NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 42
Chapter 42. Special Mission! Shine Brightly (3)
**Beep, beep.**
“Ah, why did they make the choreography so difficult!”
It was the time when everyone had left to have dinner. In the empty practice room, Hajin, who had been trying to memorize the choreography for the title track, grumbled as he turned off the music and lay down flat on the floor.
“I should’ve created a skill like a choreography photocopier. Stupid Kang Hajin.”
After about a month of living as a trainee, Hajin realized that while he wasn’t great at learning choreography, he had no talent for picking up moves just by watching videos.
As he lay there, cooling down by pressing the water bottle he had frozen earlier against his neck and arms, his phone vibrated next to him. Too tired to even get up, Hajin stretched out his arm and checked the messenger.
(Delete)
(Delete)
Sorry, but I took a screenshot.
“Hajin-ah, sorry for calling you dumb. There are some real idiots over there.”
Hajin sighed at the immature antics of the younger guys, which weren’t even funny anymore. He then turned his head to the mirror and patted his reflection as if to apologize. After that, he checked the screenshot again.
“It’s Seongwoo again….”
Hajin had asked Joo Eunchan about his exact relationship with Han Seongwoo to confirm two things.
First. Is Han Seongwoo a ticking time bomb?
‘I knew he was the type to act all superior, but that alone isn’t enough.’
Honestly, when a bunch of hot-blooded guys are stuck together in endless, goal-less competition for years, anyone would lose their mind halfway. It’s not that Han Seongwoo’s behavior was commendable, but it wasn’t enough to label him a ‘bomb’ just yet; there was still room for some understanding.
If that’s the case, then second. Is Han Seongwoo part of the ‘successful debut team’?
‘Judging by his actions, it doesn’t seem likely, but…’
Still, there was always that ‘what if.’
Hajin recalled the conversation he had with Joo Eunchan at the dorm two hours ago.
**-Would you rather spill the secret of your birth, or clear the air with a grouchy and annoying trainee hyung?**
**-…….**
When Joo Eunchan didn’t answer, Hajin crossed his arms and sat in front of him, indicating that he wouldn’t let him leave until he did. After a moment of hesitation, Joo Eunchan spoke.
**-…It’s not like something happened.**
**-……**
**-After I got demoted to the regular class and rumors spread that I was a nepotism hire, Seongwoo hyung was the only one who talked to me, except for one day.**
**-But. Why did you tell me not to get involved with him?**
**-It just feels unsettling. Every time I talk to him, I always end up feeling like I’m the one who did something wrong.**
Joo Eunchan averted his gaze, rubbing his arm with a look of discomfort.
**-It’s hard to explain because it’s not like he did something wrong to me. It’s just that after talking to him, I feel so suffocated. It’s always my fault, my problem…. Anyway, it’s best not to get involved with him if you can.**
If even the normally easygoing Joo Eunchan said something like this, then Hajin thought there was definitely something going on, and his expression darkened.
“Hey, what are you doing here, Kangha hyung?”
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I already had two bowls.”
Wonho, who had spotted Hajin through the half-open practice room door, swaggered in with his hands in his pockets. When Hajin casually waved his arm in greeting, Wonho sat down next to him and picked up the tablet that was playing the choreography video.
“Were you practicing? But why are you alone?”
“I’m being ostracized, Wonho.”
“Seok hyung would laugh if he heard that. There’s no way you could be ostracized. You could make friends even on a deserted island.”
“Who would I make friends with on a deserted island?”
“I don’t know, but you’d find a way.”
…Was that supposed to be a compliment?
“No, I’m seriously being ostracized. The others are avoiding me.”
“Okay, sure. I’ll make sure to mention in the interview that you’re a practice maniac who skips dinner to train.”
“No, I’m serious, you idiot.”
“Wow, Kang Hajin says he’s being ostracized. Doha hyung learning breakdancing would be quicker.”
This little…?
What started as a light-hearted grumble was starting to turn into a challenge with Wonho’s repeated disbelief. Determined to prove that he was indeed being ostracized, Hajin thrust his phone in front of Wonho’s face.
