Two weeks into the survival show, Jun remembered seeing the gates of purgatory once. He was so tired and overwrought. It became more stressful when he couldn't show it on his face, because he had been automatically elected leader of the Barren Landers.
If the Inhabitants were having a hard time, how could the Landers be any different?
Two days ago, right after the mid-check—
"We got criticized badly in the mid-check because we lowered the key. But any higher than that, and we can't all reach it." A troubled expression formed on Xavi's face.
The digital clock above the door read 10:54 p.m. Instead of sleeping, the twelve Barren Landers lay on their bunk beds in the vast bedroom, eyes wide open.
"If we want to sing it well, we might have to abandon the choreo."
Jun had considered this option before, but he shook his head and immediately refuted Daeho's idea.
"Unless we do it super well, it'll only invite more dislike from the mentors and viewers. We must stick with what we've practiced, but we should think of something that serves as a shock factor."
The song Golden Sun by the nation's most remarkable female soloist was a beautiful piece meant to express longing for someone who now only existed in memories. It was originally a nostalgic pop-rock song, carried by Miss Why's melody and ethereal voice. The producers of BOI licensed the track and gave it to them without changing the instrumentals. They also added choreography, which the original didn't have.
This wasn't the song Jun had done with the Landers when he was sent to the Barren Lands in his previous life. Back then, it had been KAISER's hit Thunder.
The change shocked him, so he couldn't immediately react. Those around him thought the unfair outcome of the first mission had affected him too much. That was why he couldn't memorize the steps instantly, unlike with the signal song.
"So, are you happy now? Finally happy now, are you?" Jun sang the intro softly. He did it subconsciously as he sank into deep thought.
Xavi, who had Part Two, continued, "Though I'm the same old me, I feel like I've lost everything."
Jun fell silent. Only now did it strike him how lonely the lyrics were. He resonated with them so much that he wanted to sing Xavi's part himself.
He was still the same old idol, with three years of experience.
But hadn't he lost everything the moment he time-traveled to the past?
Jun, stop. The mission is the priority. He closed his eyes and forced himself back into brainstorming.
A few seconds of silence passed.
"...Maybe let's do it ballad-style. Original key. But with interpretative dance in pairs, with transitions." He murmured absentmindedly.
Bae Jinho, the oldest participant of BOI, asked, "What do you mean?"
Jun didn't reply right away. He organized his thoughts first, then beckoned everyone closer. With a small notebook and pen grabbed from the side table, he explained.
"I'm thinking…"
He emphasized the keywords again: pairs singing while standing or in comfortable poses, with one pair performing interpretative dance as the next sang behind them. Another duo would then take over, while the previous pair became the interpreters. The chorus would be given to the few who could handle it, instead of being split among everyone. This way, it wouldn't feel forced.
"What do you guys think?"
Interest flickered in the Landers' eyes. They took a moment to weigh its feasibility.
But Xavi answered right away, "I like it!"
"I'm okay with it."
Words of approval from others soon followed.
Jun grinned. "The choreographer will probably—no, definitely—scold us. And it'll be demanding, since fewer people will perform at a time. But I'm confident we can pull it off. Are you with me?"
"Let's do it!" One Barren trainee stretched out his hand, and the others followed.
"Okay." Jun laughed, placing his palm on top of theirs. "Barren Landers, let's go!"
The practice hall lit up with voices and music as energy overflowed from the Landers. They practiced until three in the morning, and by dawn, the huge bedroom stood empty. Jun and the others had fallen asleep right there in the practice hall.
...
The day of the performance came. Before the Inhabitants took the stage, the MC reminded the Barren Landers of the second mission's rules.
Like in the first mission, only if the Inhabitants' average dropped below 90 would the Landers have a chance at promotion. That was the only way participants would be demoted from the Greenhouse. Their vacated slots would go to the top-performing Landers.
"I wonder which camp is more nervous?"
Drew sat with his fellow judges, also Nova's producers. He glanced left, where a slightly chubby man sat—the former CEO of Nova, who had stepped down from the position but not his shares so he could focus on producing again.
PD Song, the former CEO, smiled lightly while his eyes roamed across the room filled with screens. "It seems to me the Inhabitants are more on edge. Do you know what happened?"
Instead of answering directly, Drew shrugged. "I visited the Landers during the mid-check, so I don't know about the Inhabitants this time."
"Oh. Yeah." Another producer-slash-choreographer, hitmaker Keys, interjected. "I heard you scolded those kids a bit."
Drew nodded. "Yes. They lowered the key too much." He refused to elaborate further and instead turned to Keys. "How about the Inhabitants?"
The producer laughed. "They also got a bit of scolding from me. Not only did they struggle with the high notes, they also messed up part distribution. There's one boy who danced so well, he looked like the second coming of Jin from KAISER. But his vocals… badly need help. I don't know why they left the solo part to him."
...Are you supposed to say that while filming? Drew nearly lost control of his lips, which threatened to pull down. He instantly regretted asking.