During the time I’ve watched the stages of 100 participants, there hasn’t been a single overlapping song.
Is this even logical? It’s hard to call it a coincidence.
So, what does this mean?
It means that the Production Team has been controlling the songs of the participants!
They must have asked the participants in advance what songs they were going to perform and prevented any overlaps, or suggested different songs if there were any.
But now, Yoo Seol and I have overlapping stage songs.
Above all, the gluttonous looks on the Production Team’s faces as they enjoy the show.
Gasp “Those rating demons…!”
It was clear they knew about the overlapping songs of Yoo Seol and me. They let it be on purpose.
To compare Yoo Seol and me in terms of broadcast time.
Shivers “That’s creepy, really.”
If I had shown a performance that was on the level of elimination, I would have been compared shamelessly to Yoo Seol and have faced the wrath of viewers.
– Haha Her face is pretty, but she can’t dance for her life.
– Definitely looks inferior compared to Yoo Seol. Needs a lot more practice.
– Nowadays, it’s like any pretty-faced person wants to be an idol~
└ Honestly, I think Yoo Seol is prettier.
└ Laughs
That’s probably the gist of the reactions.
But I had successfully completed my stage.
Now, it was Yoo Seol who had to prove her dance skills.
“So let’s see how good you really are.”
Before going on stage, she had provoked me with a battle of wills.
I was determined to see if she could show the dance skills worthy of her provocations.
And it wasn’t only me thinking this way.
The other participants, of course… the judges also seemed curious about what kind of performance Yoo Seol would show comparing to me.
Thus, with the most attention and scrutiny ever gathered, Na Ah Ah’s final rank evaluation began.
– With me, this night.
“……!!!”
As soon as the first verse flowed, everyone flinched.
The reason? It was a completely different vocal tone from earlier.
“The timbre is….”
“…changed.”
Just a moment ago, when singing Cindy’s “Letter of the Moon and Lake,” her voice stood out with a lyrical and pure tone.
But now, her voice was sultry to the point of being captivating.
It felt like a nine-tailed fox was whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
The atmosphere had completely flipped with this changed tone; it transformed from an acoustic concert with an acoustic guitar to a flashy performance of a dancer accompanied by vibrant lights.
Yoo Seol’s vocals were truly exceptional.
But was her dance skill lacking? Not at all.
– Need you, time
– I can’t be without you.
“The choreography has changed….”
Yoo Seol’s choreography was different from the original.
The original choreography was focused on soft movements and a dreamy atmosphere, a bit slow and monotone…
Swoosh
Now, Yoo Seol’s choreography was full of energy, giving it a more lively feel.
But just because it was more upbeat, it didn’t spoil the original’s vibe.
– I need you.
– Can’t be without you.
Here, her expressive acting burst into brilliance.
Her dramatic expressions combined with the energetic choreography created an impressive display as if she were teasing her opponent.
“…….”
Until now, I had thought that dancing and singing were essential to being an idol, that acting skills were unnecessary.
But Yoo Seol’s stage was screaming loud and clear that I was wrong.
The details captured in Yoo Seol’s small face.
They swallowed the atmosphere and transformed it into something else entirely.
– 24 hours.
Everyone was entranced, looking at Yoo Seol’s performance.
…I was no exception.
‘…How did my stage look?’
I compared my stage to Yoo Seol’s as I watched hers.
Was my stage as flashy as that? Did it shine like hers?
…I don’t think so.
‘……Darn it.’
I felt embarrassed somehow.
What was I thinking, believing I could stand against Yoo Seol? Just because a few judges praised me…
In reality, it must have been blatantly obvious that there was a gap in skills between Yoo Seol and me.
When it came to talent or experience… I had nothing to outweigh her.
Ah… I felt ashamed.
And…
I felt frustrated.
Gulp.
In that moment, I felt something rising from my chest.
I hadn’t realized it before, but now I knew what this feeling was.
A sense of defeat.
What I was feeling was a terrible sense of defeat.
“Guh…”
The more I watched Yoo Seol’s performance, the clearer our gap seemed to become.
It was incredibly painful, yet, I still couldn’t peel my gaze away from her performance.
If I turned my head away now… No matter how much time passed, I’d never catch up to her.
Growth always begins after recognizing one’s deficiencies.
Even though the sense of defeat was hard to bear… I decided to accurately feel the gap between Yoo Seol and me during this opportunity.
That was the moment.
“…!”
Just before the final chorus, my eyes met Yoo Seol’s again.
She was continuing her dance moves, maintaining her captivating expression, but as soon as our eyes met…
Smirk.
…She subtly raised the corner of her mouth.
As expected… she was fully aware of me.
And… it seemed she could sense my feelings…
And who among us had the superior skill.
‘…Was Yoo Seol always this type of person?’
When I saw her in the old broadcast, I thought she was simply kind, cute, and demure.
Now, she seemed like a total rascal and a trickster.
‘……Darn it.’
But even with Yoo Seol’s teasing, I still didn’t turn my head away.
I didn’t curse her with my lips.
Instead… I spoke only with my eyes.
‘Next time, you’ll regret it.’
Whether she understood the meaning in my gaze, Yoo Seol smiled brightly as if forgetting she was on stage.
That image… somehow appeared quite annoying.
“That’s a wrap….”
“…….”
As Yoo Seol finished her stage, Han Si-woo struggled to close his agape mouth.
For him… Yoo Seol’s performance was nothing short of a shock and horror beyond imagination.
‘Is this what a trainee’s skill looks like…?’
