"Hyung's here."
"Oh, really?"
I approached Kang Ichae, who was busy pestering from behind with nonsense like 'I'm actually a cat lover', 'HowHow', and managed to shut him up with a stern look.
As I returned to my seat with a can in hand, Jung Dajun was peacefully talking about craving for Hanwoo (Korean beef).
"I want to eat Hanwoo, but it's too expensive..."
"Dajun-ah, that's because you ordered enough for five people."
'Nothing out of the ordinary?'
I wanted to ignore it usually, but occasionally, I felt uneasy with the lingering stares. Fortunately, it seemed like there wasn't anything serious.
However, Kim Seonghyun, who was sitting alone with a somber expression, raised one eyebrow and looked at me.
"Seo Hoyun."
"Hmm?"
"Stay away from the youngest... It's not okay anymore."
What's he talking about?
"Ahaha, okay. Hoyun. Let's keep some distance."
Even Seong Jiwon next to me chuckled in agreement with Kim Seonghyun's words.
What's going on?
But I wasn't particularly curious, so I didn't avoid Kim Seonghyun's touch as he guided me to the farthest seat from where Jeong Dajun was sitting.
As I looked around and passed the time, the studio suddenly became noisy.
"Hello!"
It was High Five entering the studio.
The bustling studio, the subtle restraint hidden behind the bright smiles of the cast, and the slightly arrogant attitude.
"We are High Five."
At that moment, as Kang Yeonhoo walked confidently into the studio, our eyes met. He gently smiled and greeted me with a nod.
Naturally, I also smiled and greeted him.
Soon, members of other groups gathered around Kang Yeonhoo.
"Yeonhoo hyung, how have you been?"
"Ahaha, seniors. Why are you like this?"
It wasn't just me who sensed the atmosphere; Kang Ichae was looking at him with a sense of unease.
[Welcome to Shining Star.]
At that moment, a distorted mechanical sound rang out.
Simultaneously, on the large screen installed in the studio, text appeared.
[Can you become the brightest star?
The predicted final ranking of the winners is revealed.]
"The predicted final ranking of the winners is revealed."
In the first season, each participant wrote down their expected rankings for the groups, and then the ranking of their own group was revealed. However, this time, participants voted for the group they thought would take first place in advance.
["4th Try", "3rd Verse", "2nd TEW"]
And of course, the first place goes to...
["1st High Five"]
"High Five!!"
Amidst the chaos of rankings, Kim Seonghyun's expression stiffened.
"...5th place?"
"...They got zero votes?"
The atmosphere, which was calm just a moment ago, suddenly turned tense, and forced laughter burst out from the members.
As they were at their peak with pride in their skills and performance, being blatantly ignored in the voting results hurt their pride.
Watching those members, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'Guys.'
I simply enjoyed the situation, thinking that without narrative in entertainment, it's like a fish-shaped bun without red bean paste.
"Hyung, Ichae seems sad..."
"Stay away."
I excluded those who don't care about others' evaluations.
Pushing away Kang Ichae's head leaning on my shoulder, pretending to whine beside me, with my fingers.
At that moment, a spotlight lit up the entrance.
As the door opened, one man and two women dressed in suits and evening dresses entered.
"Hello."
It was the entrance of the MC and mentors.
"I'm Joo Woosung."
Joo Woosung, who was dressed as if he was born in a suit, took on the role of mentor, but that's beside the point.
"I'm Ha Seoyeon, your MC for today."
Famous for a youth drama, actress Ha Seoyon appeared as the MC, and next to her, standing as mentors, was White Cherry's Han Chae Ri, with a bright smile.
"I'm Han Chae Ri!"
So.
That meant he had his ex-girlfriends on both sides.
'You crazy bastard...'
As someone who knows all the circumstances, I couldn't hide my astonishment. Luckily, others would probably think their reaction was to the entrance of the MC and mentors.
Casually scanning the studio, Joo Woosung playfully winked in my direction. I had to make an effort not to let my expression distort.
"Once again, welcome to Shining Star. I also followed Season 1 of Shining Star closely. It feels fresh to see Season 2 starting like this."
With an actor's neat demeanor, Ha Seoyeon calmly continued the proceedings.
"Shining Star Season 2 consists of four competitions, excluding the face-to-face meeting. The team with the highest total score will become the brightest star. Now, Woosung, can you tell us about the privileges for the winning team?"
"Yes, Seo Yeon."
Ju Woo Sung spoke confidently with a shameless and nonchalant smile.
"The winning team will be granted the privilege of holding a solo reality broadcast and a gala concert at the venue."
On the screen behind Joo woosung, videos of various famous idol concerts played, eliciting exclamations from everyone at the dazzling lights, booming sound, and piercing screams of fans.
"Wow, there..."
Among the indoor venues, there was a well-known stadium of considerable size, considered a dream concert venue for idols.
"Wow!"
Every time Jeong Da Jun blinked in amazement, the blue light from the screen seeped into his eyelashes.
I smiled softly.
"Aren't you excited?"
I had plenty of confidence that such privileges would be granted to Jeong Dajun.
With sparkling eyes, Joo Woosung and Han Chae Ri, who regarded the screen with anticipation, smiled warmly at the cast members.
When the video ended, Han Chae Ri picked up the microphone.
"I guess the introduction is enough, right? Let's get straight to the point without being boring!"
