Chapter 30: The Gap

On the day of the midterm evaluation.

Crunch.

A sound of hands twisted in a clasp echoed through the silent practice room.

Ms. Yoo Minseo glanced toward the source of the sound.

Beside her sat the specially invited famous ballad singer, Kim Joo‑hyun.

With a long career behind him, he had seen countless rookie singers.

“Is there anyone you’re particularly interested in?”

His eyes gleamed behind his black horn‑rimmed glasses.

I secretly hoped a name would emerge from his mouth, but sadly his gaze paused on the photo of another trainee.

The main vocalist of Vocal Team B, who would compete against Vocal Team A.

“Lee Ha‑jin—I thought this one was pretty good.”

If you’d seen the rating‐evaluation video, it made sense to think so.

Her vocal skills were outstanding, but she lacked performance and dance ability, so she had been downgraded to a B grade during the evaluation.

Ms. Yoo Minseo had wanted to give her an A, but the other trainers overruled her.

Although a bit disappointed, she nodded in understanding.

“Shall we start with Vocal Team B, then?”

“Oh, yes!”

“Uh… hey, get up.”

At Ms. Yoo Minseo’s words, the B team trainees who had been relaxing all stood up at once.

It seemed they were well placed—many were primarily vocal trainees from the start.

And Team A had slightly higher recognition, but their overall vocal balance was weaker?

After a quick judgement, Ms. Yoo Minseo looked at the camera and spoke.

“Team B, are you confident?”

“Yes, of course we are.”

With certainty, the corners of her mouth lifted—it was Lee Ha‑jin, the main vocalist of Team B, who replied.

Her expression was full of confidence at a glance.

‘They’re not even primary vocal trainees. It’s a fight they should win, right?’

It seemed her eyes were silently saying that, and Ha‑jin closed her mouth firmly.

‘She’s the type whose thoughts you can read.’

There are kids like that everywhere.

I don’t know if it’s a personality that survives well on a survival show…

But being full of drive meant she had ambition for music, so she wasn’t the kind I disliked.

Ms. Yoo tapped her pen lightly on the desk, then lifted her head.

“Well then, let’s begin. What song did you prepare?”

“We prepared ‘Hold Me’!”

“Oh, that song?”

Team B had prepared the famous ballad “Hold Me,” which features a difficult high-pitched chorus twice.

It’s one of the most popular karaoke songs in the country, so recognition was obvious—but the chorus is notoriously difficult in pitch.

“Ah, it’s either make or break.”

If they succeeded, it’d be a hit, but if they failed, it’d be a cringe-worthy memory.

I hoped they’d be the former.

“You chose it because you’re confident, right?”

“Uh…”

“Yes, absolutely.”

Lee Ha‑jin interrupted a B‑team member’s hesitation—she intended to handle the chorus herself.

Ms. Yoo Minseo nodded and gestured.

As the music began, Ha‑jin grabbed the mic.

Hold me—

There’s no one but me who can hold you

They must have practiced extensively, because the overall vocal harmony was well aligned.

The path we walked when we met—

Though it grew distant—I can endure it

‘High notes are fine.’

Fortunately, there was no mishap from the start. Trusting her stance, Ha‑jin belted the high notes crisply.

Clearly, she was the primary vocal force.

Kim Joo‑hyun’s eyes widened, then his brows furrowed at the next phrase.

Here came the infamous chorus.

I’ll stay where I am—for however long—

I’ll believe we’ll be together forever—

Woe‑ah, uh‑ah, uh‑uh‑ah

As the high notes rose sharply, Ha‑jin’s face flushed red.

It was a high note that inevitably strained her throat, given the difficult song choice.

I’ll stay where I am—for however long I choose—

Because I believe you feel the same—

It seemed the others lacked confidence and ceded the chorus,

Leaving Ha‑jin to handle most of the high parts alone.

Her face turned so red it looked about to burst before the performance ended.

“Uh… hmm. I’ll listen up to here.”

When the first verse ended, Kim Joo‑hyun stopped the music first.

Ms. Yoo Minseo nodded as if in understanding, offering no further comment.

“Yes, that was good.”

There were clearly no dramatic mistakes.

She had the fundamentals I expected…

Kim Joo‑hyun pressed his temple thoughtfully for a moment.

How should I explain where it went wrong?

“How did the high notes feel just now?”

“They felt fine as they went up.”

“…But it looked really strenuous?”

Choosing a song that showcases ability is fine.

The issue was that she handled it with great difficulty.

“When I watch vocals, I need to feel at ease. But I didn’t feel that ease. In that part, there were no mistakes—but I felt nervous, constantly worried when a mistake might come.”

“……”

“Frankly, I think ‘Hold Me’ is a song beyond your level.”

On broadcast, only the line “It’s beyond your level” might air, edited for impact.

Yet, though harsh, Kim Joo‑hyun’s critique was quite reasonable.

Whether the trainees could accept it, I didn’t know.

“Like wearing a dress that doesn’t fit—what do you think?”

Ha‑jin responded with clear displeasure in her expression.

“…I believe there were no mistakes.”

