episode_0136

After the performance was over and we returned to the backstage while listening to the cheers of the audience, my team members, including me, fell to the ground.

Our stage this time was a long one with a running time of 4 minutes and 30 seconds, and we were nervous because there were 10,000 people in the audience… .

“Ha… , ha… .”

“Ha… .”

We were so exhausted that we couldn’t even stand, so we could only breathe heavily.

It was Lee Hye-jeong, the oldest among us, who spoke up.

“Now… , it’s all over.”

“… … .”

“This is us… , no, it was the last stage.”

We were silent for a moment at Lee Hye-jeong’s words.

Then, one of the team members laughed and said.

“All… , Thanks for your efforts. Meanwhile.”

“… … .”

When one person spoke, the entire team responded as if echoing.

“Thank you all for your hard work… !”

“Good job.”

“Our last stage was awesome.”

“Ah… , It’s finally over… !”

A feeling of exhaustion, as if you had finished a long marathon.

And the satisfaction that comes from that.

but… .

This atmosphere was soon broken by someone’s mumbling next words.

“Not yet… , isn’t it the end?”

“… … Hmm?”

“Ranking announcement ceremony… , there are still some left.”

“… … .”

… Okay, we still have one last one left.

Final ranking announcement, final sentence.

A total of 14 participants completed Naaa, which started with 100 people.

However, only 6 of them can survive.

Now it was time to select who those six people were.

**

It could not be considered the quality of a trainee… , After the stages of teams 2 and 1 are over.

“Wow… , really… .”

“It was a good thing I came… .”

Waiting for the lingering audience was an interview video prepared in advance by the production team.

And the topic of the interview was… .

[Q: Any last words you would like to say?]

last.

It was the last time.

[Nahanna (Haste): … Thank you so much.]

[Seo Yu-jin (SAV): There have been many difficult times… , I think there were more enjoyable times. I grew a lot in Naaa… , I think I’m learning a lot.]

When the final interview video of the participants they were rooting for appeared, the audience felt their hearts sink and sighed.

“Ah… … .”

“It’s over now… .”

“Just 20 more episodes… .”

“Ugh… , look at what our kids are saying… .”

Among them, some shed tears while watching the interview videos of the participants.

A sad and heavy atmosphere descended on Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium… .

At the moment when it seemed like the interview with the 14th contestant would be the last, the production crew asked the contestants the following question.

[Q: Do you want to debut in Naaa?]

[…] … .]

All participants momentarily flinched at the production crew’s question.

and… .

[Yoo Seol (JJ): Yes.]

[Park Yu-jeong (Levi): Yes.]

[Lee Hye-jeong (Kidship): Definitely.]

[Ha Ye-rin (Brother Planning): Yes. I really want to debut in Naaa.]

The earnest answers of the 14 participants overlap… .

Paaah-!!

The lights turn on again on the dark stage.

Pushy.

Something rises from the very center of the brightly lit stage.

The participants thought it was Han Si-woo who came to host the event.

but… .

“Huh?!”

“Waaa-!!!”

“Kaaa-!!”

Standing on the podium are the 14 participants who completed the final competition.

The participants appeared standing in an orderly manner on the podium in the same costumes they wore on stage.

And in the midst of it all, Han Si-woo appears holding a microphone.

“As you just saw, all 14 girls here are eager to debut. but… .”

Faaat.

As soon as Han Si-woo pointed to the electronic display board, the number ‘6’ appeared on the screen.

“Only 6 of these girls can achieve their dream of debuting.”

“Aaaa-!!!”

“No way~!!!”

“Just let all 14 debut!!”

The audience screams at Han Si-woo’s words, which sound somewhat cruel.

Han Si-woo looked at the audience with a small smile and continued speaking.

“Okay, let’s start counting down now. When the electronic sign goes off ‘6 seconds’ from now… , Final voting is also over!”

Numbers light up on the electronic display along with Han Si-woo’s words.

6, 5, 4… .

But everyone here had already voted for today.

The audience could only put their hands together and pray that the trainee they were rooting for would debut.

… 3, 2, 1.

Just like that, the numbers on the electronic display go off.

“With this, the debut group of 6 members has been decided. What’s left… , It’s just an announcement.”

“Aaaa-!!”

“Then, before we announce the rankings… .”

At the thought of finally announcing the rankings, the participants swallowed their saliva and the audience screamed.

However, Han Si-woo said with a playful face, as if he would not announce the rankings so easily.

“… … Haven’t you forgotten something?”

“… … ?”

… Forgot something?

Both the participants and the audience tilted their heads at his strange words.

“Before announcing the rankings, we will announce the names of the Naaah project group where the 6 debut members will be active for 1 year!”

