ALL NOVEL Chapter 61
Chapter 61. To You (3)
(The Cleopatra Game) unexpectedly became a showdown to defend the pride of the main vocalists. This fascinating duel for honor was settled faster than expected.
– Goodbye, Cleo… I’ll stop here.
The first dropout was, of course, Han Sungwoo, who wasn’t mentally prepared to have his humiliating moment captured on camera.
He couldn’t overcome the pressure of the ‘anxiety of screwing up’ plus the ‘embarrassment of trying hard’ and declared his withdrawal.
– Good! Bye! Cleo-pa! Tra!
– Good!! Bye!!! Cleo-pa-tra!!!!
– GOOD!!! BYE!!! CLEO!! PA!!! TRA!!!!
The one who showed a surprisingly unexpected side was Jung Siwoo. The sight of him, who was usually called the ‘prince of Miro,’ reddening up to his neck while hitting high notes shocked many trainees.
– I forfeit.
– …Hyung, I didn’t know you were good at this kind of thing.
– If you can’t do at least this in the practical music department, you can’t survive at drinking parties.
– !!!
– Actually, I can do more, but since the order doesn’t really matter. I shouldn’t damage my voice.
– No, hyung. Then you should’ve given up earlier!
– Why would I? It’s a chance to ruin the condition of the main vocal of the other team.
– !!!!!!?
– Right, who told you to provoke first?
‘Why do I feel like I lost?’
Kang Hajin, who thought Jung Siwoo was just a quiet and calm model student type, couldn’t close his mouth upon realizing he was actually a slightly crazy strategist.
“Okay, Trainee Kang Hajin. You participated passionately in the game. Now, please choose the performance order.”
“Oh, yes. We will….”
Anyway, Hajin was the winner. Given that he achieved this result with Seo Taehyun, who was good at gauging the camera angles, and through a hair-pulling performance, he needed to make a proper choice.
Hajin thought.
‘Kim Wonho said earlier that the Cinderella team was aiming for the first spot.’
The Cinderella team, led by Jung Siwoo and including Gong Seok, Kim Wonho, and Joo Eunchan, had prepared a glamorous masquerade ball concept. There were many things to set up, and above all, the vocal conditions of the main vocalists Gong Seok and Jung Siwoo were important, so they preferred an earlier slot.
‘Blue Scandal would naturally prefer the last spot.’
This wasn’t based on specific data but inferred from Han Sungwoo’s personality. The song itself was grand, and they would want to stand out by decorating the finale if possible.
“Hmm….”
After thinking quietly, Hajin alternated his gaze between Siwoo and Sungwoo.
‘Then should I give them what they want?’
“We’ll go second.”
Everyone, including Sungwoo, looked surprised at Hajin’s choice.
After putting in so much effort, why choose the second spot? The second spot would lack impact compared to the first and wouldn’t have the lingering effect of the last.
“Okay, Sad Ending team. You’ve chosen the second spot. Is there a reason?”
“I’m naturally a center person. I want to confidently take the center spot in the performance order as well.”
“Hahaha, but Trainee Kang Hajin isn’t the center of the Sad Ending team, right?”
“…So, I have a small wish to at least take the center spot in the performance order.”
Well. This guy kept trying to make small talk whenever he saw me since the last time.
Hajin smiled brightly while grumbling inwardly. Anyway, thanks to Hajin’s choice, the remaining order decisions were quickly settled as well.
〜〚TO THE TOP〛〜
Cinderella
SAD ENDING
Blue Scandal
“The order for the second mission of Miro Maze, ‘To the Top,’ has been decided. For today’s mission, we have special mentors joining us. We hope you will all put in your best effort to make your stage one you won’t regret.”
At Seo Taeil’s closing remarks, the trainees all applauded. It was quite impressive that they weren’t flustered anymore after having some experience with recording.
Once Seo Taeil and the production team disappeared, the teams returned to their assigned spots.
“Hyung. Is it okay for us to go second?”
“Of course. We can definitely win as the second.”
As they returned to the waiting room, Dan Haru asked anxiously. Hajin patted Haru’s shoulder, smiling reassuringly.
“Haru, you just have to do well.”
“Gasp.”
“Hey, hyung! Don’t scare the kid!”
“Our center. You can do well today, right? I believe in you.”
“Stop putting pressure on him!”
Ignoring Taehyun, who was hitting his back, Hajin gave a thumbs up to Haru.
“……!”
Receiving Hajin’s sign, Haru, seemingly realizing something, sparkled his eyes. Seventeen years old. The new center of
Nodding at Hajin’s words of belief, Haru also gave a thumbs up, just like Hajin.
“Yes! I’ll do well!”
“Okay, okay. What’s our goal?”
“To make people cry!”
“How much will you make them cry? The goal should be specific.”
“Uh… so much that they can’t breathe?”
“Ah, Kang Hajin. Stop teaching the kid weird things!”
* * *
The recording for Miro Maze’s second mission, ‘To the Top!’ began. When the stage, resembling a canal, was revealed, the trainees watching the PGM in the waiting room were all taken aback.
‘Sure enough, it’s more elaborate because it’s a set.’
The only ones not surprised by the scale were Seo Taehyun, who had experienced broadcasting scales through ‘Boy’s World,’ and Hajin, who had once worked backstage on such sets, carrying artists every day.
‘It feels new to be sitting in the waiting room instead of running around with an intercom on.’
Just as Hajin looked sympathetically at the assistant directors running around busily.
The identity of the ‘special mentors’ that Taeil had hinted at was being revealed on the monitor.
– Today’s special guests are!
– The original artists of the songs the trainees will perform!
