Chapter 68
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 68
Chapter Title Escalating Tensions
The next morning.
Id come down early to squeeze in a bit more practice during the break, but Chae Eungyu was already there warming up.
Ah, Karis. Perfect timingI had something to ask you.
He looked relieved the moment he saw my face, like hed been wrestling with something.
And I had a pretty good guess what it might be.
Actually, Sihwa came by at dawn and asked if we could reselect the center.
She wants to reselect the center?
Yeah. I turned her down gently since it didnt make sense, but I wanted to hear your take.
Right after he finished, Chae Eungyu hurriedly added more.
Hyeongbin told me you always give spoton advice. He was really grateful.
Oh, is that so.
Id only pointed out the obvious facts on the surface.
Somehow, Id ended up as the reliable agony aunt.
I agree with you, Brother. It wasnt even brought up in front of the center herselfit was straight to the leader. Thats bad manners from the start. Theres no valid reason to change the center, and suggesting it purely out of personal greed isnt right.
Hahaha, you really dont hold back. Its refreshing to hear.
Chae Eungyu burst out laughing.
But he quickly put on a serious expression again.
What worries me is something else. Even if we went along with Minha reselecting the center, if the vote came out the same again, Sihwa would be crushed.
Having to taste failure twice in a row would hit hard.
Yeah.
But I see it as even stronger proof.
It was a bit harsh, but this was the situation Baek Sihwa had brought on herself.
If she challenges again and still doesnt get center, nothing could be more convincing. Even if shes upset, its not on us. We accommodated her request, and thats how it turned out. In the end, all the responsibility falls on Sihwa.
Youre ruthlessly straightforward.
Chae Eungyu nodded slowly.
Got it. When everyone comes down later, Ill bring it up then. If Minhas okay with it, well reselect. If shes uncomfortable, we drop it.
Yes.
Thirty minutes later.
The whole team gathered in the practice room.
Chae Eungyu cautiously raised Baek Sihwas suggestion and asked Yu Minhas opinion.
Sure! Im fine with doing it again!
Her enthusiastic reply kicked off the reselection process at full speed.
I watched Yu Minhas excited face, deep in thought.
Shes taking it as a chance to prove herself again.
Unless she was completely oblivious, Yu Minha knew.
That Baek Sihwa was subtly keeping her in check.
She probably wanted to crush Baek Sihwa once and for all this time.
Lets start.
Baek Sihwa stepped up first and delivered a dance with way more feel than yesterday.
Looks like all that practice talk wasnt a lie.
But she wasnt the only one whod exploded her practice time overnight.
Nows the timeStarburst!
Yu Minhas main positions were rap and dancer.
But her chorus delivery had such powerful vocals, no one would guess she was a rapper.
And this time, her dancing had even more flair.
Minha mustve practiced like crazy overnight too.
Chae Eungyu, sitting quietly beside me, muttered to himself.
The two performances wrapped up in a flash, and we voted again.
The result didnt change.
We voted among ourselves again, and Minha won center by majority.
Sihwa did great too!
Kwon Daehyun clapped to lighten the mood.
But my mind was racing with worry about how this would play out on air.
With personal interviews spliced in midway... No clue how the editors will cut it.
The experienced Chae Eungyu did his best to avoid a sour aftertaste.
Not a single comment that could be twisted by devilish editing, no sideeye at Baek Sihwa.
But survival shows could veer anywhere.
We dove into group practice amid those worries.
Soon, another issue cropped up.
Every time I see you, waves crash in my heart. Hold up, stop. Sihwa? That choreos wrong there.
Oh? Oh, yeah.
Lets go again. Focus this time!
Baek Sihwa flubbed a relatively easy move.
It was a part shed never messed up before, so leader Chae Eungyu gave her a slightly puzzled look.
When this night shines blindingly. Sihwa, expression! Make it fresh!
During the chorus, he straightup called out her awkward facial acting.
Sihwa, you nailed it earlier. Whats with the sudden mistakes?
Sorry.
Baek Sihwa seemed unable to focus on practice.
Her eye lines were off, and moves that used to flow smoothly now jerked awkwardly.
Noticing the group choreo grinding to a halt, Chae Eungyu paused the session.
Lets take a quick break and resume. Sihwa, can we talk?
Baek Sihwas already pale face went even whiter.
Chae Eungyu led her to a corner of the practice room and spoke softly.
I couldnt catch the details, but she nodded like she got the gist.
...Will Sihwa be okay?
She has to be. Were practicing right now. If one person drags the pace, it holds up the whole group.
Kwon Daehyun answered in an unexpectedly firm tone.
He leaned against the windowsill and let out a small sigh.
Who wouldnt want center...?
Hyung?
Nah, just talking to myself!
I glanced at Chae Eungyu and Baek Sihwa while noting Kwon Daehyuns awkward grin.
It looked like the talk was wrapping up.
If it was something a quick chat could fix, it wouldnt have blown up in the first place.
