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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Team Turmoil
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“What?”
But I'd only found things for Ju-seon Unnie until now.
These words rose to the tip of Yeon Ju-hong’s throat, but she managed to hold them back.
It was truly remarkable patience for a seventeen-year-old.
“Are you trying to make me feel bad…? I came here to help Ju-hong, but Geum isn’t here for that…”
“No, that’s…”
That’s because those Unnies are working on the song right now.
“I thought I’d already picked out everything for Unnie.”
“No, but you keep talking about Geum, and it makes me feel so left out… I’m a member of our team too… Can’t you avoid excluding me? I know my rank is low, and you might not trust me because of that. I know Geum is first place… and popular, so you pay more attention to her… but it’s so upsetting. I feel like I’m being excluded.”
“What?”
The repeated use of the word ‘excluded’ made Yeon Ju-hong’s mind go blank.
If there was one word that absolutely could not be uttered during a team mission, it was ‘excluded.’
It was practically a death sentence.
Yeon Ju-hong stammered, unable to utter a single word.
When on earth had she ever excluded Lee Ju-seon?
No, and she hadn’t even thought about rankings to begin with.
It was just that Kim Geum was the Leader, and the concept suited her best, so they’d picked her first!
“Unnie, you know that wasn’t my intention. I’ve already picked all of Unnie’s outfits, and we need to modify all the other team members’ outfits to match yours, so—”
“Ha… I’m sorry. I caused trouble again, didn’t I? I… if I say any more, I think I’ll cry in front of the cameras… I’ll just go first.”
“What? What? Unnie…?”
“If I cry now, it’ll be bad for the team’s image… I’m sorry.”
With those words, Lee Ju-seon disappeared.
Yeon Ju-hong stood alone, blankly in the middle of the market.
***
Producers: We heard you sent a message saying you wanted to leave the team.
[Ju-seon: I sent it to Ju-hong. Like Ju-hong said, if my presence means all the team members’ outfits have to be completely redone… it’s too much trouble. I thought it might be better if just I disappeared instead…]
Producers: Doesn’t leaving the team essentially mean giving up on the competition?
[Ju-seon: …Ryeo-yu Unnie’s team heard about my situation and asked if I’d like to join them. So I also asked the PD if it would be possible to switch teams…]
Subtitle: An unprecedented situation
Subtitle: Request to change teams during a team mission
Producers: Switching teams like that seems quite a risk.
[Ju-seon: That’s how… that’s how desperate I am… If I stay in that team, I feel like I’ll suffocate… Right now, I’m just waiting for the PD’s approval…]
The screen changed, and this time, it wasn't Lee Ju-seon or Yeon Ju-hong, but someone else.
Producers: Trainee Lee Ju-seon wants to switch teams?
It was,
[Ryeo-yu: Yes. I suggested it first.]
Kim Ryeo-yu.
Producers: Why did you suggest it?
[Ryeo-yu: I just thought I had to save her.]
Producers: Save her?
[Ryeo-yu: Yes. The mission is important, and debuting is important. But more important than that are people, and members.]
[Ryeo-yu: Honestly, I think teamwork is more important than the mission itself. Mutual consideration and respect are essential for an idol group, aren’t they?]
Producers: Does that mean Lee Ju-seon’s original team members lacked respect?
[Ryeo-yu: There are some regrettable points. Ju-seon kept feeling anxious about the concept and the tight schedule. Even if they couldn’t accommodate Ju-seon completely, I think it would have been better if they had made some concessions.]
Producers: How do the other team members feel about Ryeo-yu’s decision?
[Hui-on: I think it was a good decision. Honestly, even though I’m on a different team, I kept watching Team A and thinking, ‘Oh? That team is on shaky ground.’ Ju-seon is a talented and wonderful friend, so she’ll fit well with our team.]
[Ha-eun: We welcome her wholeheartedly. Ju-seon and I are in the same position, so… I think we can create great synergy by helping each other.]
Subtitle: Team B, overall, is warm and friendly.
Not just Kim Ryeo-yu, but most of Team B was welcoming of Lee Ju-seon.
Park Ha-eun and Jo Hui-on were both close with Lee Ju-seon, just like Kim Ryeo-yu.
Since a close friend was joining, there was less resistance.
Of course, there was also joy that a big problem had occurred in Team A, which had two strong debut candidates.
They were all enjoying the conflict between Lee Ju-seon and Team A.
Internal team discord was an issue that could lead to significant controversy.
They could easily lose public favor.
So, it was good news for the other trainees.
Subtitle: But does everyone truly feel that way?
[Gyeong-a: …]
Producers: Lee Gyeong-a, the oldest trainee on the team, doesn’t look too happy?
[Gyeong-a: I think Ju-seon coming is a good thing in itself.]
Producers: Then what bothers you?
