Chapter 637
Chapter 637
At some point, every time I see that guy Cheong-ryeo, this comes as a "buy one, get one free" deal.
"Woof!"
I watched the dog running toward me, its tail wagging so hard it looked like its butt might fly off.
Ever since I looked after him a few times while his owner was in the military, he’s somehow become even more attached to me.
"Is it walk time?"
"It is."
This wasn't the cafe where I usually ran into this guy.
It was a walking trail in an apartment complex that was often shrouded in fog at dawn due to its geography. This was exactly where TeSTAR’s dorm had been before we changed companies and moved. It was also where VTIC’s current dorm was located.
‘Did he say they only live together during promotion periods?’
It was a space for residents only, but since it was dawn, there were no people around, and the fog made it hard to see.
This meant that meeting Cheong-ryeo here wasn't just because we were both damn busy and dawn was the only time we had.
Sitting on a bench in black clothing, Cheong-ryeo spoke.
"I thought it would be better to completely eliminate the possibility of any 'intentional meeting' sightings coming out at a time like this."
He was right.
He was absolutely right.
Our groups had just finished a period of gritting our teeth and going all out over chart results after releasing albums at the same time. There was absolutely no need to make the fans feel like, 'We’re all happy friends getting along great. You guys are the only ones fighting.'
‘Ugh, just thinking about it makes my hair fall out.’
And it was convenient that we both understood that without needing to explain it.
"Whine..."
The ball of fur hovering in front of my knees looked back and forth between me and his guardian as if asking if we weren't going to walk anymore, then plopped down on the ground as if giving up.
A brief silence followed, filled only by the sound of the dog panting.
"..."
Come to think of it, it wasn't like I had anything specific to say just because we were meeting face-to-face.
Well, since we had released albums in a way that was essentially like throwing punches at each other's faces, it wasn't awkward to think there were things to settle now that the work was done, but...
‘It’s not like we made a bet.’
Since I had technically won, there was no need to laugh in his face and ask if he conceded.
‘Am I a kid?’
I could have said something like, "Why the hell did you throw down the gauntlet in the first place?" but I just patted the dog and leaned back against the bench.
The winner was allowed that much.
TeSTAR had definitely won.
"Junior. It wouldn't be strange for you to be extremely happy right now."
"I wonder."
But if you asked if we had completely crushed the opponent, that was a bit ambiguous.
"Our song only started showing real results in the US with the remix, so our promotion periods ended up being a bit different from yours."
TeSTAR’s remix promotions began right around the time VTIC’s comeback promotions were ending. The timing had shifted slightly.
Just as a fire needs a steady supply of wood to keep burning, the same went for hype.
‘We milked it for about a month, and by the time the MT variety show was over, the "simultaneous release" bait wasn't drawing attention anymore.’
Both of us appearing at Glastonbury was the final piece of firewood. In modern society, people get bored and tired too quickly to talk about who won and who lost for months on end.
Besides, it wasn't like we just did "okay."
I heard that even when it came up on the internet, it wasn't even a matter of controversy; it was just settled with, "This year was all about the TeSTAR remix."
If you called that a victory in the truest sense, then it was. However...
"You guys got everything you needed, too."
A refresh after military discharge, fandom consolidation, and domestic buzz. VTIC had gained a significant number of new fans, so if they made their next album well, they would maintain their momentum.
They probably knew they’d lose to us on the digital charts anyway, so the only thing they lost out on by taking us head-on unexpectedly was... the Glastonbury buzz?
‘Even then, they actually walked away with the honor of being headliners.’
So, to summarize.
I thought this "True Competition" would be a zero-sum game where the winner takes all, but in reality, it turned out to be close to a win-win for both teams.
...Suddenly, I remembered something Cheong-ryeo said during the MT variety show filming a few months ago.
—Since it's a moment that won't come again, I should raise it well... with care and balance.
"Did you see this far ahead?"
"I wonder."
Cheong-ryeo shifted only his eyes to look at me. The corners of his mouth under his black cap lifted slightly.
"Let's just say... I didn't think there was zero possibility of me losing."
"..."
I let out a short laugh.
Well, should I say thanks for not underestimating me?
I turned my gaze back to the dog. The dog rubbed its face against my ankle. It tickled.
"Thanks to the stage you set, I ate well."
"..."
"How do you feel?"
"Not bad."
