The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 21

Chapter 21

 

[A trainee appeared like a refreshing rain to judges exhausted from a long day of evaluations!]

“Pwahahaha.”

“Ahahahaha!”

The editors had hilariously cut together the judges’ dead fish-like eyes suddenly lighting up in an instant.

Laughter erupted all around the trainees without resistance.

[The song I prepared is Bbiririk.]

[Excuse me?]

The broadcast ended with a muted edit and a close-up of the judges’ shocked expressions.

‘Was I on screen for about five seconds?’

It was a little disappointing that my appearance wasn’t even in Episode 1 proper, but only in the preview.

‘Can’t be helped. Some trainees got completely edited out, after all.’

“Siwoo, little brother. What song did you sing?”

Rua’s curious voice sounded from beside me.

“Hmm. Check it out on the broadcast.”

“Come on~ Tell me. We’re friends.”

“No spoilers.”

Ignoring the pestering Rua, I followed the staff’s instructions and headed back to the dormitory.

 

☆☆☆

 

‘Should I check GyuTube first?’

The moment the broadcast ended, TX’s official account uploaded a ten-minute summary version of Episode 1.

Only one hour after being uploaded, the thumbnail, showing Yoo Hoseung smiling confidently, already had 100,000 views.

‘One hundred thousand views in an hour.’

That was enough to have a good chance of making it onto GyuTube’s trending videos.

The ten-minute video was edited heavily around the most attention-grabbing contestants: Yoo Hoseung, Kim Sunyoo, and trainees from major agencies.

‘Seriously, not showing me even once is a bit much.’

Pushing aside my disappointment, I opened the comment section, which was filling up in real time.

 

> ??? Why the hell is Yoo Hoseung at this shabby audition? (10k+ likes)

– Agreed. Honestly, he’s already famous enough that he doesn’t need to become an idol.

– Wow. He’s seriously handsome.

– Feels like rich people trying out a commoner experience.

 

> Please give a vote to Oppa Hoseung when voting starts. (__)

> (5k+ likes)

– A center you can trust.

– Grab pictures from his Dalstagram!

 

> But honestly, his singing and dancing… (8k+ likes)

– Agreed. I was embarrassed just watching.

– Isn’t an idol automatically top-tier if they’re handsome?

– Nobody’s perfect at everything.

– Our Seungho Oppa is an idol just by existing.

 

It seemed even ten million followers couldn’t be ignored.

More than half the comments on Episode 1 were about Yoo Hoseung.

 

> Kim Sunyoo’s first audition made me cry.

– The in-ear monitor scene was so sad. ㅠㅠ

– His tragic beauty is insane…

 

> There are a lot of people getting emotional here. A veteran competing in a rookie field… what about fairness?

– That already annoys me, but wasn’t Episode 1 basically a Kim Sunyoo highlight reel?

– True. They used Yoo Hoseung for attention, but the producer’s favorite is clearly Kim Sunyoo.

ㄴ What are you talking about? Our Sunyoo got screen time because he’s good.

– Rigged TX. Did they get something from his agency or what?

ㄴ Got any proof? Nice imagination. You should become a writer.

 

> Lots of hardworking young people here.

– I’ve been worried because there are so many reclusive youths these days, but seeing passionate young people like this is nice.

– Passion~ supporting you all~

 

> Had low expectations, but this is way more entertaining than I thought.

 

> Is it Seo Hayul? I want to raise that gray-cat-looking kid.

> (500+ likes)

 

> Check out my husband Kang Chan’s insane dancing at 4:55.

> (800+ likes)

 

> Except for a few people, this is basically a talent show. Why watch trainees who haven’t even debuted?

 

> Is the quality of Star Picking 5 for real this season?

– I thought it was going to flop. Why are there so many good-looking trainees?

– My eyes have been blessed.

 

> Rua really looks like a prince in real life. Great vocal tone and sings amazingly.

– Agreed. Future main vocalist.

 

Overall, the reactions to Episode 1 weren’t bad.

