Chapter 216: Group Training (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 216: Group Training (1)
One peaceful Monday, PD Yang’s crew arrived at an old gymnasium in Gangwon-do at the crack of dawn.
“Hello, PD-nim!”
As the filming crew arrived on-site, Kim I-wol approached them with his usual bright smile.
While many groups only show up to practice once the filming preparations are complete, Spark had not only chosen their own training ground but seemed to have fully acclimated to the place before the crew even arrived.
“How long have you been here?”
“Since early this morning. Should we help you move the equipment?”
“Oh, no, you must be busy. We can handle it ourselves.”
“It’s our break time anyway, so it’s fine.”
With that, Kim I-wol picked up an equipment bag from the floor. His movements were practiced, as if he had done this many times before. Right, doing this kind of work was nothing new for him.
Just as PD Yang was about to designate spots for the cameras since most of the practice was scheduled indoors, the sound of pained gasping drifted in from a distance.
“Ack, huff…”
“Ugh…”
A group of tall young men ran toward the gym entrance, looking as if they might vomit and drop dead at any moment.
The first to arrive was the group’s youngest, Kang Gi-yeon. Wiping away the streaming sweat from his haggard face, he spoke.
“Hyung, I finished the run…”
“Good job. It looks like Cheong-hyeon and Seong-bin are coming up behind you, but where’s Ju-woo?”
“Ju-woo hyung couldn’t make it. He retired.”
“I don’t know what to do with him having such poor stamina. I’m truly worried.”
Kim I-wol sighed. He then pointed to the building next to the gym, telling them to go in and wash up.
“Did you all go for a group jog?”
“We all ran together to warm up. We agreed that whoever arrived first got to shower first, but the others are taking longer than expected.”
Despite his words, Kim I-wol looked perfectly fresh. In contrast to the other members who were gasping for air, he looked like he had already showered and even dried his hair completely.
‘Right, performing on stage after being given an eight-week recovery period isn’t something just anyone can do…’ PD Yang muttered to himself.
Just then, someone stepped out of the building Kang Gi-yeon had entered. It was the center, Choi Je-ho, drying his hair with a white towel. Seeing PD Yang and the crew, he bowed in greeting.
“Why did you come out without drying your hair properly? There was a hairdryer inside.”
“Was there?”
Choi Je-ho half-heartedly rubbed his hair a couple more times with the towel and picked up the remaining luggage.
While the two went inside the gym to move the equipment, the rest of the members arrived, looking like haggard zombies.
“Huff, Hel… lo. This is… Spark’s… Seong-bin…!”
“There’s no rush to greet us, so drink some water first. Catch your breath!”
An assistant director nearby quickly opened a bottle of water and handed it to Jeong Seong-bin. Despite receiving the bottle politely with both hands, the leader emptied it quite aggressively. By the time Jeong Seong-bin took the bottle from his lips, there was hardly any water left.
“Hell… ugh, I’m… Cheong-hyeon. The rapper! Cough.”
“You drink some water too!”
His face, usually more brilliant than a flower and clearer than a lake, was flushed bright red. It was as if the group’s symbolic gemstone had changed from a diamond to a ruby.
PD Yang had always thought his face was admirable, but he never expected him to look aesthetically pleasing even when he looked like a boiled cherry tomato.
PD Yang was once again struck by Spark’s physique and visuals up close. He had thought they stood out exceptionally among idols even in the Idol Dynasty Annals (A.Wang.Sil), but facing them alone, their celebrity aura was palpable.
Seeing them gathered like this, it felt like a massive painting created on a single canvas with a perfectly coordinated color palette.
This was likely why Spark’s 2nd Competition was still talked about under the honorable nickname of the “Van Gogh — Starry Night Stage.”
To think these beautiful young men were sweating and running since dawn just for a one-time appearance. But just as PD Yang was about to be moved by their passion, Kim I-wol, who had already moved a load of luggage, began nagging his younger members.
“Guys, don’t subject the staff to the smell of your sweat. Go wash up quickly.”
“That’s mean. This is proof that we ran with our lives on the line!”
“If you hadn't given it your all, you'd be hanging upside down from a street tree by now.”
Kim I-wol was surprisingly cold-hearted.
‘Didn’t he have a softer image in A.Wang.Sil?’ PD Yang wondered, but he snapped out of it when Kim I-wol called him.
“PD-nim, may I step away for a moment while you prepare for filming?”
“Of course. Where are you going?”
“One member hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m going to check on him. He should be here soon, but just in case.”
With that, Kim I-wol ran lightly toward the back of the building where Jeong Seong-bin and Lee Cheong-hyeon had appeared.
By the time the production team was busy installing lights and cameras, Kim I-wol returned, pushing the back of the team’s vocal, Park Ju-woo. Park Ju-woo, drooping like a piece of wet cotton, managed a weak greeting to the crew before staggering toward the showers.
If this was just the warm-up, how intense was the actual practice going to be? PD Yang couldn't understand why UA was so intent on turning their idols into "athletic idols."
