Chapter 419: Review Analysis
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 419: Review Analysis
Finding the location of the accident was a major breakthrough. I even managed to visit the site as soon as I opened my eyes at dawn. The paint wasn't as peeled, and the telephone poles weren't as rusted as I remembered.
It felt strange to see a banner announcing the area's selection as a "Top Livable District" instead of one looking for witnesses to a traffic accident.
My face, battered by the winter wind, was red and swollen. Seeing my skin starting to flake white, I slathered on moisturizing lotion the moment I got into a taxi. Going on stage for the year-end show with chapped skin? Unthinkable for Spark.
After fully recovering my warmth and moisture in the taxi, I returned to the dorm. A few lights I had turned off before leaving were now on.
"Where have you been since early morning?"
"Just a walk."
"You really have great stamina, Hyung. Especially after finishing the concert just yesterday."
Kang Gi-yeon, the first of the five to wake up, greeted me.
"…?"
As I headed to the kitchen for water, Gi-yeon’s eyes followed me tenaciously.
"What?"
"Did something happen?"
The sharp corners of his eyes were fierce. It didn't matter how calm his tone was; the vibe was like an interrogation room.
He did this last time before immediately snitching to Jeong Seong-bin. I don't know how his intuition got so sharp.
"Well, yeah."
"What is it?"
"I realized we don't have enough time to prepare for the year-end stage. I wonder how many hours of sleep I'll get before D-day."
"Don't overthink it and just sleep when night comes. If it comes down to it, I'll just have them put you in a chair on stage."
"Are you planning to shelve me in a corner like that?"
"Didn't you once say you'd rather retire honorably than make the members worry about shelving you?"
"Your memory has improved. Is it because of the supplements?"
"Isn't it the power of repetitive learning?"
Kang Gi-yeon didn't let a single word slide. Our childish conversation ended when Park Ju-woo woke up looking like a grim reaper.
Fortunately, the concert wasn't just an exercise in self-satisfaction for Spark. The concert we had struggled so hard to host received nothing but rave reviews.
≫ When is the encore concert?
I won't even complain if you bring back the exact same setlist.
Just please open it.
└ Exactly, I'd be happy even if they said the exact same comments ㅠㅠ
└ The setlist was so well-constructed anyway hahaha I don't think the reaction would be bad even if they kept it exactly the same hahahahaha
≫ The sound quality was legendary.
I pride myself on having been to many concerts, but I couldn't understand why people said Spark's sound was the best until I remembered their agency. Then it made sense.
└ There are so many reviews about the sound hahaha Everyone must have been so satisfied.
└ Honestly, Sparklers are the only reason UA is still alive.
└ This kind of sound at an idol concert…? The quality you only hear once or twice at a foreign artist's world tour is happening here…?
≫ There are many other pros, but I hope people recognize the fact that there were no safety accidents!
Security guards who treat fans like terrorists and the general lack of safety awareness at venues is always X-awful, but everyone usually just grumbles and accepts it.
But seeing this, I realized these things could be prevented if the company actually tried…
Let's not be pushovers and proudly claim our right to watch safely. We all paid money to see the show!!
└ A single flower of hope blooming among managements that act like fans don't have human rights.
└ Even if other fan clubs try to recruit me, I won't even look their way.
≫ Right, you have to sing live to be a singer.
I had forgotten such an obvious fact.
└ A group that bets it all on MR, not even AR.
└ The harmonies were so clear… Legend.
Maybe an encore concert really could happen around next spring. I should suggest forming new units then. Since we already did the anonymous message box, maybe I should prepare a mini-game for next time.
There was also an event outside of work issues: Lee Cheong-hyeon's CSAT results were released.
The kid, who had a schedule in the afternoon, quietly went to school on the day the results came out, picked up his transcript, and came home. Then, he handed a small piece of paper to Jeong Seong-bin and me.
≫ To think our kid was a real prodigy.
A future scientist with STEM blood in his veins.
└ No, because Kim I-wol kept going on about how "my baby is a genius," I just thought I-wol was being a simp again.
└ Sorry for doubting you, I-wol. You were just stating facts.
≫ Lee Cheong-hyeon is the real deal.
He took… Life Sciences II… for his science elective…
└ Seeing how he took Chem I and Life Sci II, it looks like he really tried to win with pure memorization + calculation.
└ It's so ironic that his dad is a chemistry teacher but Chemistry was his only 2nd grade.
└ My dad is a geography teacher but I totally bombed geography hahaha Academic ability doesn't… always pass down exactly through generations… ㅎ
≫ When Cheong-hyeon was traveling, it was hard to pack a lot of stuff and he had no time, so he just memorized the answer keys without the workbooks.
To think that actually went into his head… What is his brain made of?
└ I'm realizing once again that not just anyone prepares for Gifted High School admissions.
≫ Spark is a weird group the more I think about it.
A producing member pulled off 2 comebacks + a survival show + a concert, took the CSAT, and got a 1.2 grade.
But his score is only 2nd place in the team.
└ At this point, isn't this a study group?
