Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Synchronized Action
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A warm, sweet voice.
Hearing that voice, Yu-na's fear melted away, and she cautiously opened her tightly shut eyes.
Huh? What weird sunglasses.
A middle-aged woman was wearing strange sunglasses—with a fake nose and mustache attached, no less.
"How about it? Not scary anymore, right?"
Yu-na burst out laughing at the middle-aged woman's witty smile as she adjusted the sunglasses with her hand.
"Kyahaha! Yeah. They're really weird."
"Phew, that's a relief. Looks like I'll have to wear these for Yu-na a little longer."
"Right. Teacher, Uncle Jun-seo isn't coming today. I figured you might ask, so I'm telling you."
"That's too bad. I was hoping to meet actor Lee Jun-seo in person."
"Well, greetings are done... Let's head to the practice room, Yu-na."
"Do you get lots of snacks from the big sisters and brothers there? I haven't gotten any yet."
"You'll get some."
"Hehehe. Then let's hurry."
Having overheard Yu-na and Ha-yul's conversation, the middle-aged woman rummaged through a desk drawer for a moment before pulling out some yakgwa.
"Yu-na kiddo. Want some of this?"
"...Ha-yul, let's go quick."
Yu-na didn't even glance at the yakgwa.
The middle-aged woman stayed frozen until the kids left the office.
Break time was over.
Practicing my moves with Senior Yang Hyuk-su made it clear—the instructor's praise for me had been empty words.
'This senior... what the hell?'
Why is he so good?
His relentless attacks kept coming.
I'm doing it without mistakes...
But I could feel the opponent's actions, which I'd memorized so painstakingly, had shifted just a tiny bit.
Smoother, maybe?
More like actual martial arts?
Hard to put into words.
But definitely, something was different.
Of course, it didn't affect my own actions at all. It just felt unfamiliar in his ready stance.
In just one day.
Had he perfectly mastered the action and made it his own in a single day?
Right then.
The onslaught stopped.
He stepped back from me.
"...Hold on, Junior Jun-seo."
I stopped the action, caught my ragged breath, and wiped off the sweat roughly.
"Haa. Haa... Yeah?"
"That part just now. Doesn't it feel... a bit awkward? If we're going for a clean flow, how about trying it like this?"
I must have been pretty frustrating to watch.
Senior Yang Hyuk-su strode over and tweaked my movement, demonstrating it himself.
The concise, staccato blade strikes felt incredibly sharp. More threatening than the instructor's version?
"What do you think? Isn't this better?"
"...Yeah, it is."
"Let's go again."
"Okay."
Once. Twice.
Four times. Five.
We kept drilling until we nailed the action the instructor had called tough—in just one day.
'Is this what they call chemistry?'
I wiped the sweat from my brow and sat next to Senior Yang Hyuk-su, steadying my breathing.
For some reason, I felt proud.
"You worked hard, Senior."
"Hard? We both did."
"You fixed my moves and demonstrated them yourself."
At my praise, his shoulders twitched, and the corners of his mouth crept up almost to his ears.
"Yeah? Then maybe this time, I could use some help from my junior. I'm a step ahead in action, but you're the pro in acting, right?"
"You're great at acting too, Senior."
"True that. Want to try infusing emotion into the action this time?"
Great idea.
Honestly, I wanted to layer my usual acting emotions onto the perfectly mastered action.
I nodded without hesitation.
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Let's start right away."
Senior stood first, hand on his chest, muttering something under his breath.
That must be his emotional switch. I couldn't just stand there.
Time to do this right.
I stood facing him.
Relaxed my body completely.
Closed my eyes tight and emptied my mind with two deep breaths.
Hoo. Hoo.
Now, express the character image I'd analyzed to a T.
This fight scene is late in the story, so his speech should be a bit softer than at the start. He'd have some emotions by then...
Swish.
I opened my eyes and glared at Senior, pointing the prop dagger at him.
"...Time to end this."
"Hah, you think you can? Can your exhausted body even handle me?"
"It's enough."
His eyebrow twitched faintly, and he charged straight at me.
Thus began the endless exchange.
'This is fun.'
Was action always this fun?
My heart was pounding so hard from the thrill. Even though I was tired and worn out, I wanted to keep matching with Senior.
But.
We passed the midpoint and neared the end. I readjusted my grip on the prop dagger and swung hard at his chest.
Clack—! Thud!
Whoa... incredible.
'Back tuck without wires?'
Maybe because my swing went deep, but Senior pulled off an ad-libbed action right in front of me.
'Right, we're acting like it's real combat.'
I quickly reined in my emotions.
The final clash resumed.
It ended with my stab to his abdomen.
"Hoo..."