“… … !”

People’s eyes widen as soon as they hear the group name announcement.

And soon… .

Faaat.

The electronic signboard turns on brighter than ever and pink letters flicker.

.

“The name that will appear like a comet and turn the entertainment industry upside down for a year. It’s Rookies!”

Rookies.

It was the moment when a girl group was born that would leave a mark in idol history after only one year of activity.

**

When I saw the name Rookies, I had two thoughts.

First things first… , I like it more than I thought.

To be memorable, the name must be easy and simple.

‘Even in my past life… , I think it was called Rookies.’

I was worried about what if a different name came out because of my involvement in this life, but I was glad that didn’t seem to be the case.

Instead of a strange and long name, I liked the simple but memorable name Rookies.

And the second thought… .

‘Looking at the team name… , I feel like this is a short-term project group that will only be active for one year and then disband.’

Rookie.

Literally translated, it means rookie.

When people start working on anything, they start as rookies.

And as time goes by and your experience builds, you go from a rookie to a veteran.

However, Rookies can never move beyond being rookie idols and become veteran idols.

Just one year… , because they will disband before they even take off their rookie status.

When I thought about that, I felt truly bitter.

I would like to work with the members who worked hard together in Naaa for 5 or 10 years, not just 1 year… .

‘It must be difficult because each company’s position is different… .’

Knowing that it was practically impossible made me feel even more bitter.

Of course, even so, I wanted to debut in Naaah.

It’s better to work together for at least a year than to do nothing.

I really planned to have a year with no regrets so that I wouldn’t have any regrets later.

While I was thinking that, Han Si-woo was holding the microphone… .

“… Now then, we will really announce the members of the debut group.”

We announced the Rookies members who will be with us for one year.

“Rookies member positions will be occupied by participants ranked 1st to 6th in the final individual vote.”

“… … .”

“And the ranking announcement… , I will start from 5th place, not 6th place.”

“Aaaaa-!”

“Woooo-!”

What I’m most curious about is the 1st place winner and the 6th place member who joined the team through pull-ups, so they’ll reveal the 6th place later.

Even though the audience gasped and booed, Han Si-woo continued without paying any heed.

“Now then, we will announce the 5th place contestant! The first to join the Rookies members… , the contestant who ranked 5th in the final individual vote was… !”

“… … .”

As Han Si-woo paused for a moment, the competition hall was filled with tension.

And soon, Han Si-woo calls the members by their names… .

“Congratulations! This is Park Yoo-jeong, a contestant from Levy Entertainment!”

“Waaa-!!!”

The audience erupted in thunderous cheers.

‘Phew… .’

I breathed a sigh of relief when Park Yoo-jung, who I wanted to be on the team with, was called.

On the other hand, Park Yoo-jung… .

Grinning.

He smiled and stepped forward to the podium, as if he knew he would be called.

Come to think of it, Park Yoo-jung didn’t have a single problem or obstacle while performing Naaah.

Park Yoo-jung, who placed herself in the 100th place during the first seat selection corner, has steadily risen in rank and achieved catastrophic growth all the way to the final 5th place.

Park Yoo-jung, who was always smiling while hosting Naaah, became the first Rookies member with a bright and pure smile even at the last moment.

“Uh… , First of all, there are many people I am thankful for. First of all, I would like to thank the people at my company, my aunts and uncles, and my sisters and brothers who have performed with me so far. And finally… .”

Park Yoo-jung continued speaking while winking and shaking her hand at the audience.

“I would like to say thank you very much to the fans who supported and voted for me! Thank you!”

“Waaa-!!”

Park Yoo-jung ended her acceptance speech without forgetting to tease her fans.

With this, Park Yoo-jung takes one of the six positions in Rookies… .

“… … .”

“… … .”

As one of the more manageable 5th and 6th place positions was filled, the remaining participants waited for Han Si-woo’s announcement with heavy expressions.

This was the same for the audience.

“Ah… … !”

“What should I do… … !”

Fans of contestants ranked at the threshold of the right to debut began to murmur as if they were distressed by the thought that the trainee they were rooting for might not be able to debut.

And while looking at the audience with a smile, Han Si-woo began the next episode with a relaxed tone of voice.

“Then now… , Next, we will announce the 4th place participant who will be the Rookies member.”

“… … .”

4th place.

In fact, the rankings are almost fixed from here on.

‘If you’re in 4th place… .’

I also have a rough idea of who will be in 4th place in my mind… , No, I was almost sure.

So, I waited with a somewhat relaxed mind for the announcement of the final 4th place vote.

and… .

“Congratulations! The participant who placed 4th in the final individual vote was… !”

‘… … uh?’

I was a little surprised by the unexpected 4th place participant.