On his way home from work.
A man let out an exclamation as he gazed at the electronic billboard hanging on one side of the subway station.
“Wow…”
The hot-topic program, *Jjeodol 3*.
He, too, occasionally made sure to watch it after work.
Though he never voted because he found it bothersome.
‘I'd known she was pretty… but even seeing her again, she really is unbelievably beautiful…’
Seeing her on-screen and facing her like this on such a huge billboard gave him an entirely different feeling.
The advertisement he was looking at featured Dohui in a pastel-yellow dress, her hair tied with a large white ribbon.
It was a photograph personally taken by Dohui’s fansite master during the third competition.
Of course, he had no way of knowing that Dohui’s fansite master had applied for the subway advertisement with trembling hands.
The cost had come to three million won.
In the end, she had used money earned from selling photographs of other trainees to put up a subway advertisement herself.
In return, even people who probably had no interest in idols gave Dohui’s photograph a passing glance, so the advertisement was enjoying a considerable effect.
Dohui’s fansite master was not the only one. Dohui’s hardcore fans were encouraging people to vote in the live broadcast and raising funds to place advertisements on public transportation and in various other media.
However, because the preparation period had been short, the only advertisements currently in progress were the subway ones.
Of course, looking at the numerous advertisements for other trainees hanging all around, it was clear that the other fandoms were also stepping up their efforts.
Even so, Lee Dohui’s number of advertisements held an advantage over the other contestants.
[Dohui Subway Advertisement Collection (Latest Version)]
1) Wide Screens
- Konkuk University Station (photo)
- Samseong Station (photo)
- Dongdaemun Station (photo)
2) Digital Posters
Gangnam Station (photo)
Sinchon Station...
.
.
.
In fact, advertisements at prime transfer stations and wide-screen advertisements started at around three million won each, so even for Dohui’s numerous fans, collecting enough funds was no easy task.
There had been a reason they had managed to muster up this much firepower.
Around the time Dohui’s community was blazing up again after Episode 11 aired,
another post spread through the community and served as gasoline on the flames.
Goo Eunhee had been unable to write the post until after Episode 11 aired in order to avoid spoilers.
As soon as the broadcast ended, Goo Eunhee uploaded a post to her social media, as though she had been waiting for the moment.
=======================
[Thank you, Chusers, for supporting me all this time!]
The filming period was truly difficult, but looking back now, I think I have many enjoyable memories. I hope all the friends who survived make their debut.
Especially #Sera—she’s the prettiest person I’ve ever seen, and she sings so well. She’s the best! Ah! And Dohui is a total hard worker! hehe I liked seeing her practice consistently even when her skills didn’t improve!
Even if you can’t hit the high notes, you have a perfectly good voice already^^ Work hard! As long as you’re good at piano, that’s enough! It’s okay! Fighting!
#Jjeodol3 #WatchTheLiveBroadcast #Fighting
=======================
If one read it without thinking, it might seem like a post praising Eun Sera and Dohui.
But with only a little scrutiny, it was clear that the post was mocking Dohui by comparing her to Eun Sera.
Goo Eunhee had made a mistake onstage, and Dohui had covered for her.
The post was something Goo Eunhee had uploaded in a fit of spite and anger.
Goo Eunhee had even disabled the comments, so Dohui’s fans had no way to confront her directly.
In the end, their anger led to an onslaught of advertisements.
And so, as the voting system changed to one-pick and a fierce fandom battle unfolded,
the day of the live broadcast that would determine the debut group dawned.
***
A gymnasium in Incheon, where the final live broadcast would be filmed.
The heat had somewhat subsided, and summer was nearing its end.
Three thousand people were adding the last warmth to the dying summer.
In their hands were the contestants’ slogans, posters, and even flags.
The trainers, along with the idol groups that had debuted through *Jjeodol* Seasons 1 and 2, gradually took their designated seats.
Since contestants aged fifteen or younger could only be on air until midnight at the latest, the live broadcast had been moved to an earlier time than usual.
Late summer, around the time the sky was turning violet.
At exactly eight in the evening, the gymnasium was plunged into darkness without delay.
A familiar instrumental intro rang out.
The audience, sensing that the stage was about to begin, erupted into cheers and screams.
“Waaah!!!!”
“Kyaaaaah!!!”
Faint purplish lights spreading from all directions converged on the darkened stage, illuminating a single spot.
At some point, the thirteen finalists for the debut group had ridden the stage lift up onto the stage.
The purplish lights that had shown only their silhouettes transformed into a clear white glow.
The contestants were wearing title-song uniforms, now plainly visible.
As the instrumental intro built, the contestants were zoomed in on the screen.
And now, at this very moment, the person appearing on the screen was Dohui, the center of the title song.
She wore a serious expression, but she could not hide the smile in her eyes, filled with the excitement and joy of being onstage.
[Ay! The way you look at me is thrilling (so thrilling!)]
