Chapter 35
Chapter 35
The main PD of <MAKE100%>, Lee Wiyeon, stared at the screen with his arms crossed.
A data file tallying the votes of 72 contestants was open on his monitor.
Among the dizzying multitude of numbers, his attention was drawn to just one thing.
'I was shortsighted.'
Lee Wiyeon recalled the message from the writer who had rushed in during a meeting with another agency before filming began.
[Writer: PD, I think we need to keep one debut team spot open.]
He had just handed over the last spot in the debut team. Instead of showing his displeasure, Lee Wiyeon sent a short reply.
[?]
Yet the writer's fuss continued.
[Writer: The contestant I'm meeting with right now i so perfect that blocking thier debut seems harder. We might have to reject their apppearance]
[Oh?]
[Which agency?]
[Writer: A place called Sorasum. It's a new company that didn't exist when we were contacting agencies.]
[You're checking the song choice?]
[What song?]
[Writer: Flyde - a song called Eohyu]
[What kind of song is that]
[Just do whatever, I'm busy]
[Writer: But he's really handsome though]
[Writer: Never mind. Understod]
[Writer: Understood.]
'I never imagined it would turn out like this.'
Lee Wiyeon recalled the day he first saw the contestant in person.
At first glance, the face had seemed purely cold, but the longer he looked, the more a gentle, youthful air became apparent.
His features were clearly striking, but the perfectly arranged facial features were neat, and the diverse expressions he naturally pulled off were so human they made you retract the thought that he looked like a well-rendered graphic.
Staring blankly like that, even though he was right in front of you, a sense of distance arose.
Because he was too handsome...
But Lee Wiyeon was like that.
He wasn't interested in the picture of someone who looked like a star becoming a star.
Making the star quality of those who couldn't shine bloom fully—that was what he believed a PD's job was.
Lee Wiyeon had assessed that this contestant, too, was merely one of those 'scentless flowers' that had already bloomed fully, and he believed viewers would agree.
But now, that belief was shattering into pieces with the bright light of the monitor.
"......."
In all past seasons, Lee Wiyeon had sworn he had never once tampered with the vote numbers.
It wasn't a matter of conscience. Pushing or dropping someone through editing was strictly directing, but touching the vote count was a clear crime.
But, this time, maybe.
"It can't be helped."
It was a program that had already been sucked dry of all its juice anyway.
Besides, he himself had already taken in all sorts of things, so ruining just one series was fine.
At last, Lee Wiyeon made his decision. And he called the writer.
* * *
"Lee Hyun-ho, who has achieved 59%, will be able to run one more time on <MAKE100%>. Congratulations."
This time too, the ranking announcement ceremony stuck to the method of announcing from 41st place and leaving the final survivor, 42nd place, to the very end.
From a viewer's standpoint, the lower-rank announcements were just a boring stretch, but for the lower-ranked trainees, every time someone else's name was called, they must have felt their own survival rate being sliced away.
Thanks to that, Han Neuti and I had to wait for the announcement with two pale-faced Gray trainees flanking us on each side.
Our hands were trapped side by side, reminiscent of a prison. I'd planned to just pat the person in front on the shoulder when they were called up, but I even failed at that.
"The trainee who achieved 63% towards debut is... a trainee who was outside the survival zone back in Episode 1."
The MC, holding cue cards, looked this way and smiled.
"Yuma."
He sprang to his feet.
The Gray from Japan shot up from his seat.
Yuma, who had been running gleefully toward the survivor seats, suddenly changed direction and ran back over to us.
And he threw himself into a hug with a thud like a water rocket. Han Neuti got hit in the chin, and I nimbly dodged.
"Yuma has risen a whopping 17 places. Can we call this a miracle?"
'It wasn't a miracle.'
Because 'miracle' is a word you only use when something is unexpected.
In other words, this was a fully predictable outcome.
Viewers had to vote for seven trainees. At this point, the majority of viewers found even filling those seven slots a pain.
So they just voted carelessly.
Mainly for contestants who stood out that day.
What did that mean?
"The trainee who achieved 64% is Im Seongjun of the Cucumber Sparkling Team. He has risen more than 10 places along with Yuma. Congratulations."
It meant that just appearing on the show made your survival rate skyrocket.
We, who were the opponents of the very Ace Team, would have been the second most visible to viewers after them.
The combination of a ranking that wasn't checked at all and a decently okay stage was the perfect condition for dumping 'leftover votes'.
'It was a bit of a pride-damaging trick though.'
So from now on, it would be up to them to do well on their own.
Seongjun glanced at Gyumin, gave us a nod, and walked out. He seemed to have complicated feelings.
Indeed, Gyumin, who was sitting between Han Neuti and me, had been streaming tears for a while, so it was understandable.
Since friends who had higher rankings than him were called up first, it wasn't unreasonable for Gyumin to anticipate his own elimination.
'His previous rank was in the 60s. So Gyumin was in a tough spot....'
"The trainee who achieved 76% is Hwang Jaehyeon."
Jaehyun, a Gray from an acting agency, rose 10 places.
Considering that it's harder to rise when your rank is higher, it seemed like Jaehyun could even make the debut lineup if he did well—though that required the prerequisite that this wasn't all a rigged game.
Jaehyun, who was never good with words, awkwardly hugged Han Neuti, then shuffled over and stood silently in front of me.
"Congratulations. Let's meet again."
I patted him on the back and gave my congratulations.
There was no reply, but I felt his face buried against my shoulder nodding slightly.
It was damp...
"Haha, are Han Neuti and Seo Cha-gyeom the dads of the Cucumber team?"
"Yes, I suppose you could say that."
