CH17

BLUE just shrugged, like he could read the bewilderment in my eyes.

"I saw a lot of those types. You don't strike me as one, though."

"Got it. I'll watch my step."

"Yes, smart move. I'll take your word for it, considering your pre-mission performance."

"Thank you."

"Oh, is Tae-Hwan still figuring out his song?"

"Yes. I'm still thinking about it."

"What's your take, Si-On? What kind of song would suit Tae-Hwan?"

He said he'd keep it 'natural', but why's he asking me so upfront?

"Hmm… Personally, I'd go for something with a singing-rap vibe, you know? Because he has a natural sense of rhythm."

"Singing rap? But he's not a rapper."

"I didn't mean for him to rap, but to sing a song that lets him show off that rhythm. Like some Contemporary R&B or trap music."

"How about the tropical house?"

What I've felt after listening to music online is that K-pop is into all sorts of subgenres.

It seems like the industry's embracing more flavors as it grows, especially with more international collaborations.

But for some reason, K-pop's got a serious crush on Deep House.

In particular, they really like the subgenre, tropical house.

No matter how much tropical house songs are good for dancing and are easy to listen to, the level of obsession is crazy.

"Tropical house's cool, but I reckon a 2/4 rhythm suits him better than a 1/3."

BLUE sips his water, side-eying Go Tae-Hwan before asking.

"That's Si-On's take. What's yours, Tae-Hwan?"

"…I'll try my best."

End of story?

I dropped him some advice, but man, it's a bit of a letdown.

Well, maybe it's just new territory for him.

The dude seemed into cheerful ballads during the pre-mission, not too far off from the vibe of the 2/4 rhythm of black music.

Since I didn't say anything further, BLUE didn't add on either.

We wrap up our lunch and head back to our respective practice rooms.

I guess I should run through the choreo a bit more because it's a bit unfamiliar. Then I'll show that to BLUE.

Oh, and there's something I have to ask the arrangement team.

According to BLUE's opinion, I should perform an original song without any arrangement, but there's one tweak I need.

As I'm thinking about that and watching some YouTube videos, there's a knock at the door.

It's Go Tae-Hwan.

"I picked a song based on the feeling you told me about."

"Oh… Cool."

Did he finally take my advice because he couldn't find anything else to sing?

Feeling a bit awkward, I still nod, grabbing the song list since the cameras are rolling.

Seems like he's not too shabby?

Looks like he got what I was saying.

"I think it's good."

"Mind narrowing it down a bit?"

"Then… This and this. Would one of these two be okay?"

"I'll try my best."

And just like that, Go Tae-Hwan left.

What's with the repeated 'I'll try my best'?

The dude's kinda odd character.

After that, I run through the choreo for the trainer.

"Dang, you got moves?!"

I received a lot of praise.

But wait, is it that surprising I can dance?

"I thought you couldn't dance after the pre-mission. Usually, talent's all one-sided."

"I'll try my best."

"But your motion base seems to be locking? Can you throw in some waacking or bogle? It'd suit girl group songs."

I've never learned waacking or bogle, and it doesn't suit the stage I have in mind.

After my roundabout response, the dance trainer seemed disappointed as he clicked his tongue.

"Well, I guess you're strapped for time. Anyway, it doesn't look like there's anything to fix here? It looks good to me."

"I'll try my best."

"Why do you keep saying that?"

Hold up, isn't that Go Tae-Hwan's line?

It's just a simple phrase, but it's strangely catchy in a Go Tae-Hwan kinda way.

'I'll' goes from F down to E, 'try' from G to A with some variation, and 'my best' back down the scale, giving it that resolute feel…

What am I doing?

Anyway, this is the problem with regressors.

When you emerge from an emotional overload state, it's like there's a law of conservation of emotions – the feelings have to manifest somewhere.

I think I'm a bit high right now.

I scratch my head at the silliness and head down to the practice room, where Go Tae-Hwan is waiting.

He's been struggling with practice.

What is he, a tiger?

"What does it really mean to have a natural sense of rhythm? Does it mean you match the beat well?"

"Nah. Anyone can do that with a bit of effort."

Honestly, any wannabe singer shouldn't have trouble nailing the beat.

"So what's it then?"

"Having a sense of rhythm's innate, you know? It's about feeling the length of sounds."

"Length?"

"When you sing 'Cause I want you,' you hold onto the 'Cauu-se' right?"

"Yeah."

"Here, it's less about hitting each beat perfectly and more about how long you hold the 'Cau', the 'u', and the 'se', which is a matter of instinct. That's where your style comes in."

Go Tae-Hwan tries out 'Cauu-se' a few times, then nods.

"So you're saying I'm good at that?"

"Rather than good, it's charming. So just keep the beat of the measure and sing the rest as you like. I think it'll be good?"

That's why I suggested black music with a 2/4 rhythm over traditional pop's 1/3 rhythm.

2/4 rhythms allow for more rhythmic freedom and a more laid-back delivery.

Go Tae-Hwan ponders it for a bit before nodding.

"I'll try my best."

Ah yes, this is it.

His iconic line.

But wait, why is this guy actually trying his best?

Is he really trusting what a peer contestant said?

