Chapter 26
After episode 4 aired, the Team Battle stage was finally revealed.
'As expected, Rin took 1st place! That's the obvious result.'
Kim Soyoung, who had actually watched the performance that day, clenched her fist as she saw Sunwoo Rin take 1st place in the individual trainee vote.
Truthfully, no matter how well edited it was, the emotion felt when watching it in person couldn't be replicated.
Still, being able to see this legendary stage again was something to be grateful for.
-Everyone, Rin took 1st place!! As expected, idols show it on stage...
In her excitement, Kim Soyoung typed without realizing, but soon deleted the post she was about to upload.
'The atmosphere isn't good lately, I shouldn't feed the trolls.'
Just like the previous season, this season also faced endless criticism about screen time distribution and claims that certain trainees were being favored.
That had nothing to do with Kim Soyoung though.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of this audition was Sunwoo Rin himself.
'Still, it's a bit disappointing that I can't openly brag about it.'
To soothe her disappointment, Kim Soyoung entered the 'Sunwoo Rin Support Room' in the open chat.
Unlike when she first joined, there were now many more people and the chat moved so fast that it was hard to have casual conversations like before.
Still, it was a place she visited often when she wanted to talk about Sunwoo Rin.
And there were also interesting people she met here.
-Did everyone see today's stage? Seriously amazing! Our Rin is always cool, but on stage he seems 100 times cooler!
-Really? Well, I guess today was okay.
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Why are you laughing?
-Isn't this almost the first time Mini-nim has praised something?
-True ㅋㅋㅋ You always work the hardest, but your evaluations were so harsh I doubted if you were a real fan. But I guess even Mini-nim has no choice but to praise this stage ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-No, I say it's okay when it's okay!!! Stop laughing!!!!!
It was a fan with the nickname 'Mini' who had already become famous in this chatroom for always showing indifferent reactions.
-Ah, it was seriously amazing when I was there in person.
-Heol! You went to the audience?
-Yes, I was lucky enough to win the ticket and went!! ㅎㅎㅎㅎ
-I unfortunately didn't get picked, and I'm crying while watching today's stage ㅠㅠ
-Next time, everyone here will win!
-That would be so great! Let's all go together...! Mini-nim, you'll go too right? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-I... I can't go.
-Why???
-I'm a senior in high school, hahahaha...
Oh, so she was a senior in highschool. New information acquired.
But was it okay for a high school senior to be playing in a group chat all day like this?
'Well, it's not really for me to worry about.'
Now the conversation in the chatroom had shifted from the stage to voting.
-I'm running 4 accounts combined with my parents' and younger sibling's IDs.
-You should also encourage your friends to vote!
-I try to pass as a non-fan outside ㅠㅠ
-Anyway, the 1st round of voting is already over.
-Ah... real hell is waiting from now on, right?
-After the 1st rank announcement, it's truly hell...
The 1st round of voting ended today, and a new 2nd round of voting would begin next week.
There was no way Sunwoo Rin would be eliminated in the 1st round of voting, of course.
But Kim Soyoung was worried about whether she could adapt to the atmosphere after the 1st round of voting.
'Anyway, by now the 1st rank announcement must be over too? I wonder what place Rin is...'
***
"Wow, how long has it been since we've seen this set. The first filming was already over a year ago."
"Yeah, the year changed so it was last year technically, but only about two months have passed? What do you mean a year ago?"
"It's not even important, let it go!"
The set they hadn't visited in a long time.
The trainees were waiting for the rank announcement ceremony, recalling memories of their first filming.
The last digit of the year had already changed, and now the audition was entering its middle phase in earnest.
The remaining schedule consisted of two more performances and one more rank announcement ceremony, plus the final live broadcast.
Once all these schedules ended, the winner of this audition would be determined.
Of course, that was only possible if you survived until then.
"Ah, I'm nervous to death. When are they starting?"
"Me too, I'm nervous. I feel like I'm dying."
"Sihyun, you're nervous too, right? Say it!"
The A-grade waiting area, where Sim Sungha and Wi Cheonwoo were making a fuss waiting for filming to begin.
