Chapter 1

‘If you wish for something hard enough, it will come true.’

Would it seem too obsessive if I told you that I had taken those words I heard as a child to heart and devoted myself to pursuing the same dream for a whole ten years?

I spent ten years as a trainee because I wanted to become an idol.

And not just any trainee. I was the unfortunate trainee who kept getting eliminated right before making it into the debut lineup.

It was frustrating, anxious, and suffocating, like running through a tunnel with no exit and not even a single ray of light coming through. But even so, I couldn’t stop.

The only path that could take me to the future I dreamed of was through this pitch-black tunnel.

So I endured stubbornly and clung to my dream desperately.

And now, even on the long, miserable road that had seemed like it would never end, I could finally see a ray of light.

[Earth Representative Audition]

The opportunity of a lifetime had come to me, an opportunity that might never come again.

Maybe… perhaps…

No, this time, surely…!

I was going to find the exit of this endless tunnel and make my way out.

“Isseo, let’s not do the audition today.”

“Excuse me…?”

“I said, ‘Let’s not do the Earth Representative audition.'”

Had I heard him wrong? Or was something wrong with the CEO?

My eyebrows furrowed because there was no way the CEO would say something like that unless he’d lost his mind.

He had called me over in the middle of rehearsal just to say something so ridiculous.

At a time when every second counted, too.

Today was the day Earth’s Supporter was coming to our company. They were coming to hold auditions to see if there was anyone among our trainees who was worthy of being chosen as Earth’s representative.

For the CEO, whose company had been barely surviving after years of losses in the idol business, and for trainees who had staked their lives on debuting, this was extremely important.

If our company produced Earth’s representative, it would be a huge opportunity.

So I couldn’t understand what the CEO was saying.

Why was he telling me not to audition?

That meant something had gone wrong.

“Why…? Was the audition canceled? Or is the Supporter not coming…?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

Had they decided to exclude small companies like ours? Or had Earth’s representative already been chosen?

As countless possibilities ran through my mind, the CEO suddenly spoke.

“Tam Isseo, you stay out of the audition.”

“……!”

“I’m sorry.”

What did he just say…?

The CEO’s tone was so casual that I thought I had heard him wrong.

He spoke in the same ordinary tone he used when asking whether I had been practicing properly or whether I’d eaten.

It took me a while to understand what his words actually meant.

But once I finally did, my heart dropped with a thud, as if I’d just been handed a death sentence.

“D-Did I do something wrong? During the rehearsal earlier, I hadn’t warmed up properly… Did you not like something? Please tell me! I can fix it right away! I’ll do better in front of the supporter later! I really can…!”

“No, Isseo…”

“I do well when it matters! I’ll really do well at the audition later…!”

“That’s not the problem…! You know perfectly well that you’re good. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have prepared you for the audition in the first place!”

“Then why…?”

“This isn’t about whether you’re good or not… Ah, this is difficult.”

The expression on the CEO’s face was familiar.

That troubled look, those lips hesitating before speaking.

It was exactly the same expression people had worn when they told me I hadn’t made the debut lineup.

I had trained longer than the other trainees. I was talented enough to rank first in the monthly evaluations more times than anyone else.

So why was it always me…?

“I hate to say this, but… you’re too handsome.”

For a moment, my brain seemed to stop working.

“……What…?”

I had expected to hear things like, “Your singing isn’t good enough,” or “You can’t dance,” or “You don’t have enough star quality.”

But hearing something this completely unexpected left me not knowing how to react.

“I’m… handsome?”

“That’s right! You’re too handsome! You’re way too good-looking! What I mean is, you look too much like a man! And you’re a female trainee!”

That again?

My tension eased a little.

Most high school girls would probably have been deeply hurt hearing something like this, but I wasn’t.

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it.

Now that I knew the reason, my excitement faded and my head became clearer.

“So what’s wrong with that?! Female idols have all kinds of concepts these days. There are plenty of female idols with strong, intense concepts! There will definitely be people who like my look too!”

The CEO gave a small snort.

“Those niche female idol groups are something only big companies can make. They establish a mainstream group to appeal to the general public, then make a niche group to attract hardcore fans. They can make money from both sides.”

“……!”

“Do you think a small company like ours can do that? We have to stick to the safest, most conventional approach. Girl groups have to be pretty, and boy groups have to be handsome! But you, Isseo…?”

The CEO’s gaze swept from the top of my head all the way down to my feet.

Of all times, it had to be now…

I’d been called over immediately after finishing the rehearsal stage, so I was still wearing my stage outfit.

The sleeveless pastel-blue top was decorated with glitter and left my shoulders completely exposed. The short, layered chiffon skirt, which looked almost like a ballet costume, was so short that the shorts underneath were barely visible.

