Chapter 32
Waaaaaaaah-
Receiving cheers after finishing a stage was a truly strange feeling.
To think that so many people were rejoicing and cheering through me.
It was really strange.
Maybe it's because I've only experienced it twice. Or maybe I'll continue to feel this floating-in-the-sky sensation in the future too, I don't know.
'For now, this feeling is amazing.'
To remember this sight before me as much as possible, I stood still for a while, imprinting the image of the people in my mind.
"Rin-ah, we have to go."
"Uh, huh? Right."
I thought I saw a familiar face.
Nah, probably not.
It must have been my imagination.
I tried hard to shake off this feeling of not wanting to leave the stage.
And, waving to the audience who were still cheering for me, I went down from the stage.
"Great work, everyone!"
"You worked hard too!"
No one showed it, but their faces were extremely flushed with excitement.
And.
"It seems like we'll get 1st place...?"
"Of course."
"Ah! I really hope we get 1st place."
When Park Han-hwi cautiously mentioned 1st place, the Bu brothers chimed in.
"Well. There's still the last stage left, you know."
"Seonwoo Rin! How can the leader speak so unconfidently? That's not manly!"
"Cheapskate Rin! Coward Rin! If you keep doing that, I'll strip you of your leader position!"
"Is thaaat so?"
"Aaack!! I surrender! Surrender!!!"
I lightly subdued Bu Ji-hoon, who was dreaming of rebellion, and said.
"Let's head to the waiting room for now."
Of course, I also want us to get 1st place.
'I wonder how the last stage will turn out.'
The stage of Eugene Kim's team, which I had briefly scouted before the competition, lingered in my mind.
Clap clap clap-
"Waaaaah!"
"The stage was seriously incredible!"
As we entered the waiting room, the trainees who had finished their stages and gathered in one place welcomed us with cheers.
Praise poured in, especially for Baek Si-hyun.
"Si-hyun's solo dance was seriously amazing!"
"I got goosebumps, it feels like it's still here."
"I'm telling you it felt like watching a musical? It was totally cool."
Baek Si-hyun answered with a bright smile, albeit looking a bit shy.
"Thank you, everyone...!"
Baek Si-hyun usually had a quiet and calm personality, but because of that, no one seemed to be particularly on guard against him.
That atmosphere was evident in the trainees' reactions.
"Yippee! Thank you, everyone!"
"No, they weren't praising you, they were praising Si-hyun..."
"Si-hyun and we are one! From now on, praise for Baek Si-hyun is considered praise for us!"
"That makes absolutely no sense!"
Of course, the Bu brothers' nonsensical personalities were impossible to explain.
Looking at the Bu brothers who had instantly taken control of the waiting room's atmosphere, I quietly slipped away.
"It's a relief the atmosphere is good."
"Yes, it's a relief."
Park Han-hwi and I quietly went to an empty seat and sat down.
While preparing for this stage together, I came to know Park Han-hwi for certain.
'This guy is so pure that he almost feels like a fool.'
I definitely felt this time that Woo Jung-woo was right when he always called him a fool.
And I also understood why people flocked to Park Han-hwi.
'He's pure, but he has a charming personality.'
He was a mysterious person who sometimes acted like a fool, yet it came off as charm.
It seemed like he was inherently good-natured. And had no greed.
It was like he was the older one, but I felt the need to protect him?
I was suspicious as to why he handed over the leader position to me so easily, but after getting to know him a bit, all my suspicions vanished.
Can a person really be this pure after living as a trainee for so long?
'If all of this is an act, this guy is truly terrifying.'
As I looked at Park Han-hwi with those thoughts.
"Why, Rin-ah? Are you hungry too?"
"Ah, no."
"I want this to end quickly so we can eat."
No matter how I thought about it, it didn't seem like an act.
While I was thinking about Park Han-hwi like that.
Yoo Won and Kim Dong-soo approached and sat down next to us.
"You worked hard too, Yoo Won-hyung."
"Uh, uh... right, thanks. You worked hard too."
Yoo Won answered hastily with a flustered voice to my initiative.
Ever since being harshly dealt with by Kim Na-hee, Yoo Won had been preparing for the stage diligently without pulling any tricks.
