Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail – Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“Team Four Seasons.”

Do Hee-young gave us a light applause with a smile.

“Congratulations. You are in first place. Team Four Seasons stood out the most for showing the charm of all four members evenly. Not only that, but you filled each other’s shortcomings with excellent teamwork. If you continue to show respect for each other like this, there will be good results.”

After praising us, Do Hee-young turned her head towards Team Love You.

“Team Love You. The reason you got disappointing results this time is not because of your lack of talent or charm. It’s because the four of you didn’t create synergy together, but rather had a negative effect.”

Do Hee-young made eye contact with each of the four people.

“The strategy was disappointing. Rather than relying on one person or entrusting everything to them, you should have combined your strengths to highlight your charm. Yielding is not always the best virtue. Sometimes, there are times when you have to step forward for your teammates. That’s true teamwork.”

Do Hee-young flipped the cue card.

“Team Four Seasons will receive a benefit in the next mission. Team Love You, please show a better side next time.”

At the mention of the benefit, the spirits of our four members returned.

It finally hit home.

Only then could we each let out strange exclamations.

“Hehehehehe.”

“Me…! Me…! I’m 5…! 5th place…!”

“I climbed up five steps too! Me too!”

“You all really worked hard.”

We hugged each other tightly.

It felt like we were fully compensated for the stormy 10 days.

“Also.”

Then, Do Hee-young smiled like a senior.

“I will announce the MVP of the second mission selected by the judges.”

Oh.

“But before that, I will reveal the benefit of the 1st place in the on-site vote and the MVP.”

Following Do Hee-young’s gesture, the screen inside the electronic display spun around and stopped.

‘Online Voting Benefit 50,000 votes’

“Wow.”

There was a sound of surprise from the surroundings.

It was a whopping 50,000 votes. It couldn’t not affect the rankings.

Kim Geum’s face noticeably brightened.

“Then, I will announce the MVP of this mission right away. The MVP of this mission is….”

Do Hee-young paused for a moment.

“Trainee Yoon Cheong.”

“…!”

Me?

“Congratulations. You have been selected as the second MVP.”

Wow!

With a shout, our team hugged me.

“Sister, awesome!”

I was flustered and just stared at Do Hee-young.

Didn’t she dislike me?

“Trainee Yoon Cheong, as the oldest sister of the team, I heard that you helped in all positions. Although you were in the lyricist position, you showed a great all-rounder image, so you were selected as the MVP of this mission.”

…She knows.

Only then did a smile seep out of me.

That’s right, I composed, choreographed, and wracked my brain for the concept, so I should receive at least this much.

“Congratulations, Trainee Yoon Cheong. But it’s not over yet.”

Then, Do Hee-young said something that broke the mood.

She was right.

Because the main game was still left.

***

“Ah, I’m going to die.”

The shooting was forcibly stopped because the time had passed 12 o’clock while announcing the on-site voting rankings.

Because more than half of the kids here were minors.

In the end, we left work while being insanely curious about the voting results.

“According to rumors, the number of votes for 1st place exceeds 300,000.”

Yeon Juhong said while nibbling on grape-flavored jelly.

Why do you always feel like you’re eating something every time I see you?

“Crazy.”

At Kim Geum’s harsh words, I unknowingly looked around.

I was worried that the fans’ ears might rot.

“You, can I shut your mouth…!”

“Ah, what. This much is…”

Really.

I grabbed Kim Geum’s ear.

“Give up. She’s always like that.”

Ryu Bo-ra’s tone was that she had already given up.

“It must be 300,000 votes. I also heard what the writers were saying.”

“Moreover, that’s not even the total of the benefits, it’s just pure votes.”

“That’s right.”

Seo Baek-young chimed in on Yeon Juhong’s words.

“But isn’t the number of times you can vote per minute not set?”

“You can vote for up to twelve people every day. However, only one vote per trainee per day.”

“Was the voting period… 2 weeks?”

“Yes, yes.”

“At least 20,000 people voted for 1st place.”

“Awesome.”

20,000 people.

Considering that they were trainees who hadn’t even debuted yet, it was a really big number.

“Wow, what would it feel like to get so many votes?”

“It feels good.”

“….”

Kim Geum and Yeon Juhong were still growling at each other.

It seemed that Yeon Juhong still had a bit of resentment towards Kim Geum.

The trainees left work in groups of three or five.

Especially our team and Team Bubble Gum, we left work like a bunch, flocking together.

“Where did Team Love You go?”

“I don’t know. After Kim Ryeo-yu kicked and left, they just scattered.”

“Well. Since there were three people in the lower ranks in one team… The atmosphere wouldn’t be good.”

The person who said that was Lee Juseon.

“How is it? The feeling of climbing up five steps.”

“…Hmm.”

Kim Geum asked while pressing down on Lee Juseon’s head.

Lee Juseon turned her head in embarrassment.

“It’s because we saved you from a sinking ship, sister.”

“…Really now.”

Yeon Juhong chuckled.

“But it’s a relief that everyone received a satisfactory ranking.”

“I’m not just satisfied, I could even do a triple bow to the Colorists…”

“Ah, geez.”

I glanced at Team Bubble Gum.

