Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Even as a Villain, I Want to Debut
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As in the original story, the teams were decided by musical chairs.
A simple game where the first people to sit on chairs form teams. But here, it couldn't exactly be called simple.
This was a high-stakes game of reading the room, loaded with the production team's intentions. After all, who you teamed up with mattered for getting screen time.
Teaming up with promising debut candidates would surely guarantee more airtime.
'Ugh, I hate this kind of thing.'
Honestly, it didn't appeal to me at all.
I didn't want to stand around watching who went first and then follow suit.
I had zero interest in swarming like a pack of dogs, shoving and fighting over a spot just to claim a team slot.
Of course, I knew it. To debut, you couldn't be picky about methods.
But did it really have to be like this?
'I've already tossed my pride ages ago, but even I have lines I won't cross.'
So I made up my mind.
The second it started, I'd bolt straight for a chair.
No paying attention to who went first.
Whistle-
The whistle blew, and I shot up from my seat, heading right for the chairs.
Behind me, the trainees buzzed with surprised "Huh?"s. After claiming my chair, I glanced back at the trainee section.
'Lee Hae-won’s coming this way too.'
Lee Hae-won had dashed out right after me, no hesitation.
His bright expression suggested he just wanted to team up with me.
Drag-
That’s when Han I-jae stood up.
'Han I-jae too?'
As Han I-jae rose, the other trainees who'd been gauging the situation followed suit.
Not a bad lineup. Both A-Team and B-Team centers were here, plus Lee Hae-won who'd held his own in the rankings evaluation.
To the other trainees, it probably looked like a team guaranteed some solid screen time.
'Even so, this is ridiculous. What is this, a flea market?'
The trainees charged the chairs like Black Friday shoppers storming a store.
Lee Hae-won beside me looked a bit intimidated by the horde.
'Hyeon Si-woo’s here too.'
Hyeon Si-woo, desperate for debut, had thrown pride out the window and was sprinting full-tilt.
'Is he okay? Running like that...'
One chair left.
Hyeon Si-woo finally reached it and spun to sit—only for someone to yank it away and plop down.
"Ah..."
Hyeon Si-woo, robbed right in front of everyone, caught his breath and backed away.
'Tough break.'
In the original plot, Lee Hae-won, Han I-jae, and Hyeon Si-woo would’ve teamed up.
But with fate altered, Hyeon Si-woo didn’t make our team.
'That’s the game, though. Chairs get snatched; nothing you can do about it.'
Hyeon Si-woo’s dejected retreat tugged at the heartstrings a little.
'Who’s that, anyway?'
I checked the name tag of the last guy to sit.
'Choi Young-hoon?'
The name soured my mood instantly.
'Oh, this guy...'
He was the one who later threw a tantrum over parts in a grubby episode.
Of course, he got roasted online after the broadcast and dropped out immediately. More small-fry than major villain.
'Honestly, Hyeon Si-woo would’ve been better, but Choi Young-hoon really wanted in.'
Couldn’t be helped.
Even extras deserve a shot at changing their fate.
As I thought that, Choi Young-hoon waved enthusiastically from beside me.
"Hey there!"
"Uh, hey."
I greeted him on reflex.
"You're older than me, so talk comfortably!"
"Uh, sure... whatever."
Lee Hae-won, sandwiched between us, just blinked blankly.
'Normally, you'd greet the person right next to you first, right? Why skip Lee Hae-won and hit me?'
That’s when it hit me.
"Whoa, our team's lineup is insane! Let's win this!"
Choi Young-hoon burst out laughing amid the seated trainees.
Then he scanned around and called out to Han I-jae.
"I-jae hyung! Let's crush it!"
Han I-jae glanced over, nodded expressionlessly.
'He's pretty far from Han I-jae. How many people is he skipping?'
A bad feeling crept in strong.
The whistle signaling the sports day kickoff rang out.
The first event was a silent uproar.
"A-Team starts us off."
A game where we lined up with headsets, passing words with mouth shapes only.
I listened to the music leaking from my headset, waiting my turn.
Lee Hae-won tapped my shoulder from behind.
"--"
Lee Hae-won said something.
But I couldn't make it out.
'Maybe try Telepathy.'
Using Insight could reveal what Lee Hae-won was saying.
No guarantee it'd work, though.
Luckily, Telepathy worked.
I called out the answer right away.
"Fellow sufferers?"
The trainee section buzzed at my response.
"Whoa, how'd he get that?"
"Right? Nailed it instantly."
Because Lee Hae-won and I shared Telepathy.
Couldn't exactly say that, so I just smiled and turned forward. Now to pass it on.
Too bad Choi Young-hoon was right in front of me.
"Fellow sufferers."
Choi Young-hoon craned his neck out.
"--?"
"--!"
"---!"
'Hmm...'
Couldn't hear through the headset, but it was definitely wrong.
