From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 331: Performance Day (1)

"How is everyone feeling?" Ari asked his teammates as they sat in their practice room.

They had just done their final run through, and soon everyone would go to bed to get the maximum amount of sleep possible before the big day.

"I feel good. I think we nailed it," Carlos answered with a gentle smile while sipping some water.

"I’m feeling good too! But it’s a bit hard to sing with these fangs in my mouth." Daniel complained as he kept poking the vampire fangs’ mouthpiece.

Having heard this complaint over a hundred times, Ari was completely unsympathetic.

Unlike the others, who either opted to wear one over their top teeth or not at all, in the name of coolness, Daniel had them over his top and bottom teeth, which made his words sound garbled if he wasn’t careful.

"Then take one out."

"But it won’t look as cool as it does now."

"Then stop complaining if you have no plans to do anything about it. Nobody told you to look like an alligator," Ari told him while ignoring the pout and weak punch directed his way.

It seemed the more comfortable Daniel got, the more childish nonsense came out of his mouth.

Glancing at Suzuki Rei, who was fanning himself, Ari arched his brow.

"I’m tired but feel good. That was the best run yet. Levi didn’t even nag this time. Thank goodness because my ears were going to fall off."

"Shut up," Levi grumbled from the back.

"Yeah, yeah. I’m shutting up, Mr. Director Sir."

Having received hundreds of shut-ups over the past couple of days, Suzuki Rei wasn’t even fazed.

He just laughed at Levi and sprawled on the ground to relax, basking in the warm atmosphere of the room.

Ari looked around with a nod of satisfaction.

Having spent over 12 hours a day with each other, whatever tensions existed before had eased, and even the antisocial Levi had shifted from his usual back corner to the wall close to the front of the room.

Having Levi be in charge of the storyboard and the visual direction had really forced him to interact with the others instead of just doing his part, and although he still spoke with his usual sharp tone, after getting used to it, everyone had just gotten used to it and knew he wasn’t truly angry or going to beat somebody up.

Everything was going well, their preparation was done, and now it was time to execute properly on stage.

"Well, since the last practice went so well, shall we do it one more time for good luck?"

"Noooooooo!"

"Ahaha...I guess practice makes perfect."

"..."

"I knew it was too good to be true. You still had that evil smile on your face. It was my fault for believing you."

As everyone began grumbling but still started getting to their feet, Ari laughed.

"I’m kidding. Let’s go to bed."

"Yay! I get the shower first!"

"Second."

"Third."

"I’ll go after everyone is done, so take your time."

As their nightly routine commenced with a quick cleanup of the practice room and then exit, Ari stopped by Jamie and Benjamin’s rooms while Levi escorted the important vocals Carlos and Daniel to their dorm room.

Knock knock knock!

"Who?"

"It’s Ari."

Knock knock knock!

At his rapid knocks, the door quickly slid open, with Jamie stuffing a protein bar and protein shake into his hands before slamming the door shut with a bang.

What the heck were they doing in there?

Why is he wearing a hood over his head?

....Was that a skirt just now?

"...Can I come in?"

"Go away!"

"...What are you hiding?"

"I said, go away!"

Ari: ಠ_ಠ

What is going on in there, and why am I not allowed to see it?

His curiosity thoroughly awakened, Ari began trying to pry the door open, but it felt as if somebody was pushing against it with all their might.

"Let me in. Let me in!"

"Go away!"

"James Jones the third!"

"NO!"

Rattle Rattle Rattle!

"Let me in!"

"NO!"

"I want to see! Was that a skirt?"

"NO!"

"So it was!"

"No!!!"

"Huff huff huff"

After five minutes of trying to get in with no luck, Ari stood there panting from exertion.

As he was questioning whether he should go buy a crowbar or just wait for Jamie, a familiar voice interrupted him.

"Hey?"

"What?" Ari turned to look at Vishal, who was standing there in his practice clothes.

"Do you have time to talk?" Vishal asked softly.

Ari glanced at the door of Jamie’s hidden secrets, the protein goods he needed to force down, and then toward his bed before replying honestly.

"No, not really. But if you really want to, on a scale of 1 to your family is getting kidnapped or somebody is dying, how important is the conversation?" Ari asked bluntly.

He didn’t particularly want to have any conversations tonight, and even though he had wasted some time on meaningless activities, he should get to bed because tomorrow would be a long day.

