★ The Second Life Idols Lucky Plan – Chapter 48
☆ RPR

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"What are you thinking?!"

As I expected, Yu Chanhee came to the practice room that night.

When he entered the practice room, he confirmed that the lights on the camera had been completely turned off and that the microphone was not on, and he poured out his annoyance in a low voice.

I replied in a calm voice.

"What do you think?"

"That is not fair. I am the one asking the question."

At Yu Chanhee's words, I put down the lyric paper I was holding in my hand. The rap I tried to match with Do Jihyeok during the afternoon was still not sticking to my mouth.

It was an urgent situation to practice, but I was thinking of giving the practice room to Yu Chanhee today.

"I think it's true that you can't beat those who try. Wasn't it like that during the first contest?"

"...What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because you will lose if you don't try at all."

"What?"

Because, today, I wouldn't be able to practice with him in the same room.

- I think it's true that you can't beat those who try. Everyone has worked really hard, and we will continue to do our best. I will never lose to anyone and always show you improvement.

Yu Chanhee said that during the first contest and laughed at me. Thinking that I had acquired a growth character narrative through a fake character, not effort, but the truth was something only I could understand.

However, according to his words, Yu Chanhee would not be able to win this contest. He would think he was doing his best but wasn't trying his best.

At my sudden change of attitude, Yu Chanhee let out a blank laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

"Oh! Are you revealing your true colors now?"

"There is no reason not to. Didn't you want something like this too?"

"What?"

At my words, Yu Chanhee glared at me ferociously. Even in the practice room, where the lights were off, I could see his flustered face.

I didn't turn away from Yu Chanhee, who looked ready to rush at me and continued,

"Didn't you expect me to speak up eventually? You believed from the beginning that I was manipulating the whole stage. In the meantime, I wanted to argue, but there was a camera, and I kept avoiding it, so I couldn't. Well, good for you. There are no cameras here, and I have a personality too."

"So, let's fight now."

Yu Chanhee was silent for a moment at my words as if I threw a dagger at him. He quietly shook his head.

"I would punch you, but I can't. Wouldn't it attract the attention of the staff? I have no intention of harming our reputations."

"Then what?"

"I'm going to ask you one thing, why don't you try your best?"

"What?"

"During the first contest, you said you were working hard, but now you give up."

"What bullshit, I haven't slept for days..!"

I cut off the angry Yu Chanhee's words.

"You don't know if it's right, but just repeat what you've been doing. You can try other ways, but you won't because of pride."

"What the..."

Yu Chanhee shut his mouth as if he was momentarily speechless. I let out a small sigh.

"Is it really the best for you to ask Hwang Young-oh and not me for help? You've been practicing how Hwang Young-oh taught you, but it didn't work. Then wouldn't it be common sense to find another way?"

Then, Yu Chanhee couldn't stand it and shouted as if he was dumbfounded.

"Why do I have to ask you!?"

"You think I'm good."

"...."

Then he closed his mouth again at what I said and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I looked at the face of the guy who was hardening every moment.

Yu Chanhee hates me, but I didn't think he was ignoring my skills.

' On the contrary, he must admit it to some extent.'

Otherwise, there would be no way this guy could get a reality check.

If he thought that my skills were really low that I cheated because of the relationship between my agency and the broadcasting company, I would have laughed and tried to ignore it. It means there is no need to state the facts.

'But this guy wants me to make a mistake somehow, and he's impatient because he can't prove anything...'

It must have meant that he felt a sense of crisis. I don't know if he treats me as his rival or if I am a reminder of his past trauma.

"I don't know if I can solve your problem or not. But you should use this to your advantage. You say you're desperate. Don't you want to debut?"

"...What does that have to do with you?"

"I told you, it doesn't matter because we are on the same team. Isn't it a team game where if one person collapses the others would too."

"..."

"What we are doing right now is an individual arrangement, and I don't intend to fail right now, so I want you to say this as straightforward as possible."

And that was the same word for me.

'...No, maybe it's too late.'

It was a problem that should have been properly pointed out from the beginning. However, I have been putting off direct confrontation with this guy until now.

'Do you have any bad habits?'

Because I had no intention of facing him directly.

I didn't want to fight emotionally, and I thought it would be a loss to waste energy in a pointless dispute uselessly. I also thought that ignoring each other was better than conflict.

But now we are a team. Although it is temporary, it will determine your future.

And in my experience... If the problem was left unsolved, the team could not perform correctly.

