Chapter 605
Chapter 605
A few days ago.
“The best way to get screen time is definitely the Random Play Dance.”
“Hmm.”
TeSTAR had gathered in a huddle to discuss their mindset for the upcoming company-wide MT shoot.
“How about we stay in the back and just match the moves moderately at first, then suddenly we all burst forward at the end and kill it? Bam! What do you think?”
“I think it would be cool if we just did well from start to finish, though.”
“Either way, we’ll need to know the choreographies well.”
Everyone nodded at Ryu Cheong-woo’s logical point.
Then, Cha Yu-jin spoke up brightly.
“But I don’t really know other people’s choreography!”
It was a declaration that he only listened to what he liked.
‘Yeah. I figured as much.’
Kim Rae-bin offered grave advice nonetheless.
“Start organizing them by year and learn them quickly from now on.”
Cha Yu-jin shrugged.
“I still know more than Kim Rae-bin!”
“…! The scope of the K-Pop I listen to is much wider than yours, so logically, I should know more—”
“I’m a better dancer!”
Haha.
By now, the members just watched Kim Rae-bin and Cha Yu-jin bicker with harmonious, indulgent smiles.
Park Moon-dae watched the scene peacefully for a while before finally stepping in when the two started saying things like, “Fine, let’s see who does better when we practice together.”
“Actually, I don’t think we need to practice together.”
“Pardon?”
Hearing Kim Rae-bin’s bewildered response, Park Moon-dae slowly looked around at all the members and spoke.
“To maximize the impact, it’s actually not great if we’re too perfectly synced.”
“…?”
“Scripted reality shows aren't fun, you know.”
“Ah!”
Several members nodded.
For a few years now, it had become standard practice to strictly coordinate sequences and formations even for content like Relay Dances.
‘The bar has been raised across the board.’
But that was just that—a standard.
It meant choosing a safe, average path rather than a standout, top-tier performance that says, ‘Even though they didn't plan it, these talented individuals just happened to click, creating a new kind of charm.’
The synergy created when the sheer volume of mastered practice and ingrained habits accidentally creates a perfect picture was always the best.
‘The problem is that since that doesn't happen overnight, people usually just prepare intensely to avoid taking risks.’
Furthermore, trying too hard to grab attention during a mini-game in a variety show ran the risk of being labeled as ‘trying too hard.’
“Naturalness is the key to things like this.”
“Hmm.”
The members were lost in thought for a moment but soon shrugged.
“Moon-dae has a point.”
“Yeah.”
Park Moon-dae’s insight into risk had been proven through years of experience.
“Then shall we each just prepare what we like on our own?”
Lee Se-jin, who had been watching quietly, added with a grin.
“It’d be even better if you referenced the blocking for the parts you think you’d take if you were actually in that song.”
“Ooh.”
“Goooood.”
The members grinned along.
Each preparing on their own.
Focusing on the choreographies they liked and wanted to do.
“And if we ‘accidentally’ sync up, we can even match the formation.”
“I see!”
Everyone chuckled and nodded at Park Moon-dae’s reliable suggestion.
‘Trusting in one another!’
With that in their hearts, the TeSTAR members had been diligently preparing individually in their spare time…
The problem was… they hadn't expected the teams to be split up like this!
“Alright, <Random Play Dance>! The team with the last survivor will receive points and a catering truck!”
“…….”
The TeSTAR members looked at each other, their pupils shaking!
In fact, since members from every group were distributed across all teams, it was hard to notice the humanitarian structure where someone would win a catering truck for their group regardless of who won.
“Who will bring the catering truck to their group and victory to their team?!”
“Oooooh!”
This was because the T-Holic members on each team were instigating the competitive spirit.
“We have to win no matter what! My team has a lot of dance members!”
“Just looking at the color, our team is the smartest. Guys, isn't this all a battle of reflexes?”
“Team Leader Bae Se-jin! Please give the orders to Blue-Bae!”
“Pardon? Well, that is…”
The atmosphere was burning with intensity for each team. The real-time comment reactions were also being swept up by T-Holic’s hype.
After looking back at his own Yellow Team, which was currently in last place, Park Moon-dae recalled the emergency TeSTAR meeting they had hurriedly held just before this game.
Since things had turned out like this, there was only one way.
— Let’s sincerely try to kill each other.
— …?!
It meant they should try to win with cutthroat intensity.
‘Let’s make sure at least one of us gets it.’
Let a TeSTAR member take the highlight reel!
“I used to be a lead dancer, you know? Just trust me, guys.”
Listening to T-Holic’s Ha Jin-tae encourage the Yellow Team, Park Moon-dae reaffirmed his resolve.
‘These guys won't be easy.’
This team was practically a gathering of centers. Jung Yul-gi, Kwon Hee-seung, Su-a…
And even VTIC’s center, Jin Chae-yul.
Centers were usually in dance positions.
And eye-catching ones at that.
‘Ha Jin-tae seems pretty good too.’
Park Moon-dae made a sharp deduction.
And then…
“<Sunflower> Yellow Team~ Captain Ha Jin-tae is out!”
