Chapter 199: Joy (36)

“Come on, dance."

“Quick, quick."

I was caught off guard by the production team's unexpected song choice. Hence, I hesitated for a moment, only to be met with casual urging from the members. It was as if they had been waiting for this.

“Uh..." I started moving somewhat awkwardly, hastily jogging my memory for any semblance of the dance moves. I recalled dancing to this tune just once during a medley performance, but even then, the choreography was hardly memorable.

I miss you, meow!

?

Right on cue, one of the cameras zoomed in, and a staff member approached me with a pair of cat ear headbands.

“

Eek

!" I grudgingly accepted the blatantly suggestive cat ears and couldn't hide my irritation, which sent the production crew and my fellow members into a fit of laughter. The members even stepped out of line to watch the spectacle unfold before them.

But now that I had the headband, what was I supposed to do with it? It wasn't a gift from a member but from the production team itself.

...No, in times like these, it was actually less embarrassing to just embrace the situation. I used to preach to my trainees during my trainer days that the camera's gaze was akin to the battlefield. With the resolve of a soldier stepping onto the battlefield, I donned the cat ear headband.

“

Sigh

." And then, I covered my face with my hands as I had done in times past, trying to emulate the dance moves from memory. After all, I had been prepared to give my all for Chronos from the moment I donned the red cape.

“Come on, lighten up that face!"

“Look at him,

pfft

!"

“Hyun-Woo's so adorable! More endearing! Keep going!!" Joo-Han clapped enthusiastically and encouraged me to push further. As I faced the camera, I let go of all reservations like during the medley shooting, giving my all to “Woof Woof Meow Meow.” I then playfully glared at Yoon-Chan, who was beaming with an innocent smile behind me.

“That was fun, hyung."

“Don't you get too comfortable."

After all, this was a challenge from a channel known for its witty content, and I had a sneaking suspicion about what might be in store for Yoon-Chan's turn. As the next tune filled the air, it was Joo-Han's turn. He just breezed through the chorus of “Parade” and swiftly passed the baton to Yoon-Chan before the song could change.

Yoon-Chan appeared slightly anxious about his solo dance in front of a large audience for the first time, wearing an expression similar to mine during “Woof Woof Meow Meow.” He seemed determined to dance properly, regardless of the song, but his solemn facade immediately melted away as the next song started.

“This is..."

It was the opening theme for

Red Riding Hood Cha Cha—

not just any version, but the original animation piece.

“Ah..."

Despite his initial shock, Yoon-Chan instinctively started to move.

“I knew this would come out.”

“Exactly."

It appeared that everyone, except Yoon-Chan, had anticipated Cha Cha to be the next song. Given it was one of his standout performances, it was expected to elicit a strong reaction. Everyone simply enjoyed watching Yoon-Chan's flustered dance without any surprise.

“Yoon-Chan is nailing it!"

The unadapted, slower, and overly cute song was akin to a playful punishment. Joo-Han genuinely reveled in Yoon-Chan's performance, while the rest of us sat in front, thoroughly entertained.

I stealthily approached Yoon-Chan and placed the cat ear headband I was wearing on him. I then gave him an encouraging pat and retreated to sit next to Goh Yoo-Joon to join him in the audience. Yoon-Chan danced with a blend of choreography and rhythm, his face flushing red yet moving with determination. Amused by Yoon-Chan's performance, the production team decided to extend the usually brief song segment a bit longer this time.

With the magical power of mystery!

?

We clapped along and indulged in Yoon-Chan's delightful antics until the song seemed about to change, at which point I stood and moved to the back.

The magical pendant, whoa!

?

Goh Yoo-Joon's pendant was just an added touch. After Cha Cha, a mix of Chronos's songs, including “Joy,” famous pop tracks, and more played, allowing us to dance leisurely or occasionally suffer through unexpected tunes. Each time, we watched and laughed from the front row.

As the relay came to a close, a mission paper was once again presented to us, who were now seated on the floor.

- This is the final mission. Please choose.

Joo-Han turned and brought Yoon-Chan forward.

“Let's have Yoon-Chan pick this time."

“Me?" Yoon-Chan made his way over to the table littered with mission papers, his eyes scanning over them thoughtfully. “Can I just pick any of these?"

“Yeah, any will do. Go ahead."

Yoon-Chan's hand lingered in the air for a moment before decisively landing on the one tucked away at the far end.

“Yoon-Chan, read it for us, please,” I said.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Yoon-Chan carefully unfolded the paper and held it up for the camera to catch. “Dance to ‘Joy’ with your eyes closed.”

“Oh, I've heard about this one," Goh Yoo-Joon chimed in, bouncing with excitement and using my shoulder as leverage.

The director gave a confirming nod and elaborated.

- That's right, Dance to “Joy” with your eyes closed. The mission is straightforward. You just have to dance to Chronos's latest hit, “Joy,” blindfolded.

