Chapter 608
Chapter 608
Just before midnight.
Ryu Seo-jin, an office worker and the twin fansite master for Lee Se-jin and Park Moon-dae, sat before her PC after a long stint of overtime.
“…….”
It had been a long road.
The past two months, spent working like a dog to prepare so she could pour all her annual and half-day leaves into TeSTAR’s promotion period, had been grueling.
‘In a way, maybe it’s for the best.’
She’d been so busy working that she hadn’t even had time to properly look into people’s reactions.
And right now, the internet was a literal melting pot of chaos.
The tension was so thick it felt like it would burst at the prick of a needle, inflated to a precarious point without a single leak.
When the teaser for the agency’s group variety show appeared, there were moments when more than half of the trending posts were related to that news.
This was because suspicions had been raised that they were appearing together on purpose.
Of course, the conclusion was usually, "Would LeTi really be that crazy?" but public opinion was so unhinged that even such speculations became heated debates.
On related communities and social media, the heat was so intense that the tiny minority who weren't interested stopped logging in altogether, sick of seeing it on their timelines.
It was no longer a situation where individuals or specific fandoms could be accused of misleading public opinion.
‘I have no idea how this is going to turn out now.’
Even she, uncharacteristically, was starting to feel anxious, to the point where she broke her own unspoken rule.
She had subtly asked her older sister, Ryu Seo-rin, who had been a writer for Aju-sa.
She asked if her sister knew why TeSTAR’s comeback overlapped with VTIC’s.
—…It didn’t seem like they aimed for it.
“Phew.”
That vague answer made her feel even more crazed.
Even industry insiders didn't know.
However, the lack of a clear conclusion only made people more anxious.
‘In a sense, they really… succeeded in making it so people can’t look away.’
Including herself.
She eventually mixed a highball and sat back down in front of her PC.
And then, finally, the time came.
“…….”
In the silence, a new video notification popped up before her.
[TeSTAR - 'Bad Feelings' Official M/V]
The background of the thumbnail was… the interior of a dark, shadowed warehouse.
And there was Park Moon-dae’s pale face, looking straight ahead with a wound on his cheek.
His mouth was slightly parted as if in surprise, layered over his usual somewhat expressionless base.
His slightly long black hair was scattered, and even at a glance, he looked incredibly handsome.
It was certainly… pretty and handsome, but.
“Ha.”
The wound… and that composition.
……There was a 90% chance it was another supernatural worldview concept.
Ryu Seo-jin pressed her hand to her forehead.
“Of all things……”
This time, if the concept was too heavy, the backlash could be severe.
She knew TeSTAR’s formula was to target both domestic recognition and the fandom with a combination of ‘hardcore conceptual content’ + ‘public-friendly songs and choreography.’
‘It was a logical strategy.’
In fact, she had thought it was quite clever and even felt proud of them for it.
However, that was only possible because the general public didn't usually care much about idol worldviews, music videos, or settings.
‘But this time, everyone will be paying attention.’
It was the side effect of the hype.
There were so many people from the general public waiting for anything to drop. Because they were curious!
‘And as soon as it comes out, it’ll be compared to VTIC.’
It didn't help that VTIC’s conceptual work was famous for being well-received overseas, making domestic public evaluation even more generous toward them.
‘In comparison, if TeSTAR’s title music video looks even a little bit silly this time, it’s an outright negative.’
Quality, content, structure.
Thinking about the public opinion that would relentlessly dig into even the slightest hint of something to ridicule, Ryu Seo-jin pressed her eyes.
Of course, looking at it another way, they had avoided the tragic fate of being buried without notice despite being genuinely attractive…
‘But the side effects will be serious.’
…Things like that.
The twin fansite master’s brow furrowed as she anticipated the vivid reactions.
Yet, if TeSTAR had released a purely public-friendly MV, their reputation overseas as ‘artists with a great experimental spirit’ would wither away…….
There was no way TeSTAR would choose that.
“Haa……”
Fine.
She would endure a bit of ridicule. It would all vanish if the song was good and the performance was solid.
