Chapter 60: Final (2)

A crazy kind of attraction.

I’m the one trapped in a snare.

I’m standing in the dark.

Cha Seongbin walked out from behind the collapsed Do Seohan with a sly grin.

A rap delivered with diction so sharp it felt like it punched right in the ear.

[Wow, Seongbin’s insane.]

The face of Teacher Yoo Minseo murmuring in admiration was caught on camera.

I’m the main rapper.

As if flaunting his presence, Cha Seongbin nonchalantly dropped his self-written rap.

I’m looking for the answer to the homework you gave me.

Don’t brainwash me.

Even if you urgently call me, I won’t rush forward.

His accent and rhythm were so polished it was hard to believe he was a trainee.

Cha Seongbin glided across the stage with a grin on his face.

-Is Cha Seongbin crazy?

-Leave him. He seduced me first.

-He’s the pinnacle of Seongbin’s signature slickness.

-Oh Seongbin ㅠㅠ That strong song hits even harder when he sings it with such style.

-The swagger is insane. I love it.

Next, Choi Han emerged from the back, shrugging his shoulders.

Choi Han’s uniquely light dance lines added flair to the powerful song.

[Wow, Han’s practically flying on stage.]

[It’s Two Hands. His dance style is totally different from Seohan’s.]

[They’re both charming in different ways.]

Then came Kang Siwoo’s rap, flowing cool and smooth.

Kang Siwoo’s naturally low-toned voice had a different charm from Cha Seongbin’s.

Drawn by your gravity, like a satellite orbiting you.

I circle around you.

You know it’s too late to get out.

This was a team that raised concern for being too young to handle the song.

But once they stood on stage, that concern proved unfounded—they delivered a flawless performance.

A stage that had enough impact.

Even Choi Myunghwan, the choreographer who criticized them during mid-evaluation, wore a proud smile.

Just then.

Choi Han and Seo Haim walked out from backstage holding ropes.

-??????????

-What is that?

-Ropes? Here?

It was the highlight of the stage they had ambitiously prepared.

Two ropes crossed in front of Kang Siwoo, blocking his path.

Tied to you.

I can’t break these chains.

I’ve prepared a very sharp blade.

I’ll struggle to break free from you.

Kang Siwoo sprang forward like he was ripping through a net.

His dynamic dance lines resembled a wild beast trapped in a snare.

-Kang Siwoo… he ripped… the ropes…

-ㅅㅂ Oppa is so damn sexy.

-Who choreographed this? The composition is insane.

But.

Swish—

In an instant, the rope wrapped back around Kang Siwoo.

A boy entangled in a snare of tangled ropes, unable to escape.

Kang Siwoo twisted his neck with a chilling gaze.

-St st s**t is Kang Siwoo insane?

-Those crazy eyes are everything.

-Kang Siwoo, if you don’t debut, who will ㅠㅠ

-I’ve seen the future of K-pop.

The chat exploded with profanity.

Tied to you.

I can’t break these chains.

Tighten the unsolvable knot.

So that I’ll break every last bit of lingering regret.

The presence of the center.

Even the presence of the whole team.

The level of perfection was unbelievable for a concept put together in such a short time.

Boom boom. Boom.

Even in the second verse, which started with a hypnotic beat, they didn’t lose their form.

Lee Dokyung’s bold vocals and Do Seohan’s soft harmony flowed together.

Cold eyes that have lost their warmth.

Don’t look at me with that frozen gaze.

I’m standing in the dark.

I’m searching for the path out of the maze you trapped me in.

Don’t brainwash me.

Even if you urgently call me, I won’t rush forward.

Cha Seongbin grinned and ran his hand along his lower lip.

Tied to you.

I can’t break these chains.

I’ve prepared a very sharp blade.

I’ll struggle to break free from you.

Tied to you.

I can’t break these chains.

Tighten the unsolvable knot.

So that I’ll break every last bit of lingering regret.

There it was.

Cha Seongbin’s thigh stroke.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Protect Cha Seongbin!”

With each provocative move, delighted screams burst from the front row.

However, Do Seohan’s course meal wasn’t over yet.

Boom boom boom.

The dance break stormed in with that addictive beat.

