Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Bae Se-jin’s name change received a moderate amount of attention and passed without much incident.
Since only his surname had changed, and the new name was already one of the nicknames used to distinguish him from Keun Se-jin, it didn't feel particularly out of place.
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[Whoa, TeSTAR’s Bae Se-jin actually changed his name to Bae Se-jin for real]
: His mom’s last name is Bae, lol. He said he’s changing it out of respect because she raised him alone. That’s so funny, his nickname became his actual name. (Link to article)
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-Wait, is this for real? lol
-That’s interesting ㅋㅋㅋ
-Filial piety I never saw coming, Wow!
-LOLOLOL!!
-Well, there are personal family reasons, but it’s probably also because having two Lee Se-jins in TeSTAR was too confusing. They couldn't keep sticking letters after their names forever. lol
-ㅋㅋㅋ It’s good for the fans, no more getting confused.
However, the fans weren't necessarily happy without reservation.
This was because "Bae Se-jin" hadn't started as a term of endearment from fans; rather, it had settled as a nickname after viewers of Idol Inc. began calling him "Mr. Actor" sarcastically, which then spread.
Although the negative nuance had mostly faded over time, fans who remembered the beginning couldn't help but feel a bit complicated.
However, after reading the full text of the article, a subtle atmosphere formed among the fans to accept this name change positively.
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…According to his agency, T1 Stars Entertainment, Bae Se-jin stated, "I am aware that my new name overlaps with an existing nickname. I find it fascinating and intend to embrace it as an opportunity. I hope this nickname can take on a fresh meaning for the fans."
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It was because they could feel Bae Se-jin’s determination to face the issue head-on.
-From now on, the official story is that "Bae Se-jin" is a name given to him like a gift from his mother.
-I never used that nickname because I was afraid Se-jin might get hurt. But Se-jin is the one telling us it’s okay to use it now…
-There are plenty of idols who act like jerks to their fans, but our Bae-Se is a total filial son. A filial son to his mother and a filial son to his fans ㅠㅠ mwah mwah mwah
-Hmm, I felt a bit uneasy that they chose to change the "Little Se-jin" out of the two, and specifically to that nickname, but after seeing the full interview, it makes sense. Se-jin seems like a much stronger person than I thought.
Within the TeSTAR fandom as a whole—rather than just Bae Se-jin’s individual fandom—people just moved on, saying things like, "It’s good because it’s not confusing," or "It’s unique and cute."
Since the general atmosphere was already to avoid using their real names to distinguish between the "Lee Se-jins," there wasn't much resistance.
However, the malicious solo fan accounts for Keun Se-jin did get rowdy for a moment.
-Ah, finally Lee Se-jin got his name back. It was so damn annoying having to search for nicknames every time despite him having a perfectly good name. Good riddance.
-My baby is so easygoing and quick-witted that it pissed me off seeing him make up nicknames just to cater to "Mr. Actor’s" feelings ㅋㅋㅋ But "that person" even manages to fix his image while changing his name. Wow, impressive ^^
-Instead of framing our kid as a manipulator, shouldn't he worry about what's inside his own head?
But even this reaction only surged briefly beneath the surface before dying down.
Just as TeSTAR and the company had hoped, the name change settled naturally with the public as if it had always been that way, without any major waves.
And around the time Bae Se-jin’s name change was no longer fresh news...
The comeback date arrived.
"Finally."
A graduate student, finally released from the lab after pulling two consecutive all-nighters, stumbled through her front door. Her dog was busy enjoying a nap in the living room.
But she couldn't sleep yet.
I have to watch TeSTAR’s music video.
It had been released at midnight yesterday, but she still hadn't been able to see it.
Because of that, the only thing she knew was the last teaser video she had seen.
Even that was just a collection of short cuts similar to the concept photos set to a single melody, so it hadn't provided any major "bait" or hints.
As a result, she was dying of curiosity about the music video, but...
Since she was already late anyway, she had gritted her teeth and rushed home with the thought of watching it on a big screen.
As soon as the graduate student washed her face with cold water, she sat down in front of her computer. Then, with a pounding heart, she went onto WeTube.
Without even having to search, the title she had been waiting for was right at the top of the trending tab.
[TeSTAR ‘Airplane’ Official MV]
"……Phew!!"
She could finally watch it. Finally!! Without even looking at the thumbnail or anything else, she clicked on the music video immediately.
The first thing that appeared was a white school hallway cutting across a blue sky.
The screen was so fantastical it looked like something out of an abstract painting, strangely reminiscent of their previous "Magical Boy" concept.
But before she could examine it properly, the cut abruptly changed to a pitch-black hallway in the same composition.
Huh?
Water was dripping from everywhere in the black hallway. Graffiti drawn with fluorescent paint and flickering emergency lights were distorted by the flowing water, glinting eerily.
And at that moment, someone appeared at the end of the hallway.
"……!"
A dark silhouette stumbled forward, leaning against the wall in a hurry.
Just as she thought she caught a glimpse of who it was...
The dark figure’s outstretched palm suddenly covered the camera.
[…….]
The screen went black. And then...
The sound of an acoustic guitar began to ring out.
"……?!"
It was a terrifyingly clear and lingering sound, completely unexpected.
Then, the palm moved away from the screen.
A sky filled with deep blue and white clouds. Below it stood an old school.
However, it didn't look like an eyesore.
The small school, nestled like a painting between mountains and trees, looked like something out of a youth novel.
And in the next moment.
