Chapter 114: The Reason for Action (1)
114. The Reason for Action (1)
Perhaps because the public opinion had flipped like a hotteok pancake not long ago due to the Yu-geon incident, Episode 4 of Miro Maze aired in a relatively peaceful atmosphere.
[Wait, was Yu-geon's controversy cleared up???]
I'm surprised public opinion changed so suddenly...
So both the school violence and attitude issues were resolved????
— There are still people like this, huh
— (Link to clarification post)
└ Yeah it's all out now, just watch this and scram
While there were still occasional trolls looking to stir the pot by targeting easy prey, the Destiny fans who'd been badly burned before were gradually learning the concept of "not feeding the trolls." After repeatedly drowning out suspicious posts with an influx of new content, the inflammatory comments began disappearing one by one.
The production team, seemingly conscious of the atmosphere, had clearly excised any potentially problematic segments during editing. Rather than focusing on conflicts or crises among the trainees, the episode highlighted each individual's growth while preparing for their performances.
— I don't want to lose to the hyungs.
— Can I really do this? I keep doubting myself...
— Honestly, I'm not very confident.
The struggles of Kim Won-ho and Gong Seok from Cinderella team, along with Park Jae-young from Sad Ending team, were treated with sincere depth. The episode honestly portrayed the sense of disparity, inferiority, and shrinking confidence these trainees—who had bounced around the regular class until the survival round—felt when suddenly teamed with higher-ranked competitors.
[I relate so hard to today's episode]
As someone who went through arts high school, this brought back memories
The more I prepared, the more I realized I was just a frog in a well...
That feeling when you can't even trust yourself? Honestly, we've all been there
So while watching today I kept tearing upㅠㅠㅠ but also thinking "you're all doing so well, my precious babies"ㅠㅠㅠ
over the river @ov__rv
Won-ho-yah
No matter what anyone says
At this moment
You're my brightest star
bit.ly/9Pz...
(Black-and-white filtered photo of Won-ho practicing)
The story of Blue Scandal team—comprising Do-ha, Yu-geon, and the now-eliminated Seong-woo—was also handled matter-of-factly. Rather than focusing on the controversial Yu-geon, the episode spotlighted Do-ha's story of how watching Uphia made him dream of becoming a singer.
—It's difficult. First, the baseline is so intricately woven that it's hard to modify recklessly...(2x speed)...Also, since Senior Seo Tae-il wrote this song with each Uphia member in mind, the challenge is how our team can...(cut)...
Performing the debut song of Uphia—not just any legacy act, but practically ancestral figures in Miro Entertainment's history—was no small feat. The episode showcased Lee Do-ha's tumultuous journey of rearranging the song, especially poignant since he'd named Seo Tae-il as his role model.
In dim lighting, Do-ha—wearing nothing but a comfortable sleeveless shirt in what appeared to be his workspace—rambled his concerns to a selfie camera, projecting surprising professionalism.
—Considering each member's role...that's the hardest part. For Senior Cheong Han-sol, her spectrum is incredibly wide, and her ability to carry a song is extraordinary. Personally, among our trainees, I think Ha-jin's style is closest to hers. Hmm, if we want to highlight Seong-woo hyung's strengths, we should adjust the tempo more...
This was the moment that silenced all those who'd mocked, "What kind of idol can't even dance properly?"
With the survival show's signature elements—conflict, crisis, climax—absent, the episode inevitably flowed more smoothly than usual. One might wonder, "Can a broadcast company that thrives on creating issues really air something like this?" Yet the production team boldly abandoned all dramatic embellishments.
But this wasn't some fearful overcorrection to avoid controversy.
— Wow all Miro Maze performance videos are hitting 600K views on In-Gle-Dongㄷㄷ
This was confidence.
The confidence that they could satisfy viewers even without such seasonings.
[Direct lineage is direct lineageㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Honestly when other groups cover Uphia's "Endway," no matter how well they perform, it never captures the original's flavorㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ But watching Miro Maze yesterday, I finally thought "This is it"ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
— What can you doㅋㅋㅋㅋ It's in their DNA
— The vibe is completely different, they've got that essence
— As an Endview fan, I admit—this is the best cover I've seen so far
[Yesterday's Miro Maze Blue Scandal team was disappointing]
Mebo seemed too nervous... If not for that, the Lee brothers could've carried the team to a higher scoreㅠㅠㅠ
— Right? I loved Do-ha's rearrangement and thought "This is it," but...
— Isn't Mebo that eliminated guy? The one who beat Kang Ha-jin last time?? How did that happen?
└ What we see on TV is different from liveㅠㅜ Still disappointing though—wish Ha-jin had been the blue Meboㅠㅜ
└ Don't say that—I'm grateful to him. Thanks to him sending Ha-jin to Sad Ending, we got a legendary performance
└ Seriouslyㅋㅋㅋㅋ To You is about to hit 1M views
Jung Choux Cream @ice_ciu
Jung Si-woo chemistry failed spectacularly again today
(Clip of Ha-jin and Si-woo's Cleopatra performance)
Shares: 2,471 | Quotes: 34 | Hearts: 2,599
Jung Si-woo, who shattered his usual image with the Cleopatra game and completely owned the original song's vibe on stage.
Lee Do-ha, whose rearrangement was so good even Uphia's Cheong Han-sol—the original composer—approved it.
Mentions of these two skyrocketed.
