episode_0173

The stage ended while I was anxiously waiting to meet the leader of Python, who might be another regressor.

“ and… … .”

“… … .”

There was silence in the waiting room for a moment.

Only then was I able to catch a glimpse of the atmosphere inside the waiting room.

Our rookies are outstanding.

This music show stage was also very well done.

But compared to Python’s stage now… we couldn’t say for sure that our stage was superior.

As such…, Python’s stage was amazing.

The members were now feeling a sense of crisis about that fact.

Bam.

“Okay, now, Rookies, let’s move.”

Then a staff member came into the waiting room and told us that it was time for us to go up on stage.

“… Let’s go.”

“… Yes.”

So we got up and walked towards the stage again.

It was a moment when our Rookies might become the first girl group to achieve the great record of winning first place on a music show in their first week of debut.

But somehow the atmosphere was more subdued than expected.

**

Crowd, crowd.

“There are really a lot of people… .”

“That’s right.”

I haven’t seen this many idols gathered together since Naaah.

“Hyungs, it’s been a while.”

“How long has it been? I listened to your music well.”

Inside the passageway leading up to the stage for the ranking announcement, numerous idols were chatting with their close friends.

Of course, there was no one who was familiar with our rookies.

Among them are….

“Oh… ?”

“Oh my gosh, these kids… .”

“They might get first place this time?”

There seemed to be some people who noticed us, noticed us, and wanted to talk to us… but in the end, no one spoke to us.

So we quietly went up on stage.

“Waaa-!!!”

When we went up on stage, fans of various idols greeted us.

There were also many Rookies fans waving pink cheering sticks.

Fans who came to see the recording at dawn were still there.

“Guys, let’s laugh now.”

“Yes!”

We had become experts at changing our facial expressions in front of the cameras, having suffered through 24-hour camera hell in Naaah.

Even I can now smile a little in front of the camera instead of being expressionless.

The Rookies members, including me, erased all the worries we had after watching Python’s stage and desperately smiled at the cameras and fans.

Meanwhile, I desperately looked around to find the leader of Python.

‘It’s over there.’

And I did find the Python members though… .

‘Ah… there are too many people in the middle… ’

I couldn’t open the status window in the middle because of other idols.

So I had no choice but to turn forward and look at them after the first place announcement was over.

At that time, the MC started announcing the first place winner.

[Okay, so now all that’s left for this week’s ‘Music Bbung Bbung’ is to announce the 1st place winner! Let’s take a look at the candidates first!]

Paat.

As the MC proceeded, one team at a time emerged on the monitor as a candidate for first place.

First of all, the first one is a famous ballad singer.

Although they are not idols and thus lack firepower, they are a powerhouse in the music industry who have been active for the past 10 years, so they are not someone to be ignored.

And the second candidate is…

Paat.

[Our Black Love at That Time – Black Night]

“Waaa …

“Gyaaa-!!”

by Black Bomb, currently YW’s flagship boy group.

As soon as the group name appeared on the screen, the Black Bomb members skillfully began providing fan service, and an enormous cheer erupted from the audience.

‘I think it was number one until last week.’

In fact, it can be said to be the strongest candidate for first place.

However, it has already been quite some time since the sound source for was released.

If it had been released when it was at the peak of its popularity, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but now it’s worth a try.

And the last candidate is of course… .

[Secret Girl – Rookies]

“Waaa …

“Rookies-!!!!!!!”

“Please-!!!!”

We were rookies.

As soon as the names of the Rookies were announced, cheers as loud as Black Bomb rang out.

A rookie girl group that just debuted is getting the same amount of cheers as the top boy groups from the top three entertainment agencies… .

It could not be helped but be seen as quite unusual.

A fierce battle is expected and the atmosphere is tense and tense.

[Now, I will announce the winner among these three candidates!]

[I wonder who will be number 1? Let’s take a look together!]

Chorrr!

With the MC’s gesture, scores in various categories such as digital music and albums began to rise rapidly.

It was so fast that it was difficult to even tell what was going on.

Chorrr!

But the scoreboard kept going up without waiting for my eyes… .

Paat.

When the scoring finally stopped and one group’s name appeared on the screen, I couldn’t help but hold my breath for a moment.

[Rookies – Secret Girl]

1st place.

We were first.

Phew-!

[Congratulations! The #1 song for the third week of June on Music Bbung Bbung is Rookies’ !]

“Waaa …

I was so out of it that before I could even grasp the situation, fireworks went off and huge cheers erupted.

The first place in the first week of debut that I had only imagined.

