The Gates Opened on the First Day of Debut – Chapter 15

Author: rolypoly

The day after the first main quest, the Theme Song Evaluation, ended.

We moved to a studio for the music broadcast filming.

The trainees marveled at the giant studio that accommodated 100 people.

“We’ll change outfits first and then do makeup!”

“Yes!”

The trainees took turns entering the dressing room, changing only their clothes, and coming straight back out.

Because there wasn’t enough space, they settled down wherever there was room, such as on the stage or in the corners of the studio, to get their makeup done.

“Hyung!”

Okada, having finished his makeup, came running toward me like crazy.

Ever since the theme song evaluation stage, Okada had started following me around like a puppy devoted to its master.

“H-how do I look?”

I took a step back and scanned Okada’s full body.

Usually, the standard outfit for an idol survival audition program’s theme song is a school uniform.

Because it effectively showcases the pure and fresh innocence of an untainted trainee.

However, EX-Class K-POP Idol isn’t your average idol survival audition program.

“It suits you well.”

A black suit, a white shirt, and… a harness.

I have no idea what a harness has to do with the program’s concept, but I have nothing to say since the outfits secured initial buzz for the program.

“Really?”

“Yeah, but…”

I scanned Okada’s full body again.

If there’s a problem with this outfit, it’s that the gap between a trainee who pulls it off well and one who doesn’t is huge.

If they were debuted idols, they would be styled according to the member’s face and image, but it’s impossible to take care of 100 trainees one by one.

“Excuse me, do you happen to have a comb and hairspray?”

“Uh, I do. Why?”

“I was wondering if I could borrow them for a moment.”

“Well… sure. Use them quickly and give them back.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I approached a stylist doing makeup and borrowed a comb and hairspray.

I could feel a camera filming me due to my conspicuous action.

“Sit down.”

“Yes!”

Okada’s eyes widened as he plopped down on a seat.

‘Why is he following me so well when he doesn’t even know what I’m going to do?’

It was a bit burdensome, but since I started it, I had to finish it.

I looked at Okada’s curly brown bangs.

The slightly long bangs half-covered Okada’s eyes.

‘Okada’s eyes look round, but the corners are slightly raised.’

But in a situation like this, where the bangs cover his eyes, the corners aren’t very visible.

“Close your eyes.”

I pushed Okada’s bangs back just like that.

Then I fiddled with Okada’s hair with the comb so the corners of his eyes would be clearly visible.

—Hsssss!

After finishing the styling, I sprayed hairspray to fix it in place.

Before I knew it, the camera was filming us from right behind.

“You can open your eyes.”

“Oh…”

The exclamation came not from Okada, but from a staff member watching from behind.

When his bangs were down, his cute impression was strong, feeling somewhat mismatched with the outfit. But when his bangs were pulled back, revealing his forehead and slightly sharp eye corners, his impression became mature.

Perhaps unable to judge his own face objectively, Okada just tilted his head.

“It’s much better. Trainee Kim Chowol, did you learn styling separately?”

“No. I just had a little interest in it, and as I kept doing it…”

“This isn’t the skill of doing it once or twice. It’s impressive.”

Quick-witted.

I smiled inwardly.

I learned makeup and hair styling on my own through repeated regressions.

Because it helps raise the appearance stat, and nothing is as effective as a face to draw reactions from viewers.

“Yoo Sung, if you need it too…”

Since the camera was attached anyway, I looked for Yoo Sung for the sake of editing.

Having finished his makeup, Yoo Sung was waiting near the stage.

“What.”

“Never mind, looks like you don’t need it.”

“What is it?”

Yoo Sung furrowed his brow slightly as if displeased, but quickly spotted the camera and managed his expression.

‘Handsome guys have nothing to worry about.’

Yoo Sung only wore a harness over a suit and light makeup, but his face shone like a top-tier boy group idol.

I lightly touched up my makeup and hair to match the outfit, then returned the comb and hairspray.

“We are going into the live broadcast. Please get ready!”

“Yes!”

At the staff member’s words, the 100 trainees started moving in a swarm.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

I lightly pushed Okada’s back and stepped onto the stage.

* * *

The filming ended.

A staff member spoke to the exhausted trainees in a businesslike manner.

“The broadcast will air on Music Day in 5 days, and filming is scheduled to resume in a week. Get some good rest and see you in a week.”

The trainees gathered their belongings and headed home.

“Hyung! S-see you next week!”

“Yeah, rest well and see you next week.”

I lightly waved at Okada, then took a taxi and headed home.

An ordinary apartment located on the outskirts of Seoul, built 20 years ago.

“I’m home.”

There was no reply returning my greeting.

Without minding it, I strode inside the house.

Plopping down on the dusty sofa, I looked at the family photo on the living room side table and said,

“I’m home, Mom, Dad… Hyung.”

A family with no one left now.

