Chapter 159. Final (3)
The movement of bouncing the body, pushing off the legs, and bending the waist continued.
In the midst of the intense beat, Joo Eunchan dominated the stage with an even more intense gaze.
The following part featured Lee Doha, wearing a three-piece suit over a well-built physique honed through exercise, holding a cane engraved with an eagle.
*Pandora, the madwoman craving dopamine*
He also made a striking appearance with an equally impressive visual and voice.
Lee Doha instantly took control of the atmosphere on stage, which had been filled with Joo Eunchan, with just a few subtle movements and gestures.
A trick that had been used once in the 3rd round appeared again. The remaining four members continued the group dance around Doha, creating a solid composition with just a few motions, making it seem as though he was controlling them.
Meanwhile, Lee Doha, holding a handheld mic in the hand not gripping the cane, began rapping the lyrics he had written himself. His diction was so clear that, even without the lyrics being displayed on the screen, they could be heard distinctly.
“…Ah, damn. He’s really going all out.”
Hajin, watching Team A’s stage from the waiting room monitor, clicked his tongue as if overwhelmed.
Since the *Loving You* performance, Lee Doha had undergone a significant growth in his stage presence, as if he had awakened to something.
It wasn’t just a feeling; the stats showed it clearly.
**[Lee Doha (Affiliated: Miro)]**
**Singing**: F
**Rap**: S
**Dance**: C+
**Expression**: B+
**Charm**: B+
**Special**: Melody (SS)
– Greatly enhances composing and producing abilities
**Appeal Points**:
‘Strong Heart’
– Conveyance, stage adaptability, performance realization (83%)
Although still pretty trashy… no, befitting a rapper, compared to before, his dance and expression stats now had a “+” attached. Even his performance realization, which had been at 80%, had increased by 3%.
But that wasn’t all.
**[Lee Doha (Affiliated: Miro)]**
**Singing**: 37.2% (Rap 64% ▶ 70%)
The rap, which had been at 64%, had also increased to 70%. It meant that even the same “S” wasn’t what it used to be.
The more disturbing thing was that the situation was similar for the other guys.
**[Joo Eunchan (Affiliated: Miro)]**
**Singing**: 43% ▶ 56% (▲)
**Rap**: 84% ▶ 85% (▲)
**Dance**: 41% ▶ 67% (▲)
**Expression**: 64% ▶ 68% (▲)
**Charm**: 35% ▶ 39% (▲)
**Special**: (※This stat has not yet manifested※)
**Appeal Points**:
‘On My Own’
– Self-confidence, decision-making, performance accuracy (70%)
Although Joo Eunchan’s overall rank hadn’t changed, the percentages had risen significantly across the board.
It seemed that the psychological anxiety he had been dealing with, due to Han Sung… no, that damned Voldemort-like guy, had been resolved. Also, the changes came from his desire to excel in parts where he felt confident, rather than being forced into unwanted rap parts.
*The one and only taste in the world,
The new fruit I tasted because of you*
When the monitor captured Wonho confidently handling his part, unlike before, Hajin instinctively stood up. Even though they had shared the same room for a week, Hajin still hadn’t had many conversations with Wonho. Their practice schedules were different, so one was often not in the room, or even if they were in the dorm, they would spend all their time resting to conserve energy.
“……”
Only after seeing that Wonho had safely finished his part and turned around did Hajin relax. The stat window for Wonho automatically popped up in front of his eyes because he had pre-opened the skill window.
**[Kim Wonho (Affiliated: Miro)]**
**Singing**: 89% (Rap 34%)
**Dance**: 65% ▶ 71% (▲)
**Expression**: 93% ▶ 88% (▼)
**Special**: Choreography Creation (92%)
**Appeal Points**:
‘A TO Z’
– Quick learning ability
The only stat that had improved compared to the monthly evaluation was his dance, which had increased by 6%.
The growth spurt that had been increasing for his choreography creation had still stalled at 92%, and his fairly high expression stat had even dropped to 88%.
Hajin used to gauge Wonho’s limits by looking at these stats.
He thought that Wonho had already developed a significant portion of his talent, had worked hard, and that it would be difficult to grow any further.
But if the stat window was viewed as an absolute standard, the evaluation of Wonho could change 180 degrees.
**[Kim Wonho (Affiliated: Miro)]**
**Singing**: B
**Rap**: C-
**Dance**: B+
**Expression**: C+
**Charm**: B
**Special**: Arcade Mode (B+)
– All stats may temporarily improve with a certain probability when having fun.
**Appeal Points**:
‘A to Z’
– Quick learning, agility, wit
If he assumed all the stats could be raised to 100%.
And if he assumed that he could raise at least one grade higher and that Wonho’s special trait, Arcade Mode, could provide additional enhancement.
‘…At the very least, his stats are enough for a main dancer or a sub-vocalist in an average idol group.’
The only reason he wasn’t shining properly was because the guys here were all out of their minds. It couldn’t be said that there was no potential at all.
‘You can do it, Kim Wonho.’
However, the sense of “I can do it,” was something that no one else could teach.
Hajin could only silently pray for Wonho.
“Hyung, your eyes will hurt if you keep watching like that.”
“If you frown while watching TV, you’ll get wrinkles on your forehead.”
Hajin turned his head at the nagging that sounded like his mother. Yugeon, who was spinning his baseball cap on his finger, sat down beside Hajin with a bandage box in hand.
“Sometimes you really do remind me of my mom.”
“There are times when I’m also startled because my hyungs are like our tigers.”
Yugeon replied indifferently to Hajin’s words, handing him a small mirror he was holding with his other hand.
