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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Evaluation. Or Exam.
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Evaluation. Or exam.
I'd been familiar with it since elementary school—no, maybe even before that.
It was something I'd been conditioned to accept from childhood, now just a natural part of life.
A system that openly revealed rankings from first place to dead last could be brutally harsh for some.
Unless you completely escaped it, there was no avoiding it.
All the subject-specific tests for the first semester of our first year at Cheongyeom Arts High had finally wrapped up.
After finishing the last dance test of the day, I stepped out of the small theater and stood there, quietly surveying the other students.
The thirty kids wore a rainbow of expressions.
Faces shrouded in despair and gloom stood out especially.
They were shadows I hadn't noticed before my regression.
Probably because I'd worn a similar look myself.
It was heartbreaking.
I hoped those kids would realize it.
That today's ranking was just today's ranking.
That it was merely an objective snapshot of their skills in this moment—not a grade for their entire life.
Having gone through the daily ups and downs of evaluations sixteen years ago myself, their expressions hit me even harder.
"What are you staring at like that?"
My face must have looked pretty serious, because Choi Sung-jin asked cautiously.
"Nothing. It's nothing."
I gave him a faint smile in response.
Fortunately, Choi Sung-jin's expression as he looked back at me was a good one.
For every gloomy face, there was one like his—radiating happiness.
"You killed it today. Total stage presence, huh, Choi Sung-jin?"
No need to get cocky just because he took first.
But no reason not to savor the moment, either.
"R-Really? I was so out of it, though..."
Choi Sung-jin scratched the back of his head.
The second he stepped offstage, the timid side was back.
Concept or whatever.
Couldn't believe how perfectly Jekyll-and-Hyde he was.
At least the smile plastered on his face made it clear he was on cloud nine.
"Skip dinner at the cafeteria tonight and meet me at the front gate. Let's grab something tasty."
As someone with a bit more life experience, I knew better than to let a moment like this pass.
Choi Sung-jin had every right to fully soak it in.
"Something tasty?"
"Yeah. Anything you're craving?"
"Um..."
Before Choi Sung-jin could mull it over and answer, another voice cut in.
"Great show out there, Do-hyun."
Another person basking in the glow of first place—Kim Sun-woo.
"Yours too. Congrats on first, Kim Sun-woo."
Kim Sun-woo, who'd tied for first this time, grinned wide.
"Haha. You too, first place."
Anyone overhearing might think we were trading cheesy lines.
Felt like I could almost hear Song Ha-na calling it cringy from somewhere, but nah, just my imagination.
I shot Kim Sun-woo a light smile, then shifted my gaze to Han Yu-ra beside him.
"Han Yu-ra, right? I'm Lee Do-hyun. Loved your performance today."
"Same here. Killer tap dance."
"First time hearing a harp up this close—sounded amazing. Mind if I request a collab sometime?"
"We'll see."
Han Yu-ra flashed a coy smile.
They say only rich kids learn harp, and up close, she practically oozed class.
"Choi Sung-jin, was it?"
Now Kim Sun-woo turned his attention to Choi Sung-jin.
No response for a beat, so I glanced over—Choi Sung-jin looked even more frozen than usual.
What's his deal?
As I watched worriedly, he finally managed a nod.
"You're a totally different person onstage. Caught me off guard how cool you were."
"...Thanks."
Predictably, Choi Sung-jin mumbled it timidly.
His voice was even quieter than when it was just us.
Might as well ask that thing I'd been dying to know since we bumped into them.
"Got a question."
"Yeah? Shoot."
"Why harp? Any special reason?"
You originally picked piano, right? What changed your mind?
I barely swallowed the real questions and locked eyes with Kim Sun-woo.
"Well."
Gulp.
I tensed up without realizing it, waiting for his answer.
"'Cause I felt like it? The choreography that matched it just popped into my head."
It just popped into his head. That was really it?
The somewhat anticlimactic answer didn't quite satisfy.
Not impossible for a genius like him, but it didn't feel like a straight-up satisfying explanation.
At a loss for words, I shut my mouth, and silence fell over the four of us.
Han Yu-ra broke it, unexpectedly.
"You were good, Choi Sung-jin."
Worse than before.
He'd frozen solid when Kim Sun-woo spoke, but now he couldn't even reply.
...Do these two not mesh or something?
"Why no answer?"
"Th-Thanks..."
"What? Can't hear you."
"Th-Thank you."
Han Yu-ra heard it fine this time but pouted a little.
She stood there for a moment with that expression,
"Jeez. That's all you got? Whatever, fine. What was I expecting from you."
Choi Sung-jin's reply ended at thanks.
She seemed to know all about his extreme shyness but sighed in frustration anyway, turning away.
"Kim Sun-woo, I'm out. Text me!"
Kim Sun-woo chuckled at the sight, not laughing outright.
I looked at Choi Sung-jin with pity.
"Yeah, see ya, Han Yu-ra. Enjoy lunch."
"W-Wait...!"
Choi Sung-jin was on the verge of tears now.
