From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel
Chapter 203: He’s Back (2)

Chapter 203: He’s Back (2)

"...are you okay Ari? You look a bit pale, and your forehead is covered in sweat." Kate asked in a gentle voice as she looked down at the boy who was clutching his stomach with his head resting on his knees.

She wanted to pet the fluffy black curls, but only just restrained herself with a hard pinch.

"Kate. Should I be honest with you?" Ari glanced up at Kate while clutching his stomach, which was roiling from moving at speeds and angles that no roller coaster had ever achieved and physics couldn’t explain.

He felt as if he was about to vomit up every single thing that he ate for breakfast and maybe even dinner too.

That was how bad a driver Kate was, and it seemed that she was getting worse.

"...yes?"

"Please return your driver’s license to the DMV. Immediately."

"Haha, you’re so funny."

I’m being serious, and you’re laughing?

You’re a danger to every single person on the road!

"I’m not joking. Driving on the road should NOT feel like I’m on a roller coaster that wants to become a bumper car. Please return your license. Cut it up immediately."

"Ahahaha, I’ve really missed your sense of humor, Ari. It’s been so dull without you." Kate pounded his back while laughing, although her expression looked a bit guilty as she avoided meeting Ari’s eyes.

Feeling his stomach gurgle again, Ari put his head back between his knees and took deep breaths.

Throwing up is not cool!

"Ahem, anyway, even though they’ve started filming, we made it before your name is called, which is good."

"Okay. I’ll head in quietly and sit in the back." Groaning, Ari began to get up from the floor, but Kate pushed him down.

"No, no. The PD said I shouldn’t let you enter until your name is called. For dramatic effect, since nobody knows you’re back. Doesn’t that sound fun?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"PD Emily thought you might ask that and said to tell you no, and if you gave a negative response, I should let her know."

"Then, wow, it sounds extra fun. Where am I supposed to enter from?"

"From the side door. Let’s take a peek."

Kate helped him up, and the two of them tiptoed to a side door, with Kate cracking it open just a smidge so they could hear the familiar voice of MC Ryan Leary.

"And coming in 34th place, contestant Leo. Please come forward."

Oh?

34th place already, and his name hadn’t been called?

His rank had really risen a lot.

He knew it was above 50 because he had gotten the mission reward, but this was new.

This was kind of crazy...

"In 30th place...."

"In 27th place...."

"In 25th place....."

As different contestants kept getting called without hearing his name, Ari began to worry.

He wondered if he had been eliminated, even though he had been allowed to return to the show.

He wouldn’t put it past the PDs who seemed to enjoy squeezing all use from contestants before getting rid of them, just like when they forced contestants to record the signal song before hosting the elimination right afterward.

Although it was a bit sad, since he had put in his best effort, he might as well take it on the chin.

"Coming in 20th place, contestant Ariel. Please come forward."

What?

"Ariel. Contestant Ariel, please come forward."

"Ari! Go in." Kate hissed as she opened the door for him.

As his name was called out again, Ari snapped out of his daze, pushed open the door, and began walking slowly into the room.

The familiar sight of the pyramid on stage with contestants sitting on it, the table filled with judges, cameras along the walls of the room, neatly lined up chairs with contestants, and, of course, the MC on stage filled his eyes, and he couldn’t help but smile just a bit.

He had missed this atmosphere just a bit.

"Ah, there you are. Long time no see, contestant Ariel. Please come up on the stage to say a few words before taking your seat."

As MC Ryan Leary waved from the stage, there were audible gasps as all eyes turned to look at Ari.

He even heard someone say ’he’s back’ before their voice was muffled.

And with his usual lazy confidence, Ari took his time walking forward, glancing around the room with a neutral expression.

He met the eyes of a few people who looked quite shocked to see him there.

Some of them looked a bit embarrassed, while others quickly recovered and appeared not to care.

To those who avoided making eye contact with him, Ari simply laughed, thinking it was pretty funny.

It wasn’t like he was going to bite them.

It was a free country, and everyone was entitled to their own opinion.

As he stepped onto the stage, Ari shook the hands of the MC, who smiled happily, "We haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks, contestant Ari, but you’ve had quite the meteoric rise in ranks, and you’re looking more handsome than ever. Would you like to say a few words?"

"Uhm..." Ari paused for a moment, uncharacteristically nervous as he tried to organize what he wanted to say.

He wanted to list everything he had seen online during the past week.

Sure, there had been a lot of negativity, but within that, there had been a clear outpouring of support for him from people everywhere.

He didn’t know if what people had been doing had an effect on the production team’s decision to bring him back, but the fact that the number of votes he had received had caused his rank to jump so much was due to them.

Especially because people continued to vote and support him, despite not knowing if it was futile and if he would be eliminated.

It really meant a lot, and he couldn’t figure out what he had done to deserve such help or even how to repay those people.

He wanted to give them a well-put-together speech, but ended up just blurting out words as they came to mind.

"I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to my fans for continuing to support me. From those who voted for me, to those who emailed the production team, reporters, and news stations, to those who shared links, and to those fighting in the comments to defend me, kept me in their thoughts and prayers, sent positive energy my way, and uplifted my spirits during this uncertain period, I appreciate every single one of you and truly, I don’t deserve this love and care that you’ve shown me. I don’t know how to repay you apart from giving you my sincere thanks, but I promise to do my best to continually make you proud, to try to repay you as best as I can, and to make you not regret the time, love, effort, and most that you’ve given me. Thank you."

Done talking, Ari bowed his head deeply before glancing up as he heard some sniffling.

MC Ryan Leary pretended to wipe his eyes before patting Ari on the back.

"Wow. I believe that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say, contestant Ariel. We’re glad to have you back."

"I’m glad to be back."

Giving the MC a polite nod, Ari went to his seat, regaining his previously neutral expression as he took his seat and waited for the ranking ceremony to be over.

In the weeks that he had been gone, some of the ranks had changed pretty drastically.

Carlos had experienced a huge jump, rising from 47th to 5th place.

Rex had dropped from 3rd to 6th place.

Levi had risen from 9th place to 7th.

Jamie had moved up from 7th place to 3rd place.

Benjamin had fallen from 1st to 4th place.

And William? He was now in 2nd place, while the rest of the people he had originally auditioned with were taking up most of the spots between 8th place and 19th place.

And in first place, the boy PD Emily had said was perfect in dance and perfect in rap-

A Korean boy with bright orange hair, cute dimples, a wide smile, and a surprisingly deep voice that didn’t fit his stature at all.

"Congratulations, Daniel Kim, for rising to first place with over 1.5 million votes. A gap of 200 thousand between first and second place."

As William gave his speech and began walking back toward his seat, his eyes met Ari’s while giving him a vicious glare that he quickly smoothed out before the cameras caught it.

Seeing it, Ari just rolled his eyes and looked away.

He just hoped that the blonde weirdo would just stay away from him,

Unfortunately, he was quite persistent.

"My hand is clean, and I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us ever since you stole the item that belonged to me. I’d like to shake hands as men and clear it all up. What do you say?"

Ari glanced down at Williams’ outstretched hands, the fake smile on his face, the camera pointed in their direction, and the people looking at them curiously before mentally beginning to scream in his head.

Oi NOVA!

Is now really the time to still be taking a nap for your nonsense upgrade?

Wake up!!!!