The Malicious Member Returns! Episode 22
After bantering with the trainees for a while to fill broadcast time, Choi Ga-on soon cleared his throat and began the proceedings.
“Now, going back to the main point…… I just told you all that the theme for this second round competition is a 5 vs 5 and 4 vs 4 cover mission. Right now, exactly that thought must be popping into your heads, right?”
Then Ji Hwa-seong, who had become quite familiar with Choi Ga-on by now, shouted in a lively voice.
“How do we form the teams?”
“Exactly that!”
After getting the okay sign from the production team, Choi Ga-on soon took out three round capsules from his pocket.
“Now, trainee Bang Yu-chan, trainee Gao Yan, and trainee Seong Won-hyeop, the three of you! Could you come forward?”
The three trainees who were called forward without any explanation looked at each other with confused eyes.
Reading the 'Why us?' clearly written in their eyes, Choi Ga-on chuckled and held out the capsules to them.
“You don't have to look at me with such suspicious eyes. It's something good provided only to you. Please pick one capsule each from my hand.”
At the words 'something good,' Gao Yan's eyes sparkled.
“If it's something good, Gao Yan will take it first.”
“Uh, uh? Then I'll hurry too!”
“Haha, take your time! I'm not running away anywhere!”
Only after the three subtly jostled shoulders and each obtained a capsule did Choi Ga-on begin explaining to them.
“You three are currently ranked 13th, 14th, and 15th, right? So for a fair proceeding, we needed to draw lots. Could you open the capsules, please?”
*Crack―*
“What is written on the note inside?”
“…‘10 Protein-Packed Emperor Energy Choco Bars’? What is this?”
“Um, I got ‘10 Heart-Full Love Romance Books that Fill My Heart’.”
“Wow, you two have won prizes sent by our sponsors! Congratulations, everyone, a big round of applause for these two!”
‘That means it's a dud!’
Clap, clap, clap….
Suddenly turned into a part of PPL, Gao Yan and Bang Yu-chan hugged the prizes in their arms, not knowing whether to cry or laugh, receiving broadcast applause from the other trainees.
“Uh, so I am….”
And next to them, Seong Won-hyeop, who was standing with a bewildered face, held up the note in his hand towards the camera as instructed by the production team.
[Police Winner!]
Choi Ga-on grinned and shouted.
“Some of you may have already noticed from the note in trainee Seong Won-hyeop's hand. That's right. The game we will play to decide the teams this time is none other than― Cops and Thieves!”
Cops and Thieves.
“Wow….”
The trainees who spent their childhoods in South Korea and Japan instantly had nostalgic expressions.
‘We really ran like crazy back then….’
In the playground, in the classroom. In the play area, and even further, the blood-boiling chase games of childhood enjoyed in the neighborhood.
“Wut? cops and thieves?”
“What is cops and thieves? Gao Yan doesn't know that.”
However, for the trainees from other cultures who didn't understand exactly what kind of game this was, Choi Ga-on continued the explanation.
“Cops and Thieves can be seen as a kind of tag. But instead of the thieves hiding in one space, they keep moving and avoid the cops until they're caught!”
This time, Choi Ga-on took out handcuff stickers in four colors from his pocket. The pocket looked small on the outside, but it seemed to hold more than expected.
“Previously, the three top-ranked trainees got the benefit of picking their team members, right? This time, the opportunity goes in reverse to those with lower ranks!”
“―!”
In an instant, the murmuring among the trainees grew.
So, that means….
“Oh, but there's a bit more to it. It's not picking, it's catching your team members… should I say?”
That meant the other three low-ranking trainees and the now-chosen Seong Won-hyeop become team captains and, like hyenas, gather their team members.
Depending on the game results, one team could have all of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ranks.
The shoulders of the trainees, who had been shrinking at the word 'low rank,' now found strength.
If it's this….
Even those far behind could be in the spotlight again!
“Ah, but for the other thieves, this might reduce their motivation to run. To prevent that, a separate benefit will be given to the last person caught in each team. You'll have to give it your all in the game!”
Soon, the four lowest-ranking trainees including Seong Won-hyeop lined up next to Choi Ga-on and looked at the seated trainees with burning eyes.
