Chapter 164: I Am Alone (1)

A resort in the outskirts of Seoul. A neatly arranged mini flower bed appeared in the background on camera.

The person in charge of the opening line for this self-content.

Cha Seongbin staggered as he clutched his throbbing head.

“Ouch.”

Cha Seongbin, who was obviously creaking awkwardly, glanced around and adjusted his tone to an acting voice.

A scripted line flowed out unnaturally.

“Where am I? The Alone Planet…?”

“……”

“I made an e-mer-gency landing in a strange place?”

Next to him stood Jin Sehyun, wearing a cold expression.

“Why are you acting like that?”

“…Sorry.”

“Good thing you’re at least good at composing…. Ack.”

Jin Sehyun, who had let his true feelings slip out first, panicked and quickly covered his mouth.

The “Alone Planet,” from which one could only escape by finding true friendship.

The setting of this self-content was that the seven boys of Stardust had just met for the first time while drifting on this unfamiliar planet.

Jin Sehyun stepped back and spoke.

His voice was brazen, as if he had completely forgotten their earlier exchange.

“Uh, who are you?”

“I’m Cha Seongbin.”

Cha Seongbin smiled slyly and chuckled, “Hee.”

Then, the main door opened, and the members walked in one by one. Cha Seongbin turned his head and asked in that direction.

“Name?”

“I’m Kang Siwoo.”

“I’m… Seo Ian.”

Bowing slightly.

As the members arrived one after another, they exchanged light greetings.

Finally, Seohan hesitantly entered while gauging the atmosphere.

“…Where am I? This place is unfamiliar.”

“Seohan, that line’s already been used a lot.”

“Oh, really?”

Only after all seven had gathered did the self-content production team begin the delayed briefing.

The cheerful voice of the youngest writer rang out.

“You are currently on the Alone Planet, located in the M51 Galaxy.”

“Oh, we’ve come far.”

As Jin Sehyun casually added a comment, Seo Ian bit down hard on his lower lip.

Regardless, the youngest writer continued calmly.

“Due to an emergency landing, the seven boys heading to Earth are now stranded on this strange planet. There’s only one condition to escape this desolate place.”

“What is it?”

Kang Siwoo showed the most interest.

“On the last day before the spaceship is repaired, you will each get the chance to choose a friendship partner.”

“……!”

“If you find true friendship on this planet, you may leave together.”

Borrowing from the format of a romance program, the main concept of this self-content was friendship matching.

If a friendship was successfully matched on the spot, it meant an immediate wrap-up and going home—that was the content’s concept.

The members nodded with meaningful smiles.

“I like this.”

“It might be a bit uncomfortable… but let’s stick together until the spaceship is fixed.”

“But where’s the A/S center? Do they even have one in a place like this?”

“Hmm.”

Kang Siwoo cut off Ha Junseo’s nonsense, which was slowly gaining momentum, and steered the conversation.

“So what should we do first?”

“Shouldn’t we just get close with each other randomly?”

“That seems to be the case.”

In about thirty minutes, the first impressions vote awaited the members.

They had to choose their friendship partner based solely on first impressions, knowing nothing about each other besides names.

Just before that, some members moved proactively to make a good impression.

Seo Haim smiled brightly and held out his hand to Do Seohan.

“Nice to meet you. You have a good physiognomy.”

“…That line’s kinda weird.”

“Anyway, wanna try being friends?”

This usually worked back on Earth.

“……”

Unfortunately, it didn’t work on his counterpart.

Seohan turned his gaze away with a reluctant expression.

“Awkward-mustard…”

Seo Haim rubbed his empty hand against his pants pocket and cleared his throat.

No one made it obvious, but subtle wariness flickered as they exchanged glances.

This, too, wasn’t a move without calculation.

In truth, there was a secret on the Alone Planet….

[3 Days Before the Drifting]

The scene changed, and Kang Siwoo appeared, walking in.

A small office set up for interviews with the production team.

“Hello.”

“Mr. Kang Siwoo, please have a seat!”

Kang Siwoo entered while glancing around and pulled out a chair to sit.

