Chapter 603
Chapter 603
“Then, the opening game is… Unison Quiz!”
“Ugh.”
This agency-wide variety show followed a very typical MT structure at first.
Teams created their own slogans and simple gesture choreographies, answered quizzes, and received rewards or punishments. It was designed to strengthen team identity and a sense of belonging, which was still a bit awkward for some.
…Of course, there were teams that didn't need that from the start.
“I really think our Sunflower team is going to win now!”
“That’s the spirit, Chae-yul! Everyone, we did a good job picking yellow, right?”
“Yes!”
“It feels like our team has become one heart!”
Yeah. You guys were like that even before we started this.
I looked around at the faces of my team. They were all smiles even though we were in last place.
It was that 'Happy Fools' team that always seems to exist in these kinds of games.
Me… a fool?
“Moon-dae senior, you think so too, right!”
“Yes. I’m very happy.”
Might as well give them a double thumbs-up.
“Pfft.”
Seeing the state I was in, that jerk Keun Sejin, who was standing over there wearing a blue sash, started cracking up.
Don’t laugh.
Look at your own team.
“Um, although we’re all from different groups, I’ll do my best for the Blue team’s victory today.”
Cheong-ryeo smiled and struck a neat 'fighting' pose. Immediately, an enthusiastic response poured out as if they had been waiting for it.
“I respect you, senior!”
“This is what you call telepathy~ Blue-Bae team, fighting!”
“…….”
Those guys… lies just flow out of them every time they open their mouths.
After watching the Blue team smiling warmly while asking their leader, Bae Se-jin, for a word, I looked back at my own team, who were just grinning.
“Hehe!”
“…….”
Isn't the balance totally broken?
For the record, those Blue team guys came in second in this opening game.
They were matching answers tenaciously, but whenever they saw an opening for a 'variety show moment,' they couldn't resist and would intentionally get it wrong.
Thanks to that, the Green team was smoothly taking first place, but…….
“Haha.”
I just smiled and watched Cheong-ryeo, who was quietly stepping back behind his teammates.
‘It’s not even funny.’
You’re boring.
In particular, Cheong-ryeo, who was quietly taking care of others or yielding while smiling faintly, looked like he had absolutely zero ambition for variety shows.
He wasn't even creating any footage worth editing.
‘Hmm.’
Why is he making that choice?
However, without much time to investigate, the first main game began immediately.
“The next game is… Superpower Tag!”
“Literally, it’s a game of chasing and being chased using superpowers! We’ll take turns attacking and defending.”
Superpower Tag, which seemed to be taken from a certain mobile battle game, had a moderately embarrassing yet fun structure.
When the person with the ability shouted a slogan and gave a signal, everyone else had to implicitly pretend to be affected by that ability.
That’s right. Only the shameless could survive this.
“I am… the <Flying Puppy>!”
“Moon-dae, point your hands toward the sky!”
…Like this.
As I thrust my hands toward the empty air, all sorts of guys started looking at the sky and putting on Hollywood-level performances following my gesture.
“Ohhhhh, a puppy is flying in the sky?”
“This sight is so amazing, I can’t move my body!”
“Hmm. This is a <Freeze> ability that doesn't distinguish between ally and foe.”
“I-I see…!”
……I did wonder if they really needed to go that far, though.
I watched the spectacle of those guys making a huge fuss while I stood there in silence for a moment, wearing a puppy headband.
-LOL look at his face ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Park Moon-dae was so shameless about doing puppy concepts before, but he’s crumbling here ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-I guess he didn't expect them to go this far ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Aww, Moon-deng-ie, were you flustered because people reacted so well? ㅜㅜ
Based on years of experience, I could roughly guess what kind of comments I’d be getting, but….
‘Anyway, we won thanks to that.’
I even froze the Red team’s last runner, Cha Yu-jin, with my superpower and barely managed to catch him.
“Oh~ <Sunflower> Yellow team wins!”
Cha Yu-jin grinned as he shook hands with me and whispered.
“If this were real tag, hyung, you would’ve lost to me.”
“I know. Yu-jin of the defeated Red team.”
“…….”
“Bui-bui-bui~”
With Ha Jin-tae’s jeering in the background, Cha Yu-jin looked at me with a shocked face before disappearing with pouting cheeks.
For the record, Ju-dan was standing next to Cha Yu-jin, making his pout even worse by analyzing the situation, saying, ‘The decisive cause of defeat was hesitating to use your superpower.’
“In this game, the most powerful thing isn't physical ability, but superpowers. If you assume you have a superpower, you shouldn't doubt it and should use it actively….”
Well, you should grow up strong too.
However, what I didn't expect was to witness an even more shocking sight during someone else's match.
“Now, next is… the match between <Safety First> Green team and <Blue-Bae> Blue team!”
This was where Cheong-ryeo took action.
He used his superpower boldly and without hesitation.
