★ The Second Life Idols Lucky Plan – Chapter 105

The following performance of the second group was not as bad as the idol makers had feared.

Although the level of completion and impact was low compared to the stage performed by Group 1 just before, the performance was roughly put together, unlike the mid-term evaluation released on the VCR.

It was a stage where everyone did the minimum, but two stood out: Yu Chan-hee and Aiden Lee. Idol makers evaluated Group 2's performance that way.

Of course, this was all the culmination of the blood, sweat, and tears of Aiden Lee, the "genius" who was tricked by Yoo-ha's provocation to stop pouting, and Yu Chanhee, who was given the title of leader while crying and eating ice cream. Still, thanks to the exquisitely edited VCR, viewer's minds were protected.

In any case, after the 1st and 2nd group's stages were over, the idol makers watching the final episode of <Design Your Idol> both on-site and outside the TV were unable to hide their nervousness.

-Ha....... You'd better announce it sooner before I start a riot.

-I came to praise you on a moonlit night. Please, please, Wonhyo, let's debut ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ

-I can't believe I got into this survival sh*t to mock it, and now I am sobbing.

-Does this make sense? Making people fall in love and then taking them away is what the devil would do. Anet, you bastards, I can't let go of even one of these people.

///PRD: The commenter is referring to a tradition in Korea. It is said that the first person to see the moon rise will have good luck all year, or a wish will be granted.///

The end had come.

The total broadcast period was two months, half a year for the trainees. The long survival has now come to an end. It was a time when the idol makers could not hide their feelings due to their regrets, nervousness, and anticipation about the following ranking announcement ceremony.

"Ah...!"

"Aaaah!"

"Guys!!"

In the final scene, the idol makers, who thought the trainee's performance had ended, suddenly burst into cheers at the sight of the trainees who appeared before them.

As expected, <Design Your Idol>, did not try to miss any touching points until the end.

-I remember the day we first met.

I only knew that I was dreaming

-It was dark, and I couldn't see anything in front of my eyes.

The light came, and we met...

Boys wearing light white jackets and matching pants stand under the lights illuminating the stage, holding microphones with colored lace ribbons wrapped around their hands. The twenty trainees began to sing in calm voices.

The song specially produced for the final broadcast was created by gathering the ideas of all 20 surviving trainees and was a kind of fan song in which all the trainees had a stake.

The scene turned into a sea of ​​tears as the lyrics contained gratitude for meeting idol makers and being able to endure the long journey, as well as support and longing for the trainees who had already been eliminated and who would follow.

The reactions of idol makers watching the scene on TV were no different.

-ANET, I hope you cry

- I'm crying ahhhh

- I hate corporations, but now I want to bow down 100 times. I don't want to drop anyone. ):

-Ah, it feels so real... It's really over....

- oh, my babies, I'm gonna die

-Guys, you really, really worked hard. I was so happy getting to know you and watching your efforts. I hope only flowery paths unfold in your future lives.

While the comments section and online community posts continued to show disappointment over the last broadcast and support and prayers for the trainees, the camera busily scanned the trainees' appearances.

The trainees who took their seats and sang the song looked at their fans with a faint smile, or they couldn't hold back their overwhelming emotions and shed tears at the thought that it was their last time, which touched the hearts of the idol makers who were watching.

Soon, white confetti exploded above the trainees' heads and the stage was colored with warm colors.

While flower petal-like paper fluttered under the white lights, the venue was filled with the beautiful chords the trainees created as the song climaxed.

-The day we meet again in the light

We'll meet someday

I'm looking

you of that day

-Finally happy,

us, that... day...

The chorus that the twenty trainees sang together, the last verse, was uttered by Won Yoo-ha. A calm outro was played, and the camera stayed on Yoo-ha, quietly staring straight ahead.

A face with a million stories and emotions.

And just for a moment.

-Omg

-Wow crazy

-????

The moment the confetti fluttering in the sky touched Won Yoo-ha's head and he slightly twisted his head upward, the glitter sprinkled under his eyes began to radiate according to the light shining on him.

A faint display that makes it seem like tears were being held back seeped out and sparkled in the light.

Won Yoo-ha quietly stared straight ahead as if looking at someone deeply beneath the fluttering flower petals, he blinked and smiled lightly.

-ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ

-ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠYooohaaaaaa ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

The chat window was filled with just one emoticon.

The tears of the trainees that the camera persistently captured throughout the performance, the narrative of <Design Your Idol> that we have been watching, the regret of it being the last broadcast, and the past of Won Yoo-ha that the public knows about.

All of that overlapped, and Won Yoo-ha's faintness that exploded at the last moment reached all the idol makers who were watching the broadcast with a stronger impact than anything else.

The peak point was the VCR that was released

"What kind of 'idol' do you want to be?"

A phrase appeared on the blackened screen. What appeared next were trainees wearing practice uniforms.

The images of twenty trainees sitting one by one in separate monitor rooms are broken into small pieces and scattered across the screen like a checkerboard. Immediately after, one trainee's screen grows larger and a video appears on the tablet he was holding in front of him.

[...Hello, Danwoo. Are you doing well? Did you succeed?]

