The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol – Chapter 74

Author: Cireng

Chapter 74

“Crazy!!!”

When the favorite contestant she supported appeared on the speakers during the live finale, Miss Park could only clap both hands over her mouth.

‘That’s a girl group song, isn’t it?’

Everyone had expected them to perform a top-tier boy group song for the final stage, but those expectations had been completely overturned.

As the opening of a girl group song, famous for its sexy yet powerful choreography, flowed through the speakers, the audience became noticeably restless.

“Wait? Isn’t this a HERA song?”

“Why would they choose a girl group song for the final stage?”

Miss Park had the same question, but the moment the stage lights came on, she completely forgot about it.

Because her favorite was standing at the center of the stage, sending out an intense gaze.

“Kyyaaaaah! Siwoo!”

The tight black outfit accented with red details looked sensual and sexy at a glance.

‘Wait… my baby is the center?!’

☆☆☆

While she struggled to control her wildly pounding heart, her favorite’s captivating voice echoed through the speakers.

—

I seep into your breath

The flames in your eyes ignite (Burn it up)

—

Centered around Cha Siwoo, whose eyes looked fierce enough to burst into flames at any moment, the team had formed a V-shaped formation.

‘This stage is dangerous for my heart.’

As they extended both arms forward as if handcuffed and slowly twisted their bodies, the crowd instantly erupted.

“Kyyaaaaaaaah!”

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

Countless ecstatic screams rang out, but the stage was only just beginning.

—

Come a little closer, your hidden heartbeat

My secret slipping inside you

—

When Cha Siwoo moved out of the center, Kim Sunyoo and Rua took over the middle together.

‘Wow… they really went all out.’

There was a reason Yoo Haein had warned that the lineup was spectacular.

The quality of the performance had already surpassed trainee level… it was that of real idols.

‘More importantly, the rearrangement is incredible.’

The song was already famous as a hit from a top-tier girl group, but the new arrangement had completely surpassed the original.

The powerful impact and addictive melody were more than enough to captivate everyone.

Finally, the chorus arrived, and Cha Siwoo stepped back into center position.

—

Red shadow, the fire burning inside me

Touch me closer, an unstoppable fate

—

At the end of the intense choreography, the melody suddenly shifted, transitioning into slow-motion movements.

As they twisted their waists and emphasized their arm motions and fingertips, the crowd once again exploded into screams.

‘Isn’t his expression way too sexy?’

Heat seemed to rise inside her chest, but Miss Park’s lips kept curling upward uncontrollably.

—

I kiss the gaze that wavers toward me

I’ll seep into your heart!

—

‘He’s seriously insane. The original girl-group song was already high-pitched, and they raised the key even more?’

Watching her favorite smoothly sing notes higher than the original without the slightest change in expression sent chills throughout her body.

‘Siwoo, you really came prepared today!’

The way he dominated the stage felt truly transcendent.

‘It’s like this song was originally written for Siwoo.’

The performance was so perfect it hardly felt like a cover song anymore.

As the powerful choreography and dazzling dark-pop dance formations continued, the audience once again burst into deafening cheers.

‘These guys are definitely debuting, aren’t they?’

As the highlight section arrived, the melody shifted once more.

—

Sweet whispers echo

A dangerous rhythm between you and me

Hold your breath, you don’t know where it ends

Until this night comes to an end

—

Miss Park could only stare blankly as her favorite slowly spun his body, capturing everyone’s attention with nothing but his hands and eyes.

‘Today is the greatest day of my life….’

—

Red shadow, the fire burning inside me

Touch me closer, an unstoppable fate

I kiss the gaze that wavers toward me

—

Barely holding onto her sanity, she continued watching the stage.

Even during the climax leading into the final chorus, Cha Siwoo flawlessly handled the extremely high notes without the slightest mistake.

‘Is this really a trainee performance?’

—

I’ll seep into your heart

—

As her favorite struck the ending pose while the melody lingered in her ears, her heart started pounding like crazy.

Thump–Thump

“Kyyaaaaaah!!!”

“Please seep into my heart!”

“Pizza Team!!!”

The moment the song ended, even louder cheers than before echoed throughout the venue.

‘It really did feel like they seeped into my heart.’

For the first time, Miss Park felt a strange sense of danger that she might never be able to escape this fandom.

☆☆☆

“Kyyaaaah!”

“They’re amazing!!!”

“Wooooooahhh!!!”

“Siwoooooo!”

The cheers were louder than ever before, and his rapidly beating heart felt like it might burst.

“Haah… haah…”

Perhaps because he had completely immersed himself in the singing and dancing, his breathing was heavier than it had ever been.

‘Feels like my blood is flowing backward.’

“Ha… hah!”

He was completely out of breath, yet for some reason, a smile kept escaping his lips.

‘It’s really over.’

He had done everything he possibly could.

While a sense of relief washed over him, anxiety also crept into one corner of his heart.

There was nothing left to do now except wait for the voting results.

“Please give a round of applause to Pizza Team for their incredible performance!”

Clap. Clap clap.

After bowing deeply several times toward the wildly cheering audience, they followed the staff’s directions and stepped off the stage.

“Our stage was amazing, right?”

“Seriously! Everyone did so well!”

“Really… great job, everyone!”

Was it because the performance had gone even better than rehearsal?

The team members who had poured everything onto the stage all looked incredibly relieved.

