Idol in a Gender-Reversed World

A new member has joined, named Nam Eun-gyu. He is 18 years old, the same age as Kang Jun. Although the trainees generally got along well, with 16 members, it was inevitable that smaller groups would form. Therefore, I didn't have any close interactions with Nam Eun-gyu.

Now that the debut lineup is almost finalized, we welcomed the new member with open arms. We will be spending several years together, so it's better for everyone if we get along. The atmosphere was harmonious, but it soon turned tense as the company's demands increased with the official debut preparations.

The manager said that cameras would start following us from the next week. Sure enough, when I arrived at the company on Monday morning, cameras were already there.

"Are we starting to film already?" I asked.

"Try not to be too conscious of the cameras. We want you to get used to them," the manager replied.

Kang Gyeong-tae, who had arrived before me, stood stiffly, looking very nervous. There were three cameras filming him, and even more cameras installed on the practice room walls.

'This is suffocating,' I thought.

I walked over to Gyeong-tae and poked his side.

"Are you okay, hyung?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

"You look really tense," I said.

"...This is just my normal face," he retorted.

"Pfft!"

I couldn't help but laugh. Kang Gyeong-tae always tries to act tough. It's a shame I have to call him hyung. He realized his excuse wasn't very convincing and his ears turned red.

I pointed to the cameras and said, "Wow, actually, I'm more nervous than you. These cameras are really intimidating."

"You don't have much experience in front of cameras, do you?" the manager asked.

"No, the last time was when we took profile photos," I replied.

"Oh, right. Speaking of which, the profile photos are ready," the manager said.

"Really? The photos are already done?" I asked.

"It's not like they're going in a magazine or anything. The company just wanted to give you the experience. Hold on a second," the manager said, bringing out the photos.

"These are the photos we took? They look so much better with editing," I commented.

"If you want them, I can send them to your email," the manager offered.

"Please do," I said.

"Me too," Kang Gyeong-tae added.

Even though we'll be taking many more photos in the future, I wanted to keep the first ones. Kang Gyeong-tae looked at his photos and then mine, his eyes widening. Even I thought my photos turned out incredibly well.

"I look good, right?" I asked.

"....."

His silence spoke volumes. Even he thought my photos turned out well. Kang Gyeong-tae looked back and forth between my photos and his, looking dejected. He's good-looking too, but next to me, he looks less so. I was about to comfort him when the manager spoke up.

"By the way, your dorm is ready, so pack your things and move in after talking to your parents," the manager said.

'Fuck, a dorm?' I thought, suppressing a curse.

"...A dorm?" I asked.

"Yes. It's to improve teamwork. We'd like you to move in as soon as possible," the manager replied.

I knew we'd be busy after the debut, but the dorm was an unexpected challenge, on par with the reality show cameras. Living in a dorm means spending all day with the members. It also meant I might not be able to see Jua noona anymore.

'What am I going to do?' I thought.

Sneaking out at night would be too suspicious. The reality show and dorm life were overwhelming challenges. And that wasn't the only problem.

"Ugh-"

"Hey, don't make retching sounds while we're eating," someone said.

"I'm still hungry," another replied.

**Diet**

Ever since we became part of the debut team, we've been on a special diet. But the manager didn't watch us all day, so we could sneak in some food. However, once we were confirmed as debut members, high-calorie foods were off-limits. The reality show cameras filmed us during meals, so there was no chance to eat anything else. The only time we managed to eat something was when we stole food and hid in the stairs to share chocolates with the members.

'This is so unfair. I don't gain weight even if I eat a lot!!' I thought.

Pony had prepared a fantastic body for me that didn't need dieting. Even if I gained weight, I could use the cheat key coin to fix it. Surprisingly, the coin could adjust my body weight. Despite this, I couldn't complain about the diet in front of the other members.

'I can't eat a burger or pizza in front of them while they're struggling with the diet,' I thought.

Surprisingly, the one who struggled the most with the diet was Kang Gyeong-tae. Even though he wasn't overweight, he looked particularly bulky on camera. To avoid looking different from the other members, he had to maintain a below-average weight.

'This is driving me crazy. I shouldn't have increased my stamina so much!' I thought.

Two weeks had passed since we moved into the dorm, and I hadn't been able to earn any coins.

**Knock Knock**

"Hyung, are you doing it again?" someone asked.

"...Yeah, hearing your voice calmed me down. Thanks," I replied.

"Sorry to bother you, hyung. I really had to go," they said.

"I'm going to kill you, Woo-yeon," I muttered.

Two weeks without women. Every day felt like hell.

