Embrace The Chords & Strings | ZEROBASEONE

It is easier to see straight with no burden behind one's back. This was June's feeling watching the upcoming performances right after their own. There will still be the announcing of winners later, the benefit of M Countdown and added benefit points shining in his peripheral vision. But he didn't let these details distract him from having a great time.

The third group to perform in their category would be taking on hit girl group Twice's Feel Special. It was a song that was quite known even in places where Kpop wasn't the norm. Initially, he had high expectations for the team because he heard the delight of the members upon hearing it be announced earlier on. But these hopes mellowed down when he heard of whispers that some members were slacking off and having one carry the weight of many parts.

"You need to take responsibility for your choice." He hoped that Master Solji's reminder would pressure the other members to stop pointing fingers.

Cha Woong Ki shined. His choreography made the performance more original and authentic. He learned to listen to the advise of the coaches despite being the member who carried much of the weight. Even his vocals took charge of the large sections — most had challenging notes that could tire out singers.

So when the scores were revealed to the rest of the trainees, he was thankful he wasn't in the room or else he would've snarled. The annoyance that pricked at his skin needed to confront the specific team. But he stayed, leaning back to his chair and trying not to attract attention to him. Yet, one of the staff, he supposes, saw his distaste for the event and decided to interview him about it later on.

"Honestly, I'm disappointed with a few scores. Others tore out themselves so that a few could leech off. And they don't get the fair score on that?"

Cha Woong Ki, a boy he never spoke directly with but an undeniably hard working trainee. He deserved to have his name grace the leading board after learning new skills, taking initiative, and picking up the slack of others. "It was heartbreaking. It was cruel to steal his smile."

»--•--«

All of the performances had the responsibility to honor the original artists of the songs they were performing. And with a song from BTS, whose fans are quite protective and vocal, he prayed hard for the Butterfly team. And suppose that the deities who govern life did take pity on them because they sent a coach. Lip J's initiative to approach Jun Seo and comfort him had made him smile then and there even if his team had received concerning feedback.

Chen Kuan Ji was one of the most graceful dancers and sincere vocalists he's heard in general. He didn't even feel himself worry because if this group won over his own, he couldn't find it in his heart to doubt. The leader had sang so captivatingly. His solo dance made him soar, the personification of a butterfly.

The whole time the goosebumps on his skin didn't leave. As the last performance for their category, it was such a graceful closer. He wouldn't have chosen any other group to conclude the Vocal and Dance category.

»--•--«

He wonders how the other groups in the Vocal and Rap position felt when Tomboy was decided to start them off. If it was him, he would've just hid his face and cried for a little while.

They were the superhero team among all the stages. They had members belonging only in the top 10, all of them reliable and exceptionally talented.

Zhang Hao, a Chinese trainee who had mastered music enough to teach it. The foreign idol aspirer had the work ethic to learn Korean well to speak it fluently. And he was one of the most enthralling performers to watch and hear. He could still remember the older boy's parts in the Kill This Love stage.