Chapter 38: I’ll Trust You

“Crazy bastard….. Why did you do it!! Why did you do that!!!”

It seemed Park Minkwon had given up on crushing me, but he still wouldn’t stop wailing.

“Why is it you and not me!!!”

With the loudest shout yet, Park Minkwon’s body seemed to melt away.

Jo Seha and Yu Taewoo, who had been holding his arms from either side, put on somber faces for a moment, then looked at me.

Honestly, it was as if they didn’t quite understand what was going on either.

“…Keep it down. The other team will hear everything.”

The ‘eliminated member’ chosen by this vote was kept strictly confidential, even within the teams.

The idea was to conceal any changes in team lineup as much as possible… and pull off a twist in the final performance.

Not that it would really go unnoticed anyway. But for our team, the more we hid, the better.

“There’s nothing good about people finding out that it’s me who got cut, not someone else.”

I didn’t want to look any more ridiculous than this.

Who wants to kill our team’s spirit?

“Whew…”

I straightened up from my slumped, messy posture.

I should… explain, right?

“Everyone, come sit over here.”

The team members slowly gathered around, forming a circle with Park Minkwon and me at either end.

Looking at them gathered like this, I felt a strange warmth. Had I grown attached in that time?

Still, I had to say what needed to be said.

“Our evaluation was the worst.”

Everyone hung their heads in silence.

Hyun-seok Son finally managed to speak.

“…We tried our best, but it just didn’t work out.”

Thanks. Even that little opening made it much easier for me to lead the conversation.

“Why do you think it didn’t work out?”

“…Well…”

Hyun-seok Son’s gaze flickered briefly to Park Minkwon, then quickly dropped away.

“…No, it’s because we couldn’t keep up with Haram hyung’s skill.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Hyun-seok Son’s honest answer, calling me hyung as he’d started doing lately.

I liked how he tried not to blame others.

But—

“I heard it.”

“Huh?”

All the team members who’d been staring at the floor suddenly looked up at me.

It was a sign they were ready to listen. I looked at each of them and spoke.

“The problem is that I’m standing somewhere you all can’t reach.”

Yes, this was our team’s problem.

Really. Not out of arrogance or pride.

“…What are you talking about?”

When I paused, Jo Seha couldn’t help but jump in.

“You’re saying we couldn’t keep up? Do you know how hard we…!”

“What do you feel when you’re on stage?”

It was an out-of-the-blue question. But—

“When I get on stage… I enter a certain state of mind.”

I’d felt it again during this mid-evaluation. That green vision I’d fallen into in front of Choi Hansol during the program’s audition.

Something like that.

“I can only hear the song, only feel myself, as if I’m the only one on stage.”

Of course,

[Acquired trait,  activated!]

[Acquired trait,  activated!]

[The vision unfolds!]

[Acquired trait, ‘Otaku’s Jackpot’ is weak, vision deployment rate decreases!]

I wasn’t in perfect shape, so I couldn’t show what I did in the audition.

But that let me realize something.

“When I’m in that state, I can’t take care of you guys.”

Those 30 seconds. In every part except the highlight, my teammates kept intruding into my vision.

At the time, I was confused and flustered.

Are you still stuck there?

Are you still not catching up?

“But… we got praised for the part we practiced the most!”

Yeah, the 30 seconds we practiced like crazy were at least okay.

But—

“This is a team battle. I can’t win if I stand out alone.”

“If Haram hyung wanted to go solo, it’d be easier for you, right?”

Kim Sangkyun, who’d been silent, spoke up as if he’d made a decision.

He could be serious and sharp like this sometimes.

“Well… there is that easier, more personal way.”

Right. Even in a 10th-place team, someone can pass. But—

“But that’s not really my style.”

I refused, plain and simple.

“I like seeing hardworking people succeed.”

It was just my personal preference.

“Still, for that reason…!”

“I—!”

