3 months later
I who decided to sign with Lapis Entertainment was sent to the filming site of Seven Crown.
I'm pretty excited about it. Can you imagine a person who lived a peaceful and not popular life come to TV show? It's not weird to get excited about it.
"Take good care of yourself, Injae." My mother hugged me tightly. Her eyes were slightly moist.
"Don't cry, mom. I'm not going anywhere that far plus every week I can call you too." I patted my mother's back gently to comfort her.
"But It's still scary to not seeing you at home. You're growing up so fast." She lightly turned away from me and sighed.
"Come on, I'll take good care of myself. I won't let you worry about me again." I gave my best smile to my mom. I don't want an incident like when I saved Haneul as a child and my mother cried so hard to happen again.
"Right..." She nodded reluctantly. My gaze shifted to Haneul who stood still without saying a word. Unfortunately, Jangmi couldn't come along but she already sent me a message to bless me.
"Take care of yourself. Don't go bite other people, okay?" Haneul smiled and playfully punched my shoulder lightly.
"I won't." I laughed softly.
"I'll be waiting to see you suffer on TV!" She laughed too before walking into the car but she still looked at me one last time and gave me a smile.
I looked at the car driving away with my heart a little flustered. Now I'm alone. Can I make some friends?
Making friends is a little awkward for me. It's not that I don't like being social. I just hate ambidextrous and annoying guys.
"Hello. You're Park Injae, right?" The man with the folder in his hand walked up and said to me.
"Yes, that's right." I replied.
"Please follow me. You need to prepare before filming." He leads me which I quietly followed with my heart that beating nonstop.
Ding!
• You have to make a good first impression, okay? Don't humiliate me and the company •
'You are not the owner of the company. Don't act like you are.'
• I may not be the owner of the company but I own your life. I can make you die. What do you think about tripping over the dust and die? •
'That was the most tragic death I've ever heard...'
• And it suits you (^∆^)/ •
I rolled my eyes but at least talking to Star made me less nervous. Which is a good thing.
"When the MC finishes introducing you, You must immediately walk at that hall." The staff who guided me pointed to the long hall at my right.
I could feel the eyes of the other contestants looking at me so I looked at all of them and smiled. Some people smiled back but most of them have a expressionless face. I don't know what's on their mind.
But whatever, I'm not really interested in having a relationship with them right now so I went to find a quiet corner of the room and check my status to gain confidence.
Lv. 28 (240/700) | Park Injae
Age : 15 years 9 months
Nationality : Korean
Stg : 20 | Int : 20 | Wis : 13 | Fle : 15 | Charm : 20
Abilities : Singing S- / Rapping S /Dancing A / Charming S- / Intelligence S / Super Strength S
Special Abilities : Taekwando (S)
Inventory : ×1 Spin ticket, ×3 Good luck sticker, ×5 Bad luck sticker, ×2 Energy drink
Hmm, looks good. I would be able to easily get a high rank but nowadays abilities are getting harder and harder to upgrade.
"Hello. My name is Kim Soohyun. What's your name?" A man walked up to me. I looked up at him slightly. He is taller than me.
"My name is Park Injae. Nice to meet you." I smiled a bit.
"Which company are you from?" He asked me.
"Lapis Entertainment" I replied in a calm tone. Hearing the name of the company, Soohyun looked at me with surprise expression.
"Wow... Not trying to be rude but it's really surprising. I never knew Lapis still had trainee... I mean...uh...you know that their company is bankrupt and there're bad rumors too, right?" Soohyun said quietly but still enough for me to hear. His expression seemed rather worried that his words would piss me off.
"Well but it's just a rumour. I've been at that company for a while and haven't had any problems." I replied.
It seems that this person is not a bad person...
"Really? The rumors is really scary. It's make the company look bad in the eyes of outsiders. I think it's weird too. The company hasn't had any problems before." He nodded thoughtfully and yawned.
"Sorry, I slept only 3 hours. Too excited for today." He laughed embarrassed.
"So what company are you from?" I asked him and smiled.
"AR Entertainment. Not a famous company."
"Oh, I've heard of them. The company that Jong Hena make a contract with, right?"
"Wow, did you listen to her song too? I'm impressed! She is a very respectable and talented noona. Unfortunately, our company doesn't have much advertising funding…" He sighed.
As I was talking to Soohyun, the staff's voice came up.