[Gyeong-a: But they didn’t ask for my opinion at all. From my perspective, I closed my eyes and opened them, and a new team member had suddenly joined… Couldn’t they have consulted me before proceeding? If teamwork is truly important, shouldn’t something like this naturally require mutual understanding… I wonder.]
Subtitle: Trainee Lee Gyeong-a looks a little disappointed.
Producers: Did no one give Trainee Lee Gyeong-a a heads-up?
[Gyeong-a: No. Ryeo-yu is the team Leader, so I naturally thought Ryeo-yu would tell me… But I didn’t receive any word.]
Lee Gyeong-a’s face was troubled.
In truth, Lee Gyeong-a had been somewhat isolated within the team from the beginning.
It wasn't just because her rank was low.
Lee Gyeong-a wasn’t particularly close with Ryeo-yu to begin with.
But since they were on the same team, she was doing her best to cooperate.
[Gyeong-a: Of course, this is just something I personally feel a little disappointed about… I welcome Ju-seon joining.]
Subtitle: The discord among trainees continues to deepen…!
Subtitle: How will it unfold…?
***
Lee Ju-seon didn't answer any of our calls.
Kim Geum, Yeon Ju-hong, and I all called dozens of times and left messages.
But Lee Ju-seon was completely incommunicado.
The situation was utterly bleak.
In a hurry, we tried contacting the Team B trainees as well.
But even then, we couldn't speak to Lee Ju-seon.
Kim Ryeo-yu even said,
“I don’t really understand why you’re coming to me now, after you excluded Ju-seon.”
It was absurd.
Only Lee Gyeong-a was somewhat receptive.
“Ju-seon… decided to join our team. I heard the PD even gave permission. Haven’t you heard anything?”
“Nothing at all.”
“What to do… But I can’t do anything either. Ju-seon is with Ryeo-yu, and I’m not in a situation where I can talk to Ju-seon alone.”
“Huh.”
It was a bind.
“…”
“…”
“…”
I, Yeon Ju-hong, and Kim Geum all remained silent.
We had just heard some of Team B’s individual interview content from the production staff.
They acted as if they weren’t, but it was incredibly fierce criticism.
Speaking like that on broadcast was practically the same as saying, ‘They’re the worst people imaginable.’
“I think it would be good to talk to Ju-seon once.”
“About what?”
“About coming back. We should give her a chance too.”
“But Ju-seon won’t come back.”
Kim Geum’s face was bleak.
It was an understandable reaction given the circumstances.
“It’s all my fault…”
In the gloomy team atmosphere, Yeon Ju-hong bowed her head even lower.
She was already stressed, and with this added on, she seemed to be having a very hard time.
Right.
I would find it hard to bear too.
“It’s not your fault.”
I gripped Yeon Ju-hong’s shoulder.
I wasn’t just taking her side; Yeon Ju-hong truly wasn’t at fault.
The concept was an issue they had all discussed thoroughly.
We had clearly asked for her opinion back then.
She didn’t say she disliked it; she just mumbled vaguely that it was fine.
“If anything, it’s my fault. I should have asked Ju-seon more persistently if she was really okay with it.”
Kim Geum also had a heavy heart, her face grim.
“As a Leader, I couldn’t even grasp my team members’ feelings… I was lacking.”
Kim Geum criticized herself harshly.
This must be her first time dealing with something like this, so it must be even harder.
“No.”
I firmly gripped Kim Geum’s shoulder with my free hand.
“Neither of you are at fault.”
I glanced at the camera.
It was a camera that had been installed at my request earlier.
This practice room usually didn't have cameras, making it a well-known refuge for trainees.
But I had deliberately asked for a camera to be installed here.
PD O would surely be listening carefully to this conversation.
“This is an issue between Ju-seon and us. Let’s go to Ju-seon again and convey how we truly feel. We’re still teammates, aren’t we? Shouldn’t teammates resolve their conflicts? Let’s try to persuade her one last time.”
“…Okay.”
“Yes…!”
Kim Geum still looked skeptical, but she seemed to acknowledge that it was the only way.
Yeon Ju-hong, on the other hand, seemed to have a glimmer of hope return.
I’m sorry, Yeon Ju-hong.
Honestly, I didn’t say this because I truly believed Lee Ju-seon would return.
It was to secure our position while also criticizing Team B for meddling excessively.
No, I could understand Lee Ju-seon being hurt, by a hundred concessions.
Frankly, Yeon Ju-hong should be the one hurt, but fine. Let's concede a hundred times and say Lee Ju-seon was hurt.
Then why not just comfort her, instead of outright snatching her to their own team?
Are they out of their minds?
This was clearly an act to keep our team in check.
Not for Lee Ju-seon’s sake, but to send us spiraling down.
Their intentions were so transparent it was infuriating.
Just then,
“Oh, my.”
Kim Ryeo-yu and Team B opened the practice room door.
“Sorry. Must have entered the wrong practice room?”
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