The official Stardust Project article broke a week after my song selection.

The profile shooting and video evaluation of each trainee had been completed, but the press release that was distributed faster than expected was enough to heat up the community.

['Stardust Project' Dobbles Enter's ambitious work will succeed]

[Dobbles team up with TBN. Trainee Debut Project, Profile Revealed]

- is TBN is going crazy??? why are they using pros?

⨽ It must be because there are fans who will suck it up even if you use the same format

⨽ Is Dobbles insane? I thought they were gonna make a group but this looks like a talent show

⨽ So it's doomed?

⨽I looked around the profile, but honestly nothing caught my eye

⨽ Are there some stick outs?

⨽ I'd be angry if I were a trainee there

⨽are there any good kids?

- I don't believe in audition programs anymore lmaooo

⨽ Dobbles Entertainment got 22 people, 12 individual trainees ??? This is the worst. Don't play with children's dreams, you crazy idiots, why are you forcing personal training among the hard-working kids?

⨽ I hope that Dobbles will just live a long life and go bankrupt. ◝(ᵔᵕᵔ)◜

⨽ does Dobbles even need to do an audition show ??? they got enough awareness already

⨽ The purpose here is to screw with individual trainees. why don't we bring in the already debuted kids and raise them with a narrative? we'll cry and eat it up like a four-class meal and they still have a career.

⨽ but it wouldn't be fun without sacrifice.

⨽ I feel sorry for the children who will be taken advantage of wahhh

-Why is everyone reacting like this? Am I the only one excited? The future of male idols.

⨽ Senior idols are just trying to debut, but their forced into things like thisㅋㅋ

⨽ All of the trainees are there by their own will.

-Everyone expects it to fail, but let's be real, it'll work out and if it does it's everyone here's fault.

⨽ The power of large corporations?

⨽ The power of dumb asses.

⨽calling it now, the reaction here will make 180 degrees flip when it comes out

- Survival show idols are just products manipulated by their agency. They get beaten up here and there, and then they get edited like crazy, so their faces might just blend in in the background. If you say one word wrong, your career will be ruined forever

⨽ You guys are talking so much shit but I know when this airs, it'll be the hottest thing

⨽ I'm just here for the ride lol

⨽ I'm still gonna watch it

⨽ Me too I love drama

Below that, various evaluations followed along with the profile photos of the trainees that had already been taken.

- Anyways, who are your guy's faves right now?

⨽ Already? the show isn't even out yet (·•᷄‎ࡇ•᷅ )

⨽2 all the way

⨽ Some are pretty cute

⨽ No. 3, No. 7, and No. 19 is my preference

⨽ In this world, there are always people like you and it's awesome 

⨽ Oh wait some of them are my type

⨽ No. 3 This is a face that kids these days will like he looks like a fluffy hamster

⨽ cutie No. 3

⨽ I'm for number 21, my bank account is ready. (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)

⨽ I refuse to believe you guys are real people

⨽ You guys switch up so fast

Of course, there are good feedback, but since it is still before the program starts, there are overwhelmingly more bad opinions.

There are no fans to protect them, and no acquaintances to support them. It is no different from being thrown out naked in public.

"... I am number 3."

Am I cute?

It's nice to receive compliments after all this time.

I was proud of those comments and then closed the window. There were definitely some guys who had reactions similar to mine, but there seemed to be more faces that didn't.

"Ha, the real thing is better. I'm just not photogenic."

"Why? Are you upset?"

"... I don't know."

"You think you're going to fail?"

"There is also that..."

Heavy air settled in the practice room.

Some seemed even more depressed at hearing that the program was about to fail. Ha Junseo repeatedly sipped Americano with a serious face and banged his head against the wall.

A pretty messed up face.

I walked over to talk to him, but he was faster.

"How have you been?"

"Hey. I'm alright, how about you?"

"Good... about the program... what do you think?"

"It will be fine."

It was an instant response that came in less than a second.

Oh, did I say that too confidently?

I shrugged as I looked around, gloomily sinking like a shipwreck.

"It will definitely work out."

* * *

The morning of the first shoot finally dawned.

"To the right of the camera!"

"Are you done setting up?"

"I'll get the rest ready!"

"Minseo, wait a minute. Shall we get a comment first?"

"Dawon, are you here?"

"Yes, I am going!"

The main MC, Han Dawon, will be in charge of the Stardust project this time.

Since she was originally an actor, this was her first time hosting an audition program like this. Nevertheless, the natural actor's diction was also suitable for survival.

Ding-

The camera light turned on. Han Dawon opened her mouth in a calm voice.

"Today, here in the heart of the universe, thirty-four boys have entered the Stardust World."

"In order to survive in this harsh and cruel land, they need votes from our supporters."

The camera moves quickly and catches Han Dawon's voice.

It's a bit cheesy, but words that are faithful to the concept continue. Dawon smiled slightly as she stared straight into the camera.

"So the boys can achieve their dreams and settle on this new land. One vote could change everything. Are you ready?"

"Tada!"

The lights shine above Han Dawon's head along with a magnificent background track.

It looked like a halo. After finishing their makeup, the trainees who came out from the back blinked their eyes in surprise.

Soon, admiration erupted from all sides.

They didn't expect to see a top actor this close.

Small whispering voices came from the side.

