Impossible to Make Sense of It
It was baffling, truly baffling.
“What on earth is this…!”
And then, in the announcement for third place, the team that included Ha On-ha and Woo Cheong was named.
Two teams everyone had assumed would be fighting for first or second place ended up side by side in third and fourth, and the audience was immediately thrown into an uproar.
Something’s off here…
The law student looked around in confusion. A strange tension hung over the auditorium.
Did they just vote each other down…?
The fans of the upper-ranked contestants—Ha On-ha, Woo Cheong, and the individual fans of Gal Neoul, Baek Yuri, and Lee Gal-chae—had all hurried to cast negative votes on the rival team they expected to be fighting for first place.
Because of the fierce war of nerves between the top teams’ fans, both of the teams that had clearly performed well had been dragged down in rank. At least not every fan in the room had joined the sabotage, so the teams had apparently been spared from falling any further and settled, albeit barely, into third and fourth.
That left first place to the team made up of Baek Gi-yeom, Ko Un-gu, Daiki, and the other four members. They looked dazed, as if they hadn’t seen the result coming at all, but soon they broke into smiles and grabbed one another in celebration.
“Waaah…!”
The middle schooler cheering for Baek Gi-yeom was pure-hearted enough to be delighted by the result without understanding a thing.
In eighth place, the team had managed to score a total of below zero. They had performed the same song as Neoul’s team, yet somehow made almost no impression at all. Shocked by the outcome, they stood there speechless for a long moment.
But then.
[This is not the end!]
Even though the results of the second round were already in, Jeong On-do’s words did not stop there.
[The final ranking for this round will be determined by combining 50% on-site votes and 50% online votes! After episodes 5 and 6 air, please cast your online votes on the homepage and choose the team that showed the best stage and the team that showed the most disappointing stage!]
What? They were going to hold an online vote?
[The voting results will be revealed at the next ranking announcement! Of the eight teams, the bottom three will unfortunately all be eliminated at the next ranking announcement.]
This is insane!
[However! Among the bottom three teams facing elimination, the two individuals with the highest personal vote rankings will be given a chance to survive through a revival battle!]
Jeong On-do went on and on, but after the words “all eliminated,” nothing else reached her ears.
Neoul’s team was currently in fourth place.
If, in the online vote, fans of the top contestants once again fought each other the way they had today and dumped a wave of negative votes on them…
His sense of crisis flared sharply. Cold sweat began to bead down his spine.
This could kill both sides.
It would just become a mutual suicide pact—Ha On-ha and Woo Cheong’s team, and Neoul, Baek Yuri, and Lee Gal-chae’s team, all dragging one another down.
Damn it…! They called this a healing survival show! What kind of insane lunatics put negative voting into healing?!
Of course, the words “healing” and “survival” had never really been able to coexist in the first place.
She cursed the FLu broadcast network and the production crew of Idol Travel a thousand different ways in her head.
The more she thought about it, the hotter her head got, until she had to take deep breaths just to cool herself down.
Phew…. This is bad.
Granted, most ordinary viewers would probably vote honestly for the teams that did well and the teams that didn’t. Unless the whole world had suddenly gone blind, the two teams were likely safe.
But ordinary viewers didn’t actually care all that much about voting. Plenty of people just watched for the entertainment and never bothered to cast a ballot.
Fans, on the other hand, mobilized family, friends, acquaintances, relatives, and even their ancestors, throwing themselves into the vote with solemn intensity.
Some fans even held events on social media and gave out prizes to people who proved they had voted.
If the fans of the upper-ranked contestants, who already had plenty of supporters, poured all that passion into voting negative against one another, what sort of catastrophe would follow?
Divide and die; unite and live.
This was no time for top fans to be fighting each other. They needed to join forces.
The law student stepped out of the building with a grave expression, the look of a general marching onto a battlefield, already thinking about what she needed to do the moment she got home.