Vishal blinked before replying.

"...It’s not that important, but any time I want to speak to you, you’ve said you were busy. Since you’re free now, I thought I would ask because you’ve been avoiding me."

Avoiding you?

What kind of nonsense is that?

My schedule has been packed, dealing with all sorts of stuff, so when would I have time to avoid you?

Not in the mood to explain everything that had been going on, Ari just replied generally.

"I’ve been busy preparing with my team, not avoiding you."

"But you make time to speak with Jamie, and he’s not on your team! You’re trying to get into their practice room, and they’re not your team either! But you don’t have time to talk to me? Just say you’re avoiding me and have a problem with me!"

At Vishal’s raised voice, Ari blinked incredulously.

What the hell was happening right now?

"That’s different. And trust me, if I were avoiding you, I would leave the room as soon as you entered, the same way you previously did to me. There’s only one person I have a problem with, and the whole world knows who it is. Look, tomorrow’s a big day, and you seem to want to have a pretty important conversation while you have a lot of feelings pent up, so let’s save it for another day. Tomorrow is really important to me and you too, so I don’t want anything ruining it."

"So you’re saying I would ruin your day? All over a conversation?"

Ari glanced at Vishal before his gaze dropped to the phone in his hand and saw the familiar bluebird logo on the screen along with some text.

Ah....

He had been reading things online.

Getting a general idea of what the issue was, Ari softened his stance.

"Firstly, that’s not what I said, and you know it. Don’t twist my words like the PDs. Secondly, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t raise your voice when talking to me. As I tell Levi, speak like a human being, and I’ll do the same. Thirdly, if I were you, I would stop reading whatever weird conspiracies people are sharing online. They don’t know what’s happening here, and a lot of them just like stirring the pot and causing controversy."

"So you watched the episode and know what people are saying online? What your fans are saying about me? All the abuse that they’re heaping on me!"

"No. Why would I take time to watch a show that I don’t like when I’ve had issues with the producers? Why would I monitor the online opinions? Like I said. I’m busy and have a lot going on right now. As for what fans are saying, ignore it because they don’t represent me."

"So, you’re saying I’m not busy? And how am I supposed to know that when you won’t even talk to me! When you’re avoiding me like a plague."

As the conversation began going in a circular manner, Ari sighed and picked up his protein bar and shake.

"I would think that you would believe my actions over what you see online, but I guess not. Regardless, whatever problems you have with me, if you have a problem with me, it’s news to me and completely one-sided. I don’t have an issue with you and never have. I don’t wish bad things about you, speak badly about you, or think badly of you, and if it came across that way, sorry. If I didn’t like you as a person, you would absolutely know it. After our last conversation, I’m making sure that my actions don’t affect you just like you wanted, so overall, I don’t know why you’re unhappy with me. But like I said, tomorrow is an important day, so let’s table this conversation and have it another time. I do recommend not reading things online, as it seems to be really affecting you, and I’m sure it can get really toxic. Good luck to you and your team tomorrow."

"You don’t even mean that."

"If that’s how you feel, c’est bon. Good night."

Giving Vishal a nod, Ari turned around and went to his room.

As he sat on the floor, waiting for his turn to shower, for a second, he was tempted to search online to see what Vishal was talking about, but he quickly shook his head.

Now wasn’t the time.

The performance tomorrow was the focus.

Everything could be handled after that.

Despite trying to tell himself that, unlike his usual sleep, which was peaceful, he slept fitfully and didn’t feel well rested at all.

Regardless, the show must go on, and he sat when it was his turn to get his makeup.

He sat in the chair and smiled tiredly at the makeup artist whose face turned red.

"Good morning. I’m Ariel. Thank you for working on my face today. Sorry for the eyebags."

No, No! The eyebags are part of the appeal!

Knowing that she had to stay professional, Rina cleared her throat before speaking cheerfully.

"Morning! It’s completely fine. I’m Rina! What style would you like?"

"Can you make me a sexy vampire?"

The makeup artist looked over the beautiful face before her, noting the extraordinarily pale skin, sharp jaw line, slightly red eye bags under cat-shaped, sea-green eyes framed by thick lashes, before vowing solemnly.

"I’ll make you the sexiest vampire that ever existed."

"Thank you."