Chapter 218. Kingmaker (2)
The situation was smoothly descending into chaos.
“No, wait a minute. I really don’t intend to do this! He forced me to recommend him!”
“You’re the one who suddenly wrote my name!”
Yoo Geon and Seo Taehyun, who had driven each other to the edge, expressed their desire to withdraw.
However, Lee Doha was relentless.
“As a voter, I have the right to evaluate the qualifications of the nominated candidates and to cast my rightful vote. If you two are the most suitable talents to lead our group, then I must vote for you.”
“So, what do you mean by that…?”
“If you really think you’re not fit to be the leader, try to persuade me with your speech.”
“No, no. I’m telling you, I’m just going to withdraw!”
In response to Yoo Geon’s objection, Lee Doha replied in a serious tone.
“When you carve your name somewhere, you should remember that there might be no turning back, and you should have a sense of responsibility and weight.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“I don’t know. But somehow, when he says it, it sounds like it makes sense.”
‘Is this why having a good image is important?’
If Kang Hajin had said it, Yoo Geon and Taehyun would’ve immediately grabbed an eraser to wipe it off the board. But somehow, they were swayed by Doha’s serious sophistry, thinking, ‘Is that so?’
In the next scene, an interview with Lee Doha was spliced in.
<Doha: Actually, I didn’t intend it like that at first…>
Sitting in an empty classroom for the interview, Lee Doha scratched his forehead as he answered the production team’s question.
<Doha: I thought it might be a good opportunity for Taehyun and Yoo Geon to feel the weight of their names. There will be many similar situations in life ahead…>
<Doha: Plus, since both of them are about to turn twenty, it’s also a chance to learn about the responsibility of voting and elections.>
In response to the production team’s bewildered reaction, Doha revealed the truth in a very calm voice.
<Doha: I was a bit surprised that they both accepted it so readily.>
<Doha: To be honest, I was just joking because I thought it would be fun.>
“He’s lost it too, hasn’t he?”
“Right, you’re a Kairos too…”
“Doha, who makes jokes like a public service announcement from the election committee?”
“I should’ve known from the moment he followed Kang Hajin over the wall.”
In any case, as Yoo Geon and Seo Taehyun got caught up in Lee Doha’s ridiculous logic, the Kairos leader selection contest descended into chaos with six candidates and one vote.
Now, except for Joo Eunchan and Dan Haru, everyone started worrying about how to effectively appeal, ‘Please don’t vote for me.’
“Alright…. Then, shall we start with the candidate speeches?”
The first speech was by Jung Siwoo, who was given priority as the eldest.
“I have something to confess to you all.”
Jung Siwoo stood up, perched comfortably on his desk, and spoke in a soft voice.
“I’m not actually… a student at this school.”
“……?”
“I’m not a high school student; I’m a university student. I’m attending Gaon Art University.”
“So, what’s your point?”
Jung Siwoo casually ran his hand through his hair, as if he had just shattered their shared universe.
“I’m busy.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m busy outside, and I want to rest at home. As the main vocalist, I need to save my voice, but as a leader, I’d have to talk a lot.”
At this, Kang Hajin, who was sitting behind him, suddenly jumped up and pointed at Jung Siwoo.
“Objection! So, are you saying it’s okay for me to use my voice recklessly?”
“Hajin, you talk a lot even when you’re not the leader. If there’s a certain quota of words you need to say, it would be much more efficient for you to be the leader.”
“Hmm…. That makes sense.”
Lee Doha nodded at Jung Siwoo’s logic. Jung Siwoo, driving his point home, presented his next argument.
“Besides, Hajin, your official position is ‘lead vocalist,’ isn’t it? It’s already been acknowledged that your voice is what leads our group. So, I think you should be the leader.”
“…….”
“If Doha votes for you as the leader, I’ll take care of my vocal cords, which I’ll save by not being the leader, and show you even better abilities as your guide vocalist. Of course, I’ll also do my best as Kairos’s main vocalist. That’s my pledge.”
“……!”
“Wow, this hyung is really playing dirty!”
As soon as the word ‘guide vocalist’ was mentioned, Lee Doha’s eyes lit up. Feeling this, Hajin jumped up again in protest, but Jung Siwoo just shrugged his shoulders and sat down promptly.