The current Ju Dan-woo, wearing a practice uniform, is facing a somewhat shady and awkward-looking Ju Dan-woo before participating in <Design Your Idol>. Joo Dan-woo's deep gaze is directed at the screen.

[Aiden, are you having fun?]

The next person to appear was Aiden Lee. Aiden Lee, wearing a black coat, has a sparkling face that seems to be looking at the screen and beyond at the future Aiden Lee.

After that, twenty trainees begin to appear on the screen one by one.

[Staying until the end means you worked hard, right? You've probably been through a lot.]

[You can be a little proud of making it to the finals. Wow, this is so amazing. Out of 100 people, I survived until the end!]

[We worked hard, we worked really hard.]

In the video filmed before the filming of <Design Your Idol> began in earnest, the screen changes as the trainees speak one by one.

What followed those words were the scenes of intense practice that the trainees went through.

It started with the Roommate's early morning time-lapse video that was used during the level reevaluation, followed by images of the boys continuing to practice in the practice room, hallways, stairwells, and in the unlit room where all the other roommates were asleep.

[...Maybe it's a little lonely. You may be anxious.]

Soon a scene appears on the screen, and the eyes of viewers watching TV are focused on one spot.

The image that emerged showed three small rooms.

A format that shows three rooms through one camera. A soundproof practice room that can barely fit one person. In the rooms on either side, trainees are smiling brightly and talking on the phone with someone; in the room in the center, someone is sitting quietly.

Viewers easily realize that the boy sitting is Won Yoo-ha, who had shown a more overwhelming performance than anyone else just moments ago.

He is sitting at a distance with his cell phone in his hand, looking into space, extremely lonely, and just killing time.

Viewers who were watching the broadcast realized that the video was from a chance to call their families given to trainees during the level reassessment, and that Won Ha was unable to call anyone at that time.

[But now the time has come for the dream to become reality. Now, only the final step remains.]

As the viewers sigh, the screen filled with extremely sad scenes soon changes its mood with the trainee's low voice.

[Wow!]

The screen is filled with competitions that the trainees passed by.

Starting with the first grade evaluation, the stage of 'Look' broadcast on Music A, the mini corners between contests, and all the shining moments where the trainees cried and laughed...

'... .'

[Dear me, five years later.]

Immediately afterwards, the screen changes to the current trainees. The trainees are staring at the camera, saying one word at a time with either an embarrassed look or a sad look on their faces.

[Am I doing as much as I endured? Will I still be able to stand on the stage I wanted to stand on so much?]

[Have fun? There's no way it's not fun, I'm feeling this good right now!]

[Don't forget to give love back to your fans, become an idol who enjoys performing on stage, and always be humble...]

[You've been dreaming of what kind of singer you want to be your whole life. Are you keeping it that way?]

[Don't miss your chance. My mom didn't raise her son like that!]

As doubts, requests, demands, all these words continue, the screen soon shows the faces of trainees.

[...Perhaps I would have debuted? If I had debuted with <Design Your Idol>, my contract would be about to end, and if unfortunately I was rejected... Well, I don't know what I'm doing....]

Won Yoo-ha stares at the screen with a whispering voice. All viewers watching the screen were fascinated by the sincere voice and paid attention.

[...Still, I think he's still trying to stand on stage.]

[The performance you are doing now will remain, defining who you are. So, it would be good to set a goal again. To become an idol who always performs on stage without regrets.]

Soon the screen changes to a different image. Backstage, a boy whose identity cannot be determined due to the shadow cast by the backlight is heading towards the stage.

[Because that would be success for us.]

The VCR video ended with a voice that sounded like a narration.

And the phrase that appears at the end of the video.

"Vote for your 'idol' right now!"

The moment they saw that phrase, everyone watching the broadcast picked up their phones and wrote down the trainee's name they liked in a text message.

[Three, two, one... All text voting has ended!]

With the words of the MC counting down on stage on screen, all 'survival' finally ended.

* * *

"..."

As I watched the VCR video being played from the back of the stage, I did my best not to face any of the attention.

"Hyung... you did well..."

"Yoo-ha, did you cry?"

The people waiting around, including the one muttering in a voice that seemed to feel a sense of betrayal and the one asking questions with an innocent expression, so I chose to shun it rather than say something.

I was concentrating on holding on in the awful silence, and before I knew it, the VCR ended, I watched the screen go dark, and then let out a small sigh.

'You've reached the peak of creating a pitiful bastard.'

I admit that it was effective editing. Combined with the stories of other trainees, the narrative that the production team was aiming for, of me being a 'growing character who overcomes misfortune', was extremely highlighted.

Of course, it would be helpful in voting, but I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. This is because it seemed like a lot of effort was put into shedding the image of the boy as the head of the family.

"Trainees, let's go up now!"

Of course, you have to debut before that.

"...You can do it."

"We got this!"

"Fighting!"

I quietly nodded while listening to Danwoo Ju, Serim Cheon, and Aiden Lee whispering beside me.

Like the beginning of <Design Your Idol>, boys wearing matching blue blazer uniforms climbed the stairs one by one.

I took a small, deep breath.

"...Let's go."

We went up to the stage where the results were announced.