Chapter 03
The judges looked at each other and shook their heads. Then their attention turned to me.
“Number 119, what will you do?”
Ah, already my turn. I grinned.
“I’ll dance.”
Since I got a B-rank in dancing, I might as well try it.
“What song should we play for you?”
I parted my lips, then quietly closed them again. I could’ve asked for a song I practiced a lot before my regression. I still remembered the choreography.
But… this might be more interesting.
I looked at Lee Kyung-bae and smiled faintly.
“Yumi’s ‘Shooting.’”
Hey, Kyung-bae—want to get a taste of something nasty? The judges frowned.
Don’t make those faces. You’re about to see something good.
I loosened my shoulders and stepped forward.
“Does it have to be that song?”
“Yes.”
“Is it because ‘Shooting’ is popular? We’re not even picking a girl group, but everyone and their dog uses that song.”
I almost burst out laughing.
I see. So a lot of people used it.
“If you’re doing it just to stand out, I’d advise against it.”
At that moment, Kyung-bae’s face turned pale.
Hmm, so he really just picked it to show off.
I shrugged. Well, I understood. What idol trainee doesn’t want to stand out?
But if it’s too obvious, it just looks cheap.
Knowing how to control that urge was also a kind of talent.
Smiling at the judges, I said,
“I’m not doing it to stand out.”
Though I do want to mess with someone a little.
Besides… it’s a waste not to do ‘Shooting’ properly.
The judges’ expressions changed. Soon, the music started.
I moved my body with ease.
Of course, unlike Kyung-bae, I didn’t overdo the movements.
With my improved physique from the cheat, this will be more effective.
I moved in time with the beat. A smooth wave—then a slight break—and my body trembled with the rhythm.
Right now, I was on stage.
Even if the only audience was the judges and Kyung-bae, this was still a stage.
It felt good.
My heart pounded, reminding me I was alive.
Yes… this was it.
The place I had longed for.
The song played on.
—You cheated with my friend—
The emotions in the lyrics were something else.
Yeah… how infuriating would that feel?
I narrowed my eyes.
Betrayal—I knew that feeling well.
You want to kill them… but this is a country ruled by law.
So you can’t.
I stepped forward half a pace, then sharply pulled back.
When the choreography called for sitting down, I sped it up slightly. With time left, I mimicked shooting a gun with my fingers—
“Whoa!”
The chubby judge gasped. That was the CEO, right?
I shifted my expression with the lyrics.
They’ve probably seen this choreography countless times.
Then of course, they’d be bored of it.
My body felt light. My legs moved faster than I expected.
Even I was surprised.
If B-rank is this good… what’s A-rank like?
No time to think.
The lyrics came again.
—Shooting! Shooting! I’ll kill you—
You want to kill them.
But what if you can’t?
That’s probably what Yumi’s stage was about.
It was bizarre, but the dominant emotion was grief.
The overwhelming sorrow of loving someone, then hating them—wanting to kill them, yet being unable to.
The part where she sits on the floor came again.
This time, I followed the original timing and dropped down.
But unlike Kyung-bae, I didn’t twist my body unnecessarily.
I just followed the original choreography.
Then—
Instead of aiming the finger gun outward, I pointed it at my own head.
—Shooting!
I mimicked pulling the trigger, snapping my head to the side.
My body twitched as if I’d actually been shot.
Then I collapsed completely.
The music ended.
I stood up, catching my breath, wiping sweat from my forehead.
I could feel the stares.
The first to speak was the chubby CEO in the center.
“Ha…”
He grinned, clearly entertained.
“What the hell… you… wow…”
That sounded like a good reaction.
See? I told you, sir—you wouldn’t regret it.
I sat back down.
I glanced at Kyung-bae—and wow.
His eyes were shaking, lips twisted, legs trembling.
Oh? You’re flustered?
What’s wrong? I followed your advice and stood out.
Then the man next to the CEO spoke.
“Hey, number 119!”
“Yes.”
“You’re a bit stiff, but it’s watchable.”
