Chapter 42
The reason I chose the
Because I had to take the center position in the final round.
Until the time I chose the team, this was my plan.
Vocals would be Woo Jung-woo, dance would be Baek Si-hyun. And I would take the center position.
It was a combination I had already experienced during the second competition. And I was confident I could persuade Woo Jung-woo and Baek Si-hyun.
Finally, to eliminate variables, I would send Shim Sung-ha, who seemed greedy for the center position, to the opposing team.
Until then, my plan was perfect.
'But I didn't expect Yoo Jin-kim to come here.'
There's no rule that 1st and 2nd place can't be on the same team, but still, it usually makes for a prettier picture if they're on different teams.
It creates a team versus team competition structure, and occasionally mixes in some provocative remarks. Going with a rivalry dynamic seemed like it would work well.
This time, my thoughts completely missed the mark.
"I think it would be good if hyung takes the leader position and I take the center. What does everyone think?"
At Yoo Jin-kim's words, the atmosphere in the practice room became tense.
Actually, a main vocalist openly declaring they want to be the center from the start doesn't look that good.
'What are you thinking?'
The Yoo Jin-kim I knew wasn't someone who took such risks, but today I couldn't read what he was thinking at all.
For now, feeling that all the other trainees were looking only at me, I had no choice but to finish my thoughts and answer.
"I'm not going to be the leader this time. I want to be the center too."
After hearing my words, Yoo Jin-kim thought quietly for a moment, then looked around at the other trainees and spoke.
"Are there any other trainees who want the center position?"
At Yoo Jin-kim's words, a few people who had been reading the room hastily raised their hands and spoke.
"Me too, I want to try being the center."
"Since this is the last time. I want to challenge myself."
"Then, me too...!"
All the remaining trainees except Baek Si-hyun raised their hands.
'Did I think about this too simply...'
Actually, I had thought that as long as the opponents were around the level of Park Han-hwi, Wi Cheon-woo, and Shim Sung-ha, there wouldn't be much difficulty in taking the center position.
But looking at the other trainees' expressions now, I wondered if I had taken the fact that this was the last stage too lightly.
'It was pointless to think it would be easy from the start.'
"But Si-hyun, are you not interested in the center position?"
Yoo Jin-kim asked Baek Si-hyun, the only one who hadn't raised his hand.
"I want to be... the leader this time!"
Hmm, Baek Si-hyun as the leader...
"What does everyone think?"
"I'm okay with it."
"I think it's fine too."
The others gave signs of approval one by one.
Well, since Baek Si-hyun was the only one who didn't join the center competition, it was an inevitable choice.
And I had already said I wouldn't be the leader, so it would be strange for me to object.
"Lin hyung, you're okay with this too, right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine too."
"Since everyone has agreed, then we'll decide on Si-hyun as the leader."
At Yoo Jin-kim's words, everyone looked at Baek Si-hyun who was chosen as the leader.
"First of all, thank you for entrusting me with the leader position."
Baek Si-hyun said in a calm tone.
"And for the center position, since we haven't even properly heard the song yet, I think it would be good to decide again after we've listened to the whole song."
'He speaks more neatly than I expected?'
It was hard to recall his usual timid appearance; the current Baek Si-hyun suited the leader role quite well.
"Yeah, we need to listen to the song first."
"That's right, let's decide on the center position later."
Like that, we temporarily postponed deciding on the center position, and were able to properly listen to the final stage song for the first time.
"Hmm."
"I think it's good."
"It's different from what I expected..."
"Starting with the concept, we definitely need to establish it firmly."
While everyone was discussing after listening to
Baek Si-hyun spoke to the trainees.
"Now we need to decide on the center, but I think it would be good to practice the center position parts separately and then hold an internal vote among ourselves. What do you think?"
Actually, in a situation where everyone wanted the center, it was hard to find another method.
"That's the fairest way."
"I'm okay with it but..."
The lower-ranked trainees spoke while glancing at me and Yoo Jin-kim.
"Yeah, let's do that."
