The spinning wheel that the roulette pointed to indicated that the 4th evaluation task was rap. Upon PD Woo Han-suk's announcement, the more than 20 participants who had survived until now showed a variety of reactions.
Some smiled slightly, some sighed, and others showed no particular expression.
It was a clear division between those confident in rap and those who weren't.
The cameras quickly captured these participants' reactions, and among them, Kang Rojun, who stood in Group 2, had essentially no expression. He looked at the roulette and quietly murmured to himself. (TL Note: Team 1 and Team 2 changed to Group 1 and Group 2 as they are further subdivided into teams like Team A and Team B, etc.)
'Rap, huh- it would've been better if it was vocal or dance. Well, rap's not bad either.'
His stats were already.
-[Appearance (100/100)│Singing Ability (22.5/100)│Rap (20.4/100)│Dance (22/100)│Eloquence (11.2/100)│Acting (12.8/100)│Lyrics Writing (73/100)]
He had enhanced it to over 20 points, and he had plenty of coins too. Though rap was unfamiliar to him in 'Produce That 100!' compared to vocals and dance, it was doable. At that moment, No. 37, who stood next to Rojun and was in the same group, let out a long sigh.
"Ah, I'm screwed."
"Why?"
No. 37 furrowed his brow tightly.
"I'm really weak at rap. How about you, No. 1 ssi?"
"Hmm- I haven't really tried it either."
"Phew. When it was dance, I felt like I could somehow manage if I practiced like crazy, but rap is really... I'm quite worried."
It was a reaction that made sense. Then Kang Rojun glanced at No. 58 from Group 1 across the way. Like Rojun, No. 58 showed little change in expression.
'Well, No. 58 passed the first round with rap, so I guess he wouldn't be worried??'
That's when PD Woo Han-suk stepped in.
"Group 1 and Group 2's 4th evaluation task has been decided as rap. Now we'll be forming teams for the 2-on-2 team battle."
As soon as he finished speaking, staff members came up to the two black square boxes in front of PD Woo Han-suk. They put Group 1's number tags into the left box and Group 2's into the right one. Once the staff stepped back, PD Woo Han-suk raised his index finger and tapped the left box first.
"This is Group 1's box, and the right one is Group 2's. I will now start drawing numbers, and the order in which the numbers are drawn will determine the teams. Starting with Group 1."
PD Woo Han-suk stuck his hand deep into the left box, stirred it around for a bit, and pulled out a number tag.
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"No. 58."
From the beginning, No. 58 was called, and the next number tag was immediately announced.
"No. 71."
Holding the two number tags together, PD Woo Han-suk shouted.
"No. 58, No. 71! Group 1 Team A! Please stand together, the two of you."
Soon, No. 58 and No. 71, who had a gentle impression and kind of resembled a puppy, stood side by side. In the same way, PD Woo Han-suk repeatedly reached into the left box, and after a few dozen minutes, a total of six teams from A to F were formed in Group 1. Group 1, now split into pairs, was done.
Next was Group 2, which included Kang Rojun.
This time, PD Woo Han-suk reached into the right box, and the first number he called out was.
"No. 37."
One of the participants from Room 105, No. 37. Next was.
"No. 15."
Blond-haired No. 15.
"No. 37, No. 15! Group 2 Team F! You two, please stand together."
Unlike Group 1, PD Woo Han-suk called the teams starting from Team F, and No. 37 and No. 15 exchanged awkward greetings and stood together. Following them, Teams E, D, C, and B were called. While Group 2's five teams were being formed, Rojun's name wasn't called. Then, finally
"No. 1."
Kang Rojun's name echoed through the hall.
"No. 26."
No. 26, whom Rojun hadn't seen much before, was his teammate.
"No. 1, No. 26! Group 2 Team A!"
No. 26 approached and gave Rojun a simple nod. Looking at him, Rojun thought,
'Was he in Team 3 during the 3rd evaluation? I didn't see him often.'
He was good-looking but somehow gave off a carefree? No, a flashy vibe. No. 26 had a blank expression and came off as curt. Whatever the case, from Team A to Team F, both Group 1 and Group 2 were now arranged in two lines. When Rojun turned his head to the right, he saw No. 58, who smiled faintly.
In an instant, the groups, the 4th task, and the teams were all decided.
Then PD Woo Han-suk said,
"You will now compete against the opposing team from the other group. Group 1 Team A versus Group 2 Team A! Group 1 Team B versus Group 2 Team B!"