It was an outfit chosen by the female trainees I’d been rehearsing with. But on someone like me, who was tall with broad, square shoulders, it had the opposite effect and made me look even bigger.

On top of that, my flat figure was clearly visible without any curves.

“Do you really think this looks good on you?”

“…….”

I had milky-white skin and cat-like eyes.

A sharp, straight nose that fell smoothly from my forehead and full, attractive lips.

Each feature was small and pretty on its own, but when they were put together, the deeper atmosphere they created somehow made me look masculine.

Long hair, wavy perms, and cute short hairstyles didn’t suit me. The only hairstyle that really looked good on me was a wolf cut that reached my shoulders, so I’d kept it for years. But even that couldn’t hide the boyish impression my entire body gave off.

As I grew older, I became as tall as the boys around me, and people often mistook me for a man.

I’d even stopped using public restrooms a long time ago because I didn’t want anyone to question my gender.

I couldn’t deny that the CEO had worked hard for me. He had kept me at the company for ten years and had tried to find a way to make me debut somehow.

But this opportunity meant everything to me too.

Even if I ended up failing, I wanted to stand in front of the supporter.

“I understand what you’re saying… But please, at least let me audition! The Supporter might see me differently.”

“Oh, come on. Everyone sees things the same way. Do you really think aliens would be any different? And what if the other trainees are disadvantaged because of you?”

“Disadvantaged…?”

“If a girl who looks like a man suddenly stands out among the other girls! Do you think they can be properly evaluated? When I watched the rehearsal stage earlier, you were the only one I could see. You stood out so much that it looked awkward and out of place!”

“Please, CEO. Just this once. I’ll make sure I don’t stand out! I’ll do everything I can! I won’t cause any problems for the others! You know I’ve ranked first in the monthly evaluations more than anyone else…”

“You’re not going to make it anyway!”

In desperation, I grabbed the CEO’s clothes, but he firmly shook me off.

His expression became calm as he tightened his tie.

“Isseo, you’ll be an adult next year.”

“…….”

“Ten years is enough. The company has invested in you for as long as it reasonably could because we believed in your talent. But now you have to think realistically, don’t you? You know this industry doesn’t work just because you put in effort.”

“CEO…”

“It’s time to give up and find another path before it’s too late, okay?”

“……!”

Give up on my dream?

He wasn’t just telling me to give up on this audition. He was telling me to give up on becoming an idol altogether.

It felt as though the sky had collapsed on top of me.

No. It couldn’t end like this.

“CEO! Please…! If you want me to change my face, I’ll do it! I’ll do anything you tell me to, okay? Please…!”

The CEO’s final words cut through my desperate plea.

“Isseo. You’ve worked hard all this time.”

Ten years at the company were packed into a single box.

When I cleared out my locker, I had a pair of sneakers, some spare training clothes, a few rolls of athletic tape, and other small things.

It all fit into one box.

And just like that, my ten-year dream was over.

“It’s light…”

The weight of my dream had never been light, yet the box was absurdly light.

I wandered around the streets, using the excuse that I would take just one more lap, then one more, and another.

By the time I realized it, the sun had gone down, and lights were glowing from the windows of the buildings around me.

The truth was, I didn’t want to go home.

I didn’t have the courage to tell my father this terrible news.

Just as he always had, Dad would surely take my side and tell me to look for another company and keep trying until the very end.

But as the CEO had said, I would be an adult next year.

Even if I were lucky enough to become a trainee at another company, my chances of debuting as an idol would only get smaller as I got older.

What if I became an adult without becoming anything at all?

As I walked absentmindedly, imagining my uncertain future, a light suddenly flashed above my head.

A huge billboard hanging on the side of a building lit up in a dazzling array of colors, casting its glow across my face.

[Space Idol League Casting Coming Soon!]

[Who Will Become Earth’s Representative?]

A bitter smile spread across my face.

Just this morning, I’d been filled with hope that I might become Earth’s representative.

Maybe it would’ve been more realistic if I’d simply hoped to win the lottery.

Only fourteen people were going to be selected from across the entire universe to debut.

The thought that I’d actually believed I could be one of those fourteen now seemed completely absurd.

was a survival program designed to discover new idols.

However, because it was open to the entire universe, all kinds of aliens with different characteristics participated.

It was on a completely different level from the usual survival shows where a bunch of ordinary Earthlings compete against one another.

Out of the nearly infinite number of planets in the universe, only 152 planets were allowed to participate.

And only one person from each planet could participate as its representative.

When news spread that Season 2 of the Space Idol League would be held for the first time in 100 years, the entire universe was thrown into an uproar.

But for Earth, it seemed like a prize we could only look at from afar.

Earth was a forgotten planet on the outskirts of the universe, with almost no presence.

To make matters worse, Earthlings were the only species in the entire universe without any special traits.

There was no way such an unlucky planet would receive a miracle like this.

