—Hello, everyone. Have you been enjoying your long free time?
With elimination approaching, the production team focused on filming the subtle relationships between the cast. They called it "free time," but not many people were truly enjoying freedom.
—As you know, today is the day the first elimination happens in RO Match Survival in Island.
In the already set-up front yard, a ballot box had been installed.
—Those who are mentally prepared, please place your voting slip into the elimination ballot box by 6 PM today.
At the broadcast echoing through Chunmonggak, everyone fell silent. Dansol, drinking coffee with Jisu, had already given his voting slip to Taeoh, but for some reason he still felt tense.
"Sol, who should hyung pick?"
"Huh?"
"Hyung'll pick whoever Sol picks. Who do you hate seeing the most?"
"Ah… but I don't have my voting slip anymore, hyung."
"Why? Did someone steal it? Which bastard—!"
Jisu's eyes flashed like he was about to grab someone and beat them to death on the spot.
"Ah! No! Hyung… it's not that… I gave it to someone."
"Who?"
With eyes even more murderous than before, Dansol instinctively felt he shouldn't say it.
If it became a situation where people could guess who voted for whom because Dansol had handed his slip over, Taeoh might get put in a difficult spot.
"Th-that… I can't tell you!"
"Huh. Sol, you're keeping secrets from hyung now? I'm really hurt."
He said it jokingly, but lately Jisu had been in a terrible mood. Taeoh had been acting extra close to Dansol, and Dansol had been sneaking out somewhere every morning.
There was no way a kid who slept in until the afternoon had suddenly become a morning person, but Dansol kept making excuses about "morning exercise."
He rambled about "miracle morning" or something, so Jisu stayed up all night and followed him—only to see him meeting up with Jegal Minhyeok.
That greasy-looking bastard was crafty—he used Dansol's innocence and lured him with kittens.
There were so many annoying people now that even collecting all the voting slips wouldn't be enough.
'Which bastard do I get rid of first…?'
—Voting has ended. All cast members, please come to the front yard.
At exactly six in the evening, as if it had been waiting, the broadcast came on. With stiff expressions, the contestants were dressed neatly—unlike their usual plain appearance.
It might become their last scene on the show. Even if they got eliminated, nobody wanted to leave in sweatpants looking shabby.
The omegas and alphas stood in two groups. When the forced seriousness made Dansol freeze up, Jisu poked Dansol's cheek with a finger.
"Sol, nervous?"
"Yes… honestly."
"Why? Afraid you'll get eliminated?"
"I don't know…"
In truth, Dansol leaned closer to wanting to be eliminated. This show was a collection of bad memories for him. When he first entered the island, Dansol had dreamed of being entirely cut from the broadcast.
But when he actually imagined leaving, he felt depressed—like he had no idea what he'd do afterward.
"Don't worry. If our Sol gets eliminated, hyung'll take responsibility."
"…Thank you, hyung."
Normally, Dansol would have jumped and yelled that was ridiculous, but today he quietly thanked him.
When Jisu didn't respond, Dansol thought he hadn't heard. He grabbed Jisu's shirt hem and met his eyes.
"I really mean it. I've wanted to say it at least once… and today might be the last day…"
"I heard you, so stop being cute, Dansol. At this rate, hyung's going to want to throw everything away—broadcast and all."
Jisu blurted out his real feelings like it was a joke. After the formal rule explanation ended, PD Choi stepped forward.
"We will now open the elimination ballot box. From now on, those I call, please come forward."
—Joo Dansol.
—Jeong Daesu.
—Yoo Dohyeon.
—Jegal Minhyeok.
—Ma Taeoh.
—Yoon Yeomin.
—These six people have all received at least one vote.
Han Jisu-ssi and Lee Yiyeon -ssi have survived with zero votes. Congratulations.
Neither Yiyeon nor Jisu looked like people who'd survived. Yiyeon's gaze stayed on Dansol the entire time, but Dansol thoroughly avoided it.
Rather than get tangled with him again, Dansol thought it would be better to just get eliminated here.
