The intro of “brake” rang through the enormous hall that held the stage. As the gradually splitting beat grew louder, lights brightened over the stage that had been shrouded in darkness.
-♬♪
At the center of the stage stood Ha-yeong, wearing a tight short-sleeved top and loose jeans. It began with only a gentle sway of her shoulders. No. 10, who had the verse-one part, was not visible yet. Then a powerful drumbeat, signaling the start of the verse in earnest, struck the ears.
Ha-yeong’s swaying shoulders grew into larger movements.
Sharp arms and legs following the rap beat. Powerful motions, Ha-yeong’s long hair naturally fluttering with them.
The five judges watched closely.
Exchanging a few quiet comments was a bonus.
“Ha-yeong’s good.”
“I heard she’s the best at choreography within her team.”
“Her movements have no waste, and her control of strength is good too.”
Just then, the intense rhythm eased again and the mood changed. The color of the stage lights shifted as well, and beside Ha-yeong, who had been filling the stage alone, red-haired No. 10 slowly walked out.
-♬♪
A brief moment of eye contact between Ha-yeong and No. 10.
After that, they drew closer in time with the chopped-up rhythm, with Ha-yeong in front and No. 10 behind her. A gesture like bowing in sync with the choreography. A bow toward the front.
Then, as the beat intensified, both of them showed powerful choreography.
Ha-yeong added strength from the front, sharply popping her chest and shoulders. Behind her, No. 10 added flashiness with similar but larger movements. As the beat sped up, No. 10 accelerated his trembling motions and hugged Ha-yeong from behind, while within the frame of his embrace, Ha-yeong performed choreography that looked as though she were struggling.
Kang Rojun watched from the side of the stage.
‘……Sss— I’m nervous.’
A chill ran down his back. An unnamed tension and pressure. But rather than fear or dread, it was closer to a surging thrill and adrenaline making his body restless. Rojun clenched and unclenched both hands. He wiped the sweat from his palms on his pants.
‘It’s fine. Win or lose, let’s go in with the mindset of enjoying it.’
So what? It was only the second screening, and even counting everyone here there were only about a hundred people. Rojun let himself be absorbed in the flashing lights and reassured himself.
Soon, he felt his pounding heart merge with the pulsing beat.
Meanwhile, Ha-yeong and No. 10 showed even more languid, heavy movements.
The overall choreography of “brake” was fierce but dazzling.
The female part was delicate and detailed, while the male part was explosive with big movements. If there had been backup dancers, they could have created an even more distinct stage, but for now, there were only the two of them. Even so, it did not feel lacking.
At least, not to the judges.
‘No. 10 definitely has the makings of a dancer.’
‘The duet picture isn’t bad. No. 10’s movements are clean and there’s nothing awkward. If there’s anything disappointing, it feels a bit too by-the-book? Well, it’s too early to expect more than that already.’
Before they knew it, Ha-yeong and No. 10, who had been positioned front and back, stood side by side. They showed the same choreography with slightly different vibes, then crossed positions.
Amid the intensifying choreography, the stage lights suddenly flickered and an alarm sound spread out.
-♬♪
The first verse ended, and a short interlude began.
Once this interlude ended, they would enter the second verse. The pitch of the beat sped up slightly, mixing with the alarm sound. No. 10, who had been going wild with Ha-yeong, naturally withdrew toward the back of the stage.
-Swish.
Ha-yeong was alone onstage once more.
By now, a little sweat had dampened her forehead. But paying it no mind, Ha-yeong brushed back her hair and continued dancing. When the flickering lights had reached the point of hurting the eyes—
-Paat.
Ha-yeong’s shoulders and legs, which had been moving urgently, slowed. A motion as if she were walking forward.
One step, then two.
Among the hundred or so staff members lined up behind the judges, PD Woo Hanseok stood with his arms crossed and smacked his lips.
‘Now it’s Kang Rojun’s turn. I wonder how he’ll go wild. Will he pretend he isn’t clumsy? Or show himself doing his best even if he’s awkward?’
No. 10 had passed the first screening with choreography, so his skill had been expected to some degree. But Kang Rojun was different. Nothing had been proven about him after his vocals. He had only been acting like a villain, skipping training and the like.
So before Kang Rojun appeared, the judges—
‘Was it real, or was it just bravado? Let’s see.’
All stared at the stage with sharpened eyes.
‘I don’t know whether he practiced without training, but if he’s only moderately good, he won’t be able to break the perception that’s spread among everyone here.’
Of course, deep in everyone’s heart, a slight suspicion was growing.
‘Honestly, I don’t think he’ll be good. But rather than dancing sort of ambiguously, it’d make for a more entertaining picture if he crashed and burned. It’d knock him down a peg too.’
