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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Midnight Encounters
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A few days after the mentors were assigned.
The trainees prepared for their competition stages, consulting with their assigned mentors.
The mid-term evaluation stage was a performance with incomplete arrangements.
Although this mission was "covering a senior idol's song," it didn't mean they should simply replicate it.
No, in fact, reproducing it exactly would be a disadvantage.
Could there ever be a cover that truly surpasses the original?
"They say you shouldn't try to surpass the original artist with a cover stage."
It was early morning, in one of the few practice rooms without cameras installed.
Seo Baek-yeong said, lying sprawled on the practice room floor.
She held a long, thinly sliced carrot in her hand.
"They say you should just think of it as a different performance with the same song. Because no matter what—"
"There's no way to surpass the original artist who practiced for hundreds of days, even years."
I nodded.
That was obvious. If you even thought about surpassing them, you'd be hated by the original song's fans.
Rather than such ambition, you should simply approach it with a different charm.
It's a remake, not an attempt to surpass.
"Right. My mentor said the same thing."
"Who were you assigned to?"
"Senior Jinhwa."
Ah.
I nodded immediately.
Greyish's Main Dancer.
She was already considered a top idol in terms of dance.
She was perfect for Seo Baek-yeong, who specialized in dance.
"That's good. Is she treating you well?"
"Yeah. We already know each other, and she's incredibly skilled."
That's a relief.
I quickly dismissed my worries about Seo Baek-yeong.
"But, you know."
"Yes?"
Seo Baek-yeong had a complicated expression, as if she couldn't understand.
"Why didn't you... snatch a mentor?"
I wondered when this question would come up.
I shrugged.
"There's no need to snatch them, is there? I decided to get help from the other trainees. Thankfully, everyone agreed to help."
As soon as the deal with PD O was done, PD O assigned a camera to me.
And he even captured a touching scene of me getting cooperation from other trainees.
...Of course, honestly, most of them probably didn't help me out of genuine emotion or friendship.
With a camera right there, how could they refuse?
Refusing would surely spark a personality controversy.
"That... Does that make sense?"
As expected, Seo Baek-yeong, ever the realist, wasn't convinced at all.
"No matter how good we are, we're still trainees. We can't beat the mentors."
"I know."
"Then why on earth? Was it to maintain your image?"
Ouch.
That's a painful question.
"I can't say it wasn't at all. Honestly, if I'd snatched a mentor there, I would've gotten some flak."
"Getting criticized would only last for a moment. Everyone would think it's unavoidable—"
"Because I don't trust the broadcasting station, and I don't trust the PD."
I said firmly.
"Unnie, if you want to debut here, you shouldn't trust them either."
"...!"
It wasn't just any PD, it was *that* PD O. ...In seven years, several celebrities will even retire because of PD O.
"No... So, are you confident? You only ask for advice from other trainees when the cameras are on, too."
"Everyone must be busy."
"So, you never intended to get help from us from the start. You just planned to do it alone, didn't you?"
Did she catch on?
To be honest, I was more comfortable being the producer.
Why would I ask fledglings for help?
Unless it was me subtly helping *them*.
I pondered how to answer.
"I'm just not very used to receiving help from others. I feel bad about it, too."
"What's there to be sorry about? It's already something that you didn't snatch our mentors."
"I appreciate you thinking that, Unnie. But others might not see it the same way."
Kim Ryeo-yu, for instance.
Seo Baek-yeong seemed to read my thoughts precisely, offering no rebuttal.
"Did you finish the arrangement?"
"Of course. It'll have a quite different vibe from the original song."
Because I had upgraded it even further than for the mid-term evaluation.
I deliberately didn't show the completed stage during the mid-term evaluation.
There was no real need to hide it, but where's the fun in that?
"I didn't know you could arrange songs yourself."
"No one would have, probably."
That's because the arranging ability belonged to me, Baek Nok-ha, not Yun Cheong.
But Seo Baek-yeong didn't interpret it that way; she looked guilty.
It seemed she was recalling how she had been displeased with Yun Cheong just recently.
I hadn't meant it that way.
Well, no need to correct her.
"Aren't you worried?"
Seo Baek-yeong looked at me with worried eyes.
She's got her own problems to worry about, yet she's worrying about others.
You're a born leader.
I blinked, a strange feeling washing over me.
