Seven Siblings Fighting! Otaku's Explosive Glory
The true essence of any MT—membership training—had always been recreation and booze. But the games that came before were indispensable too.
Jo Kyung-jun declared in a resolute voice, "They said first place gets cognac. Let's snag it for ourselves."
No one knew exactly what kind of cognac, but prizes had a way of igniting passion. His team members' eyes lit up as they nodded eagerly.
Team 7, where Seo Joo-hwan sat, consisted mostly of freshmen, excluding the second-year class rep Min Hye-young and returning student Jo Kyung-jun. Seo Joo-hwan was a freshman but a 2013 returnee, while Jeong Ha-yeon was a 2016 freshman like the others but already twenty-three. That made Seo Joo-hwan and Jeong Ha-yeon comfortable bantering with the second-years, which naturally thawed the stiff senior-junior dynamic lingering among the group. Thanks to them, Team 7 bonded faster than any other.
Seo Joo-hwan turned to Min Hye-young, the second-year class rep. "Hye-young, got any tips? You help with student council stuff, so you must know something."
"...I shouldn't say," Min Hye-young shook her head, looking troubled.
But Seo Joo-hwan didn't back down. Anyone else might have dropped it, but he knew this seemingly rigid class rep had a soft spot beneath the surface.
Grinning, he rallied the freshmen. "Guys, quick—coax some intel out of Hye-young unnie!"
"Unniiiing~!"
"Hye-young unnie, let's share that cognac together. Just a little hint, pretty please?"
The freshmen were pros at this. The ones flanking Min Hye-young immediately unleashed full aegyo. It was hilarious watching her fluster.
"Ah, no, that's... not okay..."
"Come on, other teams have second-years too. They're all cheating a bit, right?"
"Just because others do it doesn't mean we should..."
"If the kids aren't enough, make Deok-hoon do some aegyo?"
"No, hyungnim, why me..."
"Have him do it in drag."
"...Fine, I'll spill."
Jang Deok-hoon's mere mention was devastatingly effective! Min Hye-young grimaced and started spilling the beans.
"......"
Jang Deok-hoon fell silent, radiating a mysterious sense of defeat. He looked utterly shocked.
Feeling oddly guilty, Seo Joo-hwan patted his back. "Deok-hoon, sorry. You mad?"
"......"
"I'm sorry, man. Hyung'll buy you a meal later."
Thankfully, Jang Deok-hoon wasn't petty. He shook it off quickly and tuned back in.
Min Hye-young held up one finger. "I'll tell you a few I remember. First up is team name for unity-building, then minigames... Oh, and the talent show and cross-dressing contest are huge point scorers. Nail those, and you're in the top three easy. Win both, and first place overall is basically yours."
As she said, the first event was team naming for solidarity. Team 7 went with "Seven Siblings."
For some reason, it pumped Seo Joo-hwan up. He shouted, "Seven Siblings fighting!"
"Fighting, hyungnim!" Jang Deok-hoon echoed loyally.
Satisfied, Seo Joo-hwan thought, Kuh, this group fun hits different. Electric.
But the others clearly disagreed.
"F-Fighting..."
"Fiiighting..."
"...Joo-hwan, it's embarrassing."
A couple mumbled awkwardly, while Jo Kyung-jun straight-up scolded him for the cringe. Jeong Ha-yeon didn't speak—mindful of the group—but her eyes said it all.
It looks like a "please shut up" glare, Master.
Quiet...Hey, you have no idea how much I was looking forward to this kinda fun. Past life, even around people I felt alone! What's wrong with getting into it?
Deflated by the mismatched reactions, Seo Joo-hwan sulked. Uniting with teammates for that rah-rah energy had been one of his long-held dreams...
Then came a crackle of static over the mic.
- Puhahaha! Seven Siblings team, overflowing with fighting spirit! Craving that cognac bad, huh? Puhaha!
"Wahahahaha!"
The auditorium erupted in laughter at the MC's jab. Mortified, the team bowed their heads. Yeah, he'd overdone it.
Even Seo Joo-hwan ducked in sudden shame—only for Jeong Ha-yeon beside him to pinch his thigh.
"Yow!"
The team stared like what the hell? She'd already feigned innocence.
Once the laughter died down, the MC continued.
- 100 points to the fighting-spirited Seven Siblings to kick things off!
