Chapter 54
Just three minutes after meeting Yoon Haneul, she confessed to me.
No way, did I hear that wrong? That’s just not logical, right?
…Yeah, I must have misunderstood again.
I politely apologized to Yoon Haneul.
“I’m sorry. I often mishear things lately, so could you say that again?”
“I said let’s date.”
Holy sh*t.
“This kind of joke isn’t funny. I’m actually quite boring and rigid, so I won’t be able to give you the reaction you’re hoping for.”
Even with years of social experience under my belt, I couldn’t keep up with this pace. This girl!
“I’m not joking!”
…Just please say it’s a joke.
“We just met, right?”
“Right.”
I exhaled deeply. As someone who needed to make a good impression on her, it seemed I had to accept that my charm points were plummeting.
“I don’t believe in the expression ‘love at first sight.’ I think emotions bloom like dandelions over time through encounters.”
“Oh, nice expression.”
“…Therefore, this proposal you’re currently presenting feels extremely unwelcome to me. Do you want me to misunderstand you as someone who confesses to anyone they meet?”
Yoon Haneul lightly touched her sky-blue hair, looking a bit troubled.
“Um… as you said, I guess you misunderstand me. I’m not that kind of lighthearted person.”
Then she flashed her signature refreshing smile and continued.
“Just to brag a bit, I’ve received many confessions. But this is the first time I’m the one confessing!”
“Why are you confessing to me? I don’t even know your name!”
“Aha! Oh my, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Yoon Haneul, a freshman in high school and a friend of Yeoreum. Nice to meet you!”
I shook her hand and greeted her lightly.
“Nice to meet you, Yoon Haneul.”
…But isn’t it strange to confess first and then introduce ourselves?
“So, Team Leader Seon, what’s your answer? Let’s date!”
“…Who said I’d date you?”
Gaeul’s perfectly timed intervention saved me.
It looked like Gaeul wanted to help upon seeing me in a pickle.
But Gaeul, why are you holding that guitar like a weapon?
“…You’re not talking to Taeyang, right?”
…Ah, I see, she’s trying to scare Yoon Haneul away?
Trust Gaeul!
Did Gaeul’s strategy work? Yoon Haneul trembled and asked me.
“What’s up with that girl? Is she always this scary?”
“Oh come on, Gaeul isn’t scary at all. You just don’t know her well yet. She’s basically a golden retriever in human form. She’s just messing around. …But, if you make her mad, you might get hurt a little.”
“I don’t know.”
“Kuzik.”
“…It might be a little more than just a bit?”
“Heek!”
Yoon Haneul gasped and clung to my arm.
Gaeul’s eyebrows twitched at that. She started to take steps towards us while holding her guitar in one hand. It looked like something out of a thriller movie.
“Wow, our Gaeul can act well.”
I wondered where the kids who had taken Gaeul went, and looking around, I saw them huddled in the corner, trembling as they watched Gaeul. It seemed like everyone was captivated by Gaeul’s acting.
“Don’t put Brother Taeyang in a difficult situation like that. So…”
Gaeul’s bangs swayed, revealing her eyes that glimmered with a touch of yellow light, looking almost like they were shining.
“Let go. My. Hand.”
With that warning, Gaeul began to walk slowly towards us, the distance between us shrinking.
“…S-Sen Team Leader, can you stop her? I’m really scared.”
“As Gaeul said, if you let go of this arm, won’t it be okay?”
“But then I’d lose my hostage! I was told not to negotiate with terrorists!”
…Decide if you’re a terrorist or police already.
Yoon Haneul clung to my arm as if it were a lifeline. Seeing this, Gaeul’s expression hardened.
“Let go.”
“Ah! Please don’t come closer!”
At that moment, Jin Yeoreum appeared and grabbed Gaeul.
“Wait a moment, Gaeul.”
Yeoreum whispered something in Gaeul’s ear.
“Doing that, I’m sure Sen Team Leader will dislike it, you know?”
“….”
“It seems you’re treating this like a joke right now, but if you take one more step, Sen Team Leader will notice. Are you okay with that?”
“….”
Gaeul’s expression changed oddly as they chatted. The eerie vibe she just displayed disappeared, replaced by her usual soft and warm aura.
Perhaps she had decided to end the act here.
“…Ahaha, I was just kidding, Brother Taeyang.”
“Don’t worry. I already knew. Yoon Haneul over there seems genuinely startled, though… By the way, that was some great acting! Want to take serious acting lessons later?”
It was truly impressive. Gaeul’s acting potential was only D+, after all.
What a pleasant surprise. It made me think that the status window isn’t everything.
“If I get the chance, I’ll try my best to learn!”
Yet, I couldn’t help but worry about her. If such a kind Gaeul were misunderstood, I’d feel hurt beyond just our business relationship.
“I don’t want to sound harsh, but Gaeul, I’m worried about you, so I’ll say this. In places with so many people, please be a bit careful. I know you, but others might misunderstand, right?”
“I’ll say this much: in a crowded place like this, please be a bit cautious. I know you, but others might misunderstand, you know?”
Gaeul smiled brightly and apologized.
“I’m really sorry. I startled you, and it ended up putting Brother Taeyang in a tight spot.”
“Yeah. If you keep that in mind, it’s okay.”
Gaeul looked at Yoon Haneul as she continued,
“We shouldn’t put Brother Taeyang in a difficult situation. That’s a grave sin, you know? So you should also avoid ‘pranks’ that would make Brother Taeyang uncomfortable, Haneul.”
“…Yes, yes! I will absolutely not do that!”
Leaving the trembling Yoon Haneul behind, Gaeul turned back to the kids.
“Hey, guys. Sorry for suddenly getting up. Big sister will take care of ‘Bluebeard Whale’ for you.”
“My time has finally come!”
“Sister, sing ‘Missing You’ for us!”
I turned to Yoon Haneul while watching Gaeul’s back.
“Isn’t she charming?”
“…Charming enough to kill a person or two, I think?”
“Oh, come on, it was just a joke.”
As I said that, I looked at Yoon Haneul, who returned my gaze.
When our eyes met, a status window popped up.
[Name – Yoon Haneul (female)]
[Appearance – A – Potential A]
[Vocal – B – Potential B]
[Dance – B – Potential B+]
[Rap – D – Potential C]
[Acting – C – Potential C]
[Variety – D – Potential B+]
[An all-rounder with balanced abilities.]
“….”
Yoon Haneul’s stats fell below expectations. Outside of Appearance, she didn’t have any major stats reaching A.
Of course, she could still be considered talented, but seeing Han Gyeoul, Yoo Gaeul, and Jin Yeoreum had raised my standards, making her stats seem lacking.
Before my regression, I had watched a ton of videos of Yoon Haneul while researching.
Seeing her dance and sing at concerts, local events, and variety shows, I expected her to be A-rank at least. She had shown that kind of quality on every stage.
That’s why her low potential caught me off guard a bit.
But surprisingly, I liked it.
“Uh, Team Leader Seon? Why are you staring at me without saying anything all of a sudden? …It’s a little embarrassing?”
“Haneul, would you like to join us in being an idol?”
I was seriously considering recruiting her.
“Me?”
Yoon Haneul blinked in surprise.
“Haneul, I have a good eye for talent. I was scouted as a team leader because of this discernment.”
“Oh, I see.”
“And I can firmly say that Haneul is not particularly gifted.”
“…Huh?”
Yoon Haneul tilted her head in confusion.
“Isn’t this a compliment? …You didn’t see anything yet immediately judging feels a bit unpleasant. I have talent too, you know.”
“I’m honestly a bit offended. I have talent too.”
“Of course, Haneul, you’re not totally lacking in talent. You can definitely challenge to become an idol. If I were to put it in words, you’re at least a gifted student. It’s rare for you not to understand when being taught, and you won’t forget what you’ve learned. That’s a pretty decent level of talent.”
“I could say it’s excellent, but unfortunately, it’s just not enough.”
“But a genius? Absolutely not. We’re talking about people who not only remember what they learn but also grasp things they’ve never studied, and get everything after just seeing it once—the top-tier talent.”
Yoon Haneul said in an annoyed voice, “Then why are you trying to scout me? Even putting that aside, didn’t you just say I’m not gifted?”
“Because with that talent, Haneul, you’ll reach the top idol position.”
“…How do you know that, Team Leader Seon?”
I didn’t elaborate.
“Could you lend me your hand for a moment?”
“My hand?”
Yoon Haneul gave me a hesitant look but willingly stretched out her hand. I took her hand and slightly rolled up her loose t-shirt sleeves.
She tried to stop me but her arms were already exposed.
Her arms were a mess. There were purple bruises all over, and several pain relief patches were stuck on the muscle areas. There was even a large bandage on her elbow, something you’d only get prescribed at a hospital.
And that’s why Yoon Haneul could stand on the peak.
“You practice every day, even during others’ free time, cutting back on sleep to train and train, right?”
“….”
Is talent B incapable of mimicking the actions of talent A?
It’s not that such actions don’t exist. But most can do them.
“Sometimes those ‘genius’ types just breeze through actions that others practice a hundred or a thousand times to make them their own, right?”
“….”
That’s right. It’s possible. If you add to it the effort that grinds your bones and shatters your life.
And Yoon Haneul is someone who puts in that effort. It’s no different from being a genius.
“That’s why, Haneul, you will definitely reach the peak. And I want to create the best girl group with someone like you.”
“…sigh.”
Yoon Haneul let out a small sigh and murmured quietly.
“…You turned out to be much more of a risk than what I heard from Yeoreum.”
“Excuse me?”
Why don’t kids these days say big things? Let me in on this too. Give me a reaction!
“I can’t become an idol under your company, TwoBear. I have another company I need to go to. But…”
…But?
Yoon Haneul said with her unique smile, radiating freshness, “A girlfriend is possible, how about that?”
“I’ll decline.”
Yoon Haneul looked like she was hit with a huge shock.
“…What?”
What’s there to be surprised about?
Am I crazy enough to date an idol?
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