Finally, Yu Jeuni Emerges (2)
Just a short while after the start of the semester in the first-year classroom at Hanseong Arts High School. I'd come to school feeling refreshed, only to find these weirdos already lying in wait first thing in the morning.
"Kim Seryeon!"
"Kim Seryeon!!!"
"Grab him!"
"Why are you grabbing me?!"
It's only the second semester now—shouldn't I be building up some tolerance by this point? This school's full of idols anyway, so why me?
The group of four right up front stuck out their hands abruptly.
"I'm in the rap major, and I loved it."
"Sign this."
"Hero of the underground..."
"I'm a fan."
Actually, Hanseong Arts High does have its hip-hop kids. They're the rap majors attached to the vocal sub-major in the practical music department. Contrary to stereotypes, they look like total model students up close—way less thuggish than the fashion majors. That's because the rap program here is still in its pilot phase. It only started this year, so no seniors, tiny numbers, and it's sandwiched under vocals, getting squeezed from all sides.
The questionable part was how they were treating me.
"But aren't rap majors only first-years?"
"Yeah."
"Right."
"So why the formal speech...?"
"I'm a fan."
Same year, but they're using polite language.
"My bro used the same studio as Hanbam once."
"That sampling was pure art. Art. I loved it."
"How long you been making hip-hop beats? ...The drum texture gave me chills."
"I'm a fan."
One guy's brain must've melted—he just kept repeating the same thing.
And it wasn't just first-years. Second- and third-years were lurking in the hallways too. Behind bathroom walls. Pillars. Inside emergency exit doors. They couldn't come right up to the classroom because of the teachers, but they were ambushing everywhere else.
"Heh heh, Seryeon junior, wanna chat with us?"
"Just a sec."
"Huh? Huh?"
The second I stepped into the hall, a trio of senior girls pounced.
Not just girls, though. The sudden spike in attention didn't discriminate by gender.
What the hell is going on?
"Wh-what?"
I was backing away in confusion when Kang Saero came running to the rescue.
"Kim Seryeon! This way!"
"What's all this?"
"Everyone's lost their minds."
"So why?"
"Let's hide in the library till homeroom."
Yeah, the library should be quiet—no chaos there.
But I had no idea why this was happening.
Kang Saero sighed in exasperation as we climbed the stairs with dazed expressions.
"You didn't know how big a deal Yu Jeuni is?"
"Uh... indie band guitarist?"
"Guitar hero!"
Oh, a guitar hero? Was she the Yu Jeuni before Bocchi?
According to Kang Saero, a diehard Neon Blue fan, Yu Jeuni was even bigger than I'd imagined.
"Every guitarist here knows her."
Someone good enough to make it to Hanseong Arts High must be a fan, at least. Especially the seniors—they were obsessed.
"Any girl carrying a guitar is a Yu Jeuni unnie fan."
Kang Saero gripped my hand tight as we climbed, spilling more.
"That's why whenever I talked to guitar majors, it always came up."
"Neon Blue's really done for?"
"What if Yu Jeuni quits music...?"
"If Yu Jeuni quits, I'm quitting too."
Maybe because she's vocal major. Even offhand comments dripped with emotion, like I was hearing the raw despair of Hanseong's Yu Jeuni fandom firsthand.
"...That big a deal."
What was Yu Jeuni? Just a drunken menhera band sis?
"Way, way bigger than that."
I'd pegged her as a famous indie musician in a good band. Never dreamed her rep at Hanseong was this level.
Kang Saero nodded emphatically, warning me.
"You totally flipped that switch."
"So, like, I dragged a retired musician back into the game?"
"I love you."
Sudden love confession from Kang Saero. She backpedaled right away, though.
"I mean, figuratively. You got Yu Jeuni unnie back to music."
"Uh, yeah. Got it."
Even Kang Saero herself was a diehard fan. Now she stopped dead, staring me down.
"How the hell did you even get Yu Jeuni?"
"Well, thing is."
"Yeah? Spill."
Her eyes were scary. Big eyes, tiny pupils—sanpaku glare. And the angle had me pinned against the wall.
Scary delinquent girl...
We were right by the library now. Kang Saero was slowly backing me into the wall, totally oblivious, hyped up.
"Fine, you got sampling permission—I saw that. But a guitar solo recording in the track?"
"That's a whole different level, right?"
I'd kept everything else public but hid this. It was the secret weapon to shock the world. Even Kang Saero, who redid the samples, didn't know.
