Two weeks into the survival show, Jun remembered seeing the gates of purgatory once. He was so tired and overwrought. It became more stressful when he could not show it on his face because he was automatically elected the leader of the Barren Landers.
If the Inhabitants were having a hard time, how could the Landers be any different?
Two days ago, right after the mid-check.
"We got criticized badly in the mid-check because we lowered the key. But any higher than that, and we can't all reach it." A troubled expression showed on Xavi's face.
The digital clock above the door said, 'Ten fifty-four pm.' Instead of sleeping, the twelve Barren Landers only lay on their bunk beds in the vast bedroom with their eyes open.
"If we want to sing it well, we might have to abandon our choreo."
Jun also considered this option some time ago, but he shook his head and immediately refuted Daeho's idea.
"Unless we do it super well, it would only invite more dislike from the mentors and viewers. We must stick with what we already practiced, but we should think of something to serve as a shock factor."
The song 'Golden Sun' by the nation's most remarkable female soloist of the country was a lovely song meant to show a longing for somebody who now only exists in memories. It was initially a 'nostalgic' pop-rock song, hard carried by Miss Why's melody and ethereal voice. The producers of BOI licensed the song and gave it to them without changing the instrumentals. They also created a choreo for it, which the originals did not have.
This was not the song Jun had done with the Landers when he got sent to the Barren Lands in his previous life. It was supposed to be KAISER's hit song 'Thunder'.
It was a shock, so he could not immediately react. Those around him thought that the unfair outcome of the first mission affected him too much. Hence, he could not instantly memorize the steps as he did for the signal song.
"So, are you happy now? Finally happy now, are you?" Jun sang the intro in a soft voice. He subconsciously did so as he sank into deep thoughts.
Xavi, who got Part two, continued, "Though I'm the same old me, I feel like I have lost everything."
Jun fell silent. Only now did it occur to him how lonely the song lyrics were. Honestly, he resonated so much with it that he wanted to sing Xavi's part.
He's the same old him, an idol with three years of experience.
But did he not lose everything when he suddenly time-traveled to the past?
'Jun, stop. The mission is the priority,' he closed his eyes and went back to brainstorming.
A few seconds of silence passed.
"... Maybe let's do it ballad-style? Original key. But with interpretative dance that has transitions and comes in pairs." He murmured absentmindedly.
Bae Jinho, the oldest participant of BOI, asked, "What do you mean?"
Jun did not reply right away. He first organized his thoughts before he beckoned everyone to huddle around him. He began to explain with a small notebook and pen that he grabbed from the side table.
"I'm thinking of..."
He emphasized the keywords again. Singing as a pair while standing or assuming poses comfortable for singing, with this pair dancing interpretatively to the next part, which another pair would sing behind them. Another duo would take over, and the previous one would be the interpreter. The chorus would go to the select few who could sing it instead of being a shared part of everyone. In this way, it would not look forced.
"What do you guys think?"
Interest flickered in the Landers' eyes, and they took time to weigh its feasibility.
But Xavi said right away, "I like it!"
"I'm okay with it."
Words of approval from others soon followed.
Jun grinned, "The choreographer will probably, or will definitely, scold us. Plus, it would be demanding for us because there would be fewer people to observe every time. But I'm confident that we can do it. Are you with me?"
"Let's do it!" Once one Barren trainee stretched his hand, the others copied him.
"Okay." Jun laughed and placed his palm on top of the other's hands. "Barren Landers, let's go!"
The light in the practice hall lit up as voices and music enveloped the Barren Lands. Energy seemed to be suddenly overflowing from the Landers. It continued till three AM, and when the next day dawned, nobody was inside the huge bedroom. Jun and his fellows had fallen asleep in the practice hall.
...
The day of the performance came. Before the Inhabitants took the stage, the MC informed the Barren Landers about the rules of the second mission again.
Like in the first mission, only when the average of the Inhabitants is lower than 90 would there be a chance for the Landers to be promoted. It was because only through that would be people demoted from the Greenhouse. The slots they would vacate would be given to the top-performing Landers.
"I wonder which camp is more nervous?"
Drew sat next to his fellow judges, also Nova's producers. He glanced over his shoulder. On his left was a slightly chubby man, the former CEO of Nova, who relinquished the position but not his shares so that he could focus on producing again.
PD Song, the former CEO of Nova, smiled lightly while his eyes wandered the room filled with screens. "It seems to me the Inhabitants are more on edge. Do you know what happened?"
Instead of answering directly, Drew shrugged his shoulders. "I visited the Landers during the mid-check, so I have no idea about the Inhabitants this time."
"Oh. Yeah." Another producer slash choreographer, hit-maker Keys, interjected. "I heard you scolded those kids a bit."
Drew replied after a nod. "Yes. They lowered the key a lot." He then refused to elaborate. He turned to Keys and inquired. "How about the Inhabitants?"
The producer laughed. "They also got a bit of scolding from me. They not only struggled with the high notes, but they also messed up their parts distribution. There's a boy who danced so well he was like the second coming of Jin from KAISER. However, his vocals badly need help. I don't know why they left the solo part to him."
'... Are you supposed to say that while filming?' Drew nearly failed to control the edges of his lips from pulling down. He instantly regretted asking the man.