Chapter 73
Chapter 73
During the tedious wait for a music show pre-recording, one of the VTIC members, who had been scrolling through his phone to pass the time, called out to Cheong-ryeo.
He showed him the video currently ranked 9th on WeTube’s trending list.
[The #1 Idol Who Got Drenched at Their Showcase!]
[On the evening of the 18th, a debut showcase for an idol group was held at Red Square. This group is from the audition program that set the internet ablaze just a few months ago, <Idol Inc.>...]
The "issue YouTuber" was chatteringly adding their own personal opinions to the water bottle incident at the showcase.
"This is that guy, right? From Aju-sa."
"...Ah."
Looking at the screen, Cheong-ryeo recalled that absurd psychological test.
"Park Moon-dae."
[You’re quick on the uptake.]
In the video, a fan-cam of questionable quality (likely due to copyright issues) played in a small window. It showed the scene where Park Moon-dae smoothly handled the situation.
"This kid is actually pretty smart, isn't he?"
"I'll say."
"But it’s a bit of a shame. Of all times, they had to release at the same time as us..."
Other members who had been peeking from the side chimed in, clicking their tongues.
"It’s not like Tnet’s bravado is anything new."
"Their metrics look decent, so it’s a pity they won’t be able to get first place."
Their tone, tinged with a hint of sympathy, was predicated on the absolute certainty that they would still be winning even in their second week.
In truth, it couldn't be helped.
[#1 Night Sign / VTIC]
That was the current daily ranking on the country’s largest music site.
Ever since the music charts were reorganized to hide real-time rankings, it was virtually impossible to break through the existing rankings and hit number one immediately unless something extraordinary happened.
‘It takes at least a week, no matter how fast you are.’
The same would apply to TeSTAR’s music, which was set to be released at midnight.
For TeSTAR to even hope for a music show win, their first-week album sales would have to outperform VTIC’s second-week sales by more than triple. Unfortunately, their first-week sales period overlapped with VTIC’s by about a day.
Unless TeSTAR set some insane, expectation-defying record in one of the categories, their defeat was a foregone conclusion.
Of course, even for a group from a hit audition show, discussing a number-one spot on the digital charts for a rookie boy group was inherently nonsensical.
"Ah~ forget it! If we have time to worry about our juniors, let's just focus on ourselves!"
"Hear, hear!"
The VTIC members instantly returned to their individual interests.
Meanwhile, Cheong-ryeo rested his chin on his hand and thought.
‘...They might actually lose.’
*
The debut showcase concluded successfully amidst a fervent atmosphere.
However, there was no special after-party.
"We just debuted; we can't have you guys showing up on TV looking like bloated steamed buns. It wouldn't be right to give you a huge feast~"
"But steamed buns are delicious!"
"You need to look handsome, not so plump that people want to take a bite out of your cheeks."
"Aha!"
Cha Yu-jin was convinced instantly. While I was briefly admiring Keun Se-jin’s remarkable communication skills, I became the subject of conversation again.
"Still, Moon-dae’s achievement was definitely worth an after-party."
"Y-yes, it was."
"It was magnificent."
"...Yes. Thank you."
"Haha, look at this guy getting shy!"
"..."
Ever since the showcase ended, I had been hearing variations of the phrase "Park Moon-dae’s reflexes are world-class."
At this point, it wasn't even embarrassing anymore; it was just tiresome.
Especially that guy Keun Se-jin—it felt like he was doing it on purpose to make me cringe, which was starting to get on my nerves.
"Everyone worked hard. Let's... take a short break."
"Yay~!"
"Finally."
Regardless, we were granted a short rest instead of an after-party. At Ryu Cheong-woo’s words, the members scattered to their rooms, showing a spectrum of reactions from relief to joy.
For the record, I slept. Lee Se-jin, who shares a room with me, also slept, which improved the quality of my rest.
‘I miss the trait that let me go without sleep.’
However, the reality show cameras were still rolling. Thanks to that, we had to gather in the living room again after a brief period of personal time.
"Looks like everyone rested well."
"Hehe."
Cha Yu-jin laughed, his face clearly showing he had just snuck some snacks.
Then, we all huddled together to look at Ryu Cheong-woo’s smartphone.
"It’s strange to think it’s already the release date."
"I-I’m nervous..."
It was because the debut album’s digital tracks were being released at midnight.
