Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 92

“Congratulations! Trainee Lee Unha!”

 

“…….”

 

“Now, we will reveal the results of the second round of voting for <Election Campaign>!”

 

1st Place – Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha

2nd Place – Trainee No. 111 Joo Wooyoung

3rd Place – Trainee No. 004 Jegal Hwi

4th Place – Trainee No. 012 Kim Haejun

5th Place – Trainee No. 027 Park Myungjin

6th Place – Trainee No. 056 Ha Yoon

7th Place – Trainee No. 123 Jung Taehee

 

“Congratulations, Unha.”

 

“Congrats!!”

 

“Thanks, Wooyoung hyung. Thanks, Suhyeon.”

 

“…….”

 

‘So that means I have to do this two more times?’

 

That was the very first thought that came to mind after facing the report card displayed largely on the monitor. As shown by the screen, Idol Classism had just finished its second official vote.

 

The rankings hadn’t changed much from what I’d seen during the ramen gathering that day, but…

 

I noticed the expressions of Unha’s friends—well, calling them ‘friends’ didn’t feel quite right….

 

‘Comrades?’

 

Anyway, I noticed the change in the faces of my social circle. My explosion at Kim Haejun’s house seemed to have had an effect.

 

While Baek Suhyeon and Kim Taeyeol, who hadn’t made it into the debut range yet, were unable to hide their anxiety to begin with, the change in the middle-ranked trainees—who could have been described as becoming complacent—was striking.

 

Surprisingly, the one who seemed to have been affected the most was Han Yohan, Number 45. Even from a distance, I could feel his frustration. I could see tears welling up in his large, deer-like eyes. Seeing that expression made me think there was no way he would look like that unless he’d genuinely felt something himself… and it made me wonder if Han Yohan had actually been hiding his true feelings all along.

 

‘Well, it’s only natural to be frustrated.’

 

He’d probably been protecting himself with thoughts like, ‘I was never going to make it anyway. I’ve already done well just getting this far.’ But he’d only now realized that wasn’t how he truly felt. Now that his shield was gone, perhaps he was finally able to fully accept his own emotions.

 

‘Is he… is he really that depressed?’

 

He looked so gloomy that even I felt awkward. Since he was short and had a face that reminded me of demi-humans like nymphs, it bothered me for some reason.

 

Just as I stood up, thinking I should go comfort him, I saw Number 141, Park Deokoh, who happened to be nearby, walk over to Han Yohan. After a process of patting him on the back and taking a selfie together, Han Yohan brightened up a bit and began to gather the surrounding trainees, creating a boisterous atmosphere as usual.

 

Naturally, Yohan wasn’t the only one looking depressed. Most of the trainees had their energy down. Even Park Deokoh himself, despite being the one comforting Han Yohan, couldn’t hide the bitterness on his own face, so what more needed to be said?

 

Still, this kind of change was a positive one. At the very least, it was better than the other trainees who chose to remain stagnant, satisfied with their current spots.

 

I glanced around and, sure enough, I saw some trainees with poor attitudes.

 

‘The fans and viewers will definitely see it.’

 

After all, those people knew us better than we knew ourselves.

 

‘How can they already be acting like that?’

 

It was bad for future voting and bad for themselves. Perhaps because even the members of our little group had noticed the growing complacency, I saw Number 98, Kim Taeyeol, starting to walk over somewhere. I tapped my lips with my finger to signal him not to speak with harsh words, and he nodded.

 

“Unha, I think you’re right.”

 

“Right?”

 

“Yeah. It doesn’t look very good.”

 

“The fans notice everything. Maybe it’ll look a little better during the finals since we’ll be performing live in front of them, but during the semifinal performance, it’ll definitely show.”

 

“You think so?”

 

“Yeah. This could end up being the turning point. At the very least, you guys need to make sure no one can criticize your attitude. And stop looking like dead fish too.”

 

“Dead fish eyes…?”

 

“I’m not insulting you, hyung. It’s just that you have sanpaku eyes, so it looks like that. Sometimes, lifeless eyes….”

 

“Okay, I get it, so stop nagging. Seriously. What are you, some kind of… whew… never mind.”

 

“But hyung.”

 

“Huh? What?”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“With what?”

 

“The current situation.”

 

“Do I look like I’d be okay?”

 

‘I guess not.’

 

“I’m only staying quiet because working hard is the only way. Of course I want to debut. It feels so close, yet so far. I want to debut even more desperately now. It’s not because of money or anything like that—I just want to leave behind proof that I accomplished something with my own life.”

 

“Where did ‘leave behind proof’ suddenly come from? Have you been reading books lately?”

 

“No. Stop getting sidetracked… Anyway, that’s just how I feel right now.”

 

“Mmm….”

 

“But what can I do? I just have to hope someone sees my effort and supports me. All I can do is keep practicing while looking up without wavering. To be honest, regardless of the result, I don’t want to have any regrets.”

 

“That’s a good mindset. Honestly, I never expected you to be thinking like that, hyung.”

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

“Well, it’s all thanks to you. If I hadn’t met you on that Dark Mage stage… just thinking about it makes me dizzy.”

