The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol – Chapter 72

Author: Cireng

Chapter 72

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“That’s a relief.”

“…Phew.”

“Siwoo, you’ve been through a lot.”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

After exchanging brief greetings with the team members, we got straight back into practicing for the final stage.

“While you were gone, we finished the rearrangement and even the choreography!”

“That’s right!”

I had already been worried because I hadn’t been able to practice properly for two whole days, so my teammates were honestly incredible.

“Thank you. From now until the final stage, I’ll work harder than anyone.”

“Good.”

“Since everyone’s here, shall we listen to the rearrangement first?”

“Sounds good.”

A powerful melody burst forth, followed by an addictive verse that immediately grabbed the ears.

The rearrangement had a stronger impact and a more addictive rhythm than the original song. It had already surpassed the original version.

‘Wow… I think this every time, but Rua really is a musical genius, isn’t he?’

His astonishing arranging skills were still something I couldn’t get used to.

“How is it? Is it okay?”

“It’s amazing.”

“Wow… Personally, I think the rearranged version is even better than the original.”

“Thank you. What do you think, Siwoo?”

“It’s perfect. There’s no need to touch it any further. I think we can proceed exactly as it is.”

Rua’s expression brightened even more at the team’s praise.

“But there’s one problem.”

“What is it?”

“I actually raised the chorus by one more key compared to the original.”

“…!”

‘Red Shadow’ was already known for its extremely high notes.

‘And he raised the key even further?’

He wasn’t a genius.

He was just insane.

“…What?”

“Hyung, this is a girl group song. Can we even sing that?”

Looking at the bewildered team members, Rua nodded.

“Hmm… In that case, only one person can realistically sing the chorus.”

“…Who?”

“Siwoo!”

‘You lunatic. Don’t say that so confidently when you’re not the one singing it.’

The situation was ridiculous, but the higher-key version of the chorus definitely sounded more appealing than the original.

“Hmm… I’ve never tried it before, so I think I’ll have to sing it first to know.”

“Then give it a try.”

“I’m curious too.”

I nodded at the eager expressions on my teammates’ faces.

‘Might as well try it.’

“Then I’ll sing the chorus.”

“Okay.”

The rearranged instrumental of Red Shadow flowed from the speakers.

The chorus was extremely high.

—

Red shadow, the fire burning within me

Touch me closer, an unstoppable destiny

—

When I reached the part where I had to launch into the high notes, my throat seemed to stiffen.

The sound trembled weakly before disappearing into the air.

“…Ah!”

An awkward silence lingered, as if the note I was supposed to sing was still stuck at the end of my throat.

“It’s harder than I expected.”

“Siwoo, is that really your best?”

“…What?”

Rua’s expression had completely hardened.

“You can do better than that, can’t you?”

“…Me?”

‘What’s with this guy…? Does he know something?’

Just as I looked at Rua suspiciously…

“Hmm. But the key is too high. If there’s risk involved, it’ll make us nervous. Wouldn’t it be better to stick with the original key?”

Kim Sunyoo immediately stepped in as a mediator.

‘He’s not wrong.’

Going onto the main stage while relying on a key I could only barely hit was a dangerous gamble.

‘If my voice cracks on stage, we’re finished.’

“The ultra-high notes in the chorus are the core point of this song. I want to keep the arrangement as it is.”

Rua refused to back down.

“To be honest, I understand because the arrangement is good. But if we proceed like this, won’t it put too much pressure on Siwoo?”

Sunyoo replied with his usual gentle smile.

‘This guy can even handle Rua.’

He really was the ideal leader material I’d marked from the beginning.

“What do you think, Siwoo?”

“Yeah. Since you’re the one involved, your opinion matters most.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on me.

‘Can I really sing something even higher?’

At this point, after tasting how good the rearranged version sounded, going back to the original key felt impossible.

If a better-quality performance was possible, I had no reason not to choose it.

“Honestly, I think I can do it.”

“…!”

‘Because I’ve got that guy on my side.’

“Really?!”

Seeing Rua’s face light up, I knew the time had come.

‘Is it finally time to use the stat I’ve been saving?’

‘Hey, System.’

[Yes.]

‘Put my remaining stat points into Singing.’

Ding.

—

[Status Window]

Cha Siwoo (20)

Appearance: A-

Singing: B+ (UP)

Dance: B-

Star Quality: B+

Stamina: B+

Ability: ???

Status: Paparazzi who regressed five years into the past.

Fatigue: 20

—

A thrilling sensation surged through my vocal cords.

‘I wonder what it’ll feel like when I actually sing.’

“I’ll try one more time. Listen and decide afterward.”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

The familiar instrumental played once more.

For the first time, I experienced what a B+ Singing stat felt like.

It was exhilarating, like drinking a carbonated beverage.

—

Red shadow, the fire burning within me

Touch me closer, an unstoppable destiny

—

‘It feels like the throat that was completely blocked has suddenly opened up.’

The continuous high notes came out smoothly.

‘I can’t believe a single rank difference feels this significant.’

“Good! I knew you could do it, Siwoo! I’m glad we ended up on the same team!”

“Wow… What was that?”

“He’s really good!”

“Thank you.”

“Then we’ll keep the arrangement exactly as it is.”