"Yes... huh? Ah, I forgot."
"Huh? Sihyun, what were you doing?"
"I was counting how many chairs there are over there."
"Ah! Come to think of it, the number of chairs is way less than the first filming?"
'You're only realizing that now, you idiot?'
"40. Exactly 40 chairs. And there are numbers written on those chairs too."
"Ah, really?"
"Wow, 40? Then how many people are getting eliminated this time... gasp!"
Out of 77 people, 37 would have to go home after today's rank announcement ceremony.
Upon realizing that fact, Sim Sungha suddenly fell silent.
'Though it's a relief we don't have to worry about being eliminated. Over there...'
The A-grade area where they gathered had a decent atmosphere, but.
The C-grade and D-grade trainees' atmosphere dropped drastically the moment they entered the set and confirmed the number of chairs.
'Almost half get eliminated. That's cruel.'
Before coming here, I thought I wouldn't care who got eliminated. But actually seeing the desperate expressions of the other trainees, I couldn't feel completely at ease either.
So while most trainees were feeling anxious waiting for filming, suppressed by the tense atmosphere of the set.
Soon the filming preparation was complete, and the judges' representative Ria walked into the set.
"Hello. I am the national judges' representative, Ria."
Clap clap clap-
As Ria stood in front of the podium and greeted them, the trainees sent applause.
"Today is the day of the first rank announcement ceremony for National Idol Season 2. Is everyone nervous?"
"Yes!"
"Even as the announcer, I can't hide my nervous feelings. But that doesn't mean we can postpone the rank announcement ceremony."
Ria turned her gaze from the participants, looked straight at the camera, and began speaking.
"The survival number for this 1st rank announcement ceremony is 40. Out of 77 trainees, only 40 can participate in the upcoming performances."
"Before announcing the rankings, I'd like to remind you again that according to the results of the Team Battle, which was the 1st performance, all winning teams received a benefit of 10,000 votes. And we voted for one trainee across both teams, correct?"
"The 8 trainees who placed 1st in the individual vote will receive a benefit of a whopping 100,000 votes."
Waaaaah-
100,000 votes?
Amazing!
Murmurs could be heard here and there at Ria's words.
"Rin hyung, you placed 1st in the individual vote! That's amazing!"
"Hyung, if you make it. Buy me a meal."
'Cheonwoo, who do you think I suffered for?'
When I glared at Wi Cheonwoo at his shameless remark, Wi Cheonwoo avoided my eyes by looking away.
Just as I had lightly subdued Wi Cheonwoo with my gaze, Ria's words began again.
"One more thing, from now on I will explain the changes that will occur according to this rank announcement ceremony."
'Is that the rule that appeared in the previous season?'
I recalled that cruel rule that made the previous season of National Idol a hit.
"After the 1st rank announcement ceremony, until the 2nd rank announcement ceremony. The ranking determined today is equivalent to your status within this audition."
"In the upcoming missions and performances, higher-ranked trainees will be given priority in all choices, and lower ranks must follow the words of trainees ranked above them."
It was the moment this crazy rule was introduced to the world once again.
'It's not the military, but a ranking system in an audition.'
They say it gives priority in choices. In reality, it was no different from dividing classes by ranking.
For example, after the rank announcement ceremony, when preparing for a stage, important positions in the team. Positions like center, main vocal, or leader would inevitably go to the higher-ranked trainees.
Unless a higher-ranked trainee yielded, a lower-ranked trainee couldn't even challenge for that position.
That was why those who secured high rankings from the beginning would inevitably stand in more advantageous positions for screen time and stages in the future.
For trainees who received low rankings, an inescapable path of hardship had begun.
'Of course, having a high rank wasn't always good either.'
In the previous season, a trainee who had risen to the debut line ranking.
After the rank announcement ceremony, became too intoxicated with their own status and treated lower-ranked trainees like slaves, causing a power trip controversy that sent their ranking plummeting.
And if higher-ranked trainees couldn't perform as well as their assigned roles on stage, skill controversies would immediately arise. In some ways, it was also a burdensome position.
'Still, being high-ranked is definitely better than being low-ranked.'
That was an obvious principle.
