Chapter 95: Bomb? (6)
95. Bomb? (6)
I never could have imagined. What?
"Joo Eun-chan was originally a vocalist?"
"Yep."
Dan Ha-ru, who had just shoveled a heaping spoonful of ice cream from the tub into his mouth, nodded vigorously.
This secondary shock hit me hard. I wordlessly handed him a wet wipe, gesturing for him to clean the ice cream smeared around his lips.
'At this point, the universe must be deliberately screwing with me.'
Fortunately, there was some consolation—before and after Sipsam went on his business trip, I could still review the information I'd previously scanned using the [Dragon's Eye] skill. That's exactly why I'd updated it beforehand.
'Of course, the data isn't perfect... but it's enough to work with.'
Kim Won-ho's stats hadn't been updated since the last monthly evaluation (another shock to learn it didn't auto-update), so they were still displayed in percentage form. Jung Si-woo, newly added to the team, had no data at all.
'At least I scanned Eun-chan when recruiting him—thank god for that.'
Hajin sat next to Dan Ha-ru, resting his head on the desk as he pulled up Eun-chan's status window.
[Joo Eun-chan (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: B+
Rap: B
Dance: B+
Expressiveness: B+
Charisma: A+
Special: ※Stat not yet unlocked※
Appeal Point:
'On My Own'
—Self-confidence, decisiveness, performance accuracy
After seeing status windows filled with S and A ranks, this one looked like a field of Bs.
But these stats were anything but ordinary. If converted to the old percentage system...
[Joo Eun-chan (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 43%
Rap: 84%
Dance: 41%
Expressiveness: 64%
Charisma: 35%
Special: ※Stat not yet unlocked※
Appeal Point:
'On My Own'
—Self-confidence, decisiveness, performance accuracy (70%)
'The conclusion? This guy has insane potential for growth.'
Even now, he was pulling his weight, but aside from rap and expressiveness, most of his percentages didn't even break 50%.
During the monthly evaluation's hellish Boost Camp, I realized something—these percentages seemed to vary per individual. They must be calculated based on a composite of talent, growth potential, effort, and other factors.
'The rate and value of improvement differ for everyone.'
For example, take this guy.
Once part of the hopeless trio, Kim Won-ho had grown into someone reliable. His current stats:
[Kim Won- ho (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 89% (Rap 34%)
Dance: 65%
Expressiveness: 93%
Special: Choreography Creation (92%)
Appeal Point:
'A TO Z'
—Fast learning ability
Compared to before the monthly evaluation, his dance had only risen by 3%, expressiveness by a mere 1%. But his special stat, Choreography Creation, had shot up by a whopping 6%.
For reference, Won-ho hadn't even known he was good at choreography before the evaluation. He'd asked me multiple times if he could really pull off the monthly evaluation with his own moves.
'It seems like even things like that get reflected in the percentages...'
Anyway, I needed to understand and utilize this system carefully. A low percentage didn't always mean untapped potential, and a high one didn't mean growth was over.
The easiest example of this was sitting right in Hajin's team.
[Lee Do-ha (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 17% (Rap 64%)
That was Do-ha's vocal stat during the monthly evaluation. Of course, it had changed since then.
[Lee Do-ha (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: 37% (Rap 64%)
His vocals had jumped by 20% in just a few months! But his absolute rating?
[Lee Do-ha (Affiliation: Miro)]
Vocal: F
Even if he reached 100%, he'd just be a tone-deaf guy who could hit the right notes.
'Do-ha, how the hell do you rap like that?'
Honestly, this guy was an enigma.
And his rap, which proudly sat at S-rank, hadn't budged even 1%.
'So to use this skill properly, I need to look beyond the numbers and letters... and consider every factor that makes up a person's talent and growth. Ugh, seriously. Why are you doing this to me, universe?'
And as if that wasn't enough, there was one more guy complicating my mood.
"Ha-ru."
"Yep?"
I showed my phone to Dan Ha-ru, who was happily devouring the ice cream Seo Tae-hyun had left behind.
<Miro_Dongsaeng_Lee Yu-geon ‖ Concept ✔>
<Miro_Dongsaeng_Lee Yu-geon ‖ (YouTube link)>
<Miro_Dongsaeng_Lee Yu-geon ‖ (YouTube link)>
<Miro_Dongsaeng_Lee Yu-geon ‖ (YouTube link)>
"What the hell is Yu-geon thinking?"
Yu-geon had actually sent a message with his own opinions.
And it was detailed. He'd texted the basic concepts and directions we'd decided on during the meeting (apparently, he doesn't even have KakaoTalk on his phone. What kind of guy is this?), and it was clear he'd read and understood everything.
"He skipped practice but still sent a song list?"
"Whoa, Yu-geon hyung did?"
"Yeah. We ended up picking one of the songs he suggested. Crazy, right?"
The references and song choices Yu-geon sent were flawless. He'd even dug up performance references from overseas choreography teams.
I'd suspected he wasn't normal ever since he flawlessly covered ten girl group songs in a row with a straight face...
"So isn't that a good thing?"
"That's what I'd like to think for my own sanity."
"Yeah!"
"Good. Stay bright like that."
I patted Ha-ru's head as he swung his legs cheerfully, completely carefree. He'd gone with Tae-hyun to get a perm, and his curly hair gave off the same psychological effect as petting a puppy.
Then, as he quietly accepted the head pats, Ha-ru turned his head back to the ice cream tub and spoke.
"You're trying not to overthink it, right?"
"Huh?"
"My grandma used to say that. If you're scared because you're thinking too much, just stop thinking."