‘At this level of buzz, people will only become more interested moving forward.’

And there were even a few comments about me.

 

> Why does the “Seduction Guy” from the music show have zero screen time?

– Curious too. He got completely cut from Episode 1.

– At least he appeared in the preview…. If he were the center, shouldn’t he be good?

– How am I supposed to wait a whole week? F.

– The center has literally zero seconds of screen time. Typical Rigged TX abandoning an independent trainee.

 

‘Since I appeared in the preview, I should get some screen time in Episode 2 at least.’

 

☆☆☆

 

The filming continued after an early forced wake-up call.

Today, instead of the producer, top-tier idol Yoo Haein appeared on stage.

Holding cue cards in one hand and wearing a gentle smile, Yoo Haein picked up the microphone.

“Everyone, it’s been a while. Have you all been doing well?”

“Yes!”

“Today, we’ll be carrying out what can be called the main event of team survival, the Battle Mission!”

The group project from hell had begun.

“The team survival mission will be conducted as a Position Battle Mission. Each team will prepare a song suited to its position and demonstrate not only individual ability but also teamwork, stage production skills, and star quality.”

The giant screen on stage flashed to life.

The number 100 appeared on the screen.

“Starting with this survival mission, rankings will be determined by voting, and eliminations will begin.”

“…!”

Tick… tick… tick…

A digital sound like a clock’s second hand echoed steadily.

But as time passed, it became faster and sharper.

As the countdown number decreased one by one, the trainees’ breathing seemed to diminish along with it.

The announcement of eliminations, the heart of any survival show, filled the venue with tension.

“The number of eliminated trainees will be…”

The entire filming hall fell silent enough that even breathing felt inappropriate.

Finally, the decreasing number stopped.

“…Fifty people.”

The voting had begun by purging half the contestants right from the start.

“No way!”

“Seriously?”

“That’s impossible. Half of us are getting eliminated right away…”

Even previous seasons of Star Picking had only eliminated twenty-five contestants during the first vote.

Apparently, the production team was aware of all the criticism online about the show being milked endlessly.

‘So this is the change they were talking about at the press conference?’

Since the show was receiving far more attention than expected, they had chosen an even more aggressive approach.

“You’re all shocked, right? This year’s Star Picking 5 will proceed a little differently from previous seasons!”

The trainees’ murmuring voices merged into one massive wave.

“For reference, your positions are the ones you selected when you first applied for the survival show. There are thirty-five vocalists, thirty rappers, and thirty-five dancers. We’ll begin by dividing you into teams.”

Yoo Haein accepted a square box wrapped in black cloth from a staff member.

“Inside this box are balls numbered one through five. The number on the ball you draw will become your team number.”

‘They really love drawing lots here.’

“First, all thirty-five trainees who applied for the dancer position, please come up onto the stage.”

To avoid rigging controversies, the production team had even left team assignments up to chance.

‘At least there’ll be fewer accusations of manipulation this time.’

The thirty-five dancer trainees lined up and drew from the box one by one.

“Ah! Trainee Kim Sunyoo got Team 3.”

“Trainee Kang Chan got Team 5.”

After drawing their numbers, the trainees went back down and lined up behind signs marked with their team numbers.

“The dancer position has been divided into five teams of seven members each. These are some unexpected combinations, it’s exciting! Next, vocal trainees, please come up.”

As I stood up, my plastic chair scraped across the floor.

Naturally joining the line, my turn soon arrived.

“Trainee Cha Siwoo is Team 2.”

I stepped down from the stage and headed toward the Vocal Team 2 sign located at the three o’clock direction.

A familiar face was already standing there.

“Oh~ Siwoo, little brother!”

‘That guy’s energy level never changes.’

Rua was waving enthusiastically, having already dropped my surname and started calling me casually.

Since we were filming, I couldn’t exactly ignore him, so I gave him a slight nod.

Nod.

“Hahahahaha!”

As I walked past him, Rua threw an arm around my shoulders.