I wasn’t well aware of the title of this mission, but it was undoubtedly one of the most iconic and sought-after challenges here. Ji-Hyuk from High Tension had shared with me that every idol wanted this iconic mission. He learned this, as his group had appeared on this show after their debut.

The crew then distributed blindfolds to each of us. While the rest of the members were getting ready, I gave my blindfold a test run and was plunged into utter darkness. The fabric left no room for even a sliver of light. I gazed downward, but that didn’t help. The darkness was absolute, making this mission a true test of our intuition and senses.

“Man, it's pitch-black, isn't it?" Jin-Sung's murmur reached my ears. As I adjusted the blindfold back in place, a production team staff approached and added several layers of black tape to a spot on the floor, ensuring it was thick and noticeable.

“This marks the center. Use your feet to feel it periodically.”

“Got it, thanks!"

It seemed they were offering us a slight hint with the tape, also ensuring we didn't wander too close to the camera setup inadvertently.

Once the crew member had retreated out of the frame, I tapped the taped area with my foot. The tape bulged enough to be distinctly felt, even through my shoes. It was a small but significant aid in this blindfolded challenge.

‘This might be manageable

.’

The choreography was imprinted in my mind and rehearsed to the point of perfection. As long as I kept my cool, maintaining the formation should be feasible under the assumption that no missteps occurred.

“I've always wanted to try something like this!" Jin-Sung seemed unfazed, ready for the challenge.

Goh Yoo-Joon could potentially play the trickster, but if he focused, he'd undoubtedly excel. That left me with Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan, who might need a bit more guidance.

-Ready to start?

“Absolutely!" We responded in unison.

- Please put on your blindfolds now.

Positioned in our respective spots, each member secured their blindfold in place.

“This seems a tad too difficult for an opener, doesn't it?" Joo-Han commented. The plan was to start in a circle and then jump and pivot to commence the choreography at the end. With clear sight, syncing up was merely a matter of timing. However, orientation was the real challenge with blindfolds. While I had the benefit of the taped guide, the others might struggle more with maintaining direction.

“Let's forgo the opening and focus on getting into formation. I will take it from there,” I suggested.

“You are taking the lead?"

“Hyung will guide us?"

“Hyun-Woo's in charge?"

“...Well.” There was a mix of skepticism and doubt in their voices, but I let it slide without much comment. Belief was secondary. As long as we could align ourselves correctly, our instincts would naturally align us in formation.

- For safety, feel free to skip any complex movements like vaulting. We are about to start.

I figured the crew's reactions—laughter or otherwise—would give us a clue about our position. As we clasped hands, the first notes of “Joy” filled the air. I tightened my grip, let go, and leaped to transition, stretching out my hand to find... a shoulder, unmistakably Jin-Sung's.

I danced with Jin-Sung, who was centered with the help of the tape. This meant that the rest of the formation should fall into place without a hitch.

“Impressive!!!" Exclamations came from the crew, signaling we'd nailed our positioning.

However, their awe was quickly followed by laughter.

“What? What is it?” Jin-Sung cried out in confusion, but the production crew continued to laugh without offering any explanation.

I reached out to check on the members behind me as I got puzzled.

“Ouch! Who did I bump into? ... That’s definitely Goh Yoo-Joon’s build.”

“Huh, why is Joo-Han hyung here?”

“Wait, I shouldn't be hearing Yoo-Joon hyung's voice from behind... Ah, I must've misplaced myself."

I could sense chaos brewing among the three behind me. I fumbled around and asked, “Where is everyone?" My hand found someone's arm, and I pulled. It was Goh Yoo-Joon.

“Why are you over here? Come this way," I instructed.

“Uh? Oh." Goh Yoo-Joon was easily led by me to take his place behind me, and judging by the sound of the other members' footsteps gradually syncing with the music, it seemed Jin-Sung had also managed to guide everyone back into formation.

Once past the trickiest part, getting the formation right became easier, almost like following a well-rehearsed path. Sure enough, the production team once again voiced their admiration after a moment of disarray, signaling we were back on track. After that, the next part started. I was optimistic, thinking we had crossed the biggest hurdle.

However, I realized something as soon as I started lip-syncing the first part. The beginning of this song predominantly involved gestures that seemed to introduce each of us, focusing more on ad-libs and changing formations on the fly.

The spring sun has risen

Though the spring breeze is still chilly,

it carries a warm embrace

When you wide open the window and take a deep breath,

the day begins

?

We hadn't discussed it, but we decided to skip the vaulting for safety and were about to naturally turn back when...

“Ah! Hyung!" Jin-Sung seemed to assume that I had already moved to the sides. He was standing right behind me.

“Woah!" I collided with Jin-Sung's body and tumbled forward as if swept off my feet. And at that moment... I found myself completely disoriented, having lost both my direction and our formation.

“Where am I?... Oops."