-...Is it a dance?

From the beginning of the choreography for "A New World", there were steps that combined ballet and modern dance. They gave off a soft, peaceful and dreamy essence.

In terms of intensity and strength...

There was not.

-It's nice, but...

Gold 1 tried to speak, but was speechless.

We can fix the choreography, but there is a limit to how many changes we can make to it. In other words, thanks to this choreography, the difficulty of putting together arrangements has increased. It's frustrating, but I'm sure that dancing the choreography without any arrangement in a survival show would not be suitable.

After pausing the matter of lyric arrangements, we started learning the choreography in a funereal atmosphere.

-Let's get it as soon as possible!

-Yes!

However, the gloomy atmosphere we had was due to the sense of crisis, but we did not give up. We kept quiet and worked hard, so it was surprisingly nice to practice.

The boys seemed to have guessed that if they complained about the song, their words might be passed on as negative comments when the episode aired...

"It's so nice that I feel comfortable."

I kept practicing silently without saying a word. Since I don't have any experience with any choreography, I didn't feel much emotion because I had the same difficulties as before...

-So, take your other arm and turn it like this...

-Okay.

-Oh, you did it in a similar way.

I kept waiting for the right moment.

Now that the mood is set, the important thing is that the image is so impactful that you don't want to cut it off in editing. It would also be important for them to tell how the process of arranging the song came about, an opportunity that would come two days later during the reviews with the coaches.

***

-I'm sure you must have felt worried after receiving your song.

At the choreographer's words, the team members laughed awkwardly. We couldn't tell him that we had put aside our worries and just enjoyed the choreography. It was a reaction our coach didn't seem to like very much, but he let it slide for now.

-Let's see what you've done.

-Yes!

And my colleagues, including me, finished the choreography of the first verse without any mistakes.

-Uuh...

The boys were breathing heavily, but relieved that they hadn't made a mistake.

-...OK, it's OK.

The choreographer nodded with a rather neutral expression.

-How did you memorize all the steps? Who likes the choreography?

-Uh, all of us on the team are somewhat familiar with the dance...

-Yes, we all did it together!

Gold 2 and Keun SeJin answered. It is true that the four Gold grade trainees took the lead, but the most talented was Seon AhHyun. It turns out that he had taken ballet lessons before.

Well, he wasn't the only one, his opponent to become the main dancer was Keun SeJin, so it seemed that his position would be taken from him.

The choreographer nodded and continued.

-Oh, you must have had a hard time, but...

The choreographer tilted his neck.

-I can't see anyone outstanding.

Suddenly, I stopped hearing Gold 2 breathing next to me, his skin turned so pale that anyone who saw him would think he was a ghost.

-What are you doing? Yes, you are dancing; yes, those are the steps and yes, I could give you a compliment if you were at a showcasing in the middle of a school trip, but do you think you'll be able to make a living showing just this?

The limbs trembled with every word the trainer said.

-I don't like to see nothing.

Although it was a natural result because instead of interpreting the emotions of the song, we only showed the choreography, the choreographer gave us harsh words instead of advice.

-I even see some guys who are below the level of dance that should be presented.

As he said that, he shamelessly glared at child actor Lee Sejin, who could only lower his head in response.

To be honest, he was at a level where he could barely memorize the choreography, but is it okay for me to be happy that he took a "bullet"? The level of feedback was so harsh that I wouldn't be surprised if a person in pain would continue to push himself until he showed otherwise.

The choreographer brought his hand to his chin to make a gesture, as if he were analyzing.

-You, Seon AhHyun.

-Y-yes...

-I heard you majored in modern dance and ballet. But why are your expressions weaker than MoonDae's?

Seon AhHyun's face paled and I had a strong premonition that the comment would never be edited.

This guy... He's trying to surprise him by purposefully comparing him to someone who doesn't make expressions, right?

-You're a good singer. You showed a good level in your evaluations, so your reviews have been good so far. But if you debut with this quality, do you think they will tell you that you did very well?

There aren't many industries that are as good at telling stories as the entertainment industry, but it's a place where people are judged on their abilities alone. It's always the same.

In any case, it seemed that Seon AhHyun was about to sink.

"He is in a dilemma."

His condition was strange, but if he got worse, he wouldn't be able to get by easily.

-Anyway, the current level you have is just that of an amateur who has practiced a bit. He thinks about what you want to express in this song and comes back in a state worth watching.

-Thank you...

In an instant, the team members scrambled out of the evaluation room. They looked like they had no goals in life.

And a similar situation occurred in singing feedback.

-Guys, what do you want to do?

Mudi played the keyboard as if she was frustrated and sad. But unlike the choreographer, she gave us specific instructions instead of personal attacks, she really gave us advice.

-This song is about a flower fairy. It is a song that is sung in a pure and beautiful way. But you guys are just singing the notes, so it doesn't feel pretty or sentimental at all. Are you ashamed to sing that way?

-...

Besides the fact that this song was not suitable for competing on a survival show to debut, I was wondering if there was any member who hadn't thought about what the coach mentioned before, since they are guys who are around the age of secondary students.

However, I couldn't say that I felt shy or embarrassed, so I just came up with this answer.

-Since it's a survival show, I wanted to fix it with a stronger feeling... But the concept of the song is so pure that it's hard to naturally change it to a more intense direction.

-If you think it's going to be hard to fix, you should have thought about keeping the emotions of the original song alive.

-...

Mudi waved a hand with a sad expression.

-Guys, first you'll have to find out the right direction.

And with the intervention of the production team, the discussion between the team members started on the spot. The film crew and cameras were in front of me and there was a terrible atmosphere where I couldn't say anything.