He rested his chin on his hand.
"You're too much. I always worried whenever you were at a disadvantage, Junior."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
I shook my head, and he laughed.
‘I guess it can’t be helped.’
He’s always been that kind of guy.
The atmosphere softened. As if sensing the change in mood, the dog stood up and started playing with its front paws by itself. He’s going to put a hole in my pants.
"I saw him in the cookie video of the MT variety show."
"They said they really wanted to use Kong-i. A dog from your group appeared on a variety show too, didn't it?"
"It's Mung-ge."
"Hmm?"
"His name is Mung-ge."
"Is that so? I thought you didn't memorize names because you always just call a dog 'dog'."
"..."
I declared that I would call Cheong-ryeo's dog... no, Kong-i, by his name.
"Haha!"
This bastard is laughing too much, but I'll let it slide just for today.
"I heard you're preparing for a concert."
"Yeah."
Until the fog cleared, we sat in the corner of the walking trail, sipping ion drinks and exchanging conversation.
We didn't "settle" anything, but we did wrap things up.
It was more comfortable than I expected.
*
‘Right. It was fine.’
Cheong-ryeo finished reminiscing about the day he spoke with Park Moon-dae.
—VTIC didn't particularly lose anything.
That was the conclusion reached during the dawn conversation.
However.
‘The actual feeling is a different matter.’
In the dressing room, Cheong-ryeo didn't flinch as the brush moved around his eyes; he only moved his pupils to check his surroundings.
It wasn't a matter of public opinion. It was a matter of morale within the group.
Walking while others are running means falling behind. The pressure of knowing that a song released by a male idol in the same position at the same time did better than theirs.
The company staff, perhaps out of a sense of defiance, frequently praised and marveled at VTIC’s results this time, but the noisiness felt artificial and actually ruined the atmosphere.
‘I’m sure I warned them not to act like this.’
It seemed the function had deteriorated because there hadn't been a proper reason to use it until now.
Because this VTIC had never once faced difficulties due to their results. They had never been pushed back by another group, and interference from senior or junior groups had never caused significant damage or fan loss.
There had been the massive incident of a member leaving, but that was an accident, a disaster. It might have derailed their activities, but they had never seen "failure" with their own eyes.
In short, this VTIC was currently processing a sense of defeat for the first time internally.
"..."
Suddenly, Cheong-ryeo had a strange realization.
This VTIC.
That expression was no longer appropriate. There would be no more numbering iterations.
His life, which had been like a bullet constantly being reloaded and swapped out like a consumable, was now over. All that remained was the one bullet already fired.
Its trajectory and result would remain here. Without disappearing, forever.
Along with the defeat.
"..."
"Um."
As the stylist left, the member sitting next to him spoke up. It was Ju-dan.
"I heard you met Moon-dae-ssi, hyung."
Chae-yul, sitting across from them, smiled audibly.
"Ah, does U-dan want to meet Moon-dae too? I've been wanting to see his face lately, too."
"No. Saying it's better to meet in person is an old saying. Communication technology is so advanced now. It's more economical to save on costs."
"Our maknae is so smart..."
Chae-yul, momentarily stunned, nodded his head.
Shin-o, on the other side, chimed in.
"Moon-dae-ssi must be in a good mood. TeSTAR did really well this time."
"Right!"
In the meantime, the stylist returned and used a hairdryer to warm the metal body chain one last time.
Whirrrr—
When the conversation briefly paused as the noise of the hairdryer filled the room.
Sigh.
That sigh, which sounded slightly sorrowful, quickly vanished.
And when the chain was finally on and only the members were left sitting in their chairs.
"Actually..."
Chae-yul muttered in a low voice without lifting his head.
"While I told the TeSTAR members let's all work hard together, I naturally thought we would win."
"..."
"I just... I... Ah! Was I just being obnoxious?"
"A little."
"Our maknae is so scary..."
"But I consider it a natural thing."
Ju-dan said, fiddling with the body chain around his neck.
"Humans are animals that think based on what they've experienced, after all."
Even when TeSTAR first debuted, they had felt sorry for the rookies releasing at the same time and naturally predicted their own victory. Because they had always been able to win if they worked themselves to death.
That inertial sense had been formed over several years and had become a natural sentiment within the team. So, the shock when that sentiment was broken was unavoidable... At least, that’s what Ju-dan thought.
