Chapter 24: A Role Too Heavy

“Then let’s decide unanimously that the main vocal is Woo-rim and the main rapper is Chan-seo.”

Yoon Ji-heon, who had an L-shaped sticker indicating leader on his chest, wrote the two names on the part distribution sheet.

Lee Woo-rim was one of the most outstanding participants in vocals, and Lee Chan-seo in rap, so there was no need to even deliberate over their parts.

“Next is the center.

Is there anyone who wants to do it or wants to recommend someone?”

“How about Han-ul?”

“I recommend Han-ul too.

Han-ul is really good at facial expressions.

And it suits the song well too!”

As Lee Chan-seo raised his hand halfway and offered his opinion, Lee Woo-rim added his agreement.

Yoon Ji-heon also nodded, saying it seemed like a good fit, and opened his mouth.

“Han-ul, what do you think?

Do you want to do it?”

“…Ah, yes!

I want to do it!”

Chae Han-ul, who had been deflated ever since Jae-seo didn’t sit next to him, seemed to snap back to attention at the question directed at him, straightening up and exclaiming.

“Then Han-ul, and is there anyone else who wants to do it?”

When no one else said anything, Yoon Ji-heon said “Alright” and handed the center sticker marked with a C to Chae Han-ul.

Ha Jin-woo, sitting next to him, noisily sang a congratulatory song and stuck the sticker below Chae Han-ul’s shoulder.

“I’ll work hard!”

“Not work hard, do well!”

“I’ll try to do well!”

Chae Han-ul, who had brightly smiled and shouted energetically, began to deflate like a balloon with the air let out as the attention shifted to the next part and moved away from him.

Seeing him that sulky made Jae-seo feel a bit sorry, but his own well-being came first, so he pretended not to notice and looked away.

“We need to decide on a sub-rapper too.

Is there anyone among us besides Chan-seo who does rap?”

“Ji-heon hyung, didn’t you, um, used to do rap?”

“Ah, I only took it on because other members couldn’t do it, so I’m not very good.”

At the talk of rap, Jae-seo’s head naturally lowered.

Because a certain scene from the first broadcast of Please Take Care of My Idol, which they had all watched together yesterday, came to mind.

That incredibly shameful scene where he, not knowing any better, had rapped so confidently, overlapping with the rap trainer’s bewildered expression.

And apparently remembering the same scene, Ha Jin-woo’s lips twitched as he tried to hold back laughter.

…Rap was something he should absolutely, never do again.

“I’ll do it.”

While everyone else showed signs of reluctance and kept silent, thankfully Yeo Hyun-tae stepped forward.

They had nearly ended up playing hot potato with a bomb.

“You know how to rap?”

“Yes, though I’m not very good either.”

Come to think of it, with that voice of his, even just muttering low would probably sound pretty decent.

Seeming to have a similar thought, Yoon Ji-heon silently wrote Yeo Hyun-tae’s name next to the box labeled sub-rapper.

“Next is sub-vocal 1, but the notes in the chorus part are quite high….”

As he said this, Yoon Ji-heon tapped the part distribution sheet with the pen in his hand.

Though he trailed off, the implication was clear: if you thought you couldn’t handle it, you should voluntarily step down.

“Considering we’ll be performing live during the contest, we need to be able to sing it comfortably.”

“I don’t think I can hit this part.”

“My high notes are borderline too.”

As one by one they gave reasons and dropped out of consideration, before long only Jae-seo and Seo Jun-jae remained.

Just as Jae-seo was about to say he couldn’t do it either, Ha Jin-woo beat him to it.

“Then how about the two of you sing it once and we decide?”

No, I’m not doing it…?

“Uh, I don’t think I can do it either.”

He said it urgently, but no one listened.

“Jae-seo, just sing it once, don’t feel too pressured, just do it comfortably.”

To all the other team members, they’d asked ‘can you do it?‘ or ‘do you want to do it?‘ properly, so why was he the only one…?

As if asking for help, he alternated looking at Lee Woo-rim and Lee Chan-seo, desperately signaling ‘Didn’t you guys say I’d suit sub-vocal 2 or 3?’ but both of them wore expressions of complete confusion.

Eventually giving up on resisting, he began to sing the chorus part marked ‘sub-vocal 1’.

“Good!”

“Not bad.”

After finishing the song and receiving a few compliments as if he were bowing for praise, it was suddenly Seo Jun-jae’s turn, and he sang the same part Jae-seo had just sung.

As expected, without missing a beat, listening to a much more pleasant vocal, Jae-seo even had the pessimistic thought that perhaps the true goal of this game was to prevent the player from becoming an idol.

“You’re both so good.”

“Right.

How are we supposed to choose between them?”

