Chapter 27
After the faces of the three of us on the screen were revealed.
Ria asked the three 1st place candidates, who were staring blankly at the screen, for their thoughts one by one.
"First, trainee Seon U-rin. A truly steep rise in the ranks. You've suddenly climbed up to become a 1st place candidate. Honestly, what rank did you expect to get today?"
'Why did she have to ask me first.'
The question flew at me before I even had time to think.
"Rather than an expected rank, I feel like I must get 1st place."
"Oh, you must get 1st place? Is there a special reason?"
Perhaps she didn't expect such an answer, Ria asked back in surprise.
"Actually, when I went home last time, my younger sister told me not to even think about coming home if I didn't get 1st place. So I have to get 1st place to go home."
'Min-ah, I'm sorry...'
Min-i actually never said anything like that, but isn't that what broadcasts are all about? Just a tiny pinch of salt... no, maybe it wasn't just a tiny pinch?
'If oppa does well, I'll buy you a new bag.'
While I was begging for forgiveness from my sister in my heart.
"Hahaha, as expected, trainee Seon U-rin's sister is overflowing with fighting spirit just like her older brother. If there's a chance, I'd personally love to see the two of you together."
"Yes, thank you."
Like that, I safely got past my turn using the sister shield.
"Next, trainee Park Han-hwi. You've consistently recorded 2nd place since the first broadcast. Don't you covet the 1st place spot?"
'That's a sharp question.'
It was a question where one wrong answer would easily invite criticism.
Park Han-hwi, who pondered for a moment at Ria's question, opened his mouth.
"I feel my current rank is already more than I deserve, so it would be a lie to say I don't covet the 1st place spot. But even if I don't get 1st place, I think I'll be too happy."
Um, a safe answer.
The production team must be working tirelessly to create a rivalry between 1st and 2nd place.
It seemed Park Han-hwi had no intention of playing along with the production team's intentions.
"Lastly, trainee Yujin Kim. You've been defending the 1st place spot all along. 1st place today as well. Will you be able to maintain it?"
Yujin Kim, the only one sitting in the D-grade seat among the three.
Of course, that would become meaningless after today.
"I am always just grateful to those who support me. Whatever result is given to me, I will humbly accept it."
'Are you sure you're actually an overseas Korean?'
In Yujin Kim's calm figure as she answered, not a trace of tension or anxiety could be found.
"Now, then, I will announce the 3rd place trainee first. The 3rd place trainee who received a total of 927,892 votes is. Trainee Park Han-hwi."
3rd place was Park Han-hwi.
Park Han-hwi stood up from his seat with a bright smile as his name was called.
'Why is he coming towards me?'
As Park Han-hwi approached me, I had no choice but to stand up and offer my congratulations.
"Congratulations, hyung."
"Thanks, Rin-a, I'll go up first."
I was a little flustered by Park Han-hwi speaking so familiarly.
"Thanks, guys."
"Yeah, I'll work hard. Thank you so much."
"Right, you fight hard too!"
Seeing him go all the way down to the seats of the C and D grade trainees at risk of elimination, calling their names one by one and greeting them warmly, I thought he must just be that kind of person originally.
After exchanging congratulations with Yujin Kim last, Park Han-hwi went up to the podium.
"Congratulations, trainee Park Han-hwi. Trainee Park Han-hwi took on the leader position for Team A of 'OFF' in the team battle and showed an excellent stage, and was also selected for the center position of the main theme song, receiving the love of many national judges. Now, please say a few words."
Park Han-hwi spoke with a slightly cautious expression, looking around.
"Once again, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. There is truly so much I want to show you in the future. In the next competition, I will truly put all my effort into creating a magnificent stage."
For some reason, Park Han-hwi was staring intently at me when he talked about the stage.
'Was he that disappointed about the last stage?'
Does he have some lingering resentment toward me?
While I was agonizing over it, Park Han-hwi's acceptance speech ended.
Only the faces of two people remained on the screen.
"The two 1st place candidates, please come forward."
While Yujin Kim and I stood up and walked out, several staff members began to bring out what looked like podiums onto the stage.
'Don't tell me we have to stand up there?'
My prediction didn't miss the mark.
"Now, the two 1st place candidate trainees, please step up onto these podiums."
Yujin Kim and I each stepped up onto the two podiums and took our places.
"Now, National Idol Season 2's first ranking announcement. We are about to announce 1st and 2nd place."
"The number of votes for 1st place... is the only one in this ranking announcement to surpass a whopping 1 million votes, recording 1,235,655 votes."
"Then, for the long-awaited 1st ranking announcement. I will announce the protagonist of 1st place."
"The honorable 1st place trainee is, none other than. Trainee Yujin Kim."
Waaaaaaah-
Clap clap clap-
Ah, it was an expected result.
Yujin Kim had been running at 1st place ever since voting began.
