Chapter 12

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: The Singer's Name

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Min-ha headed straight to the underground practice rooms as soon as she arrived at the company, moving cautiously. It had been a while since she'd come to the office in the bright afternoon, and it felt strangely awkward.

'Listening to that song made me curious too. Can you at least find out his name for me, honey?'

Nam Ha-jeong's special mission from yesterday lingered in her mind.

She'd felt embarrassed and said, "Can't you ask yourself, Writer?" but all she got back was a light scolding.

'How am I supposed to ask over the phone when I don't even know his name?'

It wasn't wrong, so Park Min-ha had no choice but to nod. That's why she'd come to the practice rooms at a busy time like this.

"Oh? Hello!"

The moment she stepped underground, trainees spotted her and greeted her politely. She flinched, feeling like she'd been caught sneaking in.

Min-ha returned the greeting with an awkward smile.

"Ah, hello."

The trainee who'd caught her ear wasn't among those greeting her.

She wanted to ask the others where he was, but without a name, she couldn't.

As she peeked into each practice room one by one, word must have spread that she was there, because trainees started poking their heads out.

It wasn't just because Park Min-ha had suddenly appeared in the practice rooms— she seemed to be looking for someone, drawing even more attention.

"Are you looking for someone?"

A bold trainee asked, but Min-ha shook her head lightly.

"I'm fine."

Her soft yet firm reply made the trainee retreat with an embarrassed look.

With the others brushed off casually, she slowly scanned the room.

"Ah!"

She spotted him in the same practice room as last time.

Her exclamation was loud enough for everyone to hear, and the trainees clustered a bit away reacted.

Who could be in there? All eyes turned that way.

Oblivious to it all, Park ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Min-ha peered inside. The trainee had his eyes closed, singing quietly.

The door wasn't wide open like before, so the voice wasn't crystal clear, but leaning in, she could faintly hear it.

'I wasn't imagining ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it after all.'

Just that made her ears feel at ease.

She listened for a moment until the song ended, then carefully opened the practice room door.

'What the hell?'

Crunch.

My teeth ground together on their own. I never knew my mouth could make that sound until today.

Four hours had already passed. Filling a quarter of the goal before the six-hour mark was somewhat positive...

"...What do you mean, somewhat?! What's the damn standard?!"

I was truly understanding what it meant to feel like I was going insane.

Lessons started in an hour. Meaning I couldn't use all 24 hours straight.

It was only natural I couldn't focus properly with this chasing feeling.

What pissed me off more was that somehow, if my mind wandered even a little mid-song, I'd never hit over 90 points.

'And time's already tight.'

A 24-hour penalty for failure? Who the hell starts something like this on their own? Hey?

'Hey, you ignoring me now?'

This bastard answers when it suits it, auto-accepts on a whim, but clams up when I need it? Crazy?

"Sigh..."

Time kept ticking even as I vented.

Either way, I had to finish what I'd started. Couldn't waste 24 hours for nothing.

"Um..."

Then a familiar voice came from somewhere.

I turned to see Park Min-ha peeking through the slightly open door.

"Oh? Senior! Hello!"

What brought her here at this hour?

"Mind if I come in for a sec?"

"Huh? Yeah, of course!"

Click.

Park Min-ha stepped in and closed the door. Before I could ask what was up, I saw trainees swarming outside the small window in the door.

At first I wondered why they weren't practicing, but seeing it was for Park Min-ha made sense.

Even in the same agency, famous actors didn't drop by often.

"Sorry for interrupting practice again."

Before I could say it was fine, she continued.

"But I forgot to ask something last time..."

"Forgot something?"

What could it be? Did she leave something behind?

I'd found a ribbon hair clip while cleaning up and put it in the lost and found. Was it hers?

"J-Junior!"

"Yes?"

"U-Um... by any chance..."

Park Min-ha struggled to get the words out, making me tense up too.

'...Does she think I took it?'

It had looked pricey and big. Should've handed it to Kim Han-soo right away.

Nothing else fit. I opened my mouth in a panic to clear it up before misunderstanding hit.

"Wh-what's your name? Sorry, I should've asked first!"

"It's not me! The hair clip's in the lost and found!"

I couldn't believe my ears. Neither could Park Min-ha.

"...Pardon?"

"...What?"

In the end, the hair clip was my mistake. Park Min-ha said she hadn't even gotten my name last time and asked for it.

I really thought I'd been accused of theft.

She wanted to listen to my practice again today, but I tearfully said no.

'We could've gotten closer.'

Still, missing that chance paid off.

I did it. Just three more successes and this sudden mission would end.

With an hour left, no worry about the 24-hour penalty anymore.

Of course, it took blood, sweat, and tears to get here.

Right after lessons, I belted out songs like a madman in the practice room. No breaks at all.

Waking up to morning sun after closing my eyes for a quick rest sent chills down my spine, but that's all past now.

"...Almost done."

Seventeen successes from two hours ago till now. I'd fully gotten the hang of it.

At first, I thought just focusing on the song was enough, but time revealed otherwise.

Had to mind a ton of things. Vocal condition by time of day, tension levels, emotions fitting the song.

Especially for breakup songs—different emotional arcs for each.

I knew that already, but this insane system caught every tiny slip.

Once I consciously felt those differences while singing, 90+ scores came often.

Expressing emotions naturally sharpened focus too.

"Hoo."

Good scores didn't make me happy. Those mocking popups still boiled my blood.

Not mocking? Oh my! Are you a singer? I just wanna...

'Machines need a good whack to fix.'

No body to hit, so I can't fix it. Driving me nuts.

Anyway, I focused and nailed the last two songs.

Staring at the system window, my eyes welled up warmly. But just for a moment.

'Cheap bastard.'

3 coins? No way that's fair.

Should've bargained for more upfront. At least 5 for this mission.

Slept at the company, couldn't even go home yesterday.

Ding!

But the system kept going.

Rewards done—what now? No thanks.

"Reject! I rejec— Huh?"

'Hold up!'

New item unlocked. Motor skills this time?

I hurried to check options, but another window blocked my view.

"No! Accept! Accepting!"

...This psycho. Nearly rejected an item. Toying with me for real.

'And why three this time?'

Last time 'Ho, Not Bad' gave five. Should be five again, right?

No reply from the system after its piece.

'Knew it.'

My fault for expecting one.

I checked the new item. Shop price: 1 coin, same as 'Ho, Not Bad'.

Longer duration—probably because it's motor skills.

But why motor skills anyway?

'Well, something's better than nothing.'

Might not need now, but someday. Who knows what'll happen.

Pondering uses, my phone rang—Kim Han-soo.

Answered reflexively; he got straight to it.

- Do-jun, know anyone in radio?

"Radio?"

Entertainment contacts? Kim Min-jae, a few GH staff, trainees, recent debuts like Flame. That's it.

No debut yet—unlikely radio connections.

Then Park Min-ha from yesterday popped in mind.

'Saying I know her feels off.'

She does radio, but we just swapped names.

Answered no; his voice sounded puzzled.

- Really? That's weird... Anyway, come to the office in 30 minutes.

"Huh? Oh, got it."

What the heck?

I set down the phone, tilting my head.

Why ask about radio contacts out of nowhere? Couldn't read the context.

'And what's weird about it?'

'Weird' rarely means good, so it started bugging me.

No guesses despite racking my brain.

'...Better face it head-on.'

I headed to the office before 30 minutes were up.