Debut Team Practice (1)
It's Monday. I stayed up until dawn scouring the internet for info on this world, barely squeezing in some sleep. Now that it's Monday, I've gotta head to the company. Trainee life is brutally packed.
This body of mine just turned twenty after graduating high school, and its daily grind is clocking into the agency for nonstop classes and practice. That's it. The whole schedule.
Should I pick up a part-time gig? I've got those 20 million won from Poni. Without a job, that cash'll vanish in a heartbeat.
But I'm about to join the debut team anyway. Even if I snag something now, once debut prep kicks off, I won't have time for it.
"Guess I'll just burn through my savings till debut, huh?"
But when is debut? As far as I know, the lineup isn't even set yet. How long does it take to debut as an idol around here?
Not over a year, right?
Today, I pushed through the endless stares from women on the street and made it to the agency. Yesterday's panic had me taking a taxi, but from now on, I'll walk. Novels are novels—this is reality, and I can't ignore the most real problem: money.
The agency's a 30-minute walk away.
Decent workout, at least.
Even if it feels like their eyes are drilling holes in my face!
Honey Enter. The entrance alone is no joke.
A jaw-dropping sight hits me. A swanky cafe, massive posters of stars' faces, shelves crammed with what look like albums and merch. It's early, so only a few people are lounging in the cafe.
The Honey Enter building's six stories tall, and trainees like me head to the second floor for classes.
Debut team's got dance class today.
I've never danced in my life. Can I even pull this off?
"Hello."
I swiped my trainee card on the second floor and stepped inside. Following the memo on my phone, I entered the practice room—empty, but a staffer was there, so I bowed politely.
"Come on in."
She's talking casual, so she must know me—er, this body.
Just head into the practice room now?
"Where you going? Gotta check in first."
"Oh, right, forgot."
I was about to stroll right in when she poked at the attendance sheet.
I checked it, jotted the time, and marked myself present.
"You know you've got debut team classes today, right?"
"Uh... yeah."
I figured since I'm on the debut team roster, I've been in it forever—but turns out today is my first official day.
Good thing she said something, or I'd have acted all buddy-buddy with some stranger.
"I'm here for the morning dance class."
"Right~ They told you since you're not in school, you can do morning sessions too."
Did they?
"Yeah."
My schedule's got one morning class and one afternoon. Mornings from 9 a.m. to noon, afternoons 4 to 8 p.m. The rest is "self-study." But for trainees fighting to make debut team? Self-study means grinding harder than anyone to outshine the competition.
Logging entry and exit times? They're watching our hustle 24/7.
Even in this gender-reversed world, clawing to the top takes desperate effort.
And I've bulldozed my way in with body lobbying.
Suddenly, I'm on edge. Debuting with these skills? I'd eat shit from every hater out there.
Celebs get depressed from hate comments, panic attacks—the works. Better to grind sex and level up my stats than deal with that crap.
Reasons to hustle sex in this world keep piling up. Hats off to Poni for dropping me here.
*Grind*—!
I slipped into the practice room for the upcoming class.
"Huh?"
Surprise—someone's here! A guy I pegged as a trainee was stretching, loosening up.
"Hey."
Greet first, ask questions later.
"Hey. New face—are you a trainee?"
"Yeah, just moved up to debut team."
"Even from another class, I'd know your face. When'd you get here?"
"Not long. Jin Haesol, twenty. Nice to meet you."
"...Kang Kyungtae. Twenty-one."
First time meeting, but I can tell one thing: this guy's sizing me up.
"Skipping other classes and jumping straight to debut team?"
Casual talk on first meet? Ballsy, asshole.
This ain't school.
"Nah, did about a month in C-class."
According to the paperwork, anyway.
"C-class? That's where they dump kids one step from getting cut."
His eyes scream, Why's a scrub like you suddenly here?
"Beats me. Just followed orders. Ask staff if you're curious."
Can't exactly say I slept my way in, so I played dumb and bounced.
Why explain to some prick yapping casual on sight?
"You were stretching earlier? Mind if I join?"
Making debut team means they've grinded bones to dust—copying him should teach me something.
"......"