Seo Baek-young, like the oldest sister, was managing her expression well, but she looked happy.

She consistently ranked in the debut range, so of course.

What bothered me was Ryu Bo-ra.

She had climbed one step from last time and was in 4th place.

It wasn’t a low ranking at all, but she didn’t look very happy.

Her eyes were just the same as before the on-site voting announcement.

Soulless, passionless, indifferent eyes.

She didn’t seem like a bad kid, so why did she have such a world-weary face?

I remembered Ryu Bo-ra, who always left the practice room late.

Ryu Bo-ra, who worked so hard even though she didn’t want to debut.

I couldn’t understand.

“Shouldn’t we, like, have a team dinner? Can’t we raid a convenience store? I’m craving cheese tteokbokki.”

Yeon Juhong asked with sparkling eyes.

“What team dinner. I’m going to go home and crash right away.”

“My face will swell tomorrow.”

Kim Geum and I immediately refused.

“No, sisters, you have to buy me galbi.”

“Lee Juseon made you suffer, so why are you asking me to buy it? Lee Juseon! You buy her galbi.”

“…Okay.”

“No, why do you seriously accept that, sister?! It kills the mood!?”

“No, well….”

Lee Juseon fiddled with her fingers.

“It’s true that everyone suffered because of me.”

She knew.

I didn’t say anything in return.

Anyway….

“If the end is good, everything is good. Why are you so down?”

I agreed very much with Kim Geum’s words.

“That’s right! Let’s do our cross! Yeon Juhong!”

Yeon Juhong raised her arm diagonally.

“Kim Geum!”

And Kim Geum also raised her arm as if to cross it with hers,

“Lee, Lee Juseon!”

Even the trusted Lee Juseon joined in there.

“…Do we have to?”

I couldn’t keep up with the teenagers’ tension and bowed my head.

“We have to!”

“…Yoon Cheong.”

Damn.

“Four Seasons Cross!”

Ah, geez.

The four of us kicked each other around in the middle of the night.

In the end, we were able to go home only after buying Yeon Juhong cheese tteokbokki, sikhye, and grape jelly.

***

“Thank you for waiting.”

The same set as yesterday.

We stood in front of Do Hee-young once again.

Behind Do Hee-young, five chairs were visible.

Each chair had a large number written on it.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The 1st place chair was unusually large and heavily decorated.

…Only those in the debut ranking can sit in the chair.

The rest of the trainees have to stand and look at that chair.

It was a cruel system.

“To all of our trainees who have participated in the journey to become a new color of Colors.”

The twelve trainees had already shaken off their tension once, so they looked calmer than yesterday.

I, Kim Geum, Yeon Juhong, and Lee Juseon stood side by side.

Not only us, but other trainees also stood in the same team.

Of course, Team Love You didn’t look very good.

“I will start the first ranking announcement ceremony.”

Do Hee-young explained the voting method and counting method.

As Yeon Juhong explained yesterday, the vote lasted for two weeks.

Each person could cast one vote per day for up to twelve people.

Of course, it was also possible to vote for only one trainee.

However, you couldn’t give more than one vote per day to a trainee.

“The total number of votes for two weeks is….”

2,130,108 votes.

“Two million one hundred and thirty thousand one hundred and eight votes.”

As soon as the screen switched, Do Hee-young spoke.

2 million votes.

At the enormous number, everyone’s mouths couldn’t close.

“The 50,000 vote benefit of the 1st place in the on-site vote and the MVP will be added at the very end. First, I will announce the ranking without the benefit added. I will announce from 11th place.”

11th place

Park Ha-eun 61,234 votes

“Trainee Park Ha-eun, 11th place. You received a total of 61,234 votes.”

Park Ha-eun bowed her head deeply as if she had guessed the low ranking.

Without any special interview, the next ranking was announced immediately.

Team Four Seasons held each other’s hands tightly.

On the way to work here, we promised to hug each other no matter who received what ranking.

Without consolation, without celebration.

10th place

Lee Kyunga 90,213 votes

9th place

Shin Yu-hyun 127,523 votes

8th place

Lee Juseon 134,565 votes

When Lee Juseon’s name was called, we all hugged Lee Juseon tightly.

Lee Juseon wiped away a small tear with a bittersweet face.

Anyway, the first on-site voting ranking she received was 12th place, so she seemed satisfied.

7th place

Jo Hee-on 158,796 votes

6th place

Yeon Juhong 183,452 votes

As soon as Yeon Juhong’s name was called, she jumped up.

She looked really happy.

She was about to cry again, but the tears stopped at her brimming eyes.

She seemed to have gotten used to the ranking announcement ceremony because she had done it so many times.

…She had been worried that she might be 12th place.

Of course, having seen Yeon Juhong so far, it was unthinkable that she would be 12th place.

I once again went over the rankings so far.

There were parts that matched the on-site voting of the first mission.

Although the rankings were slightly different within the non-debut range, the list of non-debut candidates was the same.

That means, the debut candidates are solid.

But this ranking is only the ranking when only the first mission was broadcast.

The next ranking announcement ceremony is the ranking after the contents of the second and third missions are all broadcast.

When the contents of the second mission are broadcast, it will change a bit.

“From now on, we are entering the debut candidate range.”