Chapter 570
Chapter 570
The next morning.
Inside TeSTAR’s vehicle, currently moving to a schedule.
“Moon-dae…! Um, the manager is asking what we want to do for breakfast….”
“…….”
“M-Moon-dae…?”
“…Oh. Anything is fine.”
“……Okay.”
I leaned my head against the window. My brain was working overtime, running calculations.
It was about the group’s future activities.
‘It’s a crossroads.’
The problem was that both paths ended at the edge of a cliff.
If we released an intense full-length album now, the general public, who expected easy-listening music, would turn away.
However, if we continued down the easy-listening route, we wouldn't be able to stop the fandom from drifting away.
‘And that would be the end of the Cultural Merit Award, too.’
It was a nightmare.
If I had to filter out the downsides and somehow find a middle ground… there was a hybrid option: easy-listening with intense choreography.
Just like our debut song, <Magical Boy>.
‘But that won’t get a reaction overseas.’
What works for global K-pop fans is always an intense concept.
Synchronized dancing, heavy beats, and strong melodies.
Of course, if you want to go beyond that and gain support from the general public in the English-speaking world, there is a stage where you target the easy-listening style popular there.
But that’s a method used by those in an even higher class.
First of all, it’s only possible once you’ve secured a global fandom on the level of VTIC… and if you’re not careful, you could lose the group’s identity and struggle from the next album onward.
Just like now.
‘Shit.’
Furthermore, since the fandom has already begun to drift, there’s a high probability that even this ‘easy-listening with high-level choreography’ approach would be perceived as a ‘half-hearted’ attempt.
People would interpret it as a trend toward ‘we’re not doing intense idol stuff anymore.’
I pressed my fingers against my brow.
‘I don’t care about getting cursed at.’
The problem was that there would be a significant number of fans who wouldn't even bother to criticize us, but would quietly leave, saying, “I had fun stanning you guys, bye~”
Perhaps because I had just seen that rookie co-ed group succeed with an absurd strategy, the ominous feeling wouldn't go away.
A difficult time to maintain our position.
‘The way to rise is changing.’
It felt as if… the time for a generational shift was approaching.
“…….”
In fact, TeSTAR’s years of experience might not even be the problem.
Even with the new year, it was only our seventh year. Only about five and a half years had passed since our debut.
‘There are plenty of groups who are more senior than TeSTAR and are still in their prime.’
The problem was… TeSTAR had been successful since the very beginning.
Large-scale concerts, tours, ranking high on the annual digital charts, and breaking records for rookie group album sales.
All of these things happened in our first year.
And until now, unless there was a special situation like a car accident, we had consistently broken our own records, following an upward graph.
‘So, I thought we managed things well by alternating between variety shows and albums so people wouldn't get tired of TeSTAR… but.’
In fact, the problem might have been in the exact opposite direction.
Perceptions like these.
Even if people weren't tired of TeSTAR, they predicted that TeSTAR would be tired of TeSTAR’s activities.
And just as expectations are reflected in stock prices in advance, the flow of looking for other idols to replace TeSTAR beforehand was…….
“M-Moon-dae.”
I turned my head.
“Here.”
Seon A-hyun was holding out a toasted sandwich, still piping hot in its wrapper.
It seemed the manager had picked up breakfast.
“Thanks.”
I absentmindedly unwrapped it and took a bite.
I didn't have the luxury to evaluate the taste.
Meanwhile, a quiet voice asked from beside me.
“Um… by any chance. Are you sick, or…… is something bothering you?”
“…….”
“You look a bit, well, exhausted.”
Should I tell him?
Seon A-hyun was a good listener, and if I brought up this issue, he would listen intently and then worry and agonize over it with me.
No, most of the guys in this group were like that. That’s why….
I opened my mouth.
“It’s because I did extra work early this morning.”
“…?”
“I was looking into the rookies who beat us for the number one spot on the charts.”
I pointed at two people with my finger.
“With them.”
“Wha?”
The guys who were each stuffing toast into their mouths blinked. It was Keun Se-jin and Cha Yu-jin.