The reason we were all looking at one phone instead of our own... well, it was probably because it made for a more heartwarming shot.
"Oh! It changed!"
The clock on the smartphone flipped.
[00 : 00]
"D-did the music come out?"
"Should we check now?"
Kim Rae-bin settled it firmly.
"It takes over an hour of data collection before it shows up on the 24Hits chart."
"An hour..."
With a groan, Lee Se-jin disappeared into the kitchen. It looked like he was going to get some water.
‘...There’s a high probability it won't even show up after an hour.’
This was because we had to compete with only one hour's worth of performance against other songs that had 24 hours of accumulated data.
Even VTIC had only entered the 24-hour chart at rank 87 after their first hour.
Kim Rae-bin seemed about to explain that fact, but after making eye contact with me, he quietly shut his mouth.
"......?"
It would have been fine to explain it this time, though?
As if trying to offset the tense atmosphere, Keun Se-jin spoke with a smile.
"Then... how about we watch the 'Magical Boy' music video first?"
"Ah."
Right. We hadn't seen that yet either.
Because we had only just returned to the dorm and gotten some rest, I hadn't had the mental capacity to think about it.
‘The reality show crew asked us to film a reaction for this, too.’
"That’s a good idea."
"Let's watch it on the big screen!"
Cha Yu-jin quickly grabbed the remote and switched the TV to WeTube.
Without even needing to search, the music video was already at the top of the trending list.
[TeSTAR 'Magical Boy' Official MV]
"Yeah!"
"W-wow."
The members stared at the screen as if it still hadn't sunk in, then finally snapped out of it.
"Oh. Moon-dae is the thumbnail."
"I-it came out well."
The thumbnail was a shot of Park Moon-dae looking back in front of a classroom window.
Behind the white curtains, the sky—stained with orange and violet—glowed with backlighting.
‘Is this the perk of being rank 1?’
I looked at the thumbnail with a lukewarm expression before taking the remote from Cha Yu-jin and pressing play.
"Oh!"
To the background of Cha Yu-jin’s startled voice, the 'Magical Boy' music video began.
The video started with the thumbnail image.
[......]
In a corner of an empty classroom, Park Moon-dae was staring out the window at the sunset.
The moment he turned around and made eye contact with the camera, the song began.
-I think about you, whom I'll meet tomorrow
All day long
I dream a dream as blue as the day
The scene changed.
A worn-out, broken school campus was revealed clearly under the midday sun, then suddenly stained purple as sparkling soap bubbles poured down.
♫♪♩♪-♫♪♫♪-♪♩-
Then, in ordinary locations around the school, shots of the members performing extraordinary actions passed by during their respective parts.
-Even if the world is cold
The dream is sweet
Even if reality crumbles
The dream is vivid
Cha Yu-jin was perched on the only intact teacher's desk in a completely destroyed classroom.
He lined up animal-shaped wind-up toys on the corner and turned their keys. Due to the shadows and lighting, the toys looked like small living creatures.
-I don't want to be submerged
I want to fall asleep
I'm painting a dream
But reality is breathing
All the time...
Sitting on an infirmary bed, Seon A-hyun tore open a pillowcase. Instead of cotton, glowing things like dandelion fluff burst out, sparkling in the air around the bed.
-All that time.
Maybe it was necessary
The magic to go to the future
That's why I
Ryu Cheong-woo shot at flowers in a garden bed with a toy gun. Instead of BBs or water, beams of light exploded, and blue petals took flight.
Then, a zoom-out from the rooftop under the violet sunset.
-Cast a spell
Make a wish come
true true true
-Falling into the future, quietly
-Cast a spell
Make a dream come
true true true
-Falling asleep into a dream, blue
After the chorus, the instrumental break followed with a more fragmented beat and a flashy dance break.
The midday rooftop was cross-cut with the violet scenes, deepening the mysteriousness of the aesthetic.
"The staff worked so hard because we had to redo the makeup for those scenes."
"That’s right! Everyone, if you look closely... there’s a difference in the outfits and makeup between the daytime shots and the sunset shots!"
Keun Se-jin explained toward the camera.
It was true.
The daytime background used a more natural look, while the sunset background had glitter and even a blush-like tint under the eyes.
They had also added more accessories to the outfits for the sunset shots.
‘Trying to film all that in one day must have been hell for everyone.’
