Chapter 87

As the eliminated contestants packed their bags, the filming location was a sea of tears.

With the gloomy atmosphere, filming couldn’t continue, so a brief break was granted to the downcast survivors, and the trainees lifted their spirits by sharing jokes.

As the participants’ red eyes began to regain their shine, the MC who would lead the filming entered.

“Alright! Congratulations to the 13 contestants who will step onto the final live broadcast stage!”

The shouts of the participants were met with applause from the staff, echoing throughout the set.

After four months and over 100 days of filming, it was almost coming to an end.

“Now, all that’s left is your final debut evaluation, right!?”

In the familiar flow, the display in front of them lit up, revealing the composer.

[Hello, I’m composer note1.]

With the composer’s greeting, the screen showcased the music videos of the songs their team had worked on.

Title tracks of popular idols.

The songwriters for the theme evaluation tracks were no slouches either, but this composer was a top-tier figure among them.

Thanks to that, the contestants were visibly excited.

[The song we will provide for your debut evaluation is an up-tempo dance-pop track called ‘Rush to Flight’!]

-One step at a time, running forward

-No matter how thin and long the path, I will never stop

-A song that comforts me towards my dream

-Rush to flight, flying higher

The debut evaluation songs were literally tracks to be included in the debut album.

It was a good song, worthy of the expensive price paid to hire the composer.

A song to follow up the chart-topping ‘Fell for You.’

It was a tune that one couldn’t help but hum along to.

“This song is really good!”

And as expected from top-tier choreographer Ko Yoon-jeong, the choreography was both rhythmic and cute, easy to follow while highlighting the dancers’ charm.

The older girls were humming the song while effortlessly following the light choreography.

[As you can tell from the title, it’s a song supporting the journey you all have run to soar high.]

With a lively yet oddly ceremonial atmosphere and comforting lyrics, participants momentarily submerged in emotion as the next composer’s face appeared on the screen.

Once again, a top-tier composer.

[The song we’re giving you is a funky K-pop genre called ‘Surge and Dash.’]

-Surge and dash, riding the fast flow

-This feeling can’t be stopped now

-Surge and dash, I’m running

-Let’s go together to the distance

True to its funky rhythm, it was a catchy song right from the start.

Notably, the lyricist had included words evoking the themes of ‘rush’ and ‘run towards the fans.’

Familiar props entered the set.
A sign divided into “[Hwalju]” and “[Hwanhaejyeo].”

Stickers of each trainee’s face.

And under each song, there were blank spaces for parts, from main vocal to sub vocal and rapper.

A survival program with a long-standing tradition of pushing others out.

“[Hwalju] will consist of 6 members, while [Hwanhaejyeo] will have 7. The 6-member [Hwalju team] can take on more parts, but! That also means there’s a higher chance of getting pushed out of the team!”

We received the lyric sheets divided by part.

Listening to the flowing songs, we had a moment to ponder, and the MC started the proceedings.

“Alright now! Starting with the bottom rank of 13, trainee An Eun-seo will come forward and put her sticker on the position she wants!”

*

“Now for 2nd place! Trainee Lee Do-hee will put on her sticker!”

I pondered why I was always in 2nd place.

I worked hard with everything I did, had always done well on stage, and moreover, during the 3rd competition, I was the visual pick, receiving the most votes in the individual poll.

I studied well and played the piano beautifully.

Participants with charming qualities all around.

Even amidst the dispersed votes, considering pure votes excluding 1st place rewards, I was consistently 1st.

Yet, I always failed to secure that coveted 1st place prize in these live voting competitions, ending up in 2nd.

While I could be satisfied being “pure vote 1st,” my extremely inflated ego since I was 5 years old, was not about to let that slide.

Deep down, I kept a mental record for reaching 1st place…

“By the way, will I not be able to take the midterms of the second semester after debuting?”

Anyway, there was one thing mentioned that I lacked.

The vocal tone that was heavily criticized at the beginning of the Audition 3.

While I received occasional praise for improving, I had yet to be praised for my voice.

“Ah. Ah.”

A clearer tone flowing from my vocal cords.

I paused while putting up the sticker and was loosening my throat.

The MC looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Hana Unni, I love you!”

I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off perfectly.

But I believed in the process I had gone through, just like the lyrics of “[Hwalju].”

I removed the sticker from Hana Unni’s main vocal part.

“Oh~”

“What the~~”

“Is that Do-hee?”

Everyone around me was startled when I, who had always shied away from the main vocal, dared to touch the main vocal part.

“Oh, Lee Do-hee!”

Hana Unni was smiling…

“Did I pick wrong…?”

Hana Unni’s smiling face scared me more.

That person has a long vendetta.

But it was too late to backtrack.

I quickly transferred Hana Unni’s sticker to the empty sub vocal 4 and stuck my sticker on the main vocal part.
After transferring the existing sub-vocal 4 sticker, I placed my sticker on the main vocal part.

