LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 45
Chapter 45
During the month of April, when cherry blossoms and other spring flowers bloomed and withered daily, *Pick Heart 3* was broadcasted up to its fourth episode. The broadcast content included the mentor song cover evaluations.
One thing that bothered me was the unusual absence of airtime for Seo Moon-gyeol and Ban Yo-han throughout these four episodes.
The two were called “Seeds” by their fans, a name derived from their agency. Their fans were so upset that they uploaded a video titled “Pick Heart 3 Seeds Cut (Scraped Down to the Nano Soul)” on W-Tube, filled with complaints against PD Jo In-soo.
I didn’t think the two would have tried to hog the airtime.
However, considering the popularity they had garnered by ranking 3rd and 4th during the first week’s broadcast with just their PR videos and fan meeting photos, it was very strange that they had so little screen time.
Was it because they were too popular, and the producers were trying to balance things out?
If that was the case, why did guys like Jing Xiao and Na Yoon-jae get plenty of airtime?
Watching the main broadcast together at the dorm every week, I tried to gauge their reactions, but whether it was Ban Yo-han or Seo Moon-gyeol, neither seemed to care.
These guys were unbelievably magnanimous in areas where there was no need to be.
Fortunately, amidst all this, my screen time, as an individual trainee with no power, was coming out quite well, to be honest.
Incidents like my desperate attempt to dance out of rhythm during the mentor evaluations, the time when the Hyesung team put all their energy into their first *Heart Attack* practice, the day when the guys from Room 312 kicked me out and I reported their misdeeds to the camera, and when I demanded praise from Muk Hye-sung.
“Even I think I did quite well.”
Although my airtime during the first competition only included the process of selecting the center and an interview about Oh Hyun-jin.
More people were starting to recognize me whenever I went out.
Though not as much as Ban Yo-han or Seo Moon-gyeol, who had striking features that demanded attention, I heard from Kang Ji-woo that stories about sightings of me, including photos taken from angles I hadn’t noticed, were occasionally posted online.
“Don’t look at the internet.”
“You guys don’t look, so I’m checking for you.”
Kang Ji-woo was surprisingly stubborn.
“Hey.”
Just then, Gyun Seong-ha came into the practice room and nudged my back with his knee as I was sitting.
“Game at the dorm?”
“Sure.”
“Guys, don’t play too much.”
“Yes.”
Since the broadcast started, Gyun Seong-ha’s attitude towards me had noticeably softened.
Watching *Pick Heart* every week, the descriptions like “Gyun Seong-ha rates you higher than you think” gradually increased my favorability with him, and finally, after the fourth episode, it reached zero.
Now, we had become close enough to be gaming buddies.
True to my nature, I picked up a mobile game and played it religiously before bed. Kang Ji-woo’s offhand comment, “Seong-ha plays that game too,” was the catalyst.
And Gyun Seong-ha…
He was the most fragile-minded person I had ever met.
No, even calling him fragile would be an understatement.
Gyun Seong-ha’s mentality was as delicate as an eggshell that would crack with a mere tap on the edge of a pot.
Whenever we partied up for games and the situation took a slight downturn, his concentration would falter more often than not.
Moreover, he was at least five times more sensitive on the days when the weekly evaluations for the trainees at Seeds were held, and before the monthly evaluation a few days ago, he was so pale he threw up everything he ate and acted like a zombie.
I had been curious why Seeds sent the 2-month trainee Ban Yo-han instead of Gyun Seong-ha, but that question was immediately answered when I saw the state of Gyun Seong-ha’s mental health.
“This guy wouldn’t last out there.”
Although he would never admit it publicly, Gyun Seong-ha himself must know this.
He was probably more irritable because he was angry at missing the opportunity to appear with Seo Moon-gyeol, whom he followed well.
Of course, all of this was just my speculation, but I decided to overlook the hostility Gyun Seong-ha had shown me so far.
After all, he was still nineteen, and I was a proper adult.
[“This guy… you’re such a pushover…. Wisdom +2”]
“Either curse at me or give me stats, choose one.”
[“Really?”]
Sorry.
* * *
As the broadcast progressed, the response to *Pick Heart 3* heated up.
The trainees each attracted viewers’ votes by catching eyes with their dazzling looks, proving themselves with honed skills, or providing laughs with their witty remarks.
Even small charms and minor flaws were exaggerated in value in the face of popularity and viewership.
There were some disruptions, such as two trainees being dropped due to inappropriate pasts coming to light, or the suspension of overseas voting through the app due to duplicate voting and server issues, but these weren’t major problems.
– On Raon’s gap difference is crazyㅠㅠㅠ
┗ Agreed. Normally he looks like a puppy, so cute, but his reversal during *Toxic* was insane.
– The mentors really show how much they careㅋㅋㅋㅋ
┗ He looks like someone you want to take care of.