Facing their fervor right beside them, Choi Ga-on whistled through his lips.
“Then before we start, let's hand out props fitting our cops and hear a word of determination from each as a cop. First, trainee Ryota?”
Receiving a police hat from the production team, Ryota pressed it tightly on his head and said in a gloomy voice.
“Since I was a child, I was the god of keidoro (police and thief in Japanese). I'll show you class.”
“He says he was a god! Next, trainee Han Sang-woo?”
“…I was chosen before, but this time I'll seize it with my own hands.”
“As expected, your determination is something else! Could trainees Seong Won-hyeop and Lee Chae-hyeok say a word as well?”
“All the high ranks will come to my team.”
“I run the 100m in the 10-second range.”
“Wait, an athletic talent who runs the 100m in the 10s is aiming to be an idol?”
Lee Chae-hyeok, who even after saying it himself made a face as if realizing it was a bit off, scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Hmm, that's possible. An athletic idol. You'd stand out on sports variety shows later, right? I'll look forward to it, trainee Lee Chae-hyeok.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you!”
“Anyway, now….”
And Choi Ga-on, who had been watching that with an excited face, nodded at the production team's signal and spread his arms toward the electronic display.
Then, a stopwatch with the number '30 seconds' written in red appeared on the auditorium's electronic display.
“Once that timer starts, 30 seconds! During those 30 seconds, the thieves should run away first. Thieves, don't forget. The running area is limited to the first floor, and a separate benefit will be given to the 4 people who are caught last in each team. Well then―.”
Start!
With Choi Ga-on's booming voice as the last, all the thief trainees sprinted out of the auditorium at full speed.
* * *
As I dashed out of the auditorium, I quickly hid behind the clothing rack in the practice room where we had practiced 'Aiming'.
“Haaah….”
It was already my second time going through a second round game, but the tension crawling up my spine was just the same.
Cops and Thieves, of all things.
A choice that stirs up memories by using a childhood game, and instills a sense of purpose in both the low-ranking trainees who became cops and the trainees who became thieves.
The production team certainly put their heads to good use.
“Stop right there!”
“Why! Why! Why are you only chasing me! I hate this!”
Well, it'll give me some screen time, so maybe it's not useless after all.
Ji Hwa-seong's screams echoed from the corridor outside. He was grappling with the auditorium's fixed door, and it ended up like that.
Why are they only chasing you? You ask because you don't know?
First of all, it was obvious the cops would target the high-ranking trainees, that is, those ranked 1st to 3rd. Going after them would be to their advantage.
I, currently in 5th place, am second priority, so I'll just have to watch for now….
Bang!
“Hup.”
At the figure that opened the practice room door and entered, I held my breath and hunched.
…Cop? Or another thief?
That unidentified person soon moved to the rack I was hiding behind and slipped in.
As I confirmed with my own eyes who it was, my mouth fell open and I let out a foolish noise.
“Ah?”
“Uh, uh? I mean….”
- Where are you! 2nd place! 3rd place! Where did you all goooo! Come out right now!
‘Shh, shh, quiet!’
At the shout of the cop passing outside, Won-hyeop hyung, I covered the other's mouth and hurriedly mouthed the words. Then the other also nodded frantically and sealed their lips.
- I'll definitely catch you… I'll put everyone in my jail... My own dream team... My rise in ranks!
They say a position makes the person.
The police hat and the handcuff sticker they handed out earlier have really turned these kids into real cops.
The sound of shuffling footsteps gradually faded away, and I carefully removed my hand from covering their mouth and bowed my head slightly.
“Uh, I'm sorry. The noise outside was so loud….”
“Ah, no. It's understandable.”
“…….”
The quiet conversation ceased, and silence fell.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
The person who suddenly came to where I was hiding.
That was none other than― my leader hyung, Jae-ha hyung….
Damn.
Seeing his gently swaying black hair made me feel even worse.
Well, partly because of my past misdeeds as a malicious member, but more than that….
“Trainee Son Jae-ha's base rank is currently 3rd.”
“…I'll do my best!”
Because my return, knowing everything, ended up messing up that hyung's stage and ranking.