"Jegal Minhyeok-ssi, and Jeong Daesu-ssi?"
"Huh?"
"Yes."
"Congratulations. You received an unfortunate single vote, but you will remain on the island."
At the PD's words, Daesu looked like he couldn't believe his ears.
"One vote?"
"Yes. Both of you received one elimination vote."
"Huh."
Daesu let out a hollow laugh and looked at Jisu.
Jisu deliberately avoided his eyes.
Jisu had clearly agreed to vote for Jegal Minhyeok together. Daesu had been wondering which fearless bastard voted for him—now the mess in his head cleared instantly.
"Yoo Dohyeon-ssi, Joo Dansol-ssi."
"Yes."
"Yes…"
Calling them together, the PD hesitated like she'd made up her mind about something, then continued. They said it was to build suspense in editing, but for the people enduring it, it was cruel.
"…Both of you also received one vote each and will remain on the island. Congratulations."
Dansol could even hear Dohyeon exhale in relief. If anything, shouldn't Dohyeon—an up-and-coming actor—want to leave the island? Dansol couldn't understand him.
"Ma Taeoh-ssi, and Yoon Yeomin-ssi."
Finally, the last pair.
Taeoh and Yeomin hated each other enough to throw punches. From Dansol's perspective, it would be better if Yeomin got eliminated, but it was hard to predict.
If Taeoh used both Dansol's slip and his own vote on Yeomin, it would be at least a tie.
"The first elimination of RO Match Survival in Island is…"
At that moment, Taeoh winked at the worried Dansol.
"With a total of three votes, Yoon Yeomin-ssi."
"Huh."
Yeomin couldn't hide his displeasure, but Taeoh walked toward the group of survivors.
Instead of going to the alpha side, Taeoh suddenly went to Dansol and hugged him.
Taeoh's lips brushed Dansol's ear.
"Thank you, Dansol-ssi."
Ignoring the other alphas glaring at him, Taeoh was drunk on the joy of beating Yeomin.
Of the three votes Yeomin received, one was Taeoh's, and one was Dansol's.
Then… who cast the third?
{Inner Thoughts Interview}
PD: Jegal Minhyeok-ssi, who did you vote for?
Jegal Minhyeok: I didn't vote for anyone.
PD: Why?
Jegal Minhyeok: Like always, I was taking a nap up on that rock down by the mountain, and I lost the voting slip in my pocket.
PD: That doesn't sound like "lost." All eight votes were counted.
Jegal Minhyeok: …Ah! You're right. Someone must have… picked up what I lost!
PD: Ha… Why were you sleeping there?
Jegal Minhyeok: Your face stays cool but your back stays warm. And you can hear the water.
PD: Are you planning to sleep there again?
Jegal Minhyeok: Yes.
PD: …Okay. Understood.
PD: Taeoh-ssi, do you have anything to say to Jegal Minhyeok-ssi?
Ma Taeoh: Th-that… I'm sorry, but I have to survive for now… I'll repay everything later—! I love you, sunbae!
PD: Daesu-ssi, you received one vote. Do you have a guess who it was?
Jeong Daesu: There's only one person who isn't afraid of dying by my hands.
PD: Jisu-ssi, why did you vote for Jeong Daesu-ssi?
Han Jisu: Um… but I don't think Daesu should take it personally. Since this is about voting for the person who's the most annoying…
PD: But Jeong Daesu-ssi is an alpha. We thought there was something going on between you and Jeong Daesu-ssi. Is that not the case?
Han Jisu: Yes, that's right. And that exact misunderstanding is why Jeong Daesu is the most annoying.
PD: Yeomin-ssi, you're the first eliminated. How do you feel?
Yoon Yeomin: Well… none of them were people I particularly liked anyway, but now that I'm out, it's still irritating. With those small fry… let's see how well they do without me. Ha… but can't you tell me who voted for me? Ah, I'm not going to retaliate or anything. I'm just curious. If not, then at least initials…? No? Uh… I'll check through the broadcast.
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