It’s common for talented individuals in the entertainment industry to miss their debut due to bad luck.
But that was only when the talent was mediocre.
‘Why hasn’t JJ debuted her yet?’
Yoo Seol’s skills were absolutely not those of a trainee. No? She had skills that could put her at the forefront even among current idols.
Han Si-woo didn’t take on the role of the main producer for Na Ah Ah lightly.
While evaluating ranks, he sorted through whom he might add to the debut team in his head.
And Yoo Seol stood out as his top priority.
Imagining a debut team for Na Ah Ah without Yoo Seol was beyond his comprehension.
‘As long as she doesn’t run into any scandals, she’s definitely debuting.’
Thinking this, Han Si-woo picked up the microphone.
“Your stage was as impressive as the last one. You danced and sang perfectly in sync without losing your breath. The choreography seemed different from the original; did you choreograph it yourself?”
“Yes, I did.”
Her creative ability was impressive as well…
Han Si-woo couldn’t help but be in awe.
“Most importantly, the detailed gestures and expression acting blended together to produce a shining stage.”
“T-thank you…!”
With Han Si-woo’s constant praises, Yoo Seol looked genuinely moved.
Han Si-woo instinctively felt that Yoo Seol was currently acting as if she was deeply touched.
Of course, he didn’t feel bad about it at all.
That false persona was one of the virtues an idol must possess.
With a quick smile, Han Si-woo continued stating his final thoughts…
“Anyway, it was a great performance. One of the most memorable stages of the participants today…, …!”
…Suddenly, he hesitated as something crossed his mind.
Han Si-woo had just…
‘It was one of the most memorable stages of the participants today.’
But as he tried to say this, he recalled another participant who had covered “24 Hours Is Not Enough.”
The Brotherhood Planning’s Ha Ye-rin.
Honestly, if viewed objectively, in terms of the stage’s completion, Yoo Seol had clearly taken the victory.
Even counting Ha Ye-rin’s potential for growth and genius, Yoo Seol’s current skills were superior.
However, if one had to ask which performance was more memorable…
……
“……Yoo Seol participant’s stage was one of the most memorable performances today.”
“Yes, thank you!”
After Han Si-woo spoke and put down the microphone, the next judge began their evaluation.
“Now that Han Si-woo’s evaluation is done, I’ll continue. First of all, the dance lines were beautiful….”
Whir
Since Han Si-woo’s evaluation had ended, the camera started capturing other judges instead of him.
In the meantime, Han Si-woo secretly turned his gaze toward the 99th-ranked Ha Ye-rin.
She was looking at Yoo Seol with a slightly gloomy yet frustrated expression.
‘Ah, I see; she realized the gap during Yoo Seol’s stage.’
It was perfectly reasonable.
But…
‘Right now you have at least one thing superior to Yoo Seol.’
That was how strongly you could stick in the public’s mind.
When it came to that aspect, Ha Ye-rin exuded unparalleled destructive power among Na Ah Ah’s participants.
Han Si-woo believed that Ha Ye-rin’s biggest weapon was her ability to captivate those around her unconsciously like a succubus.
So right now, it might seem like Yoo Seol was ahead of her…
But by the time Na Ah Ah concluded, the outcome might be the reverse.
As Han Si-woo was lost in those thoughts, secretly chuckling to himself, the other judges finished evaluating Yoo Seol.
The judges huddled together for a brief discussion and then announced Yoo Seol’s rank.
Yoo Seol’s rank was…
“JJ Entertainment’s Yoo Seol participant’s rank is A.”
…Of course, it was A.
“Me, really?! Th-thank you!!”
Though it was an expected outcome, Yoo Seol reacted as if she didn’t know she would receive an A and returned to her seat.
Han Si-woo couldn’t help but chuckle at her shamelessness as he picked up the microphone.
“Now, that marks the end of the rank evaluations….”
Now that the evaluations were completely wrapped up with Yoo Seol, he intended to proceed to the next segment.
But suddenly…
Bustle, bustle.
“Quick, turn the camera! Quick!”
“……?”
Suddenly there was a commotion, and the Production Team outside the stage began capturing not Han Si-woo holding the microphone, but what was behind him.
Han Si-woo and the judges tilted their heads in confusion, turning around to see…
“……!”
…Ha Ye-rin grabbing Yoo Seol, who was returning to her seat in the first place.
I didn’t know why I acted that way.
Was it because there was too big of a gap between me and Yoo Seol? Or was it because her face seemed to smile at me mockingly?
…I didn’t know.
I just realized that I was blocking Yoo Seol’s path.
“……?”
My mouth opened automatically.
“…Your stage was so good today.”
Buzz-.
As if not missing this moment, the camera rushed in, but I didn’t stop my open mouth.
“…Next time, I’ll show you a better side of myself.”
This was… a declaration that I would definitely win next time.
“…….”
Did she understand my intent? In that moment, something genuine appeared on Yoo Seol’s face.
And perhaps aware of the camera, she returned to her innocent expression…
“Yes, let’s do our best.”
She smiled and reached out her hand to me.
Without hesitation, I grasped her hand.
The smile on her face was as warm as sunshine, but her hand was as cold as its name.
Was that why?
While holding her hand, I felt as if we were the only two people in the world.
Is this what it feels like to meet your fated rival? My heart tingled.
There are countless rivalries in the world.
Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu.
Lim Yo-hwan and Hong Jin-ho.
And right now, this is…
Yoo Seol and Ha Ye-rin.
This was the moment where our names entered that vast history of rivalry.
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