Chapter 290
Chapter 290
The format for this week’s music broadcast special was one we had participated in several times before.
‘A joint K-POP concert.’
Every six months, Tnet held a global-targeted concert called ‘TaKon.’
While it was essentially a typical display of broadcasting station tyranny—broadcasting live to dozens of countries without the proper infrastructure to support it—it certainly looked flashy on the surface.
Since they had managed to book VTIC this time, they seemed determined to go all out, splitting the event into two days with Part 1 and Part 2.
As for TeSTAR… well, wasn't it obvious? As Tnet’s favorite sons, we had to appear on both days.
However, the broadcasting station now had two sets of "sons" instead of just one.
“Hello, seniors!”
Day 1. The ones we met at the rehearsal site were the debut group from this season of Idol Inc. I’d heard they were doing a cover stage of one of our songs.
Among the guys greeting us energetically, I saw Gold 2’s face, grinning from ear to ear.
I heard he made a dramatic, last-minute debut in first place, so it made sense that he couldn't hide his joy.
“Seniors, we look forward to your guidance and advice~!”
“Oh, no, we’re the ones looking forward to working with you~”
He and Keun Se-jin were still perfectly in sync.
Of course, he wasn't the one I needed to keep an eye on.
It was the guy who had quietly blended in when they all bowed their heads to greet us earlier.
Chae Seo-dam was part of the debut group.
“…….”
The guy who had messed with Seon A-hyun back in school, and then couldn't kick the habit and pulled the same crap on Idol Inc. until it all blew up.
‘He’s got a tough life.’
Surprisingly, this guy had benefited from "desperate effort" editing in the latter half of Idol Inc. and debuted in 10th place.
Apparently, he’d reached an agreement with the other party by then, and a proper explanation claiming "it was all a misunderstanding" was released. It timed out perfectly to capture the hearts of general viewers, but…
Well, for those reasons, it seemed he was getting a lot of hate from the fans of his own debut group.
‘Still, debuting is an absolute win.’
If you’re eliminated due to controversy, the gap in opportunities to climb back up is massive.
I didn't know if he actually had some talent or if it was just luck, but either way, it didn't matter much.
Seon A-hyun barely cared about him anymore.
“I-I’ll be rooting for you today…! Good luck!”
“Thank you so much!”
He was busy cheering for the other members.
Since the person involved was acting like that, we decided to just treat the guy as if he didn't exist.
Besides, because Chae Seo-dam’s fall from first place had dampened the overall momentum of this season’s Idol Inc., this debut group… hmm, they’d need some really good producing.
‘By that General Manager?’
I wasn't particularly nervous.
“Don’t be too tense, and I hope you have a great performance.”
“Yes!”
So, the only thing I was considering right now was the benefit we could gain from this unwelcome encounter.
‘As long as I can use it.’
I was talking about buzz.
“See you again next time!”
The moment we finished our greetings and parted ways, Keun Se-jin spoke up softly.
“You swapped places with them, right?”
“Yeah.”
The timer for the first move had already been set.
“TeSTAR up!”
As we stepped onto the rehearsal stage, the sharp dawn air hit the tip of my nose.
A panoramic view of the outdoor stage.
Originally, this outdoor venue was where the Idol Inc. debut group was supposed to perform, but we had swapped under the pretext of "consideration," saying it "reminded us of our old days."
‘It’s actually quite helpful.’
Thanks to that, the story would write itself.
I recalled the weather forecast I’d been checking for days.
The probability of precipitation on the day of the performance was 70%.
*
“You son of a bitch!”
“Ugh, shut up!!”
Kim Rae-bin’s fan jumped up from her seat without even responding to her younger brother. This was after she had slammed her fist onto the keyboard she’d been using.
Thud!
It was the result of a heated debate… or rather, a finger-war with VTIC fans.
‘They’re acting so high and mighty just because they’ve got the overseas market cornered!!’
Her combat power, which had been rising since the charity concert, was currently peaking. However, it was time to calm down.
“Hey, you said you were gonna watch this.”
“Yeah. Move.”
Without even bothering to correct his speech and tell him to call her "Noona," she pushed her brother aside and sat on the sofa.
TaKon was being broadcast live on the TV.
[NEXT STAGE]
[TeSTAR]
She didn't know how many times they’d teased the next stage already, but it was about time for them to come out. The broadcast was almost over!
And then, TeSTAR’s intro VCR finally began to play on the screen.
“Nice—???”
However, she was struck speechless by the sight of the venue as the camera zoomed in from a distance.
It was because the situation was absurd.
“…What is this?”
“What?”
What do you mean, what?