I answered shamelessly, and the MC smiled contentedly.
As always, Han Neuti was frozen stiff with tension, and only his hand moved as he ceaselessly patted Gyumin's back.
'At this rate, Gyumin's back might cave in.'
Before the 20th place announcement, a VCR segment briefly appeared.
It was content where they took Polaroids as part of a Dayday Coffee collaboration prize, and it was heartwarmingly boring.
"The trainee who achieved 82% is Jeong Hyeoni."
Hyun-i hyung had dropped three places from Episode 1.
Thanks to fans who belatedly started managing his image, it was quickly contained, but avoiding the effects of the editing entirely would have been impossible.
Thanks to the production team placing Hyun-i hyung and me at opposite ends of the studio, I couldn't even encourage him.
...No, wait.
"Hyung! Well done!"
I just went for it.
Hyun-i hyung, who had been walking out to the podium, covered his mouth with one hand and smiled shyly. Then he shouted "thank you" in a tiny voice.
'How could the production team do that to such a kind hyung....'
Feeling bitter, I watched the subsequent rankings being announced.
First, Kim Hanul, who had left a deep impression as the true leader in the Tier 2 and Americano team, rose 21 places and settled at 14th.
Next, Choi Junbin. He had skyrocketed a staggering 33 places to 12th.
I had expected this from the moment his name started being called out everywhere, even if the mentions were negative. The PD pick controversy, if anything, often only solidified the core fanbase rather than negatively affecting votes.
And honestly... being called a PD pick was synonymous with being on the rise. People don't say that about someone who isn't a threat.
"For the trainee who achieved 90% and placed 10th."
At this moment, Han Neuti was so tense that he almost looked like he was spacing out.
"It is Han Neuti."
A one-step drop.
Good, if he keeps dropping like this, the perception that he can't debut without me...
"Thanks."
"Uh, oh, to me?"
Han Neuti nodded.
'What did I do?'
In that instant, countless memories flashed by.
'I did go through a lot...'
I readily accepted it.
After exchanging perfunctory words of encouragement, Han Neuti walked out with an expression that wasn't entirely bright, perhaps because of Gyumin, and stepped onto the podium.
And he gave his speech.
"Yes, I'm Han Neuti."
For the record, that speech was something he had prepared in advance. On the way to work today, I heard him reciting it over and over at the salon.
...Right. I planned to book the salon for two from now on. I'd already asked the company in advance, partly as repayment for the rides and rent I'd owed, and partly to burden his conscience a little. I'd let him blend in naturally like this.
"I still have a lot of shortcomings, but thank you for supporting me... I'll work harder."
They were simple, common words, but I believed the sincerity got through. Though I couldn't judge since they weren't directed at me.
With Han Neuti gone, I took over patting Gyumin's now-empty back and listened to the repetitive announcements.
There was no need to remember, but since it was a familiar face I'll mention it: the first debut-zone ranking, 7th place, went to Lee Jaeyoung.
And it was time to announce 4th place, but...
"Then, I will now announce the final survivor, 42nd place."
...Why?
"Why 42nd first?"
"Didn't they usually announce it after going all the way to 1st?"
The two people in front of me had the same conversation I was thinking.
It seemed like when the battle for 1st was fierce, or when the result was unexpected, they had announced the last survivor first...
'Why were they skipping ahead ambiguously from 4th place?'
Anyway, the MC diligently prepared the announcement. The screen split into four and showed the four candidates for the final survivor spot.
"......!"
Among them was Gyumin.
I had expected it, but seeing it with my own eyes finally brought relief. At least he had risen this far.
Gyumin's fists on his knees were trembling, so I held his hand. I couldn't find any other words to say.
"The final survivor, 42nd place trainee is."
My face appeared on the screen.
"The 42nd place trainee is."
The screen showed another candidate's face.
"The 42nd place trainee is."
The screen showed Seongjun's face.
"The 42nd place trainee is."
'Cut it out...'
"It is Park Gyumin."
"Aaah!"
I wasn't surprised. By the time it got to the fourth verse, I was just sick of it.
Well, honestly, I had been certain ever since Seongjun's face appeared on the screen.
That was just me, however; the other team members seemed to not have expected it. The team members who had been sitting in their respective ranking order sprang up from their seats and let out cheers.
The team with the most Failing Class trainees. The weakest who faced the strongest.
Since a team carrying such titles had miraculously made it through with all members surviving, everyone watched the commotion with fond smiles.
Yeah, I liked the heartwarming moment too, but.
Even so.
"Gyumin, you should go now...."
"Yeah, *hic*, *sob*, hyung, th-thank you. *sniff* Thank you."
Unfortunately, since I was the only one left, I had to fully shoulder Gyumin's overwhelming emotion, which was a lot to bear.
Amid the cheering, clapping crowd, Gyumin, who had been crying in my arms for a long while, finally managed to move his feet.
My chest was damp. It felt like my shirt was even wet.
After the final survivor announcement, which would have been tantamount to a death sentence for some, the atmosphere grew even heavier.
Since all survivors had been called forward, only the top four and the eliminated contestants remained in the empty seats.
'It felt like blowing out birthday candles in a cemetery.'
Unfazed, the MC picked up the cue cards again.
"Now, I will announce the trainee who achieved 96%."
It would be one of me, An Jiwon, Baek Gyeonwoo, or that contestant the Keses call Beret (I hadn't talked to him).
"The trainee who placed 4th in the 1st ranking announcement ceremony is."
Here we go again.
It was a wonder that not once had there been an incident of someone snatching the MC's script.
"The 4th place trainee is."
The MC smiled faintly and lowered the cue card.
And made eye contact with me.
"Seo Cha-gyeom."