My Idol Life After Military Service - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

I barely managed to calm my heart, which threatened to run wild after I came down from the stage.

The stage I had been standing on just a few minutes ago.

As soon as I stepped onto that stage, I could feel the cheers of nearly 4,000 fans against my skin.

The audience's reaction was fitting for the Final Round, incomparably hotter than anything before.

Led by the crowd's cheers, I moved according to my trained senses almost unconsciously, and before I knew it, the performance was over.

'I need to wake up now.'

I could see the trainees who came down from the stage sharing their thoughts on the final performance, but we, who had to prepare for the next stage, had no time to delay any longer.

The teams that had to prepare before us were already leaving their seats and running to the dressing room.

"Let's go too."

"Huh? Ah, yes sir!"

Even while running out of breath, I kept drawing the image of the next stage in my mind.

For me, the true Final Round was just beginning.

While the trainees were frantically preparing for the stage, a VCR video was playing inside the concert hall.

[Hanhui: Our team? I'm very satisfied. Hahaha]

[Jungwoo: Everyone's in a 'fighting' mood, so it's good. We'll work hard!]

The team for the Final Stage was formed. The team members gathered in one place.

[Sungha: Should we listen to the song first and then talk?]

[Ajin: Sounds good!]

[Cheonwoo: Yes, let's listen to the song!]

When everyone nodded, Sim Sungha played the song with a trembling expression.

Because the video was edited with short cuts, viewers couldn't properly tell what kind of song it was, but the expressions of the trainees listening to the song were clearly captured on screen.

[??????]

The trainees couldn't hide their flustered expressions at the song's concept, which was different from what they had initially thought.

At the sight of the trainees, the curiosity of the viewers watching the live broadcast exploded.

-What's wrong with the kids' reactions?

-No way, it's the Final, they didn't give them a weird song, did they?

-But them being dumbfounded is so cute lol

-Ajin's expression is the funniest lol

[Wow!]

As soon as one trainee let out an exclamation, the trainees quickly came to their senses.

[Sungha: The song is really fun!]

[Jiseok: I'm really confident in stuff like this!]

[Hanhui: Wow! If we do this well, it'll look really cool, right?]

[Ajin: (Sweating profusely;;;)]

[Cheonwoo: ???]

The atmosphere suddenly changed, showing the participants excitedly talking.

-No guys lol Aren't you guys shifting gears way too fast? lmao

-Sungha, Jiseok, and Hanhui are genuinely excited though?

-Ajin looking at them anxiously from the side is so cute...!

-Cheonwoo: What is this situation? Who am I? Where am I?

└It matches his expression exactly! So funny lmao

Like that, the inside of the practice room was clearly divided into two groups: the trainees who were excitedly talking and the trainees who had somewhat ambiguous expressions.

[Jungwoo: When I first heard the song? Uh... Um...]

[Hanhui: Why? It was fun and good for me!]

[Jiseok: A signal that this is a song for me struck my head like a flash!]

[Ajin: It's a bit perplexing, but as I kept listening, it seems addictive and good!]

[Sungha: I will definitely pull it off spectacularly!]

After the screen showing the trainees' inner thoughts about the song, the team immediately diving into practice was shown on screen.

-The kids are all nice and peaceful so that's good, but what kind of song is it that they're like that? I'm so curious...

-Wait, wait, I only saw the dancing video, but the vibe seems unusual.

-Looks like it'll be fun? Looking forward to it!

-I want to see the stage quickly!!

At that moment, a change came to the peaceful practice room scenery.

[Hanhui: As everyone knows, we have to choose the center position. By what method would it be good to choose?]

While the trainees were pondering over the words of the leader, Park Hanhui, Kang Ajin raised his hand and spoke.

[Ajin: I think it would be best for the person who fits this song the most to be the center!]

[Cheonwoo: I think so too!]

[Hanhui: The person who fits best...]

Then Sim Sungha raised his hand and spoke.

[Sungha: Then shall we try voting first?]

[Jungwoo: Sungha, if we vote, you know you can't vote for yourself, right?]

[Sungha: Ah, hyung! Why would you say that...!]

With Sim Sungha's strong argument, the trainees brought paper and pens and started their own vote.

[Hanhui: I'll announce the voting results. Park Hanhui 1 vote, Kang Ajin 1 vote, Sim Sungha 3 votes, Boo Jiseok 3 votes. Sungha and Jiseok are tied...]

At Park Hanhui's words, Sim Sungha and Boo Jiseok looked at each other.

[Hanhui: Any thoughts of yielding to each other?]

