[On air]
I think I've roughly completed an analysis of each character.
Jin Sehyun: GOAT of savageness
Choco Haim: CutenessOverload!!!
Do Hamster: Looks like a cutie, could kill you
Ha Junseo: Our fave awkward leader
Lee Junhyuk: Who?
Is this a good analysis?
-Stop with the names
└ #JUSTICE4CHOCOHAIM
└Jin Sehyun existence is my existence
└I eat, sleep, and breathe Jin Sehyun.
-No, aside from everything else, what is going on in Lee Junhyuk's head?
└There is nothing inside his head.
└Ha Junseo's head is high on caffeine
└Junseo is such a living teddy bear that I'm going crazy with how cute he is.
└I want to have his face on my wall.
└Junseo, I love you ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└I'm angry because I feel like I understand everything.
└Sehyun deserves that title.
-Seohan, let's get married.
└Do Seohan (with his hamster cheeks): Why should I?
└HAHAHHAHAAHHAA
└The comments here are all going crazy.
"I'm going abroad... ."
Ah.
What are they talking about?
"Weird."
Are they going to college?
Cough-
Ha Junseo glanced back at me.
"Did you like the response?"
"Yes, fortunately everything seems to be okay."
Since the last broadcast featured a bit with Lee Junhyuk, I was worried that there might be a drama episode today as well, but the result was fine. There was no editing specifically aimed at creating conflict.
Especially this article.
"The inside of Lee Junhyuk's head..."
It was a post that resonated strongly with me.
I nodded and put my phone away.
There are many wise people in the world.
* * *
The next morning
The expressions of the trainees sitting around the familiar set were tense.
The studio where filming takes place during rating evaluation.
There was also an important photoshoot waiting today.
Cameras on.
Lights on.
Staff are running around in a busy studio.
"Yes, we will start filming in a moment! Please get ready!"
When the red light on the camera came on, I put my phone in my pocket and looked straight ahead. Jin Sehyun also swallowed and straightened his clothes.
The first ranking announcement ceremony is more important than the live broadcast.
The smile faded from my face.
"It's been a long time, everyone."
MC Han Dawon smiled and picked up the microphone.
As he walked from the other side, applause erupted from everywhere, but contrary to the enthusiasm, the solemn atmosphere did not disappear.
Clap, clap, clap... .
Amidst the sound of applause, Han Dawon tried to speak without being harsh.
"The break must have been very short, but did you rest well?"
"Yes, yes!"
Suddenly, a loud shout was heard, and laughter erupted from all directions.
I tried to give my own reaction, but I guess I didn't know that I was the only one who would respond, so the main character of 'Yes, yes' lowered his head with a red face.
MC Han Dawon accepted my words with a smile on her face.
"Fortunately."
However, what followed was by no means fortunate.
"But, I feel bad about bringing bad news to you all."
"...."
Cold air descended from the studio.
Trainees sigh as they sense they will be eliminated, and silent cries echo from all over. The camera swiveled around to get close-ups of the trainees' faces one by one.
"Today, someone has to leave Stardust World, leaving behind their dream of debuting."
The first ranking selection ceremony is where a large number of dropouts are expected.
Han Dawon paused for a moment and then opened her mouth.
"Based on the first evaluation results, the total number of people who can remain in Stardust World is... There are twenty-one people."
"Huh..."
The sound of gasps could be heard everywhere.
Everyone looked shocked except me, who knew about this situation in advance.
It's surprising.
It's only the first ranking announcement ceremony, and there are only 21 people left.
Even if you do a rough calculation, it was a significant number.
"Twenty-one people?"
"Thirty-four to twenty-one people... Wow, so many are falling?"
Jin Sehyun shook his head and sighed.
As many as 13 people are eliminated from the first evaluation. Almost half of the contestants are going to leave.
At the same time, the expressions of the mid-ranking trainees, who were at risk of being eliminated, hardened.
At that time, my eyes turned to Lee Junhyuk, standing across from me.
The corners of his mouth do not move while staring straight ahead. Unlike the emotional personality I've seen in the past, I couldn't read his expression today.
I thought he would voluntarily withdraw after that uproar, but surprisingly he held on.
I guess he came here hoping to get lucky and be in the top 21.
Of course, his mentality seems to have been completely shattered.
I don't know how he could hide his expression, but his fluctuating eyes did not lie.