 

“Hey, why are you giving me the credit? You were the one who tore up the stage.”

 

“Yeah. I did tear it up. Hah!”

 

“…….”

 

“So.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’m going to tear it up this time, too.”

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

“Please, do so.”

 

“Yeah. Just you wait.”

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

‘He’s really trying hard to look cool.’

 

Maybe because he’d spent his whole life trying to act effortlessly cool, No. 98 Kim Taeyeol had finally come down with a serious case of middle school syndrome. It was nice seeing such determination in his eyes, but his lines sounded like something straight out of a coming-of-age drama.

 

However…

 

‘He really looks like he’ll… tear it up, doesn’t he?’

 

Maybe it was because he was overflowing with confidence, but he genuinely looked capable of doing exactly that. It would’ve been an even cooler exit if he hadn’t deliberately ruffled the hair I’d spent so much time styling.

 

“Trainees, please don’t leave yet and gather back in your seats!”

 

‘Oh, seriously.’

 

“Trainees, please sit down. There will be additional filming and an announcement!”

 

‘Man, seriously!’

 

When I looked over at Kim Taeyeol, who had clearly envisioned making a dramatic exit while ruffling my hair, sure enough, he couldn’t hide his embarrassed expression. He even signaled ‘sorry’ with his hands, which looked quite annoying.

 

Of course, the staff had already come over to fix my hair again, but no matter how I looked at it, there was no way it was going to look as good as it had before.

 

In the meantime, sudden preparations for filming continued. Since they’d never fully dismantled the camera setup in the first place, I’d assumed it wouldn’t take long, but the set had become incredibly hectic.

 

‘The MC isn’t even here. So what now?’

 

It was right then that a giant monitor lit up brightly.

 

“Waaaaahhhhh!”

 

“Waaaaah! Waaaaahhh!!”

 

The trainees, who were now professional broadcasters, let out mechanical cheers. No, listening more closely, those weren’t forced reactions at all.

 

“What?!”

 

“Is this real?!”

 

“Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!”

 

[Kang Hyuk: Hello, trainees of Idol Classism. I am producer and composer Kang Hyuk.]

 

“Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!”

 

‘What? Is he someone famous?’

 

“Whoa!!!!”

 

No, my memory was fuzzy, but I was pretty sure I’d seen his face somewhere before. Since he introduced himself as a producer and composer, then maybe….

 

‘Ah. This guy… is a star composer, isn’t he?’

 

That was the natural conclusion. Why a famous composer had suddenly appeared here was obvious. All the trainees were probably thinking the same thing.

 

I could guarantee it….

 

‘A debut song… Is it a debut song mission?’

 

[Kang Hyuk: Idol Classism is already racing toward its final half! Many of you are probably wondering why I’m suddenly greeting you. Hahaha. As you may have already guessed, I’ll get straight to the point and introduce it to you.]

 

[Debut Song Mission]

 

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!”

 

“Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!”

 

The reaction was so loud I couldn’t hear what the composer was saying.

 

[Kang Hyuk: Well then, I will reveal it immediately—]

 

“Waaaaaa!!!”

 

“Waaaaaaaaahhh!!!”

 

[Kang Hyuk: Here is the first song. I present to you: Candy Star!]

 

Immediately after, the song began to play on the screen. Dancers dressed in black appeared and started performing, while a guide vocal—whoever had recorded it—played over the music. It was a song that went ‘Candy Star, Candy Star’ or something like that, but honestly, I barely heard any of it.

 

Rather than focusing on the song, I couldn’t understand why there were two songs prepared.

 

‘Wasn’t the semifinal song already decided? Could it… have all just been bait?’

 

It wouldn’t be strange if it were bait. Looking at it now, the blocking and composition of the dance were similar to what we had practiced beforehand; many movements showed similarities.

 

‘Are there two title tracks? No… this has to be the throwaway song, right? That’s what this is, isn’t it?’

 

[Kang Hyuk: And now for the second song of the double title! I’d like to introduce Hey HEY Hey!]

 

‘That ‘Candy Star’ thing just now… was also a title track? No… and what the hell is ‘Hey HEY Hey’?’

 

[Kang Hyuk: Hey HEY Hey features a cheerful rhythm….]

 

‘No… what… are you serious?’

 

[…incorporating a fresh feeling….]

 

‘Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?’

 

[You all will debut with these double title tracks….]

 

‘We’re seriously debuting with this?’

 

“…….”

 

‘They’re… they’re unbelievably awful, aren’t they? Who are the investors and producers behind this? Are they actually serious?’

 

[Kang Hyuk: Well then, trainees of Idol Classism, please show your full potential and run toward your dreams.]

 

‘Is this guy really a star composer?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Anyone can see he’s lost his touch, right?’

 

Hey HEY Hey, which was supposedly our debut song, was still playing on the monitor. Unable to believe this reality, I turned my head and saw Joo Wooyoung smiling and clapping.

 

‘Wooyoung hyung, now is not the time to be clapping. F*ck.’

 

“…….”

 

‘F*ck, read the room. It’s not time to clap.’

 

The reality that had struck so suddenly left me completely dumbfounded.