Chapter 100
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 100
Chapter Title Hoping to Get Close
What kind of trainee is Heo Yubin?
After the level test, when he ended up in Cell 31 and sharing a room with Kang Siyoon.
He was extremely shy about meeting other people and extremely standoffish.
Especially after seeing my looks, he even went so far as to say I was scary, showing just how heavily he was influenced by the hikikomori debuff.
And what about Ji Yooncheol, sitting across from him?
The trainee who consistently ranked in the undisputed top three.
While Song Hyeongbin and Chae Eungyu from the same concrete floor had incredibly warm, rounded personalities with strong leadership qualities, Ji Yooncheol was always stonefaced and silent.
Whether his ranking went up or down.
Whether he got benefits or not, he was the type to show zero change, utterly impassive.
Neither of these two trainees exactly excelled at interpersonal skills.
As Kang Siyoon had said, both Heo Yubin and Ji Yooncheol were trainees who werent particularly great at dealing with others.
One was just so shy and timid.
The other was a master of the poker face.
This is really going to be a legendary scene.
Having watched their entire practice history, I knew it well.
Even when they were grouped together in something like the final round, Heo Yubin and Ji Yooncheol barely exchanged more than the most perfunctory words.
Heo Yubin trying to talk to Ji Yooncheol to teach him vocals, where he was weak.
Ji Yooncheol guiding Heo Yubin on dance, where he was weak, and talking to him.
That was the extent of their interactions.
A, uh. Ththat, umm.
.
These two guys, who had this kind of relationship, were now sitting facetoface, holding hands.
Heo Yubins eyes had long since lost focus.
Ji Yooncheols ears were burning bright red.
The protagonists were dying of agony, but the audience was already slapping their knees in laughter over whatever was so hilarious.
Yubins eyes are spinning like crazy!
First time seeing Yooncheol rattled like that.
His ears are super red!
Ah, feels good. Bro, I gave you a solid tip, right?
In particular, Kang Siyoon puffed out his chest proudly, thumping it with his fists.
The more you looked at him, the more he seemed normal only on the outside.
Alright, alright. Were starting the Hoping to Get Close corner within the Idol Training Simulation corner. First participant, trainee Heo Yubin?
YYes?!
If your hand shakes that much, its just going to make the other person more nervous, you know.
SSSSSorry!
Song Hyeongbin, who was hosting, flashed a sly grin.
From his speech, it seemed like he was imitating Choi Sia, the judge serving as MC for Idol Training Simulation.
Trainee Ji Yooncheol. As our trainee Kang Siyoon said, have you really never had a single private conversation with trainee Heo Yubin?
Yes.
Now that youre looking at each other like this, what are you thinking?
.
Ji Yooncheol pondered Song Hyeongbins question for a long time.
Strangely, the longer time passed, the redder his earlobes got.
His face showed no sign, but his body was betraying his mental state with perfect accuracy.
I think we should start with proper greetings.
Greetings, huh. Ah, right. When things are awkward, you do have to start with hellos!
It was a suffocating standoff.
No situation could feel more tense than this.
The more Heo Yubin and Ji Yooncheols hands trembled, the closer the watching trainees were to rolling on the floor laughing.
Man, Im going nuts just watching.
You do have to start with greetings. Hmm, but you cant just go straight to best friends! or anything.
No way it takes them like 30 minutes just to say hi, right?
Nah, no way.
We shook our heads at Yu Minhas opinion, but the two trainees in the Hoping to Get Close project were really struggling even with that simple greeting.
At least Heo Yubin, whod gained a lot of interpersonal experience lately, mustered the courage to open his mouth first.
ThThTh! AAh, umm. PPlease take good care of me!
His voice cracked worse than when practicing tough high notes.
While everyone burst out laughing at Heo Yubins metallic screech, Ji Yooncheol calmly nodded and returned the greeting.
Please take good care of me too.
Aaah!
Heo Yubin had come a long way from his hikikomori state through meeting Song Hyeongbin and the others.
But the 12 pairs of eyes pouring down on him.
The opponent who absolutely wasnt close to him.
And that opponent being Ji Yooncheoltaller by over 10 cm but still the younger oneput immense pressure on him.
As Heo Yubin let out his signature inexplicable electrified squeak, Ji Yooncheol swallowed hard and gathered his courage.
Actually, theres something Ive wanted to say.
Huh?
After the second ranking announcement, I went to the canteen. I saw you there buying peanuts
Whoa, Yubin hyung!
Cognitive dissonance hitting hard. Ah, Im losing it.
Hahaha!
Ji Yooncheol hadnt even properly started his story, but the words Yubin hyung alone turned the auditorium into a wasteland of laughter.
Even I was struggling to hold back my laugh here.
Ji Yooncheol was taller, with a much more mature face.
