Chapter 71
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 71
Chapter Title Captivated by Shooting Star
Line up single file and come on in.
The April air was still relatively cool.
But the 500 National Producers gathered in front of the KNet recording studio were breaking out in sweat.
I need to grab a good spot. Should I aim for the center, or would the side make me more visible?
This woman, stuck in the middle of the crowd, was sweating buckets too.
She almost lost her temper at the rude shoving from the clueless people behind her, but she took a deep breath, remembering her friends desperate face.
Stay calm, just endure it.
The woman wasnt completely clueless about Idol Training Simulation.
Shed picked up bits and pieces of info from her friends, who were always talking about it.
Like who had skyrocketed in the latest rankings announcement.
Or who their favorites were.
And the fact that the third round live viewing was right around the corner.
On a break from university, she had plenty of free time, so when one friend begged her to go to the KNet studio for the third round.
Please go watch the performance and tell me what song my fave, Song Hyeongbin, did.
With all your experience stanning other idols and proxy photos, I can trust you.
Her friend was so desperate for spoilers that she even treated her to a premium Hanwoo steak course.
Having tasted that sincerity, the woman applied for Idol Training Simulation live viewing tickets.
And with her golden touch, she scored them on the spot.
Feels a bit awkward being the only one emptyhanded.
All the other audience members clutched colorful slogan banners.
She scanned the names on them, spotting quite a few familiar trainees.
Her friends werent just hyping major labels for nothing.
Song Hyeongbin, Ji Yooncheol, Karis Oh right, hes from overseas.
The woman couldnt quite picture it.
Sure, there were plenty of idols from Japan or China, but shed never seen one from a Western country.
She wondered if a trainee with such a different look from the East Asians would blend well with the others.
Though shed heard he was insanely handsome.
After a long wait, they finally moved inside the studio.
She strained to get as close to the center as possible, but ended up slightly off to the right.
Not too far to the side, so it should be fine.
During the break, she turned on her mini recorder and tested it.
Security seemed too tight for photos, so shed brought it to capture the songs instead.
Better than lugging around a heavy camera, at least.
Okay, sound qualitys good.
A few minutes later, Choi Sia took the stage.
Hello, National Producers. We sincerely welcome you to the third round of Idol Training Simulation!
Everyone erupted in applause at the popular soloists appearance.
After a polite bow, Choi Sia flipped her cue card and shared the announcements.
Before we dive into the main event, a few updates. Global voting for the third round began after the second ranking announcement aired two days ago. Like before, Fever Time will activate. Last time, it triggered at 1.8 million total votes. For this round, Fever Time applies to the trainee who reaches 2 million total votes.
It was info the woman had heard before.
From her friends frantically trading votes and chatting.
Each stat needed 200,000 votes1.8 million totalfor Fever Time to double the vote count.
This time, the cutoff was even higher.
Also, checkin rewards on the KNet website and app have been boosted. The six voting tickets on day seven are now ten. And for seven straight days of checkins, youll get a special bonus a random pack with up to five extra voting tickets.
Not bad news.
With the Fever Time cutoff raised, more tickets made sense.
Now, lets kick off the third round. The theme this time is Concept Battle. Trainees chose one of five songs from top Korean composers. National Producers, if you like a performance, press O on your remote. Then vote for the trainee who impressed you most by entering their number.
Choi Sia flashed a bright smile and nodded.
Lets see what stages theyve prepared!
The first performance was a punk pop track.
Judging by the crowds reaction and members names, they werent toprankers.
Still, they pulled off a fun stage without major mistakes.
Not bad at all. Maybe cause I had zero expectations.
The woman pressed the remote buttons with a lukewarm expression.
Her legs already ached after just one team.
She couldnt wait for her friends fave, Song Hyeongbin, to appear.
Next up deep house genre!
The deep house team featured some huge names.
Song Hyeongbin and Ji Yooncheol on the same team? Wow, who got center?
From what she remembered, Song was 1, Ji 3.
Both had solid fanbases, so personal vote 1 was anyones guess.
Since it was her friends faves stage, she decided to watch closely.
After three minutes of wideeyed staring.
Song gave up center? Was it voluntary, or did Ji win internal voting? Either way, killer stage.
No wonder they topped the ranks.
Song Hyeongbin and Ji Yooncheol dominated like oneman armies.
Song delivered stable perfection with his allaround skills, while Ji wrecked the center with visuals and dance.
The woman memorized the members in her head and sighed.
Can relax a bit from here.
Shed watched the requested stage thoroughly.
Even prepped her review.
With 1 and 3s team done, no standout stages left
Next team synth pop!
The synth pop trainees hit the stage, and the crowd around the woman buzzed wildly.
Whoa, Karis and Chae Eungyu together?
Baek Sihwa and Yoo Minha too? Whats with their ranks?
2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 17. This is the Avengers right here?
Karis.
The trainee shed thought of earlier while waiting outside.
The woman shifted her gaze to the boy second from the left.
Whoa.
Her thoughts froze at the sight of his flowing blond hair.
A face radiating nobility.
Tall stature, broad shoulders.
Eyes like gleaming obsidian.
Her stalled brain finally mustered a simple reaction.
Holy shit, hes gorgeous.
No sense of alienation from his Western features.
Her spot skewed right, so no full frontal view of Kariss face, but it didnt matter.
Even from afar, his extraordinary looks shattered any angle issues.
Greetings! Were Shooting Star, bursting fresh in your hearts!
Chae Eungyu, seeming the leader, started, and the others clenched then released their fists.
A cute, bubbly greeting.
It matched their blueandwhite coordinated outfits perfectly.
After waving to the National Producers for a few dozen seconds, the Shooting Star team took positions.
Darkness fell, silence descended.
Bright LED lights gradually rose as the backing track kicked in.
Gentle wave sounds broke the quiet.
The trainees on stage swayed lightly to it.
Rhythmic synth pop melody layered over the waves, and they sprang up with lively moves.
Moonlight shyly slips away into the night
The moment our fingertips touch
Yoo Minha, flexing fluid moves at center, flashed a sweet smile.
Smooth turn, hand thrust forward, fist clenched tight.
Chae Eungyu sidestepped in beside him, bumping fists lightly to take the part.
Sand beneath our toes, even the air
Feels made just for us
The trainees shifted formation.
Chae Eungyu moved diagonally back as Heo Junoh stepped forward, throwing a heart.
With every gentle waves sway
Feel those good vibes
stay by my side
They sang the last line together, reforming into a W.
Heo Junoh retreated, highfiving his teammate.
Karis von Walden took center, showing off a stunning profile with his clear voice.
Every time I see you, waves in my heart
Ripple then Stop, and Now
At Stop, Karis stretched both arms wide.
The synth pop quieted briefly.
His teammates froze, hands over faces.
Then, with the final English line, one hand forward.
Yoo Minha leaped from behind, tossing both hands skyhigh.
Right now, Starburst
Sparkling like popping candy
Starburst
I want it more more more
Chorus hit, crisp electronic tones bursting with refreshment.
Zeroerror perfect sync dance.
Arms arced smoothly from up to down.
Jacket hems fluttered with the powerful moves.
What are these guys?
The woman gaped at their seamless breathing.
They flowed through the choreo without a hitch.
But her eyes kept drifting to one trainee against her will.
Karis, visuals fit for a throne, tossed a casual wink and finger gun.
Paralyzing thoughts with just his face.
Straightup foul play.
Starburst
Starburst
Starburst
Like fireworks in the night sky
The W flipped.
Kwon Daehyun swapped with center Yoo Minha, capping the chorus cleanly.
Starburst
Starburst
Starburst
You make me shine
The cool backing track topped with their fresh expressionsperfect harmony.
Yoo Minha owned center, Chae Eungyu backed flawlessly.
And above all, Kariss noble gaze from the back commanded presence, delighting every eye.
This is dangerous.
The woman sensed it instinctively.
She was here on her friends request for Song Hyeongbins stage.
Review all typed up, wordperfect.
But this Shooting Star stage was overwriting those memories bit by bit.
This is how I want it
Perfect with just you
Before the second chorus, Baek Sihwa whipped his long bangs, shrugging his shoulder.
Gesture fine, but his decadent gaze clashed slightly with the song.
Chae Eungyu and Heo Junohs pair dance smoothed it over naturally.
Our colorful times, just you and me
Were drawing closer and closer
Playful choreo led back to the euphoric chorus.
Mood peaking, the woman nodded along unconsciously.
Right now, Starburst
Sparkling like popping candy
Starburst
I want it more more more
Intense synth electronics faded to reverse cymbal.
Hyper trainees slowed, strolling the stage.
Chae Eungyu from formations end moved center, falsetto soaring.
Sparks fade quick quick
Darkness creeps back creeps back
Even if its just a dreamlike moment
Trainees trailed him singlefile, circling into a ring.
Flowerpose arms bent.
At center, Karis von Walden reached for the sky.
Dont want to miss even a fleeting breath
So tell me
Whats the name of this feeling now
Hand from sky to chest.
Eyes halfclosed, clutching his heart, Karis extended both forward.
Index curved round.
Middle straight line.
Karis von Walden formed a quirky heart with both hands, murmuring the bridges end.
Love
Low voice dropped, he blew a soft breath.
As if sending the heart to the National Producers below.
As his fingers parted sideways, explosive fillin rhythm hit, chorus roaring back.
Starburst
Starburst
Starburst
Like fireworks in the night sky
Starburst
Starburst
Starburst
You make me shine
Dazzling lights flooded the studio.
Melody surging to climax, confetti sparkled from stage end.
Trainees beamed, pouring everything into the final sync.
A truly stunning sight.
Insane.
The womans mind went blank as a canvas.
Synth pops crisp, upbeat chorus blared from speakers, but she lingered dozens of seconds back.
Kariss fluid heart gesture.
Karis murmuring Love low.
Karis halflidded, blowing a kiss.
Karis von Waldens explosive bridge presence lingered in her vision.
Yoo Minha fronted the V for finale, voice bright.
Along the horizon, far away
We gaze the same way
Ill cherish all this time
Keep it all in my heart
Boys placed hands over hearts with last lines.
Synth electronics faded fully, gentle intro waves returned.
Swaying to it, trainees returned to seats.
Song ended, massive cheers engulfed the studio.
Waaaaaah!
You guys were amaaaazing!
Kyaaaaah!
Amid eardrumshattering roars, the woman exhaled the breath shed held.
Even if here for her friend, credit where due.
No wonder they rank high.
She stared at Karis, still facing forward till the end.
Silently vowing in her heart.
If he doesnt debut, Ill swear on my hands.