CH24

I felt quite satisfied after the stage ended.

Not because it was the best, but because I hit the goal I initially set.

I was clear on what I wanted from this 2nd mission.

The stage itself was great, but the focus wasn't all on me.

Hearing that Han Si-On's solo skills were solid, but he didn't pop during the team stage.

…Is about right.

I added some flair during the rap verse, but without it, I might've gotten roasted.

Expectations for me were high, but the original rap was kinda meh.

Still, I didn't do anything outrageous as I did in the pre-mission or the 1st round.

Grime isn't my forte, so I tweaked it to make it more fun to listen to.

As I'm pondering about that, the judges start with their feedback.

They first talk about the overall stage.

"The direction is good. For a stage made in just one day, it's the ideal stage."

"I agree. I think it's smart to seek a middle ground between showcasing individuality and maintaining some level of uniformity."

Then, they dig into the specific parts of each participant.

On Sae-Miro and Choi Jae-Seong received props. Kim Seong-Woo and Sim Ju-Wan get affirming feedback.

I agree with that.

Choi Jae-Seong held it down.

Not many can pull off a solid 70 when they have the skills of 70.

Most people have 100 but only show 70.

But Choi Jae-Seong did the best he could.

However, the more I see that, the more I feel like I've seen Choi Jae-Seong's stage in another life.

No clue where, though.

"Han Si-On's rap…"

The rap evaluation I get is a balanced mixed bag.

Choi Dae-ho and Blue give great props.

They're all about expressiveness and how I made it fun to listen to in an unimaginable way.

But Yoo Seon-Hwa and Lee Chang-Jun are a bit let down.

"The rap itself was great, but it seemed a bit far from the concept of the song 'Boy Scout.' Why the grime?"

"This is the only way I know how to rap. I didn't choose it."

I can't be saying something like, 'I thought grime would vibe better with the NOP version.'

And so, the <Winning Team>'s score rolls in at 94 points.

Compared to the 72 of the previous stage, that's quite the leap.

With both stages done, I can feel tension lingering among the participants.

All the missions and judging from the pre-mission are over.

It means it's almost time for them to pick the final five.

BLUE, who's been chatting up a storm at the judges' table, hops back on stage.

After some broadcast-friendly banter with various stories, he drops the conclusion.

"So far, those who have received four nakjeoms and passed are…"

Names pop up on the screen.

"Four."

Some sighs here and there.

<Han Si-On, Lee Ye-On, On Sae-Miro, Choi Jae-Seong.>

Lee Ye-On and On Sae-Miro are the givens, and I'm in without saying.

The unexpected one is Choi Jae-Seong.

Personally, I'd say Go Tae-Hwan's a more appealing vocalist than Choi Jae-Seong.

Choi Jae-Seong would shine better when he's got a whole song, but in a group, parts get divided up.

He's a good listener, though.

But it's an unreasonable result.

Choi Jae-Seong did well on the stage, too.

I glanced at Choi Jae-Seong while thinking that, and his eyes were filled with tears.

Wait, he even cries because he passed?

Then he looks at me, smiles brightly, and nods his head.

"...?"

He doesn't really see me as his homeroom teacher, does he?

Anyhow, there's only one spot left.

"And there are three participants who received three nakjeoms."

Go Tae-Hwan, Kim Hae-Un, and Nam Seong-Il.

"The last member will be picked after a showdown between the three."

Those who got screwed over are hanging their heads low, and you can see the camera zooming in on them.

Sometimes, someone's despair is a goldmine for broadcasts.

But I'm too cynical to feel sorry while watching scenes like that.

Hmm…

I should at least pretend to do so, though.

"You have put in hard work. We are sure you will get a better opportunity."

I pat Kim Seong-Woo's back for no reason. And then, I clock the judges' move.

All four picked so far are vocalists.

I did show off my rap thing, but no way I'm getting the rap spot.

I don't know why, but in Korea, they seem to hype up good singers more than good rappers.

Among the three with three nakjeoms, Kim Hae-Un and Nam Seong-Il are rappers, and Go Tae-Hwan also showed off his rap during the 2nd stage.

It feels like judges want a rapper for the last spot.

I am trying to remember what kind of rap Kim Hae-Un and Nam Seong-Il did.

What if they get picked?

At that moment, BLUE tosses out a delightful tale that catches everyone's attention.

"However, the judges won't evaluate the stages of the three who received three nakjeoms. The four who passed will."

"What? Us?"

"You have to choose the last teammate you'll be with."

The faces of the passed members turn pale after hearing Blue's words…

But I like it.

Finally, filming for <Coming Up Next's> was done after three days and two nights.

