---

I came to the filming location today.

Since the shoot for the latter half was delayed more than planned, we just started filming the second half now.

That also means Sera is gradually entering the phase where her character will be eliminated.

I watched the filming crew with a somewhat sentimental feeling.

There aren’t many days left to see those busy staff members.

Including Nam Han-kyung over there.

I glanced at Nam Han-kyung, who was lazily slouched in his chair today.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Since the weather had gotten better and he was wearing a long-sleeve sweater, Nam Han-kyung adjusted his posture slightly, as if he felt my gaze, and asked.

“Aren’t you a bit too relaxed?”

“I’m just a little more comfortable with the filming location now.”

“Yeah… Now, of all times?”

Considering we’re already in the latter half.

Well, still, if I look around, the atmosphere of the filming crew bustling about is more familiar than uncomfortable.

I’ve gotten used to the faces of all the staff by now.

“There are people who get comfortable late,”

“Oh, come on.”

Seeing Nam Han-kyung who has started to slack off lately, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was really the charismatic Nam Kyung-min.

Even though it’s the latter half, we still have a lot of filming left, and the challenging scenes are coming up; can he really afford to be that lax…?

But then again, it’s not my place to worry; he’ll do fine.

I sat next to Nam Han-kyung, crossed my legs, and reviewed the script.

The script stored on my phone mentioned Sera’s fate.

Even though it wasn’t time to film yet, I had received it in advance and was reading through it…

Hmm…

“Is this correct?”

Doubting whether it was actually right, I showed the script to Nam Han-kyung.

“What’s up?”

“This scene about Sera.”

The phone screen I showed to Nam Han-kyung had Sera’s fate written on it.

“Where… Pfft.”

Nam Han-kyung read the script briefly and then burst into laughter.

“Oh, this?”

It seemed he already knew the script he received, too.

His chuckles strangely bothered me, and I replied sulkily.

“Hey, your fate isn’t exactly light either, you know?”

“Nam Kyung-min is cool, though.”

“….”

That’s true.

He carries his role as the final boss with such heaviness.

“But still, we’re allies; your reaction is a bit too much.”

“Sera’s a burden to Nam Kyung-min, a burden! I thought I’d help, but I’m just dragging him down.”

…That’s right, that’s right.

Sera is the type to act hastily—no, if we’re being blunt, she’s a rushed and reckless villain.

She doesn’t really mesh well with the calm and calculated Nam Kyung-min.

“But Sera’s at least cute in her way.”

“…That’s a little bothering, too.”

I took another look at the script.

It was a scene that felt a bit embarrassing to act out, but honestly, in the end, it felt like a weak fate for Sera.

“It fits you, though. What gives?”

“Is that… is that so?”

Does it really fit? I briefly thought about the scene.

Hmm… it might actually fit Sera’s somewhat childish nature.

“Well, I’m not sure if you can perform it well, though?”

“I?”

“Yes, do you have experience with this?”

“Uh… not really?”

I mean, seriously, how many people have experienced the fate of a villain?

Ah, well, in Sera’s case, I suppose there could be; just not me.

Well…

I answered Nam Han-kyung while looking back at the script.

“I’m not really a person who cries a lot.”

“You definitely seem like it.”

The script on my phone described Sera sobbing heavily.

I once again wondered if this was accurate, while diligently memorizing the script.

…But I have to pull this off.

Will I even get artificial tears for this shoot? I’m slightly worried.

**

Afterward, while we were filming the latter half, a familiar face arrived at the filming location.

“Is everyone doing well with the filming?”

It was none other than Moon Chang-sik.

I heard he didn’t have any filming today, so it seemed he just stopped by for a moment.

“Yes, we’re doing fine. What about you?”

“Oh, I just had something to do nearby and thought I’d stop by.”

Being the main character, Moon Chang-sik often swung by whenever there was something going on close by.

I heard it’s important for lead actors to visit often to keep the filming atmosphere lively.

Well, judging by the looks on the female staff’s faces, it sure seemed that way.

“Oh, by the way, Soo-hyun.”

“Yes?”

“Have you prepared everything?”

“Oh, preparation?”

“Yes, you have a pre-meeting coming up, right?”

“Ah… right.”

Moon Chang-sik’s question reminded me of something I briefly forgot.

Yes, the writer of the observational variety show he mentioned last time.

Since it’s going to feature Haru, I thought there wouldn’t be any need for meetings; it was somewhat unexpected.

“In reality, I have nothing to prepare.”

I guess it’s fortunate to have an agency backing me?

I should just follow what Park Kang-seok said for the meeting location.

