Chapter 516
Chapter 516
A collaboration between Bae Se-jin and me.
The "Make Ryu Cheong-woo a Producer" project.
Ryu Cheong-woo, who had fallen for the first stage of the plan, ended up accompanying me the next morning to check on Kim Rae-bin’s work.
Since he’d agreed to it himself, there wasn't much he could do.
"We should go check on it."
"Ah."
I spent the morning with Kim Rae-bin, who had adapted to the unfamiliar studio in an instant. All I asked of Cheong-woo was to react to the song while we chatted.
However, in the process, Ryu Cheong-woo gradually and naturally began to focus on the music.
"As you advised, I have implemented three versions using brass samples!"
"They definitely suit it well… I like version two or three. What about you, Hyung?"
"Let’s see…. Version two?"
By participating in the selection of the arrangement, his own preferences were being reflected in the song before he even realized it.
Then came the next step.
"Then I’ll try playing it along with the choreography draft."
"Yes!"
I played the nearly finished version two audio over the choreography draft video we had filmed.
Naturally, the conversation shifted from the song to the stage.
"I think it fits well."
"Yeah."
"While we’re organizing the formations, it might be good to include a part where they trade lines in pairs. Then that part should be…"
When I looked at Ryu Cheong-woo like that, he would inadvertently offer his thoughts.
"If it’s that part… I think the bridge would feel the most natural."
True to someone with extensive stage experience, Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo offered excellent opinions without me even having to lead him.
"It looks good to me. What about you, Rae-bin?"
"Ah, I also… yes. It seems to go well with the arrangement!"
The way Steer’s Kim Rae-bin walked on eggshells around Ryu Cheong-woo had diminished significantly.
Though he had rejected the stage, emotionally, he seemed quite excited to have "his own studio."
…Maybe he’s just happy to have escaped the military.
Actually, a normal person would be, but with Kim Rae-bin, that might not be it.
Regardless, the atmosphere was quite good, and the work progressed rapidly.
And so, Ryu Cheong-woo ended up sliding through a web of interconnected producing tasks as if he were on a playground slide.
Formations, part distribution, costume highlights, themes.
He even provided feedback on choreography details.
"…Since they’ll be wearing gloves, it might be better to avoid gestures that rely on friction."
"Oops. OK."
He even ended up going to the practice room to say things like that.
And before he could fully process what was happening, time flew by, and we finally reached the end.
"Hyung, we’re filming the rehearsal now. Let’s go."
It meant the stage was complete.
And this time, the moment the performance began at the official competition filming site.
"Starting now."
Unlike last time, Ryu Cheong-woo began to focus on the stage.
*
A dress rehearsal with everything implemented, from costumes to lighting and effects.
With all the elements of an actual stage included, it was a performance that left nothing to be desired.
And now.
On the stage under the lights, Lee Se-jin, dressed in a magician’s suit, gave a theatrical greeting with a smirk.
[Ladies and gentlemen!]
A brilliant brass ensemble burst forth.
Then, between Seon A-hyun and Cha Yu-jin, who appeared amidst the light while turning, Bae Se-jin took his place and sang the intro.
[Between us, it’s as if
There’s a special blank space—]
A stage backdrop of velvet curtains and spotlights.
Finger snaps and light steps.
A 20th-century black-and-white movie-style stage was unfolding, but the song playing was a modern hit.
It was the recent comeback song of Mirinae, TeSTAR’s juniors.
Instead of the common competition tactic of remaking an old song into a modern style, they had done the opposite—transforming a modern song into a retro style.
[How this gap will change
I don’t know yet
That’s true—]
Live audio perfectly suited to the stage effects and the rhythmically arranged song.
As the brass flared and the song built up, Cha Yu-jin pushed the vocals higher as if driving forward.
[Take a step, one step
Toward you, who won’t come closer]
Then, as if everything was being refreshingly resolved, the audio opened up into the chorus.
In the center of the choreography, where the four of them completed one large movement together, Bae Se-jin adjusted his hat and nodded with a smile.
