Chapter 8: The Real Psycho in This Area Is Me (3)
08. The Real Psycho in This Area Is Me (3)
"He just seems way too rude."
When they couldn't find any faults in Hajin's skills, the department head pulled out the 'attitude' card. He argued that the kid's stiff, expressionless demeanor came off as arrogant and was just asking for a bullying scandal.
"Look at him—pierced ears, styled hair... total delinquent vibes. That face screams troublemaker. I don't like it."
"Sir, didn't you specifically request someone with strong 'bad girl' energy for the second member?"
"That was charmingly rebellious, not actual delinquency. There's a difference!"
As the baseless criticism piled up, Taeil crossed his arms. As someone who'd weathered his own scandals over his 'bad boy' image—drinking, smoking, even fabricated drug rumors—these comments left a bitter taste.
"Hmm, but when I talked to him earlier, he was extremely polite. Very earnest."
Manager Kim, who'd just returned from finalizing details with Rene's Jang, countered. The department head waved him off.
"Did you see his face earlier? Zero reaction, just nodding like a robot. I've been in this industry long enough to spot trouble. That kid's a walking time bomb."
Everyone's expressions soured at the stubborn man's words. They all knew his opposition was opposition for its own sake, but no one dared say it aloud. No matter how many mistakes he made, he was the CEO's right-hand man, treated like an executive.
"Maybe he was just nervous?"
"Did anything about him seem nervous? Manager Kim, you've got a long way to go. No smiles, no nerves. That's the face of someone who'll cause a major scandal."
Seeing the department head wouldn't budge, Taeil sighed and shot Soho a pointed look. Do something. After a moment's thought, Soho lightly tapped the table to gather attention.
"Then let's interview him properly. Jumping straight into recording might've put him on edge."
"Good idea. I agree."
"Yah, Seo Taeil, you—!"
"You insisted on testing him your way, sir. Now let us try ours."
The department head gritted his teeth at Soho's firm tone. This kid always rubbed him the wrong way. The implied I'll humor you, so don't push it made his blood boil, but he had no grounds to argue.
Finally, the department head gave a begrudging nod, arms still crossed.
"Then I'll call Hajin in on my way out. There's something I need to tell him too."
"Ah, yes! Director Jang, thank you for your hard work today."
Director Jang, who'd been silently observing the tense office politics, seized the moment to make her exit. As Manager Kim hurried after her, the department head added sourly:
"Waste of time. That kid's stubborn as a mule."
"Even better. Yupia and Endway's juniors need someone who can hold their ground."
"You—! Taeil, why do you always—!"
"Sir. Breathe."
"Cough, hmph."
Taeil unexpectedly taking Hajin's side pushed the department head to the brink of madness. But even he knew better than to cross Miro's founding member. Forced to swallow his anger, the man redirected it elsewhere.
"Why isn't he coming in!? Did Director Jang let him escape?"
"...I'll go check. Need some air anyway."
Fed up, Taeil stood abruptly. As he opened the office door, he muttered a curse under his breath.
'That bastard's so money-blind he's lost all sense.'
Admittedly, Hajin had seemed unusually unemotional compared to typical trainees.
Excitement, nerves, tension, pressure, fear—none of it showed.
But judging someone just for that? Ridiculous.
'He just hates him because Soho brought him in.'
"Ugh. Office politics are the worst."
Still, if Hajin maintained that blankness during the interview, things might get difficult. Rounding the hallway corner, Taeil froze.
"...Kang Hajin?"
What am I looking at right now?
"Are you... crying?"
At the hallway's end, under the pale sunlight streaming through windows—shoulders shaking, tears flowing uncontrollably—Hajin looked like a scene straight from a drama.
'Ah. Director Jang must've given him...'
Taeil instantly understood what he held. Of course he did. His group's youngest had reacted the same way upon receiving their first fan letter.
"N-No, this isn't—hic—what it looks like."
Red-faced and sniffling, Hajin finally looked every bit his nineteen years.
