Chapter 99
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 99
Chapter Title Pajama Fashion and Truth Talk Night
If were talking about my middle and high school days... well. Thats a story from nearly twenty years ago.
I remembered going on retreats and definitely taking school trips.
To be honest, though, the memories had worn away so much over time that most of it was gone.
But the atmosphere? That, I could vaguely recall.
The final night wrapping up those few days of shared highs and lows with everyone.
Gathering around the campfire to express gratitude to our parents.
Pulling allnighters with friends playing truth games.
Probably all fourteen trainees were feeling that same vibe as they headed back down to the main auditorium.
Hmm, they mustve had short notice, but they set everything up pretty thoroughly.
I arrived early at the auditorium with Yu Minha, whod quickly slipped out of our cell.
The production crew had neatly arranged fourteen simple mattresses.
Theyd even cleared out all the other objects from the auditorium to prevent injuries while sleeping.
The other trainees trickled in one by one.
As each grabbed a pillow and entered, the pajama fashion critique began immediately.
Hey, what the hell is Kang Siyoon wearing!
Why is that guy like that again!
No way, when did he even pack a sleep cap like that?
Kang Siyoon, as if hed anticipated this day, had brought a proper pajama set from home.
Green pajamas complete with a ridiculous, fluffy sleep cap.
He looked perfectly prepared for bed, no question.
Whats wrong with my cap?
You look like Santa Claus. Like you rolled around in grass a hundred times?
Why green of all colors, hyung?
Why green? Green means fourleaf clover. Fourleaf clover means luck.
Kang Siyoon winked at Yu Minha, then boldly tossed his pillow to claim the spot next to me.
Whoa. Oh, these mattresses are pretty comfy, huh?
If you land stomachfirst like that, you might crack a rib next time, so watch it.
Its fine. Ive studied falling techniques to avoid freak injuries like that.
Siyoon, you can actually do falling techniques?
Wanna see?
No.
At my polite refusal, Kang Siyoon put on an aggrieved expression.
He grabbed my arm, tugging it this way and that, even throwing a little tantrum.
Hey, Ive got pretty good athleticism, you know? Dont underestimate me.
A guy with good athleticism who couldnt properly block a single door in name tag ripping?
That was cheating! There were three people behind the door I was blocking!
In your matchup with Minha, you looked like youd have struggled without my help.
Hmm.
Our eyes naturally turned to Yu Minha.
Yu Minha blinked twice, looking utterly confused.
After mentally replaying the moment, Kang Siyoon and I said it at the exact same time.
Sorry. Yeah, that doesnt count.
No matter how weak I am, Minha wouldve won without you.
Uh, excuse me? Hyungs? Are you seriously trashtalking right in front of me? Im the aggrieved one here! I was so drained on stamina by then!
Yu Minha vented his frustration by mercilessly pounding my back.
But thanks to the solid muscles packed there, his fists felt like a highend massager.
Meanwhile, following Kang Siyoon, another fully deckedout pajama trainee appeared.
No, wait a sec.
Hold it in, hold it in! No laughing! Hes the eldest!
Laughtersuppression efforts echoed from all around.
Honestly, if not for the Crown Princes composure skill keeping me steady, I mightve burst out laughing the moment I saw Chae Eungyu.
Chae Eungyu, who had a relatively sturdy build, had chosen skyblue pajamas that looked incredibly plush.
The color itself was fine.
The problem was the cute, fluffy clouds and heart patterns adorning it.
Seeing Idol Training Simulations eldest hyung, who was miles away from cute, in that created such a bizarre gap.
I was looking for pajamas, but this was the only thing I had at home.
Its fine, hyung!
Eungyu hyung is cute!
Suits you perfectly.
I nodded and gave him a thumbsup, and Chae Eungyu playfully wrinkled his nose before plopping down on an empty mattress.
The trainees who came after Chae Eungyu wore safe choices like hoodies or shortsleeve sleep shirts.
So I thought the fashion show was over.
But the final boss remained.
......
......
......Why is everyone staring like that?
Ji Yooncheol, owner of a height well over 185cm.
He exuded intimidation just from his physique alone.
But right now, Ji Yooncheol was dressed in neat black pajamas, cradling a massive bunny doll tenderly in his arms.
The cute, smiling bunny contrasted so sharply with his blank expression that it was even funnier.
Thats a more famous bunny than me, huh!
Yooncheol, you know your doll went super viral?
My doll is famous...?
Ever since name tag ripping, the national managers were all searching for the doll you were hugging. Said it was cute.
Oh.
At Song Hyeongbins words, Ji Yooncheol hugged the bunny even tighter.
Then, he ducked his head slightly and mumbled quietly.
...Its my attachment doll.
Yooncheol really is 17!
I keep forgetting because hes so tall.
The maknaes still the maknae!
And so, everyone gathered in the auditorium.
As they all lay down in comfy positions on the plush mattresses, Song Hyeongbin, whod led this gathering, cleared his throat and took charge.
