Chapter 322: Starting Activities (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 322: Starting Activities (1)
The first place we visited for our comeback was Polo’s radio show. This time, instead of the glittery name headbands, we wore arrow headbands made of neon paper pasted onto a black background.
“Spark, I see you’re wearing a new type of headband today?”
“We watched the replay of our last appearance and noticed the previous headbands lacked visibility. This is Version 2.0,” I explained.
Polo let out a boisterous laugh. Above his head, the golden headband we had gifted him previously wobbled back and forth.
“Wait, I’m the only one who didn't know a new version was out? I’m still wearing the old one!”
“We figured you might say that, so for you, Senior…”
Park Ju-woo reached down and pulled out a new headband. The one labeled ‘⇩ Polo ⇩’ was handed over to its owner.
“Why do I have two arrows? Is this some kind of respect-for-the-elderly treatment?”
“It’s the maximum amount of courtesy we can show to the host who invited us.”
“I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious—I-wol, where did you get your media training?”
“I’m self-taught!”
Polo wiped away a stray tear from laughing. I wasn't sure exactly which part was so funny, but since the host was satisfied, I figured we were off to a good start.
The beginning of the second half, where the guests appear, was supposed to be a time for album promotion disguised as a life update… or so I intended.
However, considering half the listeners were Sparklers and the other half were ordinary people listening on their way home from work, I decided to chat about the album’s unique characteristics rather than giving a standard music show introduction. No casual listener would care about the specific tempo or genre of a title track from an idol appearing for a one-off segment.
“We really need to be alert about the desertification of the Earth. Even though I was definitely wearing different clothes by the time we finished the music video, the shoe rack was covered in sand when we got back to the dorm,” Lee Cheong-hyeon said with a dead-serious expression. Park Ju-woo nodded in sad agreement.
“But I find it touching that we can overcome all of that through friendship. While it was human greed that destroyed the environment for the sake of civilization, the desire for people to be together is also a form of greed. I think the direction that heart points toward is what truly matters.”
Kang Gi-yeon gave a long-winded lecture on what he liked about the track for this promotion. Not only did he study the storyboard, but he even analyzed it. This kind of thing would be impossible without a deep attachment to one's profession.
Polo, who had been unboxing the album we gave him as a gift, looked over the contents and grabbed the mic.
“I-wol, you played the bass?”
“Yes, I participated as a session musician for the two title tracks.”
If I had as much musical talent as Lee Cheong-hyeon, I might have tried my hand at the B-sides too. Unfortunately, composing and performing the bass riffs for two songs was my limit.
I’d like to take this moment to offer a round of applause to the creator of Spark’s music, the electronic maestro, and the source of never-ending inspiration: Mr. Lee Cheong-hyeon.
“I-wol is quite talented. At this rate, are you going to end up on TV later as some kind of master craftsman?”
“It’s possible,” Choi Je-ho chimed in.
As if I have time to hone my craftsmanship right now. Every day is a crisis just trying to keep my sanity.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Lee Cheong-hyeon went on and on about the bass—a topic that would be boring to anyone else.
“The song ‘End’ features a double bass line. Even with just one bass line, the song would have been fine, but when I said I wanted to capture the music video concept of wanting to escape a post-apocalyptic setting, I-wol hyung added a line where he played the notes clipped to match Morse code.”
It was by no means an easy task. While the amount of messaging I could pack in was limited, I had to ensure the irregular plucking didn't sound jarring to the listener.
I must have exported the file dozens of times after making microscopic adjustments to the Morse code. I didn't even want to count how much trial and error it took.
“Oh, could you explain that part in a bit more detail?”
“Sure. Since it might be hard to distinguish the two lines by pitch alone, I’ll tell you that we quoted a passage from a classic novel for the Morse code line. It might be fun for listeners to try and find the line with the unique rhythm!”
“Can you tell our listeners which passage it is? Or is that part a secret?”
At Polo’s question, I glanced at Lee Cheong-hyeon. It was better to let the bilingual English-kindergarten graduate handle this rather than a cram-school TOEIC Speaking specialist.
“To keep the fun of searching for it alive, I’ll only tell you the last sentence! It’s the phrase: ‘Wait for a time, exactly under the star.’”
“I was a bit disappointed because even though there were comments saying the bass line was unique, no one guessed the exact reason… I’m glad it’s been revealed like this,” Park Ju-woo added with a smile.
But the fact that no one noticed means this device was a failure. They say a joke is ruined the moment you have to explain why it’s funny. I’ll have to work harder next time to avoid such humiliation…
“That’s right. Lately, the number of idols mentioning Spark has really increased.”
“Whoa, really?”
“Of course. The members of All-over were on the show the week before last. They told me to make sure to tell Spark they’ve been enjoying your work if you ever came on. They said they’re really keeping an eye on Spark’s activities.”