“Wow, amazing.”
At Taeil’s words on the monitor, the trainees held their breath. Soon, familiar faces everyone knew appeared on the screen.
– The unchanging center of Enderway! Mentor Choi Yeonwoo.
– Hello. I’m Choi Yeonwoo from Enderway.
– And here… a familiar face. Utopia’s main vocalist, Mentor Cheong Hansol.
– Wait a minute, hyung. Why didn’t you call me proud? Are you embarrassed?
– And a welcome face we haven’t seen in a while. The undisputed queen of ballads, Mentor Sarin.
“Wow, hyung. What do we do?”
“I’m a huge fan of Senior Choi Yeonwoo! Ah!”
“Are we really performing in front of them? This is crazy.”
‘Sarin appeared?’
While everyone was in a panic at the appearance of the original artists, Hajin looked at Sarin on the monitor in surprise.
‘She pretty much stopped all activities around this time and went into hiding. Did she come because she’s close to Seo Taeil?’
Sarin, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, looked much older than he remembered.
‘She got married and occasionally sang OSTs… then completely disappeared from the music industry at some point.’
Hajin vividly remembered how PD Kwon, trying to recruit Sarin while he worked under him, was harshly rejected and drowned himself in alcohol.
“First team, Cinderella. Please move to the stage.”
“Cinderella, fighting!”
“Fighting!”
With the assistant director’s words, the first team moved to the studio. Fireworks exploded on stage, signaling the start of the mission.
Whew, Hajin tried to shake off the tension clinging to his body and swallowed his breath. Then he shouted out loud.
“Pride of Gaon University’s Practical Music Department, Jung Siwoo! Tear up the stage!!!!”
Siwoo, who was warming up his voice and about to leave the waiting room, stumbled at Hajin’s words. Other trainees laughed, looking back at him. Regardless, Hajin just shrugged and smiled.
‘Go and break the stage properly.’
Hajin smiled wickedly as he watched Sungwoo’s back.
A grand finale? Don’t even dream of it.
* * *
‘They’re all doing well.’
Sarin watched the stage.
A beautiful masquerade ball.
The grand performance matched with the orchestral arrangement was a bit too much for trainees to pull off. However, a trainee named Joo Eunchan, standing at the center, held the ground firmly with his tall height and long limbs.
‘They said the trainees choreographed this themselves too?’
Sarin circled the text indicating the choreography was created by trainee Kim Wonho on the judging sheet and fell into thought.
“Then, Mentor Sarin, could you also say a few words?”
“…….”
“Sarin?”
“…Ah, sorry.”
Sarin, startled by the voice calling her, grabbed the microphone.
‘Get a grip, Lee Sarin. You can’t cause trouble while you’re here to judge.’
Quickly returning to a professional mindset, Sarin smiled naturally.
“Sorry. I was so busy reading this judging sheet because the performance was so amazing.”
“Aren’t you paying too much attention to other
people’s kids?”
“Gosh, right. Should I take them to our company?”
“Last time, Ria was also interested. These kids are all off-limits then?”
Fortunately, Taeil quickly played along, and the situation was humorously defused. Sarin saw the trainees waiting for her feedback and swiftly continued speaking.
“Um, really, I enjoyed it so much. Jung Siwoo? You sing really well. I even thought it’d be nice if I could sing as well as you…”
“No, senior! If you say that, it means we can’t sing at all!”
At Sarin’s words, the youngest of the mentors, Choi Yeonwoo from Enderway, grabbed the microphone in disbelief. The other mentors agreed, but Sarin was sincere.
“Oh, no. After having a baby, I can’t sing like I used to.”
Then, she accidentally let slip a well-hidden fact. Sarin was surprised by what she said, but the other mentors waved it off, thinking it was just her modesty. Sarin felt a slight bitterness on her tongue.
“…But since I’m a mentor, I should give some advice. Wonho?”
“Yes!”
“Personally, I felt like you were very confident and expressive when dancing in the back, but it seemed to lessen during your part?”
“Ah… yes.”
“As a ballad singer, it might be more noticeable to me, but it’s really important to be a more confident self when singing. For singers, songs are incredibly precious, right?”
Everyone nodded at her heartfelt advice. After Sarin’s feedback, the first team stepped off the stage.
Next was the team covering one of Sarin’s representative songs.
“Sad Ending team! Please come up to the stage!”
With Taeil’s lead, five boys in different school uniforms walked onto the stage.
“Sad Ending team, please introduce yourselves.”
“Yes. Let’s greet them.”
Probably the leader, the sharp-looking boy exchanged glances with his teammates, adjusting their positions.
One, two—he counted, and then…
“Boo-hoo—”
“Oh nooo!”
“Sniff… sob….”
They burst into wailing. Even with different details, all five were crying in their own ways.
One squatted down, another laid down and pounded the ground, and one waved a handkerchief while turning around towards somewhere.
“Oh my, what is that.”
“Ah. Because it’s Sad Ending, they’re crying?”
“They’re funny.”
The mentors couldn’t help but laugh at the boys crying instead of introducing their team. After about five seconds of short wailing, the boy in the middle, who had buried his face and sobbed, grabbed the microphone again.
“Hello, we sing about various farewells—”
“We are the Sad Ending team!”
The boys, who had been crying in various postures, shouted their team name in unison. Their greeting, like a scene from a musical, made Sarin laugh.
‘Interesting kids. …I didn’t even think of this concept.’
She naturally felt curiosity and interest towards them. Sarin’s gaze moved to the judging sheet containing their stage content.
‘I hope they do well.’
Her sincere wish dissipated in the air.