Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: First Dance Lesson
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Chuseok was over.
So what was left now?
“Ha, do I really have to go?”
[Yes, of course you do. We went through a lot to book such a famous instructor.]
I let out a deep sigh at the manager’s response.
Right, now it was time for dance lessons.
I’d felt it during that shoot with my cousin before, but I was seriously hopeless at anything physical….
“More than that, you said she’s famous?”
[Yes, she’s on TV all the time. And we’ve gotten a bit of buzz lately, right? Seems like that piqued her interest.]
Oh… Famous probably means she’s skilled too, right?
I was a little excited.
“What’s her name?”
[I heard it’s Lee Yerang. Do you know her?]
“No way I’d know her.”
My cousin might, but me?
I’d said it over and over, but I was the guy who couldn’t even recognize Moon Chang-sik.
Later I found out in more detail, and it turned out that was actually something to be proud of.
[Yeah, figured as much. Anyway, please make sure to arrive on time.]
“Got it for now.”
The dance lessons were set for once a week, for starters.
Sure, it was a bit of a distance, but once a week was manageable.
Looking at the group chat, the other members seemed a bit excited, but I wasn’t sure.
More than that, wouldn’t it be awkward? If everyone else keeps up and I’m the only one who can’t….
Right now, I had to go tomorrow—should I prep a little in advance?
In this internet age, there had to be some basic dance videos.
If I learned ahead, I could at least get called a prodigy at the start…. Sigh, no.
Toss.
I threw my phone onto the bed and flopped down with it.
Even if I learned a little beforehand, they’d still see right through me anyway.
I’d just go and work hard.
When has hard work ever failed?
I just needed to be able to perform at the year-end live show.
Plus, she was supposed to be pretty famous, so she’d teach well, right?
I had no idea.
If I just thought of it as dying for five hours, it’d be easier.
Like always, I left tomorrow’s me to handle it and closed my eyes, letting my mind relax.
*
The next day.
I left the house to head to the dance studio I’d been told about in advance.
“Woof!”
Maybe because it was a weekday, Boksil—who usually hung out in the living room rather than the yard—immediately stuck to me, but I dodged around.
“Woof?”
“Boksil, can’t you see this sister’s pants?”
Normally I’d just pet her roughly and go, but today I was in black training clothes, so no.
I couldn’t go covered in fur.
Any other color might be fine, but that white fluffball on my black training pants would show up big time.
As I dodged, Boksil looked a little downcast, but I hurried out the gate.
Sorry, Boksil. I’ll take you for a walk later.
Outside the gate, at the end of the alley, I spotted a woman who stood out immediately.
A woman clearly a head taller than the guys passing by.
…Every time I saw her, I thought the same: with that physique, shouldn’t she be an athlete?
Not that I had room to talk, but it seemed a waste for someone who just sat at a computer at home.
“Suhyun’s here?”
As I approached, Maho spotted me first and waved.
I waved back, and we headed to the subway together.
I’d planned to go separately, but our houses were close, so we decided to go together.
“Line 1 straight through—super convenient.”
“The others said theirs weren’t. We got lucky.”
Still, no transfers needed, straight shot—that was nice.
Transfers were such a pain.
It was off-peak too, so Maho and I sat comfortably and rode.
Man, she really drew stares.
Everyone who got on or off glanced our way at least once.
I was getting used to it, but it still bugged me a little.
Honestly, if I were one of those guys, I’d stare too—no blame there.
We got off, ignoring the looks, and spotted a group of girls up ahead.
Your typical group of girls, but one really stood out.
Roa, of course.
How was she that hip in training clothes?
Was the face what completed fashion after all?
“Oh? They’re here.”
“Over here, over here!”
As I stared, they noticed and waved wildly.
“Sister, the members are over there.”
“Huh… really? Let’s go.”
Maho, who’d been peering around with her wide field of view but missing them entirely, finally saw and waved back after I pointed it out.
Come to think of it, this was the second time we’d all gathered since Miro 24 Hours?
With dance lessons ongoing, we’d be seeing each other more often now.
“Wow, Suhyun gets prettier every time.”
As I got close, Mile looked at me and laid on the flattery.
“Prettier than last time?”
“For sure. Your face is just glowing.”
This girl—flattery like that gets her nowhere.
Gotta clap back with flattery.
“Weird. No room left to get prettier.”
