The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 77

Chapter 77

 

“Cha Siwoo trainee!”

The moment my name was called, I felt as though the entire world had gone silent, as if my breathing itself had stopped.

‘…Me?’

Bang!

The fireworks exploded loudly, and the smell of gunpowder snapping through the air finally brought me back to my senses.

When I lifted my head, colorful confetti was raining brilliantly across the stage.

“Kyaaaaaah!”

“Cha Siwoo! Cha Siwoo!!”

“Congratulations, Siwoo!”

The audience erupted into cheers, and blazing spotlights poured down on me all at once.

‘Really?’

My breath stopped for a moment, and only a beat later did my lungs begin moving again.

The situation felt so unreal that my legs had stiffened, leaving me unable to take even a single step.

‘I only hoped to debut so I could clear the quest.’

The completely unexpected ranking of 1st place made my heart race wildly.

It was an exhilarating feeling unlike anything I had ever experienced.

No, to be honest, it felt like dopamine was exploding throughout my entire body.

Ding.

[Congratulations! You have completed Sub-Quest (10): “Successfully debut in the final stage.”]

The translucent blue window that appeared before my eyes made everything feel even more real.

‘Finally…!’

The fact that I had achieved the debut that once felt impossibly far away… and had done so in 1st place… made my heart beat even faster.

At last, I had taken one more step toward the final quest reward: obtaining the panacea.

The corners of my mouth rose on their own.

[Would you like to receive your quest reward? Please note that rewards vary depending on rank.]

‘I’ll claim it later.’

[Understood.]

Honestly, I wanted to open it immediately to see what it was.

But I held back.

Since this was a live broadcast, I needed to be careful.

“Cha Siwoo trainee, congratulations on debuting in 1st place. Please share your thoughts!”

I accepted the heavy golden trophy Yoo Haein handed me with both hands.

‘Wait… is this actually real gold?’

Considering current gold prices, it was probably just gold-plated.

‘Well, a trophy is symbolic anyway.’

Holding the trophy tightly against my chest, I picked up the microphone with my free hand.

Even as I gripped it, the reality still hadn’t fully sunk in.

The fact that the number 1 was displayed beside my name on the giant screen.

“Honestly… I truly never expected to come in first place.”

The surrounding celebration immediately quieted down.

“Even making it this far already felt like more than I deserved.”

‘I thought it would be enough as long as I barely made the debut lineup.’

Apparently, my true feelings had been different.

I steadied my trembling breath and looked toward the audience.

Most of them were strangers I was seeing for the first time today.

Yet every single person’s gaze was directed at me.

The corners of my lips kept rising, and before I knew it, a genuine smile slipped out.

“Since I started training later than everyone else, I always felt lacking. But the reason I never gave up was…”

‘Because it was the best thing I could do to save my little sibling. And…’

“It was only possible because of your support. Thank you for bringing me all the way here.”

I meant every word.

This was only possible because there were fans who had shown unconditional affection toward someone as insignificant and unimpressive as me.

“And this first-place trophy isn’t something I earned alone. It’s thanks to the friends who practiced with me, the trainers who believed in me until the end, and all the National Directors.”

The hand gripping the microphone tightened naturally.

“I still have a lot to improve, but I’ll continue proving myself so that I won’t be unworthy of the first place you’ve given me. Please continue showing lots of love and support for the team we’ll be starting together.”

There was actually so much more I wanted to say.

The countless nights spent practicing until dawn.

The times my body nearly gave out from balancing part-time jobs and training.

The moments I somehow managed to hold together all the troublemakers and complete every team mission successfully.

The first time I met my fans.

Countless memories flashed through my mind.

Then I noticed one of the writers urgently holding up a sketchbook with the word “Sibling” written in huge letters.

That instantly brought me back to reality.

‘There’s a huge difference between it being revealed accidentally and me bringing it up myself.’

One of the reasons I had ended up in first place was undoubtedly because sympathy over my family situation had spread among the public.

That didn’t mean I intended to use my family circumstances myself.

Ignoring the writer’s prompting, I finished my speech with my professional social smile.

“National Directors, from now on, I’ll continue carrying this responsibility and always do my best. Thank you sincerely for choosing me.”

The things I couldn’t say today…

I’d show them through my actions after debuting.

I bowed ninety degrees toward both the audience and the cameras.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Congratulations on first place, Siwoo!”

“You worked hard!”

“May you walk only on flower-filled roads from now on!”

“Cha Siwoo is amazing!”

Warm and heartfelt congratulations poured over me.

I remained bowed for quite a while.

“We’ve just heard Cha Siwoo trainee’s sincere first-place speech. Now, shall we hear from the trainee debuting in second place as well?”

Thanks to Yoo Haein’s voice moving things along, I was finally able to straighten up.

Taking a step back, I watched as Yoo Hoseung, now holding a bouquet, picked up the microphone.

“First of all, thank you so much to all the fans who voted for me! Honestly, I know very well that second place is far more than someone lacking in both singing and dancing like me deserves.”

