Chapter 13

If you can't debut, you'll get a disease that will kill you 013

"...Dance?"

In 'A New World,' the opening choreography combined ballet and modern dance.

It was ethereal and dreamy, but not particularly intense.

"It's pretty, but..."

Gold 1, who had started to speak, trailed off.

There were limits to how much the choreography could be changed.

In other words, this choreography made the arrangement difficulty skyrocket once again.

Moreover, it probably wouldn't fit the audition show, making the situation even more daunting.

After the lyrics, they were hit with a barrage of criticism, and the atmosphere became like a funeral as they started to learn the choreography.

"Let's try to follow it as quickly as possible!"

"Uh-huh!"

However, the sense of hopelessness seemed to act more as a sense of crisis rather than resignation, and everyone worked hard in silence, making the practice unexpectedly pleasant.

They seemed to have guessed that complaining needlessly could result in derogatory comments about the song being broadcast.

'This is quite comfortable.'

I continued to practice silently without saying a word.

After all, since I had no experience with any choreography, I found it equally difficult, so I didn't feel particularly moved.

"Here, grab the arm and turn like this..."

"Uh."

"Oh, that's close."

I waited for the right moment.

Now that the atmosphere was set, the important thing was to create a scene impactful enough that it wouldn't be cut in the editing. How the arrangement process was shown on the broadcast was also important.

The opportunity came two days later during the trainer's inspection.

* * *

"You must have thought a lot about the song you received, right?"

The team members gave awkward smiles at the choreographer's words. They couldn't exactly say that they had postponed thinking and just took the choreography.

The choreographer didn't seem to like this reaction but let it slide.

"Let's see what you've got."

"Sure!"

Including me, the team members completed the first verse choreography without any mistakes.

"Phew..."

The relief was evident from the sighs of the team members around me, who were glad there were no mistakes.

"Still, I guess."

The choreographer nodded, a rather neutral gesture.

"You all seem to have memorized the movements. Who took the choreography?"

"Um, the team members who are more familiar with dance worked together..."

"Yes, we all did it together!"

Gold 2's statement was followed by Daesejin's addition.

While the four Golds led the process, in reality, Seonahyun did the most. It turned out she was a dance major.

It wasn't entirely her work, and Daesejin became the main dancer, so they seemed to be trying to gloss over it.

The choreographer simply nodded.

"Um, you must have worked hard. But..."

The choreographer cracked his neck.

"None of you stand out."

From the side, Gold 2 took a deep breath. Anyone watching might think a ghost had appeared.

"What are you trying to do? Just saying, 'They're dancing. They're doing this move. They're doing that move.' is something you'd hear at a school trip talent show, and you're not here to make a living with this, are you?"

The team members flinched with each word.

"It's not interesting to watch."

Since they had avoided interpreting the song and just mechanically took the choreography, it was a natural result, but the choreographer's words, which could have been advice, sounded more like insults.

"Some of you are below average."

He glanced at actor Sejin, which was quite obvious. Sejin was bowing his head.

In fact, I had only barely memorized the choreography, so I should be grateful that I wasn't the one being singled out.

The feedback continued, which could have been expected from someone at this level.

The choreographer gestured with his chin without hesitation.

"You, Seonahyun."

"Yes, yes..."

"You majored in modern dance, right? But why does your expression seem weaker than a high school student's?"

Seonahyun's face turned pale.

I had a strong premonition that this statement wouldn't be edited out.

This guy... He's deliberately comparing me to someone who's not good to create a shock.

"You can sing well. You're here for an audition, so you've had good reviews so far. Do you think someone will say you did well just because you did this much after debuting?"

He's talking as if the entertainment industry, which is one of the few industries where storytelling works well, is a place where only talent matters.

It's still the same. Anyway, it must have been a huge blow to Seonahyun, as she looked like she was about to sink.

'This is a bit of a dilemma...'

Given that she's already under a strange status effect, it would be problematic if it worsens and she can't do her part.

"Anyway, at this level, you're just a bit more practiced amateur. Think about what you want to express in this song and come back next time in a state worth watching."

"Thank you..."

The team members, who had become like rags, shuffled out of the evaluation room. They looked like they had no life left.

However, a similar situation unfolded during the vocal feedback.

"Kids, what do you want to do?"

The MD, looking frustrated and disappointed, tapped the keyboard. He seemed genuinely trying to give advice, offering specific instructions instead of personal attacks.

"This song has a flower fairy concept. It's a clear and beautiful song. But you're just singing the notes. There's no clear and ethereal feeling at all. Are you embarrassed to sing it like that?"

"..."

Honestly, I doubt there's anyone in the team who hasn't thought about this, given their age.

But they couldn't honestly say they were embarrassed, so this was their response.

"Since it's an audition, we wanted to go for a stronger feel in the arrangement... But the song's concept is so clear that it's hard to naturally change it to a stronger direction."

"If you find the arrangement difficult, you should at least try to bring out the original song more."

"..."

The MD waved his hand in a disappointed manner.

