Chapter 103
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Comprehensive Evaluation Teams
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The classroom where teams standing together on the second semester comprehensive evaluation stage had gathered.
It quickly grew noisy as each team discussed the works they’d been assigned.
Among them, the ‘Clown’ team was chatting in the warmest atmosphere.
“Sun-woo, why’d you pick this one?”
One of the kids on the same team asked Kim Sun-woo.
It was something I’d been curious about too, so I perked up my ears.
“Hmm… The historical drama genre is appealing, and it seemed like it’d go well with the contemporary dance I learned?”
Contemporary dance, huh.
Sure enough, Kim Sun-woo’s lines were beautiful—he’d done contemporary dance.
If you looked purely at dance lines regardless of gender, his would be the most exquisite.
If he incorporated that talent into this play……
Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. It’ll make for some pretty elegant scenes.
Not only would it suit him perfectly, but doing what he’s good at would naturally raise the quality.
Clack clack-!
Just then, Huh Ji-woong’s signature stick sound rang out.
The announcement for the comprehensive evaluation had just gone up, and he drew the attention of the students who’d grown noisy in the blink of an eye after letting their guards down a bit.
“Alright, alright. Save the chatter for later!”
The kids, who’d been as rowdy as a marketplace, finally calmed down at Huh Ji-woong’s words.
“Everyone’s sitting with their teams, right?”
“Yes-!”
Huh Ji-woong gave a quick once-over to check if they were properly seated, then moved on to the remaining announcements.
“Now, we’ll reveal the directors for each work. Some of you might recognize the names.”
Huh Ji-woong brought up the last slide of the PPT.
The kids all fell silent and focused on the screen at the mention of announcing the directors and their names.
“For number 1, ‘Clown,’ the directing supervisor is first-year Directing major Song Jun, and the sound supervisor is first-year Music major Park Ha-neul.”
This comprehensive evaluation, like last time, would involve collaboration across departments.
Song Jun, Park Ha-neul.
Unfortunately, they weren’t names that particularly stuck out in my memory.
Before my regression, I hadn’t stood on the ‘Clown’ stage for the comprehensive evaluation.
I probably never even talked to Song Jun or Park Ha-neul until they graduated.
Still, since they’d been selected as supervisors for this evaluation, there was no need to doubt their skills.
There must’ve been bloody competition in the Directing department just to get their names on this collaboration project.
“For number 2, ‘Eighteen Youth,’ the directing supervisor is.”
On the other hand, I did remember who the director for ‘Eighteen Youth’ was.
Before my regression, the work I’d done for the second semester comprehensive evaluation was exactly ‘Eighteen Youth.’
Back then, I’d just followed along with Woo-sik, my roommate and the one I was closest to, without much thought.
Come to think of it, Woo-sik had picked number 2 back then too……
Of course, I’d had the smallest role at the time.
Even so, the reason I remembered the director was just one.
“First-year Directing major, Yoon Jong-hoon.”
It was because he was the top talent in Directing: Yoon Jong-hoon.
It was also the only reason I’d hesitated briefly during the vote to pick the comprehensive evaluation works earlier.
‘Clown’ had drawn me in, but I already knew ‘Eighteen Youth’ would be under Yoon Jong-hoon, someone whose talent I’d synced with before.
But this time, I chose the work I wanted to do over the director: ‘Clown.’
I’d work with Yoon Jong-hoon someday anyway, if I kept doing musicals.
Meanwhile, one team was especially rowdy.
“Yoon Jong-hoon??”
“Yoon Jong-hoon?!”
At the name Yoon Jong-hoon, Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk reacted simultaneously, like they’d planned it.
Their voices were so loud that kids from other teams turned to look.
They’d been on the same team with the same director for the first semester evaluation too.
Knowing his skills, they seemed inwardly thrilled.
The other teammates, who’d been worried between Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk, let out sighs of relief at the news that Yoon Jong-hoon was directing.
Yoon Jong-hoon would manage to sort out Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk somehow.
Lee Cheong-ha also had an expectant look now that she’d be working with Yoon Jong-hoon, who’d made a name for himself in the first semester.
Meanwhile, Woo-sik was….
“Hey, Do-hyun.”
“Yeah. Huh? What’s up with you.”
Woo-sik, who’d naturally struck up a conversation, almost caught me off guard.
He was sitting next to me with a serious expression.
Why’s this guy here?
We were supposed to sit by teams.
“Why are you over here?”
“I felt like I’d get in the way if I sat there. The air’s freezing.”
At his words, I glanced over at the ‘Eighteen Youth’ group.
This time, I decided to acknowledge Woo-sik was right.
It wasn’t a problem for him to be here anyway, so I decided not to care.
“You close with Yoon Jong-hoon?”
“Jong-hoon? Eh, we’re not awkward around each other.”
We’d been lead and director in the last evaluation, after all.
We’d shared the same pot of rice.
No sooner had I finished speaking than Woo-sik grabbed my hand and said with a serious face.
Did your art style just change all of a sudden?
“Introduce me to him.”
Woo-sik had never been this serious, which made me uneasy, so I subtly pulled my hand away.
“You’ll meet him soon anyway. Why?”
“If it’s the director, you know.”
Woo-sik recited in an even more serious tone, lost in his delusions.
“He might throw in a love line or something. I can’t be the lead anyway.”
“…….”
Is this whole thing an act from start to finish?
Has he been holding this concept since day one of school?
