Chapter 66
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 66
Chapter Title Synth Pops Surprise Popularity
Surprisingly, the synth pop genre drew a lot of popularity.
Hello! Please take care of me!
Following Baek Sihwa in 6th place, Kwon Daehyun, who took 10th in the second ranking announcement, opened the door and walked in.
This guys ranking was pretty unexpected.
When Id participated as Han Jihyuk, Kwon Daehyun had placed 7th in the final round, closing the door on debut group entry and joining as a trainee.
So Id thought he might be a pretty threatening opponent this time too.
But after 12th in the first ranking, he was stuck at 10th in the second as well, still not able to flex his strength.
It seemed the impact of the new faces was huge.
Not just me, but Yoo Minha and Baek Sihwa hadnt participated in Idol Training Simulation in the previous round either.
Those variables had cracked the Top 7 structure I knew.
Wow, there are so many people.
Ah.
I never had a chance anyway.
After Kwon Daehyun, five more trainees came in.
Among them, Heo Junoh in 17th took the last remaining spot.
The other four automatically went on the elimination list.
This just makes my heart ache for no reason.
Chae Eungyu watched the trainees leaving the practice room with lonely backs.
In the survival world of the weak devoured by the strong, rankings were absolute, but scenes like this where fortunes flipped in an instant were brutal.
Once the eliminees had all left the overcapacity practice room.
The teams with finalized members can start part distribution and practice right away.
Thank you!
We were able to begin a step ahead of the teams short on members.
Alright, everyone sit down and lets divide up the parts first.
Chae Eungyu grabbed the part panel like it was second nature.
Its easiest to start with the leader, so lets take volunteers. Anyone want to try being leader this time?
Eungyu hyung has to do it. You were born with an L sticker.
I agree!
I agree too.
I had no objections to Chae Eungyu taking the L sticker.
The other trainees nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
Only Baek Sihwa alone fidgeted with his fingers, hesitating.
But I was the only one who caught that splitsecond moment.
Haha, youre making me too embarrassed saying that. Alright, Ill do my best again this time.
Please take care of us, Leader!
The rest of the team clapped as they watched Chae Eungyu stick on the L sticker.
I kept observing Baek Sihwa out of the corner of my eye.
Lips bitten instinctively.
Pupils blinking repeatedly.
Fingers fidgeting anxiously on his thigh.
Hes extremely anxious right now.
I worried he might say something impulsive, but fortunately, Baek Sihwa didnt rebel against Chae Eungyu.
The problem exploded when deciding the center position.
Before dividing other positions, we need to lock in the center. So lets take volunteers for center first?
Yes!
Well watch the choreography video again overall, and once were familiar, well take volunteers.
We huddled around the tablet.
A refresher intro full of freshness flowed out as the video played.
I watched the screen intently with wide eyes.
The choreography feels similar to before.
When Id participated as Han Jihyuk, it had been B rather than A.
Since I already knew the choreo, choosing A wouldve made practice easier.
But as I said earlier, showing a fresh vibe was key for the third round.
They were vague old memories, and I hadnt checked other stages from backstage precisely, but they were somewhat familiar moves.
After watching the roughly threeminute choreography video.
I decided which path to take.
To pick center, we need to see you dance, so lets all follow just the chorus part?
We quickly memorized the chorus choreography in a time crunch.
The most surprising thing in this process was Yoo Minhas choreography mimicry ability.
Eungyu hyung, stretch your leg here, twist body to the side, hands like this. Right?
Yyeah, totally accurate. Minha, maybe you should lead from the front? You pick it up way faster than me.
Really? Its okay if I go first?
Even veteran Chae Eungyu was pretty quick at picking up choreo.
But Yoo Minha had the insane talent of memorizing moves the instant he saw them.
Five, six, seven, eight. Hows this? Like that!
Minha dances amazingly.
If it was just me, it wouldve taken almost an hour to get this.
.
I silently gave a thumbs up, and Yoo Minha beamed, stomping his feet excitedly.
Unable to contain his thrilled, hyped mood.
After speedmemorizing the chorus choreo.
Raise your hand if you want center.
Chae Eungyu cut straight to it.
Heo Junoh and Kwon Daehyun eyed each other.
Yoo Minhas burning gaze was fixed on me.
But this time, I had no intention of going for center.
As I stayed completely still, Yoo Minhas eyes widened even more.
Almost like he was pleading with his eyes.
Youre really not going for center?
Yeah, really not.
In the few seconds of silence that followed.
Ill apply for center.
Baek Sihwa raised his hand.