After saying that, she flicked her finger, and the interior quickly darkened, with lights illuminating the small table placed on the stairs.
There sat a small box.
"What's that?"
As the excitement of the cast members subsided for a moment, Ha Seoyeon slowly spoke up.
"I will announce the theme for the first round of competition."
"...!"
"Your song, my song. It's a cover song competition."
With her words, a list of song titles appeared on the screen one by one.
Most of them were top-tier idol songs, ones that everyone might have heard at least once.
"Simply write down the song you want to perform from this list and put it in that box. Then, you can draw one. Easy, right?"
Listening to Ha Seo Yeon's explanation, I scanned the list from top to bottom.
There was one song stuck in the corner.
"Hmm."
I pulled the corners of my mouth into a satisfied smirk.
"So, what should we be careful of here?" Han Chae Ri asked casually, and the main vocalist of Versee raised his hand. He cautiously spoke into the microphone.
"...Does it mean that someone else could draw the paper I wrote?"
"...!!"
"Yes! That's exactly right!"
"If someone else picks the song you wrote, you'll be frustrated, right? Depending on how you plan, it could be a gain or a loss, so choose your song carefully."
As Joo Woosung took the microphone, Han Chae Ri's smiling lips, which had been glowing, trembled slightly.
I would have found it amusing if Joo Woosung had teased, but seeing the smooth-faced guy, I wasn't interested in the other side's romantic situation at all.
Other groups quickly gathered and began discussing earnestly.
"What should we do?"
"Do we have to go with a strong one? ...But what if it gets snatched away?"
Holding the paper the staff gave to select a song, I glanced over the list of song titles displayed on the screen again.
As long as my turn remained, I wasn't particularly worried about my song being snatched away. I had learned some skills from someone, after all. And if it did get snatched away, it would probably lead to an interesting outcome.
However, I weighed the benefits we would receive, the impact on other groups, and whether there was anything to gain even if things didn't go according to plan in my mind.
After sorting through my thoughts, I looked at the members.
"Guys, I have something in mind."
"You can just say it without calling us 'hyung'."
"Hoyun also has something he wants to do."
"..."
I quickly wrote something on the paper.
The expressions of the members gradually became more peculiar as I handed over the paper.
"Is this it?"
"...?"
As I picked up the completed paper, Kim Sung Hyun leaned in close and whispered quietly.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Of course."
"If it falls into the hands of another group..."
"Whatever happens, it'll be interesting."
Kim Seonhyun stared at me for a moment without saying anything.
I could explain if he wanted, but even if I did, it wouldn't be easy to get his agreement.
Even if he opposed, he was a weak guy to the members anyway, so I pondered how to handle him. He just nodded without saying anything, then lightly tapped my shoulder.
"Okay, got it."
What I saw in his eyes was trust.
"Kim Seonhyun. I told you not to trust people easily."
With a smirk, I folded the note neatly and placed it into the box after obtaining the unanimous agreement of all the members.
After every group had selected their songs, Han Chae Ri, who had been standing next to the box, picked up the microphone and smiled playfully.
"Please come forward, High Five."
"Yes!"
As Kang Yeon Hoo, the leader of High Five, stepped forward, Han Chae Ri jokingly tapped the box.
"Shall we draw again?"
Unless you had incredibly bad luck, you could probably guess roughly what song would come out. Most likely, everyone had chosen a popular song from the top-tier male idol groups as a safe bet, considering they didn't know who might end up with their paper.
However,
"Next, The Dawn. Please come forward."
It wouldn't be fun if they were all the same, right?
Ding!
[Are you really going to draw that?]
I shrugged as if it were obvious and stood up with a composed expression.
My system window buzzed loudly as I walked forward.
[Is that okay?]
[Isn't that for the final 1st place?!]
[Are you sure you want to draw it? It's random.]
Where's the fun in things that are possible?
Standing in front of the box, I turned my head to look at Kang Ichae before drawing the song.
"Ichae."
Our eyes met, and Kang ichae narrowed his eyes as if questioning what I was up to.
"Thanks. I'll make good use of your skills, okay?"
"Well, this is a tough decision."
"Haha, isn't it the same no matter what?"
As if my pondering had any meaning, laughter flowed from behind me.
"But you still have to be careful. It all depends on luck, right?"
I recalled the conversation we had after filming our self-produced content in the province, where Kang ichae and I discussed the upcoming dinner lottery.
"You know, before you put it in the box... did you fold it slightly?"
Kang ichae had chosen a high-end restaurant for the dinner lottery.
"Caught that, did you?"
At my question, Kang ichae smiled as if amused.
"Well, folding it makes it easier to tell by touch."
Right.
'This is it.'
"Well, folding it makes it easier to tell by touch."
Exactly.
'This is it.'
I could feel the texture of the paper slightly folded at my fingertips.
With a smirk, I pulled out the note from the box.
"I've picked The Dawn."
All eyes turned towards me.
"Oh, it's the one I wrote."
And this is a card I personally prepared.
'Is there anything to gain?'
As I held up the card I drew and smiled, Joo Woosung's expression stiffened.
"Lia Purple's..."
"…?!"
The atmosphere inside the room became tense just from hearing the artist's name.
As I waved the paper towards our leader, Kim Seonghyun merely twitched his eyebrows with an ambiguous smile.
You little...
"It's 'Easy Tempo'."
I'll show you something fun, hyung.
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