Chapter 36 - CHAPTER 36

AINET divided the trainees into five groups ahead of the broadcast.

Each team, balanced with all grades mixed together, was scheduled to disperse across the busy districts of Seoul tomorrow to carry out one last guerrilla flash mob for 's premiere promotion.

They planned to grab public attention and spark curiosity again by performing flash mobs simultaneously in different areas.

'The last bit of clout-baiting before the show airs.'

Accordingly, each team was now gathered in the auditorium practicing "Look" together.

But among them, one team was set apart from the others.

"Move faster! At the end— Haseok, you're slow right now!"

"S-sorry!"

That was because the team composed exclusively of A-grade trainees—the so-called "Ace" team receiving special treatment—was not preparing for the flash mob, but for a special appearance on AINET's music program Music A.

'…Haa.'

I caught my breath and rolled my stiff shoulders. Under the supervision of the dance mentor Jane, we were checking the formation for "Look."

This appearance on Music A was the reward and privilege given to the trainees who had received an A grade in the recent re-evaluation.

Following the released "Look" practice video used for the last center selection, only a small number of us were getting the chance to show our faces to the public right before aired.

And since appearing on a music program was the ultimate goal for all trainees, everyone looked unmistakably thrilled. Their enthusiasm was obvious.

Naturally, there was also some quiet jockeying for more prominent positioning—most of it subtle psychological warfare.

"Well, Won Yu-ha, hmm… wouldn't it be better if you went to the back? It seems like you're lacking a bit of power!"

Of course, some trainees said these things outright.

Like Yoo Chan-hee, right in front of me.

'…So basically, he means I should stay tucked away the whole time.'

I kept a faintly sarcastic smile as I stared at Yoo Chan-hee, who had been insisting for a while now that I should be pushed inward, away from visibility in the formation.

The A-class "Look" stage used its 15-member formation to create a simple but dynamic set of formation changes. It was for fairness.

While center Kang Hyun-jin's position didn't change, the trainees in front moved to the back, those on the sides moved toward the center—an attempt to distribute focus as evenly as possible.

But even with these changes, the trainees who stayed in the center longest were inevitably the most stable performers in A-class, and Chan-hee was using "stability" as an excuse to keep shoving me toward the side and back.

'He must really dislike me.'

What to do.

After Jane left, we were adjusting formations on our own. We were lightly reorganizing individual positions.

'Should I just accept it?'

Giving in to Chan-hee's suggestion wasn't actually that difficult.

"Look" was a group song. Since no one besides the center had a set individual part, no trainee—aside from the one who stayed dead-center—had any moment of major spotlight anyway.

That's why Jane had only instructed us on general cleanliness and structure, without demanding anything else. This whole argument was nothing but pointless bickering.

'But if I keep yielding, there'll be a limit.'

Until now, I'd been using a "let him bark alone" strategy with Chan-hee—if he wanted to pick a fight, that was his problem, not mine.

But since I didn't know how long I'd remain in , Chan-hee's attitude had the potential to turn into a bigger issue.

Maybe he was pushing me so hard precisely because I'd stayed indifferent this whole time.

'Sure, I assumed I'd get eliminated quickly and wouldn't have to see him again… but I can't leave it like this.'

Eventually, I'd have no choice but to collide with Chan-hee, and if he acted without restraint, I would inevitably get dragged into the mess.

'He won't go after me openly, but he'll keep poking and undermining me. And there's no way the production team wouldn't notice that.'

And our agencies didn't make things any better—KRM and DIO, famous rivals.

From the first evaluation day, the production team had openly signaled that they wanted a rivalry between me and him.

If they realized Chan-hee was "checking" me just as they hoped, they'd definitely try to frame a conflict arc between us.

'And that'd be annoying.'

One becomes the aggressor, one the victim—neither outcome is good. Worst case, both of us could become the targets of villain edits.

I didn't care about getting more or less attention. But villain edits were a problem.

So how should I deal with Chan-hee from here on?

'Arguing head-on is a no.'

A guy like him just gets more worked up if you confront him.

So there was only one approach for me.

"Sure."

"…What?"

First, agree—offer the carrot.

"I also agree I'm lacking in strength. My control isn't perfect yet. So I think it's fine for me to move inward in that section you mentioned."

"..."

"But in this part here, I think you, Yoo Chan-hee, should move to the side instead."

"…What did you say?"

And of course, the stick as well.

I continued casually to the slightly stiff-faced Chan-hee.

"You're strong, right? If you move to the side for this move, the formation will feel more compact, and it'll clean up the overall look. It'll make you stand out more, too—and the dance lines will look better."

"Uh..."

"And if I go center in this section instead, I think I can bring out the lightness of the movement. What do you think?"

And then, the deal.

Lower myself a bit, flatter him a bit, and then present a direction where everyone gets something—a win-win.

"Uh..."

Chan-hee hesitated, flustered.

What I'd said basically meant: I'll step out once, so you step out once too.He just didn't know how to counter it—since he'd been giving all sorts of reasons to push me out earlier.

"Oh, unless taking charge of the formation is too much for you? It's not exactly easy to support the shape from a less visible spot."

"…I never said it was too much?"

"Then you can handle it, right? You're fine with this arrangement?"

"…Well— I mean…"

I was nudging his pride just enough to get him to accept when—

"I think Yu-ha's idea is pretty good."

Someone from the A-class trainees watching nearby suddenly chimed in.

I turned to see a trainee smiling warmly—someone I'd never spoken to before.

"If we do it that way, the whole formation's angle will look better, and Chan-hee, you'll stand out more. I think it'd be good if you did it. Too hard? Chan-hee?"

It was Do Ji-hyuk.

"No? Not hard at all."

