[Pop Star Academy: Project 777]
7 Boys
7 Cities
7 Companies
Coming Together To Produce:
The Biggest Global Boy Group Survival Show In History!
Ari read through a few websites to understand what an idol survival show was before heading to the popstar academy website.
It was filled with a bunch of bold claims.
Making the next hottest global boy group. Yada yada.
Based out of Los Angeles, USA, Vegas, USA, and Seoul, South Korea. Yada yada.
Training from top industry experts. Yada yada.
Reality show filmed for YouTube, documentary filmed for FlixNet, and a weekly TV broadcasting slot as well.
Celebrity mentors, expert songs, and the industry's best instructors. Yada yada.
An almost 6-month process. Yada yada.
It was clear they sunk a bunch of money into both the program and advertising.
As Ari's eyes began to glaze over from the sheer amount of information.
Housing and stipend are partially provided…
Seeing the words stipend and free housing provided, Ari's mind immediately lit up.
All of a sudden, he was interested.
This….this looks good!
He began reading in more detail.
Health care, advertisement opportunities with individual payment, etc.
He was already sold on applying, but he diligently continued reading until he scrolled to the bottom, read the text, refreshed the page, and read it again in shock.
A cash prize of 100,000 dollars to the first-place contestant, 50,000 for second place, and 10,000 each from 3rd place through 7th place.
A guaranteed 200,000 cash prize in total. Smaller cash prizes throughout.
All taxes covered.
Grand Prizes will be paid immediately upon finishing the show as part of the debut group.
Mini cash prizes will be paid within the week they were won.
'He had to apply.'
'No, he had to make it! Top 7!'
'No, not just the Top 7. He needed to sweep every mini cash contest and properly aim for the 100k cash prize.'
Becoming a global superstar idol? That was a vague dream!
Earning money directly from participating in the show? Count him in!
With no hesitation, Ari quickly moved over to the application page.
The online application closed at midnight the next day, and tomorrow was the last day for in-person Auditions in LA.
Registration Requirements:
▶ ELIGIBILITY
Age: 17-23 years old
Gender: Male
No restrictions on nationality
So far, he was in the clear.
AUDITION
- A self-introduction message for profile shots and video
- 1 song of your choice to sing (minimum 1 min per song)
- Perform 1 choreographed dance with your own background music(max 1 min)
- Present 1 talent separate from the above requirements (basic tuned instruments will be available on set (piano, guitar(acoustic, electric), drums, bass(acoustic, electric))).
- If the participant is a minor, they should be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
As he read the details and expectations, Ari immediately realized that even if he could fix his vocal skills and cover up his beat-up appearance, he had a bigger issue…
He was a minor (17 years 10 months).
So he needed…
Parental permission….
Asking his foster parents? That was impossible.
Ask Grandma Kim and Grandma Lisa? He didn't want to make them lie on the off chance he got caught.
Since that was a bit difficult, he had to use some out-of-the-box thinking.
After all, his 10,000 - 100,000 dollar prize was waiting for him.
Ari read through the requirements again, noting that they just needed an adult present.
If that was the case…
He opened a new tab on the website he frequently used to find an adult to take him places.
AKA, rent-a-family.com.
It was his go-to for situations like this since the person just needed to be there.
If he made it through the audition successfully, by the time the show was midway through, he would be a legal adult.
After reserving a mother figure for the next day, Ari quickly filled out the audition form for the final slot of the day, which was immediately accepted.
Then, he began researching different songs that he could possibly perform with his current raspy, gravelly vocals and how he could package himself while hiding his beat-up face and body for an audition program.
For his talent portion, he would just casually play something on a guitar.
After 30 minutes of searching, he narrowed his song choice down to a rock song from an old popular rock band.
The main vocalist was known for his raspy voice, and the song itself seemed relatively simple to learn, at least to his ears.
Additionally, it was slightly over 3 minutes, which meant it could be used for his mission task to earn stat points.
With a three-minute song selected and his concept settled, Ari gritted his teeth before ordering the main items he would need for delivery first thing in the morning.
He hoped it would arrive before Priest Steven Choi came, but even if it didn't, he would apologize if needed.
Then he ordered some snacks and drinks, a change of clothes, a prepaid phone, sneakers, and other miscellaneous things for immediate delivery through a separate site while crying at the cost. Usually, he would have gone to a thrift store, but right now, he didn't have the time.
