42. Special Mission! Shine Bright (3)

Beep, beep—

"Ah, why did they make the choreography so damn hard?!"

During the dinner break when everyone had left, Hajin was alone in the practice room, struggling with the title track's choreography. Frustrated, he turned off the music and collapsed onto the floor in a starfish position.

"I should've created a 'Choreography Copier' skill. Stupid Kang Hajin."

After a month as a trainee, he realized one thing—while he wasn't terrible at learning choreography, he had zero talent for picking up moves just by watching videos.

As he lay there, cooling his overheated arms with a chilled water bottle, his phone vibrated beside him. Too exhausted to sit up, he stretched his arm to check the messages.

<Miro_Dongsaeng_LeeOO ‖ Lolol but seriously, that hyung's practicing alone rn>

<Miro_Dongsaeng_LeeOO ‖ If only it wasn't Seongwoo hyung>

<Miro_Dongsaeng_KimOO ‖ U idiot wrong chat>

<Miro_Dongsaeng_LeeOO ‖ Oops mb>

(Message deleted)

(Message deleted)

Sorry, but I screenshotted that.

"Hajin, I take back calling you stupid. Those are the real idiots."

He sighed at the childish antics of the younger trainees before turning to his reflection in the mirror, patting his own head in apology. Then he checked the screenshot again.

<Miro_Dongsaeng_LeeOO ‖ If only it wasn't Seongwoo hyung>

"Han Seongwoo again..."

Hajin had asked Joo Eun-chan about his exact relationship with Seongwoo for two reasons.

First: Was Seongwoo a ticking time bomb?

I knew he was territorial, but that alone doesn't make him dangerous.

Honestly, when you throw a bunch of hot-blooded young men into an endless competition with no clear end date, everyone's bound to lose their grip on sanity. It wasn't that Seongwoo's territorial behavior was good, but labeling him a "bomb" still felt premature.

Second: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Was Seongwoo part of a "successful debut lineup"?

Judging by his actions, probably not.

But there was always that what if.

Hajin recalled his conversation with Eun-chan two hours ago in the dorm.

—So, will you confess your birth secret, or are we doing this the hard way with gossip about that annoying trainee hyung?

—......

Eun-chan had hesitated, arms crossed, before finally speaking.

—...Nothing really happened.

—......

—After I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got demoted to the regular class and the nepotism rumors spread, Seongwoo hyung was the only one who talked to me. Except for Haru.

—Then why'd you warn me not to get involved with him?

—It's just... unsettling. Every time I talk to him, I end up feeling like I'm the one who did something wrong.

Eun-chan avoided eye contact, rubbing his arm uncomfortably.

—It's not like he's done anything bad to me, so it's hard to explain. But after talking to him, I always feel suffocated. Like everything's my fault, my problem... Just... it's better not to get tangled up with him.

If even mild-mannered Eun-chan felt this strongly, something was definitely off. Hajin frowned.

"Eh? Hajin hyung, what are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be eating?"

"Already finished two bowls."

Wonho peeked through the half-open door, hands stuffed in his pockets, and sauntered in. Hajin lazily waved, and Wonho plopped down beside him, picking up the tablet with the choreography video.

"Practicing? Why alone?"

"I'm being ostracized, Wonho-yah."

"Seok-i hyung says you're full of crap. You're not the type to get ostracized. You'd make friends even on a deserted island."

"Who the hell would I befriend on a deserted island?"

"Dunno, but you'd figure it out."

...Was that a compliment?

"No, I'm seriously being left out. The kids are avoiding me."

"Sure, sure. I'll tell the interviewers you skipped dinner to practice, you hardworking bug."

"I'm not joking, you little—"

"Wow, Kang Hajin's being bullied? Doha hyung will finish his break dance before that happens."

This brat!

At first, Hajin had just been whining without much thought, but Wonho's repeated disbelief was starting to piss him off. Determined to prove his point, he shoved his phone in Wonho's face.

"I'm not lying! I'm really being left out!"

And at that exact moment—

[System Alert: Skill <What's Like Me?> activation penalty conditions met!]

[Additional Conditions:

1. Must activate where Seo Tae-il isn't present

2. Preferably in a place with few people]

[System Alert: Mental Care effect temporarily reduced by 10% as penalty.]

God, please, no.

"Ugh."

"...? What the—"

"I am being bullied. Waaah—"

Tears burst forth uncontrollably as a flood of pent-up frustration crashed over him. He grabbed Wonho by the collar, shaking him violently while shoving the phone in his face. (Not by choice!)

"They— they told me to— to stop acting up, damn it, I— sob— hic— really— waaah..."

By the time his mouth started running on autopilot, Hajin was already half out of his mind.

Haha. Shut up, Kang Hajin!

My tearful breakdown lasted a good ten minutes.

I was now sipping banana milk that Wonho had frantically bought from the convenience store in the basement, pressing an ice pack against my swollen eyes.

This isn't what I brought you for, damn it.

"......"

"Wow, did they all collectively lose their minds?"

Wonho, who had been reading the screenshot, handed my phone back with a grin.

"Let's expose all of this in an interview!"