It was Do Seohan’s turn.

Seohan leapt up and twisted his body with flair.

-What the hell.

-Sexy Hamjji, you… you… you could do this too???

-Why did they send him to Geundeure?

-A rediscovery of the youngest.

He twisted his neck and pressed his carotid artery as part of the choreography.

Seohan smiled calmly and stomped the floor.

Bang bang.

He didn’t miss a single beat, dissecting the rhythm with ease.

Seohan was practically playing with this intense choreography.

Even with the crazy stage movement from one end to the other, he didn’t falter for a second.

His dance lines were so powerful they sent tingles up the spine.

The judges’ voices overlapped, filling the audio.

[Seohan choreographed this, right?]

[There’s absolutely no weak spot.]

There was nothing left to critique.

“It’s professional level….”

“Are these really the kids I know?”

Tied to you.

I can’t break these chains.

I’ve prepared a very sharp blade.

I’ll struggle to break free from you.

Tied to you.

I can’t break these chains.

Tighten the unsolvable knot.

So that I’ll break every last bit of lingering regret.

Thud—

The six members gathered at the center of the stage simultaneously turned their backs.

Each step was taken with care, as if not wanting to miss a single beat until the last note.

“…….”

The final stage of “Tied to You,” which had relentlessly surged to its climax,

came to an end like that.

On the stage now dimmed by the lights, only the heavy breathing of the six filled the air.

“Haa… ha….”

“Phew….”

They were told to tear up the stage, and they downright destroyed it.

[What was that stage just now?]

Kang Siwoo tore it up, right?

The rope part was insane, wasn’t it?

-If you watch this and don’t vote for Kang Siwoo and Do Seohan, you’re a psychopath.

ㄴThey’re my one-pick.

ㄴAh—

ㄴHow do I pick both?

-I heard Seohan choreographed this, what do we do with this soft genius hamster?

ㄴHe’s so precious I could die.

ㄴThe future of K-pop is too bright.

-Kang Siwoo exploded with potential on this stage.

ㄴHe had no screen time, barely stood out, but now I want him in the debut team so bad.

ㄴPlease debut.

ㄴI fell for that fierce look in his eyes.

[Tied to You was just insane.]

It’s an honor to witness this kind of stage in the finals.

The kids really came out grinding their teeth.

Forget the rankings—

Cha Seongbin’s thigh stroke.

Kang Siwoo breaking the rope.

Do Seohan’s dance break.

Those three moments keep looping in my head.

-Seongbin, what do we do with your overwhelming charisma?

-I don’t care about anything else, the fact that all three of them were in Geundeure during the concept eval drives me insane.

ㄴ22222222 They had that flair and you put them there?

ㄴActually, I like it. It means they can handle all kinds of concepts.

ㄴYou geniuses better debut.

-After this stage, I’ve become a hardcore Kang Siwoo fan.

-Seohan, I won’t call you Soft Hamjji anymore. You’re a damn sexy hamster now.

ㄴRegardless of the vibe, his dance lines were so tasty I could lose my mind.

ㄴI thought he was going to wreck the stage.

ㄴWas he always this good at dancing?

-Seohan is the youngest, and I doubted if he could debut with a tough song and still be center, but this stage eased all my worries lol. Take it all, Seohan.

ㄴByo-Seohan first-place debut, let’s go center.

-With this stage quality, today’s text vote picks might change.

ㄴAfter seeing that, the public will definitely vote for this team’s trainees.

ㄴOthers are stable, but Siwoo, you’re not. Please debut.

ㄴKang Siwoo must debut.

Even though the even-numbered team’s <Attraction> stage followed and received hot reactions,

it couldn’t surpass the explosive impact of “Tied to You.”

Contrary to the harsh criticisms they received during the mid-evaluation,

it felt like they all came back with gritted teeth—truly a masterpiece.

Next up was the live ballad stage prepared for the final.

The lyrics of the song were so emotional that many trainees ended up crying.

With the fans and even the trainees’ families in attendance,

the entire venue turned into a sea of tears.

Once the ballad stage ended, all the trainees returned to the waiting room.

All that remained now was the ranking announcement.

The moment of fate was drawing near.

As MC Han Dawon reappeared, the atmosphere turned solemn.

