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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Choice
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Swoosh.
The curtain dropped, revealing all the songs at once.
‘It’s here!’
Thankfully, the song Hye-sung had studied was on the list. It was the mission song Na Yeon-woo had performed before the reset.
‘I've avoided the worst-case scenario where the song I wanted wasn't available. Now I just have to hope I don't clash with Lee Ju-ha. I'll even call you 'Eonni' in my head. Please, just don't pick the same song as me.’
Hye-sung gently tugged on the arm of Lee Ju-ha, who was standing in front of her.
“What is it, Hye-sung?”
“Eonni, which song are you going to do?”
She asked in a small voice, as if making a secret deal. Not that it mattered, as her voice was drowned out by the chatter of the other trainees discussing which songs they would choose.
“Which one do you want to do?”
Lee Ju-ha countered with a question instead of an answer.
“Eonni, I want to do . Hehe.”
Hye-sung even put on a clumsy, cute act, hoping Ju-ha might yield if their choices overlapped.
“Oh, really? Me too!”
“What?”
Come to think of it, there were no Snowy songs on the list at all. Before the reset, they had included one to target Lee Ju-ha, but it seemed to have been excluded this time since she had already performed it during the class evaluation.
“Why? You want to do that one too?”
“Yes….”
‘The competition format has changed, so the option of choosing the same song and risking becoming a rival team is gone.’
Now that things had come to this, Hye-sung hoped Lee Ju-ha would take Na Yeon-woo for her team. But then she worried that Yeon-woo's chances of becoming the center would decrease.
“Hey, Hye-sung~ If you look so down, it makes me feel bad.”
“Ahaha… It's nothing. You have the first pick, Eonni, so you should choose the song you want. I'm fine.”
“Hmm, really? But you really want to do , right?”
“Yes….”
“What other songs are there….”
Seeing Hye-sung trying so hard to act mature, Lee Ju-ha began to ponder for a moment, looking at the list of mission songs in front of her.
[Lucky Four-Leaf Clover (Normal) has been activated!]
‘A four-leaf clover at this moment? Is she going to give it to me?’
Seeing the four-leaf clover activate, Hye-sung got her hopes up.
“Has everyone finished checking the songs? Alright, then! Will the first-place winner of this morning's wake-up mission, trainee Lee Ju-ha, please come forward.”
Seol Han-na gestured to the spot beside her.
“As the first-place prize, you have the right to choose your song and teammates first. Have you decided on your team and song?”
“Yes. I have.”
“Wow~ I'm so jealous.”
“Pick me, Ju-ha Eonni~”
“Me too~!”
Hye-sung clasped her hands, her desperate eyes fixed on Lee Ju-ha.
‘Ju-ha Eonni, Samsung Eonni, I'm begging you. Give that song to Milky—no, give it to Hye-sung.’
Samsung Eonni was a nickname she'd randomly given Lee Ju-ha because her average stat was three stars. In any case, Hye-sung, keeping her promise to call her 'Eonni' even in her thoughts, prayed fervently as if making an offering to a divine spirit.
“The song I have chosen… is MY:B's .”
Thump.
In her disappointment, Hye-sung's jaw dropped so low it looked like it might hit her toes.
Seeing this, Lee Ju-ha winked at Hye-sung. It seemed to be her way of showing she was sorry.
‘What the heck. What did the four-leaf clover even do? I lost the song.’
“You've chosen . Shall we pick your teammates now?”
“Yes, the first trainee I will choose is….”
‘Do I have no choice but to go with my second-choice song? is the best for Yeon-woo... Should I just hope Ju-ha picks her….’
“Individual trainee Yoon Hye-sung.”
“Whaat?!”
Thud!
Hye-sung, who had been wracking her brain for a backup plan, hadn't even considered the possibility of her name being called.
In her shock, she stumbled over nothing and fell flat on her back.
“Oh my! Trainee Yoon Hye-sung, you must have been very surprised. Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes, yes. I'm fine. Haha.”
‘Why did she call my name? Is this the effect of the four-leaf clover?’
“Huh? But wasn't Hye-sung second place in the wake-up mission?”
