Chapter 103

“The final destination, and the beginning of something new. Thank you, Idol Makers, for running with us from the very first step—where the desperate dreams of 100 trainees began—to the last gateway of Design Your Idol.”

Unlike the playful, easygoing expression he normally wore around the trainees, the MC now read from his cue card with a serious face.

“Tonight’s special live broadcast will determine the trainees’ 4th and final debut evaluation! The last journey of the trainees striving to become the dream group you have designed—begins now!”

As the MC’s figure faded into darkness, the stage lights slowly rose. Then the screen filled with the opening stage of “Look.”

WAAAAAA!!WAAAAAA!!WAAAAAA!!

With Kang Hyunjin at center, and beside him the two trainees who had each taken 1st place at least once in the first three ranking announcements—Do Jihyuk and Won Yuha—the remaining surviving trainees filled the formation behind them. This stage left a strong impression on Idol Makers watching at home.

Just like the live audience on site, viewers watching the broadcast couldn’t help but feel moved as they recalled the journey that had brought these trainees to this moment.

And among the comments about the trainees’ changed positions, improved skills, and upgraded visuals, the one trainee dominating the conversation was—

— Is Won Yuha out of his mind??????????
— (profanity) (profanity) (profanity)

It was Won Yuha, showcasing the most legendary visuals and skill to date.

— It’s been three months since I fell for Won Yuha… today I devote my entire life to him
— What happened to his face today?? And WHAT is that stage positioning??
— His first appearance he was stuck at the END of the wing formation… and now he’s in front on the final stage? I’m crying
— I’m sorry but even shōnen manga doesn’t do growth arcs this dramatic without getting flamed

Yuha’s skill had never once dipped below a certain threshold since the first broadcast.

He had shown continuous, unbroken improvement every round—so much so that Idol Makers had come to expect it.

But even those fans couldn’t hide their shock today.

Because even though the camera only glimpsed him in short intervals—since twenty trainees were sharing the stage—every moment Yuha appeared on screen felt unmistakably different.

His refined face, clean and powerful dance lines, and the sheer presence radiating from his whole body—
Yuha was dominant in every category.

Of course, he wasn’t the only one who had grown. Only the trainees who had truly poured everything into their practice over months of Design Your Idol survived to the finals.

Several trainees who received the so-called “camera massage” now boasted even sharper visuals and skills than at the beginning—driving up anticipation for the final rounds.

— You can literally see how much everyone has grown… it’s like all the remaining ones are aces, I want to see every performance right now ㅠ
— If “Look” is already like this… what will the main stages be like? I’m so excited
— Can’t all 20 of them just debut? I don’t want to lose a single one

The swelling, emotional anticipation—like parents watching their kids grow—reached a turning point when the VCR showing how the trainees prepared their final stages began to play.

.We will now bring Kang Hyunjin from Yoo Chanhee’s team.

From the very first clip—revealing Do Jihyuk’s chaotic “Avengers Team Assembly” move that shocked even the trainees—Idol Makers fell into utter confusion.

— Isn’t that completely broken???
— Does Do Jihyuk even WANT to debut…?? Why would he put Hyunjin on HIS team??
— Wait he tried to grab Yoo Chanhee AND Aiden Lee AND Lee Garam too is this real?? LOL
— Is he insane??? And the producers just let that happen???

The team Jihyuk created felt unbelievable not just to trainees but to viewers too.

The final battle wasn’t between different teams—it was an individual ranking battle. Meaning, if you wanted to increase your own chances, you’d want weaker teammates. But Jihyuk’s choices looked like pure self-sabotage.

— Look at Chanhui’s soul leaving his body lmao
— The funniest part is how Chanhui’s team nearly became “Team Without Chanhui”… Actually wait no it’s not funny I’m worried, Jihyuk is my one pick and I don’t understand why he’s doing this… you’re smart, Jihyuk-ah, why…
— Aiden looks like he wants to cry after being separated from all his favorite friends lol. If he had the choice, he’d ditch his current team and sprint to Team 1
— If Jihyuk actually got Aiden AND Chanhui like he wanted, it would literally be the Avengers. That would BE the debut group already;;
— He’s too greedy omg. In a real battle format, this wouldn’t even be a competition; the other team couldn’t exist

After the huge debate about the 1:2 team balance collapse, the editing shifted into their practice sessions—and the live chat burst into flames again.

Shouldwepracticeoncemore?Should we practice once more?Shouldwepracticeoncemore?
Yes!Yes!Yes!

Team 1: practicing non-stop, not even pausing to rest.

Should we rest a little?
Ah, I feel like we should practice more but… um, okay… maybe just 5 minutes……Ah

Team 2: visibly falling apart.

Youguysreallygroundyourteeth,huh?You guys really ground your teeth, huh?Youguysreallygroundyourteeth,huh?
Doyouguysjustnotwanttodothis?Do you guys just not want to do this?Doyouguysjustnotwanttodothis?

