Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Signal Song Grade Announcement
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The chicken fight ended in our class's victory, of course.
It was ridiculous, but Ban Yo-han's strategy had worked a little too well.
They even picked an MVP for the chicken fight.
Jing Xiao, who took down seven people single-handedly, was the star.
One of those seven kills included an assist from me.
Even thinking back on it now, it was utterly absurd that such a ridiculous strategy had succeeded.
The award ceremony would be filmed separately later.
Judging by how they were taking shoe sizes, it looked like they were getting sponsored sneakers or something as prizes.
And finally, my Stamina had reached 22.
Of course, nothing dramatic like a surge of tiger-like energy happened.
A single pop-up notification appeared.
I'd more or less expected an effect like that.
Maybe now I could worry a little less about Fatigue piling up at every turn.
A little while later, the trainees dispersed by class under the staff's guidance and took their seats.
It was finally time for the grade announcements.
"This is nerve-wracking..."
In the heavy atmosphere, the mentors entered.
Each mentor held cards in their hands.
Whether they'd heard something from the production team or not, their expressions were all stern.
Even Joo An and Seok Su-young, who usually smiled kindly, kept straight faces.
Muk Hye-seong? He was exactly the same as always, so there was nothing particularly intimidating about him.
He clearly wasn't thinking anything of it, but from the viewer's perspective, that condescending face was just obnoxious.
Ah, not that I think he's obnoxious. For real.
"What if I get an F?"
Kim Jun-woo, who had shone as the loud-voiced general chicken during the fight, started chanting his F prayers again.
Nagase Ritsu had his hands clasped, mumbling something.
Jing Xiao, the handsome handyman who'd been thrilled as MVP just moments ago, now looked utterly detached from worldly concerns.
Only Ban Yo-han, who hadn't shown any cracks in composure during the entire camp—no stiff expressions or emotional discomfort—spoke in his usual low voice.
"Think you can get an A?"
Damn. He remembered that.
"Sorry. That was just bluffing."
Ban Yo-han gave a thin smile at my words, then turned toward the staff urging us to focus and replied.
"Knew it."
Before I could even respond, the staff began their explanation.
"When your name is called, come forward, open the card to check your grade, and return to your seat."
"Yes!"
"You must keep your grade to yourself. We'll film the reveals separately afterward. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Oh, and after checking, no matter what's written, try to manage your expression as best you can. Poker face—you know?"
Having finished, the staff handed it over to Muk Hye-seong.
Muk Hye-seong nodded to signal he understood and spoke.
"Then we'll begin the Signal Song grade announcements."
The air was chillingly tense, unbelievable considering we'd been fiercely chicken-fighting in the same space just 30 minutes ago. One by one, trainees stepped forward, received their report cards, and returned.
"Golm-hyeong Trainee."
The auditorium echoed only with the mentors' calm voices calling names and the soft footsteps of trainees approaching and retreating.
Everyone was managing their expressions, as per the production team's instructions.
Of course, a few couldn't fully control their facial muscles, giving it away.
Kim Jun-woo, who had been trembling, returned with all tension visibly melted away.
Jing Xiao didn't look devastated either, so it was easy to guess he hadn't gotten an F.
A bit more waiting, and it was my turn.
"Trainee On Raon."
"Yes."
Like the others, I subtly opened the card Muk Hye-seong held out and checked the contents.
I confirmed the B, quickly lowered my momentarily upturned lips. Good thing my back was to the others.
The camera captured every bit of it from the side. Muk Hye-seong said flatly after seeing my expression.
"Good work."
"Thank you."
Back at my seat, while waiting for the other trainees to check theirs, I worked hard to compose my face.
Not an A, but not C, D, or F either. Plenty satisfying.
About 10 minutes later, with our class—the largest—finished, the checks wrapped up.
Confirming we were done, the staff grabbed the mic and instructed us to line up by class where they stood.
"We'll take a 10-minute break like this. Trainees, listen briefly to instructions and hit the bathroom quick."
We got detailed explanations from the staff on how to act during the upcoming grade reveal filming.
Even after, few chatted with neighbors.
Everyone quietly went to the bathroom. Lost in their thoughts, it seemed.
"Filming starts!"
Before we knew it, Jena stood at the front. The mentors lined up on either side of her.
Jena smiled and began in a clear voice.
"Hello, Pick Your Heart trainees. You've all worked so hard practicing for three days. I hope you all got the grades you expected or hoped for."
The trainees, each holding their grade cards, smiled awkwardly.
Jena continued warmly.
"Honestly, I think mastering a song perfectly in three days was tough for you all. And it wasn't an easy one to sing while dancing, right?"