Ha-ru's sparkling round eyes crinkled prettily.
"I've been so scared lately. That I won't debut with you guys."
"...Yeah?"
"Yeah. But if I keep thinking about it, it gets too scary. So I decided to just... not think!"
He declared cheerfully before shoveling another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. I'd thought he was just carefree, but it seemed this little guy had his own share of worries tucked away in his head.
'...I know that feeling.'
Even though I'd gotten a reality check from Do-ha and Ji Soo-ho.
As Ha-ru demolished half the tub of ice cream at an alarming speed, I stroked his head and spoke calmly.
"Ha-ru."
"Yep?"
"That's Tae-hyun's ice cream."
"......"
"He said he got zero-sugar specifically because he's on a diet and only planned to take one bite."
Ha-ru dropped his spoon with a clatter and stared at me in disbelief. I nodded kindly to confirm it was true.
"I wasn't going to tell you, but since you said something so mature, I thought I'd give you a heads-up."
"Y-you're not cutting my parts from the performance, right...?"
Ha-ru's pupils trembled. Cute kid.
"Since he said he got it from a convenience store, just go buy another one."
After dropping that pro tip for committing the perfect crime, I got up from my seat.
Yeah, sitting here overthinking things won't change anything.
'Since when did I start agonizing over things so meticulously?'
Whatever. Let's solve it first. If it fails, then I'll worry about it!
The Blue Flare team (minus Yu-geon) regrouped.
Late at night, they gathered in the trainee lounge, each finding a comfortable seat. Today's meeting wasn't going to be easy.
"Alright, Blue Flare Team's second meeting begins now."
"Trainee Kim Won-ho. Today's topic?"
"What position is truly suitable for Joo Eun-chan!"
Thanks to the self-cam rolling, there was a slight over-the-top energy for broadcast purposes. Of course, if this aired, there'd be chaos over why Yu-geon wasn't here...
'We'll just say he texted his input!'
With the team formed like this, smooth sailing was impossible. To counter the inevitable conflict rumors and Yu-geon's attitude controversy, they had to make this performance legendary.
Having thought this far, Hajin looked at Eun-chan and gave him the floor.
"First, Trainee Joo Eun-chan. Your thoughts."
"......"
As if standing trial, Eun-chan, seated across from Hajin, began speaking.
To summarize:
—There were never enough rappers in his past teams, so he'd been forced to take rap parts despite not being a rapper. It was too much pressure, and he wanted to show fans his singing. Since Do-ha was in this team, he wanted to return to his original position as a vocalist.
"Okay. Then, Trainee Lee Do-ha. Your stance."
The floor passed to Do-ha. Won-ho, today's cameraman, swung the self-cam toward him.
—He didn't think Eun-chan's vocals were bad. (This segment included detailed feedback that took five minutes.) ...So Eun-chan taking vocal parts was fine, but... (omitted) ...the song they'd chosen required more than one rapper... (omitted) ...so even if it wasn't Eun-chan, they needed at least one more rapper!
Do-ha's logical (but slightly long-winded) rebuttal followed. Eun-chan agreed that the song's structure made it hard for Do-ha to rap alone. But he still didn't want to be pushed into rapping again.
At this point, Hajin raised his hand.
"Trainee Kang Ha-jin, speaking. Should I just do it?"
Hajin's rap stat was A-. He'd never shown it on stage, but the team had tested their skills earlier, so they knew his level.
"Rejected."
"Why?"
But his suggestion was immediately shot down by main vocalist Jung Si-woo, who also raised his hand.
"You bail, and I'm singing alone?"
"Ugh..."
Si-woo had waited for Hajin, even tolerating Yu-geon's absence, solely to cover the team's weak vocals. Unless Eun-chan suddenly became a vocal prodigy, swapping Hajin out was unthinkable.
"Hmm. Then what about me?"
Next was Won-ho. His rap wasn't as strong as the others, but objectively, it wasn't unlistenable.
Just as Si-woo and Hajin's expressions brightened slightly, Do-ha raised his hand again.
"I'm against it. Won-ho's voice is too low—it clashes with mine. Plus, he still has a habit of muffling his breathing when singing live while dancing, which would stand out more in rap. Sorry, Won-ho, no offense."
Won-ho had received similar feedback from Saryn during the Cinderella performance. He was fine when dancing, but his voice tightened up when singing.
If he took a rap part, where enunciation was crucial, that weakness would be glaring. It was a valid point.
"Ugh..."
"What do we do...?"
"......"
Watching his hyungs' faces darken with frustration, Eun-chan unconsciously hunched his shoulders. He knew they weren't the type to resent him, but...
—Sigh... Eun-chan. You're causing trouble for everyone just because you're stubborn.
—Just compromise a little. You can't always get what you want.
Like Hajin had said, it would take time for everything to heal. The wounds left by Han Seong-woo and the other regular-class hyungs still lingered.
No. They didn't mean it like that.
Even as he told himself that, hearing his hyungs argue made him shrink further.
...If I just give in. Would that really solve everything?
Finally, overwhelmed by anxiety, Eun-chan lifted his head. He was about to say he'd take the rap part again.
"I-I'll just—"
"Trainee Kang Ha-jin, speaking. Trainee Joo Eun-chan, wait your turn."
Hajin raised his hand just before Eun-chan could speak. Their eyes met across the table. Hajin stared at him with an unreadable expression.
Was he going to push the rap part onto him after all?
But for some reason, Eun-chan didn't think Hajin would do that.
"...Just let him do it."
Hajin pointed at someone.