Chapter 535
Chapter 535
TeSTAR’s waiting room after the interim evaluation.
“They were good.”
This was the short review from the members who had just watched Iter’s interim evaluation stage.
Half of them had faces that said, ‘We need to work even harder!’
As for the rest, who instinctively realized how the situation was unfolding… their expressions were closer to ‘We’ve been played.’
“Is this going to air before the final stage recording? Based on the date, it should, right?”
“Yeah. At the very least, the pre-release video will probably come out before the final stage.”
“…Sigh.”
In short, it would be difficult to flip the production team’s editing direction by trying to restructure things for the final stage.
Because there would already be a video released beforehand that focused solely on this interim stage.
‘If I were the production team, I wouldn’t miss this setup for the world.’
A rising group that appeared amidst controversy, prepared desperately to squeeze through the eye of a needle, and finally saw their potential explode on stage.
And then there was the top-tier senior group, their opponent in that very controversy.
Our role in this would be something like this:
—Whoa, how did TeSTAR react?
If we didn’t come across as magnanimous here, we’d look pathetic in an instant. Especially when the audience’s empathy was already being funneled toward Iter.
TeSTAR had been pushed out of the narrative. Fuck.
‘Well, at least it’ll be exciting for the viewers.’
Unless the production team were idiots, the moment the interim evaluation turned out like this, the narrative of ‘Iter overcoming adversity to achieve great results’ was as good as confirmed.
It was only natural, given how the footage looked.
Keun Se-jin let out a long sigh instead of arguing. Unlike his usual self, there wasn't even a bitter smile.
I felt the same.
‘This feels shittier than I expected.’
Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere, Kim Rae-bin cautiously raised his hand.
“…? Excuse me, do you perhaps think the stage we prepared this time is lacking compared to Iter’s?”
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a wry smile at the kid, who looked ready to blurt out ‘But we were better’ as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“No, I don’t think so.”
Objectively speaking, TeSTAR had performed better in the interim evaluation.
Kim Rae-bin nodded vigorously.
“I thought so! I was worried I might have missed something.”
He probably wanted to ask why the atmosphere was so weird then.
I gave him the answer in advance.
“It’s because being good is expected of us.”
“Pardon…?”
“It means that even if we do well, people won’t be shaken or surprised anymore. There’s a level of expectation we’ve built up over time.”
“…….”
This wasn't simply a matter of TeSTAR being outdone on stage by a rookie.
It was a matter of freshness.
And….
‘The problem is I can already see how far their agency is going to milk this.’
They’d probably be thrilled, spouting some bullshit about turning a crisis into an opportunity while blasting out viral marketing.
—The participating team getting a great reaction in True Competition today (Spoilers)
—Update on Iter, who everyone thought was going to hell
—A rookie group that’s more practice-obsessed than imagined
—Wait, what? Iter is actually good?
I could see it already.
Meanwhile, since the Iter members themselves were just working hard, it would look bad for us to try and find a weakness to ruin them in the court of public opinion.
It could easily backfire.
‘People are uncannily sharp about noticing that kind of thing.’
The moment the ridicule caused by Wonder Hall’s self-destruction vanished, the ‘unexpected discovery’ that the Iter members were just gritty, down-to-earth guys would surely become the dominant narrative.
To go against that flow, we needed something bigger.
‘This is becoming a headache.’
“M-Moon-dae, do you have a headache…?”
“…I’m fine.”
I took my hand away from my temple.
…I had a feeling things were going to get complicated in many ways.
And the situation began to unfold exactly as expected.
A few days later.
[<True Competition> What is happening? An interim evaluation full of twists upon twists | Pre-release]
As soon as the pre-release video came out, even the people who had reacted like this just from the title:
—Is Iter finally failing? But if it’s a twist, don’t tell me they’re pushing them?
—I knew this would happen since the broadcast station is close with Wonder Hall, ffs
—They’re writing a narrative for them lol ugh
Changed their tune after watching the video:
—They’re actually good?
—They’re better than I thought.
—Seeing them strain their eyes to keep from crying makes me feel for them…
Iter’s desperate attitude felt too authentic to be dismissed as mere editing.
‘And they actually delivered results.’
I could feel the public opinion shifting.
I felt like I could hear the production team cheering from afar about their successful clickbait.
‘Sigh.’