My precious $10,000
My precious $50,000
Although you're far-fetched, my precious $100,000
He continued chanting those numbers to keep his motivation strong as the money flowed out of his account.
After that, he did a rough news search to see if any deaths had been reported in the area, but saw nothing about the old man.
After making a mental note to check the news continually, it was time to deal with his stats so he could prepare for his audition tomorrow.
The first thing he did was add all three stats to the vocal stat and added the free charm stat as well.
There was no way he could audition for an idol survival program and not be able to sing.
His hope was that it would immediately jump 3 levels, From F to D rank, but unfortunately…
[Vocals + 3]
[Charm + 1]
[Ari Matisse]
[Vocals: E]
[Dance: F]
[Visual: F]
[Rap: F]
[Charm: F+]
His vocals stat was still a failing grade.
No longer a big fat F, it had moved into E-rank.
With his fingers crossed, Ari tried to sing his selected song, which was called Freak.
It was a song about the world not understanding a person and the person still striving to do what they want in life anyway.
He felt that it somewhat fit his situation in which his world was forcibly changing, and he was striving for a goal he wasn't sure he would like.
"I̷ ̴u̴s̴e̵d̷ ̷t̸o̵ ̷w̵o̸n̴d̶e̵r̴ ̴w̴h̴y̷ I cou-cough-"
Ari immediately began choking as he tried to sing.
Clearing his throat, he tried again but…
It still sounded like it belonged to the demon realm!!!
Even with three points added, it was still this bad?
Forget memorizing the lyrics, he couldn't even find the right key to sing on.
Remembering the numerous things he had received from clearing Mission Board #1, Ari decided to change tactics.
From Operation YOLO to Operation Hoard Stat Points and Dump into Vocals.
Ari could only clutch his head as he tried calculating how many points he would need to get his skills to a decent level. At the very least, 8 more points
"Pull up the list of Repeat Missions, please."
[Repeat Missions]
[Running out of breath while performing? Not on my watch! - Run 5 km a day for 1 day - Reward 1 stat point]
[Running out of breath while performing? Not on my watch! - Run 5 km a day for 10 days - Reward 1 stat point]
[Running out of breath while performing? Not on my watch! - Run 5 km a day for 100 days - Reward 1 stat point]
....
[You have noodle arms and a weak chest and expect to hold and comfort your fans? Get to work! - Perform 100 pushups a day for 1 day - Reward 1 stat point]
…
[Can't do choreography due to weak legs? Unacceptable! - Perform 100 lunges 1 day - Reward 1 stat point]
…
[Potbelly? Pooch? Muffin top? Unacceptable! No flabby stomachs allowed around here! - Perform 100 crunches 1 day - Reward 1 stat point]
…
]
As Ari read through the massive list with days that extended well past the time he would be alive, he had one thought.
This….wasn't this just a workout plan?
Wasn't he supposed to become an idol instead of an athlete?
"Am I training for a marathon or to be an idol? And what is with your wording??? And why so many missions? Run a 5k for 100000 days? That's almost 300 years!"
[Being an idol is similar to being an athlete!]
[The stamina needed to dance while singing stably is immense, not to mention the marathon of physical exertion that is a concert!]
[You think you can do that with a weak body and a weak mindset?]
[You think that you can achieve anything without training? Just adding stats without effort? And your body will magically be fine?]
[Answer me. Is that what you think?]
[That it's a casual game?]
'… Is it not?'
For some reason, Ari felt like if he said yes, he might actually die.
"No?"
[Exactly.]
[So start training that weak body of yours and make sure to eat proper meals!]
[Otherwise, you're the one who will suffer heavily in the future.]
Although he was skeptical about how much training an idol really received since all they did was occasionally dance and sing on stage, there was no point in arguing, especially since he wasn't an expert.
Ari just lay on the floor and began doing crunches as if he were in gym class.
What he cared about right now was stat points.
1
2
3
…
49
50
When his abs got tired, he sat up and began trying to sing the song he wanted to use as his performance song.
