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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Team Formation
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It was the lyrics flag.
I managed to avoid the worst, but…
Well, it's fine.
Other trainees quickly started snatching up flags as well.
The last flag remaining was, of course, the composition flag.
"No, no…………"
With an enormous wail,
the last composition flag was seized by none other than Jo Hui-on.
My condolences…
I don't know what your specialty is, but I know it's not composition.
"Alright, everyone has picked a position, right? Then, I will announce the members for each position."
Position 1. Composition
: Kim Geum, Shin Yu-hyeon, Jo Hui-on
Position 2. Lyrics
: Ryu Bo-ra, Yun Cheong, Lee Gyeong-a
Position 3. Choreography
: Lee Ju-seon, Seo Baek-yeong, Park Ha-eun
Position 4. Concept and Styling Director
: Yeon Ju-hong, Kim Ryeo-yu, Bang Su-in
PD O Baek-gyeong flipped the PPT screen.
"This time, we will divide into three teams. And each team will have one member assigned per position. For example, like this:"
Team A. (Composition 1, Lyrics 1, Choreography 1, Concept 1)
"Now, we need to form the teams."
PD O Baek-gyeong rubbed his hands together like a fly.
"It wouldn't be fun to just draw lots, would it?"
"Yes, it would!"
"Oh, come on, don't be coy."
Don't be coy? He really doesn't listen to a word anyone says.
"Now, even if it doesn't affect the final results, the mission ranking is important. So, we'll give benefits to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the last mission."
"…!"
The trainees' eyes widened.
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the previous mission were Kim Geum, Kim Ryeo-yu, and Seo Baek-yeong.
"Alright, Kim Geum, Kim Ryeo-yu, Seo Baek-yeong trainees. Please come forward and receive your Leader badges."
The three, who suddenly found themselves leaders of each team, pinned the badges to their training suits.
"Kim Geum trainee."
"Yes."
Kim Geum, wearing the Leader badge, looked quite fitting.
She seemed like a leader, but less like an idol group leader and more like a one-star general in the military.
"Kim Geum trainee was the MVP of the last mission, correct?"
That's right.
Kim Geum was a strong contender for the win, having simultaneously secured 1st place for the judges' MVP selection and 1st place in the on-site voting.
I had no complaints at all about Kim Geum taking both 1st places.
Her skills were truly excellent. The stage performance was also well-produced.
"Yes."
"As an MVP benefit, I will let you pick your team members first."
Kim Geum's face clearly showed a "Is that all?" expression.
She really can't hide her feelings.
"Now, you must recruit members for positions other than your own. We will go in order. From Kim Geum trainee, then Kim Ryeo-yu trainee, and finally Seo Baek-yeong trainee."
I didn't have high expectations.
My position was lyrics.
However, in the lyrics position, there was Ryu Bo-ra, who was Kim Geum's best friend.
Of course, she would pick Ryu Bo-ra.
And since I didn't know the members' abilities well in the lyrics position, it wasn't the top priority.
For someone like Kim Geum… concept or choreography production would be a higher priority, wouldn't it?
If I were Kim Geum, I would first recruit a choreography member.
I don't know who's good, though.
"I will pick Yun Cheong trainee from the lyrics position."
?
"Okay. Yun Cheong trainee, please stand behind Kim Geum trainee."
Me? She picked me?
I couldn't hide my surprise and pointed to myself with my finger.
However, Kim Geum nodded with a very determined expression.
Uh…
Why? Why me?
I was puzzled but stood behind Kim Geum anyway.
After that, Kim Ryeo-yu picked her closest friend, Jo Hui-on.
Hmm.
I don't know Jo Hui-on well, but from her reaction earlier, she seemed terrible at composition.
As expected of a 'favoritism pick,' it's a 'friendship pick'…
"Alright, Shin Yu-hyeon trainee from the composition position automatically becomes part of Seo Baek-yeong trainee's team. Seo Baek-yeong trainee, please pick one more person."
"I will pick Ryu Bo-ra trainee from the lyrics position."
That was a choice made with the votes in mind.
