Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 104

TEAM B LIVE — D-1

<Idol Classism> Debut Song: <PARADISE>

Center: Lee Unha

Let’s all definitely debut together! Definitely! Fighting, <Idol Classism>!!!

 

 ***

 

“What are you looking at so intently, Lee Unha?”

 

“A photo.”

 

“Why a photo all of a sudden? Oh, isn’t this what we wrote on our board? Why are you looking at that?”

 

“Just because. It’s a routine. But Taeyeol hyung… is something wrong?”

 

“No, nothing’s wrong… wh-why are you asking all of a sudden?”

 

“Just because. Your voice sounds like it’s trembling.”

 

“Me? Aren’t you the one trembling?”

 

“Well, of course I’m trembling. But you seem to be shaking more than usual, hyung.”

 

“I don’t really feel like I’m shaking.”

 

“Seriously, why won’t you just admit it? Why act so tough? It’s not like being nervous is a crime. Honestly, it’s only natural to be shaking right now.”

 

“I mean, no…”

 

“Until the rehearsal earlier… I thought I’d be fine even with the fans and viewers there… but seeing the people continuously filling the seats. I’m… I’m having a hard time calming down.”

 

“You too? You’re really nervous too?”

 

“Yes. Of course I am. I’m more nervous about this 4 minute and 30 second performance than the rankings that will be announced today. For the performances and missions up until now, I didn’t think much of it because I felt any mistake was entirely my own responsibility, but….”

 

“Right….”

 

“But this is different. It may not be a paid concert, but we’re performing directly for the people who’ve been supporting us all this time. This performance is for someone else. If I weren’t feeling any pressure, that would be the strange part.”

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

“Yeah, now that I think about it, you’re right.”

 

“I never expected to feel like this, but it honestly feels like my heart’s about to leap out of my chest. Seeing the seats fill up one by one only makes it worse. I don’t even know where all that time went.”

 

A live performance was different.

 

Standing in front of actual fans and a live audience was different.

 

It was something I had heard countless times during practice. Even Benok and Kim Minhyuk had dropped by the practice room in their spare time to emphasize this over and over.

 

To be honest, back then, I didn’t truly realize what those words meant.

 

It was not that I wasn’t listening. It was just that I had become so familiar with the song <PARADISE> that, to exaggerate slightly, I was confident I could match the choreography and the notes with my eyes closed.

 

I had been certain I wouldn’t be nervous because I thought that even if Lee Unha might be, Joy—who had gone through so much—would feel nothing. I remembered feeling no tension even when I arrived here early today and finished the pre-rehearsal.

 

The anxiety only began to surge the moment I witnessed the audience filling the seats with my own eyes.

 

‘Did I practice enough?’

 

I thought I had done everything I could; I thought I had given my best. But now I was starting to question if my ‘best’ was actually enough.

 

‘Can I honestly say I prepared for this performance without a single regret? Without a single worry? Can I really say everything was perfect?’

 

The anxiety Kim Taeyeol was feeling was probably the exact same kind as mine.

 

“B-But… were 4,000 people always this many?”

 

‘See. You’re thinking the exact same thing I am.’

 

“Yes. It’s a lot. Honestly, when I didn’t know any better, I thought it sounded like a small number, but seeing it like this, it’s almost too many. It actually makes me wonder if the reason they didn’t increase the audience capacity was because they were worried about us trainees.”

 

“Yeah… I think so too.”

 

Furthermore….

 

“And… everyone who came today is essentially a ‘hardcore fan,’ right?”

 

“I guess so?”

 

“Yeah. Idol Classism didn’t even prepare any extra content. It’s just the same performance repeated with different members, over and over, followed by one round of voting, and that’s it. The fact that they even showed up is a blessing. No one would come this far unless they truly loved the show. They definitely came here just to see our faces, even though we’re nobodies.”

 

“I’m… I’m starting to feel the pressure.”

 

“There are the fans who came to the venue, the viewers watching from home, and all the staff who worked so hard for us despite how complicated things got.”

 

Cheers erupt from outside. It was just the lights turning off for a moment, but a roar loud enough to shake the hall echoes through. Several trainees flinched instinctively. Even Jegal Hwi had risen from his seat.

 

Seeing Jegal Hwi’s anxious face made me feel even more nervous. The ice-cold guy had frozen solid like an actual block of ice.

 

“I think it’s starting.”

 

“No, not yet. I think the video will play first.”

 

It would be the stories of the trainees who survived so far in Idol Classism, or perhaps a side-story to the documentary that aired last broadcast. They would be revealing the behind-the-scenes stories related to the debut song <PARADISE>.

 

Like every survival program, it would also show how each group had prepared for this stage. Once that time was over, it would be Team A’s turn, and then our turn, Team B.

 

Seriously….

 

‘There’s only a few hours left.’

 

No, not even an hour.

 

Yes, less than an hour.

 

Before I knew it, I’d be standing on stage.

 

In reality….

 

“Team B, please stand by. Team B!”

 

“Team B, come up! Come up!!!”

