Chapter 283
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 283
“You’re just a prick who hits the notes mechanically… You have no emotion.”
“What’s the point of having good facial expressions? There’s no soul in your fingertips.”
“Why do you even have a head? Please, try thinking for once before you move!”
Every single practice was punctuated by a barrage of barking.
What I had expected from Ju Woo-seong was the secret behind what made him an EX-rank idol—the person, the cause, the catalyst. Anything.
This bastard is useless.
But in reality, all he did was stick to my side day in and day out, pouring out nothing but nagging. And to tell me I was moving without thinking, when I was literally calculating the xyz-axis as I danced?
“Now, watch, you Klutz.”
“……”
I wanted to snap back, but the moment Ju Woo-seong began his demonstration, I had no choice but to shut my mouth.
Genius bastard…
He was hailed as the greatest dancer among all idols in history; what more needed to be said?
The joke that Ju Woo-seong—and Black Call as a whole—had built half of WH’s new headquarters wasn't just a rumor. He had reached a level beyond human, and even his light warm-up movements were enough to leave people spellbound.
“Sigh…”
The newly opened Korean server for IRIX had become a massive hit. Despite being a globally popular game to begin with, its popularity surged so much that people were saying it was experiencing a second golden age.
Along with that, The Dawn’s Connected became a sensational favorite among the gamers.
Consequently, at the request of Karis Games, The Dawn was set to perform Connected once again for the IRIX new season launch ceremony.
Kang Yi-chae had sat in his studio chair, whistling as he spoke.
“It’s no fun if it’s exactly the same.”
The thought of performing at the launch ceremony for his favorite game had set Yi-chae’s motivation ablaze.
“If the last one was a neon sign lighting up the darkness, this time, we’ll be the light that pierces the sun.”
“Did you get that?”
“The pace is too fast.”
“I understand, Senior!!”
Kim Seong-hyeon and Jeong Da-jun, who were supposed to be doing the LA Wishlist with Kang Yi-chae, had joined the practice before I knew it. For some reason, the practice-obsessed Seong Ji-won had said he wanted to rest and didn't follow them.
As Ju Woo-seong quickly pointed out the key movements and formations, Kim Seong-hyeon clapped like a seal.
I was about to play the song again while mentally flipping them off, when Jeong Da-jun, who had been brooding over the dance, asked Ju Woo-seong a question.
“Woo-seong hyung~, don’t you think this part is a bit empty? Would adding this move be too much? I think it might be a bit hard for the dancers, but if I step on their bent backs like stairs to climb up, I think it would give a real sense of leaping…”
“Wow, the maknae understands the concept faster than the Klutz.”
“Hehe.”
The backup dancers IRIX had prepared for this performance were a team renowned even in Hollywood.
As soon as Ju Woo-seong gave the okay, Jeong Da-jun scurried over to the dancers and conveyed his ideas through various forms of body language.
“Okay? I go shook-shook!”
“……OK!”
The dancers, who somehow understood him, stood up immediately, saying they should give it a try.
The revised choreography looked much more dynamic.
“Something’s still missing…”
The dancers cheered and shouted "Good, good," but the maknae still looked dissatisfied, pouting as he rubbed his knees.
“Woo-seong hyung, hyung! Look, it needs to go bam-bam-bam!! Right? We need a bam and a pow, but the pow isn't there…”
…What kind of alien language is that?
“Isn't it more like a zap-zap-zap?”
……Did you actually understand that?
Ju Woo-seong watched Jeong Da-jun flailing his limbs with a bored expression and answered nonchalantly.
Jeong Da-jun muttered, “Is it?” and moved his body, slightly altering the motion.
“Can we try it one more time?”
“Yeah.”
It wasn't jarringly different, so it was hard to point out exactly what was wrong, but it felt a bit unstable.
But what advice could I possibly give?
I’m the Klutz, for fuck’s sake.
I watched quietly as Jeong Da-jun practiced the changed part with the dancers again, when I suddenly realized there was someone in the room who was more than capable of helping.
I tapped the shoulder of Ju Woo-seong, who was checking the atmosphere of the choreography with a deep frown, and gestured for him to come outside.
“What? What now?”
“No, what do you think of Jeong Da-jun’s dancing?”
“He’s way better than a Klutz like you.”
“I know that.”