“Alright, alright. Then Hajin-hyung, you’re up next. If you have something to say, come on out.”
Seo Taehyun, dressed in a yellow gym suit, banged the lectern with a back scratcher to call out the next speaker in the noisy room. Realizing it was his turn, Hajin cleared his throat and stepped up to the lectern.
“Everyone, my argument is simple. Look at that hyung’s face.”
“……?”
When Hajin pointed at Siwoo, the members’ gazes naturally turned to Siwoo.
Spreading his hands out as if introducing a UNESCO cultural heritage site, Hajin said,
“Isn’t he handsome?”
“Pardon?”
“A group leader is, after all, the face of the group. If someone like him doesn’t represent our group, then who, I ask you, who else could possibly do it?”
Kang Hajin seemed more proud of Jung Siwoo’s face than even Siwoo himself. But his speech didn’t end there.
“He just mentioned that he’s a university student and that he’s very busy. Yes, Siwoo-hyung is a university student. And what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of university? Group projects. Siwoo-hyung is the only one among us who’s experienced those devilish group projects in real life.”
“……!”
Despite being someone who used to carry the team by himself in countless group projects in his past timeline, Hajin shamelessly continued as if he had never even set foot in a university.
“Of course, I’m loud! I talk a lot, I admit that! I don’t deny it! But! According to the usual character settings, people like me are typically the action captains, the ones who lead the charge. The true boss and power figure is usually someone like Seo Taehyun or Siwoo-hyung, who others wouldn’t immediately recognize as the boss.”
“Definitely an otaku.”
“What kind of manga did Kang Hajin grow up on? I feel like we have the same taste.”
“I’m so thankful that Hajin chose to be an idol instead of going into home shopping. If he had become a salesperson, I would’ve made impulse buys every time I watched his show. He saved my wallet.”
└ But you’re still spending a lot of money now, aren’t you…?
└ Oh… right…;
With Hajin’s strong logic, Lee Doha rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought. Seeing Doha lost in thought, Hajin decided to play his final card.
“If Siwoo-hyung is elected leader! I’ll take on a rap challenge for the next album!”
“……!”
“Not only that, but as Doha-hyung has always requested, I’ll also take an interest in beat-making and rap lyrics writing!”
“……!!”
“Doha-hyung, do you perhaps have the blood of a graduate school professor running through your veins?”
Seo Taehyun murmured, bewildered by the fact that Doha seemed impressed by Hajin’s pledge. In any case, Doha seemed pleased.
“What kind of pledge starts with ‘If he’s elected’ instead of ‘If I’m elected’… hahahaha.”
“What do we do, guys? Doha looks really serious right now.”
“At this point, does it even make sense for the other candidates to run? Hahahahaha.”
With two such powerful candidates, the remaining four candidates’ speeches risked dragging the story on.
In that situation, Joo Eunchan stepped up to the lectern with a determined expression.
“Ugh, they should’ve just let STH run instead. Joo Eunchan is so boring.”
“If he seriously tries to appeal his pledge now, both the production team and Joo Eunchan (a derogatory nickname) are done for, hahahaha.”
Although there were occasionally annoying, disruptive comments from trolls, they were quickly buried by the fast-paced comment flow.
Amid everyone’s focus, Eunchan clenched his large hands into fists and placed them on the lectern as he raised his head.
“I fully agree with candidate Jung Siwoo’s opinion.”
“……?”
“Therefore, I will unite with candidate Jung Siwoo and support candidate Kang Hajin’s election as leader…!”
With his fists clenched and his declaration of support, Joo Eunchan exuded the spirit of a young revolutionary.
“I believe Siwoo-hyung is already fulfilling a difficult role as the eldest brother in our group. He takes care of our meals and teaches us how to sing.”
“Objection! Doesn’t that make him even more suitable for the leader position?”
“However, that’s precisely why I think Hajin-hyung should be our leader.”
“H
mm…. Could you explain why you think that?”
“When Siwoo-hyung is overwhelmed and struggling, who does he lean on…?”
“……!”
Everyone fell silent at the unexpected emotional appeal. Eunchan clasped his hands together tightly and continued speaking gently.
“Siwoo-hyung is showing us an example as the eldest, and Doha-hyung is showing us an example through composing and producing.”
