The Weight of the Intro
"You think my role is going to be big?"
"Yeah."
Iseor scratched her head, repeating the last words. Her muttering carried a vibe of, Wait, I'm actually featured here? to which Suyun readily answered, confirming that her role would indeed be significant.
"...In what way?"
"What do you mean, 'in what way'?"
"I mean, like, how exactly is my role going to be big? Don't I need to prepare myself mentally?"
"Do you really need to prepare yourself mentally for this?" Suyun asked, lightly twirling a strand of her hair. Is this really something that requires mental preparation? But since Iseor insisted it was, Suyun figured it must be, and began to explain how her role would be significant.
"First of all, for this opening theme, I want to reflect the overall narrative of Train Trail a bit. Since it's the song that opens the anime, shouldn't it have that kind of feel?"
"Ah... that's right...! Anime songs... usually have that kind of vibe...! Foreshadowing future events, incorporating the characters' perspectives..."
"They're usually like that? That's great then. Anyway, I know you usually write the lyrics on your own, Iseor, but for this one, I'd like you to collaborate with Hyun-ah so we can weave in the overall plot of Train Trail."
Adding in Hyun-ah's interruption, Suyun explained the first role Iseor would play in this song. At those words, Iseor lightly scratched her chin, her voice dropping slightly.
"That's what you meant by a big role? That's not really all that big..."
"That's not all."
"Oh, there's more?"
Before Iseor's slightly puzzled voice could fully echo through the room, Suyun began to explain the second role.
"You always write the lyrics anyway, so I wouldn't call that a 'big' role. Of course, I've never really made specific demands about the lyrical theme before, but..."
Suyun trailed off, tapping her finger on the desk. She had thought it was a pretty good idea when it first popped into her head, but thinking about it again, she felt a bit hesitant.
"Hey. If you're going to start a sentence, finish it."
"Well, whatever. It'll be fine. It's not like we just started yesterday; we've been doing this for years."
"Hey, I don't know what it is, but we've been together for years. Is there really any need to beat around the bush? Just spit it out. If it's something I can do, I'll do it."
Hearing Suyun's muttering, Iseor thumped her chest with her fist as if to say, Leave it to me. While the laws of physics faithfully demonstrated the principle of action and reaction, Suyun stared at Iseor's face with a slightly complicated expression before opening her mouth.
"You write the intro."
"...Huh? The intro?"
Because it was completely unexpected, Iseor asked back in a dazed tone. Regardless of her reaction, Suyun continued.
"As you heard just now, I didn't really pay much attention to the song's intro originally. I just threw in a basic drum beat and kept it simple. But looking at it now, we need an intro that makes people go, 'Oh, this is it!' the second they hear it."
"Uh... so you want me to make them go, 'Oh, this is it'?"
"Exactly. With a slap bassline."
Iseor, who had expected something simple like 'making a bassline,' froze. The other members also looked worried, clearly not expecting this.
"We could do it with drums, guitar, piano... things like that. But from what I've seen of Japanese rock bands, they absolutely love slap bass for some reason. The players are fundamentally very skillful, too..."
Suyun thought as she spoke. Perhaps the listeners' preferences played a part in that. While she didn't know the exact reason they favored slap bass, satisfying the latent demands of the primary consumers was also part of being a professional.
"Anyway, I think it'd be great to kick things off by exploding into a bass slap in the intro to pull the listeners in."
"Uh... by myself?"
"That would be best."
The main melody, vocal line, bass, piano chords, and basic drum rhythm. Adding the guitar on top of that was the usual state of a song when the members of Group Sound first encountered it. Then, the band members would build their respective parts based on the chords, discuss it with Suyun, and shape the final version.
That was how Group Sound's songs were made. Suyun was the core, and the other members merely assisted. There were songs composed primarily by other members, but even those went through Suyun's hands extensively and were closer to bonus tracks that never took center stage.
In other words, entrusting a song that would be the main focus of their activities to someone else from the very beginning—even if it was just the intro—was unprecedented.
I didn't plan for this, but it's about time we started doing things this way.
But Suyun thought so. Whether it was the song feedback method or the composition system. For now, money, fame, and friendship actively drove the girls to participate, but there was no telling how long they could keep going this way.
If they don't participate of their own accord and only let themselves be dragged along by someone else... their passion is bound to cool down. I don't want to see band members who act like mere salaried employees just earning a paycheck, at least not in my band.
"Well, just try making it first. If it really doesn't work out, you can ask me for help. I'll also try writing an opening riff while working on other things, so don't feel too pressured."
"Uh... huh? Uh... u-uh... okay. Uh, yeah."
Suyun lightly raised her arm and patted Iseor's shoulder, genuinely meaning for her not to feel pressured. However, Iseor's response was laced with a slight stutter and a hint of gloom.
"Hyun-ah, Seoha, I'll email you guys in a bit, but the main part probably won't change much. Work on arranging that section and send it to me."
"U-Understood..."
"What kind of vibe? Should we go heavy?"
But Suyun, failing to notice Iseor's mood, moved on to the other two.
"Hmm. Rather than heavy... more of a thrilling, fast-paced feel. I'll send the references along with the email. As always..."
"Without copying it completely, right? But let me do something like that too."
"Later."
While Seoha pouted at Suyun's reply, Iseor stood there blankly, clenching and unclenching her fists. Even after the conversation ended and Suyun said, "Let's go grab some coffee," she remained still.
Two evenings later.
Even though it was a season where not a single hint of summer should be felt, a damp humidity had settled around them like an unventilated bathroom. It had been two days since she was told to compose the opening slap line. But she had made absolutely zero progress. Her fingertips were blistered, and her head throbbed with a growing ache. Forty-eight hours without a single answer in sight.
