TDOCD Chapter 52

Chapter 52 Second Round Performance

I pressed my lips together as I stared at Choi Song-yi, who merely shrugged with her characteristic blank expression before linking her arm with mine and pulling me along.

"I spoke without realizing you didn't know. I shouldn't have mentioned it. Let's talk about the rest after the competition."

"But what exactly do you know...?"

Never mind. Better not ask right now. No need to make myself more anxious...

I kept quiet and followed Song-yi's lead.

The set for the second round was markedly different from the first. Gone was the colosseum-style arrangement where all trainees overlooked the stage; instead, we found a more traditional setup with a proper stage and audience seating.

The distance between the performers and audience seemed more comfortable, likely to reduce the overwhelming pressure we'd felt last time.

As the trainees filled the audience seats, MC Choi Gyu-jin ascended the stage, signaling the imminent start of filming. The familiar scene began to unfold.

"Start Plan trainees, how have you all been?" his characteristically smooth voice rang out, drawing various responses from the assembled trainees.

Nodding with satisfaction, he continued, "You've all worked hard preparing for this past week. I hear there was significantly more trainee participation in this round's preparations."

Oh? Were there other teams besides us who contributed to the preparations?

"Ja-yeon, leader of 5th May Rookie!"

"Ah, yes!"

"You participated in arranging your competition piece, didn't you?"

Ah, so that's why they were spying on us. They must have heard we'd done our own arrangement too and wanted to see how well we'd done. Now it makes sense.

"Yes, that's correct. Though many people helped us, of course... haha..."

"Come now, don't be modest! I heard your contribution was quite substantial! We're all looking forward to hearing how Ja-yeon's arrangement has transformed the song."

After concluding his comments about 5th May Rookie, the announcer turned his attention to us.

"And next, Ji-ye and Da-min from Flora!"

"...Yes!"

I hadn't expected to hear my name so soon.

"I hear you two also participated in the arrangement?"

"Yes, that's right," Da-min naturally took over the response.

"We wanted an arrangement that would perfectly suit us, and since both Ji-ye and I have experience with music production, we decided to participate."

"Such talented individuals! Impressive. And I hear the other three members participated in choreography modifications?"

"Yes, that's right!" the three members who had worked on the choreography answered shyly.

The announcer exaggeratedly raised and waved his thumb. "My, my! So, every member of Flora participated in the production. Such passion! Such talent! I'm truly envious."

As the focus remained on us, the cameras briefly turned our way.

"It must have been challenging to balance this with your practice. We're all looking forward to seeing how Flora's stage has evolved through all this effort."

My teammates and I exchanged embarrassed smiles.

'So in the end, only we and 5th May Rookie participated in music production.'

As the commentary about us concluded and the camera focused solely on the host, something shifted in the atmosphere.

"Now, let me review our judging criteria once again..."

An uncomfortable exchange of glances occurred between Flora members and 5th May Rookie in the empty space between us. A boundary known only to our two teams manifested in those fleeting looks.

A brief exchange of glances. Like receiving some unspoken signal, we all averted our eyes.

By then, announcer Gyu-jin had finished explaining the competition format and was moving on to determining the performance order.

"Since eliminations begin from this round, the performance order becomes especially crucial. So, how will we decide the order?"

His gaze turned toward 5th May Rookie.

"5th May Rookie! As the first-round winners, 5th May Rookie will determine the order for this round!"

Ah, so this is another benefit they earned?

'This works out well.'

The rules required competing teams to perform consecutively. This meant we would compete according to whatever advantageous position May Rookie chose for themselves.

5th May Rookie hurriedly gathered for discussion.

"5th May Rookie, once you've decided, please have your leader come forward to announce the order."

"Yes!"

As 5th May Rookie's area grew noisy with discussion, the other teams fell silent. Everyone was straining to hear 5th May Rookie's voices.

Which team would they place in which position? Surely 5th May Rookie and Flora would take the memorable final slot?

Or perhaps they'd choose to go first, where the pressure might be less intense.

'Still, I'd prefer the final slot if possible.'

Soon enough, 5th May Rookie's leader stepped forward to announce their decision.

"The first competing teams will be 5th May Rookie and Flora."

Ah, slightly disappointing.

But going first isn't bad either. We'll have the first chance to make an impression on viewers who aren't yet familiar with the stage.

We politely applauded Ja-yeon, 5th May Rookie's leader, who continued with visible relief.

"The second slot will be First Year versus Romance Story, and the final slot will be I-Meet-You versus U&I!"

Ja-yeon listed several reasons for their ordering before returning to her seat.

From my perspective, the order seemed quite rational. Even though they gave the memorable final slot to I Meet You and U&DA, they made sure to keep us separated from them by one round.

"Now that the order is set, shall we begin the competition proper? Is everyone ready?"

"Yes!"

"My, such enthusiasm! Then let's begin the second round of Start Plan right now! First up on stage will be 5th May Rookie! Please make your way to the stage."

As dramatic background music played, the set's lighting dimmed. A spotlight followed 5th  May Rookie as they moved toward the stage, then everything went completely dark.

A brief moment passed, though it felt much longer.

After some apparent set adjustments on stage, the lights came up to reveal 5th May Rookie. They stood under bright lights wearing refreshing casual outfits - white t-shirts matched with denim jackets and jeans.

Soon, fresh, bright music that perfectly matched their outfits began to play.

***

Will my confession get lost

In the sound of refreshing rain?

Under this umbrella where we stand side by side

I'll shout it out loud

Arms and legs extended as freely as their song.

Choreography that looked effortless yet perfectly synchronized.

While they'd been impressive in the first round, 5th May Rookie's dancing truly was on another level.

Though all teams danced well, 5th May Rookie's movements carried a particularly powerful intensity.

Add to that their impactful arrangement, and it was truly a perfect stage.

The tension reached its peak.

Losing here meant becoming elimination candidates - but our opponents were performing incredibly well. Could we possibly do better than that?

At that moment, Song-yi's hand landed firmly on my thigh.

"Unnie, don't be nervous. We practiced a lot. Besides, you rarely make mistakes."

"Still..."

Right, you look so calm. I envy that.

I'm nervous. Twice as nervous as I was in the first round.

Unlike the first round, we're up against 5th May Rookie - elite trainees from a major agency.

No matter how experienced I might be, someone like me from a small (no, tiny) agency naturally feels intimidated facing a major agency.

Regardless of how confident I felt about our preparation, an instinctive sense of impending defeat crept in.

‘But if we lose here, we’re elimination candidates.’

While being an elimination candidate didn't guarantee elimination, just the possibility made my body tense up.

Just then, the production staff approached us from behind with a signal.

"...They're so good."

I tried to ease my tension by complimenting them as I stood up with the other members.

For now, let's try not to be nervous or worry too much.

Fretting will only make things harder for me.

"Everyone, let's not worry too much. Don't be nervous. Let's just focus on our performance. Okay?"

As soon as we left the set, Da-min voiced exactly what I'd been thinking.

I almost smiled, but the atmosphere was so frozen with tension that I held it back.

Still, knowing that even Da-min and everyone else were nervous somehow brought me comfort.

"Will Flora be able to deliver a performance as spectacular as 5th May Rookie's? We'll be watching with great anticipation!"

As we ascended the darkened stage, MC Gyu-jin's voice echoed through the space.0