It wasn't that no one was interested in our stage, but we were being outpaced in terms of buzz volume.
Since everyone assumed we’d be good, there was nothing to criticize, and thus, we lost out on interest.
I stared at my smartphone screen.
‘Can we flip this?’
Realistically, if we wanted to play it safe, we might have to let this round go and plan for the next one—while resigning ourselves to the fact that we’d have to share the market share with these rookies who had timed their rise perfectly.
‘…Is what I would think if it were any other rookie.’
But I didn't want to.
Their agency had built up too much bad karma.
Furthermore, immediately after the video was released, Kim Rae-bin discovered one final, decisive piece of that karma.
And it was something created by the Iter members themselves, not their agency.
“It might just be my imagination, but the more I watch parts of Iter’s pre-released stage, the more I feel a sense of déjà vu in the composition and expression.”
“Déjà vu?”
“Yes.”
After pondering for a moment while looking at his laptop, Kim Rae-bin’s eyes widened as if he’d realized something.
“I’ve got it. I can see gestures the members usually use in Iter’s stage!”
“…!”
“For instance, in this scene where they raise their hands….”
We listened to Kim Rae-bin’s explanation as he skillfully jumped back and forth through the video using hotkeys.
And we were instantly convinced.
“It does… look similar….”
“OK. Literally I see.”
Expressions and gestures that the TeSTAR members did out of habit appeared at the perfect moments.
Of course, since the number of people and the song were different, and they had integrated them quite naturally, it wasn't something you’d notice was copied at first glance.
‘…They must have analyzed us thoroughly.’
I could tell they hadn't just mindlessly followed us; they had seriously contemplated why those moves were good.
But that was from the perspective of the ones doing the copying. From the perspective of the ones being copied….
“Th-This is going too far, isn’t it?!”
Exactly.
However, I calmly shook my head at Bae Se-jin’s flustered remark.
“We can’t really say anything just because their gestures or expressions are similar. It’s not like they’re copyrighted.”
If they couldn't pull it off naturally, it would stand out in a bad way and get caught immediately. Then they’d be bashed for ‘thinking they’re TeSTAR.’
But if they did it well, people would just let it slide, saying, ‘Do you own those gestures?’
“And besides, everyone practices with cover stages before their debut. Everyone starts by imitating the gestures and expressions of idols they like. You can’t practice without a reference.”
In short, it meant it was ‘ambiguous to criticize them for lacking professional ethics.’
“……So you’re saying this is also a ‘reference’?”
Bae Se-jin clenched his teeth.
“The fact that they’re only imitating us?”
“…….”
They probably didn't set out with the intention of only imitating TeSTAR.
They just didn't have time.
‘They wouldn't have had the time to research multiple teams.’
So, they likely focused on repeatedly watching the stages of the seniors they were most conscious of to try and take their strengths.
From Iter’s perspective, they probably thought they were just working hard, but from the perspective of a group that had been subjected to similar behavior several times now, it was only natural for members to be pissed off.
“This isn't the first or second time they’ve used us as a reference so one-sidedly. Shouldn't we at least… protest or something?”
“Hyung, that kind of thinking is useless.”
Keun Se-jin cut him off flatly. He pressed his brow and continued in a low voice.
“It’s a stage. If you pull it off well, it becomes yours.”
“…! How can you use such sophistry…….”
“No! The atmosphere isn't going to suddenly change just because you refuse to acknowledge it, Hyung.”
“…!”
“Look at the situation. Even if we say something, people will just think TeSTAR is being petty toward a rookie, so what’s the point…. Phew, I’m sorry.”
“…….”
The atmosphere was fantastic.
I pressed my eyes with both hands.
The even more maddening part was that the butterfly effect of this situation didn't end here.
Do you know what the bigger problem was?
‘TeSTAR is leaving this program after this stage.’
If Wonder Hall fanned the flames right, people would start saying things like, ‘Aren’t they leaving to avoid Iter?’ or ‘They’re leaving because it looks like they might lose.’
People will attach any meaning to timing!
—This is kind of a letdown. TeSTAR is playing it safe now.
—If you’re gonna play it safe, just say so. Don’t act all cool like you’re challenging a survival show and then leave after crunching the numbers. Seriously… ugh.
—They’ve lost their Idol Inc. roots. I guess the contract renewal was TeSTAR’s limit.
This would become an issue for the group’s image.
