Translator: Dreamscribe
"...Well done."
Even Hye-ryeong herself was flustered by the brevity of her own evaluation.
‘No, but this performance really can’t be described any other way, though?’
Class F.
The performance shown by Class F, which had gathered the most underperforming contestants below A, B, C, and D, was enough to surprise Hye-ryeong.
Just a few days ago when she visited to supervise their practice, Class F’s performance had felt more like a middle or high school talent show than an actual performance.
But what Hye-ryeong had just seen was, compared to the other classes, except for maybe Class A, the most complete and polished performance.
‘Their skills didn’t suddenly skyrocket. They just brute-forced everything into this performance like maniacs!’
Since they were all idol trainees to begin with, even though Class F’s contestants were lacking in ability, they were still participants who had some experience in singing and dancing.
That meant that while they may have been behind compared to higher-grade contestants, if they repeated the same moves dozens or hundreds of times, they could still make it look decent regardless of skill level.
Hye-ryeong, watching Class F’s performance now, immediately understood that this was exactly what they had done.
Of course, as Class F generally had weaker skills, there were inevitable shortcomings in terms of polish and completeness,
‘But they covered that up cleverly.’
First was Kim Na-yeon, who had just been newly elected as leader.
Hye-ryeong could see that Na-yeon had taken on the more difficult and demanding parts of the performance to compensate for the other contestants' weaknesses.
Of course, the fact that those parts were tough for others meant they were inherently difficult, so taking them on herself was by no means an easy task.
However, Na-yeon pulled off those high-difficulty parts with ease and demonstrated that she could lead the stage with stability.
“She’s showing her real skill now.”
“You know her?”
“Yeah, she was one of the trainees I coached back during Zero One training.”
According to Lee Jung-yoon, who had been watching the performance with her, Na-yeon was originally skilled enough to be in Class A, but on actual stages, she would get nervous and fail to show her true abilities.
However, contrary to Jung-yoon’s words, Na-yeon was showing off such outstanding ability now that she stood out as one of the most notable contestants in Class F.
“Ga-hyun did pretty well too, right?”
“Yes. Back when she was leader, she seemed really stiff, but now she looks a lot more relaxed and natural.”
And if there was anyone else in Class F who stood out aside from Na-yeon, it was Lee Ga-hyun.
Lee Ga-hyun, who had been the leader and center before Na-yeon, hadn’t shown much skill back then and had received mostly poor evaluations.
But in today’s performance, she had moved to the middle row instead of the center and delivered stable singing and dancing, which was very impressive.
Honestly, even if Na-yeon had taken on the more difficult parts to reduce the burden on the others, she still couldn’t manage everything alone, and needed someone to support her.
That role had been taken on by Lee Ga-hyun, who controlled the other members from the center of the formation and created a cohesive connection.
As a result, although she wasn’t flashy or attention-grabbing, experts like Hye-ryeong and Jung-yoon could immediately recognize how crucial her role was.
‘And finally, Lee Si-on. What on earth is with this girl?’
If Na-yeon had impressed Hye-ryeong with her overwhelming skills, and Ga-hyun with her role as the glue connecting everything, then Lee Si-on gave Hye-ryeong a shock like she had been struck with a hammer.
‘You have a nice vocal tone. But your pitch shakes in certain parts because of your breathing. So keep repeating the breathing technique I taught you. That way, you’ll eventually be able to use it stably even while singing.’
Just a few days ago, after finishing the F class’s training, Hye-ryeong had called Si-on aside to offer some brief advice.
Of course, she hadn’t expected it to improve immediately, she taught it thinking it would help someday down the road.
Among the countless stars
Choose me- now!
Watching Si-on sing the highlight part of “Spotlight” smoothly and stably, Hye-ryeong had to cover her gaping mouth with her hand.
Otherwise, a scream might have escaped without her realizing it.
‘There are still parts that need improvement, for sure.’
It wasn’t that Si-on had delivered a perfect performance.
If Na-yeon hadn’t taken on the difficult parts, or if Ga-hyun hadn’t adjusted the formation and kept the timing throughout the performance.
Then it probably would have been impossible for Si-on to perform without issues at the center position like she just did.
To put it more bluntly, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the rest of Class F sacrificed themselves entirely to make Si-on stand out.
‘That sacrifice shone because she was worth it!’
