Little Pink Starfish

“That was fun.”

“Episode 3 moved pretty fast.”

“Maybe they sped it up so the team battle concept wouldn’t get too watered down?”

I nodded at what the members said as soon as the episode ended.

Just like they said, the concept of Coming Up Next episode 3 was all about pace.

Unlike episodes 1 and 2, this one was packed with plot, and it didn’t focus on just one song.

In fact, some parts were so stripped down it was almost blunt—probably because MShow plans to release the full versions on YouTube.

[Hey, saw the episode. But why was my screen time so short?]
[Also, what are you doing right now? I had a question while arranging “Players.”]
[Oh, and I have something else to talk about too.]

Looks like Eddy had been watching the episode, since he messaged me right away.

There are no live English subs, so he must’ve tortured an interpreter again.
Why does he keep doing this?
I’d get it if I were a Billboard rising star, but I’m just a K-pop trainee.

(“Players” is the English title Eddy gave to Kkun-deul, the song I assigned to him.)

I ignored Eddy’s texts and replayed episode 3 in my head.

The episode that started with my meeting with Eddy transitioned smoothly back to the B Team selection.

No dragging—just a clean showcase of the cover mission stages by the “winning team” and “losing team.”

However, the losing team’s performance of Blackstar’s Buster Call was edited to under two minutes, while NOP’s BOY SCOUT aired in full.

Because their stage was solid.

But since our team’s performance was meant to hide my involvement, there was a lot of buzz online.

• Knew Han Si-on’s team would flop lol. Dude acts like a god-tier idol when prepping.
• Fr though, the way he lectured the others was so cringe.
• ?? But the winning team seemed happy with their stage. Why all the hate?
• Han Si-on’s been getting a lot of antis lately. People say he’s arrogant.
• Nah, it’s just fans of the Produce kids going nuts lol. They know if he debuts, he’ll blow their faves out the water.
• Come on, Han Si-on’s on a whole other level. Chris Edwards literally called him a genius. Their side’s just trying hard.
• It’s exactly because of people like you that Han Si-on’s getting hate. He’s being used as a punching bag.
• Punching bag? He’s always been above them anyway…
• This is hilarious lol.
• But wasn’t the performance good? I was grinning like a proud mom.
• Yeah, Choi Jaesung was adorable. That fluffy hair looks just like my dog’s lol.
• Um… would it be okay if I fell in love with your dog?
• GTFO.
• I’m cracking up at the NOP fans sighing in relief. They were probably bracing for another bloodbath like with Webple lol.
• But fr, if Han Si-on said he’d cover my bias’s group, my heart would go crazy too…
• Just imagining it makes my heart race.
• Terrifying.

Meanwhile, the tone was different on forums frequented by the general public.

More talk about the show itself.

• Episode 3 was kinda boring.
• Would’ve been better if they did more with Chris Edwards. The PD’s got no instinct.
• Are we not getting solo stages from Han Si-on anymore? Just team stuff? I’m not into all that synchronized dancing.
• He’ll probably do solos again at some point, right?
• Admit it—when the Billboard #1 songwriter called him a genius, it hit hard.

Especially the people who got into the show because of Under the Streetlight or Falling Blossoms—they seemed to have a delayed realization.

“Oh right, this is an idol show.”

Keeping those viewers around? That’s up to PD Kang Seok-woo.

I finally checked the hip-hop forums.

I was curious about how my rap was being received in the 2017 Korean scene.

Hmm…

Yeah, hip-hop fans are the same in Korea and the U.S.

None of them are gem appraisers, so why are they all so obsessed with what’s real and what’s fake?

An idol can rap too, you know. Doesn’t mean it’s fake.

At least the better comments went:

• Yo, not bad. If you’re going by technical skill alone, he’s definitely top-tier among idol rappers.
• Yeah, he nailed the grime vibe.
• He’s good, but he doesn’t get the culture. Using grime for lyrics like that doesn’t make sense.

Top-tier among idol rappers?
Doesn’t understand the culture?

Give me a break.

If you lined up all the Korean rappers, I’d be at the front.

Hmm. Maybe I should go on Show Me the Money someday.

Just as I was wrapping up my monitoring, I noticed something strange—it was way too quiet around me.

“…?”

I looked up.

Everyone had their noses buried in their phones.

But their expressions were off—like they’d seen something they shouldn’t have. Choi Jaesung looked the most shaken.

Probably reading hate comments.

I don’t get hurt by that kind of stuff anymore, but I know it’s not easy.

I’ve had my own share of pain from them too.

“Don’t look at that stuff.”

I tried to snatch Jaesung’s phone, but he shook his head.

“I’m not reading my own hate comments.”

“Then what are you reading?”

“Well, I was looking at hate comments, but not about me.”

Turns out the members had agreed to read each other’s comments instead.

Yi I-on checked Koo Taehwan’s, and On Saemiro checked Choi Jaesung’s, and so on.

They paired up to share nice compliments or constructive feedback.

Because not every comment is bad, just scary.