‘Why are these guys on the outdoor stage?’
Since TaKon was a live broadcast, they used two stages alternately for quick transitions.
And this time, due to the structure of the venue, the stages were divided into indoor and outdoor.
So, how did it usually work?
Groups were brought indoors based on seniority, or if a team was exceptionally popular, they’d be brought inside even if they hadn't been active for long.
So she had naturally assumed TeSTAR would be indoors…
But here they were, standing on the outdoor stage.
And in the middle of a evening downpour, no less!
‘What’s with this treatment, for fuck’s sake!’
As someone who had already been grumbling that calling a top-tier group two days in a row just because they were "Tnet’s line" was practically a hostage situation, she couldn't help but see red.
For the record, social media—which was already flooded with fans who had witnessed the Idol Inc. debut group performing indoors—was currently filled with a hellish silence.
The fact that she hadn't known because she was busy fighting with VTIC fans was actually a blessing in disguise.
She was already angry enough!
…But the moment TeSTAR was shown in a close-up, Kim Rae-bin’s fan momentarily forgot her rage.
‘My idols really are good-looking.’
TeSTAR looked flawless from every angle.
‘Is Kim Rae-bin’s silver-trimmed robe for real?’
Perhaps they had adapted their music video outfits; the sight of him in a fancy robe cardigan over a white shirt, damp and glistening…
“…?”
Is… water falling on his head?
‘Where did the roof go?’
Even for an outdoor stage, they usually provided some kind of waterproof canopy.
No, the weather forecast clearly said it would rain, so obviously, all the previous stages had a canopy prepared.
But suddenly, there wasn't one.
‘No wonder the rain was so noticeable…!’
‘These crazy bastards…!’
She was about to curse, but the stage officially began before she could, forcing her to focus on it reflexively.
The song started with a rhythmic, soaring beat, and TeSTAR kicked off their steps.
[Take your STAR
The day the stars pour down]
A refreshing sound poured out.
TeSTAR didn't seem to care whether they were getting soaked or not.
No, rather, a new charm emerged as they collided with the raindrops.
‘Huh?’
As the lights intensified in the evening, the light reflected off the water droplets clinging to their robes and the accessories wrapping their arms and legs sparkled.
Swish.
Perhaps because the choreography had many movements that involved flicking limbs or spinning, even the splashing water looked like part of the performance.
And with every step they took, water droplets splashed like decorations.
And underneath… they were barefoot.
‘…!’
Their legs looked lon—no, more importantly…
‘There’s standing water on the stage??’
Whether they had removed the canopy since the previous indoor stage or not, quite a bit of water had pooled on the floor.
‘That’s so dangerous….’
But perhaps because they were barefoot, TeSTAR didn't slip.
Instead, the performance unfolded as cleanly and enjoyably as if they were on dry land.
No, it actually looked even better.
‘What in the….’
Every time they stepped with their bare feet, their toes were halfway submerged before pulling out. And a ring of water splashed up with them.
Especially when the chorus hit, the way the water rose in sync with the point choreography’s footwork was a masterpiece.
[We Fly so far]
Water sprouted between the formations. Then their robes fluttered, splashing water droplets once again.
It was captivating.
It was a stage where splendor overwhelmed the usual refreshing vibe.
Since they pulled it all off with outfits and hair that looked better soaked, it was practically a well-planned underwater performance.
‘Ah.’
And then, it hit her like a bolt of lightning. The color of the robe’s decorations and the gemstones on their limb accessories… were the same colors as the tail fins in the music video.
A performance wearing mermaid symbols in flowing water.
‘They did this on purpose?’
They planned a stage where they’d run around barefoot on a rainy day for that concept? They even got rid of the roof?
It was unbelievable. But the image of TeSTAR on the TV was so impressive that question marks and exclamation points ran wild in her head.
[To the island beyond the horizon
Today will sparkle]
Seon A-hyun’s acrobatics drew a clean, vertical arc of water droplets as the ending approached.
Thanks to the members supporting him from behind, it drew admiration instead of anxiety. It was a choreography that grabbed the eye.
And the final move where they usually sat down while humming… instead, they put their arms around each other’s shoulders and turned around.
[Umm]
The ending consisted of them looking up at the rainy sky in time with the final bass note.
And just like that, the stage ended.
“…….”
[Turu-turu~ The broth is superb!]
The screen changed to a commercial. But Kim Rae-bin’s fan remained seated on the sofa.
Her younger brother poked her thigh with his foot.
“Hey, they’re pretty good, aren't they?”
It was too good, and she was too confused.
No, this wasn't something that could be summed up as just being "pretty good"…
I mean, how incredible was this?
