Chapter 128. Variety Show Cheat Code
Today’s *Miro Maze* opened with a special interview featuring the trainees.
> *Jung Siwoo Trainee: I’ve been doing this since I dropped out of high school at 19…. It’s been about, 4 years now.*
> *Seo Taehyun Trainee: It’s been around 3 years since I joined Miro? But if you count the time I’ve spent in the entertainment industry before that… It’s been really long.*
> *Park Jaeyoung Trainee: I joined when I was 15. I even graduated middle school here.*
In response to the production team’s questions, the trainees talked about the things they found disappointing or difficult during their trainee days. They also shared their thoughts on the exhaustion they’ve been feeling lately due to the ongoing survival competition.
> *Lee Parang Trainee: Well, not being able to go to things like school sports days, festivals, and field trips… I think that’s a bit regrettable.*
> *Joo Eunchan Trainee: Still, this is the path I chose, so I have no regrets.*
> *Gong Seok Trainee: I think… I’m kind of worn out, actually. I mean, we’ve been competing nonstop.*
The interview was filled with a light-hearted background music and bright visuals, ensuring that the conversation didn’t come off as too gloomy to the viewers.
The final interviewee of this sentimental segment was Dan Haru.
> *Dan Haru Trainee: I want to hang out with my hyungs.*
> *Dan Haru Trainee: I want to take a break from all these stressful thoughts… and just spend a truly enjoyable day.*
As the camera zoomed in on Haru, who answered with a bright smile, viewers began to think:
‘Ah, today’s episode is going to be boring.’
Based on the flow, it seemed like the sports event shown in the preview would follow next.
While it was peaceful to see the trainees playing together without any conflict, it wasn’t particularly exciting.
Moreover, these were still inexperienced, debut-less trainees.
Not yet ready to fully let go in front of the camera, they were rookies who couldn’t yet naturally create entertaining scenes with perfect editing timing!
‘They’ll probably just highlight a few trainees who are good at sports and wrap things up on a wholesome note.’
Most people thought so. Some even planned to skip the live broadcast and only watch clips of their favorite trainees later.
However, a few dedicated fans stubbornly kept their remotes close and stayed tuned in.
They believed that the production team, who had been baiting viewers with the idea of escaping from *Miro* since episode 1, wouldn’t let them down even with a sports event.
And the production team never betrayed that trust!
> *So here’s what we’ve prepared for today’s story!*
– *Kang Ha-hyung, are you playing jokgu with your foot? Wait, jokgu is supposed to be played with your foot.*
– *Phoenix Team, assemble!!!! (Assemble!!!!!!)*
– *Aaah!!!!*
– *Kyaaaaah!!!!!*
Right after Haru’s emotional interview, the episode’s highlight began.
The first scene opened with Kang Hajin taking a wild swing and completely missing the ball,
followed by the sight of Jaeyoung, Eunchan, and Haru charging forward under Siwoo’s command through a foamy puddle of soapy water.
The chaotic screams and yells, and the random moment where Seo Taehyun made eye contact with the camera and struck an ending pose,
culminated in a scene where the trainees were swept away in a wave, orchestrated by someone hidden behind a question mark—pure chaos.
– *? I thought this was a sports event, wtf*
– *What the hell did I just watch?*
– *What kind of survival show puts more effort into variety content than the actual stage competitions?*
As the highlight reel grew more intense, those watching the live broadcast began to feel intrigued.
It was as if the production team could read the viewers’ reactions, and they quickly revealed today’s special MC, who was sure to crank up the tension.
– *Hey, how long do I have to wait, seriously? Huh?*
– *Daun-ah, hyung is giving his intro…*
– *I know, but the intro is too long. This isn’t a *Pia Land* shoot, right? Our juniors are struggling right now…* (fast-forwarded)
– *This is why I didn’t want to bring you along….* (soul leaving the body CG)
– *Oh, crap, Nam Daun*
– *Nam Daunㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ*
– *The audio exploded as soon as Nam Daun appeared.*
└ *Seo Taeil and the trainees’ eardrums are also explodingㅠ*
Nam Daun, from Utopia, who was brought in specifically to liven up the atmosphere, perfectly fulfilled his role.