Couldn't help but feel bad for him.
No helping it.
I'll give you a little push, bro—then grow into a cool guy on your own.
I patted Choi Sung-jin's back.
"Huh...?"
"Go on, say something."
He flailed for a second, then bolted after Han Yu-ra like he'd made up his mind.
Kim Sun-woo just kept chuckling, clearly amused.
"Can't believe he's like that."
Kim Sun-woo glanced where Choi Sung-jin had vanished, giggling in disbelief at the total contrast to his onstage self.
"It's hilarious. Like straight-up Jekyll and Hyde."
No way he was the one who coined the Choi Kill 'n' Choi Hide nickname pre-regression.
After laughing for a good while, Kim Sun-woo stopped and flashed his usual smile.
"Shall we head in?"
Us?
The unfamiliar phrasing made me glance at him.
"Back to class."
I peeked at his expression.
Same as always—a pleasant smile.
But something felt off.
Indefinably weird.
I nodded at Kim Sun-woo, who was waiting for me to move.
"Yeah. Let's go."
In the end, Kim Sun-woo and I walked back to class side by side.
***
"Auntie, can I get a little more rice?"
"Good grief, don't waste it."
"Whoa, curry today!"
The next day, with all the tests done, the kids were buzzing cheerfully as they lined up for food, looking relaxed.
Kim Sun-woo, Song Ha-na, and Moon Woo-hyuk sat down with their trays.
"Ha-na, you really bring your own every day...?"
Kim Sun-woo gawked at Song Ha-na's meal.
Song Ha-na had waffled on school lunch at the start of the semester but had settled on packed lunches lately.
"This? Nah, no way. The chef uncle at home makes it."
Classic Song Ha-na class.
Who else but a chaebol would have a home chef?
Probably not just one, either—bet they assigned someone specifically for her lunches.
"Oh..."
Kim Sun-woo nodded, still looking shocked as he eyed her meal.
It wasn't the chef that surprised him.
He knew full well a family like hers wouldn't pack lunches themselves.
Just the composition—and the portion size—blew his mind.
"You get full on that?"
Moon Woo-hyuk said, looking queasy.
"You think I'm like you?"
100ml fat-free yogurt, 150g chicken breast, 50g brown rice.
And 15 almonds.
That was it for Song Ha-na's spread.
"Woo-hyuk, you'd get full, sure. Haha."
Kim Sun-woo was impressed by Moon Woo-hyuk's meal for a different reason.
Similar setup to Song Ha-na's.
Just about three times the quantity.
"You guys are intense."
Kim Sun-woo bit his lip earnestly and gave a thumbs-up.
"This guy's being cringy, right?"
"Yeah. He doesn't need the regimen."
For once, Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk were on the same page, making Kim Sun-woo laugh.
With comprehensive evals right around the corner, Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na had kicked off strict diets for their throats and stamina.
Packed lunches, but way more dialed-in.
No throat-killers allowed.
Plus calorie control to trim any unnecessary fat.
Kim Sun-woo stuck with cafeteria food.
His constitution shrugged off spicy, salty, sweet, or hot stuff unless it was extreme.
"Still got time. I'll tighten up right before."
"Cringy, Kim Sun-woo."
He finally caught flak from Song Ha-na.
Kim Sun-woo just shrugged.
Plenty of performers, musical actors included, micromanaged diets before shows.
Especially those relying heavily on their voices—they were ruthless about it.
Worried even a hint of throat damage.
Or indigestion messing with singing.
Every little thing mattered.
But folks like Kim Sun-woo, who didn't sweat it? Rare as hell.
Didn't care pre-show what they ate or did.
Not laziness or half-assing.
They just didn't need to.
In short, born with a body that made dieting pointless.
"Let's eat. Dig in."
He started eating, dodging the glares from Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk.
Finally some peace to chow down, I thought.
"Nope, hold up."
Song Ha-na stared gravely at her lunch.
"Why only 14 almonds?"
She shot Moon Woo-hyuk a death glare.
Almond wars today, huh.
Kim Sun-woo calmly mixed rice into his curry and shoveled a big bite.
"Moon Woo-hyuk. You stole it."
"Why would I snag one almond when I don't even need to? Mine's got 50. No way I'd go for 51 by jacking yours."
Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na bickered over one almond.
Where'd it go, why would I lie, blah blah.
Kim Sun-woo just grinned like it was routine.
He knew they'd drop it soon.
"Argh, fine! Eat one of mine then!"
"Here!"
"There! Happy now? Geez!"
Moon Woo-hyuk grimaced but personally dropped an almond into Song Ha-na's container.
She glared one last time, then finally picked up her chopsticks.
Kim Sun-woo figured now he could eat in peace.
As he blissfully reached for some cabbage kimchi.
A new voice shattered the brief quiet.
"Wow, you really eat standing up every day, huh? Almonds. Impressive, impressive."
From the table right next to them.
Pure, innocent admiration aimed at Song Ha-na as Do-hyun set down his tray and took a seat.
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