The dozens of contestants watching the stage on monitors in their respective waiting rooms were simply praying desperately.
‘Mess up. Please mess up.’
Wasn’t his violent visual and outstanding vocal ability enough? They hoped he would not evolve any further into an overpowered cheat character. No one said it out loud, but everyone wished for Kang Rojun’s downfall.
And then.
-♬♪
The alarm sound turned into a beat, and Ha-yeong, who had been walking slowly, turned her body. A single beam of light shone toward the side of the stage. Black-haired Kang Rojun stood there.
He made a gesture as if brushing off various parts of his loose short-sleeved shirt.
Ha-yeong shrugged.
Rojun swept his black hair back with both hands while taking one large step forward. He repeated it a couple of times in sync with the alarm-like beat. Kang Rojun smiled faintly. He walked loosely toward the center of the stage.
Then—
-♬♪
The rap of “brake,” which had been dragging, sped up once more, and Kang Rojun stepped out in front of Ha-yeong, who stood at center stage. A wave flowed naturally from his head to his face, chest, and legs. Then he opened both hands, closed them, and sprang a few steps forward.
This time, the wave ran from his legs up to his head.
By the time the flow reached the tips of his hair, the beat erupted like an explosion announcing its climax, and Kang Rojun spread his arms and legs wide, shaking them left and right as he performed the choreography.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
He did not forget the motion of striking the floor hard with one foot in time with the beat. After showing a few seconds of solo choreography, Rojun turned his body.
Ha-yeong, who had been twitching her shoulders behind him, was waiting.
Kang Rojun held out his hand to her.
He took Ha-yeong’s hand and pulled her forward.
This time, it was Ha-yeong’s solo.
Rojun, who had stopped behind her, matched the timing and followed along with the same movements as Ha-yeong. The second verse was not only fierce; it had languid walking motions inserted throughout, so there were many variations in the choreography.
But Kang Rojun and Ha-yeong matched their breathing while varying the length of their steps.
The lights changed frantically from blue to orange, orange to red. The more they did, the faster Ha-yeong and Kang Rojun moved.
Rojun, in particular, had an expression as though he were gradually falling into a trance.
He felt that himself too.
‘This is kind of fun.’
His body moved the way he wanted, and once he began to enjoy the stage to some extent, his field of vision widened. Once his breathing matched his partner’s, pleasure spread through him, and his quickened breath spurred his adrenaline, creating a spirit that made him feel he could do anything.
These things soon gave him composure.
Thanks to that, he forgot this was a place of evaluation.
He was playing. Kang Rojun was playing right now.
That state of mind showed 그대로 on Rojun’s face. Smiles were added here and there, and he boldly offered his face to the approaching camera.
Who cared about camera work?
It had simply come closer, so he looked at it.
At that moment.
-[“brake! brake! brake! brake!”]
“brake” repeated and spread across the entire stage, and Kang Rojun and Ha-yeong, who had been dancing intensely, gradually made their motions smaller.
They were heading toward the end.
Soon, Rojun roamed the stage with a loose, swaying gait.
“That bastard……”
PD Woo Hanseok, whose mouth had fallen slightly open at some point, could not take his eyes off the stage.
“Is he really… a monster?”
He truly had not expected this at all. To think even his choreography would be that overwhelming.
“He’s loose and cocky, but his control of pacing is perfect, and on top of that, that insane visual gives him stage presence too. His own distinct dance line stands out as well.”
By this point, only one word floated through PD Woo Hanseok’s mind.
‘He’s proper star material. How could viewers possibly resist stanning this?’
A presence that even PD Woo Hanseok, who had produced audition variety shows for over ten years, could not help but fall for. Of course, the hundred or so staff members around him had already been captivated by Kang Rojun.
“H-he’s seriously damn good.”
“His hair, makeup, and styling are natural, so why does he look that flashy??”
“Wow— insane… He’s legendary.”
“That looks cool even to a guy.”
The red-haired No. 10, who had withdrawn to the side of the stage, was just as shocked.
“……”
No, for No. 10, it was something beyond shock, closer to despair or frustration.
‘…That’s insane. No!! Fuck, this is way too unfair!!’
Regardless, Kang Rojun and Ha-yeong were still, along with the repeating rap—
-[“brake! brake! brake! brake! brake!”]
—finishing the stage.
At last.
-Paat!
Crossing lights focused on the center of the stage, and Rojun and Ha-yeong stood side by side as the song cut off exactly.
“Haa— haah.”
Both of them breathed roughly, but their faces looked refreshed.
A brief silence flowed over the large stage.
-Clap, clap, clap.
A few seconds later, applause came from the judges’ seats.
