NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62
I wasn’t sure if it was because I was in first place, but my name was at the very top of Team 1.
But right below mine was the name…
[Team 1]
[Ha Ye-rin (1st)]
[Na Han-na (4th)]
“…Huh?”
Of course, it was true that I wasn’t close with Na Han-na.
During the final ranking evaluation, even though we were both A ranks, I couldn’t even say a single word to her.
But the problem was…
‘They put the 1st and 4th together in the same team?’
If it’s all about the “hope you get closer” concept, then having Na Han-na and I on the same team wouldn’t be a problem… but still, isn’t it an issue to combine the 1st and 4th ranks?
Of course…
[31st]
[39th]
[48th]
[63rd]
[81st]
Maybe they rushed to balance it out because the remaining members’ ranks were very low, but…
‘Still, having two top participants in one team is an advantage.’
Even considering that, our team looked much better compared to others.
But this wasn’t just our team.
“…Whoa.”
I couldn’t help but be surprised when I looked at Team 2’s lineup right next to our Team 1.
[Team 2]
[Yoo Seol (2nd)]
[Seo Yoo-jin (3rd)]
“…Crazy.”
They had Yoo Seol and Seo Yoo-jin together over there.
About 30 seconds after the list came out…
“…What the heck is this?”
“The balance is off…!”
“Why are 1st and 4th in the same team…!”
“Even more so, the neighboring team has 2nd and 3rd together…”
Naturally, dissatisfaction began to bubble among the participants.
‘Well, I like my team right now, but…’
From the perspective of the other teams, Team 1 and Team 2, which included 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ranks, must have felt like a natural disaster.
Even though the participants couldn’t protest against the production team due to contracts and authority… maybe because survival was directly at stake, the atmosphere among the participants quickly turned harsh.
“No, this is a serious problem…”
“They’re pushing things too obviously; it’s annoying.”
Just then, sensing the rising voices of dissent, Han Si-woo gestured for the participants to calm down before continuing.
“Haha, of course, I don’t think this team will satisfy everyone! The balance among the 8 teams doesn’t seem even either! But don’t worry!”
“…?”
What Han Si-woo just said was practically an acknowledgment of the production team’s blunder.
With that, I tilted my head for a moment, and then I froze at his next words.
“This second team competition of Na Ah Ah will be a 1 vs 1 team match! Team 1 against Team 2! Team 3 against Team 4! Each team will compete against the team right next to them!”
“…!”
So what he meant was…
Our Team 1, including me and Na Han-na…
[Team 2]
[Yoo Seol (2nd)]
[Seo Yoo-jin (3rd)]
…would be facing Team 2, which included Yoo Seol and Seo Yoo-jin in a 1 vs 1 match.
‘…Damn it.’
I thought I could have a comfortable time in this second team competition, but of course, the production team wouldn’t let that happen.
No matter how I looked at it, the opposing team lineup seemed much better than ours.
Seo Yoo-jin.
She has a knack for ruining the team atmosphere by bringing up unnecessary comments even without being arrogant… but she didn’t just get 3rd place through a fluke.
I knew her stage setup and performance skills well since we had teamed up before.
And Yoo Seol.
Although I came in first place in this ranking announcement, it’s only natural that she’s still above me in terms of skill.
Besides…
‘Locked traits released…’
Darkening.
As if adding another cheating trait to the already overpowered Yoo Seol.
‘Should I just give up on this second team competition…?’
It looked pretty hopeless that our team would defeat Team 2 with both Yoo Seol and Seo Yoo-jin.
With that thought, I could only let out a quiet sigh, even though we had just taken the first step into the second team competition.
“Alright, from now on, please gather with your team members! We’ll have a 5-minute bonding time!”
After completing the team selection chosen by the production team, we had some time to meet with our own team.
And here, I once again realized how exceptional the Na Ah Ah production team’s skills were.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Awkward.
To match the concept of ‘hope you get closer,’ our team atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
Originally, I was the type to stay quiet and not initiate conversations…
“Um…”
I couldn’t withstand the atmosphere any longer and hastily broke the ice.
Then…
“…Yes, yes-!”
“Please go ahead, Ye-rin nim!”
“I’ll listen-!”
…The other team members startled at my words and reacted.
‘What are they, a bunch of tyrant queens’ maids…’
Only then did I realize why our team atmosphere was so awkward.
It was because of me.
My rank was so much higher than the others… They were intimidated.
“Are you going to be the center? Or a leader?”
“We’ll definitely follow your lead, Ye-rin nim!”
…Maybe they just wanted to stay quiet and hop on the bus I was driving.
