Chapter 13

Chapter 13.

[Extremely loud like thunder

Not ordinary minor

So don't stop (ah)

Hey don't stop the music!]

The keyword for Team 3 of <​Stop Music> was Hip,

And their detailed concept was Y2K-inspired high school teen culture.

It was a performance that paid homage to various teen movies, incorporating elements from them into the costumes and choreography.

Iseong, the center, wore a loose sky-blue shirt with a loosely knotted tie.

The transparent, rectangular horn-rimmed glasses resting on his nose suited him so well that they seemed like a part of him.

“You look amazing, Seong Iseong!!!”

“Wooooooah~~!!!!”

When he tugged loosely at his tie, the waiting room erupted with all sorts of reactions.

The response was so excessive that one could almost call it Seong Iseong's solo stage.

...Though Yuseong couldn't say he didn't understand why everyone reacted that way.

'He's well balanced. There's nothing lacking.'

Despite his delicate appearance and muted coloring, Iseong possessed outstandingly powerful vocals.

If there was one thing to criticize, it would probably be his somewhat awkward facial expressions.

Yuseong recalled his status window.

[Seong Iseong (20) / A

Vocals A

Rap -

Dance B+

Appearance A+

Reputation D

Special Skill:

Unlock Required

]

Like Rubin's, his skill required unlocking, so Yuseong hadn't been able to examine it.

Even so, he stood out that much.

Moreover, the concept suited him exceptionally well, doubling his charm.

Was that why the staff had switched the concept slips?

Why? I think he would've done well with Cute too.

Even as Yuseong grumbled inwardly with a hint of lingering resentment, the seat beside him remained quiet.

The hand that had been crushing the water bottle had long since gone still, without so much as a twitch.

Kang Chan was simply staring at Iseong on the screen.

His gaze was too ambiguous to dismiss as someone paying particular attention to a fellow trainee from the same agency.

“...He's good. Isn't he?”

Just as Yuseong was about to say something, another voice suddenly spoke from behind them.

“Ah,...pardon?”

It was Ijun, who had been sitting in the row behind them, poking his head between the two.

Startled, Kang Chan reflexively turned around and asked him to repeat himself.

“...He's good. Isn't he?”

Ijun repeated.

“...Yes, he is...”

After finally getting a somewhat reluctant answer from Kang Chan, who had been subjected to his persistent gaze as though he were being interrogated, Ijun nodded in satisfaction. Then he shifted his eyes between Yuseong and the screen twice.

“...Hmm...”

There have been far too many ellipses coming from him for a while now.

“...Hmm.”

Then he leaned back again and behaved as though nothing had happened.

...What was that?

Yuseong could hear Rubin, who was sitting beside Ijun, asking in bewilderment what was wrong with him.

Had he simply wanted to compliment Iseong? Or had he wanted to compare him with their team? Or perhaps he had been bored and just wanted to start a conversation.

“What is?”

Ijun asked Rubin with an unconcerned expression.

“You're acting like you're conducting some kind of survey~”

When Rubin whispered his answer, Ijun tilted his head and said, “Hmm,” in a thoughtless tone.

“Just because.”

“Just because?”

“...It was a reaction.”

The two fell silent.

Not a trace of intelligence could be detected in Ijun's words.

So he really hadn't meant anything by it...

And so, Iseong's performance came to an end-

“Everyone, please come out now~”

A staff member knocked on the door to signal them.

Since even the individual voting had ended, it was time to announce the team results.

The <​ASMR> teams were first.

The <​You You> teams waiting backstage also anxiously awaited the host's announcement.

“Before that! We have a surprise announcement. This is something we've already mentioned to our subscribers-”

Yuseong pricked up his ears.

Earlier, he thought he had vaguely heard something about a hidden rule from a distance, and apparently he hadn't misheard.

The other trainees seemed not to have heard it, because their eyes widened and they began murmuring quietly.

“We will now reveal the hidden rule that applies to this mission!”

Perhaps something was being displayed on the screen, because it was quiet outside.

A few seconds later, only the host's voice came through the microphone.

“It is... the 'Growth Bonus System.'”

The gist was as follows.

An additional score would be awarded to the team that showed the greatest improvement in its final performance compared to its practice sessions.

Considering it as a form of encouragement for relatively less skilled or less popular members, it wasn't necessarily a bad idea,

And there was no particular reason to object to the fact that the team had been selected through votes from all the production staff and mentors who had watched their progress.

“Now, the team that showed the greatest growth during this mission is~!”

<​Stop Music

Team 3 -No Problem- >

If only the winner hadn't been Seong Iseong's team.

“With that, Team 3 has earned an additional team bonus score as well as 100,000 individual benefit points~! This bonus can only be applied once, and you may choose whether to use it in this round or save it for the next round!”

It was such a large number of points that the 30,000-point Pioneering bonus seemed pitiful by comparison.

