Bold Bet on Stamina: End-of-Month Evaluation (1)
I'd boldly thrown 6 coins into stamina. Honestly, I hadn't completely ignored the potential side effects. But I couldn't not do it, so I'd made the call anyway. And now, checking my status window, I was dead certain it hadn't been a wasted choice.
Was it the stamina boost? The occasional bonus coin +2 had been popping off non-stop. I'd spent 6 coins, but thanks to that, I still had 6 left. "My choice was perfect~"
Boosting stamina was the way to rack up more coins. And if I squeezed some out of Rose and Jua noona, they'd pile up even faster.
I had my eye on some stuff to buy with a fat stack of coins. Games were all about gear, after all. The mart accessible through their status windows had way better efficiency than just dumping coins into raw stats—tons of game-changers.
After washing up and stepping out of the bathroom, Rose was awake. "Sleep well?"
"After pulling that insane stunt last night, you're fine?"
"Insane stunt?"
I played it off like it was no big deal, and she shook her head in disbelief. "I've thought this before, but you're weird."
She gave me an earful in the end, whining that she was too wiped out to even get up. Looking like her whole body was knotted up in cramps, she shuffled to the bathroom, washed off, and came back out.
We got dressed and left the hotel, an awkward silence hanging between us. Once we were out front, Rose spoke first. "You don't go blabbing about stuff like this, right?"
"No way."
Back on Earth, maybe, but here? No friends to swap dirty jokes with anyway.
"Keep it that way from now on. Once you debut, don't mess around recklessly. One scandal and you're done. Especially you—they'll watch you like a hawk at the company."
"Whoa~ So you're saying you'll have your fun, but no chances for other girls?"
"W-what? Don't talk nonsense! This was the first and last time."
If you haven't tasted it, fine—but once you know the flavor, quitting's impossible.
"Let's just call it a good memory for both of us."
I grabbed her ass hard and kneaded it, and she yelped. "Kyaa! H-hey, why do you keep groping my ass since last night?! What if someone sees?!"
"It's early—no one's around. You were all naughty last night, but now you're playing coy in the morning. I almost spanked you for being so cheeky. But it felt more like a reward than punishment."
"You jerk!"
"I get what you're saying, so don't worry. Private meetings like this? First and last, right?"
"...Yeah. It's best if we end it here. I'm saying this for your sake, so don't take it too hard. You're debuting soon—gotta be careful. If you've got other girls, cut it off now. It'd be such a waste to debut and then get dropped over something stupid."
She was patting me down like I was some immature kid, trying to sever ties. Infuriating.
Next time, I'd spank that ass red till she straightened up.
"Got it. You don't have to lecture me like a child. From now on, I'll treat you just as my vocal teacher."
"Huh? Uh, yeah, okay."
Her face screamed that's not it. She'd feel uneasy—I'd been way too cool about it, not matching whatever clingy reaction she'd imagined. As if I'd ever beg. With this face, this body, and my pride and joy down below, bending my pride for one woman? No chance.
"Keep teaching me well from now on, Teacher Rose?"
"Duh."
"Haha, then I'll head out first. My clothes are wrinkled—gotta swing home before heading to the company, or I'll be tight on time."
"Wait, let me drive you."
Rose grabbed at me desperately, but no dice.
"I'm good. Taxi'll do. See ya~"
Morning at a hotel meant taxis were idling, so I hopped right in. Glancing back through the window, I saw Rose staring me down. Trying to cut me loose with that much lingering regret? Infuriating.
I didn't know how long I could hold out, but I'd bide my time.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Big news! Big news!!"
"What what what???"
"Jaehun's quitting the company!!!!"
"No way!"
"For real?"
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Overheard the manager director talking to him. No lie."
"Fuck. We're screwed."
Ever since they dragged trainees out for profile photos last time, the debut group vibe had tanked hard. Rumors flew that the new boy group launching soon might cap at 5 members. 'Culling'—something I'd vaguely heard before—was kicking off for real.
"We still got end-of-month evals. What's with the sudden quit?"
"Idiot, you think that'll change shit? He bolted 'cause even stirring drama won't save him."
"They won't say it outright, but the lineup's already locked."
"Thought it'd be at least 8, but 5?"
