Chapter 28
Like that, Yoo Won became the fourth member of Kim Na-hee's team.
"Our team seems to have good momentum already, right? Isn't that right, Han-hwi?"
"Huh? Yeah, seems like it."
As I watched Yoo Won clinging to Park Han-hwi's side and chattering away, my head was starting to get complicated.
Two trainees who further addled my mind joined the team.
The two trainees' rankings were 20th and 23rd.
They were the Bu brothers.
"We felt them sending intense glares our way while standing over there. That was a signal to team up, right?"
'I was just looking at random places.'
"How could we ignore it when Rin asked for help? What kind of people are we?"
'What kind of people are we indeed?'
Harassed by the Bu brothers like that, I thought this couldn't go on and gathered my wits again.
'To think the only normal people in the team are me and Si-hyun.'
Well, that didn't mean the Bu brothers joining was a bad thing.
I knew very well from the experience of preparing a stage together that their skills were outstanding.
Even though they were speaking so playfully, there was no way those two joined Kim Na-hee's team without any ulterior motive.
And crucially.
Yoo Won's amount of talking had rapidly decreased since the Bu brothers joined the team.
'He looks somewhat anxious, doesn't he?'
While I was observing Yoo Won like that.
The final 7th trainee joined, and Kim Na-hee's team roster was fully filled.
'JW Entertainment? Same agency as Yoo Won.'
The 30th-ranked trainee Kim Dong-soo, who joined last, was from the same JW Entertainment as Yoo Won.
Of course, trainees from the same agency gathering on the same team wasn't strange in itself.
In fact, close trainees stuck together on other teams too.
However.
'When one thing is suspicious, everything else starts looking suspicious too.'
In this situation where Yoo Won felt suspicious, another trainee from the same agency joining the team itself felt unsettling.
"Now, with the choice of the 40th-ranked trainee Lee I-geol as the last, the second round team selection has ended. Each team, please follow your trainers and begin preparing for the second round stage."
After Leo finished speaking, the seven teams gathered in the auditorium began to scatter.
Following Kim Na-hee, we also moved our location to the practice room.
"Looking at everyone, you're overflowing with energy. You could practice all night."
At Kim Na-hee's carelessly thrown remark as soon as we arrived at the practice room, the seven trainees including me froze in an instant.
"Since you've joined our team, you all came prepared, right?"
"Yes!"
"I like that high-ranking trainees take the center and leader positions. But. Choosing center without the skill? Taking the leader role and leading the team without the skill? You know this doesn't make sense, right?"
Kim Na-hee said, looking at me and Park Han-hwi.
"Yes, I know."
"I will work hard."
"Working hard isn't enough, you have to do well. There isn't a single person here who doesn't work hard. Got it?"
"Yes, understood!"
Park Han-hwi, who had caught an unnecessary scolding, replied quickly.
'Is it your first time being chewed out by Kim Na-hee?'
I felt a bit of pity seeing Park Han-hwi look a little more downcast than at first.
Of course, that didn't mean I wanted to get scolded instead.
"Now, I'll explain about the second round again."
At Kim Na-hee's explanation, we all looked at her with shining eyes.
"The concept of the second round is self-producing."
'Self-producing, huh.'
As soon as I heard the concept, I roughly predicted how it would proceed. In other words, they're telling us to figure everything out on our own, right?
"Each trainer will refrain from interfering with your choices as much as possible. Of course, if we think the practice isn't going properly, we will intervene immediately. But the goal of this round is for you to plan and create the stage on your own as much as possible."
Kim Na-hee clapped her hands once and spoke to us again.
"Then, by this time tomorrow, whatever it is, think about the song selection or the basic concept. And discuss and come up with a draft for the choreography."
"Understood!"
"Alright, see you tomorrow."
Like that, Kim Na-hee left the practice room.
"Self-producing..."
"It's too difficult, isn't it? Should we decide on a song first?"
While everyone was feeling confused, Yoo Won stepped forward first and arranged the seats.
"Guys, let's sit down here first and talk together."
The trainees sat in a circle in one corner of the practice room as Yoo Won said,
And naturally, Yoo Won took the lead of the atmosphere.
"Before deciding what song to do, I think we need to decide on the leader who will lead this team first. What does everyone think?"
As Yoo Won looked around and spoke, Kim Dong-soo, who was sitting next to him, agreed with Yoo Won's words.
"I also think it's good to decide the leader first. Then how about we decide the leader by voting?"
'I was going to see how far they'd go. And they come out like this from the start?'
While I was pondering how to step in amidst the two people's seemingly rehearsed words.
Bu Ji-seok opened his mouth before I did.
"Um, I'm telling you this because it seems you two don't know well, but shouldn't we ask Rin and Han-hwi hyung's intentions first before picking a leader? It's right for the higher-ranked trainees to have priority first."
At Bu Ji-seok's words, Kim Dong-soo's expression rapidly stiffened.
'If you react so obviously, the PD will really like it when editing, right?'
"That's right, we should at least hear the two's opinions first. Han-hwi, what do you think? You did a good job as the leader last time too."
Compared to the stiffened Kim Dong-soo, Yoo Won quickly took back the lead of the conversation as if it was nothing.
With this, it was clear who the brains between the two were.
'But I still don't know exactly what they want.'
"I think it's right for Rin to be the leader."
"Uh... really?"
Perhaps because he didn't expect such an answer from Park Han-hwi, Yoo Won trailed off, seeming flustered for a moment.
"I lost in the first round in the first place, and Rin's current ranking is higher, so rather than me being the leader, I think it's better for our team if Rin becomes the leader."
"Now, rather than deciding on the leader right away, I would prefer we decide on the song selection first."
