Chapter 11

December 28th.

Finally, the much-anticipated year-end evaluation day had arrived.

Huddled in the Starex, we kept swallowing our saliva.

Even though we were bundled up in puffy jackets, scarves, and hats, our bodies trembled.

Silently shaking hand warmers, licking dry lips, or biting fingernails—each of us dealt with the tension in our own way.

I sat in the passenger seat, trying to warm my cold hands with a hand warmer.

The car was cold.

We didn't turn on the heater, fearing that our vocal cords might dry out.

I spoke to Seokhwan, who was holding the steering wheel.

"The atmosphere feels like when I went to take the college entrance exam, hyung."

"Are you as nervous as you were then?"

"It means I have a good feeling about it."

"Wait a minute."

Yun Seokhwan narrowed his eyes.

"Didn't you miss the exam?"

"Oh, right."

We stared at each other blankly before bursting into laughter.

Meanwhile, the back seat was quiet, in stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere in the front.

The youngest, who usually chattered excitedly, was now silent.

"Hey, Kim Bijoo. What should I do? I have to do well this time."

"Why?"

"My father is bringing my grandfather. They even chartered a bus for the villagers."

Kim Jonghyun, who was usually calm, sighed deeply.

Well, if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night either if the villagers were coming in a chartered bus.

"Stay strong."

Kim Bijoo said.

"I was nervous about my sister coming, but it's nothing compared to this."

"I only have my younger sister coming."

"Probably everyone in my family will come. My father might be too busy to make it, but I hope he doesn't."

While listening to the youngest's stream of consciousness, I had other thoughts.

Come to think of it, we've been practicing enthusiastically for a month, but we don't really know much about each other.

Or, to be more precise, I was the only one who didn't know, while they all knew about each other.

Seokhwan glanced at me.

"What did your grandmother say?"

"Huh?"

"Is she coming?"

"She'll be arriving at the terminal soon. I need to give her directions later."

While I checked the message from my grandmother on my smartphone, Kim Bijoo leaned forward.

"Manager."

Bijoo asked.

"Who are our judges?"

"I'm not sure exactly. I think Mr. Yoon Chanhyuk will be representing us. And... didn't they say that Jang Soo-won will be representing Hwa Entertainment?"

"Jang Soo-won?"

"Why?"

"It's a disaster."

Seokhwan looked at me, seeing the worried expressions of the kids as if it were a sign of impending doom.

Sensing the need for an explanation, I replied.

"One of the songs we chose for the year-end evaluation is a Jang Soo-won song."

"Oh, you're in for a tough time."

Anyone who has watched an audition show would know that performing a judge's song in a competition is a high-risk, high-reward situation.

Singers are professionals who get paid to sing.

Performing a song in front of an expert who knows it inside and out is no easy feat.

In simpler terms, singing Jang Soo-won's song in front of Jang Soo-won is like a college student presenting a PPT on a professor's specialty in front of the Nobel Prize-winning professor.

Well.

Thinking about it makes me nervous too.

I stretched out my shoulders, which had been hunched, and shook my head.

Speaking of Jang Soo-won.

I remembered that I had also performed a Jang Soo-won song during the audition.

Despite the nervousness, I was slightly excited to see the protagonist of the Red Moon, which I had performed during the audition.

Jang Soo-won.

A member of the girl group Sugarfish, who debuted when I was in high school.

Now, as a solo artist and songwriter, Jang Soo-won is actively working.

I like her melodic lines, so she's one of my favorite singers.

Choosing a performance song by Jang Soo-won also reflected my taste.

Performing a song by a singer I admire in front of that singer.

It was a thrilling but pleasant excitement.

"By the way, I had something to tell you guys."

Yun Seokhwan said, as if something had just occurred to him.

"It's not a big deal. K-Net sent a notice saying they'll be filming a reality show today."

"Filming?"

Seryeok, who was in the back seat, furrowed his eyebrows.

"What kind of filming?"

"You guys know. Street Boys, the boy group debuting from DNS Media. They're filming their reality show and will take a few scenes from here. Don't worry, it's just one camera. Ha ha."

The kids' expressions were turning to stone, as if they were becoming statues.

It was like seeing Agrippa in an art class.

Seokhwan, looking bewildered, said, "This isn't right," and cleared his throat.

"Should I turn on the radio?"

He pressed the radio button and tuned to an FM station.

"... This is a story from listener 5289. Hello, I've been listening to TBC Beautiful Morning for three years. As the cold winter wind blows, I keep thinking about my eldest daughter who is abroad."

A calm voice read the story.

"Today, she has an important exam. Even though she might not be able to hear this now, I want to share my thoughts through the radio. Seong-eun, I know how hard you've worked. It's not about doing well; it's about giving your best until the end. Don't feel pressured. I believe in you."

The situation was already tense due to family concerns.

The MC's burdened tone made the kids stiffen even more.

"5289's requested song, Family Photo, will play now..."

Seokhwan switched the channel to AFN, but the atmosphere had already become as heavy as it could be.

At the same time, the high school's front view came into sight.

"......"

What are we going to do about this atmosphere? Really.

