“One week is definitely a short time.”One week.It was, in some ways, a span of time that felt short for changing something.“But you all want to become idols, right? In that case, you have to be able to show a changed self even within that one week.”However, Hyeryeong thought that for idols, “one week” was a long time.“...”At Hyeryeong’s words, the young girls only hung their heads and stared at the floor.They were the trainees in Idol Ground 100 who had received D grade.‘Even if it seems cruel, there’s no helping it.’Watching them like that, even Hyeryeong, who had spoken, felt a bitter pang, but her words weren’t an exaggeration.At year’s end, when the major award shows were clustered together, idols weren’t given a week of practice time—sometimes not even two or three days.They couldn’t present the exact same stage at every award show, so preparing a changed stage in a short time was one of the virtues idols had to have.‘This is why the leader is important.’Having done mid-checks for four classes from A to D, Hyeryeong was keenly feeling the difference a leader made.First, in the case of A class, there happened to be two leaders coexisting in an unusual way.“Ryu Ayeon” and “Seo Ryujin.”The presence of the two people the A class members called the “Double Ryu” was outstanding.From center, with overwhelming presence and skill, Ryu Ayeon led A class without many words, and Seo Ryujin, from behind, took care of the remaining members one by one and raised the team’s overall skill—an ideal structure.Seeing the two, Hyeryeong even thought they wouldn’t lose out even compared to currently active idols.‘They’re good. When kids who’re really good cluster together, synergy definitely happens.’‘At this rate, on the day of the stage, maybe only A class will be visible.’Not only Hyeryeong; the other judges, Lee Jungyoon and Ahn Seongho, had nothing but praise for the stage A class had shown.But unlike A class, the other classes rather felt dimmed because of their leaders.For example, B class, whose skill by itself was not that far below A class, had a stage where only a tiny minority shone.Leader “Park Soyeon” and the three or four people positioned at the head of the formation were the only ones who stood out.Watching that, Hyeryeong had been so upset that she nearly frowned without meaning to.‘Since it’s a survival, should I just let it go? But…’She knew, too.No matter how good a purpose and intent this program might have, at its root, it was still a “survival program.”Because of that, you couldn’t say it was bad for participants to seize chances to stand out on their own.No, in a program like this, not doing so would be foolish.Even so, there was only one reason why Hyeryeong felt so uneasy.‘Because idols aren’t something you do alone.’It was a common phenomenon in idol groups for popularity to be skewed among the members.However, once that “skew” began to cross the line into “everything piling onto one,” from that moment, the idol group started to lose its shine.Even G.G, the group Hyeryeong had belonged to, had been like that.At some point, as her popularity in G.G started to stand out especially, the relationships between the members, which had always been close, began to drift apart, and before she knew it, unless they were on a broadcast, they didn’t even talk in private anymore.And the popularity of G.G, which she had thought would last forever, began to fall from that point on and eventually reached disbandment.On the other hand, looking at the groups that were still doing well, Hyeryeong could find a common factor.‘Even if the members’ popularity differs, on stage they all shine, and they look cooler as a group than alone.’Realizing this far too late, all she could do now was hope the current participants wouldn’t repeat the same mistake she had.“We’re done with D class, and now only F class is left?”“But I don’t think the grade changes will be all that dramatic. It’s more like the ones who made mistakes will drop, or the ones whose real skill was always higher will move up.”While Hyeryeong was briefly lost in old memories, the evaluation for D class had already wrapped up.Choreographer Lee Jungyoon and producer Ahn Seongho, aside from Hyeryeong, both showed clear signs of disappointment at stages that hadn’t strayed from expectations.“F class felt similar, too, during training.”“F class’s leader was Lee Gahyeon, right? Anyway, if it’s the same as before, I’m not expecting much.”The atmosphere around the mid-check stage for F class, the last one remaining, was filled more with concern than with anticipation.‘This could be their chance.’Listening to the other judges’ worried remarks about F class, Hyeryeong agreed to a certain extent, but at the same time, she also felt a part of her looking forward to it.Back when she’d gone to train them, F class had shown a complete mess of a stage, but precisely because of that, they were the class with the greatest potential for growth.If someone who’d always been good made a mistake, it stood out more and drew more criticism, but in reality, if someone who’d always been bad did well just once, that person got praised.Since F class was the place where the participants with the weakest skills were gathered in the first place, they had the greatest room to grow over a short week of practice.“F class participants, come in.”Soon, the short break ended, and the F class members entered the auditorium for the mid-check.“Huh? Wasn’t the original leader of this class Gahyeon?”“We talked as a class and chose a new leader.”“Yeah?”The F class members who’d entered immediately took their formation on the stage set up in the auditorium, and seeing this, choreographer Lee Jungyoon asked a question.The formation was distinctly different from the one previously seen, so when the reason was asked, one F class participant answered that the leader had been changed.‘Nayeon has stepped up?’Jungyoon already knew the participant who’d given the answer.Zero One Entertainment’s Kim Nayeon.In the past, one of the trainees personally trained by Jungyoon.Jungyoon knew well that Nayeon’s true skill was outstanding even compared to other trainees.But Jungyoon also knew just as well that when Nayeon was actually on stage, nerves hit to an extreme—seeing Nayeon shaking with nerves on the Entrance Ceremony stage had been so frustrating and upsetting that it’d nearly burned Jungyoon up inside.However, no matter how close and beloved a student might be, as a judge, Jungyoon had to evaluate objectively.