"…"

As I watch him quietly, Go Tae-Hwan hesitates before speaking up again.

"I'll work hard."

His 'I'll' starts at D note.

Enough of this nonsense thinking, time to buckle down and help him out properly.

I have plenty of time anyway.

Go Tae-Hwan's catching a lucky break.

I wouldn't be helping him like this if I was in a bad mood.

"Want to try out a song?"

Contestants on Coming Up Next all have their own styles, but you could broadly split them into vocals and dancers.

The exact numbers were seven vocals and three dancers.

Since all those in the dancer positions were rappers, you could also say seven vocals and three rappers.

In this situation, when filming began, all the vocals thought they were the main vocal.

It was not just blind confidence.

Lion Entertainment had meticulously selected those contestants (except for Han Si-On), and they had only selected those with main vocalist potential.

Since they had to compete with Take Scene right away, there was no time for training.

So all the participants were from main vocal backgrounds, and even those without trainee experience had won plenty of local competitions.

Even Lee Ye-On, whom Han Si-On had given a poor evaluation of except for his looks, was a main vocalist.

Though he may have been from a small agency, a good-looking main vocalist was like a 100-mile crossfire left-handed pitcher, wasn't he?

They had all lived lives filled with praise.

But their confidence did not last long.

Because of Han Si-On.

'How do we top that?'

'Should we aim for lead vocalist status?'

If Han Si-On had shown off his overwhelming high notes or skills, it would not have been this emotional.

However, Han Si-On did not show any outstanding strengths.

He was just exceptionally good at singing.

Much better than them.

That was why the vocal majors' mentalities were shattered.

"Hey, forget about Han Si-On. Can you really make it as an idol just by singing good?"

The judges even had to say such things off the record to revive the spirits of the vocal participants.

And this method worked.

When you think about it, it makes sense.

Scoring 150 with 100 for singing and 50 for performance is less valuable than scoring 150 with 75 for singing and 75 for stage presence.

After all, idols need to be all-round entertainers.

Around that time, one contestant overheard Han Si-On's interview.

"Mr. Han Si-On, why did you want to go first? Isn't it disadvantageous to be the first in a competition?"

"I just figured that I'd rather take the first hit."

Word spread quickly among the contestants.

When you think about it, it makes sense.

Why would Han Si-On, who sings so well, choose to go first?

There's only one reason. He had no confidence in his performance.

An extreme lack of confidence!

So, he was feeling pressured by the expectations he had raised with his singing skills.

"Oh, for real?"

"It would be difficult if he can't dance well...."

"With those pipes, we should take him in even if he's clumsy."

Even the judges came to accept this speculation as fact.

Except for BLUE, who had a twist planned up ahead and kept his mouth shut.

Thanks to that, the vocal major participants were able to put their worries aside and devote themselves to preparing for the main competition.

However, what they did not know was...

'What if I'm not the one taking the hit?'

Han Si-On's interview, in which he said he would take the hit first, omitted the subject.

Time passed quickly, and it was already 10 p.m.

The first stage of the main competition, which would determine the members of Team B, began.

As Han Si-On, who was the first to appear, stepped onto the stage, all eyes were on him.

The judges, except for BLUE, had not seen Han Si-On's stage preparation.

The participants watched each other's practices over their shoulders, but Han Si-On was an exception.

He had not left the practice room since showing his dance to the trainer when there was no one around.

…Except for Go Tae-Hwan, who dropped by Han Si-On's practice room several times. Everything was shrouded in secrecy.

In this situation, PD Kang Seok-Woo demonstrated his savvyness.

He changed the rule so that the participants' song selections would not be communicated to the judges and would be revealed just before the stage.

The judges nodded their heads readily when the main PD said he was doing it for the fun of the program.

The judges nodded in agreement when he did so, reasoning that PD Kang had his own thoughts behind it as he was no ordinary PD.

As a result, the judges did not know Han Si-On's song choice until the moment he took the stage.

"Mr. Han Si-On, are you all set?"

"I'll…I tried my best to prepare."

"I'm a little curious. I wonder what song you chose."

Just then, information about Han Si-On's song choice was delivered to the four judges' tablets.

Thanks to this, PD Kang Seok-Woo got the reaction he wanted.

Composer Lee Chang-Jun raised his eyebrows in a '??' expression and adjusted his glasses.

"This is the song? This is the song he picked?"

"Really? Why this one?"

"Um… I don't understand his intention at all. Did you know about this, BLUE?"

"Yes, I was aware."

"You okayed it?"

"Yes."

With this situation, the other contestants also became very curious about Han Si-On's song choice.

What song did he choose to get such reactions from the judges?

Did he perhaps choose a song without choreography?

Or was it about the level of the choreography?

At the cue of PD Kang Seok-Woo, who was enjoying the reactions of the judges and participants, the song selection information appeared on the screen behind the stage.

Artist: Way From Flower

Title: Flowers Bloom

"Huh?"

"Really?"

<Flowers Bloom>, the debut song and title track of the first album of the top girl group 'Way From Flower'.

It was a very unexpected song selection.

TL/n - 

You can read 5 chapters in advance on p@treon.com/inkbound