Self-Produced Content

She had been a fan of Group Sound ever since Hanging Gardens. She first got into them when she listened to the pre-release single, Hanging Gardens, while hanging out with a friend. A stroke of luck winning tickets to the EBS Amplifier Now show cemented her fandom, and by the time she attended their free fan meeting, she was fully, irreversibly locked in as a fan.

Passing through her high school years and entering college, she immediately took up part-time jobs the moment she became an adult. She worked so hard while managing her classes that her parents even praised her, saying, "My goodness, our Chaewon has finally grown up!" But in reality, her tireless work ethic was fueled by a single purpose: to fund her obsession with Group Sound and to ensure her parents wouldn't interfere with her fan activities.

She bought every album they released, snatched up every limited edition, purchased every piece of merch, and paid scalper prices on resale sites if she failed to win ticket lotteries... She saved money for those exact moments. She lived a diligent, exemplary life solely to avoid the nagging accusation that she was throwing her life away to chase a band.

Lately, however, even as she listened to Group Sound's music, replayed their old live performances, or watched their past videos, a sudden thought would inevitably crash into her mind: Isn't this a bit too much?

From their concert at the KSPO DOME last year up until today, let alone any proper self-produced variety content, fan-oriented content of any kind had completely evaporated. The only drop of rain in this desert was an Instagram Live that Iseor had hosted a while back. But looking at it another way, it meant that outside of the members occasionally turning on their personal live streams, there was absolutely zero official activity.

Of course, they have official schedules like the Sonar Music radio show and various interviews, but still...!

Those were strictly "official promotions" as artists. Once a fan reached a certain level of devotion, it was only natural to crave something more. To make matters worse, Group Sound had been a band that regularly supplied such content before they left for Japan, which only made the current drought feel all the more agonizing.

"Dopamine detox, my ass!"

Chaewon slammed her desk at her friend's carefree nonsense. Right now, the band had sold over a hundred thousand albums in Japan, and the thirty thousand imported copies in Korea were on the verge of selling out, sparking rumors of an official Korean press. Even without a single domestic promotion, their new song was climbing the Korean charts, and patriotic YouTubers were churning out videos about Group Sound left and right.

Why aren't they doing anything in Korea when they have a golden opportunity like this?!

The desk-slam prompted her mother to call out from outside her room, "Chaewon, is everything okay in there?" But filled with righteous fury, Chaewon ignored her and furiously tapped away at her phone.

"I heard a loud thud just now. Is something wrong?"

As she was firing off her angry texts, her bedroom door creaked open. Her mother had come to check on her, likely alarmed by the desk-slam.

"It's nothing," Chaewon said, climbing onto her bed and pulling the blanket over her head.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

In the past—say, two years ago—this would have earned her a scolding: "Why are you making so much noise over nothing? Go study." But ever since Chaewon fell head over heels for Group Sound and began living a structured, disciplined life to support her fandom, her relationship with her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mother, which had been slightly strained, had improved significantly.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay since I heard a loud noise."

With that, her mother closed the door and left. This is also thanks to Group Sound... Chaewon thought, but her anger flared up again as she opened her chat app.

She minimized the chat window and opened Twitter to see if the live tour dates had been announced. However, the only thing on Group Sound's official account was a tweet from a few days ago.

Looking at this, it seems like they're planning something... But what?

Lost in thought, Chaewon reflexively refreshed the official account's feed. And the spot where the survey tweet had been just a moment ago was now occupied by a brand-new post.

And the moment she saw that tweet, her fingers moved faster than the speed of light.

On the day they returned to Korea, Manager Jeong had told them:

"Everyone, please keep that enthusiasm. Since you're back in Korea anyway, we're planning to shoot some self-produced variety content. It's been a while."

"Variety content?"

"Yes. Since we've been focusing heavily on Japanese promotions lately, our Korean fans don't have much content to enjoy. If there's nothing for them to watch while you aren't promoting domestically, the fandom's momentum will naturally fizzle out."

With that, Manager Jeong simply told them that the budget had already been approved and that they should pack their bags. Having no idea what kind of luggage she was supposed to prepare, Suyun had just rested and fallen asleep without giving it much thought.

"Uh... yeah, she is... Iseor?"

The next morning, right after breakfast, she was greeted by the sudden arrival of her bandmates.

"So, what is all this?"

Suyun, who had packed incredibly half-heartedly (though she did make sure to bring her guitar), hesitated as she tried to toss her suitcase and gig bag into the trunk. The trunk was already packed to the brim.

"Didn't they tell you?"

"We literally arrived in Korea together. How would I have heard anything?"

"I figured they would've told you in advance since you're the leader."

"I wish they had..."

Suyun brushed aside the morning's chaotic start and went to climb into the front passenger seat, only to freeze. The person sitting in the driver's seat was Iseor.

"You know how to drive?"

"Of course. I got my license the second I was old enough."

"Are you sure it's not just collecting dust?"

"What are you talking about? I drove all the time in Japan."

This was brand-new information to Suyun. She furrowed her brows and stared at Iseor.