That was why I specifically mentioned Jae-ha hyung to Ji Hwa-seong, who was dissatisfied about getting MVP himself, and told him to go see him.
Well, MVP or whatever wasn't important to me right now, and there was no way I, with no real relationship, could go comfort Jae-ha hyung.
Unlike Ji Hwa-seong or Yu-chan hyung, whom I could still talk to after returning, Jae-ha hyung was difficult.
He's a handsome, kind, thoughtful, and responsible hyung. But how should I put it. Even after seeing him for nearly 7 years, I still don't really know what he's thinking….
“…….”
I felt Jae-ha hyung looking at me.
If I had known we'd meet like this, I should have thought of something to say, what do I do now.
I need to say something, I shouldn't just stay like this. There's a camera right next to the rack!
But what am I supposed to say to my (former) leader hyung, whose rank was pushed down because of me?
This is crazy, I never imagined something like this.
As I kept just opening and closing my mouth, Jae-ha hyung gave a small smile and spoke softly in a gentle tone.
“Thanks.”
“…Huh?”
“I heard you told Hwa-seong to go comfort me.”
It was unexpected.
Knowing Ji Hwa-seong, I thought he'd just go and say something like, 'Why are you so down, hyung! Even if you're sprawled out on the street, you're someone who'll debut!'
To think he mentioned my name; it seems I've become more liked than I thought.
“Just, I wanted to say thanks for that. Even though we haven't talked yet, you thought to look out for me. It's amazing.”
“That's….”
Because we used to talk a lot before.
I got scolded, and got turned away.
“…….”
But since I'd make things awkward by bringing up things only I know, I just chose to keep my mouth shut.
And with good timing.
“…Right here, aren't you?”
Well, I don't know if you can call this good timing.
The cop who came to catch us opened the practice room door and barged in.
“Come out quietly. It's just becoming a team together. Become my team!”
As the footsteps drew closer, I locked eyes with Jae-ha hyung and mouthed, 'I'll go left. You go right.'
Jae-ha hyung nodded with a solemn face. What's with Cops and Thieves. It's just a team-picking game, but we're going this far….
“Come out, thieves!”
If they're going that far, we have to focus seriously too.
And the final 4-person benefit is pretty good, I hear.
I counted to three with my fingers with Jae-ha hyung.
One.
Two.
“―Three!”
“There you are! Wait, two of you!?”
Both of us quickly pushed the rack over and dashed out to opposite sides.
The cop, who had been waiting with arms wide open expecting one person, was flustered by the two tall men suddenly appearing, then tripped and went for me as I headed late toward the door.
“Where do you think you're going!”
I felt a sticker being slapped onto my back with a smack.
No, they didn't just stick it, they hit me!
“Puhuk!”
As I let out an ugly noise involuntarily and fell, the one who mercilessly struck me said with a terrifying face.
“Chunyong aniki. You hid well in a place like this. A cop has no mercy.”
I struggled to rub my stinging back and shouted at the opponent who was clapping contentedly.
“…Ryota, you're not a cop, you're an idol trainee! Snap out of it!”
“No. Right now, I am a cop. I have a calling to catch thieves. I need to form my own jail!”
“Are you happy just catching me? What about the other team members!”
“Haha, Chunyong aniki. I told you, didn't I? I am the god of keidoro! I've already caught two. Now if I catch just one more―.”
The moment Ryota let out a confident laugh, a broadcast came from the speaker attached to the practice room.
- “The cops have caught all the thieves! Trainees, please gather back in the auditorium.”
When the broadcast came on, Ryota looked visibly flustered. The last sticker in Ryota's hand fluttered.
“Huh, what? But there were four stickers? Then isn't it a given to catch four people?”
I clicked my tongue and yelled at Ryota.
“Idiot. Four is the maximum number, and if someone else catches four first, you only get three!”
“Calling me an idiot, that's too mean! Chunyong aniki, how can you say such harsh words!”
“Jeez… let's just go to the auditorium first. Ryota, who exactly did you catch?”
At my firm question, Ryota, perhaps having regained his idol trainee self, stammered again and opened his mouth.
“Well, it's, it's…”
At Ryota's mumbled listing of members, I felt my head start to ache….
It seemed like things wouldn't go easily.