"We especially present to you, the final performance! Audience, get ready to vote for your most beloved participants!"

As the spotlight shining down on the two emcees flickered off, the whole stage was enveloped with darkness, leaving only the dim lights of the circles below the participants' feet glowing.

Finally, the soft sound of the piano reverberated in the entire studio. The show's theme song began playing.

This song lasted for four minutes.

It might also be the last four minutes of their lives together.

"Stuck in the flow of the crowd,

Even when I don't know where it's headed.

Still, I hope it's a good place."

Since no one among the participants placed on the rank S, the first part of the song was sung by everyone. The lyrics of the song also appeared on the screen.

With the audience singing along the familiar song that accompanied them for four months in the show, the entire studio seemed to vibrate.

"Yet, why?

I don't feel the badump badump

I must have left my heart somewhere"

Last three minutes.

As the second part of the song began, three white spots of light shined down on the stage. There, three red-clothed figures also stood: Adrian, Yeo Haru, and lastly, Mr. Big News. They were the people who placed at A rank.

Originally, Ara should have belonged there. Unfortunately...

The three figures started to move along the dance steps they practiced for a month just for this round.

At the same time they started dancing, on the screen, their names and faces appeared, surrounded by a golden glow. This glow didn't fully encase their portraits, as though it was still incomplete. But as the three people continued dancing, this glow gradually started to move.

The votes had started to come in.

Once these golden glow fully surrounded their portraits, that would mean that they finally reached the required one million points.

Gradually, the song entered the pre-chorus.

Now, only two minutes remain.

The next set of lights also shone down on the rank B participants. Aside from Team 1's Rayen, Liam, Iris and Ren; Xu Jiji and Xi Huan also belong in the same rank.

When the light above Rayen fully bathed him, his eyes were suddenly blinded. Still, he continued singing.

"Please take me there

A grand palace, a fairytale land

It doesn't matter,

I just want to live like I am"

Gradually, his vision adjusted to the lighting. He saw the audience below, still singing along with them.

The banners bearing their names swayed along the rhythm. Warmth suddenly gushed in his chest. His nose also started feeling itchy.

He was reminded of their last Adrift concert back when he was alive. Before waking up in the greenhouse of this place, that was his last memory.

And now, a similar scene was playing before his eyes.

Looking back on it, what did he feel back then?

Exhilaration? Pride?

Now, he could only feel gratitude.

These people are the ones who supported them. The people who gave them their new lives. If not for them, he wouldn't be given a second chance.

At first, he thought that being an idol who dances and acts cutesy was something he wouldn't be.

Now...

'It's not that bad either.'

Rayen smiled as he sang and danced.

"Live like I am

Live like I am

I decided just to live like I am—"

He raised his hand, pointing at the sky.

"Shining every era."

At the same time that Rayen uttered those lines, the lights shining on Adrian changed its color. The former white light transformed into a golden one. As though a brightly lit sun shone down on him.

The first person who would debut was confirmed.

Watching this, Rayen was genuinely happy. However, Adrian ignored his congratulatory stares no matter what, never glancing back at him.

'Snobbish guy.'

Soon, another change happened beside Rayen. He glanced from the corner of his eyes. The white light on Iris also transformed into a golden one.

She smiled sweetly, enamoring the audience below them.

Two people. Then, three people.

Yeo Haru's light also changed.

Meanwhile, the song approached the last 1 minute.

The lights on the C ranked participants flickered on. Only one person belongs to this. It was someone whom Rayen hadn't had the chance to ask their name.

Then, another light transformed beside Adrian — Zbigniew's.

Four people. 45 seconds.

There's only 45 seconds left, but Rayen's lights remained the same.

'There's no way, right?'

Just as he was feeling that way, the white light above him flickered.

Rayen's heart hitched. He glanced above him.

Exactly as his head looked up, the warm golden lights shone on him.

Rayen's mind blanked, but the song continued playing.

"No matter where I am

I decided not to look at the ground

Not anymore, not anymore.

I'll shine brightly."

Finally, at the 30 seconds mark, the last batch of participants at rank D joined the performance: Nana, Ayumi, Ren's thug partner, and another person Rayen doesn't know the name of.

At this moment, Rayen finally came back to his senses. He subtly glanced at these four people.

'Ayumi is in D rank?'

Despite this, Ayumi remained straight-faced as she moved her mouth and body. She must not have been worried because she only needed a few more points to debut.

Beside her, Nana had already started crying. She knew she wouldn't be able to debut. Still, she didn't stop. Even the others who were hopeless like her didn't stop.

Nana noticed his gaze and only smiled.

This would be their last performance. If they stop now, how will they be remembered?

When Ren's light also changed, Cha Taeho smiled beside Nana, his gaze fixed at Ren. These two thugs had been friends since day one.

Rayen wasn't far from Ren. Unexpectedly, he heard a subtle sound of sniffing coming from Ren's position.

Rayen fought the urge to twitch his lips.

'This guy is actually crying?'

But as the song approached its end, Rayen could hear the sounds of sniffing everywhere.

'So, it wasn't him crying? Am I just hallucinating?'

The last few seconds of the song played. Rayen couldn't help his eyes wandering over Liam's figure nervously.

'Li...'

Yet, before his worries could even sprout, Liam's light changed.

Seven.

Rayen sighed in relief.

5 seconds before the song finished, another two lights changed simultaneously — Xu Jiji and Xi Huan.

Rayen felt even more relieved.

The seconds passed by.

4...

3...

2...

Finally, the music faded.

At the same time, the other lights stopped shining, leaving only the bright golden lights onstage.

Finally, the pleasant voices of Yeon Miwol and Han Jeongwoon mingled and shook the venue.

"We present to you... the members of SEEDZ!"

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