translation by mourningmoor
If I just do well, everything will be fine.
If I just do well, it’s okay.
Sitting cross-legged on the yoga mat, I entered a state of no thought and stared at the host.
Maybe because of the loud entrance, the famous announcer kept smiling every time our eyes met.
It wasn’t just me. To be exact, it was the whole team.
I couldn’t say for sure since I turned off my sense of presence, feeling a bit of pride hurt, but it seemed like we had become somewhat of a clumsy existence right from the start.
We were supposed to come in through the door, looking around in confusion and expressing curiosity about the new place, but we couldn’t do that.
Having broken the door, Hanjoon awkwardly smiled and froze stiffly, while the other members kept bowing and apologizing.
The host then asked us, as if making a joke.
[Wait, did you break the door?]
[Sorry. This guy really breaks things. I bet even the camera is broken. He dropped it on the way here.]
At Jaewon's answer, a staff member, looking shocked, immediately ran out of the set.
And so, the shoot began in that atmosphere.
I had hoped to win with as little effort as possible, but it definitely felt like it was going to be a tiring schedule.
Then, a black cubic box was lowered in front of me.
I tilted my head, wondering what this was, and the host raised the microphone to explain the situation.
"Take one note from the box."
A note? What kind of strange thing are they going to make us do?
I put my hand into the box and pulled out a note that brushed against my fingertips.
The flower-pink paper was carefully folded.
As I tried to unfold it, the host shook his head.
"Don't open it yet. We're all going to look at it together."
After a brief moment, all eighteen participants were holding a note in their hands.
"The name of someone who is here with us today is written on that note."
As the host continued explaining, Roa subtly leaned his head toward mine.
"Manito game. I guess we're playing something like that."
"Manito game?"
"Yeah."
What's the Manito game?
T.N.: It’s a popular activity in South Korea, often played in schools, workplaces, or during group gatherings. It involves participants secretly taking care of or helping another person in the group, who is assigned to them as their "Manito" (a term derived from the Spanish "manito" meaning "little hand" or "brother".
"Yes, I think everyone has figured it out. It's the Manito game."
So, what's a Manito?
"The note has the name of your Manito and a mission written on it. If you complete the mission without revealing your identity, you get 5 points. If you complete the mission but your identity is exposed, you get 2 points."
Everyone nods, as if they understand the game.
"And, before the Manito time, prepare a secret gift to raise your Manito's heart rate. The person who raises the Manito's heart rate the most will get another 5 points."
So, even though I don't fully get it, it seems like I need to complete the mission on the note without revealing the person to whom it's assigned, right?
If I can't complete the mission or my identity gets exposed, it's 0 points.
Well, that's not too hard.
The important part is figuring out who my Manito is.
"Alright, then. From now on, carefully open your notes."
* * *
The school life concept seems like it’s being carried out properly.
After changing into the provided school uniforms, the set was transformed, now featuring desks, chairs, and a chalkboard.
The host, who had been in a flashy suit earlier, also changed into a more comfortable outfit resembling that of a school teacher.
With glasses and a pointer in hand, he managed to mimic the teacher look pretty well, just like in the dramas.
Jaewon, who had been complaining about having to wear a school uniform, was now running around the set with his friend as if nothing had happened.
Roa seemed to be deep in thought, scanning the script once more, while Siu, with a frightened expression, was looking for a place to hide.
Hanjoon... well, it seemed like he wasn’t thinking about anything for now.
That’s when Wooyoung from MuteSeven sauntered over.
“Kang Ichan.”
He stretched his neck to look only at me from the start, and now it seemed like the opportunity had finally arrived.
“Ah. Kim Wooyoung.”
I greeted him the same way, and Wooyoung smirked, snickering.
“Hah, you little... just calling out my name so casually.”
“You did the same, didn’t you?”
Once again, Wooyoung snickered and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Well, that's because I’m the owner. The puppy's supposed to wag its tail."
This guy is exactly like that. The typical bully from a school-themed drama. His walk, his expression, his tone, his actions—it's all right there.
If only someone would film something like this.
I glanced around and saw the VJs pointing cameras around, capturing the necessary scenes.
If things go well, they might come this way too.
But Wooyoung didn't care about any of that. He was firmly convinced that everything would be edited to focus on him anyway.
I guess that confidence was the foundation of his attitude. With an arrogant expression, he asked a question.
"Could it be that I'm your Manito?"
Ha, that's what you're curious about?
I gave him an ambiguous smile and answered his question with a question of my own.
"Would you like it if it were me?"
Wooyoung, now irritated, huffed and replied.
"No, that'd be totally annoying."
"Then why ask?"
"Well... I'm asking because I hope it's not you."
This time, his voice was quite loud. Immediately, eyes from all around turned toward him, including some VJs.
He must have realized it, because Wooyoung looked around and gulped nervously.
Yeah, come on, think a little.
No matter how much the production crew is on your side, there are lines you shouldn't cross. If you're acting all tough like that, even the crew might not be able to film you. Then your screen time will be a mere booger. Is that really what you want?
