First Shoot for the Survival Show "With Guitar"
Survival program title... With Guitar, first shooting day. 'What the hell kind of title is that?' Suyeon thought as she made her way to the set. Something about the PD drawing inspiration from Kim Kwang-seok's My Song, and that's why the theme song was also My Song. It was a great song, sure, but it felt a bit off for a program like this. The set she entered had a serene, cozy vibe—no space for an audience at all. There were campfires, comfy armchairs... and areas where mentors and mentees could pretend to do coaching on camera. No evaluations from regular folks, just the mentors judging, no eliminations... The set perfectly captured the essence of that kind of program.
"Oh, Suyeon showed up."
"Hello. You're here early."
"Early...? Old folks like us have this habit of showing up way ahead of time."
"Yeah, that's a thing. But isn't it just that everyone has to arrive early anyway... not just for older people?"
"Right? So I'm not weird?"
"Sure, whatever. Seems like showing up early is just basic manners when you're working in society."
"Ah... The other day, I was talking to my daughter, right? She said she had an appointment, but even when it was time to leave, she wouldn't budge. I asked why she wasn't going, said she had to get there soon, and she goes, 'Why show up 20 or 30 minutes early and wait? Just arrive right on time.' Man, I thought I was just getting old and there was a generation gap. Figured all the kids these days are like that..."
"Yeah, kids these days are like that."
"...Aren't you one of the kids these days, Suyeon?"
As the staff bustled around, they chatted idly like that while waiting, and soon people started trickling in. Once everyone was there, the PD stepped up to explain.
"Alright, you've all practiced the songs we assigned before, right...? We went over the format already? It's seasonal. One song every two weeks—first week you just play it, second week you play it as taught by your mentor. Mentors do the grading. No session musicians. If you pick a band song from the song pool, mentor and mentee have to rearrange it together. That's part of your skill set too."
If anyone didn't get it, they'd explain during filming. With that, the PD added a few more details and headed back to his spot... only to climb back onto the set and speak again.
"For mentor-mentee pairings, we'll just use a roulette wheel. Emotions could get messy otherwise, so roulette feels fairer. There'll be rules later to switch them up."
That makes sense, Suyeon thought, watching the PD descend from the set. Mentors picking mentees or vice versa—both fun, but with no eliminations, someone always gets pushed aside. Even if they laugh it off for the cameras, it'd hurt their pride inside. Bad for ratings maybe... but that wasn't her problem.
"Looks like everything's set now."
After some filming, the seventh spin of the roulette wrapped up. Mentors and mentees sat in their spots, and next to Suyeon was... that 'An Taemin' guy who'd greeted her earlier. He gave an awkward bow of his head.
"Alright, say hi to each other, and in about 20 minutes, we'll start the performance filming~"
The staff left for break, leaving just two cups of coffee on the table that they'd brought over. As people started warming up with small talk, her partner spoke up.
"Uh... how long have you been playing guitar?"
"Me? About two years."
"No other instruments before that?"
"First one."
It was common knowledge by now that Suyeon had only been playing guitar for two years. So why was this guy—who clearly knew who she was from greeting her earlier—asking? It was famous stuff.
"And you, Taemin? How many years?"
"Me? About ten..."
"Ten years... That's not super long, but it is long. Yeah, pretty experienced. Started as a hobby?"
"Well... I started in middle school, prepping for music college entrance from then."
His tone during the chat felt a bit suspicious. It sparked a thought in Suyeon.
Is this kid... doubting me right now?
Listening closely, yeah, it had that vibe—like probing tentatively, suspicious. Back before she blew up, session gigs had folks acting just like this. Her head heated up a bit, but then she reconsidered. He had reason to act that way.
Can't blame him... the experience gap looks sketchy.
Two years wasn't long. If normal, even practicing non-stop minus sleep and food, you couldn't hit pro level. Taemin played guitar, so he knew. Sure, her indie band success was historic, but a minor who'd only played two years as a mentor? Shady. Even if he bought her skills, teaching was separate—and two years wasn't enough for broad genre knowledge either. If it'd been a normal two years for me.
Any reasonable person would think like him. And maybe the PD put me here factoring that in.
Suyeon tossed out a question. "So, what genres do you mainly play?"
"Fingerstyle... Majored in classical for entrance exams, not great at electric or that stuff."
"Ah, nylon. Nylon strings... Fun, yeah. Not my main, but I've dabbled."
Lots of kids back in the day begged for nylon lessons. Mumbling that old memory, Suyeon's words made Taemin's eyes widen a bit. Wondering how that was possible.
"Performance today in fingerstyle too?"
"Yeah... Prepared it, but the song's tough, rearranging a band track for fingerstyle is..."
