The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol – Chapter 13

Author: Cireng

Chapter 13

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[Sub-Quest (5): “Claim the Center Position for the Cheer me on Theme Song Stage.”

A reward will be granted upon success.

Failure Penalty: All stats will drop to E.]

—

“…?”

‘What the hell is this?’

[Cha Siwoo, claim the center position from A-rank!]

‘Isn’t the penalty way too harsh? There’s no option to refuse?’

[Refusal will be treated as failure.]

‘Why do these quests keep getting harder and harder?’

“The specialty mission for deciding the center is…”

Click.

With a sharp sound, the needle came to a clear stop on a small red section.

“It’s… photography!”

A one-in-eleven chance?

‘…System, was this your doing?’

[N]

A cheerful fanfare rang out, and intense spotlights poured down onto me standing in the center of the stage.

The other A-rank trainees who had secretly hoped for their own specialty to be chosen forced themselves to clap despite their disappointment.

“Congratulations, Trainee Cha Siwoo. How do you feel about having your specialty selected?”

After bowing at ninety degrees, I took the microphone handed to me by a staff member.

“Thank you. I never expected it at all, so I’m happy that I managed to hit the one-in-eleven chance.”

“Quite a lucky trainee, aren’t you? What kinds of photos do you usually enjoy taking?”

‘Scandals with high payout rates.’

“…Portraits.”

“Portrait photography, that’s an idol-worthy skill!”

Yoo Haein smiled warmly while holding the microphone.

‘Don’t smile like that. I’ve taken photos of you before too.’

“Communication with fans is an important part of being an idol. Whether it’s selfies or taking pictures of fellow group members, photography is a skill that helps connect with fans. Having a trainee with that specialty is a wonderful quality.”

“That’s right. Photography is one of an idol’s important skills. Thank you for thinking highly of it.”

Wearing my professional working-adult smile, I gladly accepted the line he was feeding me.

When I bowed again, Yoo Haein smiled with satisfaction.

“Such a polite trainee.”

‘Of course. There’s a camera right in front of us. You always show proper respect to a senior celebrity.’

After receiving a new cue card from a staff member, Yoo Haein quickly scanned it.

“Now then, to decide the center for the theme song stage, the A-rank trainees will be given two photography missions.”

After glancing over the trainees, he flipped the cue card.

“First, take a selfie in your own style. Second, take a photo of me.”

“…!”

“You only get one chance.”

This time, a staff member handed a smartphone to Yoo Haein.

Holding the phone at a forty-five-degree angle with one hand while keeping the microphone in the other, he raised it.

‘This looks like product placement.’

Click.

The shutter sound echoed through the quiet studio.

Three seconds later, the giant screen that had displayed the roulette wheel changed to Yoo Haein’s selfie.

“Wow!”

“He’s handsome!”

“A god among men!”

For a top-tier idol with years of experience under his belt, Yoo Haein’s selfie skills weren’t bad.

‘Not bad at all.’

The trainees reacted excitedly while Yoo Haein maintained a relaxed smile.

“When you take a photo with this phone, it will immediately be sent to the screen. So don’t even think about taking a second shot. Make it count on the first try.”

“Yes!”

“The grip feels excellent, probably because it’s the latest model, and the image quality is great too. Let’s begin the A-rank trainees’ photography challenge.”

‘Definitely product placement.’

Yoo Haein handed the phone to Kim Sunyoo, who stood closest.

“Let’s start with Trainee Kim Sunyoo’s selfie.”

“Yes!”

Receiving the phone with both hands, Kim Sunyoo raised his arm at a forty-five-degree angle.

Click.

The screen displayed a photo of Kim Sunyoo winking.

“Wow!”

“Kyaaaaaa!”

‘Good grief, my ears.’

Screams resembling animal cries filled the studio.

With the raw, real-time reactions amplifying everything, the atmosphere heated up instantly.

‘That’s a very idol-like photo.’

The experienced veteran among the rookies was definitely different.

“Next, please take a photo of Senior Yoo Haein.”

Politely speaking, Kim Sunyoo raised the camera.

Click.

A full-body photo of Yoo Haein standing upright with a gentle smile appeared on the screen.

‘Hmm.’

The proportions looked nice thanks to the framing from the feet upward, but the overall photo felt somewhat stiff.

“Kim Sunyoo’s photography skills are impressive!”

“You’re too kind. It’s just a shame that the camera couldn’t fully capture how handsome our senior really is.”

‘Even his social skills are polished. That’s what experience gets you.’

“Hahaha. Hearing that from a handsome trainee feels good. Next up is Trainee Kang Chan.”

Kim Sunyoo handed the phone to Kang Chan.

One by one, all the A-rank trainees finished their photos until finally the phone reached me.