“Ah.”
Like a lie, all of T-Holic, including Ha Jin-tae, were eliminated within five rounds.
The reason: ‘Doesn't know recent songs.’
…It was a strong impact in its own way.
‘Is that also a strategy?’
It was funny, at least.
“Alright, alright, let’s cheer them on.”
Now, T-Holic sat huddled across from them, watching their teammates with hawk-like eyes like directors, trying to catch the other teams’ mistakes while encouraging their own.
However.
“Then, who’s out…”
“…….”
“…….”
“No one.”
That was the case.
Let’s set aside TeSTAR members like Ryu Cheong-woo, who had an image of not being particularly interested in other groups or trends, yet were performing perfectly with nonchalance.
The problem was…
TeSTAR wasn't the only one who had focused on the Random Play Dance.
‘If Mirinae wants to stand out… right! What if we dance to a boy group song perfectly here?’
‘Ah, if we want to get our seniors’ names out there one more time, we have to have a final member left here!’
Everyone knew. They knew that <Random Play Dance> was the content that garnered the most views.
And these ambitious idol contestants had all practiced the expected songs while pretending they hadn't!
‘Is there not a single pair of dead eyes in the house?’
It was the venomous grit typical of those from survival shows!
Even Malang Dalkom hadn't been eliminated. They said it was thanks to watching so many ‘recent trending K-Pop’ videos for their reaction WeTube channel.
Eventually, T-Holic’s jaws dropped.
“…Do you guys do nothing but dance to K-Pop after you eat?”
“Hahaha.”
“It’s our job because we love it!”
The writers suppressed their laughter as they watched the real-time viewers being moved by those nonchalant words.
Of course, it was impossible for everyone to know every song.
Still, even if they didn't know it, they somehow followed along by mimicking the moves.
No one was half-assing it.
Thus, through ten rounds, only about a quarter of the participants had been eliminated!
At that moment, Park Moon-dae had another intuition!
‘Not getting eliminated is no longer the issue.’
That was just the preliminaries.
The real level now was how to pull off an impactful scene in the midst of this!
He focused on the flow.
<Random Play Dance> started with the contestants’ hit songs and gradually expanded the range.
It was a lineup designed to promote the agency’s prestige, saying, ‘This is the agency with this many hit songs!’
These were also choreographies that all the contestants had predicted and practiced.
And once the agency promotion repertoire slowly came to an end…
The latest hits, old hits, and songs with impressive choreography began to pour out in earnest.
These were songs that the viewers normally wouldn't see these idols cover because they had no particular connection to them!
The viewers were filled with even more anticipation, staring intensely at the screen in excitement.
And from this point on, eliminations began to happen in earnest…
The first TeSTAR member to be eliminated was this person.
However, he didn't go down easily.
[Show me up]
A heavy electronic beat.
As soon as the dance challenge song trending on Western TickTackTok started playing, he instantly burst forward to the center alone.
“…!!”
Then, like a beast, he intensely recreated those hip-hop moves in his own style.
“I don’t know the rest!”
And when a song he didn't know came up in the next round, instead of faking it in the back, he voluntarily eliminated himself without regret.
It was a very impressive cut.
“Goodbye!”
A true highlight!
‘Excellent.’
Park Moon-dae inwardly gave him a high score. Cha Yu-jin had grabbed the spotlight at the perfect moment.
‘I need to do that too.’
He waited for his chance.
The opportunity came before long.
[Now I’m curious about the seat next to me
Whose heart is your heartbeat
Beating for right now]
“…!!”
A sweet, co-ed vocal.
It was a song by the rookie co-ed group, HaloHe-im, which had garnered massive attention through a dating reality show!
At that moment.
Park Moon-dae, who wasn't even a dance member, suddenly lunged forward to the center.
But he wasn't alone.
One contestant who had drawn admiration from the production crew and T-Holic since the first round.
He also lunged forward at the same time.
The ace who had swept up the center screen time even among these prominent idol members.
It was…
“Sejin, let’s go!”
TeSTAR’s choreography leader, Lee Se-jin.
Receiving cheers from T-Holic’s Yoon, who was on the same Blue Team and had already been eliminated, he came forward with a smile.
Then he spun around with his arms outstretched.
[This trembling is still only in my heart
I can act nonchalant]
“…!”
He scanned Park Moon-dae’s part and immediately matched his dance.
It looked as if they had practiced by dividing the parts, but that wasn't it.
The male and female parts were randomly mixed!
In fact, seeing Park Moon-dae, who had learned only the parts he could pull off well among the male and female parts, Lee Se-jin had adjusted his own parts on the fly to match him.
He was checking and adjusting in real-time, in an instant.
Thanks to that, the quality became as high as a real cover dance.
And for the point choreography, one person sat while the other stood, forming the shape of Cupid’s arrow toward the camera!
People screamed at the sight of them pulling off a pair dance, even matching the formation.
“Waaaaah! A truly neck-and-neck battle! Wow!”
‘It worked.’
Park Moon-dae was satisfied as he saw T-Holic’s reaction and the expressions of the production crew the moment the song ended.