Of course, you might accidentally come across hate about yourself during the process.

But if you’re careful, you can usually avoid them—just look away the moment a bad comment starts.

“So why the long face?”

“It’s just… people are so harsh with their words!”

Turns out Jaesung had read some hate directed at On Saemiro—and got upset on his behalf.

• On Saemiro’s useless af. Looks lose to Yi I-on, vocals lose to Han Si-on, maknae role goes to Choi Jaesung, and the otaku bait goes to Koo Taehwan lol.
• Doesn’t On Saemiro always look super sour-faced?
• Han Si-on seems overly eager to do well, while On Saemiro doesn’t even seem to care.
• Even his name sounds lame as hell lol.

Hmm.

If it were about me, I wouldn’t care at all—but for On Saemiro, this would hurt.

He doesn’t seem like the type to brush off criticism easily.

“Just stick to the compliments. The general public’s reactions.”

“I was trying to, but I accidentally wandered into the abyss.”

Seems like everyone was in the same boat.

Then it hit me.

“What about me?”

“Huh?”

“If four people are paired up, doesn’t that leave one person out?”

“You? You like reading hate comments.”

“I do?”

“Last time you were reading them and laughing. They were definitely hate comments…”

Oh. That probably wasn’t because of the hate, but because the surrounding comments were funny.

Like:

• Um… would it be okay if I fell in love with your dog?

Come on, that’s hilarious.

Now that I think about it, Jaesung really does look like a puppy.

Big eyes, fluffy hair…

Anyway, looks like this has unintentionally turned into team-wide monitoring time.

So I started scrolling through the online posts too.

Today’s episode covered from the B Team selection to the room assignment mini-game at the dorm.

The karaoke mission that happened in between was barely shown.

Even though it felt competitive and tense in person, the broadcast made it look peaceful.

They didn’t even show much of the singing.

My performance of WITH’s At the End of Dawn only showed the first verse and chorus.

Not that it matters.

People missed the big emotional songs like Under the Streetlight or Flowers Bloom, but honestly? I think episode 3 needed to take a breather.

Still, there was one strange thing.

Something should have aired—but didn’t.

The impromptu performance we did at LB Studio.

We created an incredible stage with legends like Jo Ki-jung and Lee Hyun-seok.

Sure, maybe it’ll show up in a later episode—but wasn’t this the perfect timing?

I’m not saying show the whole thing. Just tease it—spark some curiosity.

No idea what PD Kang Seok-woo is thinking.

Just then, someone’s footsteps came up the dorm stairs.

Eddy showed up.

“What took you so long to reply?”

Didn’t he say he was staying at a hotel near Dongdaemun Station? Why’s he always bouncing between there and Pocheon?

“I had a brilliant idea and rearranged the track. Come listen and give me your thoughts.”

“Eddy, you’re the judge on this show. I’m a contestant.”

“Cool. Then I’ll judge your song too.”

“That’s supposed to happen on camera.”

“Then you judge me.”

Damn it. There’s no reasoning with him.

I sighed and got up from my seat.

---

Right after episode 3 of Coming Up Next aired.

PD Kang Seok-woo was summoned to the director’s office.

Usually, when a PD gets called in, their heart races—even if they haven’t done anything wrong.

Evaluations of a show are subjective. A show can be seen as a steady performer one moment and a washed-up relic the next.

But this time was different.

Average ratings: 3.8%
Capital area average: 4.3%
Peak per-minute rating: 5%

Freshly reported from the control room.

He’d exceeded the target—by a long shot.

And it only took three episodes.

At this point, he should be the one summoning the director.
Demanding a company card for some celebratory steak.

He knocked on the director’s door with that in mind.

“Come in.”

As soon as he stepped in, the director greeted him with loud excitement.

“Kang Seok-woo, my man! Come here, let me shake your hand. Those ratings nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“How’ve you been, Director?”

“Director, huh? Last time you called me ‘senior.’ Got big-headed now that you’re hot stuff?”

“Oh, come on, senior.”

“Haha! Sit, sit.”

Like any office small talk, the meeting was full of praise with a smile.

The director praised Kang’s vision and directing. Kang praised the director’s bold decision to approve two more episodes.

But of course, upper management always adds a subtle dig.

“So, the YouTube channel’s been quiet, huh?”

(Translation: “The ratings are great, but don’t expect too much. Your YouTube content’s weak.”)

“Ah, come on, senior. We’ve nearly doubled subscribers. Views are steady for Coming Up Next content.”

(Translation: “It just looks weak because it started from the bottom. And the rest of the channel’s content is trash, so it drags it all down.”)

“Is that so?”

“Yes. We’re going to focus more on YouTube moving forward. Things have been hectic ever since Chris Edwards got involved.”

(Translation: “You do remember you’re the one who brought Chris Edwards, right?”)

The back-and-forth continued—friendly on the outside, layered underneath.

Until the director finally got to the point.

The praise was over. The subtle power plays too.

Now it was time to talk rewards.

“Han Si-on… he’s too good to just let go, right?”