I̵ ̶u̶s̸e̷d̶ ̵t̴o̵ ̸w̸o̸n̶d̷e̶r̴ ̶w̵h̶y̴
̸W̶h̵e̸n̶ ̶I̶ ̷w̷e̶n̴t̴ ̶w̴a̶l̶k̸i̸n̷g̴ ̴b̷y̸ ̷
̸t̶h̵e̵y̶ ̵t̵a̴l̶k̴e̷d̸ ̵a̸b̷o̶u̷t̶ ̴m̴e̶
̶W̵h̸a̴t̴ ̵c̷o̶u̸l̴d̷ ̸i̵t̷ ̴b̷e̶?̷
̴T̶h̶e̷y̸ ̷t̵r̴i̶e̵d̶ ̶t̶o̴ ̸b̵r̶e̶a̸k̶ ̴m̶e̴
̴N̴e̵v̵e̸r̷ ̷c̴o̶u̵l̶d̷ ̸m̵a̶k̵e̴ ̷m̶e̸
̸H̵a̶t̶e̸ ̴o̶r̶ ̷f̷o̸r̷s̷a̶k̵e̸ ̴m̴e̸
̴I̸f̸ ̷t̸h̵e̶y̴ ̸a̶s̴k̵ ̶m̸e̷ ̶I̵ ̷s̷a̶y̷:̵ ̶Y̶e̷a̷h̴!̷ ̴I̷'̷m̸ ̴a̶ ̴f̶r̸e̸a̸k̷
….
"How was that?"
[Completely off tune.]
[You're lucky that this is a church; otherwise, a portal to hell would have descended on earth.]
[Again.]
"Your words are as harsh as ever."
[Not harsh enough apparently. Less yapping, more exercise.]
Ari sulked for a moment before lying back down and continuing his crunches.
After 10 more minutes while his stomach was burning-
[Ding!]
[Congratulations on completing a Repeat Mission]
[Perform 100 crunches 1 day - Complete]
[Reward 1 stat point!]
[Perform 100 crunches 1 day - has been removed from the Repeat Missions Board]
He completed his first repeat mission, which then completely disappeared from the repeat mission board.
As Ari was rubbing his aching stomach-
[Where would you like to put the stat point?]
"Vocals."
[How wise of you.]
[The ears all over the world thank you.]
[Vocals + 1]
[Vocals: E+]
[Dance: F]
[Visual: F]
[Rap: F]
[Charm: F+]
"Okay, let's try singing again."
Out in the streets
Takin' all the heat
S̵e̶e̸m̴ ̸s̸o̷ ̵h̵a̷p̵p̴y̴ ̶h̶e̷r̶e̵
̴W̸h̴e̸n̶ ̷t̷h̶e̶y̶ ̴a̵s̶k̸ ̶m̶e̵ ̴w̷h̷y̵,̶
̵I̸ ̷s̸a̸y̵ ̵y̴e̸a̷h̷,̵ ̷I̵'̸m̸ ̷a̵ ̴-̵ Kuk- cough cough"
"How was that?"
[Is that a real question, or are you deaf?]
[Again]
"Tsk."
After stopping himself from choking, Ari restarted the song, getting a bit farther along each time.
As he sang, Ari truly couldn't say it sounded good, even with the generous buffer of thinking that it was a rock song that was supposed to be raspy.
But compared to earlier, where it sounded like a demon was being summoned while being completely off tune despite his best efforts, now it sounded like sandpaper mixed with a toddler singing.
Occasionally, the right pitch would pop out, but for the most part, it sounded like a mess.
Still, the difference with and without the point was stark, so with renewed energy, Ari pushed through in completing the push-ups and lunges missions and immediately pumped the two new stat points into his vocal stat.
[Vocals + 2]
[Vocals: E+ -> D]
Finally, a passing grade.
Pleased at seeing a visible change for his efforts, Ari smiled and did a little cheer.
"Okay! Let's D-D-Do it! D's get D-D-Degrees! I will D-D-Definitely get it this time."
After cheering himself on despite his aching core, shaky legs, and jelly arms, Ari tried singing the song once more.
Takin' all the heat
S̵e̶e̸m̴ ̸s̸o̷ ̵h̵a̷p̵p̴y̴ ̶h̶e̷r̶e̵
̴W̸h̴e̸n̶ ̷t̷h̶e̶y̶ ̴a̵s̶k̸ ̶m̶e̵ ̴w̷h̷y̵,̶
"How about now?"
[Sing in tune or D-D-Drop D-D-Dead and D-D-Die.]
[Again.]
Ari: "…."
Let's just sing in peace without cheering.
So that hater will stop messaging him insults.