Hard Mode Idol

In the guided location, five people were sitting in a row with the CEO in the center. Wait, I’m taking the audition right away like this without any waiting time? Was the timing good?

I got my head on straight and managed my expression by lifting the corners of my mouth. I was used to this kind of atmosphere because I had taken a few trainee auditions in my past life. The CEO spoke first.

“We were waiting for you. Come on in.”

“Wow, he really is a genius like you said, CEO. A genius at visuals.”

“I had expectations after hearing you personally cast him, but he’s beyond expectations. We could set him up as the visual ace, right? With a face like that, even if he’s awkward, he’ll gain core fans.”

“Whoa, my taste has Jin Haon at the top. I can’t take my eyes off him.”

No. Cancel what I said about being used to this. The atmosphere was completely different from when I took auditions in my past life. Even with the same face, there was a world of difference in how people treated me and the atmosphere.

As I was floundering in the unfamiliar atmosphere, the woman sitting at the very end laughed, saying even my flustered reaction was cute. Raising charm was a divine move!

“Now, now, don’t be nervous. Can you stand in front of the camera? We need to do a camera test first.”

“Yes…”

Do I look really awkward right now? It feels like my arms and legs are moving together. Since looking too clumsy would also be troublesome, I had to try hard to keep a firm grip on my senses.

There was an X mark made with tape on the floor, so I stood in front of it. A few people looking at the monitor sighed. That made me nervously read the room. Was the camera test really bad? There’s no way the charm stat only applies when seeing me in person or something like that, right?

“Ah, what a shame.”

“I know, right? It’s such a shame.”

What is? What’s a shame? Tell me so I can mentally prepare too…

“The camera can’t fully capture Haon’s charm. Seeing him in person is much better.”

“Still, his visuals aren’t going anywhere. It’s a face that could devour the visual centers of most groups.”

Why are you confusing people, seriously?

“He’s still 18, right? He’ll be 19 soon. His age is perfect too. I’m really looking forward to his future. It would be nice if he grew up prettily like this, and if his features sharpen, he seems like he’d give off a decadent vibe too. Ah, just imagining it makes me happy!”

The CEO, who had been quietly listening to the employees’ words until now, opened his mouth.

“Haon, are you decent at dance or singing? Don’t be too nervous since I told you to come. Even if you’re not good, we’ll teach you. You can do it comfortably.”

Isn’t this the passing necklace given to me? It was a clear push from the CEO.

“Although all I did was follow along with videos alone, I originally liked dancing and singing, so I can do it. I’m just not very good at it…”

“It’s okay. Tell me the song you want, and I’ll play it for you.”

“Ah, then please play Cold Blue’s U&I.”

U&I was a vocal-focused easy dance song. It was a light dance with soft body movements instead of intense ones, so it was good for me to handle right now. Above all, I received an A- for this song in the weekly mission.

Now that my singing has risen to B-, I can surely do better. Moreover, although it’s not intense, it’s a song with choreography, so I had a bit of a trick in mind to avoid being asked to dance.

While singing, I made eye contact with each of the judges, who were looking at me seriously. The song itself had a bright and hopeful feeling, so I smiled while singing too. I thought I would be nervous, but I could smile naturally because it was unexpectedly fun and exciting.

After finishing the song, I bowed my waist and greeted, “Thank you.” At some point, the judges’ faces had large smiles drawn on them.

“CEO, can I speak honestly?”

“Go ahead.”

“Haon sings really well. There are still parts where the pitch wavers and the vibrato is awkward, but the emotion is conveyed really well. I had a hard time holding back from getting excited and bouncing along. This is almost in the realm of god;y talent. I’m really looking forward to how he’ll turn out if properly taught.”

Based on how they spoke, they seemed to be a vocal trainer. It was a very positive signal. It was a good decision to raise my singing.

“Ah, thank you.”

“You’ve never learned anywhere, right?”

“Yes. I just sang alone.”

“Wow, but there are no strange techniques at all? You don’t even imitate the original singer. I enjoyed it.”

The vocal trainer finished their evaluation while nodding.

“I want to see you dance too, but can you do a song other than the one you just sang? One more specialized for dance.”

This time, the man to the left of the CEO asked. My trick didn’t work. What a shame.

“Uh, I’m even worse at dancing but I’ll try it.”

I selected a song and danced. Hmm. As expected, it wasn’t good even to me because the stat was low. The me from my past life dances much better. The dance trainer cut off the song midway while laughing. That’s too much.

“I had a good look. You still have a lot to learn in dance.”

“Hahaha…”

Well, what can I do? I can only laugh.