The cast members were the first to go home, followed by the filming team, but not me.

I've got some contract stuff to sign for the release of <Under the Streetlight>.

"Here's your phone."

"Thank you."

"Please have a seat over there, and the PD will come to you shortly."

"May I use the restroom first?"

"Sure, go ahead."

When I finally get my phone back after filming, it's blowing up with missed calls.

Mostly from my uncle, so I swipe them away.

The rest were from Lee Hyun-Seok, LB Studio's CEO, Team Leader Seo Seung-Hyun from BVB Entertainment, and good old Uncle Hyun-Soo.

There are also a bunch of random contacts from people who seem to be my high school buddies, but to be real, I barely remember their names.

I've forgotten heaps about who I was before the infinite regression began.

As I'm strolling to the bathroom while thinking that, I spot someone lurking among the packing-up filming crew.

It is Go Tae-Hwan.

"What's up?"

"I'm, uh..thank you."

"Thanks? You rocked it on your own."

"No. If it weren't for you, Han Si-On, I'd be toast."

True that.

The last slot on <Coming Up Next> Team B went to Go Tae-Hwan.

Honestly, this dude better show me some gratitude.

I only gave him a little nudge in the 1st round, but I made him stick around for the additional missions.

Though to others, it probably looked like I wasn't even trying to help Go Tae-Hwan.

I'm a pro at stirring people up on the down-low.

"Do well from now on. We'll be on the same team for a while."

"I'll work hard."

Mmm, it's addictive.

"Want to grab a bite with me if you haven't eaten yet?"

"I'll pass for now. We'll be seeing a lot of each other, so plenty of time for chow later. I have something to discuss with the PD."

"Oh, okay."

"But I have a question."

"Go ahead."

Now, seeing people giving me that kind of look gets me wondering if he somehow knows my real age.

Choi Jae-Seong has that same vibe…

Am I starting to show my age?

Well, I've been living for a long time.

"What made you put in so much effort for me? We're both just contestants."

My past life's achievements and records are unknown here.

To them, I'm just another idol wannabe.

Sure, I might seem talented, but not many would ditch their own style like Go Tae-Hwan did to follow my lead.

That's why I'm curious about his game plan.

"When I was young, my old man told me I'd meet a genius at some point in my life and that I should swallow my pride and ask for their help."

"You got a guarantee that a genius would help you no matter what?"

"He said a true genius would."

"Hmm…"

Thinking about it, he might have a point.

All the geniuses I've met so far, unless they were total snobs, were always down to share their wisdom.

Maybe they're just confident nobody else could hack it even if they teach them, or they're proud they got more than enough to spare.

"Is your father also a musician?"

"He runs a mushroom farm."

Hey, a genius could grow in mushroom farming, too.

"What are you two doing here?"

Just then, PD Kang Seok-Woo shows up and catches us chatting.

"We bumped into each other on the way to the bathroom and were just chatting for a bit."

"Since we'll be rubbing elbows a lot, it's good to get to know each other. Han Si-On, have you heard about the contract?"

"Yes."

"I haven't known PD Kang Seok-Woo for long, but I've got a rough idea of his character.

This man shows respect to those with a similar intellectual mindset. To check, he's got a habit of subtly leaving out subjects or predicates.

"A show to push the release of a single."

"But why'd you sign up?"

"'Cause I wanted options."

"Options?"

"Instead of twiddling my thumbs waiting for a debut offer, I wanted a say in who debuts me."

"Haha, that's slick. Sounds like you're serious about this debut."

"I think it's something I have to do."

Kang Seok-Woo chuckles and gives me a pat on the back.

"Damn right. Let's start by sewing on that first button tight."

And so, I sign a contract with PD Kang Seok-Woo for the soundtrack of <Under the Streetlight>.

As expected from a broadcasting company, they have whack distribution channels and a straight-up unfair revenue split, but I don't sweat it.

I'm not going to blab about it, but we are on the same page with this silent agreement.

"I'll schedule the recording session based on your availability. What time would work for you?"

"Anytime but today. I can do it tomorrow."

"Ah, youth is a beautiful thing."

The session is set for three days later.

"By the way, do you know who the composer of <Flowers Bloom> is?"

"I saw it, but it was a name I didn't recognize."

"How much do you believe in what you said on stage then?"

That the original of <Flowers Bloom> was probably meant for male vocals?

"I'm 100% feeling that."

"Hmm."

PD Kang Seok-Woo makes a weird face at me and slowly nods.

"It would be crazy if it's true."

TL/n - 

You can read 5 chapters in advance on p@treon.com/inkbound