IKC C13

Chapter 13

“Damn it, I overslept—why didn’t anyone wake me up!”

Startled, I looked around. Jeongmin had already left the room. Judging from the neatly folded bedding, he must have woken up on his usual early schedule.

―“I actually had a good night’s sleep for once too.”

On the other end of the line, Seong Sehan’s laugh rang bright. I had just scrambled to jump out of bed, but that laugh paralyzed me, made me sit right back down.

“Good. Getting proper sleep is how you heal faster. You’re not hurting, are you?”

―“Taegyeong.”

Why… why did he say my name like that, drawn-out and sticky sweet? My gut clenched, bad premonitions snapping me fully awake.

―“Perfect Puzzle is confirmed for Star Light.”

“Star Light…?”

Where did he say he was going? Star Light… My heart dropped like a brick, a gasp shaking out.

“That’s the MVT idol survival show! You’re seriously going on there?”

―“Mm, the company refused a few times already. But I said I’d do it. So just earlier…”

“You bastard, Seong Sehan!”

I jumped off the bed, pacing like a caged beast, panting as though I’d explode.

“Why the hell would Perfect Puzzle go there… ha! For god’s sake, Sehan, don’t you realize why we’re trying to enter a survival? If Perfect Puzzle joins, teams like ours…”

Rage made my voice climb.

“Fucking hell, it’s a chance for us nobodies to claw even a sliver of attention through blood and sweat! Why do you have to take that stage? Instead of helping us, you’re—”

―“Taegyeong, why are you yelling at an injured man? What if my wound worsens because of you—will you take responsibility?”

“Ghh—!” My hand pressed hard to the back of my neck. This was my blood pressure boiling.

“…Ngh, Seong Sehan, listen. We haven’t even debuted yet. Our company is still negotiating whether we’ll even get a chance to appear. Nothing’s certain. Understand?”

―“Don’t worry. If it’s you, I’ll make sure you’re there.”

Jesus… Was he deliberately blocking my path? I was supposed to save him, yet he was cutting off my chances at survival.

Breaking News: Perfect Puzzle confirmed for “Star Light”! A lineup with destructive power begins!

MVT Survival “Star Light”: From lineup alone, already predicting a universal-scale war—Perfect Puzzle, no rivals on Earth!

*The rookie giants Perfect Puzzle join survival—with victory practically reserved!

“Hyung, stop scrolling those articles already.”

I hadn’t looked up from my phone in days, eyes chained to endless news. Finally, Jeongmin gave me a look.

“You’ve read the same thing for days straight. Nothing changes just because you’re obsessing. Hyung… are you seriously that scared of Perfect Puzzle? Think you can’t win?”

“…Maknae, sit.”

I pulled him over to the line of benches along the practice hall wall.

“See this lineup for Star Light—Perfect Puzzle, Jumping Boys, Sun & Moon—imagine our name sitting alongside them! Doesn’t the dopamine just fry your nerves? I feel charged, overflowing!”

“…!”

Jeongmin’s eyes flared like he’d had an epiphany.

“Hyung! My heart’s pounding already!”

“And listen, Maknae…”

I didn’t want to crush him, but reality was needed.

“We just debuted—or, we’re about to. Competing with Perfect Puzzle? Impossible. At this stage, no rookie, no group—no one can beat them, not on stage and not with votes. You have to admit that much.”

“…True. Even if Sehan-hyung competed alone, we still couldn’t win.”

“Now, that’s…”

The truth slapped harder than expected, but still—it wasn’t what mattered.

“Forget the rest. This opportunity is all we get—we pour everything into it. If we don’t grow a fandom here, our future’s dead. Do you understand?”

This survival was life or death. I’d already resolved to tear myself apart for it.

But now… Perfect Puzzle crashing in guaranteed every smaller team would lose their share of buzz. Because of Seong Sehan—

No. Cool down. Wrestling with a lunatic like him only shredded my hands bloody.

“Hyung, your goals sound… too modest…”

Jeongmin started to protest, but the practice room doors blasted open. I shot up instinctively.

“What the—?”