"Kids, you need to set a direction first."

And with the production team's intervention, a team discussion began on the spot.

The camera was right in front of them, and the production team was sitting in front, creating a terrifying atmosphere where no one could speak.

But someone had to start the conversation, so the team leader, Daesejin, spoke first.

"Well, we've worked really hard over the past two days. Thanks to that, we quickly learned the choreography. From now on, if we immerse ourselves in the song with that momentum, I think we can create a high-quality stage."

It was a natural and reassuring encouragement, as if he had prepared it. Look at this guy.

"Let's try to bring out the original song's emotion without excluding anyone! It might feel a bit embarrassing, but if we do it naturally, it could have a soft and sweet senior hit song feel and be fun, right?"

"Like what Moondae did?"

"That's it! If we do it a bit humorously and innocently, it could feel fresh. What if we make the beat a bit faster and make it more lively?"

In the end, he was suggesting to boldly overdo the innocent female idol song to make it feel like the soft and sweet era's quirky cute concept.

'...This guy really seems prepared.'

At that moment, I realized he had been waiting, just like me.

'He even let the trainer's feedback go unchecked.'

If he had suggested going with the original song's innocent feel right away, there would have been resistance.

He also blocked the possibility of Seonahyun, who was more suitable for the original song, becoming the main dancer.

This way, he could get a leader impact shot from the meeting cut.

It was no ordinary skill.

But it's a shame. His grand plan would be useless.

Because my opinion was better.

Let's lay the groundwork first.

"The idea is good, but if we do it wrong, it might look like we're mocking the original song."

After all, it's a senior idol's song. If we go overboard and it looks ridiculous, we don't know what kind of reaction we'll get.

Of course, this opposition wasn't unexpected, as Daesejin countered with a smile.

"We'll make sure it doesn't look that way!"

"Isn't Moondae going too far?"

"......?"

Suddenly, Juyeong jumped into the conversation.

"Um, Juyeong?"

Daesejin looked unusually flustered.

This is an interesting development where I benefit from being attacked rather than the one receiving support.

I can hear Daesejin's grand plan falling apart.

Juyeong poured out his angry words to Park Moondae, seemingly forgetting the camera's presence.

"Does the senior have any better ideas? The senior might be comfortable because the trainers like him, but he should also consider the other team members. If you just oppose everything without reason..."

Oh, surprisingly reasonable.

"Of course, I have an idea. My opinion."

"......?"

"Think about it. There might be a way to bring out the original song's emotion while going for a strong feel."

"......?"

"Is there such a thing?"

The other team members, taken aback by this sudden suggestion, made confused sounds.

While Juyeong looked embarrassed by the sudden change in atmosphere, Daesejin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

This guy is not ordinary.

"If it's real, of course it's good... What is it?"

I said with a smile.

"Let's add horror."

"......!"

Instead of just a flower fairy, let's go for an American flower fairy.

After a moment of silence, reactions started to come.

"Um, um! It sounds good?"

"Hey, if we add a horror concept to this choreography, it could be really scary!"

"Oh..."

From Gold 1, who was waving his hands to mimic the choreography and shouting "Eureka," to Sejin, who looked like it was better than quirky, most reactions were positive, though to varying degrees.

Given their age, I expected they would prefer something cool over quirky, so horror would be better.

Daesejin also nodded after a short exclamation, immediately changing direction based on the public opinion.

"Although it's a bit awkward to say right away... I think Moondae's idea is good."

"Wow, he's changed his stance!"

"Indeed, a true leader!"

The atmosphere brightened instantly. Beyond the chattering team members, I could see the MD looking pleased.

Judging by the camera capturing the MD, it seems this cut will be used... I hope it's well cross-edited.

But there was one person who was spoiling the warm scene.

Juyeong... He was on the edge, but not quite.

It seemed he was worried about how his actions would be edited when he came to his senses.

He was trying to join the atmosphere, but his pride was too hurt to apologize to me.

If it were me, I would have already apologized and said it was a bit much, and that would have been the end of it.

The current atmosphere is such that the other party would have to accept it, but I don't understand why he's acting this way.

Is it because he's young and doesn't know how to navigate social situations?

Then, who is the culprit? Seonahyun.

"Ghost! Let's go with a ghost! There are flowers that grow on graves, right?"

"What, a horror movie? That's too serious. Oh! Like the movie Black Swan, let's go for a creepy feel..."

"Wow, if we do the choreography like that, it would be really scary."

Seonahyun, who had been sitting in a corner with a gloomy expression amidst this group project-like situation, was still affected by the choreographer's words.

I had a fleeting hope that Daesejin would step in to get a leader image shot, but there was no sign of it.

It seems he's leaving her alone, fearing she might become the main dancer with her major's advantage if she recovers.

The rest are either too naive or lack social skills, so it seems I'm the only one who can speak up without overlapping positions and needing to check each other.

This is so troublesome... I feel resigned to having to play the role of a mental guardian, which I never expected.

Anyway, at this point, the stage quality is one step short. Let's see if I can say something.