Dance Crew Initiation and Protective Instincts
Members of the dance crew all shared one common trait: they were extroverts. Uploading group choreography videos to YouTube was their main activity, so it made sense. They even did regular busking performances in public...
No need to belabor how sociable they were.
True to form as dancers, they all cared about their looks. That meant I was drawing a ton of attention.
By the time we'd exchanged names, swapped contacts, and gone over the team rules, a full hour had passed.
"...That's our YouTube channel manager and promoter. The big guy's the team leader. You know the treasurer already, and I'm in charge of new recruits. So you'll be seeing a lot of me, Chanyoung."
"Oh? Nice to meet you."
"You too. No dues for the first month probation. Mandatory practice once a week on weekends, otherwise casual sessions on weekdays for whoever's free. Simple, right?"
"Got it. Thanks, sunbae."
"N-no need for 'sunbae'... We're just a casual hobby club."
"Then... Dayeon it is?"
By some stroke of luck, the new recruit handler was Go Dayeon.
She was hands-down the most sociable person here, so it wasn't weird that she'd handle helping newbies settle in. Still, I couldn't deny my good fortune.
We might get close faster than I'd expected.
"Sure. Call me whatever's comfy. I'll add you to the group chat."
She kept stealing glances, curiosity written all over her face.
But I wouldn't spill easily. Her interest meant I was already stuck in her head.
I could probably push my luck on looks alone and succeed... but being too aggressive might make Dayeon suspicious. Like I'd spotted her in the college dance club and joined pretending not to know her just to hit on her.
Which was mostly true.
"Thanks."
Next came a simple dance skill test. Nothing strict.
As long as you weren't that hopeless at moving, no one got cut. It was just to check if you could handle a solo part.
I followed the short routine demoed by Dayeon and the guys a few times. It started with basic hand and footwork, building to big snaps at the waist and joints.
Thankfully, no off-beat flubs. It was a beginner check, after all.
"Whoa, that's solid!"
"Ugh... cleaner than mine..."
"Face genius and skills? Man... Can't wait for the next busk."
Dozens of eyes watched, but I nailed every move without a hint of nerves.
Surprisingly, skills I'd bought from the shop back in the day helped big time. Dozens of martial arts rhythms etched into my body wouldn't let me miss a beat.
"Didn't you say this was your first outside dance gig?"
"Doesn't look self-taught at all..."
"Ah! Club rat maybe? Heh!"
"Pfft! Totally possible! Spill it, Chanyoung—what's the truth?"
"Hahaha! Never been to a club in my life!"
Lie. I'd hit them plenty. Worn up to five glow bracelets on one wrist at peak.
But 'Park Chanyoung' hadn't set foot in one past twenty, so not entirely false.
Especially since Dayeon would bail on a player. Had to hide it.
"Whoa... unexpected."
"See? With that face, who needs clubs."
"Ahh... Yeah, checks out."
"H-hey! Quick question! Got a girlfriend, Chanyoung?"
"Nngh... Nope..."
A girl who'd memorized my name from intros piped up. Didn't stick much.
She had a decent figure and cute face, but next to Dayeon, flaws popped.
Still, she let me casually drop I was single.
I feigned a stung expression, emphasizing no girlfriend.
A subtle ripple ran through the girls.
Even the one with a couple's ring on her left ring finger didn't change.
'Can't resist a 185cm model-type hunk.'
The icebreaker came from the girlfriend asker. She buried a real probe in a joke, testing waters.
"...Wanna date me then? I'm single too! You'd barely pass as boyfriend material...?"
"Hahaha! Should we?"
She flinched.
"W-wait, really?"
"Don't look so shocked... that hurt a bit? Kidding... I can tell joke from real."
I flipped her words into pure banter.
But the sharp ones knew there was meat on those bones.
The other girls jumped in, giggling at her like it was hilarious fun.
"Pwahaha! Classic crew sense queen!"
"Ah! Loosening up the newbie?"
"Chanyoung played along perfect!"
"A... haha, y-yeah?"
She awkward-laughed, affirming. Her loaded line was now 100% joke by group force.
My concept here was set: oblivious dense guy. Hopelessly so.
One who even thinks, 'I've got solid instincts.' Extra hopeless.
The girls minus Dayeon would struggle to crack my walls.
*
The capital with the palace was far. We'd march nonstop while the sun was up.
'Nonstop' meant literal—no breaks but lunch.
No one seemed beat, except the lowest-stat one: Mel.
"Haaak... hek..."
Mel's face drooped. Stamina drained after hours, right on a hill climb.
She looked like a soaked kitten. Pitiful.
"Hoo... Gimme your bag."
"Y-yes?... Ah!"
I snatched the bag off her back, slinging it over my shoulder.
My ghost-quick hands undid the straps from her arms without resistance.
She hadn't anticipated, was exhausted... but mostly our skill gap made the trick possible.
"Ch-Chanyoung-nim? Why...?"
"..."
"Chanyoung-nim...?"
"...You looked wiped?"
Her question got a questioning reply. No clear gain from helping her.
My action felt off—helping for free clashed with me.
Was it role-playing too hard as a 'good priest'?
...Nah.
No such feeling for others. Pity surged only for Mel.
Teasing her for fun was fine, but genuine distress grated.
"I-I'm fine! I can carry it!"
"...I know your secret, so I won't peek inside. Relax."
"Hau!... Th-that's not why...!"
Her face crumpled.
But I kept the bag. She'd be more comfy.
Ignoring her pleading stares was stubbornness. I took it for my peace.
Plus, excuse found: building original protag's favor.
"If you're dragging, everyone's watching you. Annoy just me, or the whole merc group?"
"Eek... That's..."
"One extra bag won't tire me. Don't worry."
"N-no way!"
"You stronger than me?"
"...Nooo..."
"Then trust me."
To eavesdroppers, it'd sound like kind white lie for her sake.
Mel thought so too, gazing up apologetically.
But no lie. I wasn't winded—breath steady.
Natural Healing outpaced stamina drain. Extra bag changed nothing.
Watching her tire felt like leaving a kid by a river.
...Kid?
'This... pity? Like for a little sister?'
Mel was adult, despite babyface hard to peg as baby fat or cheeks, height fuzzy around 160cm, clumsy, unknown tolerance.
Per novel, full adult.
I didn't know her exact age. Nor this world's adulthood age.
But novel world—fantasy skips medieval realism, so likely Earth-adult age.
Regardless, her looks and vibe screamed immature.
I chalked it up to big-bro instinct for half-grown sis.
I left fumbling Mel behind, heading to Chris.
She watched with curious eyes.
"...Chanyoung's so kind."
"Misunderstandings piling up. I'm not that nice."
"Dunno. How do you think you come off to me?"
"Hmm..."
I recalled her experiences with me.
...Couldn't argue.
Took care of her struggling in Terraforming world debut. Stayed loyal amid temptations. Blocked rebellion risking life—or so she thought.
Her image of me was cemented deep.
Used to almost convince her repeating 'misunderstanding' worked with 'Really?' vibes.
But past now... Helping Mel like that just deepened it.
"Just felt like a little sis, y'know?"
"Sure. That's what makes it kind? Taking care of a near-stranger like a sis."
"...Yeah."