The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the window, but Seongjii was buried so deep under his blankets it seemed like he had no intention of rejoining the living. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the persistent ringing of his phone.
Seongjii groaned, pulling a pillow over his ears, completely dead to the world.
From the old lamp sitting in the corner, a faint glow emerged as Araya materialized. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the sleeping boy with pure annoyance. "This brat has turned a great Genie like me into his personal secretary! Dammit, I have to do all his chores while he sleeps like a log... what an absolute idiot."
The phone wouldn't stop. Frustrated, Araya picked it up.
"Hello there!" Araya said, making her voice sound intentionally robotic. "The person you are calling is currently sleeping like a horse. Please try calling back later..."
Click. She hung up. But not even ten seconds passed before it rang again. This time, Araya's temper flared. Without even checking the caller ID, she swiped the screen and barked, "HELLO! Who is it?!"
A startled girl's voice came from the other side. "O-oh... Sorry, Auntie! I didn't mean to call your son so early, I just..."
Araya's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING AUNTIE?! I am Araya! And you better speak to me with some respect!"
On the other end was Rika, who was momentarily stunned but quickly apologized. "I'm so sorry, Araya! I thought you were Seongjii's mother. This is Rika. Seongjii and I are partners for the dance competition."
Araya's expression shifted into a mischievous smirk as she glanced at the snoring Seongjii. "Ah... so you're Rika? Seongjii's 'new' partner, huh?"
"Yes, that's me," Rika said urgently. "Today is the last day for registration form submission. Can you please wake him up? We need to get to school fast."
"Fine, fine... I'll wake him."
Araya set the phone down and took a deep breath. A second later, she swung her leg back and delivered a sharp kick right to Seongjii's bump!
"AAHHH! What was that for?!" Seongjii bolted upright, clutching his backside. "Can't a guy sleep in peace for once?!"
Araya teased him, handing over the phone. "Mortal, your 'so-called' partner is on the line. Something about a form submission." She put a little too much emphasis on the word 'partner.'
Seongjii's sleepiness vanished instantly. "Oh shit! I totally forgot today was the deadline!" He pressed the phone to his ear. "Hello, Rika..."
"Cut the hellos, Seongjii! Get to school now, or we won't be able to participate!" Rika's voice was frantic.
Without even grabbing breakfast, Seongjii threw on his uniform and sprinted out of the house like a ghost was chasing him.
Rika was pacing anxiously at the school gate, checking her watch every few seconds. Finally, she spotted a figure sprinting toward her at breakneck speed. Seongjii skidded to a halt, leaning on his knees as he gasped for air.
"Rika... I'm... here... let's go!"
The two of them dashed to the office and submitted the form just in time. As the process finished, they both let out a massive sigh of relief. Their names were officially on the list.
"Finally registered," Seongjii said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "So, tell me, when and where are we practicing?"
"Starting today!" Rika replied. "Time is short. And we'll be practicing at my place."
Seongjii hesitated. "At your house? Won't it be awkward with your family around?"
Rika gave a small, mysterious smile. "Don't worry about that. My house has a private hall; no one will disturb us there."
Just then, Seongjii's stomach let out a loud growl. "Sounds good... but I'm starving. Can we start tomorrow instead?"
"Absolutely not!" Rika grabbed his hand. "Come to my place. I'll give you a proper treat. Think of it as a celebration party for our registration."
When Seongjii arrived at Rika's address, his jaw nearly hit the floor. This wasn't just a house—it was a Luxurious Mansion. Seeing such a massive estate in the poshest area of Seoul left him speechless.
"I-is... is this actually your house, Rika?"
It was then that the reality hit: Rika wasn't just any student. She was the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Seoul.
Inside, the dining table was a sea of gourmet dishes. The smoky aroma of grilled Galbi, the sweet and spicy scent of Tteokbokki, and the savory steam rising from fresh dumplings... Seongjii's mouth watered instantly.
"Thanks for this, Rika!" he said, taking his first bite.
"Don't mention it, partner. Enjoy your meal!" Rika laughed.
After the feast, they headed to the private dance hall. Rika explained that with only 10-11 days left, they needed at least 2-3 hours of practice daily.
"I've already choreographed the steps and picked the music," Rika said, turning on the sound system. "Just watch my moves and try to learn them."
Seongjii nodded confidently. "Okay, you show me. I'll 'Copy' them."
"Huh? Copy?" Rika looked puzzled.
"I mean... I'll learn them!" Seongjii corrected himself quickly.
The music started. Rika began to move. She was an incredible dancer. Every step was as smooth as water, every flip and turn executed with such perfection that Seongjii was mesmerized. 'She's even better than Zoe,' he thought.
But the real action was happening in Seongjii's eyes. His pupils were scanning every micro-movement. His System Ability was recording every angle and rhythm, 'Uploading' the data directly into his brain.
When the music stopped, Rika was slightly breathless. "You're a perfect dancer, Rika. I've never seen anyone move like that."
"Stop it, Seongjii. Don't tease me," Rika said playfully.
"I'm serious! Okay, my turn."
Seongjii took his position. The music kicked in.
As the beats started, Seongjii began to perform the exact steps Rika had just shown. But he wasn't just 'learning' them—he was Mirroring them with 100% accuracy. Rika's eyes widened in total shock.
She thought to herself, 'How is this possible? He did all the steps perfectly on the first try? He's even more fluid than I am... This is strange!'
Seongjii was so focused that he finished the entire routine without a single flaw. Only when the music stopped did he realize—'Shit! I went too professional. A normal person shouldn't be able to do this on the first try.'
Rika walked up to him, her face serious. "Seongjii... how did you do that? That was fascinating... and a little weird."
Seongjii rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Oh... that? I don't know, I guess I just got lucky!"
Rika looked him up and down, as if searching for a hidden secret. "Right... Well, that's enough for today. From now on, meet me here for two hours after school every day. See ya!"
"Sure, see you tomorrow!" Seongjii made a quick exit.
Rika watched him walk away from the window, her mind racing with questions. 'That guy... he's too mysterious. Those difficult steps on the first try? Damn, something is definitely going on here...'
To be continued....