ALL NOVEL Chapter 87
Chapter 87. Soccer is Played with the Feet, Basketball is Played with the Hands (1)
Exactly an hour and a half before Kang Hajin longed for regression, at a certain gym.
<★Miro Maze Cup★ United Sports Event>
<(Shock) The Real Presence of Matching Outfits (Surprise) ΣΣ(ﾟДﾟ;)>
Banners with outrageous jokes fluttered all around the gym.
PD Kwon Myungeun, who had gathered the trainees from early in the morning, clapped his hands to draw their attention.
“Okay, everyone! Today is just a day to relax and have fun! I thought you’d feel cooped up always staying in the practice room, so I spent some money. Of course, your president did!”
The assistant directors standing behind PD Kwon cheered enthusiastically, extending their arms towards somewhere. The trainees, caught up by the skilled cheerleaders, clapped along with bewildered faces.
At the place their cheers were directed to stood the president of Miro, Han Sewon, who had made a rare appearance.
‘Wow. He actually showed up here.’
It seemed the first episode of Miro Maze had been a huge success. The trainees, who hadn’t seen the president in a long time, felt a bit awkward. Even Hajin had only seen him once after signing the contract.
“Alright, alright. I’ve left a card for a delicious dinner tonight, so have fun! And don’t get hurt!”
“Yes, sir~!”
“I love you, my youngest sons!”
“Waaaaaa~~!!!”
To fans, the president of an agency was just an anthropomorphized entity they could blame for anything… but.
Nevertheless, Miro’s president, Han Sewon, had a relatively good public opinion.
– Our Sewon doesn’t have money, style, or sometimes even sense, but he’s good to the kids.
└ Pick one: hitting or hugging.
It was the kind of relationship where I could criticize him, but I couldn’t stand seeing others badmouth him.
After all, even Hajin thought Miro was pretty good when it came to artist welfare.
They supported tuition and living expenses for trainees from poor backgrounds, and they allowed weekends off or time to visit home instead of scheduling practice or lessons.
Especially for minors, whether trainees or artists, they ensured they graduated high school, which had a tearful backstory.
[Why Utopia members never mess with Seo Taeil. jpg]
(Utopia’s 8th-anniversary special live stream content)
(Screenshot from the video)
(Screenshot from the video)
+Summary
– During his trainee days, the company was in such a bad financial state that Seo Taeil secretly dropped out of high school and worked part-time jobs.
The president and the members didn’t find out until Taeil didn’t leave the dorm on his high school graduation day, making them suspicious and leading to the revelation…
– At that time, the president was working three jobs to pay staff salaries, cover trainees’ tuition and living expenses, and prepare for their debut, but Taeil used his tuition to supplement living expenses.
– He rented practice rooms and recording studios with his part-time job money and gave the rest to his younger members as pocket money (he attended an arts high school, worried they might feel inferior).
– Conclusion: Taeil is a god. He is light and truth.
Rebuttal means you will be locked in a room with Nam Daun, who couldn’t talk for three days.
* * *
– I was crying while reading until I saw the last line, then I snapped out of it.
– Just imagining the last line drained me; my ears are bleeding already;
└ How is Nam Daun’s name so fitting… not ‘Nam Different’ or ‘Nam Like Me’ but Nam Daun ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Write more, add this!
Later, the president admitted he knew everything and cried, promising Taeil he’d make him successful.
And once they debuted and got their first earnings, he sold his house to move them to a better place and paid for Taeil’s GED.
This is why fans can never hate Sewon; he’s genuinely devoted to the kids.
└ Wow, I didn’t know thisㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
And after that incident, a rule was established at Miro that trainees and artists must graduate high school.
[System Alert: This story couldn’t be heard without tears…!]
[System Alert: ʕ ಡ ﹏ ಡ ʔ]
‘A classic story of a boy head of the household from those times.’
Hajin thought as he watched Seo Taeil testing the microphone at the center of the gym.
Despite his words, Hajin truly respected and acknowledged Seo Taeil.
He understood better than anyone how heavy a word like ‘responsibility’ could be for the eldest.
“Ah, ah. Mic test. Can everyone hear me?”
It seemed the filming was about to start, as the staff adjusting Seo Taeil’s hair and makeup were moving to the production area.
Seo Taeil was dressed in sportswear from head to toe of the same brand that Utopia had been modeling for three consecutive years. The sneakers, in particular, were the limited edition released for Utopia’s 12th anniversary.
‘I remind myself today as well. Young and rich, tall and handsome.’
Hajin clenched his fists with determination and followed the production crew’s guidance to the center of the gym.
Anyway, it felt good to be outside for a change.
* * *
“Today, we have a special MC to help me out!”
