Chapter 18
Even though not much information has been released, interest in
First of all, the theme song performance video is getting a lot of praise for being well-chosen.
Unlike the stage videos that were famous for their foot cams, most of the comments were about how the trainees' faces were captured well.
There was even public opinion that the trainee pool was better than expected.
After the last hot survival show,
When you opened the lid of
Even the profile introduction, which could easily be brain dead, was written with only the really necessary information.
Personal profile photos also boasted quality comparable to magazine pictorials.
Thanks to that chain reaction, there were a lot of people lining up to watch the first episode of
Homma didn't know that the term 'bloody ticketing' would come up this early, but even so, she showed off her skills and safely settled within the 300 people.
'It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of atmosphere on set!'
Even though the actual competition has not even started yet, there are already people who have created slogans for the trainees.
As soon as the first video and profile came out, it seemed like they had decided on a sure pick.
Homma swallowed her regret as she observed that Song Hyeong-bin's slogans were overwhelmingly numerous.
'If you look at it only with the looks, Karis is much better.'
Naturally, since Song Hyeong-bin is good, he received a lot of attention in the beginning.
After all, he was a trainee who had already made it to the debut lineup under an agency called Awake.
It is said that he gained recognition early on by uploading practice videos to his personal SNS, even when he was unknown.
"Would you like to receive some stickers?"
"Oh, yes! Thank you."
Homma put the goods she had received by chance into her bag and made a resolution to herself.
'If I really think I'll be safe on this stage, I have to start making Karis goods as soon as I get home.'
With such excitement, she checked the condition of the camera lens.
It seems natural to take a preview while avoiding the eyes of security.
The battle here is how quickly you can pull in the initial inflow and how solid you can make your core layer.
The audience, who entered the set after a long wait, was buzzing with excitement.
The moment Choi Sia, the judge and MC in charge of the show, appeared with her head bowed, a huge cheer erupted.
"We've waited a long time, national managers. Today, the first round of
The announcement was predictable.
The production team wants to avoid spoilers as much as possible and says, "Please refrain from writing reviews as much as possible," but is this really possible?
She took a quick look around and spotted a few people with a similar vibe to her, with black towels wrapped around their arms.
"The theme of the first round is Rival Cell Battle. Trainees who share the same room, or cell, will gather together and form a team. The Red and Blue teams will compete with the same song. After the performance, the national managers can vote for the team they think did better. There will be a special benefit prepared for the top 3 teams with the highest number of votes out of the 16 teams, so please make sure to check it out on the broadcast!"
Of course, in a battle round like this, the winner benefits cannot be left out.
Homma responded mechanically and thought to herself.
It's probably another amazing benefit that's going to wear down the trainees' mentality.
After all the preparatory procedures were completed, the first stage started.
From the beginning, Homma was worried that Karis might not appear, but fortunately, his blond hair was not visible until the second turn.
The stages were… well, just flat.
"It's okay."
"I don't think there was anyone who caught my eye like that."
The reactions coming from around her were just the right response.
Everyone pressed the buttons on their remote controls while waving at the trainees, who were bowing their heads with bright smiles.
'I want to film previews for other kids besides Karis.'
There are still some notable trainees who have been posted in the community but haven't come out yet.
Then, at a time when the audience was starting to relax a little, a big shot suddenly appeared.
"Wow, it's Hyeong-bin!"
"I thought this one would come out last, but didn't?"
"The ratio is amazing."
Song Hyeong-bin's battle group appeared in the fifth order.
Homma immediately became nervous and figured out where the security was.
'If it's someone like Song Hyeong-bin, there must be people coming to buy data.'
After pressing the shutter and checking the preview, she saw that the photo quality was as good as that of an idol.
It wasn't for nothing that the core was created early.
The stage itself was the most exciting thing she had ever seen.
From the beginning, the song selection itself was BoLu's song, so people naturally responded.
'You're a good thinker.'
Pick a popular song and build up some awareness.
Homma rubbed her thighs as she checked the remaining memory.
It feels like she has taken a lot of pictures, but there's still half left.
"Here's the next group. You saw the hot group BoLu before, right? This time, some formidable people are coming."
There was a lukewarm reaction from those around.
Because so many good people came out of Song Hyeong-bin's group, the trainees who come next may be compared in a negative way.
Homma was also feeling a little sad.
"Two teams who will cover the Perish Boyz's
The moment the silhouettes of the trainees appeared, energy surged from her body.
"Omg!"
That's because the long-awaited Karis von Walden was on the Red Team!
After staring blankly at the stage for a while, Homma quickly closed her mouth and adjusted the camera.
'This is not the time to be doing this. I need to get the photos, the photos!'
Everyone was wearing black jackets.
Some people added a point with a white shirt, and some even wore hairbands.
Karis von Walden, as seen through Homma's lens, was a true classic.
A visual without any decoration other than a basic outfit.
But from that classic appearance, an overwhelming destructive force was unleashed.
'... He's so handsome.'
She felt dizzy before the song even started.
After the stage was set up, Karis' Red Team lined up first.
A groovy bass rhythmically blared from the speakers, and a red spotlight shone down.
The six trainees formed an inverted triangle formation and slowly stepped forward.
And then, standing in the center, Karis von Walden turned his head once and hummed softly.
「No escape now」
He jumped lightly into the air, using the trainees on either side as stepping stones, then landed, wiggling his fingers and smiling.
Homma was shouting, forgetting for a moment to even hold the camera.
「The Parade Begins Now
There is no notice
There's no way out
Everything is ready」
The trainees who had been falling behind slid forward and formed an equilateral triangle formation.
Everyone nodded their heads to the bass rhythm and showed off their perfect harmony.
