Chapter 383: The 5th Competition (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 383: The 5th Competition (1)
Back when it was first decided that we’d join Idol Dynasty Annals, Lee Cheong-hyeon and I had agreed on one thing in advance. It was about our final stage.
This was announced during our first unofficial meeting to get our heads in the game for the program.
‘If we end up doing a live broadcast for the finale again, there’s a stage I’d like to do. Can I make a suggestion?’
‘What is it?’
Kang Gi-yeon, who hadn't heard anything about this beforehand, showed interest.
‘Since we’re appearing on this show instead of doing our usual second-half promotions, I want to produce something with a quality that’s at least on par with a music show.’
At my words, Park Ju-woo’s typing speed picked up. Park Ju-woo was probably responsible for raising Spark’s average typing speed all by himself.
‘This time, I want to take full advantage of a live broadcast with a large audience.’
‘What do you want to do?’
Choi Je-ho asked. I looked at Park Ju-woo as I posed my next question.
‘What genre do you think creates the best synergy when you want to capture a refreshing vibe and a sense of presence, while really showing off the charm of a live performance?’
Park Ju-woo froze for a moment, looking like he’d malfunctioned. He glanced around and saw Lee Cheong-hyeon, whose lips were curled up in a wide grin, and his expression turned to one of shock.
Then, as if suddenly certain, his eyes sparkled as he shouted.
‘A band…!’
In that moment, the date was set to fulfill the wish Park Ju-woo had cherished so dearly.
Band practice was carried out simultaneously with the preparation and filming for Idol Dynasty Annals. It was incredibly difficult to keep it a secret from the fans. At least so far, it seemed no one had caught on.
For the final stage, Lee Cheong-hyeon had started composing the song even before the recording for Idol Dynasty Annals began.
He claimed he was already prepared since he’d been working on songs for our second-half release anyway, but I knew it couldn't have been easy.
We didn't just dive in blindly, either. It was a decision made after measuring our chances dozens of times, as the members already had a basic grasp of their respective instruments.
Nevertheless, since basic skills alone wouldn't be enough to reach a decent level of perfection…
‘Cheong-hyeon, the sheet music is pitch black with notes.’
‘Mine is too, so please understand.’
…Lee Cheong-hyeon and I, the experienced ones, decided to play until our fingertips were raw. For the first time, I was grateful for the Synchronization function.
And what can I even say about Park Ju-woo? He spent the last three months with his happiness index through the roof. He steadily built up his strength while the other members were busy with the Half-formal and the Position Battle.
He didn't need to change his vocalization like he did for the musical stage, nor did he need to match tones with the other members. Unlike our first stage, his vocal parts weren't small, and he had finally met a song that was perfectly to his taste. The result?
‘…How was it?!’
During our first ensemble practice, Park Ju-woo managed to ignite a sense of crisis in the rest of Spark.
Does it make sense that this kid is only twenty this year? Even if the genre is different, can his explosive power really be this immense?
I wasn't the only one taken aback. While Park Ju-woo was beaming, saying how cool it was, everyone else stood frozen like ice statues.
‘Please let me sleep in the practice room tonight.’
‘Yeah, I’m sleeping here too.’
Kang Gi-yeon and Jeong Seong-bin muttered with hollow eyes.
My predictions had been way off. My original plan was to put the beginners, Jeong Seong-bin and Kang Gi-yeon, both on guitar to satisfy the audience's expectation for visual flair as much as possible, while reinforcing the sound with Lee Cheong-hyeon’s keyboard. Similarly, I planned to supplement Choi Je-ho’s drumming, as he was also a novice.
However, Park Ju-woo had rendered all our efforts moot. This wasn't something that could be solved by a few members helping each other out. Everyone had to move beyond the basics and reach a certain level of proficiency.
After that, it was nothing but practice, practice, and more practice. Lee Cheong-hyeon set up a two-tier keyboard, and I changed my bass strings three times. The guitar beginners spent their time in the moving van just gripping chords until they developed calluses.
After that long period of penance, today was finally the day.
Lee Cheong-hyeon pulled up a band image on the monitor.
“Spark, let’s go with the band!”
“Whoo!”
The meeting room turned into a crucible of excitement. The writers’ eyes went wide, and they looked like they wanted to send some kind of signal, but Lee Cheong-hyeon’s slides flowed naturally into ‘Instrument Layout Plan on Stage (1).’
“Are you really going to do a band? For real?”
“Yes!”
“Did you already know how to play instruments?”
“We just started this year.”
“There’s going to be a big difference between practicing and actually doing it on-site. Experience is important to get a proper band sound…”
As soon as the recording ended, Spark was showered with concern from the writers. I did think it was a provocative choice.
Still, it was a stage we wanted to show the fans at least once. There wouldn't be a better place to end things with a band than this. We did our best to reassure the writers before sending them off.
“The finale is finally here.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had been running without a moment to breathe, spoke as if he were deeply moved.
“So much happened in between.”
“I wonder if we’ll get a vacation after Idol Dynasty Annals ends? It hasn't been that long since our last one, so it might be tough, right?”
“Even if you get a vacation, don't you and Kang Gi-yeon have to go to school?”
Choi Je-ho hit the nail on the head. Lee Cheong-hyeon, facing the start of the new semester, clutched his aching chest.
