Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Dance Battle
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It had been a while since I'd had some beef soup.
"Why are you doing this! Seriously!"
"What's wrong with it? Hajin hyung."
"I thought you were mature beyond your years, but you're just a kid after all."
Yoo Hajin spun around abruptly after saying that.
"Guys! Tomorrow! Dance battle!"
The pre-debut group practicing nearby suddenly erupted in cheers. What? It's not just between us two?
"Who do you think is voting?"
Ah.
I quickly bowed my head to them.
"Please give me your precious vote."
They burst into loud laughter. Yoo Hajin patted my shoulder.
"You're surprisingly good at comedy. You'd kill it on variety shows."
"Well, it's more like wordplay than straight comedy."
It was a reflexive line whenever voting came up.
'I did election polling gigs, after all.'
To help out my aunt.
I dashed over to them. Well, stepping on it once wouldn't hurt.
'Still, it's different from Heo Suyong hyung.'
That guy went straight to violence.
'Must be the pre-debut group's vibe.'
I glanced at Yoo Hajin. The group's idiotically bright atmosphere was probably all thanks to him.
'He really grows on you.'
Why didn't Zenith work out?
I shook my head and searched for the song Ki Jaeyun had told me about on the video app. Vita's track flowed from my smartphone. I quietly memorized the choreography. Was it my eye for detail? My body moved with total freedom.
'They think I'll lose.'
The old me might have.
'But what can you do.'
I'd leveled up my dance to A-rank.
I held back a grin and started practicing. A body with A-rank dance and boosted flexibility felt completely different.
'The melody doesn't spike too high.'
It matched my vocal range.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea hit me. Even I had to admit it was genius.
***
Yoo Hajin raised one hand and shouted.
"Pre-debut group~"
The pre-debut seniors all responded in unison.
"Dance battle!"
They jumped up and started dancing goofily.
"Ta-da-da-da ta-da~"
Wow. Like a national singing contest?
'Pathetic.'
I eyed the "Friends Entertainment" sign on the wall.
'Is this okay?'
Future K-pop powerhouse?
Ignoring my thoughts, they kept chanting "ta-da-da-da" before finally settling down.
"Red corner~ Training period 8 years~ Ki. Jae. Yoon!"
Wrestling now?
"Blue corner~ Training period 1 month~ Cha. Do. Won!"
Pitiful compared to the senior's resume. I stepped forward with a bright smile, and Yoo Hajin added.
"He's got a music video with Yumi and a bakery CF under his belt. Jealous, right? Everyone, applause!"
Clap clap clap—
Even more pathetic. As I let out a small sigh, the damn guy in front of me said.
"Dowon, smile."
"Hyung..."
What are you doing, Kang Minje?
"Why'd you bring a camera?"
Kang Minje beamed.
"Gotta film something this fun. Oh, Executive Director Joo lent it to me."
Wait, is everyone in this company that idle?
"He said to film it well and show him."
The bastard was grinning ear to ear. I crossed my arms quietly and sighed.
'Is it just me, or does this feel hotter than the month-end eval?'
Yoo Hajin was still laughing with the pre-debut kids.
'Nice guy.'
I looked back at Kang Minje. Zenith's prospective "leader" was filming me with the camera on.
'The leader spot should've gone to Yoo Hajin.'
Why'd the fox get it? No clue.
"Alright, let's start. Who goes first?"
I shook my head and said.
"Whatever."
"Then you first, Jaeyun."
Wondering the criteria, I glanced at Yoo Hajin, who smiled amiably.
"Juniors go last."
Fair enough.
Ki Jaeyun stretched and moved to the center. Yoo Hajin sat me in a chair—the best view of Jaeyun.
"Why am I the only one in a chair?"
"Oh, contestants sit. Tradition."
Everyone else plopped on the floor.
"We just made it, though."
What?
Staring in disbelief, Yoo Hajin whispered.
"Traditions are made up on the spot, right?"
"It's not to make me nervous, is it?"
Yoo Hajin didn't answer. Kang Minje, filming me, did.
"Dowon. Nervous?"
What nonsense is that?
"Haven't even seen the opponent's skills. Why would I be?"
Kang Minje smirked.
"That's Dowon for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Hajin, this is the guy."
"Ahem."
Yoo Hajin smiled brightly at me.
"I see! Ambitious one, huh?"
"That's why his nickname's Ambition Boy."
"Fits perfectly!"
Yoo Hajin clutched his stomach laughing. What was so funny?
'They feed off each other great.'
Weirdos.
Whatever their chit-chat, the music started. Ki Jaeyun danced with total confidence.
'Popping and locking's his specialty.'
His joints snapped sharply. The prodigy lived up to the hype.
His body swayed to the beat. Watching him float lightly, I got why he'd made pre-debut on dance alone.
'Good dancer.'
I admitted it readily. He might even be better than me right now.
'But here's the thing.'
The prepared mind is at ease. I grinned, enjoying Ki Jaeyun's dance.
It ended soon. Ki Jaeyun licked his thumb with a smug look.
'Ugh, gag.'
Acting cool in a room full of guys.
Sure enough, the beloved pre-debut seniors all pretended to puke.
"Come on, come on!"
Yoo Hajin jumped up.
"Thanks for the great dance. Applause, everyone!"
He'd make a good MC. The seniors clapped dutifully. Yoo Hajin grinned at me.