└ Still, this kind of talk might look like it's downplaying Cheong-hyeon, so I hope it doesn't spread too much ㅠㅠ Being in the low 1s is an amazing score!
└ Yeah, we should go with "Cheong-hyeon did great~" If we go "Wait, there's someone better than him??" then fans of different biases will get their feelings hurt.
└ Right, people are already comparing them, saying I-wol got a 1st grade because he only studied, while the CPV got a 1.2 while being active, so the latter wins… Why can't people just say both are amazing?
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who worked so hard he even had nosebleeds toward the end, finally saw the light. He maintained the same grades he got on his September mock exam. Since he didn't say much after taking the CSAT, I thought he had messed up and didn't ask, but he was just being cheeky.
On the day the transcripts came out, the two of us stayed up all night narrowing down the schools he would apply to. It wasn't difficult since he had already decided on a few majors himself.
"Make sure you write down the dates properly. Don't wait until the deadline; apply on the very first day if possible."
"Ugh, I get it."
Despite grumbling, Lee Cheong-hyeon listened quite well. I wanted to teach him how to register for classes too, but I figured that would arouse suspicion, so I held back. Instead, I promised him I would pray my hardest until the day the acceptance letters were announced.
"Then next year, everyone in our team will be an adult?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon said in an excited voice.
"Did you want to be an adult that badly?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because all you hyungs are adults."
"Just because of that? Did it feel like I was treating you like an immature person when I told you to sleep early so you'd grow taller?"
"Can you be more specific? You didn't do that to us; you only did that to Kang Gyeon."
The kid, who had been snapping back at me, suddenly laughed like a child.
"Younger brothers always think everything their older brothers do looks cool."
Coming from someone with an older sister, it wasn't a sentiment I couldn't understand, so I agreed immediately.
Ahead of the year-end stage concept, Spark entered the meeting with a fierce attitude. A heated discussion broke out over what to show at an event where the eyes of all K-pop fans would be focused.
"Still, wouldn't it be better to emphasize what we've been doing?"
"Haven't we promoted the team image enough? I think it's time to try something new."
Perhaps they were still thirsty even after the concert—the planning meetings had been ongoing since before the concert—but the guys brought in so many references. One of them even wanted to ride on wires.
"Guys, let's first think about what we can do within four minutes."
I reminded them that it wasn't a solo stage, but…
"Hyung, they said our stage time is 11 minutes."
…The Music Grand Festival had carved out over 10 minutes for us. And that was for a solo performance, without any collaborations.
The broadcaster's desire for us to produce something as impactful as the 『IRREGULAR』 stage was clearly felt. Since we could now do almost everything we wanted, the meeting became quite exciting.
Additionally, Choi Je-ho was invited to a special stage where centers from various groups would gather. While "invited" might be an inappropriate term for semi-forced participation, we decided to think positively since he couldn't get out of it anyway.
After the announcements were finished, I was about to stand up with my diary when Jeong Seong-bin whispered in my ear from behind.
"They say Min-il Sunbae isn't coming."
"At all?"
When I turned around, Jeong Seong-bin nodded.
"Yes."
"Weren't the seniors scheduled to appear too?"
Even though only the two of us were left, Jeong Seong-bin lowered his voice.
"They say he's going to have a period of self-reflection."
"Is that an official stance? Or a guess?"
"Word is MYTH will post a notice sometime tomorrow."
I guess they sent a signal asking us not to make it a bigger issue since they would handle it internally.
"That's unusual. Usually, they just ignore it unless it's a massive scandal."
"It was a massive scandal."
"Didn't they try to frame it as a common 'lesson from a senior' at first?"
Regarding the issue of appearing at the Music Grand Festival, Parte's initial official stance was, "We will do our best to ensure there are no causes for concern." Although they separately expressed apologies to UA, the public apology was focused on saying they were sorry for upsetting Naos, Parte's fandom.
UA and Sparkler's side had reacted strongly. UA especially so.
≫ UA hahaha You can see the rage in their notice.
Starting right off with "We express deep regret over MYTH's announcement" hahahaha
└ Right? I-wol was the one getting cursed at and Sparkler was the one asking for an apology, so why is Naos the one getting coddled?
└ It's my first time seeing a head-on clash like this, so it's startling, but UA… they're a shitty small agency, but they say what needs to be said. It's not sophisticated, but the anger is definitely felt.
└ Maybe a half-assed apology worked until now, but it's time for industry practices to change… If you did something wrong, you should be groveling.
≫ Write exactly what people are concerned about~~
Write that you know people are worried that the power-tripping senior Parte will mess with the victim group Spark again, so you'll keep Parte on a tight leash~~~
└ They're basically translating all complaints into "delusions" haha Min-bully harassed the kids for a year, and fans being worried is "excessive concern"?
└ "Trust us" (X) "On the day of the Music Grand Festival, we will take ~~ these measures" (O) Take notes.
MYTH, having been called out to their face, received twice the criticism.
Since it had been quiet for a while after that, I thought they were just waiting for time to pass and things to calm down.
'I wonder how many faxes they actually received.'
Regardless, it was a joy not to have to see that unpleasant face. I gave Jeong Seong-bin a thumbs-up.