“…”

‘Sigh. I can’t say anything in front of the cameras, and why has he been acting so friendly from the beginning?’

With no choice, I put on a professional smile and stood beside him.

This time, Rua grabbed his stomach and started laughing again.

‘Yeah, go ahead and laugh.’

Eventually, all the vocal teams were finalized.

Including Park Sugyeok, whose lips still bore healing scabs from his injury, Vocal Team 2 ended up with seven members.

‘Looks like that guy’s wounds still haven’t fully healed.’

“There are quite a few talented people gathered here.”

“This is practically the Avengers of Vocal Team 2.”

“Haha.”

“Let’s do our best!”

Once the rap positions were sorted as well, the final hundred trainees were divided into fifteen teams.

‘Five vocal teams, five dance teams, and five rap teams. Nice and clean.’

After confirming that everyone had moved to their teams, Yoo Haein picked up the microphone again.

“Trainees, are you satisfied with your teams?”

“Yes!”

‘Who would actually say no here?’

I noticed Park Sugyeok staring intensely in my direction.

‘Actually, there’s one. Doesn’t he care about editing at all?’

“I’m glad you’re satisfied. Now it’s time to choose songs. Pick a song that best showcases your team and capture the hearts of the National Directors!”

“Yes!”

“Everyone, please look toward the nine o’clock direction.”

On one wall of the studio, fifteen album covers were displayed at equal intervals.

“Song selection will be…”

Since the teams had been assigned randomly, song selection would be an equally important factor.

‘Surely…?’

If they decided this by lottery too, it would be overkill. I watched Yoo Haein expectantly.

“Each team will send a representative to race for the song they want most!”

“Wooooah!”

“Aaagh!”

Some trainees cheered while others groaned.

It was obvious.

A footrace required no extra budget, created natural competition, provided easy editing opportunities, and produced results quickly.

‘They’re really filming this in the most cost-effective way possible.’

The production staff clearly intended to squeeze as much entertainment and footage as possible out before voting began.

The albums on the wall ranged from songs by top-tier male idol groups, including Yoo Haein’s group, to obscure idol groups, ballads, and even girl-group songs.

‘As long as it’s not one particular song, I don’t really care.’

“I’ll give you twenty minutes. Each team quickly decides on their representative and your preferred song.”

As Yoo Haein lowered the microphone, a twenty-minute timer appeared on the giant screen.

Watching the numbers rapidly decrease, Vocal Team 2 gathered together in the center.

“Should we choose a representative first?”

“Anyone confident in their running ability?”

A brief silence followed.

The members of Vocal Team 2 carefully watched one another.

‘…?’

Suddenly, countless eyes turned toward me.

“Why are you all looking at me?”

“You just look like you’d be good at running.”

‘…And what exactly does someone who looks good at running even look like?’

“When we were filming the theme song, your physique and reflexes were no joke.”

“How about becoming the team representative?”

Apparently, everyone had been secretly watching me during the Selection Quest.

‘Back then, it was just that the guy with the yellow hair was ridiculously slow.’

Still, there wasn’t really any downside to being the team representative.

At the beginning of a survival show with one hundred contestants, appearing on camera even once was important.

‘I had zero screen time in Episode 1, so I need to work even harder.’

Thinking about the five seconds I got in the preview left a bitter taste in my mouth.

With voting involved, being proactive was better than being passive.

‘And realistically, they’re not going to edit out the running race.’

“I don’t mind being the team representative, but is there anyone else who wants the position?”

If I eagerly jumped into the role immediately, people would inevitably start talking.

‘I’m going to do it anyway, but it’s only polite to ask first.’

Considering public opinion, it was important to show a little humility.

The internet was a battlefield.

There was no benefit in handing ammunition to viewers who were always ready to tear someone apart.

‘At the end of the day, debuting is what matters.’

As I glanced around, Park Sugyeok immediately raised his hand as though he’d been waiting for this moment.

“Me!”

‘Knew it.’