The participants murmured slightly. Kang Rojun reacted internally.
'Ah- if that's the case.'
It meant that his opponent in the battle would be No. 58. From the looks of it, No. 58 was also surprised, his eyes wide open. It was the first survival match between Room 105 participants. Kang Rojun and No. 58 made eye contact.
The other participants quietly felt relieved without showing it.
'Phew, avoided No. 1.'
'As long as I don't go against No. 1, it's doable. That's a relief, seriously.'
'Everyone who went up against that No. 1 got eliminated. Too bad for No. 58.'
Currently in 'Produce That 100!', Kang Rojun was nothing short of a landmine.
'Even if No. 1 is bad at rap, I should avoid him first.'
Naturally, No. 58 was getting worried.
'Ah- No. 1 nim is... seriously tough. Why did it have to be No. 1 nim?'
As his worries deepened, No. 58 glanced at his teammate, No. 71. With a smile in his eyes, No. 71 whispered.
"No. 58 nim, I'm good at rap. Let's try to take down No. 1 nim."
"Yes."
No. 58, who had made up his mind firmly, resolved.
'I've never heard No. 1 nim rap, so there's a chance he's bad, but I shouldn't let my guard down. Going up against No. 1 nim might not even be enough if I give it my all.'
PD Woo Han-suk, scanning the 24 bustling participants, stopped his gaze at the A teams of each group. Kang Rojun and No. 58. They were from the same Room 105 and had often been paired together. Even on the broadcast, their two-shot scenes were frequently aired.
'The picture's looking good, viewers have been loving the chemistry between No. 1 and No. 58. But now they're enemies. I wonder how this will turn out.'
Smiling faintly, PD Woo Han-suk began to speak.
"This is where we wrap up. You are free to choose the 'rap' you'll perform in the evaluation. Anything is allowed, and moderate rearrangements are also permitted. Additionally, for the day of the 4th evaluation, you can freely decide the outfits, concept, and stage direction. Once everything is finalized, including the song, please submit it to the production team two days before the evaluation."
The rap to be performed would not be chosen by the production team but determined by the participants themselves.
"The practice period begins now and lasts until Monday the 14th next week. The 4th evaluation will be on Tuesday. Training will of course focus on rap, but you are free to use any remaining time for other practice as you wish."
It was then.
"No. 1 nim."
No. 26, Kang Rojun's teammate, asked rather lifelessly.
"You'll be skipping training again this time, right?"
"Yes."
"I understand."
No. 26 gave a simple nod.
-Swish.
He raised his hand out of the blue. Then he softly stated to PD Woo Han-suk.
"Group 2 Team A will skip rap training."
The participants murmured. Kang Rojun gave a small chuckle at No. 26. This guy seemed a bit odd? Soon, PD Woo Han-suk asked again.
"...No. 1 nim and No. 26 nim both skipping training?"
This time, it was Kang Rojun who answered.
"Yes, both of us."
At that moment, in Song Min-geun's recording studio.
Song Min-geun was busy working in front of equipment with several staff members. There was also someone in the booth, and Song Min-geun kept playing and stopping the track. It appeared to be a guide track recording. That would make the person inside the booth the guide vocalist.
"Let's try that part again. It feels a bit stuffy, so try to belt it out refreshingly."
"Yes. I understand."
Song Min-geun's team continued working while producing. The track played again.
-♬♪
Listening to it, it was the demo song melody that had been handed over to Kang Rojun. They were now recording the guide version properly, which had previously only been done as a draft. The lyrics written by Kang Rojun were being sung by the guide vocalist.
As he listened quietly to it.
'I never thought the day would come when I'd be using lyrics written by an unknown lyricist who hasn't even debuted.'
He recalled meeting Rojun at the 'Produce That 100!' campus two days ago, along with PD Woo Han-suk. More specifically, the part of the conversation where it was confirmed they would use Rojun's lyrics.
It had started with Rojun's smiling response.
"I look forward to working with you."
Song Min-geun waved his hand at the devastatingly beautiful smile.
"Whoa- don't smile like that. Being that handsome could actually be scary. Let's talk about the lyrics fee and details later. Uh- as for which singer this song is going to, I can't really say right now. I'll let you meet them in person later. More importantly, for the song release, what name should be credited as the lyricist? Do you have something in mind?"
As Kang Rojun paused to think, Song Min-geun turned his head toward PD Woo Han-suk.
