Chapter 261 Piano Man
- Umm, I don't know how to feel. - Me too. It was kind of lackluster.
- I expected more. They were all very good, though! As expected from the top ten. - I loved Zeth and Jisung's pair dance. - I like the arrangement, too. But it would have been perfect if they performed it at the right time. Performing it at the very beginning seems quite forced. "Well, that was ass," Nico bluntly said, making Jordan slap his hand over his teammate's mouth. "You really don't have a filter, do you?" Jordan sighed. "What would you have done if the camera panned to you at that very moment?" "But it didn't," Nico smirked. "You've got to admit, bro. It was shit. My audition was better than that." "You were in F-class, Nico," Moon chimed. "But I agree, it wasn't finale-worthy. I was expecting more from them because they have so many front-runners." "Well, you guys better shut up," Jordan said. "The next team is going to perform now." The two finally shut up, focusing their gazes on the stage. However, Nico groaned once more when a piano was brought to the stage. "Oh, great," he faked a yawn. "Another emotional performance. When are they going to learn that starting a show with a ballad kills the mood? But I guess this team's a bit better. Did they ask the music team to play piano for them?"
Jordan was about to scold Nico for being so negative but halted when he saw a trainee with pink hair sitting in front of the piano. The stage was dark, but his pink hair was too vibrant not to notice. "June…plays the piano?" he muttered. - Piano? Will someone play the piano this time? - Is it Johnny? I think he plays the piano. - Johnny posted a piano cover of a nursery rhyme when he was in middle school. I don't think that counts. - Wait…June's sitting in front. - Really? How can you even see? - Look, it's his pink hair! - Holy crap. It really is June! I just wish they don't perform another ballad. I'm going to sleep in boredom if that happens.
Meanwhile, Kiera had to hold Mimi down just so she wouldn't jump in excitement. "Piano?" she whisper-shouted. "Does he know how to play the piano?" The audience started murmuring to themselves, too, wondering if the trainee actually knew how to play the piano or if it was just part of their concept. "I haven't researched about this," Jia panicked, looking through her notes app for all the facts about June she had jotted down. "Does he play the piano? Oh gosh, I'm a sucker for men who play musical instruments." "Calm down," Bora chuckled. "We'll know once the performance starts." Minjun crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against his seat, a proud look on his face. "Show them, big bro." Meanwhile, the top ten trainees, who were still feeling disappointed in their performance, watched the screen with serious expressions. "Hey, does June play the piano?" Akira asked Jisung. Jisung shrugged. "I don't know. Bro has never mentioned it." "It would be insane if he knew how to play it, though," Akira said. "It would be unfair, too," Jaxon whined. "He already has level 1000 charisma. If he even knew how to play the piano, then it'd be a sin to humankind." Lin Zhi pursed his lips as he wiped the sweat off his brow. Then, he smirked. Lin Zhi couldn't care less if June knew how to play the piano. He knew that June had lots of skills up his sleeves—ones that he hadn't revealed yet. He was merely happy that he had predicted it right. With the piano on stage, it was most likely that June's team was going to perform an emotional performance. "It's going to be a ballad, too," Lin Zhi loudly said, capturing the other's attention. "Huh?" Casper asked, still annoyed by Lin Zhi's high note a while ago. "It's just as I expected," Lin Zhi smirked. "We beat them at their own game." His teammates didn't say anything. Instead, they focused their full attention on the screen, wondering what kind of stage the bottom ten trainees had come up with…and if Lin Zhi was actually right about his assumptions. The stage was shrouded in darkness, plain obsidian. Then, a lone spotlight slowly poised at the center of the stage. In the glow of the solitary beam, June sat in front of a grand piano. Hushed whispers swept through the audience, doubt and intrigue in their minds.
Many had presumed the piano to be a mere stage prop—only a decoration for their performance. However, June scooted forward, placing his fingers on top of the cold ivory keys.
Then, his lips settled on the microphone propped on top of the piano. He let out an audible exhale, and in contrast, the audience held their breaths. "He'll really play the piano," Mimi whispered to herself. The enchantment began.
June's fingers danced across the keys beautifully, caressing the ivory with a gentleness that resonated throughout the dome.
Akira shook his head as he watched his fellow trainee. "Damn," he whispered. "That's another skill added to his roster." With every key he stroked, the piano spoke. Its notes were tender, the melody like a heartfelt ballad that whispered to the hearts of the audience. However, some were disappointed that it was yet another slow, emotional performance. One person undoubtedly enjoyed it, though—Lin Zhi. "Got you," Lin Zhi muttered under his breath. June's eyes remained fixed on the piano, his face showing utmost concentration. Just as the audience settled into the serenity of what they presumed to be another typical ballad, there was a slight shift in the way June played the piano. The spotlight, initially steady, flickered like lightning. And in that moment, a deafening thunderous sound erupted, startling the audience in their seats. Lin Zhi frowned at the sudden shift in the atmosphere. "Wait," Ren said, his eyebrows furrowing. The gentle piano, once a soothing accompaniment, transformed into something far more intense. The thunderous sounds that had startled them earlier now served as the commanding bassline to a crescendo of musical madness.
A hurricane was brewing, and the audience found themselves caught in the eye of the storm.
June, with a sly and knowing smirk, locked eyes with the camera. It was as if he had heard everyone's thoughts—the preconceptions of their performance. "It's not a ballad," Zeth said. As the thunderous rhythm continued, June played the piano with the same rhythm and intensity. It was definitely not a ballad. Because the next thing they knew, June brought his lips to the microphone. Then, he began to rap.
