"After the 2nd competition, all trainees who wished to take on producing submitted tracks through their respective companies. Among them, the five songs that received the highest evaluations will be used for the Producing & Concept Evaluation."
With that explanation, the MC called the producing members forward.
But only three people stepped out.
"However, unfortunately, two of the trainees who submitted songs were eliminated in yesterday's 2nd ranking announcement and will not be participating."
A disappointed sigh rippled through the trainees.
Their songs made the cut, but because their ranks were low, they wouldn't be able to compete with their own tracks.
It was certainly a bitter result for the eliminated trainees, but since this concept round's songs would be released as digital tracks—unlike the previous competition—they would at least gain something.
Though honestly, that was probably meant to shut down any complaints beforehand.
It was exactly like a broadcasting station to prepare "preventive measures" that allowed criticisms to end at a manageable level.
"And the concept mission tracks, created through collaboration between the trainees and professional producers, were revealed in advance to the Idol Makers, who then voted to assign members to each team. Now, let's take a look at the results."
Following the MC's gesture, we turned toward the screen.
Soon, the five evaluation songs appeared with the assigned trainees' names listed under each. After quickly scanning the screen—
"Oh."
"Let's do well, Yu-ha."
"Yeah, let's do well, hyung."
I nodded back at Joo Danwoo, who greeted me with a bright smile.
Of the six members assigned to each team, the lineup for Team 3—the team I was in—contained familiar names.
「Team 3 (DAZZLE)」
Won Yu-ha
Aiden Lee
Kang Hyunjin
Joo Danwoo
Gyeong Ji-won
Park Won-hyo
Aside from Gyeong Ji-won and Kang Hyunjin, whom I had never teamed with, I had worked at least once with everyone else.
"The group compositions were determined based on the Idol Makers' 'most-wanted chemistry' votes. From here on, each group of six trainees will form a team and be evaluated with their assigned concept track. However—"
The MC paused skillfully, adjusting the tempo.
As all eyes naturally shifted to them, the MC continued slowly:
"The tracks assigned to each group are not complete."
"What…? We have to do more?"
"Ha… this is so
Uneasy and resigned voices spilled out from the trainees.
Enjoying the reaction alone, the MC explained that the songs for the 3rd competition were only half-finished.
Each concept track came with added lyrics and choreography—
but only half of them were complete.
Meaning:
Half of the lyrics, as well as the entire point choreography for the chorus—where the main hook would go—would have to be created by the trainees.
"For this round, there will be a special mission. On the day of the mid-evaluation, each group must record the point choreography they created as a short-form video to be pre-released on
At a time when Idol Makers would be able to choose fewer and fewer trainees as ranks narrowed, an extra 5,000 votes per member was enormous.
It could very well become the trump card that allowed a team—or an individual—to survive the upcoming 3rd ranking announcement.
Realizing this, the trainees exchanged intense looks with their newly assigned teammates.
As the atmosphere began to tense, the MC ended with a gentle smile:
"We look forward to seeing stages that will capture the hearts of the Idol Makers."
****
"Then, should we start by choosing a leader?"
After the explanation for the 3rd mission ended, our team gathered in a corner of the auditorium, exchanging awkward greetings.
The first to speak was Aiden Lee.
Aiden, having already worked with Gyeong Ji-won and Kang Hyunjin in the former A-Class, and having teamed with Park Won-hyo in the 1st mission—not to mention being friendly with the others—seemed the least uncomfortable among us.
"Ah, should we…?"
"Yes."
"Sounds good."
But that was only true for Aiden.
The atmosphere among the rest of us was painfully stiff.
Well, of course it would be…
I had never spoken a single word to Gyeong Ji-won before this.
With Kang Hyunjin,
I didn't mind Park Won-hyo, but our previous team in the 1st competition had ended on a rough note.
Especially Park Won-hyo, who still seemed to carry a bit of guilt for choosing Joo Danwoo as the member to give a minus vote to during the 1st competition.
He probably knew it was an unavoidable choice…
but he had watched Danwoo work the hardest up close.
And now that his labelmate Kim Tae-young had been eliminated, he looked even more subdued.
Danwoo… seems fine, though.
Unlike Park Won-hyo, Danwoo didn't seem to hold a grudge.
Maybe he had gone through some emotional growth after teaming with Park Woo-jae during the 2nd competition.
"So, who wants to be leader?"
In that faintly awkward, ambiguous mood, Aiden asked brightly—but silence followed.
"...."
"...."
Seeing everyone avoid eye contact, I realized something instantly.
Whoever opens their mouth first becomes leader.
If everyone is trying to avoid responsibility, the one who speaks up first naturally gets stuck with it.
It was obvious.
A very old memory flashed through my mind, and I pressed my lips firmly shut.
—Alright, let's choose a leader. Anyone want to volunteer?
—...
—...
—…Well, if not, should we vote—
—Since Yu-ha hyung is already taking initiative, I think he'd be best!
—Wait, hold on—
—Clap, clap, clap!
That was how I had been railroaded into becoming Lightning's leader before.