[Sungha: None at all.]

[Jiseok: Me neither.]

[Hanhui: Hmm... Then what do we do? Should we vote again?]

[Jiseok: Before the final vote, Sungha, let's have a duel.]

When Boo Jiseok said with a confident smile, Sim Sungha answered with a nervous expression.

[Sungha: What kind of duel...?]

[Jiseok: Freestyle dance.]

-??????

-lol No, he said let's duel so seriously I got nervous, but it's freestyle dance lol

-What on earth is the concept that they're picking the center with a freestyle dance lol

-I'm going crazy lol Show us the stage quickly, please!

Like that, the fateful freestyle dance battle between Sim Sungha and Boo Jiseok took place.

And the result of the trainees' re-vote.

[Hanhui: The vote result is 4 to 2, the center position is decided by biiiing!]

The VCR video ended with a close-up of Sim Sungha and Boo Jiseok making peculiar expressions upon hearing Park Hanhui's words.

-What... what???

-So who is the center??

-No!! Tell me too!

-The stage is coming up!

-It's starting... thump thump...

The concert hall darkened after the VCR video ended.

At that moment, letters shining in various colors appeared on the large screen.

After the rapidly blinking letters disappeared,

we're going crazy

Oh Oh Oh Oh Lady Uh!

we're going crazy

A hook song that was popular about 10 years ago.

The sound drenched in autotune was recreated once again in this place.

As the eight trainees in outfits highlighted with fluorescent colors appeared on stage, the explosive reactions of the fans waiting for the stage went up in real time.

-No way, Back to the Future for real? lmao

└Isn't this Back to the FEST? daebak

-Did we go back 10 years? Fluorescent pants and hair highlighted with bleach, what is that...

-More than that, the kids' expressions are funnier. Some are too serious, and some look genuinely excited lol

-It's ridiculous, but... listening to it, it seems somewhat okay?

At that moment, Sim Sungha pulled out LED sunglasses from his chest pocket.

-Crazy LED sunglasses lol Those are hard to get nowadays lol

-Sungha is the center! Crazy!!

-It does suit him well lol

-How did he beat Boo Jiseok in freestyle dance;;;

Oh my God. I like you too

You're my heart-heart-heartbreaker>

-Agh! Even the lyrics have that old-school vibe lol

-My mind is falling for it too... falling for it...

-Honestly, both Sim Sungha and Boo Jiseok saved this.

-In the meantime, saving that meme of Hanhui looking excited!

While the audience couldn't come to their senses from the shocking performance and the relentless feast of repeating melodies.

Fans who seemed possessed by this absurdity began to fall for it one by one.

Like that, the team's stage ended amidst the fans' shock.

-Feeling a proper culture shock for the first time in a while...

-Wow, I really didn't expect a song like this in the Final Round.

-The way the kids pull it off is the funniest part lol It seems they didn't get here for nothing.

-But more than that... no matter how good the next stage is... won't it get buried because of the first stage?

└I am Electric Sungha! I crush them with sheer presence!

└No, seriously what if that happens... I'm suddenly worried daebak

└There's no waaaay that'll happen!

└Already rea-rea-ready! Infiltration successful!! lol

-Leaving aside whether the song is good or bad, the impact was tremendous.

└Agree lol I'll definitely think of it before going to sleep lol

Even after the team ended their performance with an overwhelming presence, the heat of the audience seats did not subside as time passed.

Amidst the noisy atmosphere of the audience, Lia appeared at the side of the stage.

"The first performance song of the Final Round has ended. If you enjoyed the stage, please vote for your trainee right now."

The inside of the concert hall, where the atmosphere had calmed down a little thanks to the MC's hosting. After confirming that, Lia continued speaking.

"The next performance is being prepared by the team. What kind of stage will this team show? Is everyone looking forward to it?"

Yeeeeeesss—

"Then right now, let's take a look at the preparation process of the team."

Along with Lia's words, the VCR video played.

The process of Eugene Kim pushing out Woo Jungwoo and joining the team, ultimately finalizing the team, was briefly shown.

Up until the seven trainees gathered in the practice room, it was the same as the team.

However.

[Eugene: I thought it would be good if hyung takes the leader position and I take the center. What does everyone think?]

A close-up of the trainees' surprised expressions at Eugene Kim's shocking statement was shown,

[Sihyun: Uh... it was a bit flustering.]

[Rin: Ah, he has no intention of giving it up easily. The real competition starts now...]

[Eugene: You can't always go comfortably in a competition. If you want to be the center, you have to say it confidently.]