The team's heads snapped up, eyes wide.
"Woooah!"
"Seven Siblings! Seven Siblings!"
Forgetting their embarrassment, Team 7 roared.
Seo Joo-hwan smirked at the thigh-pincher and shrugged smugly. Jeong Ha-yeon huffed in disbelief.
"Rice Team 4! Rice Team 4!"
"Grang Team! Grang Team!"
Other teams chanted their names, clamoring for points. Childish, sure—but wasn't that the MT flavor?
The MC grinned at the frenzy.
- Tough luck, other teams—bzzzt! Only first place gets it. Wait for your shot. Now, let's get into the real games!
Seo Joo-hwan and Team 7 dove in enthusiastically. A brief cringe moment aside, scoring first had unified them tight. Not just for the booze—the vibe was just right.
- Third game done! Before the next, scores? First, second, third are neck-and-neck. Anyone could overtake with effort. Huh? But Seven Siblings—from overflowing spirit to crushing last place?
The issue: unity and drive didn't guarantee wins. Even knowing the games ahead, they floundered.
While others scored 10-20 points apart, Seven Siblings trailed seventh by 40. Sighs and grimaces all around. Competitive Jeong Ha-yeon tsked discreetly, frustrated.
"How do you even guess from three seconds of intro?"
"They must eat, sleep, and breathe songs!"
The first three games: ID pop songs, drama OSTs, movie OSTs via short intros. Hip-hop was okay thanks to Seo Joo-hwan and Jo Kyung-jun, but they bombed the rest—huge gap. Jang Deok-hoon? Zero correct.
- Last round of intro guessing! This genre's tricky. Wonder how many you'll nail.
Seo Joo-hwan cursed inwardly. How lazy is this prep? Recycling the same crap! Mix it up! 30 minutes of this torture!
No dice—the game rolled on. Student council played the intro at the MC's cue.
- Druru, dung, tung!
"Right answer!"
Someone shot up a hand. Intro cut. One second in—how?!
Seo Joo-hwan whipped toward the voice.
- Say your team name!
"Seven Siblings! Can we answer?"
It was Jang Deok-hoon—the serial flopper.
- Yes, go!
"It's Neru's Rotitle!"
- Correct for Seven Siblings!
"Aja!" Jang Deok-hoon pumped his fist, ecstatic.
The team gawked. The guy who'd bombed everything—how?
"What, Deok-hoon? How'd you know?"
"Joo-hwan ham, you don't know this song?"
"Nah, first time."
"Thought hyungnim would know. Surprising."
"So what is it?"
As Seo Joo-hwan stared puzzled, Jo Kyung-jun, Jeong Ha-yeon, and the rest lit up.
"Whoa, Deok-hoon knows this genre!"
"Yeah, total newbie song for me."
"Deok-hoon, Deok-hoon—what genre?"
Jang Deok-hoon sheepishly replied, "Japanese song. Neru's a super famous utaite—don't know her? Rotitle's perfect work song. Figured Joo-hwan hyungnim would."
...What even, otaku?
*
The final intro round: Japanese songs, heavy on anime tunes. Jang Deok-hoon—till now a statue—sprang alive like a fish to water.
"Seven Siblings! AnoHana ending Secret Iris!"
"Seven Siblings! Do×Gool season 1 OP, Un×ible!"
"Seven Siblings! Inu×sha season 4 OP, the one by voice actress Seo Hye-ji, Gr×!"
"Seven Siblings! One×Piece season 1 OP, Koyo-tae's We×'s Dream!"
"Seven Siblings! Moonli×t×Sculptor! Voice actor Yi Yong-jin's Eter×nal Snow!"
A total solo rampage! Like he'd hunkered down for momentum, sweeping every answer. Seo Joo-hwan knew a few mega-hits, but Deok-hoon was otherworldly—nailing intros under a second?
Thanks to him, the team's sunken mood soared.
"Deok-hoon's a beast!"
"Insane. Jang Deok-hoon's on fire!"
"Not Jang Deok-hoon—Jang Deok-fu."
"Change your name, otaku."
Thus, Jang Deok-hoon became the department's official otaku. He flushed late, but the MC's voice cut in.
- Whoa... Brought those to troll you guys, didn't expect sweeps. Seven Siblings climbs from last to fifth.