The remaining trainees had relatively lower rankings, so picking Ryu Bo-ra might be more beneficial.
"I will pick Yeon Ju-hong trainee."
Kim Geum then picked Yeon Ju-hong.
Yeon Ju-hong seemed pleased to be called relatively early, grinning widely as she stood behind me.
One by one, names were called, and all team members were decided.
Team A
Composition: Kim Geum
Lyrics: Yun Cheong
Choreography: Lee Ju-seon
Concept: Yeon Ju-hong
Team B
Composition: Jo Hui-on
Lyrics: Lee Gyeong-a
Choreography: Park Ha-eun
Concept: Kim Ryeo-yu
Team C
Composition: Shin Yu-hyeon
Lyrics: Ryu Bo-ra
Choreography: Seo Baek-yeong
Concept: Bang Su-in
Our team wasn't too bad, all things considered.
Lee Ju-seon was a trainee I didn't know well, but she just needed to be average.
The other three weren't exactly at rock bottom in terms of ability.
I was worried about the choreography, though…
If push comes to shove, I can just pull out a few choreographies I used in my previous life.
"Ah, Ryeo-yu Unnie! I don't have anyone I'm close with."
…That's a bit concerning.
Lee Ju-seon scurried over to Kim Ryeo-yu and grumbled.
She was close with Kim Ryeo-yu.
"Don't worry."
"!"
"You don't even need to worry about Ju-seon. I'll take care of her."
At that moment, Kim Geum came behind me and whispered solemnly.
How long had she been watching me?
No, more importantly, what did she mean by "take care of her"?
"Unnie, you just need to produce a good song."
"Uh… isn't composition your job?"
"Two heads are better than one, and we're a team, so we have to work together on everything. From now on, we even have to share a single bean."
That's true, but why is it so annoying?
"Lee Ju-seon! Come here!"
"Just a sec—"
"Three, two…"
"I'm coming!"
"If you're late, you'll roll left."
…Are you a drill sergeant?
Thanks to Kim Geum's extreme sternness, the three of us gathered, feeling very intimidated.
"Alright, we only have ten days, so we need to move quickly."
Kim Geum brought a large whiteboard from somewhere.
"First, we need to roughly decide on the concept so we can create other things accordingly. Yeon Ju-hong trainee?"
"Yes, yes?"
This was the first time I'd seen Yeon Ju-hong so intimidated by someone.
"Yeon Ju-hong trainee is in charge of the concept, so please give us your opinion. What should the four of us do?"
"Uh…"
Yeon Ju-hong hesitated, unable to easily come up with an idea.
It was understandable. How could she come up with anything when the team had just formed?
"Instead of that, let's decide the big picture together. Even if Yeon Ju-hong trainee is in charge of the details, it would be better if we decide the overall framework together."
"Unnie…"
Yeon Ju-hong looked at me with a very touched expression.
I didn't do it for you.
I did it because I don't like feeling stifled either.
"Good. Should it be dark, or bright?"
I looked at the member lineup.
If I only considered Kim Geum, a dark concept would suit her, but not Yeon Ju-hong.
Cute and charming would probably suit her well.
Lee Ju-seon was more of a pure-sexy type.
…Wait.
"Hmm."
"Uh…"
"Gasp."
We looked at each other and then realized one fact.
All four of us have completely mismatched images, don't we?
In the suddenly solemn atmosphere, no one could open their mouths.
Kim Geum was truly street style.
Yeon Ju-hong was cute.
Lee Ju-seon had a delicate and sexy vibe.
And I… I'm just me.
What kind of concept could unite these four people?
"We'll have to go with a sporty and healthy feel."
"I think so too!"
"You mean we should go with a fresh, rookie vibe? I mean… I don't mind it."
Kim Geum suggested it first, and Yeon Ju-hong's face lit up. Lee Ju-seon also agreed, pretending not to.
While everyone nodded,
"That can't be all."
Only I raised a slight objection.
"We should use sporty as the base, but go with a differentiated concept that's unique to us."
