Hard Mode Idol

Since plans for the weekend fell through, I might as well drink water and recover my stamina. I should learn as much as I can while Kanghyun is around.

As I was getting up, a water bottle came rolling towards me. Kanghyun must have rolled it over. I immediately picked it up and gulped it down.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? What do you mean? My stamina? I’m fine. I’m taking breaks as I go.”

“Not that. Are you okay with me pointing things out to you?”

That’s an odd thing to say. It’s not pointing out, it’s coaching, right? Ah, the nuance is different, but the meaning is the same. Of course, I’m okay with it. I nodded with an inoffensive smile.

“I’m grateful for the advice that becomes my flesh and bones. Thanks to you, hyung, my skills have improved a lot. I’m really thankful, but I feel bad for troubling you.”

“……It’s not troubling. Come again tomorrow.”

Kanghyun’s ears had turned slightly red as he said that. I beamed at the good news of the express bus driver extending his free bus service.

“Thank you!”

“……For now, at least.”

It was a small voice, almost a murmur. I clearly heard it, but it didn’t seem intended for me to hear. So I didn’t read too much into it either, just smiling brightly as if I hadn’t heard.

We both had a light convenience store lunchbox for lunch. Then we kept on dancing. Thanks to that, I even cleared the weekly mission. When I started singing along live while dancing like a madman, he did give me a strange look, but it didn’t matter. The important thing is that my points reached 280.

On Sunday, I changed the song. I got a few disdainful looks, as if to say “Is this the level you were aiming for?” but I shamelessly carried on. In the end, Kanghyun said that for my level, this was fairly good, allowing me to continue.

That’s how I spent the whole Sunday practicing next week’s mission song. The experience points accumulated rapidly, allowing me to fill up around 95% by 11 PM on Sunday evening.

If I practiced a few more hours, I could raise my dancing stat to B, but since Kanghyun said he was heading back to the dorms, I stopped too. Practicing alone wasn’t very efficient. Once you get a taste of the buff, going without feels dull.

My grand plan to fill the remaining experience on Monday was half successful, half failed. That’s because Director Kim summoned all of us around 2 PM in the afternoon.

Was it because of Gomchi? But why is she calling the entire debut team? I glanced at Yoochan with some concern. He just patted my shoulder, telling me not to worry.

Seoho had arrived first at the director’s office and was waiting. When Yoochan, Kanghyun and I from the practice room joined, it was full. Just one person was still missing.

The last time I saw him, he had seemed utterly depressed. Since I hadn’t even seen his shadow after that, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had run away.

Director Kim gave us all a once-over before making an internal call. Asking someone to “please call Ilhan over”, he must still be in the company. From how no one seemed surprised, it doesn’t seem like his first time missing.

“Let’s wait a bit more. I’ll speak once Ilhan arrives too.”

“Yes.”

We sat down on the prepared chairs. Shortly after, Ilhan knocked on the director’s office door, received permission, and entered. He’s quite polite. Quite different from his appearance, which gives the impression he would barge right in with a sullen face.

“Everyone’s here.”

Seeing Director Kim’s bright smile, it didn’t seem to be about Gomchi. Director Kim scanned each of us before fixing her gaze on me.

For some reason, maybe……!

My senses tingled in anticipation.

Director Kim played a song without any fanfare. This is the one I sang. It was the song I performed in front of Director Kim after getting upgraded to A-rank. Is she making me the main vocal?

What other reason would there be to gather the debut team and play a song I sang, if not to officially announce my position? Having reasoned it out for myself, I took a rational sip of my sweet barley tea.

The intro starts off mellow, so it could be boring, but the members were focused on the song. It feels like a blind evaluation. I’m really getting tense.

The notes gradually rose in pitch, followed by a long, high vocal part in the latter half. Ah, the pitch wavered a bit there. I could have hit that cleaner…… I’ll keep working hard!

“Ah!”

Seoho seemed disappointed that only the first verse was played. Does he know it was me singing? I thought he might not recognize my voice since it changes quite distinctly when I sing.

“Disappointed? Did you want to hear more?”

“Yes! I want to hear more!”

“What about the rest of you?”

Yoochan was the first to speak up.

“His voice has a captivating charm. It’s clear and smooth, with nothing jarring about it. The lyrics are about missing an ex-lover, so a bright voice might not seem fitting, but precisely because it’s bright, it comes across as more sorrowful instead. A pure sadness.”