I cut off Jo Seha, who tried to object.

We don’t have time to keep going in circles like this.

“I watched almost all of our team’s practice over the past week.”

That was, in fact, basically all we’d done this past week.

“So here’s my conclusion. You all worked hard. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

I looked at each person, starting from the left.

“Jo Seha. Your left ankle’s messed up, right? You’re taking painkillers to keep going.”

“Uh…”

He was one of the few who could handle the dance portion. That meant the burden was heavier for him.

“Taewoo hyung, you’re pushing yourself with vocal practice you’ll never get again in your life, so you can’t even complain honestly.”

“……”

Even though his main position was dance, Yu Taewoo was struggling as a vocalist.

“Hyunseok, I saw you crying in the practice room the night before last.”

“Hic…!”

‘It’s too hard… What’s even left after all this…? Why do I have to go this far…?’

That was the day I’d been harsh to Hyunseok, who was ranked F.

There are days like that. Days when all you get is criticism. For Hyunseok, that was that day. Both in the team and in position training.

“Kim Sangkyun, you worked hard comforting him.”

There’s nothing more precious than a friend who consoles you on a day like that.

“Hey, don’t cry… It’s okay… You’re doing well…”

Of course…

“Hey… *hic!* Don’t cry… sniff! Why are you crying…”

“Why are you crying…”

“You’re the one crying…”

“It was unexpected to see you crying along too.”

“Sniff…!”

As expected of friends. Even their flustered noises were the same.

“Yucheol and Chantae, thanks for keeping up.”

They were the F and D grades who silently met their practice quotas every day.

“And… Park Jaechan, Kim Byeongchan.”

Finally, the two who always glared at me heard their names.

As if they’d been waiting for their turn, both fixed their eyes on me at once.

“You two… thanks for trusting me.”

“Trust… what…?”

The two who’d spread the rumors they heard from Park Minkwon. But the rumors didn’t spread beyond what the team and Seo Chanul already knew.

“I think I’ve told everything to our team… and you two kept your mouths shut with outsiders, right?”

“Uh… that…”

The two couldn’t hide their embarrassment.

“It’s fine. You know I don’t care about that rumor.”

“Still…”

As the mood lightened a bit, Jeong Yucheol poked Park Jaechan in the side.

“Still what?”

“Hey…! You didn’t believe it at first either!”

“Who would believe that?”

My gaze naturally drifted to the last one, still out of place in the mood.

The last one left.

“Park Minkwon.”

The mood instantly froze.

If the whole team knew my rumor, then what Park Minkwon had done must be known too.

Maybe that’s why he seemed even more isolated lately.

“You’re the hardest for me to understand.”

“…I never asked you to.”

Park Minkwon still looked at me with cold eyes, as if he still resented me for being the eliminated one.

“You said you’d get me eliminated, then get yourself eliminated too.”

I recalled what Park Minkwon had said before.

“But really, is that true?”

From what I saw, you weren’t like that at all.

“You said you’d spread rumors, but you didn’t.”

Did you really want me to be eliminated?

“You said you’d get eliminated too, but you practiced with me every night till dawn.”

Or did you want to be eliminated yourself?

Neither makes sense, not when you pushed through grueling practice till you almost puked.

“I kept thinking about it. And seeing you just now, I finally get it.”

Seeing you sincerely furious at my choice that saved you, I realized.

You’re just—

“You’re just really, really bad at this kind of thing.”

The kind of guy who punches someone in the face to show he’s upset.

I rubbed the spot he hit, feigning nonchalance.

“Ow, that stings.”

I stood up and walked a few steps to stand in front of Park Minkwon.

“Hey.”

All you, with no sense for this stuff, could do was glare at me with teary eyes.

“It’s okay.”

As his pupils widened,

Pop—

A system window popped up.

[

> Name: Park Minkwon

> Age: 20

> Role: Be The Doll contestant (Rank 91)

……. ]

Now, I think I finally understand Park Minkwon a little.