"You should've told me!"
"S-surprise...?"
"Yeah. Surprise. Makes it even more exciting."
She had me planted against the hall wall, now spinning in circles like a hyper beagle.
"Live version? It's not just vocals—it's a feature. You bringing Yu Jeuni for live shows? For real? Possible?"
"Thing is, Saero-ya."
"Yeah? I'll hear you out on anything."
"Dropped it this morning—how'd word spread this fast?"
The official Brand New EP dropped this morning. Hanbam's elimination on Show Me, weekend passes, then Monday early AM—perfect timing for the distro guys to upload and handle promo on their commute. I'd checked on the bus to school.
Even if every guitar major here was a Yu Jeuni stan, this was too quick.
The truth came out surprisingly fast.
"...I started the rumor."
"You?!"
"Screamed it in the group chat."
"Agh."
"But seriously, how?!"
Then the librarian appeared.
"Kids, this is the library."
"Gah!"
"What happens if you yell in the hall?"
Skinny lady with a headscarf and glasses—always talking about "killing" people. Actress-like face, like she'd actually grab a chainsaw. Terrifying.
"Sorry."
"Sorry..."
We'd snuck in quietly, but Kang Saero couldn't shut up. No choice—back to the classroom chaos. Full of hip-hop and rock teachers.
"Kim Seryeon!"
"Hero of hip-hop!"
"Damn, that's indie spirit, rock, hip-hop..."
"Underground!!! Underground to major!!!"
"How'd you snag Yu Jeuni for real?"
Fangirling's the culture. When did peaceful Hanseong Arts High pick up this culture? Feels worse since I got here—overthinking?
Hanseong Arts High had a surprisingly free vibe—no phone confiscation. Break time, I checked the charts quick.
[Brand New EP (feat. Hanbam, Yu Jeuni of Neon Blue)]
Hit real-time chart #89 just 2 hours after release.
Compared to Blue Lemon Sky's explosive entry, maybe a bit underwhelming. That rode broadcast hype—this one's tougher.
Tons of messages from Hanbam.
We've gotten close since the collab—dropping formal speech lately. He's like three years older anyway.
I'm shaking my head inwardly at his humility. Not very hip-hop. Sent a reply.
I figured he took it differently.
They see me as some once-in-a-generation monster genius. Nah, not really.
This industry's crawling with geniuses.
Handsome face and regression gave me future trends, but no cheat keys. Pure talent? Truckloads better than me. Blue Lemon Sky was protagonist-level luck.
Honestly thought the follow-up could flop hard.
Second songs tank all the time. Freshness fades, polishing amateur bits backfires.
But nailing a new genre? Feels good.
Super satisfying for me.
No broadcast boost and still this—
Just two hours in. Morning hours. Not peak phone time yet. It's not about quality now—needs time for buzz. Demos were insider stuff; public doesn't know.
So what decides early chart? Fandom size and loyalty.
More people hyped for me than I thought.
Even with Neon Blue fans, instant chart on release? Mid-tier labels struggle. Monday morning too. Who's hunting new tracks then? Spinning faves to start the day.
Yet we charted.
Wrapping up with Hanbam, I turned off the screen naturally—and jumped.
"Gah."
"Who's got you grinning at texts, Seryeon?"
Kang Saero had snuck up beside me quietly.
"Yu Jeuni? Or Ji Soeun?"
Jealousy already? Scary, but she's school friend and biz partner. Straight explanation.
"Nah, the hyung from this collab. Hanbam."
"Ohh, the rapper."
She only did sample redubs—doesn't know the full process.
"You here to monitor me?"
"Nah, just dying to ask you something."
"What."
"What else? Yu Jeuni."
Dead serious.
"How'd you drag her out?"
Long story, kept putting it off. Okay now? Quick time check—five minutes till break ends.
"Thing is."
"Yeah."
Straight to it.
"Met her. The Neon Blue vocalist who bolted."
"Huh?"
"Turns out she's debuting duo with Ji Soeun."
"Wha...?"
Worldview expanding—her eyes widened.
"News soon, but secret for now."
"Got it."
Kang Saero whispered in a hiss, nodding firmly. Natural follow-up.
"So you met her. Then?"
She mulled my words.
"What's that got to do with Yu Jeuni unnie now?"
"Got an apology."
"Huh?"
"From Yu Jeuni too. In person."
Instant reaction.
"No fucking way."
Did she ever swear before? Kang Saero just stared, speechless.