How else could someone be this consistently one-note?
“A slap scene would be fine too…….”
How could someone be this consistently pathetic?
Muttering that, Woo-sik caressed his cheek like Song Ha-na had slapped him.
People really come in all types.
As I looked at him with a disgusted expression,
Woo-sik must’ve seen my face.
“What’s with that look?”
I turned my head away coldly, deeming him unworthy of conversation.
I added softly under my breath.
“…Gross.”
Woo-sik’s eyes widened like he’d been shocked by my words, then he grabbed my shoulder.
“W-What? Gross?!”
He’d yelled louder than he meant to without realizing.
The outcome was predictable.
“Min Woo-sik! Why are you yapping over here where you don’t belong! Out in the hall!”
At Huh Ji-woong’s command, Woo-sik trudged out into the hallway with an extremely aggrieved look.
***
After dinner, the dorm wasn’t peaceful at all—it was in a standoff.
It was because Woo-sik had been glaring at me with a resentful expression nonstop since the cafeteria.
At this point, my eyes hurt, so I’ll call it quits.
“It wasn’t my fault.”
“How isn’t this your fault? Why!”
In the end, I tried to soothe him first by speaking up.
No sooner had I opened my mouth than Woo-sik screeched.
He was still sulking over getting chewed out by Huh Ji-woong earlier.
“How could you call me gross…….”
Was it too harsh?
I’d even said it as mildly as possible.
“Fine. Sorry, I’m sorry. Can’t you drop that fiery glare now?”
Woo-sik huffed and whipped his head away.
I couldn’t let him keep this up forever.
Still, I should cheer him up.
“But you’re on the same team as Song Ha-na, so that’s good, right? Use this chance to get close.”
At my subtle nudge, Woo-sik’s face softened a bit as he looked over.
How is he this simple?
Then his lips twitched, and soon his nostrils were flaring.
Weren’t you mad just now….
No, wait—maybe his emotional richness is why he dreams of acting.
The more I see, the more unique a character he is.
“What kind of guy does Ha-na like?”
Woo-sik sidled up to me with an innocent face like he’d never been mad, demanding an answer.
Why ask me?
“How would I know.”
“You’re pretty close with Song Ha-na. You do club stuff together.”
We had done a fair bit together.
Come to think of it, I’d been to her house, we were partners for the master class this time,
And during break, I’d seen her way more than Woo-sik….
Before regression, we’d barely even talked.
Looking back like this, it really was impressive.
In my past life, Song Ha-na hadn’t even known the name Lee Do-hyun.
“Hmm…….”
The kind of guy Song Ha-na likes.
I didn’t even know what she liked in general, let alone guys.
But there was one thing I could say for sure.
“She hates incompetence. She’ll despise anything that looks pathetic.”
I could confidently say what she hated.
Woo-sik furrowed his brow like it was too complicated.
Should I explain it simpler?
“She likes kids who are good at musicals.”
The reason she’d even talked to me was probably because an unexpected talent had shown up.
Having lived through school twice, I knew for sure.
She didn’t seem interested in anything but musicals, and she looked down on the incompetent ones.
No one in the musical major hates the kids who excel at musicals, anyway.
“Musicals……?”
I nodded firmly at Woo-sik, who asked cautiously.
“What counts as good? Is there a standard? Do I have to be top like you?”
Even if it wasn’t me, he probably couldn’t be top……
Saying that would make him sulk for days.
What should I say?
I was about to brush it off lazily, but his pitiful expression made me feel like I had to toss him something.
“Set a goal first.”
“A goal?”
Woo-sik pondered, then tilted his head.
“What kind of goal?”
The loftiest goal from a first-year’s perspective right now.
But one that maybe, just maybe, he could reach.
“Like the Cheongyeom Arts Festival.”
It came out without a second’s hesitation.
It was my own target for first year.
“The Cheongyeom Arts Festival…….”
Woo-sik scowled and thought long and hard, then suddenly lifted his head.
“I’ve decided. I’m aiming for the Cheongyeom Arts Festival too!”
“Oh, impressive.”
I applauded with a completely flat expression and tone.
Now that I’d given him a goal, he wouldn’t bug me about Song Ha-na anymore.
One issue resolved—my mind eased.
I thought I could finally rest, but Woo-sik bolted up from his bed and pointed at me.
“You want to stand on the Cheongyeom Arts Festival stage too, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then, from today, you’re my rival.”
“Yeah?”
Woo-sik declared it boldly, nodding vigorously and snorting.
Hmm. If I leave it like this, he’ll keep nagging me about being rivals.
No choice.
I dusted off my butt from the chair and stood.
“Then, let’s go.”
Before that, I decided to nip his annoying behavior in the bud.
Was it intuition?
Woo-sik flinched unconsciously at my actions and asked.
“W-Where?”
“Where else.”
I grinned slyly.
“W-Why are you smi, smiling like that? It’s scary….”
Seeing my face, Woo-sik pressed himself against the wall.
Soon, his scream echoed through the dorm hallway.
The rooms next door were so used to it they didn’t react.
Bang. Slam.
The dorm door flew open, and Woo-sik—dragged out in gym clothes and sneakers—had a face full of tears.
If you make a pledge, you have to act on it.
Meanwhile, I hummed a tune, gripping his arm and quickening my steps.
“The foundation of everything is stamina. If you’re my rival, your current stamina won’t cut it.”
“This isn’t what I meant…….”
Too bad—regret comes too late.