Episode 15
After the filming for the main theme song of National Idol Season 2 ended,
all trainees were given a three-day break.
Most of the trainees returned to their homes to rest.
"Hyung, why are you still here?"
"Me? I need to practice. Why did you stay here?"
"Me too... to practice!"
Kang A-jin answered with a forced bright smile,
and I didn't bother adding anything else to him.
Kang A-jin had competed against Park Han-hwi as a final center candidate on the 'JACKPOT' stage.
However, because Park Han-hwi was deemed more suited for the concept, he ultimately wasn't chosen in the end.
'It seems the shock was bigger than I thought.'
Seeing Kang A-jin staying behind at the dorms to practice made me feel a bit sorry for him, but
it wasn't a bad thing for me since there was no harm in practicing together.
"The next mission is the Team Battle, right?"
"Well, if it's the same as last season."
Predicting the future schedule, first there would be the Team Battle evaluation.
"After the Team Battle will be the 1st Ranking Announcement Ceremony."
Usually, about 30% of the trainees are eliminated at the 1st Ranking Announcement Ceremony. So roughly 50 survive?
"I really have to do well in the Team Battle."
Kang A-jin clenched his fists and nodded as if making a resolution.
"Don't be too nervous. From what I can see, you'll pass the 1st Ranking Announcement with no problem."
He was an A-rank to begin with, and had even been nominated as a center candidate.
And even if he got heavily edited out, with looks like Kang A-jin's, it didn't seem like he would be easily eliminated.
"I hope so, but you never know how things will turn out."
I had always thought while watching Kang A-jin that he lacked confidence compared to his actual skills.
Should I say he always felt chased by something?
"By the way, Hyung, who do you want to be on a team with for the Team Battle? Probably the trainees from Class X?"
"Someone I want to be with?"
I didn't know how the team member selection process would go, but if I could choose at least one person, naturally...
"I should be with you."
"Huh? With me?"
"Of course."
Just standing on stage together increases my stats.
If I could only choose one, I absolutely had to pick Kang A-jin first.
"If I can pick someone, I'll pick you first too, Hyung!"
"Oh, really?"
Things might go better than expected?
Up until this point, I wasn't worrying too much about the Team Battle.
Without knowing what would happen to me in the future.
***
The participants were gathered in the auditorium according to their ranks.
Having moved up from X-rank to A-rank, I looked around.
Countless cameras were filming the A-rank.
It seemed like less than half of that amount were filming the D-rank.
'And even among those, a few are probably filming Eugene Kim.'
I really thought it was a good thing I desperately worked my way up to A-rank.
Though luck was also heavily on my side.
"Did you all rest well during the break?"
"Yes!!!"
With Ria's appearance, the filming began in earnest.
"National Idol Season 2. The official competition stages will now begin. Everyone, please turn around."
At Ria's words, the trainees turned around.
At the back of the auditorium, there was an obstacle course track, and at the end of it, a swimming pool.
In the pool, signboards with their contents hidden by stickers were lined up.
"Some trainees may have already noticed. This competition will be held as a Team Battle."
At Ria's words, the trainees made eye contact with the people they were close to and murmured among themselves.
"Now, you should listen to the end of what I have to say, right?"
When Ria gave a warning, the auditorium became quiet again.
"It would be best to make plans after hearing all the rules. Then, shall we start forming teams and see if you can form the teams as you wish?"
The production staff brought a lottery bin in front of Ria, who was standing on the podium.
Ria looked at the lottery bin and spoke to the trainees.
"In here, there are balls with the names of the D-rank trainees written on them."
"There will be a total of 12 teams, consisting of 7 to 6 members each. Now, we will randomly select 12 D-rank trainees. Those 12 trainees, in order, can choose the second member to bring to their team."
"And then, going in turn again, the trainee chosen as the second member can choose the next third member, and the trainee chosen that way will pick the next trainee, forming the team members in that manner."
'If it's like this, I absolutely have to bring in the higher-ranked trainees first. Still, with this method, they can prevent all the higher-ranked trainees from clustering on one team.'
I pondered inwardly as I looked at the expressions of the A-rank trainees who seemed a bit displeased.
'But it seems like it'll be hard to be on the same team as Kang A-jin. If I'm picked second, who should I pick next?'
There were 15 A-rank trainees. Even if all the D-rank trainees chose an A-rank trainee in the first turn, since there were 12 teams, theoretically, two or more A-rank trainees could be on the same team.
'If I can pick an A-rank trainee, it's definitely Kang A-jin. Of course, that will be difficult.'
If Kang A-jin was picked in the first or second turn, it seemed more likely that Kang A-jin would pick me on his turn.
Just as I was sending Kang A-jin a desperate look.
"Now, one more rule will be added here."