Trolling bait, huh? Seo Joo-hwan pegged the MC as a fellow otaku—Deok-hoon buddy material.
- Same game got boring? Next one!
Follow-ups: earplug game, charades with bodies, speed celeb quiz. Buoyed by the super-otaku (formerly Deok-hoon), Team 7 surged to third.
- Ooh, funner than before. One guy per team—front and center!
"Huh? What game? Why upfront?"
"Tell us the game first."
The hall buzzed at the vague call—no one budged sans details.
But then...
- First team out gets 50 bonus points!
Mood flipped.
"Go, anyone!"
"Hey, don't push!"
"Guys, up now!"
Guys hesitated; girls prodded like it was their job. Same for Team 7.
"Who's going?"
"Deok-hoon, Joo-hwan oppa! Kyung-jun oppa! Cognac time!"
Seo Joo-hwan flinched; Jang Deok-hoon pondered gravely. Mischievous Jeong Ha-yeon grinned at him.
"Joo-hwan, not going? Your turn."
"Right! Oppa go!"
"Joo-hwan oppa, you haven't played proper yet. Your shot!"
"I've been all in!"
"One point total!"
Speechless, Seo Joo-hwan stood.
"Oppa, hurry!"
"Other teams moving! Run!"
Prodded by team and Jeong Ha-yeon, he bolted onstage—barely first.
Soon, all teams' guys assembled.
- 50 bonus to first-out Seven Siblings!
"Waaah!"
Screeches and "oppa fighting!" from the girls. Now just 30 points from second—cognac in sight, hype real.
- Now, draw a note from the box!
Doubly folded notes hid contents. Seo Joo-hwan grabbed one blind.
Wonder what it says?
- All drawn? Check and fetch the matching person!
Participants' eyes bulged. Hesitant questions flew.
"Ugh, really do this?"
"Anyone okay?"
"Gender matter?"
Seo Joo-hwan moved fast—no questions needed, he knew the game.
Only one's this.
He scanned the team. Eye contact made them flinch away.
"Oh? Pushed me out, now dodging?"
He leered playfully. "Who said go again?"
Girls twitched. Jo Kyung-jun and Jang Deok-hoon brightened. Scanning pointedly, eyes locked with Yoo So-jeong.
She awkward-smiled. "Hehe, Joo-hwan oppa. Just didn't want you bored. You get me~?"
"Nah, don't."
"Aang, oppa!"
"Where's this tantrum from?"
He flicked her forehead.
"Ow! Oppa!"
"What? Was gonna spare you for cuteness—wanna go together?"
"Hehe, spare me cutely~."
Quick pivot. Still-avoiding her, he called, "Ha-yeon, come."
"...Me?"
"Anyone else Ha-yeon here?"
"Why me? Plenty others."
Hating it, she balked. Seo Joo-hwan grinned mischievously.
"Don't wanna? Do aegyo like Soo-jeong then."
"What? You... "
She glared, glanced around, lips quivering. Tough-girl her struggling with aegyo? Hilarious—he chuckled inwardly.
Desperate not to go, she actually did it. He'd just teased.
"O-oppa~ Can't you take someone else?"
"Nah. Rejected."
"Hey!"
"Whoa? Temper showing? Look, team's shocked."
Her prim facade cracked with a yell—team eyes popped. Grinning, he waved the note.
Target was her from the start.
"This points right at you. Blame the note writer, not me."
"Tch. What’s it say?"
"...Later. Most others out. Hurry."
She sighed deeply, standing reluctantly. Her pout was gold—he smirked slyly.
"Only you fit this in our team."
Somehow meaningful—the girls squealed riotously.
"Omo omo, Joo-hwan oppa, what’s it say? Prettiest girl? Sexiest babe?"
"Oppa, someone you wanna confess to~?"
"Unnie's lucky~ Joo-hwan oppa's hot!"
Jeong Ha-yeon flushed flustered. Seo Joo-hwan scratched his eye.
Sounded deeper than meant? Nah.
Worried she'd misread too, but she hid it fast, glared daggers, snorted, and strode off.
As he blinked, she turned. "What? Let's go."
"Pfft."
"...Why laugh? Annoying."
"Nothing. Coming."
Chuckling, he followed. Through her hair, her red ears peeked.