Chapter 82
Chapter 82
The Wetube algorithm.
No one knows exactly what the criteria are, but it’s the video algorithm that serves up recommended content regardless.
And the pre-release clip of Humans Who Know When to Stop featuring TeSTAR… for some unknown reason, was chosen by this algorithm.
First, it started appearing as a related recommendation for overseas prank videos.
People clicked on it excitedly, surprised to see a professional Korean hidden-camera variety show for the first time in a while.
Next, it began appearing under various TVC variety show clips. Since the vibes were similar, the influx of viewers increased.
Finally… strangely enough, traffic started flowing in from animal videos.
This was because the bizarre bird prints on the banner caught in the thumbnail were classified as animals by the AI.
Plenty of people clicked on it, bewildered by the "out-of-this-world" aesthetic of the thumbnail they hadn't expected.
Thanks to this, the views for the Humans Who Know When to Stop Episode 2 pre-release began to skyrocket without end.
And in the process, the BGM that perfectly matched the insane sense of the video began to draw attention as well.
It was the distorted version of TeSTAR’s "Magical Boy."
And through the cycle of related videos, people even started flowing into the "Magical Boy" MV.
This series of events brought about an unexpected butterfly effect.
It became an opportunity for people who had no interest in idols or the latest hits to take an interest in the song.
In conclusion, it brought about a meaningful slight rise on the digital charts.
[5th: Magical Boy / TeSTAR] ▲1
"Magical Boy," which had been stagnating, fluctuating between 6th and 8th place, made a slight leap forward.
And once a good song gains momentum, its upward trend tends to accelerate.
This is because once it’s exposed in the top 5, the number of people who "try listening to it once" despite their prejudices increases drastically.
As a result.
[3rd: Magical Boy / TeSTAR] ▲2
The next day, Tuesday. "Magical Boy" rose another two spots.
For reference, a few days ago, VTIC finally handed over the #1 spot to a rapper who was a digital powerhouse after a long reign.
Among TeSTAR’s fans, who were already streaming like crazy, a certain thought began to emerge.
‘Could it be?’
‘No way… right?’
And as always, the "no way" became a reality.
The third week of music show promotions was slowly coming to an end.
"Waaaaah!!"
Since the mics were off, they couldn't be heard, but the members mouthed their greetings and waved their hands as they ran backstage.
Colorful lightsticks swayed below.
"That, that was fun…!"
"Today’s outfits were great, and the shoes were comfortable, so it was really good!"
As Kim Rae-bin shouted while dusting off his summer uniform outfit adorned with ornate jewelry belts, a round of warm laughter broke out.
"Haha!"
"Right!"
It felt like they would laugh at anything said. Their sweat-beaded faces were all smiles.
Cha Yu-jin added a word.
"I’m happy because we got first place!"
That’s right. We finally got first place.
‘Of course, it wasn’t on a major broadcast station.’
We had won first place on Tnet’s music show, MusicBOMB, this week.
Was it disappointing? Honestly, yes. Because another big-name artist was making a comeback this Friday, all chances of winning first place during this promotion cycle were practically gone.
Besides… well, winning first place on MusicBOMB doesn't carry much prestige.
‘…Honestly, it was favoritism.’
When I checked, they had pushed us through with broadcast points.
Anyway, they were happy, so there was no need to ruin the mood. I just clapped and nodded along.
They were promoting without even getting enough sleep; they needed at least this kind of sense of achievement.
Even Lee Se-jin added a comment.
"…It would have been better if there hadn't been a cancellation."
"S-still, we got a trophy!"
"Yeah. We’re leaving this promotion with a trophy!"
Ryu Cheong-woo smiled and stretched.
He seemed to feel the relief of wrapping up the week well.
And a moment later.
"The first place for the first week of July on Popular Music is… yes, congratulations! TeSTAR’s 'Magical Boy'!"
"……?"
Suddenly, another trophy appeared.
"……??"
Stage fireworks exploded in front of the confused members.
Crack! Pop!
Even as they received the bouquet and trophy the MC busily handed over, not a single one of them had their wits about them.
For the record, I was included in that.
‘What on earth is happening?’
And of all people, the one who received the microphone was Kim Rae-bin.
"Uh…… thank you……."
Having prepared nothing, a dazed Kim Rae-bin looked around with pleading eyes for help and locked eyes with me.
"……."
‘Hey, I can’t help you either.’
Sorry, but I don't know what to say either. I was so flustered by this sudden "escape from sudden death" situation that my brain momentarily stalled.
Fortunately, the second microphone was passed to the leader normally… or so I thought.
"…Thank you. Since this is a first place we, uh, didn't expect… first of all, thank you to the fans. And thank you to the staff members who work with us……."