It didn't make sense to close that gap all at once.
Even knowing that.
'My feelings aren't entirely pleasant.'
It was definitely an incredible achievement for 2nd place as well.
Thinking that there was an obstacle called 1st place in front of me. I couldn't be satisfied.
"Congratulations on 1st place, trainee Yujin Kim."
"Thank you so much."
"Please give your 1st place speech."
"I am sorry for showing a disappointing performance in the previous grade evaluation. Whatever the reason, failing to manage my condition is clearly my fault. Even though I showed such a lacking appearance, I thank the fans who supported me once again. I will always show you a hardworking side in the future."
Yujin Kim's 1st place speech ended.
The camera started to focus on me.
"Trainee Seon U-rin, you won't be able to go home, right? Are you okay?"
At Ria's joking remark, I quickly regained my senses.
This was no time for me to be lost in other thoughts.
"I think it will be okay if I offer tteokbokki and ice cream as a bribe."
"Hahahaha, is it really okay to reveal your younger sister's tastes?"
"What can she do when her oppa is Seon U-rin."
At my words, Ria took the microphone away from her mouth and burst into laughter, then soon collected herself and resumed hosting.
"Trainee Seon U-rin received a total of 942,892 votes, taking 2nd place."
940,000 votes, a truly enormous number.
Even though voting was possible every day. I still received an absurd number of votes.
'Excluding the 100,000 vote benefit, that's 840,000 votes.'
Park Han-hwi's vote count without the benefit was 930,000, so if I hadn't received the benefit, I would have ranked lower than Park Han-hwi.
In fact, it was even lower than Wi Cheon-u's 870,000 votes.
'Is my actual rank excluding benefits around 4th or 5th place?'
Thinking like that, my mind snapped awake with the realization that I couldn't afford to be complacent here.
"Trainee Seon U-rin, please say a few words."
"I will do it with a do-or-die determination. Please watch me."
***
For reference, the trainees who performed the 'GAME' stage of 'OFF' with me, excluding Wi Cheon-u and me, were all eliminated except for one person.
'The 40th place trainee is trainee Lee I-geol.'
With Lee I-geol, who barely survived, as the last, the 1st ranking announcement ended like that.
The way back to the dorm after filming ended was truly quiet.
And.
"Survive to the end. You must do well for my share too!"
"Sniff, take care everyone."
"I made so many wonderful memories and was happy during this time. Thank you, Nat-Idol! I'll keep cheering for you!"
The time of parting was difficult, but it passed quickly.
After the trainees who packed their belongings left the dorm.
"Ha, so this really is an audition."
"It's too cruel."
The remaining trainees in the emptied dorm let out sighs mixed with lamentation.
A trainee sharing the same room was eliminated overnight.
There was even a trainee left alone in their room.
As everyone was feeling the empty seats of the departed trainees.
"Hyung, where are you going?"
As I quietly tried to slip away in the roughly settled atmosphere. I got caught by Sim Seong-ha.
"To practice."
"Wow..."
Faces that seemed to want to say, 'You want to practice in this atmosphere?' looked at me.
"From tomorrow, we're preparing for the 2nd competition."
Staying immersed in this atmosphere any longer was a disadvantage to me.
And above all.
'That guy Yujin Kim disappeared a long time ago.'
Not even knowing what the 2nd competition would be.
There was nothing else I could do but practice.
"Right, I'm going to practice too."
Park Han-hwi followed me out.
"What, is everyone going to practice?"
Even Woo Jung-woo came this way following Park Han-hwi.
"Rin-a, let's hurry. Didn't you say we're going to practice?"
"Huh? That's true, but..."
"Do-or-die...! I should also do it with a do-or-die determination. As expected, military veterans are different? I learned a thing or two from Rin-i today too."
Why is this guy suddenly acting like this towards me?
Is he going to follow me all the way to the practice room like this?
"Hyung, stop making people uncomfortable and stay two steps away from Rin-i hyung."
"No, how did I make anyone uncomfortable... Ah!"
"You always make me use force, don't you? Then we'll get going first."
This seems like a scene I've seen somewhere before?
Woo Jung-woo dragged Park Han-hwi away and disappeared first.
"Then I'll go first?"
"Hyung, we'll go with you!"
"Me too, practice!"
"Then me too."
Like that, to prepare for the 2nd competition tomorrow, we sweated in the practice room until night again today.
***
40 trainees were gathered in the auditorium.
And on the backs of the trainees. Numbers from 1 to 40 were written.
'Is this outright discrimination?'
When I arrived at the auditorium, chairs were prepared for ranks 1 through 7 to sit on.
Of course, the chair for 1st place was the most flashy.
'To sit there and not change a single facial expression, she's truly amazing.'
The chair for 1st place was a flashy golden chair.
And Yujin Kim sitting there had a calm face as if it were a natural thing.