Choi Young-hoon kept yelling without turning around.
'Isn't the fun in how the word warps down the line?'
Even if you don't know, just guess and pass it on. Why waste time solo?
The team ahead was stuck silent.
Frustrated, I waved him to hurry up and turn. He finally did, looking disappointed.
'What the hell was that?'
But it didn't end there. Choi Young-hoon repeated it several times.
I pointed forward insistently, but no dice.
"---!"
The other trainees' reactions soured visibly.
'Why is this guy like this?'
My face nearly twisted, but cameras meant I held it together.
"A-Team cleared two out of however many."
Choi Young-hoon bowed dramatically, fake-crying.
Was he aiming for cute?
"No worries! You did great!"
While Lee Hae-won rallied the team, solo-troll Choi Young-hoon aegyo'd at the camera.
'God, he's annoying.'
I kept smiling. Couldn't drop the mask on camera.
Back in the seats, we watched the other teams. Na Jae-hyun shone with his variety flair.
'He's good.'
I knew he was variety-specialized, but seeing him play confirmed it.
"Haha, hilarious!"
"...?"
A piercing laugh jolted me; I turned to see Choi Young-hoon slapping my arm, cackling.
'What the—?'
Soon he slung his arm over my shoulder.
We weren't even close; first real talk today.
"Funny, right?"
Figured it'd stop, but his antics dragged on.
Sudden pokes to turn, then he'd pinch my cheek and laugh alone. Leaning on my shoulder, ruffling my hair.
'Ugh...'
I can't even count how hard I fought the scowl.
As I tuned him out, he quieted abruptly. Thought it was over...
"I-jae hyung!"
Now he was glued to Han I-jae.
My indifference shifted his target.
'Why go that far?'
Another funny bit played; he slapped Han I-jae's shoulder, howling.
Unlike my camera-managed face, Han I-jae stared coldly down.
"Heh heh, so funny, right?"
As Choi draped an arm, Han I-jae openly grimaced.
Choi deflated briefly, then bounced back to me.
'Damn it, back to me.'
I pinched my eyes shut, head down. Sigh was inevitable.
Glared sideways; Han I-jae met my eyes, shrugged like what can you do?
'Sigh... endure.'
I forced poker face and looked up.
Next was relay team events.
Pre-game, we huddled to pick events.
"I'll do rock-paper-scissors."
"Then I'll take lemon-eating."
"Trampoline snack-munching? Won-woo, you're up."
As we assigned one by one, Choi Young-hoon stayed mum. Waved off questions.
Finally, as spots filled:
"Why decide without me?"
All eyes on him; he puffed his cheeks.
"Huh? What?"
"I have stuff I wanna do too..."
"Like what?"
He pouted.
"Dunno, but I hate the leftovers. Not my strengths."
What now?
"Then say what you want."
Everyone was fed up, but kind-hearted Lee Hae-won tried smoothing it over.
"Bean bag toss?"
"...I suck at throwing."
"What do you do well?"
"Dunno. Eating, maybe."
He glanced my way.
Goosebumps, but seemed like what he wanted, so I caved.
"You do snacks then?"
"But it's assigned already. Sorry to swap last-second..."
"Nah, you take it. I'm fine."
Choi perked up, swapped spots.
Fine, game's short; no future with this guy. Play along and done.
But...
"Waaah!"
Game started; delay at Choi's turn again.
He flailed like a paper doll on the trampoline.
Bouncing wildly, mouth agape for snacks.
"Waaah! Can't eat! It won't go in! Wahaha, what do I do? Kyaa!"
'Hasn't he eaten enough already?'
Obvious airtime hogging via fake fails.
Third snack visibly in mouth, unswallowed.
'Unbelievable...'
Irritation wasn't just mine. Staff and trainees' faces soured live.
'Others won't even get a turn.'
Everyone craves screen time, sure. But not at others' expense, right?
Rage boiled over; mask slipping when a voice cut in.
"Hey, cut it out."
I turned toward it.
Han I-jae leaned on the table, pissed.
"Y-Yes?"
Choi froze mid-bounce, staring.
Air turned icy; Choi's pupils quaked.
"Hoo..."
Han I-jae looked ready to unload but bit his lip—knew better.
"Just bounce already. Let the next guy go."
Seemed wrapped up.
"...Sniff."
But Choi suddenly hung his head, sniffling.
"Sob, sniff..."
Was he... crying?
'What the...'
Stunned by the outburst, I scanned around.
Staff watched silently, no intervention.
No one comforted him—except Lee Hae-won, climbing the trampoline.
"You okay?"
"...Hic."
"Why the waterworks all of a sudden?"
Lee Hae-won consoled, but baffled.
'Seriously, why...'
Then eyes met Han I-jae's.
Fleeting, but I felt the exact same vibe.
When a common enemy appears, we unite.
That's when it clicked.