A perfectly normal fan-sign event was underway in front of me.
“Eek, you’re so handsome....”
“Haha, thank you.”
Despite the chaos behind him, Ryu Cheong woo—who’d clearly grasped everything—remained unfazed as he greeted the fan before me. He’s definitely a pro.
And I was watching Keundal’s panic-popups as the next fan slid into the seat passed to Ryu Cheong woo.
[Hy, hyung! Please control me quickly!]
He was so frantic he’d started issuing orders. I understood.
I sent a calm message.
‘Yes. Just say exactly what I ask.’
Because this is a corporate event, the staff weren’t funneling fans forward quickly. That meant it didn’t require the lightning reflexes of a usual fan signing. You’d just fill in with normal pace.
You can do this!
[Yes!]
But immediately another trembling popup appeared—an unconscious thought, it seemed.
[...But these people came to see you, hyung. I really don’t know if it’s okay for me to do this....]
“......”
[Ah, sorry! I know it’s unavoidable, I’ll stop whining and just do it!]
No.
That’s a perfectly reasonable worry... I had the same thought myself.
So we just needed to match better.
‘You nailed my radio “love you” bit exactly.’
In TeSTAR Park Mundae’s body, of course. And I share his vision, so I could deliver exactly what this fan expected.
Sure, maybe they’d bought the AI assistant package as a gag and then got lucky. But the odds favored a real fan.
‘If you deliver what I send, that fan will truly believe they met TeSTAR Park Mundae.’
And I was literally right beside them, hearing it.
‘Can you help give them that experience?’
[...Yes!!]
Good.
I took a deep breath and got ready for real-time prompts...
“Hyung~~ that ‘love you’ bit from the radio—I’d die if you could do it once more! I really want to see it!”
‘.......’
[...]
‘Please and thank you.’
[Yep.]
And Keundal cleared that first round safely.
‘Before taking the next person, I told him to stall, saying he’d ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ lost the pen.’
Finally, my turn came.
No one was left in front of Ryu Geon woo.
‘...Phew.’
I stared at the empty space, then gave up and sat down at the long table.
Thud.
I planted myself in the chair opposite Ryu Cheong woo. This was a new perspective.
‘So this is what it looks like from here.’
I’d always faced them from the other side. This angle felt novel.
And I realized I couldn’t stall any longer.
‘Damn it.’
So I met his eyes.
He... smiled.
‘...He’s smiling?’
“Hyung, how did you get here?”
“......!”
“You could’ve just applied normally. You startled me.”
Right.
Ryu Geon woo is Ryu Cheong woo’s relative. So this... was natural?
Controversial, perhaps, but the die was cast. I went with it.
I spoke evenly.
“Meeting as family and as an idol are different. So I applied. I’m your fan, after all.”
Come to think of it, I was glad. It made shamelessness easier.
Ryu Cheong woo didn’t burst out laughing. He just asked kindly.
“You really are a fan?”
“Yeah. When I get off work, I replay TeSTAR content.”
Whether it’s me or Keundal speaking, it’s the honest truth.
Realizing that, Ryu Cheong woo burst out.
“Hahaha!”
“Ha ha.”
I tried to join his laughter as I offered the signing board again. He signed reflexively, still smiling.
‘Cut it out.’
Stop before this pops on SNS as “Idol signs for cousin.”
“What content did you like best?”
“They’re all great. Your radio appearance a few days ago was hilarious.”
“Oh, was it?”
He laughed, finished signing, then scribbled a P.S. on the board.
“Here.”
—I’ll pass this straight on to the others. No worries.
This was....
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Truly impeccable both in character and composure.
‘I picked a good leader.’
I nodded and prepared to move on...
[Ah right hyung! I brought a fan-sign item! Everyone else is doing it....]
“......”
A prop?
I hadn’t noticed in the chaos, but I was holding something.
‘...A shopping bag.’
A bad feeling.
But if I didn’t give this... it might break the mission-failure remedy by not perfectly following Mundae’s day.
So I wordlessly plunged my hand into the bag.
Each item was tagged “Ryu Cheong woo”—probably to avoid mix-ups in the crowd.
‘Whatever.’
I yanked out the prop.
