Chapter 6
Finally, all 77 trainees had finished entering.
Every trainee who entered wore a mixture of tension and anticipation on their faces.
I was no different.
The feeling of taking a first step into an unknown world.
Maybe like entering a training camp?
'No, not quite. That was truly hell.'
Out of the 77 trainees, only a tenth would get the chance to debut.
Out of 10 people around me, 9 would have to return home.
'Can I survive?'
I had no doubts about my abilities.
However, there were countless variables that could arise until the program ended.
And the public's reaction, which wouldn't go my way.
Only by enduring and persevering through all of that could I achieve the goal of debut.
At that moment, the judge panel walked in from beyond the set.
Wow.
Starting with someone's exclamation, cheers erupted and everyone rose from their seats to deliver a 90-degree bow.
The person walking at the forefront was Ria, the original Hallyu star and female solo singer marking her 15th debut anniversary this year.
She was likely the representative judge.
Following her were the main vocal of a tier-1 boy idol group, and a member of a rising idol group recognized for composing and producing.
Several choreographers and vocal trainers who had been active as judges since last season were also visible.
The judge panel, having taken their seats amidst the trainees' cheers, looked around leisurely and spoke.
"Wow, everyone's energy is great this season too."
"Everyone is so handsome and cool!"
"I hope you do well without being too nervous."
Once the atmosphere had settled to some degree, representative judge Ria took the microphone and spoke.
"Based on this grade evaluation, teams will be formed, and you'll begin practicing the debut song. Naturally, getting a higher grade comes with merits, right?"
"Yes!"
"The trainee selected for the highest grade will be given the opportunity to stand in the center position on the debut song stage. Conversely, trainees in the lowest grade will dance on the floor, off the stage, without being able to go up on stage."
At Ria's cold-toned words, the interior of the set fell silent in an instant.
Seeing the tense expressions of the trainees, Ria switched to a bright tone and spoke again.
"Now, is everyone ready?"
"Yes!!!"
At the sound made by 77 men, Ria feigned a smile and pretended to cover her ears.
"Everyone's full of energy, that's good to see. Well then, without further ado, I want to see who'll step up first. Raise your hand!"
"I'll go first!"
The moment Ria finished speaking, a trainee raised his hand and shouted.
"Alright, come on out."
'That friend won't get edited out completely at least.'
Thinking he'd secured at least one cut, the trainee walked out with a bright smile, and the grade evaluation finally began.
"Trainee Gong Jimin is C rank."
"Trainee Park Woonchan is D rank."
"Trainee Song Minhyuk is D rank."
As each person's grade was determined, the atmosphere in the venue grew chilly.
Watching the backs of trainees leaving the stage after their performance, dance trainer Kim Na-hee grumbled.
"I still don't see any trainees with real skills. They should start appearing soon."
"Let's wait just a little longer."
When Ria answered with a still relaxed expression, Kim Na-hee nodded and began glaring at the trainees preparing for the next stage.
Observing the judges' atmosphere, the Bu brothers quietly spoke.
"Everyone seems to be in a bad mood, don't they?"
"It's freezing. Looks like the average temperature dropped about 3 degrees from earlier."
Trainees who gave the impression of being underprepared appeared consecutively.
"A-jin, how does it look?"
"It seems like they didn't practice properly."
As someone always overflowing with enthusiasm when it comes to the stage, Kang A-jin's harsh evaluation popped out.
Fortunately, not long after, trainees from named agencies appeared and showed preparedness.
As it went on, noticeable skilled individuals began appearing one or two at a time.
"Rin, aren't you nervous? Actually you're trembling, right? You haven't said a word since earlier. It's okay, this hyung will carry you. Just make sure to ride the bus well."
"Shut up. Let's go."
"Huh? Where?"
I pointed in one direction to Bu Ji-seok, who looked dumbfounded.
There, a writer who had been sending us signals to get ready was standing.
***
Ria, the representative judge of National Idol, didn't show it on the outside, but she was extremely bored inside.
'I heard roughly but... it's worse than I thought?'
