Chapter 100: Beautifully, Once Beautiful
100. Beautifully, Once Beautiful
"Ah... It's not working."
The rhythmic squeaking of shoe soles against the floor came to an abrupt stop.
In the empty practice room, Won-ho, who had been choreographing alone, irritably removed his headphones and draped them around his neck—uncharacteristically frustrated.
"I feel like this part needs more impact..."
His hand roughly swept through sweat-drenched hair as the movements refused to cooperate. His eyes stung from perspiration, but there was no time to sit down and rest.
"......"
No—truthfully, it wasn't about time. It was about his heart.
Won-ho's movements halted completely. In the terrifying silence of the room, only his ragged breathing could be heard.
As the quiet settled in, darkness crept in as if it had been waiting.
'Can I really do this?'
Lately, Won-ho had been afraid.
Afraid of what, you ask? He was terrified of looking down at his own feet.
'Can I... really keep up?'
Kim Won-ho knew his own limits.
No—actually, he hadn't known until coming to Miro Entertainment.
The world was vast, and there were far too many shining people in it.
And unfortunately, his own light wasn't all that bright.
But at some point, Won-ho realized he was climbing higher than he'd ever imagined. Just when he thought, 'This is far enough,' someone would push him further up.
—Hyung, tell me. Why did you pick me for this choreography?
Won-ho still hadn't forgotten Hajin's answer from that day.
—Because you can handle it.
—I've watched all your practice videos. You can do this.
—I don't bet on lost causes.
"...Ah. No time for this."
Won-ho's gaze shifted to his reflection in the mirror.
Staring back at him was a foolish-looking Kim Won-ho.
Kim Won-ho.
Ordinary Kim Won-ho.
Before meeting Hajin, he had never once risen above the regular class.
Physically weaker than Do-ha.
Average-looking compared to Si-woo.
Without Eun-chan's pretty vocal tone.
Lacking Yu-geon's overflowing talent.
And nowhere near as well-rounded as Hajin.
Just Kim Won-ho.
Won-ho knew the unspoken question lurking beneath all his self-torment.
Can I... really keep up with them?
Being on a team with the people he admired, creating choreography for their stage—it was both an honor and a burden. Sometimes, the person thinking these thoughts felt like a stranger.
It was as if the reality he'd been avoiding had suddenly surged forward like a tidal wave.
"Huh? Oh, you're here."
"...Yeah. Working on choreography."
"I see."
The silence of the practice room was shattered by Yu-geon, dressed in comfortable clothes. Carrying a notebook and phone, he walked in absentmindedly, spotted Won-ho by the mirror, and plopped down in a corner.
"Practicing rap?"
"Yeah. Mind if I stay here? If I go to a private room, Do-ha hyung will probably drag me back. Ugh."
"Do-ha hyung? Why?"
"Dunno, he's kinda scary. I just wanna practice in peace, but he keeps staring and nitpicking everything."
It seemed Yu-geon had fled from a one-on-one coaching session with Do-ha.
While Yu-geon grumbled about Do-ha's overly strict methods, Won-ho saw things a little differently.
"That's because he hasn't really criticized you yet."
"Huh? He literally nitpicks everything from my pronunciation to the angle of my head!"
"...But he hasn't told you to quit, has he?"
Do-ha was the type to give clear feedback. If he saw potential, he'd offer advice without holding back. But if someone seemed hopeless, he'd tell them to give up outright.
'He told me not to mumble my breathing.'
According to Hajin, Do-ha had spent an entire evening recommending hip-hop tracks to Yu-geon, like "a college professor who found a promising student." Won-ho didn't know the details, but it seemed Do-ha saw rapper potential in Yu-geon.
"If Do-ha hyung keeps pushing you, it means he sees talent in you."
"Talent, my ass. I've never rapped before in my life. I haven't even memorized the lyrics yet, and he's already talking about rhyme schemes and flow. I don't even know what those are."
"Take it as a compliment. Some people would kill for that kind of attention."
Oops—the sharp thought he'd kept hidden slipped out.
He glanced at Yu-geon, worried he'd offended him, but Yu-geon didn't seem bothered. Instead, he rolled his eyes and flopped onto the floor.
"Ugh, whatever. It'll work out somehow. What were you doing?"
"...Choreography, like I said."
"Yeah, but how far did you get? Show me."
Yu-geon tossed his notebook aside and pestered Won-ho. His blue-black hair—when had he dyed it again?—was tousled messily. His playful grin and upward glance held no trace of complicated thoughts.
Somehow, that simple attitude comforted Won-ho.
"Well... just the first part."
Won-ho disconnected his headphones and played the track from his phone. It was a rough sketch Do-ha had whipped up overnight, saying to just get a feel for it first.
"......"
Squeak, squeak.
The sound of shoe soles against the floor filled the practice room again. Knowing Yu-geon was watching, Won-ho's movements gained a little more energy.
"Haah, huff... How is it?"
After finishing the first chorus and about four measures, Won-ho stopped. Some of the faster sequences left him slightly breathless.
As he turned to Yu-geon, the latter sat up properly, as if he hadn't just been lying down. Without hesitation, Yu-geon stood and joined Won-ho's side.
"Looks good? I've been thinking this since last time—you're really good at choreography."
"R-Really?"
"Yep. Like, it makes me wanna learn from you."
"...Thanks."
"But for the verse, what if you changed this move? Do-ha hyung and Si-woo hyung probably can't follow something this complicated."
Yu-geon replicated Won-ho's hours of work after seeing it just once. He even suggested better moves.
