Chapter 604
Chapter 604
The sun had completely set, and the stars and moon hung over the outskirts of the MT filming site.
VTIC’s Chae-yul, who had sat down beside me, asked without hesitation, “Are you looking at the stars?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it!”
He looked up at the stars with a refreshed expression, then suddenly seemed to remember something. His eyes widened as he spoke.
“I felt a sense of déjà vu for some reason… I think it’s similar to when we went on that hiking variety show before! You know, when we drank cocoa and all that.”
…VTIC and TeSTAR were on a variety show together before?
‘Ah.’
I realized a moment too late.
That was… a story that no longer existed.
It happened in the world created by the System, where I was Ryu Gun-woo and debuted with the VTIC members through the LeTi Survival.
The group Wishes.
“…….”
Hiking, huh. Did we go on a variety show like that back then?
Since I was doing everything possible to win the Grand Prize within a year, I probably went everywhere regardless of whether it exhausted my image or not.
Then, Jin Chae-yul, looking a few years older than he did back then, spoke to Park Moon-dae.
“I used to call you Gun-woo hyung back then.”
“The situation was what it was at the time.”
At my answer, Chae-yul let out a shy chuckle.
“We’re on the same team for this MT, just like back then! Our Yellow Team!”
“…….”
“Let’s speak casually like we did then. Do you remember? We agreed to drop the formalities!”
I remembered.
—Um, it might be hard to call you Gun-woo hyung once we go back… but can we still speak casually? Not as Moon-dae-ssi, but just Moon-dae!
And he had told me to speak comfortably to him too, but I hadn't answered.
This time, I just smiled.
“…….”
Perhaps sensing that silence was a tacit refusal, Jin Chae-yul didn't push further.
However, he soon continued in a voice that wasn't at all discouraged.
“Anyway, today was really fun, wasn't it!”
“Yes.”
Well… we did all sorts of ridiculous things, but it wasn't at a level that would be dangerous for an idol.
They adjusted things so we wouldn't cross the line.
‘The production crew is good at their jobs.’
The T-Holic guys have good luck with their staff. Smacking my lips, I glanced at the production crew and the T-Holic members talking in the distance.
“It’s been a really long time since I’ve been on a variety show with so many seniors and juniors. Is it the same for you, Moon-dae-ssi?”
“Yes. It is.”
“I hope there’s another chance next time!”
No. That can’t happen.
‘By then, the hype will have died down, and it’ll just stress out the fans.’
Jin Chae-yul, who had just uttered something with terrifying implications as if it were nothing, continued to chatter away, stepping on landmines.
“Um, about our group chat.”
You mean the group chat you guys invited me to without permission?
And why bring up the place where contact was cut off as soon as our comebacks overlapped, thanks to Cheong-ryeo’s strict monitoring…
“Would it be okay if I said hello there now? No one’s posted in a while….”
“…….”
“It’s nice to see everyone like this since we’re having comebacks at the same time… but that part is a bit disappointing.”
I looked back at him.
It was unexpected.
‘So he did notice.’
Two top-tier groups with similar weight classes, for whom this comeback was extremely important.
It seemed he had also sensed that if we released albums at the same time, the relationship between us would inevitably become awkward.
Except… he actually felt disappointed about it.
“We could ask how everyone’s doing sometimes! And crack jokes…. What do you think?”
I let out a short laugh.
“Sure.”
“What a relief!”
Jin Chae-yul’s face instantly brightened.
“Mmm. I didn't want things to become uncomfortable with the TeSTAR members. We went through something special together, after all.”
Wishes.
Even though it must feel as faint as a dream now, it seemed he had placed his own meaning on that experience.
After appearing to hesitate for a moment, he added this:
“Um, it’s not like we changed our comeback date because we wanted to overlap with TeSTAR on purpose. We’d planned to do it on this date since before we enlisted….”
Right.
Cheong-ryeo was likely the only one who considered that far ahead when setting the comeback date.
I figured the other VTIC members probably just knew it as ‘comeback immediately after discharge.’
So, I wasn't actually angry at these guys.
“We’ve formed a bond like this. I hope we can keep in touch, meet up occasionally, and continue being friends.”
“…….”
I gave a small nod.
“Exactly. Besides, Moon-dae-ssi, you’re already close with Cheong-ryeo hyung!”
That’s not true.
I looked back at Chae-yul with complicated eyes, but he had already said his piece and was looking at the stars with a strangely refreshed gaze.
It felt silly to say anything now, so I turned my head back toward the sky as well.
Even though we were on the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do, the stars shone brightly, unlike in Seoul.
“Being like this… reminds me of when TeSTAR debuted. We met at a music show, didn't we?”
We did.
‘Was that already about six years ago?’
Reflecting on it now, I realized I’d gone through quite a lot to get here.
In this short-lived entertainment industry, especially the idol business, both groups have managed to hang on tenaciously for years without falling.
Feeling strangely amused, I replied casually.
“…Though the situation is reversed this time.”
“Huh?”
“Because you seniors are making your comeback after ours.”
“Ah.”
He seemed to realize they were in the advantageous position.
I spoke to Jin Chae-yul, who now wore a slightly embarrassed expression.
“But I don't intend to lose.”
“…!”
Jin Chae-yul stared at me with wide eyes for a moment before finally bursting into laughter.
“I know. We felt the same way!”
When I nodded, Chae-yul flopped onto his back.
“And really… we prepared a lot this time!”
“…….”
“I don't feel like VTIC will lose.”
Is that so?
“TeSTAR feels the same way.”
“Haha.”
Jin Chae-yul didn't argue.