“Once school starts, you should rest a bit, Cheong-hyeon. Seong-bin and I will handle the album work.”
“Oh right, Seong-bin Hyung is taking a leave of absence next semester.”
“…”
At Lee Cheong-hyeon’s words, Jeong Seong-bin avoided eye contact.
“Ha, your younger brother is a high school senior, and instead of creating a studious atmosphere, you guys…”
“Well said. Shall I create a proper studious atmosphere for you?”
I asked with nothing but good intentions, but Lee Cheong-hyeon’s reaction wasn't great.
“Cheong-hyeon is a student who does self-directed learning, so he’s fine.”
“No. As his Hyungs, we should be helpful to our brother’s studies. Seong-bin, can you add ‘Study With Me’ to the Challenge list?”
“No! Why do I have to study at school and then study at the dorm too?!”
“You study on your own whenever you have free time anyway.”
“Doing it voluntarily is different from being forced!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon shrieked. Jeong Seong-bin watched his younger brother with a smile as he wrote ‘Study With Me’ into the self-produced content items. Lee Cheong-hyeon collapsed onto the floor with a look of utter despair.
“Has the premiere date for Exclusive Report been confirmed?”
Jeong Seong-bin asked while tidying up the Challenge list.
“Yeah. The second Saturday of September.”
“That’s right after Idol Dynasty Annals ends, isn't it?”
Tell me about it. There isn't a day when Kim I-wol isn't on TV.
“We have to throw a festival for sure this time. We’ll film self-produced content of us watching the first episode live, and we’ll do a UA Corporation skit too!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon shouted, picking himself up from the floor.
“Why go that far?”
“We let it slide quietly during In My Office. We have to blow the trumpets twice as loud this time.”
“There are articles popping up everywhere anyway, so there’s no need to…”
“Hyung, you stay quiet. We’re in charge of the promotion.”
Whether they were still hung up on the fact that we only promoted the OST work, Lee Cheong-hyeon and Jeong Seong-bin disappeared with a tablet, leaving me behind.
The day of the live broadcast was busy from the crack of dawn.
To be precise, we’d been busy since the previous afternoon. That was when Choi Je-ho’s hair started being dyed.
‘He has to be at the very back for all four minutes, so we have to do something for him. He’s our team’s center!’
So, to make sure he looked pretty whenever the camera caught him, we gave him a two-tone hair transformation. Choi Je-ho’s hair roots were as resilient as his body, so there shouldn't be any problems.
Park Ju-woo bleached his hair once more to make it snow-white. We decided there was no better color for a genius band vocalist with a high-teen youth vibe. To differentiate it from his white hair during MISSION, we added a faint silver tint to the tips to give it a cool, sharp feel.
I returned to black hair. It was a color that brought peace to my mind and soul. As expected, only black hair brings me comfort.
We all wore matching white T-shirts and jeans and took photos. Standing in front of the concrete walls of the broadcasting station, we really looked like fresh-faced band rookies who had just started making music. It was worth the effort of searching for places that felt like a live cafe.
“The bracelets show up well.”
Kang Gi-yeon said. Lee Cheong-hyeon wore a smile full of pride.
Just as Kang Gi-yeon said, each member had a bracelet on their wrist. They were all silver bracelets of the same design.
It was the second friendship item for Spark, whose only other one was their tattered all-black practice clothes.
‘Members, gather around for a sec.’
Last night, after calling all the Hyungs together—including Choi Je-ho, who had just finished washing his hair—Lee Cheong-hyeon brought out six small boxes.
‘What’s this?’
‘Cheong-hyeon is giving gifts to the members who worked hard until the final broadcast.’
These bracelets were what came out of the jewelry boxes Lee Cheong-hyeon opened. He handed out the lightweight, thin-chained bracelets to the members one by one.
‘Why bracelets all of a sudden?’
‘I told you. It’s a gift from Cheong-hyeon!’
He put a wristband on Park Ju-woo first and then fastened the bracelet over it. It was for the Hyung who didn't particularly like anything other than clothes touching his skin.
‘People in bands usually have one of these. It gives a sense of unity.’
Park Ju-woo accepted his younger brother’s kindness happily without a single word of complaint. Even Choi Je-ho, who wasn't fond of wearing accessories, accepted the bracelet without a fuss.
However, Jeong Seong-bin and I couldn't just be proud, thinking, ‘Wow, look how much he’s grown…’
‘Cheong-hyeon.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Please tell me this is… a sponsorship? No, it would be more of a problem if you got a sponsorship without us knowing. No, but still…’
While I was rambling, Jeong Seong-bin placed a hand on Lee Cheong-hyeon’s knee. Veins popped out on the back of the leader’s hand.
‘When did you spend this much money?’
Jeong Seong-bin interrogated Lee Cheong-hyeon with a gentle smile. Lee Cheong-hyeon avoided his gaze.
‘What do you mean "this much money"? It’s not even pure gold.’
In front of the making-excuses Cheong-hyeon, Jeong Seong-bin held up the gifted bracelet with soulless eyes and said:
‘Did you think we wouldn't have checked out your pictorial?’
The new release from Linis gleamed brilliantly. Park Ju-woo, his face turning pale, tried to take off the bracelet, but Lee Cheong-hyeon barely managed to stop him.