Chapter 35
Originally, “<Fingertips>” was not a mission song for the vocal position.
It was a mission song for the dance position.
Naturally, the winner was Kim Ryeo-yu.
Yoon Cheong only ranked third within the vocal position.
She was so nervous that she made a mistake – that’s what was shown on the broadcast.
But the truth was a little different.
Until the day before, during the rehearsal, Yoon Cheong was a strong candidate for the win in the vocal position.
Having finally removed her weak point, dance, and focusing solely on vocals, her true skills had shown because she felt at ease.
Naturally, the other trainees and judges were very surprised.
And they were also on guard.
By then, the debut group was almost decided.
Yoon Cheong was supposed to debut as a hate figure picked by the judges.
But with her showing her skills like this, too many variables had been created.
Because the public wants idols with skills.
So that day, Kim Ryeo-yu did ‘something’ to Yoon Cheong.
At first, I didn’t remember clearly.
Because Yoon Cheong’s memories were so vast, it took time to fully make each and every event my own.
But the moment I saw the preview of this mission on my phone, some memories rushed back.
As if they had been waiting for this moment.
That memory was-
“<Fingertips>, huh. An unexpected choice. I thought it was a song that suits performance rather than being completely for vocals. Why did you choose this song?”
Do Hee-young said, as if surprised.
Only then did I come to my senses.
“Of course, I think it’s a song that can suit the dance position as well. But I think that the vocal position can also show its own performance.”
I gave the answer I had thought of in advance.
As expected, the reaction of the vocal position trainees was subtle.
That’s because “<Fingertips>” was a song with a unique melody of oriental style.
A song close to a general ballad was “<Medea>”.
Probably most of the trainees thought I would choose “<Medea>”.
It’s quite difficult to sing, and it has a wide range of notes, so it’s a song that can clearly show vocal skills.
But not only such songs can show vocal skills.
“<Fingertips>” is also a really difficult song to sing.
“That’s of course. <Fingertips>. I think Yoon Cheong trainee made a good choice. In fact, when I just listened to the song itself, I thought it was the most attractive song, including the lyrics. You made a good choice. Yoon Cheong trainee.”
Do Hee-young gave me a gentle smile.
Hmm.
My choice was not wrong.
But the other trainees still seemed to not understand my choice.
Ryu Bo-ra, Lee Kyunga, Jo Hee-on, all of them didn’t swear, but the atmosphere was very cheap.
…Believe me, guys.
“…Sis.”
Then, Ryu Bo-ra put her hand on my shoulder.
“Huh?”
“I hope this was the best choice.”
She’s really creepy in a different way.
She’s smiling, but it seems like her pupils are slightly turning.
I held my trembling heart and put my hand on Ryu Bo-ra’s hand.
“Believe me.”
Maybe it’s a song that can bring out your charm to the maximum.
***
So, the other positions also finished choosing their songs.
Vocal position: <Fingertips>
Dance position A (Yeon Juhong, Seo Baek-young, Kim Ryeo-yu): The Pendulum
Dance position B (Lee Joo-seon, Bang Su-in, Shin Yu-hyun): <Medea>
Rap position: <Scar>
Kim Geum definitely has ears to listen.
Choosing <Scar>.
She picked something that fits her perfectly.
“Good. You all chose songs that suit you well.”
It was true.
It seemed like they had each picked a song that suited them.
They knew their own charm because they had practiced, even though they were trainees.
Even if they were trainees, their skills were beyond that.
“Then, let’s start dividing the parts. You don’t have to divide it fairly, but think about what would be good for the result. It’s not a skill to take a lot of parts, you would have realized that from the last mission.”
Do Hee-young’s sharp words made Kim Ryeo-yu’s face turn slightly red.
Do Hee-young was not an easy person.
She was not a person who holds back when she has something to say.
Well, that’s why she was chosen as a judge.
“Then, start dividing the parts.”
The four of us huddled together and listened to the demo song again.
“The song is really difficult.”
“It’s going to be really hard to keep the feeling. Because it has a bit of a traditional Korean music feel….”
“It feels like a song that would come out in a historical drama?”
The conclusion was ‘difficult.’
“Shall we divide the parts for now?”
Lee Kyunga cautiously brought up the topic.