“Last but not least, we’ll have Trainee Cha Siwoo, whose specialty is photography. Personally, I have the highest expectations for him.”

“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

The phone handed to me by the trainee next to me was a familiar model.

Right now, it was the newest flagship, but before I regressed it had been an old model that I got for free through a carrier promotion.

‘Looking at it now feels nostalgic.’

I lifted my head and checked the lighting.

Considering the side lighting and the phone camera’s specifications, I tilted my face about thirty degrees.

‘This angle catches the light better, sharpens the jawline, and adds more depth to the face.’

Maintaining eye contact with the lens, I put on my professional working-adult smile.

Click.

“Whoaaaaaa!”

“Holy crap!”

The trainees erupted into murmurs.

Switching camera modes, I slowly zoomed in on Yoo Haein, who was staring at the screen in surprise.

‘Never thought I’d end up photographing Yoo Haein like this.’

Yoo Haein had a long, elegant neck, so bust shots suited him far more than full-body shots.

I adjusted the lens to the golden ratio for optimal focus.

The camera captured Yoo Haein lifting his chin slightly, eyes wide open.

‘This is it.’

Click.

“Wow…!”

“That’s amazing!”

“You’re seriously talented!”

The trainees cheered enthusiastically, unable to hide their admiration.

“Now I understand why Trainee Cha Siwoo listed photography as his specialty. He’s genuinely good at it!”

‘Of course. It was how I made a living.’

“Thank you.”

After I bowed deeply, tense music began playing through the speakers.

“The A-rank trainees are incredibly skilled at photography. Now it’s time for the center vote.”

The large screen displayed all the trainees’ photos side by side with their corresponding numbers.

Seeing everything together made the comparison much easier.

Some trainees took decent pictures, but more than half failed to capture the subjects’ real charm.

“Please vote for the trainee who best embodies the qualities of an idol center.”

With murmurs spreading throughout the room, the trainees outside of A-rank quickly cast their votes under the staff’s guidance.

During the voting, the A-rank trainees could do nothing but stand awkwardly on stage.

“Thank you for waiting. The results of the center vote will now be revealed.”

Boom… Boom…

Tense music swelled through the studio as strings rose above the pounding drums.

“Third place received a total of fifteen votes.”

Ba-bam… ba-bam… ba-bam…

“It’s… Trainee Kang Chan!”

Spotlights instantly converged on Kang Chan.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Applause echoed as Kang Chan smiled awkwardly.

“Second place received a total of twenty-five votes.”

Yoo Haein turned the cue card and shifted his gaze.

“Second place is… Trainee Kim Sunyoo!”

The studio filled with a mix of applause and disappointed sighs.

Kim Sunyoo, whose eyes looked like they were about to pop out, maintained only a slight smile.

‘So he can make that expression too.’

“And finally, first place… the center of the Cheer me on theme song, is…”

The electronic sound effects built toward a climax.

“Photography specialist Trainee Cha Siwoo!”

‘As expected. Nobody can beat me when it comes to photography.’

Ding.

[Congratulations. You have completed Sub-Quest (5): “Claim the Center Position for the Cheer me on Theme Song Stage.”]

‘Easy.’

[Would you like to receive your reward?]

‘Of course.’

[You have received +1 Stat Point as a reward.]

An unexpected bonus.

“Congratulations, Trainee Cha Siwoo, on becoming the center for the official theme song Cheer me on!”

“Thank you.”

I bowed ninety degrees toward both Yoo Haein and the cameras.

“You took photos at a professional level… no, beyond that. Please share your thoughts.”

Honestly, I never imagined the photography I’d learned to pay hospital bills would end up helping me like this.

“There are so many talented people here, but I think I was simply lucky this time. Since I’ve been chosen as the center for the official theme song, I’ll do my absolute best on stage. Please look forward to it!”

With my professional working-adult smile, I bowed once more.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Every time I see him, I think he’s such a polite trainee. Now that he’s been selected as the center for Cheer me on, I’m looking forward to future filming as well. National Producers, please make sure to watch the broadcast!”

The ending music began playing through the studio, and Yoo Haein delivered the closing remarks.

“Cut!”

The slate clap signaled the end of filming.

“Great work, everyone!”

Staff members busily moved around carrying equipment.

‘It’s finally over!’

I quickly stepped off the stage and carefully made my way through the trainees who were still chatting among themselves.

‘Becoming center was unexpected, but it worked out well.’

In an idol survival audition program, your position during the early broadcasts was crucial… it could determine whether you debuted.

If you secured the center position for the representative theme song, your chances of ending up in the debut lineup rose significantly.

Of course, it also meant attracting more hostility and criticism, but I was confident that wouldn’t affect me.

‘Let’s keep pushing forward and make it all the way to debut.’