ALL NOVEL Chapter 60
Chapter 60. To You (2)
Hajin, who had stormed out of the room, headed straight to the practice room. This was because Taehyun spent almost all his time in the practice room, except when he was eating or filming.
Bang! When Hajin opened the practice room door with force, Taehyun was indeed inside. Taehyun, who had been practicing high-pitched ad-libs in a genuine voice to the MR of “To You,” made a squeaky sound at Hajin’s sudden appearance.
“Hy, hyung? What brings you here so suddenly—”
“No matter how much I think about it, sticking to the original song is a crazy idea.”
“…I know. We talked about it earlier.”
At Hajin’s firm words, Taehyun gave a bitter smile. No matter how much that smile resembled the poignant smile of a ‘sickly male lead with a story’ from a romantic comic, it didn’t change the fact that it was absurd.
“But let’s try.”
“…What?”
However, Hajin couldn’t ignore Taehyun’s desire. Especially since it was for proving himself. Somehow, the heavy responsibility that everyone must be satisfied with this stage kept pressing down on him.
‘These guys, making me feel guilty for nothing!’
Despite it being clearly his own mistake, Hajin wanted to give the others a satisfying result they wished for as they apologized for burdening him.
“Instead, we’re changing the center. You won’t be the center.”
“Oh… okay! I don’t mind that!”
“You can’t perform like you have been until now. You need to completely kill your presence, and it won’t be a part you sing well.”
“Anything is fine. I just want to sing my song.”
“Ha, seriously…. Go call the others. We need to practice.”
Hajin repeatedly dry-washed his face with his hands and sat down on the practice room floor. He saw Taehyun quickly running out of the practice room, excited by Hajin’s words.
[System Alert: The current status of companion ‘Seo Taehyun’ is… ‘Very Excited.’]
What did he think I was going to suggest for him to be this excited already?
Clicking his tongue, Hajin crossed his arms. The companion status window finally updated, and the red light turned off. Hajin vowed that someday, he would change that annoying system window UI to monochrome. He let out a short breath.
In the end, he had done it. This crazy thing!
“Now I need to handle it….”
Was he really doing the right thing? With a face sadder than eating mustard while crying, Hajin summoned the system window.
[System Alert: Current cash balance∥10,320 cash]
“Oh, that’s quite a bit.”
Ten thousand cash? It seemed he had earned quite a bit of favor from many people during the first mission.
‘That’s pretty good.’
Although he was a bit surprised by the generous budget, Hajin couldn’t smile. Those numbers would soon disappear.
‘I really worked hard to save that!’
But once Hajin made up his mind, there was no backing down in his dictionary.
[System Alert: Skill
[System Alert: Skill
[System Alert: Skill
[System Alert: Skill
[System Alert: Skill
[System Alert: The passive effect of skill
[(Next passive skill—–‘Charisma’ (LV.20))]
[System Alert: Current cash balance∥1,320 cash]
“Ha, my precious cash….”
[System Alert: Expression error detected. Cash is not related to your blood!]
Even in this situation, the system window’s stern message was annoying. Gosh, that thing really…
As he vowed that someday he would give the system a flick on the forehead, the practice room door swung open again. Taehyun, all excited, came in with the other team members.
“We’re here.”
“Alright. Come sit down quickly.”
The team members, looking puzzled, approached me. Meanwhile, I turned on the front camera of my phone and mounted it on the speaker to capture the entire practice room. When I pressed the video recording button, Dan Haru came up to me and asked.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
“Gathering footage.”
All the practice from now on would be recorded in full shot and handed over to the writer. It might only be used for inserts or 2-3 seconds, but it would be missed if absent.
Adjusting the screen to include everyone, we sat in a circle.
“Are you all prepared for an all-nighter?”
“Well, we were ready for it…. But we don’t even have an arrangement idea yet.”
“I have it. That’s why I called you.”
“…….”
“So if you all don’t mind, I’d like you to trust me one more time.”
The team members exchanged glances at Hajin’s usual confident smile. Hajin then explained the new concept and performance composition he had in mind for this stage. Initially skeptical, the team members began to nod as they listened to Hajin’s idea.
“―So, this time we will,”
Thud, Hajin placed his hand on the practice room floor, eyes gleaming.
“Make at least one person cry.”
At Hajin’s determined voice, everyone nodded as if hypnotized.
* * *
Two days later, on the day of the second mission recording for Miro Maze.
This recording took place not at the usual Miro headquarters, but at the Ntv set in the metropolitan area. Although there was no live audience as it was before the first broadcast, special guests were present to match the larger set.
“Oh, Sarin. It’s been a while.”
“Ah, hello PD.”
Sarin, who was in her dressing room, dressed in a burgundy suit and looking at her judging sheet, stood up abruptly. PD Kwon, who had entered the dressing room with a mischievous smile, greeted her with a light hug.
The two had worked together years ago when PD Kwon directed a music show during his time at the broadcasting station.
“How have you been? I rushed over when I heard you were here during the rehearsal.”
“Oh, well. I’ve been busy with my child these days.”
“Exactly. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you agreed to appear on our show.”
“No, I’m the one who was surprised. I heard my song would be used for an idol survival show.”