Ria spoke while looking at the D-rank trainees who were agonizing over who to pick first.
"Until all trainees of B, C, and D ranks have formed their teams. You cannot pick an A-rank trainee."
At Ria's words, the D-rank trainees made complicated expressions and grabbed their heads.
Should they bring in the B-rank trainees first, or should they prioritize bringing in trainees they were close with, who they felt would have better teamwork with them?
With the plan of unconditionally picking A-ranks canceled and another option added, it seemed like they had a lot more to think about.
"Then, we will now draw the 12 D-rank trainees who will form their teams first."
Ria put her hand into the bin, took out the balls, and called out the trainees' names one by one.
As their names were called, some trainees cheered with joy, while others sighed under the pressure, creating a stark contrast.
"Lastly, trainee Eugene Kim."
With Eugene Kim as the last, the 12 trainees were decided.
"Starting with the first picked, Kim Seung-yeon, please call out the trainee you will bring to your team."
"I will choose trainee Han Jae-hyung."
Han Jae-hyung, the B-rank trainee who was chosen first, approached the D-rank trainee who selected him with a happy expression and shook his hand.
Starting with the first turn trainee who safely chose a B-rank trainee first, the majority of trainees chose a stable team composition.
'As expected, they're going for stability. Well, we don't know what song we'll get. That is the best way.'
As the team formation progressed without any major issues, when the trainee selection went into its 4th round, it was gradually becoming time to pick A-rank trainees.
'But if they choose their teams so boringly, how will it look on broadcast? Won't everyone get completely edited out?'
While I was uselessly worrying about editing, the fifth turn had just begun.
But while most teams had a harmonious mix of B, C, and D-rank trainees, there was one team that stood out.
"There are only foreign trainees over there?"
"Right, if you go there it's a bit..."
I heard an A-rank trainee whispering next to me.
Out of curiosity, I looked at that team.
'One C-rank and three D-ranks?'
The problem wasn't that they were all foreigners, but that their ranks themselves were way too low.
'I don't know who will go there, but they'll have a pretty hard time.'
"I will pick trainee Li Yige."
As the trainee from Canada picked another Chinese trainee, the five team members were gathered.
"Ah, no."
"Huh?"
I looked over upon hearing a strange sound next to me, and Wi Cheon-woo was trembling with a tense expression.
"Cheon-woo, do you know that Chinese trainee?"
"He's from... the same agency as me..."
"Aha, by any chance... did you two agree to pick each other?"
Wi Cheon-woo nodded without a word.
"I see... good luck with that."
I left a short word of comfort for Wi Cheon-woo and looked back at the team member selection site.
Finally, all trainees except for A-rank were selected, and now it was the turn for A-rank trainees to be picked.
"I will choose trainee Park Han-hwi."
As expected, Park Han-hwi, who had been the center, was nominated first.
"Wi Cheon-woo. Come here!"
Not realizing what situation he was in, Li Yige called Wi Cheon-woo with an excited voice.
Wi Cheon-woo, perhaps sensing his dark future, squeezed his eyes shut and trudged toward trainee Li Yige.
And while I was waiting, managing my facial expressions, wondering which team I would be called to, one full round passed.
The number of remaining A-rank trainees was 5.
'Right, it's not like I made it to A-rank because of my skills.'
I nodded to myself, rationalizing the reason I hadn't been picked yet.
'But what is this sudden uneasy feeling?'
"Trainee Wi Cheon-woo. Please choose the last team member."
At Ria's words, Wi Cheon-woo suddenly put on a determined expression.
And at the end of Wi Cheon-woo's gaze was...
'No, Cheon-woo. Please, anyone but me, Cheon-woo!!'
"I will choose Hyung, Sunwoo Rin."
I forced myself to hold back my face from naturally contorting.
I could feel the A-rank trainee next to me sighing in relief.
As I slowly walked toward Wi Cheon-woo.
I saw Wi Cheon-woo looking at me with innocent eyes that seemed to say, 'Hyung, I had no choice.'
"Cheon-woo. Thanks."
I approached Wi Cheon-woo and held out my hand.
"Haha, Hyung. Welcome, ugh."
I had absolutely no idea that Wi Cheon-woo would suddenly grab my hand and let out a groan.
Really.
"Now, all team selections are complete. We will now reveal the songs you will be performing."
'Please, just one famous foreign song, or at least a song that our entire team knows, please.'
"The songs have been selected as the representative songs of your senior idol groups."
Two of the same songs were revealed, totaling 6 songs.
"Do you know any of those songs?"
"I'm for OFF."
"Me too!"
The group called OFF, short for OHP.
Of course, I knew them too. Because they were an incredibly famous group.
They were the legendary boy group that became a global idol group by reaching number one on the Billboard chart five years ago, the first for a Korean singer.