'Still, it's hard to forgive him completely.'
Thinking about what he did to Kang A-jin, some resentment still remained.
For now, today is a good day. And I probably won't have much to do with him later anyway.
Actually, what was important right now wasn't about Yoo Won.
The one stage still remaining.
"It's starting!"
At the words of a trainee, the bustling waiting room instantly fell silent.
Eugene Kim and Woo Jung-woo came up onto the stage.
"Using a self-composed song for a competition stage, that's seriously impressive."
Park Han-hwi muttered softly beside me.
Just as Park Han-hwi said, this team prepared for the competition stage with Eugene Kim's self-composed song.
Although Eugene Kim was already a recognized singer-songwriter.
'Using a self-composed song on a competition stage can only be too disadvantageous.'
Of course, Eugene Kim would have known that too.
The fact that he chose that song despite knowing it.
'Means he's that confident.'
As someone who had directly witnessed Eugene Kim's confidence, I waited for the song to start with a nervous heart.
The title of the song was 'First Snow'
The stage evoked the scenery of a cold winter.
Six trainees wearing white suits could be seen on the stage.
The piano prelude flowed out.
-How was your day today, my dear
Did you perhaps ever think of me
The song began with Woo Jung-woo's faint, lingering voice.
"The song is good? But it's not a dance song, it seems like a ballad."
Just as Park Han-hwi said, the song was a slow medium-tempo track, almost close to a ballad.
-When the chilly wind knocks on the window
I spend another long day awake thinking of you
Woaah-
When Eugene Kim's voice was heard, everyone let out a gasp of admiration.
Like that, the two main vocals led the song.
As the chorus began, snow started pouring down from the large screen behind the stage.
-Alone on this street, I draw you
Dyeing white like the falling first snow
On the day I hold onto faded memories
Please remember me someday
"Isn't that sign language?"
"I think it is?"
Eugene Kim's team had created choreography utilizing sign language.
"It gives off a wistful feeling."
"It's calm and nice."
The turning point in the gently flowing song appeared during the bridge section.
-Ahhhhhhh
Above the harmonies slowly building up with humming, Woo Jung-woo's high note was 'fired'.
It was literally fired.
'Is that even human?'
Woo Jung-woo's high note was so incredible that it made me think that. A high note with a clean and clear sound. If you were to give an example of an idol main vocal's high note, showing them Woo Jung-woo's high note would be the perfect demonstration.
And while Woo Jung-woo's godly ad-lib took place, the song modulated, and the key went up another pitch.
-Please remember me. Aaaaaah
Along with Woo Jung-woo's endlessly rising high note.
Eugene Kim's appealing voice struck back in during the chorus.
-Alone on this street, I draw you
Dyeing white like the falling first snow
On the day I hold onto faded memories
Please remember me someday
And the moment their harmonies perfectly aligned.
"Wow! Goosebumps."
"Crazy!"
The suppressed reactions of the trainees who had been holding their breath burst out.
Watching that scene, I.
'I think we lost this.'
I felt that those two, Eugene Kim and Woo Jung-woo, should never be allowed to become a team.
***
After the 2nd competition ended.
'The 1st place of the 2nd competition is. Team
Ultimately, our team, overwhelmed by the high notes of Eugene Kim and Woo Jung-woo, had to accept the result of 2nd place.
-Hey, 2nd place is still good!
I felt a cold voice of indignation coming from somewhere. I humbly accepted the result.
'Status Window'
[Name: Seonwoo Rin]
Level: 8
Stamina: S-
Vocal: C
Dance: B
Looks: A-
Charm: B-
Remaining Points: 1
Traits
- Sunfish, Perfect Match, God-given Physique, Rival, Novice Choreographer
I invested the remaining points I earned this time into my vocal stat, raising my vocal to C+, and closed the status window.
'I have to put this into vocal.'
I definitely didn't invest my stat points into vocal without thinking just because I was shocked after seeing the last stage.
Really.
'Are there no more events that raise vocal stats like last time?'
The vocal stat, which was still the only one remaining in the C-rank range, bothered me.
With the 2nd competition over, the remaining schedule was the 3rd competition and the 2nd ranking announcement ceremony.
Once the ranking announcement ceremony was over.
