From the start of the audition episode, Jiji was the only one who had danced and sang at the same time.
'He ate it.'
Unlike the first audition performance when Rayen sang as if he was screaming in pain after losing something important, or even Mr. Big News's soft and heart melting voice, Jiji's performance sent them the most electrifying feeling they had ever felt.
No one had reacted at all.
Only when Iris, seated beside Jiji, clapped did everyone come back to their senses. This woman, who also chose a Life Book with a male owner, patted Jiji's head and smiled at him like she was looking at her own child.
"You did well."
Jiji only smiled sheepishly, blushing a little bit with Iris's words. The fifth rank also joined in on the fun, leaning forward from four chairs away to talk to her.
"Dancing God! You were amazing, Little sis—uh, Little Bro! I got goosebumps! You looked like mini Mikail Jackson back there!"
Remembering that Jiji had already turned into a boy, the fifth-place participant quickly corrected himself. But instead of feeling gratified with his compliments, Jiji puffed out his cheeks in annoyance.
"I'm not little!"
"Yeah, yeah, you'll grow up soon when you're older, Little Bro. Don't worry!" The man gave a thumbs up and smiled widely at Jiji.
"I'm 16, not a little kid, geez!"
As the performance was truly worthy of a finale, the episode had also concluded before revealing how many sponsorship Jiji received. It ended in a cliffhanger that will surely piss off the audiences.
Well, one episode couldn't showcase every performance. After all, the auditions had lasted for three whole days, and the show probably only secured a two hour time slot.
As the credits were rolled out, snippets of the next part of the auditions were also shown. Rayen saw highlights of Liam's, Iris's and the fifth ranked participant's performances.
When the video ended, Rayen saw Plotter climb onto the makeshift podium in front of the participants. He was wearing a happy smirk while curiously observing them below.
Everyone was disturbed by that smirk that seemed to be up to no good. The exciting emotion they had felt after watching Jiji's performance was already fading because of it.
"How was the first episode?"
His question met no response. Plotter only laughed.
"Seriously, you're boring! Was it good? Were you excited? C'mon, tell me!"
'If only you didn't go up there, everyone would have been happy after watching that performance...'
"Okay, cut!"
At last, the cameras stopped recording after Plotter's shouting. The air immediately lightened.
Plotter glanced at Rayen, seemingly reading his expression. Smiling wider, he proceeded with his one-man talk.
"I'm trying to liven up the reaction video, but looks like some of you are annoyed. Why are you mad?"
He swept his gaze across the room again to find another worthwhile reaction. This time, his eyes stopped on a participant behind Rayen.
"I can also see you're disappointed. Can you tell me why?"
Before the man could answer though, Plotter answered his own question.
"Ah! Was it because your part wasn't shown in the episode?"
Plotter covered his mouth and chuckled quietly.
"That just means you're boring!"
'This guy's riling people up again...'
"Most of you guys here are boring. Don't you know that?" Plotter continued. "I was watching you all during the filming of the reaction video. You all look like this."
Plotter enacted what he was saying. He snapped his fingers, and a foldable chair immediately appeared below him. He sat down with his back straight and both knees stuck closely together. At the same time, he made his lips purse, staring straight ahead.
After demonstrating, he stood up again. The chair also disappeared.
"Boring! You all look constipated! What's the point of filming a reaction video if you all look like that?"
'Yeah, what's even the point of filming a reaction video?'
"This reaction video was supposed to be interesting content, but your constipated expressions ruined it. Only some parts could even be salvaged!"
Plotter kept explaining, but the participants didn't take his words in a positive light. Rayen scowled deeply.
'Is it intersting to garner reactions about someone else's misfortune?'
Noticing his reaction, Plotter's gaze rested on Rayen once more. To Plotter, his face was an open book that he could read easily. As if he heard what Rayen thought, the smile on Plotter's face disappeared, looking so disappointed.
"You seem to be forgetting something. If you all keep on doing this, no one will make it to the final episode," he said.
Rayen frowned. Everyone tilted their heads, evidently puzzled with his words. The person in front of them kept on spouting words that provoked their emotions.
"You're on a survival show. Have you forgotten?" Plotter let out a sigh. "All of you here are acting as if you have to respect the dead participants who failed the audition. Remember, not just them, but all of you here are dead too! You're also in danger of disappearance, okay?"
His words were sharp like arrows, all of it hitting the red mark. Everyone seated on their respective chairs finally understood it. Realization started dawning on their minds.
Plotter spoke again, continuing to shoot his sharp arrow-like words.
"Haven't you noticed it? Those you respect even had more screen time than you all!"
His words stung that everyone bowed their heads in shame. Even Rayen felt like hiding as he remembered his own performance and compared it to those who failed that also made it to the edited episode.
It just looked ridiculous.
Somehow, Rayen began to wonder if he even deserved to receive five sponsorships.
"Don't you think that's shameful? Those who didn't make it were shown, but you weren't at all!"
Having been provoked enough, his words drew intense glares from the participants. Seeing their reactions and reveling on it, Plotter let out another laughter. This person seemed to be really enjoying stirring up people's emotions.
Eyebrows raised, he continued, "Oh, are you mad about that too? Do you think we didn't respect them by showing their failures?"
"Heh, foolish!"
He raised his hands, pointing at everyone in the dance studio. His head kept on shaking, his otherworldly face full of provocation.
"All of you here are foolish."
"This is survival. We put them there for you to outshine them. You should consider those who failed to be your platforms, your stage!"
"Step on them!"
"Be interesting. You're fighting for screen time. You're fighting for your life!"
Silence. Everyone was silent.
"Do you get it now?"
The people couldn't say anything. What was just said woke them up.
"If you can't even do that, and you refused to do so, you're just wasting your sponsor's lifespans."
This was their second chance to live. The sponsors betted on them. Even though these participants couldn't understand why these extraordinary individuals were doing so, Plotter felt they should feel grateful and do everything they could. Yet these people were all acting nice.
Even Rayen.
Plotter felt so disappointed.
Not everyone were able to grasp the chance, so those who were able to should forget about courtesy and do everything to survive.