Chapter 16: Survival Show - Cover Song (1)
A week had passed since the audition filming day, and anticipation was high among our members. We regularly checked UNET's UTube channel for any updates on the pre-release of our audition video.
Despite our expectations, the next filming day arrived without any new uploads from UNET. Instead, a flurry of articles promoting Pick We Up flooded the internet, likely a coordinated effort by UNET and the major agencies involved.
"Do we really not need to prepare anything?" Joo-Han questioned as we made our way to the filming site for the second shoot.
The manager chuckled in response. "We did prepare makeup and hair."
"...Not that kind of preparation. You know what I mean." Joo-Han wasn’t in the mood for jokes. His concern was valid. Unlike the Cha-Cha audition where we had diligently prepared for a month, we were heading into this shoot with no preparation or briefing on the content. Hence, as the leader, Joo-Han’s anxiety was understandable.
Trying to lighten the mood, the manager said, "Let's not be in a hurry. Today is just for greetings among the cast and explaining the survival format."
"That's right, Joo-Han hyung. You have been like this even at the dorm, right? It hasn't even started yet." Lee Jin-Sung chimed in. Since the audition ended successfully, Joo-Han had been anxious about not preparing for anything and just having basic lessons. He had never been this nervous, even for monthly evaluations or debut team auditions. Somehow, the survival competition against other agency groups in Chronos's first broadcast appearance seemed to be particularly burdensome for him.
To give him some reassurance, I said, “Hyung, I watched the show last year, and they really didn't do much on the first day. Why worry? We're already on our way."
"True." Joo-Han conceded, though his concern lingered. He was the type to prepare meticulously, starting a month ahead for any evaluation, and he was not comfortable with impromptu tasks. The possibility of an unplanned performance was likely at the root of his anxiety.
As the manager and the rest of us tried to comfort Joo-Han, we arrived at the filming location, and the sight that greeted us was awe-inspiring.
"Wow, what is this place?"
The building, a three-story structure made entirely of transparent glass, housed a spacious practice room equipped with the latest sound equipment.
"You don't know this place, hyung?" Lee Jin-Sung teased Goh Yoo-Joon. "It's the biggest practice room in Hongdae."
"Really?"
"I used to rent it often when I was in my dance team. They seem to have renovated it."
“Oh, I see.”
“The owner changes the equipment every year…”
Just then, a loud cheer echoed, "Aaah!"
“Tae-Joon!”
“Joon-Woo!!! Aaaaah!”
We all froze, our attention drawn to the commotion. A group from a major agency, probably YU Entertainment, was making a grand entrance, surrounded by cheering fans. Their glamorous arrival stood in stark contrast to our low-key entry.
"Why are they so popular already?" Goh Yoo-Joon muttered, his expression a mix of awe and frustration.
I patted his back, offering a dose of reality. "You shouldn't compare us to them. They're official trainees from a big agency, and they already have twenty thousand UTube subscribers."
I sighed internally, recalling the memories of my past life. This group had always overshadowed Elated, taking the top spot regardless of how good Elated’s songs were. They played a significant role in Elated’s eventual disbandment, and the memory still stung me.
After I joined their company as a trainer, it turned out that they had deliberately cut Elated off, knowing Elated would be their competitor. However, I had never told the other group members about it.
Watching them blankly, Park Yoon-Chan hesitantly asked the manager, "Hyung, when will our channel be set up?"
We had been carrying cameras around since our profile shoot, so we had been anticipating the company to establish our channel.
As the manager took out the car key and guided the members into the building, he replied, "UNET told us to wait to avoid spoilers. The profile shot has been edited, and it will be uploaded in a couple of days after the pre-release."
"But when is that pre-release? We have been staring at our computers for a week because you didn't tell us."
"I was planning to ask during today's shooting because I haven’t heard about it either. UNET is being very secretive. We should plan to set up our schedule, but they are not being very cooperative."
Our manager seemed to harbor a notable degree of dissatisfaction with UNET. However, UNET’s attitude was understandable as they wanted to capture our real reactions for the show and prevented us from practicing in advance.
"They didn't even tell us the filming schedule, but they contacted YU Entertainment right after their audition. I cannot tolerate this discrimination," grumbled the manager.
