#wc 1241

once again, hohyeon was feeling pretty damn confident after his performance, quite certain that he had shown his stuff. while he didn’t want to get too confident about how he had done, he was quietly sure that he wasn’t going to end up getting eliminated. he had performed too well to be eliminated, right? well, the sixteen year old liked to think so. and he only had to compete against the other rappers and was sure he had at least held his own against them and proved he was just as good, if not better, than them. just because he was sixteen didn’t mean he couldn’t rap like an adult if he wanted to. 

even once he had sat back down again he was already preparing for the interview, almost convinced that this was going to go the exact same as last time. they would finish all the performances and then they would all be pulled to the side and interviewed. and it seemed as though he wasn’t wrong with that assumption, the corners of his mouth curving upwards slightly as, as he expected, people were started to be called aside once the ceo’s had gone to deliberate. 

hohyeon wasn’t worried about what other people might say about him, instead, he had an easy grin on his features as he lazily wandered over once he was called aside himself, taking a seat in front of the camera. this was just him in his element, no time to think about what he had already performed or what other people might have said about him. hopefully nothing bad, he knew he had done well and anyone who said he was weak or his performance was bad were clearly just jealous of him. 

“so hohyeon-ssi, we have to ask, why did you decided to salute when you introduced yourself?” 

out of all the question he might have been expecting, he didn’t really think that was one of them. but he didn’t seem phased by the question, just grinning as he shrugged his shoulders almost lazily. “i don’t know, it was just a bit of fun, really,” he hadn’t put much thought into his actions, “just sort of happened spontaneously.” and it made him different from everyone else, having a bit of fun on stage instead of being so polite and formal about things. nothing could ever go wrong with a bit of fun. 

“okay. so, what did you think about the results last week?”

last week almost felt so far away hohyeon could barely even remember it. time had just flown by since then and now, most of it spent with practising and trying to prepare himself for the stage he had just performed. he didn’t really have the time to sit there and actually think about what he felt when it came to the results. 

“of course i’m really happy i made it through!” but that was almost a given, he didn’t really think anyone would have been upset to make it through. “but the ceo’s clearly know best so i trust that they put the best people through. i’m not incredibly invested in any of the other contestants, or even any of the ones who were eliminated. of course, i am sad my friend didn’t make it as well, but i don’t even think he minds. in fact, after the show, he was quite happy that he had been eliminated,” hyeon laughed a little with a shake of his head. yes, haruto was a funny one and was clearly quite relived he wouldn’t have to perform again. this kind of thing really was not for the young japanese boy. 

“and how do you think you did this week?” 

an expected question which could be met with an expected answer, “i did well. i am very happy with how i performed today.” there was really nothing he could complain about. “i have been practising hard all week and i am sure that i put on my best performance and proved that rapping is my strongest skill. and that i deserve to be on that stage and deserve to go through. just because i’m still a kid doesn’t mean that i can’t rap!” 

he had actually worked it out and he was the youngest rapper to make it this far. thankfully not the youngest in the whole show, there were two younger than him, but he was the youngest rapper and was determined to prove he had the same skill as those older than him. age didn’t matter, it was all down to personal skill and he was quite confident that he had a lot of that to show. 

“who do you think are the best under each skill?”

oh lord, he hadn’t really expected that question. 

hohyeon blinked, thinking about it for just a moment and trying to remember the performances of those who weren’t rappers. admittedly, he had been paying on a little attention and didn’t really have any valid opinions on the matter. but he was going to answer the question all the same, starting off with what he had actually been paying attention to. “would you all hate me if i thought i was the best rapper?” he said it with an almost sheepish smile, but quickly held up both his hands and shook his head, “i’m kidding! i have to mention changbin, i knew he was a good rapper before this whole competition. i wouldn’t have asked him to do a collab for my youtube channel if i didn’t think he was a good rapper. and he clearly showed he was skillful today as well.”

“as for the dancers.. i think taeyong is clearly talented. he had some nice original choreography,” and it couldn’t really be denied that he was a good dancer, “and that youngjae kid. very... creative.” certainly not what hohyeon had been expecting for a performance, but he had to say that it worked in the kid’s favour.”

next came the hard part - the vocalists. “now, before i say anything, i have to admit that i don’t know much about singing. i don’t even like singing myself and have absolutely no experience in the matter. but as for some performances that caught my attention at least, there was yuzu, who i think had a nice voice. and also i quite liked yuri’s performance.”

“thank you. and what about the opposite, who do you think are the weakest? or those who’s performances you didn’t like?” 

hohyeon sighed, wringing his hands in his lap for a moment. last time he had been asked this he refused to answer it and he was tempted to go with that same strategy again. but instantly one performance had popped into his head. “kyungsoo,” he spoke slowly, “i don’t think he’s a weak vocalist! in fact, i was complimenting him just last week. it’s just... that song. seriously? i think it was a bit... much.” he didn’t want to make enemies in this show, it was easier without them, but he really had to comment on that really strange song choice. “i mean, it was an interesting take but still. i suppose it’s going to be something which will be stuck in people’s minds for awhile, which could end up working for him.” 

“alright, thank you hohyeon-ssi.”