Falling for the Omega Idol

SINCE Taeyang was standing at the end of their line, all his teammates had to turn around when they heard him speak. Each one wore a different expression after hearing what he just said.

Robin looked surprised, as if he hadn't expected Taeyang to say that. Then he chuckled. "You're right. We did our best and gave an amazing performance. I'm sure the audience will see that."

"Yeah," Joonhyuk jumped in, his face breaking into a grin. "And we still got those extra votes. There's no reason for us to mope around."

Seongwoo's expression also cleared. The disappointment he'd felt earlier faded away. They were right. It wasn't like they had performed badly. Even without those extra 50,000 votes, the chance of them getting eliminated was slim. He cheered himself up and gave his teammates a small smile.

Haneul looked at Taeyang. At first glance, anyone would think he was overly serious, that he didn't really care what happened to his teammates as long as he did his part. But over the past two weeks, Haneul and the rest of the team had learned that wasn't true at all.

Although Taeyang ran their practice like a drill sergeant, whenever one of them felt unwell or struggled with their part, he was always the first to step in and help. That was just how thoughtful he was. He never made a big deal out of it, and yet he always noticed whenever someone needed support.

Taeyang's gaze landed on him. And just like always, whenever their eyes accidentally met, Taeyang quickly looked away. Fine. Other than that weird habit that never failed to annoy him, Haneul had nothing to complain about when it came to Taeyang.

Though he couldn't help noticing how Taeyang had looked away even faster than usual this time. Haneul shook his head. Seriously? Had he really reached the point where he was keeping track of how quickly Taeyang avoided his gaze?

What Haneul didn't realize was that his expression just then, something too warm and too soft, had hit Taeyang like a punch to the chest. His heart stuttered, traitorous and loud, and looking away was the only way to keep his composure.

Lily raised her mic with an encouraging smile. "To all of you today, you proved exactly why you belong on this stage. Every performance was a step forward to your dream. Take this experience with you, keep pushing, and I'll see you all at the next elimination. Until then, continue fighting!"

And that was how the results of their vocal performance came to an end.

***

While all of this was going on, Vnet dropped the video for Boys Odyssey's theme song.

The music video began with the sparkling blue sea, the camera zooming in on the ship as the cheerful, buoyant tune of [Sailing to the Stars] kicked in.

Sailing through the ocean wide,

Chasing dreams, the tide is high.

On the sunlit main deck, the first group of ten contestants in crisp white sailor uniforms snapped into a tight triangular formation. As the beat dropped, they launched into sharp, synchronized arm swings, like waves crashing, before stepping forward in aggressive unison, their movements precise and commanding.

Waves are calling, feel the breeze,

Set our sails, we're free to seize.

The scene cut to an area that looked like a hall, where the second group spread out dynamically. Their quick footwork mimicked the ocean's push and pull, bodies leaning into each step before they dropped low on the downbeat, arms shooting out in perfect sync.

On this journey, side by side,

We'll discover what's inside.

The third group dominated the stern deck, pairing off for mirrored spins and sharp turns. Nearby in the dining hall, the fourth group hit a staggered line formation, strutting forward with snapping arm motions that echoed the lyrics' confidence.

The horizon's where we'll go,

Underneath the sky's warm glow.

Deeper in the ship, the fifth group navigated a narrow hallway, their powerful jumps constrained by the low ceiling. The sixth clustered near the engine room, their sailor uniforms damp with sweat as they forced the same choreography into the cramped space.

We're sailing to the stars,

Guided by the light, we'll rise.

As the chorus exploded, the camera cut between all six groups. High-energy moves erupted simultaneously: contestants on the main deck hit explosive jumps while those in the engine room matched them. The music swelled, and for one shining moment, every group, whether bathed in sunlight or dancing in the shadows, felt like the center of the storm.

Then, with a final drumbeat, the camera quickly panned across the ship, showing different contestants holding their final poses. The video faded out as the music ended.

And then, words flashed onto the screen right after.

[Our Navigators, will you sail with us?]

***

[Vnet just released the video of Boys Odyssey's theme song and damn, was it good.]

- IKR? We already knew it would be catchy from the contestants' performances, but hearing the full song with the music and instrumental was just chef's kiss.

- Whoever decided to put the boys in sailor uniforms deserves a raise.

└ This! And they didn't even dress everyone the same. Each outfit actually suited the person wearing it.

- Is the ship they filmed on the same one they'll be staying on from now on?

└ Probably.

└ I didn't expect the ship to be that huge. Are they really filming everything there? Are they actually going to sail?

- Compared to other idol survival show theme songs, I like this one way more.

└ Same! It's so catchy and fun!

- When is Vnet dropping the official audio? I need [Sailing to the Stars] for my workout playlist.

└ They'll probably release it soon. If they don't, it'd be such a waste. This song could be charting on Lemon right now!

└└ LOL, are you serious? Eve and Aerist just released new songs. You really think a survival show theme song can compete with top groups?

└└└ Who said anything about outranking them? I just meant it could chart, not crack the top 10 or anything.

- What was that 'navigator' thing at the end supposed to mean?

└ Probably like the 'national producers' from Idol Producer.

└└ So the voters will be called 'navigators'? That actually makes sense.