Sure enough, the gloom didnt lift from Baek Sihwas face.
Her persistently dark expressionsfar from refreshingleft the group choreo practice feeling off.
Everyone probably figured a days rest would sort it out.
But the next day was the same.
Okay, thats it for now. Grab lunch, rest, practice more, and lets meet back tonight.
Yes!
Yeah.
I watched Baek Sihwa slip out of the practice room first without a word.
In that moment, my honest thoughts slipped out.
Eungyu Brother.
Yeah?
If a members personal greed is wrecking team harmony, its a burden on everyone. If it keeps disrupting practice, I think you need to warn her more firmly.
...
A brief silence fell.
Yu Minha and Heo Junoh stared at me with wide eyes.
Kwon Daehyun alternated glances between me and Chae Eungyu, a faint hope in his eyes.
Chae Eungyu, in his tracksuit jacket, let out a deep sigh.
Honestly, I see it as a mindset issue. We all know Sihwas got the skills. We just have to let her realize it herself.
So that means?
...Well wait until the midevaluation.
I got what Chae Eungyu meant right away.
Dragging this out among trainees could tarnish the good ones images.
Better to borrow outside power.
In other words, if Baek Sihwa kept up the bad attitude until mideval, the judgeshigh authoritieswould call her out directly.
No one could edit the judges badly, low risk.
And the practice footage would likely show everything shed done.
Solid thinking.
Id considered pushing Chae Eungyu harder, but I nodded in agreement for now.
Understood.
Sorry, everyone. Its my job as leader to prevent stuff like this.
No, hyung.
Hows it your fault?
The other members patted Chae Eungyus back.
Yu Minha especially looked at a loss.
Baek Sihwa selfdestructed way faster than expected.
I hadnt seen this plot twist coming.
But after the first performance, her screen time had plummeted.
Shed lost leader and center positions to others.
And Yu Minhathe rival shed dismissedwas surging ahead, piling on the pressure.
As everyone filed out, I placed a hand on Yu Minhas shoulder and said quietly,
We dont need to waver. Dont overthink it.
Yeah...
No matter that shes your acquaintance or former teammate, stirring up drama over personal feelings is fact. So ignore her and focus solely on practice.
Baek Sihwa was one thing, but I needed to keep tabs on Yu Minha too.
Even a fiery, passionate trainee could start blaming herself for causing this mess.
The next dawn.
Hoo...
After finishing my solo practice, I stood in the empty hallway catching my breath.
The bridge where I could drop a killing part.
Id roughed out how to showcase myself there.
At this rate, I can hit the mideval in two days without a hitch.
No variables? Not quite.
Chae Eungyu had filled me in earlier that evening.
After failing to reclaim center, Baek Sihwa had greedily eyed subvocal 1.
She mustve been paranoid about getting buried. She asked me if we could reselect Kariss subvocal 1 part... I told her absolutely not. Stirring up a secondor thirdruckus like that was bound to cause problems.
Chae Eungyu had done his best as leader.
Protected my part while sacrificing himself to ease team friction.
Handing over dance break center to Baek Sihwa... In that sense, hes got way better judgment than Song Hyeongbin.
Even ceding center in the dance break just to placate her temporarily.
I hoped Baek Sihwa would take it and settle down as I walked on.
Then, I spotted movement ahead.
Hm?
Current time 334 a.m.
Most trainees were asleep.
Was another one practicing late besides me?
I cautiously headed toward the end of the hall.
...Whyd you call me out like this all of a sudden?
A familiar voice tickled my ear.
Yu Minha.
I hurried to the practice room door.
Through the transparent window, I saw Yu Minhas back.
And in front of her, Baek Sihwa with her head hung low.
Its been forever since we talked alone like this, right?
Yeah... Yeah, it has.
...
Baek Sihwa bit her lip hard.
Her fists trembled.
...Youve always been like this.
What?
Last time you pulled this crap toostealing my spot. So why pull the same stunt? If youre gonna take it, just debut quietly. Why block my path again?
Voices rose in the practice room.
Through Baek Sihwas long bangs, eyes blazing with rage glared out.
You crave the spotlight that bad? F, do you know how hard I worked? I couldve debuted fine at UbiQ, but you ruined it and dragged me back here? Have you no shame?
Sihwa, calm down a bit
It wouldve been fine without you. Huh? Same now. If you hadnt gone for center, it wouldve been mine. Youre climbing the ranks but too spineless to yield that one spot?
The distance between the two shrank.
Baek Sihwa was slimmer than Yu Minha, but the vibe had Yu Minha backing up.
Fing luck landing you with Chae Eungyu hyungs teamno leader spot. Thought I could snag center at least, but you blocked that too. All your fault. Cant focus on practice cause of youeverythings ruined!
I gripped the practice room door handle.
The ominous feeling Id had was surging stronger.
Then, Baek Sihwa smirked.
Yeah, Chae Eungyu hyung said itno changing center unless its unavoidable. So lets make it unavoidable, Minha. Right?