Fortunately, the effort paid off; the cuts looked great.
♫♪♩♪-♫♪♫♪-♪♩-
Then came the second verse.
After a strange finger movement that looked like casting a hypnotic spell, Kim Rae-bin appeared from behind.
He performed a melodic rap with a slow, complex, and very peculiar rhythm.
The scene cut to Kim Rae-bin sitting atop a pile of dented lockers in the hallway, tossing and catching an awl.
"Oh!"
"Your voice sounds great."
"...Thank you."
Kim Rae-bin replied, looking a bit bashful but unable to hide his pride.
"But why did you choose such a lethal object like an awl, Rae-bin?"
"...Because it was cute...?"
"......?"
Keun Se-jin fell silent at the unexpected answer. I pleasantly answered for him.
"Let's just say it is."
"Right. It’s cute, Rae-bin."
Having confirmed that the music video’s quality was solid, the members seemed to relax, and their reactions became more natural.
In the following scene, the final member, Lee Se-jin, appeared.
Lee Se-jin was standing inside the school building, looking toward the main entrance. The campus was visible through the glass doors.
Then came the bridge before the final chorus.
The music box sound, the main riff melody, dropped in tone, and the vocal melody followed it exactly.
-The thing that can't be hidden even if you hide
Is probably magic
A dream that makes my breath
Tight and trembling.
Lee Se-jin shattered the glass door.
At that moment, with the sound of a film reel spinning, the cuts whizzed by.
A strange whispering, like a tape being rewound, passed, and then a cut was inserted without music.
Park Moon-dae walked into the campus from outside the school.
[......]
Eventually, stopping in front of the entrance, Park Moon-dae reached out both hands and grabbed the handles. And then.
Click.
He locked it.
...Click.
The film spun, and with the choreography, the final chorus exploded.
-Cast a spell
Make a wish come
true true true
-Falling asleep into the future, quietly
-Cast a spell
Make a dream come
true true true
-Falling into a dream, blue
Before we knew it, the area around the rooftop where the choreography took place had transformed into an even more surreal space.
The railings surrounding the rooftop shattered, and transparent crystals formed. They distorted the light like prisms.
Like the light blurring the background, the choreography became more complex and emphasized curved movements.
♫♪♩♪-♫♪♫♪-♪♩-
The end of the choreography. The members naturally shifted their formation into a circle. The song ended the moment they lay down in a circle on the rooftop, heads touching.
Pop.
Violet soap bubbles burst forth.
[......]
Then a black screen appeared.
While a slowly arranged instrumental of 'Magical Boy' played, classic ending credits rolled up like a short film.
Only then did the members start talking again.
"Whoa!!"
"It came out so well!"
"Thank you, Director."
"I-I think it came out really cool..."
Because everyone was talking at once, it became a strange situation where no one was actually responding to each other.
But no one cared; they just chatted excitedly.
"It came out very, um, meaningfully, so it’s interesting."
"I think the fans will have fun looking for all the different details."
"Ah, we liked it, so I hope the fans like it too~"
The atmosphere became as warm as it could possibly be.
‘Since we’ve made a good start, it’s natural to be excited.’
Thanks to that, the tension wasn't uncomfortably high even when we checked the music charts.
And the result.
"Whoa! We entered the chart~"
We entered at ranks 85 and 88.
‘...One song is even slightly higher than VTIC’s entry.’
The "debut boost" from the public recognition of a nationwide hit audition show was greater than expected.
‘This is insane.’
However, perhaps because many were more used to phrases like "entering at #1 real-time," the members seemed just moderately happy.
Even if they knew the theory, what they saw right now was the 80s.
That’s why the more intense reaction exploded later.
"A-all of them are our songs..."
"Gasp."
On other music sites where real-time charts were still active, TeSTAR’s title tracks were showing their might by taking the #1 and #2 spots side-by-side.
[#1 Hi-five / TeSTAR] new!
[#2 Magical Boy / TeSTAR] new!
[#3 Night Sign / VTIC] ▼2
[......]
In fact, all four songs released in this album were within the top 7.
Of course, they would soon be pushed back by VTIC. Even so, it was a crazy momentum.
Only then did it sink in, and the members stared at their smartphone screens in a state of shock.
"L-let's take a screenshot."
"That is an excellent idea."
It was a green light that had flashed from the very beginning of their promotions, even before they had appeared on a single music show.