“Sounds good.”

“In that case, Siwoo has to be the main vocalist.”

‘I might end up being edited as some greedy trainee on the broadcast.’

But there was no helping it.

For the sake of a high-quality stage, I unintentionally ended up taking the main vocalist position as preparations for the final performance continued.

☆☆☆

“Everyone, the final stage is almost here.”

With the final broadcast approaching, the trainees were gathered in the auditorium once again to squeeze out the last bits of footage.

‘What are they trying to make us do this time?’

For reference, the final broadcast would be split into three parts.

Because of that, alongside preparing for the final performance in Part 1, we also had to prepare a group stage for Part 2.

The schedule was brutal enough that most of the trainees already looked half-dead.

“Today, in honor of it being the last stretch, we’ll be writing rolling papers for each other!”

“Waaaaah!”

Just hearing that it was a shoot with relatively little physical activity brightened everyone’s mood.

A round table was set up in the middle of the auditorium, covered with pens and sheets of paper.

For once, we were given time to catch our breath amidst the hectic practices.

“Each sheet contains a trainee’s photo and name. Please write a final message to one another.”

“Yes!”

As I approached the table, countless sheets of paper were scattered across it.

“Huh?”

The first one that caught my eye was the paper with Seo Hayul’s photo attached.

‘Wait… What is this photo?’

A laugh escaped me when I saw Hayul’s awkwardly smiling profile picture.

‘He looks better in person than in photos.’

Holding a pen, I stared at the sheet for a while.

‘Thinking about it, we really have a funny connection.’

The time we spent together… from Heartping bread to practice sessions… flashed through my mind.

‘It was fun.’

Soon, the tip of my pen scratched across the paper.

[It was fun thanks to Hayul-nyang.]

‘That should be enough.’

Next, I picked up the paper with Yoo Hoseung’s photo.

‘Man, he’s ridiculously handsome.’

If there was such a thing as the golden ratio, it probably referred to Yoo Hoseung.

I tightened my grip on the pen and wrote:

[You have the face of a center.]

‘Alright, next.’

As I kept writing on whichever paper landed in my hands, I eventually picked up one with Kang Chan’s photo.

‘He really loves dancing, and he’s genuinely good at it.’

[Fellow same-age friend, thanks for teaching me dance.]

I wrote it because fans often grouped us under the nickname “Same-Age Line.”

The paper I spent the longest time thinking about belonged to Rua.

‘This guy really… what am I supposed to write?’

It was surprisingly difficult.

‘How should I even describe Rua?’

He was the closest thing to a completely different species I had ever encountered.

‘Seriously unique.’

Well, nothing I could do.

Geniuses were always hard to understand.

‘Still, he’s sincere about music and not someone who harms me.’

[Write me an original song someday.]

Finally, I picked up the paper with Kim Sunyoo’s photo.

“Wow… It feels so strange knowing this is the end.”

Seo Hayul’s voice trembled slightly with emotion.

‘He’s giving the producers exactly the scene they want.’

“Yeah. It really feels like the end.”

I pressed the pen a little harder.

[Sunyoo Hyung is the second most important person in my life.]

Since he was my benefactor, I put the most thought into his message.

When everyone finished writing, Park Chaeyoung looked around with satisfaction.

“Did everyone write everything they wanted to say?”

“Yes!”

“Then next, we’ll spend some time reading the rolling papers.”

“What?”

‘Right now? Immediately?’

“When your name is called, please come to the front and read the messages written on your rolling paper.”

Judging by the sounds of people swallowing nervously, quite a few trainees had written embarrassing things.

Park Chaeyoung randomly picked up one of the rolling papers.

“First up, Seo Hayul trainee, please come forward!”

Hayul stepped up awkwardly, looking extremely nervous.

“Seo Hayul trainee, aren’t you curious about what people wrote on your rolling paper?”

“Yes.”

“Then go ahead and read it.”

As the camera zoomed in on the rolling paper, the screen on the wall displayed the sheet covered in different handwriting.

“Your rap is really good, your face is charming, have you ever considered going into hip-hop?, Hayul-nyang…? It was fun thanks to you?”

“Pwahahaha!”

Hayul’s face turned red as he read the “Hayul-nyang” comment.

“Let’s debut together, good work…”

By the time he finished reading all twenty messages, he looked deeply moved.

“There are a lot of touching comments. Please choose the single best message from your rolling paper.”

After thinking for a moment, Hayul pointed at one sentence.

“My pick for the best message is [Your rap is really good.] I’m happy because it feels like my skills were recognized. I don’t know who wrote it, but thank you!”

He bowed toward the trainees.

“Hey! That was me!”

Rua raised his hand and jumped up and down, causing laughter to erupt throughout the room.

“Next, the trainee whose message was chosen as Best Comment… Rua trainee, please come up to the stage.”

“Yes~”

Rua took Hayul’s place.

“Lua trainee, please read your rolling paper!”

“You sing well, you’re a genius arranger, it’s nice seeing you smile all the time, you look like a prince, write me an original song someday, …”

Since it was a rolling paper marking the end, it was filled with compliments and praise.

“Rua trainee, which message is your favorite?”

“Hmm….”

After thinking for a moment, Rua showed his trademark bright smile.