Heavy stomps. Then… laughter slipped out of me when I saw. Kim Hyuksu. He’d debuted with us once before in VOB.

“Lee Taegyeong-hyung!”

He stomped straight toward me, stopping dead in front.

“I heard you kicked me out. Is it true?”

“…And just who told you that?”

Keeping a smile planted, I tried to calm him. But his storming energy had my heart pounding uneasy.

“It’s been over a month since I joined the lineup! Instructors said I was center material! Now suddenly they say I don’t blend with the team? Geonwoo-hyung would never say that. You’re the one who hated me from the start, weren’t you?”

“…Who branded you center? Choi Suin outclasses you easily. Honestly, you’re laughable.”

His eyes blazed murder.

“And who are you to decide center position? What, just because you’re close with Geonwoo, you think you’re the CEO’s kid now?”

Looking into his furious glare, rage bubbled hot enough I wanted to finally do it—just strike him.

Because of Hyuksu…

We’d lost all our pre-debut content, trashed everything, branded “the bullying group.”

“Kim Hyuksu…”

My clenched fist trembled.

What soul could grasp the despair we felt when reports dropped: beating classmates in groups, sexually harassing a girl, punching until others were hurt?

I hadn’t asked for another Seong Sehan. Not even a replacement for his brilliance. But to waste youth sweating alongside garbage like this—it was an insult I couldn’t stomach.

Maybe our dream had already collapsed before debut even came.

“If I have to drop from this lineup—fine. But I’ll never share a team with you.”

“You fucking bastard!”

Wham!

His fist slammed my jaw before I could flinch. Sparks flashed across my sight as I tumbled into a chair.

“Lee Taegyeong! I’ll destroy you! From now on—”

“Hey! Who the hell do you think you’re hitting?”

Jeongmin’s scream cut through. Dizzy, I staggered upright.

“Stay back, Maknae—”

“What’s going on here!”

“Kim Hyuksu, stop this right now!”

Before I could react, the dance instructor and Geonwoo barrelled in. Luckily, Jeongmin only got grazed. Still—blood spilled.

“Ow—!”

“Hold still.”

As Geonwoo applied ointment to my chin, his face was grim.

“You were right. Hyuksu can’t stay. With his temper, he’ll cause disasters in-team.”

Once, he’d seen Hyuksu as valuable. But now, ever since I’d shown willingness to quit, he’d been yielding to my words on everything.

I had to use that.

“Hyung—we should bring Choi Suin in now.”

“…What? He’s been training less than a year!”

“Doesn’t matter. He will join us. Quiet kid, easy to overlook. But his dancing is unparalleled.”

His vocals and rap lacked. But the dance—spectacular.

“…If that’s what you think.”

I clapped his shoulder.

“Relax, Hyung. It’s all for the team.”

He probably still doubted if this was right. But we didn’t have leisure to ponder. With recording, choreography, contents—all packed tight—we had no room to sleep anymore.

Our debut was fixed: March 28.

Bandaged and leaving, my phone buzzed inside training pants.

Of course—it was Seong Sehan again.

I’d dodged so many of his calls lately, using busyness as excuse. Typical childish him—doubling down harder.

Glancing at my screen, Geonwoo gave me a pat.

“Answer, then come to the studio. We’ll re-record the guide track.”

“Yes, hyung.”

It rang constantly until I found a seat in the hallway. Avoiding the call all day only made me hesitate more.

Finally, I swiped.

“…Yeah, Sehan.”

―“Lee Taegyeong, you really are busy, huh?”

Background noise proved it. Still stuck on his shoot. Perfect Puzzle probably owned half the fashion magazine world by now.

“We’ve got our debut date. It’s chaos. It’s… exhausting.”

If I said— “Without you, the hole feels too big. Our center was supposed to be you…” What would you have answered?

Because of you, we ended up with people like Hyuksu.

How the hell would you understand.

“Sehan, I’ve got to head to Geonwoo’s studio. Let’s talk later.”

―“Taegyeong.”

His low voice froze me. The phone pressed tight to my ear.

―“I told you. No take-backs.”³