Chapter 36: Midterm Evaluation

At last, the day of the midterm evaluation arrived.

“Everyone made sure to wear their costumes, right?”

The team members responded affirmatively in their own ways to my question.

Except for one person.

“Jo Seha? Where did Jo Seha go? Hyung, did you see Jo Seha?”

“Uh…? He was just over there putting on his costume a moment ago….”

Yu Taewoo tilted his head, looking unsure.

Ah, seriously. Where did that guy go again? Things are hectic enough as it is.

With our turn coming up soon, we were incredibly busy in the waiting room.

“The teams before us did so well.”

Because we drew last place in the order by lot, we had seen every stage performed by the other teams before us.

Most teams put on performances at least half a level above ours, and the undisputed highlight was, of course—

‘Seo Chanul… seriously… damn….’

It was Seo Chanul’s team, who performed right before us.

Maybe it was because their team had the highest average ranking and grade. There was nothing to be disappointed about in their stage.

‘Especially in the dance break, Seo Chanul’s solo was just…’

It was insane.

It’s a bit annoying that they were right before us… but it was a great show to watch after a long time… How much better will they be in the finals…?

“As expected, my favorite….”

Before I could finish that thought, Soram appeared holding up a system window.

[ Trait’s activation value has changed.]

[50% -> 55%]

“Oh?”

It was sudden, but not a bad sign right before the stage.

“Seha hyung is here!”

At that moment, Jo Seha burst through the waiting room door.

“Where did you go?!”

Wait, what’s up with that guy’s complexion…?

He looked so pale, like he’d just come back from playing ‘find the candy in the flour’ by himself.

“Seha, are you okay…?”

Yu Taewoo was the first to approach, asking carefully, and Jo Seha opened his mouth.

“Uh… I….”

Surprisingly, his voice was calm. Maybe he’s actually okay…?

“I-I-I’m f-f-fine!”

Not fine at all.

“D-d-don’t worry about m-m-me!”

Now I’m worried.

‘We can’t leave him like this.’

I walked over and placed my hand on Jo Seha’s head.

Shaking like he had a vibrating belt wrapped around his waist—his trembling soon subsided.

“Harama…?”

“Jo Seha. What did I tell you earlier?”

“Harama…?”

Right, me.

“Who’s the best, Jo Seha?”

“I’m the best…”

[Jo Seha, you’ve improved the most.]

“I’m the best… You said I improved the most!”

“That’s right, I did.”

Once I confirmed his trembling had stopped, I moved my hand from his head to his shoulder.

“So, do you need to worry or not?”

“I don’t need to worry….”

Life started returning to Jo Seha’s eyes, little by little,

“I don’t!!”

And soon, he was completely back to normal.

“Nice.”

He’s really easy to handle. At this point, I was half in denial that Jo Seha and Jo Jungjae were actually related by blood.

‘Maybe he’s adopted.’

Otherwise, how could two people be so different… I was lost in thought for a moment when a staff member entered the waiting room.

” team! Standby!”

Oops, this isn’t the time to be spacing out.

“Everyone, gather up.”

We crowded together, all nine of us huddling in an instant.

“You too, get over here!”

Jo Seha pulled Park Mingeon, who was standing a bit off to the side, into the circle.

“Okay, don’t get too nervous. This is just the midterm evaluation. Even if we mess up, we’re not getting eliminated. Just do what we practiced, don’t get hurt, and come down. We practiced like crazy! Everyone improved a ton!”

That was a fact.

For all four days of preparation, our team stayed in the practice room later than anyone else.

It didn’t feel bad to have the eyes of all nine members on me.

There was pride in their gazes.

“Hurry up and say it.”

If only I could do something about those glares, still full of thorns.

Lately, they only acted prickly when others were around, not in private. Maybe now it was just their thing—they didn’t want to lose their character.

“I have nothing more to say! Let’s just enjoy it and come back down!”

Ten palms came together in the center.

“One, two, three—fighting!”

Even the last “fighting” was perfect. The pre-stage performance was flawless.

[Leader Points: 80pt (+5pt)]

I was steadily gathering Leader Points for trait awakening.

I glanced at the camera filming us.

‘Nice.’

A smile was tugging at the camera director’s lips—it didn’t look ordinary.

No matter what ups and downs we went through, as long as the results were good, everything would be fine.

“Huh.”

Park Mingeon, wearing a completely expressionless face, passed by in front of me.

“Mingeon.”

“…You’re using formal speech again.”

How sudden.

“We’re in front of the cameras.”

Park Mingeon let out a sigh through his nose.

“Why?”

“Do well out there.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“All of a sudden?”

“You worked hard, didn’t you?”

For the past four days, Park Mingeon stayed late every night, practicing with me.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to go that far.”

Thanks to him, even I was forced to improve.

Last night, the generous numbers on the ‘Born to Be Idol’ effect window floated through my mind and vanished.

“I just don’t want to be hated.”

There it is again. That’s what Park Mingeon always said whenever I told him he was unexpected over the last four days.

If this goes on air, everyone will misunderstand him.

