1. "TRENDING: #RAONIDOL"
Raon woke up to her phone exploding with notifications.
Not literally exploding—
although with her life, that was always a possibility.
Shion burst into the room holding three tablets, a holoprojector, and a face that screamed "We have a problem."
"Raon… you're trending."
Raon yawned.
"Because I kicked the disco ball?"
"No. Because someone turned your audition into a music video."
Raon blinked.
"…what."
Shion pressed play.
---
2. THE ILLEGAL MUSIC VIDEO
The holo-screen projected:
[RAON — "PUNCH☆STAR" (Unlicensed MV)]
Views: 14 million
Likes: 97% positive
Comments: mostly screaming
The video was a hyper-edited montage of:
Raon punching air
The disco ball detonating
The sentient Elimination Button running for its life
Discordia fainting
DJ Bloop crying
Raon's deadpan face in slow motion with sparkles added
Shion narrated like a crime investigator:
"Someone remixed your destruction into a beat…
and somehow it slaps."
Raon listened.
The beat DID slap.
She looked horrified.
"…I'm a menace to sound."
"Yes," Shion said. "But now also an idol."
---
3. FANBASE FORMATION: TOO FAST
Outside Raon's apartment window…
A crowd had gathered.
Not a small crowd.
A stadium-sized crowd of unhinged superfans.
Signs waved:
"KICK ME NEXT, SENPAI!"
"QUEEN OF BASS DESTRUCTION!"
"ONE KICK = ONE LOVE"
"PUNCH☆STAR TOUR WHEN???"
Someone held a plushie shaped like the disco ball she destroyed.
It was already being sold in stores.
Raon stared in pure existential horror.
"…Shion?"
"Yes?"
"Why are they like this?"
"Humanity is broken."
---
4. NEWS COVERAGE
Every TV channel ran segments titled:
"THE RISE OF IDOL RAON: A NEW ERA OF VIOLENT POP?"
A news anchor proclaimed:
"Experts say her intense physicality represents a cultural shift—
toward kicking."
A second anchor added:
"She doesn't sing, she doesn't dance, she barely talks—
yet the public LOVES her!"
A third anchor wore a neck brace and said:
"I attended the audition and was caught in the blast wave.
10/10 would get hit again."
Raon buried her head in a pillow.
"…Shion, please kill the internet."
"I can't. Echo 3 would do it faster than I can."
"Oh."
---
5. MANAGER KIMCHI ARRIVES
The door slammed open.
Manager Kimchi staggered in, breathing like he had sprinted through a hurricane.
"RAON. CONGRATULATIONS."
Raon's soul left her body.
"On what."
"YOU'RE OFFICIALLY THE MOST VIRAL IDOL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA."
"I'm… what."
"And Discordia Beatmare is demanding we sign you before she claims your soul!"
Raon blinked.
"You can't claim my soul."
Kimchi coughed.
"Who do you think owns my soul? I don't."
---
6. THE CONTRACT OF DOOM
Kimchi slapped a folder onto the table.
"RAON: PUNCH☆STAR PROJECT — WORLD TOUR DRAFT"
Raon stared at the horrifying list:
Klang City Mall (Reinforced)
Kuala Lumpur Stadium (Earthquake-proof edition)
Manila Dome (insurance pending)
A random field in Johor (cheap)
Raon recoiled.
"Absolutely not."
Shion backed her up instantly.
"She doesn't sing."
Kimchi nodded.
"Even better. Mysterious idols sell."
"She doesn't dance."
"Her kicks are choreography."
"She doesn't want to be an idol."
Kimchi put a hand on her shoulder.
"Raon… this isn't for YOU."
Raon softened slightly.
"…for who then?"
"For my retirement fund."
Raon kicked him out the door.
---
7. AND THEN… MORE CHAOS
Right when Raon thought it couldn't get worse—
The holo-screen flickered.
A new message appeared:
"CONGRATULATIONS, RAON! You are nominated for:
THE GLOBAL NEW IDOL AWARD"
Raon screamed into her pillow.
Shion checked the details, eyes widening.
"…Raon… the voters are 90% Remixlings."
Raon stopped screaming.
"…oh no."
Because Remixlings only followed one instinct:
Worship whoever beat them up the most.
Raon sank to the floor.
"I don't want to be an idol…"
Shion patted her shoulder.
"Too late."
---
8. IN THE SHADOWS… A NEW PLAYER
Far away in a digital void,
an unseen figure watched Raon's skyrocketing fame.
A cold voice hummed:
"Public visibility rising.
Emotional resonance spreading.
Perfect."
A glitchy eye flickered.
"Raon… the louder your name becomes…
the easier it is to reach you."
Echo 3 smiled.
---
End of Chapter 56 — "Accidental Idol"