"Shocking. For real."
"What now for us?"
"Brace for a few more years, or transfer companies."
"Ah... I got no confidence. Is this really it? Without even trying?"
For this end-of-month eval, everyone was grinding teeth and prepping hard. Show well, snag a debut shot—that was the hope. But one trainee bailing hit 'em with massive despair. Fear they'd end up the same.
"……"
"……"
Stuck prepping evals in this mood, we kept quiet. Couldn't console the despairing kids without it backfiring, or celebrate either.
Ki Uyeon, buddy with all the trainees, looked gutted and moved to approach them. I yanked his hoodie to stop him. "Don't."
"But..."
"Might just piss 'em off more. Best to shut up and sit tight."
"Yeah, Haesol hyung's right on this."
Even Jeki chiming in rare like that shut Uyeon up.
Atmosphere's totally fucked.
Jaehun, who'd seemed the shakiest mentally, declared escape. Could've toughed it out for evals and seen. Now trainees' morale was shattered pre-eval. Depressed, thinking they'd get culled too—no way they could practice.
"Why aren't you guys practicing?! What're you doing?!"
Then the manager director stormed in.
"Gasp!"
To trainees, scarier than a tiger.
"Eval's in a week, and you're slacking? One dipped—fine. Anyone here mastered everything perfectly? Raise your hand. I'll cut you loose."
"……."
"……."
Obviously, no takers. Thought he'd yell and bounce, but he came in fully, rounded us up.
"You've been scurrying like squirrels, so you know the rumors. Higher-ups are lining up debut candidates. I get the anxiety. But don't crack—prep hard for evals."
"What's the point now? You already locked candidates."
"That's too much."
"Right! Debuts should be by skill! Why push us to grind if it's fixed?"
Kids on the debut bubble got bold. They'd bottled grudges, but with my spot solid, they unloaded.
"Where's skill come from outta nowhere? Plenty kill it in showbiz without it—don't be naive. Never said it's final. Just candidates!"
"Then why profile pics if not locked?"
"We heard Jaehun's quitting too."
Caught off-guard by the pushback, director sighed and raised his voice. "Lineup can change anytime. If a little rumor shakes you enough to quit, get out now. We don't work with weaklings."
"!!"
He went hard; rowdy trainees flinched back. Their gripes stemmed from debut fear—calling their bluff crushed 'em.
Handles kids like a pro. Carrot and stick, keeps 'em off-balance.
Watching a vet work the rookies was almost sad. Young and malleable. Some even teared up—brutal. They rebelled outta debut desperation, but deep down hoped for their shot.
Not 1-2 years of grind for nothing. Poor things. Hope it works out.
Stung by conscience as a 30+ 'hyung,' stepping on these kids for debut felt shitty.
But what can ya do? Gotta eat. Can't yield my spot or I'm scrapped.
Sympathy for tears, sure—but no stepping up.
Uyeon was already sobbing in sync with them. Even that crybaby won't offer his spot.
Reality's like that. We crush 'em and debut? No guarantee of stardom.
"You're missing something. Evals ain't minor—they're everything."
"Sniff... Don't lie."
"No lie, kids! You live getting duped? This eval's your SAT. Locks if it's 5 or more—that day."
"Gasp?"
"!!!!!!"
"R-really?"
"Whoa!"
Miracle hit the snifflers. More members? Slight frown from me—threat.
"Yeah! CEO's coming too. Get how big now?"
"G-gotta practice!"
"That's it. Crying helps zilch. Grind till you drop. Been with ya long enough—no bullshit."
"Waaah! Director!!! Thanks!!!"
Instant 180.
"Then why'd Jaehun quit? Eval chance left."
If he bailed clueless? Faces twisted—director spoke. "You hear real news fast. Walls have ears, yeah?"
"Heh."
"Told Jaehun the same. He quit anyway. Wasn't gonna spill, but explaining to him leaked it."
CEO at eval? Secret. But Jaehun's sudden exit forced it—fairness meant announcing. Leaking to pals only? Unfair eval.
"Jaehun accidentally hooked us up."
"Yeah. When he returns, console him. Must've agonized."
"""Yes..."""
Trainees brightened from Jaehun's exit intel—but couldn't fully celebrate the bad news.