The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol – Chapter 76

Author: Cireng

Chapter 76

The moment the news broke that an entirely unexpected trainee had placed 3rd, the studio instantly became chaotic.

“Why is a candidate for 1st place being called now…?”

“Sunyoo isn’t 1st? He’s 3rd?”

“…That’s insane!”

Everyone’s shocked gaze turned toward Kim Sunyoo.

‘No way.’

Yet Sunyoo seemed completely unaffected. Wearing nothing but a gentle smile, he calmly walked toward center stage.

“Congratulations! Kim Sunyoo trainee, please share a few words.”

“Thank you for choosing me. Honestly… before joining this audition program, I never thought I’d be able to stand on stage again.”

Though the hand holding the microphone was steady, his voice was cautious.

“But to be able to debut again like this… I’m truly happy.”

“Were you expecting 1st place? Are you disappointed to end up 3rd instead?”

Even when Yoo Haein tossed out a provocative comment designed to create a broadcast-worthy moment, Kim Sunyoo merely smiled.

“Not at all.”

“Kim Sunyoo trainee really looks happy. Please continue your speech.”

“Yes.”

His gaze remained straight as he looked into the camera.

“I’d like to once again thank all the National Directors who supported me. The truth is, I have debuted once before, but I spent a very long time as an unknown idol.”

‘Sunyoo really went through a lot.’

I had looked it up out of curiosity before. In the group where Kim Sunyoo had debuted previously, he was the only survivor.

The team had been filled with villains.

Violence, dating scandals, and even drugs.

The group’s popularity had been so low that the scandals never became major issues, but every single member had managed to cause trouble in one way or another.

“Even when I stood on stage, there were hardly any people calling my name. I’ve performed in front of audiences that didn’t even have ten people.”

As if remembering those days, the corners of Sunyoo’s eyes became slightly moist as he lowered his head.

“But I still couldn’t give up. Whenever I stepped onto a stage… my heart always reacted first.”

The expression he wore while looking at the audience was overflowing with joy.

“Whenever I’m standing on stage, that’s when I feel most alive.”

‘No wonder he always treated every stage so seriously.’

Perhaps the stage itself was what had carried him all the way to this moment.

“Because I never gave up, I think I was able to debut here today. To all the National Directors who chose me, thank you sincerely for giving me another chance to stand on stage!”

Applause erupted throughout the venue as Sunyoo bowed deeply.

‘Honestly, that’s pretty moving.’

I was clapping sincerely after being swept up by his heartfelt gratitude when…

“Thank you for that touching speech, Kim Sunyoo trainee. Please move to the chair marked with the number 3.”

Yoo Haein’s voice immediately snapped me back to reality.

“Next, we’d like to invite the two trainees who are candidates for 1st place to the center of the stage.”

‘Wait a second. If Kim Sunyoo is 3rd, then who’s 2nd…?’

As low, heavy music began to play, tension gathered across the stage.

“The trainees who are candidates for 1st place are…!”

The camera, which had been relentlessly zooming in on trainees one by one, finally stopped.

Two silhouettes appeared simultaneously on the giant screen.

“Yoo Hoseung trainee and Cha Siwoo trainee!”

At that moment, I heard a name I never expected.

“…!”

‘No way.’

My mind turned completely blank as the unexpected situation crashed into me.

‘Me…? Really?’

I had thought merely debuting would be enough.

Yet somehow, I had just been called as a candidate for 1st place.

My heart skipped a beat.

The sounds around me faded away.

Only the stage lights remained, unbearably bright.

I couldn’t believe that they were shining on me.

‘Seriously?’

I asked myself over and over, but no answer came.

As if reflecting my own shock, my fingertips suddenly turned cold.

I couldn’t even manage my expression.

I didn’t know whether I should smile or hide my surprise.

Someone like me, who once believed debuting as an idol was impossible, was now standing directly beneath the title of 1st place candidate.

That fact made my chest feel like it would explode.

‘I completed the quest safely. I succeeded!’

My survival was guaranteed.

“Yoo Hoseung trainee and Cha Siwoo trainee, please come to the center of the stage.”

I was still trying to process reality when…

“Siwoo hyung, let’s go together.”

Yoo Hoseung extended his hand first, wearing a bright smile.

“Sure.”

As Hoseung and I stopped at center stage together, cheers loud enough to shake the ground erupted.

“Siwoo!!!”

“Cha Siwoo, let’s get 1st place!”

“You’re amazing, Siwoo!”

“Congratulations on debuting, our Siwoo!”

‘So many people are cheering for me.’

Receiving support while standing in a position as incredible as being a candidate for 1st place felt surreal.

“Cha Siwoo trainee.”

“Yes?”

“You were in 10th place at the last ranking announcement, right? Jumping all the way up to being a candidate for 1st place is incredible! Please tell us how you feel.”

‘Honestly, this situation makes no sense.’

I was completely dumbfounded.

Still, human psychology is a funny thing.

