115 – Audition Preliminary (4)
“As expected, the young lady is a genius.”
The maid who saw Tomoe’s audition practice applauded and was impressed.
She learned all the songs by Cursed Dolls and Afternoon Sweets that producer Imbu Gil had written.
In just four days.
“That’s enough now, right? “Go out.”
“Yes? Ha, you only practiced once… ?”
“It’s perfect.”
“Yes, but…” ….”
Tomoe narrowed her eyes and snapped, “Do I have to say it twice?”
The maid had no choice but to bow and quietly left the room.
Tomoe sat on the sofa in front of the TV and turned on the game console.
A message popping up on the screen telling me to update because the latest firmware is available.
When I clicked the OK button, the firmware was automatically downloaded.
‘He’s a genius….’
It was a word she had heard a lot since she was young.
It may not be possible to define exactly what a genius is, but there is one thing that people generally agree on.
Record great results with less effort than others.
When I was in school, I never focused more on studying during exam periods like others.
When asked how she managed to stay at the top of her class at a prestigious school, she simply answered that she just had to do well in her classes.
She was always pushed around by Tomoe and got slapped by a boy who developed a second-class complex.
Tiring—.
A message appeared on the TV saying that the firmware update was complete.
Tomoe immediately started a single-player game in which there were no other players.
‘Oh, I’m tired of going to Budokan…’ .’
In her mind, she wanted to ruin her brother’s company for putting her in the shoes of her idol.
But she couldn’t ignore her parents’ concerns.
Anyway, the reason Tomoe can now enjoy her games comfortably in her room is because she was born into a wealthy family.
Thinking that she would pass the preliminaries if she just did it roughly, Tomoe headed to Budokan the next day.
Her older brother said that she applied by changing her last name from Marui to Kojo because there might be suspicions that she received preferential treatment because she was from a wealthy family.
I don’t know her real reason, but her brother personally drove her to Budokan.
“Tomoe, you know that our family has a very bad image, right?”
“… “Why is that?”
“You have a really nice face, so do well for your family. “The reason you’ve been lounging around in a corner of the house until now is because you were lucky enough to be born into this family.”
“… ….”
Her brother has been like that since he was young.
He pretended to be awake by himself.
When he started a construction company, he advertised that there were only two industrial accidents because he thoroughly guaranteed the safety of workers.
Even that is a minor thing.
But in reality, the company took a detour by creating a separate subsidiary, closing the business when a major industrial accident occurred, and then establishing the subsidiary again.
“I know.”
Tomoe got out of her brother’s car and went straight into the Budokan.
Without turning around or at least waving my hand.
The inside of Budokan was crowded with applicants for the preliminary round.
Tomoe, who came to a crowded place for the first time in a long time, felt dizzy for a moment.
He approached the receptionist, presented his ID, and was given a number tag to wear on his left chest.
It was number 2.
He said he would do it in the first order possible.
“Just go inside there and wait until your number is called.”
“Yes.”
It was rare for him to go outside without anyone accompanying him in order to pretend to be an ordinary person.
Because I always had a bodyguard by my side.
Although it was a narrow waiting room, it was a somewhat refreshing experience.
-Please enter number 1.
“Yes… !”
Even though it is a preliminaries, I wonder if it is because idol aspiring idols gathered together.
Quite pretty women gathered here.
Still, among them all, she was the best, Tomoe thought.
There was a wall-mounted TV in the waiting room.
There, I was able to see the performance of the applicant who entered earlier.
Applicant number 1 danced to the music playing as if dancing was his specialty.
“Wow, you dance well…” .”
“He will definitely pass the preliminaries.”
Other applicants around us were excited.
There were many people like Tomoe who came alone, but it seemed like there were quite a few people who applied with friends.
‘Well, for an aspiring idol, I’m really good at it.’
Even so, she is not as good as herself.
Tomoe suppressed the feeling of already being bored.
It was a performance that only lasted 2 minutes anyway, but I wanted to hurry up and go home and play a game.
-I enjoyed it. See you in the finals.
Producer Lim Boo-gil’s face was shown in a large close-up on the screen.
Applicants around me asked, “Isn’t he really handsome?” “Our company’s producer looks like a toad!” They were busy praising his handsome appearance.
“But you know what? “I have a fiancee, but I’m in a romantic relationship with my secretary.”
“Crazy, really?”
“Look, there are rings on both the left ring finger and the right ring finger. “Isn’t your left hand your fiancée’s and your right hand’s your secretary’s?”
“Huh, so you’re not cheating on your fiancee secretly, but openly?”
“From what I see, it’s 100%, 100%. “They say there’s not a man who’s naturally handsome and capable who doesn’t reveal himself to a woman.”
“That’s right.”
After all, there are no proper men in the entertainment or business world.
Tomoe clicked his tongue.
I didn’t really have any intention of getting married because I didn’t have to be handsome or talented, but I thought a nice man would be nice.
-Please enter number 2.
As soon as applicant number 1 left the stage, his number was called.
Tomoe got up and left the waiting room.
The dazzling light that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar fell on her.
