Chapter 10

10

As I stepped out of the office, the manager hurriedly chased after me.

"Hoyun. You really...?"

"Manager."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Please don't tell the members about what I said back there."

The manager's eyes wavered. Seeing his anxious expression, I decided to drive the point home.

"Even if you tell them, it will only shake their confidence. What's important right now is our comeback."

"......Okay."

He still looked worried as he gazed at me, but he eventually nodded cautiously. Satisfied, I entered the practice room.

The members were continuously practicing the song I had received from Im Hyun-soo, on repeat.

Or, were they practicing?

How can they practice without choreography?

As I returned, Jung Dae-joon jumped up to greet me.

"Bro Hoyun!"

"......?"

What's with this sudden change in the atmosphere?

Jung Dae-joon ran over like a puppy. Sung Ji-won turned off the music and smiled widely at me.

"Hoyun, we've finished all the planning."

"Already?"

"And we've even choreographed the dance!"

What is he talking about?

As I frowned, Sung Ji-won tried to read the situation.

"Didn't the CEO say he wouldn't give us additional funds? And that he wouldn't provide the choreography?"

"How did you know?"

"Ah, I see."

I see...?

What kind of treatment have these guys been getting?

Feeling uneasy, Jung Dae-joon started to chatter.

"Bro Hoyun, after you left, I had a thought. The CEO probably won't give us any money, so how could we get the choreography here? So, to save time, we just did it ourselves."

"In thirty minutes?"

"Bro Sung-hyun suddenly went wild."

I didn't expect that.

Jung Dae-joon nodded vigorously and pointed at Kim Sung-hyun.

"You have to see it now."

"Hey, you were amazing too."

Kang Eun-jae, out of breath and drenched in sweat, said. Jung Dae-joon scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.

I nodded while observing the atmosphere in the practice room. It was good that they had anticipated and shortened the time, but...

Isn't it a bit... sad?

Jung Dae-joon clung to me.

"Really, the more I listen, the more it sounds like a masterpiece. We're so excited that we've already finished the basic choreography."

"It's all thanks to Hoyun."

Sung Ji-won nodded and praised me. I rolled my eyes.

Why are they suddenly so humble?

They seem so friendly. Sung Ji-won smiled slightly.

'Ah... I must look like a savior.'

I think I understand. To them, I must look like a lifeboat.

At that moment, a system message appeared.

[Sung Ji-won and Jung Dae-joon's relationship is very friendly.]

I didn't expect to gain their trust so easily.

You guys, don't go and vouch for me somewhere else.

I felt more worried than proud. At least Kim Sung-hyun and Kang Eun-jae were quiet, which was a relief.

"Manager, we still have some time before the planning team arrives, right?"

Kim Sung-hyun, who had been silent, asked.

"Uh, probably about 30 minutes."

"Great. We've already discussed the planning, so... let's show Seo Hoyun the choreography first."

"Good idea."

Kang Eun-jae smiled.

"Come here. Let's show you the choreography we made."

Kang Eun-jae led me to the mirror. I sat down and watched them blankly as he smiled and turned on the music.

The beat flowed smoothly.

[Let's say it again, it's the beginning, I will come back every time, this strange déjà vu, you don't have to be afraid, no need to be scared]

Without part assignments, the movements were rough, but the basic choreography looked pretty good to me. They had broken down the movements into small, trendy steps that matched the beat.

I didn't know they could dance so well. Jung Dae-joon was a bit behind, but he wasn't bad either.

Actually, the other three were exceptionally good.

[Let's go together now, I wanna be with you all the time]

'...This is dangerous?'

The better their choreography, the more cold sweat trickled down my back. This was the first crisis I faced after being possessed by the game.

When Kang Eun-jae, who did backflips and cartwheels in the latter part, appeared, my expression completely froze.

After they finished dancing, they were completely exhausted but still looked at me with subtle expectations. The manager was almost tearing up, clapping wildly.

"You guys are amazing!"

"Huff, huff…."

"I can't believe I suggested forming Pineapple with such talented kids…."

Hey, I knew Pineapple was bad.

"Are you okay?"

Honestly, the members were excellent. Kim Sung-hyun, the main dancer, was flying around. There were a few things to fix, but I felt confident that the dance would be fine.

However.

"......"

As I remained silent, Sung Ji-won, who was reading the situation, asked.

"Why, why are you like this, Hoyun? What's wrong?"

"Huff. Bro Hoyun, don't you like it?"

"No, um…."

I hesitated.

"I like it, but…."

"Just say you like it! What's wrong, I'm scared."

"That's…."

"Come on, try it once. You need to practice with the others."

Kang Eun-jae waved his arms. He placed me next to Kim Sung-hyun. This seemed to be my starting position.

My eyes widened even more.

Why next to the flying Kim Sung-hyun?

Kim Sung-hyun glanced at me.

"Just try it once. It's okay if it's rough, just get the movements right."

Kim Sung-hyun's consideration made me even more worried.

Ah, this moment has finally come.

"Play the song! One, two!"

I couldn't say anything and just nodded. Kang Eun-jae glanced at me and started the song energetically. The same beat from before echoed, and everyone started the choreography. I raised my hands and followed them.

"......?"

Kim Sung-hyun slowly pushed my back and taught me the movements. But the problem was, the more the song progressed, the worse it got. The atmosphere in the practice room grew tense. Kim Sung-hyun finally spoke.

"Kang Eun-jae, turn off the music."

