TDOCD Chapter 10

​Chapter 10 – The First Filming

 "Quiet down, everyone. We're filming, so please keep your footsteps silent," the production crew instructed.

 As we entered quietly, following their guidance, the host, announcer Choi Gyu-jin, glanced our way and exclaimed, "Ah, you've finally arrived!"

 The debut group trainees, already in the midst of filming, turned their heads in unison to observe us.

 "Ladies and gentlemen, the individual trainees who will be leading Start Plan alongside you have at last graced our set," Choi Gyu-jin announced.

 The debut group trainees began whispering among themselves while eyeing us curiously:

 "Wow, these real trainees are something else..."

 "Their aura is completely different. They're stunning."

 "I already feel like running away. I'll probably be eliminated right off the bat..."

 The individual trainees appeared intimidated by the atmosphere.

 Having debuted before, I wasn't particularly fazed. However, the newcomers with no prior trainee experience seemed overwhelmed by the mere presence of agency-backed trainees.

 "Come now, everyone! Eyes on me, please!" Choi Gyu-jin playfully interjected, sensing the growing tension. "No one has made their grand entrance yet, so all attention should be on yours truly!"

 As the atmosphere threatened to become chaotic, Choi Gyu-jin skillfully redirected the debut group trainees' focus back to himself.

 "Those empty seats you've been curious about? They're reserved for our individual trainees standing right over there," he explained, gesturing towards the vacant chairs.

 There were 12 empty seats in total, arranged in two sections of 7 and 5. This arrangement aligned perfectly with the 12 finalists from the last audition, suggesting we'd be split into groups of 7 and 5.

 "You've all fought through an incredibly competitive selection process to reach this final audition," Choi Gyu-jin continued. "Of course, that goes for the four teams already here as well!"

 He chuckled, lightening the mood.

 "Now, let's welcome the E team and F team trainees, composed entirely of individual contestants," he announced, his cue card pointing in our direction.

 "I should mention," he added with a conspiratorial wink, "even our individual trainees waiting over there don't know which team they're on yet."

 "Really?" The debut group trainees began openly staring at us, their curiosity piqued.

 ‘Wow

 My hands, politely folded in my lap, began to tremble slightly. It wasn't their stares that unnerved me, but rather the uncertainty of the impending team compositions. The stakes were high - these teams would remain unchanged throughout the entire show. A poor mix could lead to exhaustion and friction for the duration of the broadcast.

 Suddenly, the letters 'E' and 'F' appeared on the standing monitor beside Choi Gyu-jin.

 "Since we haven't settled on official team names yet, we'll refer to them as E team and F team for now," he explained. "You can decide on your group names after the team compositions are finalized, alright?"

 The screen changed in sync with Choi Gyu-jin's words.

 "I should note that each team's composition was carefully decided by our panel of judges and the production team, with the goal of maximizing synergy between members," he clarified. "Once a team is decided, it's set in stone. Now, without further ado, let's announce the members of E team!"

 The screen changed once more. In a bid to build tension, the previously bright set dimmed, with spotlights now focused solely on Choi Gyu-jin and the two empty seating areas. The atmosphere grew thick with anticipation.

 "E team will consist of 7 members," Choi Gyu-jin began. "The members of E team are—"

 He proceeded to call out the names one by one. As each name was announced, the corresponding trainee stepped forward, lining up before the camera.

 Whether by design or coincidence, E team seemed to comprise relatively younger members. I had thought Ryu Ji-ye might just make the cut at twenty years old, but my name wasn't called.

 "These seven individuals will form E team," Choi Gyu-jin declared.

 "We'll do our best!" the newly-formed E team chorused, their voices a mix of nerves and excitement.

 The debut group trainees erupted in applause, their encouragement palpable.

 "Wow!"

 "We're rooting for you!"

 "They're all so pretty!"

 Overwhelmed by the warm reception, the E team trainees awkwardly made their way to the seats Choi Gyu-jin indicated.

 As the cheers subsided, Choi Gyu-jin turned his attention to us remaining participants.

 "And now, the five trainees who haven't been called will form F team," he announced.

 I glanced at the four others beside me. We appeared to be of similar age, and I even recognized a familiar face among them. This would be our team for the duration of the competition.

 Choi Gyu-jin began calling out the F team members: "The members of F team are Han Da-min, Seo Ra-eun, Ryu Ji-ye, Choi Song-i, and Min Ha-young. These five trainees will be working together. Would the called trainees please come forward and greet our viewers?"

 We moved hesitantly towards the set, stepping in front of the camera.

 "We'll work hard and do our best!" we greeted in unison, our voices carrying a mix of determination and nervousness.

 Once again, the debut group trainees erupted in enthusiastic cheers. However, amidst the applause, I caught snippets of confused whispers:

 "Wait, isn't that..."

 "That's senior Da-min, right?"

 "Yeah, and I think I recognize the others too. Weren't they from that Love Me group?"

 For a brief moment, some of our expressions tightened, but the murmurs were quickly drowned out by the sustained applause.

 "Wonderful!" Choi Gyu-jin beamed. "Congratulations to you all! F team, please take your seats over there."

 As we settled into our designated spots, Choi Gyu-jin looked fondly at both E and F teams.

 "And there we have it! All the participating trainees for Start Plan have finally come together," he announced triumphantly. "How do you feel? Are you happy with your teammates? From where I'm standing, it looks like we've got some fantastic team compositions!"

 The trainees exchanged cautious glances with their new teammates. Unlike the debut group trainees who had bonded over their long preparation period, we had just met, making even eye contact feel awkward.

 "Um, I look forward to working with you," the trainee next to me said softly. She was the only one among all the trainees – both debut group and individual – with dyed hair.

 "Likewise," I responded with a slight nod, mirroring her subdued tone.

 Choi Gyu-jin observed the palpable awkwardness with an amused smile. "My, my, everyone's still a bit shy, aren't they? But don't worry – I'm sure you'll grow closer as you share experiences together. Now then, with the team compositions settled, let's move on to—"

 At that moment, the text on the screen at the back of the set changed dramatically:

✦✧✦✧

[Round 1 Theme Announcement]

 The set fell into an anticipatory hush.

 "And now, we've reached the most crucial part," Choi Gyu-jin declared, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. "It's time to announce the theme for Start Plan's first competition!"

 All eyes were glued to the screen, expressions a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

 "The theme for the first competition is..." Choi Gyu-jin paused for effect.

 The text on the screen changed once more, accompanied by dramatic background music. Slowly, the theme for the first-round competition materialized:

✦✧✦✧

 [Mentor Song Cover]

 A collective murmur of confusion rippled through the trainees.

 "Mentor Song Cover!" Choi Gyu-jin announced enthusiastically.

 "Mentor? What mentor?" I thought, bewildered. This was completely unexpected.

 The confusion wasn't limited to me. All around, trainees were whispering among themselves:

 "Mentor song? What does that mean?"

 "Hold on, we have mentors?"

 "Did you know about this? Because I sure didn't..."

 Even the debut group trainees seemed perplexed, suggesting this information hadn't been shared beforehand.

 Choi Gyu-jin, clearly anticipating our reaction, spoke up with a knowing smile. "I can see the questions on your faces. 'Mentor? What mentor? We don't have mentors, do we?' You're all quite surprised, aren't you? Well, you're right to be – we haven't explained it yet."

 As if on cue, new text appeared above the electronic board behind him:

✦✧✦✧​

 [Mentor Support System]

 "Allow me to briefly explain Start Plan's mentor system," Choi Gyu-jin began, his tone promising exciting revelations to come.