"That's not hard or anything, but....... Are you sure you won't be disappointed?"
All I'd said was 'that,' but our Super Strong Dragon understood me instantly and answered curtly.
We'd only been together a little over a month, and we were already this in sync. Kind of amazing.
I answered by flashing a grin at Super Strong Dragon.
"Well, with your head where it is right now, it should be fine to show you. Even if it's a shock, it won't change anything."
"Obviously."
I knew that much: getting disappointed now would get me nowhere.
I'd worked hard all this time, so if my ranks hadn't gone up much, that just meant it was my current limit. Well, anything too low, I could raise and then go on the next survival show.
After all, every Korean idol survival show held since I became a trainee was stored in my head.
On top of that, just knowing I'd been diligently keeping up with Super Strong Dragon's dance quests had filled me with confidence, and before my eyes, two blue windows appeared.
"Ooh—"
At a system that amazed me no matter how many times I saw it, I opened my eyes wide and etched each rank into my memory.
[Lee Jae-min, age 20
Position Main Vocal
Visuals B / 175cm, 65kg
Vocals B+ > A
Composition/Lyrics/Arrangement B+
Dance C- > C+
Leadership F
Hidden E]
[Jeong Jun-hyeok, age 23
Position Sub Vocal
Visuals B- > B / 180cm, 72kg > 70kg
Vocals B > B+
Composition/Lyrics/Arrangement C
Dance C > C+
Leadership A
Hidden E > D]
For all its grumbling, Super Strong Dragon was a lot kinder than I'd expected. In case I'd forgotten my old ranks, it had put up the ranks from before the increase as well.
To be honest, I know myself: without the old ranks, I'd have just gone ah— and let it slide, so doing it like this, thank you very much!
I also noted how meticulous it was, still refusing to tell me what Hidden was.
"......Anyway, Jun-hyeok hyung really worked hard too."
"What, you thought you were the only one who was serious?"
I'd skimmed my own ranks, already seen several times, and moved on to hyung's when the words slipped out, and Super Strong Dragon picked a fight right away.
"Who said that?"
I grumbled right back, but it'd be more accurate to say I was holding down the emotion welling up in me than that I was actually annoyed.
"But you know. Why are you only practicing dance and vocals?"
Just then, Super Strong Dragon, which had been giving me an odd look, tossed out the question.
Was it seriously calling that a question?
"Because if I want to climb fast on the survival show, those two matter most, that's why."
Is this really the author who hit No. 1 with an idol novel— I was starting to doubt it again.
"Then why did Jeong Jun-hyeok lose weight and even raise his Hidden? We don't know what Hidden is, so skip that. But aren't looks, which catch the eye right away, more important than showing off vocals and dance? Hey, hey. Aren't you taking idols way too lightly?"
Taking it lightly? Me, of all people, who came back in time just to debut once......?
But the words never made it out of my mouth. I hadn't come back by my own wish in the first place, and there wasn't a single thing wrong with what Super Strong Dragon had just said.
"......."
Only then did I raise my head and look at the system window again.
"Leadership, fine, you've been shut out of every lesson where you'd meet other trainees. But the rest? You danced that much, and not one digit of your weight changed. You ate even more because it was hard. Still got something to say?"
The dragon didn't miss its moment and picked up where it had left off.
I know. Why had I been so full of myself? I'd known all along that what Super Strong Dragon could do for me was limited.
However much skill mattered, an idol had to care about how he looked too. Being skinny wasn't automatically good, but that was a different matter from not caring at all.
"......You're right. I get it now. I was stupid."
"Hmph."
While I meekly admitted my mistake, Super Strong Dragon snorted and left.
Right. Scratch what I said about going on the next survival show. The pre-video's already out, but the main recording is tomorrow anyway.
The moment the real game starts, I'll claw my way up on grit and spite. There won't be a next chance.
"Jae-min."
Just as I was making my new resolution, Jun-hyeok hyung, already back, didn't come into the practice room but only poked his head in through the door.
I glanced at the spot where the rank window had been, gone at some point, then casually got up and went over to hyung.
"Yeah, hyung. What's up?"
Given he'd been gone longer than I expected, were we finally going?
"Yeah. Finally, a summons to the CEO's office. Let's go right now."
"Whoa? Right now?"
Just as I'd expected.
But the moment I heard hyung, tense all over, I couldn't stop my head from drooping toward my training pants, soaked with water a little earlier.
You want me to go to the CEO's office looking like this?
'Heh heh. Tell him you were so nervous you wet yourself. He'd let that slide, wouldn't he? Hehehehe—'
......God. I don't mind if my debut gets pushed back a little. Just strike that goddamn blue dragon with lightning once.
Something hot seemed to trickle from the corners of my squeezed-shut eyes.
***
"It's been a while since I've seen you two. Hasn't it?"