‘It’ll probably just be about the same level of aggro as the mermaid thing in the "Promise" music video.’
She drank her highball with a half-resigned heart.
And this time, for real, she pressed the play button on the MV.
Click.
The first thing to appear on the black screen was a logo that looked almost corporate.
[TeSTAR in
—Keep It Safe]
The words vanished as soon as she read them, and the video began.
Whish.
Bright images flashed by.
Laughter, the sound of a bell, that scene by the window with fluttering curtains…
‘……A classroom.’
A school.
The playground, a broken school gate, a clock, a hallway, uniforms, desks, a messy chalkboard…….
The scenes passed through the peripheral cuts of their debut album Magical Boy and Shining Star, then flowed past Midnight and next, Airplane, and Promise.
A panorama that felt like the growth process of youth, or perhaps the growth process of TeSTAR.
That feast of countless short images…….
Clack.
It stopped, showing a keyboard in an office.
Tap, tap-tap, tap.
A background filled with the noise of classic phone ringtones, voices, and the sound of papers turning.
A man’s white hand in a dress shirt sleeve, resting on a black typewriter, tapped the keys.
The camera panned up to reveal his face.
It was Park Moon-dae, wearing a neat office suit and black glasses.
“……!”
And then, over a bassline that sounded like the tapping of a pen, Kim Rae-bin’s low singing rap layered prominently.
[Get this feeling
Then I'll fall and fall]
The music surged.
A sentimental yet rhythmical beat and smoothly popping guitar modulation flowed into a sophisticated pop melody.
The accompaniment, with its public-friendly and mature flavor, stepped forward smoothly.
At the same time, Park Moon-dae lightly pushed off his seat, threw off his glasses, and stood up.
He was dressed in a perfectly fitted gray suit.
[Walking on the asphalt
Barefoot
Slowly, calmly, as always]
Lee Se-jin, who had been sitting behind him, gave a smirk, put on his employee ID card, stood up to join him, and came to the front of Park Moon-dae.
Then, a pair choreography with light steps and raised hands.
[Still Reload
Reloading
Fearlessly, feverlessly, without you]
As they moved their feet and snapped their hands, the camera rotated, and Seon A-hyun, who had been watering a plant, smoothly joined the center and sang.
[Even in the dreams I have every day
You appear
So today again, sleepwalking]
Every time the camera turned, a member appeared one by one to perform, joining the formation to create TeSTAR.
Cha Yu-jin with his tie nearly undone and draped over his shoulder, Bae Se-jin wearing a coat, and Kim Rae-bin in a perfectly fitted black suit.
Even Ryu Cheong-woo with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
Even the twin fansite master’s eyes widened.
‘Is it a one-take performance with an office concept?’
Handsome idols with tall, well-proportioned builds performing in clean suits—what fan could possibly dislike that?
[No resolution is of any use]
And matching that rhythm, the screen occasionally flipped, showing the modern movement of two white hands racing across a black keyboard, matching the choreography.
It was sensory.
Just as the expectation that a modern, reasonably artistic music video was being produced crossed her mind.
[I've received so much
I can't throw a single thing away
I'll give you a gift too]
Suddenly, ripples appeared on the keyboard.
Drip.
[…….]
In the silence.
Park Moon-dae raised his hand and stroked the back of his hand where the ripple had touched.
A drop of blood was smeared there.
[These bad feelings!
Don't you escape either
Think of me every morning]
Inside the office, TeSTAR continued to perform on stage with dancers, each wearing a three-piece suit that fit them perfectly.
Using gentleman’s umbrellas, an intense and cheerful choreographic formation unfolded, pushing aside office desks.
[These bad feelings!
You take them too
Take them out every day, like me]
But on one side, a peculiar storyline unfolded.
TeSTAR members discovering strange traces while working overtime in the office ceiling, or while drinking coffee in the pantry during a break.
A charred logo, secret passages, hidden symbols.
[Umm- um, Dduru- du
Even when the sun sets and the moonlight falls
Feelings I can't forget]
From a mysterious black torso covered in white cloth to being startled upon discovering a strange altar in a basement warehouse.
