The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol – Chapter 75

Author: Cireng

Chapter 75

“Really?”

“Of course. So stop crying now. We can’t keep showing the fans you crying, can we?”

“Yes…!”

Only then did Seo Hayul stop crying and nod his head.

“30 seconds until the live broadcast resumes. Everyone, get ready!”

At the PD’s shout, all the staff members climbed down from the stage.

“Trainees, stay at your designated positions.”

“Yes.”

The trainees’ positions had already been marked on the stage with masking tape.

The numbers had been assigned according to ranking, and my number was 10.

It was when all the trainees had taken their proper places.

“Alright. Thank you for waiting, everyone! We will now begin Part 3 of the final broadcast of ‘Star Picking 5’!”

“WAAAAAAAH!”

“In Part 3, we will finally announce the trainees who will debut!”

The moment Yoo Haein finished speaking, blazing lights poured down from above all at once.

“Just how many trainees among them will ultimately debut?”

That’s right.

Following the tradition of the ‘Star Picking’ series so far, the number of trainees who would debut would only be revealed at the very end.

‘Please be a large number.’

Naturally, the more people who debuted, the higher the chance that I would debut too.

The sound of tense drums echoed through the speakers.

On the giant screen, numbers from 3 to 12 began flashing by faster and faster.

“The total number of trainees who will debut is…”

Doom–Doom

The interval of the drumbeats remained constant, yet to those waiting, they seemed to grow slower and slower.

Not only the stage but even the audience held their breath.

Even the light sticks stopped moving, and only the drumbeats marked the passage of time.

“It will be… decided by fate through a roulette wheel.”

“…!”

“What?”

‘They’re deciding such an important number with a roulette wheel?’

Shouts mixed with disbelief poured onto the stage, but Yoo Haein merely smiled harmlessly.

“Then let’s spin the roulette wheel right now.”

A giant roulette wheel divided equally into ten sections, numbered 3 through 12, appeared on the screen.

‘Isn’t 3 people way too harsh?’

At that moment, the sound of people swallowing nervously spread through the audience like a wave.

All the trainees stood on stage, staring up at the roulette wheel.

No one said anything, but everyone knew.

That single number would determine the scale of the debut team.

‘The higher the number, the better the odds of debuting.’

As Yoo Haein slowly raised his hand, the low drumbeats sounded once again.

Doom–Doom

It was around the point where I felt like I was about to develop PTSD from drum sounds.

The rapidly spinning roulette wheel began to slow down.

“The final number of debuting trainees is…!”

At last, the roulette arrow stopped on a single number.

“The number chosen by fate is 6! The final number of debuting trainees has been confirmed as six!”

“…!”

‘…Only six?’

“No!”

“GAAAAAAAH!”

The studio instantly descended into chaos.

It was the smallest debut lineup in the history of the ‘Star Picking’ series.

‘They’ve picked anywhere from seven to eleven members before. Why the hell…?’

“With such a small debut lineup, it’ll be exciting to see which trainees make it into the Top 6.”

‘What are these people even thinking?’

When debuting idols through survival shows, it was generally common to have more members than groups debuted directly by agencies.

Because they already started with an established fanbase, having more members was simply more profitable.

‘But only six debuting members? I never expected this at all.’

From a business standpoint, debuting more people would benefit them too.

The moment the debut lineup size was announced, it unintentionally proved that the roulette wheel had actually been real rather than manipulated.

The people higher up who cared about money were probably bitter right now.

And my heart was bitter too, seeing my odds shrink.

“Then we will now begin by announcing the trainee who will debut in 5th place!”

Before the confusion could even settle, Yoo Haein continued swiftly.

The stage lights dimmed one by one.

The giant screen remained blank, and only an agonizing silence stretched on second by second.

An anxious tension flowed through the line of trainees.

Someone clenched their fists so tightly that their knuckles turned white.

Someone else unconsciously tugged at the edge of their uniform.

“5th place belongs to a trainee whose outstanding dance skills captured the hearts of all National Directors!”

‘…No way!’

The camera, which had been scanning the trainees one by one, suddenly stopped in front of a single trainee.

“Congratulations!”

Bang—!

Multicolored confetti exploded across the stage.

“Trainee Kang Chan has placed 5th and will officially debut!”

“KYAAAAAAAH!”

“Chan-ah!!!”

A tiny crack appeared on Kang Chan’s normally expressionless face.

His eyes visibly trembled, and his usually steady gaze lost focus and wandered through empty space.

“…Me?”

His voice barely came out; only his lips formed the words.

“Yes. Trainee Kang Chan, please come to the center of the stage.”

“…Yes!”

Perhaps because he was so shocked, Kang Chan’s eyes widened.

Standing in the center of the stage, he looked thoroughly confused.

“Congratulations to trainee Kang Chan on making his debut. Please say a few words to the National Directors.”