When I remembered that the quest promised different rewards depending on rank, I found myself becoming rather greedy for the top spot.

Ding.

—

[Please choose one of the following three responses.]

“Of course! A real alpha male takes 1st place! Bring it on, everyone!”
“Tehe~ (wink) I love you, National Directors >_< Thanks to you, I jumped from 10th place all the way to being a candidate for 1st!”
“Hey! Thanks for bringing me this far! It’s all thanks to you guys!”

—

‘…?’

Hadn’t the system been giving normal answers during the final stage?

‘Why are all the options weird again?’

[Now that your debut is guaranteed, I can do whatever I want.]

‘You little…’

[If you do not choose within 3 seconds, a response will be selected at random.]

“Tehe~ (wink) I love you, National Directors >_< Thanks to you, I jumped from 10th place all the way to being a candidate for 1st!”

‘…Damn it.’

The moment I was forced to choose Option B through gritted teeth, a wave of self-loathing washed over me.

I had no real choice.

Option A would create a controversy over my attitude by making me sound arrogant and treating 1st place as something guaranteed.

Option C would make me a trainee speaking casually to fans.

That would just make me trash.

“Kyaaaaah!”

“Our Siwoo never changes!”

“So cute!!!”

I truly had to be grateful to my fans.

‘You’re actually happy hearing nonsense like this… I’ll really do my best as an idol and repay all of you.’

“We’ve just heard a cute and charming comment from Cha Siwoo trainee.”

Perhaps strange remarks had become normal by now, because Yoo Haein delivered the script without a single change in expression.

“Next, Yoo Hoseung trainee. Please tell us how it feels to be a candidate for 1st place.”

Now that he was standing in front of the stage, Hoseung looked surprisingly tense.

His expression had stiffened somewhat awkwardly.

“The reason I was able to make it all the way to becoming a candidate for 1st place is thanks to the fans who always supported me.”

“Woooooo!”

“Hoseung!!!”

“With everyone’s support, I’ll do my best to take 1st place as well!”

“That’s right!”

“1st place belongs to Hoseung!!!”

As cheers poured toward Yoo Hoseung, Yoo Haein began throwing all kinds of questions at us.

‘A stalling strategy?’

Well, they probably needed to drag things out to maximize ratings before revealing 1st place.

The problem was that Yoo Haein seemed to have run out of prepared material and had begun asking random questions.

“Cha Siwoo trainee, what’s the first thing you want to do after debuting?”

‘Sleep.’

My body felt exhausted.

When I checked my status window earlier, my fatigue level had risen all the way to 40.

‘The moment this is over, I’m getting the best sleep of my life.’

People are funny.

Just moments ago, I had desperately prayed to make it into the debut ranks.

Now that I had secured a spot, I was already thinking about sleep.

“After debuting, I want to repay all the love my fans have given me with everything I’ve got.”

Questions like these always required the model answer.

That’s just how society works.

‘Though it’s true, too.’

The desire to repay the precious fans who had supported and cheered for someone as insignificant as me was completely genuine.

“The National Directors must be very happy to hear that. Then, when was the happiest moment of your life?”

Apparently, Yoo Haein still needed more filler time.

The questions kept coming.

‘The happiest moment of my life…’

Without thinking, an old memory surfaced.

I could vaguely see the amusement park I had visited while holding hands with my family.

‘That was probably our last outing together.’

One of the few precious memories I possessed.

“…Right now.”

That was also the truth.

Just ten minutes ago, I had received confirmation that I would survive and debut instead of dying.

How could I not be happy?

“Why do you think that?”

“Because being able to debut is the greatest happiness for me.”

“That makes sense. Congratulations on debuting, Cha Siwoo trainee. But wouldn’t 1st place be even better?”

“The fact that I’ve already made it to being a candidate for 1st place is a miracle to me. It’s far more than I deserve, so I don’t think the ranking itself is that important.”

“Oh?”

“I’m simply happy that debuting means I’ll have the opportunity to repay my fans in the future. So even if I’m not 1st place, I’ll still be deeply grateful.”

“That’s a wonderful answer.”

Yoo Haein then shifted his attention to Yoo Hoseung and asked him several questions as well.

A few of them were clearly intended to create conflict between the candidates for 1st and 2nd place, but Hoseung handled them skillfully and slipped through them like a loach.

By the time what felt like twenty minutes had passed…

Yoo Haein finally received a cue card from the production staff.

“Well then, everyone. Thank you for waiting! I’ve just received the envelope containing the name of the trainee who ranked 1st!”

‘Wait, what? Even he only found out now?’

The vote count must have been so massive that tallying everything had taken longer than expected.

That explained why Yoo Haein had looked increasingly troubled while stalling.

“I will now announce the trainee who will debut in 1st place in Star Picking 5!”

The tense music filling the stage came to a stop.

Every sound vanished in an instant.

Only the pounding of my heart remained.

Thump—Thump—

My heartbeat was so loud I wondered if the microphone might pick it up.