Hoseung’s voice was noticeably trembling.

“Even so, thanks to the overwhelming love of my fans, someone as lacking as I was able to debut from such a high position.”

While speaking seriously, Yoo Hoseung finally began shedding clear tears.

“It’s shameless of me, but I’m so happy I was able to debut! I’ll continue practicing even harder and show everyone better performances in the future!”

The image of Hoseung crying on the giant screen looked like a scene from a movie.

‘This guy is ridiculously handsome even when he’s crying.’

“Please give lots of love to our team. Thank you sincerely to all the fans who’ve supported me until now! I look forward to your continued support!”

The moment he lowered the microphone, all the tension left him, and he broke down completely.

“We’ve just heard a touching second-place speech. Yoo Hoseung trainee, please move to the chair marked with the number 2.”

“Sniff…! Yes!”

Wiping away tears the size of beans, Yoo Hoseung walked toward his chair.

‘Wait… what about me?’

Standing there awkwardly doing nothing was honestly a little embarrassing.

Only after the camera had thoroughly captured Hoseung sitting in the chair marked 2 did Yoo Haein raise his microphone again.

‘Can I sit down now?’

“Now then, surely the trainee who ranked first should receive a special benefit, right?”

‘Ah, right. First place gets a prize.’

Incidentally, throughout the Star Picking series, the winner’s reward had always been prize money.

“The reward for first place this season is on an entirely different level compared to previous seasons.”

‘Huh…? What happened to my money?’

“It’s…!”

Human greed is funny.

Of course, I was thrilled to unexpectedly win first place.

But realistically speaking, money mattered too.

“The privilege of deciding the group’s name!”

For some reason, it felt like prize money I had never even received was being taken away from me.

‘My money…’

“Cha Siwoo trainee, how do you feel about receiving such an incredible benefit?”

‘Farewell, my money.’

“…I’m happy.”

“Wasn’t your response a beat slower than expected?”

“Haha, you’re imagining things.”

‘But what should I name the group?’

I suddenly found myself facing a naming responsibility I had never expected.

‘It’s something that should be decided carefully, but now I have to choose immediately. I can’t think of anything good.’

No matter what name was chosen, people would criticize it.

That’s simply how group names worked.

So I had no choice but to think as hard as possible.

‘Something that’ll get the least amount of hate.’

Historically, every group that debuted through Star Picking had been mocked endlessly for having terrible names.

Apparently, the broadcasting station had become conscious of that criticism and had decided to pass the bomb directly to me this time.

‘Typical TV station people. They really don’t want to take responsibility until the very end.’

This wasn’t a reward.

It was a bomb.

“Cha Siwoo trainee looks quite worried.”

“Yes. Honestly, a group name has a major impact on the team’s overall image, so while this decision is an honor, it’s also quite burdensome.”

I couldn’t exactly complain about them dumping the bomb on me, which left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Don’t worry too much. To reduce that burden, we’ve actually prepared something.”

“…?”

“Everyone, please look at the screen.”

Turning toward the giant display, I saw five names appear.

“On the screen are five group names carefully selected by experts who run professional naming institutes.”

“…!”

At least there were options.

“As your first-place reward, you’ll be given the chance to choose whichever group name you like best!”

The problem was that every single one of them was terrible.

 

—

AFTER ZERO

SS BOYS (Star Six BOYS)

CROWN SIX

ASTRAVE

Lucy Star Boys

—

 

‘…Are these really names chosen by professionals?’

Every single one was awful.

‘I could probably come up with something better myself.’

“Please make your selection now!”

‘Hmm… which one will get me criticized the least?’

“My choice is… Lucy Star Boys.”

“An unexpected choice! May I ask why you selected it?”

‘Because it’s the least terrible?’

I couldn’t exactly say that.

Maintaining my professional smile, I answered instead.

“I learned the meaning of Lucy from the fans.”

“Oh? And what does it mean?”

“I heard that Lucy refers to a shining existence.”

Incidentally, I’d learned that through the nickname Lucy-nyang (Rusi-Nyang) that the fans used.

“I hope our group can become like a shining star that guides people toward hope in the darkness. That’s why I chose Lucy Star Boys.”

“What a wonderful meaning. The name of the team debuting through Star Picking 5 has officially been decided as Lucy Star Boys!”

‘I have to come up with a symbolic meaning for a name I just picked on the spot too…’

Being an idol truly wasn’t easy.

“Woooooo!”

“Then, Cha Siwoo trainee, please take your seat in the chair marked with the number 1.”

“Yes.”

In other words, my role was finished, and it was time for me to leave center stage.

A triumphant fanfare played as loud music filled the stage.

While walking to my seat, I made sure to keep smiling in ways the fans would enjoy, despite the camera relentlessly following me.

Once seated, I also remembered to raise the trophy for a brief celebratory pose.

‘Now my role is really over.’

“Finally, we will now announce the trainee who will join Star Picking 5 as the member debuting in 6th place.”