TDOCD Chapter 11

 Chapter 11

The Third Mission

The mentoring system at Start Plan felt like having a homeroom teacher assigned to each team.

While there were separate trainers for vocals, dance, and other specialties, the mentor acted as a guide for the entire group, leading them until the end of the competition.

 "Sounds good," I thought.

 It seemed the intention was to provide detailed advice and assistance to independent trainees who lacked agency support. Even with talent, a group of individual trainees would likely struggle with concepts, presentation, expressions, and gestures when left to their own devices.

 "What a relief," I sighed.

 With mentors present, at least this newly formed group wouldn't completely lose direction. The thought eased my mind a bit.

 "Your group mentors are waiting for you at the next location. You'll have one week to select a song and prepare your performance with your mentor's guidance."

 Wait, what?

 "Huh?" I blurted out involuntarily.

 "One week?" I thought. Isn't that too rushed? Having never experienced this before, I wondered if competitions always involved such hurried preparation. It seemed barely enough time to get in sync with newly met members, let alone prepare a cover performance.

 "A week is incredibly short," muttered the trainee with dyed hair sitting next to me. She, too, was eyeing the other F team members with a worried expression.

 This trainee looked oddly familiar. In fact, I had been drawn to her since earlier. I was certain I'd seen her somewhere before, but where?

 At that moment, a cheerful "ding!" sounded, and a blue window appeared beside the dyed-hair trainee.

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 Han Da-min (25 years old)

 - Independent

 Vocal: C+

 Dance: B+

 Appearance: B+

 Potential: A

 Trait: Versatile

 Overall Assessment:

 A fully formed idol with specs as impressive as her flashy appearance.

 Bring her into your team! She'll perfectly embody any concept.

· ✦•·····················•✦•·····················•✦·  ​

 As with the status window I'd seen for another singer at the hospital before, this one differed from my own, which only showed stats. It provided more concrete information, including the subject's age and a brief comment, offering a more direct understanding of the person.

 Moreover, this person's average stats were incredibly high. Given her age and stats, she seemed to have debut experience.

 ‘I can't remember the group name, but...’

 While I was examining Da-min's status window, announcer Choi Gyu-jin quieted the restless trainees and continued.

 "I understand this is your first time, and you'll need time to adjust. It may feel rushed, but please prepare well to showcase your skills to the fullest. And now, lastly!"

 [Benefit]

 The golden letters on the display board sparkled, demanding attention.

 "What's a performance without a reward for your hard work? I'll now reveal the benefit for the first round of competition."

 [Start Plan Theme Song Main Stage]

 Following the mentor announcement, another surprise emerged, once again catching the participants off guard. But this time, I immediately grasped its meaning.

 "They're giving the opening song center position to the first-place team."

 Every year, a theme song announced the start of the competition program and became popular. It typically featured all trainees dancing on a large stage, arranged according to their rankings.

 The other trainees seemed to have anticipated this, as they listened to announcer Choi Gyu-jin with impassive expressions.

 "The group that takes first place in this round will lead the theme song performance from the center, or main stage."

 The display board showed an inverted triangle-shaped stage diagram.

 The image depicted the first-place team on the center main stage, second and third place on the side stages, and fourth, fifth, and sixth place teams positioned below the stage.

 As always, it was a rather blatant arrangement based on rankings, but the impact would be even greater for group competitions.

 "It's quite a significant benefit..."

 It might be the best benefit throughout the entire competition.

 "Given the substantial differences in stage placement based on ranking, you'll need to give it your all to secure a high position, right?" Announcer Choi Gyu-jin said with an almost irritatingly bright smile.

 "Well then, we've finished explaining the competition theme and benefits."

 Choi Gyu-jin gestured for all the trainees to stand up.

 "Now, you'll move to your team spaces where you can freely introduce yourselves and discuss the competition."

 The trainees began to rise from their seats one by one.

 "All trainees, please follow the production staff's guidance!"

 As I was about to leave the set with the others, a notification appeared.

 Ding

​· ✦•·····················•✦•·····················•✦·  

          [Your third mission has arrived!]

         'First Impressions Matter'

 Congratulations on passing the final audition with your innate talent and skills!

 But don't relax just yet. Your journey towards your dream starts now.

 The world is full of people brimming with talent, skill, and charisma.

 Especially here at 'Start Plan'!

 Can you leave a lasting impression on viewers amidst this flood of potential stars?

 - Mission Completion Condition: Impress 10,000 viewers (0/10,000)

   Reward: 1,500G, Random Buff Box

 · ✦•·····················•✦•·····················•✦·  ​

 The third mission had appeared.

 In the F team's meeting room within the broadcasting station:

 "................."

 ".............."

 Wow, how could it be this quiet?

 Everyone was just staring blankly in different directions, not even giggling awkwardly at the uncomfortable atmosphere.

 I quietly rolled my eyes to look around at the members. They were all intently staring at their own hands, fidgeting.

 "Oh dear..." I thought.

 The silence had stretched on so long that it seemed difficult for anyone to break it now.

 Well... I guess there's no choice.

 Alright, I'll go first. I'm the adult here, after all.

 Clearing my throat softly, I opened my mouth.

 "We're all on the same team now."

 My voice echoed unusually loudly in the quiet meeting room.

 The members who had been sneaking glances at each other now fixed their eyes on me.

 "Shall we introduce ourselves?"

 "Should we?" Han Da-min responded promptly, raising her hand to shoulder height.

 "Then I'll start with my introduction."

 Oh, judging by her immediate response, it seems Da-min, like me, had been waiting for the right moment to speak.

 "Ah."

 "Oh!"

 As soon as she raised her hand, exclamations of recognition erupted from here and there.

 As expected, everyone knows this member.

 With the most striking red hair among the members, or rather among all participants, her sharp features perfectly complemented her flashy makeup.

 While she could have been proud that everyone recognized her, Da-min only smiled bitterly.

 "It seems some of you know me. I'm Han Da-min. I'm twenty-five years old, and I used to be a member of a group called Regetta."

 "Ah, of course."

 Hearing the group name, I immediately remembered.

 She was a member of a group that debuted around the same time as mine.

 We often crossed paths on music shows for a year or two before disappearing from the media around the same time as us.

 That's why I had completely forgotten about her existence until meeting her today.

 Even if I had remembered, I would have assumed that, like my group and countless other idol groups, they had disbanded and vanished.

 ‘But, she's trying again.’

 Despite likely experiencing the brutal side of the entertainment industry to the point of revulsion, she hadn't given up.

 ‘I'm the same, though.’

 I felt an unexpected sense of kinship with her.

 Of course, the Han Da-min standing before us was speaking confidently, as if she had never experienced any hardship.

 "I may be a bit older, but we're on the same team now and we'll be working together. I hope you'll feel comfortable treating me like a close older sister. I look forward to working with you all."

 "We look forward to working with you too," the members responded hesitantly, bowing politely.

 It was a natural reaction, given that she was essentially a senior in terms of experience and significantly older.

 "Then, I'll go next—"

 As Da-min finished her introduction, another trainee next to her raised her hand and stood up.