She had been told by the writer not to expect much from the trainees coming out first, but she still hoped there would be a few hidden gems.
'How can it be a total wipeout?'
She knew the skilled ones were placed in the back, but as Ria, who had almost fully grasped information about those skilled trainees as well, she wanted a new skilled trainee she didn't know about to pop up from somewhere.
'The ones coming later will do well enough, but their skills are obvious. The most anticipated one is still that Yujin Kim kid, but she's in the last order.'
While calculating how many teams were left until it ended, four trainees came up onto the stage.
'Kang A-jin, Bu Ji-seok, Bu Ji-hoon, Seonwoo Rin, they're all individual trainees?'
"Hello! Individual trainees..."
"We are!"
The moment they came up on stage, the twins completely messed up the greeting.
At the sight of the two, laughter erupted from the people in the set.
The other two who came up on stage together were shaking their heads while looking at the twins.
'The atmosphere isn't bad.'
Ria quickly scanned the four people's application forms.
"Did the four of you get to know each other while preparing for this stage?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Even so, you all seem to get along well."
At her words, the four people each showed contrasting reactions.
Bu Ji-seok and Bu Ji-hoon made disgusted expressions while looking at each other. Kang A-jin smiled quietly.
And.
One trainee only nodding with an expressionless face.
'What's up with that short-haired kid?'
He was a trainee who stood out particularly from his entrance. Tall with short hair, someone who looked more suited to be an athlete than an idol trainee.
Seonwoo Rin had maintained a poker face since standing on stage.
'Seonwoo Rin, discharged from the military 2 weeks ago? Trainee experience... none?'
Her eyes were naturally drawn to that unusual history.
While Ria was looking at the application form, the surroundings became quiet.
"Ria? Shall we see the stage first?"
At the cautious voice speaking beside her, she barely took her eyes off the application form and spoke.
"Let's see the stage first. Please start when you're ready."
At her words, the four trainees got into formation.
Soon, a gentle melody began to play.
"What's this song?"
As soon as the intro played, exclamations burst out here and there.
"They're going to pull off this song with four guys?"
The song they chose was girl group Lovely's 'Sneeze.'
Lovely was a girl idol group with a lovely girl concept and a male-dominated fandom.
And Lovely's hit song 'Sneeze' was a song full of Lovely's own girlish charm that compared a girl's crush to a tickling sneeze.
Ria, slightly flustered by the song choice, actually became more interested in the stage.
She hadn't imagined a girl group song would appear on this stage, let alone a song from Lovely whose concept was loveliness.
'I just hope they didn't bring this as a gag concept.'
She watched the intro with a mix of anticipation and worry.
The choreography seemed slightly modified, and the originally swaying girl idol dance was being recreated through the four male trainees without feeling awkward.
And.
-When I see you, my heart tickles
It feels like floating on clouds
The moment Kang A-jin sang the first verse. Everyone's eyes focused on Kang A-jin.
The flutter and wistfulness that perfectly matched the concept of the song.
Not a single bit of awkwardness felt when a man sings a girl group song was present.
-With my pounding heart
I draw your figure with excitement
Feeling embarrassed by myself
I erase it with another sigh.
Next, the twins appeared and took turns singing verse by verse.
The two exchanged gestures and naturally harmonized together.
Their playful appearance made the viewers naturally smile.
-I actually have something to say to you
Words I couldn't deliver
I'll deliver them today
"Pfft."
At Seonwoo Rin's appearance, laughter erupted here and there.
Cute gestures that didn't match his sturdy build.
And the awkward expression on his previously expressionless face, as if written "expression for broadcast" on it, didn't feel bad at all.
And this part was the timing where that aegyo, which could be said to have made this song a hit, had to come out.
'That friend is going to do that?'
When everyone was watching the stage with expectant eyes.
-Shall we meet today...? Achoo!
Bright eyes, a 45-degree tilted head, two hands clasped together.
Everything was exactly the same as in the original song.
Only the person doing it was different.
"Kyaaah!"
The moment 'that' aegyo came out of Seonwoo Rin's mouth, screams erupted from both sides beside her.
