Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 86

Today was the day we headed out in the early dawn for the ranking ceremony filming, immediately following the airing of Episode 8 on Friday evening.

 

Faces that clearly shouted ‘I haven’t slept’ were everywhere. Episode 9, airing tonight, would probably include the ranking announcement ceremony and the mini-games they had filmed during the additional shoot last time.

 

Thinking about such trivial things helped calm my nerves. After all, I hadn’t been able to sleep either.

 

Truthfully, ever since last night when I was watching the voting trends;

Ever since I laid eyes on this set that looked excessively medieval;

Ever since we did the chaotic rehearsal;

Ever since I exchanged greetings with the staff, who were unusually kind today;

And ever since the filming began after a long wait, as I clutched my sleepy eyes—

For some reason, I had a feeling luck was on my side.

 

Yes, it might sound a little arrogant, but I already knew I was going to rank highly. After all, even during rehearsal I had been made to sit in a chair so enormous and majestic it looked like it belonged to a king, complete with all kinds of bizarre ornaments stuck onto it….

 

It would have been stranger not to suspect something.

 

However, I hadn’t expected that not only me, but everyone I had tagged on SNS, would receive high rankings. When all of the so-called ‘Lee Unha’s Picks’—a term that had now become a proper noun—survived within the top 20, I thought it might just be a coincidence.

 

Even when ‘Lee Unha’s Picks’ were being discussed seriously in online communities, I just laughed it off, thinking they were exaggerating. I knew my influence had some weight, but I didn’t think it was enough to actually dictate the course of the program.

 

“Next… I will announce 10th place! Trainee No. 66! Trainee Jeon Hocheol is 10th!”

 

But, the moment Jeon Hocheol, one half of the Elder Duo, landed in 10th place, I had no choice but to admit that my SNS was exerting massive influence.

 

Of course, the previous broadcast had played a huge role too, but there was no way this level of concentrated support was merely a coincidence. His partner in the Elder Duo, Trainee No. 17, had also secured 18th place.

 

‘Right, No. 66 Jeon Hocheol makes sense. Tenth is a little higher than expected, but he’d definitely received enough of a push to make the Top 20.’

 

But…. 

 

No. 17, Na Younghoon, hadn’t received that much of a push.

 

It felt a little unfair to say this, but honestly, Na Younghoon reaching 18th place was an astonishing achievement. It wasn’t that I was looking down on him. He was an incredibly skilled trainee with the kind of presence that only came from years of experience, and he was consistently hardworking and diligent. Who was I to underestimate him?

 

But Idol Classism wasn’t a program where the debut lineup was decided purely by talent, skill, or effort. Unfortunately, Na Younghoon was already considered rather old for debuting, and he hadn’t received much spotlight on the show.

 

That’s why his ranking of 18th was difficult to understand. Looking objectively at what had been shown of him on the broadcast, it was an exceptionally high placement. He was only properly featured in one episode. Though he gained attention and goodwill in that single episode….

 

Even then, he appeared to the viewers while being somewhat overshadowed by Jeon Hocheol, who shared the same position. And yet he’d still placed 18th. He had overtaken countless trainees who had shined brilliantly in the previous broadcast.

 

‘How many times did I tag him? About six times?’

 

We didn’t meet often because our schedules didn’t align, but I still met up with him occasionally to take photos or encourage people to vote for him…. 

 

Every single trainee I had openly pushed for on SNS had survived until now.

 

Wooyoung hyung.

 

Then Kim Haejun, whom I’d marked as a surefire member.

 

Jung Taehee and Baek Suhyeon.

 

Though the announcement was currently in the top 10, Trainees 45, 78, and 141 were also ranked within the top 20. No. 78 was 20th, No. 141 was 16th, and No. 45 was 12th.

 

Even 9th place was….

 

“Next, I will announce 9th place.”

 

“…….”

 

“It’s Trainee No. 98, Kim Taeyeol! Congratulations!”

 

It was Trainee No. 98, Kim Taeyeol… the guy who had the overwhelmingly worst first impression among the trainees here.

 

I didn’t even need to think about it anymore.

 

‘Kim Taeyeol is 9th?’

 

Kim Taeyeol himself was climbing onto the platform with a face of disbelief. Tears streamed endlessly down his face, his voice choked so badly he couldn’t properly say what he wanted, and he repeatedly said he couldn’t understand why he was standing there. He finished his speech and sat in his chair.

 

In the midst of that, his eyes were fixed covetously on the thrones meant for the top 7, a sight that felt very Kim Taeyeol-like.

 

‘No… he really did work hard. Especially during the Dark Mage performance—just like he said, he absolutely crushed it. Honestly, he kept doing well after that too… and he even stepped in to stop Kim Haejun and Jung Taehee from fighting. Y-Yeah… I guess he does deserve that ranking.’

 

Still, there was no denying that social media had played a role.

 

Various thoughts flashed through my mind. The voices in all the communities shouting that I should exercise restraint in encouraging votes or promoting specific people were about to become a reality.

 

It was an allowed action within Idol Classism, and it was a well-known fact that all trainees were doing the same thing, but the feelings of fans who had to watch their favorites get eliminated because of Lee Unha’s promotions were a different matter.

 

I’d practically made enemies from the very first day voting began.