His first suspicion was that they had hastily invented the rule because things weren't going their way.

Even setting aside the fact that Iseong belonged to Team 3 of <​Stop Music>,

That team contained at least two other people who were likely the producer's picks, as well as an experienced former idol and an already polished trainee. Compared to other teams, their room for improvement should have been relatively small.

And that was indeed the case.

If this really was a rule that had been hastily invented, it meant there was someone they felt the need to keep in check.

Didn't that mean there was a powerful opponent they could barely defeat even after resorting to something like this?

'There's a high probability... that it's me.'

Including Rubin and Juan, of course.

...Not that it matters.

The announcements continued until, at last, only the final result remained.

Just two teams were left.

Iseong's <​No Problem> team and Yuseong's <​24-pin> team.

Yuseong moved once again and headed onto the stage for the final results announcement.

“Wow~ So we're left with Team <​No Problem> and Team <​24-pin>. We're now going to hold the final vote to determine first and second place, but before that, we'd like to hear a few words from each of you!”

The microphone was held toward the opposing team's leader.

“Yes, making it this far is really... This whole process has been no problem! I think we were able to do it because I got to take on the first mission with the most amazing team! Please look forward to our performance, subscribers!! I love you!!”

Next was Yuseong's turn.

He gently took hold of the microphone the host offered him.

“...It's truly an honor and a great joy just to have made it this far. I'd also like to thank my teammates for working so hard together. Above all, I hope our passion has reached all of you subscribers. Thank you!”

They had made it this far easily.

With such overwhelming margins of victory that he couldn't even describe the competition as fierce.

Now it was time to see what result they would get against Seong Iseong's team, which had supposedly shown the 'greatest growth.'

“Let the final vote... begin!”

Starting from the second round of the tournament, voting was conducted in real time.

This time, circular percentage gauges appeared on the screen again.

Iseong's team had chosen to use their bonus here, giving them an additional twelve percent from the start.

Then the gauges began rising rapidly.

As the scores climbed, the tension grew.

The speed gradually slowed.

Ding, ding, ding...

Ding.

They stopped.

Both numbers remained at thirty percent.

“Now, at this point... the Pioneering bonus score will be added. If you're wondering why we haven't mentioned this bonus until now, the reason is simple!”

The host flipped his cue card.

It's almost like we're watching a commercial break.

“This Pioneering bonus score comes from the operator vote conducted during the individual voting... and the results have just been tallied. Quite astonishingly, with a unanimous vote except for exactly eight ballots! Team <​24-pin> has been selected as the best Pioneers~!”

A murmur spread through the audience.

As occasional low exclamations of “Oh~” could be heard, Juan shouted “Whoa!” and drew everyone's attention.

Yuseong wondered why they were only telling them this now, but there was no point questioning it, so he decided not to dwell on the matter.

In any case, the rules prohibited voting for one's own team, so it was obvious who had cast those eight votes.

But... Seong Iseong voted for us too?

Unable to believe it, Yuseong subtly bent forward to look in that direction while everyone applauded.

Just then, his eyes met Iseong's, who happened to be looking toward them.

As he faced Iseong's usual inscrutable smile,

'...Wait... Was he not looking at me?'

Congratulations.

That was what his lips appeared to be saying, leaving Yuseong puzzled.

First, because he had spoken informally,

And second, because Iseong's eyes had shifted direction ever so slightly.

His gaze had settled on Kang Chan.

Chan narrowed his eyes slightly, parted his lips, and then closed them again.

“Yeah.”

Considering the circumstances, it would be reasonable to assume that Iseong had voted out of loyalty to Kang Chan.

Only then did Yuseong's curiosity disappear, and he casually looked away.

So this is how I'm reminded that they're from the same agency.

“And so, the percentage awarded for the best Pioneering bonus is-”

The gauge rose by exactly ten percent.

Thirty to forty, then.

“We'll begin the final tally!”

And the two bars began moving again.

30.1 VS 40.1

30.6 VS 40.6.

...

30.6 VS 41

30.6 VS 46

30.6 VS 54

30.6 VS 60...

30.6 VS 69.4.

“With a final vote percentage of 30.6 to 69.4! And a total score of 259 to 588, Team <​24-pin> takes first place!!”

Boom-!!!

Brilliant golden confetti shot upward, nearly reaching the ceiling.

See? I knew we'd win.

Without the additional score adjustments, it would have been 525 points to 175.

Considering the caliber of the opposing team, it could be called a rather overwhelming victory.

There was nothing particularly surprising about it.

The repercussions of the Imprint effect, which still had twenty-two hours remaining, would undoubtedly be tremendous. There was no need to get overly excited about this result right now...

“We're first!! We got first place, hyung~!!”

Rubin suddenly threw his arms around Yuseong and began jumping up and down.