But, in a way, that wasn't entirely a bad thing.
The more this guy struggles, the more he might just end up being edited in a way that benefits me—at least, that was my thought.
Anyway, as long as I do well, it's all good.
But for now, it's the opening, so I can't leave without getting a personal cut.
Smiling, I gently brushed off Wooyoung's hand from my shoulder and asked,
"So, am I your Manito?"
"Are you crazy?"
Such a simpleton. He wrinkles his face like that so easily.
I shook my head at Wooyoung and gave him a signal to smile, holding up my thumb and index finger.
"Too bad."
Then, I lowered my voice as much as I could.
"I could've been treated by Kim Wooyoung."
I tilted my head slightly towards him and smiled. It was then that he realized the reason behind my actions and let out a quiet laugh.
Then, he also tilted his head towards me.
"Hey, Kang Ichan. Do you remember our bet?"
"Of course."
"Look forward to it. I'll crush you flat."
"Oh, I'll be looking forward to it. Fighting!"
I whispered in his ear, secretly threatening him, and clenched my fist, shouting "Fighting!" in return.
The order in which my fingers curled might have been a bit off, as Wooyoung's expression twisted slightly, but I didn't mind.
I had achieved my goal.
"Are you two close?"
Before I knew it, a VJ had approached.
With a wide grin, Wooyoung draped his arm over my shoulder.
"Of course. We're super close."
This one’s definitely making it to the broadcast.
I should throw in the line they want.
"I used to be an HS trainee. Wooyoung helped me a lot back then."
"Yeah, that's right. I even took you to the PC room and stuff."
"Yeah, you did."
I read it in Kang Ichan's diary.
Out of nowhere, Wooyoung came over, saying "Let's play a game," and took him to the PC room. He had always been excluded, so at first, he was happy to finally hang out with Wooyoung.
But that day... the day he was away from the dorm for nearly three hours...
Kang Ichan's laptop disappeared.
"Thanks to you, my life changed."
* * *
1st period, the buddy-pairing game.
The VJs were asking the participants who they wanted to pair up with while capturing scenes here and there.
“I want to pair up with L.I.T's Kang Ichan.”
At the sudden mention of my name, I turned my attention to where it came from, and Möbius' leader was having an interview with a VJ.
That's when Roa subtly tugged at the hem of my clothes.
“Hyung-nim, do you want to pair up with me?”
“If you want, can you just do it?”
Someone like Roa wasn’t bad. Although it was mostly team-based, there were also a fair number of individual missions, and many of them required pairing up with a partner.
“I asked a VJ earlier, and apparently, they’ll do a preference survey like this and then hold an auction.”
“An auction? For what?”
I doubted my ears.
“An auction?”
Why would they hold an auction just to decide who pairs up with whom?
“They’ll only auction the popular participants, so if you’re lucky, you might get to pair up without going through the auction… Ah, I think I’m wrong already.”
Before Roa could finish his sentence, a VJ approached.
With a smile that seemed a little too eager, the VJ clearly had something they wanted to hear from me.
“Ichan, there are about four people who want to be your partner…”
“Five people.”
At the VJ’s words, Roa quietly raised his hand.
“Wow. It’s already five. Then, who do you want to be paired with, Ichan?”
"Is there a choice?"
At my question, the VJ shook their head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"No."
This question is a trap.
Over the past few days, I had watched all sorts of variety shows, including Season 1, and studied the editing tricks that could be used to exploit moments for dramatic effect. I even sacrificed sleep and used time manipulation to prepare for any kind of devilish editing.
“If there's no choice for a partner, I’ll pass on commenting.”
No matter who I choose, it'll be used for editing.
They’ll divide the ones chosen from the ones not chosen, praising some and hurting others.
I can’t fall into such a trap.
“Come on, there’s no such thing. Just tell us.”
But this VJ, he’s surprisingly persistent.
In times like these, the key is to smile brightly and give a vague yet clear answer.
“I’d like to pair up with my manito.”
“Manito?”
The VJ tilted his head slightly.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I can take good care of them.”
If this line airs, my manito will probably get a close-up. Yeah, that’s enough for me.
* * *
In the end, I became a pair with Möbius' leader, Kim Jeongsoo.
The auction format was that the contestants had to pick someone they wanted as a partner, and the first one to make them laugh could pair up with them.
It was such a contrived and exhausting format.
So, I just smiled at the first challenger.
I just wanted to escape this childish game quickly.
The host added another layer to the already contrived setup.
[L.I.T.'s Kang Ichan just smiled at Möbius' Kim Jeongsoo. If you don't want to be paired with Kim Jeongsoo, you can call out someone else and try to make them laugh.]
Are you out of your mind? Are you seriously asking me to do something this ridiculous?
[Umm... I'll just pair up with Jeongsoo.]
And that's how I ended up with Kim Jeongsoo as my partner, while Roa, who didn’t get picked by me, reluctantly had to pair up with Hanjoon.
And, in the end, it wasn't such a bad choice.