Chapter 6

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 6

Chapter Title: The Debut Partner

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After roughly looking around the offices on each floor, we headed down to the basement where the practice rooms were. Kim Han-soo smiled faintly and cautiously advised me.

"From now on, you'll be practicing with kids you've never met before, so if any problems come up, tell me right away."

"Yes."

"No need to try solving everything on your own. That's why we're here."

"Got it."

He seemed pleased with my quick responses, as Kim Han-soo suppressed a grin and resumed the tour.

The practice room was spacious and clean—clearly, they'd invested a good amount.

I exchanged light greetings with the trainees already practicing inside.

Thanks to Kim Han-soo handling the introductions, things didn't get awkward.

'Gotta get along with them to some extent from now on.'

We'll be in the same company, bumping into each other often, so leaving a good first impression couldn't hurt.

This was another sign that Kim Han-soo was looking out for me.

'Didn't he say one other person besides me is confirmed?'

I might not know about the rest, but I needed to get along well with that one.

After all, we'd be stuck together all day, sharing schedules—it only made sense for us to have a good relationship.

Sure, I could fake it on the surface, but why bother? Better to actually be friendly.

"Where'd he go?"

Finishing the tour, Kim Han-soo tilted his head. Then he called over a nearby trainee and asked.

"Haven't seen Jae-ha? He should've been here, but he's not in the practice room."

"Think he stepped out for a break? Should I go get him?"

"No, it's fine. Probably in the break room, right? Do-jun, wait here a sec. Be right back."

After getting my okay, Kim Han-soo hurried off.

I could feel the trainees' sidelong glances on me, now that I was alone.

"That guy's a lock for the debut lineup, right?"

"Huh? Didn't he just arrive today?"

"Yeah, but I heard he was originally in Flame's debut group."

"GH...?"

I could hear every word, you guys.

They probably thought they were whispering, but my sharpened ears caught it all.

"Heard he got bumped somehow and ended up here."

I pretended not to notice and kept eavesdropping. Now that I was with Pida, it wouldn't hurt to know how they sized me up.

"It's not like getting cut from a debut lineup never happens—must've been some issue..."

"Shh."

"Over here."

The chatter cut off the moment Kim Han-soo's voice reached them.

"Still not practicing? Quit slacking and get back to it!"

The clustered trainees scattered like lightning at his sharp command. That's when I noticed something odd.

'He even uses formal speech with the trainees?'

Usually, staff get casual with them once they're close—hyung, dongsaeng, that sort of thing.

Anyway, we entered an empty practice room. Following behind Kim Han-soo was a guy with a cool expression.

'That's him.'

I knew it instinctively. The one debuting with me.

'He's handsome.'

His hair was a mess from practice, and he was definitely bare-faced, but he still hit me right in the eyes.

If a camera caught the two of them, Kim Han-soo might not even register in focus.

"Introduce yourselves. This is Lee Do-jun, starting today."

"Hello!"

"And this is Lee Jae-ha, your debut partner. He's twenty, so you're the hyung, Do-jun."

Instead of replying, Lee Jae-ha just dipped his head briefly.

Was he the quiet type? That's what I thought at first, but his eyes didn't feel friendly.

'What's his deal?'

I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. Maybe it was my imagination? I looked again, but now he wouldn't even glance my way.

This was blatantly saying he wasn't interested in me, right?

"Take good care of Jae-ha. Do-jun doesn't know anyone here."

"......"

Lee Jae-ha just nodded again, no words.

Wait, didn't he hesitate for like two seconds before that?

"Do-jun, talk to Jae-ha when I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not around. He'll help you out."

"Ah, sure."

......He didn't look like he'd help at all.

'Nah, must be my imagination.'

"You two chat. Gotta head to the office for a bit."

With that, Kim Han-soo left the room. Anyone could see he was giving us space to talk alone.

Well, not every aspiring celebrity is super outgoing. Maybe he was just shy...

"No need to make me feel unwelcome."

......Or not.

The door had barely closed when he came at me strong, out of nowhere.

"Just because Pida's smaller than GH doesn't mean it's easier here."

Unlike before, his posture was defiant now, and hostility shone clearly in his eyes.

What to do?

I pondered briefly, then decided to brush it off with a smile.

We had to debut together, and from his perspective, I was the random rock that rolled in and might've cost someone else their spot after all their hard work.

So, some hazing was understandable...

"You might get cut here too, so work hard. Don't cause trouble by switching spots at the last minute."

......Understandable my ass. Only to a point. Crossing the line right off the bat?

I grinned widely and shot back.

"Perfect. You said exactly what I wanted to say."

"......Pardon?"

Lee Jae-ha stared at me, eyes wide, confusion plain on his face.

What, after seven years as a trainee, did he think everyone just smiled and got along?

That Pida's easier?

How would he know? He never even trained at GH.