Along with the opening lines and the thunderous cheers of the audience that nearly swallowed them up, the final stage began.
***
“Welcome, everyone! I’m Jin Taeseop, and I’ll be your host!”
After the first stage ended, Jin Taeseop came up with the relaxed stride befitting a famous MC, leaving the contestants who had gone down from the stage behind him.
“To all the Chusers who have accompanied the trainees on their journey over the past eleven episodes, thank you so much!”
The MC’s solemn voice echoed throughout the venue.
“Now, all that remains is the final vote.”
The MC went on at length to explain how to vote by text message.
In summary, it was as follows.
The voting system had changed from multiple votes to one-pick.
Citizen observers would oversee the voting process to ensure fairness.
Above all, the results of the final vote conducted online over the past week would be reflected exactly as the number of votes received.
The text-message votes cast on the day of the live broadcast would be converted to seven votes each and added to the final tally.
It was a weighted system that took the special nature of the final stage and live broadcast into consideration.
“Everyone! Have you decided on your idol?”
Voices calling out “Yes!” could be heard from various parts of the audience.
There were also cries of “No!” from those who seemed to be agonizing over their choice among the many formidable trainees.
The MC smiled brightly and said,
“If you still haven’t chosen your last one-pick, then watching the final debut evaluation before deciding might be a good idea!”
With a loud voice, the MC stretched out his arm and pointed toward the enormous screen.
“Then, right now! Let’s take a look at the process and see which songs and parts the contestants chose for their debut evaluation!”
Through the screen he was pointing at, the trainees appeared listening to a composer introduce his songs, continuing from Episode 11.
Viewers watching the live broadcast on their screens reacted through the community as though they were familiar with what they were seeing.
- Same format as Seasons 1 and 2
- I wonder what Sera took. Please let her be the main vocal and rank first!!!!
- ㅠㅠ Guys, let’s all debut
- Seoyoon, please take the main vocal, main vocal
- Ah, why am I so nervous over this?
The viewers anxiously hoped that their picks had received parts with plenty of screen time.
The parts were decided one by one as the contestants placed stickers, pushed others aside, and were pushed aside themselves.
[I love you, Hana unnie!]
The discussion boards had been ablaze every moment, but the instant Dohui chose the main vocal part was no less intense.
- Oh, can Dohui do the main vocal?
- Insane, insane, insane... Dohui’s the main vocal!!!
- Kya, this is a twist lol
- ? She should’ve just taken the low notes she’s good at lol
- She probably took a reckless gamble because she’s guaranteed to debut anyway
- Please let her do well ㅠㅠ I was so annoyed by the armchair vocal critics unfairly bashing her. I hope Dohui shows them what she’s got and gets a shout-out
Dohui’s fans had especially been stressed by other fandoms using Goo Eunhee’s recent post as an excuse to forcefully disparage Dohui.
Regardless of whether Dohui would be able to perform the main vocal part well, the news that she had taken it was itself a welcome rain on parched ground.
Next came the practice process for the “Flight” team.
[Kwon Hana: Ah~ What is this~? My rank is definitely third... but my part is Sub Vocal 4~?]
The sight of the contestants joking around with one another allowed the viewers to relax their tension and watch comfortably, if only for a moment.
- I love how close all the kids seem
- For real, all the kids are close and kind, but the fandoms are fighting like they want to kill each other
- Dohui gets bossed around by Hana all the time lol
The actual lesson footage followed.
It began with vocal lessons.
Dohui’s face came into close-up as the sound of her swallowing rang out.
An ominous BGM played, accompanied by a caption reading .
Then came a clip of Dohui’s voice cracking during the initial evaluation.
[Dohui, do you think your range will be okay? The main vocal part seems quite high.]
Sua, who had pointed out the quality of Dohui’s voice, was once again expressing concern over her vocal range.
Dohui’s fans were worried as well while watching the scene.
[I’ll try it once, at least!]
After saying that, Dohui began singing the high-note bridge—
“Now, this moment, rush to flight.”
- ? lol
The fans’ worries proved needless.
Dohui’s strengths were her precise pitch and rhythm.
The cracking tone that had been judged her weakness was nowhere to be found. Only a smooth tone remained, leaving anyone who watched with the impression that she was singing excellently.
***
Meanwhile, beneath the stage at the same time.
The contestants who had come down after finishing the title-song performance, “I Fell for You,” were rushing around, changing into their next outfits and finishing up their styling and makeup.
They all had one thing in common: alongside their ragged breathing, they were exuding dopamine from every inch of their bodies.
Performing in front of three thousand people was like a drug.
‘This is fucking addictive...’
“Huh? Dohui, you can’t cry! Your makeup will run!”
The makeup artist hurriedly pressed a cotton pad to the corners of Dohui’s eyes and spoke soothingly.
‘This is a drug...’
“Stop pulling down the corners of your mouth! Ah, I’ll have to touch up your makeup!”
The makeup artist looked completely flustered.