"Wow, she's really stunning."

"A celebrity."

"...I'm seeing a celebrity for the first time."

"It feels surreal."

The crowd is already in a state of excitement.

I also nodded and made a shocked face.

Even if the camera doesn't seem to be spinning here, I've got to put in dramatic reactions to get some screen time.

First of all, you have to smile.

"Ah..."

Clap clap clap—

The desire to debut and that earnestness must be captured in the eyes.

It wasn't difficult because I was sincere.

As Dawon said, I was desperate for that one vote.

"Please. Let me debut."

The moment when I mumbled quietly, the staff rushed into the waiting room.

"Okay, let's start filming now!"

Rumble—

We lined up as a group and headed to the set.

The scale of the set was astonishing.

It was so high and splendid that I couldn't tell how high the ceiling was even when I stretched my neck out.

Of course, instead of admiring things like that...

"How much does it cost to produce?"

I have become a little more realistic as an adult. I muttered a little and sat down in the prepared seat.

At that moment, Ha Junseo, who was sitting next to me, started talking.

"Hm? what are you thinking?"

His strong senses made my throat dry up. Junseo finished drinking a cup of americano and took another tumbler from his bag.

He opened his mouth softly, seeing my horrified gaze at his americano.

"Oh, I think I will need it today. Want some?"

"I'll try a sip."

"Here."

Shook.

Without much thought, I took the mug offered to me, and gulped it down.

I almost spit it out on the spot.

"Cheup! Eghh..."

Crazy, what did I drink? Poison?

"How many shots did you put in this?"

"I don't usually do this much, but today.. lightly... about five shots?"

"Yes?"

Is this a bittersweet americano?

Or are you trying to eliminate a competitor?

Suddenly, he looks different.

Judging from the smiling face, it seems it was not an assassination attempt.

"Do you really drink like this every day?"

"When I'm more nervous, I put in twice more."

"Shots?"

Ha Junseo nodded brightly and smiled.

"It's because you're still young, just wait a few years."

Nope. Even in my past life I never tried to overdose with caffeine.

It ended with a rather plausible conclusion.

"If you do this, your stomach will rot."

"Uh... will it?"

"I just saw you blink one eye at a time like a lizard."

"I'll live."

"No, throw it away."

While trying to save a person's life and stealing Ha Junseo's poison Americano, the staff came forward again.

Seeing as a group of 15 people fell to the back, it seemed that the first round of evaluation had begun in earnest.

It was only then that I began to feel the pressure that made me want to swallow a sip of the bittersweet poisonous Americano.

"Personal trainee Kang Siwoo, please come out."

This is the start.

* * *

Superb judges that you would know just by hearing their names. In the meantime, the judges and CEO, who had been watching Dobbles as they were eating, called my name up.

I'm in line at the back of the stage with Ha Junseo.

"Oh... I am trembling."

"But you didn't even blink an eye in fear until now?"

"Would you like some poison?"

"No."

"Wow!"

Feeling the regret of swallowing a mouthful of bittersweet americano, I can still hear the harsh evaluation from behind the stage.

"Choi Won-seok trainee, I like everything, but isn't the look in his eyes a little off?"

"You seem to have no will."

"I don't know what you want to show me here."

"This isn't a joke."

Because I was conscious of the broadcast, I made a neutral face. The ten trainees in line standing in front sighed. The kids already look like they want to go home.

"Aughh..."

I'm not the only one nervous. Ha Junseo widened his eyes and shook his shoulders as if he was dying.

"Does my existence depend on this?"

"Just drink your poison."

"Oh, it seems I'm getting better."

After drinking the poison, he immediately came back to life.

It's like some sort of healing potion in a video game

Ha Junseo looked back and smiled.

I'm sorry I judged you...

Well, not really.

In the meantime, my mind was busy reviewing the strategy I had prepared.

My monthly evaluation ranking at the end of each month was not special.

I was never given titles such as being a talented trainee or an up-and-coming rising star.

So, there is another title I want to get.

'An unexpected dark horse.'

Such a title was much more attractive.

Meanwhile, drug addict Kevin stepped forward. I don't know what he did, but the sound of cheers didn't stop.

It was so loud that the back of the stage rang.

"Kevin trainee."

The judges also poured out their words in excitement.

"Ah, you are really impressive."

"That was the best performance I saw today."

"As expected."

"At our entertainment, he was famous from the beginning. Right, teacher Minseo?"

"I think the singing and dancing were all perfect."

"Ah, a true rookie came out after a long time. He will definitely debut."

It's not for nothing that they talked like that.

I'm not trying to flatter him, but Kevin's stage was great.

It's a problem because he's a drug addict in the future, and he wasn't a person who couldn't perform on stage.

"The stage is great, isn't it?"

Ha Junseo stuck out his tongue and scanned the surroundings.

There weren't many people waiting.

Then, among them, there is someone who will prepare for the next stage.

Ha Junseo brought out a thought similar to mine.

"I don't know who's next, but I feel really bad for them."

"Me too."

Kevin is an overkill anyway. My skills aren't good enough to win in the first evaluation against him.

I'm glad to avoid that sequence.

However.

"Please prepare the next trainee."

The staff rushed over and shouted urgently.

"Who's next? Ah, Do Seohan."

Seriously?