Of course, both of them looked perfectly fine. They weren't the type to have the kind of stamina that gets exhausted from a little lack of sleep, nor were they the type to show it even if they were tired.
In that sense, this situation where I was the only one saying I was tired was…….
‘Is it strange?’
Cha Yu-jin spoke up with a look of pity.
“Whoo… is it because Moon-dae Hyung is old now?”
“…….”
I’m only two years older than you, you punk.
He’s been acting like this ever since the new year started.
“Is the toast good?”
Realizing that if he wasn't careful, he might end up chewing on toast for dinner as well, Cha Yu-jin flinched and quickly corrected himself. He certainly was quick on the uptake.
“I made a mistake! There are Hyungs older than Moon-dae Hyung! Bae Se-jin Hyung is the oldest!”
“……??”
Bae Se-jin, who was suddenly hit out of nowhere, wore a look of absurdity, and Keun Se-jin, who was on the verge of bursting into laughter, smoothly changed the subject.
“Hey, what are you talking about! International age is official in Korea now! We still have plenty of time left in our twenties~”
“That is a logical statement!”
The guys, chatting noisily while eating their warm breakfast, didn't pry into my condition any further.
I went back to chewing my toast.
“…….”
This was just right.
‘There’s no need to go around blabbing about my predictions for no reason.’
Prepare yourselves for a downward trend no matter what we do now?
The Cultural Merit Award is out the window, so let’s just prepare for our joint enlistment next year?
‘Saying that would only serve to scare them.’
Even if I couldn't boost morale, I couldn't go around crushing it like that.
I was satisfied with having lightened the team atmosphere reasonably well, and…….
“Wow, Park Moon-dae was acting all cute for the cameras when the new year hit, but his stamina is also at a cute level…….”
That was that.
I stealthily took Keun Se-jin’s unopened can of carbonated water, shook it mercilessly, and then quietly returned it to its original spot.
Cha Yu-jin giggled as he recorded the scene on video.
“Ack! What is this!”
“Hahaha!”
In that way, my suspicious behavior seemed to pass by, buried in the noisy and warm atmosphere.
However, even in this chaos, there was one person who remained quietly silent, lost in thought.
Because there was one guy there who was all too familiar with handling a teammate who predicted a pessimistic future.
“Moon-dae. Can we talk for a moment?”
“…….”
That afternoon.
The moment I entered the waiting room, I realized that Ryu Cheong-woo had been waiting to talk to me.
I went into the inner room of the waiting room, where there was a cot, with him.
And instead of taking a nap, we both sat on the edge of the mattress.
“A-hyun was worried. He said Moon-dae’s condition wasn't good today, wondering if you overdid it early this morning.”
I see.
Even though I tried not to show it, it seemed the fact that my head was a mess had leaked out subconsciously. I sighed and nodded.
“As I said, it’s just because I’m tired.”
“Really?”
“…….”
“Moon-dae. Right now, I’m not asking as your cousin, I’m asking as the group leader to a member.”
Ah, damn it.
I pressed my eyelids before opening my mouth.
“Please keep this to yourself, Hyung.”
And then, I began to pour out my analysis of TeSTAR’s current situation to Ryu Cheong-woo.
The dilemma we were in.
How the song I had pushed for, saying ‘let’s do what we want,’ had ended up with a certain butterfly effect.
“…So, no matter when or how we release the next album, I don’t think we can avoid the image of being on a downward trend.”
Ryu Cheong-woo didn't look shocked.
Nor did he laugh it off as nonsense; he simply nodded quietly and listened intently to my words.
Because of that, I was able to finish speaking calmly.
“……I haven't thought of a solution yet, so I was keeping my mouth shut for now.”
“I see.”
“…….”
“I heard you loud and clear. Thanks for telling me.”
Ryu Cheong-woo smiled broadly.
“But… from where I’m standing, it doesn't seem like a big problem.”
“…….”
What?
“Moon-dae.”
Ryu Cheong-woo interlaced his fingers and spoke softly.
“It’s okay even if TeSTAR gets the image of being on a downward trend.”
What kind of crazy talk was this all of a sudden?