It was... a gat.
“......”
One of those Joseon-era hats.
‘Why such meticulous historical detail?’
It looked like a formal gat worn by officials. Why would he buy that...? But if it made him happy.
The problem was, I had to give it.
“You... want me to wear this?”
Go ahead.
Ryu Cheong woo brought it himself, set it on his head.
The high school girl with the hamster headband in front of me gave a thumbs-up.
“It fits perfectly...!”
I didn’t choose it, but okay.
“Haha, thanks, hyung.”
Anyway... first member signed safely.
“Come again.”
I won’t.
But I couldn’t move to the next member yet—because that was Park Mundae.
Thanks to my stalling cue, he’d only started signing for the previous fan now.
And the moment I heard that person greet “Park Mundae,” I sensed...
“Hello~”
Their voice was steadier.
And far more natural than with Ryu Cheong woo.
‘They’re not a real Park Mundae fan.’
Relief.
As I sent Keundal a response-popup, I let out a small sigh of relief.
Since they weren’t that interested, polite bland responses would do...
“Oh right, could you do that Tibetan fox expression once?”
‘.......’
I couldn’t script that.
So I watched, impassively, as Keundal struggled to mimic a neutral fox face.
I suppose that’s what my usual expression looks like. I’ll reflect on that.
Soon he collapsed.
“S-sorry... that was awkward, right?”
‘Oh.’
Yet it was surprisingly... natural, coming from the real body owner.
“...!! No! It was cute! Oppa, you’re so cute!”
“...?? Thank you....”
[Hyung, sorry. I think I messed it upㅠㅠ]
‘You thinking of a career in this...?’
[Yes?]
‘No.’
Nearly encouraged this lotto winner in the seventh grade into a new profession.
I dropped the thought and moved on.
Thud.
Now I sat before Park Mundae—wearing a “World’s Best Apple Squishy” speech-bubble hat and puppy ears.
Facing himself.
A very strange feeling.
But knowing our roles had switched, I decided to do my best.
‘Let’s see.’
I steepled my fingers and spoke cautiously.
“Um, Mundae... I really support you.”
Sob.
“Uh, you’ve been my favorite since before debut! Is that the right way to say it...? Favorite!”
“Yes... that’s right. Th-thank you......”
His pronunciation slurred a bit, but fine. I nodded.
Speaking of that, I needed his autograph...
“Your signature... here, please.”
He signed very credibly. No longer surprising.
‘Did you practice?’
[...No, my body just remembered. It was amazing....]
Ah, that was it.
I continued the warm fan-sign chat.
“Really! Thank you. I’ll definitely follow your next activities...!”
And I hadn’t forgotten the prop.
“Also, could you sign this? If you don’t want to, that’s fine!”
“......Why would I not want to? It’s cute.”
[...Hyung, you don’t have to mimic me that much....... Sob.....]
He did his best.
I saw Keundal barely perch a tiny golden crown on his head.
‘Good.’
My self-autograph complete.
Next up... the actual members.
While I got his autograph, I saw Ryu Cheong woo whisper to the others behind him.
And to Park Mundae’s right sat Bae Sejin.
‘A calm one as an early pick, good.’
I moved over.
Bae Sejin flinched.
“......”
“......”
“Hello.”
“...Yes. Hello.”
He’d obviously heard about it, but he looked at me uncertainly.
‘Because he doesn’t see it as acting?’
I thought it better to break the ice.
So I spoke up spontaneously.
“Do you remember me? I greeted you in the restroom before....”
“...! Oh, uh, yes.”
“You look even cooler now.”
“Thank you....”
He studied me, surprised.
‘Relaxed now?’
But Sejin gulped as if determined, bowed his head to sign, then spoke slowly.
“You... you were a great help that day. Even if you weren’t my fan. Regardless... I wanted to say thank you.”
“......”
“Thank you for coming to the fan signing today.”
He finished signing “To. Ryu Geon woo,” then handed me the board.
‘Well.’
“Thank you for continuing your activities.”
“......”
“And yes, I am your fan. I’ll keep supporting you.”
“...Yes.”
I shook Bae Sejin’s hand.
It felt firm.
‘Good.’
