Chapter 8

Chapter 3. Year-End Evaluation

After the first lesson ended, life flowed on as usual.

The children's attitude towards me seemed to have changed somehow, but it was definitely for the better.

How should I put it?

At first, I felt like a complete outsider, waiting in front of a sign that said "No Entry!" Now, it feels like I've been allowed inside the fence.

It was fortunate that the kids were so nice.

However, the peaceful routine that seemed to be going smoothly was disrupted by a new incident.

Early December.

While we were in the middle of practicing choreography, the door to the practice room opened.

As soon as Mr. Jo Gyu-hwan's face appeared, the youngest member quickly turned off the music.

"Hello, Mr. Jo!"

"Hey, yeah."

Mr. Jo Gyu-hwan smiled lightly as he greeted us.

"Phew, the smell of sweat. You must have been practicing really hard. I came down here to tell you something, but don't worry, it's nothing serious."

He handed us a piece of paper.

"Your year-end evaluation assignment is out."

"Really?"

Everyone gathered around Kim Bi-ju, who had taken the paper.

The paper, printed in a neat official format, contained the following information:

【2013 Joint Year-End Evaluation Notice】

- Venue: Daehwa High School Auditorium

- Date: December 28, 2013 (Saturday)

- Participating Agencies: DNS Media, Lemon Entertainment, Hwa Entertainment, Big Brother Company, Eoulleum Entertainment

- Assignment: A performance that combines two different songs under one theme

- Due to potential traffic congestion on the day, please inform the parents of the trainees in advance.

While everyone else looked at the notice with tense expressions, I stood there blankly.

What's a year-end evaluation?

I know about monthly evaluations.

If a regular high school student takes a mock exam every month, an idol trainee takes a monthly evaluation as a test.

It's the same as a test, except it's not in subjects like math, English, and Korean.

The stress of performance based on results is the same.

The only difference is that while a high school student won't be expelled for failing a mock exam, a trainee can have their contract terminated if their skills stagnate for 2-3 months after a monthly evaluation.

If you don't improve, you'll be discarded—that's the life of a trainee.

When I was at TJ Entertainment, we had more than three or four such evaluations a month. Small evaluations every two weeks and a big one every Thursday.

The subjects vary.

Sometimes it's "You're weak in high notes, so master this song," or "Create a choreography together and compete as a team."

The "performance that combines two different songs under one theme" written on the paper is probably one of those test subjects.

What I don't understand is why the monthly evaluation is conducted publicly.

And with other agencies.

Is it just like a showcase?

A showcase is a promotional stage.

Like the word "showcase" suggests, it's about showing something in advance and gauging the reaction.

I heard that one of the big four agencies, MOP, publicly shows trainee performances to the general public.

Well, that's not the important part right now; I need information.

What exactly is a year-end evaluation?

While the trainees were scanning the notice, I chose the most talkative one among them.

"Huh? Nye? Year-end evaluation?"

"Yeah."

During the break, Wang Ji-ho, who was munching on the chocolate bread I bought, asked.

"Is this the first time you've heard of a year-end evaluation?"

"I only know about monthly evaluations."

"Oh, this is a joint monthly evaluation with other agencies every six months. The one in December is called the year-end evaluation."

"It's similar to a MOP showcase."

"It's a bit different. MOP invites general audiences, but our year-end evaluation is for the trainees' families and acquaintances."

"Wouldn't it be better to have general audiences?"

I shuddered, and the youngest member agreed.

"Exactly. It's embarrassing to mess up in front of your parents, especially during a rap section."

Just thinking about performing in front of my grandmother made my hands and feet curl up and want to hide.

While I was feeling gloomy about the bleak future, Wang Ji-ho chewed on the chocolate bread.

"But there's a real reason we need to do well in the year-end evaluation."

"What is it?"

"Since it's a competition between companies, there's a rivalry. We and DNS are the biggest, so there's a competitive spirit. If we debut a girl group, they'll debut one too. The year-end evaluation has the same atmosphere."

"Is it like a Japan-Korea match in soccer?"

"Similar."

Wang Ji-ho took a sip of milk and continued.

"Plus, we completely lost in June. If we compare it to soccer, it was like a 7-0 loss. The atmosphere was terrible. The CEO didn't even greet us for a few days."

"Our CEO?"

"Unbelievable, right? But it really happened."

"Do we have to win this time?"

"Absolutely."

"But you guys are also very talented. Was DNS that good?"

"From what I remember, the seniors from DNS were really good. They might be the ones debuting this time."

Wang Ji-ho showed me articles he searched on his smartphone.

- 'Lavender Rose' brothers group to debut... 9-member 'Street Boys'

- DNS Media's newbies 'Street Boys' to debut with reality show

- 'Lavender Rose's junior group' Street Boys to debut with K-Net reality show

The articles described a 9-member hip-hop boy group.

They were filming a reality show on K-Net, aiming to debut in April.

"Are they our competitors?"

"Yeah."

"Why are they filming a reality show before debuting?"

"Isn't it really enviable? If you do this, fans will keep coming."

I nodded.

To the general public, it might be a 0.1% rating show, but for idols, it's different.

If you're from one of the big four agencies, you might gain recognition just by being sent out, but for small and medium idols, this is a blessing.

I poked the youngest member's arm, who was reading the internet articles with envious eyes.

"Let's go in. The others are waiting."

"Bro."

"What?"

"My throat hurts from talking so much. Can you buy me a chocolate milk?"

I bought chocolate milk for the youngest member and also got drinks for the other members.

Back in the practice room.

We sat in a circle, each holding a drink.

This was a strategy meeting.

We discussed how to prepare for the year-end evaluation assignment, which was to combine two different songs under one theme.