“But when you were singing U&I earlier, it looked like you danced really well? It means you have a basic sense of rhythm and talent. So it looks like you’re good at easy dances. But you probably won’t receive good evaluations yet in proper dance songs, so can you keep up with intense practice? It’ll be a bit tough if you want to practice, right?”

“Yes. I can do it. I like dancing and singing.”

I smiled while choosing an answer that sounded innocent. It’s important to show an image that fits my age without being asked to.

“Then I’ll ask the last question.”

The CEO’s eyes shone with a serious light. I have a bad feeling that a difficult question will come out…

“Haon, why did you come here?”

…Because you told me to come?

Didn’t you say you hoped I would come?

You even greeted me saying you were glad I came, no?

Didn’t you say to do it comfortably and that you’ll teach me?

But now you’re doing this?

As I blankly stared at the CEO with a stiff expression, I saw people lightly shaking their heads around me. If I answer this wrong, I’ll get cut, won’t I?

“…Because I want to be an idol.”

“You didn’t seem interested, so why did you change your mind?”

Not interested, my foot. Someone not interested wouldn’t be camping at a cafe every day waiting for casting! It seemed he misunderstood my image when we first met. I can’t help it since it turned out this way. Honesty is the best policy.

“It’s not that I wasn’t interested, I just didn’t have confidence. Honestly, my singing and dancing aren’t at a level where I can confidently show them off anywhere.”

I sneaked a glance to the side and saw the dance trainer nodding while laughing. They even played along, as if saying, ‘Right, your dance is a bit lacking.’ The vocal trainer even sent me support, saying, ‘Your vocals were good~’.

“I was going to take an audition once I got a bit better, but then the CEO gave me his business card. I really like dancing and singing. I can do well. I want to do it.”

I looked at the CEO with my strong will. I only omitted the part about deliberately aiming for it, but the rest was all true. If you can’t read the earnestness in my eyes, you don’t deserve to be a CEO. Because I want to clear the main mission! No one can be as desperate as me.

A kind smile appeared on the CEO’s face again. Did I pass? The CEO nodded while smiling and said,

“Alright. I understand it’s not a light interest. You can discuss the contract with Manager Kim Hyemi here. I’ll look forward to your future.”

So it seems he checked to see if I was someone who would do it casually and run away if it got tough. Fortunately, I passed. I thought I would have to wait one to two weeks for the results, but it was unexpected. A contract right away!

“You’re part of our family now. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

The person who reached out their hand to me with a smile was the one who came to get me in the hallway earlier. If they’re a manager, why were they doing things like greeting me?

“I’ll be in your care!”

I quickly greeted and followed the kind-faced manager. We had a short conversation while moving, and according to the manager, the CEO was really waiting for me.

He had an external schedule today and was about to leave, but when he heard the news that I arrived, he postponed his schedule. So that’s how I could take the audition so quickly. I don’t think I’m someone worthy of that much value… It was an ambiguous feeling.

I sat across from the manager with a desk between us.

“Your current age is 18, and you dropped out of high school? Are you preparing for the GED?”

I’m not preparing, but I’ll have to get it if necessary. I nodded as if I had been preparing originally.

“Why did you drop out?”

“That’s…”

“Is it a difficult reason?”

“No. I don’t have the brains for studying. Not only was I not cut out for studying, but I liked dancing and singing so much that the time spent at school felt like a waste. So I quit to quickly start doing what I like.”

I rambled on, adding 200% lies.

“What were you going to do if you couldn’t become an idol?”

I lied again because I didn’t want to hear that I thoughtlessly ditched school. Lies are snowballing like this, I wonder if I’ll face an avalanche later?

“I was going to become a vocal trainer.”

“You knew you had talent in singing.”

Manager Kim Hyemi said with a hint of laughter on her face. Of course. I have a fraudulent system that can create talent I don’t even have.

Manager Kim Hyemi clicked the mouse to print the contract and asked,

“If you have any SNS, show it to me once. And after this, don’t post photos, and if we ask you to delete, you have to delete it. Have you uploaded any videos on channels like YouTube?”

“I have nothing at all. Should I show you my phone?”

I was about to take it out of my pocket, but Manager Kim Hyemi smiled and handed me the contract.

“You don’t have to show me. I’ll trust you. Since you’re a minor, we need guardian consent to sign a contract. You can just bring back the signature, or if your parents want, they can come together.”

“Ah. I don’t have a good relationship with my parents…”

I should at least mention it. A slightly troubled look passed over Manager Kim Hyemi’s face. I understand.

If a 2nd year high school student who doesn’t like studying and drops out to dance and sing doesn’t have a good relationship with their parents, what would come to mind? They’d think I’m a delinquent.

This is why the same-day pass is surprising. They usually dig into your past once first. How can they trust me when they’re seeing me for the first time? Of course, even if they dig, there’s no dirty past to uncover.