“I’m nervous.”

“I’m going crazy.”

“Please… let’s debut….”

While fans swallowed their spit with desperate expressions,

the silence in the studio was broken.

Murmur murmur—

“Tada!”

The final ranking announcement ceremony.

The trainees’ entrance performance began.

.

.

.

.

The trainees appeared in pairs.

First up were Seo Haim and Jin Sehyun.

A reliable same-age combo.

“Waaaaah!”

“I’m Seo Haim! A detective. I’m here to steal the hearts of our sponsors!”

“…Yeah. Here to steal.”

“Shh, quiet. Eek, we’ve been caught!”

-That’s not a detective, that’s a thief lololololol

-Seo Haim really takes her concept seriously.

-Jin Sehyun beside her lololol not even flinching lolol

-Why are they always hilarious just by standing next to each other?

Seo Haim bounced around enthusiastically, while Jin Sehyun kept a serious face.

It looked like he was playing along, but his eyes were completely soulless.

“Jjunseo! I’m Dokyung!”

“Zoom zoom, passing by quickly—!”

“We love you, sponsors!”

Along with their otherworldly gestures that induced cringe and dizziness every time they came out.

But they were perfect for lightening the mood that had gotten too serious.

As several teams passed by quickly,

and fans anxiously waited for the rankings to be announced—

The last pair to appear were Seo Ian and Do Seohan.

-What’s their concept???

-Oh, Salvation Duo, I love them.

-Their visuals are crazy.

Since what happened at KJ was already well known to the public,

fans remembered them as the emotional pair who survived that awful company together, now called the “Salvation Duo.”

Just seeing them warmed hearts for some reason.

What kind of concept would they show…?

“Hyung, Seohan has something to say!”

“Ian will listen. What is it… nyeong?”

…It was an aegyo concept.

-Ah lololololololol is this an aegyo battle? lololol

-Do Seohan in third person lololololol

-They’re the last people I’d expect to do something like this lol and yet they are

-If it were Cha Seongbin or Seo Haim, I’d get it lolol I’ve barely seen those two act cute

-Seo Ian was late with the aegyo, ah lololol

“Haa….”

Seohan looked straight into the camera and shut his eyes tight for a moment.

After a deep breath, he braced himself with a blank expression.

In a fresh voice, he said,

“Dance genius! All-around talent! Lethal youngest…! Hoo, I’m Do Seohan!”

“I’m Seo Ian, who slipped into your hearts like soft tofu!”

“Ah, please pick me just once….”

“…Please.”

Do Seohan was caught on camera trembling as he said the scripted lines.

His expression made it look like he was facing the worst moment of his eighteen-year life.

“Pfft.”

Cha Seongbin couldn’t hold it anymore and burst into laughter.

He clutched his belly and collapsed forward alongside Seo Haim, who was seated next to him.

“Ahahahah!”

“Do Seohan’s expression is freaking hilarious.”

Their already flushed faces turned even redder.

Seohan, glancing around nervously, nudged Ian in the ribs.

‘Let’s get out of here quickly.’

‘Should we wrap it up here?’

The moment their eyes met—

“Thank you very much….”

They bowed.

Even in that chaos, they didn’t forget to bow at a full 90 degrees.

After fulfilling their duties, the two disappeared from view as if diving into a mouse hole.

And then.

“Aaaargh….”

A low-pitched scream—presumably from Do Seohan—echoed offscreen.

-Do Seohan’s face screams reality check lololol ah lololol Hamjji

-Sundubu Ian’s ears turned red, he’s practically tofu dipped in spicy sauce

-The kids’ changing expressions are too cute I’m dying ㅠㅠ

Laughter erupted refreshingly from the audience seats as well.

However.

It wasn’t something they could enjoy forever.

While the entrance performances continued, Han Dawon reappeared in front of the camera, having received the results from the staff.

“Thank you for waiting. We will now begin the ranking announcement.”

His heavy voice resounded.

At the same time, the laughter disappeared from the chat.

“…….”

“Ah….”

Fans all held their breath and stared at their monitors.

And then.

Han Dawon spoke in a determined voice.

“We will reveal the 6th place trainee first.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep