Chapter 156
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 156
“Great work, everyone!”
“Yes! Good job!”
As soon as the performance ended and they returned to the waiting room, the members of The Dawn began chugging water.
I also finished an entire bottle, set the empty plastic on the table, and slumped onto the sofa. A stylist approached me, picking up the velvet ribbon I had brought along to retie it. Beside me, Kang Yi-chae poked my side.
“You’re such an easy man~. Please untie that ribbon one more time~.”
“Is once enough for you?”
When I shot back a sly retort, Kang Yi-chae let out a snicker.
Seong Ji-won and Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been scolded for trying to take off their flower crowns and headbands because they were cumbersome, had to have their outfits adjusted again. Only Jeong Da-jun was scurrying around as if nothing was wrong.
“Hyung, Hyung! When are we flashing our abs?!”
“…Jeong Da-jun, you need to stop hanging out with Kang Yi-chae.”
Our maknae is starting to resemble Kang Yi-chae more and more.
Kim Seong-hyeon stared at Jeong Da-jun with a look of utter disgust as the younger boy clung to his side, teasing him.
“Oh?! High Five sunbae-nims are starting!”
Conscious of the cameras following them to capture their reactions, the members huddled together in a row.
This team had also chosen a famous song.
[We go High
We go High]
“Isn’t that a B-side from Black Call sunbae-nims?”
How did they pick exactly that one?
It was a track from one of Black Call’s albums. Even though they had never officially promoted it, it was so popular that a choreography video had been uploaded to Nutube as fan service.
Try had clearly selected it first, only for High Five to snatch it away.
I bet the editors will insert that meme of the raccoon washing cotton candy here.
I had overheard the staff mentioning in passing that Ju Woo-seong had given High Five some advice, but it was so half-hearted and lacked impact that it would likely be edited out entirely.
[Are you ready, my dear
It is time for me to soar]
Despite that, High Five was absolutely flying across the stage.
“Is it a pilot concept?”
“Looks like it.”
They went with a pilot theme, wearing uniforms that were perfect for baiting fans. Being from a major agency, the balance of the members' abilities was also outstanding.
Since they were under the same agency as Black Call, they would have plenty of people to advise them even without Ju Woo-seong. They had a solid fandom and massive capital to boot.
Honestly, these guys would have delivered a fiery performance no matter what song they chose.
I’m jealous.
The leader, Kang Yeon-hu, particularly stood out.
Setting aside my personal first impression of him being somewhat gloomy, his vocals were better than I expected.
Seong Ji-won stared intently at the monitoring screen.
[If you’re scared, don’t get on
Just stay there and watch my move]
…They’re good.
I guess the claim that they were the leaders of the next generation wasn't a lie.
The previous three groups had put on excellent stages as well. However, High Five operated on a different level of density.
If The Dawn had gone with a similar concept…
We would’ve been buried.
We would have been crushed, sandwiched between the groups above and below us. No matter how skilled we were, we were lagging behind in terms of agency support, backing, and capital.
If you lack something, you have to make up for it with something else.
[We go High
We go High]
“We’ll be checking the rankings soon!”
At the staff member’s words, Jeong Da-jun clasped his hands tightly.
Every group here had worked hard, but since they had practiced until they literally felt like vomiting under Ju Woo-seong’s guidance, a hint of anticipation flickered on the members' faces.
On the other hand, I was busy thinking about something else.
“You’re saying only the on-site and expert votes will be counted?”
After the face-to-face ceremony—specifically, before picking the songs for the 1st Competition—I had gone to see Lee Ji-hyeon.
Her workload still seemed insane, but her face was glowing, perhaps because the issues that had been giving her a headache had been cleared up.
She tilted her head and spoke.
“Then it’ll be tough. The Dawn can’t win on awareness alone.”
“Right, that’s what I’m worried about.”
“Then don’t overdo it for the 1st Competition. Or, do something so undeniable that they can’t help but vote for you.”
“…Does such a thing even exist?”
When I asked skeptically, Lee Ji-hyeon clicked her tongue and explained.
“Tsk, tsk. Mr. Seo Ho-yun, you’re still quite naive…”
“…….”
“Just go get groomed and steel your resolve.”
As a former PD, those words hurt my pride a little.
Well, in the end, Lee Ji-hyeon was right.
The reaction from the crowd had been incredible.
At the time, Lee Ji-hyeon had added that she was a bit worried about the scandals.
No.
There was no need to worry about that.
“Hyung! The rankings are coming out!”
The proof would be in the reactions later.
“They’re starting from 3rd place!!”
While Jeong Da-jun was making a fuss, I cracked open a new bottle of water.
The flashy Shining Star logo appeared on the monitoring screen.
[3rd place, TEW! TEW! They take 4,100 points, with 3,100 from the audience and 1,000 from the experts!]
Expected.
Next.
[We will now announce 4th and 5th place!]
Since Kim Seong-hyeon had predicted we would take 3rd, everyone tensed up at that announcement.
They hadn't expected us to fall to 4th or 5th.
[4th place, Verci!]
A scream erupted from the waiting room next door.
[5th place, Try!]
This was also fine.
“……Huh?”
I was the only one in the room who remained calm.
The announcements for 3rd through 5th place were over.
[Only 1st and 2nd place remain….]
The members' expressions gradually shifted to shock.
Briefly edited clips of High Five’s stage and ours played alternately on the screen.
“……W-What’s happening?”
[1st place is───!!]
Jeong Da-jun gripped my sleeve, his body stiff.
The camera operator in front of us focused on Da-jun, who always gave the best reactions.
[─With 4,200 audience votes and 1,200 expert votes for a total of 5,400 points, it’s High Five! Congratulations!!]
The members were silent, as if their brains hadn't fully processed the results yet.
Then, a small gasp escaped Jeong Da-jun’s lips.
“…Whoa.”
[Automatically, 2nd place goes to The Dawn. Great work!]
2nd place.
That was the rank The Dawn achieved in the 1st Competition.
“……D-Daebak!!”
They leaped to their feet.
See?
The rank proved the reaction to our stage.
It wasn't that I hadn't aimed for 1st, but I knew it would be difficult.
Each audience member was allotted two votes, and by the rules, they couldn't dump both votes on a single group.
This meant they had to cast one vote for a group other than their own bias. We, who had taken a completely different route from High Five—who had closed the show brilliantly—benefited greatly from that.
There weren't many 'check-picks' against us, either.
Beyond the reaction itself, since The Dawn’s expected rank was 5th, many people likely felt safe casting a vote for us, thinking, 'One vote for them won't hurt my bias.' That lapse in guard played a huge role.
“Whoa~~!!”
“We did it! 2nd place~!!”
Regardless of whether High Five took 1st or not, the excited members gathered in a circle and started dancing around. Even the calm and modest Seong Ji-won joined in.
“Hey, let’s go.”
It was time to head up to the stage for the final greetings.
“Right, let’s go!”
Seong Ji-won patted the back of Kim Seong-hyeon, who still looked dazed, as they left the waiting room.
As we passed through the backstage area, I felt the members of TEW, who took 3rd, glancing at us.
“…….”
The TEW vocalist, in particular, didn't look very happy. Jeong Da-jun caught his eye and, unlike his usual self, gave a haughty toss of his head and looked away.
I kept a close eye on the situation, maintaining a smile as I greeted them.
“Good job.”
“……Yes, good job.”
“…Congratulations!”
The cameras were rolling.
Naturally, the TEW members also looked at us for a moment before offering their congratulations.
Coming from a major agency on par with Black Call’s WH, TEW had been expected to take 2nd place with a similar vote count to High Five.
They had a large fandom and high popularity, yet they had been pushed aside by us today.
“…2nd place—.”
“Lia—ple…. —Dawn…—.”
As soon as we passed them, whispers and small sighs brushed past my ears.
“……Hmm.”
I caught our youngest, whose face never stayed still for a second, looking at the departing TEW members with a blank expression. I wiped my hand over my mouth.
Was it because I thought they were acting like total tools?
No, it was to hide my satisfied smirk.
They probably couldn't understand how we, who they thought would come in last and be buried, took such a high rank with a song that had failed commercially. Seeing them struggle to maintain their expressions and force a smile for the cameras…
It’s fun.
“Kim Seong-hyeon, let’s get up there.”
“Ah, right.”
I kept the promise I made to Kim Seong-hyeon when we picked the song.
“But why do you look so satisfied?”
“We got 2nd.”
“…Well, that’s true!”
But Kim Seong-hyeon, who couldn't possibly know my true thoughts, simply walked ahead with a face flushed from the high ranking. I matched my pace to his so as not to fall too far behind as we stepped onto the stage.
Unlike the excited members, I was enjoying myself because I was looking forward to what would happen next.
Pop!
At that moment, celebratory cannons fired, and paper confetti fluttered through the air.
It was for High Five, the winners of the 1st Competition.
And—,
“…….”
—my eyes met Kang Yeon-hu’s in the center of it all.
I was slightly impressed.
Oho….
The message in his eyes wasn't just the jealous wariness other groups sent toward an 'inferior' being who had received a high rank.
It was a sharp, genuine alertness directed at a competitor.
Oh? So you’re a bit different, huh?
However, even that disappeared in the blink of an eye. In its place, only a sparkling, idol-like smile remained.
I smiled back and then led the members back down to the waiting room.
“Good work. Let’s head back.”
“Yup, yup~.”
Jeong Da-jun took a little hop and stuck close to my side to talk.
“Ho-yun hyung, you know.”
“Yeah?”
“We worked really, really, really hard! I’m so happy that other people seemed to recognize that!”
His cheeks, still plump with baby fat, were red with excitement.
“Are you that happy?”
“Yes!!”
They had achieved good results in the blind test and proven their skills, but since they had been dead last in the pre-voting due to a lack of awareness, the current result seemed even more satisfying to him.
“Of course, I don’t know what will happen next time. But we have to keep working hard. Because effort always pays off!”
“…….”
“…No? C-Could we maybe not get 1st?”
After blurting that out, Jeong Da-jun belatedly looked at me, sensing my mood.
“I mean, right. That… I’m just so excited right now that I might have said something a bit like a dream….”
And I didn't particularly like that.
“Jeong Da-jun, come here.”
“……?”
I thought I had raised him to be full of spirit, but is he still lacking?
I slowly untied the velvet ribbon and wrapped it around Jeong Da-jun’s head. Then, I tied it into a pretty bow.
It went well with the cat ears.
“……???”
“Pfft.”
Jeong Da-jun looked at me with a bewildered expression.
Thinking back to when I was twenty, I put my arm around Jeong Da-jun, who still felt like a total kid.
“…What are you doing right now?”
“Jeong Da-jun, what are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
Thinking it would be great to take a photo like this and post it on The Dawn’s official Starstagram, I poked the maknae’s chubby cheek.
“I’m Seo Ho-yun.”
“…S-So?”
“You still don't get it?”
If I say I'll do it, I do it.
“Bangbang-i, let’s start preparing our final acceptance speech.”
Jeong Da-jun’s large eyes grew even rounder.
Soon, overcome with emotion, he covered his mouth with his hands while still wearing the ribbon.
“I’m actually getting a little fluttery….”
“It’s nothing.”
I’ll make sure you ride the roller coaster straight to the final 1st place of Shining Star.