Chapter 31: Survival Entertainment Show - Random Keywords (5)

We decided to step outside the building to avoid disrupting the filming crew.

"Let's practice it twice before we go in."

"Okay, please point out anything that needs correction at any time."

I turned on the music, and Park Yoon-Chan started to move to the rhythm. The extra practice sessions that had cost him sleep were showing their worth, as he executed the dance almost reflexively now.

"Your waist is losing tension, and so are your arms! It slows down the pace, you know."

"...Is it slow now?"

"Yeah, a bit."

The moment Park Yoon-Chan clenched his teeth, I shook my head firmly. "You need to relax. Are you going to dance with your teeth clenched even in front of the camera? You will miss your part."

I went back into trainer mode and made as many corrections as possible. Then, I mirrored the choreography in front of him to help him adjust his movements in real-time, enhancing his ability to lead the song with more finesse.

During the practice, I heard someone talking from somewhere. "Hey, aren’t they trainees?"

"What? They're supposed to be onstage right now, aren't they... Oh wow, it's Chronos!"

"Chronos? Wow!"

‘What?’

I stopped moving for a moment and looked around, but there was no one in sight.

"Did someone just talk about us?"

Park Yoon-Chan nodded to my question, but he didn’t seem too concerned and continued to practice. "I don’t know. I think I heard something. By the way, am I doing well right now?"

He seemed to be too focused on dancing to care about other things.

"Yeah, you are doing great."

Perhaps it was just someone passing by. Some fans would wait outside the venue when they couldn’t get in to see their favorite artists, so I thought it had been one of them.

***

"Yoon-Chan, you seem more at ease now."

"Yeah, a bit. I apologize for taking up your time."

Upon our return to the studio, True Bye's performance was unfolding.

"Wow, True Bye is definitely going to climb the ranks this time."

Goh Yoo-Joon murmured, his expression awash with awe. The first keyword for True Bye, whose performance had been less striking than Air Senior’s, was “Youth.” They fully embraced the anguish and bittersweetness of youth by transforming a classic song into something new. Adorned with costumes and concepts that fans would adore, their stage was a sight to behold.

Though the results were not out yet, it was clear just by watching that they delivered a performance worthy of moving up the ranks.

"Wow, we are in trouble." Even Street Center, with the highest streaming numbers right now, was amazed by True Bye’s performance.

"Chronos, get ready for the stage."

Seeing our stiff expressions, Joo-Han smiled reassuringly.

"Hey, what’s there to worry about? Are we lacking in anything? We can also do well this time. Let’s go."

"...Right? Yeah! We are good too!"

"That’s right."

With Joo-Han's encouragement propelling us, we moved toward the backstage. True Bye’s stunning act had indeed rattled us, but after seeing Park Yoon-Chan's near-perfect run-through, I couldn’t imagine anything but success awaiting us.

"Get the microphones on! Chronos, ten minutes to the stage!"

We hastened our preparations backstage amidst the buzz of the filming crew. After securing my in-ear microphone, I approached Park Yoon-Chan, who was immersed in mental rehearsal.

Gently tapping him on the shoulder, I pressed my hands down on him. "Yoon-Chan, that’s enough. Relax your face."

"How can I, hyung? I want to, but it’s hard."

I looked straight into Park Yoon-Chan’s eyes. At that moment, even the camera capturing us felt intrusive. "You are the best."

"...What’s with that all of a sudden?"

"Act like you are the most arrogant and self-assured person in the world. You understand, right?"

This guy was exceptional at acting. Wasn't he the one who dominated the screen as a skilled actor the moment our group disbanded?

I recalled an interview where Park Yoon-Chan had mentioned auditioning as an actor and contemplating acting since his trainee days.

“Think of it as acting. You came in through an actor’s audition, right?"

"Hyung, how do you... Sigh. An actor."

After pondering over my words, Park Yoon-Chan seemed to grasp the feeling and took a deep breath. His tense shoulders slowly relaxed. When Park Yoon-Chan opened his eyes again, his face was calm and expressionless. "I will do well. Don’t worry, hyung."

I smiled at Park Yoon-Chan. “I trust you.”

I tapped Park Yoon-Chan on the back again and returned to where the other members were.

“Your expression looks good. Let’s keep it up, Yoon-Chan.”

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Goh Yoo-Joon’s voice chimed in with encouragement even though his hands were busy with last-minute makeup touches.

Our focus then shifted to Air Senior's performance onstage. They had evidently refined their understanding of the show's dynamic since their last act.

While vocals were their forte rather than dance, they had cleverly adapted, opting for a more rhythmic approach that enhanced their stage presence. Aligning with the “Romantic” keyword, their performance leaned into storytelling and stagecraft, mirroring Street Center’s vibe.

As a result, the audience responded with enthusiasm, a testament to Air Senior's strategic analysis and preparation over the past two weeks.

Absorbed in their performance, Joo-Han turned to inquire. "Are the dancers still backstage?"

"No, they are about to come in now."

It was clear that the other groups—much like us—were progressing rapidly, each endeavoring to excel. The attention of the fans had begun to transition from the buzz of pre-released videos to the anticipation of the live show.

If other groups were evolving, we needed to elevate our game even further...

"Five minutes until Chronos's stage!"