As the oldest, she seemed to feel a sense of responsibility as if she had been forced to be the group leader for a group project.
But I know.
The real oldest here is me.
…So I want to tell her that she can relax.
The person who feels the responsibility of being the oldest is not just you….
“I want to divide the parts fairly. So that everyone’s charm can be fully revealed. I think everyone applied for the vocal position because they are confident in their skills.”
Somehow, my words seemed to slightly shake Jo Hee-on’s pupils, but let’s ignore it.
“So! How about doing it like this?”
I wrote ‘Part Ga, Part Na, Part Da, Part Ra’ on the paper.
“Divide into four parts, put the chorus fairly in all parts, and then take the parts randomly!”
“…!”
At my suggestion, everyone seemed to be taken aback.
That’s likely.
Because this method was borrowed from somewhere.
“Since you don’t know what position you will take, everyone will try to divide the parts fairly… right?”
“Right.”
At Ryu Bo-ra’s question, I nodded immediately.
“That’s completely…? Something I heard in high school class…?”
“Veil of Ignorance.”
In front of the three people lost in thought, I continued my words.
“Personally, I think there’s nothing better than this when dividing parts fairly.”
Everyone thought for a moment and eventually nodded.
Because they couldn’t find a more fair method.
In the end, we divided the parts by each measure.
So that not one person takes all the killing parts, but each person can take at least one.
“Alright, then let’s decide by ladder game now.”
“Yes.”
When we ran the ladder game on the phone app, everyone’s parts were divided.
My part was ‘Part Ra’.
It was the part that had the killing part I wanted to do.
A good start.
“Everyone, have you finished dividing the parts?”
Just then, Do Hee-young announced the end of time.
“Then, I’ll give you time for a day from now. After practicing individually, meet the composers and proceed with the recording.”
“!”
Tension flashed in the trainees’ eyes.
The composer of this song is Dan Ha.
Even in the most popular male idol group these days, he’s the most popular member.
How does that sound to female idols?
‘Number 1 to avoid…!’
If you get involved, you die.
Even before debut, you start by dying first.
Everyone was straining their brains.
Romantic feelings?
That’s not needed for a debut.
To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, you shouldn’t even make eye contact.
Only eyes of respect are needed, nothing else.
“Alright, then take your practice time. We’ll meet again in the recording studio tomorrow.”
At Do Hee-young’s words, the staff started preparing to move without a hitch.
We were the same.
For the recording that will take place tomorrow, we all had to head to the practice room.
As soon as we got in the car, Ryu Bo-ra casually sat next to me.
What’s up with this kid who’s never been close before?
Ryu Bo-ra didn’t show a particularly friendly appearance with anyone except Kim Geum.
Of course, fans seemed to like even that, calling her a cool baby bird….
Since I’m not particularly sociable either, it was awkward.
“Sis.”
“Hmm.”
“Why did you choose that?”
“Because it seemed fun.”
“…?”
Ryu Bo-ra really had a moderate expression all the time.
She didn’t frown like Geum, nor was she full of aegyo like Juhong.
She was just calm and rational.
But that’s strangely-
“Why, are you not confident?”
“Haha.”
Funny.
“No. Honestly, I don’t care what song it is. I was just curious. I thought you should choose the song that shows your skills the best to debut.”
“That’s right.”
“But that’s not a song that shows off flashy skills-”
“It’s closer to a song that shows emotional lines.”
I know too.
I know that “Fingertips” is not a song that shows off amazing high notes or singing ability.
But “Fingertips” had something beyond that.
Narrative.
And if it’s a one-time stage, the narrative is the most important thing.
“This time, I wanted to do a fun stage.”
“A fun stage.”
Ryu Bo-ra thought for a moment and soon opened her mouth.
“Do you find the stage fun, sis?”
This is suddenly a difficult question.
“I do it because it’s fun. If it’s not fun, it’s a job you can’t do, actually.”
“….”
Ryu Bo-ra didn’t show any reaction.
I didn’t expect an answer from Ryu Bo-ra either.
If she wanted to say something, she would have answered even if I didn’t ask.
There must be some circumstances, so she’s keeping her mouth shut.
I thought from the beginning, but she’s a difficult person to talk to.