The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 78

Chapter 78

 

The bright atmosphere turned bleak in an instant.

Among the fifteen trainees who remained, only one person would ultimately enter the debut group.

As tense music echoed through the venue, Yoo Haein conducted brief interviews to fill time.

The more the trainees spoke with desperate sincerity, the heavier the atmosphere became.

‘This program is cruel until the very end.’

Among them, one person stood out the most.

“Next, trainee Seo Hayul. Please share your final thoughts… it may be your last.”

The gray cat with fish-like swollen eyes swallowed his tears and picked up the microphone.

“First of all, I’d like to sincerely thank the National Directors who have supported me until now. I don’t know whether I’ll debut or be eliminated, but…”

The moment Seo Hayul raised his head, our eyes met.

“During my time participating in this audition, I was truly happy. Thank you for giving me the best days of my life. Going forward… I want to become part of the same group as these amazing teammates and continue chasing our dream together.”

His voice was more earnest than anyone else’s.

“Thank you for those touching remarks.”

Yoo Haein moved on to the next trainee.

‘If possible, I hope Seo Hayul becomes the final member.’

Setting personal feelings aside, even in terms of positions, Seo Hayul was the perfect fit for the main rapper role.

More importantly, if we became a team, we’d be stuck together every day for years. If possible, wouldn’t it be better to have someone familiar and gentle?

“Now then, we will announce the trainee who will ultimately join the debut group.”

Apparently, Yoo Haein had achieved the amount of airtime they wanted and was finally moving toward the conclusion.

“It’s…!”

Heavy music began to seep across the stage.

At first, it felt less like sound and more like pressure.

A deep, low note spread across the floor, tightening the space around us.

Boom—Boom

The rhythm was slower than a heartbeat, but all the heavier because of it.

All around the audience, people could be seen swallowing nervously.

The lightsticks stopped moving.

Even the whispers ceased.

‘Who will become the final member?’

“The trainee debuting in sixth place is someone beloved for his outstanding rap skills and unique decadent charm.”

‘Could it be…?’

Only the low music continued to echo tensely through the speakers.

“It’s trainee Seo Hayul!”

“WAAAAAH!!!!”

“He did it! He did it!”

“Hayul-nyang!”

“Congratulations!”

Seo Hayul looked so shocked that he finally burst into tears.

“Congratulations! Trainee Seo Hayul, please come to the center of the stage.”

‘You little punk. You wanted to debut so badly. Thank goodness.’

To be honest, I was happy because he was someone I knew.

“Sniff…! Thank you!”

Accepting the bouquet from Yoo Haein, Seo Hayul kept bowing repeatedly.

“Trainee Seo Hayul, how do you feel about being selected as the final member?”

“I’m happy! To be honest, I was desperately praying in my heart to be chosen as sixth place. Since you all chose me, I’ll work as hard as I can and show you my best.”

“Congratulations. Trainee Seo Hayul, please go take your seat in chair number six.”

As we watched Seo Hayul approach, the trainees who were already seated began standing up one by one.

“Hey, Siwoo-dongsaeng, let’s go welcome Hayul-nyang!”

“Should we?”

The members, still intoxicated by their joy, rushed toward Seo Hayul, and I followed behind.

‘It’d be weird if I just stood here by myself.’

When I roughly ruffled Seo Hayul’s gray hair, he finally stopped crying.

“Seo Hayul, congratulations!”

“Hayul, welcome!”

“We’re on the same team now!”

Amid the warm atmosphere, Yoo Haein continued with the closing remarks.

“Everyone, it’s truly been a long journey.”

‘That’s true. We’ve been filming for months.’

“After countless stages, evaluations, and moments of choice, the trainees standing here today are no longer challengers. They are artists who endured until the very end in pursuit of their dreams.”

Countless quests that I’d completed up until now flashed through my mind.

‘I thought they were ridiculous at first.’

Each time I completed a quest, I received a reward.

Watching myself gradually improve as an idol had been strange in its own way.

“There must have been moments when you wanted to give up, and days when you doubted yourselves. Even so, I want to sincerely applaud all of you who remained standing here today.”

The trainees who had failed to rank high enough to debut began applauding from their places.

More than half of them were crying.

To repay them, we also bowed repeatedly and applauded together.

“Thanks to the choices and support of the National Directors who stayed with us every step of the way, this program was able to reach completion. But today is not the end.”

As the farewell song signaling the conclusion began playing, tears started flowing throughout the audience as well.

Everyone knew it was truly over.

Various emotions surged together and spilled out as tears.

“Because… today is the beginning! Please continue to support and love the new team born at this moment… Lucy Star Boys!”

“Kyaaaaah!”

“Congratulations on your debut!”

“Thank you!”

“We’ll never forget this journey we shared. Thank you to everyone who watched Star Picking 5.”

At Yoo Haein’s closing remarks, we bowed ninety degrees toward both the audience and the cameras.

‘It’s really over now.’

I had truly worked hard.