After giving Park Mingeon a brief word of encouragement, I slowly headed to the prepared set.

“Hello! We’re the  team!”

I bowed deeply to the judges, who already looked tired from the long shoot.

“Nice to mee—”

“You’re finally here!  team! We’ve been waiting for you!”

Choi Hansol cut off the judge’s words.

He really hasn’t changed.

“The last song left! And it’s a really tough one, too! I’m looking forward to seeing how you overcame it!”

Given my long years as an idol fan, that was definitely a prepared line for the judges.

Who said you could just ad-lib like that?

‘Should I answer?’

I glanced at the judge, who gave me a gentle smile and nodded.

‘Is this okay?’

I marveled at the program’s freewheeling style as I grabbed the mic and spoke up.

“Our team members all worked really hard. I think we’ll be able to show you a great performance.”

“I see!”

Choi Hansol looked over the team, poking at each member with his gaze.

“Team members~?”

One, two, three,

“Worked~?”

Four, five, six,

“Really hard~?”

Seven, eight,

“Gave it their all~?”

Finally, Park Mingeon at the very end.

“……?”

The team members’ faces were full of confusion.

‘What’s with this guy?’

At that moment, Jo Seha piped up brightly, shifting the mood.

“Yes! We all worked hard together!”

“Hmph—”

Choi Hansol, who had been making a meaningful face the whole time, snorted and dropped the act.

“Well, let’s see how you do.”

You’re not supposed to be judging us, just host the show.

“Choi Hansol-ssi.”

“Yesss—?”

“Please step back now. We have to see the stage.”

“I was planning to anyway!”

As soon as the judge who’d nodded earlier intervened, Choi Hansol fluttered off backstage.

…Aren’t you supposed to wrap it up properly? You should introduce our stage and then leave!

“Alright,  team, let’s see your performance.”

With the judge now acting as MC, we lined up, still a bit dazed.

The lights dimmed, and the intro began.

[In my blurred vision, I want search you-J]

The opening went well. Yu Taewoo smoothly sang the intro.

[Lock on & Lock on-J]

The team member in charge of the first key choreography nailed it.

‘He’s always been on the cute side, looks-wise.’

As an attention-grabber for the start, it was perfect.

Then came the notorious 30-second section. The sound of our team’s footsteps echoed through the set.

Thud—!

We did it.

The clear highlight and final chorus of . The synchronized sound of ten footsteps rang out.

[You have acquired,  effect is applied!]

[You have acquired,  effect is applied!]

Our traits were working, at least halfway.

A good feeling welled up inside me.

[So I only think of you. Lock in my mind—]

At last, the song ended.

“Hmm….”

As we caught our breath, one of the judges looked us over from head to toe.

“Good job.”

Everyone seemed to realize the stage went pretty well, and a faint, slightly relieved laughter spread through the heavy breathing.

“But, this team….”

But the mood didn’t last.

“There was a reason Hansol set the tone like that.”

At the sudden seriousness in the judge’s voice, all the team members held their breath.

What? We weren’t as good as Seo Chanul’s team, but… it wasn’t bad, was it?

“Well… anyway, good job. I’ll give the overall review… after the rankings are announced.”

A familiar sly smile appeared on the judge’s face.

…Choi Hansol?

“At that time, I’ll also tell you where your team ranks.”

The Hansol expression vanished from his face, replaced by gentle kindness.

What is this unsettling feeling…?

Since we performed last, the next segment started immediately, leaving no time to return to the waiting room or talk with the team.

“Hello again—! I’m back! Choi Hansol here!”

“Waaaa—!”

The now-established ‘Be The Idol’ tradition, the Choi Hansol entrance applause ceremony, followed.

“Without further ado! Let’s start the midterm team ranking announcement!”

The screen that had previously shown the contestants’ names now displayed the list for teams 1 to 10.

Team 1 leader. My name was still at the top, but it looked dangerously shaky.

And sure enough—

“Only two teams left!”

Places 2 through 9 filled up in an instant, leaving only 1st and 10th remaining.

“Harama….”

Behind me, Jo Seha called my name in a nervous voice.

“It’s okay.”

Of course, I didn’t mean it was okay because we might get 1st.

Because the teams left were…

“First place goes to Team 2, led by Seo Chanul! Congratulations! I doubt anyone will object to that!”

Because it was Seo Chanul’s team.

How could we beat that lineup? Our team was still too green, too inexperienced.

And so, naturally…

“And that means 10th place goes to Team 1, led by Kim Haram! Sorry!”

Choi Hansol shouted ‘Sorry!’ in the same tone as ‘Congratulations!’ for first place.

He’s really good at sarcasm.

“Ah….”

The team members let out small sighs.

“It’s still okay.”

We’d get feedback soon, fix our shortcomings, and do well in the main evaluation.

It was too soon to lose hope.

But my desperate resolve was—

“And right now! We’re revealing a new rule!”

“…Huh?”

Crumbling completely at this ridiculous, bizarre announcement.

Huge letters flashed on the screen.

[Anti-Bus Law]

Along with its cruel content.

[Teams ranked 6th–10th, please kick out one member.]