* * *

Taehwa High School Auditorium.

A chill swept through the empty auditorium.

Seeing no one else, we felt like we were the first to arrive.

"Phew."

With a heavy sigh, the trainees started to loosen up.

As I was stretching, Kim Bijoo approached me.

"Hyung."

"Uh-huh?"

"I'm worried. Will our performance really go well?"

Despite practicing countless times over the past month, the anxiety couldn't be completely shaken off.

Well,

I had designed the performance, but the arrangement was entirely my work.

It was understandable to lack confidence in that aspect.

"It will go well. Don't worry."

Honestly, I don't have complete confidence either.

A stage is full of unpredictable variables, making it impossible to predict what will happen.

We just have to do our best.

But I couldn't say that to the anxious ones.

I wore a confident smile, contrary to my inner thoughts.

"Come on! Let's practice our movements."

We arrived early to rehearse on the stage.

As we danced and hummed, our stiff bodies gradually relaxed.

At first, we didn't perform well in this unfamiliar place, but as we repeated, our practice room performances flowed naturally.

If we can perform this well in the actual event, that would be great.

While thinking this and sipping warm water from a thermos, the auditorium door creaked open, and a bright light streamed in.

A group of men entered, laughing and chatting.

Their fashion, with oversized loose clothing and gold necklaces, exuded a hip-hop vibe.

There was no need to ask who they were.

Street Boys.

The new boy group from DNS Media and our rivals in the year-end evaluation.

The Street Boys, who had been laughing and joking among themselves, soon noticed us.

"......"

The trainees from the two agencies locked eyes in the air.

The air grew cold, and I could feel it on my skin.

For 0.5 seconds, sharp eye contact was exchanged.

"Hello."

"Yes, hello."

They greeted each other politely and passed by.

It might be a disappointing scene for those expecting a psychological battle, but what can you do in reality?

If it were a scripted survival program, maybe.

But it was hard to feel hostility towards people whose faces we barely knew. It was more like a feeling of needing to beat them because our agencies were in competition.

While we were practicing in one corner of the auditorium, they set up in a nearby area.

Being a nine-member group, their atmosphere was quite different from ours.

They seemed more energetic.

Not only did their larger number fill the audio space, but they also had a relaxed vibe.

Maybe it was a bit exaggerated.

It seemed to be due to the K-Net production team that had come with them.

A cameraman with an ENG camera, a PD, and writers.

While practicing, they would act cute or wink at the camera.

And our kids were bursting with envy at the sight.

"Hello, fans."

A member with pink hair stood in front of the camera.

"We, Street Boys, are here at Taehwa High School auditorium for the year-end evaluation performance."

"Wow-!"

The members filled the audio with their own applause, and a writer with a notebook asked a question.

"What is the year-end evaluation?"

"Ah, the year-end evaluation. It's a monthly evaluation conducted by five companies, including ours. It's an event where we invite company officials and family members to perform. We'll do our best to show our best today. Please look forward to it!"

In sync with the leader's final words, the other eight members drew V signs or shouted "Peace!" at the camera.

"Go Street!"

As they shouted the slogan together, I could feel the morale of our New Black members plummeting below zero.

Was it due to the trauma of a failed debut or a sense of inferiority?

I clapped to refocus the shrinking members.

"Hey, guys, snap out of it."

"Huh?"

"We need to practice. Are you just going to play around?"

"Oh, right."

We resumed practice, but the mood was slightly dampened.

The more they chatted and laughed, the more our kids were aware of them.

A vicious cycle.

What should I do about this?

While pondering a solution, I noticed a sudden change.

Without me saying anything, their skills had suddenly improved.

They were doing well.

Just a moment ago, only I was performing with great passion, but now the other members were also doing well.

Kim Bijoo executed the choreography beautifully.

Kim Jonghyun's hand movements in the rap part became more intricate.

Seryeok suddenly hit a high note.

And the youngest was performing the cute choreography at 120%.

Indeed, our team members are good.

Of course. I knew they would.

Smiling contentedly, I noticed something happening nearby.

What's going on over there...?

On the Street Boys' side.

They had also wiped the smiles off their faces and were practicing the choreography twice as enthusiastically as before.

What's happening?

Why are they doing this?

High-pitched ad-libs and unnecessary dance breaks were being performed brilliantly.

Did they all get a steam pack?

The mystery was quickly solved.

"Director, please film the other trainees too. Capture the entire auditorium in a wide shot."

"Got it."

"Wow, the trainees are really good."

It was because of the camera.

Every time the Street Boys' reality show camera turned to our side, Seryeok's high notes exploded.

Kim Jonghyan's raps came out like machine-gun fire.

I looked at Kim Bijoo, who was dancing like a puppet and Wang Jihoo, who was exuding charm with fiery eyes.

I could hear the K-Net staff's admiring voices.

"Wow, they're really passionate."

"Young people are great."

"Are they not sweating even now?"

Hearing that,

Both sides of the trainees started to pretend to wipe sweat, as if they had been practicing under the scorching sun.

"......"

I smiled contentedly at the trainees who were genuinely into the camera.

Indeed.

Broadcasting is the best.