Chapter 1011: What Is an Idol? (2)

On stage, MC Kim Jung-Ju grabbed the microphone and shouted.

"Round 2 will begin now! The song chosen by Team 3, who will perform first, is Cherry Blossom's song 'Cherry Blossom,' which shares the same title as the group's name!

"Just as cherry blossoms bloom brilliantly and brighten the world, they say they'll sing with the hope of shining brightly as members of I.O.A.

"Go Eun-Seo! Oh Hae-Nim! Wang Lina! And Minamoto Aoi! Please give these four a big round of applause!"

As Kim Jung-Ju shouted, he stepped off to the MC booth set up beside the stage. At the same time, the members of Team 1 also came down from the stage. However, the members of Team 3, who should have been moving into formation, remained gathered together instead of spreading out. Go Eun-Seo had called the Team 3 members over.

'What's she trying to do?'

They had already done their team cheer offstage, so I couldn't understand why they were huddling together again. Even the staff below the stage couldn't make sense of it and began murmuring among themselves.

"What's with her...?"

"They were told to get into their starting positions within ten seconds. Why are they all standing together like that?"

At that moment, PD Ji Yung-Sik's urgent voice came through the wireless intercom in my ear.

Crackle.

-Mr. Jung, do you know why Eun-Seo is doing that?

Unfortunately, I didn't know either.

"I'm not sure. It wasn't something I told her to do."

-Then why...

That was when Go Eun-Seo pulled something from a pocket attached to her flared skirt and fastened one around each of the girls' wrists.

Rustle.

I looked closer to see what it was. It was a thin bracelet woven from red, blue, yellow, and white strings. It was a sort of good-luck bracelet. Attached to the end was a small tag with the number 3 written on it. Judging by its rough, uneven appearance, it had clearly been handmade.

The moment I saw it, I understood the meaning behind Go Eun-Seo's actions. Standing before their final performance, she was trying to bring her teammates' hearts together. And, cleverly enough, she was also trying to show that side of herself to the fans through the broadcast. As the daughter of top star Han So-Ye, Go Eun-Seo knew that any action she took on stage could end up on camera.

Sure enough, I heard Ji Yung-Sik's excited voice through my headset as he began issuing orders.

Crackle.

-Camera Two! Close-up on their wrists. Camera Three, full shot. Cameras Four, Five, Six, and Seven—close-ups on the girls' faces!

The cameras swung into motion all at once, focusing on Go Eun-Seo and her teammates. After all, this scene of Go Eun-Seo bringing the members together and becoming the center of a united team was perfect for broadcast.

After exchanging the gifts, Team 3 clasped hands and shouted another cheer, making sure the fans could see it.

"Team 3, we got this!!!"

After leading the cheer, Go Eun-Seo turned toward the audience and the cameras and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.

"I'm sorry. I kept thinking that this performance might be the last one for Project I.O.A, so I wanted to do something for my teammates before our final stage. We'll get ready right away."

As Go Eun-Seo and the Team 3 members finally began moving into position, the staff below the stage smiled.

"As expected, Eun-Seo knows how television works."

"Mr. Ji, your smile's about to split your face."

"She's a lot smarter than I thought."

"She's a natural. A born entertainer."

The staff below the stage were all smiling now that they had found something good for the broadcast, but Team 1, facing their competition, gradually began to stiffen.

Only Yang Bingbing looked on with a cynical expression and dismissed Go Eun-Seo's actions. "What does she think a bracelet is going to change? Tch."

At that moment, Sung Na-Ra, who had actual idol experience, answered with a serious expression. "The bracelet isn't the issue. The real problem is that the cameras stayed focused on them for thirty seconds—no, almost forty. Once this airs, it'll leave a strong impression on viewers. And it'll affect the votes too. The Team Battle evaluation only lets people vote by team number, remember?"

Song Mi-Hee nodded in agreement. "I think so too. If Eun-Seo is willing to go this far, I have no idea what'll happen next. We need to be careful too."

Kudo Minatsu was so shocked that she muttered in clumsy Korean. "Eun-Seo is starting to captivate the audience, the staff, and the viewers! I have a bad...? No, an unfortunate feeling about this!"

At that, Yang Bingbing, who had been the only one insisting it was no big deal, bristled and snapped back. "Don't be ridiculous. Even so, do you really think they can beat Team 1?"

At Yang Bingbing's sharp remark, the other three exchanged unconvinced looks and reluctantly fell silent.

In truth, for now, Yang Bingbing's assessment was correct. No matter how much attention Team 3 had attracted with that little prop, Team 1 still possessed the strongest individual members.

