From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 337: Performance Day (7)

"That...was crazy." Jelissa whispered as she stared at the second ’Your Idol’ team that was still on the stage.

After the disastrous midterm check-in, she had kept tabs on the team, watching their practice performance get cleaner and tighter each day, and she had high hopes for the final result.

But this....this performance had been a home run, and she was once again convinced that she couldn’t be complacent with her career, and think she could do the bare minimum just because she had won a few awards.

Talented kids were being discovered every day, and when given the opportunity, they would shine.

Just like today.

All three teams had done very well, but as always, there was one standout who had thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, into the performance.

She supposed you could do that when you didn’t have to worry about a performance budget or making a profit, but it was still very impressive.

With a small laugh, Jelissa watched as the audience cheered while Ari’s teammates excitedly gathered around him, including the reticent Levi.

While stomping out the fiery cloak with a judgmental expression, Ari exchanged a complicated-looking handshake with Levi, pinched Daniel’s cheeks before shoving him away, and was hugged by Carlos, while Suzuki Rei patted his back so hard he almost fell over.

Then, three of the four boys dog-piled him and began throwing him into the air despite his protests, while Levi laughed off to the side.

The cameraman even got closer to capture the scene.

Seeing Ari give his teammates dirty looks as he was finally let down, Jelissa wanted to laugh.

For someone who had quite the cat-like personality and claimed to like being alone, he sure knew how to attract people around him and tolerate their affection.

"That was such a good performance, Ariel. Good job on executing your vision." Jelissa spoke quietly before filling out the paper in front of her with her notes.

"It better be a good performance, considering how much of the budget he blew on it. Pyrotechnics, stage lift, wires, fog machine, smoke bombs, special lights, and more. Those drums alone were 8k a piece, and he’s just stomping all over it like it’s a welcome mat." Larry Jackson complained before clapping as the cameraman panned over to him.

Even though it pained him to admit that he was impressed.

All the team performances had been good; this one was on a different level.

The melody was kind of catchy, lyrics were decent(reluctant), the theme came through, though it was a bit controversial.

The choreography was complex and almost cinematic, with all the moving parts, and everyone was highlighted.

It looked great live, and based on the way the cameramen were huffing and puffing from running around, he was sure it would look better on screen.

Truly, it was like something you would see at an award show.

And there had been a stark difference between the evaluation and now.

An undeniable improvement that made the earlier mistake look like a joke, which would make for great TV after the PDs edited to their hearts’ content.

He could understand why PD Emily always said Contestant Ah-ri-el made great TV. Even without meddling, he always had a storyline that drew people in.

Turning to Jelissa, who was smiling proudly as if she were the one who had created it, Larry Jackson grumbled before sucking up his pride and asking, "And you’re sure you didn’t write the song for him? He is your favorite contestant after all."

"Don’t be disrespectful toward my morals and work ethic. All I did was the mixing and mastering with a little touch-up here and there. The rest was all him. He had a vision that he wanted, so I just watched and gave notes as I do to all the kids. He just tends to listen more and ask questions." Jelissa shrugged.

It was a feature that some people might find annoying, being asked the same question in 500 different ways, but as someone who truly enjoyed teaching, it made her quite happy to see such a good student.

"He never asks me anything or listens to me." Larry Jackson grumbled again, and Jelissa snorted before telling him the cold, hard truth.

"Ariel is a kid who knows who likes and dislikes him and tends to treat people accordingly. He knows you don’t like him, so he doesn’t bother to consider your opinion. Even if it could be of help. Maybe if you gave him a fair compliment once in a while, he would listen or ask you more."

Larry glanced at her in shock before clutching his chest in pain and whining.

This was the first time Jelissa had ever been this stern with him.

"Ouch. Harsh."

Although Jelissa felt quite apologetic for being mean, she still continued saying what needed to be said.

"You’re right. I’m sorry. That was pretty harsh of me. But that’s how the kids feel every time you’re mean to them, so try being nice. There’s no need to be a bad cop all the time and test their mental strength. This industry and those watching are harsh enough to them as it is. Sometimes it’s good to give them grace and show that you care."

"Sigh. Fine fine. Then I guess I lose the bet. He actually managed to put it together... somehow." Larry glanced at Ariel and his team members, who were lining up and preparing to speak.

"Yes. Make sure you pay up and say a few kind words to all the contestants. ALL of them. They’ve worked really hard and deserve it. Okay?"

The usual smiling face of the instructor was sent into a very cute frown, but sensing the fierceness behind it, Larry Jackson nodded.

"Got it."

*****

"Hello. This is the Your Idol team. Thank you for watching our performance. We’re all going to introduce ourselves as well as tell you what we did." Ari quickly stepped back to let his teammates begin the introductions.

First up was Daniel.

"I’m Daniel Kim." The Korean boy said happily, waving to the crowd.

- wooooooooooooooooooo

The majority of the Korean crowd cheered and whistled as Daniel introduced himself briefly in both English and Korean.