Air Senior's performance ended, and contrary to their previous audience reactions, the curtain fell amidst cheers. Soon after, the announcer, Jeong Gyu-Chan, resumed the show.

"Wow, we really enjoyed Air Senior's performance. It was a sweet and sophisticated performance that fit the keyword 'Romantic.’"

Behind the curtain, the props we had prepared were being installed on the stage.

"Chronos and dancers, please enter."

We carefully moved to our positions to avoid making any noise. In contrast to the previous stage, where only five members stood, the large number of dancers created an overwhelming presence even before anything started.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you've been waiting for a long time. The last stage of

Pick We Up

. Who's left?"

The cries of "Chronos!" echoed in response to Jeong Gyu-Chan’s prompt, bringing a smile to my face. The profound silence behind the curtain made the quiet laughter from my fellow members turn into our secret bond, and it resonated softly in the tense air.

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the star of the first round! Chronos!"

I bumped fists with a dancer standing right next to me, sharing encouragement before getting into my position as the curtain started to rise. Shrouded in darkness, the stage was illuminated with red light when the music started.

***

The backstage atmosphere crackled with electricity, charged with anticipation as the audience's cheers echoed, drawing the attention of those who had been conversing during the interval. After all, Chronos had already ignited a buzz on social media with glowing reviews, even in the absence of an official broadcast or fan-recorded videos.

Both old fans who cherished memories of Cha-Cha and new ones—whose expectations were kindled by “Moon Sea”, social media buzz, and clips from the official website—were now silent. Their excitement from the earlier performance transformed into focused attention on the stage.

On the stage bathed in red light, something big was already happening even before the eyes could adjust to the lighting. Soon, the grand prelude started, contrasting with the solemn and rigid stage.

"What song is this?"

"Yeah, I've heard it somewhere before, right?"

It definitely felt familiar, but no one could quite put their finger on it. The audience started to check their pamphlets in a hurry. Then, they looked back at the stage in surprise.

"Is that Reina’s song?"

"Reina? Wow, what song is that? Oh my gosh, I really like this song, why didn't I know?"

Indeed, Reina's song had been transformed to such an extent that recognizing it proved to be a challenge. Known for her emotive ballads, frequently featured on rainy days, social media, and café playlists, Reina—the solo artist—wasn't typically associated with such grand and assertive sounds.

Hence, even to those familiar with the original, the new rendition was startlingly different.

"But it's really good? The impact is amazing."

Whether they knew the song or not, one thing was indisputable: Chronos' performance always attracted everyone from the prelude. As the lights intensified and the audience's vision cleared, the dancers marched onto the stage.

"Wow, this is incredible."

The scale alone obliterated any lingering sentiments from the previous act, promising a spectacle befitting not just a competition but an award ceremony's grand performance.

Amidst the brief commotion, the grand prelude abruptly subsided. The stage quieted down, and the first part started with the appearance of Park Yoon-Chan.

“What should I say~”

It was the appearance of an unfamiliar face.

“Was there such a member in Chronos?”

“I don’t know. I only know Suh Hyun-Woo and that guy who sighed during the last performance.”

“Dang, he is so good-looking...”

It wasn’t just his delicate look; his beautiful voice also perfectly matched the melody of the violin.

For a moment, the audience shivered at the ticklish timbre, but as soon as Park Yoon-Chan's face appeared in a close-up on the side screen next to the stage, everyone collectively exclaimed in admiration.

Perfect eye contact, perfect expressions, perfect singing, and a perfect face. At first, people didn't recognize him, but they soon realized that he was the member who had played the adult Cha-Cha.

The red lighting changed to blue, and his expression looked somewhat sad, revealing a different side of Park Yoon-Chan that wasn't shown in “Moon Sea.”

As Park Yoon-Chan's part ended, the delicate melody of the violin started to mix with the aggressive sound of brass instruments. The accompaniment transitioned into a rapid and flashy rhythm, and the dancers standing in formation naturally shifted as the lighting followed their movement. Then, the next part was taken over by Suh Hyun-Woo.

The lighting turned red again.

"Silently enduring through the night~" Suh Hyun-Woo had been waiting on the right side with the dancers and now quickly moved to the center. Once again, exclamations erupted from the audience.

"Wow, that's Suh Hyun-Woo, right? I knew he was the center just by looking at him. Now I see what they meant."

His expression looked like he had a story to tell. The way he casually touched the hat he was wearing and the sharp gaze toward the camera were striking. In an instant, the atmosphere changed. The two of them were the protagonists under contrasting lights.

***

"About Suh Hyun-Woo... He is not the one who re-debuted, right?"

Manager Joh In-Hyun proudly shook his head at Director Kim Shin-Sik's words. "No, Director. He did train for a long time as a trainee though."

"He's good. The others are good too, but the atmosphere changes when he comes out."

Kim Shin-Sik chuckled. It was as if he could see the bright future of Chronos and Suh Hyun-Woo.

While “Moon Sea” featured complex choreography, this simpler performance resonated more profoundly with the audience. It wasn't about having more spectators; the focus had shifted toward integrating more dancers, expressions, and overall quality.

The result was a meticulously curated performance that showcased not only the stagecraft but also the charisma of each member, fulfilling the intent behind their ambitious presentation.