As though that were the signal, Dael, Juan, Patrick, and Ijun successively spread their arms and piled on top of them.

Before long, Hwanyeong awkwardly joined them from the side, while Kang Chan placed a hand on Yuseong's shoulder and patted it a couple of times.

Still, well...

Perhaps it's all right to celebrate along with everyone for now.

__________

The first filming session had ended.

Yuseong decided to consider how he should spend the ten days of vacation he had been given starting today.

Although it seemed he would have to sacrifice about two of those days because of filming schedules during the break,

He had yet to receive any specific schedule, so he had already prepared himself for it.

Yuseong tightly gripped the phone he had finally gotten back after such a long time.

It had been left untouched for so long that he couldn't even remember when he had last turned it on, and the device felt cold and stiff in his hand.

They had apparently maintained its battery to prevent it from running out, and fortunately, it turned on immediately without any problems.

[Notification from National Secretary!]

[A part-time job perfect for you, Soyuseong, has arrived!]

[Today, an automatic payment to the Social Welfare Foundation... is scheduled to be withdrawn.]

He had worried that the phone might be overflowing with notifications, but thankfully, his concerns proved unfounded.

Only a few advertising messages and unread notifications had accumulated in the notification panel.

He was quickly swiping them away and deleting them when he noticed the words 'Social Welfare Foundation' again.

'...A recurring sponsorship?'

The notification said that 50,000 won would be sent to a children's foundation.

Upon checking, he discovered that it had come from a banking app he hadn't been able to examine before because fingerprint authentication hadn't been registered.

A new donation statement containing the same information had also arrived in his email inbox, so he was able to check that.

I overlooked this.

Including the emails in the trash, there were two recurring sponsorships and several one-time donations...

Most of the beneficiaries were children in need of protection.

Good grief... He should've spent that money on feeding himself.

Why was he so determined to help others when he was struggling financially himself?

“Whoa. Hyung, you're a donation angel?”

“Ah, you scar... ed me.”

He had been so absorbed in the discovery that he failed to notice someone approaching from behind and flinched in surprise.

Juan rested his chin on Yuseong's shoulder for a moment before pulling away.

“Oops, sorry. I saw it and reacted without thinking~ Anyway, hyung, do you have any plans for your vacation~?”

“Probably... I'll just rest at home. What about you?”

“Hmm. First of all, I'm going to see a movie tomorrow.”

“A movie? Sounds fun. What are you watching?”

“Uh~... An animated movie. It's called <​Knocking Reaper>... I figured I might not get another chance to see it after this, so I decided to go.”

<​Knocking Reaper>. He had heard of it.

Not because he had learned about it on his own,

But because Juan had talked incessantly about every little detail of his hobbies, so the name had stuck in his memory.

“...But didn't you say you'd already seen that before coming here? Something about getting a special gift?”

“Ah, tomorrow I'm going to get the sixteenth-week bonus gift.”

“You mean they've been showing the same movie for sixteen weeks?”

“That's how most anime movies work. Last time, I got a set of postcards, and this time they're giving out posters. But guess what? They're random! You get one per ticket, and there are five different posters, so I'm seriously debating whether I should watch it five times!”

...The culture of young people these days... I really don't understand it.

“I also want to go get the seventeenth-week bonus, but considering our filming schedule, I don't think I'll be able to. Ah~ It's such an awkward situation...”

As Juan clicked his tongue in disappointment, Yuseong rolled his eyes thoughtfully.

He didn't know when the bonus Juan wanted would become available, but wasn't there still plenty of time?

Then again, if he was talking about the location filming during their vacation rather than the main filming schedule, that might be the case. Yuseong checked the calendar on his phone as he replied.

“Are you talking about the filming that hasn't been scheduled yet? If that's what you mean...”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Huh? No, aren't you talking about that? The one where they split us into teams and have us walk around the city during our days off.”

“That's already been decided, hasn't it? Did we have something else?”

“Huh? No?”

“Eh? Then what are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“Yes?”

He felt like an idiot.

The 'unscheduled filming' was a series of live broadcasts that would take place over several days during their vacation.

The plan was for groups of nine or ten trainees to visit various locations around the city.

The announcement itself had been made several days ago,

But something had apparently gone wrong along the way, and the production staff had repeatedly postponed finalizing the schedule. In the end, today had arrived without Yuseong hearing anything further.

But...

Judging by the context, Juan's remark that 'it's already been decided' was clearly referring to the same schedule.

That meant the date, the people accompanying him, and the destination had all been decided.

However.

“We're going to Seongsu... Seongsu-dong next Wednesday. Our live broadcast starts at three o'clock... Wasn't that supposed to be an A-grade group? That's why I was talking about it with the others earlier... Actually, I did think it was strange that you hadn't said anything, hyung.”

I'm an A-grade trainee, and this is the first I've heard of it.