-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The First Ranking
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Team Four Seasons.”
Do Hui-yeong grinned and clapped lightly for us.
“Congratulations. You are in first place. Team Four Seasons stood out most for how all four members evenly showcased their charm. Furthermore, your excellent teamwork allowed you to compensate for each other’s shortcomings. If you continue to show such respect for one another, you will achieve great results.”
After praising us, Do Hui-yeong turned her head to Team Love U.
“Team Love U. The disappointing result you achieved this time isn’t because you lack talent or charm. It’s because the four of you didn’t create synergy together; instead, you created a negative effect.”
Do Hui-yeong made eye contact with each of the four members.
“Your strategy was lacking. Rather than relying on or entrusting everything to one person, you should have combined your strengths to highlight each of your charms. Concession isn’t always the greatest virtue. Sometimes, you need to step forward for your teammates. That’s true teamwork.”
Do Hui-yeong flipped her cue card.
“Team Four Seasons will receive a benefit in the next mission. Team Love U, please show us a better performance next time.”
At the mention of a benefit, our four minds snapped back.
It finally sank in.
Only then could we each let out strange exclamations of awe.
“Hehehehe.”
“I…! I…! I’m 5…! 5th…!”
“I moved up five spots! Me too!”
“Everyone, you truly worked hard.”
We embraced each other.
It felt like all ten days of storm-like effort had been rewarded.
“Also.”
Just then, Do Hui-yeong offered a senior-like smile.
“I will now announce the MVP of the second mission, selected by the judges.”
Oh.
“Before that, we will first reveal the benefit for the first-place on-site vote and MVP.”
Following Do Hui-yeong’s gesture, the screen on the electronic display spun around before stopping.
‘Online Voting Benefit: 50,000 votes’
“Whoa.”
Gasps of “Oh!” erupted from around us.
Fifty thousand votes. There was no way it wouldn’t affect the rankings.
I could feel Kim Geum’s face visibly brightening.
“Then, I will now announce this mission’s MVP. The MVP for this mission is…”
Do Hui-yeong paused for a moment.
“Yun Cheong trainee.”
“…!”
Me?
“Congratulations. You have been selected as the second MVP.”
Whoa!
With a shout, our team members embraced me.
“Unnie, that’s amazing!”
Dazed, I could only stare at Do Hui-yeong.
Didn’t she dislike me?
“I heard that Yun Cheong trainee, as the eldest Unnie of the team, assisted in all positions. Although her position was lyricist, she showcased excellent all-rounder skills, and thus has been selected as this mission’s MVP.”
…So she did know after all.
Only then did a smile escape me.
Right, after composing, helping with choreography, and racking my brain for concepts, I deserved at least this much.
“Congratulations, Yun Cheong trainee. But it’s not over yet.”
Then, Do Hui-yeong said something that dampened the mood.
She was right.
The real game was still ahead.
***
“Ugh, I’m dying.”
Since the on-site vote rankings took so long to announce that it went past midnight, filming was forcibly halted.
More than half of the trainees here were minors, after all.
In the end, we left work, ridiculously curious about the voting results.
“Rumor has it, the first-place vote count is over 300,000.”
Yeon Ju-hong said, munching on her grape jelly.
Why do you always seem to be eating whenever I see you?
“Crazy.”
At Kim Geum’s coarse language, I instinctively glanced around.
Just in case any fans might overhear and be offended.
“You, I told you to watch your mouth…!”
“Oh, come on. This much is fine.”
Honestly, this girl.
I pulled Kim Geum’s ear.
“Just give up. She’s always like this.”
Ryu Bo-ra spoke with an air of having given up long ago.
“Three hundred thousand votes is probably right. I heard the writers talking too.”
“And that’s not even including the benefits, that’s just pure votes, right?”
“That’s right.”
Seo Baek-yeong chimed in, agreeing with Yeon Ju-hong.
“But there’s no limit to how many times one person can vote, right?”
“You can vote for up to twelve people every day. But only one vote per trainee per day.”
“The voting period was… two weeks?”
“Yes, yes.”
“So at least 20,000 people voted for first place.”
“That’s insane.”
Twenty thousand people.
Considering they were still trainees who hadn't even debuted yet, that was a truly significant number.
“Wow, what would it feel like to receive that many votes?”
“A good feeling.”
“….”
Kim Geum and Yeon Ju-hong were still bickering with each other.
It seemed Yeon Ju-hong still harbored a slight grudge against Kim Geum.
The trainees left work in groups of two or three.
Our team and Team Bubble Gum, especially, stuck together like a single lump as we left.
“Where did Team Love U go?”
“I don’t know. After Kim Ryeo-yu stormed out, they just scattered.”
“Well, yeah. Three of the lowest-ranked members were on one team… it makes sense the atmosphere wouldn’t be good.”
The person who said that was Lee Ju-seon.
“How does it feel? Moving up five spots.”
“…Hmm-hmm.”
Kim Geum asked, pressing down on Lee Ju-seon’s head.
Lee Ju-seon awkwardly turned her head.
“We saved you from a sinking ship, Unnie.”
“…Honestly.”
Yeon Ju-hong chuckled, saying it cheekily.
“Still, it’s a relief everyone got a satisfying rank.”
“I’m not just satisfied, I could prostrate myself in gratitude to the Colorists…”
“Ugh.”
I subtly glanced at Team Bubble Gum.
Seo Baek-yeong, true to her role as the eldest Unnie, managed her expression well, but she looked happy.
