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If you know me and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without any danger.

To target the trendsetters, you need to understand them.

Who are they?

They prefer being outside rather than at home.

They like eating in groups rather than eating alone.

They want to form connections by posting their every move on social media.

It’s the ideal image of a socialized human.

But what about the VTuber culture?

They enjoy being at home more than going out, and they prefer eating alone rather than in groups.

They satisfy their desires by posting their obscure fantasies in anonymous communities.

Despite being born as social animals, they’ve chosen to go against fate and become lonely tigers’ refuge.

Since they’re all drifting apart from each other in the first place.

No matter how popular VTubers are these days, trendsetters who fit perfectly into society will inevitably wonder why they would watch something like that when they can meet people in person.

To those trendsetters, what I have to offer is just forming a connection.

A connection!

So, during a time when I was contemplating what trendsetters might be into these days…

“Hmm… how about we create a challenge?”

Among us, Lee Seo-yeon, who has had some social experience and exposure to trendsetter culture, put forth the idea.

“A challenge….”

“You know about Miro, right?”

“Of course.”

I certainly do.

It’s appeared every time I flipped through the shorts, and we even tried it when we were preparing for Hyeon-su’s concert.

A challenge is a culture that’s trending among the trendsetters.

Everyone dances to the same song and posts it on social media; the spread of it is like an epidemic, a distinctive culture of trendsetters.

When a new challenge starts, trendsetters stop thinking and immediately dance along to post it on social media.

So much so that these days, popular idols release the challenge versions before officially unveiling their songs; they’re the ultimate viral sensation.

“It seems like a good idea.”

Since I have some dance training, I’m confident I can do something decent with just a bit of practice.

But the problem is…

“Where do we commission the choreography?”

Our new song, ‘Multicolor,’ doesn’t have any choreography at all.

Typically, completing an idol song means not only creating the track but also the choreography.

These days, it’s become a trend to create easy choreography for challenges.

However, we obviously didn’t create any choreography.

All we have is a suspiciously high-quality music video.

But since we have the completed song, we can get it made right away if we just commission it.

“Shall I reach out to someone I know?”

Luckily, I do know an expert in this area.

“Someone you know, Miro?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… that person?”

The only dancer I know is the one who taught the Celestial Realm’s first generation, so Loa knew who I was talking about.

Two years ago, Loa and I suffered together while learning to dance.

“Are you still in touch? I’m not.”

“No, I’m not in touch either.”

There’s been no reason for us to contact each other.

It’s been quite a while since we last spoke.

Still…

“As long as there’s a connection, it should be okay.”

There’s still a connection that hasn’t been severed.

***

“Sister!”

I met my cousin after a long time at the Dance Academy.

Kim Yuna (17), who is now a high school student.

“It’s been such a long time.”

“Have you been well?”

“I’ve been doing fine. How about you?”

“Me? I’m also doing well.”

I’ve been busy, to the point that I’m swamped.

It’s barely been long since we had our script reading, and now the filming schedule is all set and starts soon; after this project wraps, I’ll have to head straight to filming.

Of course, I need to review the script and practice before I go.

“I’ve informed the director.”

“Thanks!”

The reason I came here today.

It’s to meet the eternal dance instructor of the Celestial Realm’s first generation, who has now become the director.

“What exactly is the matter?”

I mentioned that it was work-related, and Yuna seemed curious.

Well, considering she’s starting to perform at some dance shows, she would wonder what kind of request I might have.

“I’m going to create a dance for a challenge.”

“Wow, for your song?”

“I am the vocalist.”

To be honest, it doesn’t feel much like my song.

It just feels like a song from the Miro Family group.

I’m just the vocalist in it.

Anyway, as soon as I brought up the song, Yuna’s eyes lit up.

“Can I join in the challenge when it comes out?”

“You? Join in?”

“Yes! With my close friends.”

“Oh… okay.”

Since this is for promotion, the more people participate, the better for me.

Plus, if they are friends she knows, wouldn’t they be the ones coming to this academy too?

Yuna has a decent amount of followers, so it might actually serve as good promotion.

“Wow… then let me know when it comes out.”

“Got it.”

It feels like she’s becoming more and more cheerful as time passes.

Shouldn’t kids grow up doing what they want?

It’s hard to believe that she was a girl who only tapped on her phone during the holidays.

Eventually, after watching the class with interest, I realized that the class was still in session.

“Are you not participating?”

As I watched through the window, I turned to Yuna.

“It’s my turn next.”

“Oh, the time slots are different.”

“Yeah, they’re in the intermediate class.”

Intermediate class… they definitely seem like they can dance a bit.

“Where are you? Beginner class?”

“Huh? I’m in the advanced class.”

Yuna seemed a bit offended that I thought she was in the beginner class.

Her cheeks puff up, a sign of her growing maturity despite her teenage years.

“Oh…”

The kids in the intermediate class look around her age or slightly older.

