Chapter Text
Lee Sangwon liked reading, be it trashy romance novels or the occasional deep philosophical books he picked up when he felt like it. It was a good hobby, one that went well with his part-time job as barista and the downtime that came when the coffee shop was quiet and peaceful.
It’s just…
He glanced at the translucent blue screen in front of his eyes, still in disbelief.
[Alert!]
Status Abnormality: “Debut or die!”
Time remaining: 365 days
What kind of isekai novel plot did he stumble upon? This was just—!
“Sangwon? I heard you falling, are you okay?”
He stumbled out of his shock, shoving aside the blanket that pooled in his lap. Ignoring how shaky his hands felt, he called out, “Yes!”
Footsteps sounded outside his room, and in no time at all, his mom peeked out behind a crack in his door, eyes full of concern directed at him. “What happened? Did you fall from your bed?”
Sangwon groaned, not sure of where to start. First of all, his head felt like it was about to split open, and his throat, dry as hell. Second…
He pointed out to the blue screen in front of him, “This… It appeared right as I woke up.”
His mom blinked at him. “What?”
“The… Screen.” He said lamely. His mom shook her head.
“Sangwonnie, there is nothing there. Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?”
In hindsight, Sangwon wasn’t sure why he thought his Mom would be able to see the window screen in front of him. In the novels he read all the time, the System was usually something exclusive to the main character, and if they tried explaining it to others, either they thought they went insane or was just playing a joke.
Although… Isn’t there a trigger for these kinds of situations usually? Like, the MC has to die, usually by a truck, to get transmigrated to a new world. And then they are blessed with a miraculous System or something?
The problem is, Sangwon didn’t remember dying, much less getting hit by a truck while crossing a street. He didn’t think he got near an airplane in the last three years of his life either, so…
The last thing he remembered was getting home tired after a shift and burying himself in his bed. Just the usual routine, nothing that seemed like an isekai trigger.
“You’re acting strange. Is the jjajangmyeon not to your liking?”
“Ah, no, sorry, just thinking…” Sangwon sighs, chopsticks moving automatically at his noona’s words. He makes sure to make a big spoonful before shoving it all in his mouth, as to not worry his parents uselessly.
His oldest sister doesn’t seem convinced. “Is this about yesterday’s news?”
“What are you talking about, noona?”
If anything, her look grows even more suspicious. Sangwon has genuinely no idea what she’s talking about, but she seems to take it as a weak deflection. “The SM Town concert yesterday?”
“Ah, that’s true. JJ appeared as a SM Rookie, didn’t he? It seems like he’s going to debut soon.” His father commented, sharp eyes searching for something in his expression.
Sangwon paused.
“...How do you feel about that, Sangwonie?”
He appreciated his family, really. He could feel their concern irradiating in waves, like they were worried about how the news of one of his former groupmates' debut was going to impact his mental health.
The thing is…
JJ— no, Justin already debuted though?
All of them did, in fact. Trainee A’s former members, Yorch, Woochan, James, JJ, Jihoon, Leo. All of them made it.
Just Sangwon that didn’t.
“I’m fine…?” He blurts, confused.
Dad clasps a hand on his shoulder, supportive. “It’s okay if you’re not! Some time has passed already, but seeing them on the internet like that must sting, right?”
…? Why bring this out of nowhere?
He has been seeing their faces everywhere for years now. He even listens to their new album releases at work, since the shop he works at likes to play the popular music trends on the speaker system.
Yeah, it stings if he thinks too much of it, but he is used to it now…?
That sense of weirdness keeps hanging around for a few more minutes, until Sangwon’s eye catches on the TV, which was on a weathercasting program.
“Today’s forecast - January 12, 2025.”
His heart stops.
2025?
Why was he suddenly three years in the past—
As if summoned by the sudden shock of emotions brewing inside of him, that blue translucent screen appears before his eyes once more, taunting him.
[Alert!]
Status Abnormality: “Debut or die!”
You’ll die unless you debut within the specified time frame.
Time remaining: 365 days
The sudden realization made bile pile up in his stomach, making him dizzy and short of breath. Thankfully, he was able to excuse himself from the lunch table without much fuss, his family sensing he wasn’t in much of a mood to talk.