Chae-yul replied in a slightly overwhelmed voice.
"Thanks, U-dan. To think we're having a conversation like this! If you ever felt that way too..."
"Ah, I didn't."
"..."
"I have a habit of always assuming the worst-case scenario. I'm always prepared."
The members were aghast.
"Is... is that okay?"
"No, isn't that living too extremely? U-dan, you need to practice relaxing... let's all think about this together..."
It was about time.
"Well. Let's do the thinking at a more appropriate time."
The dressing room went quiet.
Cheong-ryeo smiled broadly.
"I don't think this is the moment for that."
"Yes, sir."
The members shut their mouths and quickly stood up without a word. Their brisk movements were no different from when they first debuted.
Yes, it was the same as always.
"Ah, our slogan!"
Even if the feeling of defeat was vivid, the motto didn't change.
"Today, too, winning, VTIC, ah, Victorious!"
Cheong-ryeo turned his head.
The light from the stage was leaking in.
"Let's go."
September.
It was the day the postponed Coachella opened.
Waaaaaaaah!!
In the middle of a massive crowd already heated up by previous performances. On a stage where dry ice was billowing.
They entered without a word of greeting.
[Coming up next… VTIC]
The electronic screen turned blood red.
A performance using dozens of dancers, a military-like group dance resembling a brass band, and old flags used like screens to tear through, unfolded like a wild beast.
WAAAAAAAAAAH!!
And then, a group dance where they walked along a giant flagpole where the cloth had been torn away, dropping down onto the stage.
The exploding flames and fireworks, and the thrill of the live band, pricked the audience's peripheral nerves and drew out a frenzy.
Coachella, filled with fans who had succeeded in ticketing, boiled like lava and emitted heat like steam.
Chae-yul ran out to handle the chorus, Ju-dan added doubling from behind, and Shin-o brought the gestures to life.
Excitement and heat surged on faces that had completely forgotten the conversation in the dressing room and were fully immersed.
‘That’s it.’
Everything was in its place.
[Look at the Serpent]
Cheong-ryeo gazed at the audience.
How many times had he made everything as if it never happened before he could even feel the defeat? At some point, he had lived forgetting the feeling of losing.
And now, the "feeling" he faced without being able to avoid it was...
WAAAAAAAAH!!!
It was nothing.
Nothing had changed.
The cheers, the audience, the members.
The stage continued.
[Venomous teeth
Digging into the heart, poison]
Cheong-ryeo took a deep, slow breath.
And then he lifted his head.
The taste of defeat was better than he thought.
*
[VTIC’s Historic Coachella Headliner Stage]
"Oh."
On the screen, a center cut of Cheong-ryeo with his hand to his in-ear was shown. It looked like a professional photoshoot.
"The reaction is good."
"Yeah."
I could see a sense of competition in the faces of the members looking over my smartphone, but there was no longer any resentment or frustration.
"Let's do Coachella next year!"
"Sounds good~ But let's prepare hard for our own stuff first."
Keun Se-jin grinned.
"5-minute break is over!"
"Ugh."
"Ha..."
Bae Se-jin, who had been lying on the floor as if dead, squirmed and stood up. We were in the waiting room preparing for the concert; there was no time to rest.
‘Phew...’
I was about to suppress a groan and lift myself up.
Suddenly, my smartphone started ringing loudly.
"...!"
"What is it?"
"Hold on."
I checked the name on the screen, and for a moment, I raised a hand to stop the practice from resuming and answered the phone. It was unavoidable.
[Ryu Gun-woo]
Big Moon... Park Moon-dae is calling me out of the blue?
‘He’s not the type to do that.’
I answered the phone without delay.
—Hyung!!
‘Whoa.’
The voice burst out. My ear is going to explode.
Fortunately, the voice was happy and bright. No, it was almost ecstatic. ...What is it?
—I passed!
"Congratulations."
It’s only natural to congratulate someone on passing. I gave an appropriate reaction and then asked.
"But what?"
—Ah.
As if realizing he hadn't explained, an embarrassed exclamation came through the receiver. Right, now explain...
—I passed the audition for Orbit Enter!
"...?!"
—Your company! TeSTAR’s company!
"...??"
"What's going on... Moon-dae-ya?"
"Moon-dae hyung's eyes just doubled in size."
The guy I hadn't even introduced yet had gotten into the company on his own.