“Oooh~.”
The trainees’ reactions had been getting better, having some broadcast experience. Seo Taeil looked at his juniors with satisfaction but then remembered the special MC he needed to introduce and cleared his throat.
‘I should have just brought Jinwoo. But he’s the only one available today….’
However, I am Seo Taeil, a 13-year veteran idol. I never show it.
Taeil skillfully maintained his poker face as he raised the microphone for the next line.
“For your more enjoyable sports event today, we have invited someone very, very special. I wonder who it could be….”
At that moment.
“Hey! That’s too long!”
“Ha….”
Someone with a loud and confident voice interrupted.
Professional idol Seo Taeil’s poker face crumbled. As if expecting this, Taeil covered his eyes with his hand and sighed.
The trainees, startled by the sudden appearance of a new face, turned their attention to where the voice came from.
A bright brown-haired young man in the same outfit as Taeil emerged from behind the production crew, tapping a rolled-up cue card on his palm as he strode towards Taeil.
“Seriously, how long are you going to keep me waiting? When are we starting the sports event? When the sun sets?”
“Dauna, I was doing the intro….”
“I know, but it’s too long. This isn’t a Pia Land (Utopia’s content) shoot. Look, the juniors are standing there exhausted.”
“This is why I didn’t want to bring you.”
“What? What did you say? Are you discriminating against members? Should I go back? I’m really hurt right now.”
“Dauna, please.”
What’s going on at Miro Maze?
The trainees, witnessing the usually charismatic and composed Seo Taeil flustered and biting his lip, were baffled.
In less than a minute of his appearance, the new face had already dominated the audio.
“Alright, let’s just get on with the introduction.”
“Yes, today’s special MC. Utopia’s….”
“Oh, wait? I heard this from Hansol. Why do you keep skipping our intros? Are you embarrassed by us?”
“…lovely Maltese main dancer, the third child, Nam Daun. Wow.”
“Mm. That’s right.”
Satisfied with the introduction, Nam Daun smiled brightly and waved at the trainees.
“Hello, juniors! I’m your Namti-ju hyung!”
Hajin sincerely clapped in admiration.
‘Is this the life of a 13-year veteran idol who embraces his cuteness without hesitation?’
Nam Daun was known as the most entertaining member of Utopia.
He was friendly, and above all, he talked a lot. Since Seo Taeil had a more serious vibe, it seemed they brought Nam Daun for a change of pace.
As the production crew hoped, Nam Daun skillfully raised the energy of the event.
“Alright. My nephews! Scream for 3 seconds~~!!!!”
“Aaaaah~~~~!!!”
“Confess your love to Destinies~~~~!!!”
“Destinies, we love you~~!!!!”
‘It’s chaos.’
It hadn’t even been ten minutes since Nam Daun appeared, and some trainees were already getting exhausted. By the time they started playing EDM and dancing under the pretext of warming up, Seo Taeil had already put down the microphone.
“Huff, huff.”
“Okay, we’ve got enough opening footage. Right, production team?”
Nam Daun asked, winking as the writer sitting in front of the camera held up a sketchbook.
<♥God of Variety, God of Footage, Supreme Namti-ju, we love you♥>
The heart filled with magic marker seemed to represent the production team’s feelings.
“So now… wait, where’s my brother?”
Looking for Seo Taeil to continue, Namti-ju, no, Nam Daun glanced around.
From about the twelfth wave with the trainees, Seo Taeil had put down the mic and rested in the shade of the platform. Noticing Nam Daun, he waved his hand.
“Keep going. Do whatever you want, Daun.”
“Wow, this MC is so
irresponsible. What are you doing over there?”
“I’m tired too. Getting old.”
“Seriously, can’t help it. Everyone! Let’s play with me today!”
“Yes!!!”
Nam Daun raised both arms. The trainees, who had been trained to react to Nam Daun like a cult, also raised their arms and shouted.
‘It’s a mess.’
Even thinking that, Hajin cheered loudly to match the atmosphere.
Well, anyway….
This was the start of all the chaos.
* * *
The teams were composed of four members each, with one team having five, making a total of four teams.
Each team was divided into red, blue, purple, and yellow teams, according to their prepared uniforms.
The team members were initially divided by drawing lots from a box, and if any teams were too unbalanced, they were adjusted after a careful discussion among the production crew and MCs. (At this point, Hajin started to feel uneasy. What kind of events required such meticulous preparation?)
Thus, the final teams for today were formed!
And finally….
<(Just) Yellow Team>
Seeing the four men over 180cm tall, with tough looks, huddled together in oversized yellow tracksuits, Kang Hajin thought.
‘Is this for real?’