บท 91: Finale (7)

All 15 contestants were sat in the chairs of their respective rankings. Joon-woo shrunk in his rank one chair, nervous. All contestants came off as nervous, even Ryeo Hyun. They were still in their stage outfits, though some like Joon-woo and Reggie's were disheveled and rumors sprouted when Kim Seo-jun's appeared to be too.

After months of work and effort, only 5 out of the 15 would leave this roof an idol. It was a number that brought nerves to every contestant's face.

The lights dimmed and Misa and FYP, the long-time hosts took the stage in double suits with serious expressions. This was a serious matter.

The chat froze and overfilled from die-hard fans and just onlookers born curious.

Joon-woo pls debbutttttt

Reggie + Joon-woo debut duo!!!!!

💗💗💗du-ho oppa💗💗💗💗💗💗du-ho oppa💗💗💗

💗💗💗yong oppa💗💗💗💗💗💗hyun-ok oppa💗💗💗

The official viewer count on Metube was 140k. It was about 100k more than the first season's finale's viewer count.

Misa took the mic into her hand, and thanks to her professional nature, no feedback bit back. "It's been seven months since the first recording of Producer10 season two, and here we are." It was a light tone she used. "Isn't that crazy?" She asked the contestants who nodded nervously in reply. "Here we've tested your dance, singing, both, and even song writing. And along the way we've lost some…" The camera panned to the empty ranking chairs that once had hopeful contestants sitting in them.

"Five contestants," FYP took his own mic. "Only five of you will leave this show an idol. We have the votes now. These votes are based on how well each of you appealed to the audience. How hard you worked, how well you guys danced or sang. These votes were casted based on who has the most strength to be a good idol." FYP flashed a hardened look to the contestants who shivered at his cold gaze.

"Without further ado, I will announce the contestant in 5th place with 40,678 votes." Misa spoke.

The cameras panned between the contestants. Some held hands nervously or shook slightly. The camera stopped at a particularly buff body.

"Contestant Ryeo Hyun."

Ryeo Hyun looked up with widened eyes. Claps rang through the room, the chat, and even FYP. He was known to be a Hyung that helped his dongsaengs well. He was known to be talented through hard work.

The contestants around him patted him on the back and encouraged him as he stood and made his way towards the stage.

He was instructed to stand next to Misa as she handed him the microphone.

"Do you have any words for the fans?" She asked with a small, but real smile.

Ryeo Hyun took the microphone into his shaking hands with a short nod.

"I-I have been training for ten years to be an idol… And I worked very hard and thanks to you guys– I can achieve my dream to become one. I want to thank my friends that I've made along the way– the ones I've lost. Without you guys, I would've been about to push on and achieve this. T-thank you so much…"

The room filled with claps again.

Misa took back the microphone and Ryeo Hyun took a few steps back to a few marked lines in the back that the camera couldn't reach. His eyes slightly widened when there weren't just five small lines of tape, but six.

"The contestant in 4th place, with 43,009 votes…" FYP began this time.

The camera scanned over the contestants for a few moments.

"Contestant Baek Du-Ho." FYP said, as the camera stopped on a wide-eyed Baek Du-Ho.

The rapper stayed seated for a moment longer, as if in shock. Reggie's awkward pat on the back woke him up from his emotion. And he practically jogged to the stage with an emotion no one had ever seen on his usually emotionless face.

Misa handed him the microphone with less of a smile, but she still seemed happy for the guy.

"Thank you so much, to all the fans that cheered for me and voted for me. I… never thought I would make it so far in this show and industry but you guys have given me hope. Thank you so much, really." Baek Du-Ho spoke through intervals, his voice broke multiple times and it sounded odd in his usually monotone voice.

When he went to stand next to Ryeo Hyun who comforted him, his eyes also widened at the extra tape mark.

"Next… are the top three contestants of this season…" Misa teased. "So can we welcome the 3rd place contestant with 53,087 votes…"

The camera panned from many contestants a lot more tense.

"Contestant Jung Hyun-Ok!" Misa spoke with a real smile.

Claps were loud and enthusiastic for the mixed raced contestant. Mi Yong inpaticualer clapped loudly. He whooped and cheered for Jung Hyun-Ok all the way down the stairs and to the stage. It was a cute interaction that widened Misa's smile.

Jung Hyun-Ok couldn't hide the excitement on his face when he took the mic from Misa.

"I– [oh my god] hah– this is really unbelievable." The chat and contestants chuckled at Jung Hyun-Ok's first words. "I want to thank everyone who voted for me a million times because of you guys I can achieve my dreams. I will do my best to be the best idol I can. I can't thank enough the friends I've made along the way on this journey. Without you guys and your humor and personality I don't think I could've stood living in the dorms with you guys. Thank you guys again, I love you guys so much~"

The speech gained many laughs and even FYP cracked a curt smile before remembering his image.

Jung Hyun-Ok took joyful steps to Ryeo Hyun and Baek Du-Ho. His joyful appearance contrasted the teary of Baek Du-Ho's and borderline Ryeo Hyun's.

Misa pursed her smile away and turned back to the now smaller crowd of contestants. "Two more spots. Must I say, the votes between these two were tight…"

FYP nodded in agreement.

"The runner-up for Producer10 season 2, with 60,347 votes is…"

The camera panned from a now narrower selection and came to a long and slow halt.

"Contestant Reggie Lee!"

Reggie, unlike the others who waited until they were done with their thank you speech to cry, immediately broke out into a sob. The contestants around him encouraged him with soft pats, but Reggie only listened when it was Joon-woo who came down and said so.

Reggie wiped his face and cleared his throat on the way to the stage, but when he took the mic into his hands, his voice was still broken with emotion.

"[Thank you], thank you so much everyone. Everyone, without you I wouldn't've made it this far. In the beginning my Korean wasn't good nor my singing. But I learned because thanks to the people here and the fans who kept me motivated. U-um, I also want to say that in English for our foreign viewers." Reggie prompted and Misa nodded. "[without you guys, I wouldn't've made it this far. In the beginning my Korean wasn't good nor my singing. But I learned because thanks to the people here and the fans who kept me motivated..]"

Reggie practically sobbed when he reached his spot, barely noticing the extra sixth tape mark.

Then Misa took a deep sigh.

"Only one more of you will debut from here."

The camera's attention, the chat's attention, the other contestant's attention, and even the staff's attention fell onto Joon-woo and Mi Yong. They both sat in 1st and 2nd place chairs in utter silence. Mi Yong's usually carefree expression was hardened and Joon-woo just seemed… out of it.

Only one of them could debut. Only one.