The next thing was the final live broadcast.
'There really isn't much left.'
First, I'll raise my vocal to B before the live broadcast.
While I was thinking that.
"Hello!"
"What, only Rin-hyung is here?"
Park Han-hwi and Woo Jung-woo entered the practice room.
After getting close during the 2nd competition, these two kept invading my practice room.
"What were you doing?"
"Practicing."
"Hyung really doesn't know how to rest."
'If I could sing as well as you, I wouldn't have to suffer like this.'
Woo Jung-woo even took 1st place in the individual trainee vote for the 2nd competition.
Of course, it felt like Eugene Kim had pushed more parts towards Woo Jung-woo.
'Woo Jung-woo was 7th at the 1st ranking announcement ceremony. If this stage goes on air... he'll rise terrifyingly fast, right?'
That was how Woo Jung-woo became the greatest beneficiary of the 2nd competition. If I had to pick one more person, it would be around Baek Si-hyun?
Seeing that, I thought, 'Auditions are ultimately about skill.'
"Anyway, didn't you two come to practice?"
"Ah, that's part of it, but. Someone told me to call you to their room."
"Who?"
"You'll know when you get there."
I'll know when I get there?
Something about that sounds weird?
"Alright, I got it."
Park Han-hwi avoiding my eyes while saying that was a bit suspicious.
Still, thinking that Park Han-hwi wasn't the type to play a prank on me, I stood up from my seat.
Like that, I headed from the practice room to the dorm, but.
"What, there's no one here?"
As soon as I saw the completely empty dorm, I quickly realized.
'This is a hidden camera.'
Well, I had somewhat guessed it from the time I saw Park Han-hwi's terrible acting.
'Since it's a hidden camera, I should at least show them a fooled reaction, right?'
After the last sports day, my image seemed to have been completely ruined.
I'm not actually that ruthless in reality.
But the trainees around me kept avoiding me, and whenever I just raised my hand, they would shrink back.
I did feel the need to show a bit of my human side.
I intentionally spent some time waiting inside the dorm room, and then.
"Why isn't anyone coming? They weren't in the practice room either..."
I purposely muttered to myself and left the room.
Walking down the hallway alone, I saw that the hallway looked darker than usual.
And.
'That shoe rack wasn't there originally, it's too obvious.'
I saw a large shoe rack that looked 99% certain to have a ghost inside.
'Alright Seonwoo Rin, if a ghost pops out while you're passing by, you get startled and fall backwards. You can do this, right?'
While I was thinking that and getting tense for a different reason, the lights in the hallway suddenly all went out.
"W-what?"
Perfect.
My surprised acting was perfect.
Now I just had to pass by that shoe rack...
Uwaaaah!
Unexpectedly, a ghost jumped out from behind me first.
'Wait, if this happens, should I run forward? What should I do? Think, Seonwoo Rin!'
While I was agonizing over it, the ghost approached me from behind and wrapped their arms around me from the back.
'When a ghost approaches from behind, calmly grab the opponent's hand and do a rear hip toss... W-wait! This isn't right!'
"Aaaack!!"
'C-crazy... I caused an accident!'
Instead of my scream, the ghost's scream echoed in the hallway.
Hearing the scream, a maiden ghost with blood flowing from her forehead dashed out of the shoe rack in a panic and made eye contact with her colleague collapsed on the floor.
"Honey!"
"Don't come, honey! Run away!"
I guess even ghosts are couples these days. I could see the ghost couple acting out a scene from a drama together.
Anyway.
'Why did I become the villain?'
While I was agonizing over it, the lights in the hallway turned on.
The production team, who had been hiding, approached me.
"Trainee Seonwoo Rin, this is a hidden camera. Please let go of the actor."
"Ah, I'm sorry..."
I should have let go quickly, but I was so out of it that I didn't even realize I was still holding on.
I released the bachelor ghost I had pinned down with my knee.
"Honey, are you okay? How could you knock someone out like that?"
"I'm fine, don't say anything, honey!"
Looking at the maiden ghost confronting me, and the bachelor ghost trying to stop her.
Suddenly, for the first time since I enlisted in the military, I missed my family.
'Min-ah, Grandma... I miss you.'