“Oh, seriously!”
Kim Rae-bin’s fan immediately grabbed her phone.
She had to find out what the hell just happened!
*
“Ugh!”
“Cha Yu-jin! Is your foot okay?”
“OK! I’m fine!”
Cha Yu-jin ripped off the transparent, studded protective pads that had been attached to the soles of his feet.
Even with the staff helping, it was still stinging, so he seemed to have just ripped them off himself.
What were those? Anti-slip equipment made of a synthetic rubber material.
‘Running around barefoot on a marble floor covered in water is a suicide mission.’
I had custom-ordered those even before the comeback. I shrugged and peeled the ones off my own feet as well.
“D-Doesn't it hurt…?”
“Nah. I’m fine.”
The adhesive stung a bit, but there wouldn't be any lasting effects.
And more importantly, we had just seized a massive opportunity.
“I know. We did really well just now!”
“Oh, really? I think so too, Yu-jin~”
“Hehe.”
“I hope the viewers enjoyed it and feel satisfied and happy in their hearts!”
“Yeah. They better.”
Bae Se-jin spoke firmly. Well, as the guy who struggled the most to perfect it due to the stat difference, he had the right to say that.
I chuckled and nodded.
“Right.”
Now, shall we check?
As soon as I returned to the waiting room, I threw a towel over my head and accessed the internet.
The related communities… were already reacting.
[The idol who just performed in a downpour]
[The TaKon stage that just became a legend]
[TeSTAR’s stage just now: Dangerous vs. Cool, which side are you on?]
[Breathtaking scenes from TeSTAR]
It was a frenzy.
I expected social media to be the same, and I was right.
Posts were pouring in like crazy, and ‘Downpour’ and ‘What’s up with TeSTAR’ were trending.
No, that person was right. It had no choice but to look good.
‘Because the choreography was designed with water in mind from the start.’
To be precise, it was a choreography I had commissioned while simulating a performance on a stage set filled with water up to the ankles.
I wanted to capitalize on the unique nature of the album’s summer and ocean concept.
‘It was intended for the concert.’
I had just dropped it here instead.
And naturally, when one more well-considered element is added, it’s bound to be more interesting.
‘I knew there would be a reaction.’
I figured that if it exploded just as the buzz was starting to stabilize after two or three weeks, it would definitely be effective.
Furthermore, I added an element to make it even more memorable.
‘This situation.’
Because people couldn't tell if this was planned or an unexpected situation caused by the weather, they would keep talking about it.
It had already started.
I hope they keep talking so the stage spreads far and wide.
‘It’ll be just about right when the YouTube drama channels start biting.’
I checked the video, which was spreading even faster thanks to the controversy, and started a call with the company.
*
TeSTAR’s performance in the downpour emerged as the hot trend of the weekend amidst various speculations and admiration.
Since many people were already aware of TeSTAR’s current promotions due to their rivalry with VTIC and their well-made song, people took an interest even more easily and latched on at a terrifying speed.
It wasn't just that the stage was good; it was because they could each add their own opinion to this unique situation!
Eventually, it even sparked a debate over safety issues, catching fire in multiple ways, but before the controversy could officially surface, a formal statement was cleanly released through an article.
[TeSTAR’s performance in a downpour? “Not an accident, but a gesture of consideration”]
[TaKon’s breathtaking downpour stage… A natural set created on the spot]
The story was that TeSTAR had swapped stages on the day of the rehearsal out of consideration for their direct juniors’ first joint concert stage.
And that after realizing the weather conditions, they had changed the configuration as a special event, and that they had worn safety equipment while remaining cautious.
The articles, which had undergone meticulous review by the agency, climbed straight to the main entertainment news section and advertised TeSTAR’s stage.
Aside from the fact that the sequence of events was swapped, it was the clean truth.
And TeSTAR even showed themselves having fun on social media, posting the anti-slip protectors they had worn at the time.
=================================
A-hyun looked so cool doing ballet in these. We all followed suit lol
(Video)
=================================
Because the explanation came out quickly, TeSTAR’s sincerity wasn't damaged, and since it was indeed an unexpected situation, their status wouldn't be lowered.
However, the video that had already spread continued to gain momentum and refused to leave the trending videos on YouTube.
People praising them, people nitpicking, people making clickbait videos using this incident as material.
And even people filming dance challenges again, comparing the versions with and without water.
Everyone played a part in the buzz, pushing TeSTAR’s digital rankings higher.
Thanks to that, Cheong-ryeo was able to easily reach a conclusion.
“…….”
The calculation that he would have to yield the domestic market to TeSTAR.