The CD handed to the receptionist in advance was played.
It was By Cursed Dolls.
“Knock, knock, knock, knock.” The clock is running backwards~♪”
Because I know how to speak Korean to some extent, I sang with Korean lyrics instead of Japanese lyrics.
We also danced at the same time.
You could choose just one, but we decided to show both vocals and dance.
If you pass the preliminaries with an overwhelming showing, your name will become that much known.
Then, Tomoe thought, parents would no longer be dissatisfied.
After finishing the first verse, I bent down to look as presentable as possible and bowed to producer Lim Boo-gil in front of the stage.
He would probably be surprised to find out that Tomoe is the daughter of a wealthy family.
Perhaps he would brag about it to his lover or her fiancee?
“Have you prepared anything else?”
I waited for producer Lim Boo-gil’s evaluation, but instead of an evaluation, something else came out.
This is a performance where each person is only given 2 minutes, so is this asking us to do more?
The corners of Tomoe’s mouth itched.
As expected, he is overwhelmed by his own talent.
“Yes.”
“Please.”
Although I didn’t bring an MR, this time I sang and danced to Afternoon Sweets’ Song without accompaniment.
Since it is the song of an idol that he was in charge of, there will be more comparisons.
You will know that their skills are better than Cursed Dolls or Afternoon Sweets.
Completed Of afternoon sweets.
Now you can take the evaluation and go home.
But Producer Gil Imbu put his hand to his mouth and said.
“One more song please.”
“… Yes.”
He passionately sang Berry’s .
This song is more about singing than dancing, so Tomoe relaxed a little and moved his body.
What on earth were they thinking, making them sing two more songs in a row?
I thought he liked it so much that he ordered more.
After the 4-minute additional performance, producer Lim Boo-gil said, “Um… ….” He raised his voice.
How are you thinking about producing it?
Unfortunately, Tomoe had no intention of being produced by him.
“First of all, both the vocals and the dance are great.”
“Thank you.”
“Just what should I say…” . I asked for more performance just in case…….”
What is it?
Producer Lim Boo-gil spoke as if he was choosing his words as best as he could.
Tomoe, who had expected only praise, was taken aback.
“What kind of idol do you want to be?”
“Yes… ?”
“I don’t want to talk about grit. But while watching the performance, my will was not conveyed at all. “It feels like a talent show where I’m forced to do it even though I don’t want to.”
“… !”
I couldn’t refute anything.
His face was just red and green.
Yeah, he didn’t really want to be an idol.
But somehow I felt unfair.
Aren’t idols supposed to be criticized for not having the will to do something or that they’re just here to show off their talents?
Tomoe bowed his head on stage and his hands trembled.
“Eliminated… Is it?”
Producer Imbu Gil nodded his head.
This is my first time experiencing rejection.
That too in the preliminaries.
“Why?”
“Yes?”
“You have skills! Isn’t that what happened then? Why do I have to have the will to please them?!”
The words came out before I could think.
Tomoe immediately realized that she had made a mistake and covered her mouth with both hands.
During her pregnancy, not only her producer but also her broadcast staff all looked at her with an expression of bewilderment.
Producer Lim Boo-gil answered with a long sigh.
“I’ll ask the opposite. “Why should I pick someone who doesn’t have the will to become an idol?”
“As long as there are results, it’s enough…” ….”
“Then do you have any achievements related to being an idol?”
“… ….”
Tomoe’s eyes turn red.
She soon ran off the stage without even saying hello to producer Imbu Gil.
***
What is this girl?
It was truly absurd.
No, I’m looking at the status window.
[Name: Marui Tomoe]
[Age: 22]
[Fatigue: ??]
[Vocal: ?? / Dance: ?? / Talking: ?? / Visual: ??]
From noble mtl dot com
[Current thoughts: ??]
Because she had absolutely no will to become an idol.
But the vocals and dance were really good.
Perhaps he was a person with more talent than all the idols I had raised so far.
So, I ordered two more songs and continued to watch the performance, and in the end, this person circled [Failed].
Secretary Jeong Song-i came next to me and she asked.
“He was a bit of a strange person, but he didn’t fail the preliminaries, right? Oh, I’m not saying the producer’s judgment was wrong. “I’m just curious.”
“It’s simple. “It’s so bland.”
“Personality?”
“When Cursed Dolls sang, Shion copied and pasted almost everything, when Afternoon Sweets sang, Minju copied and pasted, and when Berries sang, Haesol copied and pasted.”
Nodding his head, “Oh, that’s right, definitely.” Secretary Jeong Song-i agrees.
I couldn’t judge it accurately because I couldn’t see the status window, but it was probably the best ability ever.
However, no matter how talented you are, or even if you are a genius, it is difficult to produce if you do not have a passion for idols.
You can’t become an idol just by having passion, but it’s also true that you can’t be an idol if you don’t have passion.
“Then shall we contact you separately and ask if you would like to become a trainee?”
“No. “There is no person with more potential than a trainee without will.”
“I understand.”
It took up quite a bit of time, so I told the staff to quickly bring the next person on stage.