"Please prepare. We'll be filming soon." Many people took a deep breath in and out. Some sing and practice dance steps while I stood still. As for Soohyun, it seemed like he was about to faint. So I lightly patted him on the shoulder to cheer him up. He nodded and smiled then took a deep breath.
"Aren't you worried?" When Suhyun saw me standing still. He immediately asked.
"Kinda but the confidence in my own talent is more." I gave him a confident smile.
"I hope I can get half of your confident..."
"You will do it well. Don't worry." I nodded to him slightly.
"Hope so."
The TV in the waiting room turns on and shows the Seven Crown logo. I quite like the design.
"Everyone, please take one set of mic. You guys will be performing soon." The crew brought the mics boxes into the room and put them down on the table. The trainees gradually walked to pick it up for themselves.
"I'll pick it up for you. You should practice first. I haven't seen you practicing anything yet." Soohyun lightly patted my shoulder. When I'm about to tell him it's okay. He then walked to the other side of the room.
'He walked very quickly. It's possible that his dance steps are also very fast' I thought to myself.
You can say I'm narcissistic because I'm really confident in my talent but I've been practicing all my life. If I'm not ready, I shouldn't have even walked this path. But since Soohyun is kind enough to pick the mic for me, I should practice a bit.
"Ahem..." I'm thinking of warming up my voice a bit by using the song 'Here Comes the Rain Again' of Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart but I do it in my own version. My version is slower and more emotional. Just like a sad song.
"...Here comes the rain again
Falling on my head like a memory
Falling on my head like a new emotion
I want to walk in the open wind
I want to talk like lovers do
I want dive into your ocean
Is it raining with you..."
I slowly opened my eyes and found that everyone in the room was silent and turned to look at me. Am I singing so loud that it annoys others? I smiled and bowed my head slightly to apologize.
"Wow… just wow." Soohyun who was standing next to me speak up in amazement.
"Am I singing that loud?" I frowned and asked Soohyun.
"It's not like that! it's just... I'm won't spoil it. You'll find out for yourself when you go out there to show off your talents." Suhyun smiled and handed me a mic to wear.
"...?" I took the mic and wore it in confusion. What does he mean? Why wait for the show? Just saying that I'm too loud or not is enough.
...
"Welcome to Seven Crown! The survival show that brings together 100 trainees from different company and aged 15-18 years old to fight for highest 7 positions in order to debut. The show that made the trainees shed a lot of tears! Are you ready for this battle?" Sona The MC
"But before we reveal all the trainees, I would like to ask our mentors. Do you think this year we will have someone who has enough talent to be classified as an S rank since day one?" She turned to the mentors who sitting in front of the stage.
"That was difficult… no one has ever gone up to S rank since day one." Kim Soyoung said.
"That's right. Only the A rank ones made the high ranking nonstop to go up to S rank but those who got S rank from day one... never seen it." SW supported.
"I'm pretty anticipating this year. I heard there's a trainee from KKG as well." Jong Hena had high expectations.
"Please remember your words because our show always has a trainee who can surprise you!" Sona smiled playfully at the camera. Her face showed that she knew something. This made the mentors very curious.
"Can't wait to see a surprise!" SW smiled.
"Don't set your hopes too high. We never make it easy for anyone haha." Kim Soyoung laughed. Meanwhile, Jong Hena just smiled and didn't say anything.
"Then...let's start introducing the trainees!"
...
"And this is the last trainee and our surprise... It's Park Injae, a trainee from Lapis Entertainment!"
Gasps!
The shocked voices of the trainees rang throughout the area. Even the three mentors were shocked as well.
"Super! It's that dude. An arrogant looking person!" A shocked D rank trainee.
"He will doing well. I heard his voice in the waiting room. His sound is awesome! And I even got goosebumps too!" A excited F rank trainee.
"He might be this year's dark horse!" B rank trainee who was optimistic.
"..." The silent A rank trainees.
"I never thought I'd meet a trainee from Lapis!" Kim Soyoung said.
"It's been a long time that I haven't seen a trainee from Lapis, it's really exciting." SW nodded.
"What song are you thinking of showing us?" Jong Hena asked with interest. When Injae saw her. He had surprised expression but his expression immediately returned to normal.
"A song that I wrote myself." he replied, his expression a little strange. But he spoke in a confident tone.
"You are really brave. No one on this show has ever performed an original song before!" Jong Hena was surprised.
"But the problem is... your song good enough to show or not...?" SW said in a stern tone.