From the moment Yoo Jin-kim stepped up, I had already given up on easily taking the center position.
When I agreed like that.
"I'm okay with it too."
Yoo Jin-kim also nodded and answered.
"Then from now until 30 minutes later, everyone will have individual practice time."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
At Baek Si-hyun's words, the trainees scattered to various corners of the practice room.
Seeing the scattering trainees, I headed outside the practice room for now.
'I knew you'd follow.'
And when I looked back, I could see Yoo Jin-kim who had come out of the practice room following me.
"Is it okay if you don't practice?"
"I wonder."
"I didn't know everyone wanted the center position that much. And you too."
We two stopped walking and stood facing each other.
"Personally, I think it's best if hyung is the center."
"What?"
"But it's the finals. It would be strange to hand over the center position too easily."
Yoo Jin-kim paused for a moment, then looked into my eyes and spoke.
"It's best if hyung does it, but it doesn't mean hyung has to do it. If you're worse than me, then I should do it."
-Due to Yoo Jin-kim's sudden action, the trait 'Rival' is activated.
-Charm stat increases by +1.
***
Even during the busy schedule of practicing the final stage song, individual interviews and various filming continued without end.
And now in this place, all 15 participants gathered for the first time in a while to film a VCR video that would be broadcast during the live show.
"Hello, national judges!"
"Hello!"
Two large sofas were placed one above the other, and the trainees sat in their seats looking relaxed, wearing casual clothes for the first time in a while.
I looked at the script the production team had handed me and spoke.
"Do you all know the reason why everyone has gathered here today?"
"Me! Me!"
"Yes, Sung-ha, please tell us."
"I heard it's a place to meet global fans!"
"That's correct."
As Shim Sung-ha said, the concept of today's place was real-time communication with global fans.
Of course, that wasn't the end.
"Now, as Sung-ha said, today we'll have a time to communicate and talk with global fans in real-time."
I finished speaking and looked at Yoo Jin-kim.
Yoo Jin-kim, who was holding a script like me, spoke with a capitalistic smile.
"Yes, to communicate with fans from about 60 countries in real-time, the broadcast will proceed through W app live. Trainees can directly check the chats that overseas fans post in real-time through the tablets placed in front of you and answer their questions."
At Yoo Jin-kim's words, the trainees picked up the new tablets placed on the tables in front of the sofas.
'From the app to the tablet, two types of PPL at once. Intense, so intense...'
Actually, this place was less for communicating with global fans and more close to an advertising time disguised as VCR video filming.
Well, it's not like the filming would change just because the production team's intentions were obvious.
(Look at the tablet and be more amazed!)
"Wow! But this tablet is really good!"
"They said it's a newly released model!"
"Daebak! I really wanted this so much!!"
Seeing the trainees endlessly exclaiming in admiration at the writer's words, I couldn't help but feel a bit bitter.
Of course, I said I felt a bit bitter. That doesn't mean I did it half-heartedly.
Advertisements are precious.
"Ah, isn't this the new flagship tablet Omega 7 from Korea's pride O-Sung Electronics? Just hearing the name makes me feel like my blood is being purified, and seeing this beautiful figure that seems to contain an ocean of coral blue color, my stuffy chest..."
"Hyung...! Hyung!"
Yoo Jin-kim stopped me by patting me from the side as I was talking endlessly.
It seems I went a bit overboard.
"Cough. Now. What do you trainees think is important when communicating with overseas fans?"
As I quickly regained my senses and spoke, Yoo Jin-kim answered my question.
"To communicate with overseas fans, you have to study languages hard above all else, right? Are you all studying languages hard?"
When Yoo Jin-kim said that, most of the trainees were averting their eyes while looking at the tablet screen.
Wi Cheon-woo raised his hand first.
"I am studying Korean. Hard!"
"Ah, right. Cheon-woo hyung's Korean has improved a lot!"
Yeah, for you Korean is a foreign language... Well, it's true that Wi Cheon-woo's Korean skills have been noticeably improving.
'You're basically learning it by force...'
While I was thinking to myself, Wi Cheon-woo looked at me and spoke.