Still, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Team “Artist” in fourth place. They had really done well, and yet it was a shame, and somehow even apologetic, that they hadn’t been given a ranking worthy of the stage they’d produced.
If only there hadn’t been negative votes…!
She had a mountain of work waiting for her at home, but as the adult, and as the teacher, she still made it a point to look after the middle schooler first.
“Should I call you a taxi? Want me to get one for you?”
“No, it’s okay. My boyfriend’s coming to pick me up. Oh, he’s calling now. Teacher, get home safely!”
The middle schooler bowed politely, answered the call, and then ran off somewhere.
The law student watched to make sure the child didn’t trip and fall, and saw her being swept into the arms of a man.
He was wearing a mask and tall, but the side profile that showed for a moment looked a lot like Baek Gi-yeom.
Huh? Baek Gi-yeom?!
The two of them quickly took each other’s hands and turned away.
She wondered if Baek Gi-yeom might be the middle schooler’s older brother or cousin, then immediately thought, no, there’s no way she’d be walking around hand in hand so happily with her own brother. Besides, just a moment ago she had clearly said boyfriend.
Maybe it was simply someone who looked like Baek Gi-yeom…?
Come to think of it, not long had passed since the announcement of the competition results. The contestants probably hadn’t even had time to change out of their clothes yet.
Ah. I must have seen wrong.
She shook off the pointless thought and got into a taxi.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After filming ended, Neoul was too lazy even to change clothes and simply flopped down on the floor in a corner.
The result is disappointing, but…
He could tell it clearly himself. The stage itself hadn’t been disappointing in the slightest.
Preparing for this performance had been brutally hard. He and his teammates had worked themselves so hard it felt as though their limbs had been torn off, put back together, and sewn into entirely new bodies.
And because of that, the result had been excellent.
We definitely did well…
So why hadn’t they received many votes?
To Neoul, who knew nothing about the power struggles and sabotage that happened among fans of top-ranked contestants, fourth place remained a mystery.
Would the same thing happen in the upcoming online vote? His mind began to churn.
The fact that they might not receive a bonus had him feeling anxious. Unlike last time, when all six winning teams from the one-on-one team match had received benefits, this time only the first-place team would take home the bonus.
Next time, maybe I should…
He thought they had done well. Had something still been lacking? Should they have pushed themselves even harder and done something more special?
Unable to understand the situation, he kept looking for the cause in the stage itself.
“……”
In his line of sight came the team members, all wearing blank expressions as they prepared to head home. None of them showed it on the outside, but he suspected they were thinking much the same thing he was.
Baek Yuri was speaking to the staff collecting microphones and to the other contestants with a smile so polished it looked painted on.
Thank you for your hard work. Thank you. You worked hard. You did well. Your stage was great. Take care going home. See you next time. Take care of your health.
He looked like a doll who smiled and said greetings the moment anyone’s eyes met his, even without pressing a button.
Only after most of the people had left did Baek Yuri finally breathe out, running a hand through his hair. A fleeting trace of regret crossed his eyes as he looked down at the watercolor paint on his clothes.
Yeo Do-bin, after glancing at the quiet teammates around him, suddenly spoke up.
“I-it was a, a good stage.”
“……?”
“No matter what the result is, I don’t regret it. I can say with confidence that I did my best….”
Yeo Do-bin rubbed at the oil pastel smeared on his cheek as he spoke.
“Even if the good result doesn’t show up right away… it was a stage I won’t be ashamed of when I look back on it in the future. So tonight, I’m going to eat dinner feeling proud, and then fall asleep happily.”
It seemed Yeo Do-bin didn’t want the team to end the day feeling gloomy.
Whether it was because his effort to instill positivity was admirable or because it was truly comforting, Baek Yuri gave a light laugh.
“That’s right.”
Lee Gal-chae quietly rolled his eyes, then nodded as well.
Park Da-han looked like he didn’t care one way or another since he was quitting anyway, but even so he clearly wasn’t happy with the result.