And finally, Chae-rin Unni, who is ranked first, stuck her sticker on the empty rapper position of [Glide], and the position distribution was complete.

*

Before the official lesson, we had some free practice.

Hana Unni was gently? massaging my shoulder.

“It hurts…”

“Ah~ what’s up~? My rank is definitely 3rd, but I got sub-vocal 4~?”

Hana Unni said playfully.

But her hands didn’t seem to be joking.

It was obviously a tough competition since [Glide] was a great song.

Main Vocal – Do-hee Lee

Sub Vocal 1 – Eun Se-ra

Sub Vocal 2 – An Eun-seo

Sub Vocal 3 – Kim Seo-yoon

Sub Vocal 4 – Hana Kwon

Rapper 1 – Gong Chae-rin

Even though I had the lowest rank, except for Eun-seo Unni, who was lucky enough to keep the initially chosen sub-vocal 2 till the end, most had pushed each other around at least once.

“I’m only left with a line because of Se-ra~?”

Kim Seo-yoon whined after being pushed down by 4th place Se-ra Unni.

In seasons 1 and 2, there were people with a line as well, but everyone was feeling quite spoiled.

“Yeah…”

Se-ra Unni looked flustered because of Kim Seo-yoon’s teasing.

I decided to distract Kim Seo-yoon for Se-ra Unni.

“I have a lot~ So jealous… Ah, ahh.. it hurts.”

The distraction backfired.

Hana Unni’s grip tightened.

“But… if it’s your line, it’s enough… Ah, I’m sorry Unni!!”

Hana Unni didn’t seem to be joking this time.

*

Center selection for the debut evaluation song.

Usually, they would vote on the spot, but the center part for the final live stage was the best chance to stand out and the biggest interest for viewers.

Thus, the production staff added some rules for this center selection.

All trainees participated in the center selection, and it was evaluated through a video evaluation, like during the tier readjustment.

Each participant had to record a practice video of themselves as the center and get evaluated.

Of course, there was only one chance.

However, while the previous evaluations were done by the trainer teachers, this time, the team members evaluated and voted directly.

Our [Glide] team sat around a table in a dark room and started evaluating the videos playing on the front screen.

– Chae-rin is really refreshing to watch.

– Yeah, Chae-rin dances incredibly well.

– It feels like she’s really cheering for us, just like the lyrics? You can really feel that.

When it came to dancing, Chae-rin Unni seemed to be the strongest candidate for the center.

However, the center part not only required dance but also had three killing lines in the chorus, so the vocal part needed to be solid too.

As for the rapper, Chae-rin Unni had some shortcomings in the vocals.

– Hana Unni gives off a stable vibe for both dance and singing.
It feels like…

– Yeah, I think they really have a good sense of balance.

Next up, Hana Unni.

A style that’s packed tight.

But Hana Unni didn’t have that refreshing image like a song.

– Seo-yoon is so cute~

– Right? It fits her image perfectly!

– Hmm… Unfortunately, Seo-yoon isn’t really my style… haha~

– You’re not my style either, you know?

– Hey, don’t let those two Topists split apart!

Seo-yoon Unni.

Her vocals stood out and she danced well too.

So what?

– Eun-seo has really improved a lot in her dancing.

– Exactly, she’s changed a ton!

Eun-seo Unni, who was on the same team during the first preliminary round.

She was the center who faced harsh criticism, but her skills have improved a lot over the last four months.

– Sara dances lightly and well.

– Her singing is loud and very accurate without any wobbly notes.

– And it’s amazing how she sings so lightly.

– Above all, it seems like Sara knows exactly how to look beautiful.

Sara Unni.

A main vocalist with a steady-selling appearance.

A visual pick and a skill pick.

She was like a leading candidate.

“Is it my turn now?”

“It’s not really my style.”

“No, the video hasn’t even come out yet.”

“So what?”

After over four months of filming, they’re a bit more comfortable in front of the camera now.

Anyway, there’s my awkward center practice video on screen.

“Here we go~ Original center~”

Hana Unni chimed in from the start.

“Huh… she’s really pretty.”

And out came my honest thoughts without even realizing it.

Chae-rin Unni laughed in disbelief and said,

“Can the main subject really say that?”

What can I do if she’s pretty?

But since I need to give evaluations, I kept my mouth shut for now.

“Eun-seo really draws people in with her eye smile.”

“Right? When Do-hee stands as the center, it feels like no one can take their eyes off her. She’s tall and has a good proportion, fitting for the center. It has a gradient-like spreading feeling.”

Normal evaluations from Chae-rin Unni and Eun-seo Unni.

“Do-hee is… cute.”

On the other hand, Sara Unni is being a bit abnormal.

“She’s pretty, but… Do-hee isn’t really my style?”

Kim Seo-yoon.

“Do-hee is great, but I’m annoyed that she’s stealing my main vocalist.”

Hana Unni… always jokes around while smiling, but…

At this point, she really seems to be sulking.

The only adult among us, Hana Unni.

She really holds onto grudges.

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