"You know how important this stage is. Of course, every stage is important, but... this is the first mission."
"Right."
Although I was an idol, I had never been part of an idol group.
I debuted as a solo artist from the start.
Considering many solo idols transition from group activities, my case wasn't very common.
Perhaps that's why I didn't truly understand what group activities were like.
I'd only experienced them indirectly through friends who were former idol group members.
I can't say I never envied them.
Being alone was always lonely, and it was also unsettling.
The relationship of being an "idol group member" seemed very special.
Comrades, fellow soldiers, friends, colleagues.
Something that combined all of that.
That strong bond was certainly enviable. Two heads are better than one, as they say.
Of course, I had also seen entire groups collapse due to a single member's mistake.
So, I had no complaints about being a solo artist.
But—
"I won't give you cause for concern."
Having someone worry about me like this isn't so bad.
***
The competition day was drawing nearer.
As usual, I practiced until 2 AM and then prepared to leave.
Cleaning the practice room, locking the door, and stepping out—
"Hello."
A low voice greeted me.
A voice with good vocalization and resonance.
This was...
"Hi."
It was Ryu Bo-ra.
A perfect voice for acting. It was powerful yet firm.
Rather than a nightingale-like voice, it was a voice with depth.
"Are you leaving now?"
"Yeah, you too?"
"Yes, me too."
To be here until this hour.
She must be working quite hard. I nodded.
"You... Senior Sayoon was your mentor, right?"
"Yes. I'm covering Senior Sayoon's solo song."
Sayoon of WhiteNoise.
An all-rounder member, she didn't have a specific main position, but her charm was considered one of WhiteNoise's best.
And she was also the only member who had released a solo album.
That album was a huge success. She doesn't seem to feel pressured by it.
She seems to be bolder than she looks.
She looked like a baby deer that would collapse if you so much as touched her.
"Alright, good work. See you next time."
Just as I was about to say a quick farewell and leave,
"Unnie."
Ryu Bo-ra stopped me.
"Huh?"
"Geum said she wanted to get close to you."
Geum... that would be Kim Geum, right?
Kim Geum, all of a sudden?
I couldn't answer, taken aback by the sudden topic.
"The rumor that Unnie is good at arranging songs is already widespread. They say even the producer sent your arrangement through without touching it further."
Well, that...
I shrugged.
"Thanks for the compliment."
"So Geum seems to be getting greedy."
"Greedy?"
"She said if she debuts with Unnie, you two could make songs together. Because two is easier than one."
Kim Geum and Ryu Bo-ra.
Both were strong candidates for debut.
Kim Geum's abilities were beyond question. Even after StillBlue's downfall, Kim Geum didn't falter thanks to her talent.
In fact, she continued to go from strength to strength.
She wasn't just 'good for an idol', she was outright good.
But Ryu Bo-ra...
"What about you?"
She wouldn't debut as an idol.
Nor did she resume her acting career.
Ryu Bo-ra simply seemed to vanish, retiring from the entertainment industry as if she'd evaporated.
"Me?"
Ryu Bo-ra's eyes wavered slightly.
"Do you want to debut with me?"
"...Of course. Absolutely."
As if a mask had been placed on her face, Ryu Bo-ra put on her usual gentle smile.
"Debuting with someone as skilled as Unnie is something anyone would welcome."
It sounded incredibly sincere, but I could feel that it wasn't.
Actor-like, flawless acting.
She's impossibly beautiful, really. I murmured to myself.
How could she have lived a normal life with a face like that?
"Anyway, next time, please take a look when Geum is practicing. Even though she looks a certain way, she's a good kid."
"I will."
Well, there was nothing for me to lose by getting closer to Kim Geum.
It was surprising that Kim Geum and Ryu Bo-ra were close, though.
Right, they were the same age. Eighteen.
"Alright, then please head inside."
Ryu Bo-ra said that and bowed her head.
Respectful and polite.
...Though I feel an immense wall between us.
Ryu Bo-ra didn't particularly wait for my farewell and immediately turned around.
"Bo-ra."
I called out to Ryu Bo-ra, stopping her.
"Besides Geum, do you need any help with your practice?"
Ryu Bo-ra didn't turn around, simply standing still.
Then she answered.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."
Hmm.
Indeed, I felt a wall.
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