Within just five minutes of his appearance, the trainees, who had been a bit stiff in the beginning, had completely let go of their inhibitions.
– *Okay, we’ve got enough footage for the opening now, right, production team?*
>*<♥God of Variety, God of Screentime, Nam Tijoo, we love you♥>*
– *Now, let’s finally split into teams and get started.*
Once the opening talk ended smoothly, it was finally time for the team announcement.
The scenes of each trainee drawing their teams were quickly shown in insert shots.
There was the team that could only be called “Jung Siwoo’s Children” for its rigged selection,
the *Blue Dragon Team* made up of rather reckless characters,
the *Lilac Team*, consisting of some relatively modest and shy trainees,
and the much-anticipated… (just) *Yellow Team*.
The viewers burst out laughing at the hilarious visuals.
**TaeriDay @tae_day**
*Aah, I’ve seen this in a movie before.*
*Usually, the most incompetent one in the center is the final boss.*
(*With Seo Taehyun in the center, the Yellow Team members lined up around him*)
**[On Air] Why did they have to put them in yellow outfits?**
*They look like oversized kindergartners.*
– *That’s what makes them cute! Don’t you know what “big-cute” is?*
– *Of all the places, why did the most physically imposing guys end up there?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ*
– *What we expected: Awesome athletic oppas.*
*What they gave us: Beasts trying not to rip their chick outfits with their broad shoulders.*
Maybe it was because no one had expected anything funny?
They had only just split into teams, yet already the best moments were coming in strong.
The fans could now be satisfied even if the trainees spent the next 50 minutes showcasing their boring athletic abilities.
‘At least the visuals are satisfying.’
Under the natural light, without heavy makeup, dressed in comfortable training clothes, scattered around the spacious sports field—the trainees looked perfect!
– *Alright, let’s begin the first event!*
> *First Event: Soap Soccer*
Finally, the sports day officially began.
They’d gotten some entertainment value out of it, so now it was time to simply enjoy watching these good-looking guys run around the field, savoring their youth to the fullest today…
– *Oh, player Kang Hajin! It’s a home run!! A home run!!!*
– *But our event is soccer, though?*
– *And as we speak, player Dan Haru with an amazing slide!*
– *Again, we’re playing soccer here?*
– *It just seems like the soap is what’s really fun!*
Plenty of fun…
> *Mom, they’re fighting again…ㅠ*
> *The unstoppable battle of the Kang brothers*
– *Hey!!!! Kang Hajin, didn’t you say you were on your elementary school’s track team!!!!! Do it properly!!??*
– *I’m doing my best!!!*
– *What do you call this, when you’re worse than Yugeon, who’s wearing flippers with perfectly fine shoes!?!!*
– *Maybe Yugeon has a knack for flippers!!!*
– *…Really? Me?*
> *Yugeon discovers his unexpected talent!*
Plenty of fun…
– *Player Joo Eunchan! Bonus 100 points!*
– *…Why? Eunchan didn’t do anything, though?*
– *He didn’t do anything, but look at how handsome he is!*
> *Jung Siwoo Trainee: (clapping in satisfaction)*
> *Yellow Team: (scrambling to hold up all sorts of reflectors around Taehyun, determined not to lose)*
> *Blue Dragon Team: (urgently striking poses, determined not to be outdone)*
> *Lilac Team: (just hoping it all ends soon)*
…Too fun!
With the insane variety skills of the hilariously unpredictable trainees, the fans couldn’t help but scream in joy.
* * *
– *Please, someone tell the boys they don’t have to try this hard in variety shows.*
– *Is this an idol survival show or extreme variety training?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅠ*
– *Oh, right… they’re from Miro…*
– *I’m still laughing so hard I’m cryingㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ*
– *From now on, never call *Miro Maze* boring.*
– *Forget debuting, just let them have a permanent variety show, *Miro Maze*!!*
‘…Well. As long as everyone’s having fun.’
Even if I end up being permanently immortalized as a legendary
flop!
Even if there are *EyeTube* shorts titled ‘Compilation of Hajin Failing at Jokgu!’
Even if my low-res images of me failing at sports are spreading among the fans with all sorts of filters!