But someone would have to start the conversation, so the young man wearing the leader's armband spoke first. It was Keun SeJin.

-Well, we have been working very hard for two days. Thanks to that, the choreography was learned quickly. From now on, if we focus on the song with the same energy with which we learned the dance, I think we can make the stage quality good.

Look at this guy... He had prepared a long and motivational message and he said it in such a natural way.

-Let's not give up, let's do our best to bring out the original emotion! It might be a bit embarrassing, but if we do it right... we'll hit like the Soft & Sweet song. Don't you think it will be fun?

-Oh, like the one MoonDae did?

-That is! If we act funny and innocent, it will feel cool. How about we sing it a little faster and make it more exciting?

In the end, I intended to blatantly exaggerate the innocent girl group song and rather carry them off as a morbid cuteness concept in its heyday.

"...I think he really had prepared himself to say that."

At that moment I realized. He had been waiting for this moment as long as I had.

"He had purposely neglected the team to hear the coaches' comments."

If I were to say to present the song in a pure way like the original song, there will definitely be guys who will oppose that idea. But the new option he proposed would block the possibility of Seon AhHyun, who is most suitable to be the main dancer for the original song, from becoming the main dancer.

SeJin had anticipated that the edit would include cuts from our meeting about the musical arrangement, so he had prepared the speech and option for him to make an impact on the audience as a good team leader. He was not an ordinary person.

But no. It doesn't make sense for this guy to believe that his option is the best, because my proposal will beat him. First I will make an excuse for not fulfilling his wish.

-The idea is good, but if we exaggerate it too much it can look bad... Don't you think it will seem like we're making fun of the original song?

It's a song by a group of senior idols.

I didn't know how much hurtful criticism would be thrown at us if we crossed the line and looked ridiculous.

Of course, Keun SeJin expected to receive objections, so he responded with a smile.

-We will do our best not to look like that!

-MoonDae hyung, aren't you being too mean?

-...?

Suddenly, Choi WonGil was quick to interrupt the conversation.

-Hmm, Won Gil?

Keun SeJin was rarely serious.

This is a fun development for me as I am being attacked rather than supported. I can hear the big picture shattering.

Choi WonGil poured angry comments on me before we were graded again. I guess he's forgotten that the show's editors can recall those moments by mimicking a sequence shot.

-Do you have good ideas, hyung? Hyung, the coaches can feel comfortable with you, but you also have to think about the other members of the team. If you object like that...

Oh, that's a surprisingly sensible comment.

-Oh, of course I do. I have an idea.

-What...?

-I've been thinking about this song a lot, it seems that there is a way to make it strong while preserving the sensitivity of the original song...

-...?

-Does such a thing exist?

The other team members asked very surprised at the sudden idealistic statement. Contrary to Choi WonGil's expression of frustration, Keun SeJin rested one of his hands on the back of his neck, expressing some awkwardness.

That boy is definitely someone out of the ordinary.

-If it really exists, of course it will be very good and we will use it but... What is it?

He asked with a smile.

-It's mixing it with something scary.

-...!

Let's not just be the flower fairy, but the flower fairy from an American horror movie.

After a brief pause, exclamation-filled reactions erupted.

-Oh oh! Do you think that will be good?

-Hey, if you add a horror concept to this choreography, it will be really scary!

-Oh...

From Gold 1, who shouted excitedly while waving his hands emulating the steps of the learned choreography, to little Lee Sejin, who seemed to have regained his spirits a bit, most of the responses were positive, although on different levels.

If I was an aspiring idol who was the same average age as them, I'd want to do something cool instead of something innocent, so I thought they'd prefer the horror genre.

Keun SeJin also gave a short exclamation and nodded. He accepted after hearing my opinion.

-It's a bit embarrassing to say this right away... But I like MoonDae's idea, do you guys agree too?

-Wow, he abandoned his opinion and changed!

-As expected, SeJin is a true leader!

The atmosphere lit up in an instant. Beyond the excited whispers of the team members, Coach Mudi could be seen with a heartbroken expression on her face.

Judging from the fact that the camera is also filming it, I think the editors will also use that contrast cut of ours where we look happy, but... I hope it's edited well.

However, there was one kid on the team who obscured the warm scene we were showing for the camera cut.

Choi WonGil... he was close to perking up, but he didn't quite make it. It seems that he came to his senses and was worried about how his actions would be edited the moment he opposed my opinion.

He tried to show that he was in a good mood somehow, but he tried not to make eye contact with me because he was so proud that it would hurt too much if he were to apologize.

On the other hand, I was too serious to immerse myself in that cheerful atmosphere, so I wanted to end it. I don't know why I am like this, maybe because I didn't have enough of a social life when I was young.

So who was to blame for ending that festive atmosphere? Oh, it was Seon Ahhyun.

-Ghosts! Let's become ghosts! There is a flower that is dedicated to deceased people.

-What kind of horror movie is this? One that is serious? Oh! There's a Black Swan movie that's creepy...

-Wow, the choreography would be so scary if we did something like that.

Seon AhHyun is stuck in the corner with a gloomy look on his face in the middle of this group's happiness circuit.

Probably, he couldn't get his mental stability back after everything the choreographer coach said.

For a moment, I was hoping that Keun SeJin would show his great leader image again and help him, but there was no sign of that.

It doesn't seem like Seon AhHyun is going to come to his senses, he's too scared that everyone thinks he's just another fan.

The members of my team are very charismatic or not very sociable people, as for me, I do not need to verify which of these sides I belong to because I cannot be both at the same time.

But even if it's annoying, I can't stay without doing anything... It frustrated me to think that I had to do something that wasn't in my destiny before.

Anyway, I had to start before the situation became even sadder.

We better talk.