‘There are quite a few kids like Nayeon.’Trainees who couldn’t show their true skill in actual performance, unlike in practice, were more common than you’d think.Conversely, there were trainees who were just so-so in practice but shone the moment they got on stage, and interestingly, the latter had a higher probability of debuting.So Jungyoon had even been thinking of recommending that Nayeon give up on becoming an idol if Nayeon couldn’t overcome the pressure of real stages.But seeing Nayeon now, saying Nayeon had been newly chosen as F class leader, suddenly brought on a sense of expectation.For someone timid like Nayeon to volunteer for a position like leader could only mean that some change had occurred.If Nayeon would just break the shell, Nayeon had the skill not to lose to the A class participants at all.“But center isn’t Nayeon, it’s Sion?”“Yes, I judged that would be best for the stage.”“Hm…”Still, if there was something that nagged at the mind, it was the fact that center was not Nayeon but Lee Sion.‘Visually, Sion definitely fits center. The moment someone with that striking a look isn’t in center, the focus of watching the stage drops sharply.’From where Sion stood now in the center of F class’s formation, the sight was, to Jungyoon’s eyes, not only fitting but perfect.What worried Jungyoon was Sion’s skill.If Sion, who still had no basics, had taken center on looks alone, that choice might come back as disaster.Center was the spot most visible on stage, so if the skill was lacking, the weakness would be exposed as it was; at the very least, center had to have enough skill not to feel out of place.“I’ll watch the stage first.”“Okay!”It didn’t seem like only Jungyoon was feeling uneasy about Sion being used as center.Even Hyeryeong, who had recently evaluated Sion positively, was watching the stage with a slightly worried expression from the seat next to Jungyoon.***“Unni, I lived thanks to you.”“You just followed well.”Ryujin smiled like it was nothing at Park Jinju, a fellow A class participant sitting next to Ryujin and expressing thanks.‘Practice doesn’t lie.’Even so, Ryujin was feeling a considerable sense of pride right now.Starting with being the only one among the four Logic Entertainment trainees participating in this program to receive A grade.Among the A class participants whose skills were on the level of “flying and crawling,” Ryujin was clearly showing why Ryujin was a strong candidate for the final top seven.Having lived as a trainee since childhood, Ryujin had not only skill but also confidence in leading others, and fully displayed the qualities a leader should have, earning the full trust of the other A class participants.Because of that, while another A class celebrity, Ryu Ayeon, was mostly alone outside of practice, participants constantly flocked around Ryujin, asking for help.‘I may have given center to Ryu Ayeon, but I’ll definitely take first place.’The trainees who knew Seo Ryujin all pointed to effort as Ryujin’s greatest strength.A fighting spirit that relentlessly reached upward to a frightening degree.And a thorough effort that didn’t fall behind that fighting spirit.Those were the words that represented the person Seo Ryujin.For the sake of the team, Ryujin had judged it better for Ryu Ayeon to be center and taken a step back, but that didn’t mean there was any intention of yielding to the end.Up to now, there had not been a single thing Ryujin had set as a goal and failed to achieve.‘Come to think of it, that one was in F class too, right?’This mid-check was being held ahead of the live broadcast stage scheduled in a week.Having finished their stage first, the A class participants were sitting in one corner of the auditorium, watching the other classes’ stages.Ryujin was also keeping an eye on participants who might become possible rivals, but to be honest, up until now, the stages had been underwhelming and somewhat disappointing.But as F class’s turn approached, Ryujin unconsciously straightened posture and focused.Lee Sion.It was the class of the participant who, from even before the program started, had strangely gotten on Ryujin’s nerves.‘The skill was a mess, but…’In the waiting room, because of the expression Sion had worn—throwing glances that, at a glance, seemed rude enough to be looking down on Ryujin—Ryujin, stung in pointless pride, had prepared the Entrance Ceremony stage with utmost effort.But the skill Sion showed in that very last turn had been truly miserable.So afterward, judging Sion not to be a rival, interest had dropped away naturally.Yet for some reason, when it was time to watch F class’s stage, Ryujin felt attention being drawn again.“I’ll watch the stage first.”“Okay!”And then F class’s stage began.‘Center…?’Seeing Sion standing at the very front of the formation, Ryujin was startled.Even if it was F class, with the skill level /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Ryujin knew Sion to have, taking center was too much.At least by common sense, that was how it should have been.However,I’ve been waiting for this moment (Oh yeah)The light I’ve kept hiddenNow it’s time to show itYou can’t avoid my eyes‘…Why is she good?!’F class’s stage completely betrayed Ryujin’s expectations.Compared to D class, which had just performed, no—compared to any class except A class, their cohesion was better, and the stage was extremely stable.On top of that,It might just feel like a dreamBut I’ll become realityNow it’s my turnLet everyone remember meThe sight of Sion standing at center shocked Ryujin.Back on the Entrance Ceremony stage, Sion hadn’t even been able to connect the choreography, never mind hit the beat.But what Sion was showing now, with only slight exaggeration, was so flawless that Ryujin could have believed Sion was an A class participant.And what was even more astonishing,Pick me now, pick me wowThe name that will make you flutterAmong countless starsChoose me— right now!Was that Sion was even singing stably.‘Was Sion hiding skill? …No. Back then, what I saw was the movement of someone who hadn’t learned anything at all.’Because Ryujin had devoted self more than anyone to practice, Ryujin could be sure.At the Entrance Ceremony, Sion had not been hiding skill; Sion had been in a state with no basics whatsoever.Precisely because of that, the scene now was so incomprehensible it was unbelievable.There is only one chance“Right now it’s me, now is the time!”Seeing Sion, smiling brightly while singing the song’s highlight alone, Ryujin felt goosebumps rise without realizing it.“…An idol…”It was still hard to say, in terms of skill, that Sion was perfect.To Ryujin’s eyes, there were still spots here and there where the choreography and singing were lacking.But those small flaws didn’t matter.Because the sight of Sion leading F class and singing and dancing right now was exactly the idol image Ryujin had first dreamed of, a very long time ago.

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