“Whatever. I’m leaving first~”
And with that, he sprang up and just walked out.
Still lying there, Neoul thought it over.
What Yeo Do-bin had said wasn’t wrong. But when debut depended on whether the result was good or bad, he couldn’t help worrying about exactly where things had gone wrong.
But worrying about it won’t solve anything.
For the sake of the next round, it would be better not to think too deeply and just let it go.
As Lee Gal-chae finished getting ready to go home and started to leave, he wandered around Neoul with a curious look.
“...Neoul hyung. Why are you lying around anywhere?”
“I am resting.”
“The floor is dirty and cold and hard. If you rest in a place like this, you’ll end up sick in no time. Go home and rest.”
Lee Gal-chae lectured him like a stern parent and then left.
“……?”
Neoul slowly hauled himself upright.
He did, after all, need to head out soon since Secretary Song had come to pick him up.
“Neoul, take care~”
“Yup! Neoul-hyung! See you at the next shoot!”
“Neoul-ss, take care.”
Hm? Who was that last one?
Ha On-ha and Woo Cheong passed by after greeting Neoul, and someone he didn’t really know also gave him a friendly hello as they went.
Neoul found it strangely moving, realizing how many humans he had come to greet and be greeted by.
Just then, a text notification chimed. It was from Baek Gi-yeom.
[We’re going to eat dakbaeksuk with Daiki. Need a Neoul to join us urgently.]
[Neoul]
[(Photo of donabe-style nurungji dakbaeksuk)]
[Un-gu says chicken isn’t as good for a kid, so he’s out. Cheongi says he’s going to a family gathering.]
Neoul looked around. Baek Gi-yeom had already left. Among the remaining teammates, Lee Gal-chae and Park Da-han had also slipped away. The only ones left were Yeo Do-bin and Baek Yuri.
Yeo Do-bin approached him hesitantly, clearly having something to say. He was trying hard to suppress the corners of his mouth from creeping upward, but for some reason he looked excited and deeply pleased with himself.
“Um, Neoul. I, I made a backing track…!”
“Oh, is it finished?”
“Not the final version…! I think I still need feedback, so I thought maybe it’d be good if I played it for you when we get home! Could I possibly stay at Representative Won’s place until the next recording…? Y-you said it was okay last time….”
“……? I said it was fine. Why are you asking again?”
“Still, it might be rude, so I thought I should ask permission again and then go if it’s all right….”
Neoul nodded, then asked, “Yeo Do-bin, do you like dakbaeksuk?”
“Huh? Well? I haven’t tried baeksuk yet…?”
“Good. Then let us all go eat it together.”
Neoul turned to Baek Yuri as well.
“Do all the Baeks always eat chicken?”
“Pardon?”
“Baek Gi-yeom said we should eat dakbaeksuk this time. For some reason, whenever I see you, it feels as though you are always eating chicken.”
“We do like it. It’s an excellent source of protein. Ah, nutrients for muscle…. Hmm….”
Baek Yuri realized Neoul might not understand the term and searched for a simpler explanation, then loosely summed it up.
“If you eat it, you get stronger.”
“Oh.”
With Baek Yuri coming too, Neoul packed up to go and called Won Hasin.
“Why? Secretary Song will be leaving soon.”
“I’m going to eat dakbaeksuk before I come home. Don’t hold Secretary Song hostage; please send him home for now.”
“Who said I was holding anyone? Is Secretary Song a hostage?”
Won Hasin sounded incredulous, then shouted,
“If it’s good, bring a serving back! You didn’t forget the card password for the phone I registered, did you?”
“Three-nine-zero….”
“Hey! Don’t say it! You crazy fish! Someone might hear you!”
“I remember it well.”
“Agh! Just eat and then take a taxi home safely, or don’t, whatever!”
“May Yeo Do-bin bring me home?”
“That’s up to you, why are you asking me? Do whatever you want!”
