Chapter 87
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Club Season Begins
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheongyeom Arts High allows dorm check-in five days before the start of the semester.
The house was too far from school, so there wasn’t much space to practice.
Desperate to use the practice rooms and gym even one day sooner, I moved into the dorm five days early.
And then, the day before school started,
“Hey, Lee Do-hyun. How’ve you been?”
Woo-sik made a noisy entrance as he returned to the dorm.
It had only been a few days, but being on my own had been pretty comfortable.
A little disappointing that it was over, but I was still glad to see Woo-sik.
“What’ve you been up to? No word from you.”
“I messaged you plenty, Do-hyun-nim. You straight-up ignored me five times.”
He actually kept count.
“…Ignored? I replied to everything.”
I’d tried to greet him warmly, but looks like I picked the wrong topic.
I’d told him I was practicing when he asked what I was doing, and when he suggested gaming after, I said I had to practice.
Vacation had been too hectic with tryout prep—no helping it.
“Nyeh nyeh nyeh. Sure, sure.”
Woo-sik grumbled like he was hurt and headed to his spot.
His attitude was so predictably consistent that I smoothly got to my feet.
“Wanna eat?”
My surefire move for Woo-sik.
I pulled out the donggrangttaeng Mom had made at home.
“Our Do-hyun, was vacation tough on you?”
Woo-sik zipped over with the world’s most innocent smile and snatched one up.
…He was too consistent.
***
Woo-sik made a huge fuss for a while, unpacked, changed into pajamas, and flopped onto his bed.
It wasn’t even 8 p.m. yet, dude.
He’d whined nonstop about how bored he was without his daily games and TV during break, then changed the subject.
“No way that’s real life, Do-hyun. For real?”
“For real.”
Woo-sik was in full denial that school started tomorrow.
Did he hate it that much?
Lying there, he launched into how productively he’d spent his vacation.
Mostly tales of messing around.
Totally stuff a seventeen-year-old would do, so I listened with fond nostalgia.
Then he asked about my updates.
Nothing much beyond the tryout performance.
“So, what’s Director Jang Jun-ho like?”
“Hmm… Incredibly heavy, but light.”
“Poetry much?”
Woo-sik pouted at what the heck that meant, but it was true.
No better way to put it.
If he was that curious, I could only tell him to work with the guy himself.
“Anyway, his direction? Next level.”
“Wow… I kinda wanna work with Director Jang too.”
Even Woo-sik showed real interest in musicals and auditions.
We chatted for a good while, then he asked, a touch sympathetic.
“But did you even rest? Tryout prep, putting on the show—total chaos.”
“Not really. Didn’t even cross my mind. It was fun.”
“…Yeah. Uncle Do-hyun wouldn’t slack off on vacation. Ugh. Couldn’t live like that.”
I shrugged at Woo-sik as he hugged his pillow and rolled around in disgust.
It really had been fun for me.
***
On opening ceremony day, the musical department classroom buzzed with the chatter of kids reuniting after so long.
Groups huddled here and there, talking up a storm—so loud it made your ears ring.
Thud thud.
Just like last semester, Huh Ji-woong strode in with his stick taps.
Seeing the rowdy scene after so long, he could tell school was back.
“Alright, everyone sit.”
The kids took their seats and turned to the lectern.
True to form, no long-winded speech just because it was opening day.
A few short words of advice, and soon the ceremony kicked off.
The kids fixed their eyes on the monitor streaming it.
Like any school, it started with the principal’s address and wrapped with the school song.
Once it ended, Ji-woong switched off the monitor and scanned the class.
“Rested up good?”
“Yes—!”
“Ow, my ears. Shameless lot if you’d said no.”
Must be the musical dept—voices like foghorns.
Ji-woong glanced at the lively bunch and thought, *Good*.
“Gonna go over second-semester schedule, so quiet down and pay attention.”
At “second semester,” the kids held their breath, zeroing in on him.
True to Cheongyeom Arts High form, they were hypersensitive to this stuff.
“Subject tests? Your teachers’ll cover. Just the changes from last semester. First up: master classes. Who knows what those are?”
Song Ha-na’s hand shot up like she’d been waiting.
“Knew it’d be you, Song Ha-na. Spill.”
The class burst into laughter at his deadpan tone.
Ha-na shot him a look, turned away, then stiffened up and answered.
“Bringing in famous musical actors to teach for the whole semester.”
“Right. Questions? Fire away.”
Ji-woong kept his eyes on Ha-na.
She narrowed hers at his vibe, then switched to poker face.
“How many times a week?”
“Once weekly, Mondays.”
“Evaluation method?”
“Up to the instructor.”