The song written on the signboard was OFF's 'GAME'.
It wasn't the song that reached number one on the Billboard chart, but it was one of the title tracks during OFF's prime, and it was a popular song that the melody immediately came to my mind.
'The concept isn't bad either.'
OFF's 'GAME' was a decent love song that compared love to a game. At the very least, it wasn't a song we wouldn't be able to pull off because of the concept.
"Everyone agrees on the OFF song, right?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'll go get it."
It was a game where you just had to run fast and choose a signboard.
In that case.
"One person from each team, please stand on the track!"
I confidently stepped up to the obstacle course track.
"Rin-ah, let's take it easy, okay?"
"What are you going to pick? Tell me in advance so I won't go that way."
The Boo brothers, who seemed to have gone into different teams, came up to me and each dropped a line, getting ready to run.
"First, get away from me."
"Ah, got it."
While the Boo brothers moved away from me, a trainee from a physical education university boasting a physique no less impressive than mine approached me.
"Now, you can start at the signal. One, two, three!"
As soon as we started, I lightly bumped shoulders with the trainee who was trying to body-check me.
Aaaargh!
As the physical ed trainee was knocked away, no other trainees approached me after that.
'Easy.'
"Here, I brought it."
"Wow!"
Having easily brought the targeted OFF song, the team members started looking at me with eyes of respect.
But at that time, I had absolutely no idea that this choice would be the cause of another disaster.
***
"What were you thinking when you chose this song? Can you pull it off? Did you think you could do it just because it's a famous song?"
I hadn't even considered it.
The fact that OFF became famous for their flashy performances and knife-like choreography.
"Team A over there has at least somewhat gotten it together, but is this all you've done so far? And you came in looking like such a mess? Who is the leader here?"
"I am the leader."
I had my head bowed at Kim Na-hee's scathing criticism, then slowly raised my hand.
"Rin-ah, I had high expectations for you, but honestly, I'm disappointed. If I knew it was going to be like this, I wouldn't have given you an A-rank."
"I'm sorry."
When I spoke with my head bowed, the team members standing next to me with dumbfounded expressions also bowed their heads.
"There's nothing I can let slide today. You have to have practiced something for me to even give you advice."
When Kim Na-hee left the practice room after leaving those words, the atmosphere in the practice room became solemn.
"We'll be going first..."
When Park Han-hwi, the leader of Team A, led his team outside, only our team was left in the practice room.
"Hyung... are you okay?"
Wi Cheon-woo cautiously spoke to me.
"I, will quit as leader. Let me know when you decide on a new one. I'll be outside."
"Hyung! Wait!"
I ignored Wi Cheon-woo's words and went out of the practice room.
Wi Cheon-woo immediately followed behind me.
Confirming that Wi Cheon-woo was following me, I stopped a little away from the practice room.
"Hyung, really. You're not going to be the leader?"
"No, I will."
"Then why?"
I said, looking at Wi Cheon-woo with a blank face.
"To make the kids snap out of it."
"Aha..."
"I'll go in soon, so go and set the mood."
"Understood!"
Confirming that Wi Cheon-woo headed back toward the practice room with a stiff expression, I leaned against the wall.
I had no intention of really stepping down as leader. If I did, I'd end up going on broadcast as an irresponsible trainee.
Come hell or high water, I have to drag them to the end.
The weakest skills among all the teams, and the song selection with the highest difficulty.
An impossible situation.
But, compared to the situations I've been through, this was nothing.
'I survived the Hell Continent, so this is nothing.'
If I was going to whine over something like this, I wouldn't have even started.
If you don't give up, you can eventually achieve something. That is the immutable law I've learned while living.
I checked that about 5 minutes had passed and went back into the practice room.
"Hyung, we're sorry!"
"We'll do well!!"
It seemed Wi Cheon-woo had properly set the mood.
But this wasn't enough.
"There are two options."
At my words, the trainees who had their heads bowed raised their heads and looked at me.
"First, pick another leader instead of me."
"No! Hyung, you, have to, do it!"
Wi Cheon-woo's fog machine was shining brightly.
I caught the mood again and spoke.
"Second, if you don't like that, promise to unconditionally follow whatever I say from now on."
"Unconditionally...?"
"Yes. Promise it here in front of the cameras."
The trainees who were pondering my words eventually nodded with determined faces. If they had any sense, they would know what it meant to change leaders now.
"I promise."
"Me too!"
"I'll follow what you say, Hyung!"
The moment the answers fell from the kids' mouths.
I looked at my watch and spoke quickly.
"Now, it's 2 PM right now, so let's lightly practice until 3 PM today."
"Huh? Only one hour?"
"That's too short...!"
"What are you talking about?"
Looking at the bewildered kids, I said with a smile.
"3 AM, obviously."