Terrestrial Challenge: "We're Doing It Anyway"
A cozy cafe nestled in a traditional hanok, bathed in the soft glow of incandescent bulbs that gently caressed the patrons' backs. In that warm atmosphere, the words slipped quietly from Suyeon's lips.
"We're doing it that way."
It seemed like no big deal, but it was anything but ordinary.
"Uh… okay, let me sum this up."
Iseo raised her hand to grab everyone's attention, then started counting off on her fingers.
"We're going on Kim Jiyeon's Music Letter, right?"
"Yeah."
"And the other guests are, y'know, top-tier stars and all that."
"Yeah."
"So they suggested we come on a different date, but you're saying we can't do that? You wanna slot right into that date?"
"Exactly."
"Uh… is that for real?"
Iseo scratched her head. She took pride in their music, sure, but reality had to factor in. If that was the only path, they'd grit their teeth and take the rough road—but why dive into lava when there's a sunny stroll right there?
"It… seems kinda tough, doesn't it…?"
"Nah, I think Suyeon's right on this."
Opinions were split even among the members. While Iseo pondered, Suyeon laid out her reasoning.
"Sure, slipping in among those big names means we could get buried. Even if we nail our set, they might edit us out since it's not what the fans want. And one slip-up? We're gone."
"Yeah, cold hard logic says that's how it'd go…"
"But think about it this way."
Suyeon cut Iseo off with a raised hand, her tone brooking no argument.
"What if we don't get buried? What if we outperform them? We'd grab massive attention. No matter how biased the fans are, an objectively killer performance steals the spotlight. Imagine the promo boost—way bigger than now. Like a YouTube thumbnail: 'High School Girl Band Eats Top Idols Alive lololol'."
"Still, that feels a bit much…"
"And honestly."
Suyeon's voice carried raw emotion now. Iseo met her gaze. Her face looked impassive as ever, but something was different. Flames danced in her eyes like a blast furnace, a torrent of passion surging toward Iseo.
"I'm pissed. Aren't you?"
"Pissed?"
"Pissed… furious. Hard to pin down exactly, but yeah. Just mad."
"Mad… why…?"
Hyeona stared at Suyeon with a perfect "that serious?" face. But to Iseo, she was dead serious—an expression I'd never seen before. Not before the band, not after. Always that blank stare tinged with boredom, like she was observing life from afar, detached. Serious yet not, emotionless. That was Suyeon.
But not now.
"We didn't back out—they made us. No choice given. Just because they decided we're not on their level. Sure, they think they're doing us a favor. But I can't accept that."
Listening, Iseo genuinely thought it was off-base. Yeah, it stung—but did they need to pick that fight?
Still…
"Alright, fine… let's do it."
"Somaetnim… you think so too…?"
"I'm not that sold."
Iseo rubbed her neck, the stiffness easing a bit—felt good.
"But if that's how she sees it… we just do it. It's not like we'll practice harder than for the full album, right? Right?"
She shot Suyeon a playful grin at the end. But Suyeon just stared silently. Uneasy vibes hit Iseo.
"Right? Less practice than back then? Why're you so quiet—it's creepy. Say something…"
"Hey, what the hell—where'd this leak from?"
The rookie PD rushed in during work hours, waving an article about the show. He called an emergency team huddle. Decided just yesterday, and now it's news? Someone leaked it.
Not a huge crisis for the program—nothing worth hiding. But this wasn't how it should break.
He slammed the printed A4 sheets on the desk.
"These kids coming on is a godsend. Without 'em, that slot would've been empty. We even limited their songs 'cause we figured they wouldn't cut it. No band? We'd be airing comedy sketches on a music show. So yeah, a little consideration's due… who the hell did this?"
No one spoke. Eye contact bounced around—no confessions. He couldn't push; it wasn't major damage. No point grilling them one by one.
"Ugh… what a headache. Everyone out. Jaehyeon, call that reporter and smooth it over."
"Huh? How?"
"You little shit! Didn't hear me? You leaked it, right? Get over here—you need a smack."
As the staffer bolted, he sighed. He kinda liked those kids. It'd go public eventually, but not like this—with malice.
As predicted, the internet exploded.
The leak was basic: Group Sound initially declined, then pushed to join. Nothing juicy. But entertainment reporters? They thrive on clicks. A two-line fact bloated into a ten-line "maybe-it-happened" drama.
Result:
…According to a source, upstart band Group Soundstrongly insisted on appearing on Kim Jiyeon's Music Letter. Despite confirmed spots for top idol Fables, rapper Sick Indi, and singer-songwriter Yuyeong, they claimed they could compete head-on…
Not total fiction this time—close to truth. But who cares? Reporters wanted pissed-off fans clicking, and it worked like a charm.
Internet chaos ensued.
Fables: Top boy idol group, still selling millions despite a slight dip—practically "veterans."
Sick Indi: Rapper famous for ignoring pleas for comebacks, collabs, anything.
Yuyeong: Ex-idol singer-songwriter, long acclaimed in Korea, now touring Japan with Budokan success.
And Group Sound, 2010s' hottest indie debut, "vowing to crush them" (twisted, but hey). Fans hyped; trolls stirred pots.
Rumors spawn in lives, crash chats, spread. Fans freak, spew nonsense and slurs. Rinse, repeat.
Hype built, time ticked on. A casual multi-star episode turned showdown. Kim Jiyeon's Music Letter airdate loomed.
"Run it again."
They played. But he stopped them with a raised hand. Something off.
Timing, ensemble—deeper issue.
"Hey, if it's not us sucking, spit it out. You've been starting, stopping, repeat— that's it."
Seoha snapped at the silent leader.
"Feels like something's missing."
Puzzled looks. Fair—title track Becoming a Star was maximalist perfection. "Missing" didn't compute.
"No clue what you mean. Missing? This track's packed—nothing left to add."
"True. When we made it, I aimed for zero gaps. That's the point. But…"
He ruffled his hair. Gut said no. Post-decision, he'd binged the guests' stages. How to beat them? Sick Indi, Yuyeong, even Fables—all flawless in their lanes. Top-tier for a reason.
What to counter? Is this enough?
"Something's missing…"
Impact. Surpass them. Need… Is the lack of lack… lacking?
Odd thought. Hint clicked. Their tracks: no flaws, yet… hollow? Time to strip back. From maximal to minimal. And minimal's extreme is…
"Isn't that them?"
"Yeah, looks like."
Fables—boy idols bordering on "veteran" status. Leader Yuheuk zoned out in the hall, then spotted four girls passing per a member's nudge.
Them? The rumored band.
"Hyung, know about them?"
"What."
"They're linked to our company."
"How?"
"That band girl. What's-her-name, Six something."
"Dude, learn your juniors' names. Projeckt 6."
The maknae grinned sheepishly.
"One of 'em tangled with these girls. Went viral-ish. Leader girl's cute, so they messed around—got flamed hard."
"Viral how? Sky Garden? Banger—no promo needed."
"Nah, older album. Way back."
Yuheuk fired up Spotify, searched Group Sound. Pre-Becoming a Star: Plastic Nostalgia. Modest plays.
"Heard it, cried at live—went viral. Anyway, that's the tea."
"Silly gossip."
Chuckling, Yuheuk swapped glasses for contacts. Rehearsal time. Greet those kids later? Chat. They opened, Group Sound closed—PD mercy or trap? Glory or humiliation last.
Curious, he stepped out.
"Where to?"
"Checking the stage."
Sky Garden slapped, but "indie scene's last hope"? That good?
At rehearsal stage, staff greeted. Band glanced, bowed. He nodded back, arms crossed. Drums cued—rehearsal rolled.