"Got it."

Kang Eun-jae quickly caught on and turned off the music. As I stopped moving and stood there blankly, Kim Sung-hyun asked.

"Seo Hoyun, why…."

"......"

"Why are you so stiff?"

'Shit.'

Here it comes. I quickly avoided the members' gazes, but that wouldn't solve the problem.

I've never danced before.

Of course not. I only studied to become a PD. I sang to please my superiors, but I never danced. Why would a regular adult man practice idol dance?

"Is it because it's your first time?"

Sung Ji-won cautiously added his opinion. But Kim Sung-hyun was right.

I was stiff.

Desperately so.

"Let's try it a bit slower. If we break down the movements, it should be fine."

Sung Ji-won, who had a lot of experience as a trainee, suggested. I nodded silently.

Kang Eun-jae played the song slowly again, and Kim Sung-hyun led the group from the front.

"Here, boom, taptaptap, boomboom, tap."

Kim Sung-hyun was precise. Jung Dae-joon struggled a bit but not as much as I did. I watched Kim Sung-hyun closely and tried to follow.

"Boom, boomboom tap. Tap…."

Kim Sung-hyun stared at me.

'Ah…'

I wanted to tell him to stop staring, but I couldn't say it out loud. When the slow song finally ended, we were completely silent.

"Why… are you still so stiff?"

Kim Sung-hyun asked, genuinely puzzled. Kang Eun-jae had the same expression.

"Bro, why are you suddenly so bad?"

"That's…."

"I don't remember you being this bad before."

I had no words. I closed my mouth and bowed my head like a criminal.

Ah, it's been a long time since I've been speechless.

"I'm sorry, I've forgotten everything."

"......!"

"Really?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Um, maybe it's a side effect. I've forgotten all the dance moves."

Everyone seemed to accept this. Kim Sung-hyun looked a bit suspicious, but what could he do if the person was hurt?

"This is serious. We have less than a month until our comeback."

"Can we improve your dance skills in a month…?"

Jung Dae-joon asked cautiously.

What do you mean by "dance skills"? I glared at him, but he was serious.

Kim Sung-hyun seemed to be seriously considering how to help me, and Sung Ji-won just stared at me.

You're going to burn a hole in my face, bastard.

"Wait, Hoyun. Let's try it once."

"......?"

"Go first. Got it?"

Sung Ji-won had an ambiguous expression as he restarted the song and watched me dance.

I followed his instructions, but Sung Ji-won's expression became increasingly strange.

He fast-forwarded the song.

"Then this part?"

"…Uh."

I paused for a moment, trying to recall the part, then danced as I remembered.

"......"

Compared to the members, my movements were more like exercises, but it was better than nothing.

Sung Ji-won rewound the song a few more times, muttering to himself. Finally, I could stop dancing like a puppet.

"Wow."

"Why?"

Sung Ji-won rubbed his lips. Kim Sung-hyun seemed to have figured it out.

"You memorized the whole choreography in between."

"......!"

Everyone was shocked. Jung Dae-joon jumped up.

"Bro, you memorized it?"

"Um, yeah."

"How?"

"Just by watching, I guess."

Jung Dae-joon looked at me like I was a monster. Kim Sung-hyun nodded.

"I thought it was strange. From the second time, you kept doing the right moves."

"So, Hoyun, you already memorized it when we demonstrated?"

"How is that possible?"

Three minutes and forty seconds is quite a long time.

They discussed among themselves, evaluating me like a freshly caught tuna at an auction.

"Sometimes there are people like that. Those who have danced for a long time can memorize it after one or two tries."

"But Seo Hoyun can't dance."

"That's true…."

"Hey…."

Sung Ji-won quietly agreed. It was true, but it was a bit annoying to hear in front of me.

Kang Eun-jae nodded and added his opinion.

"So, bro, you have an amazing memory, even though you're stiff."

"Exactly!"

A nervous laugh escaped me. The atmosphere lightened with the light-hearted joke.

Sung Ji-won clapped his hands to regain control of the situation.

"So, it's not impossible."

"Bro, how can you say that after seeing Hoyun's dancing?"

"Kang Eun-jae, be quiet."

Kim Sung-hyun unexpectedly stepped in to stop Kang Eun-jae. Sung Ji-won nodded.

His eyes, burning with passion, were fixed on me.

"You can do it."

"Um…."

I don't think I can.

"Seo Hoyun, you said it yourself. You'll make it a success."

…Although I intentionally fueled the fire, the sparks are flying in a different direction.

I tightly closed my mouth.

Ah, if this scene was in my program, the editing would have made it seem like I was pouring my soul into a growth narrative. But since I'm not a PD, it's just disappointing.

"I'll, or we'll, teach you well. So you can catch up."

Sung Ji-won said cautiously.

Korean idols have to be good at everything. Singing, dancing, looks, charisma, and entertainment skills—all of these are necessary, and even luck is required to become famous.

Now that I'm an idol, I should follow this rule. Watching the passionate Sung Ji-won and the members, I spoke slowly.

"I don't know much."

"Okay."

"So… please teach me well. I'm asking you."

When I said this, everyone's eyes widened. The members shivered and rubbed their arms.

"Wow, that's really awkward…."

"Seeing you act like a cold fish for days, this is really awkward."

"Just tell me, rather."

What's wrong with my image….

The only one who hadn't said anything, Jung Dae-joon, looked at me carefully and asked cautiously.

"Bro, did you eat something wrong…?"