Jun believed that he and his teammates had done everything right, preparing thoroughly.
Yet not even he had considered the possibility that the Greenhouse Inhabitants would receive an average score higher than ninety.
The producers would certainly want some dramatic turns—for intrigue and narrative.
He sighed.
Survival shows thrived on drama and plot twists, where the audience cursed the producers while worrying about their favorites.
His gaze shifted to the others, who were currently comforting Xavi.
The performance was over. The Greenhouse Inhabitants had delivered more splendidly than during the mid-check. As the center, Jun had done well, too.
But midway through, an accident ruined the momentum for two people.
Jun walked toward Daeho and placed a hand on the youth's shoulder. "How are you feeling? Please don't hesitate to tell us if you're dizzy so we can call for medics right away."
Kim Daeho didn't raise his head. In a fragile voice, he whispered, "I feel ashamed, brother."
The young man approached Xavi, apologizing again and again. Guilt was etched across his face. Xavi insisted it was fine, but Daeho's mind couldn't accept it. Or maybe he simply knew it wasn't fine at all.
Both had missed their only lines in the song because Daeho accidentally dropped his mic and stepped on it. Xavi, standing behind him, caught him to prevent a fall and possible injury.
But it remained a fact: Xavi missed his one and only line—his single center moment—because of it.
To support Daeho, Xavi had let go of his own mic, which rolled far across the stage. Thankfully, it didn't interfere with others, but it was too late for him to retrieve it.
The performance had dead air for over ten seconds, earning frowns from staff, producers, and mentors. Separated only by a transparent glass wall, the boys clearly saw their audience's reactions.
"I should've been the only one to miss my line. I'm really, really sorry." At some point, Daeho began hiccuping through his tears.
"Daeho, sit down. Someone—water, please." Jun led the crying boy to a seat and asked someone to fetch a glass. "You need to calm down."
The others, including Xavi, gathered around to console him. But nothing reached Daeho, who drowned in self-remorse.
Sujin and Jun exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.
The tense air thickened when the MC's voice rang out, signaling the start of the score announcement.
"We will now begin showing the individual scores of the Inhabitants."
Wow. Jun furrowed his brows, nearly clicking his tongue at the producers, who heartlessly continued despite the situation.
He glanced at the poor boy again. Though Daeho had stopped crying, it was only for a fleeting moment.
"This is in no particular order..."
One by one, the unnamed cards on the screen flipped to reveal the judges' scores.
Each reveal dragged on with a thirty-second pause and a suspenseful BGM meant to spike their heart rates.
Ninety. Eighty-seven. Ninety-three. Ninety-five... High scores ranging from eighty-seven to ninety-two flashed on screen. Many were above eighty-nine.
Then, everyone held their breath when the first low score appeared.
Below fifty.
"A forty-one." Kato's voice was tinged with helplessness. "Now the average is surely—"
Jun hardened his expression and shot him a warning glare. Kato fell silent at once. Worried eyes turned toward Xavi and Daeho, whose faces were pale as paper.
The unsaid words unsettled everyone.
"Brother Jun..."
Jun held the trembling shoulder of the younger boy. Trying to ease his fear, he said, "It's okay. This is just the first mission. Maybe the rest will be high enough to push the average above ninety."
A bitter smile flickered across the others' lips.
As if mocking them, an even lower score popped up.
"Damn."
This time, several trainees closed their eyes and bit their lips. The rest simply frowned.
In the end, their average score was revealed: 79.
A contestant with sharp memory muttered, "Seventy-six to eighty means three people."
Because of the team's average, three would have to leave the Greenhouse. They weren't eliminated from the show entirely—only sent to the Barren Lands. But still, Daeho wept as though someone had died.
The cold voice echoed, pushing them to vote.
In Jun's previous life, the producers had given them at least half an hour to process their feelings. But this time, they weren't granted even a moment.
"All participants, please head individually to the voting room to select the three Greenhouse Inhabitants to send away."
Jun ran a hand through his hair in frustration. ... Damn, whoever came up with this format.
The results were revealed immediately after the last participant left the room. This time, nobody dared to look at Xavi and Daeho. Instead, everyone worriedly wondered who the third unlucky person would be.
"Before we reveal the three people with the highest number of votes, we will announce the special privilege of the contestant who earned the highest score in this challenge."
The highest score: 95.
Everyone began to speculate.
"It's either Jun or Sujin."
Slowly, the card flipped over.
Jun's heart skipped when his own face appeared. Applause and congratulations followed.
"Congratulations!"
"Totally deserved it." Juwon gave his shoulder a light pat.
Jun couldn't put his feelings into words. He was ecstatic, satisfied—his efforts rewarded. Yet he couldn't fully enjoy it, not with the sound of sobbing still filling the room. Moments later, anxiety set in.
The MC continued, "Congratulations to Greenhouse Inhabitant Jun. As a benefit of earning the highest score, you may save one participant."
Instantly, all eyes turned to him. Even Daeho and Xavi stared.
Then, the MC prolonged the suspense before finally naming the three to be sent away.
The first two came as no surprise.
Xavi. Daeho.
Neither of them resisted. How could they, after causing such a disruption? Neither dared meet Jun's gaze, nor cling to him for his privilege. They knew that if this aired, viewers would only see them as opportunistic.
"...And the third person to be sent to the Barren Lands..."
This time, no one knew who it would be. Technically, only Jun, Sujin, Min, and Kato had stood out, while Neo remained the strongest dancer. The rest were on similar levels, some with better vocals, others with better dance. Still, it was hard to guess.
Quietly, some suspected that "attitude" might tip the scales, as it often did in survival shows. Though unspoken, the thought made several trainees reflect uneasily on their own behavior.
Will it be me?
I don't think I acted like an ass to anyone. I should be safe... right?
Nervous thoughts swirled as trainees tried to reassure themselves through comparisons.
Finally—
"The third-highest number of votes goes to..."
The digital card flipped slowly on the big screen.
The MC spoke.
"...Inhabitant Juwon."