He pulls a constipated face. Dude, life's not that harsh. Help a bro out?
So teach me some stretches already.
"Nngh~ Ow, my back."
Younger body means better flexibility than my old one, but not ballerina-level. Better than my thirty-something beer gut, sure.
"...Why're you so stiff?"
"This ain't average?"
If my back bends this far, that's flexible enough—what more you want?
Anyway, morning class just me and him? Solo duo vibes?
Bang!
"Heyyy!! Good morning~!"
Oh, fresh meat. Short, round eyes, total puppy vibe.
"Whoa!! Who's this hyung? First time seeing you?"
"Joined debut team today. Jin Haesol."
"Whoa! Talk casual! I'm seventeen. Ki Uyeon!"
"Oh, a kid? Why you here this early? No school?"
"Dropped out. Hehe!"
"Nice."
"All in on this life. Hehe! Take care of me, Haesol hyung."
This guy's personality clicks with me—bright and bubbly. Yeah, gonna stick to Uyeon and mine some intel.
"So morning class is you, me, and Kyungtae?"
"Pfft! 'Kyungtae-ssi'? Gives me chills! Thought you two already bonded?"
"Just said hi."
"Get close! Tough world—gotta cheer each other on, right?"
Kid's the youngest, but drops adult wisdom. Puppy image had me thinking cute and hyper, but he's an old soul.
"You get called 'kid gramps' a lot?"
"Whoa! Hyung nails my nickname ten minutes in!! My number one sasaeng?!"
"Nah, you act like a kid but talk mature."
"Been here since twelve. Seen it all."
Same idioms as Earth here. And it's "been through the wringer," not whatever.
"'Been through the wringer.'"
"Oops! Thought it was that! Mixed up idioms from memorizing too many. Hehe."
"You memorize idioms?"
"Manner classes. Everything— even table etiquette. But hyung, where you from not knowing this?"
"Been here a month. C-class till they bumped me to debut today."
Uyeon's eyes go wide.
"Kya~ So that's why I never saw you! Got it. What's your position?"
If I hadn't crammed idols last night, "position" would've stumped me. But I know now—issue is, I don't have one.
"Uh... dunno?"
"Not set yet? What'd they pick you for? Vocals? Dance? Rap? Must be good at something."
"...Not proud of my skills. Never really trained proper."
"Whoa, decided then!! Hyung's gotta be visual. Yeah, Honey Enter'd pick that face. Jealous!!"
I admit I'm trash, and he shrugs it off.
"I said I'm skill-less. That cool?"
"Hehe, visuals can't be faked short of surgery, but skills build with time and grind. Hyung's face screams idol—casting directors had no choice."
Probably 'cause Poni defined "idol" that way. Meanwhile, Kyungtae—who'd been silent—clears his throat to remind us he exists.
"Ahem!!"
"Hyung, you okay?"
"Teacher's coming soon. No stretching? Hates when we're not warmed up."
"Ack! Right. Gotta loosen up. My body's my asset. Hehe~"
Puppy-boy grins and dives into stretches. Better than standing dumb—I copy him.
"Whoa~ You're crazy flexible."
"Aw, stop~ I'm decent. Uhaha!"
Uyeon's body stretches like a ballerina's—long and lithe.
"Think I know your position."
"Huh? Mine?"
"Yeah. Dance, right?"
Main dancer? Nice applying last night's homework.
Worth the late night.
Predictably, Uyeon startles.
"Ack! Spotted it quick. You background-checked me?"
"Wanna get close. Hate it?"
Hate it or not, deal with it—gotta survive this new world.
Luckily, Uyeon's chipper.
"Aigoo! Fine by me. Dig all you want. This broad chest's always open."
"Snuggle your chest?" Outta nowhere?
"Hehe, hyping my hot, welcoming fan-service chest. Hyung!!"
Can't handle his cheek. Burst out laughing.
This is the trainee fans rave about online—"debut-bound for sure."
Charisma, charm—explains the love.
Problem is, to be an idol, I've gotta pull that off too. Can I?
Male idol. Thought it'd be easy in this reversed world—turns out, it's grind city here too.