From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 178: Team SuperNova (3)

The boy in the red and black jumpsuit took the center once again, singing the chorus with such clarity that it was hard to believe he was singing live while performing those intense dance moves.

"Nova

Can’t stop, hyperstellar

Brighter than any other

Bring the light of a dying star

Gonna blind all the haters now, so watch out

Supernova"

Once the boy in the red and black jumpsuit moved away, he was replaced by a boy with a violet jumpsuit, who became the center and began singing slowly while dancing in a more fluid manner in unison with the team.

"Everything is in my reach

The possibilities stretch to infinity."

Joining him was the boy wearing a blue and black jumpsuit, who danced in tandem, pushing and pulling before spinning away from each other.

"The hate you give just can’t touch me

I’m your bright star far out of reach.

"I’m the one you can’t forget now,"

Stepping into the open gap, Ari began to speak in his regular voice while making a finger gun with one hand as he lifted his helmet with the same hand that was holding the microphone, pretending to shoot into the air.

"I’m about to bang, bang! free𝑤ebnovel.com

Let me hear you say my name?"

Ari paused while tilting his head to the side in an inquisitive manner as the music seemed to freeze.

Then the beat dropped, he said the next line before heading to the back of the formation.

"Su su su supernova"

Then the dance break began with each boy getting a moment of spotlight in the center.

"When I come, you all stare ah oh ay"

The person with the violet lines on their black jumpsuit pulled off their mask, exposing the handsome face of a young man with slightly Middle Eastern features.

It was the Nile.

He quickly struck a pose before moving to the side as the boy with the black and indigo uniform stepped forward.

"I’m a star, can’t compare ah oh ay"

The mask was taken off, exposing the face of a Japanese boy who quickly balanced on one hand with both legs in the air, making an upside-down star with his body.

It was Haruto.

He easily flipped to his feet, pivoting out of the way as the boy with the black and blue uniform took center stage.

"Don’t gotta ask who we are ah oh ay"

The boy performed a simple dance move, spinning before taking off his mask and exposing the face of a handsome indian boy with inky black hair, dark eyes, and golden skin covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

It was Vishal.

Winking at the audience, he slid to the side and let the boy wearing the green and black uniform step to the center of the formation.

"Don’t you doubt I’ll go far ah oh ay"

With a perfect body roll and shoulder shimmy, the green and black mask was taken off, exposing a handsome Spanish boy whose sharp appearance contrasted greatly with his angelic voice.

Smiling gently, his chocolatey brown eyes curved happily as he heard familiar voices screaming his name.

Carlos shifted aside, allowing the person in the black and yellow jumpsuit to enter the center.

"I’m the one at the top ah oh ay."

As he performed a mini moonwalk while spinning around, Benjamin took off his helmet, showing off his cocky smile as beat his chest, holding out a number one before moving to the side for the boy in the orange jumpsuit who spun gracefully before moving his body in a sinuous manner and then popping it to each of his words.

"Do my best, not a flop ah oh ay."

It was Mathew.

As his part finished, he slid to the side, letting the boy with the red and black jumpsuit enter the circle as he repeated early choreography while singing.

"Tell the rest I’m the best ah oh ay."

Then he slid to the side, allowing Ari to take the center.

Just like earlier, he was holding his microphone and helmet with one hand as he sang while sounding like he was laughing at the playful lyrics.

"You all want to see my face, oh, ay."

Benjamin, who was positioned directly to Ari’s right, and Vishal, who was positioned to his left, pretended to grab his helmet and take it off while rapping, the sound coming out much clearer than earlier.

"Show me show me show me oh ay."

"Show me show me show me oh ay."

"Show me show me show me oh ay."

The two of them froze, and Ari paused as the music grew dead silent before ripping off the motorcycle helmet, rolling it off to the side while shaking out his sweaty, damp hair.

Smiling widely, even though he couldn’t really see the audience because of the lights, he brought the microphone to his mouth as he felt the urge to move his body due to the Jukebox skill being activated.

He felt his body literally begin to vibrate, and taking one final deep breath that he knew he would need, Ari began singing while dancing with all of his might.

"Nova!"

"Nova~"

Carlos’s clear voice, finally unmuffled by the helmet, rang out as he sang the high-pitched ad-lib with ease.

Matching the intensity of those dancing behind him and the volume of Carlos’s voice, Ari raised the key of the song, singing at an even higher pitch, as he danced with more energy than he ever showed.