Not once had he let down his guard while filming self-content with Doubles.

They always came prepared with something outrageous, so he couldn’t help but be tense.

‘What is it this time?’

He had heard from Manager Lee Jaeyoon that it was just a typical friendship matching content….

But the self-content team didn’t seem to enjoy doing “typical” things.

There had to be a reason they called him in separately.

Kang Siwoo looked at the camera set on the table and chuckled.

“Feels like something’s up….”

“You’re sharp. For someone like you, Mr. Kang Siwoo, we’ve prepared a personal announcement.”

“Oh. Alright, I’m listening.”

As he suspected, there was more to it.

With eyes gleaming, Kang Siwoo listened carefully to the youngest writer’s explanation.

“All seven Stardust members share the same goal. To find true friendship and escape from the Alone Planet—you’ve heard that part already, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“If you succeed in escaping the Alone Planet in the end, you’ll receive premium Hanwoo beef as a prize.”

“Hanwoo?”

Since when did the company give out Hanwoo?

Kang Siwoo swallowed dryly as his eyes sparkled.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Of course!”

Now came the main point.

“Each member will be given a mission they must complete on the Alone Planet.”

“A mission?”

“Yours is right there, Mr. Kang Siwoo.”

Kang Siwoo looked down and checked the mission card on the table.

As expected, the self-content team, who loved missions, didn’t let it slide.

Without much surprise, Kang Siwoo picked up the mission card.

“So I just need to complete what’s written here, right?”

“Yes, but it must be done without the other members finding out.”

“Ah….”

Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

“Seems doable.”

Without much expectation, Kang Siwoo flipped over the mission card and checked it—then placed it back down.

Wait a minute.

“What did I just see?”

Blinking in confusion, Kang Siwoo checked the mission card again.

Huh?

Even after reading it twice, the content remained the same.

[Building a Stone Tower in Secret from the Members]

“A stone tower?”

Even more surprising was the additional requirement that came as an option.

(A large stone with a 15cm diameter, 12 layers or more, in a designated location)

Hmm.

So basically—

“Are there even twelve stones that are 15cm in diameter around here?”

“Of course! They’re smaller than you think!”

“This is going to look seriously weird if I start stacking these….”

And they’re heavy. Plus, totally noticeable!

He tried to hide them in a corner, but even the location was predetermined.

It’d be weirder if no one noticed.

Kang Siwoo frowned and grumbled under his breath.

“This isn’t even a heritage site, why are we suddenly stacking stone towers?”

“Don’t worry. The other members are all doing something weird too!”

That was hardly reassuring.

Kang Siwoo wanted to protest somehow, but the self-content team wasn’t the type to be swayed easily.

“How am I supposed to do this in secret….”

“Fighting!”

To such a complaint, the youngest writer offered nothing but cliché encouragement.

“Someone might turn a blind eye, you never know.”

“R-Really?”

“I sincerely hope you find true friendship.”

.

.

.

.

At the same time, in another room, a similar explanation was underway.

“Oh, Hanwoo….”

Seohan, who always got serious when it came to Hanwoo beef, gulped the moment he heard about the prize.

But, this side wasn’t something to laugh about either.

“However, even if you’re chosen at the end, that doesn’t mean you automatically get to escape, Mr. Seohan.”

“Huh? Then what?”

“We’ll now reveal Mr. Seohan’s mission.”

Another mission, huh.

Seohan gave a hollow laugh as he looked at the self-content production team.

“Wow, you’ve come up with another amazing one.”

It seemed like the self-content team was going for bigger and bigger ideas.

Seohan cautiously picked up the mission card on the table.

And then.

“My mission is…!”

The mission shown to the camera was short and simple.

[On the final day of the program, do not get chosen by anyone]

“Wha? This is it?”

Seohan’s eyes widened.

Wasn’t this the kind of program where you’re supposed to get chosen?

Unlike his earlier confidence, his expression slightly darkened.

Scratching his head, Seohan trailed off.

“Ha… What should I do….”

“Why? Are you worried?”

He must not be chosen as anyone’s true friendship partner.

Still, it was far easier than someone out there having to stack a stone tower….

