The room was empty. Seha's dormitory had originally been a four-person room, but after two of their roommates were eliminated, he and Jei were the only ones left.
They could have each taken one of the two bunk beds, but Jay and Seha decided to continue living as before. Instead, they agreed to remove the bed used by the eliminated roommates and place chairs in the empty space.
Just like during the first competition, an announcement broadcast signaled the assembly. Now accustomed to these surprise call-outs, Jei swiftly pulled Seha along and sprinted.
Once all the participants had arrived, Dohyuk appeared and explained the second competition. Similar to Season 1 of the Reloading Project, the Second Competition would divide the participants into positions and have them compete against each other.
For example, dance specialists would choose dance positions, vocal specialists would choose vocal positions, and those focusing on rap and songwriting would ultimately select the producing position.
The opportunity to choose positions was given to the lowest-ranked participants first. However, once a desired position was filled, higher-ranked participants could push out lower-ranked ones.
'Thank goodness.'
At that moment, Seha was grateful that his rank was neither first nor second, but fifth. Overwhelmingly high rankings inevitably meant having to push out weaker competitors.
While trainees from major entertainment agencies might get away with using their top-tier status to eliminate others, Seha, as an independent participant, would likely become the production team's target if he tried to leverage a first or second-place ranking to eliminate others.
"For each position, two teams will compete. Now, let's reveal the team assignments."
Dohyuk gestured toward the screen, and a staff member advanced the slide.
Dance (13 members): Team A (7 members) vs. Team B (6 members)
Vocal (11 members): Team A (6 members) vs. Team B (5 members)
Production (11 members): Team A (6 members) vs. Team B (5 members)
*Team competition live voting results will be calculated using averages.
Despite the numerical disparity, the averaging method ensured that smaller teams wouldn't be disadvantaged. This system was used in Season 1 as well, and there were instances where smaller teams emerged victorious.
'What truly matters isn't the number of members, but the song and skill.'
Seha clenched his fist, his thoughts firm. As the fifth-ranked contestant, he could likely secure a vocal position, but he absolutely need to find a song that suits him better.
"We will now begin the position matching," With Ryu Dohyuk's authoritative voice, the great migration commenced. Starting from the lowest ranks, contestants chose their positions one by one, then were pushed aside to find new ones.
Before long, it was Seha's turn. After selecting the vocal position and reviewing the competition songs for both teams, Seha's eyes widened in surprise.
Vocal Team A (6 members): ♬ Still Us – Ian Hart
Vocal Team B (5 members): ♬ Frosty Ballad – Shim Yuwol
Team A's song was a pop hit by an international artist that had also gained popularity in Korea. Team B's song was the main OST from a famous drama that had captivated television audiences several years prior. Seha's shock stemmed from two reasons: first, he had prepared for his monthly evaluation at ON using Team A's song; second...
'It's a song from the drama Dohyuk starred in.'
Back when public TV network dramas dominated, the fusion historical drama 'Sakpung' was produced as a 40th-anniversary commemorative project. This was the work where the young Dohyuk made his mark on the public as the child actor portraying the male lead—the Crown Prince during his youth.
Seha deliberated between the two songs. He had practiced "Still Us" relentlessly before, and he understood the emotional arc of Frosty Ballad well, so he felt confident he could perform either song well.
After careful consideration, Seha chose Frosty Ballad.
'If I perform "Still Us" and it's revealed I practiced that song when I was at ON...'
Seha had already covered an ON song during the first competition. The public wouldn't be so forgiving; they might overlook it once, but never twice. Choosing "Frosty Ballad" was far better than risking unnecessary hatred. Of course, singing "Frosty Ballad" would undoubtedly provoke Dohyuk's ire again.
"Oh, the savior has arrived!"
"Ooh! Seha-nim!"
As Seha entered the vocal position room holding the "Frosty Ballad" sign, the Team B trainees who had chosen the same song greeted him with open arms.
Noticing Seha counting heads, they quickly pointed out that there was exactly one spot left. Fortunately, no one needed to be cut. Seha breathed a deep sigh of relief.
[The Second Competition assignments have been finalized. Participants, please return to the assembly area.]
A voice unfamiliar to Seha, but likely belonging to a staff member, came through the speaker.
Back at the assembly point, the staff had the trainees sit down before leading them one by one to makeshift interview booths, enclosed on all sides like voting booths. It seemed they were conducting individual interviews again.
After a long wait, a staff member called Seha's name. Inside the booth, a sign read: "Spin the Q&A Wheel."
"An anonymous cast member asked trainee Oh Seha: Which work by assistant Ryu Dohyuk impressed you the most?"
"...Do I just answer right away?"
The staff member nodded in response. Dohyuk's work... Even after they broke up, Seha made sure to watch every project Dohyuk was involved in. He needed time to choose.
After a long pause, Seha finally answered.
"I was most impressed by The Blue of Evil. His villain acting was... really good. The character was captivating."
"Okay! Now, let's draw names and ask questions to the cast members we pick."
Seha closed his eyes and reached into the lottery box held out by the staff. He pulled out a slip of paper and unfolded it. On it was written:
[Ryu Dohyuk: Assistant]
Dohyuk's name.
"Dohyuk... I mean, Assistant-nim, was included too?" Seha asked, flustered.
"Of course," the staff member replied nonchalantly.
Seha's mind raced. The cameras were already rolling, capturing his every move. If he hesitated or acted awkwardly, he might fuel rumors of a feud with Dohyuk and face public backlash.
'What should I ask?'
Seha closed his eyes tightly, trying to choose the right question for Dohyuk. After parting ways with him, he finally voiced the question he had always kept in his heart.
"...Is being an actor... difficult? That's what I want to ask."
When Seha first met Dohyuk, the young actor was already feeling weary of his entertainment career, which had started in childhood.
'But I left just as he was starting to find his spark again.'
Dohyuk had told Seha that he had pulled him out of burnout. That made their bond even more special, and Seha felt guilty about ending things. He knew better than anyone how important he had been to Dohyuk. There was nothing crueler than pulling someone out of darkness only to let go of their hand... He knew that all too well.
'I wish he could just say he’s doing well without any hardship. But that might be difficult, because of his mother...'
Moreover, Seha knew about Dohyuk's family history, which hadn't been revealed to the public. This made him even more worried. He feared that Ryu Dohyuk might suddenly leave the entertainment industry, disappearing with a face that showed no attachment to life. That was why Seha always made sure to watch every project Dohyuk appeared in.
"Interview's over! You can go back to your seat now, Seha," a staff member said, smiling with satisfaction, as if they had achieved a great result. At that moment, Seha hadn't grasped the meaning behind that smile at all.
─────────
The participants of the Reloading Project were granted another break just before the broadcast of Episode 3. The already reduced number of 35 trainees in the dormitory dwindled further due to the vacation.
Seha decided to stay at the dormitory again to watch Episode 3. He recruited two roommates—Hyun Sion and Woo Jei—to join him in the room that had been downgraded from a four-person to a two-person room. This time, Sion had proposed watching the broadcast together, perhaps because ON hadn't called him separately.
And so, after finishing their individual practice sessions and freshening up with showers, the three participants were now huddled around Seha's small phone screen, eagerly awaiting the broadcast of Episode 3.
Just as they were growing weary of the endless commercials, someone knocked on the door. At their invitation to enter, the door cracked open slightly, and Dohyuk peeked his head in.
Dohyuk hesitated, but Jei warmly approached him and led him into the room.
"...I thought it would be nice to watch together," Jei said, his voice slightly awkward.
In the slightly awkward atmosphere, Episode 3 began. The main focus of the episode was the preparation process for the First Competition and the unveiling of the competition stages.
Initially, the four of them watched with lighthearted banter, but their laughter gradually faded as they noticed the absurd editing in TEAM ON's portrayal of the preparation process.
Originally, the footage should have shown the other trainees pressuring Seha to perform Nexus's song. However, through clever cuts and splicing of dialogue, the episode portrayed Seha as having actively wanted Nexus's song from the very beginning.
In the solemn atmosphere, Dohyuk nudged Seha's arm. When Seha turned to look, Dohyuk gestured outside, indicating he wanted to talk privately.
"...Why?"
Seha followed, thinking he might have something else to say, but Dohyuk just stood there with a serious expression, saying nothing, only loosely holding Seha's wrist. When Seha tried to pull his hand away, Dohyuk finally spoke.
"File a complaint with the production team. This isn't right."
"A complaint? Dohyuk, how could I possibly...?"
Seha felt wronged by the malicious editing, but he couldn't protest. As a mere independent contestant, he had no power to challenge the show's narrative.
"It's always the same with you, On Seha."
"What am I supposed to..."
Dohyuk, as if frustrated, rolled up his sleeves and continued, "Stop with the hypocrisy. You dumped your own boyfriend, so trying to back out now won't work."
Seha remained silent.
"I have the power to influence the production team. So go ahead and ask me. Beg me to tell them not to edit you badly. Plead with me."
Seha's eyes turned as cold as ice as he stared at Dohyuk. As if there was no point in further conversation, Seha turned and walked back to the room where Sion and Jei were waiting.
Ryu Dohyuk never returned to that room, showing no lingering concern to Episode 3.
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