Hed had a determined expression since practice started, apparently grinding hard to claim center.
Okay, Sihwa. Anyone else?
Ill apply too!
A very interesting dynamic unfolded.
Eyes blazing fiercely, Yoo Minha shot his hand up high.
.
The moment Yoo Minha applied, Baek Sihwas face twisted ever so slightly.
Looking displeased.
I felt intrigued and tapped my fingers on the practice room floor.
Ill find out in this round. What happened between those two.
Id been curious nonstop.
What past did Yoo Minha and Baek Sihwa share?
What made Baek Sihwa openly check Yoo Minha?
So Sihwa and Minha? Daehyun, Junoh, you okay with that?
I think Sihwa or Minha fits the image better than me.
Im not that confident in dance, so Im good!
Chae Eungyus gaze naturally turned to me.
Come to think of it, Karis? Youre not applying at all?
Karis was center two rounds in a row.
Now itd feel weird if he didnt take center.
Even Kwon Daehyun and Heo Junoh threw question marks my way.
To my teammates, I shook my head with a faint smile.
No greed this time. And personally, theres a position I like more than center, so I think its right to yield center to a teammate who suits it better than me.
Okay, then center candidates are Sihwa and Minha.
Chae Eungyu shot me a slightly regretful look.
Judging from his reaction when we first met in the practice room.
He mustve been even happier getting a clear center vibe.
Too bad for Chae Eungyu, but I had no plans for three centers in a row.
It was true many fans liked me now.
Enough firepower to trigger fever time.
But considering the sports day footage airing on the ranking announcement broadcast.
And the fan checks from Song Hyeongbins personal fans Id witnessed before, it was better not to draw more attention.
Public opinion could form that Im hogging center alone, so I need to be careful.
Final center candidates Baek Sihwa and Yoo Minha.
While the other four team members sat back, the center candidates came forward to dance the chorus choreo, then wed vote on who suited center more.
Lets start.
Baek Sihwa went first.
My impression watching his chorus performance was simple.
Clean execution, no frills.
Solid basics, neat.
With long trainee time and survival experience, his skills were solid.
But it didnt feel like he was enjoying the dance.
His expression was a bit stiff, not matching the songs bright vibe.
In contrast, Yoo Minha steadily kept a refreshing smile fitting his fresh image while nailing the choreo.
Dance skill is about the same level, but Yoo Minha fits the songs image way better.
After both did the choreo, we gathered to debate who fit center more.
Chae Eungyu voiced the exact same impression as me first.
Sihwa danced well too, but I liked Minhas expressions much more. It matched my image of this song perfectly.
I thought Minha was better too.
Honestly, both were so good.
Maybe shrunk by his ranking, Heo Junoh stuck to passive comments.
In the end, the decisive word fell to me again.
Minha suits center more than Sihwa.
Okay, decided then?
The crown sticker settled on Yoo Minhas chest.
Thank you! Ill do my best!
Congrats, Minha!
Congrats.
Congratulations.
Baek Sihwa tried his best to manage his expression and clap along, but his face was soulless.
Even in the following part distribution, Baek Sihwa sat expressionless, just staring at the lyrics.
Whats your vocal range like for main vocal?
I tried it earlier, its not super high, so I think I can handle it.
Then Daehyun for main vocal?
No objections!
Kwon Daehyun, with the highest range among us, took main vocal.
Honestly, I want main dancer.
Eungyu hyung supporting Minha in main dancer position would be the best visual.
I think so too.
Unanimous vote for Chae Eungyu as main dancer.
And I smoothly secured the part Id targeted from the start.
Then Karis for sub vocal 1?
Yes.
The reason I aimed for sub vocal 1 was simple.
Sub vocal 1 handles the buildup parts right before the chorus.
A position with ambiguously high range that could easily get overshadowed by center.
But right before the final chorus, there was a variation bridge.
In my memory, that variation bridge was basically the songs killing part.
One of the moments in the previous rounds Idol Training Simulation third performance where the audience reaction exploded.
After the group choreo, while the other members freeze, sub vocal 1 moves center for four bars, getting a solo shot.
Of course, center has the advantage of coming center every chorus, but it doesnt create these punchy impact moments.
A kind of gamble to cleverly navigate current public opinion.
Forgoing the clear advantage of center for a few seconds of solo shot.
How to make use of it was entirely up to me.
Great, parts distributed!
Chae Eungyu finished by sticking Heo Junohs name on the panel.
Everyone seemed satisfied with the results, but Baek Sihwa, who got sub vocal 2, kept his blank expression.
Judging by his attitude, hes bound to blow up soon.