"It's a relief ours are normal chairs."
Park Han-hwi, who was sitting next to me, said.
Since the chairs for me and Park Han-hwi were relatively normal compared to the 1st place chair, they didn't stand out as much.
Of course, with 33 people standing, it wasn't exactly comfortable.
As we were waiting like that for a moment for filming to start.
Contrary to the expectation that Ria would come, 7 judges entered the auditorium.
Hello-
While greeting them, I wondered what this competition had to do with those judges.
Like that, the judges received the trainees' greetings and went up to the podium.
Whether as their representative, Judge Leo grabbed the microphone and greeted.
"You had the 1st ranking announcement yesterday, right? Is everyone okay?"
"Yes!"
"Then do you all know why we're gathered today?"
"For the 2nd competition!"
"Yes, that's correct. The reason we are here is, of course, because of the 2nd competition preparations."
Leo said, pointing to the judges including himself.
"In the 2nd competition, our 7 trainers will each take charge of one team."
At Leo's words, the trainees made surprised expressions.
It was a new method that wasn't conducted in the previous season.
'2 vocal trainers, 3 dance trainers, and 2 active idols.'
As soon as I heard Leo's words, I calculated which judge's team it would be advantageous to join.
'First, vocals are out.'
I managed to raise my vocal ability up to C through Yujin Kim's hardcore training, but vocal was still the lowest stat among my abilities.
Of course, if I joined the vocal team, I could show a new side.
'What new side, I just have to do well unconditionally.'
I, who had taken 2nd place.
A growth narrative wouldn't work anymore.
I had to show an unconditionally good performance.
'Then it's either dance or the active idol team.'
The two judges who were active idols were versatile idols who even handled producing in their respective teams.
As such, the possibility of trying something new was high.
It wasn't easy to predict what they would do.
'For dance. It seems good to go to Kim Na-hee or Song Young-jun.'
While I was contemplating, Leo's explanation continued.
"Which team you will join depends on your choice. However. The selection will proceed from the 1st place trainee. Naturally, there will be trainees who can't join the team they want, right?"
At Leo's words, sighs erupted from where the lower rank trainees were.
"It's cruel, but it can't be helped. Please show your utmost effort in the situation you are in. Now, starting with the 1st place trainee, Yujin Kim, we will proceed with the team selection. Trainee Yujin Kim. Please stand in front of the trainer you want."
Yujin Kim seemed to contemplate for a moment, then slowly moved her steps.
Contrary to my expectation that she would go to the vocal side.
"Trainee Yujin Kim, is it correct that you chose me?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Ah, what a pity. If only she came to this side."
Yujin Kim chose Leo.
Along with the sighs of the two vocal trainers, my turn came right away.
'Where should I go? The same team as Yujin Kim?'
The first thought that came to mind was forming a team with Yujin Kim. But.
'Is there any need to go under Yujin Kim, who has a higher rank than me?'
If it weren't for Yujin Kim, in this situation where I would have the highest rank whichever team I joined, joining the same team as Yujin Kim didn't seem like a good idea.
If so.
I soon organized my thoughts and moved my steps.
"Are you coming to me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Trainee Seon U-rin has chosen Trainer Kim Na-hee's team."
I chose the most reliable dance trainer.
First, I could hide my still weak vocals.
'If I learn from Kim Na-hee, it feels like my dance stat will quickly rise to B-grade.'
The first reason was that going to Kim Na-hee's team seemed like it would raise my dance stat, which was currently stagnating at C+.
'Our tendencies match personally, too.'
Of course, I received harsh criticism from Kim Na-hee due to a bad first impression, but I personally got along well with someone like Kim Na-hee, who thoroughly acknowledged results.
As I chose Trainer Kim Na-hee and waited for the other trainees.
'Why is he coming this way again?'
Park Han-hwi joined Kim Na-hee's team as the second member.
"Rin-a, let's do well! Let's work hard with a do-or-die determination."
'If he just avoids me and Yujin Kim, he'd be the center wherever he goes, is this guy an idiot?'
As I was seriously contemplating the Park Han-hwi idiot theory that Woo Jung-woo had talked about.
"Trainee Baek Si-hyun has chosen Kim Na-hee's team."
Even Baek Si-hyun chose Kim Na-hee's team, and it was already filled with 3 members.
'Then this is a pretty good group of members.'
"Wow, Trainer Kim Na-hee's team is already strong, isn't it?"
"What, I'm jealous, Trainer Na-hee."
2nd, 3rd, and 11th place Baek Si-hyun.
They were members who wouldn't pale in comparison to any other team.
Up until now, that is.
"Trainee Yoo Won... has become the fourth member of Trainer Kim Na-hee's team."
"Please take care of me, everyone."
I looked at Yoo Won happily greeting Park Han-hwi and thought.
'What the hell is this bastard scheming?'