I spoke up for the first time after observing Yoo Won's reaction.
And when I gave a look to the twins.
"Ah, like Rin said, how about we decide on the song first?"
"Does everyone have a song in mind? How should we decide?"
The twins, catching my gaze, immediately changed the subject with an excellent combination.
"For now, let's each think of one song we want to do. We can narrow it down and choose from there."
"Uh, then by when should we think of one?"
"Let's think about it for 30 minutes. When deciding the song, it's not just about picking the song, but also what concept we'll do with it. I'd like you to also think about the choreography, including a few point choreographies."
"Great! Then let's gather again in 30 minutes and decide on the song!"
As me and the Bu brothers instantly took control of the atmosphere, everyone just nodded mindlessly.
I didn't know why, but Park Han-hwi seemed closer to my side than Yoo Won's for now.
And since the Bu brothers and Baek Si-hyun were also closer to my side.
'They must have realized now that it's hard for just the two of them to lead the atmosphere?'
Through this conversation, Yoo Won must have realized that it would be difficult for him to lead the team from now on.
That's why I deliberately gave them generous time.
To observe what Yoo Won would do.
'Let's see, shall I watch what you do?'
I naturally slipped out of the practice room, pretending to go to the bathroom.
After going outside the practice room and waiting in the corner of the hallway for a moment, I soon saw Yoo Won slipping out of the practice room, bringing Park Han-hwi along with him.
***
The promised 30 minutes had almost passed, and someone blocked my way as I was about to enter the practice room again.
"What is it?"
"Rin, can we talk for a moment?"
Yoo Won, who blocked my way, said.
"It's time for us to gather now..."
"It'll only be a moment. Just 3 minutes, is that okay?"
"Yes, I understand."
Yoo Won took me to a secluded spot without cameras.
And after confirming there was no one around, he spoke to me.
"Rin, I've talked to Han-hwi too, and..."
"It seems talking didn't work well with Han-hwi hyung?"
At my words, Yoo Won's eyebrows moved subtly.
"Haha, I just talked to Han-hwi to discuss the song concept. It's a bit flustering that you misunderstand it like that?"
"Ah, I see. Understood. Then I'll be going."
As I took a posture to leave as if I had nothing more to say.
Only then did Yoo Won, with his smile gone, block my way and speak.
"Rin, let's talk honestly and frankly."
"Yes, please speak."
"Right, since you don't know what my intentions are, you'll be on guard. I'll explain everything first. Is that okay?"
At Yoo Won's words, I just nodded.
"First of all, the reason I went to Han-hwi first was definitely not because I was ignoring you. I hope you believe that."
"And then?"
"I'll really tell you everything. What I said to Han-hwi was that I'd help him become the leader, so he should push for the choreography I create."
"Were you trying to become the center so naturally?"
"It's not that I necessarily wanted to be the center, but if I took charge of the choreography, my voice would naturally become stronger. I felt like I had to do at least that to have a role in this competition. You know too, right? I barely had any screentime after episode 1. I was that desperate, so I did it. I'm sorry if I caused a misunderstanding. I'll apologize."
Yoo Won suddenly bowed his head to me.
"Hyung, raise your head."
"Are you believing what I say?"
"I'm not that much of a fool. Please stop now."
There seemed no need to drag it out any longer.
I said to Yoo Won, who was looking at me with a stiff face.
"If you want something from me, don't mix in lies and tell me everything honestly."
"Hahaha, right, you worked hard playing the fool when it wouldn't work, naturally this kind of thing wouldn't work, right? Got it, I'll tell you everything honestly."
Yoo Won seemed like a different person in an instant.
Yoo Won leaned against the wall and looked at me sideways as he spoke.
"Park Han-hwi, that bastard, has no ambition. But Rin, you seem like someone I can talk to. You know that if you exclude the 100,000 vote benefit from the last vote, you were below Park Han-hwi, right?"
When I only looked at Yoo Won without answering, Yoo Won continued speaking.
"Are you satisfied with 2nd place right now? A position where you don't know when you'll drop? Cooperate with me, I have a board all set up. How about it, you just have to push the center position to me. Why can't you trust me?"
"Yeah."
"Right, well, that can happen. But are you confident you won't regret it later? The PD seems to be on your side now, right? Want to wait and see later? I have things already discussed with the PD. How about it, aren't you curious?"
It seemed I had heard enough now.
I wondered if there was something I didn't know, but unfortunately, it didn't seem like there was.
"Hyung."
"Huh? Why, now you're changing your mind..."
"If you're going to tell me to trust you, you should turn off the voice recorder in your pocket before talking."
"..."
There was a reason Yoo Won kept spouting such unbelievably foolish nonsense from the start.
He must have been hoping I would make a slip of the tongue just once.
Yoo Won, his face turning bright red at my words, glared at me and said.
"Seonwoo Rin, you're making a mistake. Do you think you can finish this stage well without my help?"
"Hyung. But isn't it amazing?"
"What?"
"Why do people set traps and wait, but never think that they themselves might fall into a trap?"
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
At my words, Yoo Won still glared at me, fuming.
"Isn't that right? If you're going to record someone, you should have considered the reverse case too."
I took out Eugene Kim's phone from my inner pocket and showed it to Yoo Won.
"Hand it over!"
As soon as he saw the phone, Yoo Won suddenly lunged at me, but.
"Argh!"
"Are you going to resort to force?"
I said while holding Yoo Won's arm.
"Hyung, let's just stay quiet until this audition ends, alright? And from now on, let's not cross paths with each other. Cleanly. How about it?"
There were two options.
Shut up and follow my words. Or die alone.