Ju Woo-seong, who had brought his own ion drink and was chugging it as if he were filming a CF, twitched an eyebrow. He looked at me as if asking what the point of the question was.
“Doesn't he look a bit unstable?”
“I think he’s grown a bit taller.”
“…Then what should we do?”
Ju Woo-seong let out a breath like a deep sigh, shifted his weight to one leg, and ran a hand through his hair.
“…Ho-yun, that’s just a phenomenon that happens when you can’t adapt to a sudden change in body type.”
“And?”
“Just leave him be. He’ll find his rhythm again on his own.”
“Is that it?”
“Yeah.”
When I looked at him skeptically, Ju Woo-seong shrugged, insisting it was the truth.
“That’s a problem only he can solve. Do you think it’ll work if I start bossing him around? Jeong Da-jun probably knows that better than anyone.”
In the end, it meant there was no immediate solution.
“Then we should change the choreography. He’s going to get injured if we keep going like this.”
It would be a disaster if he overdid it and hurt his knees. It seemed better to change the center before an accident happened. I should also tell him what Ju Woo-seong said…
“What?”
However, upon hearing my words, Ju Woo-seong looked at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
“Why would you change the choreography?”
“Didn't you just say there’s no other way but to leave him be?”
I was the one who was truly baffled here.
“If what you say is true, this isn't something that will be resolved in a short time. Wouldn't it be better to change the choreography rather than forcing a performance centered around a kid who’s struggling?”
“What are you talking about? You didn't step down, though.”
What? The concert?
“……Ju Woo-seong. Are he and I the same?”
The guy didn't respond.
He just scanned me from head to toe with an unpleasant gaze and let out a low hum.
“Aha… so this is how it feels.”
He muttered to himself as if he’d realized something, then kicked my leg.
“Dumbass.”
This bastard?
As if he’d lost all interest, he started strolling toward the parking lot instead of the practice room, seemingly intending to head back to the hotel first.
Ding!
[Seo Ho-yun, you are a real idiot.]
Whatever.
* * *
Practice continued.
There were only ten days left.
Between the training, filming self-produced content, doing live broadcasts, and preparing for the Connected performance, the members all had dark circles reaching down to their chins.
“My wishlist…”
“You should’ve just written ‘staying cooped up and practicing for 24 hours.’”
“Uuuugh…”
Ju Woo-seong still showed up to the practice room religiously, but he didn't say anything more about Jeong Da-jun. He only shared his opinions on the performance.
I still hadn't told the members about changing the choreography. Ju Woo-seong’s final behavior was weighing on my mind.
“Hyungs! Let’s try this part one more time.”
Moreover, seeing Jeong Da-jun become more and more obsessed with practice as time went by made it hard for me to speak up. He didn't leave the practice room except to sleep, to the point where even the dance team was getting fed up.
Though Seong Ji-won seemed deeply moved.
I was worried, but he’s doing well.
He seemed to struggle at first, but now he was handling the choreography quite skillfully.
I want to see his stats…
“Ho-yun hyung, hyung! How about we try it like this?”
“Try what?”
“I think it would be good to go bam-bam, swish! here. The lyrics are great.”
Bam-bam, swish?
I had a bad feeling about this.
“Watch!”
Before I could even ask what the specific movement was, Jeong Da-jun ran over and signaled the dancers.
As if they had already discussed it, the dancers immediately moved into position and struck a pose.
Soon, the newly arranged version of Connected, which Kang Yi-chae had poured his soul into, began to play.
【 All we have left are wings and… 】
Walking across the backs of the dancers as they rose like stairs was no different from the choreography we had changed last time.
Step, step!
The moment Jeong Da-jun’s foot touched the back of the last dancer—
“……!”
He leaped and flipped his body forward.
Are you insane?
The kid had attempted a tumble.
However, his center of gravity shifted, and he couldn't complete the rotation, falling toward the floor.
Thud!!
“Ack!”
Jeong Da-jun quickly tucked his head with his hands and rolled across the floor, absorbing the impact with his body.
“—Jeong Da-jun!”
“Da-jun!”
All the members cried out in shock and rushed toward him.
There were mats on the floor, but that didn't mean he was safe from all injury.
Jeong Da-jun groaned, clutching his left forearm.
“Hey! Hey, Jeong Da-jun. Are you okay?”
“Ugh…… Yes…”
As everyone watched him with concern, he groaned but managed to push himself up into a sitting position.