Not that Seohan, who was unaware of that, could know.

“My charm is kind of a bit too much, you know…”

“Ah, sure.”

“I’m really worried.”

[Do Seohan being brutally self-aware is too funny]

Do not get chosen by anyone on the final day of the program

That’s Do Seohan’s mission

But the moment he saw the mission, he got all serious LOL

With the most solemn face: “My charm is kind of a bit too much…”

But what’s funnier is—he’s actually right

He got picked by three people on the very first impression vote LOL

There are only six other members total… how do you get picked by three?

Seohan, what are we going to do with youㅠㅠ

You’re probably not escaping the Alone Planet LOL

—How could anyone not love our stage-genius-soft-hamsterㅠㅠㅠ Honestly, I’d choose Do Seohan too

└That platinum-blonde is literally Do Seohan’s personal color, his hair should instinctively grow out blonde at this point

└Do Seohan in blonde looks exactly like the Little Prince, I love it so muchㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└He’s handsome… cute… kind… soft… smart… Seohan has it all, except one thing—meㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└Sounds like he doesn’t need that

└Shut it

—Our maknae always getting coddled by the hyungs ㅎㅎ Even got chosen by the eldest-line for first impression LOL

└But who were the three who picked him?

└I haven’t watched the self-content yet, but I already know Kang Siwoo is one of them

└Ah LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

└Yes, it was Kang Siwoo…

└Kang Siwoo, Cha Seongbin, and Ha Junseo! The maknae hamster loved by his hyung-line LOLLLLLL

└Cha Seongbin: “My ideal type is a cicada(?)”

└Did he really say that while picking him?

└Yup… Seongbin is a weirdo…

└Cha Seongbin is a weirdo… Noted

Soon after episode 1 of the self-content I Am Alone aired, a post summarizing the members’ individual missions was uploaded.

[I Am Alone Self-content Episode 1 – Members’ Mission Summary]

I organized each member’s mission while watching episode 1—refer to this!

Kang Siwoo: Build a stone tower in secret from the members (large stone with 15cm diameter, 12 layers or more)

Ha Junseo: No Americano or barley tea

Seo Ian: No singing (not even humming allowed)

Jin Sehyun: Draw on every member’s face each night without getting caught

Cha Seongbin: Cannot use English in the morning (6:00–12:00)

Seo Haim: Get chosen by at least three members during final selection

Do Seohan: Do not get chosen by anyone during final selection

—In terms of difficulty, it feels like Jin Sehyun > Seo Haim > Cha Seongbin > Kang Siwoo > the rest

└Surprisingly, the no-English rule is rough LOL That’s why the Hunminjeongeum Game is so intense…

└Probably why they limited it to morning hours

└If it were me, I’d blurt out “Oh my god! So hard!” and get kicked out immediately

—Jin Sehyun’s mission is brutal too—draw on everyone’s face? There’s no way one of them doesn’t catch him

└Still think Seongbin’s is tougher

└22222222

—Ha Junseo is gonna be forced to quit Americano LOL it’s too funny, but also why is barley tea banned LOLLLL

└Won’t Junseo go through withdrawal?

└Seriously, why are all these missions so perfectly tailored to each member….

└Seo Ian always sings during live streams LOL so of course he got banned in self-content

—Do you think the members will turn a blind eye to each other’s missions? Or will they try to uncover them?

└They’ll definitely try to expose each other

└1000000% gonna try to find out and sabotage LOL

└But it’s because they care about each other too much—they wouldn’t just let it slide

└So heartwarming, Stardust as always….

.

.

.

And then.

Maybe, the Dusties’ intuition was spot on.

[Sometimes You Just Want to Abandon Friendship and Run – I Am Alone Ep. 2]

This self-content, which supposedly started to strengthen Stardust’s friendship….

“Junseo hyung, why aren’t you drinking Americano? Is not drinking Americano your mission or something?”

“Huh?”

“…Suspicious?”

“Hey, someone grab him quick! Force it down!”

“Wait, wait! Guys… you’re scaring me!”

Was clearly veering in a very strange direction.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep