Chapter 196
Wooooooong—
The song began simultaneously with thunderous cheers from fans and trainees alike.
Everyone present who had heard it so many times it was practically seared into their eardrums—knew by heart: the group version of Targeting Star’s original song, “Aiming.”
WAAAAAH!!
The familiar bass rumble poured from the speakers, and fans singing along had become so natural it seemed only expected.
– Shining city, noisy people
But here, only you and me
You & I
Those who had taken the opening parts for their respective teams now stepped forward to sing together.
Gao Yan, Ryota, Lee Chae Hyuk.
They were trainees who had started at the bottom of the rankings and never once achieved high stage scores throughout the entire survival competition.
[Let’s see each other for a long time, Chae Hyuk]
[!!The man who’ll change the rules, Gao Yan!!]
[Youth on stage, RYOTA♬]
Even so, there were undeniably fans cheering for them.
You’re doing well right now.
I’m here rooting for you.
And the trainees who had faced those cheers across countless stages were determined to live up to that support.
– They say it’s too early to run
That doesn’t apply to us
Start the Bike, Hurry up & Hop on
We’ve got places to be
As the part neared its end, the three simultaneously raised their hands to their foreheads and sent a brief salute to their fans.
And as a bonus, though they didn’t voice it aloud, they mouthed the words in big, exaggerated lip movements.
‘I’ll do my best!’
It was to send a message to their fans.
Because you’re watching me, I’ll show you what I’ve got until the very end.
That sight was clearly visible to the other trainees holding formation behind them, and naturally, it had an effect.
Especially on Ji Hwa Sung, who had sustained a minor injury from the incident earlier.
– I need it, You Know
Closer, Hey Much Closer
A gun pointing at me
To me, it’s just a round of applause
I’m already prepared, Ready to shoot
Ji Hwa Sung traded rap verses back and forth with Ryota beside him and Li Ming Shen, and performed his expressions more naturally than anyone.
After all, he was a trainee who practically had the confirmed-debut stamp on his forehead. And that wasn’t all.
– With you by my side, it’s fever time
Fear only makes us stronger
His freshly touched-up blonde roots, bleached hair swaying with every movement. Long legs wrapped in clinging leather pants.
A mischievous expression. Flawless rap without swallowing a single syllable.
Those alone were enough to make anyone think, ‘Ah, that guy is definitely going to debut,’ but…
On top of that, with a face beaming bright as sunshine, during the “Fear only makes us stronger” part…
“Bang!”
He fired a finger gun.
“HWA SUUUUNG!!”
Not a single fan noticed that beneath the glove, the back of his hand had been sliced open by a mirror shard.
“Ugh…”
But I, already knowing the truth, could only shake my head in disbelief.
“You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Tch, it stings a little, but… so what? I’m totally fine.”
“So what? Of course it’s something, dude. You got hurt right before the performance. And on top of that, the stuff you had to hear…”
“—Yongyong hyung.”
“…Yeah.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to debut today, no matter what. I couldn’t care less about the words of someone who’s getting eliminated. Got it?”
I told you back then too, didn’t I?
“I’ll carry us through this.”
“…Yeah, man. Got it.”
No matter what Liu Wei had said to him, no matter how he’d gotten hurt because of it.
Even knowing that the older member he trusted most hadn’t been entirely honest with him, he wouldn’t drag anything from off-stage onto the stage.
Tough kid.
Well, of course…
That was exactly why I’d always thought of Hwa Sung as “the most idol-like among the Arrows members.”
After all, even back when we were preparing this very “Aiming” performance, Ji Hwa Sung had been the one who went on stage after hearing some shocking truths.
Honestly…
What if someone other than Hwa Sung had heard the words “There’s no guarantee you’ll be edited favorably, and it’ll likely be an edit that favors Liu Wei under Director Shin’s direction?”
For example, Si Woo. Or, say, someone as soft-hearted as Si Woo.
…Tch.
That alone was something I didn’t even want to imagine.
Anyway.
What mattered right now wasn’t that.
-This one-way ticket
I’ll take you to the one and only goal
I know we’re in this together
The hitchhiker beyond sees us
Logan, now looking every bit the polished idol, singing in his clear, youthful voice.
And after Jae Ha’s perfect as always harmony, the fireworks burst from the front, leading into the highlight.
– Aim at the world
It’s time to target everyone’s hearts
Aiming, Aiming
Watch who takes the shot
Aiming, Aiming
Aimed at your Heart
After everyone sang their hearts out in unison until their throats were raw…
– I’m on it, get on it
Woah Wooah it’s already started.
There’s a dance break coming up where I have to step forward.
“……”
I glanced sideways, scanning the faces of the people who would soon be stepping to the front alongside me.
One of them was Minho, who had a history of messing up a dance break due to excessive ambition.
And the other one…
“Liu Wei will still go on stage for now. He’s completed all the practice, so it shouldn’t be a problem…”
“No, wait! After what just happened, you think that guy can perform without any problems!? More importantly, our debuts are on the line here!”
“…Not putting him on would actually cause more problems at this point, Trainee Ji Hwa Sung. I understand how you feel, but just this once.”
‘Bear with it one last time.’
Liu Wei.
Even dressed in the stage outfit arranged by visual director Moon Yun Ha, even with his makeup complete, Liu Wei’s complexion was deathly pale.
His choreography was even more intense than usual, but anyone who’d practiced alongside him could easily tell he wasn’t in peak condition.
“Kim. Chunyong.”
“…What.”
“I have something to say.”
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