 

“Unha! Let’s go! Fighting! Fighting!!! Fighting!!!!”

 

It felt like only a few minutes had passed, but loud voices were echoing from everywhere. I saw Han Yohan grabbing my hand and pulling me forward. Kim Taeyeol with a look of pure terror, Jegal Hwi staring at me silently, and Trainee No. 106 and the others with their hands trembling.

 

Everyone looked like they couldn’t think of anything other than trying to manage their own emotions. Instinctively, I realized we couldn’t go up like this, but like an idiot, no words would come out.

 

‘What? Already? Wait, is Team A’s stage over?’

 

I could barely take care of myself. I couldn’t even remember what I’d been doing for the past hour. Did I even say anything to my teammates? Or was I just staring blankly at the shouting and cheering audience?

 

“Stand by. Going up in 4 minutes.”

 

‘Didn’t they just say there were 20 minutes left? Now suddenly it’s 4?’

 

“Why are you guys so stiff! Damn it! Let’s all fight! Fighting!!!”

 

Sensing that we were about to be screwed, Kim Taeyeol shouted, mixing in curses. The other trainees started shouting along, but to my eyes, it looked like the barking of a frightened dog.

 

‘No. No. This isn’t right.’

 

When things felt like this, it was easy to make mistakes. I knew that from participating in countless experiments.

 

In fact, bad memories kept overlapping before my eyes. The ‘Paradise’ of that day, where nervous slaves went up on stage only to die doing nothing, turning the place into a living hell, replayed in my head.

 

‘No. No. We can’t go up now. Not… not like this.’

 

The stage went dark.

 

“Go up. Team B, go up!”

 

“W-wait a minute!”

 

“Starting in 3 minutes! Give us a signal! Starting in 3 minutes.”

 

“Wait! Please just wait a moment!”

 

“Huh? No… just get up there first!”

 

“What are you doing, Lee Unha! We have to go up now!”

 

“Just a moment is all I need! Just a moment!!”

 

As I went closer to the stairs leading to the stage, the roar of the crowd sounded like it was about to blow the roof off. I naturally realized I was terrified. It was right then, as I was being half-pulled up the stairs by Han Yohan’s hand.

 

“…….”

“…….”

 

We crossed paths with Team A, who were just coming down. Many trainees were shouting ‘Fighting!’ to support us… but the person who caught my eye was….

 

Joo Wooyoung.

 

Yes, Joo Wooyoung was muttering something while looking at my pale face. Strangely, that muttered voice reached my ears so clearly.

 

“Unha. Go out there and do an amazing job.”

 

I noded unconciously, taking in Joo Wooyoung’s face. He was smiling. He looked relieved, like someone who had enjoyed the stage without a hint of nerves.

 

‘Right, someone like you wouldn’t get nervous.’

 

He must have stood before massive crowds countless times in the other world.

 

For a brief moment, irritation surged through me, but…

 

‘No. Joo Wooyoung is… sweating too.’

 

Looking at Joo Wooyoung’s back again… I found myself biting my lip hard.

 

‘You… you were nervous too.’

 

Yes. Even Joo Wooyoung looked like he’d been nervous.

 

“Yes, hyung.”

 

Strangely enough, my heart became lighter.

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

“Let’s go, Team B! Let’s go! Fighting!!!! Because Lee Unha’s team is going to tear everything up today!!!”

 

“Be quiet. What are you going to do if there’s an accident? And we’re Team B, not Lee Unha’s team.”

 

“Huh… what?”

 

“I told you not to curse, Taeyeol hyung.”

 

“…….”

 

“Don’t get over-excited and just follow me.”

 

“…….”

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“…….”

 

“We’re not going to war. We’re not going to fight the fans.”

 

“…….”

 

“Just go out there and show them exactly what we practiced. It was a short time, but we did our best. Pour everything out without regrets.”

 

“…….”

 

“And hyungs.”

 

“Huh? U-us?”

 

“Yes. Seungcheol hyung, Kijun hyung, Daehyun hyung.”

 

“Uh….”

 

“I didn’t have the peace of mind to get close to you guys. To be honest, Seungcheol hyung, I disliked you a bit because of that ‘clique’ comment you made before.”

 

“…….”

 

“But right now, I like you all.”

 

“…….”

 

“Let’s all go out for a meal together when this is all over.”

 

“Ah… yeah.”

 

Shutting my mouth tight, I quietly took my designated position. I could hear the sounds of heavy breathing beside me. Phew. Phew.

 

“…….”

 

The cheers were getting louder and louder.

 

As the intro music began, a roar loud enough to burst my eardrums echoed. Maybe they’d already made fan chants, because I could hear people shouting my name.

 

Once the lights flared up,

I looked forward.

 

The sight of 4,000 audience members entered my vision in a single sweep.

 

Goosebumps erupted across my entire body.

 

My arms and legs trembled uncontrollably.

 

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”

 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!”

 

Despite my earlier moment of clarity, I—Lee Unha—was now completely overwhelmed.