<003. RESTART>
"Shoot?"
As Hwang Sun Wu wrinkled his forehead, his mother, Hi Sun Kim, asked a question
"What's that?"
It was perfectly normal for the couple to not know.
Run, Shoot was a Youth TV program that would be broadcasted for the first time this year, so it wasn't very well known.
"Here!"
Ho Yung grabbed his parents' hands and lead them to his room, and pointed towards the monitor.
On the monitor screen, an article was open.
Both parents scratched their heads at the title of the article, which was written in bold.
"What's Shoot? Do you know?"
"No, it's the first time I've heard it. Was there ever a program like this?"
Hwang Sun slowly scrolled down the page and read the article.
"Let's see. The audition for 'Run, Shoot', which will begin on the 3rd of September, is a Youth Foster program that will air as a new corner for the MBS's 'Happy Sunday' program, and will include children from ages 8 to 10. The coach for the soccer team that will be formed this month, Shoot-dori FC, is scheduled to be the current singer for the group "Turbo", Jung Gook Kim…."
Hwang Sun Wu lowered his head with a serious expression on his face.
Ho Yung opened his sparkling eyes.
"Dad. I want to do this."
Ho Yung grasped his parents' hands while pulling a cute face.
And the couple laughed.
"I wonder why our Ho Yung is so energetic today?"
"Hahaha! If our son wants to do it, of course, we'll let him!"
Hwang Sun accepted as he laughed gleefully.
If a child wanted to do something so badly, there was no parent in the world that would go against their child's wishes.
Time flew, and it was the 3rd of September, a Friday.
The location was the training grounds for the Korean Football Association, Paju NFC. It was normally used by the national football teams of all levels, but for today, it was to be used for the audition for 'Run Shoot'.
As everyone prepared for the auditions, the production staff examined the documents one last time.
"So, we're going to choose a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 people from this?"
"That's correct."
Hyung Jae Cho PD, who had a megaphone, waved around a file of papers that exceeded 300 pages.
The rate of success was about 30 to 1.
In the midst of over 300 applicants, the truth was that the document screening had already been finalised the night before.
"There's no reason to spend too much time, let's focus on the kids we selected yesterday."
Even before the audition had begun, about 30 kids had already been selected.
The one factor was simply the looks.
It was disguised as a Youth Fostering program, but Hyung Jae Cho's real plan was to put emphasis on their personalities, as the program was centred on entertainment. If the children had cute faces and bubbly personalities, it would help with the ratings and bump up the entertainment factor.
"So you're picking without even looking at the talent?"
A young man raised a question out of curiosity at one end of the table.
"Ah, Mr Jung Gook."
Jung Gook Kim.
He was a singer who had been cast as a director for Shoot. His distinguishing feature was his eyes that disappeared when he smiled.
Hyung Jae PD replied.
"Well, we've chosen the concept as the attempt of the bottom kids. Unless they're so good that it'll stir up some publicity, we won't put them in at all. Oh, also, you know that you were supposed to test the kids today?"
"Yes."
"That's going to be edited as a PR video, so look after the kids. That being said, don't go too easy on them, either. Just enough to create some excitement. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"Of course. I'll try my best."
As Jung Gook set aside his expectations, Hyung Jae PD rose from his seat.
"Now, let's see how this goes. If there's any kid worth picking."
The audition began in a mini soccer pitch covered by a tent.
The applicants filed in one by one.
"Please introduce yourself."
"Hello. I'm Tae Hoo Kim, attending Dong Sung elementary school, year 2 and in class 3!"
3 hours had passed since the audition began.
Like a veteran, Hyung Jae already had an outline of the cast.
"We have one timid one, two playful ones, one responsible, reliable one, one girl, two cute ones, and one handsome one. That's that for the cast…"
After clearing his thoughts, Hyung Jae spoke.
"That kid just then was okay, right?"
"Yes. He can play soccer quite well and has a rebellious, mischievous image, so I think he has content potential. Moreover, his personality doesn't overlap with any other child's."
"Okay. Put that one in the final roster and let's move on. Now, next."
Slide.
"Hello!"
Along with the rustling of documents, a powerful voice rang out across the audition grounds.
The confidence to be the centre of attention.
As the PD directed his sight to the child, he couldn't help but have a disappointed reaction.
"Your name is Ho Yung Woo?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
He wasn't very tall, and his facial features weren't outstanding.
And, since he was in year 3, he was past the age of being cute, and didn't appear to have any other noticeable traits.
He didn't have a trace of an element of entertainment.
'It's almost not worth looking.'
But, the still needed to have form, so Hyung Jae asked a question.
"Do you like soccer?"
"Yes! As far as the sky and as wide as the ground!"
"Haha! Well, would you like to show us any of your talents?"
"Yep."
Ho Yung travelled to the corner, then brought out a ball that was laying on the ground.
"Eh? I said, can you show us any personal talents, not soccer."
"This is my special talent."
"Mmm?"
"Hehehe!"
And thus began Ho Yung's talent show.
Tok.
Ho Yung shifted the ball onto his foot, and began to lift it. It was a basic technique that used two feet, but it wasn't an easy feat for someone of young age.
But that wasn't the end.
Boing! Boing!
"Wow."
"Woah! You can do it so well!"