“It’s not like our group will suddenly disappear or all our fans will vanish because of that.”
Did he not understand?
“I’m saying there’s a high probability that fans will leave because of that image, leading to an actual downward trend.”
“Even so, if we release another good album, they’ll listen. If we show a great performance, they’ll watch.”
“Yes. But only some of them.”
People are fundamentally less interested in things whose trend has passed. TeSTAR would end up in the same position.
“Right. You’re saying our prime will pass…. But Moon-dae.”
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a bitter smile.
“A prime is a prime because it passes.”
“……!”
Those words were familiar.
They were… the words I had said to Cheong-ryeo when he was suffering from Reset Syndrome.
—A prime is a prime because it passes.
That’s right.
Every group has a moment where they stagnate, no matter how well they were doing.
Whether it’s T-Holic, VTIC, or TeSTAR.
Whether that’s years from now, or right now.
“Even if we receive the Cultural Merit Award, it’s just delaying the timing, and everyone except for me and Yu-jin will eventually have to enlist.”
“…….”
“When that hiatus comes, you’ll worry again that our prime is over, right?”
Adding, ‘I haven't brought it up until now because it felt awkward to mention it since I’m not going,’ Ryu Cheong-woo continued.
“But we’ll still make activity plans according to that.”
Calm and logical words.
“Of course, it would be great if our results were always good. But. Even if our results drop, it doesn't mean this group is over.”
—TeSTAR can continue to promote well while releasing as many albums as they want, and there will be people who listen every time.
I quietly let those words into my ears.
Then I sent them to my brain and slowly digested them.
‘I see.’
It wasn't as if I was under a status effect like ‘Death if Not 1st Place,’ but I had been thinking as if I were.
‘As if TeSTAR would die if we weren't top-tier.’
But that wasn't true.
This group would continue to exist, and we wouldn't suddenly dissolve just because our results weren't coming out. In the first place, we were the ones who established this company.
TeSTAR wouldn't suddenly disband.
‘Right.’
I cleanly admitted that I had been too buried in one way of thinking.
And after taking a deep breath, I responded with a much more settled mind.
“I understand. …Thank you, Hyung.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Seeing that my complexion had improved significantly, Ryu Cheong-woo grinned as if relieved.
However.
“But it still feels like crap.”
“…?!”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep if we hit a downward trend because of a misunderstanding like this.”
Isn't it incredibly unfair?
‘It’s not like a controversy broke out, or the album quality went to shit.’
No, damn it, who would have known that a digital single released just for fan service would suddenly do so well and lead to this kind of misunderstanding?
Especially when we had already drawn up this year’s annual plan to climb even higher….
“To be honest, I don’t see an immediate answer, but I want to find a solution somehow.”
At that.
“Right. I knew you’d say that!”
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a big grin.
“……?”
“Ah, sorry. Um…… actually, even though I said all that, I still hoped you’d want to do your best and take on the challenge.”
Ryu Cheong-woo’s smile faded slightly.
“Because not being able to do your best doesn't feel good either…….”
“…….”
He was likely thinking back to his time in Steer. But Ryu Cheong-woo quickly brushed off that look.
“But let’s remember this.”
He reached out a hand.
“First of all…… it’s not your fault that the fans have this misunderstanding.”
“…!”
Ryu Cheong-woo said we should accept that sometimes unexpected things happen.
“……Thank you.”
“Haha. It’s the truth, so there’s nothing to be thankful for. Um, and what I’m about to say next is the most important part.”
Ryu Cheong-woo smiled and grabbed my shoulder.
“We’re not doing this just because we’re afraid of our prime ending and trying to do something about it; we’re doing it because we want to keep challenging ourselves.”
The reason we worked so hard, agonized so fiercely, and continued to try so desperately wasn't because we would die if we didn't.
It was because we had a goal.
“We aren't being chased; we are the ones chasing. Let’s not forget that.”
That was enough.
“Yes.”
I shook his hand, acknowledging those words.
Now then…….
“Please call a meeting.”
“Sure.”
Let’s have all seven of us squeeze our brains like we’re squeezing lemons and try to create something, whether it works or not.
A solution.