Baby Don’t Stop
Summary: Daisuke gets evaluated by the trainers with his teammate, Kou. [EPISODE 1]
Series: Produce 101 Japan Addition, Produce 101 Japan OC
A/N: Yes, I’m behind in PD101JP. At least now I’m not posting any spoilers 🤩
Also! I do not own Kou! The loveable Kou is owned by the equally lovable @luvnaka.
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Daisuke rolled out his shoulders and adjusted his stance, trying to make himself look taller and broader, and maybe just a little bit older. He gazed at his reflection in a piece of glass in the waiting area, trying to practice his facial gestures.
The eighteen year old thought he was looking pretty suave until a shadow loomed behind him in the reflection of the glass and a hand covered his shoulder. “Looking good, big man.” Kou, Daisuke’s partner for the evaluation, teased. “Ease up though, you don’t want to intimidate the national producers too much.” “You should have picked a different partner,” Daisuke wilted, his posture slouching back down to his typical 5′7 stance. “I’m not manly enough for this song.” Kou rolled his eyes. “Here we go again...” “I should have just gone solo instead of dragging you down.” Daisuke mourned. The taller boy sighed and turned the younger boy around by his shoulder, forcing eye contact. “Daisuke, if I didn’t think we were a good match, I would have worked with someone else. You kill this song in practice, just keep doing what we’ve been doing. I wouldn’t want to be a Basement Boyz with anyone else.”
Daisuke sighed, but nodded. Even if he objected, it wasn’t like they had much of an option. He had to perform Baby Don’t Stop weather he was feeling himself or not. “Basement Boyz, you’re on.” A staff member alerted them. Kou straightened up instantly and Daisuke tried his best to mimic the older boy’s confidence. “Alright, let’s get it.” Kou said with gusto before leading the pair to the stage.
Daisuke walked out onto the stage confidently, but he noticed very quickly that the way the contestants were gazing at him differed greatly from how they were observing Kou. “Ah, that one’s so cute.” He heard someone compliment from the seats, but he couldn’t identify the speaker. He also heard voices gushing about a height difference. Daisuke’s cheeks started to flush and he cursed himself for not packing higher insoles.
When the two were positioned in center stage, Kou glanced at Daisuke, giving him the signal to introduce themselves.
“One, two! We are Basement Boyz! Please watch over us!” The two introduced themselves. Daisuke was painfully aware of how high pitched his voice sounded. “Why ‘Basement Boyz’?” Okamura Takashi wondered. Kou gestured to Daisuke to explain. Daisuke cleared his throat before pushing the microphone attached to his cheek closer to his mouth. “Both Kou and I have received training in South Korea for several years. There’s a joke among trainees and Kpop fans that trainees are kept locked away in their company’s basements until they debut.” Daisuke explained, pausing for the chuckles in the audience. “We call ourselves the Basement Boyz because we share that common background together.” “But you’re still under a Korean entertainment, aren’t you?” Sugai Hidenori questioned. Daisuke gulped. Another thing he was nervous about bringing up. He was currently the only trainee that wasn’t independent.
“Yes,” Daisuke began to explain. He paused to elaborate further but Warner nodded and brought the microphone up to his lips.
“Alright, let’s see what the Basement Boyz have prepared.” The dance coach stated. Daisuke hurried to his starting position and took in a deep breath, waiting for the music to start.
Baby Don’t Stop by NCT U echoed through the audition hall, causing the other trainees to exclaim in surprise. The sexy song was definitely not expected, but all eyes were on them while they performed.
Daisuke and Kou performed to their best ability, putting every ounce of effort into making this performance enjoyable for both them and their audience. When they finished, applause erupted from the other trainees. Daisuke fought off the urge to smile at the approval from his peers and focused on what the coaches had to say.
“Great. Please let us consult each other.” Hidenori said before turning his back to them and comparing notes with his fellow coaches. After brief discussion, the coaches sat back down, ready to give the final evaluation.
“Grade A...” Warner anticipated. “Amamiya Kouichi.”
Next to him, the tall boy let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.” Kou bowed forward. Daisuke clapped and smiled brightly. He knew Kou was going to get a high grade. His partner was just too talented to be ranked elsewhere.
A painful silence passed over the coaches and audience, the whole hall was still. Daisuke was sure that he hadn’t made the cut for grade A. The pause was too long.
Yet the microphone was brough to Warner’s mouth once again. “And Tanaka Daisuke.” the trainer finished. Daisuke blinked a few times, barely registering the congratulatory clap on the back from Kou.
“Both of you are amazing performers. We’d love to see what other sides of you will be shown in the future.” Bose explained.
The Basement Boyz nodded in unision, both of them understanding that just because they made A Class doesn’t mean they don’t have room for improvement. The real challenge has yet to come.
