Rewind With A Superstar System-Chapter 41: Landslide Victory

<🎧 Song Recommendation: Loved By You by Justin Bieber ft Burna Boy>

...

Just as Michael had announced the voting on stage, the official Project: Star account had made a post on X declaring the same thing, and it was quickly gaining traction.

An episode had been released earlier that day with clips from the Star Mansion following the Hollywood Week episodes airing. The audience had been promised a live round before more clips from the house would be released, but for now, everyone was riled up from what they were watching live.

[Julian’s Wife: OMG!! What in the actual hell did I just watch! 🤯]

[Music > Drugs: I know right! This shit was awesome, man! I was confident Team 3 were winning the same thing but then Team 4 just had to give us this. Now I don’t even know who to vote for]

[Boobs Are Overrated!: @Music > Drugs, you must be either blind or really high on drugs for you to say that. Team 4 obviously cleared. The song was made for them, and they just had to make it better. They’ve got my vote, no debate 🤦🏼]

[Music > Drugs: Shut tf up @Boobs Are Overrated!, you can go eat grass with your own stupid opinion. And can’t you appreciate talent. Team 4 is literally a super team with the likes of Julian and Alex, plus Von and Max who turned out to be unbelievable dancers. Yet Team 3 managed to go against the odds and still gave us something good, they have my vote 💯]

[Boobs Are Overrated!: Wtf is bro rambling. I ain’t reading allat, but am happy for u, or sorry that happened]

[Music > Drugs: 🖕🏾🖕🏾]

[There’s no 10 year old in my basement: But why y’all getting sentimental tho, I thought we’ve been through dis before. Team 4 obviously deserves the win and y’all be lying if you ain’t voting them 🤌🏻]

[Misogyny Watch 101: This is absolute misogyny! It’s unfair that you’re not giving those girls a chance just cause those guys pulled off some flashy moves. The girls had actual technique and synchronization while the boys just jumped around! 🤦🏼‍♀️]

[Call Me Daddy: @Misogyny Watch 101, no one gives a fuck about your brainless views. Now get on your knees and call me by my name! 🤤]

[Reading Is Life: @Misogyny Watch 101, I’m a girl and I’m voting Team 4, there’s no misogyny in being honest. And @Call Me Daddy, you’re a totally retarded nincompoop to utter such. People like you are why women don’t feel safe on this app. Reported. 🤢]

[FBI Surveillance Van #8: Watching this comment section like... 🍿]

[I Hate Capitalism ☭: I would have voted for Team 3 but I ain’t downloading any app to support these people. 🙄 It’s unfair the app allows up to ten votes, but from the web it’s just one vote? That it’s all propaganda to get people to download their useless bloatware app. I see through the matrix. 🗑️]

[Lazy Potato 🥔: @I Hate Capitalism ☭ It takes two seconds to download bro. You just lazy. Team 4 to the moon! 🚀]

[Benny Moon Stans ✅: [image] Enough y’all! BENNY MOON JUST LIKED THIS POST. I REPEAT! THE BEST SINGER IN THE WORLD APPROVES THE COVER. GO VOTE TEAM 4! 🚨🔥]

No one believed the post at first, thinking it was a Photoshop edit. But after checking the Likes tab of the global superstar, the engagement on the official voting post tripled.

People who were undecided began downloading the app right away, desperate to be on the winning side endorsed by their idol.

***

(Backstage — Holding Room)

While the internet was exploding, the contestants sat on plush sofas, staring at the massive monitor displaying the live voting percentages.

They were the only ones allowed to see the bars in real time, even though the names were obscured. The bars displayed the teams only as "Team A" and "Team B" to keep the suspense, but the numbers were ticking up at a terrifying rate, and it was clear one side had the edge.

Max was pacing, tapping his phone screen frantically.

"Dude, look at this!" Max shoved his phone in Julian’s face. "People are fighting in the comments! Someone said they’d sell their kidney if we lose!"

Julian’s eyes widened at the screen blocking his view. "That’s... intense, I guess." He couldn’t find anything else to say.

Meanwhile, Von sat quietly with his eyes fixed on the screen. But it wasn’t the monitor holding his attention; he was monitoring another counter only he could see.

[+50 Fans]

[+120 Fans]

[+200 Fans]

[+300 Fans]

...

[Current Fans: 3,190]

In less than twenty minutes, his fanbase had exploded.

He was truly lucky. According to the news articles he had been reading on his phone earlier, this particular live stream was tracking to be the most popular live broadcast Rising Star had produced since its inception. With it being the first live round, the producers had poured millions into promoting it, and it had all worked out.

Suddenly, the backstage speakers crackled.

"Voting closes in thirty seconds! All teams to the stage for the results!"

***

(The Main Stage — 8:25 PM)

The eight contestants filed out onto the stage.

The intensity of cheers in the auditorium had reduced greatly now with this being the deciding moment. Team 3, the four girls in red, stood to the left. They held hands tightly, some of them looking at the floor, others forcing brave smiles for the camera.

Team 4 stood to the right. Max was vibrating with energy, unable to stand still. Julian waved politely to a fan holding a sign with his face on it.

Michael walked to the center of the stage. The massive LED screen behind him swirled with gold and blue graphics.

"The voting lines are officially closed!" Michael announced.

The lights dimmed, leaving only a spotlight on the host and the two teams.

"This was a record-breaking night," Michael said, looking at the camera. "In just twenty minutes, we received over one million, hundred and fifty thousand votes. The engagement was unprecedented."

He turned to the girls. "Team 3. You showed us technical perfection. The judges praised your synchronization."

He turned to the boys. "Team 4. You brought the house down with charisma and creativity."

Michael looked at the tablet in his hand.

"But in the end, the fans have spoken loudly. The gap... is significant."

A heartbeat sound effect played over the speakers. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

"With a total of 872,400 votes... compared to 277,712 votes..."

Michael raised his voice, pointing his hand toward the right side of the stage.

"THE WINNER IS TEAM 4!"

Confetti cannons fired again, showering the stage in gold paper.

The screen behind them flashed the final numbers:

[TEAM 4: 872,400 Votes)]

[TEAM 3: 277,600 Votes)]

"YES!" Max screamed, jumping onto Julian’s back. Julian laughed, staggering under the weight but hugging him back.

Even Alex allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he high-fived Von.

Von looked at the massive number on the screen. 872,400 votes. It was a landslide. He looked at the defeated expressions of Team 3, who were now crying and hugging each other, knowing they had to depend on their independent performance to guarantee making it past this competition phase.

They were not allowed on the stage for too long as they were still four more teams to perform that night, so some staff soon approached to redirect them.