…I have ears too, you guys.

“Then we’ll vote among ourselves, so Jun-jae and Jae-seo, face down.”

He thought they could just say Seo Jun-jae was better and give it to him, no need for a vote, but knowing it wouldn’t make a difference if he spoke up, he kept his mouth shut and lowered his body as instructed.

He heard murmurs about raising their right hand if they thought one suited better, left hand for the other, and then a brief moment of silence passed.

Shortly after, they said the vote was over, and as he sat up straight, Yoon Ji-heon delivered the result.

“We’ve decided sub-vocal 1 will be done by Jun-jae.”

While applause went to Seo Jun-jae with congratulations, a few sent apologetic looks toward Jae-seo.

He’d never wanted this part in the first place, so why did he have to go through this uncomfortable situation?

It was absurd, but he couldn very well argue about it, so he just pretended not to notice, avoiding the gazes that reached him and clapping along.

“Next is sub-vocal 2.

Anyone want to do it?”

Before Yoon Ji-heon’s words even finished, Ha Jin-woo and Jang Young-bin shot their hands up.

Even when asked if there was no one else, Jae-seo remained still, and Lee Woo-rim and Lee Chan-seo on either side fidgeted and sent all kinds of glances his way.

Apparently, after their heated debate earlier, they’d concluded that sub-vocal 2 suited him best, but for Jae-seo, it was the role he most wanted to avoid.

The part was too heavy, covering the introduction, the second verse pre-chorus, and even part of the bridge.

“Then it’s just Jin-woo and Young-bin, right?”

Lee Woo-rim sighed as if personally disappointed and muttered quietly, “It would’ve been perfect for hyung…” and then, suddenly, out of nowhere, Seo Jun-jae raised his hand.

Strangely, it made Jae-seo anxious.

“I think Jae-seo would suit it well too.”

Ah, f*ck.

***

Sitting dazedly in a corner of the practice room, which had become noisy as they started working out the choreography, he looked down at the lyric sheet in his hand.

Every part marked ‘sub-vocal 2’ was covered in stars drawn sloppily with a yellow highlighter.

The moment Jae-seo ended up taking sub-vocal 2, Lee Woo-rim had gotten excited, snatched his lyric sheet, and drawn them.

“Hyung!

The part you got is my favorite part!”

Even Chae Han-ul, who had been shriveled up with an expression like his country had been taken away just a moment ago, had somehow revived and attached himself to Jae-seo’s side, adding to his turmoil.

“Jae-seo hyung said he’d do sub-vocal 6, but me and Chan-seo stopped him!”

“Sub-vocal 6?

No way!

Hyung is definitely sub-vocal 2!”

“Right?

You think so too?

Me and Chan-seo were debating between sub-vocal 2 and 3, but no matter how we thought about it, 2 suited him best.”

Even Lee Woo-rim joined in, their chemistry perfect.

If only they’d do it together and leave him out, but when he subtly tried to move away, they somehow knew and followed.

“Hey guys, want to monitor the stage video in our remaining time?”

Just then, like saviors, Ha Jin-woo and Jang Young-bin approached holding a tablet PC.

If he couldn’t escape these two, he at least wanted to give his ears a rest, so he nodded, and Chae Han-ul and Lee Woo-rim nodded along after him like ducklings following their mother.

They moved as far away as possible so their voices wouldn’t overlap with the group working on choreography, then huddled together and played a video titled “A.C.E _ July Snow (Miracle of Love) | MUSIC UP&DOWN xx0723.”

As the familiar melody sampling a Christmas carol flowed out, the A.C.E members standing in a line on screen began popping out left and right one by one, wearing playful expressions.

Jae-seo involuntarily sucked in a breath and turned to look at Ha Jin-woo and Jang Young-bin.

Lee Chan-seo, Lee Woo-rim, and Chae Han-ul—those three were still young, so maybe they could be excused, but could grown adult men in their twenties do this with a straight face?

Ha Jin-woo patted his shoulder as if he understood, while tilting his head toward the tablet PC.

Come to think of it, Lee Woo-rim and Chae Han-ul, plastered to his sides, were also staring intently at the screen with serious eyes, all playfulness gone.

No matter what, he shouldn’t cause trouble for the kids, he thought, forcibly suppressing his feelings of despair and trying to focus on the video.

‘July Snow’ was a song with lyrics about “you, a miracle who came to me like snow falling in midsummer,” giving it a moderately cute and moderately refreshing feel.

Consequently, the choreography consisted of light, airy movements.

It didn’t look too difficult, which was fortunate for him, but he couldn’t help thinking it was a bit wasted on the four people working out the choreography over there.

Well, it wasn’t his concern.