Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 12

It looked like the broadcast couldn’t continue—not because of me, but because of that guy.

 

“I’m… I’m so sorry… truly… sob… u-waaaaaah….”

 

He seemed to realize he was causing trouble, but even so, he just couldn’t stop crying. Of course, his behavior wasn’t incomprehensible. Even though we’d only worked together for a short time, he’d ended up causing trouble for everyone who had prepared the performance together, so there was no way he could face us without feeling ashamed.

 

I could see he couldn’t even lift his head, and I was about to go over and say a word to him… but that was rendered moot by the judges suddenly descending onto the stage.

 

Unlike his usual self, Judge Benok looked furious as he suddenly shouted toward someone.

 

“Seriously, hyung! Making a show is fine, but you have to draw a line!”

 

‘I guess Benok has enough clout to talk to a PD like that.’

 

Of course, the PD standing there didn’t seem particularly powerful… and more importantly, they seemed to be personal friends, which made such an outburst possible. Still, being able to talk to him like that was impressive.

 

“You push these kids to the limit and don’t give them proper practice time; of course, accidents like this happen. And the stage is slippery, now that I look at it!”

 

‘Strictly speaking, it’s not exactly the PD’s fault… or wait, is it?’

 

“Ah. Well… I’m sorry, Hyungchul.”

 

“You know the apology should be to Mr. Unha, not me, right?”

 

“I know, I know. I get it. Um… are you okay?”

 

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

 

“What if he ended up with a scar? Hyung! Ah… seriously…. Mr. Unha. You’re really okay, right?”

 

“Yes. I’m truly fine. You don’t need to worry.”

 

I also saw the surprisingly ordinary-looking Main PD.

 

‘It’s my first time seeing him this close and in detail.’

 

I expected him to be some gloomy, repulsive guy, but his impression was better than I thought. He looked a bit plump and a little… slow. It was a bit mean to say, but he looked like the typical otaku you saw in the media. Moreover, his apology didn’t seem half-hearted.

 

‘People really… have many different sides.’

 

Was he simply someone obsessed with TV ratings? He scratched the back of his head and then pressed his palms together in a gesture of apology.

 

‘There really are people who apologize like that….’

 

“I’m truly sorry. I never imagined an accident like this would happen….”

 

“No. It’s not like you specifically did anything wrong… No, I’m really fine!”

 

“Even so….”

 

“If you’re truly sorry, please just don’t edit me to look like a complete idiot. You’re… going to use it, right?”

 

“Ah.”

 

“Hyung. You’re really going to use that?”

 

“Well… the thing is….”

 

“Seriously, hyung!”

 

‘How could he possibly not use it? He caught a scene like this….’

 

In fact, I would have been disappointed if he said he wouldn’t use it. Personally, I wasn’t even sure this was really the PD’s fault, but if there were more people who thought like Benok, then both the broadcasting station and the PD would have to brace themselves for criticism.

 

Of course, getting criticized was part of their job, but openly taking responsibility for an accident like this was another matter entirely. Broadcasting this scene exactly as it happened meant they were willing to take the hit themselves if it meant saving the show.

 

‘No. I shouldn’t try to make an excuse for them. Everyone at this station is a bastard.’

 

“Ah… I shouldn’t have said anything. Do whatever you want, hyung. Sigh… Seriously….”

 

“T-then, shall we start rolling right away?”

 

‘Look at that.’

 

He immediately ran off to check how the previous scene was filmed. He probably already thought it would go viral. He was checking to see if the accident was broadcastable depending on how it was captured.

 

Watching him, Benok wore an exasperated expression before speaking to me.

 

“Hah… Mr. Unha. This might sound crazy, but that man isn’t actually that malicious. Just think of him as someone who is insane about broadcasting. He’s a really nice guy in private, but honestly, his editing style and the shows he makes are a bit… so… whew….”

 

“Ah. Yes.”

 

“Haah… I hope that doesn’t leave a scar….  Anyway, he won’t treat you too badly. He’s probably seen your pre-release view counts, and he’ll feel guilty about the accident… it’s easier if you think of it as him owing you one. Oh, and about that… actually, I take back what I just said.”

 

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

 

“The part about him not being malicious. Thinking about it, he is indeed malicious. But… even if you debut and become famous later, don’t completely cut ties with people like him. There aren’t only good people in this industry. No… honestly speaking, I think there are more bad people than good ones.”

 

“Ah… yes.”

 

“But what can you do? If you want to work in this industry, you have to bump into all kinds of people. Even if you don’t like them, you have to show up to private gatherings sometimes… and if you receive something, you have to give something back. You’re still young, so you might not understand what I mean.”

 

Does he realize I’m about the same age as him?

 

That’s just how working life is. Sometimes you force yourself to see the good in people… Well… isn’t that how everyone gets by? If you make too many enemies, you’re the only one who loses… Sometimes you have to be flexible and let things slide…. Wait, what am I even rambling about….”

 

“Ah… yes….”

 

“Well, you’ll probably forget it immediately, but just remember the parts you can. Well then….”

 

After saying only what he wanted to say, Benok immediately went back up to the judges’ table.

 

While we were talking, the stage had already been cleared. Everything was set up so we could hear the judges’ evaluations. I saw my teammates standing in a line. No. 141 was still sobbing, so I lightly patted his back to tell him it wasn’t his fault.

 

“Sob… ugh… waaaah….”

 

Instead, that seemed to trigger his tear ducts even more, and for some reason, he cried harder. Fortunately, he was at least keeping quiet. He had finally realized the cameras were rolling.

