"Oh~"
Seoyun unni let out an exclamation as she looked at me.
"How is it, do I look cool?"
Today's outfit: a full suit.
Dress pants, a white dress shirt, a black suit vest, even a necktie.
Even I have to admit I look pretty sharp.
"No, it totally doesn't suit you. Cute is exactly what's perfect for you."
Gim Seoyun, jealous for no reason.
Tch, that's Gim Seoyun for you.
And she's wearing a white dress, of all things.
"Does she really think she looks good in that?"
"Of course. I'm totally radiant and pretty, you know?"
Seoyun unni spun around in place, fluttering the hem of her dress.
Aren't you embarrassed in front of your younger sister?
Pathetic, really.
"Sure, let's say that's true."
Roughly two weeks—exactly eleven days—after the filming of the first ranking announcement ceremony, August 9th.
It was the day of the second competition.
Since dawn, the participants had headed to the Ilsan studio where the first competition had taken place.
During the short span of eleven days, all trainees prepared their stages with the help of the staff.
There were teams whose stages were still far from complete, but the production crew could not wait.
Episode 6 of Jeodol Season 3, which would air in three days.
Since the second competition would be broadcast across episodes 6 and 7, once filming wrapped up today, the production crew had to begin editing the stages immediately.
There was a reason Main PD Im Hyeonung's eyes were more haggard than those of the trainees.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere on set was tense.
The production crew ran around in every direction to manage the set, and the trainees were busy getting their hair, makeup, and outfits done.
By around ten o'clock, everyone had finally settled down and was waiting in the waiting room for final checks and the rehearsal—the last bit of practice.
"Seoyun, our first rehearsal is coming up, so come over here so we can practice~"
Naeun unni calling Seoyun unni from afar.
"Okay~"
The two had become teammates this time.
It was about time for the first rehearsal to begin.
The production crew announced that the rehearsal would proceed in the same order as today's second competition broadcast.
Our team was up last.
Being last meant the wait would be tiring, but the rushed practice process had been even more exhausting.
Being able to sit still like this was already a luxury.
"I should enjoy the leisure of a drink, at least."
Trying to enjoy the rare moment of rest, I sat down and reached for a drink, when I felt a weight on my shoulder.
Turning around, I found Hana unni glaring at me with both eyes.
And behind her stood Sera unni and Harang unni with tearful faces.
"Dohee, what are you doing...? Shouldn't we be practicing...?"
"The rehearsal is still a while away, though...?"
My unni's hand rested on my shoulder.
Strength entered her grip.
Ah.
"No... I don't want to..."
***
Outside the studio where the second competition would be held.
The place was swarming with people.
It wasn't because they had significantly increased the live audience capacity.
Since there was a limit to how many people the studio could admit, they had only slightly increased the number from the original five hundred to six hundred.
But the viewership ratings were rising by the day.
Episode 5's rating was 1.7%.
Considering it was airing simultaneously on Netflix, it was no small figure.
Jeodol Season 3 was continuing to generate more than enough buzz.
"Please take these photocards and handheld fans, and vote for I Dohui, the universe's strongest cutie!!!"
"Our Chaerin is a god-baby genius who can do anything wrong! Please make sure to vote!"
Naturally, passionate fans had formed for each trainee.
Those passionate fans had gathered to make and hand out goods supporting their trainee—such as banners, handheld fans, photocards, and the like—even if they had failed to win a seat in the audience lottery or acquire scalped tickets.
And among those crowds, one woman standing in line.
She was one of the lucky few who had won a seat in the audience.
'Ugh, so annoying. Why is it so hot.'
August, the height of summer, already the hottest and most humid time of the year.
Though canopies were pitched along the queue, it still felt like she was being steamed to death.
Not to mention the fervent heat radiating from the people walking around handing out goods.
It was unpleasant in itself, but it was especially irritating when people handed out goods for trainees other than the one she supported.
And among them, the people handing out I Dohui's goods.
'What's so good about her.'
Yes, she was holding a slogan that read [Eun Sera ★ Trend Sera].
Currently, I Dohui and Eun Sera, who had taken first and second place at the first ranking ceremony, and third-place Jeon Harang.
The three currently had roughly equal-sized fandoms.
Fortunately, the Zy side fandom was split between Yun Seowon and Gong Chaerin, so there was no need to worry.
'She'll definitely do well this time too, right?'
If it's Sera, of course she would.
Still, it was human nature to grow anxious.
Although Sera had beaten the two of them at the first ranking ceremony, it was too early to let her guard down.
Because I Dohui's specs had been spreading across online communities, Instagram, and Facebook, showing signs of becoming the public's pick.
'So what if she can play piano or whatever.'
Of course, our Sera was also the cream of the public pick crop.
But she couldn't accept it.
Shouldn't Sera obviously be ranked higher?
Idols are singers, after all.
She should be good at singing.
That I Dohui has a rough vocal tone too.
Sure, she improved a bit for the first round, but she was still far below Sera.
"Oh! Are you a Sera fan?"