“You're right. So what happens to Hye-sung's reward?”
As Hye-sung, who had the right to choose a team second, was called, the trainees began to whisper among themselves.
“That is correct. Trainee Yoon Hye-sung also has priority in choosing a team. When a trainee with such a benefit is called, the chosen trainee has the right to refuse the nomination.”
Seol Han-na continued, looking at Hye-sung.
“Trainee Yoon Hye-sung, will you accept trainee Lee Ju-ha's nomination?”
Lee Ju-ha looked at Hye-sung with a relaxed expression. She seemed to think that since Hye-sung wanted this song, she would naturally accept.
‘Right, this is actually for the best. I can join this team and suggest we bring in Yeon-woo.’
“I accept!”
Hye-sung dusted off her knees and stood next to Lee Ju-ha.
“Eonni, but why me?”
“Why are you so surprised? I sent you a signal earlier.”
Lee Ju-ha gave Hye-sung a bright smile.
‘Ah, the wink. That was the signal.’
“It seemed like you really wanted to do this song, so I did this. Is that okay?”
“Yes, thank you. Eonni, but could I maybe offer a suggestion?”
Hye-sung leaned in and whispered cautiously in Lee Ju-ha's ear.
“How about Yeon-woo for our team…?”
“I knew you'd say that. But I was thinking of Yeon-woo even before you, Hye-sung.”
“Really? Our Ju-ha Eonni really has a good eye.”
At the thought of being on the same team as Na Yeon-woo, Hye-sung's mood instantly brightened, and she stuck close to Lee Ju-ha, eagerly flattering her.
A short while later, Na Yeon-woo joined the team, and Lee Ju-ha's picks were gathered one by one until only the final member remained.
“Ju-ha Eonni, there's only one spot left. Is it maybe Young-won Eonni?”
Since the song Han Young-won had performed before the reset wasn't on the list, she wondered if she might come to this team.
“No. Young-won Eonni probably wouldn't want to do this song.”
‘She'd do well if she did, but her style is a bit different. She'd probably go for that one instead of this kind of teen pop, huh?’
Hye-sung subtly shifted her gaze.
The song her eyes landed on was, like , a boy group song, but it had a slightly more mature vibe.
“Then, please announce the final team member.”
Lee Ju-ha looked over the trainees opposite her with a serious expression.
‘Hadn't she already decided? I have a bad feeling about this.’
“The final trainee I will choose is Muse Production's Amamiya Rurika.”
“…!”
Startled by the name, Hye-sung grabbed the hem of Lee Ju-ha's clothes and spoke.
“Eonni…! I thnk yu cawld the wrng nme?”
With her lips tightly sealed, she spoke as if ventriloquizing, “I think you called the wrong name?”
“I called Rurika. It's correct.”
This can’t be.
It looked like she was about to be on a team with the number one trainee to avoid.
The strength drained from Hye-sung's hand, which had been clutching Lee Ju-ha's clothes.
‘Getting involved with Rurika is bad news in so many ways. It's not just because she's bad at it, but later on, she…’
Hye-sung squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Agh, I don't even know anymore.’
Rurika, whose name had been called, lifted her head, which had been bowed low.
The person in question was just as surprised. She even looked around, as if wondering if she had misheard.
“Excellent. With this, all the members for MY:B's have been decided. Trainee Rurika, please come forward.”
“Yes…!”
Rurika trotted over happily and tightly grasped Lee Ju-ha's hand. She seemed so moved that her eyes were slightly teary.
“Ju-ha Eonni! Thank you….”
“Let's do our best, Rurika.”
‘After escaping F class, I thought I wouldn't have to deal with her again. What is this disaster?’
Swallowing her bitterness, Hye-sung averted her gaze from Rurika and stared blankly at the trainee standing next to her.
‘I could kind of understand picking this one…’
A tall stature that she had to look up at slightly.
As her gaze reached the trainee's face, the girl next to her wrapped an arm around Hye-sung's shoulder.
“Why? Got something to say?”
“Just looking.”
‘Okay, I can understand picking Seong-bin.’
