complexion didn't look good.

'Come to think of it, he didn't become a leader this time.'

I heard he gave the role away, although I don't know exactly what happened. I'm not really interested either.

"I saw you wearing costumes. It looked fun."

"Ah, thank you. Hyung have also taken proof shots a few times."

Let's respond to him politely in case he debuts.

Ryu Chungwoo hesitated a bit before answering.

"I haven't been able to do it recently."

What does he want me to do about it? It seems he wants me to ask him to elaborate, but I don't think I need to know about his issues.

I shrugged my shoulders and made a remark to close the conversation.

"You can do it once the show is finished."

"Well... if I can't debut then, I don't think I have the face to do that."

Ryu Chungwoo laughed.

'Why does it seem like he wants to keep the conversation going to catch me off guard?'

I tried cutting the conversation.

"I think hyung will debut."

"Thanks, but you don't know that yet. My ranking also dropped."

Is he talking about falling from first place to fourth place?

'In the future, you had debuted and even became a leader, though.'

I glanced at Ryu Chungwoo nervously, but admitted that any participant might become nervous at this point of the show. Besides, this guy... it looks like he's burned out.

'Wait, but if Ryu Chungwoo is eliminated like this then there would be a vacancy.'

I had hopeful thoughts for a moment, but soon threw them away. Even if you have a mental breakdown now, the only thing left is the finals, so it would be no use.

I just decided to answer comfortably.

"Even if you're eliminated, the fans would still prefer that you to go check the advertisements they put up rather than you not doing it."

"Well... I don't know if the fans will even still be there after I'm eliminated and the show ends."

"They spent money on advertising, so I don't think the fans are going to suddenly disappear."

"Huh?"

"You know that the unit price for ads at a transfer stations is at least 200 thousand won, and 10 million won at a place with good visibility."

//TN: around 200 USD and 10,000 USD

"Re-really?"

"Yes."

I could hear Ryu Chungwoo swallowing his saliva.

'I guess he didn't know that.'

"I... I have to work hard."

"Of course."

I looked at Ryu Chung-woo with an expressionless face.

"Moondae!"

Just in time, Big Sejin raisen one hand and cheerfully entered.

'I can use him as an excuse.'

Naturally, I bowed to Ryu Chungwoo and went to approach Big Sejin.

Then I thought again.

'Then I... would owe the fans 54 million won even if it's set at a minimum unit price.'

It was an amount of money that would make me work like a horse to keep my conscience in tact.

I didn't expect that besides suddenly dying for not debuting, the second most obvious motivation to debut would come to me like this.

* * *

This was the caption for this week's .

I didn't expect such a conceptual caption to be added to the talk show, but the naming sense was pretty impressive anyway.

The content was no different from the usual audition program specials.

They call in the surviving participants, sit them down, ask some questions, and unravel some stories of the past episodes.

However, since it was a live broadcast, there was no editing magic and the level of questions were much lower than usual.

"Ooh~ Fourteen people likes dipping sauce! As expected dipping sauce is more popular!"

Therefore, the majority amount of information released were these kinds of 'fun facts'.

//TN: Koreans seem to use tmi as fun facts but i think tmi kinda has a different meaning in english so i switched it.

'I eat it uncooked.'

I thought to myself as I lowered the panel of 'dipping' I was holding.

Instead of the MC who was running the program in the past, an actor who was often seen on talk shows was hosting the show. He was so good at talking and his conversational skills were so great that there were no silent moments even with twenty amateurs there.

'Still, I think the ratings will be cut in half this continues.'

As I thought of that, the MC put out a new content.

"The next segment is random play dance!"

It was a famous segment with a simple rule of running to the front and dancing when the music came out. It was a mess and fun in its own way as twenty people ran out.

"Waah!"

"I wanted to try that!"

Cha Yu-jin and several participants ran out and danced to by MallanDalkom.

"Ooh~"

Participants from the team October 31st laughed as they copied the choreography of the first team battle, completely immersed to the moment.

'This isn't so bad.'

...is what I thought right before a familiar melody hit my ears.

"Ooh?"

"Woah, this!"

"Ahahaha!"

Participants who were about to go back immediately jumped back out and started dancing to popcorn. It was such an easy and famous dance that almost all twenty people came out to dance. I mean everyone except me.

"Moondae-ssi! Moondae-ssi!"

"....."

The MC excitedly called out Park Moondae.

'I think I will have to do this dance until I retire'

I trudged to the front and joined the other participants.

Thanks to the producers who played the soundtrack until the very end, I even ended up doing the last pose before going back to my seat.

After dancing to the end, the guys with front row seats chattered, as they went back to sit together.

"Hey~ Moondae really improved!"

"He's a genius, a genius."

"...Let's stop this."

"Ooh~? We're complimenting you, though? Are you shy?"

"Hyung-nim is too humble~"

I think it was a mistake to receive Big Sejin and Gold 2 on the same team. In any case, the broadcast went pretty well like that.

The twenty participants who desperately threw themselves out for the content, continued to actively follow the MC's remarks.

"Now now, at this point, I'd like to ask you questions that came from the viewers."

"Ooh~"

"Wait a minute, let me pick up a name..."

The MC pulled a ball out of the prepared box in the corner of the set and read the name inside.

"Participant Park Moondae!"

"...Yes."

I didn't know it would take a one-twentieth chance.

I quickly raised my hand and answered.

The MC brought a tablet PC under PPL from , held it in his hand, and flipped the screen. It seemed that he was filtering out inappropriate questions for broadcast purposes.

"Among the questions that are coming up right now... Ah, this one!"

The MC touched the screen to increase the size of the question, then turned it towards the camera and read it.

"Well, the question is 'Moondae, Is it true that you changed your name?' "

What?