AP's final boss, CEO Kim, greeted hyung and me with a kindly smile. Since the CEO had greeted us first, hyung and I returned the greeting.
"Yes. Have you been well, sir?"
"Hello."
I smiled all the brighter, since I counted it a mercy that I'd begged to at least change my pants before coming.
If there was one difference between hyung's greeting and mine, it'd be that hyung answered with perfect manners, while I wasn't quite so deferential?
He had pulled strings for my Recycle appearance, but it was still a fact that he hadn't stopped Chief Park from kicking me out.
'Hey. That man is the agency's CEO. To put it bluntly, a businessman. He's in a position where kicking you out is only natural if you don't make money.'
As my lips pushed out into a pout without my realizing it, Super Strong Dragon's words reached me, and I pressed my lips firm and quickly pulled up the corners of my mouth.
Watch your expression. Don't let your face muscles run free. And smile at all times.
Those were things I'd learned taking dance lessons from Super Strong Dragon.
Showing that you're struggling while you dance isn't professional. I remembered getting cussed out like crazy for not knowing the basics: a strong expression for a strong song, a bubbly expression for a bubbly song.
I'm standing here to become a pro in the first place, so let's be careful.
"I'm sorry I didn't call you in sooner. Have you both prepared perfectly?"
While I was trying to hide my twitching cheek muscles, the CEO spoke again.
His words, which had begun with an apology, got to the point, honed to a sharp edge.
Perfectly.
"......."
What word could be scarier than that? And when the one saying it is the agency CEO who's been investing in you all this time, it weighs even heavier.
How could I have been so stupid as to forget that!
No, stupid didn't cover it. Was this what Super Strong Dragon had wanted to teach me?
In that case, there was only one answer I could give.
"I did my best!"
"I did my best!"
But the moment I answered, I realized someone else was giving the same answer as me, in a voice that wasn't mine.
The owner of that voice was none other than Jun-hyeok hyung. Hyung's eyes went round too, as if he hadn't expected me to give the same answer, but soon he looked at me and grinned.
Reassured by that grin, I turned my eyes forward again.
"Good answer. Neither too much nor too little."
Fortunately, the CEO seemed to like both our answers quite a bit.
Because his eyes had softened considerably.
But his gaze quickly turned sharp again, and he looked at Jun-hyeok hyung and asked.
"You've been with AP a long time, Trainee Jeong Jun-hyeok, so I don't need to tell you anything more, do I?"
"No, sir. If there's anything you'd like to tell me, I'll engrave it in my heart and never forget it."
The CEO was certainly an impressive man, but seeing hyung like that for the first time, I could only marvel.
Hyung, who had always kept a certain composure even in front of Chief Park and Team Leader Seol, was this tense?
What on earth does this man do, to get a reaction like that? Is he secretly an ex-gangster or something?
'Hey, quit reading novels. What does he do? He's the man who fed you for 7 years before, and who's been feeding you for 3 years now.'
Just then, Super Strong Dragon popped out. And hearing that explanation, I could finally understand hyung's attitude.
He must be thinking the same thing I am.
The money and time poured in under the words trainee contract. And the weight carried by the trainees who'd received that benefit.
I'd already forgotten what I'd realized just moments ago.
But why had the old me never once crossed paths with the CEO, right up until I left AP?
"There's no need to be that scared. I always hear that you're working hard, Trainee Jun-hyeok. I'm only sorry we couldn't give you a chance sooner on our end. I hope this turns into a good experience."
"Thank you. I won't do anything to bring shame on AP."
While I was lost in thought, formal but necessary words went back and forth between CEO Kim and Jun-hyeok hyung.
Unlike a moment ago, I listened to the two of them without the slightest lapse.
Because I knew my turn was coming.
"And Trainee Lee Jae-min?"
"Yes!"
What would he say to me? He'd know hyung well, with all his strengths, but he couldn't have heard much about me.
At most, just that I got those goddamn 'assignments' Chief Park brought in done.
But what CEO Kim said next was unexpected.
"Honestly, I was surprised too when I first heard Trainee Lee Jae-min would appear. But I had no way to argue with Team Leader Seol when she said you have potential. I hope you'll show us something that lives up to Team Leader Seol's expectations and mine."
At CEO Kim's words, my gaze naturally went to where Team Leader Seol stood. And seeing her break into a slight smile, I took a short breath.
"Thank you!"
It occurred to me that since coming back, I seemed to be answering from the heart more and more often.
The CEO glanced once at me, straightening up from my bow, and once at hyung, still standing stiff with nerves, then added a final word.
"It's not good to put too much pressure on you, so I'll say just one more thing. Go show them that AP's vocals are still going strong."
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Now, at last, it's time to head out.
Let's go. Recycled idol!
'Ugh— that naming sense is so damn lame.'
Hey. I told you, I didn't pick the program's name, okay?