A boy was standing in front of the school door.
[……]
The boy’s back seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he soon grabbed the doorknob.
The moment the door began to slowly open...
A clear, refreshing voice began to sing.
- My heart is fluttering
I want to send it flying somewhere
Every single bit of it, without leaving a trace
- Open the window now
I’ll send it soaring into the sky
The paper airplane I folded today
The boy ran down the hallway past the open door. The camera panned slightly to the side, revealing his profile.
It was Park Moon-dae.
At that moment, a cool drum sound echoed.
Tang Tang! Drdrdrdrdr!
On top of that, a full band sound and violin notes layered in, filling her ears.
They were classic instruments and sounds that might have been popular in the early 2000s, but because the rhythmic arrangement and detailed elements created with synthesizers were modern, it didn't feel tacky; it only captured the retro sensibility.
Meanwhile, the boy who arrived at a room at the end of the hallway threw the door open.
Thud!
Beyond the open door was a dormitory room.
The boys, who had been hanging out individually, widened their eyes and looked back at the camera.
[…?]
Then, the video turned completely into a youth drama.
Scenes followed of TeSTAR attending classes and enjoying daily life in a small rural school.
Every time they moved to a different area of the school, a choreography cut was inserted. Even the desks pushed into the corners—looking slightly clumsy as if the students had moved them themselves—added to the atmosphere.
Oh my god.
The graduate student’s heart was already pierced by this music video that poured out a mix of youth and nostalgia, but this wasn't the end.
Starting from the second verse, new cuts began to blend in.
Each member of TeSTAR began to experience minor supernatural phenomena as they encountered specific situations and props in the school and the forest.
For example, the moment Seon A-hyun turned on the faucet at the playground's water fountain, shimmering soap bubbles poured out instead of water.
"Wow..."
She marveled reflexively.
The shot of the sparkling orbs of light swirling around Seon A-hyun on the wind was truly magnificent...
After that, the moments where most of the members first encountered the abilities they had showcased in "Magical Boy" were depicted in a way that wasn't too blatant.
What about Moon-dae?
Just as she was worrying that he might be skipped since he appeared in the opening, Moon-dae’s ability appeared on screen.
As Moon-dae, who was about to follow his friends out of the music room after class, grabbed the doorknob, a vision of a mysterious pattern being engraved on it flickered.
And the door locked.
Gasp.
While the graduate student swallowed a scream, the music video rushed toward its climax.
The seven boys had come up with a plan to use their abilities to sneak out of the school during curfew and play.
And so, in the middle of a star-studded night.
The playful escape began.
When Keun Se-jin closed his eyes and confirmed that the situation in the hallway outside was clear, Cha Yu-jin would wind up a small bear ornament until it became human-sized and tuck it under the covers.
Meanwhile, Kim Rae-bin tried to open a window carefully with a compass, but ended up making a pretty circular hole in the glass and looked at his friends with an awkward face.
Anyway, after many twists and turns, the boys finally succeeded in sneaking out of the school building.
The final chorus flowed out.
- I’ll let go without holding on
The joy
And the regret
When they fill up again
I’ll make another and send it to you
An Airplane headed for you
- Airplane
A drop with modern electronic instruments kicked in, and a group choreography cut appeared against the backdrop of a field where stars were pouring down.
And the moment that brilliant choreography stopped.
The members stopped dancing and began to run across the field. The storyline began to connect naturally in a single, unbroken take.
[Hahaha!]
The moment the sound of the boys laughing was inserted over the accompaniment, the drums dropped out.
The bridge was rearranged, bringing the song to a gentle close.
- Fly high into the distance
I hope my heart taking flight
Crosses the Milky Way
And becomes a shining star
Ryu Cheong-woo laughed and fired a toy gun into the sky.
With a cheerful popping sound, the bullet burst into light like a firework, decorating the night sky.
- Pray again with joined hands
I want to reach you
Beyond our boundaries
I want our hands to touch
The boys ran out into the field, laughing loudly.
The camera captured their retreating figures for quite a long time.
Ah... that was good.
Her tension completely released, she tapped the keyboard with limp fingers. It was an action born from the fact that it was too good, but she had no physical strength left.
However, the video wasn't over yet.
The moment the music ended, the screen suddenly turned black.
"……?"
The black screen was... a classroom window at night. However, outside the window was pitch black without a single night light or star, creating a massive sense of unease.
And instead, suddenly, light flashed on the curtains.
"……!"
The fluorescent graffiti she had seen at the beginning of the video was packed tightly across the curtains.
Thanks to that eerie light, she could finally see a figure slumped over the windowsill.
It was a composition familiar to any TeSTAR fan.
...The Magical Boy teaser!
The composition was identical.
...But this time, no magic happened.
[…….]
The video ended just like that.
"……Whew!"
The graduate student let out a long sigh.
The bait at the end... no, before thinking about that... it was so good...!
The song was good, the choreography was good, and even the outfits were perfect!
However, due to her lack of stamina, detailed impressions didn't form in her head; only the feelings floated around.
In times like this, you look at other people’s reactions...!
That way, she could gush through empathy without using her brain. Excitedly, she scrolled down to the comment section.
"……."
And she froze upon seeing a screen filled with English.
It was due to WeTube’s policy of displaying English comments at the top.
There was only one Korean comment visible near the top.
-Looking for Koreans. I love you, TeSTAR! (Smiling crying face emoji)
"……."
The graduate student decided to create a social media account.