Chapter 131: A Small Catalyst (3)
131. A Small Catalyst (3)
So, it all started with that damn back.
Like roe tightly packed in soy-marinated crab, the sixth episode of Miro Maze was jam-packed with the third mission performances.
The Blue Flare team Hajin belonged to had been generating buzz since their formation.
ㅡ Hey guys, is this lineup for real?;;;
└ I dunno, holy shit I can't even breathe watching this
Though spoilers had already leaked, knowing something intellectually and seeing it with your own eyes felt entirely different.
Jung Si-woo, Kang Hajin, Lee Doha, Kim Won-ho, Lee Yu-geon, Joo Eun-chan.
Half of them were trainees who'd been embroiled in real-time controversies alongside Yu-geon, while the other half had subtly served as background to those very controversies!
[But I gotta say...]
This Blue Flare combination...
It's kinda good....
Guys, this feels legit
An average height of 180cm visuals with harnesses?
Are they insane?
ㅡ You? Me? LMAOOOOO their visuals are cracked
ㅡ Won-ho as a visual...? Hmm...are you a Won-ho stan lol
└ Ugh what's with this punk again
ㅡ Now I get why people said they tore up the stage
But with the controversies already resolved, there was no point rehashing old fights now. Most viewers quickly decided to simply enjoy this visually pleasing lineup with open hearts.
When the long-awaited "Truth Game with Collars" aired, this cheerful atmosphere continued.
ㅡ What the hell did Nam Da-woon teach these kids
ㅡ I want to go on a school trip with Kang...that guy. Forget romance or flings - he'd make sure we had insane fun for 2 nights 3 days
ㅡ Why do they keep adding rules LMAOOOOOO
ㅡ Since they keep calling them collars, now I see collars too. Technically they are collars but saying "collar" feels kinda weird now. Collar semantic satiation achieved
The final round mentioning Yu-geon's parents was tactfully edited out by production.
Following the neatly distilled Truth Game, Blue Flare's preparation process was compactly edited into fun narratives exactly as Hajin had intended.
Yu-geon becoming Doha's dance teacher, and Doha becoming Yu-geon's rap mentor.
Hajin and Si-woo's first meeting during their Mebo battle.
Even Eun-chan's official vocal debut, despite initially seeming like an awkward rap position.
Every trainee except Won-ho was introduced with their own dramatic arc.
Won-ho did get screen time showing his choreography struggles, but since interviews revealed he'd created it with Yu-geon and Hajin, he unfortunately didn't get much spotlight.
But that hardly mattered.
Because the stage was absolutely legendary!
@strongjin (Kang Daejang)
REST
Y'all saying the same thing
BUT WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME KANG HAJIN WOULD PERFORM WITH HIS BACK OUT LIKE THAT
I take it back ptooey ptooey
@strongjin (Kang Daejang)
REST
...
@dohajin_luv (Harang)
Wow Blue Flare team
All trending like crazy ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
But seriously Hajin's back<<
How is this even fair for first placeㅠ
(Screenshot of trending list)
The unconventional outfits were one thing, but they absolutely killed the performance.
As Hajin hit three high notes while wearing a sheer back-revealing top, dormant fan accounts slowly creaked open their coffins and raised their shutters.
And the climax was the post-performance talk.
ㅡ Holy shit Hajin's crying
ㅡ Haj...in...cry...ing
ㅡ Ah fuck Hajin don't cryㅠㅠㅠㅠ
ㅡ AAAAAAAH WE MUST DEBUT OUR PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It began with Hajin's subway story about being so moved by his first performance video that he became a subway storyteller.
Then came his interview about his trainee days at his former company, being cut from debut teams twice, and nearly giving up on his idol dream.
<Kang Hajin: Being able...to meet all of you like this today.>
<Kang Hajin: You can't imagine how grateful I am.>
<Kang Hajin ultimately breaking into tears>
When Hajin's sincere words dissolved into tears, people started screaming and tearing at their hair.
[Wait so that time Hajin cried in episode 2]
He kept missing debut teams by a hair's breadth and was about to give up his dream before barely mustering courage to join Miro
Only to immediately get demoted to Feather class in the first survival mission (he should've been Wings but got forcibly demoted due to adjustments) and was the only top 10 contestant placed in Team B...
Yet despite everything he didn't give up or mope, leading Team B to victory as captain...
Just thinking about it makes me tear up and my chest tight
I always thought he was some privileged talented guy who had it easy
But turns out that wasn't the case at all. What was Hajin even thinking through this survival show?
Hajin MUST debut. I swear to god.
Honestly if Hajin doesn't debut then who will?
ㅡ I wanna tear apart everyone who said "PD's pick" or "company's pick" or "he'll debut anyway" - just thinking how desperate this survival show was for Hajin makes me sobㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
ㅡ Honestly HJ needs to debut. No one else can be leader besides Hajin.
ㅡ Hajin stans, let's make sure he debuts please....ㅜ
...Though some slightly, very slightly inaccurate information did spread in the process.
Aside from those tears being crocodile tears purely for attention...
Since nothing was technically false, let's just move on.
Regardless, the shocking "Kang Hajin Tears Incident" mobilized his scattered fans with terrifying momentum.
Across communities and SNS, they united under the single goal of "Hajin's debut."
Faced with "my baby's tears," the usual trolls and controversies could be handled with well-timed silence and strategic PDFs.
The timing was impeccable too.
The original poster who had spread manipulated posts about Yu-geon and continued leaving hate comments had been caught.