“…….”
“Shouldn’t Hajin-hyung take on the leadership role so that when Siwoo-hyung and Doha-hyung are struggling, he can take good care of them?”
The members nodded in agreement with Eunchan’s words. Jung Siwoo even pretended to wipe away tears, gesturing as if he were proud of how much Eunchan had grown.
Even Kang Hajin scratched his chin, thinking, ‘Maybe he’s right,’ while Seo Taehyun, dressed in his yellow tracksuit, suddenly stood up.
“No! I still think Siwoo-hyung should be the leader!”
“Wh-why so suddenly?”
“Hajin-hyung made a good point. If our group leader has to handle public affairs and external matters, then wouldn’t it be better for Siwoo-hyung to be the leader rather than Hajin-hyung? Hajin-hyung might be better suited to taking care of people from a more comfortable position, rather than being burdened with the leader title.”
Having fully immersed himself in the serious role-play, Taehyun’s eyes darted back and forth as he tried to convince the members, as if summarizing the results of numerous simulations he had run in his mind.
“More importantly, what if Hajin-hyung, as the leader, has to point out or say something to Siwoo-hyung? Wouldn’t there be a moment when the two might feel uncomfortable with each other?”
“Hmm….”
A tight contest.
With Taehyun and Eunchan’s declarations of support, the situation suddenly turned into a 2:2 tie. Doha, who hadn’t yet made a speech, asked Haru and Yoo Geon.
“What do you two think?”
Then Yoo Geon, who had been sitting in front of the blackboard, leaning on his chair, raised his hand while resting his chin on it.
“Me.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“I support Dan Haru.”
“Huh? Me?”
Haru, the unexpected recipient of Yoo Geon’s endorsement, jumped in surprise. He had been deeply contemplating whether to choose Hajin or Siwoo.
“To be honest.”
“…….”
“I don’t really trust either of those two hyungs.”
“You brat…!”
“Argh! Hajin-hyung! Calm down!”
Amused by the situation, Kang Hajin, who had been snacking on Pepero with Dan Haru, almost jumped onto his desk in anger at Yoo Geon’s remark. Haru barely managed to hold Hajin back, while Yoo Geon gestured for him to calm down.
“Just hear me out. They’ll both do well. I know that even now, the hyungs are basically playing the leader roles.”
“And you dare to make such a disrespectful comment? You ungrateful little…!”
“My point is, I can’t imagine either of them suddenly upholding the dignity of the leader.”
“Explain further.”
Intrigued by Yoo Geon’s opinion, Lee Doha listened closely. Yoo Geon nodded his chin with a nonchalant expression.
“If Kang Hajin-hyung becomes the leader, do you think he’ll stop acting cute?”
“…….”
“If Jung Siwoo-hyung becomes the leader, is there any guarantee he’ll stop being a weirdo?”
“…….”
“Rather than feeling embarrassed to introduce either of them as our leader, I’m saying we should make Dan Haru our figurehead leader. It’s not like taking away the title of leader will stop those two hyungs from doing what they’ve been doing.”
“So, you’re saying the two of them should continue playing the leader roles, but we should make Haru the external leader?”
“Me?”
While Haru was still bewildered, Lee Doha now turned to him.
“Haru, what about you? Do you still want to run? Or will you declare your support for someone else?”
“Hmm….”
Depending on Dan Haru’s choice, the situation could either turn into a 2:2:2 tie again or the balance could be broken—an absolutely critical moment.
After a long period of deliberation, Dan Haru finally answered.
“I will! Stick to my candidacy!”
“Ooo.”
“I’ll become the figurehead leader of this group…!”
“Now that’s our youngest.”
Satisfied with Haru’s bold declaration, Jung Siwoo, the fun-seeker, clapped his hands and nodded.
“Alright, so we’re back to square one.”
With Taehyun’s diligent commentary, the classroom fell into a deathly silence.
“This time, it really comes down to Doha-hyung’s choice.”
Lee Doha swallowed hard. His throat bobbed up and down like waves.
“My choice is….”
In a voice more serious than ever, Lee Doha made his decision.
“Hajin, it’s you.”
From the start, Doha’s eyes had been firmly set on his peer, Kang Hajin, as if the answer had been clear all along.