From his head to his feet, he used many parts of his body to juggle the ball.
The people watched in awe at the feat, while there was no appraisal from the judges.
"Wow, looks like you practised a lot!"
"Haha… this is so…"
There were exclamations coming from all around him.
This wasn't just a normal talent, it was a skill he had polished for the past month.
A collaboration between the experience of a 24-year-old and the skill of a soccer prodigy.
Ho Yung showed everything he had prepared without leaving any out.
"Wow, Hyung Jae PD. Isn't this kid a soccer prodigy?"
"Hmm, it looks like it… let's just keep watching for now."
Hyung Jae spoke to Ho Yung.
"Well, my friend. We're going to do a simple test. Are you confident?"
"A test?"
As Ho Yung tilted his head, the test manager, Jung Gook Kim, stepped forward with a ball in his hand.
"From now on, you're going to play a game with big brother here, and I'm going to block your shots, and you have to try to score. How about it? Do you know what I mean?"
"Yep."
The method of the test was inspired by freestyle football.
The condition for victory was to score in a small goal that was placed in the corner.
Even if a goal wasn't scored, he wouldn't be disqualified from the running.
This was because it was a test to get footage that will be used in the promotional video of the program rather than to judge the skill.
Because of this, Jung Gook had his mind set to go easy on the child.
But,
Bounce, bounce.
"Oh?"
Jung Gook Kim's expression sank.
Ho Yung had executed an advanced dribble technique to easily get past Jong Gook's defences.
"Woah… you're not just good at lifting?"
Jung Gook spoke to Ho Yung as he passed the ball.
"Why don't we go again?"
This time, he wasn't going to go easy on him.
It wasn't because he felt competitive against an elementary student, but because he was genuinely curious.
Is he a prodigy?
But at that moment, Ho Yung pulled off a short dribble, and as soon as he saw the angle to shoot, he quickly seized the opportunity.
A heavy mid-range shoot.
Swish!
As the ball went exactly into the back of the net, Jung Gook let out a real exclamation of admiration.
"Woah! You're good!"
Since the child didn't have the advantage when it came to physical strength, the smart play was to shoot from afar.
It was enough for Jung Gook, who was known to play soccer well amongst the celebrities, to admire his skill - he had already earned acknowledgement.
It was acknowledged that the boy named Ho Yung Woo could really kick a ball.
'Nice!'
After his turn, Ho Yung left the stadium in high spirits.
Judging from the production staff's reactions, it seemed like that was enough to get him accepted.
'Practising really hard does make a difference!"
The first button was now properly in place.
And if he did well in the program, getting famous in one morning wasn't going to be a hassle.
'The pro teams will probably make a fuss over who gets me in their team. Then I'll do what Kang Min Lee did… hehe.'
Shoot 's greatest output was definitely Kang Min Lee.
He was a soccer prodigy that had risen into stardom with his overwhelming skills, which had given him the attention of all the soccer fans in the nation.
Thanks to that, he joined the Spanish prestigious club Valencia CF, and stepped into the elite course.
'Valencia? I'm going to Barca! Or maybe Real Madrid? Anyway, just you wait!'
It was when Ho Yung began to move with a giddy mood when he heard a voice.
"Ho Yung!"
It was the young man who had followed Ho Yung from the audition grounds.
"Mr Jung Gook Kim!"
"Oh? Do you know who I am?"
"Yes, I saw you on Music Bank (TV show in Korea)."
"Hahaha! Is that so. Hey, you're really good at soccer!"
Heartily moving up and down, Jung Gook held out a fist to Ho Yung.
And as Ho Yung answered with a fist of his own, Jung Gook let out a laugh.
"Uhahaha! What a lad."
"But are you going to appear on the show too?"
"Yeah. I got the role of director."
"Aha. Oh? Mum!"
"Mmm?"
As Jung Gook kneeled to be eye level with Ho Yung, Hwang Sun Wu and Hi Sun Kim were walking towards them.
"Hello. I am Ho Yung's father."
"Ah, you must be Ho Yung's father and mother! Nice to meet you!"
"I think I've seen you from somewhere…"
Hi Sun thought the same thing.
As the parents racked their heads to find out where they had seen him, Ho Yung spoke.
"Dad. It's Jung Gook Kim. The song! Black cat Nero."
"Oh! Oh no. I didn't recognize such a famous person. Haha. Nice to meet you."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I saw earlier in the stadium, and Ho Yung is unbelievably good at soccer.
"Haha! Thank you. He's my son, but honestly, he surprises me too."
"No joke, but he could probably go overseas to play right now."
"Hahaha!"
Even though it was the first time the two had met, they got along remarkably well.
"Anyway, I hope for the best."
"Thank you. Take care."
"Yep. Take care! Go for it, Ho Yung!"
"You too!"
As he turned to leave, words that Ho Yung hadn't seen before began to appear.
[Jung Gook Kim]
Skills possessed
The strong muscles of a healthy man (C)
The slender voice of a ballad singer (C)
(A skill can be taken if the criteria is fulfilled.)
(Criteria 1: Exercise with Jung Gook for at least 60 minutes.)
'Here goes nothing.'
Ho Yung desperately called out.
"Mr Jung Gook Kim!"
"Hmm?"
"Can you recommend me some pr-protein supplements?"