They had Sung Na-Ra, the ace member of the former popular idol group Five Angels, who still commanded a sizable personal fanbase. Song Mi-Hee, praised as the most complete idol thanks to ten years of trainee experience and exceptional skill in both dance and vocals. Kudo Minatsu, a genius from a famous Japanese musical family who could play piano and violin, while also writing and composing music. And Yang Bingbing, standing 174 centimeters tall and possessing striking beauty that rivaled Western fashion models.

Every one of them had remained in the rankings throughout nearly the entire run of Project I.O.A. They were also all excellent at fan service, which had allowed them to build loyal fandoms from the beginning and stay competitive in popularity voting.

However, despite all that, there was one thing Yang Bingbing had forgotten—this wasn't an individual battle, but it was a team battle. That meant victory depended not on individual excellence, but on every member of the team performing well together. And thanks to Go Eun-Seo's actions, Team 3 now appeared as though they were a single unified body.

More importantly, they had drawn viewers' attention through an act that naturally earned goodwill and affection. That alone guaranteed the move would have an effect.

Just then, the members of Team 3 moved into formation and prepared for the opening pose of the song.

"We're ready!"

I thought there was nothing left that could surprise me. However, I was wrong. It still wasn't over. The formation Team 3 had prepared was different from the original.

'Go Eun-Seo isn't in the center? She's moved to the back?'

Normally, the song began with a slightly distorted diamond formation, and the front-center position belonged to Go Eun-Seo. Oh Hae-Nim stood on the left, Wang Lina stood on the right, and Minamoto Aoi took the rear position. Yet now, Go Eun-Seo was standing in the back.

"They're using the Plan B formation now?"

Idol groups always practiced alternate formations in case one member became unable to perform properly due to poor condition. The center position was especially important. Since the center served as the face of the song, if the center faltered, the entire performance could fall apart.

That was why, throughout Project I.O.A, I had always instructed every team to prepare backup plans. And Team 3 was using one right now.

The strange part was that Go Eun-Seo, today's center, was in perfect condition. Which meant this formation could only signify one thing. Go Eun-Seo had willingly stepped aside and given the center position to someone else who suited the song better.

Just as I stood there, unable to hide my astonishment, something even more surprising happened.

Crackle.

Ji Yung-Sik's voice came through my headset.

-Mr. Jung. Why is Eun-Seo doing that now? Did she prepare something else?

His earlier question had been pure curiosity, but this one carried a hint of anticipation.

Unfortunately, I didn't know either, so I answered through the headset. "Not sure. This wasn't my instruction either. I guess Eun-Seo worked something out with her teammates."

-Oh? Really? Then I'd better keep my eyes wide open. Understood.

A moment later, the bright, upbeat intro of 'Cherry Blossom' began to play. And the moment the song started, it wasn't Go Eun-Seo who sang the opening line. It was Minamoto Aoi, standing in the center.

『When the spring breeze gently blows~』

I had suspected it, and I was right. Go Eun-Seo had even given up her vocal part.

Her vocals were flashy and highly expressive, which honestly didn't suit the opening of 'Cherry Blossom'—the part meant to evoke tightly closed cherry blossom buds beginning to bloom in a gentle spring breeze. By contrast, Minamoto Aoi's pure, delicate tone was perfect for the song's introduction.

'So the two of them had switched parts.'

The Go Eun-Seo who had always tried to draw attention to herself was now putting the team ahead of herself for the sake of victory. As a result, the overall quality of 'Cherry Blossom' rose dramatically.

The four girls, now united through genuine teamwork, moved as though they shared a single body. Ironically, because of that unity, each member's individuality stood out even more whenever their solo parts came around.

'ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL.'

The lesson I had taught on the very first day, the principle I had said was essential for teamwork, Go Eun-Seo was finally putting it into practice on the final stage of the finals.

The performance of 'Cherry Blossom' put on by Team 3, now at the pinnacle of teamwork, became comparable to the level Cherry Blossom themselves displayed when they were in top condition.

A miracle was unfolding before my eyes.

***

"To everyone's surprise... Team 3 has won Round 2! Their total score is 278 points! In comparison, Team 1 scored 263 points! Team 3 will receive an additional 75-point victory bonus, bringing every member's total score to 353 points!"

A miracle had happened. While Team 3 moved like a single organism, Team 1's performance had begun to fall apart.

Unlike the other Team 1 members, who had given everything they had, Yang Bingbing had conserved her energy for the final round. Because of that, their perfectly synchronized choreography gradually fell apart, and their formations began to unravel.

Yang Bingbing eventually realized the problem and started performing at full intensity, barely managing to recover. However, the mismatches in the first half had already caused irreparable damage. The Team 3 that everyone believed could never win had defeated Team 1.