“Are you really okay?”
“Aww, I told you I’m fine.”
When he smiled to show he was truly alright, the crowd that had gathered let out a sigh of relief.
“Man, that was embarrassing. It didn't work.”
“Da-jun, you should’ve at least told us before trying that.”
“Ugh… I thought I could do it, but I guess not. I think it might work if I try one more time…”
This brat…
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Jeong Da-jun showed no remorse even after nearly getting seriously hurt.
“……Huh?”
I turned Jeong Da-jun around as he started walking back to practice and began pressing on the forearm he had first clutched in pain.
“You brat. Don’t you know your body is your livelihood? What were you going to do if you got hurt again?”
“……Um…. I’m sorry.”
I stopped my hands and looked at Jeong Da-jun.
What’s this?
“Ugh, I’m fine, so please let go…”
It was because his tone was dripping with dissatisfaction. His face clearly showed a stubborn determination to try again.
“Don’t do this choreography.”
“What??”
“Listen to me. Do you have any idea what kind of lingering effects a major injury can have if you just brush it off and go on stage? It would be better not to go on stage at all than to risk this.”
“……But.”
But?
“Um…… but.”
Jeong Da-jun’s pout grew deeper.
“—You did the exact same thing, Hyung.”
“……What?”
“You did the same thing during… the concert. You went on stage even though you had an ankle injury.”
I felt my blood pressure spike from the base of my spine to the back of my neck.
“Everyone was worried about you then, too, but you didn't listen to a word anyone said…. So why are you…”
“Hey. Am I the same as you?”
“What?”
This kid, whose ink hasn't even dried on his ID card yet.
Trying to act like my equal.
“I did it because I could handle it. But what are you going to do if you hit your head here?”
“What are you talking about! Did you handle it back then, Hyung?”
“I did. I finished both days without a hitch.”
“…You, you might have finished without a hitch! But you were in and out of the hospital constantly afterward. So why can’t I do the same?”
They say kids learn the bad things first, and Jeong Da-jun was a perfect example.
I turned my head and let out several sighs, then suppressed my anger and spoke firmly to him.
“You can’t.”
“Why can’t I?”
“Because I said so.”
As our voices grew louder, the dance team, sensing the atmosphere was becoming tense even if they couldn't understand the words, began to steal glances at us. The members also looked like they were debating whether they should intervene.
“Fine, let’s stop talki—”
“—Wait.”
Just as I was about to end the conversation, Jeong Da-jun let out a yell.
“I’ve been listening, and this is seriously ridiculous! I know the choreography I was trying to do is dangerous! But do you realize how ridiculous you’re being right now, Hyung?”
“How.”
“What’s the difference between you and me?”
“There’s obviously a difference.”
“Like what?! You’re a person too! You’re a human being with eyes, a nose, and a mouth just like me!”
You don’t have a system window.
You can’t use items even if you get hurt.
And I’m going to lead you down a highway to success even if you don’t overexert yourself.
“Jeong Da-jun, hey…”
But I couldn't reveal these inner thoughts.
Hiding the truth, I tried to speak in a gentle, soothing tone.
“—You’re still young…”
However, as soon as I opened my mouth, Jeong Da-jun’s cheeks puffed out completely.
“You… you… you boomer!”
He violently shook off my hand that was touching his body.
“What?!”
“You’re only four years older than me!!”
I’m fourteen years older, you brat!
“Why won’t you listen to—”
“……Hmph!”
Jeong Da-jun sharply turned his head away, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Hyung, you’re…”
He bit his lip hard, breathing heavily, and then his shoulders began to heave as tears started to fall.
“Hyung, you’re a total dummy, an idiot, and a poopy-head!!!”
And with that, he ran straight out of the room.
“Wh-what…”
Dummy, idiot, poopy-head?
Ding!
[Ah~.]
[You made him cry~~.]
“Wow, Jeong Da-jun…”
Kang Yi-chae, who had approached me with a strangely satisfied look on his face, patted my shoulder before pulling away.
“Go tell him you’re sorry~.”
“What?”
“Yeah, you were in the wrong.”
Following him, Kim Seong-hyeon also patted my back as he walked past.
I let out a hollow breath and turned my gaze to see Seong Ji-won, who had been watching the situation while drinking water, giving me an awkward smile.
“Ho-yun, …that was a bit much.”