"Everyone, please proceed onstage with your team!"

One of the staff requested which all of us obeyed and proceeded to walk toward the stage. I could seriously feel the tension circulating the contestants. Everyone around is so nervous.

The look on their faces as they walk past or ahead of me was evident due to the shift in their expressions. Some pressed themselves to smile for the audience, and some, looked like they had already given up.

"Does anyone know how many of us will be eliminated today?"

"No... They didn't announce anything."

"How about the votes? Do you guys think that'll save us? I don't care about the first, second, or third place anymore. I just want to remain here for a while."

"Gosh, sorry for us then. No one announced anything for today, I guess they're going to surprise us."

"Welp, it's been fun hanging out and fighting with you all...hahaha."

Multiple whispers can be heard left and right. Either depressing, farewells, or the joy of being able to be a part of this program. It's drowning the stairway toward the stage and, of course, I'm listening to every single of it.

I couldn't help but feel a bit down in their place. And because of how the show would probably only have like ten episodes below. Keeping forty-four contestants is an expensive investment since the program had to cover a lot of things.

Furthermore, keeping up with a lot of performances would extend each episode so the show must be cutting a lot of parts just like the first episode.

To those who got little to no screentime— I think it's obvious that they'll likely be thrown away once the lights on this stage turn on.

...and that, indeed, what was currently happening.

As I stood in between Ryujin and Yizhuo, both of their arms were linked to mine, hands clenching onto my hand. Pfft, they say they weren't worried, but look at them looking all nervous.

Haha, that's normal I guess.

On a side note, I could never imagine how the lower rankers feel right now— the contrast between us on the top was too high and I feel bad. The hellos and goodbyes, they must be thinking about it now.

「Congratulations to team dOra maar for placing in third place!」

Boa announced that everyone in the audience threw the stage with claps and cheers. That, I kind of already expected to happen since Heejin and that girl named Choi Yoona practically carried their team's asses.

After a few moments, when the crowd finally subsided, Boa smiled at the card she was holding and seemingly glanced at the "Like It Hot" team and mine before clearing her throat.

「This now brings us to the last two teams who were left unannounced. Please take one step forward— Team Like It Hot and team Jaws.」

That instant, the crowd's clap, and cheers were louder than before. We, the mentioned teams, took a step forward and gazed at Boa with full anticipation.

I don't really feel all that nervous and worried but my heart still thumps hard when getting to know the results. Also, I have gotta mention how my hands are getting murdered from getting held onto so tight by these two beside me.

I wanted to do something about it and shake them away. But did nothing in the end as the cameras all over the place can regard me as being rude or annoyed at them.

I'll leave them be.

「The winning team in this second round will be excluded from the downvotes the program has recently approved. To the contestants who knew nothing about it. This was the new system Idol Factory had introduced, it is called Upvoting and Downvoting.」

Everyone behind me onstage began to whisper and we who were upfront got confused. Though, I remained unfazed like usual— Upvoting and what now?!

Boa then read the next card in her hand and commenced explaining everything.

Upvoting used to be the only way to place your biases higher in ranks while the newly introduced Downvoting would do the opposite and affect twenty percent of the total of your Upvotes.

So, uh, hate votes?

This could potentially harm my current rank if I had haters... But do I even have haters? I thought about this and looked around the audience, only to see three to five fans waving at me with smiles on their faces.

Okay, maybe I don't have them just yet...

It's still dangerous!

「And the winner of this second round is... dududududuuunnnn...」

Boa smiled at the card and began making drum effects with her voice while us two teams gazed at her immensely. Then, Ryujin and Yizhuo—AHHH!! My hand is going to go sore tomorrow, I freaking swear!

Pursing my lips to endure the slight pain from their grips, I swallowed my spit and solely watched Boa walk around as if trying to prolong the moment- damn, please hurry up.

「The winner is...」

The crowd fell into deep silence which created more anticipation between us two teams. Boa kept walking and walking— and I kept screaming and screaming internally, because of my hand. My attention should be on this revelation, not on these two!

