'Not this guy too...'
Aside from Adrian, Yeo Haru was also one of the participants he didn't want to be teammates with. This person's camera hogging ability was too good, it could even attract people's irritation.
"Participant Rayen, please come down," Yeon Miwol, also wanting for Yeo Haru's turn to choose to end urged Rayen.
'Can I not?'
Having no choice but to go, Rayen descended from the seats to the stage below. He stood behind Yeo Haru, whose eyes were gleaming in excitement to be teammates with him.
"Welcome, welcome!" Yeo Haru greeted.
"Thanks..."
Seeing Yeo Haru's distraction, Yeon Miwol seized the chance to call the rank one participant again to choose his second teammate.
Rayen had no time to pay attention to who will join the other groups because Yeo Haru was busy bothering him.
"Hey, Brother! I really like your singing!" Yeo Haru took Rayen's hands and jumped in excitement. "Your dancing was also lit! That backflip!"
Holding back himself from twitching his lips because of Yeo Haru's words, Rayen only muttered a short thanks.
"Who do you think should join us?"
Rayen didn't need to think about Yeo Haru's question deeply.
"Liam."
He had been wanting to ask this former friend of his about the story of their deaths but he hadn't had a chance yet. Now, Rayen could take advantage of this teammate selection to get closer with Liam and ask.
But Yeo Haru wasn't in agreement with him.
"Hmm... He's ranked too low, though."
"I'm also ranked quite low," Rayen reasoned.
"No, you're midway in the ranks. And it doesn't matter because I know that you're good at singing."
Rayen was stumped by his words. He felt grateful that this person was praising him too much, but he needed to be teammates with Liam.
'C'mon cooperate with me!'
"I can guarantee you that he's good," Rayen tried to convince him.
"How do you know?"
"I know him before I died."
Yeo Haru looked at Rayen with doubt, still not convinced with his words. "You might just want to include him because he's your friend."
"....."
'I do, but you don't need to know that!'
Thinking of other words he could use to persuade this guy, Rayen recalled the next episode highlight they had just watched yesterday. A lightbulb flashed in his mind.
"He had a highlight in the second episode. He's really good at rapping."
"Then why did he receive a low rank?"
Yeo Haru was still skeptical about it.
'Why did you even ask me if you're not going to consider my opinion?!'
"Why did I also receive a low rank if you think I'm good, then?"
At last, Yeo Haru was unable to refute Rayen's words. Just moments ago, he said Rayen's rank couldn't determine his talent, because he knew he can sing well. But now, Rayen was using the same reasoning against him. If Yeo Haru continued to force his point, wouldn't that be eating his own words?
So, Yeo Haru had no choice but to concede.
"Okay, then... If you say so, Brother."
Actually, he already had a plan in mind and only asked Rayen for his opinion to possibly gain more screen time. It would be good if Rayen's suggestion was better than his. If it's shitty though, he was planning to dismiss it with all his might.
But this vocalist he had chosen was good at twisting his words!
At the same time that they had reached an agreement, it was Yeo Haru's turn to select another teammate again. Scanning the newly selected members of the other teams and not seeing Liam among them, Yeo Haru wanted to sigh.
He shouldn't have just asked. He definitely wouldn't ask the next time!
Despite being a camera hogger, Yeo Haru was still a man of his words. He might not like it, but because he had already agreed, he would still pick Rayen's friend.
"We're going for number 22," Yeo Haru said.
Liam had a bad feeling already when he saw Rayen and Yeo Haru's arguement from afar. And now, after hearing his name being called, he could only sigh.
Liam stood up and made his way to his team. When he arrived, Rayen made eye contact with him. It seemed like he couldn't delay it any longer.
"Hi, Big Bro!" Yeo Haru welcomed the new guy even though he didn't approve of him yet. "This Big Bro with me said he's your friend! How did you two die together?"
The two in question stiffened in their places. Rayen had a feeling that Liam was avoiding him because of this topic. And now, Yeo Haru just poked at the hornet's nest.
Rayen sneaked a peek at Liam, but decided not to push it for now. He could find another time to confront his friend now that they're teammates.
"Let's not talk about that here. We're filming for the open broadcast..." Rayen said.
Realizing it, Yeo Haru covered his mouth. Just now, he had overdone it. Even Ms. Yeon was silently glaring at him.
"Please, don't add more work to the staff members," she whispered.
The selection continued with Yeo Haru not asking Rayen again for suggestions. He primarily chose participants higher than the first two he had picked. If someone else picked his preferred participant first, then he would opt for the next highest ranking participant available.
Rayen also didn't bother to suggest someone again. Having no information about anyone aside from Adrian and Liam, he had no one in mind. The system was also still under maintenance, so he couldn't look up for other participant's stats.
When only a few of the participants were remaining, Yeo Haru was also complaining inwardly. Those he wanted to choose had already been picked by the others, and he could only relent.
At the end of the selection, aside from Rayen, Yeo Haru found himself dissatisfied with everyone he had picked. They were also left with the lowest ranked participant to choose as their last member.
'Being the fifth rank sucks. I already have lesser screen times than them, yet they also get the benefit of choosing first...' Yeo Haru thought.
"Now that we have your groups formed, we will now proceed to the song selection. But of course, we'll have another game." Smiling, Yeon Miwol spoke to proceed to the next part. "Are you all ready?"
Everyone nodded, including Rayen.