I couldn't keep going to the bathroom multiple times a day to take care of things. I needed a solution! There was only one person I could ask for advice: Pony. I needed her.

"I'm going crazy," I said.

[...You look crazy. What's wrong with your face?] pony asked.

"I've been abstinent for two weeks. I'm losing weight because I can't take care of my needs, not because of the diet," I explained.

Being an idol means being close to women but having to stay away. With the dorm life and reality show cameras, there was no chance to meet any women. Pony had to find a solution for me.

"If you don't want to see me go crazy, you have to help me," I said.

[Um...] Pony hesitated.

"Please, find a solution! I can't take this anymore. I'm going to achieve enlightenment and die at this rate," I pleaded.

[That can't happen!! You have a great mission to impregnate lots of women!! You can't become impotent!!!] Pony exclaimed.

"I don't want that either, so find a way. I'm serious," I said.

[Just be smart and find time. With your looks, why can't you meet women?] Pony asked.

"I'm being watched all the time!! Woo-yeon is always by my side, and I can't even use the excuse of going to the convenience store because of the diet. I've done my best!" I explained.

Joo-ah was also suffering because we hadn't seen each other for two weeks. This was torture for both of us.

[Ugh, there is a way...] Pony said.

"There's a way? Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" I exclaimed.

[Because you don't have enough coins! Even if I tell you the solution, you can't afford it,] Pony explained.

"If I had coins, I could use that method?" I asked.

[Yes. There's nothing money can't buy. The problem is you don't have enough coins for what you need,] Pony said.

"What kind of item is it?" I asked.

[There are many items. The cheapest one is a doppelganger doll. It looks just like you and can be used to make others think you're sleeping while you sneak out of the dorm,] Pony explained.

"So I should use it at dawn? But how can I use it without being noticed? We don't have private rooms in the dorm," I said.

[Do you think something bought with coins would be that ordinary?] Pony asked.

If I place the doppelganger doll on the bed and go out, I can switch places with the doll just by thinking about it. This means I don't have to sneak back into the dorm and remove the doll.

"Is it a one-time use item?" I asked.

[No way, it's expensive. Once you switch places with the doll, it turns into a doll ring,] Pony explained.

"Wow, that's exactly what I need," I said.

[There are plenty of items you need. You just don't have the money to buy them,] Pony said.

"Is this the cheapest item?" I asked.

It seems very useful, but if it's the cheapest, it must have some limitations.

[It's just a doll. It can't talk, so it's the cheapest. There's an upgraded version called the doppelganger android,] Pony explained.

"Why is that more expensive?" I asked.

[Because you don't have to pretend to be asleep,] Pony said.

"What happens if I don't pretend to be asleep?" I asked.

[It can act normally,] Pony replied.

"Does it mimic my actions?" I asked.

[Yes.]

Wow, they sell incredible items.

"How much do they cost?" I asked.

They wouldn't cost just 10 or 20 coins. I already knew I couldn't afford it.

[Don't be too shocked. The doppelganger doll costs 4,000 coins, and the doppelganger android costs 20,000 coins,] Pony said.

4,000 coins and 20,000 coins.

"Oh my god, that's insane! How am I supposed to afford that?" I exclaimed.

[That's why I said it's not possible,] Pony replied.

"Is there no way to get them? I can't stand this anymore," I said.

[You have to figure it out yourself!! That's all the advice I can give you,] Pony said.

"Ugh, this is driving me crazy."

I had to think hard. There was no way I could afford it like this. To earn 20,000 coins, I'd have to have sex more than 6,000 times, which was impossible. But 4,000 coins might be manageable.

'Maybe I can handle that,' I thought.

"Hey, can I get a loan?" I asked.

Since they have a society, maybe they have something like a bank.

[What???? A loan??? Do you know how scary loans are?!] Pony exclaimed.

"Do you think I don't know that? Is the interest rate very high?"

[Do you think you can get a loan without any credit?] Pony asked.

"You can lend me the money," I said.

[Why would I do that?! And no way,] Pony replied.

"If the bank won't do it, what about you lending me the money?".

[I don't have that kind of money!!!] Pony exclaimed.

"Is everything impossible? Then sell the status window?" I asked.

[Huh! What are you talking about?! Are you crazy? Do you know how much that's worth?! And it's mine!!] Pony exclaimed.

"You gave it to me as compensation, and you still think it's yours? The only way to get coins is to sell the status window,"I said.

[I'll lend you the money. I'll lend it to you! Just take the loan!] Pony said.

So she did have money after all. Ponh still has feelings for the status window she gave me. She's probably planning to take it back somehow.

'She's definitely not trustworthy.'