I thought we were done—until one more remained.
‘Ah, the prop.’
I rummaged the bag: a hamster headband.
I looked at Bae Sejin.
“...?”
But Bae Sejin already wore the hamster headband—the same one I’d seen on the high school girl.
‘They match.’
I returned Keundal’s prop to the bag.
Sorry, but the moment the props overlapped, the game was up.
And so I moved on.
The person at center was...
“Hello...!”
Seon Ah hyun.
He sat with a reassuring expression.
Recalling our radio experience, I doubted this would go wrong. He’s not one to tease fans.
I relaxed as I took my seat.
“Yes, hell... cough.”
I’d been nervous and coughed, so I cleared my throat quickly when—
Seon Ah hyun hurriedly grabbed his drink beside him and offered it.
“...! Water, here... oh, there’s green tea too...!”
A surprise counter-gift?
‘Wait.’
A mental flash: “Fan favoritism scandal at Seon Ah hyun’s fan signing—only male “muggles” got special treatment?”
No.
“It’s fine. I’m okay. I’m just nervous; it’s my first fan signing even though I’ve been a fan since before TeSTAR’s debut.”
“Oh....”
He hastily took back the drink.
‘No.’
Not good to make it awkward. There were already few adult men in the hall; I couldn’t stick out more.
I chose the natural solution: immediate prop handover.
“By the way, could you sign this?”
The pre-gift.
“......Of course.”
He hesitated, then took the deer-antler wreath and placed it on his head.
“Ahhh!”
“Ahyeon!”
Cries erupted from behind.
I understood—it fit brilliantly.
‘Where on earth did you get this?’
[Oh, I take custom orders on SNS!]
‘...?’
I hadn’t actually asked, but I got it.
I deliberately turned aside so his fan accounts could grab pics, then chatted a few more words with him.
Time ran out as I read his message on the board:
—I’m always grateful and sorry. I’ll work to be an even more reliable friend. Fighting!
Break time was over.
Next was...
“Hello~”
“Yes.”
Big Sejin.
He beamed cheerfully.
Without looking, he scribbled on the board, theatrically mouthing the words.
“Wow~ What brings you here?”
“I’m a TeSTAR fan.”
“Oh, thank you~ But whose fan are you?”
“Mundae.”
“Ugh.”
He hastily covered his face.
I could practically see a barrage of “kekes” behind those hands—so infuriating... but stay calm.
“Wow~ You two look alike!”
“Oh really? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Thanks.”
“Of course! People tend to like those who look like them—ugh!”
He laughed boldly.
“I’m a fan of myself~”
“Ugh!”
Kim Rae bin nearly spat out his water.
Luckily he restrained himself.
“......”
I took a steadying breath.
And shamelessly said:
“Actually, I’m an all-fan.”
“Ugh.”
Don’t laugh.
“I’m also your fan, Sejin. Maybe it’s because you and Mundae look alike.”
“......”
“I support you, too. You’re amazing in so many ways.”
“...Ah, yes. Um~”
He gave a sheepish grin and held out his hands.
“Thank you!”
I felt victorious.
I high-fived him and moved on.
Kim Rae bin.
He was... serious.
“Is there... anything you want from me?”
You’d think I was threatening him.
Prepared to grant anything, he waited. I earnestly said:
“I hope you continue great activities.”
“Yes.”
“And please rest well to maintain your condition.”
“Of course.”
“And if possible, try to sleep before midnight at least twice a week.”
“...??”
You’ll kill yourself in your thirties.
“And also, this.”
“Oh, yes.”
I casually pulled from the bag a white silicone lump labeled “Kim Rae bin.” At this point, I wasn’t sure if it was resignation or experience.
‘When I hand this over...’
“......”
“...Hm.”
But what is this?
A pale silicone blob...
[Oh, it’s for your ear!]
“Oh, you wear it on your ear.”
“Got it! So it’s an ear cuff.”
Almost gave him a random unknown object.
I watched him clip soft angel wings onto his ear, then rose silently.
Only one left now.
“Hi~”
Cha Yoo jin.
He’d fully enjoyed the fan signing, even interlacing fingers with his previous fan. Now he waved at me with a grin.