Apparently, Chan-hee absolutely hated being underestimated. With someone else backing me, he immediately grabbed onto my suggestion. Ji-hyuk sounded impressed.

"Knew it. Then we'll count on you—do it well. Hey guys, is everyone okay with these formation changes?"

"Uh… yeah!"

"Sounds good."

"Alright then, how about we rest for five minutes and run it again? Hyun-jin, what do you think?"

"…Sounds good."

The A-class trainees, who had been blankly watching our clash from earlier, quickly nodded once the atmosphere seemed to settle. Kang Hyun-jin, looking like he couldn't care less what happened, casually agreed to Do Ji-hyuk's suggestion.

After wrapping up the situation, Do Ji-hyuk patted Yoo Chan-hee's shoulder as if to soothe him and left first. Chan-hee looked vaguely unsettled and confused, but since he was the one who ultimately accepted the proposal, he shot me a glare before following after Ji-hyuk.

Right around then, when the other trainees scattered off during the five-minute break to use the restroom or get some water—

"Hyung, you're working sooo hard~."

Cheon Se-rim approached me, speaking in a probing tone, eyes full of mischief.

"…Everyone else is working hard too."

I pretended not to understand what he meant, and he burst into a sly grin and played along.

"Ah, that's true. Haaah, when will this end~? Seriously, it's rough."

"Se-rim, Yu-ha. Want some water?"

"Thank you~."

"Thanks."

I accepted the water just as Aiden Lee brought it over. Handing us the bottles, Aiden plopped right onto the floor—then immediately said something reckless again.

"But Ji-hyuk hyung is really good at… training? People. Chan-hee kept picking fights with Yu-ha, but one word from Ji-hyuk hyung and he folded instantly."

"Ghk."

No filter whatsoever, this brat.

I stopped mid-sip to stare at Aiden Lee in disbelief. Today's practice thankfully wouldn't be aired, so there were no cameras in the room, but he still had absolutely no filter.

Just like me, Cheon Se-rim seemed stunned by Aiden's sudden outburst, choking slightly.

"Cough, cough! Ahem. Yeah. Ji-hyuk hyung is good at handling people. Probably the top 'trainer' in . He does have the experience, after all."

"Se-rim, you were in the same team as Ji-hyuk hyung last team mission, right?"

"Yes, he was really capable."

"Hm, because he's a veteran?"

"That too, but also because of the Black Ocean situation."

"Black Ocean?"

"That's the group Ji-hyuk hyung was in before … Hmm, I guess Eden hyung might not know them since they weren't that well-known."

Se-rim glanced around before continuing—apparently deciding it was safe enough since there were no cameras today. Even then, he whispered carefully so no other trainee would overhear.

"While all the other members were blowing up with scandals, Ji-hyuk hyung was the only one who survived. And I heard the only reason that group managed to function for three years with that lineup was because Ji-hyuk hyung held everything together."

Meaning: for those three years, he kept unpredictable members in line and kept the group afloat.

Until he eventually hit a situation he couldn't fix—and ended up where he is now.

'…Hmm.'

Se-rim's explanation was short, but enough for me to grasp what kind of person Do Ji-hyuk was.

'A guy who knows how to use his head.'

No wonder he got along so well with Se-rim during the last team mission. They were both people skilled at reading the situation and adjusting it.

And his past movements made it even clearer.

After Black Ocean's members caused scandals, Ji-hyuk had taken about a year of downtime without appearing in any media.

Then he quietly enlisted in the military without telling anyone, and the moment he was out—his first appearance was on .

Some of the few remaining Black Ocean fans were half criticizing, half praising him for such a fast turnaround, but objectively, Ji-hyuk's choices were efficient.

'He must have constantly calculated the timing—when to come back, through what program, with what opportunity.'

Cutting ties with his trouble-making members and enlisting early was also an efficient use of time.

An idol's prime doesn't last long.

Your 20s—those short years—and two of them inevitably gone to military service. But Ji-hyuk used those two years to let all the rumors settle cleanly.

By entering the army, he also signaled to fans and the public that he'd severed ties with the problematic members.

'And choosing to appear on despite the risk of backlash—that was smart too.'

Ji-hyuk was from a failed group. Meaning the general public barely knew him.

But by joining , he managed to get his name circulating again—even if it came with both hate and praise—and eventually succeeded in redebuting.

He then built a reasonably stable level of recognition as an idol before transitioning into acting.

'Well… maybe he didn't want to be an actor. Maybe he just ended up taking that path after his second group failed.'

Thinking about it that way, Ji-hyuk had suffered a lot, and would probably keep suffering.

He had debuted in two groups—and both times, the other members exploded with issues, preventing either group from lasting.

'He's going to suffer again later too....'

It somehow didn't feel like a stranger's story, and I clicked my tongue softly at the thought.

"But I feel like Ji-hyuk hyung would get along well with you too, Yu-ha hyung."

"With me?"

Out of nowhere, Se-rim said something bizarre, and I looked at him, puzzled. He continued mischievously:

"You're both masters of training people."

"...."

He even glanced meaningfully at Aiden Lee—apparently he'd noticed the strange tension and Aiden's sudden outbursts during the last team mission.

'What an eerie kid.'

While busy with his own team, he still caught that? No wonder he won the "Ultimate Social King" battle last time.

Regardless of how horrified I looked, Se-rim cheerfully dropped a final comment—

…one that felt ominous for some reason.

"If you two end up on the same team, wouldn't it be fun? Like, if a problem came up, Ji-hyuk hyung and Yu-ha hyung would join forces to stabilize the situation. Ooh, what if the two of you end up having legendary chemistry?"

…Go ahead and curse me instead.

"…Isn't not having problems the best case scenario?"

I replied dryly, brushing off Se-rim's comment—desperately ignoring the strange prickling sensation on the back of my neck.