Since I had no desire to comfort him, I withdrew my gaze from Lee Junhyuk.
At that time, Ha Dawon slowly looked back at the trainees and took out the script card again.
No matter how hard you try to postpone it, it's a fate you can't deny.
It was time to announce the rankings that would determine the fate of the trainees.
A trembling voice slowly opened its mouth.
"Then we will announce the 20th place."
* * *
Gulp
The sound of swallowing was heard everywhere.
The upper 10th section is the hope of lower-ranked trainees.
"19th place trainee Choi Wonseok."
"18th place trainee Chae Taehyun."
Each time names were called, sighs of relief and small gasps mingled, and some lowered their heads without even looking at the monitor.
And.
"17th place Seo Ian."
"Thank you..."
On the other side, I saw Seo Ian sitting with a red face.
From what I remember, he went up two places.
He probably gained some sympathy as the incident with KJ became known.
The ranking would have increased even further if the voting period had been just a few days longer.
I smiled brightly at Seo Ian.
I know how desperate my Hyung is and how hard he worked to achieve that earnest dream.
For Seo Ian, I wanted to cheer as much as I could.
But.
My smile didn't last long.
My name hadn't been called yet.
During the second round, I thought I would be calmer.
However, my heart, which had not calmed down, proved that I was horrified.
"Ah..."
Every time the names of the trainees are called, I feel my throat tighten a little.
15th place, the result of the first ranking selection ceremony in my previous life, was already too good.
"13th place Choi Han."
Above that, the baby's father's name was called,
As I heard the ranks go up one after another, more and more familiar names caught my ear.
Even though they didn't make it to the final Stardust members, they were famous trainees well above my ranking.
Among them were names such as Kwon Tae-won and Song Young-bin, who debuted in other groups and did well.
Each time I heard a name, I reflexively clapped.
For a moment, I sat there in a daze, completely lost.
I think quite a bit of time has passed.
However.
Why isn't my name listed yet?
"Seohan, when will our names come out...?"
"Ha, I feel like I'm going to die from anticipation..."
Seo Haim, who had been talking to me every chance he got, muttered in a voice that sounded like he wanted to crawl away, and Ha Jun-seo was sipping his poisonous coffee aggressively.
Those two will pass the first round of the selection ceremony with high rankings.
I'm not in a position to expect a high ranking, am I?
Before we knew it, Han Da-won's ranking had reached single digits.
I licked my lower lip and took a nervous breath.
"9th place trainee Jin Sehyun."
"8th place trainee Choi Junwoo."
Starting from 7th place is the right to debut.
Before I knew it, I put my hands together, soaked in cold sweat, and waited for my name to be called.
Since I won the center position, I thought I did better.
I'm aiming for 7th place.
However, another name came out of Han Da-won's mouth.
"7th place trainee Lee Dokyung. Please come forward and take a seat."
"Ah! Thank you!"
Trainee Lee Dokyung, who was sitting in the front row, ran out with an emotional expression on his face.
He made it to the debut rankings in the first ranking selection ceremony.
"I think the ranking I received today is truly honorable. I will work hard not to disappoint you in the future..."
Even as Han Dawon's brief interviews continued, I couldn't concentrate on their conversation.
It's called the Stardust Project, and somehow, it feels like I'm in space.
I feel like I'm out of this world, sitting alone in this huge studio.
The names of trainees ranked in the debut ranks continued to be called.
"5th place Seo Haim trainee."
The seat next to me is empty,
"4th place trainee Cha Seongbin."
The seat in front was also empty.
The seats that had been filled with thirty-four trainees began to disappear.
Even though so many names were called, my feet remained motionless on the floor.
The auditorium became silent.
'It's reached 4th place, but hoping for a higher rank is greedy.'
Realistically, I realized that my name was not in the remaining four positions.
Still, I worked hard to get the center position.
There was no progress to be expected in this life either.
Where did it go wrong?
I didn't fearlessly aim for the right to debut from the beginning, but was my ranking low enough to be at risk of elimination?
If not...
If not...
Where on earth is my name?!
"Third place... ... trainee... Congratulations to..."
"...!"
Shaking–
With someone's voice urgently calling me,
My vision, which had been blocked for a while, became brighter.
MC Han Dawon looked at me and shouted.
"Third place, trainee Seo-han! Please come forward!"
What?
3rd place?
"Get out there!"
Ha Junseo pushed my back vigorously.