"Even if you hate me, bear with it for a few more days. After all, as long as you survive this mission, you won't have to involve yourself with me anymore."

That's why I decided to confront him and settle it directly.

Unlike the members of Lightning, this guy has an earnest goal, and we can make a temporary truce.

"Instead, do whatever you can to survive. Isn't that what you mean by effort? Don't try just how you feel comfortable, and I'll cooperate as much as possible with vocals, so do whatever you want."

"...What? After all, you're asking me to help you too. Don't pretend to be nice when you also want to earn something in return."

As if my words repulsed Yu Chanhee, he spoke with sharp eyes.

"When did I say I was Santa Claus giving you a gift? Don't be mistaken. It's for mutual benefit. And if you don't want to help, you don't have too. It will be your loss."

However, I didn't think about 'helping' Yu Chan-hee from the beginning. This is because it was literally just a temporary truce and subsequent cooperation.

This child's antipathy against me is unfair, but I can't control other people's feelings.

And from what I've seen so far, Yu Chanhee was a stubborn guy. It means he won't bother to help me unless he changes his mind.

But as we are now a team, I couldn't just watch Yu Chanhee continue to go corrupt.

After all, shouldn't we survive? Both him and me.

"But think straight if you really want to debut. Think carefully about which direction is really the best for you."

"...."

"Even if you feel like I'm stabbing you, you can endure it for a few days, and we can use each other to survive. Then you and I can swiftly part ways, or you can go alone and lose this opportunity, decide what you like."

"...What if I said I didn't need any help?"

"You and I will go to hell. Other trainees will also fail. Even if we manage to beat Group 6, I don't think we can avoid falling in the rankings."

"...."

"But aren't you the one who wants to avoid that as much as possible?"

He is desperate enough to appear in <Design Your Idol> even though he couldn't overcome the trauma of being unfairly deprived of his chance to debut. He wouldn't want to give up everything now.

And at this stage, Chanhee wants an anti-war narrative to overcome the crisis, versatility to show through the vocal position, and building relationships through cooperation.

'After all, what this bastard wants most of all is to raise awareness and maintain his ranking.'

And if he broke his pride for a moment, Yu Chanhee could get what he wanted because there won't be a mission like this again with the perfect narrative.

The production team also hopes for such a composition.

"...Why are you doing this all of a sudden? I've been ignoring you until now. I let you do what you wanted to do."

Of course, Yu Chanhee must have known this. Even if he has a quick temper and a small perspective, that doesn't mean he's an idiot.

However, breaking stubbornness is difficult. I got up from my seat and answered.

"So what made us get to this point? Was it you or me?"

"...!"

"If it hasn't worked so far, try it in a different direction. Because that is really the best choice."

Whatever the reason for all this, I was also desperate. It's because I couldn't leave this place.

'Because that means death to me.'

In other words, I am the same.

I said that and left the practice room. Now that I had done as much as I could, I thought of moving and continuing my practice alone.

* * *

"..."

"..."

Well, I knew this would end up happening.

"...Um, would you like to sit?"

"No, it's okay.. Were you practicing?"

Because of the unexpected encounter with Ju Danwoo, I had to look up my lyric sheet.

'...Why is this guy here?'

I awkwardly looked around. Do Jihyeok and Cheon Serim were sleeping, and I couldn't go to another team's practice room, so, in the end I stayed.

I had to stop practicing almost half-forcibly because of Ju Danwoo.

Danwoo also stood in an awkward position. He seemed to have judged that it was an uncomfortable situation.

'Hmm.'

I lowered my eyes and looked at the lyric paper that Ju Danwoo was holding. On the lyric paper, letters were written densely.

"... Hyung, why are you here? What about your own team practice room?"

"Ah... Some people are already practicing..."

Danwoo Ju said that and kept his mouth shut, but through those words, I was able to recognize who had already taken over the practice room immediately.

'Park Woo-jae.'

Danwoo Ju did not mind using the practice room with others. The fact that he is here right now means the people occupying it dislike him.

'... Maybe he was kicked out.'

At the same time, while heading to the practice room today, I remembered that Ju Danwoo, who was behind us, was talking to Park Woo-jae.

-Woo-jae, speaking of arrangements... How about we discuss it again?

-Are you kidding me now? I'm too busy practicing, but I'm going to change the arrangement now too?! You don't have much to do, so you must have plenty of time. Right?"

It reminded me of Park Woo-jae, who had stopped Danwoo before he could even speak.