Damn. I thought it’d be pure praise.
Guess the audition level is pretty high.
Maybe because I’m only B-rank.
Yeah… this alone probably won’t get me accepted.
I let out a small sigh.
I needed something more.
A stronger finishing blow.
Then the man spoke again.
“But that’s not the important part. How did you know?”
Huh? Know what?
“What ‘Shooting’ is really expressing. Most people just copy the bizarre sexiness.”
Oh—good question.
I smiled with my eyes.
“It’s definitely bizarre, but isn’t the stronger emotion betrayal?”
The thin man beside him grinned, showing his teeth.
“Exactly. That’s what we tried to convey. Everyone keeps missing it… it’s a bit disappointing.”
He said “disappointing,” but he was probably annoyed.
“Number 119, you’re interesting.”
I smiled brightly.
Please, praise me more.
“The move you added at the end… Yumi actually wanted to do that. But it got cut due to censorship. It implies suicide, you see.”
Ah, I see.
“If we show her this video, she’ll like it. You are recording this, right?”
The choreographer glanced back. A staff member nodded.
Please film me nicely. If Yumi sees this, I might start dancing on my shoulders.
“I kind of want to bend your whole body and see what happens. If your flexibility improves… interesting. You’re not amazing, but there’s something pulling me in.”
Is that a threat?
Then—
Kang Min-jae spoke.
“Even among trainees, not many can dance like that. You know that.”
The room fell silent.
What’s going on?
Why is he praising me?
The CEO nodded.
“That’s true.”
“Right?”
Min-jae smiled.
He’s pushing it further.
What’s with him?
And he looks… successful.
Why is he judging me?
It pissed me off.
For now… he’s just a stranger.
And I was the “weirdo” here.
So I smiled brightly.
A good weirdo smiles at times like this.
Show them a nice image, Cha Do-won.
Then a woman on the right said,
“Your smile is cute.”
The CEO added,
“He’s got a good look, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. Good proportions too. At first glance, just pretty—but the features are actually quite strong.”
I slowly wiped the smile off my face.
Consider it a service—showing them a blank expression too.
“Nice dark eyes. How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
The CEO smiled.
“Your voice is good too.”
The woman added,
“You’ve studied vocalization. It resonates.”
I nodded innocently.
“Yes. Acting is what I’m most confident in.”
“Acting?”
I scratched my cheek shyly.
“Not really a specialty. I just like reading scripts.”
The CEO gave a small impressed sound.
So, what do you think, sir?
Do you feel like investing in me?
I think I’d suit your company quite well.
As the CEO looked at my profile, he said,
“Let’s not only question 119. Ask the others too.”
“Ah, right.”
The judges turned to the other applicants.
I smiled and glanced at Kyung-bae again.
Oh?
He was glaring at me, fists clenched.
What’s your problem?
Your lack of skill isn’t my fault.
I silently mouthed:
—Thank you, hyung.
Thanks for choosing “Shooting.”
I used it well.
Then—
“Fuck.”
Whoa.
Even I was surprised.
The judges all turned.
“Number 118, did you just swear?”
“I—I…”
“If you’re like this here, is that how you usually talk? That’s concerning.”
The judges murmured among themselves.
“Kids these days swear too much.”
“It’s getting worse.”
“Must be poor upbringing.”
Kyung-bae’s face turned pale.
Honestly… it was more entertaining than any movie.
Still—
Why did I ever let someone like him make me give up my dream?
I shook my head.
Then—
“Take off your shirt.”
A new voice.
Wait, what?
The CEO smirked.
“You didn’t hear? Take it off.”
Ah.
So it’s a pressure test.
For a normal middle schooler, this would be overwhelming.
Too bad.
I stood up and unbuckled my belt.
“If that’s what you want…”
The judges panicked.
“W-wait, why are you taking off your pants?!”
I smiled brightly.
“I’m more confident in the lower half.”
“Don’t take it off! We didn’t mean it literally!”
I tossed the belt aside.
“If you tell me to take it off, I will.”