Even Mirinae’s Sung Ha-rin, seeing them, had caught on and grabbed Park Min-ha to do a pair dance, so from the middle of the song, others had also paired up and danced.
They had successfully set the mood from the center.
“Wow, seriously… why am I so excited?”
After intentionally glaring at Big Se-jin and returning to his spot, Park Moon-dae grinned.
‘Now, if I get eliminated when I don’t know a song, the image of this cut will remain more vivid.’
He had secured his screen time.
If he lingered and forced himself to survive, the previous impact would fade. Without a doubt, Cha Yu-jin’s instinctive choice to eliminate himself without regret was the right one.
‘Let’s time this well.’
But the moment the song after the next one started playing.
He had no choice but to burst out again.
‘I have to go for this one.’
[Ah, me too! I like you too~]
Because it was Malang Dalkom’s legendary masterpiece!
“Waaaaah!”
“Fighting!”
Listening to the laughter-filled cheers of the eliminated Malang Dalkom members, he prepared for the opening with the skill of a veteran instructor.
This was a stage set up specifically for him to take.
However.
In the chorus, Cheong-ryeo came out with a smile, and after glancing at Park Moon-dae, didn't he start moving in sync?
But his direction was different from Moon-dae’s.
“…!”
[POP! POP!
You’re my Popcorn~ (Oh Yeah!)
You control my heart
CON CON CON CON
Control~]
It was a mirror version!
It was a perfectly symmetrical dance.
‘This crazy guy.’
He even showed consideration by giving Park Moon-dae all the center parts when the mirror choreography didn't look good, while he strictly stuck to the side parts!
Laughter and admiration erupted in confusion at that incredible skill.
Unlike the pair dance earlier, this was truly closer to supporting the opposing team!
Furthermore, the interview Cheong-ryeo gave with a calm smile after the song ended.
“It’s our seniors’ song, after all. I practiced it once for a monthly evaluation in the past.”
“You remember that?!”
His composure made it even more impressive.
And from then on, Cheong-ryeo naturally began to come forward more, toward the center.
People who had unconsciously begun to focus on him watched his movements and realized.
Every single move was perfect!
As if it were his own mastered choreography.
Park Moon-dae realized at that moment.
‘He was aiming for this.’
The quiet and exemplary appearance Cheong-ryeo had shown in the MT shoot until just now.
That was to emphasize the impact of this scene.
In this Random Play Dance, he was creating a character by showing perfect choreography with a look that bordered on ‘clear-eyed madness’ despite having the same attitude.
The ‘but he’s superhumanly good at his main job’ vibe.
He could already see the captions.
The gap between those two sides would be very clear, maximizing the charm of his character and skill.
‘Ah, dammit.’
While inwardly clicking his tongue, Park Moon-dae still felt it was a manageable situation.
TeSTAR also had a crazy K-Pop choreography vending machine.
‘If I just leave it to Lee Se-jin to go toe-to-toe with him…’
“…….”
Wait a minute.
He realized.
The color of the ribbons Lee Se-jin and Cheong-ryeo were wearing was the same blue.
That snapped him back to his senses.
‘…I can’t get eliminated!’
If only those two were left, a competitive narrative wouldn't be formed. Because they were on the same team!
And in terms of editing, the narrative of Cheong-ryeo, who had come in as a latecomer, was bound to look more attractive.
It meant that guy could just snatch away the main narrative of the Blue Team’s victory.
Lee Se-jin needed a stage where he could shine more.
‘But… it’s awkward for any of our other members to match the dynamic.’
Seon A-hyun, the remaining TeSTAR dance line member, didn't know K-Pop songs well to begin with, and his survival so far was half-thanks to copying others.
It meant the chances of him having an opportunity to confidently burst forward to the very center were uncertain.
Then he wouldn't be able to properly keep Cheong-ryeo in check… Ultimately, considering various scenarios, another backup was essential.
‘…I have to stay and be the point of comparison for those guys?’
After a moment of thought, he quickly exchanged glances with Lee Se-jin.
And he made up his mind.
‘Let’s go.’
He had to keep Cheong-ryeo in check somehow and split the team competition!
……And here, there was also a contestant watching all of this from behind with a mysterious expression.
‘…Is it okay for me to stay like this?’
It was Bae Se-jin.
And to answer the questions in the real-time comments from those who had noticed…
“Everyone was dancing so openly, so I just followed along…”
It was thanks to the crazy passion of his teammates.
He only had to follow the parade of instantaneous choreographies by the trio of Cheong-ryeo, Lee Se-jin, and Sung Ha-rin, which were like acrobatic feats!
And since Bae Se-jin’s goal wasn't to dance well or stand out, but simply not to be a burden to the group, he hadn't come forward.
In this arena where people who couldn't dance with quality were voluntarily leaving due to the overheated atmosphere, he was the only remaining copy machine.
Bae Se-jin had suddenly survived in stealth mode!
“Ah~ the messages of support are pouring in!”
“…!?”
In the meantime, the Random Dance began to surge toward its climax.