A New Career Singer Who Can Read The Future [EN]: Chapter 16

…Lost.

I threw scissors, and the opponent threw rock.

Turning my head, I saw the triumphant look on the other participant’s face.

I should have won.

Looking over at our group’s designated area, I saw participant number 30 looking annoyed.

This scene will definitely be broadcast. Number 30’s expression will be broadcast too.

I could see several cameras focused on the stage, capturing my face.

If I make even a slightly wrong expression here, I’ll probably be the only one getting hate because of a devil’s edit [a malicious editing style used in reality TV to portray someone negatively]. And based on my gut feeling, the 9th song won’t be passed over this easily. There might be some kind of mission given.

Just then, MC Ha Yeon-ho spoke.

“Oh! One of you will get the 9th song! In that spirit, we’ll give the winner of this match a special opportunity! You can either choose the 9th song or have the chance to listen to the 10th song in advance!”

Looking at my opponent’s expression, he seemed momentarily lost in thought. It was a temptation I wouldn’t have been able to resist either.

“How about it? The 10th song might be better than this song that you both raised your hands for! If that’s the case and you choose the 10th song, the 9th song will go to participant number 23!”

The participant next to me seemed to be contemplating, then spoke to Ha Yeon-ho.

“I’ll listen to the next song.”

“Hoo… you’re definitely someone who doesn’t miss an opportunity!”

A staff member prepared the headset and put it on the participant’s ears. Even though I didn’t know what kind of music was playing, I could see his face changing from moment to moment. Could it be a much better song than the 9th? My curiosity grew.

The staff briefly played the music and took the headset back. This participant looked at the area where his group was, then at me, and seemed lost in thought.

What’s the reason?

Is that song that good?

Or is it not?

The [THE STAR] card is a card that will make me shine no matter what. In this situation, I had expectations that it could make me shine even more.

“Have you made your decision? I’ll give you 10 seconds.”

At Ha Yeon-ho’s playful words, the participant next to me fumbled around and said.

“I’ll choose the 10th song!”

Looking at his group, they looked clearly disappointed. Picking a leader in just 10 minutes and not knowing their proper tendencies would have played a part, and there would also be annoyance at the leader unilaterally driving the situation.

Then, looking at our group, participant number 30 gave me a thumbs up. It made me feel proud for no reason. The happiness when the song I wanted came to me.

“Leaders, please return to your group members. Each group will be given a practice room where you can listen to the selected music. Then, you’ll divide the parts there and listen to the song sung by a proper guide vocal, not an instrumental version! Alright, everyone! Get ready!”

Returning to my seat, number 30 spoke to me excitedly.

“Wow, I really thought that I couldn’t do anything but that song? But you brought that exact song! I was so surprised.”

“Luck followed us. I thought that song was the only music that suited everyone’s vocals. I don’t know about song number 10. Either way, wouldn’t it be nice if our group all survived?”

At my words, the other group members smiled shyly. They recognized that my judgment was not foolish.

Number 30 continued to talk. He really talked a lot.

“Personally, I want to sing the high-pitched part. I’m not one to be pushed around when it comes to high notes.”

Listening to number 30’s voice… there’s something I can feel from the 10 years I’ve been rolling around as a singer in the entertainment industry. Number 30’s words were empty.

When I didn’t show any reaction, number 30 continued the story.

“No, I mean, please believe me.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t believe you. However, since the high-pitched part is also the most attention-grabbing part, we should listen to the version with lyrics and make a decision, right?”

“W-well, that’s true….”

“Leader is right.”

Number 49, who had been quiet, answered.

Other participants also nodded as if agreeing with my words.

“No, what I said wasn’t that I was going to take it….”

I expected it would be okay since I had already explained it once, but number 30 seemed to want to express his opinion several times.

Just as I was about to say it was okay not to say any more.

A staff member approached.

“Leader number 23. Here is the USB containing the music. And… the practice room number is 23.”

Even the room number is 23.

If we make it to the finals that are broadcast on TV, there will be 25 people left in the end. Considering that, the production team prepared 25 practice rooms.

This show spent some money.

“Let’s all go to the practice room together.”

I led the group members and asked the staff, arriving at practice room number 23. Wow. It seemed to be better equipped than most studios.

Fortunately, I know how to handle audio equipment.

“Don’t worry about the sound. I’ll handle it myself.”

“Thank you, leader!”

“Shall we listen to it first?”