Ryu Cheong-woo was calmly mentioning everyone he needed to when suddenly, tears began to stream down his face. It seemed reality had finally set in.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Honestly, he had every right to cry. During this time, Ryu Cheong-woo had taken care of the kids so much that he basically… did the work of half a manager.
Fortunately, Keun Se-jin, who took the mic from Kim Rae-bin, diligently followed up.
"General Manager Kwak Shin-kyun, Team Leader Kim Hye-jung. Also, thank you so much to everyone who helped make this album! And more than anything… fans, we really love you! We truly didn't expect this… thank you so much for giving us this undeserved first place!"
"Aaaaah!!"
"Congratulations!"
Thankfully, a passionate reaction came from below the stage. Since VTIC had finished their three weeks of domestic promotions and didn't appear this week, we were able to avoid any real-time booing.
…Wait, that’s right.
‘How on earth did we beat VTIC?’
But the score section had already disappeared from the prompter, and instead, the encore was about to begin.
"Yes~"
The MCs came out with microphones to give their ending remarks. It meant they were wrapping up.
In that brief moment, Cha Yu-jin, who had somehow grabbed a microphone, shouted his thoughts with wide eyes.
"Shareholders? Thank you!"
"Ack."
It was a broadcast accident.
In front of the members who hurriedly suppressed Cha Yu-jin, the MCs steadfastly finished their ending remarks.
"Haha, when you want to hear a popular song?"
"Live Popular Music!"
"Come listen again next week~"
And the intro to "Magical Boy" began to play.
The members only let go of Cha Yu-jin after sending him various meaningful glances, while he remained full of question marks.
I barely managed to start the song.
"……Thinking of you today, tomorrow, whom I met tomorrow…."
Whether it was just my imagination or not, the music box sound seemed to pitter-patter particularly clumsily, just like in that first variety show pre-release video…….
It was only after checking the encore video that evening that I realized I had even messed up the lyrics.
It was a total mess.
"Got it? If you're going to say something on broadcast from now on, you have to ask the older members first!"
"Yes……."
Cha Yu-jin looked dejected after being lectured by the manager for thirty minutes. But even then, the way he kept glancing at the trophy made it seem like his mind was elsewhere.
‘There’s no point in saying more.’
He seemed to be reflecting, so I should get on with what I needed to do. I held back a sigh and spoke to the manager.
"Hyung, I think we need to take a picture of him too."
"…Right. Go ahead."
"Yes!"
Cha Yu-jin quickly ran over and tried to lift the trophy like a mandrill showing off a lion cub.
I stopped him.
"Hug the trophy and bow your head."
"Huh?"
"You have to reflect."
"Yes……."
Cha Yu-jin obediently lowered the trophy with a gloomy face.
The composition for the photo would turn out well. After taking a few shots, I sent the photos to Keun Se-jin, who was preparing to upload to social media.
"Add a postscript saying he’s reflecting."
"Okay~ …Um, but it looks like that might not be necessary?"
"…?"
"Look at this."
I checked the trending social media post on the smartphone screen Keun Se-jin handed me.
=========================
[TeSTAR just got their monumental first major broadcast #1, but is it for real that they still don't have a fandom name? LOL. This is basically Cha Go-young shaking a carrot.]
=========================
"……."
"The atmosphere is fine."
"Hold on."
I took the smartphone from Keun Se-jin and started a detailed search.
And I found the answer in the #1 trending post on the community boards.
[TeSTAR’s 1st Place Commotion LOL (feat. The inescapable cycle of survival shows)]
When I clicked, the encore video from just moments ago was already uploaded with subtitles.
They had already added all sorts of subtitle effects, making the dazed and flustered members look twice as funny.
…For the record, my avoidance of Kim Rae-bin’s plea for help was spliced with the "Robot Avoiding Eye Contact" meme, and the part where I messed up the lyrics at the end was cross-edited with the original stage, receiving countless "LOL" subtitles.
[TeSTAR’s first #1 win becomes a dark history.]
By the way, that was the title.
‘This is insane.’
Anyway, right there, Cha Yu-jin’s infamous "Shareholder comment" was edited and uploaded as the hilarious highlight.
[Shareholders? Thank you!]
[!!!!!]
The subtitle attached was: "The Aju-sa specter that won't leave."
"……."
At the bottom of the video, amidst the comments of laughter and congratulations, the fans' resentment about wanting to exorcise the Aju-sa specter occasionally popped up.
That wasn't the end of it.
The opinions recently uploaded to social media and communities began to go a step further.
"…Hmm."
Inadvertently, everyone was approaching the truth.