The woman in front of her who spoke up upon seeing her slogan was also a die-hard fan with eyes only for Sera.
'Waiting until the competition while talking about Sera won't be boring.'
.
.
.
"Are they going to start or what. So annoying."
"Right? As if to prove they're really Mwave."
They had increased the audience size, but the standing seats were so uncomfortable.
'At least last time, there was about a handspan of space between people.'
This time, shoulder was touching shoulder.
"Hello, everyone!"
Finally, the MC they had been eagerly waiting for took the stage.
Not the original main MC of Jeodol 3, but a specially invited male idol MC.
Thanks to the MC being a handsome idol, her irritation subsided, if only a little.
"This second competition is exactly that! The Double Position Evaluation! Each trainee will perform a stage created from two positions among vocal, dance, and rap!"
Even though it would air in three days anyway, just like the first competition, the MC only explained the simple rules and voting method.
"After each stage, our on-site judges may vote for the individual trainee you think performed well. Duplicate votes are permitted, so if you think every member of a team did well, you may press every trainee's number!"
'Still, I won't vote for I Dohui and Jeon Harang.'
She had no intention of voting for Sera's competitors.
"Then now, it's finally time to reveal the first stage. Let me introduce your girls!"
The words 'Vocal & Dance Position' appeared on the stage screen.
"Vocal & Dance Position, the trainees who chose Cupid's 'Rendezvous,' a song loved for its pure and innocent image! Please come up to the stage!"
She watched with hope that Sera might be among the trainees coming up, but in the end, Sera was not there.
'I don't need to see anyone else, only Sera.'
Her interest waned, but since she had nothing else to do besides watch the stage, she decided to focus on the performance for now.
"Hello! We are Deja Vu, who want to meet our Chewcer-nim all day long!"
The trainees on stage were greeting the audience.
'Their cover song is Rendezvous, so Deja Vu?'
It was a pretty clever name.
There probably weren't any of Sera's competitors here anyway.
She should vote properly for this one.
Kim Seoyun was there in 5th place, but she didn't feel like a threat to 1st-place Sera, either.
Since they had to perform twelve stages, the schedule was tight; the 'Deja Vu' team finished their brief interview and team introduction.
The stage lights went dark, and pale, sorrowful lighting came up.
—Rendezvous, start again today, this path
A sentimental song reminiscent of young girls.
It was exactly the original song's image.
'Is it the original? I heard they rearranged it, so I had a little hope. Guess they just touched up a few high notes.'
Just as she thought that, the interlude leading into the second verse began.
The pale lighting grew stronger along with the interlude's flow, and a powerful beat was added on top of the sentimental accompaniment.
—Tonight's rendezvous with you
Start our story that we'll continue tomorrow as well
And instead of the previous choreography that emphasized soft lines, a powerful group dance with a strong image—created by the trainees themselves—unfolded.
'...They're pretty good. I'll admit it.'
Without realizing it, she withdrew her critical gaze and watched the stage, fully immersed.
When the stage ended.
"Wow..."
She looked at the audience member who had also been cheering for Eun Sera; their mouth was hanging open in exclamation.
"Ha, and here you said you'd only pick Sera."
She had gotten immersed watching too, but she was the type to be strict with others while lenient with herself.
Still, she had to admit it, at least a little.
Because her ears and eyes had not been bored for a moment while watching the stage, and it had been enjoyable.
When voting time came, she went ahead and voted for everyone who had performed the stage.
Inwardly, she considered herself quite magnanimous.
Then she spoke to the Sera fan beside her.
"But if they're this good, Sera must be even better."
"Ah, yes! Right, right!"
She was someone who would think Sera was the best even on her deathbed.
Afterward, watching the continuing stages from as critical a perspective as possible, she bestowed her magnanimity and voted for a few trainees she deemed skillfully decent.
"What's with their arrangement? Did they have no ideas at all?"
"Wow, their rap is freaking awful. Even I could do better than that."
"Did they bring a dance or a children's exercise routine?"
"Gong Chaerin? She's from Zy. Fourth place. No way I'm voting for her, even if she does well."
During the breaks between stages, she would think of the trainees who hadn't come out yet.
"Come to think of it, I Dohui and Jeon Harang haven't come out yet. I hope they just form a team together and flop."
A malicious mindset.
She was truly a toxic fan.
Before she knew it, the tenth team's stage had ended.
Two stages remained.
Contrary to the wish of her malicious heart, neither I Dohui, Jeon Harang, nor Eun Sera were in the eleventh stage.
In other words, the three of them were on the same team.
'Shit... if they dare drag our Sera down.'
And finally, even the eleventh stage ended.
The MC took the microphone.
"This stage is the Vocal & Rap Position. Ah, this song! The popular boy group overflowing with a wild, beast-like masculinity! 2Q's 'FATAL.' Let's meet the members who covered this song. Please come up to the stage!"
'FATAL? Isn't that a dance song?'
Four people came up on stage.
Gwon Hana, Jeon Harang, Eun Sera, I Dohui.