And it meant the Iter side, who had taken the underdog narrative, would enjoy the delightful double benefit of dealing a blow to TeSTAR.
‘They’ll think they’ve succeeded in their revenge.’
It was even more annoying because it was so obvious what the people at that agency would be thinking.
I suppressed a sigh.
Silence fell inside the car.
“…….”
“Let’s just focus on preparing for the final stage for now. We have a group shoot coming up soon, so let’s see how the atmosphere is then. How about it?”
“…Alright.”
“Yeah….”
Keun Se-jin calmly coaxed the others.
However, his own complexion wasn't that great either.
The day of the True Competition recording arrived again.
“You guys did so, so well!”
“Thank you!”
Congratulations and words of encouragement echoed in Iter’s waiting room.
The atmosphere, which had been depressed for several days due to the controversy and organizational restructuring, was finally coming back to life.
For Iter, the fact that they had created this opportunity through their own grit and effort gave them a heart-wrenching sense of pride.
‘Is this what real achievement feels like?’
The leader nodded, thinking it was an experience that made him realize once again as an artist that the results of his stage were linked to the joys and sorrows of many people involved.
And he felt an even greater sense of responsibility.
“Our leader is all grown up. The company is working hard, truly trusting only in you.”
“Thank you!”
With those words of encouragement and a heavy sense of responsibility, Iter’s leader left the waiting room.
‘I should go greet the staff and other cast members in advance.’
Since he’d have to shake hands, he planned to wash his hands first.
So, when he naturally stepped into the restroom for staff and cast members.
‘Oh.’
There was already someone at the sink.
“Hello~”
“…Hello, sunbaenim.”
Iter’s leader bowed deeply.
TeSTAR’s Lee Se-jin, who was washing his hands at the sink, gave a small smile, nodded slightly, and shook the water off his hands.
He didn't show a hint of agitation even after meeting him.
‘…He’s still so composed.’
For some reason, a bit of irritation flared up.
Did he not feel any sense of crisis just because a rookie competitor did well on one stage in a variety show?
Because he was in a position where he could afford to be?
‘Then why did they leak that recording?’
While the leader was slightly intoxicated by his sense of grievance, a nonchalant and smooth voice came from above.
“Ah, the interim evaluation stage was really good~ The reaction was great too, congratulations.”
“Ah, thank you.”
And the leader couldn't help himself, offering the greeting he had been thinking about.
“Um, TeSTAR sunbaenims’ stage was also good. As always!”
There was a bit of a double meaning here.
It could be taken as meaning they were always good, or it could be taken as meaning there was no improvement.
If the listener had a devious mind and took it sarcastically, it would sound bad; if TeSTAR were truly kind people, they would take it as a compliment.
‘I think I said that well!’
Iter’s leader thought proudly. And….
Lee Se-jin gave a broad, genial grin.
“Is that so? Oh my, thank you~”
“……Yes!”
“Well then, let’s do our best for today’s shoot too!”
With that well-wish, Lee Se-jin left the restroom, and Iter’s leader finally admitted it.
‘I guess he’s a good person.’
But he didn't know why he felt a sense of disappointment while thinking that.
At the same time, in TeSTAR’s waiting room.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae. Just a second.”
Lee Se-jin tapped Park Moon-dae on the shoulder to get his attention.
“What.”
Despite the indifferent reply, Lee Se-jin knew he was listening.
“Do you remember what I said? About just… watching how things go this time.”
“I remember.”
And I knew why he had said it.
‘TeSTAR already has so much that we can’t put it all on the line as stakes.’
It was a lingeringly unpleasant situation.
However, even if we gave up a little here, it was safer and had a higher expected value to refrain from acting rashly.
Even if it felt a bit dirty.
TeSTAR was no longer at the seniority level where the public would view it as 'spirit' if they stripped off their rank and charged in to fight for a Rookie of the Year award.
There was a high risk of being seen as a bully.
‘Playing it safe is the wise thing to do here.’
Park Moon-dae guessed that Lee Se-jin had probably reached the same conclusion with a cold head.
But….
“I’m sorry, but I want to take that back. What I said.”
“…!”
“I don’t know. Usually, I’m the one in this team saying things like ‘let’s look at the long term and let it slide’….”
Keun Se-jin smiled, his eyes gleaming.
“But I don’t want to do that. Not this time.”
It was three days before the final stage.