Chapter 185. Welcome, It’s Your First Time Debuting, Right? (2)
Lee Yugeon firmly added a rationale.
“We don’t have enough practice time. Since it’s our debut song, we’ll need to synchronize much more intensely compared to when we were in the survival rounds.”
“But… the situation in November is similar, isn’t it? In fact, it might be even busier then, with the year-end performances overlapping. If we just cut down on a bit of sleep and endure a few weeks….”
When Seo Taehyun objected, Lee Yugeon, in an indifferent tone, pointed at Lee Doha, who was sitting beside him.
“This hyung already pulls all-nighters every night. How much more sleep are you asking him to cut?”
Lee Doha, who was the weakest among us in dancing, had been undergoing rigorous training in basic choreography with Lee Yugeon almost every day lately. On top of that, he was working on his own music compositions, so as his roommate, I knew better than anyone else that he was practically living at the company, barely getting any sleep.
‘It’s true that if we’re asked to prepare for our debut while keeping up with our current schedule… it will be tight.’
Lee Doha couldn’t deny that either, and he remained silent, not arguing with Lee Yugeon’s point. Lee Yugeon let out a short sigh and added a final remark.
“I know you’re eager to debut as soon as possible, but not everyone is like you, doing well just by going through the motions.”
Wait, isn’t that a bit of a dangerous statement?
Just as I thought that, our INFJ, Seo Taehyun, filled his eyes with injustice and hurt and raised his voice.
“…Why are you saying it like that? It’s not like I’m forcing us to debut early just because I want to.”
“When did I say you were forcing us? I’m just saying we should consider the differences in skills among the members. Don’t read too much into it.”
“Your tone clearly implies that. It’s not like I’m just breezing through everything…!”
“Hey, stop it. Both of you, cut it out. What are you doing in front of the Director?”
If I left these guys alone, they were seriously going to start yelling and fighting, so I intervened just in time. My loud voice was quite handy at moments like this.
Ji Suho gave me a brief nod of thanks and then, in his usual mediator tone, gently calmed the two of them.
“Whether it’s Plan A or Plan B, the company is aware that both are sudden and busy schedules. But the company has determined that a September debut would be more advantageous.”
“……”
“Unless the November schedule is overwhelmingly relaxed and we can significantly improve the quality, I think it will be more motivating for you all to get a taste of debuting a little earlier…. What do you think?”
Persuaded by Ji Suho’s logic, Lee Yugeon silently looked at Lee Doha. After all, since Lee Doha would be the one enduring the grueling schedule, the choice was ultimately up to him.
Following that, everyone’s eyes turned to Lee Doha.
“……”
Even so, Lee Doha couldn’t easily respond.
My guess was that it wasn’t because he thought the schedule would be too tough or that he couldn’t do it. Being an ex-athlete, his stamina and resilience were the best among us.
It was more likely that…
‘He’s probably wondering if he can create a performance of high quality in such a short time.’
This was something that no one else could answer for him. It was an issue that would have to come up eventually.
Everyone remained quiet, waiting for Lee Doha’s answer.
…except for one person.
“Hyung! I’ll help you!”
Our brave little bunny warrior was bold today as well.
“I’m not particularly fast at memorizing choreography either…. So, I’ve researched a lot of ways to memorize movements more easily. Wouldn’t it be faster if there were two of us instead of just one? And more fun, too!”
And he was optimistic as well. Hmm, he’s got the perfect qualities of a protagonist.
Just as I was thinking that this bright and cheerful kid would turn into a jaded regressor who’d reset the timeline hundreds of times in his past life.
Finally, Lee Doha spoke.
“…I don’t want to be a burden to the team.”
“……”
“If it’s something we have to do, I’ll make it happen.”
There couldn’t have been a more quintessential Lee Doha response.
At his confident answer, Ji Suho nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright. Then the debut date is set for September 15th. It won’t be easy to come together as a team, but I trust that you’ll manage wisely.”
In his last remark, clearly aimed at Seo Taehyun and Lee Yugeon, the two of them awkwardly avoided each other’s gaze. Whatever had happened during the vacation to make them so distant, it was starting to get a little scary.
‘Don’t fight, you guys. Even if you bicker, you’ll have to see each other for the next seven years.’
You’ve already signed the contract, so there’s no backing out now. Besides, the stamp on a contract is thicker than blood.
It seemed like I’d have to join forces with Jung Siwoo soon to figure out what had happened between these two. Meanwhile, Ji Suho clenched his fist with his trademark toothy smile, delivering a morale-boosting message.
“They say that when the body suffers, the heart becomes harsher. I can’t promise that only good things will happen, even as an empty platitude. It’s going to be a really busy and tough two months…. But still, let’s all be patient, consider each other a little more, and work hard together in the second half of this year!”
We’ll… be okay, right?
Suddenly, I missed my mom.
* * *
“Where’s Lee Doha?”
“Ah. Hyung went to the studio. He said he’s going to do some more work.”