"Yes!"
"Sadly, not everyone nailed it. And now, the key point: the grades on those cards in your hands determine your Signal Song stage parts."
Her previously gentle tone grew a touch colder.
"With that, we'll now reveal the Signal Song grade evaluations for all 100 trainees."
The trainees, briefed earlier by staff, clapped. It wasn't loud.
As the applause died, Jena said.
"By class, D-grades, please step forward."
About half our class moved up.
Five or so from other classes too. Total of 21.
Jing Xiao, whose dance skills hadn't improved much, struggled with Korean lyric pronunciation, and shared our room—so I'd worried extra—was a D-grade.
Jena approached Jing Xiao among the line and asked.
"Hye-seong class trainee Jing Xiao, you barely escaped F with a D, but you look bright. Mind sharing your thoughts?"
"Uh... I'm still really lacking. So I practiced hard with the hyungs, but I was worried I wouldn't make the stage since I wasn't doing well. I'm just happy to be on stage now."
Jing Xiao smiled faintly as he spoke.
Handsome comments popped up here and there.
Once this airs, forget skill—he'd snag 15 seconds of instant-fanbait footage.
In contrast to Jing Xiao, Jena interviewed one trainee from Ji-hee class on the verge of tears, then moved on.
"By class, C-grades, step forward."
C-grades advanced. Total 20.
Most of our remaining class surged forward.
Including Kim Jun-woo, our class C's mostly looked satisfied.
After interviewing one each from Chang-yeon and Su-young classes, next up.
"By class, B-grades, step forward."
B's totaled 18, three from our class including me.
Now left in our class: Ban Yo-han and Lee Yoo-jin.
Ban Yo-han stood with his usual inscrutable expression.
Lee Yoo-jin... you shoulda practiced on time, dude...
The sudden quest's outcome was already clear.
I prepared to send my precious Wisdom 10 his way.
After interviewing a Chang-yeon class trainee, Jena turned to me.
"Trainee On Raon, you told trainee Ban Yo-han during practice you'd both aim for A together. But you're here with a B alone. Ban Yo-han's grade isn't revealed yet. Satisfied with this?"
"Yes. Satisfied. It's the grade after giving my all, so I decided the B in B-grade stands for Best."
My calm, mental-victory line drew laughs from trainees and mentors.
"Hahaha, aren't you twisting it too much your way? If B is Best, what's A?"
"Ace's A!"
"Huh, that works. What about C?"
"Obviously Chicken's C."
"D?"
D? What's starting with D?
Couldn't stop here, so I racked my brain, eyes meeting Nagase Ritsu's.
- I can for sure understand exactly three Japanese phrases Ritsu-hyung says.
- Three?
- Yeah. Arigato, gomen, daijobu. Thanks, sorry, it's okay. Stuff he says a ton.
The late-night interview flashed back. D... di-gut... da...
"Da-daijobu!"
"Puhahaha, last one, F?"
"Fighting!"
"Ah, I love this stuff."
The end felt like words bypassing my brain entirely.
Not just saying so—she really loved it, wiping tears of laughter with a finger, then thumbs-upping and boosting my favorability by 5 for my terrible pun.
Muk Hye-seong, learn from Goddess Jena's generosity.
Sigh...
"Now, only A-grades and F-grades remain."
Over 40 still left.
They wouldn't give out more than 20 A's, so other classes must have more F's than expected.
"A-grades, step forward."
A's totaled 15, Han Ji-hee class with the most at 7. Seo Moon-gyeol was A too.
My gaze naturally shifted to Ban Yo-han. But he didn't move.
"?"
Did he get F?
I couldn't judge if he deserved A without seeing the eval video, but his dance and song there clearly weren't F-level.
Especially when even Jing Xiao got D.
Plus Oh Hyun-jin was still there. The big-agency guy. The one whose favorability started at -36.
Sensing something off, trainees murmured.
Jena ignored it, doing interviews as needed.
Then, with Jena's harsh words, F-grades were revealed.
F's totaled 26. Joo An class had 12 of them.
'Joo An class had 19 total, I think.'
Even gathering our class's second-worst and rap-focused weak singers, what was this?
Joo An looked conflicted.
No one from Ji-hee class. Rest from Chang-yeon and Su-young.
Lee Yoo-jin was F, as expected. Only one from our class.
God gave Jing Xiao the face but stole the dance talent—his was effort over skill.
Even then, five remained: Ban Yo-han and Oh Hyun-jin included.
Ban Yo-han had that blank expression toward Muk Hye-seong for different reasons; the other four looked uneasy.
'What the hell are they? Z-grade or something?'