When that actually happened, not only I but also the other members had dumbfounded expressions.

and….

Jiying.

It was captured on camera and broadcast live.

Meanwhile, Mike came to me, the leader of the Rookies.

[Now, rookies, please tell us what you think!]

It was to announce my thoughts on winning first place.

“… Uh, uh. That, that… .”

I thought that when I first won first place on a music show, my heart would swell like when I won on NaA, but when it actually happened, it wasn’t like that.

Rather, I felt like I was completely out of my mind and had no idea what to say.

“, thank you… .”

“… … .”

When the short answer came out, the MC asked in embarrassment.

[…is that the end?]

“Ah, no… ! It’s not the end… , , thank you… , thank you again… . Ugh… ”

“Wahahaha-!”

My head was spinning, so I kept repeating that I was grateful, and the audience burst into laughter as if they thought I was cute.

I was worried that the mood would become awkward because of me, but I guess that wasn’t the case.

Still, perhaps because he thought he couldn’t end his thoughts like this, Yoo Seol hurriedly took the microphone.

“To be specific, I really love the fans who allowed us to be here. I would like to thank the company staff who always help us, especially Director Jeong, Producer Han Si-woo, our manager oppa, and our coordinator unnie! We will work hard to show you an even better side of ourselves in the future!”

“Wow-!”

And as soon as Yoo Seol finished his speech neatly like a real leader… .

♪♬♬-!!

The intro of our just started playing.

It was for the encore live to commemorate 1st place.

I was so out of it just now… As soon as the melody of started playing, my mind immediately calmed down.

“Oh my, what should I do if you say things like that!”

“I knew you would handle it like this.”

“Our leader is a troublemaker.”

I spoke to Yoo Seol and was handed the microphone by the staff.

The other members also gathered in one place, smiling brightly as if they were finally starting to realize it, receiving the microphone.

“Unnies, we are number one! Number one!”

“1st place right after debut!”

“Guys, don’t get too excited. We still have fans, so let’s do a good encore, okay?”

“Yes-!”

We started the encore with a slightly lighter but more joyful heart than ever.

I feel good.

It feels familiar.

It wasn’t long before I realized why this feeling was familiar.

‘That’s how I felt when I won first place at the ranking announcement ceremony….’

No… it’s better than before.

If back then I was ranked first among the contestants, now I am ranked first among the idols.

As expected, being first place was a good feeling.

It was that moment.

Fight.

“… … !”

Just when I was feeling elated, a strange feeling crept into me.

So I turned my head to where I felt that strange feeling, and there it was… .

Smile.

There was the leader of Python, who smiled slightly at me and was walking down the stage.

Swish.

As soon as she saw me, she pointed downstage and nodded.

I could immediately tell what that wink meant.

Let’s see under the stage.

That was definitely what it meant.

At this, I nodded slightly and realized.

‘They’re also aware of me over there.’

So how do they see me? What do they think of me?

…I wonder if that person is my friend or my enemy.

So I finished the encore stage with slightly complicated feelings.

“Waaa-!!”

“Gyaaah-!!”

“I love you-!!!”

As soon as the stage ended, our Rookies’ fans in the audience waved their cheering sticks and shouted.

I felt like my complicated mind was cleared up a little by that loud shout.

At this, a smile appeared on my face again.

‘Okay, I’ll think about it later.’

Let’s enjoy the present for now.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

After the stage was over, I waved my hands loudly to the fans.

Our rookies’ first music show ended happily with them taking first place.

**

As soon as we finished the encore stage and returned to the waiting room, we prepared to leave.

The music show doesn’t end today.

There are music shows back-to-back until this Sunday.

There was another early morning slaughter tomorrow, so I had to move quickly to get some more rest.

“Okay then kids. Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

That’s when we, led by our manager, were about to leave the waiting room and go outside.

“… Huh.”

At the end of the hallway, a group of figures appeared.

… were Python members and their staff.

At this, the expressions of our rookie members hardened for a moment.

I was conscious of them because of Python’s stage earlier.

They must have sensed that we were watching them, because they started looking at us from that direction too.

“… … .”

“… … .”

But since there was no contact or friendship between our rookies and Python, no one spoke first even when they made eye contact.

“… Guys, let’s go quietly.”

“… Yep.”

So it was at that moment that I was trying to quietly pass them by.

“Naaa, I saw it well.”

“… !”

As we were just passing by, Python approached us first.

And the main character is….

“And congratulations on 1st place.”

As expected, it was the leader of the Pythons who had been nodding to me and telling me to meet him below.