Falling for the Omega Idol-Chapter 135: A LITTLE LEARNING CURVE

HANEUL immediately stopped, retrieving one of the water bottles they’d brought. He offered it to Haru properly, his expression apologetic. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so spartan," he said sincerely. "I lost track of time. You should rest."

Haru accepted it with a bright-eyed grin. "It’s fine—I don’t mind." He took a large gulp from the bottle. "Honestly? Hyung just gave me better advice than my old vocal coaches ever did."

Haneul smiled faintly. "You’re just saying that to make me feel better."

"No, really—I’ve already improved miles compared to before," Haru insisted. "And we’ve only been at it for two hours!"

Haneul didn’t know how to respond to that so he simply shook his head with a helpless smile.

Haru gulped another mouthful of water before continuing. "They always tell me my vocal tone is unpleasant—that I should just focus on dancing. But what choice do I have? I’ve always dreamed of being an idol. What kind of idol just dance and not sing?"

Haneul was startled by Haru’s words. What kind of vocal coach would tell a student to give up singing rather than encourage improvement? Lazy ones, undoubtedly—the type who only wanted to teach naturally gifted students instead of doing the actual work of helping people who wanted to learn how to sing grow. Which was, he noted bitterly, literally their job.

Haneul shook his head. "Your tone isn’t unpleasant—it’s just untrained. What they’re calling ’ugly’ is actually a unique texture. That raw, bright quality makes your voice cut through the mix." He folded his arms. "And for what it’s worth? You’re still growing. Voices change. But even now, there’s nothing wrong with yours—it just needs refinement."

Haru hesitated. "But the coaches—"

"—were looking for instant results," Haneul finished. "Real training means working with what you have, not dismissing it."

He couldn’t believe he of all people was the one telling Haru this—especially when he’d never even gone through proper idol training like most contestants here. But hearing Haru tear himself down like that? It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Haneul couldn’t help recalling the person who’d taught him to sing. If Teacher Noh were here, he’d likely be ranting about incompetent coaches after hearing Haru’s words. The thought made Haneul smile despite himself. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Besides, Haru’s voice was undeniably still changing. Haneul remembered how in his previous world, by the show’s finale, Haru’s tone had deepened into a pleasant low timbre. Surely—regardless of other changes—that particular detail would remain the same.

On the other hand, Haru felt unexpectedly touched by Haneul’s words—they were probably the kindest thing anyone had ever said about his voice. Even his parents hadn’t been so optimistic about his limited singing ability. Yet here was someone he’d known mere days, insisting his voice held promise. What struck Haru most was how genuine Haneul seemed, without a trace of empty encouragement. That sincerity, more than anything, moved him.

Haru’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Haneul. "Hyung, if I debut, you’ll be my hyung forever!"

Haneul chuckled. "Aren’t I already your hyung forever? It’s not like I’ll stop being older than you."

A touched expression flashed across Haru’s face. "You said it yourself, hyung. Now you’re stuck with me as your little brother."

The two of them had a good laugh after that.

After ten minutes of rest, they shifted to Haneul’s dance practice. Letting Haneul do some stretching first.

"Hyung," Haru said, stretching his arms overhead, "let’s start with the basics first. Can you show me your box step?" He tapped the floor with his sneaker, marking a simple square. "Just nice and slow—I want to see your foundation first."

Haneul positioned himself and attempted the box step, his movements precise but stiff. His shoulders tensed visibly as he shifted his weight, his hips refusing to loosen fully with each turn. When he bent his knees for the downward count, his balance wavered slightly—just enough for Haru to notice the hesitation in his joints.

Haru observed with a hand on his chin, his expression thoughtful but unreadable. After a moment, he gestured to the floor.

"Now try a basic body roll, hyung. Start from the head down."

Haneul nodded, but the motion came out segmented—his neck dipped forward smoothly enough, but his shoulders hitched halfway through, his ribcage refusing to follow in one fluid motion. His hands, meant to glide upward with the roll, stuttered at his sides instead.

Haru’s lips pursed, not in judgment but in quiet assessment. "One more thing," he said. "Side isolations. Just your shoulders first."

Haneul complied, but the movement was telling—his right shoulder lifted cleanly while the left jerked upward, the asymmetry obvious even in such a simple motion. A faint flush crept up his neck in slight embarrassment.

Haru hummed, finally nodding. "Okay. I see where we should start."

Haneul waited for Haru’s evaluation, though he already had a good idea what it would be.

Haru studied Haneul for a moment before offering a small smile.

"Your rhythm is actually good, hyung—it’s your body that’s being stubborn," he said, rolling his own shoulders in demonstration. "You move like someone who’s spent too many hours sitting at a desk. Your muscles don’t trust you yet."

He stepped closer. "Start with this—every morning, do slow shoulder rolls while breathing out. Not fast, just... smooth. Like you’re pushing through honey." His hands traced the air in a languid arc. "And when you dance, think about keeping your knees soft, not locked. It’ll feel weird at first, but your body will learn."

Haru tilted his head. "Also, try practicing in front of a mirror less. You keep checking your form instead of feeling the movement. Dance is more than just correct angles—it’s about flow."

Haneul sighed inwardly—so flexibility remained his core issue. Still, he understood Haru’s suggestions perfectly, and genuinely appreciated the thoughtful advice.

Haru positioned himself beside Haneul. "Follow my count," he said, raising his arms in a slow, controlled arc. "One... and two... and three..." His movements flowed effortlessly—shoulders rolling like water, hips shifting weight without a single jerk.

Haneul mirrored him, his own motions more segmented but markedly better than before.

"Good," Haru encouraged. "Now add the knee bend we talked about—yes, just like that." He grinned as Haneul’s next rotation came out slightly smoother. "See? Your body’s already learning."