“How about changing the song selection?”

“The parts are already assigned, we practiced, and time is limited—realistically, that’s a bit…”

“Hmm.”

Kim Joo-hyun shook his head as if it couldn’t be helped.

Even if they said it like that, he couldn’t exactly grab them by the collar and force them to change it.

“Yes, understood.”

“…Thank you for singing. Shall we wrap this up?”

Ms. Yoo Minseo gave an awkward smile as she wrapped up the situation, and Team B’s midterm evaluation ended in a cold atmosphere.

Lee Hajin sat quietly with a displeased expression, as if something still felt unresolved.

Ms. Yoo Minseo’s gaze had already shifted to the next team.

“Well then… the next team?”

She lifted the part-distribution chart and began speaking.

Hoping that this team could erase the disappointment left by the last.

It was the midterm evaluation for Vocal Team A, which included Do Seohan, Lee Dokyung, and Kang Siwoo.

“Is Do Seohan the main vocalist here?”

“Yes, it’s Do Seohan.”

Ms. Yoo Minseo’s eyes sparkled as she asked subtly.

“Wow~ You snagged it?”

“Ah… yes!”

Though a little shy, Seohan gave a wide grin.

Ms. Yoo liked his modest honesty and laughed along.

“You chose… ‘First Confession’?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s unexpected.”

The song choice was also a surprise for this team.

She didn’t expect them to bring a sweet love song to a vocal battle.

Ms. Yoo Minseo turned her curious gaze to the side.

Maybe because of her disappointment in the previous team, Kim Joo-hyun’s eyes already looked half-dead.

It seemed he had completely given up hope here.

Ms. Yoo Minseo also refocused her sharp gaze and prepared to listen.

Because she was disappointed by the song choice of “Hold Me,” she just hoped Team A had chosen something that suited their own style.

At that moment, Do Seohan’s voice opened the intro.

The moment you came, my world stopped.

I came to believe this is what love feels like.

A low voice that made you smile without realizing.

Do Seohan’s voice matched these kinds of love songs so well that it made people flutter for no reason.

I want to know

Everything about you

A white wall stood—

In a place where you couldn’t come in.

But somehow, you slipped through—

And swirled your brush around.

Soon, Lee Dokyung’s and Do Seohan’s voices layered into harmony.

‘That’s an unexpected level of skill.’

Lee Dokyung was showing improved vocal skills compared to before, but Ms. Yoo Minseo’s ears were already focused on one person.

Do you know that—

The paint-stained T-shirt—

I just liked you drawing next to me.

Crisp high notes and clean vocalization.

A standard, technique-free vocalization—Ms. Yoo’s favorite kind of full high note.

‘Anyone would think he’s been getting private lessons from me every day.’

Like a student who perfectly understands the test maker’s intention—he was delivering exactly the kind of vocals she wanted. Ms. Yoo Minseo smiled contentedly and nodded repeatedly.

I want to know

Everything about you

My colorless world became dyed because of you.

Listen—this is all of me.

Purely in terms of vocal skills, he might trail slightly behind Lee Hajin.

But that was a gap caused by the difference between performance-based and vocal-based strengths—something that couldn’t easily be closed.

However, with just one song choice, they had managed to bridge that gap.

Team B’s stage had been nerve-racking and unstable,

While Team A’s stage was packed full with things they could do well, without any showiness.

Kang Siwoo casually tossed out notes with an indifferent voice—but even that wasn’t excessive, blending naturally with Do Seohan’s voice. His rap-like, unique tone also caught Ms. Yoo’s ear.

You’re music to me.

You make it impossible to stop.

I’ll never go back to before.

Because your world became mine.

I want to know

Everything about you

“…Wow.”

Finally, the high note in the climax.

The moment the three voices harmonized into one picture.

Kim Joo-hyun let out a gasp without realizing it.

“What is this?”

He had no expectations for this team.

Clearly… their vocal skills weren’t particularly outstanding.

But with Do Seohan as the center,

Lee Dokyung’s light voice and Kang Siwoo’s low tones painted different colors together in a scene that completely captured his attention.

“They’re good.”

Do Seohan hit the high note cleanly, to the point that even Ms. Yoo Minseo was satisfied.

Second octave C. A range they thought would be a clear limitation, but he pierced through it effortlessly.

Kim Joo-hyun couldn’t hide his smile watching that.

He thought this was a fight they would definitely lose.

But between arrogance and self-awareness,

Between ideal and reality,

This was the strategist’s victory.

Ms. Yoo Minseo also smiled in satisfaction, seeing the tide turning.

‘This is it.’

The picture she had wanted.

This was the stage she had hoped for.

‘No matter where you’re placed, you do well.’

It was clearly a position where he could’ve been at a disadvantage. If he’d chosen the performance position, Do Seohan might’ve had a wider range to show off.

To make up for that shortcoming—just how much effort must he have put in?

Even without the camera highlighting it, it was crystal clear in this midterm evaluation.

She couldn’t hold back the praise.

“Good work.”

“You guys did so well.”

Ms. Yoo Minseo’s voice, as she said those words, was a bit more emotional than usual.

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