While Si-woo was already a top-ranked favorite, Do-ha—previously overlooked due to his weak dancing despite his skills—experienced a complete reversal in public perception.
[Honestly I used to wonder why a 2D was trying to be an idol]
After Episode 4, I get why Han Se-won kept him
Miro's idols all have one member who can produce/write songs, and he must be that roleㅋㅋㅋㅋ Still, what a waste—at 2D level, he could've just gone solo in hip-hopㅠ
— I thought his dancing would be distractingly bad, but on stage it wasn't noticeable at all? Did people not see actual bad dancers?
└ He is badㅇㅇ...During A-team practice, he couldn't follow at all
— Dancing can be trained—with that physique, rap skills, and songwriting ability, I'd cling to his pant legs too if I were Han Se-won
Public opinion had upgraded from "What kind of idol can't dance?" to "A tempting trainee despite weak dancing." The fact that no other trainee—except perhaps Eun-chan—could match Do-ha's overwhelming presence in rap likely contributed too.
—Having reviewed the reactions up to this point, Ha-jin lightly closed the internet browser and shut his laptop.
"Thanks, Chan-ah. It was helpful."
"You can use it more if you need. I have a tablet too."
"Wow, the relative deprivation is hitting hard."
"...Don't you mean relative deprivation?"
"In our internet world, we've agreed to call it 'deprivationally relative.'"
"......"
"Or maybe 'relatively deprivational'..."
"Hyung, just one verse."
"Okay."
Eun-chan, leaning against his bed, didn't even glance at Ha-jin as he cleanly intercepted the lame joke. Ha-jin flopped facedown on the cool laptop, grumbling.
"Our Chan-ie has changed... Before, there was charm in teasing you—you'd innocently believe even my worst jokes..."
Despite Ha-jin's pouting tone, Eun-chan didn't bat an eye, staring fixedly at his tablet.
"Hyung should try sharing a room with someone like himself for two months."
"Boo. Chan-ie hates me."
"That's also just one verse. You know I don't hate you."
Tch, no bite.
Seemed he needed to research new ways to tease Eun-chan. For reference, twenty-two methods had been tested so far, with about twenty still effective.
Having lost his fun, Ha-jin got up and—instead of returning to his own bed across from Eun-chan's—squeezed his large frame into Eun-chan's narrow bed. Eun-chan, as if accustomed, shifted to make space (?) for Ha-jin to sprawl comfortably.
"I've noticed this before—you seem completely unfazed when I invade your bed?"
"Ah... My hyung used to do this a lot. Especially after drinking. 'Aigoo, our maknae~' and all that. So it's whatever..."
"Ah-hah."
Ha-jin nodded, recalling Eun-seok—who'd attended the third competition as Eun-chan's guest a few days prior.
"I thought only my hyung did that. Seeing you do it too, maybe it's just hyung instinct."
"Psh. Nah. Eun-seok hyung-nim and I are just oddballs. What kind of hyung squishes into their dongsaeng's bed like this?"
"...True. Two oddballs around me—one here, one there."
"Our Chan-ie's backtalk skills keep improving. Good job."
As Ha-jin laughed, Eun-chan set his tablet aside and leaned against the headboard.
"So what's your psychology, then?"
"Me? My psychology?"
"You're the only one who teases me like this. Everyone else is too intimidated by my face."
Ha-jin hummed thoughtfully at Eun-chan's question. (Though Eun-chan seemed unaware that even troublemaker Ha-jin had been slightly—just slightly—intimidated by his blank expression when they first met.)
After pondering, Ha-jin suddenly turned to look up at Eun-chan.
"Maybe you remind me of Ha-won?"
"Your younger brother?"
Now that he mentioned it, Eun-chan did share some similarities with Ha-won. Both were emotionally reserved yet actually soft-hearted, defaulting to blank expressions... Even their reactions to Ha-jin's teasing had a satisfying crispness.
Now that I think about it, he really does resemble Ha-won.
Despite this realization, Ha-jin added to Eun-chan—who was watching him with an odd expression:
"Though our Ha-won is cooler. He's a T. You're an F."
"Ah."
"But after twenty-plus years together, he's mastered handling me. Doesn't even blink at my jokes now. Once when we were driving somewhere..."
"Driving? You don't have a license, do you?"
"...Ah."
Ha-jin paused at Eun-chan's question.
That was... from a previous cycle.
The memory flowed in unexpectedly.
Twenty-eight-year-old Ha-won had been such a good younger brother and friend.
If he debuted this time, he wouldn't get to spend as much time with Ha-won as he had in previous cycles.
The thought left a slightly bitter taste.
"...I meant taking the bus. Before I became a trainee."
"Ahh."
"Well, anyway. Maybe because I'm so close with my brother. I'm more comfortable with dongsaengs. Grew up sharing a room, so I'm used to crowding together."
"......"
"What? Uncomfortable? I'll go back to my bed if you are."
Is he trying to kick me out but can't say it directly?
As Ha-jin worried unnecessarily while looking up at Eun-chan, the younger man quietly shook his head. After hesitating, he gathered his courage and asked:
"Then... are we also your dongsaengs?"
"Huh?"
"Me, Ha-ru... Tae-hyun hyung, Won-ho hyung, Yu-geon hyung... Everyone. Can you call us your dongsaengs too?"
...Well, you are my dongsaengs, not hyungs?
Blinking at Eun-chan's inexplicable question, Ha-jin—