[Fill in the blanks,
Fill this space
Cross the gap—]
On the outskirts, Seon A-hyun spun around a fancy wooden standing mic that looked like a classic cane, shifting the performance formation into a diagonal line.
[Something special
Even if I stumble and fall in
It’s a sweet dream]
Even though the main and lead vocals were absent, the live performance was solid.
Furthermore, the members whose strength was dancing took the verses, each handling solo performance parts with strong character.
And when a sub-vocalist, whose strength wasn't dancing, came to the center, the other three members supported the performance to help that member showcase their charms.
The parts where tap dancing was mixed in to match the costume and theme were also a clever touch.
"Wow."
The staff watching the rehearsal together let out small exclamations and laughter, or focused on the stage without even having time for that.
And at the very front of the audience.
"……."
Ryu Cheong-woo was also deeply focused on the stage, but his impression wasn't that of a pure spectator like the filming crew.
Because he had participated.
The steps he had taken to complete that stage naturally came to mind without him even trying.
—Keep the tempo not too fast so the rhythm is easy to break down.
—Save the ensemble for the decisive parts.
—Focus practice on the steps.
…….
It was inevitable.
They reflected it well.
Because his feedback had been thoroughly incorporated without distortion.
Not all of his opinions were reflected. However, for the elements that weren't, they had reached a convincing consensus on why.
That made him feel even more at ease.
Because it gave him the certainty that his participation had contributed solely to raising the quality.
[Ye-eeees!]
The stage lights sparkled like fireworks. It was dazzling, and the stage was enjoyable.
And that was all.
There was no repulsion stemming from learned frustration, no obstacles to overcome.
It was because he hadn't approached this as a performance idol who had been mentally exhausted to his limit, but had instead gradually seeped into this work in a different way, without even realizing it.
And what remained was the pleasure of seeing a perfect result completed exactly as intended.
[Fill— in the blanks!]
"Whoooo!"
The moment the song ended with a clean, solid high note, the watching staff cheered and applauded.
Admiration poured out for the unit members, who were catching their breath with flushed faces.
And even toward the members sitting in the audience who had been in charge of producing.
"It was so well put together…. It was really great!"
Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
He felt a small spark.
It was a heat called a sense of achievement.
*
After tidying up the rehearsal.
The TeSTAR members who had been on stage moved for interviews, and Park Moon-dae stepped away for a moment, saying he needed to speak with the production crew.
So, only the two Steer members remained in the waiting room.
"It was a very enjoyable and meaningful project!"
"Yeah."
Kim Rae-bin, dressed in plain clothes with his hair tied back and wearing glasses, looked extremely happy.
He looked so happy that he didn't even flinch when Cheong-woo responded.
So, Ryu Cheong-woo opened his mouth.
"Rae-bin."
"……."
"There must have been many times when my attitude toward you felt harsh."
"…?"
He calmly voiced the words he had wanted to say for a long time.
"I’m sorry."
"…?!"
"You’ve worked hard all this time."
He started to reach out to pat his head but stopped and settled for a light tap on the shoulder, fearing it might seem overbearing.
But either way, Kim Rae-bin was frozen in shock.
"If there’s anything you want to say, you can speak comfort—well, I suppose that would be difficult."
Ryu Cheong-woo didn't let his bitter smile show.
He knew that even if he went back to the past, there probably wouldn't have been any other way.
Crushing everyone equally with hierarchy and fear. Other than that, it would have been impossible for him to lead the members and maintain the group in such a fractured atmosphere.
However, he knew there was no need to justify that to others by saying it out loud.
So he just ended it like this.
"It’s okay if you tell me after I get my memories back. Just take it easy."
"……."
Kim Rae-bin didn't answer, but it wasn't a rejection.
It was because he was debating whether he should say this. It was thanks to his suppressed inquisitive nature being somewhat revived.
"Um, Hyung."
"Yeah?"
In the end, Kim Rae-bin asked cautiously.
His question.
"Then, do you still… plan on regaining your memories?"
"I’m curious about that too."
Another voice cut in.
"……!"
Thud.
Whether he had finished his conversation with the production crew or not, Park Moon-dae had opened the door and walked in, throwing out that comment.