If she’s in the advanced class, is she ahead of them?

As a relative, I feel a sense of pride.

“Are you good at dancing?”

“I’m good enough.”

Well, I already knew that.

She danced well before, so she must be even better now.

But more importantly…

I crossed my arms and watched the students take their lessons.

…As I thought earlier, those students can dance well.

Of course, they’re the ones who come here regularly to learn, so that’s expected, but still, I think I should be better than them since I’m an idol.

I’ll be on stage a lot during the concert, so it definitely feels like I need to practice more.

As I was enjoying the view, the class wrapped up, and the students came out, greeting us as they left.

“Oh, um…”

“Who is that person?”

“Is she your sister?”

Of course, some gazes were drawn toward me standing there with crossed arms.

“Hey sis, let’s go in for now?”

I had no thoughts about it, but it seemed Yuna felt the attention was a bit overwhelming and pushed me into the lecture room after the class ended.

“Oh, you’re here?”

As we stepped into the lecture room, the instructor, who was wiping sweat with a towel, noticed us and greeted us.

She still had a bright smile.

Honestly, seeing how many students were there, I think even I would have smiled.

It feels like just yesterday when they mentioned opening the academy, and now it’s thriving; it’s clear she truly has talent.

Well, I sought her out because I recognized that talent.

“It’s been a while. But about work… what’s going on?”

“Oh, that’s… actually, I’m here to inquire about choreography for a challenge because I’m releasing a song.”

“For the challenge?”

I got right to the point after we met.

I wondered if this would be okay?

Since last time I visited, the number of students has increased.

Considering she’s the director and an instructor, I thought she might be busy…

“Oh… I’ve been receiving quite a few requests like that lately. Shall we go to the director’s office and talk?”

Fortunately, her positive response made it easier for me to follow her.

“Please sit here.”

Seated at the desk labeled with her name, Lee Ye-ryeong, she invited me to sit across from her.

…Right, her name was Lee Ye-ryeong; I had forgotten since I always called her instructor.

By the way, it feels like there are more trophies and awards in the director’s office now.

It feels like it’s truly established as an academy now.

“So, what’s the song like?”

Lee Ye-ryeong casually asked as she settled in.

“Oh, would you like me to play it for you?”

“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll give it a listen and sketch out some ideas.”

As a dancer and choreographer herself, she was ready to hear my unreleased new track ‘Multicolor’ on my phone.

“Um, uh-huh.”

As I played the song, Lee Ye-ryeong closed her eyes as if concentrating, listening carefully.

Come to think of it, is this the first time I’ve played this song for someone other than those involved?

I considered it a great opportunity to get feedback from a third party on how the song resonates.

With that anticipation, the song ended.

“Wow, the song is quite long, isn’t it?”

The first thing Lee Ye-ryeong remarked was that.

Well, when you look at it, the song is indeed lengthy.

It feels like it’s almost over, but there’s another part that comes in.

“Ah, right?”

“It doesn’t sound like a modern song. However, it doesn’t feel unfamiliar either.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, the song is good! It gives off that nostalgic vibe.”

Thankfully, it seems I received a positive review.

Well, she couldn’t just criticize me to my face… but her expression showed that she truly liked it.

Even though Lee Ye-ryeong is still relatively young, she’s a generation older than me, so maybe she has a fondness for songs that evoke nostalgia?

“By the way, have you been practicing your dance in the meantime?”

“Huh?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve taught you. I think the last time was around last summer.”

Last summer…

That was when I came to this academy to practice the dance for Hyeon-su’s concert.

“Uhm… I… haven’t rusted away.”

“Is that so? If I make the choreography a bit challenging, are you sure you can do it?”

Her playful comment came after I said I hadn’t rusted.

…Was she always this funny?

Or did her personality change after dealing with kids at the academy?

“That’s probably not true?”

But I struggled to answer her teasing question.

Indeed, it would be apparent that I had become rusty.

Even professional athletes find themselves not performing as they used to after taking a break.

How much more would that apply to an ordinary person like me, having not danced for quite some time?

“Hmm… then how about joining the next class?”

“The next class?”

“Yeah, since Yuna is attending, you should join and see how you’re doing these days. You can also gather some ideas for the choreography.”

I thought for a moment about Lee Ye-ryeong’s suggestion.

…It’s only one day of class.

“Should I?”

I had planned to try practicing my dance anyway.

And while my dancing might have gone downhill, my stamina has actually improved.

Busy schedules have kept me active, after all.

So, I do have some confidence… and just for a day, well… should I give it a try?

“Alright, let’s go! The class is about to start.”

With my nonchalant response, Lee Ye-ryeong gave a small smile.

For some reason, that smile felt a bit unsettling… but I brushed it off as my imagination.

How hard could it be really?

I mean, I’ve received lessons before, so I confidently followed Lee Ye-ryeong out.

 

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