-First... I would like to choose the song "Good Waiting".

-...!!

Seon AhHyun was very excited, he didn't expect me to choose his song.

-R-re-really?

-Yes.

Certainly, "Good Waiting" was a good song that came out five years ago. "Soul", the song that RaeBin proposed, was also good, but it was released two years ago.

"I had already thought about it in the first team battle, but performing VTIC songs would be very difficult."

Although RaeBin was very confident, he did not want to take any chances.

However, I could not exclude RaeBin's views, as he will be the one to lead the arrangement. To take advantage of his "Maestro" ability, I had to say keywords that fit his taste.

Unlike AhHyun, who looked very happy, RaeBin looked depressed. He did not expect that his opinion would not be accepted.

-But the theme of this round of team battles is "Self-production", so it would be no good to present the song lyrics or concept as it is.

-Oh...

-So I hope there's a shocking arrangement. Personally, among the suggestions that RaeBin made, I really liked the "oriental" style that he mentioned.

-That is...

Kim RaeBin looked dazed as if he was immersed in his thoughts, but then he showed an accepting expression on his face.

-The lyrics of the song are not awkward... If we choose the instruments well, we can create a very interesting arrangement. If we adjust the choreography according to the arrangement, we will make a very impressive performance.

-That's good.

RaeBin accepted the proposal very well. Only SeJin and Gold 1 were missing, so I turned to see them.

As soon as our eyes met, SeJin smiled and said nonchalantly.

-So how about we fix it up in a sexy oriental style?

-...!

-Even if we go for the Asian style, we have to decide what kind of atmosphere we are going to create. That's why we have to add a sexy impact!

In fact, his opinion was not bad.

"Besides, it's what he intended to do from the beginning..."

As we never refused to use the concept of "sexy", surely he didn't care what I answered, he was going to impose that concept anyway.

"He is an expert in suggesting his proposal in a funny way, even if it was embarrassing, we couldn't refuse."

Because of that, Gold 1 sighed and spoke with a playful tone.

-You really are quite a case...

It was obvious that he wanted to do it and it was destined to be executed. Seeing the expressions of my other two companions, I also saw that they accepted the concept.

-Hahaha, can't I be like this?

Keun SeJin shrugged his shoulders. With this, he wanted the opinions of the four team members to be reflected in the song selection.

"They already accepted the previous proposals, only one more is missing."

Few viewers would dislike the team's warm and democratic atmosphere. I spoke calmly again.

-We can use the rabbits.

-Eh?

Gold 1 waved his hands in denial.

-Oh, you mean what I wanted to propose? It doesn't matter, it was just a random comment.

-No. I think it would be fine.

-The rabbits?

-Yes, there is a rabbit in the old Korean stories that we know.

But my companions thought of other stories.

-By-byeoljujeon?

-Is... our story about the hare and the tortoise running?

-That is an Aesop's fable.

Keun SeJin laughed out loud at the answers the other guys gave. He is a clever boy who did know the right answer.

-The moon rabbit?

-Correct. The moon rabbit.

It is an old story that tells about a rabbit who makes rice cakes with his mallet on the moon. It is also known as "Jade Rabbit" and for a children's song whose lyrics add that it is under a tree in the moon.

-But how will you make it look sexy?

Gold 1 muttered in confusion "Are we going to destroy the innocence of children?". I think he thought of the rabbit in Playboy magazine.

But Kim RaeBin seemed to like this keyword and she understood the concept in a blink of an eye. I didn't have to explain, so I felt very comfortable for him.

-I think we just need to understand the concept and rebuild it. If we can conjure up the image of a fantastic animal, it is an attractive concept.

-Uh, was that it? I like my idea to be used that way.

Gold 1 nodded hesitantly, so SeJin resolved the situation immediately.

-Hmm~ I like it too! Do you think if we finish deciding by raising our hands or not?

Several teams from the other rooms had already decided on his song and reported it to the production team. Due to the weather, it was time for our team to wrap up the selection and go over the details.

-If you agree with the idea of ​​reinterpreting the song "Good Waiting" with a sexy oriental concept featuring a moon rabbit, please raise your hands!

We all raise our hands. SeJin also raised hers as soon as she finished speaking and smiled.

-Oh, this looks so democratic. All our opinions have been reflected. Let's do our best!

-Yep!

-Yes~

As such, the discussion ended with friendly applause, just as we had begun. We went out to report on our song, but at the time...

-I DON'T LIKE IT!

We heard a scream coming from the team that was also coming to our side. I turned to see and the expression on the face of one of the boys caught my attention.

It was Lee Sejin.

-What?

Oh...

-Are they fighting?

The participants whispered quietly around him. But everyone seemed to be keeping their words to themselves because if they said something silly, it could be understood as wanting to be the next victim of the show's editors.

Meanwhile, Sejin looked at his teammates.

Choi WonGil had a firm expression and Cha YooJin looked very sad.

But the confrontation did not last long. Sejin turned and ran from the set, his jaw clenching in fury.

-...!!

-Uh, they...

Fortunately, Ryu CheongWoo immediately regained his composure and followed after him.

-Wait a minute, guys... Sejin-ah? Lee Sejin!

And a cameraman quickly followed CheongWoo.

-...

Wow, this is really...