“Siwoo-dongsaeng, my eye for talent never fails!”

Rua’s reaction was especially enthusiastic.

“He’s right. Siwoo was amazing!”

Even Kim Sunyoo was smiling brightly, making the team atmosphere especially warm.

“Pizza Team, please head to the waiting room immediately and change outfits first!”

“Yes!”

Their competition stage, which they had prepared for two weeks, had ended successfully.

But everything wasn’t over yet.

Part 2 would feature a group stage, so preparations had to begin immediately.

‘It’s a shame we can’t watch the next team’s performance, but it can’t be helped.’

Leaving the cheers for the next team behind, they hurried after the staff.

☆☆☆

Part 2 began with the theme song “Cheer Me On”, followed by a series of group performances.

Since the group stage had been prepared alongside the final competition stage, it clearly had a rushed feel to it.

Still, the song itself had relatively easy choreography.

And because everyone was performing together, each individual had fewer parts, allowing them to finish successfully without major mistakes.

‘Now there’s only the final song left.’

After rushing through the schedule, only one final performance remained in Part 2.

As expected from a typical audition program, the closing song was a farewell song.

The trainees, who had been forced to adapt to their first-ever live broadcast, hurriedly changed clothes while moving around nonstop.

‘Live broadcasts are even more chaotic than I imagined.’

Some trainees already looked dazed, repeatedly performing, running to different locations, and preparing for the next stage before they even had time to process their emotions.

[Now, with only the final stage remaining, we’ll take some time to reveal the trainees’ rolling papers.]

‘I was wondering where they were going to use that final recording.’

The broadcasting station was making excellent use of every spare moment between stages.

‘Well, they’ve done this plenty of times. They’ve got a system.’

While watching trainees hurriedly getting makeup touch-ups beneath the stage, he turned his attention toward the giant screen.

A soft piano melody slowly flowed through the venue speakers.

The cautious tune, sitting in a low register, was exactly the kind of background music suited for a farewell.

[Trainee Seo Hayul, please come forward and read your rolling paper.]

[Yes.]

[Let’s debut together, you worked hard….]

Starting with Seo Hayul, clips of trainees reading messages from their rolling papers quickly played on the screen.

Siwoo’s own segment had been edited so that instead of the message he had selected, it showed him saying:

“You’ll definitely be able to debut.”

‘I expected it, but it really is a buildup for the emotional tearjerker segment.’

As touching comments and tearful trainees gradually filled the screen…

“Everyone, please come up onto the stage now!”

“Yes!”

At the exact moment all the trainees stepped onto the stage, the accompaniment for the final song began playing.

As expected from a survival competition, the last stage featured an emotional farewell song.

—

The reason I had to let you go

It’s because you belong there

Only there

Can you truly be happy

I only realized it now

—

Beginning with Seo Hayul’s low vocals, the farewell song slowly moved toward its climax.

—

Even though we’re parting ways

I’ll never forget this moment

—

The trainees desperately tried not to cry, but their suppressed emotions seeped into every note coming through the microphones.

‘They’re… crying?’

True to their emotional age, most of the trainees eventually ended up shedding tears.

—

Even if we’re far apart

Let’s remember these memories

And continue cheering each other on

—

Sniffling sounds could be heard throughout the audience as well.

The reality that this was truly the end was finally sinking in.

—

Farewells hurt

But I have no regrets

Because I showed everything I had

—

As the song approached its conclusion, only Kang Chan and Siwoo remained dry-eyed.

—

Don’t get hurt

Live happily

—

The ending was practically a duet between him and Kang Chan.

When the farewell song finally ended, trainees crying openly could be seen all across the stage.

“That was truly a moving performance. Thank you for loving and watching Star Picking 5 all this time.”

At Yoo Haein’s words, the tearful trainees quickly bowed.

The stage lights went out all at once.

Only the giant electronic screen remained illuminated in the darkness.

“Then, in Part 3, we will finally announce the trainees who will make their debut!”

That’s right.

The cruel announcement ceremony was about to begin, where only those who survived would earn the right to debut.

“See you again after the commercials.”

The moment Yoo Haein finished speaking, staff members rushed onto the stage.

“Trainees, please stop crying now!”

“If you keep crying, your eyes will be swollen when you go back on air. Is that okay?”

“We’ll quickly fix your makeup.”

The sudden return to reality gradually snapped the trainees back to their senses.

‘Good grief. Seo Hayul’s eyes are turning into fish eyes again.’

“There are five minutes left until we return to the live broadcast.”

Given only five minutes to prepare, the stage became complete chaos.

Apparently, every hair, makeup, and styling staff member had been mobilized, each working one-on-one to quickly tidy up the trainees.

“One minute until the live broadcast resumes. Please finish up!”

As he was receiving hurried touch-ups from the styling staff, he heard continued sniffling beside him.

“…Sniff!”

Turning his head, he saw Seo Hayul desperately trying to hold back his tears.

“Hey, Seo Hayul.”

“Yes?”

“What’s got you so upset?”

“Well… sniff!”

With the tip of his nose bright red, Hayul answered while a makeup artist frantically worked on him.

“Because… sniff! It’s really over now. What if I can’t see you hyungs anymore after we separate?”

Looking at the sniffling boy, Siwoo reluctantly placed a hand on his head.

“Why would you think that?”

“…Sniff.”

“We’ll all debut together.”