Feeling a headache coming on…
‘But I’m not the only bus driver in this team.’
I turned my gaze towards the other bus driver, Na Han-na.
But…
“Yawn…”
“……”
“…I’m sleepy.”
She was yawning with a face that showed she didn’t care about the team competition at all.
Swish-
Swish-
Realizing that Na Han-na wouldn’t lead them, the team members started to shine their eyes and focused solely on me.
“Sigh…”
Thanks to that, I understood what it felt like to be the group leader for a project without even having been to university.
It seemed like I had to give up being the center in this team competition.
Although the rank selection hadn’t been done yet, I proceeded with the mindset that I assume I’m the leader.
“Then… shall we introduce ourselves first? I’m Ha Ye-rin from Brotherhood Planning.”
“Ah, yes! I’m…”
At least it was a relief that the team members cooperated well with me.
But…
“Alright, next for your introduction, please.”
“……”
“Um…”
“…Is it my turn now?”
It ended at Na Han-na’s turn.
“Well, um… I’m… yeah….”
We just needed to say our names, but Na Han-na kept blinking her sleepy eyes and dragging it out.
It was incredibly frustrating.
“…I’m Na Han-na.”
Damn it.
If you’re going to answer like that, why drag it out?
“Wow, wow…”
“Uh, nice to meet you…”
Thanks to Na Han-na spoiling the atmosphere, the mood in our team dropped even further.
“……”
“……”
At that moment, I really missed Park Yoo-jung.
‘No…, even if it’s not Yoo-jung, I’d prefer Seo Yoo-jin over Na Han-na…’
I couldn’t even believe how much I missed Seo Yoo-jin at this moment.
If I could swap Na Han-na and Seo Yoo-jin, I would do it without hesitation.
Thus, I prayed for the agonizing five minutes to be over as soon as possible in this suffocating atmosphere.
“……”
“……”
But no matter how long I waited, Han Si-woo didn’t continue to the next part.
‘Damn it…’
If I didn’t say anything more, the team might just blow up, so I reluctantly opened my mouth.
“Hey, what’s everyone’s blood type?”
“I’m blood type B!”
“I’m type O…!”
Oops, I didn’t mean to bring up blood types instead of MBTI.
But now that it had been said, I couldn’t take my words back…
“I’m blood type A…”
“…Wow, that seems timid. Haha…”
With an average age of 18, we ended up passing the time with an unexpected blood type discussion.
It was truly unbearable.
“Alright! Time’s up! Did you all bond well?”
Bonding, my foot.
Only my mental state was reinforced.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I could present a proper stage in the team.
“Now, let’s have a song selection time!”
“……!”
At that moment, I had no choice but to focus more on the song selection.
I already felt that we couldn’t beat Team 2 through normal means.
Then…, I had to choose a good song in the selection to gain an advantage.
“I’m sure everyone is curious about how the song selection will go! The song selection will…!”
“……”
“We’ll proceed once we’ve moved to a different location!”
“……Huh?”
Move to a different location? Where to?
This was the first time for me, and the other participants seemed puzzled too.
“Everyone, please come over here-!”
We reluctantly followed Han Si-woo’s words and the production team’s guidance and moved outside the set.
“You’ll ride this bus in pairs!”
“What? We even have to ride a bus…?”
What on earth were they planning on doing?
With a sense of hesitation, I got on the bus, traveling to wherever the production team was leading us.
Where they let us off was in…
“…A sports arena?”
…a track and field stadium that seemed out of place for idols.
As everyone tilted their heads in confusion…
“…Oh. What’s that?”
With someone’s gesture, we spotted a hastily made banner.
[Exciting Na Ah Ah first sports day]
“…No way?”
“It’s true!”
While everyone was denying reality, Han Si-woo appeared.
He had somehow changed into a gym outfit with sunglasses and a sports cap on, looking just like a typical PE teacher.
“Is there a better event than sports day to promote bonding? Let’s all give a round of applause for Na Ah Ah’s first sports day!”
“…Wow.”
“…I didn’t apply enough sunscreen today.”
Since they were all girls, they seemed distressed at the mention of the sports day.
But…
“The song selection game for the second team competition will be the sports day!”
“……!”
Of course, this was no mere sports day.
“Your scores in the sports day will give you the opportunity to select your desired song! So please do your best!”
“……”
When they heard that their performance in the sports day would lead to a song selection opportunity, the participants’ eyes lit up with renewed enthusiasm.
And then…
‘What a crazy windfall…?’
…I sparkled with excitement more than any other participant.