「The winner is Team Like It Hot!!!」

Immediately, the crowd that was just silent cheered the loudest they could be tonight. It stung my ears for a second but that didn't matter when I saw the gloom on my teammates' expressions.

They said they weren't worried, but they didn't mention anything about feeling sad about it. So, I understood. They, who worked their very best for earning the highest ranks... lost against the lowers.

At that very moment, Ryujin and Yizhuo's grip finally softened and their stiff postures slackened. As for me? Okay, I gotta admit. That got me devastated. But at the same time, Jimin and the others deserved it.

They worked just as hard as us- No, everyone worked hard today and did their very best. We all did well...

And holy shit!

I'm going to have one of my statuses reset all the way back to F-tier.

I sighed.

However, instead of keeping their gloomy expressions, everyone changed into smiles and congratulated the winners by shaking their hands. Jimin was the first to approach me and displayed a half-assed smirk while shaking my hand.

"Hehe, I beat you," she whispered when she got close enough amidst the handshaking.

"Wha...What?" No, really. I don't know what was happening, so I stuttered and looked at her for a second, and chuckled. "Okay, Jimin. Congratulations on beating me."

Next was Aeri, "Yo, Minjeongie. I looked sexy in specs, right?"

I raised a brow, "What the-" I shook my head to throw away the confusion that was gradually piling up in my head. "You know what, never mind... And yes, you look sexy in specs."

That's when she laughed as if in victory and punched Somi on the shoulder who stood next to her, waiting for her turn to shake my hand. Then, in response, Somi slapped her butt before turning to shake my hand.

"We made a bet on how you'd either disregard her question or actually agree." Somi narrowed her eyes, "Minjeongie, you shouldn't have!" she frowned her lips and I just smiled.

Next was Yujin, "If you're wondering what the bet was— Chicken, it was a bucket of fried chicken."

The smile on my face wasn't going away, "It's a wonder how they don't get that much weight."

"Tell me about it!"

And last, was Jisu. With a bright-looking smile, she took my hand and shook it softly. "Are your hands okay?"

"Ah..."

I didn't know what to say as she promptly retreated her hand. This was our first exchange of words and this is what I get? Haha, that's actually kind of silly. Was she aware of what happened to me in the middle of the announcement?

"Ryujin and Yizhuo... They can be too strong sometimes."

"Oh, so you know."

"I speak from experience," She giggled.

The congratulating on each other ended shortly and it was now time to announce the top ten rankers of the earlier mentioned voting system. We were all back to our spots and waited for Boa to announce everything.

She talked about how we don't have much more time and joked about the minors in the audience about their curfew.

Everyone laughed.

Not wanting to stall any more time, she flipped the cards on her hand and motioned her hand toward the big screen onstage.

「Please show us the top ten!」

(A/N: ↓↓ Poll event triggered!!! ↓↓)

When the screen on stage changed from Idol Factory's logo, the top ten contestants were shown onscreen and gasps were gathered from the audience. Everyone was shocked and, simultaneously, I saw Ryujin looking expressionless yet with pursed lips.

Looking at it, even I was shocked.

1st: Kim Minjeong
2nd: Uchinaga Aeri
3rd: Yu Jimin
4th: Ning Yizhuo
5th: Hwang Yeji
6th: Lee Chaeryeong
7th: Shin Yuna
8th: Choi Jisu
9th: Jeon Somi
10th: Ahn Yujin

Ryujin was nowhere seen in the top ten.

*DING*

[ Conditions were met! ]
- Player will receive a permanent skill
* Now creating a unique skill depending on how the player used the system *
* Processing... *

*DING*

[ Skill Obtained ]
<Glitch Lvl. 1>
- Holder can warp and manipulate technology at a short distance of 5 meters.
+ Cooldown: 15hrs (Changeable depending on level)
+ Uses Remaining: 1