"If I'm not sure, I'm not going to use it." Injae replied fearlessly.
"Good." SW nodded in satisfaction. "I like this boy." he laughed.
"Then show us what you can do." Kim Sououng smiled but just looking at it, You will know that it was clearly a poisoned smile!
"Yes..." Injae was in a ready position.
"The song is called Cherry Bomb in case you're curious." he smiled.
"Just hearing the title of the song... I like it." SW raised an eyebrow.
The melody of Cherry Bomb comes up and finally comes a line that can get you hooked with just listen once...
"Ppallippalli pihae right
Cherry bomb, feel it yum
Ppallippalli pihae right
Cherry bomb, feel it yum..."
The acrobatic choreography with Park's powerful vocal made the other mentors and trainees gasp.
'He's only 15, really!?' That's what rang in everyone's minds.
"This kid's visual is no joke. If I'm not afraid to my cool. I'll probably get up and dance too." SW whispered to the other mentors quietly.
"It was like his mini concert. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised. His choreography required a fair amount of physical strength. Plus, he's only 15 but how can he dance so strong?" Kim Soyoung nodded showing acceptance but her face was very plain so that the trainee doesn't know what she's thinking.
"Looks like you guys have to withdraw what you said at the beginning of the show now." Jung Hena laughed lightly.
Everyone was enjoying Park Injae's performance. Before they knew it, it was the end.
"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!" His finishing move was to stand at a 45 degree angle and clap his hands twice.
Injae only managed to do half of the song. In order, not to take too much time. As for EP.1, there is still a lot that the show has to introduce and summarize.
If you're wondering where he took his time to create a melody? 3 months ago, of course. The producer's talent in Lapis is no joke. Especially the work that is easier to do because Injae has explained and guideline in detail. And also get a decent amount of money. Who would be foolish enough not to take this job?
Clap clap!
Applause rang out. There were some people who whistled too. When everyone is quite, the mentor had the opportunity to speak.
"Wow...it's really amazing. I almost held my breath while watching you performing." Jung Hena's expression showed an impression.
"I love the choreography of the I'm the biggest hit part. You have your arms angled right and locked at the right beat. It's just like you're a robot that was born to do that move." SW said in funny tone.
"When you dance, your voice is very good too. When did you start practicing singing and dancing?" Kim Soyoung asked with interest.
"My mother said I've loved singing and dancing since I was 3 years old. Since then, as far as I can remember, I started practicing singing and dancing seriously at the age of 6. My friend Kim Haneul also likes to come and practice dancing with me."
"Wow, so it's 9 years in total? Have you always practiced just like that?" Kim Soyoung asked again.
"Yes." Injae nodded.
"I wonder if you can rap?" SW who had been silent for a moment asked.
"Yeah, I'm pretty good at rapping too."
"Can you show us?"
"Of course, I will rap your song that called Winner."
"Hey! Even if you choose my song, I'm not merciful!" SW laughed.
When the perfect blend of hip hop and R&B hits. The other trainees couldn't help but shake their heads as well.
"Everyone hates me.
But they could only speak.
while they tried to stab me
I will go on
If cursing at me makes you feel cool
Then keep doing it
Because in the end, the person who will win
it's still me
I'm the winner!
I'm the winner!
that you will never reach!"
"You did it well. I have to accept you. You can steal my job easily, you know? haha." SW said.
"Thank you." Injae bowed to thank you.
"You can sing, dance and rap. Wow, we haven't had people like this in a long time." Jung Hena
"I admit you are really amazing but now let's listen to our verdict, shall we?" Kim Soyoung
If anyone had dropped a needle at this point, everyone would have heard it.
Injae clenched his fist in excitement. He was quite ashamed to impersonate other people's songs but the fact that in this world there're no such people who made these songs so It made him feel a little less guilty.
"Now the verdict is in my hands." The MC
"Park Injae..."
"..." Injae closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"You got..."
"..." The trainees who were also excited. Even if it's not their verdict.
"S rank!"
When the MC finished speaking, fireworks erupted. The lights turn gold Big screen behind Injae turns yellow and has an S in the middle!
"Congratulations! You deserve it!" SW said and applauded.
"It's the first time someone got an S rank on the first day. It's an honor to be the judge." Jong Hena
Before Kim Soyoung could even say anything. Park Injae suddenly said...
"Wait. Can I be in A rank instead?"
Everyone immediately stopped clapping and looked at Park Injae with silence and confusion...