So I can tell you. It’s okay.

“Everyone’s like that.”

[> Traits:

– Ordinary Failure (Normal, Active)

……. ]

Everyone fails sometimes. It’s normal.

[- Petty Jealousy (Normal, Active)

……. ]

Everyone lives with envy of others.

[- Self-Defense Mechanism (Normal, Active)

View detailed stats and info (Open)]

So let’s try to protect ourselves a little more kindly.

“I… I…”

Park Minkwon’s head, which had barely been held up, sank back down.

“I… I always fail…”

‘Did Minkwon hyung fail another audition? Geez, that guy… What’s the point of practicing till dawn every day?’

“I’ve never… been better than anyone else…”

‘Honestly, isn’t he just bad? Seems totally talentless. Why not just quit?’

“No one’s ever trusted me…”

‘Minkwon, Dad talked to your trainer… They said you’re probably…’

“So…”

“Minkwon.”

I cupped Park Minkwon’s face in my hands and lifted it.

“I know now. That’s why I’m telling you this.”

My palms were instantly soaked with his streaming tears.

“I’ll trust you. Do well. For the final evaluation.”

As soon as I said it, Park Minkwon’s face crumpled even more.

“I… I… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Kim Haram…”

He buried his face in my hands.

“I’m sorry… Don’t get eliminated… I’m sorry…”

It’s fine, you idiot. I’m already eliminated.

Still, seeing Park Minkwon like this—

[New trait of character ‘Park Minkwon’ has blossomed!]

—I started to truly believe in him, even just a little.

—

“Everyone got their outfits on, right?”

A familiar place, a familiar line.

“Seha hyung isn’t here!!”

“Again?!”

A familiar situation.

Three days had flown by, and it was already the day of the final evaluation.

“Hyunseok! Go look for him! Taewoo hyung needs to save his energy!”

“You!”

“It’s not… that bad…”

Yu Taewoo, who had gone from being the oldest to the ‘old man’ of the team, protested sluggishly.

No one listened.

“Jaechan, Byeongchan, you didn’t spread the rumor, right?!”

I was asking if they’d blabbed to other teams that I was the eliminated one.

The two instantly protested.

“We don’t do that anymore!”

“Really? Seo Chanul from the next team seemed suspicious, though?”

“Huh?”

Park Jaechan and Kim Byeongchan glared at each other.

“Did you say something?”

“It had to be you. You’re always gushing about how cool Seo Chanul is.”

“What do you mean, gushing? Want to fight?”

“Bring it on.”

Hmm. Another peaceful day. At least they don’t seem nervous, thank goodness.

“Hyung! Hyunseok isn’t back yet!”

“Then Sangkyun, you go look for him this time.”

“Yes!”

It was so peaceful, it was almost worrying.

Park Minkwon came over to me and asked,

“Isn’t everyone too relaxed?”

That same blank face from when we first met.

“Well, I believe in them.”

The impression from the first meeting didn’t last, as a faintly disappointed look crossed Park Minkwon’s face.

“You trust anyone. Even now?”

“What’s with you? Trust yourself too. You’ll do well today, right?”

I added another jab for the Minkwon who just snorted.

“Oh, and by the way. No matter how well you do here, I’ll grit my teeth and make sure you get eliminated. Got it?”

“I know.”

Park Minkwon gave a sly smile.

No matter how hard he tried, I couldn’t forgive him for trying to buy his debut with money.

“I’m only going this far.”

“Huh? What was that?”

I’d been lost in thought and didn’t catch what Park Minkwon said.

“What did you say?”

“…Nothing.”

Just as I was about to press further—

“Hyunseok’s back!”

“Seha hyung’s back!”

“Haram, I’m here!”

The noisy trio returned to the waiting room.

What were you guys doing?

“…I’ll do my best.”

For once, Park Minkwon—

Showed a natural smile.