"It wasn't even caught on camera. How?"

"So we just let it slide?"

"I'm thinking about it."

I wiped the remaining moisture from my eyes. Not to act tough—I already had a rough plan. Crying over something this petty? Damn penalty.

"Anyway, forget about me. Are you okay?"

"Me?"

"Can you handle Team A?"

"Ah... It's hell."

"Anyone giving you trouble?"

Even when I deliberately targeted Seongwoo, Wonho just tilted his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head. Not really. Everyone's just kinda tense?

"More importantly, what about Yu-geon? Dude picks up choreography scary fast. How am I supposed to compete? I'll just get humiliated."

Belatedly realizing the battle ahead, Wonho scrunched his face in despair.

Well, Yu-geon's special ability is basically copy-paste, so duh.

Patting Wonho's head as he wallowed in preemptive embarrassment, I dropped a subtle hint.

"Hey. Try to get along with Yu-geon. And practice hard. Not that you need me to tell you that."

"...So, love thy enemy strategy?"

"Just do as I say. No need to force friendship, but don't treat him like a rival either. Filter what you hear in interviews."

"......"

"Win or lose, as long as you don't take the 'unlikable' route, you'll be fine."

Wonho stared at me for a moment before nodding.

"If hyung says so."

Ever since the last monthly evaluation, he'd been weirdly trusting of me. Normally, that might've been awkward, but today...

Kinda touching.

"But I still don't believe you were being bullied. Like saying Yoon Tae-hee is polite—wait, that actually fits."

"Do you want to die?"

"Anyway, if things get really bad, tell me. We'll leak it to the managers or the producers."

My moment of warmth shattered in one second as Wonho stood up, brushing off his knees.

"I should head back to the dorm."

I yanked his hoodie, pulling him back down.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Ghk—"

"You made me waste 20 precious minutes of practice time."

"...How is that my fault?!"

You triggered the penalty, dumbass.

"Pay me back. My practice time."

"I—I bought you banana milk!"

"Then help your poor, bullied hyung."

"Your mood swings are insane, hyung."

Wonho looked at me like I was a scammer, but I ignored him, recalling his stats.

[Kim Won-ho (Affiliation: Miro)]

Appeal Point:

'A to Z'

—Rapid learning ability

"You've memorized the title choreo, right?"

Wonho nodded hesitantly. Obviously. If Yu-geon was a human photocopier, Wonho was a human sponge.

"B-but we're on different teams..."

I patted his shoulder reassuringly. It's fine, it's fine.

"If you wanna see your Hajin hyung escape bullying, teach me. Now."

"Is this extortion?"

"Teach me, oh wise one."

"Ugh, you're impossible..."

"Ah, Haru-yah!"

"Seok-i hyung?"

Gong Seok had spent hours without a reply from Hajin and concluded he must've deeply misunderstood him. This needed to be resolved face-to-face, but the building—true to its name, Miro (Maze)—was so vast that finding Hajin was impossible.

"Have you seen Hajin?"

"Hajin hyung? No, I haven't..."

Spotting Haru, one of Hajin's closer friends, Seok hurriedly asked for his whereabouts, but Haru shook his head.

"Actually, his phone's been off for a while. Weren't you with him, hyung?"

The innocent question only deepened Seok's guilt.

Please tell me he's not crying alone somewhere...

Hajin wasn't the type to break down easily, but still—being ostracized by his teammates in their first survival mission?

As his hyung, this is shameful.

Thanks to Hajin trusting him with the main vocal position last evaluation, Seok had ranked higher than ever. It had even reignited his competitive spirit, which had dulled after seeing younger, more talented trainees.

So when they ended up on the same team again, he'd been thrilled.

I need to talk to Hajin. Make things right. No—make them apologize.

But with Hajin nowhere to be found, Seok grew increasingly anxious.

"Oh! There's Hajin hyung!"

"Where?!"

Just as Seok was about to start searching again, Haru pointed behind him. There was Hajin, freshly showered, towel-drying his hair as he walked down the hall.

What do I do? Did he practice alone? Is he mad at me? What do I even say first? I haven't even told the others to apologize yet! What if they refuse? Will helping him alone even matter?

Facing Hajin, Seok's mind flooded with worries. Despite being younger, Hajin carried an inexplicable weight—usually ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠masked by his cheerful smile, but when his sharp eyes turned serious, it felt like being scolded by an adult!

"I—I can't do this yet. Later, I'll—"

"Ah, hyung."

"Huh?"

"'Later' doesn't always come."

Haru caught Seok as he tried to flee, smiling warmly.

"That's what my grandma said. So when you can say something, you should."

Then—

"Hajin hyung! Seok-i hyung has something to tell you!"

—he called out brightly, waving his arms.

Hajin, who had been turning the corner, strode over.

"Dan Haru, why aren't you showered yet?"

"I'm going soon! But Seok-i hyung needs to talk to you!"

"H-Haru-yah...!"

Seok stammered as Hajin tilted his head, towel draped around his neck.

"Me? What is it, hyung?"

...I'm scared!

(Of course, that scream was only in his heart.)