“I’m really being ostracized!?”
And at that moment.
**[System Alert: The skill
**[※Additional conditions
1. Must be activated in the absence of Seo Taeil
2. Preferably activated in a place with few people]**
**[System Alert: As a penalty, the mental care effect will be temporarily reduced. (10% deduction)]**
Ha. Dear God, please.
“Oh no.”
“……? What, what’s wrong?”
“I really am being ostracized. *Sob*—.”
As soon as the system window popped up, tears welled up, and all the bitterness Hajin had been enduring flooded his mind. Grabbing Kim Wonho by the collar, he shook him, thrusting the phone in front of his eyes as he hiccuped. (Of course, it wasn’t by choice!)
“They told me, they told me not to act out, hic, damn it, really, I, *sob*….”
By the time Hajin’s mouth started spouting nonsense beyond his control, he was halfway to losing his mind.
Haha. Shut up, Kang Hajin!
* * *
My crying fit didn’t end until at least 10 minutes later.
I was drinking the banana milk Kim Wonho had hurriedly bought for me from the convenience store in the basement, pressing the cold water bottle over my now swollen eyes.
This isn’t what I brought it for, damn it.
“…….”
“Wow, these guys are seriously messed up.”
In the meantime, Kim Wonho had read through the KakaoTalk screenshots and handed my phone back to me, fuming.
“Tell the interviewers everything!”
“Nothing was caught on camera, so how would that work?”
“So, you’re just going to let it go?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
I wiped the moisture from my eyelids with my hand. I wasn’t pretending to be tough—I actually had a rough plan in mind for how to handle this. I wasn’t someone who should’ve cried over this, damn it, stupid penalty.
“Enough about me. Are you okay?”
“Me?”
“How’s it going with Team A?”
“Ah… It’s brutal.”
“No one’s giving you a hard time?”
Even though I was deliberately aiming the question at Han Seongwoo, Kim Wonho just tilted his head. Not really. Everyone’s just kind of on edge, I guess?
“What about Lee Yugeon? Man, that kid’s so fast at picking up the choreography. How am I supposed to beat him? Am I just going to get completely overshadowed?”
Kim Wonho pressed his hands to his face, suddenly remembering the upcoming battle.
‘It’s only natural. Lee Yugeon’s special ability is copying, after all.’
I patted the back of Kim Wonho’s head as he despaired over the thought of being embarrassed on the show, and I gave him a hint that he didn’t quite understand.
“Hey. Try to get along with Lee Yugeon as much as you can. And work hard at practice. Not that you wouldn’t work hard anyway.”
“…Is this some ‘love your enemy’ strategy?”
“Just do as I say. You don’t have to force a friendship, but don’t see him as a rival either. And be careful with your interviews.”
“…….”
“Anyway, you won’t lose anything as long as you don’t take the dislike route, win or lose.”
The guy stared at me for a moment before nodding without much objection.
“If you say so, then I guess that’s how it is.”
Normally, I might have found his newfound trust in me a bit burdensome, but given today’s situation….
‘I’m oddly thankful.’
“But I really didn’t believe you were being ostracized earlier. Wow, it was like hearing someone say Yoon Taehee is polite—it just didn’t seem possible.”
“Do you want to die?”
“Anyway, if it really doesn’t work out, just tell me. I can report it to the managers or discreetly tell the production crew.”
Kim Wonho shattered my momentary sentimentality in just one second, brushing off his knees as he stood
up. Muttering something about heading back to the dorm, I grabbed the hood of his hoodie and pulled him back down to sit.
“Where are you going?”
“Ugh—.”
“Thanks to you, I just wasted 20 precious minutes of practice time.”
“…How is that my fault?”
It was because of you that the penalty activated.
“Make it up to me, for wasting my practice time.”
“I bought you banana milk!”
“Then help your poor, ostracized hyung before you go.”
“Your attitude changes so fast, hyung.”
Ignoring his look of disbelief as if he were staring at a con artist, I recalled the stats I remembered about him.
