Chapter 35: Gave my life to this!

"This nicely wealthy French gentleman traveled here and opened up a club for eighteen and up. It became the second most beloved social spot in the city overnight according to videos that popped into my feed." Duri informed his baby cousin as his friends were with them. Derek was stunned by the beauty and brightness of the decor, the roaring crowd they were part of, and the dancers themselves on the stage. "Bop querencia, this place has been around since we were children. It's too early to be feeling like we're going to win this year but I can't help it." Said Ji-an before he began humming a tune. "You're right, we've got to train him, like you have the feeling we're gonna win, I'm feeling confident this dude can't even bop his head when a song plays." Said Ha-yoon with a confident tone and truth that Derek couldn't deny himself. "He's my baby cousin, even if he's the most absolute vile pile of dog crap now, when tonight's over and we're back in our studio he'll prove to you two talent runs in our blood." Duri commented in his usual confident tone. "When did he leave us?" Ji-an asked after he realized their fourth vanished.

Derek observed his surroundings, the party was filled with a diversity of folks. The lighting was dim but the stage was lit as another troupe of dancers on the stage eventually he found himself near the backstage after wandering to find excitement but his mind kept veering off into wondering how much of any progress did his Grandfather and best friend make in finding a lead on his four year long investigation especially with resources of the Bleached purlieu.

"Oh, ah— Hey, there!" One of the previous dancers on stage greeted the observant traveler flirtatiously. She had dark hair with bright pink hair, a tattoo sleeve and didn't look too much older than him. The observant traveler looked away from and then back at her without responding with any words and a straight face. "Bumping into someone like you is what it feels like when you strike gold out of the goldrush." The dancer proceeded to flirt with the observant traveler for five more minutes until he began indulging his curiosity, flirting in return, eventually she was being too vague about crimes and refused to elaborate on how bad she could be and caused him to lose interest in her. He saw the time on one of the establishment's stylish wall clocks and decided it was time to be on his way to the others. Until she called out to him for the final time, he stopped moving and turned around but she was already too close for his liking, she leaned in and whispered all the things some part of him didn't want to hear. He left her stuck in confusion.

"I want to meet him." Derek blurted out during the end of their practice session the next day. "How did he find out about him?" Ji-an asked with a whisper next to Duri, Ha-hoon was standing next to them but stood quiet, her mouth was gaping as she wondered how he figured it out. "Alright, we'll go see Yang." Duri replied as he left off to grab his jacket but he had heard of a few interesting stories of his Grandfather's rival, Derek's Grandfather and couldn't find any surprise. "How did you find out about him?" Ji-an asked Derek with a tone of shock and awe.

"I didn't. Yesterday, I heard Duri on the phone and he asked if someone was okay, followed by him having the same look one of his siblings claims he makes when he's got a light bulb when he asked me to join and in the bathroom there's a picture of the four of you together. The same night a woman told me she sabotaged one of the teams competing this year with her squad, went into disgusting detail." Derek replied to Ji-an, leaving him more amazed and wowed. When he described the bathroom photo on the wall, Duri and Ha-yoon looked towards Ji-an for a moment. "I feel like the most boring and least weirdest in this group" Ha-yoon commented. "Better question, why did you guys not let me know I was replacing someone?" Derek asked with curiosity. "We honestly never thought it mattered much to you, he's our friend. The woman who was interested in you, was she a red-haired American girl with an annoying voice and a tattoo sleeve?" Duri answered and asked in return. "She had pink hair last night but the rest is her description. Now, take me to see him." Derek answered then demanded from his older cousin. "I knew it, alright, let's go then!" Duri thought to himself then replied with an excited yell at the end.

Derek, Duri, Ji-an and Ha-yoon walked through the beautiful streets of their city to Yang's hospital and through there then up to his room, Duri didn't see a single smile on his baby cousin's face on the way. "Hey, guys, how are you?" Yang asked as he had just awakened from his sleep, a noticeable pause took place between "hey guys". Yang looked at all of his friends before he looked back at Derek but didn't say a word. "This is my baby cousin, Derek Wiley, we got him to fill in your spot on the team for the up and coming competition. What do you make of him, bro?" Duri informed Yang and asked his best friend as he knelt down.

"This kid really can't dance, he can't properly feel the rhythm like he looks like he'd be able to honestly. He's never danced a day in his life with genuine passion, simply since he could dance." Yang replied and answered Duri's inquiry, Derek made no kind of facial expression adjustment hearing Yang's assessment.

"On a scale of one to ten, how accurate was he on it?" Ji-an asked Derek as he turned towards him. "Double digits. Was one of your biggest dreams to win this competition?" Derek asked Yang as he looked down at his lap, he needed a moment to compose himself and answer the question when the realization he won't be the one to win hit him deep in his heart again.

"Yes. Yeah. We all sorta became friends because of our shared love for dance, food and a promise one day. In our mid twenties and we're still miraculously together to this day." Yang answered his best friend's cousin with a sentimental tone as he sat holding in tears. "Aw. I'm sorry we couldn't be there to stomp whoever did this!" Ha-yoon replied as she smashed her fists together with a frustrated tone. "It's fine, they beat me within an inch of my life but I know you guys would have delivered Justice for me if this was some sort of comic book. It's not, though, I'm just going to put my faith that Derek could get good at dancing and you guys could crush their dreams." Yang replied as he sat back in his hospital bed. Derek nodded his head as he had a few more questions for Yang but he noticed Duri looking wrathful as he was quiet. Instead, Ji-an and Ha-yoon began talking with their best friend Yang. Duri and Derek gave each other a look.