"When will the real names or stage names of the 'Produce That 100!' kids be revealed?"
"We'll announce it when we get the final 4 winners."
"So, I guess the stage names will be decided then too. Now that I think about it, No. 1 ssi, you also write, right? Wasn't it 'Writer Kang Chul-soo' in that field? Hmm- but whether it's idol, writer, or lyricist, wouldn't it be better to have just one name? Even if it's a stage name."
Kang Rojun quickly replied.
"For now, can I use 'No. 1' and change it later?"
"That's possible."
"I was thinking of changing the writer name, too. I used 'Writer Kang Chul-soo' because I had to keep it hidden."
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Then Rojun, who had made eye contact with both PD Woo Han-suk and Song Min-geun, said definitively.
"Then please change it to 'Rojun' later."
Song Min-geun, who had returned to reality here, chuckled.
'So he's planning to use 'Rojun' as his stage name, writer name, and lyricist name. 'Rojun', huh- I like it.'
He wrote something at the top of the paper placed on the equipment.
-Lyricist name to be changed later, No. 1 -> Rojun
About 30 minutes later, back at the 'Produce That 100!' campus.
After wrapping up the first shoot related to the 4th evaluation, a brief interview session was underway in the hall with the participants. Later, the 24 members from Group 1 and Group 2, including Kang Rojun, were scattered around the hall by team. PD Woo Han-suk had allotted each team some discussion time.
With only 6 days left until next Monday for practice, the schedule was extremely tight.
As a result, the participants spread out chaotically across the hall were deeply focused. Rojun and No. 26 of Group 2's A Team took a spot near the left wall from the center of the hall.
"..."
"..."
The two had no particular conversation for the moment. Compared to other teams, it was quiet. Kang Rojun casually glanced at No. 26, who sat across from him looking at his phone. He had the aura of a "cold and handsome" guy that women would swoon over. His default expression was blank, and though he was taciturn like No. 58, the vibe was different. No. 26 had a slightly rough, carefree sort of air? That kind of impression.
Kang Rojun was the first to break the silence.
"No. 26 nim, are you really okay skipping the rap training?"
No. 26 gave a nod.
"Yes. We're a team. If we're going to receive it, we receive it together, and if we're not going to receive it, we shouldn't receive it together. Did you change your mind by any chance?"
"No."
"All right."
For reference, every team except for Kang Rojun and No. 26 decided to take the rap training. That included No. 58. Then, No. 26 put his phone down and continued speaking.
"There's also the broadcast angle, but more than that, do you remember me?"
"Hm?"
"On the first day of 'Produce That 100'. When everyone was wearing masks and lined up in front of the entrance, I was right behind you."
How could he have known? Rojun shook his head.
"No. I was too nervous to look around."
"You were nervous? You seemed so composed, it didn't seem that way at all. Anyway, that was the first and last time I saw you up close."
No. 26, who muttered in a rough tone, pointed his chin toward No. 58 sitting quite a distance away.
"No. 58 nim is strong. You'd know since you're from the same room."
"Yes. He's strong."
"I've been watching- he has good instinct for vocals, dance, and rap. He'll be best at rap."
Kang Rojun posed a question.
"How about you, No. 26 nim? How's your rap?"
"I'm good too. I passed 'Produce That 100!' with rap, and I've been doing it even before the show."
Though the response was somewhat curt, it overflowed with confidence. Rojun thought to himself, Oh? and No. 26 asked in return.
"What about you, No. 1 nim?"
"Rap- this is my first time, actually."
"..."
No. 26, who had been staring at Kang Rojun with a blank expression, lightly shrugged his shoulders.
"It doesn't sound like a lie, but somehow it feels like it's going to end up being one."
"That's a strange thing to say."
"I just complimented No. 58 nim earlier, but to be honest, the one who's the most insane in 'Produce That 100!' is you, No. 1 nim. It's not just about having good instincts or whatever- you're born with it. Even if this is your first time rapping, I feel like you'll do it like it's not."
"..."
"Well- that aside. We need to choose our rap song first. Do you have anything you want to do?"
Nothing came to mind. Rojun passed the baton to No. 26.
"What about you, No. 26 nim? If you've been doing rap for a while, I'm fine with you deciding."
"Really?"
Soon, No. 26 answered in a lifeless tone.
"Then let's do it with rap that I wrote."
A faint smile formed on Kang Rojun's lips. He was intrigued.
"You mean self-composed rap, right?"
*****
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