“Uh?”
“Wait a second.”
At a critical moment just before a teammate was caught, Cheong-ryeo ran in front of the attacking team.
Then, he suddenly pulled something out and held it out in front of their eyes, while using his other hand to coolly mimic the shape of a gun and aim.
Finally, the slogan!
“.”
The police badge Cheong-ryeo held glinted in the sunlight.
However.
“Eh?”
“You… don’t have to show us the badge.”
“Ah.”
“Oh boy, Cheong-ryeo.”
It was an unnecessary action!
“…Anyway, superpower use, safe!”
At the referee’s declaration, Ryu Cheong-woo of the Green team, who was forced to sit down for three seconds, laughed and let go of the Blue team’s Spacer member.
“Waaaa!”
“Cheong-ryeo! Good job!”
“Thank you. Ah, so it wasn't this….”
Cheong-ryeo lowered the police badge he was holding, looking slightly embarrassed. As if he had pulled it out reflexively because he was so focused, and was now feeling a bit shy about it.
“Hahaha!”
“Cheong-ryeo is cute~”
The T-Holic guys started spouting unbelievable nonsense.
That guy is someone who could do things far worse than that with a straight face, yet he’s acting so deceitful…….
“……!”
I see.
I realized it.
‘You messed up on purpose.’
This was that bastard’s aim.
Let’s think about it. Why do idols appearing on variety shows try to be funny?
‘For the buzz and the screen time.’
But what if they already have both?
Right now, this agency MT variety show had already secured buzz with its insane cast lineup. And the biggest pillar of that was VTIC.
The same went for screen time.
‘What kind of crazy production crew wouldn't give VTIC screen time?’
They would squeeze out footage even if there was none.
In that case, how that screen time is filled… is entirely up to VTIC.
And what Cheong-ryeo chose was…….
-The concept is strong, but he’s surprisingly a lovable klutz? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The kids are so gentle ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-I like that it’s 'no-jaem' (not funny)
-No-jaem-TIC is exactly what we want!!!
You guys handle the comedy.
We’re going to take the 'likable' image.
Since they were making a comeback with a strong concept this time, they were trying to melt the hearts of those who might be put off by dark songs, aiming for a vibe like 'They’re such hardworking young men~'.
“…….”
My eyebrow twitched.
Do you really think that kind of… cherry-picking act will actually work?
‘That’s a delusion.’
I’ll show you that in the end, the one who makes an impact takes it all.
“The next game is <Hide and Seek>!”
“Whew.”
After one round of Superpower Tag ended, Park Min-ha of the Green team sat down with a thud, wiping her forehead.
Then, a concerned question reached her.
“Are you alright? Some water….”
“I’m fine! Hahaha!”
Park Min-ha jumped up, barely catching her breath, and hurriedly reached out to grab the water herself.
Survival!
‘Let’s stay sharp!’
Although Kim Rae-bin’s attitude was strictly out of respect (?) for a teammate and junior, she did not let her guard down.
‘Anything can look plausible once it goes through editing.’
Even if the production crew didn't do it, the world was full of 'cyber wreckers.'
The hell of dating rumors… absolutely not.
That’s why she had even given several pieces of advice and gone through mock Q&A sessions with Yul-gi, who was naturally informal and sociable, but…….
“Su-a unnie!”
“Uwaaa, Yul-gi!”
…Before she knew it, Yul-gi was sticking close to her Malang Dalkom senior, naturally drawing all the attention in that direction.
It was a relief.
‘Whew.’
Park Min-ha, the practical leader of Mirinae, sat down with a long sigh of relief.
It was a great opportunity, but it was also just as dangerous, so she would survive by never letting her tension slip until the very end!
‘And I have to perform well, too!’
Park Min-ha stood up, her eyes sparkling.
Fortunately, the Green team’s performance was decent. Although they were eliminated just now, they had taken first place in the opening team match, and the team atmosphere was good.
It meant the atmosphere wasn't one where they couldn't join the conversation because they were intimidated by their seniors.
‘So, let’s secure my screen time properly.’
She just had to keep doing well like this!
“Now~ they say the next game is starting!”
“Yes!”
Hearing Lee Se-jin, who had somehow been recruited as an impromptu MC by T-Holic, shouting, she swallowed hard.
The game that followed was Hide and Seek.
A structure like a giant playground set up in the backyard.
It was a simple and cute setup where one person in a costume had to find all the members of the opposing team hidden throughout the set.
And this time, it was the Green team’s turn to hide.
‘G-Good.’
She felt like she could get some screen time just by having a good reaction when she was caught!
So, it was while Park Min-ha was quietly hiding next to a pile of boxes.
How much time had passed?
Tap, tap.
In the silence, someone tapped her shoulder.
‘Is it the production crew?’
Thinking she might not be showing up well on camera, she turned her head, and—
“Hello.”
“Hyaaaaak!”
There was an axe!