My parents passed away in a car accident 2 years ago.

Since it happened while I was concentrating entirely on preparing for my debut, the shock of the sudden news of the accident was immense.

I thought about quitting being a trainee, but my brother, Kim Chowon, said.

‘Keep doing it.’

‘What?’

‘Keep being a trainee.’

At the funeral, Kim Chowon said, holding cold sorrow in his eyes.

‘Mom and Dad wouldn’t want you to give up on your dream.’

‘I…’

‘I’ll manage the money somehow, so… do what you want to do.’

His tone was cold, but I could feel Kim Chowon’s warm heart.

After that, Kim Chowon took on several part-time jobs simultaneously and managed the living expenses for two on his own.

“Hyung, where are you right now?”

I spoke towards Kim Chowon, who was smiling slightly in the family photo.

Kim Chowon suddenly went missing a year ago.

I struggled to find Kim Chowon, but Kim Chowon left no traces or clues, as if he had evaporated.

After being dropped from the agency’s debut lineup, I considered giving up everything to devote myself to finding Kim Chowon.

But if Kim Chowon found out that I gave up my idol dream to find him, he would be furiously angry.

So I decided to appear on EX-Class K-POP Idol.

If I knew I would be trapped in this damn regression, I would have just given up my idol dream, no matter what Kim Chowon might say later.

“Let’s just eat…”

After roughly filling my stomach with instant food, I immediately lay down on the bed.

It felt like the fatigue accumulated from the grueling 10-day journey hit me all at once.

I had planned out how to spend this break in advance.

Two days of rest, four days renting a practice room to practice dancing and singing, and the last day resting to manage my condition before returning to the filming set.

“I have to get 1st place…”

I had to get 1st place to escape the regression.

Only then will time flow, and the hope of finding Kim Chowon will arise.

Putting complicated matters aside, I surrendered my body to the approaching sleep.

* * *

“I’m going to die…”

Five days later.

After practicing all day in a rented practice room since morning, I returned home.

“I should watch the broadcast.”

Having finished my shower, I turned on my laptop and brought up Music Day and the real-time comment section.

[Oh?]

[Is it finally starting?]

[Ah… Come, the spicy idol survival cooked up by Jang Hyuksoo.]

From the start, the comment section was filled with nothing but talk about EX-Class K-POP Idol.

[Papa Hyuksoo. I can’t eat anything other than the survivals Papa cooks up anymore. Take responsibility.]

[What kind of bizarre survival will he bring this time lol Already anticipating lol]

Jang Hyuksoo is a master of idol survival audition programs, and his name value alone guarantees the program’s buzz to some extent.

Drinking cool water, I continued to watch the comment section.

[I heard LMH trainees are appearing this time.]

[LMH? Why is LMH coming out here.]

[I heard there’s a lot of kids from good agencies besides LMH. Seems like they’re all kids who got dropped from debut lineups?]

[Is it official? If it’s a rumor, I don’t believe it lol]

Whether it’s official or a rumor, it’s true that there are many trainees who were dropped from debut lineups.

Watching the chat window, time flew by.

Finally, it was time for EX-Class K-POP Idol’s theme song performance.

[“Thank you for waiting!”]

The familiar face of the MC filled the screen.

[“An unconventional idol survival audition program that you can only enjoy on Music Day is finally beginning!”]

As the MC zoomed out, a giant screen appeared behind the MC.

[“Then, we will reveal the program’s name, which our viewers have been waiting for.”]

The chat window refreshed faster.

[Ha, finally]

[Why drag it out so much. Just how amazing is the name]

[If it’s lame, I’m setting Music Day on fire lol]

[“We will reveal it now! The idol survival audition program… ‘EX-Class K-POP Idol’!”]

The large screen behind the MC changed, and the program name appeared in huge letters.

[Excuse me?]

[EX what?]

[Ah, this can’t be… Is it those Hunter things that appear in web novels… something like that?]

I’m already sick and tired of the concept, but the viewers aren’t.

[“To our non-Awakened, ordinary viewers, you just need to watch the 100 Awakened trainees clear the Main Quests and vote for the trainee you want to support!”]

[What is he talking about? Ordinary viewers? Awakened? lolllll]

[Ah, the weirdly otaku-like concept cooked up by Jang Hyuksoo… I like it]

[I’m getting secondhand embarrassment]

Me too.

I unconsciously answered the last chat.

[“The top trainees chosen by the ordinary viewers will debut as idols and work as official Hunters.”]

[It’s a bit refreshing to be called an ordinary viewer after hearing people call me a crazy fangirl day in and day out]

[Hun?ter? I heard that wrong, right?]

[I can’t tell if he still has the touch or lost it]

[“Then let’s meet the Awakened trainees’ first performance right away!”]

The screen changed, and a pyramid-shaped stage appeared.

The face of Han Theo, the center of the theme song performance, zoomed in.