-Clapclapclapclapclapclap!
The growing applause filled the stage.
It was applause the five judges were giving sincerely, and some of them could not hide their awe, as if wondering what they had just seen.
“Ha— that was crazy, damn.”
A little while later.
On the stage, which had been somewhat settled, Kang Rojun, Ha-yeong, and No. 10, who had performed “brake,” stood side by side. Since the stage was over, it was now time for evaluation. However, the five judges had only been whispering and exclaiming in admiration since earlier.
Of course, it was all about Kang Rojun.
They calmed down a few dozen seconds later, and the first to pick up the microphone was choreographer Lee Hanna.
“It was a truly cool stage. Uh— first of all, I liked how Ha-yeong held the center well. And No. 10, your movements had no waste, and your natural switches gave the feeling that you knew how to use your body?”
Ha-yeong and No. 10 bowed at the same time.
“Thank you.”
Then Lee Hanna’s gaze fixed on Kang Rojun.
“But. The moment No. 1 came out…… No, I often watch professionals, and I frequently stand onstage with professionals. Among the stages I’ve seen recently, No. 1, yours is at the top.”
Kang Rojun also bent at the waist. But Lee Hanna’s evaluation was not over.
“No. 1, your dance line is unique. It’s soft and loose, but the dance is clearly visible, and while your starts and stops are definite, your control of pacing is clear too. You just tore it up. At that level, you deserve to skip training.”
Next was veteran singer Yun Seungwon.
“No, No. 1. If you kill it in vocals and choreography too, what exactly are you lacking?? Even your eye direction and expressions were good. What, are you perhaps living your second life?”
The judges nodded fiercely as if they agreed.
“Rather than the choreography, I want to give high marks to No. 1’s overwhelming aura? Atmosphere? Those expressions from around the middle onward—like you were playing to your heart’s content—multiplied the volume of No. 1’s charm several times over. The judges here, Lee Dami and Gong Jumi, nearly lost it, you know??”
“Ah, seriously. No. 1, you were totally sexy, okay??”
Then the plump composer Song Mingeun took the microphone.
“I’ll start with an apology, No. 1. Honestly, I thought No. 1 was going with a villain concept and that your choreography would be a flop. But that wasn’t the case at all. I was purely drawn in and watched. I’m really looking forward to what comes next, No. 1.”
Amid the pouring praise, Ha-yeong, standing onstage, glanced at Rojun beside her.
‘I understand why the judges were enchanted. Even I almost fell for him while performing with him. If you only look at today’s stage, he was just an idol itself???’
No. 10 was already not even in Ha-yeong’s sight. Sensing that atmosphere, red-haired No. 10 bit his lower lip. Because since earlier, there had been almost no talk about him at all.
‘Argh— damn it!! Fuck!’
Noticing No. 10’s state, Gong Jumi, a former girl group member and musical actress, lifted her microphone.
“Hmm, before we make the final decision between No. 1 and No. 10. May I make one sudden request? It might perhaps become an opportunity for No. 1 or No. 10, but could the two of you possibly switch the first and second verses and show us the stage?”
No. 10 immediately showed bewilderment.
“……Pardon??”
“Why? Is it difficult?”
“Ah, no, it’s just.”
“What about you, No. 1?”
Kang Rojun simply nodded.
“I don’t mind.”
All five judges were surprised.
“You don’t mind? That means you’re okay with switching choreography parts right now?”
“Yes.”
“Ha— good. No. 10??”
“I-I’ll try too!!”
“Okay, let’s do it right away.”
Soon, as if they had been waiting, the production crew quickly finished preparing again, and though Ha-yeong was a bit flustered, she adjusted quickly. And so “brake” rang out onstage once more.
-♬♪
Kang Rojun appeared in the first verse.
‘Praise myself for learning the entire choreography.’
Of course, the destructive power was the same as when he had done the second-verse part.
Because he had perfectly learned the entire choreography of “brake.”
In the second verse, No. 10 entered. But the red-haired man’s very first step tangled, and he nearly fell. Moreover, since he did not know the second-verse choreography clearly, he frequently made mistakes in the middle as well.
As a result—
“That’s a shame, No. 10.”
The five judges’ choice was—
“I choose No. 1.”
“I’ll choose No. 1.”
“Anyone could see No. 1 overwhelmed him.”
“No. 1.”
“I’m also choosing No. 1.”
Every single one of them chose Kang Rojun, and though the hundred or so staff members did not show it, all of them were watching Kang Rojun as well.
‘Honestly, the difference in skill was just too huge.’
Even Ha-yeong, who had shared the same stage, chose Rojun.
‘Me too, No. 1. Definitely No. 1.’
It was a clean sweep.