He was about to step back before Ari interrupted.

"What did you do in our performance?"

"I worked on the choreography," Daniel replied at full volume while Ari nodded approvingly.

"And?"

"I sang?"

"And?"

"Helped write lyrics? Helped with costumes?"

"Good job. Round of Applause for Daniel, everyone." Ari nodded approvingly, and Daniel stepped back with a bright smile while pushing back his damp orange hair.

When the cheers quieted down, Levi, who was next to him, stepped forward.

"I’m Levi. I wrote the rap."

He quickly tried to step back, but Ari snagged his arm and dragged him forward.

"Actually, Levi helped direct the visuals, cameras, stage positioning, lighting, choreography review, and created and repeatedly revised the stage design. It’s actually easier to say what Levi didn’t work on because he really did everything. Truly the MVP of our team." Ari quickly added, ignoring the dirty look that Levi shot him.

Weren’t you laughing happily to the side when I was being thrown into the air and was pleading for my life?

If you worked hard, you should be appropriately credited.

In fact, I hope with all my heart that you get voted to be the best person on the team.

That way, I can celebrate by throwing you so high in the air that you’ll want to vomit, and then I’ll force you into the spotlight so you’ll die of embarrassment.

Levi: ಠ_ಠ

Ari: (≖⩊≖)

Fully holding Levi there until the applause got quieter, Ari only released him when Carlos stepped up.

"I’m Carlos. I helped write the lyrics and do the guide vocals."

"And?"

"Uh...isn’t that all I did?"

"No, he tutored everyone on how to sing with a choir-like intonation, helped organize our vocals, helped find reference songs, and even played the piano for part of the recording. Carlos, the team’s vocal angel."

Ari dutifully reported everything that Carlos had worked on to the audience, who began cheering happily.

Carlos, who looked quite embarrassed, smiled in his gentle way before stepping back.

Last but not least, Suzuki Rei stepped forward with a confident smile.

Although he didn’t understand why Ari was forcing him to report everything each person had worked on, he still dutifully reported, watching Ari as he nodded each time.

"I’m Rei. I touched a little of everything: vocals, choreography, acrobatics, costuming, and positioning. Uhhh, acquiring instruments, tutoring on drum play, I even dyed Levi’s hair myself...I think that’s it?"

Seeing Ari nod in approval, Suzuki Rei smiled a relieved smile at the crowd, who cheered for him.

"Thanks for enjoying the performance. We really, really worked hard on it."

-wooooooooo

As Rei stepped back, Ari quickly stepped forward.

"I’m Ariel. Leader and Producer for the team. Thanks for watching the team’s performance. We all worked hard and hoped you enjoyed it." Ari kept his own introduction short and sweet before stepping back as the judges began to speak.

Although his teammates looked at him like they wanted to protest, Ari shook his head.

Right now, what he needed to do was take a back seat.

Although he thought that their team’s performance was the best, at the end of the day, he wasn’t a mind reader, and he couldn’t predict the future.

It was now in the audience’s hands.

People’s reactions toward him were always mixed, and he was rarely given the benefit of the doubt.

Even if he was currently ranked first, his rank had been boosted a little too high by production mistreatment being exposed, which rubbed fans of other contestants the wrong way.

And although he liked being first, as long as he was in the top 7 and his team came first, so he could complete the task on the mission board, he really didn’t care one way or the other.

So rather than highlight himself, his idea was to let his teammates shine so that the audience voters could see that this wasn’t just a song made by Ari performed by a team picked by Ari with performance elements put together by Ari.

This was a collaborative effort that had traces of everyone on the team.

It’s why he forcibly tried to include everyone’s idea, made sure everyone had a highlighted part, and made sure that during their introduction, everyone talked about what they worked on.

He had no faith in how the PD would edit him in the episode.

It would be a blessing if they weren’t malicious, but he couldn’t count on that.

All he could do was influence the voters who would be voting now and hope to gain enough positive feelings so his team could be first.

As they finished their introductions, they turned to the judges for feedback.

And once the judges were done, Areum stepped back on the stage.

"While we’re waiting for the final votes to come in, I want to say job well done to Team Your Idol. Your hard work was evident, and you should be proud of yourselves."

"Thank you!"

"Thank you!"

"Thanks."

"And Ariel, next time I need a confidence booster, I think I’ll call you so you can glare at me while forcing me to list out all the things I did."

"Uh....thank you?" Ari smiled awkwardly at the strange compliment.

Seeing her junior smile cutely at her, Areum continued speaking as she turned to the audience, "And at this time, I’d like to invite the other teams to the stage as well."

Seconds later, the stage began to fill as the two teams arrived.

First was William, whom Ari pretended didn’t exist, and the other 9 members of his team.

Then Benjamin came out with the other 4 members of his team.

As Jamie and Benjamin walked past him, Ari high-fived the two of them before standing in place with the rest of his team and staring at Areum expectantly.

"Firstly, the team that came in third place is..."