Chuunibyou Themes and the Frill of Change
I had no idea how the album production kids would react if they heard this, but at least that's how Myeongjeon saw it. No matter how much she thought about it, the themes couldn't escape beyond "immature teenage thoughts." It couldn't be helped. Or maybe it was just natural. After all, that's exactly the age these kids were at. Emotions exploding, self-consciousness budding. The age where they thought the whole world revolved around them, right?
"What kind of themes?"
"Huh?"
"You said you had a feel for it."
Iseo's prodding. Myeongjeon paused for a moment. "Um... well, it's like..." She opened her mouth, then closed it. Should she even say this? She tilted her head slightly, started to open her mouth again, but it felt off, so she shut it. Still, the kids needed to know, so she tried once more—only to decide it was a bit too harsh and clamped her lips shut. After repeating this about three times, a slightly lowered voice floated from Iseo.
"There are two ways to frustrate people. The first is not finishing what you're saying..."
Then Iseo shut her mouth. Myeongjeon waited for her to continue, but no response came.
"What's the second? Why'd you stop talking?"
"That's exactly what you're doing right now. So why aren't you talking?"
Myeongjeon got hit with her own behavior thrown right back at her. She glanced up at the ceiling for a moment. Did she really have to deliver this harsh truth? But you couldn't ignore reality forever. She took a shallow breath in and out, then opened her mouth.
"First off, from listening to your songs... including yours and mine, the common main theme running through all these tracks. The image, basically."
The three kids stared at her mouth. She declared it right there.
"At the base level... you're all giving off total middle school syndrome vibes. Not trying to attack you here—I hope you get that—but yeah, 'pubescent teen'... nah, let's just call it chuunibyou. That's the exact image that pops up."
The three of them reacted explosively. "What the hell?", "No way...!", "That's not it at all. What are you even saying?" And so on. Their fierce denials, desperately proving it wasn't intentional, looked so funny that Myeongjeon laughed.
Seoha muttered through gritted teeth, "Don't laugh at us..."
"I said from the start it wasn't meant as an attack."
"Yeah right, you totally said it to tease us. 'No attack intended'? What kinda bullshit is that? Unnie, this girl's straight-up haraguro—black-hearted as hell. Acting all innocent like 'Oh, if that's how you took it~' Makes me wanna smack her."
"What's haraguro?"
That's what you ask? Iseo shot Seoha a look with that exact expression. While Hyeona explained the origins of "haraguro" to Seoha, Myeongjeon spoke to Iseo.
"But you guys are actually going through puberty. And these days, they call it chuunibyou. I was just stating facts. Embarrassed about puberty? Ashamed of chuunibyou?"
"Then why'd you clarify it wasn't an attack? You were like, 'Go ahead and laugh from here on out~ Yep~' the whole time."
"Th-that's... Unnie, you're the same age as us... no, younger than me, but acting like you're above it... it's super unfair..."
"When did I ever act like that?"
"Suyeon. The vibe you're giving off is straight-up 'You guys are all chuunibyou. Except me.' And you know what? That is peak chuunibyou."
Whether from embarrassment or genuine belief, the attacks came from all sides. Myeongjeon desperately defended herself while thinking, I tried to hold back out of consideration, and now I'm just getting piled on.
Anyway, once that weird chaos settled down, Myeongjeon left the calmed kids and started explaining why the album's main theme felt like chuunibyou—and why they should lean into it.
"The overall sentiment running through the songs we've made is just that. We can't twist it."
"But isn't 'chuunibyou' a bit much? If fans hear 'Our album theme is chuunibyou!' it might come off negative."
Myeongjeon shot back at Iseo's mutter right away. "Why do you think we need to tell the fans that? No need. This is just our internal guideline for making the album."
She tapped the brainstorming notes she'd jotted down. Puberty, adolescence, friendships, guitars, and so on. What the kids had intended, stories teens and twenties actually lived through.
"And our fans are mostly teens and twenties... maybe thirties at most. To hook them, this direction works best. Stuff they've been through or are going through right now. Instant empathy."
One of the recent books Myeongjeon had read said something like this: Popular art is all about drawing empathy from the audience. The more empathy you pull, the higher the praise and sales. That was popular art.
Of course, music made it hard to convey the creator's intent directly. But as the saying goes, more is better—why not make songs with relatable themes? That was her thinking.
"The song I played for you... Entangle. I poured out what I'd felt all this time, honestly. And in response, you composed these songs with these intentions and played them for me."
Myeongjeon met the three girls' eyes. Some looked away, some held her gaze. But no falsehood in any of them. Eyes holding genuine emotion.
"Even if it's embarrassing, let's talk about it. Lay our thoughts bare. No need for grand stories to look cool. World peace, sci-fi civilizations, whatever—that can come later. Start with our stories. The real shit we've lived."
Word was country was blowing up in the US market right now. Myeongjeon wasn't big on country, so she hadn't heard the hits, but she'd read articles. One said: 'Songs like Rich Men North of Richmond, raw expressions of personal feelings, are dominating. People want empathy now. Not overplayed TV or internet star tales, but stories from folks like them. That's the era.'
"That's how people will listen to our music."
She wrapped it up like that.
I should've just gone home.
At the point where the persuasion wrapped up cleanly, she should've said, "Leave the rest to the pros next time," and bounced. If she'd done that, she wouldn't be in this mess right now.