And this guy, who always maintained a stern, expressionless demeanor, calling the dumplinglike Heo Yubin hyung
Yeah. This reaction was totally natural.
Once the commotion died down, Ji Yooncheol continued calmly.
I was there to buy water too, and I wanted to greet you, hyung. Your previous stage left a strong impression on me.
RReally?
But I gathered the courage to talk and you quickly left before I could even start.
ThThat! At the time, it was just you and me in the canteen, so I was debating whether to greet you or stay quiet, but it felt so awkward that I thought I should just get out of there fast, so I grabbed the peanuts and boltedIm really sorry!
It was like a rap god had possessed him.
Heo Yubin recited his lines at machinegun speed, then clasped his hands in front and buried his head like it was under a blanket.
Whoa, Yubins the bad guy here.
Yubin, whyd you do that!
Eeeeeek!
Yubins at fault!
The other trainees teased Heo Yubin with voices full of mischief.
At that, Heo Yubins spinning pupils shook violently, like they were trapped in the eye of a typhoon.
And Ji Yooncheol poured oil on the fire.
Ive wanted to talk a bit ever since then.
SSSSSorry! I committed a mortal sin! Forgive me!
Heo Yubin looked ready to burrow under the blanket entirely.
Watching the scene for a moment, Ji Yooncheol thought it over and reached out to lightly grab his shoulder.
Its fine. Get up.
RReally?
Yes.
As Heo Yubin lifted his head, Ji Yooncheol carefully chose his words in his mind and spoke slowly.
Honestly, Im not great with words. So dealing with anyone always feels awkward, and I didnt talk much even with hyungs on the same team. But you looked so cool on stage, hyung. I wanted to talk to you.
MMe?
I cant sing, but youre the oppositeyour vocals are amazing I kind of admired you.
Unexpected words from Ji Yooncheol.
Lots of people envied Ji Yooncheol, who was known for his geniuslevel dance talent.
Even just among the trainees, no matter what song, he always showed clear skill and presence, and everyone said they were jealous.
Hearing him say he admired someone was surprising.
So I wanted to talk and get close.
Im not that great. On the contrary, I always thought it was way more impressive how you show such amazing skills at your young age.
No, hyung is more
No! Yooncheol is more
At some point, the two trainees, whose words now flowed freely, suddenly started competing over who could hype the other more.
Song Hyeongbin, watching, quickly jumped in to mediate.
Whoa, whoa. So both of you had reasons for wanting to get close. Siyoon made a great pick.
Ahem! My eye is never wrong.
Then, now that the awkwardness seems gone, how about we wrap up with final words to each other?
Thinking he should take the lead as the hyung this time, Heo Yubin cleared his throat and spoke.
We were supposed to share the final stage together, but we never had a proper talk like this, so that was regrettable. Im glad we could get a bit closer now.
Same here. I want to get along better from now on.
It was a heartwarming conclusion.
Everyone clapped to end the Hoping to Get Close project.
This hyung made another killer scene.
Yubins heart rate must be through the roof.
Nah, hell meet more people going forward. He needs more experiences like this.
Kang Siyoon spoke in a stern tone.
He was like a mother lion training her cub to go independent.
With all the selfproduced content done, everyone lay down in their spots.
In the drowsy atmosphere, the trainees slowly came to grips with reality.
Its really ending now.
Still cant believe it. Tomorrow we wake up here, and we can never come back.
Time flew by too fast.
The survival show that seemed like it would never end.
Idol Training Simulation, which went through to the 4th round, would conclude its brilliant journey after tomorrows live broadcast.
A brief silence fell.
Then Chae Eungyu spoke his thoughts in a low voice.
Honestly, it took me forever to decide to join this. I was scared, agonized over it a ton. But looking back, every memory we made here is so precious, things my life couldnt be without.
.
Me too.
Chae Eungyu smiled brightly at Yu Minhas words.
Meeting you all in Idol Training Simulation is honestly the greatest luck of my life.
Ah, whyre you making us cry again, hyung!
How could you create this mood.
Hahaha, I really mean it.
Kwon Daehyun nodded at Chae Eungyus sincere words.
I bet were all thinking the same. Well give our all to the last day tomorrow. Especially, burn even brighter for the share of the 82 who left this place.
.
And to the 7 who wont debut tomorrowyou worked so hard, gave everything on stage, so no regrets. Tomorrows stage, lets show the National Producers a great one for all our hard prep.
As Kwon Daehyun finished, gentle applause broke out.
Cool, Daehyun!
Really good words.
Yeah, we all ran hard without regrets.
The dream of debut made by 96 boys together.
Who would ultimately claim that dream.
And who would ascend to the shining No. 1 throne.
The final chapter of Idol Training Simulation finally unfolds.