“Hey, hyung. Stop getting mad and let’s head into the filming set. Those gazes over there are intimidating,” Park Yoon-Chan said. Ever since we arrived, fans of the YU trainees had been looking at us with wary eyes. After all, our manager was loudly voicing his complaints about the major agency, so it seemed they were listening in case he talked shit about their artists.
We were sad, but as an insignificant and non-famous group without any fans, what could we do? The only option we had was to keep our mouths shut and quietly enter the building.
Upon reaching the second floor, we encountered a bustling scene as the cast chatted animatedly in the hallway just outside the practice room.
"Ah, hello," we greeted somewhat awkwardly.
"Hi." The tentative responses came from the other trainees and staff whom we didn't recognize. In return, we nodded shyly in acknowledgment.
"We are Chronos." Our voices weren't as loud as usual, but it was not only us. The others also responded timidly.
“H…hi, we are High Tension.”
Their name caught our attention, leading us to wonder why all the group names seemed to carry a certain... vibe. Despite their high-energy name, the members of High Tension appeared quite subdued. Perhaps this was their first time meeting trainees from another agency, so it was understandable. Nerves could get the best of anyone, regardless of their agency’s size.
"Hello! We're The Street! Street Center!" Another enthusiastic greeting rang out.
The greetings continued as various groups introduced themselves. Some were recording for their official channels, while the others huddled in corners, perhaps too shy to engage in social conversation. The ones in the corners were likely trainees from lesser-known agencies who just barely made the lineup.
'Have I seen them before?'
Although I never debuted as an idol, I always monitored all the debuts in the industry, but I didn't recall ever seeing them...
"Oh, hello..." My gaze locked with one of the trainees in the midst of their group. Just as I was about to lower my head in greeting, the trainee quickly averted their eyes with a frown.
"What is his problem?"
Even the prideful trainees from major agencies came to greet us first. Though it was expected as major agency trainees got rigorous character education, this guy was blatantly ignoring or disliking me.
'What did I do? Who is he?’
As I was getting upset and forgetting about the cameras around, Goh Yoo-Joon tapped on my shoulder. "What's up?"
He followed my gaze, but I quickly looked away. "Nothing. When does the shooting start?"
"I don't know. I only saw you zoning out."
Just then, the door to the practice room opened and a staff member poked their head out.
"We are starting the shooting. Trainees, please come in."
The trainees shuffled into the practice room with the staff's instruction. Some confidently said they'd do well, while others, like us, were accompanied by a frantic manager.
"Good luck! I will be watching from outside! Report to me what is going on during the break, Joo-Han. Let me know if you need anything and about the competition too..."
"Don't worry too much. I've just managed to calm my nerves," said Joo-Han. He was indeed the leader. He seemed to be the most nervous of us earlier, but he quickly pulled himself together as the shooting was about to start and led our group inside.
As we entered the practice room, we heard some trainees gasping.
"Come on in, juniors." The person greeting us with a playful or intrigued voice was Reina, whom we had met at the audition site. The camera was already rolling before we entered the practice room, and she was holding cue cards in her hands.
We all stood around awkwardly until Reina, wearing her bright smile, started. "Nice to see you all again. I’m Reina, and I will be your host for Pick We Up. I’m so excited to be here."
"We will do our best!" We all responded in unison, bowing and greeting her. Reina was a role model for every trainee aspiring to be a top idol, and her presence was inspiring.
She scanned the room, glanced at her cue cards, and continued, "It might feel a bit strange for some of you that we are meeting in a practice room and not in a fancy studio."
"It’s fine," muttered the trainees as they shook their heads. Most other survival shows held their first meetings in studios, so she was probably addressing this difference for the viewers at home. For us trainees, the location didn’t really matter.
"First, please take a seat where your group’s name is written,” Reina instructed. We all quickly found our assigned seats, and she continued while maintaining her smile. "The reason we are starting the shooting in a practice room is..." She paused, looking around at us, even though we could all sense that the pause was meant to build suspense for the show.
Nonetheless, it left us feeling anxious.
"To all of you who will lead the future of K-POP, we are excited to unveil the theme for the first day of the competition." Reina’s announcement caught everyone off guard. After all, it was too abrupt, and we were not prepared at all, as Joo-Han had mentioned. Unfazed by the trainees’ reaction, Reina read off the last sentence from the script.
"The first competition theme requires you to cover your agency's representative song."
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