"Last time, the DNS kids went with hip-hop. Should we go with a strong concept too?"

"Bro, the other team has four rappers. We only have you. If we go with a strong concept, we might be at a disadvantage."

"Hmm... But doesn't Jang-hyun have a point?"

Kim Bi-ju said.

"Shouldn't we try a strong concept? If we go with a soft concept like last time, we might be overshadowed."

"I don't think so. If we go head-to-head, we'll be at a disadvantage."

"I think a head-to-head battle is fine."

"This isn't an easy problem."

The discussion was calm but intense.

Before choosing the songs, we were discussing the concept.

Three of us were actively giving opinions, while the youngest member and I were observing.

Unlike the youngest member, who was idly checking his phone, I was deep in thought.

This doesn't seem right.

It feels like they're all barking up the wrong tree.

* * *

-DNS kids...

-DNS did this concept last time...

-We need to overwhelm them with vocals to beat DNS...

Was the defeat in the first half still haunting them?

DNS Media was mentioned in every comment from the members.

This wasn't a fight that could be won by competing.

It felt like they were treating the year-end evaluation as a survival game.

A war to defeat the rival and claim victory.

Under normal circumstances, they might not have been so fixated on this.

But the fact that their families would be watching and the painful defeat from last time seemed to have instilled a determination to outdo the other side.

This determination was also passed on to me.

Still, I remained silent due to my seniority.

While I had the longest experience, I had only been at Lemon Entertainment for less than two weeks, making it awkward to speak up.

It's like a newly appointed company commander trying to join the discussion of the chief sergeants.

"Brothers, we need to decide quickly."

Seo Ri-hyuk tapped the floor.

"It will take more time if we need to arrange the music."

"Mr. Jo isn't arranging it?"

"He's busy with Senior Yun Chan-hyuk's album."

"So, we have to do it all ourselves."

"If we also create the choreography, we'll have about two weeks for actual practice."

"Then let's decide quickly."

"Have you heard what DNS is planning?"

The year-end evaluation assignment was to combine two different songs into one performance. In other words, to sing two different verses.

Choosing the songs was the first hurdle.

The others looked at us, scratching their heads.

"Do Jihwan and Woo-ju have any opinions?"

"I'm fine with whatever the seniors decide."

The eyes of the other three pairs turned to me.

"I do have an opinion."

"Really? Please share it."

"Um, I feel a bit awkward saying this, but I think the way you're approaching this isn't quite right."

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

Seo Ri-hyuk's sharp eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong with it?"

"From what I've heard, most of the discussion is about what DNS will do."

"So what?"

"Beating the rival is important, but this isn't a survival program. I think we should focus on the essence of the performance."

The reaction wasn't very positive.

Several faces showed a "What do you know?" expression.

But I had no choice.

If we continued like this, things would go in the wrong direction, and I would suffer too.

"I think we should consider the audience first."

"The audience?"

"After all, we perform to have fun, and our goal is to entertain the audience."

The goal of every entertainer is to make the audience happy.

"Before deciding on the performance theme or songs, I think we should analyze the audience's preferences."

I've thought about this a lot since I was young.

How can we increase the sales of my grandmother's restaurant?

To run a food business, you need to consider the local market, what people are eating these days, and who your customers are.

That's the point I wanted to make to them.

We shouldn't just copy what the neighbor is doing; we should think about our customers first.

Kim Bi-ju smiled.

"That's a valid point."

"It is."

Seo Ri-hyuk's sharp eyes turned to me.

"But it's too abstract. Who here doesn't know how to entertain the audience? The important thing is a concrete solution."

"I have an idea."

"Really? Please share it."

I explained my plan.

It was an idea I had from the moment I heard the assignment.

A performance that would highlight our strengths and satisfy the audience.

Reactions varied.

"I like the idea, bro."

"It's good, but isn't it a bit vague? It's all or nothing."

"I'm fine as long as my rap part is guaranteed."

"It's too difficult. I like the idea, but it will take at least two weeks to arrange the music. Only Jang-hyun and I can do the arrangement."

There's a solution to that.

"I can arrange the music."

"No way."

Seo Ri-hyuk said, frustrated.

"Even if you can arrange, it's too difficult. You know how hard it is. By the time you finish, the year-end evaluation will have already started."

"One day."

"What?"

"One day is enough."

A quiet silence filled the room.

Everyone looked at me as if to say, "What is this guy talking about?"

From their perspective, it might be hard to understand.

They might think I'm just being overly confident without any basis.

But I had a basis.

I had studied composition for two years while preparing for college entrance exams.

Seo Ri-hyuk narrowed his eyes at me.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course."

I smiled.

"One or two days is enough."

"That's impossible-"

"Then, how about a bet?"

Seo Ri-hyuk hesitated.

"A bet?"

"Sure. If I can't finish the arrangement by midnight tomorrow, I'll buy snacks for a week."

"Wow, really?"

The youngest member, who had been silent like a stone, opened his eyes wide.

Kim Jang-hyun and Kim Bi-ju looked interested but also tempted by the idea of a week of snacks.

I smiled gently at Seo Ri-hyuk, who was hesitating, thinking it might be a trap.

"It's a bet where you can't lose."

"What are the conditions?"

"Huh?"

"What do you want?"

"Simple."

I answered.

"If I win, let me plan the year-end evaluation performance as I see fit."

"..."

"It's a bet where you can't lose. Isn't it?"

"Right, there's nothing to lose."

The youngest member, tempted by the snacks, urged him on, while the high school seniors quietly observed.

Finally, Seo Ri-hyuk answered.

"Okay."

I smiled.

Indeed, a strategy of hiding and observing doesn't suit my personality.

If I'm in the game, I'll take the lead.