To carry out the new task given by the system, Spark rented an indoor gymnasium that was available for free. To be precise, I rented it.
—Why are you the one renting it, Hyung? You can just ask the company!
—No, I just happened to know a place you can rent for free if you make a reservation…
I did get chewed out by Lee Cheong-hyeon during the reservation process. But what could I do? I just happened to find a decent gym back when I was working at Hanpyeong Industry. It was the perfect place for a unity contest. Damn it.
Instead, UA hooked us up with specialized venues like the archery range. A unity contest where I didn't have to prepare everything alone—I was deeply moved from the very start of the preparation process.
Once the venue was secured, we decided on the events. To say we put as much effort into it as a concept meeting would only be a slight exaggeration.
Next, we planned the training routine. To make the most of our precious three-day, two-night training camp, I put our heads together with the trainer. At first, I let Choi Je-ho join in, but since he wasn't much help, I sent him out.
In the middle of it, Park Ju-woo and Lee Cheong-hyeon said they wanted to prepare something since it was our first training camp, so I told them to go ahead.
I did think, ‘The two of them…?’ but I figured if I worked them hard enough so they didn't have any energy left for nonsense, they wouldn't cause any trouble.
And now, having traveled to the region where the gym was located at the crack of dawn and finished a 10km jog.
With the start of filming, Spark’s journey to upgrade their beauty had also begun.
In my case, I decided to do one-on-one basketball practice with Choi Je-ho in the morning. The two of us were set to compete in basketball.
Since it’s a sport with a high probability of physical contact between players, we, who had finished our physical enhancement, decided to participate.
For the record, I wanted to play futsal too, but Jeong Seong-bin cut me off. He said there was a risk I might head the ball subconsciously.
—In the same vein, foot volleyball is out too. Got it?
—As long as I don't head the ball…
—You might say that, but if you accidentally do it, it’ll be a disaster, Hyung. Do you know how many iron pins are in your head…
Jeong Seong-bin trailed off, clearly not wanting to dwell on it. The atmosphere turned grim along with him.
So, for my own safety and the members' peace of mind, I decided not to participate in any events where there was a risk of head injury.
—Why don't you just skip basketball too, Hyung?
Of course, an even harsher tackle came from Kang Gi-yeon.
—Don't worry. I'll only shoot from outside the line.
But I defended my position brilliantly. I have to participate in at least three events to get that porcelain-like, fair skin.
It was good that I managed to secure a spot in basketball through such a process. Until Choi Je-ho was attached to me as a set.
Lee Cheong-hyeon paired him with me to act as a "human airbag," but… considering the average height of boy groups, it was obvious that both Je-ho and I would end up fighting under the basket, so it didn't really resonate with me.
“You said you’ve played basketball before, right?”
I asked, casually bouncing the ball on the floor. Choi Je-ho answered nonchalantly.
“Yeah.”
“What was your position?”
“Center.”
“I guess you’re destined to be the center no matter what you do.”
I regretted it as soon as I said it. It was because "Center Emperor Choi Je-ho" came to mind. Judging by his expression, he was thinking the same thing. Right, you probably don't want to be saved in a friend's phone as "Center Emperor" either. I'm sorry about that.
“What about you?”
Choi Je-ho asked.
“I was a center too.”
In a casual high school basketball game without any former athletes, doesn't everyone over 180cm end up doing something similar? Unless you have such incredible basketball sense that people say you're actually good.
“Still, I’ve never heard anyone say I’m bad at it.”
The basketball felt good in my hands. The sound of the ball echoing off the gym floor was rhythmic and crisp.
I saw a spark ignite in Choi Je-ho’s eyes.
For lunch, we had a normal meal for once. This was because we planned to burn off every single calorie while we were awake.
The camera directors worked hard to film us sitting on the gym floor, opening our delivery food. Was it my imagination that I saw a hint of pity in their expressions?
I was savoring the chewy cold noodles (jjolmyeon) I had ordered for the first time in what felt like 300 years when Jeong Seong-bin spoke to me.
“Hyungs, how was your morning practice? It looked pretty intense earlier.”
“It was intense. In the end, I won.”
I proudly boasted about my morning achievement. Regardless, Choi Je-ho just kept shoveling his pork cutlet bowl into his mouth next to me.
“What about you guys? Was it manageable?”
At my question, their spoons stopped. One would think I had asked them to bring me their report cards.
“I’ll… do my best.”
Park Ju-woo answered with difficulty. No, I mean, is someone going to scold you if you don't get good results?
Leaving me frustrated, the guys finished their bowls with expressions as if they were chewing on sand. Then, after cleaning up neatly, they returned to their designated spots, stretched, and devoted themselves to practice again.
“Why are they acting like that? Is there some kind of penalty if they don't get a good rank?”
I asked the PD, but the only answer I got was that such a thing would never happen.
That’s when Choi Je-ho, who had just downed his soybean paste soup in one go, spoke up.
“They seem to think you want to win the overall championship.”
“Huh?”
What is he talking about?
Explain in detail, you unhelpful brat.