We quietly reaffirmed our fighting spirit.
“…….”
“…….”
Then, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“By the way.”
“Yes!”
“When exactly did you seniors film your music video?”
Given their hairstyles and everything, there shouldn't have been any time to film it.
‘Even if they wore wigs, there wouldn't have been enough time for CG post-processing.’
Jin Chae-yul provided a clear answer.
“Oh, before we enlisted! We’d already decided everything about the comeback back then.”
“…….”
Scary bastards.
“Oh, and the TeSTAR intro video was really cool.”
“Thank you.”
I’m glad I convinced Seon A-hyun to release it.
Just as I was inwardly scoffing, Jin Chae-yul held out his hand.
“Let’s both promote without any regrets!”
“……."
“Ah. Is this something I heard from Jae-hyun hyung?”
Don't bring that guy up.
I shook the hand Chae-yul offered. He smiled and waved his hand.
‘…Not bad.’
I also let out a smirk.
“You should speak casually, Senior. Since that’s what we decided.”
“Oh!”
Jin Chae-yul looked delighted and started rambling about how he mixes formal and informal speech even with people he’s comfortable with, before shouting as if he couldn't hold it back anymore.
“Ugh, can I ask just one more time? Let’s both speak casually!”
Good grief. He’s persistent.
“Fine.”
“…!”
“But only in private.”
“Of course!”
Jin Chae-yul nodded with a grin.
Then he stood up energetically.
“Oh, they’re giving out drinks over there. I’ll go grab some, Moon-dae!”
“Got it. Hyung.”
I gave him a light wave as he left, then turned my gaze back to the sky.
‘It’ll be released soon.’
The MV will be revealed, the album will be out, the digital tracks will be released….
And the performances will begin.
A period of intense promotion will unfold, clashing fiercely with a powerful competitor.
Once this filming is over, it will begin in earnest.
And the broadcast of this footage will likely be released around that time as well.
‘…I should film this variety show more seriously.’
Making that resolution once more, I thought about the next part of this two-day, one-night MT.
‘What’s left is… the Random Play Dance?’
That was the real deal.
Thinking that, I was about to get up and head back to the lodging with Jin Chae-yul, who was holding the drinks.
“It’s too early to go to sleep, right?”
“Pardon…?”
“The production crew has prepared one more game!”
“Oooooh!”
A sudden announcement.
And…….
“Oh, it’s a courage test!”
“…….”
“I don't really know any scary stories…. Do you know a lot, Moon-dae?”
No.
[Start!]
“Aaaaah!!”
“Aaaaaaaah!”
…I want to make it clear that while I was almost left behind with Malang Dalkom’s Su-a, we definitely weren't last.
For the record, Cheong-ryeo was acting like a total fake during this time too.
“Ah, ghost stories.”
No matter how I looked at it, he wasn't the type to be afraid of ghosts, but he perfectly pulled off the vibe of a refined model student trying to hide his slight panic.
“I don't know many scary stories… but I’ll try to pick one from the ones I’ve heard.”
“Oh~”
He kept it moderately scary and substantial enough to avoid being boring.
However, seeing as he didn't shut the mouth of Ju-dan, who was excitedly oversharing TMI like, “This is a storyline from a classic novel whose copyright has expired, so I can speak freely about it,” I started having other suspicions.
‘He’s only looking out for his own image.’
I watched with suspicious eyes as the guy acted like an actor on an interview program, trying to maintain his image more than any other VTIC member.
‘Did he feel nothing after seeing my axe earlier?’
Was he planning to keep his own image clean while letting the other members handle the impact?
It felt somewhat suspicious for a choice made by a guy who always aimed for maximum efficiency.
‘Hmm.’
“The winner is… unbelievable, the Green Team again! Kim Rae-bin-ssi from Green Team <Safety First>!”
“Wooooo!”
I gave a congratulatory gesture to the ghost story machine, Kim Rae-bin, from outside the camera’s view, then finished the night’s filming while carefully observing the VTIC guys.
And the next day.
“To think the day would come when we’d run this with this lineup… the writer’s grin is practically reaching her ears right now.”
“They said they brought in extra cameras just for this game.”
The long-awaited Random Play Dance challenge had arrived.
And it was here that I realized what Cheong-ryeo’s aim was.
*
The writer for <T-Holic’s Show Business> picked up her pen.
The alpha and omega, the flower and the fruit of idol group filming—the Random Play Dance was about to begin.
The production crew had been agonizing over it.
How could they make a Random Play Dance that was different from other MT content?
Actually, the basic formula was simple.
And usually, for idol content, one more thing was added for tension.
Well, there were variations like having only one person from each team come out, but the more complex the rules became, the less intuitive and fun they tended to be.
So, instead of messing with this proven formula, the production crew decided to add another element.
Namely… cyber spectators!
They would broadcast this MT’s <Random Play Dance> in real-time to a limited audience of only 300 people online, collect their reactions, and use them in the captions!
They could also induce the idols to burst out laughing by reading funny, over-the-top comments.
‘It’s okay if a few team spoilers get out in the process.’
If anything, that would only fuel the fans’ expectations!
The writer checked the equipment with a sharp eye.
On the tablet connected in front of her, real-time comments and small monitor screens began to appear.
Profanity and certain sensitive words were filtered out, but most comments poured in freely.
And as the cameras properly captured the screen, the chat began to explode.
The sight of the idols naturally preparing on the grass was visible clearly and up close!
Amidst all sorts of reactions from fans of the cast, regular viewers of T-Holic’s variety shows, and people who had just applied for fun.
“Then, let’s begin!”
The Random Play Dance started.