Perhaps that was why even Kim Jung-Ju's voice trembled with excitement as he announced the results.

Upon hearing the news, the members of Team 3 threw their arms around one another and erupted into cheers. Had they suffered a second consecutive defeat, their elimination from Project I.O.A would have been nearly certain.

"You worked so hard, Eun-Seo! We never could've done this without you!"

At those words from her teammates, Go Eun-Seo's lips trembled as she spoke.

"No. If I'd trusted all of you sooner like this... we wouldn't have lost to Team 2 either... sob... I'm sorry."

At Go Eun-Seo's unexpected apology, Oh Hae-Nim, Wang Lina, and Minamoto Aoi each grabbed her hand and comforted her.

"Hey, what's with that?"

"That's right, Eun-Seo. Thanks to your idea, we got the chance to compete head-to-head. So why are you saying that? Don't cry, okay?"

Watching Go Eun-Seo realize the meaning of teamwork and pull her team back from the brink of disaster filled me with pride.

'That's my girl!'

Just then, Kim Jung-Ju picked up the microphone and continued hosting the show.

"Team 3, who gave us such a wonderful performance, should now head backstage, collect themselves, and prepare for the individual competition. As for Team 1, I hope you'll regroup quickly and make a comeback in the next round! We'll take a short break and then begin Round 3!"

At Kim Jung-Ju's words, Team 1, who still had another round to compete in, hurried off the stage first.

Tap, tap, tap.

"It's okay! We can still do this!"

"Yeah, no more letting our guard down!"

The girls' faces as they headed toward the waiting room carried a newfound determination. Team 1 had always been comfortably within the safe zone for debut. But after suffering a defeat in the most important stage of the finals, they had finally realized they couldn't afford to relax.

Watching them run off, I shouted after them, "Don't get shaken! Just perform the way you always do!"

The four girls turned and nodded, apparently having heard me. "Yes, Mr. Jung!"

They might have made a small mistake, but they were still my girls I had raised over the past twelve weeks. So I focused on calming them down and helping them maintain their mental composure.

Just then, the members of Team 3, who had remained on stage to greet the audience, came down. The four girls descended the stairs while supporting one another, their faces drenched in tears.

The staff immediately began congratulating them.

"You did great, girls."

"You won, so why are you crying? You should be smiling!"

"You all did pretty well."

"Oh, right. Next time, if you're going to do something different from rehearsal during the live broadcast, let us know beforehand. You nearly gave us a heart attack."

The girls bowed repeatedly at the flood of congratulations and encouragement. "Thank you! And we're sorry!"

After greeting the staff, they came over to greet me before heading toward the waiting room.

However, Go Eun-Seo walked directly toward me and stopped right in front of me. With a trembling voice, she asked, "Mr. Jung... I... did... well... didn't I?"

Even as she spoke, fresh tears kept threatening to spill over, causing her words to come out in fragments.

Go Eun-Seo had once been nothing but trouble. She had tried to use her father, a member of the National Assembly, to apply outside pressure. She had tried to use the influence of her mother, a top star, to affect the rankings. She was always scheming—always arrogant, acting as though she was better than everyone else, and never caring about anyone but herself.

But now, she was a perfect idol. She was someone who knew how to set herself aside for her team, someone who understood what it meant to become one with others, and someone who never forgot fan service even in the middle of all that.

"You did well. And..." I paused. "You were amazing."

Go Eun-Seo's body trembled slightly before she slowly lowered her head. "Thank... you... for believing... in me."

I patted Go Eun-Seo's shoulder and whispered quietly enough that no one else could hear.

"No. Say that again after you've become an I.O.A member."

Tremble.

Go Eun-Seo's body shook even harder than before.

***

"The winner of Round 3 is Team 1! Team 1 scored 285 points! Team 2 scored 223 points! With the additional 75-point bonus, Team 1 earns a total of 360 points!"

Round 3 ended more easily than expected. After being blindsided in Round 2, Team 1 came into the match completely focused. Team 2 simply couldn't withstand the pressure.

Then the final Team Battle results appeared on the giant screen behind the stage.

[Team Battle Scores]

Team 1: 623 points (263 + 360)

Team 2: 553 points (330 + 223)

Team 3: 603 points (250 + 353)

Kim Jung-Ju read the results in an excited voice.

"And that concludes Part One! The Team Battles are now over, but we still have the Individual Battles worth 250 points remaining. The standings can absolutely still change, so don't be discouraged. Please continue giving it your all.

"Come to think of it, the clock is already showing 11:15 p.m. Rather than delaying any longer, we'll move straight into it!