He'd asked for acting help, right? There was one thing about Senior's performance that stood out.
'Not enough killing intent...'
For a villain feeling inferior to superior skill and talent, it lacked that edge.
And focusing too much on action scattered the emotions.
"How was my acting, Junior Jun-seo?"
Should I say it all straight?
I looked him dead in the eye as he slowly stood.
"Your killing intent toward me was lacking. And I could feel your emotions getting disrupted from focusing too hard on the action."
"Oh, really? Guess so? Next time, more killing intent..."
Right then.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause and cheers erupted. While we were lost in the scene, a crowd had gathered.
Students, the martial arts instructor.
Even Senior Shin Su-young.
"Woooow! That was awesome!"
"Best ever!"
Martial Arts Director Park Mu-jin strode up and patted our shoulders.
"Nailing that tough action perfectly in one day, then layering emotion on top for acting—impressive."
We grinned sheepishly at his praise.
"Ahaha... I could memorize it easily thanks to Senior."
"Same here, thanks to Junior."
The director looked back and forth between us, his lips curving subtly.
"If you're okay with it... how about joining our action school?"
"No thanks."
"I'm good too."
Meanwhile, Yu-na...
Was sitting on the floor, munching on tasty snacks from the big sisters and brothers.
Her eyes fixed straight ahead.
Nom. Nom.
"...This is so boring."
Yu-na muttered softly to herself and let out a quiet sigh.
In front of her, sisters were paired up, deep in their acting.
"Wanna see Mom get mad?"
"Forget it! Study, study—I'm sick of it! Why force me to study stuff you never did!"
"You, you! Get over here!"
That's when the teacher with the weird sunglasses clapped.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"That's enough. Feedback now okay?"
Some students, still not used to the teacher's weird sunglasses look, turned and shrugged.
What about the ones facing her?
Their lips twitched as they gripped their thighs, fighting back laughs.
"...Yes."
"P-please, right away."
Nods. Nods.
Nodding brought snickers from around the room. But she ignored it completely, adjusted her sunglasses, and spoke.
"Good. Yu-jeong, your projection's decent, but your eye lines are immature. And So-hyun, your projection sounds awkward. Are you even practicing? Weak delivery ruins all your good lines."
That was it.
The reason Yu-na found it boring.
Their chemistry and projection.
And how they handled eye lines.
Acting without the basics couldn't entertain Yu-na.
She'd grown up on sets following Dad, watching pros act.
It was only natural.
Oblivious to that, Yu-na just kept eating snacks, indifferently watching her big brother and sisters get scolded.
"You're stumbling over lines from your own script? Does that make sense?"
"......"
"Next student..."
One by one.
No praise, just scoldings—the mood sank lower and lower.
How much time passed?
Finally, it was Ha-yul and Yu Ji-won sister's turn—the one she'd met first.
Ha-yul better not get in trouble...
Yu-na stopped eating, jumped up from her seat.
Dash!
She hurried over, grabbed Ha-yul's hand, and shook it up and down.
"Ha-yul! You got this! Support sister too!"
"Yeah."
"Thanks, Yu-na."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The teacher clapped again, approached Yu-na, and gently took her small shoulder.
"This is when they need to focus. No interrupting, Yu-na? Back to your seat."
"Yess."
Back in her spot, Yu-na clenched her tiny fist. Her eyes never left Ha-yul.
Soon, their scene began.
Pretending to walk hand-in-hand, Ha-yul's steps unusually bouncy.
"Heehee. Sister! Sister! So fun at the amusement park with you."
"Yeah? Sister loves coming with you too. It was a blast."
"Let's come play again next time, okay?"
"......"
Ha-yul's innocent charm.
Yu Ji-won's sad smile drew soft gasps from around.
"Ooh... A sister with a backstory and her little sis, huh?"
"Both acting great. Ha-yul's totally opposite her usual self. So natural."
Right then.
Yu Ji-won pulled out a handkerchief, coughed harshly, and whipped her head away.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Sister? You catch a cold?"
While Ha-yul asked worriedly.
Yu Ji-won flashed the red stain on the white handkerchief.
Then quickly hid it and shook her head.
"Just inhaled some dust, no worries. Let's go home."
"Yeah! Sister."
That was their prepared scene.
"Hmm."
The teacher's soft hum at the end stiffened their faces.
"Showing blood on the handkerchief was a good idea, but too on-the-nose. Think about camera angles, and it'll work."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Next... Ha-yul? Can't you show that innocent side more often?"
"Teacher! It's feedback time!"
Her playful jab lit up the mood instantly.
Everyone laughed, crowding Ha-yul to poke her cheeks.
In that great vibe.
Yu-na suddenly shot her hand up.
"Teacher! Yu-na wants to act too!"