┗ Honestly, he joined the weakest team voluntarily, takes care of the others while practicing hard, and even had the guts to demand feedback from Muk Hye-sung. No wonder they adore him. He seems tougher than he looks.
┗ That’s a bit too much praise. He joined Hye-sung’s team just because he was a fan.
┗ That makes his feedback request to Muk Hye-sung even more impressive. It’s risky, could easily get on his bad side. I wouldn’t dare.
– Professor, my goal grade is chicken.
┗ ???: Keep fighting
– Is there a chance for PD pick? I want to watch without stress this time.
┗ Who knowsㅋㅋㅋ Also, why are you in this game if you want no stress?
┗ For real.
As with every season, there were discussions about the unfair distribution of screen time.
– The screen time for the top-ranking trainees is insane right now.
┗ It’s so obvious they’re giving a few all the screen time.
– Give Seo Moon-gyeol and Ban Yo-han their airtime, you crazy people.
┗ Give it up, MuBak and Seeds don’t get along.
┗ Why??
┗ MuBak exploited the profits of *Star Core 1* winner Kwon Kyung-wool, got caught by fans, and dumped him. Seeds took him in when no one else would, and he’s doing much better now. By the way, *Star Core* and *Pick Heart* share the same PD = Jo In-soo.
┗ That’s messed up.
* * *
Finally, the day arrived.
The day the first trainees would be eliminated.
“What rank were you guys last episode?”
On the morning of a big day, Kang Ji-woo, who had been scolded by Ban Yo-han for trying to set up a grand feast, asked with a serious expression.
“I’m 9th, Gyeol is 7th, and Raon is 11th.”
Ban Yo-han answered obediently.
The Seeds trainees had seen their screen time vanish since the beginning, and I had disappeared from the broadcast after the third episode. As a result, our rankings had been gradually declining. Today, they would probably drop even further.
Still, it was impressive and remarkable that those two maintained such rankings with such little airtime.
“At least none of you need to worry about being eliminated this time.”
Kang Ji-woo, who had been diligently voting for the three of us, looked more pleased and proud than ever.
Receiving his send-off, we headed to the studio where we had filmed for the first time.
The atmosphere in the studio was as subdued as it had been during the first filming. No trainee spoke hastily.
Everyone must have clearly identified their position through the broadcasts.
The rankings, announced weekly, fluctuated based on the previous week’s airtime and editing direction.
The lower mid-tier and below experienced especially volatile changes. Trainees, except for those firmly in the upper tier, couldn’t help but feel tense.
The set, with numerous chairs arranged in a pyramid shape, was daunting, even after a long time.
The difference this time was the number of chairs.
Unlike before, when there were 100 chairs matching the total number of trainees, today there were only 64, 36 fewer, waiting for their owners.
Dressed in uniform-style group outfits, the trainees sat in the designated seats at the base of the pyramid.
“The day has finally come.”
Standing in front of the podium, Jena said this with a faint, wistful smile.
The trainees, even without specific instructions, expressed their regretful sounds.
After a brief introduction, the announcements began from rank 63.
Feeling a bit dazed, I watched as the called trainees stood up, either bowing their heads deeply to hide their overwhelmed faces or bouncing up onto the stage with movements that perfectly matched the onomatopoeia “pol-jak pol-jak.”
60th place… 58th place… 53rd place…
Kim Jun-woo, who was trembling as he gripped my hand with his right and Yoon Myung-soo’s hand with his left as if they were lifelines, felt like he might die from nervousness.
Then 48th place… 42nd place… 39th place…
Nagase Ritsu, whose name was called at 33rd, hugged his friends in joy, then made his way through the trainees to offer me a high-five. Habitually, I extended my right hand and lightly met his.
On stage, he thanked me and Ban Yo-han with a teary voice.
As the ranks climbed, there were sobs from the back, indicating that some had lost hope. The tears were different in temperature and meaning from Nagase Ritsu’s.
30th place… 26th place… 21st place…
Ah, I couldn’t bear this any longer.
The gap between my perception of this as a game and the overly intense reality… It was too…
Just as I was having these thoughts, Kim Jun-woo, whose name had been called, jumped up and hugged me.
If Yoon Myung-soo had been called first, he probably would have hugged him instead.
Freed at last, my hand, now flooded with blood again, was just as sweaty as Kim Jun-woo’s.
I wiped it on Ban Yo-han’s pants next to me, and he glared at me with his eyes. He would probably punch me later.
“This trainee impressively covered ‘TOXIC’ during the mentor song cover evaluation.”
I seemed to hear whispers of my name and the ranking from the last broadcast nearby.
‘What rank is being announced now?’
Many seats around me were empty.
“This trainee consistently shows effort and improvement, receiving a lot of affection from both trainees and mentors.”
‘It’s not me.’
That was my first thought.
‘Why do you think it’s not you?’
A rebellious thought arose, the kind I wouldn’t have had even momentarily if On Hae-jae were here.
“Congratulations, 14th place, trainee On Raon.”
Jena called my name.