[OMG 2Ukbbang's writer got arrested]
Turns out it was a fired Miro employee
News says no leniency, they'll make an example of them
ㅡ Who was Ukbbang again?
└ E U geon
ㅡ Miro's got zero tolerance for antis - they suffered enough during U.PIA era so they're pros at catching these guys
ㅡ Watching comments get deleted in real-time LMAOOOOO y'all look pathetic
ㅡ Hope they catch all the other trainees' antis too during this sweep...
As news broke about the lawsuit against the misinformation spreader, those hiding behind anonymity quickly scrubbed their traces.
With Hajin's baseless haters going quiet, normal appreciation posts and supportive messages finally started appearing.
And the result was now.
"The ninth survivor advancing to the next mission is...Trainee Kang Hajin!"
At the first elimination and fourth mission announcement.
Hajin barely survived as the ninth name called.
As he moved to the survivors' block, Hajin secretly sighed in relief.
'If I hadn't gained benefits from the third mission or gotten last-minute votes, I really might've been eliminated this time.'
Not eighth, but ninth.
This sobering realization sent chills down Hajin's spine.
After briefly sharing his thoughts and taking his seat, Hajin observed the survivors who'd been called before him.
'First place is Seo Tae-hyun as expected. Second place unsurprisingly goes to Jung Si-woo...'
Eun-chan took third with his strong core fandom.
Haru, consistently praised for his cute, sunny image, placed fifth.
Yuki likely got eighth from concentrated Japanese fan votes.
'Yu-geon and Doha rose at insane speeds.'
Having apparently solidified core fandoms since the second mission, Yu-geon and Doha - previously Feather class - now ranked fourth and sixth.
Both seemed utterly shocked, barely able to speak when Seo Tae-il asked for their thoughts.
'And seventh place...'
Hajin's gaze turned to the seventh-ranked trainee.
Won-ho, who didn't look happy at all despite making debut range.
'...He's been catching some flak lately.'
After the broadcast revealed Won-ho had been Wings class during the third mission, some viewers began voicing complaints.
With the lawsuit news preventing overt hate, criticisms against Won-ho became subtle yet pointed.
ㅡ I really like No.1 but...not sure about him debuting
ㅡ What exactly would No.1 do if he debuts? Outdanced by others, can't really sing, visuals are average...variety skills?
└ No.1's visuals aren't bad enough to get criticized anywhereㅇㅇ It's just...unfortunate he's surrounded by S-tier visuals ㅠ
└ No.1 stans say "who'll create choreography without him?" LMAO
└ Then become a choreographer dumbass why you trying to be a singer...didn't Hajin and Yu-geon co-create Blue Flare's choreo?
ㅡ Honestly overrated skill-wise. Even Sarin said something about his live vocals
ㅡ Wait Hajin was Feather class too, how was No.1 Wings....This isn't fairㅠ We're forming a real group here, not some 3-year projectㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠ
Won-ho likely maintained seventh place through anti-Yu-geon voters strategically supporting him, accumulated mission benefits, and his generally likable personality. But Hajin worried the criticism would intensify after this broadcast aired, watching Won-ho with concerned eyes.
'...Looking at him keeps reminding me of my past self.'
That same fear of recognizing one's limitations too soon.
Whenever Hajin saw that fearful look in Won-ho's eyes, it inexplicably upset him more.
'He could do so much better. ...And honestly, he's one of the guys I'd want to debut with.'
Sociable, positive, perceptive.
Most importantly, Won-ho worked seamlessly with Hajin. Having someone like him in the group would prevent Hajin from having to do and explain everything alone.
'I should speed up the Kim Won-ho Comrade Recruitment plan.'
Just as Seo Tae-hyun occasionally displayed "Very Depressed" status, recruiting Won-ho might reveal what's really going on in that head.
If he could offer more helpful comfort and encouragement to Won-ho... With this thought, Hajin refocused on the ongoing recording.
The tenth survivor was now giving his speech.
"I-I r-really, sniff, never expected this, hic. I-I, sniff, started at dead last here. hic, sob. To-to climb, climb this far, hic, is all thanks to, to Desty, sob, Desty members..."
'Oh boy.'
It was Park Jae-young, who'd begun at absolute bottom (originally 19th, became 18th after Yoon Tae-hee left, then automatically 17th when Han Seong-woo departed).
Jae-young had imprinted himself on viewers through his growth arc in <To You> and his endearing maknae chemistry with Haru and Eun-chan during the sports day.
Add the record-breaking praise for as the freshest, brightest male idol stage ever, and noona fans' concentrated votes had skyrocketed his ranking.
"Th-thank you so much...!"
"Park Jae-young. Well done. Please take your seat."
As Jae-young wept uncontrollably, Seo Tae-il warmly hugged him and even handed him tissues.
Noticing Jae-young sniffling his way over, Hajin chuckled and naturally extended an arm.
"Come here, Jae-yah."
"Sniff..."
"You did well. Hope Big Jae makes it too."
"Sob..."
Jae-young scurried over and clung to Hajin, still sniffling.
Hajin patted Jae-young's head before looking at the remaining trainees yet to join the survivors' block.
'...Not sure about Seok-i hyung either.'
Now that he'd grown attached to everyone, he'd probably cry when someone inevitably had to leave.
Even if it was his problem child Kyoungho getting eliminated, he'd likely still tear up.
"Now. Among the remaining seven trainees, I'll announce the first elimination."
This is truly cruel.
Hajin's nose already stung as he furrowed his brow, focusing on Tae-il's announcement.