"Makes sense."
"Alright, filming starts now~"
Time flew during their chat; a staffer announced filming. Next up: pre-practiced songs.
"Do your best. If it flops, you've got another week to practice..."
"...Yeah, got it."
Taemin muttered, looking deflated at her words.
"Now... An Taemin, guitarist—your scores! Flip the cards!"
After Taemin's performance, the host called, and up came the cards: 73, 78, 69... Not high. Taemin gripped his trembling right hand with his left, eyeing the mentors. Their dissatisfied faces plain.
"Good attempt... but lots of shortcomings. Like trying body hits for drum effects—overdid it, got sloppy."
"Overall... arrangement was whatever, but overdid the flashiness, distorted the song's feel, right?"
Heavy blows like pro boxers to the gut. Taemin swallowed blood metaphorically—couldn't even mentally rebut; all spot-on.
"You know exactly what we mean, right?"
"Yes, I do."
After each mentor's critique and final summary, Taemin bowed his head. Nothing to say. Just... If only a bit more time...
"Ah... Suyeon... Mentor, you're in for it with this one."
"In for it...? Nah, not really..."
A mentor tossed that at Suyeon. She tilted her head, picking words, then spoke.
"Won't be that bad... He's doing fine. Fix a few habits, and he'll improve quick."
"Improve quick? That?"
Someone muttered disbelief. Suyeon nodded a couple times—totally doable.
"Alright! An Taemin, guitarist... you're at the bottom so far—7th place. Now, last up, Song Jihun, guitarist, come on!"
8th. Taemin's score sheet. Even last guy Song Jihun beat him. Debut episode, bottom rank after psyching himself up—harsh reality he couldn't deny.
Everyone judged so coldly... But it was his objective score.
"Next week same song, right? Arrangement aside..."
Suyeon spoke to him slumped there. Taemin didn't wanna reply in his mood, but cameras rolling...
"Yes."
"How much do you practice daily?"
"Practice... Focused, 4 hours; if time, 8-10."
"Hm..."
Suyeon tilted her head—displeased. About to ask why, she beat him to it.
"That's the problem."
"Huh?"
"Wrong question from me. Should've asked how much you don't practice. 4 to 10 hours... way too little."
"...Huh?"
"You've got a week. Here's the plan."
Suyeon pulled a notebook from her bag, tore a page, started listing guitar essentials.
"Basics first: all this."
"...That's over 8 hours."
"Yup. Then onto song practice."
Song practice? Taemin doubted his ears at the absurd split. But she continued.
"Song itself... First time, I'll tweak the arrangement for you. Sending it tonight. Practice to that, come to my company in two days—I'll check and redirect..."
After With Guitar Episode 1 aired.
"Yeon-su! You see the show?"
Practicing guitar at the company, Iseo came over saying that. Suyeon nodded, still playing. Iseo sidled up, grabbed her hand.
"What? Let go."
"Hey! I'm here, play with me."
"Did I invite you?"
Iseo overreacted hurt; Suyeon set down the guitar, grabbed the mouse. To check With Guitar YouTube edits.
"Didn't watch."
"Why?"
"No need to monitor. No reason for sensational edits..."
"You came off like... that psycho genius type? Total sociopath prodigy vibe."
"Me?"
What? Suyeon thought, hovering over a YouTube video titled [Ha Suyeon's True Colors | With Guitar Ep. 1 | 202X...], then paused at the title.
'True Colors'? What? Views were solid though.
"Check it."
She clicked play. Should be normal footage: her evaluating mentees, muttering, telling Taemin to practice.
But the edit was wild. Just like Iseo said—'insane talent but no emotional IQ, psycho genius' vibe.
"What is this? Why edit like that."
"Told ya! Hilarious."
While playing, Suyeon scrolled to comments. Some loved the 'psycho Suyeon' character, laughing; others over-immersed with stuff like She's kinda rude; Group Sound fans defending hotly. Chaotic, but tons of comments—good for ratings.
Then, creepy sound effect with slamming subtitle on "Practice volume seems too low." Making her look emotionless. Suyeon squinted, face to monitor.
"This is straight-up malicious editing, right?"
"Hey! You're always like that during practice. I know—I got it too. Poor guy's suffering."
Suyeon glared at Iseo, who flinched back. Video ended, PC auto-played next rec. Meanwhile, Iseo asked.
"So, next ep... you already shot it?"
"Yeah."
"He get better?"
"Eh..."
Suyeon tilted her head. Taemin worked hard, but...
"Seemed fine. Did well."
With this 'malicious edit,' who knew how it'd play... but Suyeon thought he was promising. Improved a ton.