The gloomy atmosphere on Earth changed completely during the planetary drawing ceremony.

Earth was selected as one of the participating planets.

• A nobody planet with zero expectations.
• I’ve never seen a planet without any special traits before LOL.
• Can they even perform on stage without any special traits?
• You’re going to get eliminated immediately anyway, so just give up your spot and hand it over to someone else.
• Yeah~ We’re not voting for Earthlings. Good luck with that. ^^

Despite all the mockery, the people of Earth came together.

This was the perfect opportunity to raise Earth’s standing in the universe.

Putting aside the hope of actually winning, Earthlings decided to send the trainee with the best skills possible, someone who could survive in the competition for as long as possible, as Earth’s representative.

But the casting was entirely up to the Supporter.

The Supporter assigned to Earth was the independent type who refused to accept any interference and was secretly carrying out the casting process.

That supporter had personally contacted our company and said they were coming to hold an audition.

So of course I had gotten my hopes up.

I had hoped.

Even if it meant pushing my body to the breaking point, I was determined to show the supporter everything I had.

Drip.

Drip…

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

They were tears I’d stubbornly held back ever since leaving the company.

If they’d simply told me I had no talent, I wouldn’t have felt this unfairly treated.

Would things have been different if I’d gotten full-body plastic surgery?

If I’d been just ten centimeters shorter.

If my body had been a little smaller and more petite…

“Wow, did you just see that? He’s seriously handsome!”

I heard an excited woman’s voice from behind me.

It was the same two women who had glanced at me as they passed earlier.

“Isn’t he a celebrity?”

“Should I ask for his number?”

“He looks like he probably has a girlfriend.”

I desperately hoped they weren’t talking about me, but their gazes were clearly directed at me.

It felt like my already shattered heart had been trampled on once again.

“…Yeah, I’m handsome…”

It’s not like being born this way is my fault.

“What am I supposed to do about being born handsome?!”

I shouted my frustration toward the sky.

Startled by my yell, the women began whispering and hurried away.

“What the heck? Isn’t he crazy?”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

It was unfair.

I was furious.

It was so absurd that my ten years were disappearing for such a ridiculous reason.

“Sniff… sob…”

Something hot rose inside my chest, and the tears poured out uncontrollably.

The strength left my legs, and I sank straight down onto the pavement.

I hadn’t cried this bitterly since my mother passed away.

I feel like I’m going to die. My chest hurts so much and feels so tight that I feel like I’m going to die.

“Hey.”

It happened while I had my face buried in my knees, crying endlessly.

Did I hear that wrong?

I thought I heard a deep man’s voice somewhere nearby.

“Hey~ You there?”

When someone is crying, shouldn’t they have the common sense to pretend they didn’t notice?

I thought the voice would keep bothering me without taking the hint, so I reluctantly raised my head.

*Who…?

It was an unfamiliar face.

He wasn’t a police officer or a soldier. He was a middle-aged man I’d never seen before, wearing an unfamiliar uniform. His long hair was tied back, and an unshaven beard covered his face.

When our eyes met, he smiled.

Seriously. Was this really happening?

At a time when a young high school girl with dreams had just lost everything and was wandering around in despair, did I really have to suffer yet another ordeal?

This is obviously one of those “Do you know the truth of the universe?” religious scam things…!

Seriously, who approaches someone while they’re crying?

I was so dumbfounded that my tears stopped. I glared at the man, jumped to my feet, and quickly walked in the opposite direction.

“Hey, hey! Wait! Let’s talk for a moment…!”

“Go away! I don’t believe you…!”

“What? Student, do you know who I am?”

“I-I do, so please don’t follow me…! I’m really not in the mood for something like that right now!”

“Huh.”

The man stopped where he was, apparently giving up on following me.

Of all days, why did every strange person in the world have to come after me?

Just as I felt relieved that I’d gotten away from him, and my sadness began welling up again, I heard his voice.

“You’re a trainee, aren’t you~?”

The moment I turned into an alley, the same man was standing in front of me, blocking my path.

He raised his eyebrows mischievously and asked,

“You look exactly like an idol. You haven’t debuted yet, have you?”

What kind of new trick was this?

Was he trying to win me over with compliments?

I didn’t let my guard down and glared at the man, who was grinning unpleasantly.

“Ah, please just go…”

“I finally found you, Earth’s representative.”

“What?!”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears.

Come to think of it, that uniform looked strangely familiar.

And his face was familiar too.

I’d seen him frequently on the news after the planetary drawing ceremony.

“Earth’s Supporter…? Mr. Han!!!”

I pointed at his face and froze completely.

Perhaps embarrassed that I’d recognized him, he rubbed the tip of his nose with one hand before saying,

“That’s right. I’m Earth’s supporter.”

He smiled.

“And you’re Earth’s representative.”