That’s when Woo-sik raised his hand.
“Who’s coming, teach?”
The burning question for everyone.
Even “famous musical actors” weren’t usually top-tier actives.
They had schedules booked a year out.
So mostly retirees or folks stepping back.
Lots of has-beens edged out by actives, so who’d teach? Major intrigue.
“Who’s it gonna be…?”
Expectant stares flew his way.
Even Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk looked eager.
“You’ll find out at the first class next Monday.”
Collective groans from the class.
*Ugh, teacher. That’s cold.*
“Now, what you’ve all been waiting for.”
*We have?*
What happens in first-year second sem?
Master class was all that came to mind.
“Hoo, time for this body to step up.”
Lame line, but Woo-sik looked in the know.
The kids stared at Ji-woong with sparkling eyes.
“Club programs start today.”
Waaaaaa!
They cheered like they’d finally heard what they wanted.
Ah, clubs. Right, those.
“Clubs have applications—grab ‘em, fill ‘em out, and once you’re officially in…”
Ji-woong, burned before, hammered it home.
“…*Officially* in, then come tell me. No ‘thought I was in, but it’s full’ crap. One and done, don’t bug me.”
“Yes!”
They answered in unison, but everyone was fidgety, dying to pick clubs.
“Always quick to answer. Some of you’ll screw it up, bet.”
Ji-woong eyed them suspiciously, then eased up.
“First day, so watch the club promo vids. Keep it down.”
He grabbed the remote and fired up the club promos.
Clubs: the bloom of Cheongyeom Arts High.
First semester freshman year is adjustment—no clubs.
They kick off in second sem.
Twenty-three clubs total.
Like any school, popular ones draw hot majors, hot kids.
Others? Casual hangouts.
Clubs straight-up equal connections here.
Rumor has it people pick the school for clubs.
They churn out celebs; more celebs, more prestige.
Alumni even drop by.
…All irrelevant to me before.
Never joined any.
Not unheard of—loners like me skipped ‘em.
What’d I do instead?
Grinded training solo with Ji-woong.
“Hey, Do-hyun.”
“Yeah.”
“Picked a club?”
“Not yet.”
“I have.”
Already?
My head snapped toward his resolute tone.
“What?”
“Me.”
Woo-sik said solemnly.
“Joining the sewing club.”
Sewing club. Knew the reason without asking.
Oblivious to my cooling gaze, he gazed dreamily into space.
“Gonna be crawling with girls. I’ll naturally get close… and if I prick my finger one day…”
Still lost in happy fantasies.
*Oh no, Woo-sik, you okay?* Girls swarming in concern, huh.
“Bet I’ll be the only guy…?”
Nah, dudes like you’ll swarm it.
Turn into demon club, not sewing.
“Perfect fit.”
No need to warn him.
He grinned happily at my smile.
Anyway, what club for me?
Up front, the monitor rolled through promo vids.
Music appreciation, flower arranging, the so-called “school flower” volunteer club.
Broadcast, choir, cheer squad—perennial hits—lined up.
Arts high for ya: student-made vids rivaled pro battles in quality.
Then Woo-sik muttered from the side.
“Flower arranging…?”
***
Lunch hit after a morning of opening ceremony and promo vids.
Just as I sat with Woo-sik and Lee Cheong-ha to eat,
Thud.
Song Ha-na plunked her tray next to me and sat.
“You…!”
Moon Woo-hyuk started yelling, but Kim Sun-woo held him back and took the seat beside Ha-na.
Woo-hyuk grumbled and went opposite her.
“Ooh…”
Woo-sik opened his mouth at Ha-na, but Woo-hyuk’s sharp glare shut him up.
What’s with the vibe?
Just eating lunch—why the faces?
Something on my face?
Ha-na aside, even Cheong-ha’s eyes gleamed fierce.
Didn’t know she could look that scary.
Woo-hyuk mess up again?
I tilted my head, took a spoonful of soup, and Cheong-ha scooted closer.
“Do-hyun!”
“Yeah.”
“What club you joining?”
About to say not decided, Ha-na cut in.
“Top ranker? Volunteer club, duh. Normals can’t, but top dogs got a shot.”
Yeah, Cheongyeom’s volunteer club felt more like a rich-kid mixer.
Word was they didn’t take regulars.
Top rankers could squeak in.
News to me.
Pre-regression, never topped.
“Volunteer’s too naked networking—not even a real club.”
Cheong-ha beamed as she said it.
Ha-na grinned back, firing.
“Naked? Just sore you can’t get in?”
“As if. Stuff my face daily—no bloating ever.”
Air felt frosty. Nah, imagination?