When someone who doesn't seem like they would do it shows an unexpected side, reversal charm emerges.
Reversal charm and weirdness differ by just a hair's breadth, but trainee Seonwoo Rin was currently showing a result that precariously leaned more toward the charm side of that boundary.
'A smartly constructed stage.'
The person who constructed this stage had a good sense for stages. Ria felt that immediately.
-Whenever I stand in front of you
My lips keep tickling
I'll end up not saying a single word again
And regretting it all night, right
If you also know how I feel
Take the first step toward me
And hug me first
I'll become your love
The song ended with the chorus that everyone sang together.
Clap clap clap-
Whoa-
The trainees' applause and cheers rang out.
***
A better reaction than expected.
I confirmed that laughter had burst out from the judge panel as well.
I made eye contact with Kang A-jin and the Bu brothers.
They didn't seem pleased about holding back their laughter, but it seemed we all felt the same way—that it was successful regardless.
As the trainees' cheers began to subside, judge Ria picked up the microphone.
"I enjoyed the stage. By any chance, who came up with this concept?"
"We all discussed it together..."
"Trainee Kang A-jin conceptualized the stage."
I interrupted Kang A-jin's answer and spoke.
Actually, the reason Kang A-jin conceptualized this was entirely because of me.
This stage was created after Kang A-jin agonized over what kind of stage I, a complete novice at dancing, could participate in without falling behind.
"I viewed it very positively. At first, I thought it was just a gag concept, but trainee Kang A-jin suited this song so perfectly that I was surprised. The other trainees also each showed their roles well, so it seems like a fun yet complete stage was created."
"Thank you!"
At Ria's favorable review, who hadn't given compliments easily until now, Kang A-jin answered with a bright smile.
"Trainee Seonwoo Rin! It seems like countless meme images will be created when this airs, how do you feel?"
The vocal trainer, who had been quiet all along, said with shining eyes.
Come to think of it, the person who screamed earlier seemed to be him too.
"I am satisfied."
"Hahaha! That's a completely unsatisfied expression though!"
Along with the vocal trainer who burst out laughing looking at my face, laughter erupted from here and there.
At that time, Leo, the leader and main vocal of idol group Bex, who had been flipping through the application form, rubbed his eyes in disbelief and spoke.
"Trainee Seonwoo Rin, you were discharged from the military 2 weeks ago?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Argh, no way! A participant has completed military service!"
While everyone was looking at Leo strangely as he was getting worked up alone, Ria beside him added an explanation.
"Leo is going to the military right after this program ends. Please understand a little, everyone."
"Seonwoo, you're from UDT? The UDT where that buzz-cut uncle came from, is that right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Wow, suddenly you look like a different person."
Leo showed an intense reaction and praised me.
Glancing to the side, the writer was giving Leo a thumbs up.
'It was all planned.'
It seemed like a pretty good scene was created.
With this, I could put away worries about being edited out completely.
At the very least, the conversation with Leo would make it to broadcast.
"Excuse me!"
Kim Na-hee, the dance trainer who had been making the only displeased expression until now, suddenly spoke up.
"I'm sorry to interrupt when everyone is only saying good things, but I couldn't properly see your dancing with this stage?"
In the suddenly chilled atmosphere, Kim Na-hee flipped through our application forms and spoke.
"Bu Ji-seok, Bu Ji-hoon, trainee period 5 years, Kang A-jin 4 years, and... Seonwoo Rin has no trainee period at all?"
"What? Really?"
At Kim Na-hee's words, several judges started looking at my application form again.
"Oh my, really?"
"Then you prepared this in just 2 weeks after discharge?"
Ignoring the commotion among the surrounding judges, Kim Na-hee looked straight at me.
"Trainee Seonwoo Rin."
"Yes."
"You know that having no trainee experience isn't an excuse since you've entered this competition, right?"
"Yes, I know."
"Good, then all four of you there."
Instead of speaking immediately, Kim Na-hee paused for a moment, then spoke with a wicked smile.
"Freestyle dance, start right now."