"Lin hyung helped me. A lot!"
Seeing that he hasn't forgotten his gratitude, well, I'll let it slide roughly.
"I'm studying Japanese hard...!"
After Wi Cheon-woo, Baek Si-hyun spoke with sparkling eyes.
But Si-hyun. Was watching anime on your phone... studying?
"I'm studying English, Chinese, and Japanese. Of course, they're all at a basic level though."
"I'm also studying hard together with Han-hwi hyung."
When Park Han-hwi and Woo Jung-woo spoke, the other trainees nodded.
Actually, I heard that trainees from large agencies receive foreign language education in addition to singing and dancing.
It seemed like most of the trainees had learned English, Chinese, or Japanese from their agencies.
"I see. It seems our Guk-A trainees are studying languages this hard to become global idols."
Of course, just because they learned it doesn't mean they're all good at it. But since they all have some level of foreign language skills, isn't that why they planned this kind of content?
Hmm, but what's with everyone's nervous appearances?
"Now, everyone please pay attention. They say there are only 3 minutes left until the live broadcast starts."
As the live broadcast that starts on the hour approached right before their eyes, the trainees suddenly started talking more.
"I'm so nervous?"
"I have an English allergy... what should I do?"
"Jin-ah, I'm only trusting you?"
"Sung-ha, didn't you say you're good at English?"
"When did I say that! I can't even speak Korean well...!"
While everyone was in a nervous state.
"Wow! It started."
"Look at the speed of the chats coming up..."
"Hi... nice to meet chu."
As soon as the broadcast started, an enormous amount of chats began pouring in real-time.
[Hello to the national judges overseas, we've come to communicate with global fans through the W app live broadcast. Nice to meet you all!]
Yoo Jin-kim greeted in English as the representative, and the live broadcast through the W app began.
'There seem to be more overseas fans than I thought?'
In the fast-moving chat window, not only English but various languages from many countries were coexisting.
While everyone was marveling at it.
(Please read the questions!)
Following the writer's request, Yoo Jin-kim started hosting.
[Yes, I am watching National Idol from California...]
While Yoo Jin-kim was reading the chats and the other trainees were answering questions and progressing the broadcast for a while.
The writer wrote something on paper again and showed it to us.
(Please read chats other than English chats mainly!!)
At the writer's request, an expression that said 'If that's so easy, why don't you do it?' momentarily appeared on Yoo Jin-kim's face before disappearing.
"Um... could other trainees also read the chats?"
When Yoo Jin-kim spoke with a somewhat flustered face for the first time in a while, Baek Si-hyun and Wi Cheon-woo confidently raised their hands and spoke.
"I'll read the Japanese chats!"
"I will, read the Chinese chats!"
Though the two people spoke with confidence while raising their hands like that.
[About Japanese culture? I really like it!]
Baek Si-hyun, who had been diligently reading Japanese chats for a while.
[Why does Si-hyun-kun speak like a 17-year-old girl...? Ahhh... that's,,, I'm sorry...!]
After reading one chat, mental breakdown visited, and Baek Si-hyun collapsed on his own.
"Lin hyung, that... fans have questions. If you come to China. What you want to see most, moonjae? geonchumul?"
"You mean cultural heritage and architecture, right?"
"Ah! That's right!"
It was still too early to expect proper interpretation from Wi Cheon-woo, as his Korean skills were too lacking.
Like that, unlike his confident attitude at first, Wi Cheon-woo's words gradually decreased.
And when silence finally came to the studio, the writer kept writing and erasing something on paper. While she was agonizing over it.
-Hyung, you're good at Chinese and English, so why are you just staying still...ㅡㅡ
-Well ㅎㅎ;;;
-ㅂㄷㅂㄷ
Yoo Jin-kim sent me a signal with his eyes to do something.
'Well, it can't be helped.'
I don't know why they planned this kind of content without proper preparation.
For now, the live broadcast seems to have become enough of a mess.
And I've seen enough of Yoo Jin-kim's flustered face.
It seemed like it was my turn to step up now.