*What, what does he want me to do with this?*
With that look, Hajin glanced at Yugeon for a moment, then took the mirror and naturally checked his own face.
“…No. I mean, hold it up properly. Are you Snow White? Why do you check your face first?”
“Snow White doesn’t look in the mirror, it’s the stepmother who does. The queen who gave the poisoned apple.”
“Do you want me to make you the queen?”
“My type is Sleeping Beauty, though….”
“Please, stop with the nonsense and just hold the mirror, hyung.”
“Okay.”
At Yugeon’s insistence, Hajin obediently returned the hand mirror. Despite his attempts to playfully lower and raise the mirror or spin it around, Yugeon smacked Hajin’s thigh to scold him until he behaved.
“Sometimes, hyung… Sometimes you seem like a thirty-year-old adult, but then at times like this, you seem younger than our tigers, and it confuses me.”
“Just between you and me, it’s because I’m an alien.”
“What the heck are you saying…?”
Hajin laughed at Yugeon’s disgusted reaction, seemingly satisfied.
Having successfully applied a styling band on Hajin’s nose bridge, Yugeon checked his own face one last time before taking the mirror back.
Though Hajin expected him to get up and leave, Yugeon unexpectedly stayed seated beside him, watching the monitor.
“Ah, Seo Taehyun’s part is coming up.”
The composition of the A-song was a bit unique, with the main vocal part starting from the middle of the song.
On the screen, Seo Taehyun, dressed in a black smokey makeup, black nail art, a black shirt, and a black jacket, emerged from the center of the stage with a fierce gaze.
“That was originally your part, right?”
“Yeah. Though it’s a bit weird to say ‘originally’, it was, in any case.”
“What do you think? About Seo Taehyun taking that part.”
Yugeon asked with genuine curiosity, wondering about Hajin’s opinion.
In fact, it was a question that everyone watching the stage, including Yugeon, would have been curious about.
Hajin leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and shrugged.
“Well….”
It was true that Taehyun’s choice to go for the A-song instead of the B-song in this performance was a gamble with more to lose than to gain.
In a final stage where debut was on the line, attempting something you’ve never shown before, while leaving behind what you’re best at, might be considered madness.
However, sometimes the best offense is the best defense.
“Taehyun was bound to face this mountain at some point anyway.”
Seo Taehyun had already experienced failure despite doing what he was best at.
In a situation remarkably similar to three years ago
, Seo Taehyun was merely making the best defensive move he could.
Hajin recalled the words Taehyun had said to him before going on stage.
*—Hyung, you told me, right?*
*—You didn’t waste those three years, did you?*
Quoting Hajin’s own words from the A-Countdown music show before the challenge with Believer, Taehyun had smiled confidently.
*—That’s right. I didn’t waste them. I worked hard enough to die.*
*—So I’m going to do what I’ve always done.*
*—I’m going to show everything I’ve worked on for these three years.*
Remembering Taehyun’s confident tone, Hajin also smiled.
“But he’ll do well, that guy.”
In Hajin’s view, Taehyun’s stat window overlapped with the fierce and intense figure on the monitor, projecting an aura entirely different from before.
**[Seo Taehyun (Affiliated: Miro)]**
※ Due to the current special skill, the charm stat has been enhanced ※
**Singing**: B+
**Dance**: A- ▶ A
**Expression**: A ▶ A+
**Charm**: S (A)
**Special**: Fascination (A) ▶ (A+)
– Has a certain probability of temporarily enhancing the charm stat
**Appeal Points**:
‘Catching Your Eye, Catching Your Eye!’
– Vocal tone, dance line, stage expression
*Grab it, jump in, NEW! YOU!*
Taehyun scratched his throat roughly as he spat out the notes.
Despite the challenging dance moves that followed immediately, his breath didn’t falter, and the gestures, down to the angle of his swinging hair, were meticulously calculated.
Taehyun’s once soft voice had deepened and gained weight after the voice change he experienced post-*Boy’s World*.
In the previous timeline, a wrong contract had forced Taehyun to overwork his vocal cords, performing at numerous events before his voice change was even complete.
Furthermore, his agency at the time, which had stubbornly pushed the image of *Boy’s World*, without considering the changes in Taehyun’s physique and voice post-voice change, eventually caused him to disappear from the music industry without leaving a clear mark.
‘…But it’s different this time.’
Whether it was because the director’s kid had neglected Taehyun for three years, his vocal cords had passed through the voice change more stably than ever.
Through *Miro Maze*, he had met various mentors, delved into different genres, and received objective evaluations.
With the disbandment of the special class and Han Sung-woo’s resignation, the factions among trainees dissolved, creating an environment where Taehyun could interact more freely with other trainees and seek their help.
*Don’t miss it, never,
Grab the Beat!*
Not even a slight deviation in rhythm escaped Taehyun, who bit his lip and shot a sultry glance at the camera.
The fact that this didn’t seem creepy or excessive was Taehyun’s greatest strength.
And now, Taehyun was someone who knew how to maximize his strengths.
With a laugh that seemed to say it was absurd, Hajin stood up as if he had seen enough.
“…? What? You’re not watching anymore?”
“What’s the point? It’s just depressing to have someone like him as a rival. Let’s go practice our own thing.”
Hajin patted Yugeon on the shoulder as he spoke, and though Yugeon seemed confused, he followed Hajin.
Hajin walked cheerfully toward where the rest of the B Team was gathered.
‘They kept making him do babyish aegyo, no wonder he didn’t make it big. Seriously, what idiots.’
It was the moment when Hajin finally found the answer to the question he always had in mind whenever he saw Taehyun: *Why didn’t Seo Taehyun make it big?*