Alright, since its our last night, how about we share everythingstuff we want to say, stuff we havent saidand then crash?
Sounds good!
Should be fun.
Ive got one thing Ive been dying to know.
Chae Eungyu kicked off the first topic, launching the real truth talk.
Super honest What were your first impressions when you first saw everyone? Like, the most memorable person.
Oh, this ones easy to say for sure.
Kwon Daehyun waved his hand and spoke in a strict, solemn tone.
From his speech alone, you could guess whose name hed pick.
First impression? Hands down Karis. Seriously, Id never seen anyone that handsome in my life.
Right?
Its still mindblowing even looking at him now.
So from that first level test stage, I was like whoa! And then I heard him talk, and his speech is insane too. He speaks Korean perfectly, but like some noble from overseas, and on top of that, he loves fantasy novels. You couldnt even fake that character if you tried.
Everyone nodded in agreement with Kwon Daehyun.
Kang Siyoon patted my shoulder, grinning ear to ear.
Should hear from the man himself, right? Sir Karis, your thoughts?
Haha... Honestly, I studied Korean mostly through novels, so I thought this tone was normal. It wasnt until after Id gotten the hang of Korean overall that I realized my speech pattern was a bit off, but it was already a habit by thentoo late to change.
Not changing it was a divine move.
Yeah! Honestly, itd feel empty without Karis hyungs speech.
This blew my mind too.
With my speech coming up, Song Hyeongbin jumped in excitedly.
If you listen closely to how Karis talks, he uses that solemn how dare you! tone with people the same age or younger, right? But with me or Eungyu hyung, where theres an age gap, its straight to hyung mode. I find that so fascinating. How does it switch so sharply based on age?
I got hit with casual speech at first.
Karis used casual on you, Eungyu hyung?
Ah, so all the events were starting to come up one by one, huh.
I caught on to what Chae Eungyu would say and put on a resigned expression.
It was during the sports day. I hadnt even exchanged a word with Karis before. First time we spoke was heading to arm wrestling. Then suddenly he goes all solemn on me Is that all youve got? I was like, What the...? inside.
Oh yeah! I remember now. Kariss competitive streak went berserk then.
Yeah. But right after sports day ended, we ended up on the same team, and boomhes all gentle and polite Hyung, have you eaten? So I figured during sports day, the kid was seeing red.
The days when the damn status ailment made the Crown Princes ego go haywire.
I forced a smile and scratched my head.
...I think I was just obsessed with winning back then.
Yeah, normally hes this polite. But honestly, I was a little scared? Karis is seriously strong.
He was scarier during name tag ripping, hyung!
Everyone on the same floor as Karis back then knows. He was going full berserker mode.
Even I had to admit Karis von Waldens first impression was bound to be intense, so I halfgave up and just listened.
But then Kang Donghwi brought up a different name.
Actually, Ji Yooncheol left a deep first impression on me too.
Oh, Yooncheol gets the nod.
Yeah, the aura when he walked in was no joke.
...Me?
Ji Yooncheol, who had been lying still hugging his bunny doll, shot upright the instant his name was called.
His slightly tousled hair at the back fluttered.
First, the height shocked me, but then he was handsome too, which doubled it. And right during selfintros, he says hes 17. I was like, no way.
I wasnt even 170cm at 17, I think.
Yooncheol, what do you eat to grow like that? Spill the secret, please.
...No real secret, I dont think.
After a brief pause, Ji Yooncheol dropped a line sure to draw public outrage.
I just ate well and slept well, and kept growing.
Ah, is this the leisure of superior DNA!
What am I supposed to do when both my parents are short? This is so unfair I cant live!
Why are Siyoon and Minha both mimicking Kariss speech?
Its sneakily addictive, hyung. You try it.
No, please dont mimic it.
I quickly blocked Kang Siyoon from proselytizing my speech to Song Hyeongbin too.
If this weird historical drama lingo spread further, even my composure skill wouldnt save me from dizziness.
The trainees heartfelt talk gradually shifted from first impressions to other topics.
Come to think of it, out of these 14, are there any pairs who havent even talked once?
Isnt it hard to have zero conversations?
Yeah. Youd at least greet in the practice room.
Hmm, but there must be some with zero overlap.
Kang Siyoon looked around, then flashed a wicked grin.
I checked where his gaze landed and instinctively reached out.
Siyoon, this might be a bit harsh
A pair whos never exchanged a single wordmind if I report them, Your Honor!
Whos Your Honor?
Just let Eungyu hyung temp for it.
MMe?
Chae Eungyu had no choice but to play along with Kang Siyoons skit.
So, whos the report?
Right away! The super quiet duo where its awkward as hell for anyone to see Yubin and Yooncheol!
Eh?!
Hearing his name out of nowhere, Heo Yubin let out a super highpitched scream.
Even the perpetually expressionless Ji Yooncheols eyes shook unnaturally.
I shook my head at this insane development Kang Siyoon had cooked up.
...What kind of pairing is this even?