"That's right. A sporty concept is very classic, so…"
Kim Geum also agreed.
Many idols had already done sporty concepts.
If they didn't create a clear difference, it could just turn into a mediocre stage.
"Then, how should we create our unique, differentiated concept?"
Silence fell once more.
If a differentiation strategy came so easily, it wouldn't be differentiated in the first place.
Everyone thought for a while and then offered opinions one by one.
School look, cheerleading, athlete, and so on.
But nothing truly resonated with us.
"This won't do. We can't win with just one. Let's not just put one in, let's combine two or three."
"Oh."
Kim Geum's eyes sparkled.
"That sounds like a good idea."
"What do you think, Ju-hong?"
After all, Yeon Ju-hong was the concept director.
Even though I offered the opinion, Yeon Ju-hong had to make the choice.
"I think it's good…!"
"What about Ju-seon?"
Lee Ju-seon seemed a little surprised when I directly asked her.
"If we make it too complicated, won't it look messy instead?"
"That could be true."
I accepted the opinion.
"Then, instead of combining two very different keywords, should we combine similar ones?"
"…Well, that might be okay…"
"Okay. Then what should we combine?"
Everyone wrote various keywords on the whiteboard.
"Um, excuse me…"
At that moment, Yeon Ju-hong raised her hand.
"How about this?"
Yeon Ju-hong wrote down keywords in a corner of the whiteboard and explained the concept.
When the explanation was finished, Yeon Ju-hong asked with anxious eyes.
"…Is it not good?"
"No."
"No."
And Kim Geum and I immediately replied.
"I think it's really good."
"I like it very much."
When the two of us spoke seriously, Yeon Ju-hong's expression brightened.
The intimidated Yeon Ju-hong from earlier was gone, and only the cheerful Yeon Ju-hong remained.
"Really?!"
"Yeah, I think it's good. If we construct it well, it could be really interesting."
"It seems like it'll be fun to watch, and I like the concept too."
"Ju-seon Unnie… what do you think?"
Yeon Ju-hong asked Lee Ju-seon, who had been quiet the whole time.
Lee Ju-seon had a slightly sullen expression.
However, as the camera turned towards her, she immediately smiled shyly.
"If everyone likes it, I like it too."
…I'll have to keep a close eye on her.
"Then, since the concept is roughly set, Cheong Unnie and I will produce the song. In the meantime, Yeon Ju-hong trainee, please concretize the concept and outfits."
"Yes!"
"Lee Ju-seon trainee, for now, just roughly plan the choreography style to match the concept. We'll produce the song as quickly as possible and toss it over to you."
"How long will it take for the song to come out?"
The total practice time was 10 days.
It was too tight.
"Give us three days."
"Then there won't be enough time to create the choreography…"
Lee Ju-seon trailed off.
I understood Lee Ju-seon's feelings, but producing a song in just three days wasn't easy either.
Looking around, it seemed like most teams were investing at least five days.
Only someone like Kim Geum would say she could finish it in three days.
"Then we'll send it to you in real-time. As soon as even one line is done, we'll give it to you. How does that sound?"
"…Alright."
"In the meantime, it would be good if you could help Yeon Ju-hong trainee."
At Kim Geum's words, Lee Ju-seon's expression worsened.
"It's already hard to choreograph intermittently, wouldn't helping with the concept be too much…? I also have personal practice time…"
"…We'll also help you with all the choreography as soon as the song comes out. Wouldn't it be good if we cooperated even a little?"
"No, I—"
"Ju-seon, it's because you have good taste."
They're going to fight.
As I quickly intervened, the two stopped their growling for a moment.
"You usually dress well, right? And don't you feel more comfortable choosing your own clothes?"
"…Well, that's true."
"Right. We're all trying to get better results, so let's help each other out a little. In return, Geum and I, and Ju-hong too, will help with the choreography as much as we can."
"Alright… then."
Although it was settled for now, the atmosphere remained subdued.
I glanced at PD O Baek-gyeong.
He's grinning from ear to ear.
This won't do. The atmosphere will look terrible on broadcast.
I need to do something.
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