Round 2 Deathmatch (3): The Verdict
Yusia gnawed at her lip as she descended the stairs toward the stage. Of all people, her.
Once she reached the bottom, the staff bustled around, checking mic packs and in-ears. Prep time was just five minutes. It was a song they'd synced up thousands of times already. Practice never betrayed you. She knew that better than anyone, yet Yusia kept biting her thumbnail raw.
"Unnie, you okay? Don't let what that Han Jiyeong said get to you."
One of her teammates approached cautiously, but Yusia shot back coldly without a word of reply.
"Check your mic. Just try screwing up on stage."
Yusia's eyes flashed. Her teammates swallowed dryly and hurried into formation.
Annoying as hell. Some people poured five years into this. Others hit number one on the charts. And that wasn't enough—they had a flashy background too. Hospital director's daughter.
"The world really is unfair."
To Yusia, Han Jiyeong was nothing but a fraud.
Group B's performance ended. As the four members held their perfectly measured formation for the final harmony, a lingering silence settled over the studio.
Han Jiyeong, arms crossed in the waiting area, narrowed her eyes at the scene. They prepared a lot.
Her gaze locked on main vocal Yusia. The sharp edge from her earlier venomous outburst in the waiting area was gone. On stage, Yusia's tone was heartbreakingly wistful.
"Very stable. Their breathing felt like one person's. That's the power of practice."
Judge Kang Soyoung smiled warmly. But Park Jinwoo's expression was stone-cold as he adjusted his mic.
"Considering the theme of reinterpreting an era, it's lacking. Compared to the original, I can't tell what's different. Feels like just skilled singers doing a cover?"
Yusia's shoulders trembled faintly at Park Jinwoo's sharp critique. Terry Oh jumped in to smooth things over.
"Well, theme aside, Round 2's real point is teamwork. Group B's close to perfect there. Impressive how they built harmonies with consideration for each other. This round prioritizes harmonious teams over standout solos."
Throughout the feedback, Jiyeong's eyes stayed on Yusia's back. The gap was bizarre—the thorny words offstage, the utterly harmless voice onstage. Five years as a trainee seemed understated; Yusia's skill was already near perfection.
So it really was a personality issue. Jiyeong clicked her tongue inwardly.
"Now, Group G steps up! Please take the stage!"
As Yusia descended, her icy glare briefly clashed mid-air with Jiyeong's indifferent upward glance, but they passed without a word.
Jiyeong and Naeun claimed center stage. Han Doyun held his breath in the shadows until his part.
Suddenly, all studio lights went out, and a beat sliced through the silence.
Kim Taesung in the judges' seats rested his chin on laced fingers, nodding before the first verse even hit. They used my track after all.
A thin smile curved his lips. Watching the beat he'd meticulously designed pulse on stage was pure producer bliss. A strange sense of victory and pride filled him, like Jiyeong acknowledging his skill.
But as the rhythm built, his brow furrowed slightly.
...Not entirely as-is.
It was Jiyeong's twist, elevating the original's sensuality to something more refined.
This works too. No, maybe it fits the original vibe even better.
As the music swelled, Naeun broke the hush with the first line.
"I've been waiting for today...."
With bold makeup, Naeun swayed rhythmically, her eyes devouring the camera.
"Oh my, look at her?" Kang Soyoung's eyes widened in admiration.
"That's the same girl who always smiles so sweetly? God, she had this side too?"
Terry Oh leaned forward, intrigued.
"Stable skills. But her stage presence is killer. She knows exactly how to use her part."
Amid the judges' praise, Kim Taesung's gaze shifted past Naeun to the silhouette lurking in the dark.
And the highlight. As dazzling lights poured down center stage, Han Jiyeong emerged.
Jiyeong subtly snapped her hips, extending a graceful hand. The black fan in her grip teasingly traced the slit of her dress, brushing her thigh line secretively.
"......!"
The judges' table froze. Park Jinwoo halted his pen; Kang Soyoung covered her mouth, speechless.
Post-highlight, the Naeun-Jiyeong duet kicked in. Their voices intertwined, filling the studio air densely.
As the song peaked, the beat suddenly grew heavier, more neurotic, shifting to the instrumental break. Jiyeong and Naeun pressed backs together in sync.
Snap! Two black fans unfurled sharply on the beat.
At Naeun's cue, Jiyeong's body curved fluidly—a move drilled thousands of times in practice.
Perfectly mirrored, they snapped their hips, using fans to block and reveal gazes in heated rhythm.
"Wow......"
Kang Soyoung let out an involuntary gasp. Seeing vocal-focused Han Jiyeong match trainee Naeun in flawless choreography was shocking. Especially Jiyeong's statuesque frame, exuding crisp yet ripe lines that stole breaths.
As they crossed fans for the performance peak, Han Doyun ambled out slowly.
"Don't hesitate, to the voice calling you...."
The country singer's rough, earnest narration added profound weight. After his brief but potent presence, he vanished into shadow. Jiyeong and Naeun repeated the highlight to close.
Original singer Kang Soyoung grabbed the mic first, rubbing her arms as if chills lingered.
"As the original artist... it gave me goosebumps. Invitation has such a strong era vibe, it can easily feel dated. But reinterpreting it this cool, luxurious, totally modern? Incredible."
Park Jinwoo's eyes turned to participant #81, Naeun.
"Participant Kim Naeun #81. Honestly shocked. Remember my Round 1 comment about you being mechanical? Totally different today. Your color really shone. Excellent."
Naeun bowed deeply, swallowing surging emotion.
Finally, Terry Oh adjusted his glasses, staring at Jiyeong.
"Vocals and performance aside, I want to score the arrangement higher. The beat texture and instrumentation nail global trends. #1, did you do this yourself?"
Terry Oh's pointed question flew. As Jiyeong opened her mouth, neighboring Kim Taesung snatched the mic urgently.
"The arrangement... sounded great."
Terry Oh eyed him puzzled, but Kim Taesung pressed on.
"Respects the original skeleton, but those clever variations? Especially the delicate frequency tweaks for the vocal tones."
Jiyeong met the piercing gaze of Kim Taesung. Their secret collaboration and rivalry tangled in the air—known only to them.
"Thank you."
Jiyeong replied curtly.
"Both teams, gather center stage."
At the MC's call, Yusia and Group B ascended from below. The judges' lights dimmed.
The four judges muted mics, huddling to whisper.
"Honestly, no comparison."
Terry Oh shrugged at Kim Taesung.
"Group B was good. Textbook. But Group G... they brought a masterpiece."
Kang Soyoung nodded.
"Perfectly fits the reinterpretation theme: Group G. #81's growth is stunning too."
Park Jinwoo silently compared score sheets, then set down his pen decisively.
Click. He pulled the mic close, taking point.
"Judging complete."
His gaze hit Yusia first. She froze, staring at his lips.
"Regrettably, the eliminated team in Round 2's second deathmatch... is Group B."
"......!"
Yusia's head drooped limply. One teammate beside her burst into sobs, clutching her face.