As Yoo Haein handed him a prepared bouquet, Kang Chan accepted it with both hands and finally showed a bright smile.

“First of all, to all the National Directors who voted for me, thank you sincerely.”

As Kang Chan bowed his head, loud cheers erupted from the audience.

“To be honest… I’m not very good at speaking.”

His trademark low voice resonated heavily through the speakers.

“I just loved dancing so much… and dancing was the only thing I was confident in. That’s why I challenged myself by joining this audition.”

The hand holding the microphone trembled slightly, but he looked straight into the camera with confident eyes.

“Even while participating in ‘Star Picking 5’, I constantly wondered if I could really debut just by working hard at dancing.”

The end of his sentence shook slightly.

“But after meeting so many different trainees, I realized something. I felt that if I wasn’t alone, if we were together, then I could do it.”

He didn’t try to dress up his words.

Instead, he simply showed his sincerity as it was.

“Thanks to the support of the National Directors and the trainees who prepared these stages together with me, I was able to come this far. Thank you very much. I’ll continue to work hard and do my best!”

‘So he’s debuting after all.’

Honestly, Kang Chan had always been one of the people I expected to debut.

‘Because his dance skills surpass those of any other trainee.’

If we ended up on the same team, he would be a reliable ally as the main dancer.

“And finally, I’d like to dedicate this honor to my grandfather, who raised me. Grandpa! You’ll be able to see your grandson on TV now, so please keep watching!”

At the end of his moving speech, Kang Chan suddenly set down the microphone and bouquet.

“…?”

Everyone looked puzzled by the unexpected action.

Then he suddenly bowed deeply toward the camera.

“Wow…!”

“That’s seriously cool.”

‘I’ve thought this before, but Kang Chan’s speeches really are something else.’

“Please give a round of applause to trainee Kang Chan for his heartfelt speech!”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Amid thunderous applause and roaring cheers, Kang Chan slowly rose.

“Trainee Kang Chan, please take a seat in the chair marked with the number 5.”

“Yes.”

Turning my head, I saw six chairs set up on one side of the stage, apparently brought out in a hurry.

Watching Kang Chan walk away, Yoo Haein picked up his cue card again.

“Next, we’ll announce the member debuting in 4th place. Who would you all like to see debut?”

The moment Yoo Haein pointed his microphone toward the audience…

“Hoseung!!!!!”

“Sunyoo!!!”

“Rusi-nyang!”

Countless trainees’ names were shouted at once.

Among them, my name could also be heard here and there.

‘Me!’

I desperately shouted in my heart as well.

“With the support and hopes of the National Directors, let’s proceed with the announcement of 4th place.”

‘Honestly, if my name isn’t called this time, I hardly have any chance left.’

To be honest, I had secretly hoped my name would be called for 5th place.

After all, considering I ranked 10th at the previous ranking announcement, it wouldn’t make sense for me to suddenly place at the very top.

“4th place goes to a trainee who displayed exceptional vocal ability.”

At that moment, four trainees… including Rua and me… appeared on the screen.

‘Please call my name.’

Suppressing my anxious heart, I stared desperately at Yoo Haein.

“Congratulations! In 4th place is trainee Rua, who possesses overwhelming arranging skills!”

‘Damn.’

The realization that it wasn’t me left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Bang—!

Through the falling confetti, Rua smiled brightly and ran toward the center stage.

“Unbelievable!”

“Trainee Rua, congratulations on debuting! Please share your thoughts with the viewers.”

Receiving the bouquet from Yoo Haein, Rua swung it left and right while bouncing excitedly.

‘Lucky him. Well, Rua’s a genius, so he deserves to debut.’

Rua had also been one of the people I expected to make it.

Still, it was impossible not to feel jealous that it wasn’t me.

“I’m so happy! Thank you for choosing me!”

Laughter spread throughout the audience at Rua’s cheerful greeting.

“I’m happy to meet people who love me and my music! I’ll continue to bring you lots of great music, so please look forward to it! Thank you, National Directors, and I love you!”

The tense atmosphere softened instantly at Rua’s radiant smile.

“That’s truly a speech that makes you feel good just hearing it. Trainee Rua, please take a seat in the chair marked with the number 4.”

“Yes!”

Watching Rua walk away, Yoo Haein quickly flipped to the next cue card.

“Next, we’ll announce the third trainee who will debut.”

Tense music filled the stage once more.

Doo-dung–Doo-dung

A heavy bass mimicking a heartbeat seeped through the floor.

With every beat, it felt as though the air itself was tightening.

‘I know it’s shameless and more than I deserve, but I really need my name to be called for 3rd place.’

From the beginning of the show until now, Kim Sunyoo and Yoo Hoseung have consistently fought over 1st and 2nd place.

Which meant there was a 99% chance that 1st and 2nd place belonged to Yoo Hoseung and Kim Sunyoo.