 

‘No. Let’s not overthink it. No need to worry about that right now. I should focus on this situation. The important thing is that Wooyoung hyung, Kim Haejun, and Baek Suhyeon are in the top 8.’

 

While I was imagining all sorts of scenarios, the ranking announcement continued.

 

“Next, I will announce 8th place.”

 

“…….”

 

“It’s Trainee Baek Suhyeon.”

 

“…….”

 

Perhaps having hoped to land within the top 7 debut zone, Baek Suhyeon momentarily failed to control his expression before walking forward with a somewhat awkward look. However, he didn’t forget his fan service, offering his deepest gratitude to the fans who voted for him.

 

‘So Baek Suhyeon is 8th? Yeah, I thought that might happen. It’s actually for the better….’

 

It wouldn’t look good if everyone I’d promoted ended up crowding into the debut lineup. Being 8th gave him room to bounce back depending on his future performance… and being in that exact position now would be more advantageous for future voting.

 

The moment I nodded, the large number 7 appeared on the screen.

 

‘It would be good to have one more person around 7th.’

 

“As you can see, the Top 7 trainees earn the right to sit upon the thrones. So then, who will become the owner of the seventh throne? Yes! It’s Trainee No. 123, Jung Taehee.”

 

‘Nice.’

 

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! Unhaaaaa!!!”

 

Ever since Baek Suhyun had been announced in 8th place and he realized he had made it into the Top 7, Jung Taehee’s eyes had already been brimming with tears. Now he completely broke down, sobbing as he ran toward me.

 

Naturally, this wasn’t part of the rehearsed blocking. I was just as flustered, but I kept the cameras in mind and hugged him, offering words of encouragement.

 

“Unhaaaa… sob… waaaaah….”

 

“Congratulations, Taehee.”

 

“Mhm. Mhm. We… we have to debut together, okay?”

 

“Yeah. Let’s definitely debut together. You worked hard.”

 

I also let clear tears well up in my eyes. It was a calculated move, knowing the cameras were rolling and this would make for a good shot.

 

‘Nice. This worked out perfectly, didn’t it?’

 

I was still a bit self-conscious, but there were exactly four of my ‘Lee Unha Picks’ in the debut zone. If the other three who had made it were considered part of the same group that had campaigned together, then it put my mind somewhat at ease.

 

‘What were their names again?’

 

Two were from the Nobility class, and one was from the Commoner class. The only one I remembered clearly was the guy with the unusual name, Jegal Hwi.

 

‘Ah… I remember.’

 

The trainee who took 1st place in the Nobility class mission. He was the one who had messed with Joo Wooyoung during the Slave Auction, and he possessed the skills to back up his rank. At first I’d been a little unsure about him, but he definitely had plenty of qualities that could attract fans. Having uniquely long hair was one thing, and the fact that it suited him was another.

 

‘Wasn’t he a good dancer? Like, really good?’

 

He was a good singer too. Skill-wise, he was a flawless trainee. Naturally, he had produced many performances worthy of his skill. Even I, who had spent most of my time monitoring only my own stages, had found myself paying close attention to his performances..

 

As for the remaining Noble and Commoner trainees….

 

‘Are they trainees close to Jegal Hwi?’

 

I didn’t know for sure, but they probably were. Seeing the trainee called for 6th place exchange a brief greeting with Jegal Hwi before heading up made me feel they were a clique.

 

‘That’s a good sign, right?’

 

And the next one was….

 

“Next, I will announce 5th place.”

 

“…….”

 

“The trainee who will sit on the fifth throne is… Trainee No. 12, Kim Haejun! Congratulations!”

 

Kim Haejun.

 

If an Unha Pick really existed, he was the one I wanted to take with me the most….

 

“Congratulations! Trainee No. 12 Kim Haejun!”

 

“Thank you. Thank you.”

 

“Haejun hyung, congrats!”

 

“Yeah. Thanks, Unha.”

 

In this case, 5th place felt a bit disappointing. Kim Haejun was heading up to the platform, letting out a sigh of relief while clenching his fists and holding back tears, but….

 

‘Is he only 5th? Was he actually in danger?’

 

It was a little disappointing. No, very disappointing. Did the fight with Taehee really have that much of an impact?

 

‘There’s no way it didn’t… right?’

 

They had managed to reconcile, and it had been revealed that there were other factors behind the incident, but the scene itself had been so shocking that it must have affected the voting. Looking at it that way, 5th place wasn’t a low rank at all, but it still left a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

If that was the case, then 4th place would be…

 

‘It’ll be that trainee. Ah… if I’m not careful, even Taehee could be in danger too.’

 

“…….”

 

‘Wait….’

 

“…….”

 

‘But.’

 

“…….”

 

‘Does it actually matter who debuts?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Why… why am I being so anxious?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Right….’

 

It wasn’t like I’d been trying to make friends with everyone… I thought I only needed to debut with Joo Wooyoung and reach the top…. I thought as long as the debut members didn’t have any disqualifying flaws, it would be fine….

 

Then, all at once, a strange thought crossed my mind.

 

‘Am I actually growing fond of them?’

 

Maybe I really was. 

 

The way I was acting as if I actually cared about Jung Taehee, Kim Taeyeol, and the other trainees I had become close with and seen often….

 

It suddenly felt ridiculous.

 

‘No, there’s no way.’