Is this guy crazy? Why is he analyzing it so elaborately? I don’t know where to look. Is he doing this out of concern that someone might say he lacks composing talent?

“What did you think, Kanghyun?”

“It’s not really my preferred genre, but it held my attention.”

“And Ilhan?”

“It was good. Good enough to want to hear more.”

Compared to Yoochan’s lengthy response, Ilhan kept it brief, but my heart was pounding madly. My restless heart felt like it might explode, I was so worried.

That’s when I belatedly realized all the members’ eyes were focused on me. Being the only one who didn’t share their thoughts, the attention was naturally on me. Heat rushed to my face.

I turned my head away, using my arm to shield my face. So this is what feeling embarrassed means…… This life is full of surprises in many ways.

Director Kim chuckled amusedly. At the moment the members’ attention shifted to her, I subtly turned my head back, making direct eye contact with Yoochan. His eyes had widened in surprise before curving into a soft crescent shape. This guy realized it.

“Wouldn’t Haon make a perfect main vocal?”

“W-Wait a minute! Then that was Jin Haon singing?”

Seoho was shocked, while Kanghyun just briefly glanced at me. And for some reason, Ilhan lowered his head. He’s not even in a clashing position like main rapper, so why that reaction?

“Yes. That was Haon singing. For your reference, this was from when he first came for the audition.”

As Director Kim clicked the mouse, chaos erupted on my end. I sprang up and pleaded with Director Kim while half-lying on her desk.

“No way!”

Our director can really be mischievous sometimes. My unedited audition singing voice blared through the speakers. My face must be like a boiled octopus by now. I buried my head on the desk, unable to show my face. Is this how you publicly expose embarrassing moments?

“……Haon is incredible.”

At Yoochan’s admiring words, I felt the heat rush to the top of my head. I might have stat-boosted vocals, but why is the embarrassment my burden alone……?

No, wait. My skills in my previous life were better than my current stat-boosted level, so I decided to take it as a genuine compliment. But no matter how I tried to rationalize it, the embarrassment wouldn’t subside. I’m so mortified…my face is burning up……

“You can tell how much effort he put in, right? Of course, to improve this rapidly requires talent too, not just effort alone. You all know that, don’t you.”

“We know.”

Unexpectedly, it was Kanghyun who answered this time. Please, just stop now. I’m struggling not to run right out of here due to the overwhelming urge.

“There are plenty of hard workers among our trainees too. Take Jeongtae hyung for example, he sings better than Jinhaon.”

Seoho grumbled with pursed lips. I was rather grateful for it, since it finally changed the atmosphere.

“Of course, there are a few who sing better than Haon. But his unique, beautiful vocal tone and his ability to captivate people – I’m sure you all felt that.”

At Director Kim’s serious tone, I straightened my posture. After a brief pause, Director Kim looked at Seoho with a complicated gaze.

Seoho averted his eyes, turning his head away. There were no further rebuttals. Seeing his implicit agreement, Director Kim met my eyes as she continued.

“From today onwards, Haon is officially the main vocal of DIAS.”

DIAS. So the group name was already decided. From the other members’ reactions, it seems it was set before I joined. Whatever, I don’t mind!

“Yes! I’ll work hard.”

I answered firmly with resolve. Director Kim silently nodded, and I felt her trust in me. All plans are cancelled. No more points invested in dancing. All points must go into singing. At the very least, I needed to reach my previous life’s vocal level as judged by my own ears.

“There’s still one more important matter.”

After regarding each debut team member, Director Kim spoke.

“I’m thinking of setting your debut for late March or early April. You’ll receive a single album with around three songs, including the title track. But since the songs, choreography, and concept haven’t been decided yet, the schedule will be tight. Can you keep up?”

“Yes!”

Only three people answered. Ilhan remained silent, and Seoho……

“What about Jaehyuk hyung……”

His voice dripped with an inability to accept the situation, sounding gloomy. His bloodshot eyes stared at Director Kim, brimming with tears that looked about to spill over at any moment. Director Kim sighed.

“Seoho, I told you. We can’t have Jaehyuk with us.”

“But you didn’t give a proper reason, so how can I give up……”

“Would you believe me if I told you?”

“……Yes.”

The unconvincing, mumbled “yes” sounded more like “no”. As if trying his best to hold back, Seoho’s tears ultimately streamed down his cheeks. Is this Cult Leader really that amazing?

What did he do, how did he act, to be revered with such blind devotion? It’s really something, the talent to so thoroughly captivate people like that.