In the safety of his room, the blue pop up seemed to burn at his eyes, shining brightly. It was almost like it wanted to draw Sangwon’s attention, to have him touch and interact with it.
Fine. Have it your way.
Sangwon raised a finger, touching it hesitantly. Immediately, the screen collapsed into itself, dragging another pop up into view.
[Lee Sangwon]
Singing: D+
Dancing: C+
Visual: A-
Charm: A
Trait: Magnetic (B) [Inactive]
Status Abnormality: “Debut or die!”; “Rusty”; “Despair Horizon”;
…what the heck?
Was this some kind of Status window? If so, then why were his grades so low?
Like— not bragging or anything, but he did train for 6 years, spending every blood sweat and tears on improving his skills. He could live with being graded badly on singing, but dancing was his specialty! There was no way his skills were a miserable, sad, C+, right?
As if on cue, the window expanded, exhibiting a few additional details.
Status Abnormality: “Debut or die!”
You’ll die unless you debut within the specified time frame. Time remaining: 365 days
Status Abnormality: “Rusty”
It’s been a long time since you last polished your skills. Penalties are applied to “Singing” and “Dancing”.
Status Abnormality: “Despair Horizon”
The weight of crushed dreams has taken a toll on you. Penalties are applied to “Visual” and “Charm” .
Sangwon didn’t know how to feel about this. On one hand, it was a relief to see that he wasn’t as bad as he might have thought, but rather, he was actively being held back by something out of his control (kinda?). On the other…
He thought this was just a prank, or some conjuration of a hallucination brought by too much daydreaming and hitting his head.
If this shit is real, and he’s really back in time, does that mean this supposed “Debut or die!” abnormality might be real?
Ah, fuck. He gave up on Idol life years ago. How was he supposed to go back and debut in less than a year just like that?
And because life seemed to be fond of throwing him curveballs left and right, his phone— which he had forgotten about ever since he woke up, System screen glaring in his face— suddenly lit up, a caller ID shining in his face.
[Lee Leo-hyung 🦁] is calling…
Even in 2028, three years after it had happened, Lee Sangwon remembered this call, as it sometimes haunted his dreams.
“Lee Sangwon,” he had said, voice low and rougher than he’d remembered after years of almost no contact. “Do you feel like trying again?”
Boys Planet. The successor to Mnet’s previous show, Girls Planet 999, just the male version of it.
Ever since Mnet hit a viral, unexpected success with I.O.I and the season 1 of Produce 101, those kinds of reality shows centering on creating a debut group through survival became a trend in Korea, reaching a point where another three seasons were squeezed out of this concept. The problem came out when a scandal broke out, revealing that the supposed “audience chosen trainees” weren’t audience chosen at all, and rather, rigged from the start.
Desperate to keep the format, but still in desperate need of a fresh start, Mnet came up with the idea of Girls Planet 999, which was essentially just a rebranded version of the Produce programs. The show gave origin to Kep1er, and then its successor, the male counterpart Boys Planet, formed out Zerobaseone.
In the timeline Lee Sangwon knew, there were another three seasons of Girls Planet and Boys Planet. But the most important one right now was…
Boys 2 Planet. The show that created Alpha Drive One, one of the biggest names belonging to the 5th generation of K-pop male idols.
The show that he’d refused to appear on when Leo asked, in his original timeline.
Sangwon squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to throw something. His throat, dry, barely managed to form out the words, “What do you mean, hyung?”
“Debuting.”
He exhaled. Slowly. “It’s been years.”
Several things went unsaid in his tone. The fact that he gave up on debuting ever since Trainee A was canceled, or that he didn’t spend a single minute dancing or singing ever since…
“I know,” Leo said, in that calm, low tone of his.
Sangwon kinda missed it, if he were to be honest. Having Leo, and the other members alongside him, comforting, whispering assurances in his ear—
“There is this show that is having auditions right now.” He continued, before Sangwon could get deeper into memory lane. “It’s Boys 2 Planet. You heard of it, right? The one that made Zerobaseone.”
Sangwon wanted to laugh at the irony of it. Ah, only if Leo knew…
“Let’s appear together on it. You and I, Sangwon-ah, just like old times.”