From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

The studio, bright as ever, focused on the sparkling eyes of June. The lights, devoid of fanciful colors, invited brightness, much like the sun on a lazy afternoon. And at that moment, the crowd turned dead silent.

They felt like they should scream June's name as his handsome face was shown on screen, but something compelled them to stay silent—to listen.

June closed his eyes, a smile that seemed happy yet sad adorning his lips. Then, he let out a deep, shaky breath as he thought of the lyrics he had written.

June's voice, filled with raw emotion, echoed through the venue as he began the bridge.

"Though years have passed, and we've grown apart,

The treasures of my childhood still fill my heart.

In the quiet moments, I close my eyes,

And hope I find my way back to that paradise.

When I cried because I fell and stumbled…

And not because my mind had crumbled.

When happiness was a piece of candy,

But now, no matter what, happiness can't reach me."

The audience was held captive by the sincerity in his words. The bridge was the heart of the song, and June had poured his heart into every note.

It reflected the thoughts of everyone in the room—one they always thought about but never verbalized. And now, June had captured their inner feelings and beautifully incorporated it into the song.

As the song neared its conclusion, June's voice carried the weight of the emotions, and he led the group into the final parts of the performance.

"Now I yearn for days when life was pure and free,

But time's river flows and I can only see,

The past through the prism of what used to be,

A beautiful, fading dream, in my heart, a memory."

They sang the chorus once more, the past upbeat melody sounding more nostalgic despite it being the same.

Tears glistened in some eyes while smiles adorned others. It was a powerful variation, testifying that their performance had evoked both joy and sorrow in equal measure. The boys on stage seemed to be in perfect harmony with this emotional moment, their voices carrying the complexity of their well-written lyrics.

Then, without warning, the music abruptly stopped, leaving the audience in a state of suspense. The silence hung in the air, a breath held by all. But just as quickly as it had ceased, the music began again, sounding even more stripped back and raw.

The change was startling, and it brought intimacy to the performance.

Then, the stage turned dark, causing a murmur of confusion to sweep through the audience.

The trainees watching in their respective rooms became confused, too.

Has the performance come to an end? But the speakers were still playing a sweet yet haunting melody that lingered in the air.

Then, just when they thought the performance had ended, the darkness descended, and the studio lit up again. It now revealed a new backdrop, unlike the old school building from the beginning of the performance.

Instead, it was a collage of photographs—photographs of the five boys in their childhood.

The gasps that echoed through the studio brought immense happiness to the boys' hearts.

Even Casper and Daeho, who had never felt emotional during the show, felt pain erupt in their chests—the good kind.

The faces of little Casper, Jangmoon, Ren, Daeho, and June filled the screen, their childhood smiles captured in time. The audience was enamored, their hearts touched by the innocence and pure joy that emanated from the photos.

The images passed by in a flash, holding the boys' memories and emotions. Then, the lights turned on, and the camera settled on June's face once more. This time, he was hand in hand with the other boys, walking like little kids on an adventure, their faces beaming with genuine happiness.

June's voice, filled with a depth of emotion that could only come from the heart, began to sing the final parts of the song. The combination of the nostalgic images and the heartfelt performance was a touching moment, and tears welled up in the eyes of many. The performance had taken them on a journey through time and emotion, from the innocence of childhood to the shared experiences of the present.

"But as I lingered on these thoughts, I failed to see.

The things that were in front of me.

So, I sit back, reflect, and think for a while.

And realized that there are reasons to smile.

The sun, the wind, my mom, my dad,

I need to focus on what I have before they turn to what I had.

And I need to know that these memories I hold dearly…

Will only die if I let them be."

Then, the chorus played once more, but now, all of their voices became one. There wasn't a need for fancy harmonies this time. The simplicity of their voices was enough.

They moved in perfect harmony, smiles brightening the stage.

The audience's hearts swelled with the joy and sadness of the performance. The voices of the five boys were like a gentle embrace, wrapping the audience in a cocoon of comfort, their hearts being carried to a place of innocence and joy.

In that fleeting moment, under the warm, bright lights, surrounded by artificial cherry blossoms, everyone felt as though they were on a journey back to their own carefree school days, where every sunny afternoon spent with friends was a cherished memory.

Then, as the song's final notes lingered in the air, the audience was left in a state of silence.

The five boys were captured on camera, and their childhood photos were shown once more.

Now, they stood side by side, with the images of their childhood selves shown above them.

Their current smiles resemble their childhood smiles, and as they looked at each other with proud gazes, the audience couldn't help but think they were watching the ending of a teen movie—a bittersweet one.

Truly, this performance captivated everybody in the room. It felt like a moment that transcended mere entertainment.

And all the other performances slowly crumbled into oblivion.