Sarin, who had stopped her album and performance activities to focus on childcare after giving birth, had shocked the production team by not only allowing her song to be used but also agreeing to appear as a special mentor.
The queen of OSTs, the empress of ballads, returning to TV through
‘The PR team was thrilled, saying they had endless material for articles.’
It seemed her decision was influenced by her friendship with Taeil, who had written many songs for her, and the fact that it was a one-time appearance with little burden. As a fan of Sarin before being a PD, PD Kwon asked with a smile.
“But Sarin, is there any news about your next album? I was actually looking forward to it since you agreed to come on the show.”
“Ah… not yet. Just taking care of my child is overwhelming right now.”
Sarin, who had been smiling brightly, darkened her expression momentarily when asked about her next album. Having honed his skills at reading celebrities’ emotions over years of PD work, PD Kwon quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, I’m glad you came today. I hope you enjoy it.”
“Oh, really? Can I look forward to it?”
“The kids are trainees, but they’re pretty good. It’ll be worth watching. See you later.”
To avoid upsetting her by dragging out the conversation, PD Kwon ended it at the right moment. Wishing her well and shouting fighting with a smile, Sarin sat down again after seeing him off.
“…….”
“…Unnie, should I get you some water?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Feeling Sarin’s slightly dampened mood, her manager glanced nervously. Sarin forced a smile and lowered her gaze back to the judging sheet.
Her representative song, which she might never be able to sing again, echoed in her mind.
* * *
At the same time.
In the trainees’ waiting room of
“Hyung, if you pick wrong, you’re doing all the laundry today!”
“Argh! Please! Please let our team be third!”
This place was in chaos, resembling a battlefield.
“Alright, let’s start!”
“…….”
“We will now proceed with the random draw to determine the performance order!”
“Whoa!!!!”
With Seo Taeil’s lead comment, the trainees shouted loudly, reacting dramatically. Originally, the Wings class had priority, but since all three team leaders with decision-making power were Wings class, this situation arose.
‘Hmph, but it doesn’t matter to me.’
Han Sungwoo, who was pretending to be nervous, scoffed internally. He already knew which card corresponded to which order, as well as the mission songs, giving him an advantage.
‘I’ve already secured practice dominance by finding out the mission songs in advance.’
Now, as long as he drew the order he wanted, there would be no
problem. Since CP Yoon promised he could draw first, there was no hindrance…
“Mentor. May I suggest something?”
…none at all?
“Yes, trainee Kang Hajin. What is it?”
“The card draw seems a bit lacking in tension. How about deciding the order through a small game?”
“A game?”
‘That bastard Kang Hajin again?’
Seeing the production team murmuring at Hajin’s sudden suggestion, Taeil’s expression also changed to one of interest. Hajin spoke cheerfully, smiling.
“Gentlemen. Do you agree to entrust our fate to the uncertainty of Schrödinger’s cards? Wouldn’t it be more just to determine our fate and screen time with our skills?”
“Whoa! Kang Hajin is awesome!”
“Game! Game!”
‘Are these guys crazy, why are they like this?’
As the trainees cheered at Hajin’s smooth-talking like a quack doctor, the atmosphere heated up quickly. As the production team signaled, Taeil also nodded. Han Sungwoo had to struggle to maintain his expression amidst the odd atmosphere.
“Trainee Kang Hajin, do you have any game in mind?”
“Coincidentally, we’re all the main vocals of our teams, aren’t we?”
“Oh, that’s right. We are.”
“How about a Cleopatra game that showcases quick and accurate pitch and tone?”
The trainees’ cheers grew louder at Hajin’s suggestion, which even included the game choice. Taeil tried to calm the excited trainees.
“Okay, okay. Since this is Kang Hajin’s suggestion, let’s first hear the opinions of the other two leader trainees. If both agree, we’ll decide accordingly.”
At those words, Han Sungwoo quickly looked at Jung Siwoo. Though he was the main vocal, Siwoo, who always acted high and mighty, wouldn’t agree to a silly game like Cleopatra, would he…
“Hyung.”
“…….”
“Scared?”
“Huh? Fine.”
“Whoa!!!!”
At Hajin’s eyebrow-raising provocation, Siwoo agreed readily, and the waiting room erupted in cheers again. Han Sungwoo quietly bit his lip.
In this atmosphere, if I object, I’ll look like the coward who chickened out!
Han Sungwoo’s gaze turned to Hajin.
Grin―.
‘That smug bastard…!’
Seeing Hajin nod with a challenging smile, Han Sungwoo suppressed his boiling anger and managed his expression before speaking.
“…I agree too.”
“Okay!”
“Alright, since all three teams agree, the performance order will be decided by the Cleopatra game! Trainees, please line up in front of me.”
‘Still, that guy isn’t the type to excel in high notes….’
Han Sungwoo stood in line, recalling Hajin’s previous performances. Didn’t he struggle with high-pitched ad-libs during the last title song, even swapping parts with Gong Seok?
‘…That’s what you think.’
And Kang Hajin, who had easily read all those thoughts, age 20.
‘Sorry, Sungwoo, but that was the old me.’
Note: Currently, to master the original song, he had spent 9,000 cash on vocal skills and was on the verge of becoming a baby master singer!