I'd planned to let it slide, but backing down now would just set the wrong tone from the start.

"What did you just..."

"If you don't like me, take it up with the company. No idea why you're coming at me. Anyone'd think I bribed my way into the debut lineup."

Don't cause trouble? That's my line. I'm ready to die for this.

I had to climb fast and high—no time for pointless pissing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠contests or hazing.

I declared it outright.

"Hate me all you want, but don't act like a kid about it."

Lee Jae-ha froze, his shocked expression locked in place.

Once idols debut but can't continue activities after some time, they typically face three main paths.

First: Retire quietly and live off savings.

Second: Become a producer and dive into creation or management.

Third: Switch to acting to keep the celebrity life going.

Most aim for the third, naturally.

Money aside, people become idols to bask in the public's attention in the first place. So if possible, they pivot to acting.

Production companies prefer it too—known idols over rookies boost box office odds.

'But still...'

"Don't stress, just relax. We'll factor in your hiatus too."

"Yes."

Wasn't it weird to test acting first for an idol trainee?

Even if Pida focused more on actors, it was disorienting.

I asked first, a bit worried.

"What about singing and dancing?"

"Of course we'll check those."

Kim Han-soo fiddled with the camera, saying it casually.

"Heard GH was planning to shift you to acting lately, so I was curious and wanted to see first."

How'd he even know that? Did they plant a spy at GH?

'Anyway, it's good for me.'

They can't push every member into acting, so the first one to get the spotlight is predetermined.

This check meant they at least planned to promote me.

"Let's start."

I steadied my breathing calmly. Years as a trainee made evaluations familiar, but that didn't kill the nerves.

They said keep it light, but this first impression mattered—tension was inevitable.

'Focus.'

The thought triggered a system window, flashing wildly.

'Hey, don't interrupt.'

I was finally focusing, and now it's distracting me. Not even a real audition—why waste ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it here? No thanks. Go away.

Flash, flash.

'This thing...'

Ignoring me, it kept flashing.

"Do-jun?"

"Yes?"

"Need more time?"

"Just two minutes. It's been a while, so I'm nervous."

"Makes sense. Take your time."

The system blinked sharply over Kim Han-soo's face.

'You're in the way. Dismiss.'

I wasn't using it now. How many times would I need it later? Not for some casual test.

Haha.

So it auto-uses. Haha. Didn't know that. I...

'You crazy bastard!'

Kim Han-soo tilted his head. Lee Do-jun was still hesitating, unable to focus.

'This shouldn't take this long...'

Especially for a seventh-year trainee. Even third- or fourth-years spat it out if you poked them.

'Skills are solid, and he's outgoing, they said?'

He'd heard the failed debuts were all due to incidents. Knowing that, even unrelated Kim Han-soo felt bad for him.

But for Pida Entertainment, aiming to debut an idol, it was a golden opportunity.

GH, masters of safe idol launches, had vetted him as valuable. Snagging him would help. Even the staff who jumped from GH agreed.

The one thing Do-jun lacked was luck.

'Luck's whatever.'

Like the moon waning before waxing again, luck returns. That's why he'd contacted Do-jun the moment he heard he was conscious.

Plus, long-term trainees had that unique grit. That's what Kim Han-soo had banked on.

But right now, Do-jun showed none of it.

'Needs time to adjust?'

Then, Do-jun's acting began.

"Keep yourself busy all day on purpose."

"Huh...?"

Before the first line ended, Kim Han-soo doubted his ears.

"That way your mind's too scattered to think straight."

No intense blocking, no shouting.

Yet that calm voice, laced with subtle bitterness, pierced clearly.

The acting trainer beside him murmured to Kim Han-soo.

"Team leader."

"Yes?"

"GH alum?"

"Ah, yeah."

"......GH really is something. Debut lineup at that level."

Not every GH trainee's like that. Kim Han-soo inwardly shook his head.

'Some issue I don't know about?'

Otherwise, it made no sense.

Anyone who understood this industry, had eyes for talent, wouldn't let a gem like that slip.

This biz was full ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of people chasing that shine.

Meanwhile, the lines continued.

"Can't think of you then. Makes me forget you're not calling. But... when the moon rises, everywhere quiets down, and I look at my still-silent phone."

Do-jun's gaze drifted through the air, settling somewhere. Kim Han-soo followed it unconsciously, as if someone was there.

Not the practice room—a lonely night street, empty of passersby. Do-jun stood there.

Before he knew it, Kim Han-soo wasn't evaluating; he was an audience member, a furtive onlooker eyeing a couple.

"What's the point? I'm heading out first today... Can't bear to stay longer."

Do-jun turned his back on cue.

'This...'

Seeing that lonely silhouette, Kim Han-soo swallowed unwittingly.

'......Jackpot.'

His fist clenched tight inside crossed arms.