-Yaaa~ We're so good. We have many talented and handsome members!

Said Gold grade Lee SeJin smiling. Everyone nodded shyly and embarrassedly at her words, which was natural because we didn't have enough time to get to know each other well and be in complete harmony, but I'm glad everyone seems to make at least a little sense. common.

-But, hmm, Sejin hyung. We have the same name, so... Would you like to call us by another name to differentiate us?

-What?

-Oh that would be nice!

-Right? And since you're an actor, how about calling yourself Bae Sejin?

The first Gold grader who had joined the agency smiled and added.

-Hey, so since you're bigger than him, you'll be Big SeJin.

-Keun SeJin? That nickname sounds great! How about it? Sejin-hyung?

-...

Child actor Lee Sejin bit his lip as if he was suppressing his urge to say something, but then he spoke in a low voice.

-I like my full name.

-...

-Oh, I see.

The atmosphere cooled in an instant, so Gold grade SeJin spoke again in a hurry.

-It's okay. So, dear dongsaengs, please call me Keun SeJin from now on~

-I like it~

-It's a good nickname!

The atmosphere cleared and the boys clapped excitedly. After finishing the introductions, the MC took the microphone.

-Participants, have you finished your greetings?

-Please tell us that we can now choose our song.

One of my team members muttered desperately though there was no need to be in such a hurry.

-Alright, now... let's start the song selection!

-Wow~...

-The songs will be chosen randomly...

Hearing this, everyone murmured with tired expressions on their faces. The MC waved his hands and animatedly continued his explanation.

-Listen up guys! You will choose one of the hit songs from the representative idols of the agency you chose! Don't be disappointed!

Since he made us think it was worth a try, the atmosphere improved.

-You will be able to see the titles of the possible songs to choose from on the screen of your signboards. The titles are changing at high speed, so to stop it and choose, you just have to press the button again! The participants who chose their agencies first, make your choices, please.

The members of my team immediately changed their positions so that the Golden boy returns to the front of the line and obeys the order.

-Hyung, I trust you!

-Choose the best song, it's the only way to win!

-Oh, should I show my ability to have good luck?

The Gold grade contestant approached the poster hearing the encouragement that our colleagues gave him.

-Come on, get ready. Press the button!

-Argh!

The boy made a strange noise and immediately pressed the button. Next to him, Keun SeJin, who will be called like that from now on because he announced it himself, muttered:

-No, you had to look first before pressing...

The signboard slowly slowed down and we were able to identify some song titles.

VTIC is currently the most famous male idol group.

-Everything will be alright... Please...

I heard Choi WonGil mutter desperately as I silently waited for the screen to stop.

And finally, the screen stopped.

-...?

-...??

-...!?

A bitter silence passed.

Every member of the team, except me, stared wide-eyed at the poster.

-W-was there an error in the system?

The young Gold grader who had pushed the button muttered dazedly, but there was no sign of alarm from the production team.

That meant that there was no mistake in the choice of song titles.

Did they include girl group songs?

-Did you play a female idol song?

Similar words came not only from us, but from everywhere. Although of course, the reaction was not as strong as ours. My team members started muttering like they were crazy.

-Uh... So, was it from the flower fairies?

-That... was their debut song, eh...

Yes. "A New World" was a pure and dreamy song that represented a flower fairy.

Also, it was a song that girl group Soft & Sweet debuted with, but could never get 1st place on music charts, as it was released when they used the "cute" concept before becoming famous with their "Bittersweet" concept. ".

-Oh God, thank you!

-Amazing!

The surroundings were filled with cheers as if they had chosen a good song. It was natural because, in reality, the posters were full of very famous song titles.

And the climax came to our side.

-Ahhh!

-hyung! hyung!

The team with which we are going to compete came to choose the song "King of the mountains" by VTIC.

That song was the title track of the album that received the grand prize at the biggest music site award ceremonies in Korea two months ago.

I'd say it's one of the most popular songs out there right now, maybe that's why the members of that group hugged each other. Even though the rankings of the participants of that team were low, their mood improved quite a bit and it seemed as if they had already won.

-...

Our team fell silent. It seemed like everyone couldn't get out of shock. What about me?

"Luckily I avoided it."

I put a hand to my chest as I thought that I was lucky, but I shouldn't have carelessly chosen the agency to join.

VTIC's "King of the Mountains"?

I just couldn't do it. It would be very difficult, so I was lucky to avoid it.

In that sense, my excellent team is luckier.

"I don't think the guys have figured it out yet."

When I saw my team members depressed, I thought it could have been better. But anyway, if there is a crisis situation, I will be more cooperative.

***

-I can't hit the high notes...

Didn't I think before that I would be more cooperative? I would like to correct my mistake of raising my expectations too high.

The boy who seemed to have given up was already rebelling.

-WonGil, if you try again...

-I've tried several times and I don't think I can't do it again...

Choi WonGil tilted his head sulkily and said:

-Since it's originally a female song, even though we changed it to a male tone, I don't think it would sound good. I can't sing that part with very high notes...

As he spoke, he looked at me. I understood that he was asking me to sing my part.

