Chapter 32 - Like Knighthood

Shun thought back to the challenge. All he had to do was gain fans and take pictures, which meant he did not need to sing or dance!

"I am just a passerby, but may I help you tend the fields before I have to leave? Also, may I take pictures as well?" He questioned with a smile his mother deemed the most charming.

"Are you a reporter?" The older man questioned wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"I am actually working on becoming an idol…"

"Of course," the man rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Why else would a city boy be here?"

"Father," a female spoke up and smiled at him, "He wishes to help, so let him."

The older man sighed and waved him over. Shun rolled up his pants as he walked into the high water and followed their directions as well as he could. He had never been to the fields to know where rice came from. He had never questioned how the ingredients and produce arrived at the castle. He never thought of the people in the fields, the process, and the hard work that made his body ached.

"You said you want to be an idol?" The female from before came up to him and worked alongside him.

"Yeah."

"Why don't you sing while we work? I enjoy the silence, but I would enjoy a break from it as well."

Shun blinked at her and his face warmed from such a kind smile and eyes, an angel in this strange world. He cleared his throat and turned away. He sang softly and found his lips quirking when she also followed along. He began laughing as he sang when the tune caught on to have everyone singing as well, even the older man.

He was able to take a few pictures in the process, feeling grateful and proud.

The sun was beginning to set and he heard his driver calling out to him. Saying his goodbyes and thanking them for their time, he headed to the shore. As his luck would have it, he slipped and fell back first into the water. Quickly coming up for air, he spluttered water and was breathing hard.

'Ah! What luck!'

"Are you alright?" The brown haired female laughed helping him up.

He nodded and watched as she wiped water off his cheeks. Flushing, he stepped back only to hit the water again. Splashing up, he wiped his face from the water and the embarrassment. He heard the fieldworkers laughing and he couldn't help but joined along. This place made him so carefree.

Waving goodbye once more and not slipping and falling (again), he headed to the car with the driver.

"Do you have plastic or something so I don't get your car wet?" He asked as they approached the vehicle.

"No. It is fine. Go ahead," the driver stated and entered the driver's seat.

'Well, don't blame me if you can't take out the stains,' he thought and entered the car.

When they arrived, he quickly went to the restroom to find all 3 occupied. Groaning, he stood dripping in the kitchen, since the rest of the rooms were carpeted. He saw Ping and Kiki entered. They gave him a questioning look, but he shrugged and said the restrooms were occupied so he was waiting.

"Soggy Noodle," Kiki mumbled softly, before he covered his lips.

"Hm?" Shun questioned and the boy shook his head.

"How did it go?" He questioned to the young trainees, but the television screen appeared with his update.

"Fans accumulated 6200/1,000,000."

'It jumped that high?' He was not complaining at all, but it surprised him.

"Gege," Ping showed him the pictures on the camera, "Look! Aren't they so cute?!"

Shun found himself laughing and grinning when he saw the pictures. Dear little Ping Ping was dropped off at a birthday party! How fitting it was for the young boy. He was certain Ping gained fans after that. He looked to Kiki who was frowning.

"What is it?"

"Ping, you were supposed to return the camera to the lady at the door."

"…"

Ping's eyes widened and he quickly left to the elevator. That boy was too much like his sister and Shun could not help but love Ping as his own brother. He heard the sigh from Kiki and cupped the boy's shoulder.

"Did something happen?" He asked.

"Mm," Kiki shook his head, "I don't think I did well at all. They dropped me off at an office…"

"…"

"Yeah."

"Wait… What?"

"I know. A telemarketing business."

"Oh."

"Yup."

"…"

"…"

"I am sorry, Kiki."

The boy shrugged and went to grab some towels for him to stand on. He then proceeded to clean the puddle he incurred and Shun quickly bent down to stop him.

"Just let me, okay Shun? Just need to do something else then worry," Kiki whispered and Shun's heart broke from how sad the boy sounded.

Nodding, he stood again and saw one of the trainees walk into the kitchen.

"Oh, Shun, why are you just standing there all wet?"

"The bathrooms were occupied."

"All 3?"

"Yup."

"Well, I just left the one I was using down the hall," the trainee stated and Shun quickly ran off to the restroom. When he got near, he felt his mouth wanting to barf from the smell. What the heck did that guy eat that soaked into the walls of the restroom? Covering his mouth and nose, he quickly turned on the shower with his eyes shut. They were tearing up from the toxic smell and he quickly entered the shower.

"Ah!" Shun shouted, "Ouch, ow, ow."

Steam was filling up the bathroom and he quickly turned on the cold water.

Groaning in pleasure, he enjoyed the warmth against his skin. He closed his eyes and hummed as he cleaned himself. Being an idol was tiring, and made him work harder than he ever did, but…

'I can see why people want to be one…' he sighed out a smile.

"Like knighthood."

"Shun!" Ping shouted through the door, "Are you okay, gege?! Need me to help?"

"No, no," he laughed, "All is good."

When he left the restroom, he went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Kaiden, the popular trainee waved at him. Shun noticed a bruise on the man's cheek and his eyes widened.

"Are you alright?"

"Hm? Yeah."

"Did someone hit you?! Who did it?" Shun frowned and grabbed an icepack for the man.

"Guess someone didn't like me," Kaiden offered a smile and thanked him for the icepack.

"Here, I'll finish up what you are doing. How could someone not like you? You are… you!"

Huffing and chopping angrily, Shun was mumbling under his breath and imagining who it was that would hurt his friend.

'Seriously?! Who would even want to hurt the popular trainee? Kaiden was nice, talented, and well liked! Whoever did it must have a black heart!'