Of course, the truth was that he had left on a pretext to let the two of them talk, but that didn't matter now.
Don't tell me none of this worked?
Did he really not have a single change of heart?
Park Moon-dae was about to seriously re-evaluate his own abilities, but before that, he checked Ryu Cheong-woo’s expression.
"That’s right."
Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo had a fairly relaxed expression.
It wasn't resignation.
There was definitely a change.
"……."
In that case.
Park Moon-dae decided to dig a little deeper.
"But it seems like your reason for wanting to find them has changed a bit."
"…Hmm, it’s the opposite, actually."
Ryu Cheong-woo rubbed his chin.
"I’ve realized more clearly why I hated the idea of regaining my memories."
At the unexpected answer, Park Moon-dae momentarily repeated the words in his mind.
The reason he hated it?
Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo answered as if he had heard Park Moon-dae’s inner thoughts.
"Because it felt like losing."
"……?!"
At the bombshell statement, even Kim Rae-bin’s mouth fell open. But Ryu Cheong-woo continued calmly.
"I told you before, didn't I? Seeing Cha Yu-jin, it seemed like he changed a lot after regaining his memories."
That was true.
And I think he said he hated it because it felt like becoming a different person.
Park Moon-dae recalled the conversation from back then.
"……."
"Yeah. He looked very comfortable. He looked happy, and he seemed to have room to breathe. It was good."
Ryu Cheong-woo described Cha Yu-jin’s healthy state in the most positive light, smiling faintly.
"But I didn't want to become like that."
"Pardon?"
"Rationalizing that someone else who succeeded in a way I don't even know is the 'real me'… it felt like giving up everything and taking the easy way out to be comfortable."
It was a fairly harsh repulsion.
It might have been a kind of degenerated pride or self-esteem.
But to realize that so vividly, Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo had forgotten his pride for quite a long time.
"So I’d rather show that I can achieve as much as that person and take that spot for myself."
"……."
"Though this is also just a rationalization."
Since it was an imitation.
Ryu Cheong-woo added calmly.
Park Moon-dae asked.
"From the beginning?"
"From the beginning."
From the moment he woke up in this body and assessed the situation, Ryu Cheong-woo had reached such a fairly extreme conclusion.
The reason that was possible was that he had actually repeated similar kinds of worries for several years during Steer.
His own usefulness.
—What on earth can I even do?
But in truth, Ryu Cheong-woo wasn't the type of person to crave an exit after gloomy self-reflection and agony.
He was the type to find clear answers to complex problems and execute them immediately.
It was just that during Steer, nothing had a clear answer, so he never got the chance to escape those worries.
Perhaps that was why it had been even more painful.
A long, slow fall.
However.
"I don't feel that way anymore."
Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo answered Park Moon-dae with the gaze of someone who had already realized the situation.
"Today’s stage was probably your way of trying to cheer me up. Thank you."
"……."
At the same time, Park Moon-dae realized.
His way of speaking has changed.
Now, instead of trying to replicate 'TeSTAR’s Ryu Cheong-woo,' he was using a slightly assertive and level tone.
Park Moon-dae guessed that was likely the tone he had used during Steer.
And the conversation progressed.
"Ah, I have something I’m curious about too."
"What is it?"
"When you were trying to persuade me to want to regain my memories at first, I think there was something you were going to say."
"……."
"Can I hear it?"
Park Moon-dae smiled faintly.
"Of course."
He brought out the words he had prepared.
"You say Cha Yu-jin changed a lot after regaining his memories, but he just reclaimed what was his. It’s the same for you, Hyung."
"Hmm."
"…There were many good experiences we had as this group."
"Right."
"They are achievements you made."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
If it had been the Ryu Cheong-woo of a few days ago, those words wouldn't have resonated at all.
Since he had almost forgotten what achievement even felt like, he wouldn't have been able to think of them as results he had accomplished.
They would have still felt like someone else’s.
But the stage he just saw.
This small experience opened up the possibility for him to guess what that would feel like.
So he smiled and answered like this.
"All right. I’m curious."
That night, Steer’s Ryu Cheong-woo concluded that he would reclaim himself as a member of TeSTAR.