From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 123: Second Performance Evaluation (4)

As Jamie’s team stepped up to perform, Ari’s eyes followed the blonde boy as he stood front and center with the rest of his team behind him.

Apart from Jamie and Vishal, there was nobody on the team that he was particularly close to, and there was clearly some tension within the group, so he just paid enough attention to verify that things were going in the right direction and that he didn’t need to pour ice down Jamie’s shirt so he could be strict with his team.

Thankfully, it seemed that things were mainly (?) on track.

Although they got some criticism and feedback, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

After Jamie’s performance, Ari more or less tuned out for the rest of the performances.

His mind kept turning over the judge’s feedback as he tried to think of a way out of doing a bubblegum pink ballerina concept so that his team wouldn’t spend their remaining time arguing once again or come up with a rubbish idea like making it manly.

Even as they wrapped up filming and he limped into his seat on the bus, Ari’s eyes absentmindedly stared out the window as he continued thinking.

Initially, he had the idea of somehow faithfully replicating the performance done by the original group, but hearing the feedback that Bing Yongsun had given Benjamin’s team about being directly compared to the original artist made him hesitate.

He had no faith that they would be able to do as well as the original performers, especially since it was boys covering a girl song, so they clearly had to change tactics.

What could they do?

The main ideas of the song were swans, ballerinas, an ungodly amount of pink, and rising and transforming into a beautiful swan after being dragged down by a bunch of problems.

The choreography was very ballet-inspired, with sub formations that formed different bird-like shapes from wings to the body of a swan.

Visually, it was very pretty, but Ari didn’t think it suited his group at all.

Immediately, the pink concept was thrown out, and he knew most of the team wanted less girly and more aggressive choreography, leaving behind the ballerina and the swan.

Was there a way to incorporate a ballerina and swan concept that wouldn’t be too feminine, yet maintain a similar vibe to the original song?

Ari began racking his brain, trying to come up with something.

As the bus was stalled in traffic, his eyes naturally went to an electronic billboard that switched from advertising some random phone plan to an advertisement for Lake Swans shows being offered by the Los Angeles Ballet company.

As he stared at the billboard, seeing the ballerina dressed in an all-white outfit posing with her shadow being that of a swan with wings stretched back, past memories that he usually avoided because they were quite painful filled his mind.

He remembered being forced by his mom to attend a showing of Lake Swans in Paris after he had snuck around and watched the horror movie Dark Swan, which was about a ballet dancer going crazy and descending into darkness as the pressure to do well breaks her mind, and she transformed from a white swan to a dark swan.

To this day, the scene of the feathers creeping over the pale skin of the actress like darkness staining and consuming her was vivid in Ari’s mind, and he felt goosebumps rising on his arms as he thought about it.

Brrrrrrrr freёnovelkiss.com

Shaking his head, Ari rubbed his arms at the sudden chill.

That would be a bit too creepy, especially with such a bright pop song...right?

Hmmm?

Hmmmmmm?

Well, actually, maybe the concept could....work?

Rather than a bubblegum pink concept, a white one that turned dark?

Graceful moves that turned aggressive and chaotic from darkness and madness?

His brain quickly latched onto the idea, and he brought out his sticky notes and pen that were always in his pocket, and began scribbling the original lyrics while making corrections as he hummed the song.

Changing Like Swan into Black Swan

Light into darkness

Fairytale into nightmares, etc.

If they started the song on a bright, cheery note, before somehow making their outfits and dancing seem to darken somehow, as if they were being stained by darkness and madness.....

Hmmmmm....

It might actually work?

As if he were possessed, Ari continued scribbling his ideas and lyric changes, planning out everything in his head so that he could effectively propose his ideas.

When they arrived back at the dorm, he quickly moved his duffel bag from his old room F(1) into his new room D(3) and then limped to the practice room and sat down while waiting for everyone to gather.

Once they were all seated with Leo at the front of the room, he sighed before speaking.

"So...that was terrible. I’m glad everyone learned their parts, but we need to agree on a concept, assign the remaining positions, decide on costumes, and submit it to the production team by tomorrow morning at the latest. Additionally, we’re getting another teammate, and we need to decide what we’re doing about Ari’s choreography. So as the leader, I’m making the decision that we’re staying up all night until we get those ticket items done."

As groans rang out in the room, a knock on the door sounded out.

Knock, knock

Before anyone could say anything, it slid open.

Standing outside was Mathew, the tall boy with jet black hair and soft features, and a cameraman behind him.

Mathew met Ari’s eyes, and as Ari was wondering why the boy was staring at him, he ran in front of Ari, sliding into a kneeling position while bowing his head so low that his hair scraped the ground.

"I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!! I promise never to do it again, so please don’t be angry at me! I beg of you!"

Ari: ಠ_ಠ

What the heck was this kid talking about?

Why would I be angry?

Apart from the single greeting where Ari introduced himself, he had never spoken to Mathew again.

Seeing the cameraman turn to focus on him with a pleased smile, Ari immediately grabbed Mathew’s shoulders and yanked them upright while forcing a smile on his face!

Whatever you’re apologizing for, do it while staring at my face and stop kneeling!

Otherwise, people will really think I’m bullying you!