And then the mid-evaluation showed completely opposite results.

— Got it. This is the purge round.
— Respect for Jihyuk’s big picture.
— I don’t know what he was aiming for but it’s obvious which team is going to have casualties.
— Oh no… Kang Kyungmin… what happened…? He used to be good… what on earth…
— My mental is breaking. What happened to make their team atmosphere split this badly?

The drastically different team atmospheres indirectly foreshadowed everything about their final stages—
 what kind of performance each team would show, and how it would end.

Naturally, viewers’ reactions split sharply. Those whose one-pick was in Team 1 celebrated, buzzing with anticipation. Those whose favorite was in Team 2 fell into shock and dread.

And the situation that triggered both excitement and anxiety continued.

Who should be center? 

I’m not planning on giving up.

∗IfIcan′tbecenter,Idon’twanttodoit…ha.∗

Team 2, where members fought over the center position yet were lazy in practice—and once their positions were set, showed repeated absences, lack of effort, and growing dysfunction.

Meanwhile, Team 1 was the exact opposite: so motivated that everyone insisted on taking every major position, resulting in explosive arguments and nerve-wracking tension.

Yuha,areyouapplyingforcenter?Yuha, are you applying for center?Yuha,areyouapplyingforcenter?
Yes.Yes.Yes.

And among all this, the trainee receiving the most attention from Idol Makers was Won Yuha.

For the first time across the entire season, Yuha was openly aiming for both main vocal and center.

Up until now, Yuha had taken main positions—main vocal, main rapper—several times, but always by external influence, never by his own desire.

In the 1st round it was because of Aiden Lee.
In the 2nd, because the producers placed him there.
And in the 3rd round—when no one forced him—he had voluntarily chosen a position with the least screen time, judging it to fit the team’s skill balance.

So Idol Makers were shocked by this sudden change.

As the VCR alternated between Team 2’s center candidates and Team 1’s center candidates, curiosity only grew.

A team on the verge of collapse, and another dangerously overheated—what would become of them?

***

“We have now seen the trainees’ final rehearsals and evaluations. It is time for the last performance—the one that will become the decisive criteria for the debut lineup.”

And after that VCR, Idol Makers wished one thing:

That the next stages would shock and amaze them—regardless of who stood at the center.

“The remaining twenty trainees were divided into two teams of ten. They will perform the two songs you Idol Makers chose in advance: ‘SPARK’ and ‘SHINE’. As this is the final evaluation, everyone is more motivated than ever. So who managed to seize the center position?”

“Let’s find out. The first evaluation song, ‘SPARK’—revealed now!”

And their expectations were not betrayed.

***

With the MC’s announcement, all stage lights went out—and in the family section, where trainees’ relatives sat, Baek Ihyeon saw silhouettes stepping onto the stage and smiled faintly.

“Yuhaaaaa!!”

“Won Yuha!!”

The curved wall behind the stage slid open as the intro began, revealing ten trainees—Yuha standing at the center.

Listening to Idol Makers shouting his name, Ihyeon lowered his gaze leisurely and watched Yuha walk to the front.

Yuha’s expression was serious—and something in his aura was unmistakably different from before. Ihyeon immediately sensed it.

He had suspected it during the “Look” stage, but now it was clear.

Yuha’s mindset toward the competition had changed—completely.
To claim the center in a final round where motivation was at its peak meant he had dared to show ambition.

And for the Yuha Ihyeon knew, this was astonishing.

‘He’s never once stood at the center.’

He was a kid who hated being pushed into the spotlight. One who habitually gave away what was his. The same boy who said nothing when his family was taken from him—locking himself in a small room instead.

A child born, it seemed, with a fate that prevented him from ever standing in the middle.

But now?

Who could say such a thing after seeing him today?

—It’s getting late…
We need to go fast

Among a lineup full of powerful presences, the one who stood at the center, unyielding to anyone, radiating suffocating intensity—

He was undeniable.

On the round stage, Yuha’s dreamlike narration flowed over the speakers, layered with sensory synths. The cheers died down. The trainees turned their backs in formation as the screens behind them shimmered with a wavering heat-haze.

As the mirage-like distortion spread outward, enveloping the trainees—

“Ah…!”

Colorful swirls burst into vibrant waves, racing across the screen. In that moment, Yuha lifted his head from the center of the ten trainees.

—Open up a new world

A confident declaration.

The burst of light synchronized with his voice, and Yuha extended his arms as the members beside him spread out like wings.

Bright, energized faces. Trainees moving sharply in perfect sync with the beat, proving every hour of practice they had endured.

And in the midst of them, Yuha rose—a single motion opening the performance like the striking of a match.

‘So you didn’t want to lose. Not this time.’

Baek Ihyeon could feel it immediately.

Yuha had prepared this stage with the desire—to defeat someone for the first time in his life.

That this time, he had no intention of letting anyone take his place.

‘…Interesting.’

The more serious Yuha became, the more dangerous he was.