Chapter 15: The Big Guns

"Wow," Jihyun said. "I can't believe someone actually sang a Little Meow Meow song in an idol program. You are the first of your kind."

"Thank you," June bowed his head.

The mentors laughed. This trainee just sang an unserious song, but now he was back to being serious? It seemed like he had a clumsy and contrasting charm.1

"But I don't hate it," Jihyun added. "Your voice is quite good for a trainee."

June nodded. "Thanks, mentor."

Woo-jin chuckled. "You don't talk much, do you? Well, I agree with Jihyun. You sing pretty well. I like the tone of your voice, and you also have a lot of potential to improve."

Bone nodded. "You didn't rap, but I also found it quite cool, especially with the new arrangement. Whoever made your demo music is very good. You hired a good producer."1

June didn't bother correcting him. It was bothersome to tell them that he played the piano and recorded it himself.1

"Let us deliberate for a while," Minho said. The mentors gathered in a semi-circle and discussed their opinions.

"What do you guys think?" Jihyun asked. "I can give him five stars based on his vocals alone. I also think he's quite charming."

Woo-jin agreed. "I'm not sure about the mask. It's still pretty weird to me, but I think he has a lot of potential. His voice is very fitted for ballads. I don't know whether he'll be able to adapt to idol singing, but I think it's not impossible. I can give him about four stars based on his potential, too."

"What do you guys think?" Minho asked the other mentors.

"I don't know," Bone said. "I like him, though. I just don't know if the public will accept someone with a pink cat mask. After all, physical appearance is important for an idol."

They chuckled, but Gun and Hyerin seemed to be seriously going over his profile.

"Do you guys have something to say?" Minho asked.

"Hmm," Hyerin hummed. "Does he not dance at all?" she asked.

Gun nodded. "I noticed that, too. I don't think I'll be able to give him five stars until I see him dance."

Jihyun nodded. As much as she wanted to give the weird kid five stars, an idol must possess well-rounded skills in both singing and dancing.

"Trainee June," Minho said into the mic.

"Yes, mentor?"

"Can you show us a dance you've prepared?"

June froze for a second before stiffly nodding. Fortunately, he had prepared for this. He wished they wouldn't have to make him dance, but this was an idol survival show, so he prepared something in advance, just in case.

"Okay, music cue!" Minho exclaimed, and another familiar tune started playing. This time, the piece wasn't arranged, and the original song played.

The trainees burst into laughter. He was playing another Little Meow Meow song? Was he a fanboy?

The cute lyrics played through the speakers, and June started moving his body.

"A is for the awesome tunes we drop,

Bouncing to the rhythm, we just can't stop.

C is for the cool cats, breaking it down,

Dancing to the music all around."

He had a D- on his dance aspect, so he wasn't appalling. But he wasn't good, either. Not even decent.

However, the easy choreography masked his real skills. He moved to the rhythm accurately, but there was something off in his movements.

"Hip-hop ABC, come and sing with me,

Learning letters in a groovy melody.

From A to Z, it's a hip-hop spree,

Let's dance, oh, can't you see?"1

The trainees couldn't stop laughing in their seats. A guy wearing all black with a pink cat mask was clumsily dancing to a kid's song in an idol show. That sentence itself was already too funny to imagine.

Gun shook his head in disbelief. With this dance, he already knew that June wasn't a good dancer. With that, he erased one star from his initial review. He showed it to the other judges, and they reluctantly agreed.

As the last notes faded, Hyerin picked up her mic to speak. "Are you a Little Meow Meow fan?"

June shook his head. "My neighbor is. He recommended this song to me."

"Oh," she said, taken aback. "So, your neighbor decided your song for you?"

He nodded. "He wanted me to perform it."

"Okay," she said, not knowing how to react. "Well, we have deliberated and will now give you your stars."

June waited.

Two stars.

It was probably two stars.

"Trainee June—you get…"

"Three stars," she finished her sentence.

June paused for a while, but eventually nodded and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, mentors."

With that, he left the stage, leaving a deep impression on the trainees and the mentors. He passed by Xin, Hoon, and Jiyong, the three of them looking at him with agape mouths.

June ignored them, however, and walked to where he could get his star stickers. He placed the first two on and hesitated to place the last one. He already knew he didn't deserve such a place. It would have been better to start at the very bottom and make his way up.

Now, he had no choice but to mingle with people who were more talented than him. It would be tough to improve when the other trainees were on a whole other level.

However, since he was gifted such a privilege, he decided to just accept it.

After sticking on his stars, he went back to his seat. Some of the trainees waved at him, so he gave them a nod of acknowledgment.

"Brother!" Jisung exclaimed as he sat. "I've become your fan."

"We're in the same class," June said.

"I know! I'm so excited! You have such a good voice, bro."

June robotically nodded.

Their conversation quickly halted when the next company name was flashed on the screen.

The trainees fell into a chaotic silence, whispering among themselves.

Top Star Entertainment.

"It's time for the big guns."1