That sight filled Won-ho with an inevitable sense of defeat—but also a catharsis, as the vague ideas in his head finally took clear shape.
"And this part... I think a more restrained feel could work too?"
"Right? I was debating whether to tweak it. But it's Eun-chan's center part."
"Then change the formation? Move Joo Eun-chan to the side, completely."
Yu-geon's ideas were far more instinctive and sensory. Rather than calculating, he went with whatever came to him naturally. The fact that even he didn't seem fully aware of his own talent made Won-ho realize that feeling jealous was pointless.
'These are the kind of people who debut. The kind who survive in a world full of them.'
At this point, he couldn't even muster competitive spirit.
Only seven would debut through this program.
Won-ho mentally pictured the people who fit that image. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't imagine himself among them.
"Ah, this is fun. I'm way better with my body. Dancing's way more fun."
"...You really don't want to debut?"
"I told you, no. If you debut, I'll buy your album."
"You think I can?"
"Yep. You're a great dancer. Better singer than me. Good at choreography, nice personality. Hajin hyung and Si-woo hyung seem really comfortable with you too. You've got what it takes. My little sister likes you a lot, by the way."
Yu-geon's wide grin held nothing but sincerity. No calculation, no inferiority, no anxiety, no worry—just pure honesty. Somehow, that reassured Won-ho.
"If you're not practicing rap, wanna help with the choreography? It's hard to structure alone."
"Me? Sure. Sounds fun."
Maybe I can shine like you too.
Suppressing the lingering darkness in his heart, Won-ho smiled back at Yu-geon.
Amidst mounting anticipation, the air date for Miro Maze Episode 3 arrived.
DESTINYs were thrilled to finally see the new performances. As previews, teasers, and articles about Episode 3 began circulating, even non-fans started looking forward to it.
@Boss_rin (CEO of Guam Entertainment)
?
Why is unnie there
@NEWS_STAR (Entertainment News)
"OST Queen Sarin Makes Surprise Return"...
Special appearance on NTV's Miro Maze
m.nst.co.kr/....
Shares: 548 | Quotes: 2,001 | Likes: 712
[Info/News] JK Girls Appear on Survival Show
Miro Maze... Supporting junior idols>
Article's out—seems she's judging a mission with our song
— Holy moly!!!! Gotta watch
— Question: Did Seo Tae-il really use that introduction...?
└ With Cheong Hansol, 100%. She'd sulk for a week if he didn't.
└ Imagine her pulling the "Proud Genius Mevo" act in front of junior idols. Legendary cringe.
@NTW_budzz (Endway Official)
[Yeonwoo] Hey, lovelies.
Brought you a gift~🎁
(Selfie at Miro Maze recording)
(Candid photo at Miro Maze recording)
Shares: 17K | Quotes: 1.3K | Hearts: 32K
∥
@blue_lotusx (Blue Lotus)
Our Yeonwoo came to support her juniorsㅠㅠ So proud of our baby lotus foxㅠㅠㅠㅠ
@bb_bb_bb_b (Locked: Choi Yeonkkong🔒)
Choi Yeonwoo's buttons—don't button it up no unbutton it more no rip it all offㅠㅠㅠㅠ
∥
@tlqkfrytn (Locked: ProfessorPleaseStopAssigningHomework🔒)
?? What's with this unnie
∥
@malang2 (Locked: SoftBear🔒)
Leave her alone. Choi Yeonwoo's on To My Star today.
Her outfit's insane, that's why.
∥
@tlqkfrytn (Locked: ProfessorPleaseStopAssigningHomework🔒)
Oh, that's today?
What's Choi Yeonwoo wearing???
∥
@malang2 (Locked: SoftBear🔒)
White shirt + leather pants
∥
@tlqkfrytn (Locked: ProfessorPleaseStopAssigningHomework🔒)
Ah, okay.
The appearance of senior idols was a survival show staple. Add Sarin's return after two years of silence post-childbirth, and anticipation skyrocketed.
Just as Themis' Ria had trended after Episode 2, more viewers tuned in for Episode 3.
While DESTINYs were happy about the attention, they also braced themselves, wary of another wave of hate like last time.
[Guys, please report this post]
m.penn.cate.com/talk/40091...
<Seo Tae-hyun got kicked from Endway's debut team...>
I wasn't gonna bring Penn posts here, but this pissed me off so muchㅠㅠ
They've been pushing this narrative that ㅌㅎ got dropped from ㅇㄷㅇㅇ, and now that ㅇㄷㅇㅇ's song is in the mission, they're framing him as a pitiful dropout again...
— Reported!
— Done. That forum's been toxic lately. We should report regularly.
— Wait, is it true ㅌㅎ joined ㅇㄷㅇㅇ's debut team? Need facts before responding.
└ Nope. His hiring was delayed, but the debut team was already finalized. Someone posted a timeline before.
@kang_HD (Kang Hadi)
While waiting for the broadcast,
let's spread positivity!
Only look at the pretty things♥
Kang Hajin, I love you
Kang Hajin, you're handsome
Kang Hajin, leader
Kang Hajin, puppy
Kang Hajin, dance
Kang Hajin, singing
...
[But I'm worried about the song choice]
Not about the boys—they're skilledㅠㅜ
But ㅅㄹ's songs are notoriously hard to coverㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ And since it's their sunbaes' song, people will judge even harsher... Worried about antis latching onto thisㅠㅠ
— I mean, covering sunbaes is inevitable, but ㅅㄹ's song... yeah, worried.
— The stage hasn't even aired yet. Let's not stress prematurely.
Amidst the fans' mixed excitement and anxiety, Miro Maze Episode 3 finally aired.