Just as I was dragging my tired body and mind back to the dorm, I noticed that Lee Doha was nowhere to be seen. Lee Yugeon, who usually taught him how to dance, was already sitting in the car with his eyes closed, so I asked him, and sure enough, the answer came back that he was working late again today.
“Isn’t he overworking himself?”
I know what it’s like to feel pressured, but still….
Lee Doha was taking it to the extreme. Whether it was during the monthly evaluations or during Miro Maze, he had a tendency to make up for his lack of practice time by throwing his body into it.
Should I just leave him like this? I was pondering, not getting into the car yet, when Lee Yugeon, who was still leaning against the window with his eyes closed, arms crossed, casually replied.
“Just leave him alone.”
“Leave him alone? That big guy’s skipping meals, not sleeping, and holed up in the studio? No, but at least he should eat. And get some sleep.”
“…He probably feels more at ease doing this, so just let him be.”
Then Lee Yugeon opened his eyes slightly, and with a somewhat bitter tone, spoke to me, still standing by the car door.
“People like you don’t understand. How much it makes you want to run away when you’re a minus.”
Is that aimed at me?
I was about to retort, wondering why this brat was acting like a stormy teenager, but Seo Taehyun, who had suddenly appeared behind me, beat me to it.
“What are you talking about? Don’t drag others into your excuses.”
Are you upset, Cherry…?
I was stunned by Seo Taehyun’s unusually cold tone, and with a slight frown, Lee Yugeon replied in a disgruntled voice.
“Don’t twist my words. I wasn’t talking to you, was I?”
“How did I twist your words? You’re the one who keeps talking negatively, saying you’re a minus or whatever.”
“…You just don’t like anything I’m saying right now, do you? Are you a kid? Even our tiger cubs don’t act like this.”
“What, a kid? Fine, I’m a kid. You must be happy being a high schooler?”
Seriously, these brats…
“Stop right there. Do you both want to run to the dorm?”
“But he started it…!”
“Seo Taehyun keeps…!”
“Hmph? You little brats, just because I’ve been going easy on you, you think you can talk back to your grandpa like that? Stop fighting, you brats! Do I need to start a live stream so the whole neighborhood knows?”
I even put my hands on my hips and scolded them, and only then did they both quiet down. They still looked sullen, but as soon as Jung Siwoo and the youngest members got into the car, neither of them could say anything further.
Lee Yugeon took out his earphones from his bag and put them on, closing his eyes again, while Seo Taehyun climbed into the front passenger seat, turning his head to look out the window.
“Aren’t you getting in, Hajin?”
Noticing the tense atmosphere in the car, Jung Siwoo alternated meaningful glances between Seo Taehyun and Lee Yugeon before asking me. I took a moment to decide whether to first deal with these petty kids or my roommate, who was likely withering away in the studio.
‘These brats won’t resolve this today anyway… Maybe it’s better to check on Lee Doha while there’s still some time.’
Since Yugeon seemed aware enough to make a remark about it, the situation with Lee
Doha was likely connected to the tension between Yugeon and Taehyun. With that in mind, I grabbed the car door handle and answered Jung Siwoo.
“Ah. I’ll just go home with Lee Doha later. You guys go ahead, hyung.”
“…Alright. Don’t stay out too late. Doha seems to be overworking himself these days.”
“Yes.”
Jung Siwoo also seemed to have noticed Lee Doha’s overstrain, so he simply nodded and told me to do as I pleased. Before closing the car door, I gave Jung Siwoo a subtle signal, indicating Seo Taehyun and Lee Yugeon.
It roughly meant, ‘It seems like something’s up with these two, so keep an eye on them when you get back to the dorm,’ and our ever-perceptive Jung Siwoo caught on immediately, nodding slightly with a small smile.
It was definitely convenient to have someone like him in the team who could pick up on things like this.
“Siwoo hyung, can we listen to music via Bluetooth?”
“Eunchan hyung, let’s listen to that. You know, that song by senior Jinu!”
“I was actually planning to listen to the new song by senior Spia this time….”
“Oh. Then, um, can we listen to that one first and then the other?”
“No, let’s listen to senior Jinu’s song first.”
“Okay!”
As I watched Joo Eunchan and Dan Haru, who were seated in the back, oblivious to the tension between Seo Taehyun and Lee Yugeon, and busy deciding on today’s commute playlist, I quietly closed the car door.
…Yeah. May our youngest members continue to grow up bright, healthy, and cheerful.
One is a professional regressor, and the other is a premium young master. What’s a little lack of awareness compared to that?
“Hmm. Then, now….”
Shall we go bear hunting?
Not a single step felt heavy as I made my way back to the elevator I had descended a few minutes ago.
* * *
Lee Doha thought he might have experienced a situation similar to this before.
“Hi, Doha.”
“…Oh, hi.”
His roommate and groupmate, Kang Hajin, suddenly opened the studio door and entered, smiling brightly. Lee Doha blinked, feeling like an awkward rookie employee who had been caught off guard by an unexpected visit from the CEO.
“We have something to talk about, right?”
We? About what…?
For once, Lee Doha’s usually steady gaze wavered like waves.