"We'll now determine the one-on-one matchups for Part Two. First, the six Korean contestants will be grouped into Group A and draw opponents from within the group. Meanwhile, the six contestants from China and Japan will be placed into Group B and compete within that group.

"For the Chinese and Japanese contestants, the top two participants from each country based on total score will be selected as I.O.A members. All right, let's draw the matchups!"

As everyone watched with bated breath, the members of both groups lined up in front of the stands containing the draw balls for Group A and Group B.

Soon, the results were revealed.

[One-on-One Battles (Group A)]

1. Sung Na-Ra vs. Song Mi-Hee

2. Han So-Won vs. Oh Hae-Nim

3. Park Eun-Chae vs. Go Eun-Seo

[One-on-One Battles (Group B)]

1. Yang Bingbing vs. Wang Lina

2. Kudo Minatsu vs. Nagai Haruko

3. Liu Lan vs. Minamoto Aoi

The final tournament bracket had been set. And as if by fate, Park Eun-Chae and Go Eun-Seo would face each other.

"That concludes Part One of Project I.O.A, which continues to grow hotter and more exciting by the minute! We'll return shortly with Part Two!"

As Kim Jung-Ju shouted, the contestants bowed deeply, bringing Part One to a close. Just then, Ji Yung-Sik's calm voice came through my headset.

Crackle.

-The viewership ratings have surpassed 15.3%. Let's do our best in Part Two as well.

Despite being calm, there was a joy in his voice he couldn't completely hide. The staff below the stage were smiling too, though none of them openly celebrated. There were only ten minutes until Part Two began.

"Girls, hurry up!"

The contestants poured off the stage. They were so nervous that their lips had gone pale from tension.

'This won't do.'

I motioned for the girls, who were heading toward the waiting room, to gather around me.

"Everyone, come here for a second!"

"Yes, Mr. Jung!"

As they crowded around, I saw exactly what I expected. Every face was tense.

At that moment, the staff began shouting that the contestants needed to change costumes before Part Two started.

"Chief Jung, we don't have time! Can't this wait until later?"

"Sorry, but there's not much time before Part Two starts. Could you save whatever you're going to say for afterward?"

The staff pleaded desperately, but I ignored them. The success of the program might have been their highest priority, but my girls were mine. And they mattered more than anything else.

-Mr. Jung! What are you doing right now?!

Ji Yung-Sik's voice came through the headset.

I simply tore the headset off and smiled at the girls. "Close your eyes and focus only on my voice."

The girls immediately obeyed, shutting their eyes and clasping their hands tightly.

"Take a slow, deep breath. Breathe in slowly all the way down into your chest. Hold it. Then let it out slowly. Follow my count. Inhale. More... more... more... hold it... now exhale..."

Simply closing their eyes and regulating their breathing was enough to ease a person's tension. The voices urging me to hurry grew louder around us, but I ignored them and dragged things out for nearly a full minute.

"Okay. Open your eyes."

The girls blinked their eyes open. The trembling had subsided and color had returned to their faces.

Only then did I let them go.

"From now on, forget the rankings. Forget the scores. Think only about your fans. Before you go on stage, take another deep breath just like this. Got it?"

"Yes, Mr. Jung!"

"Good. Now go."

"Thank you."

Only then did the girls follow the staff away, their expressions noticeably brighter than before. However, Go Eun-Seo remained where she was. Instead of following the others, she stayed beside me.

"Eun-Seo. What are you doing? Go on."

At that moment, she asked, "Mr. Jung... if I become an I.O.A member... would you grant me one favor?"

Her hands were clasped together so tightly and her expression was so earnest that I couldn't help smiling. Considering everything she had shown today, I owed her at least that much.

I nodded. "All right. As long as it's not something unreasonable, I'll do it. First, go win. And it has to be related to the entertainment industry."

"It is!"

"Then I can do that."

"Yes! That's a promise?"

"Yeah. But can't you tell me now?"

Go Eun-Seo beamed and shook her head. "Winning comes first! If I win, I'll tell you then!"

The way she giggled made me suspicious.

"Hey. It's not something weird, is it?"

Go Eun-Seo immediately clamped her mouth shut and took off running toward the waiting room.

"Go Eun-Seo! Didn't you hear me?" I shouted.

"I can't hear you!"

"You obviously can!"

"I said I can't!"

Watching Go Eun-Seo run away with both hands covering her ears reminded me of a frilled-neck lizard sprinting off, and I couldn't help laughing. I had no idea what she intended to ask for. Still, I wasn't particularly worried. As long as it involved the entertainment industry, there was very little I couldn't make happen now.

With a faint smile, I slowly turned my gaze back toward the stage, waiting to see which of Park Eun-Chae or Go Eun-Seo would become the first member of I.O.A.