Jin-woo stared at the plastic bucket and the ragged mop in the corner of the room. In his previous life, the only thing he held in his hands was a custom gold-plated microphone or a glass of vintage champagne.
'You want me to... clean?'
[Current Lung Capacity: 5/100]
[Status: Shallow breathing. Risk of exercise-induced asthma.]
He took a step toward the mop, and his lungs whistled like a broken tea kettle. The System wasn't joking. If he didn't increase his stats, he wouldn't survive the first three minutes of LUSTER's debut choreography.
"Jin-woo, seriously, go lie down," Min-ho said, walking over with a worried frown. "You're shaking. I'll tell the manager you've got the flu."
"No," Jin-woo croaked. He forced his fingers to wrap around the cold metal handle of the mop. It felt heavier than a barbell. "I'll do it. I... I need to clear my head."
The other members exchanged looks of pure bewilderment.
"Is he possessed?" Dong-wook whispered, leaning toward Se-hwa. "Jin-woo hasn't picked up a piece of trash since he joined the company. He once made a trainee from the 'B' team tie his shoelaces."
Jin-woo flinched. He remembered that. He had been a supreme brat.
Ignoring them, he dipped the mop into the soapy water and began to swipe at the floor. Every push felt like he was moving a mountain. His heart hammered against his ribs—thump-thump-thump—too fast for such a simple task.
[Penalty Warning: Overexertion.]
[Your current Stamina (6/100) is insufficient for 'Heavy Labor.']
'Since when is mopping heavy labor?!' Jin-woo screamed internally.
Black spots danced in his vision. He gripped the mop handle to keep from collapsing. He had to be strategic. He couldn't just work hard; he had to work "Idol-like."
He looked at the mirrors. If he cleaned them with a scowl, the System might count it as a "negative" action. He forced his lips to curl upward into a faint, shaky smile—the kind of "hardworking youth" expression that fans loved.
[Detecting 'Professional Stage Presence' during labor.]
[Bonus: Fatigue reduced by 5%.]
'You've got to be kidding me,' Jin-woo thought, but he kept the fake smile plastered on his face even as sweat dripped into his eyes.
After thirty minutes of agonizingly slow movement, the floor sparkled. He moved to the mirrors, wiping away the streaks of sweat and fingerprints from their failed practice sessions.
[Mission Complete: Clean the practice room mirrors.]
[Reward: +2% Lung Capacity.]
[Current Lung Capacity: 7/100.]
A cool sensation, like menthol, spread through his chest. The tightness eased just a fraction. He could finally take a breath without feeling like he was breathing through a straw.
"Hey," a soft voice spoke behind him. It was Se-hwa, the youngest member—the "Maknae." In the past, Jin-woo had ignored him so much he'd forgotten the kid's birthday three years in a row.
Se-hwa was holding out a bottle of water. "You... you worked hard, hyung. Here."
Jin-woo looked at the plastic bottle. It was room-temperature tap water. A far cry from the premium glacial water he used to demand.
[System Prompt: A junior is offering a gesture of care.]
[Select your response:]
1. "Put it down and leave." (Penalty: -2% Stamina)
2. "I don't drink this cheap stuff." (Penalty: Immediate Fainting)
3. Accept with 'Idol-like' Grace. (Reward: ???)
Jin-woo reached out, his hand still trembling from the mopping. He took the bottle and looked Se-hwa in the eye.
"Thanks, Se-hwa," Jin-woo said. He forced himself to add, "I noticed your footwork was a bit off during the chorus earlier. If I... if I feel better tomorrow, I can show you how to fix the pivot."
Se-hwa's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "You... you watched my dancing? And you'll help me?"
[Success! You have gained 'A Shred of Trust' from a teammate.]
[Reward: Vitality +3.]
[Hidden Reward: 'Sickly Visual' Aura unlocked.]
Suddenly, a strange pale glow seemed to settle over Jin-woo. He looked in the mirror. He looked terrible—pale, sweaty, and fragile—but somehow, it looked... aesthetic? Like a tragic hero in a romantic drama.
"Whoa," Dong-wook muttered from the back. "Why does Jin-woo look so handsome while looking like he's about to die?"
'Is this the power of the System?' Jin-woo wondered, leaning against the wall. He felt like a glass vase—one wrong move and he'd shatter—but for the first time in two lives, his members weren't looking at him with hatred.
Just then, the heavy door of the practice room swung open. A man with a sharp suit and a clipboard walked in.
"Evaluation starts in five minutes," the manager barked. "The CEO is in the building. LUSTER, get in formation."
Jin-woo's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The evaluation that determined who stayed and who was kicked out.
[New Mission: Survive the 'LUSTER' Evaluation.]
[Warning: If you fail to hit the center position, the System will trigger 'Heart Regression.']
Jin-woo looked at his members. They were nervous, their shoulders tense. In his past life, he would have shoved them aside to take the spotlight.
This time, if he tried to shove them, he'd probably break his own arm.
"Let's go," Jin-woo whispered, his voice thin but determined. "Don't embarrass me."
As he walked to the center of the room, the world tilted for a second.
[Current Stamina: 9/100]
'Nine percent,' Jin-woo thought grimly. 'I have to finish a three-minute dance routine with nine percent battery. God, I hate this system.'
How should Jin-woo handle the evaluation? Should he try to hog the spotlight to satisfy the "Idol" requirement, or focus on teamwork to keep his health from dropping?