To you, who was with me
In the season when cherry blossoms fluttered
I want to say I love you now
I know it’s late
I know it’s not
But you are my one and only
You got the best of me

Number 49, who was listening to the song carefully, said.

“It’s very romantic. When I only listened to the instrumental earlier, I thought it would be bright music. It’s a twist that it’s a song longing for a past lover.”

I nodded at those words. As soon as I heard it, I immediately knew which parts to bring to life. Of course, I didn’t say it out loud right away.

Participant number 30 frowned after listening to the chorus.

“This song doesn’t have a separate high-pitched part? It would be great if I could add a high-pitched ad-lib in the chorus.”

He was directing as he pleased.

But directing is also my job.

“Number 30, I’m sorry, but I think the more you add to this song, the more the atmosphere is ruined. Rather, the more you subtract, the more the charm of this song comes alive.”

“…Even if you’re the leader, you’re not a dictator, and didn’t you make a decision in advance and choose this song?”

Number 30 was annoying from the start, and he’s still annoying even though we’re in the same group. I could see the other participants looking uneasy at number 30’s words.

“No. I don’t want to be dictatorial.”

There’s a camera rolling next to me, but number 30 doesn’t seem to care about his image.

He didn’t seem to know that you have to be careful with every word and action when appearing on a broadcast program. He was one of those people who thought that if you sing well, especially high notes, you’re a good singer.

High notes aren’t everything in a song. If you can powerfully pull out high notes, it’s an attractive vocal, but I had a firm belief that it’s not a vocal that satisfies everything.

“It seems like you’re being a dictator by trying to divide the parts now. Are you trying to give the high-pitched part to number 49?”

“No. I will listen to everyone’s songs and divide them fairly.”

Even at my words, the other group members’ stiff expressions did not improve.

If I stayed a little longer, it seemed like number 30 would punch me. I was annoyed by number 30, who contributed to the harsh atmosphere, but I didn’t lose my smile.

Smile angel. That was also my goal. Laugh even when you lose. To accumulate as much goodwill as possible through this program and get a lot of votes in the final vote. It was very simple, but it was difficult to keep.

Number 30 wouldn’t be able to do it.

“Number 30, please sit down, and let’s listen to the song again.”

Number 30 was about to say something but sat down at my calm words.

I played the music again. The background seemed like cherry blossoms were fluttering, and it was progressing in a major key [a musical scale that sounds bright and happy]. The lyrics were connected smoothly, and it seemed like it would be good to stack the harmonies smoothly, rather than someone standing out in each part.

Hmm. I think I should put number 49 in the chorus of this song. Number 30’s voice seems to be the point of putting it in the mid-low range. The voices of the others….

“How do you feel after listening to it again?”

I asked the group members for their opinions.

The group members already had expressions as if they had decided which part they wanted to take.

Except for number 30.

It seemed like number 30 was taking away the energy of [THE STAR], but I persevered.

“First, I’ll tell you what I was thinking. I think it would be good if number 49 did the second verse chorus.”

Then, number 30’s expression was clearly bewildered.

“Why is number 49 doing the second verse chorus? I clearly said that I wanted to do the second verse chorus and the climax because I’m good at high notes….”

“I judged by voice. Number 30’s high notes are good. They’re good, but this song is a song that has to be built up by stacking harmonies rather than standing out. If number 30 takes on the high-pitched part, it will become powerful. Then the charm of this song will fade. That’s why I made that decision. Number 30’s voice suits the intro of the second verse well. If you sing the mid-low range and I stack harmonies on top of that….”

Number 30 was angry even though I told him the pros and cons of his voice.

Ha, really. There are people in every audition program who try to save themselves as much as possible, but this participant seems to want to give everything.

A person who lives only in the present without looking to the future. Even though it’s now the stage of picking the people who will go to the TV broadcast after entering the dorm.

“Then I can’t do it.”

Number 30, who seemed to have been contemplating for a while, expressed his opposition. The staff holding the camera showed participant number 30’s face.

I wondered if participant number 30 attended to attract aggro [attention or controversy]. That’s what I thought. With that attitude, no agency would welcome him.

“Number 30, this is not for me, but for all five group members. Number 30’s voice is in the high range, but it’s also okay in the mid-low range. I think it would be good to learn a different charm on this occasion.”

He pushed the staff member away as the staff member continued to film his face.

As a result, the female staff member holding the camcorder fell backwards and rolled on the floor. The camcorder was broken, of course.