「Until it goes up a little higher
It would be a shame to let it cool down like this」
At the top of the triangle formation, a trainee spun around with a cute smile.
Even as Karis's visuals took Homma's breath away, her brain instinctively searched for memories.
She's sure he was one of the few foreign trainees.
Oh, that's right. It's Ken Hashimoto, a Japanese trainee.
「Bring the server down
No one can stop it
The only thing that flows between us is our thang
Block and lock everything, make this place special
So that no one can escape」
A clear yet powerful tone came through the speakers.
The trainees, who had once again changed their route in unison, stood in a 3:3 formation.
As they jumped towards each other vigorously and their paths overlapped, Kang Si-yoon, who boasted a tall, model-like appearance, threw his arms forward.
'The thrill is amazing!'
Even before entering the first chorus, there was a tremendous amount of energy transmitted on stage.
Each arm angle fits neatly without any misalignment.
She could only imagine how long it took them to practice that perfect choreography.
As we enter the pre-chorus part, the funky bass disappears and a reverse cymbal comes in.
A voice of considerable vocalization rang out, accompanied by the sensation of sucking in air.
「My voice
Shout so loud that it can reach far away
I can't stop now
There is no time to rest」
Heo Yu-bin performed the main vocal part with complete confidence.
The moment when the reverse symbol ends and a faint silence flows.
「Lock it down」
There was a loud clanging of chains.
And then someone grabbed Heo Yu-bin's back as he turned around and moved flexibly forward.
It was Karis von Walden, with a chilling smile.
"Heok."
Homma forgot to scream and just took a short breath.
Of course, she couldn't even think of capturing that sight with her camera.
The idea that her increasingly malfunctioning brain came up with was simple.
'I am grateful that I can see that resolution face with my naked eyes.'
As Homma was thankful that she could see Karis' face with her own two eyes rather than through a screen, the highlight came as the synthesizer played cheerfully.
The brass instruments and synthesizer created a strange harmony.
As if they were enjoying the harmony with their whole bodies, the trainees showed off their continued synergy.
「You Can't Get Out of Lock Down
With no exit Lock Down
Ay this is our own Lock Down
Forget all thoughts and run wild」
Everyone showed off their expressions as if they were enjoying a wild party.
But Homma's gaze was solely focused on one person in the center who exuded a destructive presence.
Karis wiped the corner of his mouth and opened his eyes slightly.
It was a scene that could have really been overkill, but instead she felt the opposite.
'I want to get on my knees right now!'
She was saying that he had an aristocratic vibe from the first time she saw him.
She felt the same way when he sang the theme song
Now that they have chosen
She feels confused.
She feels ashamed of herself for thinking of taking a preview.
She just wanted to let everything go and shout Karis' name.
'... I guess I'm really crazy.'
Only after moving to verse 2 and Karis's position changing did Homma come to her senses.
It feels more than just dizziness.
She had been in dozens of accidents, but this isn't just an accident.
[덕통사고 — (fandom slang) It means to become a strong fan about a specific field or person by chance, as if you were involved in a traffic accident.]
'At this point, it's like beating someone with a hammer.'
Homma, who finally regained her senses, took advantage of the gap to quickly take a picture of Karis.
She checked the results at super speed to avoid missing the stage as much as possible.
'I worried for nothing.'
The deceptive looks that Karis von Walden boasts did not produce any humiliating shots.
Even a random shot can turn out great.
Timing doesn't matter, now all she has to do is capture that pose that will capture the hearts of the nerds.
In the hook of verse 2, a formation that had never been seen before appears.
They form a circle as if they are playing Ganggangsullae, and each person takes turns standing in the center.
[Ganggangsullae (circle dance) is an ancient Korean dance that was first used to bring about a bountiful harvest and has developed into a cultural symbol for Korea.]
「Throw it all away and blow it all away
This is our own Showdown
Throw it all away and go a little crazy
This is our own Parade」
As soon as it was Karis' turn, Homma's goal rang out again.
The string of reason she had barely held onto was snapped so easily.
Her head was screaming that she had to press the shutter at this very moment, but her heart was urging her to just put everything down and scream Karis' name.
While she was suffering from severe tug-of-war, Oh Tae-young, with his impressive red hair, even performed some amazing acrobatic choreography.
Park Se-han took over with a short singing rap, shaking off his shoulders as he landed neatly on the floor.
「Don't try to deny it
Cuz that's your true face
Just leave it all to me
Lock it down」
After the lyrics that seemed to snipe at Homma, who was trying to get her mind back, the chorus arrived again.
The moment Karis, who always exudes a crazy vibe, appears, a scream like the roar of a pterosaur erupts from the audience.
Joining in that shout, Homma felt a sense of relief inside.
Oh, so it wasn't just me who went crazy.
The groovy beat from the intro hit the speakers again.
The trainees, who had been running wild on stage for a while, stood in a line, adjusting the collars of their jackets.
And the snare and hi-hat split apart to match the timing of the split.
When the bass sounded for the last time, the stage ended with everyone snapping their fingers together.
"Wow!"
"This is crazy! Why are they so good at this?"
"Who's the center? Do you know who the center is? I'm meeting him for the first time."
"The atmosphere is really fucking good!"
As if the magic had been broken, all kinds of exclamations came from around Homma.
The most prominent cry among them was, 'Who's the blonde one?'
Homma, whose muscles had completely relaxed, closed her eyes tightly as she checked the camera memory again.
At some point, the half-remaining memory completely disappeared.
'... I guess I took all the shots in rapid succession without realizing it.'
The pictures of Karis von Walden poured out in a stream that seemed like they would make a single video if they were stitched together.
She couldn't hold back her laughter.
It's time to get back to work again.
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