"You drove a car in Japan?"

"See? I told you she has zero interest in other people," Seoha chimed in from the back. "Iseor even has a Japanese driver's license."

"You got a license in Japan?"

"I didn't get it there. I got it in Korea and exchanged it for a Japanese one... Anyway, I'm a great driver. Just get in."

Suyun eyed Iseor with deep suspicion. She doubted Iseor could drive, and she doubted even more that she had driven in Japan... But unless they were actively trying to make headlines like 'All Four Members of Female Rock Band Killed in Tragic Highway Crash,' why would she lie about something like this? Suyun scratched her head and finally climbed into the passenger seat.

"So, where are we going and what are we doing?"

"Gangneung. Our content for today is basically just going to Gangneung, eating good food, and having fun."

"Hey, you should merge now."

"Hey, that lane is wide open."

"Hey, if you stay in the left lane right now..."

"Hey! Why don't you drive then?!"

Pushed to her limit by Suyun's relentless backseat driving, Iseor finally shrieked. The two in the back, who had been chatting quietly, flinched at the sudden outburst. But Suyun merely furrowed her brows, looking utterly bewildered by the reaction.

"What do you mean, 'why don't I drive'? Defensive driving is great and all, but you're actively disrupting the flow of traffic right now. Your driving is fundamentally—"

"Talk to me when you actually have a license. Do you even have one?"

At that, Suyun almost blurted out, "I've been driving for decades—" before quickly shutting her mouth. Come to think of it, she had never actually gotten a driver's license in this life. She rarely had a need for a car. Whenever she did, someone else usually drove.

"No."

"Then why do you keep nagging me?"

Based on her decades of driving experience (or so Suyun believed), Iseor's driving was indeed highly flawed. Yet, simply because she lacked a physical license, her invaluable, golden advice was being completely dismissed.

"No, but logically speaking..."

Suyun tried to appeal to common sense to salvage her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dignity. But the remark that flew from the backseat was a verbal hook that practically knocked her jaw loose.

"Of all people, you really shouldn't be talking about 'common sense' when it comes to driving."

"Why?"

Suyun turned around to look at Seoha, genuinely confused. Seoha grinned mischievously before delivering the blow.

"Didn't you get a DUI on an electric scooter, fly off, and crack your head open—"

"Unni!"

"Okay, that's a bit... harsh..."

"What? It's the truth. Anyone else can talk about driving, but she definitely shouldn't be allowed near a steering wheel. She racked up a DUI record before she even got a license. She's basically a convicted felon."

Suyun stared at the ceiling of the car for a moment, then quietly turned her head to look out the window. She had absolutely nothing to say...

After a chaotic journey, they pulled into a highway rest stop for an early lunch.

"I'm glad not many people recognized us," Iseor said, scratching her head.

She had pulled her cap down low to cover her face, but a few people still noticed them. Fortunately, the crowd was small enough that they could actually enjoy their lunch in peace.

While the other members headed to the restroom or went back to the car, Iseor spotted Suyun walking out of the convenience store, slipping something she had just bought into her pocket.

"What did you buy?"

"Just in case you get sleepy while driving. I bought some candy for you to chew on."

"Oh... I'm actually touched. Look at our Suyun, she's a changed woman! I'm literally tearing up here."

"I've always been this thoughtful."

"Stop lying."

Bickering all the way back to the car, they climbed in, and Iseor started the engine once more. Before long, she began to feel a wave of drowsiness wash over her. Perhaps it was the post-lunch food coma.

"Ah, I'm getting a bit sleepy."

"Want me to take over?"

"No, you bought that candy to keep me awake earlier. Give me some of that."

"I'll unwrap it for you. Just open your mouth."

"Whoa... seriously?"

Touched by Suyun's rare display of kindness in offering to unwrap and feed her the candy, Iseor happily opened her mouth. The moment Suyun popped it in, Iseor began to suck on it, only to instantly screw up her face in pure disgust.

It was a red ginseng candy.

"Hey, what is this..."

With her face completely contorted, Iseor glared sideways. Suyun was staring back at her with an expression of pure, unadulterated innocence.

"What?"

"Dude, red ginseng candy...?"

"What? I think they're delicious."

"Stop lying through your teeth."

"Why? Are you looking down on red ginseng candy? Right now? Are you disrespecting the fifty million proud consumers of red ginseng candy?"

Laughter erupted from the backseat at Suyun's deadpan defense. Grimacing, Iseor tried to compose herself. Fine, if that's her taste, so be it. Suyun always did have the palate of a middle-aged man... But when she caught a glimpse of Suyun in the rearview mirror, she noticed the slight, mischievous curl at the corner of her lips.

That smirk was a dead giveaway. This was petty revenge for the teasing she had endured earlier. The fact that Suyun claimed they were delicious but wasn't eating any herself was proof enough.

Oh, so that's how you want to play it...

Savoring the bitter, medicinal taste of the red ginseng candy, Iseor prepared for war. It seemed the time had come to tear down the polite boundaries of their friendship...