[Kim Wonho (Affiliated with: MIRO)]
Appeal Points:
‘A TO Z’
-Fast learning ability
“You’ve memorized the title track choreography, right?”
At my question, Kim Wonho nodded hesitantly. Of course, if Lee Yugeon was a human copier, this guy was a human sponge.
Though he hesitated, suddenly realizing that we were on different teams… I patted his shoulder gently, reassuring him that it was okay.
“If you want to see your ostracized hyung escape his misery, hurry up and teach me, teacher.”
“Are you seriously this rude?”
“Please teach me, master.”
“Ha, you’re seriously insane….”
* * *
“Haru-yah.”
“Seok hyung?”
After hours of getting no response from Hajin, Gong Seok concluded that Hajin must have seriously misunderstood him. This kind of thing had to be resolved face-to-face, but damn, this building was so huge and maze-like, as if it was built to match its name, MIRO, that he couldn’t easily find Hajin.
“Did you see Hajin by any chance?”
“Hajin hyung? No, I haven’t seen him….”
Gong Seok spotted Haru, someone Hajin was close with, and quickly asked about Hajin’s whereabouts, but Haru shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.
“Come to think of it, he hasn’t been responding well since earlier. I thought he was with you, hyung?”
Instead of alleviating his worries, Haru’s response only increased his inexplicable guilt.
‘What if he’s been crying by himself because of what happened earlier…?’
Although Hajin didn’t seem like the type to do that, judging by his personality during the monthly evaluation, people’s hearts can be unpredictable! Being ostracized by his team members during his first survival mission as a trainee!
‘As his hyung, this is so embarrassing.’
During the last monthly evaluation, thanks to Hajin trusting him with the main vocal role, Seok was able to achieve a much higher ranking than usual. It also reignited his competitive spirit and ambition, which had been waning as he watched younger and more talented kids pass him by.
So honestly, when he was teamed up with Hajin again this time, he couldn’t have been happier!
‘So I need to talk to Hajin, make up with him, and get the kids to apologize. No, I need to make them apologize.’
But with Hajin nowhere to be found, Seok’s anxiety grew.
“Ah, Hajin hyung’s over there?”
“Huh? Where?”
Just as Seok was wondering where to start looking again, Haru pointed behind him, blinking. There, walking slowly towards them while drying his hair with a towel after finishing practice, was Hajin.
‘What do I do? Did Hajin practice alone? What if he’s mad at me too? No, what should I say first? I haven’t even told the kids to apologize to him yet! What if they don’t listen to me? Would helping Hajin alone really be helpful?’
When Seok finally faced Hajin, his mind was filled with countless worries and thoughts. Even though Hajin was younger than him, there was something about him that made him difficult to approach. Usually, his gentle smile softened this impression, but when he got serious and his sharp eyes glared at you, it felt like being scolded by an adult!
“Ah, ah, no, I can’t do it yet. Maybe later, I’ll try again later.”
“Hey, hyung.”
“Huh?”
“‘Later’ doesn’t come around as often as you think.”
“…….”
“So when you get the chance to say something, you should say it. That’s what my grandmother always said.”
Just as Seok was about to chicken out and run away, Haru grabbed him, conveying his grandmother’s wisdom with a warm smile and affectionate voice. Then.
“Hajin hyung! Seok hyung has something to say to you!”
With a sparkling smile, Haru waved his arms and called out to Hajin. Hearing this, Hajin, who had been about to turn the corner, walked toward them with long strides.
“Haru, aren’t you going to shower?”
“I’m going soon. But that’s not important. Right now, Seok hyung has something to say.”
“H-Haru….”
Unable to argue with Haru’s bright expression, Seok turned his head back awkwardly. Hajin, with a towel around his neck, tilted his head as he asked. “You have something to say to me?” Seok, feeling like crying, timidly raised his hand at the cold tone.
“H-hi. Hajin-ah.”
“Yes, hello, hyung. So what do you want to say to me?”
…So scary! Seok’s lonely scream echoed. Of course, it was only in his mind.