…Or so I thought.
I don't have time for that. Who do these junkies think they’re dragging down with them?
Just because a dedicated team had been formed didn't mean all my work had vanished.
It was unavoidable. I had to fulfill my role as a producing member as dictated by the system, and I had to achieve my KPIs.
But separate from that, there were often times I had to butt heads with the dedicated team. It was all to avoid getting entangled with the "problem groups."
No company would listen to an absurd demand like, “One of my peers is a potential criminal, and I don't want our reputation ruined by being associated with him, so I’m going to change our work schedule.” I’d be lucky if my own reputation didn't take a hit for slandering others.
It also didn't help that All-over wasn't a big enough group for us to go out of our way to avoid. If they were superstars, the dedicated team would have automatically adjusted our comeback cycles so they wouldn't overlap.
So, until midnight the day before Spark’s annual schedule was released, I read press releases from various agencies, including All-over’s, checking the timing of when they sent their artists out to gauge their comeback windows. I was essentially creating everyone else’s schedules just to plan my own team’s.
Thanks to those tear-inducing efforts, Spark hadn't had to cross paths with All-over since the ‘Idol Dynasty Annals,’ except for major events.
Even this time, I had struggled so much to secure a May comeback—picking a date that wouldn't overlap with All-over while allowing us to stably handle everything from album planning to mass production.
And yet, these guys were trying to screw me over with a time-lagged attack? My anger flared.
“The All-over seniors said that?”
Jeong Seong-bin gave a polite, scripted reaction. He seemed to remember me telling him to stay away from All-over during the ‘Idol Dynasty Annals.’ Only Polo, who was unaware of the situation, was beaming at the thought of making friends for Spark.
“There are members in All-over who compose too. They said they were really stimulated by watching Cheong-hyeon. Cheong-hyeon, you don't have a separate crew or anything, do you?”
“No, Je-ho hyung and I are from the streets!”
“Are those two things even related…?”
Choi Je-ho replied skeptically. He certainly had a way of making "coming from the streets" sound cool. Though for guys from the streets, both of them were far too handsome.
Watching the delighted Polo, the oblivious Choi Je-ho, and the four members sitting on pins and needles, I grit my teeth.
“I’m sorry, but the All-over seniors can’t have our boys.”
“Huh?”
Polo stared at me, surprised by my sudden braking.
Calm down, Kim I-wol. Speak seriously and with sincerity, but don't ruin the mood. You can do this. If you put Jeong Seong-bin through that much trouble during the ‘Worry Sharing Meeting,’ you should know how to control yourself by now!
“It’s because I don't have any friends! It’ll be a problem if these guys make new friends. We already have so many sociable members; if their friend count increases, I’ll end up all alone.”
I can't tell you how hard it was to wrap my constant urge to be dead serious in a layer of humor. Honestly, I don't even know if the "wrapping" worked, but anyway.
“I-wol, what do you mean you don't have friends! You have Je-ho, and you’re close with the Berion members too!”
“I’m greedy, so I need to have it all to be satisfied. I want everyone to consider me their best friend. I’d appreciate it if you could look at me as a poor soul in need of salvation.”
At my solemn lament, Polo laughed until he was out of breath. A look that said ‘Do you really have to go this far?’ flashed through Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes.
But I did have to go this far. Otherwise, after I worked so hard to stop Lee Cheong-hyeon from reaching for headache pills, we’d end up swept up in some random controversy.
Seeing my desperate display, Polo left a voice message for All-over saying, “Let’s protect I-wol’s friends.”
I also added that I was sorry for being such a narrow-minded person and that I hoped we could meet during the comeback. I wasn't going to let that meeting happen anyway, so I could say whatever I wanted.
My back was damp with sweat. This was the most thrilling radio show I’d done since my debut.
Standing before an opened delivery box, Won Chae-hee fell into deep thought. She held an unopened album in her hand.
It wasn't the first time she had bought albums by the boxful to enter a fan sign draw. If you bought this many, you could usually collect all the photo cards without having to trade, unless you had terrible luck.
The only thing different from usual was that Won Chae-hee was holding one album without opening it.
Should I give this to the Assistant Manager, or not?
In professional life, everyone eventually meets at least one person they can't forget. For Won Chae-hee, that person was Assistant Manager Yeo. There are just some people you want to become friends with on a personal level, beyond just being grateful to them.
Whenever she received a lot of help, she would send a gift icon or buy coffee, but separate from that, the thought had occurred to her: ‘Since she said she listened to the music, should I give her an album?’
The senior was just trying to make small talk; let’s not overreact. I’m a professional.
Won Chae-hee pulled her social mask back over her face, which she had almost let slip for a moment. Then, she slowly pulled up her covers for tomorrow’s commute, which didn't excite her in the least.