He’s a seasoned veteran who’s been in the idol business for a long time, so I hear he’s well-versed in these variety show meetings too.

“It’s true that the meetings are nothing complicated. Just do well.”

“Got it.”

After saying that, Moon Chang-sik looked around a bit more before leaving.

“Are you filming the variety show we talked about last time?”

After Moon Chang-sik left, Nam Han-kyung, who was lazily wandering around the filming location, asked me.

“Yes, I’m going on the observational variety show.”

“Oh… alone?”

“No, with the person who just left.”

I will be appearing with Moon Chang-sik.

Did I mention the partnership with Lady Soo-yeon and Moon Chang-won?

I heard they were airing the variety show after the drama finished, and it sounds like it could achieve pretty sweet viewer ratings.

After all, Lady Soo-yeon has been popping up a lot on shorts these days…

Of course, some of that’s probably due to my algorithm, but still, it seems like she’s been everywhere.

I guess with the lack of decent dramas lately, there’s been a trend of interest leaning toward chasing.

“An observational variety show…”

“Have you done it before?”

“Well, yeah, I have appeared before.”

Nam Han-kyung pondered a bit about the observational variety show and then spoke.

“But it’s a bit tricky.”

“What’s tricky?”

“If you just act like you normally do, you won’t get enough screen time and feel pressured; if you invite friends out, you get criticized for not showing your daily life.”

“Ah.”

Stopping to think about what Nam Han-kyung said, I nodded subconsciously.

Thinking back, I had seen comments criticizing celebrities for having too much fun on observational variety shows in the community.

…So what should I do?

“…How does the filming go?”

“Eh, you just set up cameras at home, and the filming team follows you around.”

“Hmmm…”

“For about two days, usually. One day doesn’t yield enough footage.”

Cameras at home, huh…

I briefly imagined having cameras installed in my room.

Does that mean I can’t do any broadcasts while filming the variety show?

Honestly, my daily life isn’t that exciting…

“This could be a big problem for me.”

“A big problem? Why?”

“Isn’t the footage going to be too insufficient?”

I thought back to my recent week’s routine.

Filming – house – filming – house.

With the latter half of the drama shoot, I was too fatigued to even attend dance or vocal lessons, just focusing solely on filming.

Of course, I hear on the variety show you can even film on a holiday, but what would I even do on a holiday?

It would be inaccurate to even call the days off from filming ‘holidays’.

For me, a day without filming is a broadcast day.

If I take a day off to film a variety show, wouldn’t the video just end up with me lazily lounging around, petting Bok-sil for no reason?

Or I might go somewhere to get a lesson and then come home right after.

“Just the person who left a moment ago will do?”

In the midst of my worries, Nam Han-kyung pointed to where Moon Chang-sik had been.

“Uh…”

True, what would Moon Chang-sik do in an observational variety show?

He seems like he’d live an even more boring life than I do.

“Just be comfortable with it. If you overexert yourself, you’ll be criticized.”

“Didn’t you just scare me earlier?”

“Feeling tense isn’t a bad thing.”

“Ugh….”

Well… it’s not necessarily bad, but it’s still somewhat annoying.

Nonetheless, I began rethinking how to film for the variety show based on his advice and went back to filming.

Maybe I should ask during the meeting?

**

In conclusion, my concerns were utterly pointless.

“You can just behave as you usually do, Soo-hyun.”

“Is that really okay?”

When I asked the variety show writer about the concerns I’d been having since the filming location, that was the answer I received.

When I asked her again if that was really acceptable, she nodded readily.

“Many people worry like you, Soo-hyun. But the premise of this variety show is to find out what celebrity daily life is like.”

“Oh… so I can just go about my usual business?”

Can I really do that? I asked again, and the writer answered as if reassuring me not to worry.

“In fact, it’s often the case that actors have an established image, so even during observational shows, they unconsciously reflect on their images in their behavior.”

“Oh….”

“While that’s not a problem necessarily, we prefer more natural portrayals.”

Natural portrayals…

“But I really live a boring life…”

“Ahaha, don’t worry about it. We’ll manage to get sufficient footage somehow. And since we’re featuring two individuals, you really don’t need to worry about it.”

“…Alright then, I understand.”

Since she spoke so confidently, I took that as reassurance.

I guess what would a mere participant know?

The experts should know best.

Nodding to the writer’s grand declarations, I replied.

“Then I’ll truly act as I usually do.”

“Thank you for that!”

Acting as I usually do… Thinking that way made me feel at ease.

The meeting ended on a cheerful note.

 

---