She had been quite surprised when Seong-bin's name was called after Na Yeon-woo's, but she thought she wasn't a bad choice for a member to fill out the numbers.
Not everyone could get a standout part, so if she just sang a line or two and showed off her physique, she would probably bring in some votes.
‘But Rurika is just wrong. I thought I just needed to do well myself, but now it looks like I'm going to be dragged down.’
Hye-sung narrowed her eyes and looked at Rurika again. She was stuck to Lee Ju-ha's side like a leech. When their eyes met, Rurika smiled brightly and asked.
“Hye-sung! Did you maybe recommend Rurika?”
“Huh? No.”
‘You're full of yourself, Rurika.’
Why would I be crazy enough to recommend you?
Unaware of Hye-sung's inner thoughts, Rurika looked somewhat relieved to have a familiar face on the team.
“Oh? I see. Anyway, I'm happy to be with you again, Hye-sung! And Yeon-woo-chan, too!”
Rurika's eyes were filled with delight as she looked at Hye-sung. It seemed she had developed a one-sided liking for her ever since Hye-sung took her to the production staff when she was sick.
‘I only helped her out of a sense of duty back then.’
She didn't bear her any ill will, but Rurika's fondness wasn't exactly welcome either. In the long run, being seen as close to her would be a negative for Hye-sung.
‘This is bad. This is really bad.’
Glancing sideways at Lee Ju-ha, who had voluntarily taken on the task of handling a time bomb, Hye-sung clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘I have an idea why she picked her, though.’
When Lee Ju-ha had scanned the trainees for the last time, Rurika seemed to have caught her eye. Both Rurika and Ju-ha knew she would likely be left until the very end, unchosen by anyone. Perhaps that was why Rurika had looked almost ready to give up from the moment the competition was explained.
Hye-sung thought that Lee Ju-ha might have seen a reflection of herself in that moment—of when her own name wasn't called for the Snowy debut lineup.
‘Now that it's come to this, all I can do is hope Rurika stays quiet and doesn't cause any trouble while we're on the same team.’
* * *
“What should we do for the song's concept? I think it'd be best to keep the original vibe.”
Hye-sung asked, looking at her teammates who were sitting in a circle in the large practice room.
“Hmm, that's a good idea, but wouldn't it be a bit bland if there's nothing to set it apart from the original?”
Lee Ju-ha, who had been twirling a pen in her hand as she pondered, replied.
was the debut song of MY:B, the nine-member boy group produced by Syunopeu Season 4. It was a bright, teen pop dance track with a young and fresh feel that only a rookie group could pull off.
Considering they wouldn't be compared to a group of the same gender, it was a pretty decent choice for a competition song for young female trainees with varying skill levels.
“I agree, doing it exactly the same is a bit... They said we're free to rearrange it, too.”
“In that case, do you have any ideas for the arrangement or concept?”
In response to Hye-sung's question, the team members started offering their opinions.
“A full rearrangement seems like too much, but what about changing the intro and the interlude a bit? Something jazzy.”
“Swing jazz sounds good! What if we make the intro and the dance break feel like a high school musical?”
At the mention of swing jazz, Hye-sung's eyebrow twitched.
‘It'll be all over the place. This song works best if we stick to the casual feel of the original.’
It was obvious that mixing a jazzy musical style into a song whose strengths were its refreshing energy would result in a mess that was neither here nor there.
“A jazzy dance break would feel really out of place. I think we should stick to the original.”
“The dance break might feel that way, yeah.”
Lee Ju-ha nodded in agreement.
“Oh, really? Then what if we just do the intro and not the dance break?”
She wanted to say bluntly, ‘Let's just drop it,’ but she had to be mindful of the cameras, and the trainees offering the opinions were older than her, making it even harder to speak up.
“I think just slightly changing the instrumental sounds would be fine….”
“Sticking to the original is fine, but wouldn't that just be a simple cover?”
Kim Ga-young, a Middle-class trainee picked by Lee Ju-ha, said. In reality, the first competition was basically just a cover song battle. But it seemed she was greedy to differentiate their performance somehow.