But in Hye-ryeong’s opinion, that strategy was excellent.
Though not yet fully polished, Si-on’s mere presence in the center, someone who naturally drew people’s attention, completely changed the atmosphere of the stage.
If Si-on alone had stood out in the center, Hye-ryeong would’ve thought the performance was a failure, like the one from Class B earlier.
But instead, centered around Si-on, the entire Class F stood out together.
Hye-ryeong could clearly see that because Si-on, as the center, was slightly imperfect, the others filled in those gaps, and the overall completeness of the stage increased.
‘This is what a real idol group should show...’
Not just one person shining, but everyone shining because of one person.
It was also the exact image Hye-ryeong had longed for back in the day when she was in the group G.G.
***
“I want to sleep.”
“I just want to collapse right here on the auditorium floor.”
“I don’t think I care what evaluation I get anymore.”
After Class F’s performance concluded, the judges went into a brief meeting.
Once that meeting ended, the final grade changes would be announced. Since this grade would carry over to the 'Music Count' live broadcast stage, the tension among the contestants was high.
That is, everyone except Class F.
“You’re weak. Whining over something this minor.”
“You’re the crazy one.”
“Huh?”
Na-yeon looked at me and called me crazy.
During the past five days of practicing together, Na-yeon had begun treating me without any formality.
Gone was the sweet and gentle version of her. These days, she treated me like I was some punching bag, as if my mother, Kim Sukja, had possessed her or something.
“The kids barely slept four hours a day for the past five days while training. It’s a miracle no one collapsed.”
“This is what’s wrong with kids these days. Four hours is plenty.”
At my words, Na-yeon began glaring at me like fire would shoot from her eyes.
Of course, I did acknowledge that I had pushed Na-yeon into driving Class F really hard during the training period.
But it’s not like I did that for my own benefit, right?
It was all for the sake of Class F receiving good evaluations...
“Boomer.”
“What?!”
“Unnie really is a super boomer.”
As I was talking with Na-yeon, Lim Yun-kyung suddenly jumped into the conversation with that outburst, and my mind went blank.
A boomer!
How could she utter such nonsense about someone as open-minded and culturally progressive as me?
“What’s a super boomer?”
“A super boomer.”
And not just a regular boomer, but calling me a super boomer, Yun-kyung’s mocking words were enough to make my body, which even the grueling practice hadn’t worn down, sway as if I might collapse.
“No one has been as selfless as I-!”
“Oh! Unnie, quiet. The judges are coming out.”
Just as I was about to protest my innocence, Yun-kyung told me to be quiet because the judges were coming, and I had no choice but to shut my mouth even though I was still fuming.
“Thank you for waiting. First, we could clearly see how hard you all worked over the past week to prepare for this mid evaluation...”
Among the judges, Producer Ahn Sung-ho stepped forward as the representative and began announcing the results.
However,
‘Still, I was the center, so I should at least move up to Grade D, right? Or maybe, if they’re being generous, they'll bump me up to Grade C?’
Unlike the other contestants who were frozen with tension at the announcement, I didn’t feel particularly nervous.
Considering how rushed this mid evaluation performance had been, it had turned out surprisingly well, and I figured I could probably make it to my original goal of a mid-tier grade like D or C.
“First, from Class B...”
Every time Producer Ahn Sung-ho called out a contestant's name, cheers of joy or silent cries of despair echoed around the room.
As it had been announced that the broadcast screen time would differ based on grades, to the contestants, their grades weren’t just a measure of skill, they represented the distance to their dreams. In that sense, all the reactions were only natural.
“Haah... my grade didn’t go up.”
“Don’t be disappointed. B grade is still a high grade.”
When the grade adjustments for Class B were finished, Kim Soo-yeon let out a sigh and expressed her regret.
Having been with me since the beginning of the program and even sharing a dorm room, I knew very well how hard Soo-yeon had worked, so even if it was cliché, I couldn’t help but offer words of comfort.
“But unnie, what on earth did Class F do?”
“Huh?”
“No, I mean, their performance during the mid evaluation was insanely good. Honestly, I think they were better than our Class B.”
It wasn’t anything special.
Other than sleeping and eating, we did nothing but practice, and that’s what made that performance possible.
‘Why do you all practice with such a poor attitude?’
‘This is too hard. We’ve never trained this harshly before....’