If Cha YooJin, who is a nice guy but doesn't express himself clearly, was involved in the conflict, then I could understand that atmosphere.

-Huh...

A sigh escaped Gold 1. RaeBin's face darkened as if the trauma of his first team battle hadn't faded.

But nobody had the tactlessness to approach that team and ask them questions.

Several weeks have passed since the filming of the show began, and although we could not fully understand the situation, we could not ask them directly at this time.

"As much as we care, we cannot interfere in the affairs of others or we will be sacrificed by the editors on the broadcast."

We went to talk to the production team about our song choice and then moved to the practice room.

We make the best decision.

* * *

After midnight, the "Rabbit" class returned to the dormitory. The boys looked like shriveled bean sprouts.

How nice it is to return to the bedroom...

SeJin fell on the bed as if he was dead.

He seems to have been knocked out after spending the whole day arranging, choreographing, and even dealing with the concept of the stage that we will be doing in 10 days.

-I-I have to take a bath...

AhHyun said, but he couldn't get up from his bed.

-...

He was extremely nervous as he continued to recreate the choreography to match the musical arrangement, it seems his mental strength couldn't take it anymore.

Gold 1 left the room claiming that he should eat something. He said he wanted two bowls of instant ramen, well he'll see where to get it.

-Is it okay if I use the shower first...?

-Yes.

RaeBin asked AhHyun a couple of times, but since he didn't reply, he asked me and retreated to the bathroom.

In the end, I was the only sane person left in this room.

Oh, why am I relatively normal?

Of course it's because of my status window, there's a new activated ability listed at the bottom of my window.

Keep your mind clear and body healthy!

Reduce 50% of your fatigue

After the broadcast of the Icorpo episode where the presentation of my previous team could be seen, I was able to obtain a new achievement.

500,000 people remembered your existence!

Select: Special Attributes ☚ Click!

That number does not seem to be real.

500,000 viewers?

Is there any other program in which more than 500,000 people remember one of its participants? No matter how high the show and its competitors ranked, it was an amazing number.

Considering the speed with which I got this number, it was scary to think that I will soon reach a million people.

"Soon, a million people will remember me... Well, they'll remember 'Park MoonDae'."

At times like this, I thought it would be better to be in someone else's body.

Anyway, the skill I got from achieving fame in 500,000 people was a jackpot. It was the most useful skill that he could use in this survival program.

It didn't increase my lung capacity or gain muscle strength right away, but it certainly did get easier on busy, physically demanding days.

"Even after trying very hard, I am still able to calmly organize my thoughts."

I got up and stretched briefly. After all, he was tired and sleepy.

"As soon as RaeBin comes out, I'll take a quick shower and go to bed."

At that moment, I heard a noise at the door of the room.

Knock Knock.

-...?

Will it be Gold 1? No, if it was him, I wouldn't have knocked on the door.

"If he was a staff member, I would have let him know who he was."

I had no idea who he was.

Knock, knock, knock, knock!

The knocking on the door continued and there was no one else to attend to the visitor as my companions were annihilated in their beds.

"...How annoying."

I sighed and went to the door to open it.

-...!

Cha YooJin was standing outside.

It's a bit surprising that he came to visit our room at this hour, but it's understandable because he may be looking for RaeBin, a friend he's known for a long time because he belongs to the same agency as him.

The problem is that he looked really bad. He was huffing and puffing, crying even though he was wiping some of his tears away and his nose was running.

-...

"Why is he crying here?"

It is very disconcerting.

Fixed cameras are also installed in hallways and dorm rooms. The staff probably already realized that he came here crying, but I had no idea how that would appear on the show.

No, other than thinking about it, why did he come here?

"Isn't it common sense to go to King CheongWoo?"

Considering CheongWoo's personality, I would have comforted him by now. Why would he cause a stir in another team's room?

"Well, I don't think he came with that intention..."

I was silent for a brief moment thinking of all sorts of reasons until I finally spoke.

-...Did you come to see RaeBin?

-Uuhjung. I came to see Hyung and RaeBin.

YooJin replied with an unclear pronunciation.

"Why me?"

I don't think we're close friends... but it seems like he liked me when we teamed up in the last team battle.

Anyway, we had very good results and the process of team and song development (from YooJin's point of view) must have been fun.

"After having tasted the hell of having bad teammates, he must have missed me."

If I send him back to his room, no matter what kind of image appears on the air, it won't look positive.

I sighed and answered him.

-Come in. RaeBin is taking a bath.

-Yes...

YooJin walked in and continued to cry and snort. Since my companions were sleeping soundly in their beds, I'm sure they won't wake up even though we make noise.

I sat down at the closest table in the room.

"Is there something I can give him?"

I looked at YooJin in anguish, so I took out some chocolate bars that I had and gave them to him. It would be better if he ate something sweet.

-Thank you...

YooJin thanked me with his broken voice and took it to his mouth.

-...

Only the sound of chewing chocolate echoed in the room.

On the other hand, I began to feel disturbed.

"What... the hell am I supposed to tell him now?"

I've never been terrified of intervening in someone else's team affairs before, but it would also be troublesome to stay silent and let RaeBin handle it.

"RaeBin doesn't have great social skills either."

I don't know what this situation would lead to.

It is likely that I will be attacked if I intervene in this.

But in the end, I spoke carefully to him, feeling that I was walking into a minefield.