That was also why I had worked so hard from the beginning to attract attention.
"Then we will now begin the rank announcement ceremony. I will announce the 39th place trainee first. The 39th place trainee who received a total of 216,534 votes is..."
Along with Ria's announcement, the trainee who took 39th place walked out with an emotional expression.
"Wow, even at 39th place, it's already over 200,000 votes."
"Then how many votes would 1st place have?"
Hearing those unrealistic vote counts, I could somewhat feel how much of a sensation National Idol Season 2 was creating.
Starting with the 39th place trainee, the rankings of the lower-ranked trainees began to be announced.
Naturally, the expressions of the C and D-grade trainees whose names weren't called grew increasingly stiff.
The 30s passed quickly, and entering the 20s, faces I knew began to be called one by one.
"23rd place is one of National Idol's only twin participants."
"Yahoo!!!"
A shout came from the B-grade seats.
"She's a trainee who always delivers vibrant energy. The 23rd place trainee with 572,345 votes is trainee Bu Jihun."
"I'm going first!"
Bu Jihun, who had excitedly messed up Bu Jiseok's hair, came running out excitedly.
"20th place is trainee Bu Jiseok."
Bu Jiseok was soon called as well.
"Yes! I won!"
Bu Jiseok went up to find his seat, and as if to pay back what he received, he took his sweet revenge time on Bu Jihun before finally taking his seat.
After the Bu brothers were called, the A-grade trainees around me began to be called one by one.
"13th place is trainee Yuwon."
When his name was called, Yuwon made a point of going to Kang Ajin, who was sitting a bit away, first to exchange greetings.
"C-congratulations."
When Kang Ajin awkwardly offered congratulations, Yuwon smiled at him before going up to the podium.
"Trainee Yuwon received a benefit of 100,000 votes for placing 1st in the individual vote at the Team Battle stage, earning a total of 712,352 votes. Trainee Yuwon, please say a few words."
After slowly coming up to the stage, Yuwon grabbed the microphone and took a deep breath.
"Even as my screen time gradually decreased after the first broadcast, I'm truly grateful to the fans who voted for me. I'll work harder to show you good stages in the future."
'It feels like there's a thorn in those words?'
Yuwon was the first to openly bring up screen time. Of course, it seemed like he tried to soften it in his own way.
Everyone just smiled awkwardly and nodded at Yuwon's remark.
'I wonder if that speech will make it to broadcast.'
And finally, Baek Sihyun, who was sitting next to me, had his name called.
It was the first ranking call for someone from X-grade.
"11th place is a trainee who seems quiet normally, but shows a reversal charm when dancing. Congratulations, trainee Baek Sihyun!"
"Congratulations, Sihyun!"
"Congratulations!"
Receiving congratulations from Sim Sungha and Wi Cheonwoo, Baek Sihyun stood up from his seat.
"Thank you..."
Baek Sihyun gave his thanks with a dazed expression and walked forward to give his speech.
"Thank you for choosing me! I'll work hard!"
Thus ended the brief speech of the frozen Baek Sihyun.
The 10th, 9th, and 8th place trainees were called.
And.
"From now on, these are the trainees within the debut line."
I thought my name might be called now.
My ranking was announced as 7th place in episode 3.
'I need to manage my expression.'
While I was working hard on managing my expression.
"7th place is trainee Woo Jungwoo."
Starting with Woo Jungwoo at 7th place.
6th place Sim Sungha. 5th place Kang Ajin, and 4th place Wi Cheonwoo's names were called.
"I will, truly, work hard. Everyone, thank you so much! Jjayo!"
After Wi Cheonwoo's speech ended.
'Crazy, I'm in the top 3? No, surely I'm not outside 40th? No way.'
As I grew increasingly anxious, to the point of having the ridiculous thought that I might be outside 40th place.
"Now, we have the rankings from 1st to 3rd place left to announce. Then, I will reveal the faces of the 3 trainees who are candidates for 1st place on screen."
The faces revealed on screen were.
Yujin Kim and Park Hanhwi.
And.
'Who am I? The owner of A-rank looks... Sunwoo Rin.'
It was me.