When he hung up, a message from Baek Gi-yeom had just arrived saying he was going to order ahead.
Baek Yuri gave them directions to the restaurant. It was close enough to walk to in no time.
But the three of them had barely taken a few steps before they had to stop.
“Gasp! It’s Gal Neoul!”
“Baek Yuri and Shark are here too!”
“He looks even better in person.”
It was a group of high school girls who had recognized them on the street.
They hadn’t shouted that loudly, but everyone nearby turned to stare at the three of them anyway.
“Please take a picture with us!”
“Wow! I voted for you!”
“You’re so handsome!”
As the girls began to fuss and pull out their smartphones, more and more people started to gather. If they delayed too long and too many people crowded in, it could obstruct the road.
“Let’s all take one together.”
Baek Yuri quickly got the girls, Neoul, and Yeo Do-bin into a single frame and took a photo. Then he nudged Neoul and Yeo Do-bin forward toward the open stretch of road.
“We’ve got somewhere to be. Thanks for voting! It’s dark, so all of you go home safely!”
“Eeeek! We’re rooting for you!”
“Fighting!”
Neoul felt unexpectedly pleased by the sudden show of support, and while he waved back at the people waving to him, he was ushered along by Yeo Do-bin and Baek Yuri.
Just then, from among the people gathering around—besides the girls—a voice suddenly rang out.
“Tonight’s stage was the best!”
It seemed to belong to one of the people who had come to watch the second round.
Neoul turned his head, trying to find the owner of the voice. But at that very moment, a large truck honked loudly and rumbled down the road between them, and he never got a clear look at the face.
“Mr. Neoul. Hurry up and go.”
“Yes.”
Neoul tucked away the sound of that voice, as if it had flown to him through the wind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Fortunately, by the time they reached the restaurant, they were out of the sight of the crowd.
“Yuri-hyung…! At the photo, you took it with your own phone…!”
“Pardon?”
At Yeo Do-bin’s words, Baek Yuri checked his smartphone and started in surprise.
He should have taken the photo with the high school girls’ phone, but the whole thing had been so rare and hectic that he had ended up taking it with his own and running off with it still in hand.
“Hahaha! That’s so dumb!”
Baek Yuri bent forward and burst out laughing. He even grabbed his stomach as he laughed. It was an embarrassed laugh, but somehow bright and delighted, as if the whole situation were absurdly pleasant and strangely welcome.
It was the brightest expression Neoul had ever seen on Baek Yuri’s face.
“Now it feels like something is really starting.”
Baek Yuri said something Neoul couldn’t quite understand, then carefully clutched the smartphone with the photo inside and went in.
Yeo Do-bin, his own face now lit with a smile as well, followed after him and tossed a joke over his shoulder at Neoul.
“Forget my name until now. From today on, my name is Shark…!”
“……?”
First he did something ridiculous all by himself and laughed his head off, and now he was changing his name on a whim.
Neoul shook his head.
Humans are truly impossible to make sense of.
And yet before long, a smile also formed at the corners of his mouth.
That’s what makes them interesting, I suppose.
The little bell on the glass door gave a cheerful jingle.
Inside the restaurant, the hour was late and the number of customers was small.
Neoul, who was always hungry no matter how much he ate, had three bowls of hot dakbaeksuk cooled down properly and devoured them all. The restaurant owner—a grandmother—stared wide-eyed as he ate three on his own.
It was a menu made with small chickens, so technically even one person per chicken was possible, but three was still a lot.
“My, my, what a hearty eater. Have you gone hungry for days?”
She said she was glad he ate so well and even brought out chicken porridge on the house. Yeo Do-bin and Daiki split one bowl, saying even that was a lot, but they filled up quickly and couldn’t eat much more.
Baek Yuri was searching for post-broadcast reaction online while waiting for Neoul to finish every last bite in his bowl. Then, on one large community site, he found posts with strange titles.
Baek Yuri hurriedly tapped the top post.