N-No, Park Moon-dae, wearing a tracksuit and holding an axe, was looking at her.
But he had pigtails!
“…?!”
As if noticing her gaze, Park Moon-dae touched his own hair and muttered.
“I ended up with such a scary prop… so my teammates suggested we neutralize it.”
“…….”
It’s cute… but it’s scarier!
‘How did he even get here without making a sound!’
There was even a wind-up key attached to Park Moon-dae’s back.
The game would end due to time-out if that key stopped, but she didn't know how he had managed to move so stealthily while wearing that… just as she thought that, Park Min-ha realized that Park Moon-dae was wearing fuzzy socks instead of shoes.
“…….”
This is what a person truly serious about the game looks like.
“Yap. Found you.”
“……Yes.”
Anyway, she was eliminated just like that.
Leaving behind a great reaction.
‘…Well, I’ll get some screen time…….’
Trudging back to the bench, she joined the group of people who had already been eliminated.
“Welcome!”
Please don’t welcome me….
After greeting Kim Rae-bin with a bow so deep her head almost hit the floor, Park Min-ha watched the rest of the game.
But…….
“……!”
“Only Cheong-woo hyung is left!”
Before she knew it, the game had become an individual match.
Park Min-ha tried her best to keep her narrowing eyes open as she observed the situation.
Surprisingly, Ryu Cheong-woo was stalling for time by observing Park Moon-dae in reverse and subtly moving locations.
It didn't look like he would be caught easily.
‘He’s… so calm.’
Park Min-ha felt it once again.
Come to think of it, Ryu Cheong-woo had been like that throughout this MT. He didn't back out of anything he was asked to do, and he was good at everything involving physical activity.
Is that the attitude of a leader?
‘I have to show that kind of image in the next game too…!’
Park Min-ha made a vow. But at that moment.
“…!!”
Park Moon-dae, who had finally discovered a trace of Ryu Cheong-woo’s movement, was approaching stealthily!
‘H-He’s been spotted!’
How much time was left?
She looked at the wind-up key on Park Moon-dae’s back. It was still spinning well.
And Ryu Cheong-woo had a peaceful face, as if he still hadn't noticed.
‘No!’
Finally, the moment came.
Park Moon-dae slipped behind Ryu Cheong-woo, reached out, and shouted.
“Found…….”
At that moment.
Without even looking back, Ryu Cheong-woo slid down beneath Park Moon-dae’s axe.
So that Park Moon-dae wouldn't move recklessly for fear of hurting him.
“…!”
Then, with incredible speed, he moved behind Park Moon-dae and tapped his back.
To be precise, he grabbed the wind-up key on Park Moon-dae’s back and turned it in the forward direction.
“Ah.”
That’s right.
Ryu Cheong-woo, who had manually stopped the key, said with a grin.
“If the key stops, it ends as a time-out…… right?”
“…!!”
It was reverse thinking.
“Wooooo!”
“That was amazing!”
As people poured out, Lee Se-jin watched the signal from the production crew and shouted brightly.
“Ah~ The unstoppable Green team! They take the overall first place!”
“Ooh!”
Park Moon-dae, with his pigtails, gave a solemn round of applause.
And seeing the Yellow team members around him saying things like ‘It’s okay!’, ‘Moon-dae, you did really well!’ while comforting him….
‘Wait, i-is this okay?’
Park Min-ha suddenly snapped to her senses.
This… it’s not about me winning!
‘In the end, the TeSTAR seniors took all the cuts!’
It ended as a legendary showdown between Park Moon-dae and Ryu Cheong-woo.
If that was the case, it would have been more helpful for our group if Yul-gi unnie had a chance to perform in the finals instead of me…….
“Could the Green team really keep winning like this? Our Blue team needs to step up too~”
“…….”
“Don’t forget the food truck prize for first place!”
Still, first place is good!
Park Min-ha decided to just enjoy it for now!
A few hours later.
Finally, the first day of the MT filming drew to a close.
“Does TeSTAR eat stuff like this every day?”
“I’m jealous.”
“As expected, the most important position in a team is the cook.”
I easily won the <Dinner Cooking King Challenge> and distributed well-boiled bossam and handmade kalguksu to my teammates.
The production crew didn't particularly stop us from sharing food with other teams, and thanks to that, the first day of the MT was wrapping up in an even warmer and more comfortable atmosphere.
‘They know how to pace things.’
And now, it was late at night.
During this period when filming was briefly paused for camera data replacement and maintenance, people were scattered about, having quiet conversations.
‘They were playing so excitedly as if their lives depended on it just a moment ago.’
A night where the bright boisterousness from earlier had vanished like a lie.
I was no exception.
“Moon-dae, here you are!”
I’ll stand corrected. There’s someone who’s exactly the same as before.
I looked at Jin Chae-yul, who sat down next to me with a smile.
I wonder what he’s going to say.