From the beginning I wore the Main Vocal badge, which was awarded to me with the fervent support of the three Gold grade boys.

Choi WonGil didn't object, maybe because he had lowered his ranking, and he just saw me put the badge on my shirt.

Instead of overcoming his weaknesses and growing from him, he did nothing. That made me smile bitterly.

-Do you want to change parts?

-...!

Keun SeJin hit my thigh. This guy is really a...

-Hey, don't play with the kid. At times like this, you have to help him learn the part of him! What are you doing?

Naturally, he said it in a joking tone. It is something he has done many times.

"I don't think he's a good guy."

I hid my doubts and spoke clearly again.

-No, I really don't mind changing our parts. If you are going to change, you must do it at the beginning, before you learn the choreography.

-Re-Really?

-Yes.

We came to a peaceful conclusion. Choi WonGil seemed suspicious of me, but he quickly nodded because he was afraid that I would change my words.

-Well, then I would like to do the chorus of the first verse...

-Okay, in exchange, I'll do the bridge.

-What?

-You wanted to change the parts. So don't refuse.

Choi Won Gil reluctantly nodded. He thought it was a waste for me to take a part that he supposedly couldn't do. He wanted to own the choir, but he didn't want to give up his part.

I don't think he was that bad at singing, but maybe lowering his grade from Gold to Silver may have affected him a lot. That tasted a bit strange.

SeJin looked at WonGil and me alternately, then let out a barely audible sigh.

"I guess he figured I'd do the first choir."

He continued to speak animatedly, hiding his discomfort.

-Okay, then let's choose this position.

One main post remained. I felt nervous because the 4 Gold grade participants wanted it.

-Now all we have to do is decide who will be the Main Dancer.

Before Keun SeJin could say anything else, I raised my hand.

-Hmm, I have an opinion.

-Yes?

-If you agree, I would like to establish the direction of the musical arrangement before choosing the main dancer.

-...Eh?

The musical arrangement, although it was the most important topic, was something that everyone unconsciously avoided mentioning.

"A new world" is a feminine and pure song. And "purity" was... a difficult concept to achieve. It's often mistaken that it's easy to show as long as it's pretty, but that's wrong.

This is because it is not an easy concept to master.

In order to be admired and remembered by the audience with such a song on the survival stage, we had to show incredibly good skills or have exceptional talent.

You may have thought the same thing, but that's how we started discussing our ideas about the arrangement.

-Why... don't we change the lyrics to make it more intense?

-With a strong rhythm?

-Yes. A new world~ With many positive aspirations or ambitions!

The first Gold grade boy... It's annoying to call him that. Let's call it "Gold 1" That's more appropriate.

Well, that was Gold 1 opinion. It's something any survival show contestant would think of as idols.

Change it intensely...

The problem is that it would be difficult to give a feeling of "having greater ambition", as he put it. This is the lyrics of "A new world":

At some point, I realized

That I'm wandering through an imperfect time

Inside this unattainable labyrinth of time.

Save me, being caught up in it

I gradually wither

Inside this small space

Waiting for the day when it blooms again

Come and find me.

That's the first verse. If you want the letter to be full of aspirations, you will have to write it. The lyrics themselves are more focused on the singer, so we can change them a bit, but then the story of the song becomes a mess from the pre-chorus.

This is because the chorus of the song is trying to ask another person to come over quickly.

One step, two steps

The sound of you coming.

It's ringing at the edge of my space.

Do not hesitate, if you give me your hand

I will be in a new world.

It's dazzling, being with you is my

This is for you (forever)

-So, should I fix the sentence, "Come to me" that is heard after "I will be in a new world"?

-Uh... What if you change it to "Come to you"...?

Gold 1 muttered and scratched his head worriedly. I guess he realized that's not the only problem.

-So, wouldn't we have to fix everything from "Save me..."?

-Hmm.

Yes, the chorus is so focused on the behavior of the listener that if we fixed it, the rest of the lyrics would be ruined because it would have no connection to the chorus.

-If we keep arranging, eventually we'll end up arranging the whole song.

-Yes... but if we change it too much, it would be unfair to the original songwriters and singers of that song.

It was also a question of whether the other team or the production team would tolerate such big changes.

-...

Little by little, the seriousness could be felt on the skin and the team members became speechless. Keun SeJin quickly jumped in and changed the subject.

-Why don't we talk to the teachers about the arrangements first and decide later? I think it's better to learn the choreography as soon as possible to get feedback. Are you alright MoonDae?

-Oh, it's fine. let's do it

I readily accepted. To tell the truth, I brought up the arrangement issue because I intended to shock them.

The more desperate the atmosphere, the less chance there will be to reject me when I give my opinion on the arrangement. In fact, even if he didn't mention it, they would understand the situation when they see the dance video.

-Alright, then let's see the choreography!

Keun SeJin played the video on a tablet and everyone leaned their heads closer to watch it. Perhaps no member of the team remembers the choreography in detail, although they did vaguely remember the chorus.

And just as I expected, 15 seconds into the choreography video, everyone fell silent.

-Ah...