‘And honestly, the members debuting together aren’t a bad lineup at all.’

Come to think of it, they were all people I’d expected to debut from the beginning.

But it was too early to relax.

Because I’d only just completed the main quest.

Once filming ended, I needed to check my reward for the final quest.

 

☆☆☆

 

Even though filming had ended, social obligations had not.

Because the moment filming finished, the company dinner began immediately afterward.

‘Is a company dinner really an unavoidable extension of social life?’

People said these gatherings had become less common nowadays, but the broadcasting industry was apparently still an exception.

‘Everything’s been so hectic that I haven’t had time to check my reward.’

After successfully completing the final broadcast, Star Picking 5 had become an enormous hit.

Thanks to achieving the highest ratings in its time slot, the broadcasting station staff had actually booked a beef restaurant for the after-party.

“Everyone! The station director gave us a company card with no spending limit!”

“Wooooooah!”

“We dedicate this achievement to the members of Lucy Star Boys!”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The production staff cheered wildly at the mention of premium beef.

“You all worked so hard.”

“Congratulations on your debut!”

“Thanks to you guys, the ratings exploded, and we get to eat beef tonight. Thank you!”

Receiving a flood of congratulations, I kept bowing.

“Thank you!”

“This was only possible because the production staff took such good care of us.”

Naturally, I didn’t forget the social skill of redirecting the credit.

“That’s right. We were able to debut thanks to the production staff. Thank you.”

Kim Sunyoo, who had actual industry experience and knew how to handle social situations, smoothly added his support beside me.

‘As expected of the leader I’ve had my eye on.’

Having even one person skilled at social interactions in a group significantly reduced future headaches.

‘It’s nice knowing there’s someone reliable.’

He was truly a dependable ally.

“I’ve thought this for a while, but all of you speak so nicely.”

“I know, right? These kids are really kind!”

For a moment, I wanted to correct the production staff’s statement, but held back.

To be clear, the members were gentle.

That didn’t mean they were all innocent saints or fools.

Kim Sunyoo and I sat at opposite ends of the table, with the other members seated between us.

There was a reason for arranging the seats that way.

By nature, company dinners were places where unexpected incidents could happen.

This was a safety measure to protect the gentler members.

“Hahaha! What a wonderful day. Shall we all make a toast?”

“Yes!”

Amid the cheerful atmosphere, the company dinner officially began.

The delighted PD placed a spoon inside an empty soju bottle and started using it like a microphone.

“Everyone, could I have your attention for a moment?”

As glasses were raised and the laughter gradually died down, the PD stood up, his face flushed red.

“Now that it’s over, I can finally say this. Honestly speaking… I thought this program was going to fail at least once along the way.”

Laughter immediately erupted around the room.

‘You’re only saying that because it succeeded. If it had actually failed, nobody would be laughing.’

“I barely slept while editing, and we got an unbelievable amount of criticism too.”

‘That’s because you guys messed up with those evil edits.’

“To be honest, the program faced several crises.”

Immediately, incidents like the assault case and various malicious edits flashed through my mind.

“But we made it to the end. This success belongs both to the trainees who stood on stage and to the production staff who endured behind the cameras!”

The PD raised his glass high.

“You all worked hard! You’ve all suffered enough! Eat as much as you want and enjoy this moment!”

“Yes!”

As everyone’s glasses clinked together, the company dinner truly began.

For reference, the glasses of the underage members, Yoo Hoseung and Seo Hayul, were filled with soft drinks instead of alcohol.

“Wow, the marbling on this beef is incredible.”

“I know, it’s seriously delicious.”

Since it wasn’t my money, I immediately kept ordering more beef the moment it appeared.

Watching the members eat heartily, I put my part-time job experience to use and focused on grilling the meat.

“I cooked the tenderloin medium-rare to preserve the juices.”

‘Beef really is nice because it cooks so quickly.’

Once the meat was done, I placed pieces onto everyone’s plates one by one, and the members accepted them like baby birds being fed.

“Hyung, why are you so good at grilling meat?”

“I worked at barbecue restaurants a lot because the pay was good.”

Restaurant jobs generally paid more than other part-time jobs because of the physical labor involved.

“Hyung, give me the tongs now. I’ll help grill too.”

“Kids aren’t supposed to grill meat. Hyung’s good at it, so just enjoy eating.”

“…Okay.”

The beef, perfectly cooked over high heat, exploded with juices the moment it entered my mouth.

‘Wow, this is amazing!’

I was admiring the taste while diligently keeping the grill loaded with meat.

“I’ve worked at barbecue restaurants a few times too. I’m confident. Let’s grill together.”

Kang Chan had somehow acquired a pair of tongs and was helping beside me.

“Sure.”

With two people grilling, the speed increased considerably.

We were devouring beef in what could only be described as combat dining when…

“Our trainees really worked hard!”

The PD, his face completely red from alcohol, staggered toward us.

“Thank you, PD!”

“That’s right. I’ll pour it myself, so have a drink with me.”