Chapter 92: Bomb? (3)
92. Bomb? (3)
It was true that Kang Hajin had an overwhelming amount of screen time in the controversial second episode.
Well, he basically did everything himself.
Kang Hadi @kang_HD
Who the hell made my baby wolf cry?
(Screenshot of Hajin tearing up in the episode 2 preview)
Retweets 308 Quotes 22 Likes 412
‖
Kang Hadi @kang_HD
Kids, that's a senior trainee speaking
Dismissed
(Clip of Hajin crying in response to Seo Tae-il's question during the main broadcast)
Retweets 725 Quotes 167 Likes 1,536
Ingya 🔒 @inging02
This kid's kinda funny lol should I just lurk for now
Funny Idol Moments @IDOLOL
Doesn't know the meaning of restraint
(Clip of Hajin messing up lyrics in front of Ria and clutching his face)
Rossy Day @rossy_1017
Pretty sure Hajin just winked at Doha right??
Wait what they're on opposing teams...
(Clip of Hajin winking toward someone)
(Full shot showing Doha sitting where Hajin winked)
Retweets 73 Likes 92
Other clips circulating in real-time included Hajin's shameless remarks while deliberately catering to Seo Tae-il and his sharp critiques of Team A's performance. When the final results aired with Team B's victory, the backlash intensified.
It was the classic "underdog rebellion" trope that survival show fans loved.
Clichés always work.
[Today's dopamine overdose from male idol survival shows]
(MiroMaze broadcast summary)
The problematic post appeared right when attention was peaking.
Just as broadcast ended, while interest in MiroMaze and Hajin was still white-hot.
[But isn't Miro obviously pushing K.H.J?? lol]
Can't deny this one at least...
Saw all the Team B kids being reduced to Hajin's backup dancers yesterday...
Gotta admit other Team B trainee fans must feel bitter
This wasn't the first time such posts appeared, but they usually got dismissed as troll bait and faded away.
This time was different.
People started piling on with agreeing comments.
As these posts multiplied, others began spreading misinformation based solely on these hot takes.
[OMG guys is this real?? J.Y MiroMaze]
(Screenshot of hate post about Hajin)
I'm so shocked seeing this...TT
Did they really cut other trainees' parts to push K.H.J???
Comments and replies snowballed, spawning more derivative posts.
Destiny fans trying to stay quiet and mute found the situation escalating beyond ignoring.
Seeing several controversy threads hit the forum's top trending, Hajin put down his phone and thought:
'This is getting out of hand.'
How many of these are actual MiroMaze viewers who vote for trainees?
'I'd bet Han Seong-woo's wrist it's under 20%.'
Not betting my own wrist though.
'Well, some might be rival trainees' fans trying to check me.'
MiroMaze isn't some broadcast station's random agency deathmatch - we're all from the same company competing together.
Viewer votes aren't even the only debut factor, why go this hard to sabotage me?
"Whatever, I expected this much anyway."
Backlash from hogging screen time? He'd prepared for that since squeezing out tears before Seo Tae-il.
That's why he deliberately let Han Seong-woo take some spotlight too.
'Need to stumble here so they can't dig deeper.'
Falling straight to Feather tier would be perfect. The second mission will get great edits anyway since I aced it.
'Park Jae-young's fans seem upset about me taking his parts...'
That'll die down once the second mission airs. I gave him plenty of parts next round to make up.
'Actually the second mission focus might shift to Seo Tae-hyun over me.'
This calculation eased his mind.
'Someone always takes the first hit. Better me than some poor soul getting regression.'
Sipsam still hadn't returned since the sports day.
Skills seemed intact but with no warning system for increased regression risk, caution was needed.
In that sense, prime regression candidate Yu-geon becoming troll fodder was dangerous.
'That bastard better not be planning to regress out of laziness.'
Fortunately, only Team A members had gathered at Joo Eun-chan's place last time, so I heard diverse perspectives:
"Yu-geon's been like that since joining. Si-woo hyung ignored it until survival stakes got involved - he hates people causing harm."
This from Lee Do-ha, close to Jung Si-woo and partnered with Yu-geon in the second mission.
"But calling Yu-geon outright delinquent feels unfair. He learned choreo fastest and taught others - helped me a lot. Just naturally flighty."
Kim Won-ho's take - he'd become a Yu-geon fanboy after receiving help from battles through song selection.
"I haven't been here long enough to know!"
"Just keep eating pizza."
That was just Dan Ha-ru.
"Heard he skips weekend practice and stopped private lessons recently from Tae-hyun hyung. But Si-woo hyung was also sensitive then - Han Seong-woo kept whining about being anxious."
Joo Eun-chan's opinion after suffering through Team A practices.
All agreed Yu-geon was generally unreliable and seemingly uninterested in debuting.
'For now assume Yu-geon's the regressor and act accordingly.'
With the system down, I couldn't recruit allies or review past timelines. Priority was preventing Yu-geon from getting miserable enough to want regression.
"Keeping him nearby by teaming for the third mission might work..."
Tomorrow would announce the third mission and new tiers.
Best way to prevent Yu-geon's erratic behavior is monitoring him closely, but this mission's crucial for me too.
'To You got first place but they won't overlook the mid-check crisis I caused.'
After episodes 3-4 air, more people will come for me. To shut them up, I need an undeniable performance.
'Give my fans something to defend me with.'
At least let them take pride in their pick's skills.
I'll likely be leader again, so need to create great teamwork and quality...
This train of thought started giving me a headache.
"Whatever. Decide after tomorrow's results. Wait - why am I working so hard when the regressor's living carefree? This makes no sense."
Gotta squeeze something out of that bastard Sipsam when he's back.
"Mom, the world's bullying me..."
A night for missing mom.
Next day. Hajin thinks:
'The entire universe is bullying me.'
Nothing else explains this.
After Sipsam disappeared for "system checks," clearly someone dumped misery into my timeline. Nothing else makes sense.
'Plans? What plans? Nothing goes according to plan.'
Hajin reaffirmed his life philosophy of charging in headfirst.
As he did, an assistant director finished setting up practice room cameras and called for attention:
"Alright~ let's do quick headcount."
"Yes."
"Jung Si-woo, Kang Hajin, Lee Do-ha, Kim Won-ho, Yu-geon...and Joo Eun-chan. All six present?"
"...Yes."
"Good. We'll start filming soon. The PD will arrive shortly for script reading."
We're screwed.
'Dreaming of amazing teamwork? Lucky if we don't grab each other's collars onstage!'
Can't even grab the regressor's collar - keeps ending up with others grabbing mine.
If you're wondering who's insane enough to form this team - shockingly, everyone's responsible.
Hajin massaged his temples, recalling the mission announcement filming earlier:
"The new Wings tiers reflecting Destiny votes from first broadcast!"
‽
〜〚WINGS OF MIRO MAZE〛〜
Seo Tae-hyun Jung Si-woo Joo Eun-chan
Dan Ha-ru Kim Won-ho Gong Seok Jayden
‽
'Expected that much.'
Falling to Feather tier was actually welcome. I even congratulated Kim Won-ho - probably promoted for escaping with Yu-geon.
"Before announcing the third mission theme, we'll form teams."
"Three rooms are prepared outside."
"You'll each choose one room to enter."
"Choices are private - rooms close when full."
So far so good - standard random grouping.
The problem came next:
"However, each room's capacity is determined by its highest-tier trainee."
Yes. That single rule created this monstrous combination.