‘Silence!!! The clothes you’re wearing, the meals you’re eating, and even the place you’re practicing in, there’s not a single thing that isn’t paid for by the viewers’ sweat and tears! And you’re complaining about this level of training? If you’re looking for comfort, just quit right now!’
Sure, a few complaints had popped up along the way, but after hearing my fiery speech, the members of Class F broke into tears and snot and deeply repented...
“Si-on unnie got beaten up in the middle of it though.”
“Shh!”
“What, was everything you just said a lie?”
Just as I was proudly recounting my legendary training story, Lim Yun-kyung suddenly cut in.
“No, it’s not a lie, it’s just...”
“This unnie has crazy stamina, so she tried to force everyone else to practice 22 hours a day like her. She got caught and almost got lynched. If I hadn’t helped, she would’ve been injured and forced to leave by now.”
Kghk.
Maybe it’s because Yun-kyung’s still young, but she has this awful habit of blurting things out without a filter.
“I could’ve taken on 17 of them at once...”
Honestly, there was so much I wanted to argue.
It had only been five days. It’s not like I told them to pull all-nighters. I just suggested we sleep two or three hours and practice the rest. Was that really such a crime?
Yet instead of praising me, the ungrateful members of Class F, including that traitor Kim Na-yeon, ganged up on me.
Only two people didn’t join in on beating me up.
Annoying though they were, I had to acknowledge the loyalty of Yun-kyung and the former Class F leader, Lee Ga-hyun.
Yun-kyung I could understand, but it had been unexpected that Ga-hyun didn’t join the attack.
Even now, I briefly made eye contact with Ga-hyun, who was looking at me with a vague, unreadable expression, and I couldn’t figure out what she meant by it.
“Next, we will announce the grade adjustments for Class D and Class F.”
“Unnie, it’s our turn!”
While we were chatting, the time had come for the grade announcements for Class D and Class F.
“First of all, the performance Class F showed today far exceeded expectations. After a discussion among the judges, we’ve decided to make a bold adjustment.”
At Judge Ahn Sung-ho’s mention of a “bold grade adjustment” the trainees began murmuring.
“We will downgrade all Class D members to Grade F, and conversely, promote all Class F members to Grade D.”
Boom!
If this had been a broadcast, a sound effect like that would have exploded.
Every single Class F member upgraded to Grade D, and all of Class D downgraded to Grade F, an outcome so shocking and extreme that no one could open their mouths. They simply stared wide-eyed.
And as a few moments passed, the previously sleepy faces of the Class F members gradually lit up with joy.
If it weren’t for the nearby Class D members who were shedding tears, they might have burst out in cheers, but they held back and whispered amongst themselves, saying things like “No way!” and “We did it!” in excitement.
“And Class F contestant Kim Na-yeon.”
“...Yes.”
But that wasn’t the end.
Na-yeon responded in a slightly trembling voice when the judge called her name.
"You handled a very difficult role well in this performance. You've been promoted to Class A."
"...Thank you!"
At the shocking promotion from Class F to Class A, Na-yeon's voice shook to the point that she eventually burst into tears.
‘Well, Na-yeon had the skills to deserve Class A.’
Is this what it feels like for parents to send their grown children out into the world?
Seeing Na-yeon overcome her stage fright with my last-resort method and rise all the way to Class A filled me with pride, and I clapped with all my might.
"Next is contestant Lee Ga-hyun."
"Huh? Ah, yes!"
Surprisingly, it didn’t end with Na-yeon.
Lee Ga-hyun, startled as if she hadn’t expected it at all, answered with surprise when Judge Ahn Sung-ho called her name.
"You didn’t stand out on stage this time, but you played an important role very well. You're promoted to Grade C."
"Thank you!!"
The judges were definitely sharp.
I, too, believed that the reason our Class F could deliver such a good performance was largely thanks to Ga-hyun, who, even after stepping down from her role as leader, continued working to keep the group connected in an organic way. It seemed the judges had picked up on that exactly.
‘Well, it would’ve been nice if I landed in the middle too, like Grade C, but I should be satisfied since I escaped Class F.’
Since I achieved my minimum goal of escaping Class F, I was about to conclude this mid evaluation with a sense of satisfaction.
"Lastly, contestant Lee Si-on."
"...Yes?"
"You've been promoted to Class A."
...I heard something crazy.
*****
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