It was only natural, given her consecutive debut-level rankings.
What concerned me, as expected, was Ryu Bo-ra.
She had moved up one spot from last time to 4th place.
It was by no means a low rank, yet she didn’t seem very happy.
Her eyes were exactly the same as before the on-site vote announcement.
Uninterested eyes, devoid of spirit or passion.
She didn’t seem like a bad kid, so why did she look so utterly bothered by everything?
I recalled Ryu Bo-ra, who always left the practice room late.
Ryu Bo-ra, who worked so incredibly hard for someone who supposedly didn't want to debut.
I couldn’t understand it.
“Should we, like, have a celebratory meal? Can’t we raid a convenience store? I’m craving cheese rabokki.”
Yeon Ju-hong asked, her eyes sparkling.
“What celebratory meal? I’m going straight home to collapse and sleep.”
“Your face will be swollen tomorrow.”
Kim Geum and I immediately refused.
“No, Unnies, you owe me beef short ribs.”
“Lee Ju-seon caused the trouble, why are you asking me? Lee Ju-seon! You buy her beef short ribs.”
“…Okay.”
“No, Unnie, why are you taking that seriously?! Why are you making the mood so awkward!?”
“Well, I mean…”
Lee Ju-seon fiddled with her fingers.
“It’s true everyone worked hard because of me.”
So she knows.
I didn’t offer any further response.
Anyway…
“All’s well that ends well. No need to get down about it.”
Because I strongly agreed with Kim Geum’s words.
“Exactly! Let’s do our cross! Yeon Ju-hong!”
Yeon Ju-hong raised her arm diagonally.
“Kim Geum!”
And Kim Geum raised her arm again, as if linking it with Yeon Ju-hong’s.
“Lee, Lee Ju-seon!”
Even the dependable Lee Ju-seon joined in.
“…Do we have to?”
I couldn’t keep up with the teenagers’ energy and lowered my head.
“We have to!”
“…Yun Cheong.”
Damn it.
“Four Seasons Cross!”
Sigh.
The four of us giggled and playfully kicked each other late at night.
In the end, we could only go home after buying Yeon Ju-hong cheese rabokki, sikhye, and grape jelly.
***
“Thank you for waiting.”
The same set as yesterday.
We stood once again before Do Hui-yeong.
Behind Do Hui-yeong, five chairs were visible.
Large numbers were written on each chair.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The 1st place chair was notably larger and more ornate.
…Meaning only the debut-level ranks could sit on chairs.
The rest of the trainees had to stand and look at those chairs.
It was a cruel system.
“To all our trainees who have joined us on this journey to become the new color of Colors.”
Perhaps because the twelve trainees had already shaken off their initial nervousness, they seemed calmer than yesterday.
I, Kim Geum, Yeon Ju-hong, and Lee Ju-seon stood in a line.
Not only us, but other trainees also stood with their respective teams.
Of course, Team Love U didn’t seem to have a very good atmosphere.
“We will now begin the first ranking announcement.”
Do Hui-yeong explained the voting method and tabulation.
As Yeon Ju-hong had explained yesterday, voting continued 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, one could not cast more than one vote per trainee per day.
“The total number of votes over two weeks is…”
2,130,108 votes.
“Two million, one hundred thirty thousand, one hundred eight votes.”
Do Hui-yeong said as the screen changed.
Two million votes.
At the colossal number, everyone’s mouths remained agape.
“The 50,000-vote benefit for the first-place on-site vote and MVP will be added last. First, I will announce the rankings without the benefits applied. We will start with 11th place.”
11th place
Park Ha-eun 61,234 votes
“Park Ha-eun trainee, 11th place. You received a total of 61,234 votes.”
Park Ha-eun bowed her head low, as if she had anticipated a low rank.
Without any special interview for her thoughts, the next rank was immediately announced.
Our Team Four Seasons gripped each other’s hands tightly.
We had promised each other on the way here that no matter what rank anyone received, we would embrace each other without fail.
Without comfort, and without congratulations.
10th place
Lee Gyeong-a 90,213 votes
9th place
Shin Yu-hyeon 127,523 votes
8th place
Lee Ju-seon 134,565 votes
When Lee Ju-seon’s name was called, we all hugged her tightly.
Lee Ju-seon, with a bittersweet expression, furtively wiped away a tear.
In any case, she seemed satisfied, as her first on-site vote rank had been 12th.
7th place
Jo Hui-on 158,796 votes
6th place
Yeon Ju-hong 183,452 votes
As soon as Yeon Ju-hong’s name was called, she leapt up.
She seemed truly overjoyed.
I thought she might burst into tears again, but she stopped at just having tears welling up.
It seemed she’d gotten used to ranking announcements after so many of them.
…It seemed she had secretly been worried about being 12th.
Although, having watched Yeon Ju-hong all this time, I thought 12th place was absurd for her.
I recalled the rankings so far once more.
There were similarities with the on-site vote from the first mission.
Even if the ranks within the non-debut zone were slightly different, the list of non-debut candidates was the same.
That meant the debut contenders were solid.
However, these rankings were only for when the first mission was broadcast.
The next ranking announcement would be based on the rankings after the second and third mission contents had all been broadcast.
After the second mission content was broadcast, things would change a little.
“From now on, we will announce the debut contenders.”
-------------------- Wanna support me personally, or suggest a series i should pick? you can do all of this and more at my ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/vinez --------------------