"You too!"
Damn.
I clapped mechanically.
"Alright, your turn to prep?"
I stood and stretched. The bear-like guy appeared out of nowhere.
"Body okay?"
"Yeah."
"Knock 'em dead!"
Felt like a real match. I exhaled softly and nodded.
Yoo Hajin clapped his hands.
"Ready~?"
Like kindergarten.
"Yes."
"Hit the stage."
The vibe was insane. Were they on something? Why so hyped?
'Well, it's a stage all the same.'
I stood center and grinned. Ki Jaeyun, alone in the chair, smirked like "bring it."
'Gotta meet expectations.'
The music started.
I widened my stance and bent at the waist. Flexible joints moved smoothly.
"Whoa!"
Yoo Hajin's short gasp. I smirked.
'No big deal.'
Really nothing.
'Crowd gets the blood pumping.'
I moved my legs to the beat, twirled my fingertips in the air, then dropped my upper body. Unlike Jaeyun's popping.
Silence fell. I grinned at the audience.
Now.
"I'm~ so great~ what can ya do~!"
Singing made their eyes twitch.
Listen up, seniors?
'Dance battle, but no rule saying no singing.'
We're training to be idols, right?
'So sing and dance.'
Dancing alone? We're not dancers.
I tensed my abs and hit the chorus.
"The me you see~ the you I see~"
Kang Minje with the camera caught my eye.
I dropped low then sprang up.
"Great ol' me!"
Silly lyrics, funny song, but perfect here. I did the final move, inhaling and exhaling.
Felt sweat trickle down my back as I bowed.
"Please give me your precious vote."
I pointed two fingers.
"Candidate number two, Cha Dowon."
The seniors burst out laughing. Amid the chaos, I headed back slowly. I tried peeking at Ki Jaeyun's face, but the bear grabbed my shoulder first.
"Nice!"
"Thanks. I'll make beef soup and share."
Panting, I looked at Yoo Hajin. He stood and said.
"Time for a fair, transparent, secret vote. You know it's confidential, right?"
I crossed my arms. Could I vote too?
"Hands up for Jaeyun~!"
What.
'Show of hands?'
Some "fair and secret" vote.
Ki Jaeyun and a few raised hands. Yoo Hajin beamed.
"For ambitious Dowon?"
Ah, that again.
Most hands shot up. I sighed, bowing and rising again.
"Thank you for your precious vote."
Big hands patted my arms, legs, shoulders. These guys read people well.
Then Ki Jaeyun yelled.
"It's a dance battle! Judge on dance only!"
"Oh, right."
Huh.
I faced the beloved seniors.
"Aren't we trainees? Trainee dance battle, so singing's fine. Scoring's up to you. If it's unfair, sing too, Jaeyun hyung."
Kang Minje, filming, covered his mouth laughing. Trainees started cracking one by one.
Ki Jaeyun shouted.
"Hey!"
Whoa, startled! Why yell in my ear?
"Ambition Boy Dowon."
Yoo Hajin smacked my shoulder.
"Jaeyun can't sing."
Someone chimed in.
"Tone-deaf."
"Can't rap. Off-beat."
"Three vocal teachers gave up."
Got it.
I looked at Ki Jaeyun. Pity welled up, rare as a blue moon.
"Let's revote on dance only."
Ki Jaeyun yelled.
"Don't pity me!"
I smiled at him.
"I'm fine with it!"
"Hey, Cha Dowon!"
He suddenly grabbed my collar.
'Huh.'
Gonna hit me?
His arm trembled. Ki Jaeyun's pupils shook endlessly.
I glanced aside. Kang Minje filmed silently.
'No stopping?'
Why?
Ki Jaeyun gripped tighter.
"Cha Dowon. You're one month in? I'm at eight years."
I met his eyes.
"I see."
He averted his gaze and whispered.
"Thanks."
Huh?
His grip loosened. Ki Jaeyun bounced like a monkey, yelling.
"Dowon says revote! Hands! Hands! Hands!"
Damn.
'Fell for it.'
First real trick since regressing. Fresh feeling.
Tsking in shock, someone tapped my shoulder. Kang Minje, camera up, hand over mouth.
"Hyung, just laugh."
"Hahahahaha!"
That jerk can laugh. Kang Minje wiped tears, beside himself.
"First time seeing you get owned!"
"You look thrilled."
"You're weak to fools."
I sighed. Wanted to deny, but it nagged.
How many fools were there?
'Manager, choreographer...'
I turned, eyeing the teary, laughing bear.
'Lee Seungjun too. Spot on.'
Shaking my head, laughter swelled. Yoo Hajin yelled again.
"Hands for Ki Jaeyun's dance?"
Most raised arms.
'My golden ten grand.'
Ten grand gets 400g beef.
Tearing up inwardly, Kang Minje said.
"Loser usually pays ten grand, but..."
He pulled an envelope from his pocket.
"Exec Director Joo said fleecing the loser is too much. Winner takes this."
"Woo! Exec Joo! Exec Joo!"
Pre-debut seniors chanted "Exec Joo!" in cheers.
'Big spender.'
Kang Minje handed the white envelope to Ki Jaeyun. Monkey-boy snatched it gleefully and bolted.
Yoo Hajin placed a hand on my head.
"How's it feel?"
"Like I wrote a check for that monkey."