Hajin decided to be content.
After all, the fans looked like they were having a great time.
‘Liking a trainee in a survival show isn’t easy. It’s nice to have something to laugh about, at least.’
As someone with experience in fandom, Hajin knew well that he was the type with a weak core following despite having decent public recognition, and that the fandom atmosphere hadn’t been great lately.
Though he hadn’t delved too deep, afraid it might influence him, it was clear that Hajin’s fans had been having a hard time lately with all the negative attention and controversies surrounding him.
In these dry days, Hajin’s entertaining performance in episode 5 seemed to have been a much-needed rain shower for them.
>[System Alert: Liking someone is not an easy thing….]
>[System Alert: The system is feeling sympathy for your fans….]
>[System Alert: (◞‸◟；)]
>[System Alert: I wish I could help in some way.]
‘Well, what can you do? A fandom isn’t something I can manage as I please.’
Even knowing that he had a weak core following and was just a general pick by the public, there wasn’t much Hajin could do.
Core fans don’t just appear from working out like muscles, and ‘something that sparks fan loyalty’ wasn’t something he could create on his own.
Fans would just find it if it matched their tastes.
>[System Alert: But… Aren’t you worried?]
>[System Alert: I’ve seen statistics showing that ‘public picks’ tend to drop in ranking as the survival show reaches the finals…!]
‘Where did you even get those stats?’
>[System Alert: I did some studying!]
>[System Alert: Since my partner is on a survival show, I thought I should gain some background knowledge.]
>[System Alert: Displaying pride…. ( *๑•̀д•́๑)]
‘Alright, well done.’
Hajin chuckled as he watched Thirteen proudly flipping pages in a book. He chuckled so loudly that he briefly checked to see if he’d woken up Eunchan, who was sleeping in the next bed.
>[System Alert: …Wouldn’t it be better to enter the subconscious space?]
‘No. Don’t you remember how the kids freaked out last time? It hasn’t even been that long.’
>[System Alert: Ahem… I’m diligently researching ways to minimize the side effects….]
The blue system window shrank down, as if embarrassed.
Hajin gave Thirteen a sidelong glance, as if he couldn’t believe it, then comfortably lay back down on his pillow and scrolled through his fans’ accounts on Bluebird.
‘Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.’
He had overcome a lot, but deep down, Hajin still had fears of failure and limitations.
Despite all the achievements he had made so far, which had provided a solid foundation for him to rebuild himself,
there were still moments when anxiety and fear shook him.
‘Putting aside all the time travel and missions… I really want to try this, being an idol. I want to succeed.’
The more his passion burned, and the higher his dream soared,
the more terrifying the fall became.
When Hajin remembered quitting as a trainee for the first time in his earliest life.
When Hajin started this cycle and received the missions.
He had tried his best to maintain a cynical attitude each time.
Because he was afraid of falling too deeply in love with this dream.
Loving something so desperately often brought immense loss and emptiness.
Hajin feared that, and life after such a loss was terrible.
But in the end, in this life, Hajin had come to love this dream, and the people he met anew, with all his heart.
And that had been a significant realization for Hajin.
‘…But now, I know that there’s life after failure.’
Whether it was lingering regrets left unaddressed,
or the wounds from being abandoned by a dream he loved with all his heart,
Hajin knew that all of these things had made him who he was today.
‘So let’s just live for today. That alone is already overwhelming.’
>[System Alert: …This is something I really want to say to the Chosen Regressor and the Returning One someday.]
‘Yeah. Let’s catch those bastards soon. I’ll grab them by the collar and shake them until they’re brainwashed.’
>[System Alert: That’s a great plan!]
Alright, I’m really going to sleep now.
Hajin placed his phone next to his pillow and closed his eyes.
By the time the already recorded third round aired, they would be well past episode 7.
‘…So there’s only about a month left.’
Only a month until the debut team was decided.
Hajin tried to push away the looming worries and anxieties as he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
And then,
– *Guys, the *Miro Maze* voting announcement just came out.*
A new voting announcement for *Miro Maze* was posted.
Instead of being able to vote for 7 people, it was now limited to 2.
Moreover,
– *Now they’re saying there’s going to be eliminations, wtf*