Strangely relieved and guilty for misjudging him, Taeil offered an awkward smile. It reminded him of his rookie days.
"Who calls a kid like this...?"
Muttering, he approached and patted Hajin's shoulder. "It's okay. You can cry." Which only made the boy sob harder.
"Wait, is that...?"
"Holy—it's Seo Taeil sunbaenim!"
Passing trainees and staff gawked, but Taeil paid no mind.
When neither Hajin nor the person sent to retrieve him returned, Manager Kim, the department head, and even Team Leader Ji came out—only to witness the scene. Hajin spent a long moment weeping in Taeil's arms until the penalty ended.
And so, an unverified but tantalizing rumor began circulating at Miro: that Seo Taeil had finally, finally snagged himself a trainee.
Humiliating.
I rubbed my still-stinging eyes and sighed. Ahead, Taeil was already looking at me like some adorable younger sibling.
'Maybe I should switch agencies?'
The System's panicked alerts dinged incessantly, but they were just anxious ramblings. I marked them as read and swiped them away.
[System Alert: Since when did you add a 'mark as read' function!?]
...Ignoring the shocked pop-up, I stared at the document before me.
"This is Miro's standard trainee contract. Take your time—consult lawyers, your parents, whatever you need."
'Miro Entertainment Exclusive Trainee'
The bold text at the top felt surreal. There were supposed to be more interviews, but apparently, while I was crying, they'd reached some consensus. Probably Taeil's doing. Whether that was good or not... I wasn't sure.
'If I sign this, I'll finally be a trainee.'
An idol trainee, to be precise.
For some, this would be the start of a dream. For others, the beginning of an endless challenge. For me? It meant something different.
It was clinging to a dream I'd once abandoned and fled. And doing so with the weight of having to succeed.
"Trainee expenses only get deducted after debut. Until then, costs are minimal."
I noted Manager Kim's additional explanations. If commuting was difficult, trainee dorms were available.
Even among mid-sized companies, Miro's treatment stood out.
The problem?
"Your training level will be adjusted based on skill tests—"
"Sorry to interrupt."
I was about to throw all those good conditions back in their faces.
"I don't think this will work."
"...Huh?"
"I need more time to consider."
My faint voice sent shockwaves through the room.
[System Alert: The System gives up on understanding the (Fixed) Regressor.]
Well, fuck it. Time to embrace the madness.
I'd decided to reject Miro the moment Taeil came to comfort me.
'Who calls a kid like this...?'
Though he'd whispered it, I—crying on the outside, 100% lucid inside—heard clearly.
'Someone there dislikes me.'
The prolonged discussion before my interview meant they'd had things to debate about me.
A candidate sings well enough to impress Seo Taeil, yet they need a meeting? In an audition show, Taeil would've used a Super Pass on me.
'I need to know who's on my side before stepping in.'
I had two reasons for rejecting Miro's contract:
To identify my enemy, and secure a definite ally.
My gut said the scowling director was the problem, but that suspicious team leader couldn't be ignored either.
'Actually, the team leader's the shadiest one.'
Still, watching Manager Kim and Taeil scramble to persuade me confirmed they were on my side. Already a win.
[System Alert: What if you end up not becoming a Miro trainee!? (SQ 01 remaining: 39 days)]
'That's why I got insurance.'
I pulled out a carefully stored business card.
The one Taeil gave me that day, urging me to contact his manager if I changed my mind.
'If they don't bite, I'll just call here.'
For now, I only needed to wait—whether it was Manager Kim or Taeil, someone who valued me enough would reach out. And that person would be my lifeline if I joined Miro.
"Better yet, if they take care of whoever hates me..."
[System Alert: The System is in awe of the (Fixed) Regressor's meticulousness...]
"Manager Kim didn't seem that influential... Taeil's side, then?"
Three days after leaving the audition, Miro came knocking.
"Kang Hajin-ssi."
"......?"
Of course it'd be the shadiest one.
"Hello. I'm Ji Sooho."