"Why? Why can't you wear this?"
"No, it's just..."
"Suyeon, you did this before too. Huh? Why act like some Confucian prude about frills and stuff? Earlier you were all 'Why be ashamed of chuunibyou or puberty? It's just a phase everyone goes through...'"
"That's different from this."
"Different how? Everyone wears this kinda stuff as casual clothes. Ashamed of casual wear? Why would that be embarrassing?"
Iseo's attack screamed, I don't know the reason, but damn, it's fun to tease. Myeongjeon ignored her for a sec and stared at the ceiling. Should've just gone home.
The trigger was nothing big.
"It's late anyway—wanna nail down the outfit concept before we go? Time's kinda in limbo, right?"
"Sure."
With the awkward late hour, everyone—including Myeongjeon—agreed to Seoha's efficient use of time. It started off fine. Looking at SCANDAL or SILENT SIREN stage outfits. Practical yet stylish clothes. The four of them sketched out stage setups and looks.
But then things veered off fast. Thanks to Iseo.
"How about a menhera concept?"
"Men...hera?"
Myeongjeon furrowed her brow at Iseo's word. Sounded familiar from when Seoha and Iseo bickered about fashion before. Japanese style? She glanced at Seoha unconsciously—whose face was fighting back a grin.
"Why?"
"Oh, no. Menhera sounds good. And we've got an expert in menhera right here."
"Right~ Menhera brings one person to mind. Total pro. She's conquered mass-produced, landmine girl, menhera—the works."
"What's that?"
Mass-produced? Landmine girl? No clue, but their reactions felt ominous to Myeongjeon. Bad vibes.
"Why, interested? Wanna try it on?"
"Gotta know what it is first."
"I'll tell ya if you're trying it."
"What..."
She stared at Iseo in disbelief. But it looked like Iseo was banking on her saying, "Fine, tell me so I can wear it."
"Alright, I'll try it once. What's the big deal?"
Human relationships meant yielding sometimes. Myeongjeon figured that and bent for Iseo. Whatever the clothes, just wear 'em, right? No big issue.
"Heh heh heh. You really said you'd try it? So menhera is..."
Iseo showed some photos on her laptop. Myeongjeon recoiled in horror.
Frills everywhere—the super "feminine" outfits she'd seen recently. Stuff she'd never wear.
"Hey!"
"What? You're trying it, right?"
Iseo answered his yell all innocently, like What'd I do wrong?
No, this is too far...!
Myeongjeon dry-washed her face in front of the laptop. Even with ex-Section Chief Go, heaven collapsing wouldn't make her wear that. Skirts she could tolerate somehow, but not that. Some deep gut rejection welled up, reason unknown.
"No, I can't wear this."
"Why? You said you would. You're not gonna back out after promising, right?"
Iseo snickered—pffft-haha—and crept closer. Myeongjeon tried shoving her off before the weight hit.
But weight classes weren't forgiving.
"Hey! Get off!"
"Nuh-uh~ Not till you say you'll wear it. Seoha! Pin her down quick. She's gonna bolt."
"Tch, where you gonna run?"
As Myeongjeon squirmed to peel Iseo off, Seoha suddenly latched on, locking her in place. Trapped, she stared at the laptop screen. Frills dangling everywhere. No idea why, but absolutely hated it.
"Hey, you said earlier 'Just try it on, no biggie.' So just try it."
"No, I just hate it."
"She's so weird sometimes. It's just casual clothes. Embarrassed by this?"
"Aren't you guys?!"
Thrashing to break free from their grip, Myeongjeon wailed. Aiming to logically dismantle their argument.
But the response shattered expectations.
"Why be embarrassed? I don't get it. It's just clothes."
"It's not just clothes..."
"Whatever you're overthinking, you're attaching too much meaning. It's only clothes. Hate it 'cause of frills? Wearing frills won't drop your music skill by -1000 or whatever. Plus, it's not like you haven't worn similar."
She fell silent at that. Fair point. She'd dealt with countless "feminine" things by now. Bras, periods, etc. Rejection at first, but normalized long ago.
Yet some things still triggered that gut refusal.
Residue from the past?
She pondered. Had to be. Her years as a man dwarfed her time as a woman by decades. Habits, thoughts, morals—those didn't shift easy.
But looking back... maybe they had to change.
Because I decided to live differently.
The thought from day one of rebirth. Quit the old life, old ways. Live for music.
Not directly related now, but... she was still coasting on old inertia. Fearing new tries, rejecting change.
This was trivial. But declaring "I won't change" on little things like this? She'd slide back to the old life. Not doing the undone, just repeating the done.
"...Fine. I'll try it. So let go already."
She relaxed her whole body. Iseo looked shocked at her face. But Seoha ignored it and told Iseo, "Hey, she might bail after saying yes—make her sign a contract."
"Good idea. Hold on..."
As Iseo stood, Myeongjeon bolted from her seat. Chairs toppled—crash—her footsteps pounded—thud thud.
Ignoring the "Hey!!" and "She's running! Grab her!!" from behind, she sprinted out like a dine-and-dasher who'd eaten 200,000 won worth without paying. No clerk goodbye.
Not going back to the old life had zilch to do with hating frilly clothes. If she hated it, no need for excuses. No one could tie her down or force the unwanted. Steps toward freedom were lightest of all.