I tilted my head like I really didn’t get it, and Mile scrunched her face like she regretted looking.
“Whoa… can I punch you?”
“Hey, hold it! No fists!”
Mile’s hand twitched up, but Anna, the team’s eldest sister, intervened fast.
Who started the flattery first?
Anyway, after a brief commotion, we left the subway and headed to the building the company directed us to.
“This the place?”
“Yeah. Basement of this building, so let’s head in?”
The building looked decent-sized and clean.
Makes sense—they weren’t buying, just renting, so they went for good.
The Six really didn’t skimp on stuff like this.
“This is it, right?”
“Wow, getting nervous.”
“Me too.”
They’d seemed fine, but once inside, everyone started showing a bit of tension.
Only Anna and Roa looked unfazed?
And for the record, I was the most nervous here.
Down in the basement, we found the dance studio.
Two rooms, A and B—we were A, right?
“We go left.”
Following Anna, who’d been navigating on her phone, we went left to Room A.
“Going in.”
We opened the firmly shut, semi-transparent glass door, revealing the interior.
Shoe rack right at the entrance, one wall all mirrors.
Obviously a dance practice room. A woman was bustling at one end of the wall, and turned as the door opened.
“Oh?! Welcome, everyone!”
Her reaction suggested she was the instructor the company booked.
She did seem famous—polished vibe.
Dancer body goes without saying, skin flawless, no blemishes.
“Been waiting!”
The Dance Instructor smiled brightly and strode over.
“I was so looking forward to this….”
Starting with Anna up front, she made eye contact with each of us, until she met mine.
“Huh….”
Her expression turned subtly awkward in an instant.
“Um… you’re the Heavenly Realm Project members, right?”
Silence fell over the room at her words.
Then.
“Pfft.”
“Hahaha!”
The members burst out laughing.
What was so funny?
From Anna laughing loudest to Roa’s awkward chuckle.
Now the instructor looked even more confused.
“Ah, yes, we’re Heavenly Realm Project. I’m Miro.”
I stepped up to clarify, and the instructor’s face shifted from awkward to surprised.
“Wow… thought you were idols.”
“We get that a lot.”
“Seriously… you will.”
Ugh… saying it so earnestly was kinda embarrassing.
“Ahaha, please take care of us today.”
“Oh, that’s my line. Come on in.”
I’d worried she might have a tough personality, but that was unfounded—she was cheerful and straightforward.
“Hmm, let’s take off outer layers and start with stretching? We’ve got time, but the deadline’s short, so let’s learn fast!”
After a short stretch, the lesson began—super basic since it was day one.
“Okay—left foot, right foot, just follow like this.”
The Dance Instructor showed simple moves slowly first, and we just mimicked.
…This was doable.
Basics, so not hard to follow.
But the moves to memorize piled up one by one.
“Okay, left foot, right foot goes here… body always faces this way.”
Started easy.
Just copy, right? Memorizing was fine too.
I was pretty confident in head stuff, looks notwithstanding.
But… as time passed, moves multiplied, stamina drained.
“Okay, left foot….”
“Hngh….”
“Now right foot….”
“Hah….”
Sweat poured like rain with each combo, vision blurring.
Dancing… this tough? Dancers were respectable.
All handling this intense workout.
“Um… Miro-nim?”
Incredible.
A normie like me struggling with basics….
“Excuse me?”
“Ah, yes?”
When’d she call? Everyone was staring.
Hoo… first time seeing someone tired?
Others were breathing heavy, but not wiped out like me.
…Why? Was I this bad?
“Um… could you come here a sec?”
The instructor saw me struggling and called me aside.
“Wait here a moment.”
She vanished after telling me to wait.
What… some special way?
No stamina potion for dancers, so no quick recovery….
Or maybe just rest now—I grabbed an ion drink, sat, and rested.
Whew, break helped.
Still wanna lie down. Heart pounding, short of breath—need more rest….
But the instructor returned quick.
“Sorry, kept you waiting?”
“No, you were fast.”
“Went to the car quick… here, take this.”
She handed me something from her car.
“Huh, jump rope?”
Yep, a jump rope.
Why this?
“Um… your stamina’s too low, so let’s build it up first before moves.”
“Ah, ahaha.”
Oh, kinda good…?
“…Got it.”
So on my first lesson, I was sidelined, jumping rope in the corner.
…Still, this was manageable.