His green eyes were staring forward with complete focus, the curly hair that hung in his face was carelessly pushed back exposing the long, thick lashes that made him look like he was wearing eyeliner, the flushed cheeks that gave the pale skin a healthy glow, and the slight sheen of sweat that reflected the light.

And for once, a genuine smile on his face as if he were thoroughly enjoying himself.

The black patterns on the black jumpsuit appeared almost iridescent as Ari danced at the very front, and the slightly crazed energy that he brought seemed to infect everyone else, causing them to go even harder.

"Can’t stop, hyperstellar."

"Hyperstellar~"

Each time Ari sang the chorus lyrics in a higher key, Carlos sang the matching ad-lib, his voice increasing in pitch and clarity.

"Brighter than any other"

"Any other~"

"Bring the light of a dying star,

Gonna blind all the haters now, so watch out,

I’m Super Nova."

With a cheeky wink, Ari moved straight back, letting Benjamin move forward to begin the final rap.

"Don’t gotta ask who we are ah oh ay,

You all know I’m a star ah oh ay"

Haruto then took the center spot along with Mathew, the two of them dancing hard as they alternated lines.

"With my dream, I’ll go far ah oh ay,

And I’ll always be your star ah oh ay"

Carlos then moved to the center, singing increasingly high notes as Ari handled the baseline melody.

"Yeah~ yeah~ yeah~ yeah~"

"I’m your Supernova."

As the final lyrics were sung out in unison, with a beautiful harmony underlying it all, the eight boys on stage struck a pose, holding it as the audience broke out into a round of applause, both polite and heartfelt.

********

Seeing Carlos’s heartfelt performance as he hugged some of his teammates while smiling and waving at the audience, Gabriella felt both proud and her heart hurt.

It was clear that Carlos loved performing and was happy being able to do it.

She had literally not seen him smile so happily in a long time, because usually, he was exhausted from trying to do everything their parents asked him to do for them and all his younger siblings, while squeezing what little time remained for himself.

Even today, with their parents cancelling their plans at the last minute to support her other older brother, who suddenly wanted to do a college visit at the last minute, Carlos wasn’t supposed to make it here to perform.

It was only because Ari had lent Carlos a car that could hold all three of them that he was able to make it to his performance.

And if he hadn’t come, who knew if he would be eliminated?

Between performances, Gabriella had checked the current voting polls and various online communities regarding the show and finally realized how big a deal it was that Carlos had made it this far. Seeing people cheer and praise her brother after his performance, she realized that he was truly talented.

It might not be in academics like her other brother, Miguel, but Carlos was talented in his own right and deserved to have the opportunity to explore that and get his family to support him.

Plus, if Carlos could somehow make it into the final seven, he could become a mega superstar.

And even if he couldn’t, he deserved to still try his hardest without always being stuck watching her, Luis, and Antonio, or helping their dad in his shop when he took on too many orders or when the family needed extra money.

Even though she was only 11, Gabriella had a lot of thoughts in her head, and resolved to try to talk to her parents and show them the video that she took.

She would try to get Luis and Antonio to talk to them, too.

In the meantime, all she could do was vote for Carlos’ team today and vote for him individually every day going forward.

"So, how did you like the performance, young lady?" Gabriella turned to the older woman, who was supposed to be watching them, and responded politely.

"I liked it a lot. Thank you for allowing us to use your vouchers. How about you? Did you like it?"

As if she had been waiting to be asked, Susan began a mini-rant.

"Absolutely not! It was worse than the other group and terrible overall. I can’t support young men bringing a firearm and promoting gun violence in this day and age, and the lyrics they were singing were basically nonsense, and they were too overconfident, even if their faces are pretty and they’re voices were good. I won’t be giving them my vote, that’s for sure!"

Gabriella: ಠ_ಠ

That’s my brother’s team!

What do you mean you like the faces and voices but won’t give a good score?

And a firearm? BFFR! It’s literally a bright pink toy gun!

"The only good act was that sweet country boy singing the Preston classic. Ahh, that was the real music. Took me back to the good old days."

Hiding her judgmental look at the babysitter’s words, Gabriella pinched her brother’s hands to get their attention.

"Oowwww!"

"What? Why are you pinching me?"

"Antonio, Luis, bring out your phones and the vouchers you were given. We need to vote to save Carlos’s team!"

Visit freewe𝑏(n)ovel.co(m) for the b𝘦st novel reading experience