Explosions, faces turning, hands knocking on doors, and A4 papers flying through the air.
Bae Se-jin with trembling hands, Ryu Cheong-woo signaling with his eyes,
And even Kim Rae-bin’s awl smashing an office window.
[Uuuuuu-!]
All the cutscenes passed by rapidly.
It was… like a highlight trailer for a drama.
‘What… is this?’
[Bad feelings!]
Meanwhile, TeSTAR’s performance, singing about an obsession with a departed relationship, was nearly over.
Cha Yu-jin, standing in the center, quickly spun and landed on his knees on the floor with a smirk.
[These bad feelings-!]
And then, the ending in the dark office, amidst the glowing spotlight of the lamps.
[Hoo!]
Passing Lee Se-jin blowing a kiss, colorful paperclips showered over the camera.
Ending credits.
‘…….’
“Phew.”
Only after the music video ended did the twin fansite master let out her breath.
And reflexively, her hands moved.
‘The comments are….’
As expected, short screams in all sorts of languages were rampant.
If she picked out the ones with actual content, they were like this:
It was understandable.
‘They definitely aimed for this.’
The destructive power of TeSTAR, pouring out the sophisticated and sexy suit concept they had been saving up without warning, was immense.
Because they had mostly worn school uniforms, techwear, old-fashioned uniforms, or reformed traditional clothes until now, the satisfaction of this basic thirst was enormous.
Even she, who was somewhat cynical, almost had all sorts of calculations rush through her head at the thought of taking stage photos right now!
‘…….’
She agreed.
However, regarding the strange storyline that began from the first chorus… as her reason returned, her mind began to grade it.
It certainly wasn't very cringy. That was a huge relief. But….
‘It felt a bit superficial somehow.’
Usually, even if an idol’s music video had a storyline, it was strictly part of a worldview for the fandom or for the impact of the song.
In other words, exaggerated, theatrical, and surreal aspects were often prominent.
Ultimately, it clearly showed that it was acting just for the short impact of the music video.
‘It was the same for TeSTAR.’
Moreover, because there was a famous actor among the members, it was well-controlled and stood out even more.
‘…Bae Se-jin.’
But these short cutscenes in the music video.
There, Bae Se-jin was shown on screen not with theatrical acting, but with a slightly awkward yet natural attitude and expression.
With a feeling more realistic than a drama.
‘Did they go this way to avoid being cringy?’
As a fan, it was interesting and experimental… but it felt like still cuts from a trailer, and because the performance without it was so good, it was actually a bit disappointing.
‘There are no elements that would help their results.’
Didn't it just eat up the playback time?
The twin fansite master thought with cold, analytical eyes.
‘If they’re going to overdo it with something like "MV Story Extended Film: 30 Minutes," please release it much later.’
It would only split the view count, and the general public who couldn't relate might react lukewarmly.
She was a bit worried, but for now, she decided to trust the sense of the idols she photographed.
Since they had even become independent, their say in matters must have grown stronger.
‘They said the detailed promotion schedule table would come out tomorrow, right?’
She’d know for sure when she checked then.
But the next day.
“…….”
She confirmed shocking news.
There was indeed a schedule for the release of additional content that seemed related to those short cutscenes in the music video.
And it was next week!
‘Then it overlaps with the release of VTIC’s music video.’
However, it wasn't the worst-case scenario the twin fansite master had anticipated.
Because it wasn't some half-baked MV extended version.
[TeSTAR's Strange Office Episode 1 Release]
It was their own self-produced content.
The "bait" that TeSTAR was traditionally famous for creating and supplying well during both promotion and rest periods.
Those cutscenes in the music video… were actually highlights from the self-produced office reality show that TeSTAR had filmed!
“…….”
It really was a trailer.
Staring blankly at the screen, the twin fansite master suddenly snapped out of it.
But wait.
In her mind, the images of those very significant, unique, and even slightly eerie cutscenes passed by.
‘If the still cuts were like that….’
Just what kind of self-produced content did TeSTAR film?