 

In the midst of the brief confusion, I heard a staff member clap the slate.

 

“Entering the evaluation for <Slave> Team 6!”

 

Clap!

 

Absurdly enough, the voices of the professional entertainers immediately began to ring out.

 

“There was an accident at the end… but wasn’t it pretty good? Noona?”

 

“Yes. Honestly, I was surprised.”

 

“The conditions really were pretty harsh, weren’t they? The Slave class, unlike the other classes, barely received any support, and they only had five hours to practice. Realistically speaking, the performances before this… were what you’d normally expect.”

 

‘Professionals really are something.’

 

Even after such a major accident had just happened, the moment the slate clapped, they immediately focused back on the broadcast.

 

Benok, in particular, seemed determined to push our team. He was pouring out praise with an intensity that suggested he wouldn’t even give the editors a chance to cut to anything negative.

 

“I’ll speak honestly.”

 

‘About what?’

 

“As you might have guessed, it wasn’t just the <Slave> class performing today, right?”

 

‘Ah.’

 

“I’ve seen the performances of the <Nobility> class and the <Commons> class, but the stage I just saw was the one I liked best. Of course, it’s true the level of completion was much lower. Strictly speaking, it’s true that the <Commons> class, who had more practice time, and the <Nobility> class, who had a lot of support, put on superior stages, but….”

 

“Wait, Hyungchul. Isn’t that a bit much? The <Nobility> stage was almost….”

 

“Objectively, you’re right, noona. This is just my personal opinion. Of course, everyone can see it differently, but this was the first team that gave me such refreshing energy. You had no costumes, no rearranged music, yet you still managed to express your concept so well….”

 

“Hmm….”

 

“Trainee Lee Unha. The concept was… something like an escape, right?”

 

“Yes! Similar to that! To be precise, it was ‘Resistance’!”

 

“I heard that Trainee Lee Unha was the one who choreographed and produced the performance. Is that correct?”

 

“Yes! Unha made it all!”

 

No. 123 suddenly answered at the top of his lungs.

 

‘Thanks… for hyping me up….’

 

“It seems you’ve gained a lot of trust from your teammates in that short time.”

 

“It’s because the hyungs and my friends listen to me… I don’t think I really did much! But we all worked really hard! Of course, the ending was a little unfortunate, but I don’t have any regrets. I’m just heartbroken because hyung seems to be blaming himself so much…. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t his mistake alone….”

 

“Ugh….”

 

“It was a mistake that happened because our signals didn’t match….”

 

“Wait. Benok seems to be saying only good things because he liked the stage so much… but there are also a few things that need to be said honestly. Let me add a few words.”

 

“Ah… Noona.”

 

“What? Am I wrong?”

 

“No. You’re right. Well… I can’t just say good things all the time.”

 

“Like Hyungchul—no, Benok said—the performance was really good. I liked how you captured the concept and the team’s characteristics, and I liked how you removed all the choreo that seemed too difficult.”

 

“…….”

 

“It also felt like each member had their own individual highlight…. The choreography itself was rough, but the composition was good enough that I’d believe a professional had put it together. You deserve praise. In fact, it’s only right to praise you.”

 

“…….”

 

“If I were your age and told to form a team and do this in five hours, I don’t think I could have put on a performance this complete.”

 

Why is she over-praising us like that?

 

It was coming from someone who had gone to Japan at seventeen and conquered the Oricon charts as part of a three-member idol group. She swept Asia before K-POP was even a known term; basically a pioneer.

 

‘I guess she wants to be cold and objective.’

 

I didn’t see any malice. Maybe she was just saying what she truly felt needed to be said.

 

“But remember: everything you worked for could have vanished in an instant because of that one mistake you just made. Right now, it’s fine. There are no fans here… and strictly speaking, it’s too cruel to judge you by professional standards.”

 

“…….”

 

“But you must remember. You are here to become professionals, and some of you will actually debut in a few months.”

 

“…….”

 

“Imagine that stage was a concert. Imagine an accident like that happening in front of tens of thousands—no, hundreds of thousands—of fans who gathered to see you. It wouldn’t end as just a simple accident.”

 

“…….”

 

“It’s a relief Mr. Unha wasn’t seriously hurt… but to be perfectly honest, it wouldn’t have been strange if you were eliminated right then and there.”

 

She was right. No matter how much we tried, we couldn’t wrap that mistake up as if it were nothing. Especially for someone like her who had worked during the wild era of the industry, it was surely hard to let this slide.

 

‘Still, judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like they’re going to eliminate us.’

 

No. 141 seemed to be the only one who didn’t know what everyone else knew. Seeing him pour out tears like a faucet was truly pitiful.

 

“The t-team… sob… did nothing wrong… it wasn’t Unha’s mistake, it was mine… sob… if someone has to be eliminated….”

 

‘He’s making a legendary scene. A legend. He’s determined to take all the screen time for himself, isn’t he?’

 

Naturally, I couldn’t let him have it all.

 

I immediately loaded up my tear ducts. It was only right to let them flow like a waterfall.

 

‘I’m the one who got hurt, so I can’t let No. 141 take all the screen time.’

 

“N-no… it wasn’t hyung’s fault, sob.”

 

“Un… Unha.”

 

“Sob. Hi-hic… ugh… hic… waaah….”

 

I’m going to use the Succubus Eyes too. I’m going to hiccup too. F*ck.

 

If I bled for this, I had to get some benefit out of it. There was no need to look at the camera; it was certain they were all filming this.