…Not this time. I'm avoiding it.
I had zero intention of taking on another role that required unnecessary attention, responsibility, and pressure. If I just kept quiet like the others, the leader role would naturally fall to whoever was oldest.
But there was one thing I hadn't predicted.
"If no one wants to volunteer, should we nominate someone?
I pick Yu-ha~!"
"What?"
"Clap, clap!"
"Uh—yeah, yeah."
"Cl–clap~."
…Because Aiden Lee happened to be on my team.
…This little punk.
Even as I reflexively clapped along with Aiden's instigation, I saw my teammates staring at me with startled expressions. My head immediately began to throb.
…And just like that, I became a leader on
"…So first, we should divide up the parts. For now, Aiden, Ji-won, and I are on vocals; Danwoo-hyung is rap; and Hyunjin-hyung… plus Won-hyo-hyung… you two take dance parts? Will that work?"
After the clapping died down and the leader role was officially mine, I stuck the "L" sticker onto my chest and began organizing the situation.
Overall, the member composition wasn't bad.
A number of us had already handled creative missions in the 1st contest, after all.
As long as everyone handled their part well, we'd get through this mission without too much trouble.
"Then before we start creating anything, I'd like to hear how the song 'DAZZLE' came to be."
"Hm."
At my words, Aiden Lee began thinking with an unusually serious expression.
Since the direction of our choreography and remaining lyrics depended on the producer's original intent, everyone perked up, waiting for his explanation.
After a short moment of thought, he finally spoke.
"…Just sparkly?"
…Yep. That was Echart for you.
…That nickname really stuck.
The nickname "Echart" came from Idol Makers clipping a moment from the 1st mission interview.
At the time, the staff had asked me, 「You seemed flustered by trainee Aiden Lee's track idea?」
And I had answered:
—I thought he was Mozart.
(Caption: Who is that even supposed to make sense to…)
That line blew up as a meme.
Then the moment where I gave Aiden a bit of time to explain himself got edited together with clips from a famous child-counseling TV program, so now Aiden and I were known as "the Doctor and the Problem Child duo."
"What?"
"...?"
"Haha…"
"R–right. I see."
Danwoo and Won-hyo, who had worked with Aiden before, merely half-heartedly nodded with tired eyes.
Hyunjin and Ji-won, on the other hand—having only trained with him in A-class but never actually performed with him—looked completely baffled, as if wondering what the hell he was talking about.
I sighed deeply and asked Aiden:
"Not just sparkly. You must have some mood or story in mind. Some kind of imagery, right?"
I said that as I looked down at the printed lyrics for our mission song, "DAZZLE."
—all eyes on you
Value beyond compare
Captivate them faster
—the highlight begins
The one who decorates the end of this night
Is only dazzle, dazzle!
The lyrics were flexible enough to match almost any concept—
so choosing the right image was the real key.
"Gentlemen?"
Aiden eventually offered a single word.
"A gentleman vibe? I watched a blockbuster movie recently."
For Aiden Lee, this was a surprisingly reasonable answer.
Satisfied enough with that, I fetched the tablet and played the song.
The track—built on swing jazz—overflowed with glamorous energy.
It opened with jazzy piano, then layered upbeat drums, brass, contrabass, trumpet—each variation adding flair.
So that's what he meant by sparkly.
Between Aiden's answer and the lively, exhilarating vibe of the song, I could roughly get a grasp of fitting concepts.
But before that, I asked the team:
"Does anyone else have an opinion?"
"Sparkly, huh…"
"…Hmm."
Everyone was groaning with effort when—
"…Maybe… if we lean into a tap-dance vibe, it'd be good."
I turned my head in surprise.
The one who'd spoken was Kang Hyunjin.
When my gaze landed on him, he stiffened for a moment and shut his mouth.
"…Hyunjin-hyung… could you explain a bit more?"
Since I had already addressed him as hyung to draw aggro toward AINET earlier, the title slipped out naturally.
Hyunjin twitched, glanced around, then—probably noticing the cameras—slowly nodded and continued.
"…We could make a point choreography using tap-dance steps. Start with footwork-based moves and then…"
Hyunjin stood up and demonstrated.
Hands tucked in his training-pants pockets, his feet flickered in quick, precise movements.
"…Something like this."
"Whoa, that's nice."
"But it might be hard for people to follow."
"Then what about adjusting it like this?"
I stood and simplified the tap-dance steps, removing a few and making the structure easier.
I added clearer arm movements and finished with a jump.
Hyunjin murmured:
"…Good."
"As expected of Yu-ha~!"
"Okay… and for the added concept, unless anyone has other ideas…"
Catching my breath, I sat down and scribbled a word onto the lyric sheet.
「Phantom Thief Kid」
"What if we go with a Phantom Thief Kid concept?"
"...?"
"...??"
As they stared at me in confusion, I began explaining further.
—You might not know this, but Yu-ha is also Mozart. Honestly, nobody understands what he's saying right away~!
…Little did I know Aiden Lee would one day say this in a broadcast interview.
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