Frustrated, Iseor went out for a night walk and looked up at the sky. Whether in Seoul or Tokyo, the night ceiling was devoid of stars. Nevertheless, staring at a single, faintly shining light, Iseor wondered if it was the North Star.
Would the North Star even be visible from Tokyo? ...Probably.
Long ago, before compasses existed, ships sailing the Northern Hemisphere navigated by the stars. Since the North Star always shone in the north, they only had to look for it. Find the north, and you could find the south, the west, and the east...
But even if there was a brilliantly shining North Star, what were you supposed to do if you didn't know which direction you were supposed to go?
Up until now, things were good. I thought we were doing well.
How she had started was a complete accident. She had simply found it incredibly refreshing that a funny, pretty girl she'd seen a few times at school was carrying an instrument, so she struck up a conversation. Joining the band together had also been an impulsive decision. Performing at the school festival was within her expectations, but that event had snowballed into a professional debut, entering auditions, and releasing albums. And now, she had even come to Japan, tasked with creating an anime opening theme—something she had never imagined in her entire life. Even though she had never once thought music would become her career.
Despite all that, the reason Iseor had been able to keep going and do well was simply... because she only had to do what she was told.
"Play this part like this, and do these specific exercises every day."
"Memorize this."
"Master this by next time."
"Refer to this, this, and this, and try to follow along with the improvisation."
"We just need to go with this kind of vibe. Let's do that from now on."
Sitting on a bench and looking back on everything from years ago to the present, the difficulty level had never once decreased. Suyun always raised the water level right up to Iseor's chin, forcing her to swim desperately just to stay afloat. Yet, the reason she never quit was because it was fun. Though it might be dark or faint, and though she didn't know how hard it would be or how much she would get hurt along the way, the path was always illuminated. All she had to do was follow that path. In other words, it wasn't hard.
But what Suyun had asked of her this time was on an entirely different level.
Of course, she might not think of it that way...
No, not 'might not.' She definitely wouldn't. Iseor could say that with absolute certainty. Because that was just the kind of person Suyun was. To Suyun, it would merely be a matter of raising the difficulty level by one step. And naturally, she would say something like, "You did that too. Why can't you do this?" Or perhaps, "You even write the lyrics, so why can't you write this?"
But I can't, Iseor thought. It was a completely different dimension. Someone who had only ever followed a path couldn't suddenly take the lead just because they were handed a lantern and told, "You lead from now on." She had never done it before.
The ones who could do that were probably...
Hyun-ah, or maybe Seoha. Not me. No, maybe it's not impossible. If I had a lot of time. But with such a short deadline...
On a street drenched in ink-black darkness, a single vending machine glowed alone. In front of her stood a featureless building and a three-way fork in the road. Those girls could do it. Because they were different from her. They had been doing music for a long time and were used to walking their own paths. But Iseor, who had grown accustomed to relying on YouTube, lesson teachers, and Suyun, couldn't do that. Because there was no one to lead her...
Should I tell her I can't do it? For me, this is...
But at the end of that thought, Iseor found herself thinking once more. She thought of her friend, whom she had grown close to at some point. She thought of the expectation, given without a shred of doubt, that she could do it. She didn't want to betray that trust.
A few more days passed. It was three days before the first deadline set by Studio Red Rock. In the practice room near their lodgings, which had practically become exclusive to Label Echo Sound.
"Have you seen Iseor lately? Does she even come back to the dorms?"
"She does... but she comes in around the time I go to sleep and leaves before I wake up."
"I have no idea what she's up to. The deadline is right around the corner, and she's not even checking her KakaoTalk..."
After questioning Seoha, Suyun lightly twirled her hair. Ever since she was told to compose the opening line, Iseor had literally vanished. No texts, no calls. Seeing her slip in and out of the dorms meant she was still alive, but what on earth was she doing?
Did I pressure her too much?
Suyun had assigned the task because she believed Iseor was more than capable. Given the growth curve Iseor had shown so far, it should have been a walk in the park. In fact, she had thought it might even be overdue. Suyun had never expected her to pull a near-disappearing act in response to the assignment.
"Was it a bit too much?"
"...Hmm. No, I don't think it was too much. Isn't it about time she stepped up anyway?"
"You and Hyun-ah have years of experience, though..."
"Maybe two years ago, but Iseor is definitely capable now. It might just be a matter of mindset."
Seoha replied to Suyun's question. In her eyes, Suyun babied the band members too much. Sure, she made them practice like crazy, but in other aspects, she was a bit...
"I'm here..."
"Oh. What about Iseor? Did you see her on your way in?"
"Uh... no, I didn't... Should I try calling her...?"
"No, let's just do some feedback first. I haven't listened to the final version you guys sent me yet. Let's combine it, listen, and give feedback. I have an opening riff I wrote separately, too..."
Saying so, Suyun turned on the Mac Pro sitting in the practice room. As countless multicolored tracks filled the monitor, the digital beep of the door lock suddenly echoed from the entrance.
"I-Iseor must be here..."
"Looks like it."
Suyun twirled her hair slightly and turned her head toward the door. Then, she furrowed her brow and leaned forward. Though Suyun didn't quite understand her fashion sense, Iseor always wore light, clean makeup, her nails and hair were always neatly kept, and she always had a bright, smiling impression. Unless she had just woken up, Suyun had never seen Iseor look any other way.
But the person opening the practice room door right now had her black hair swept back with a navy headband, unable to even tie it properly. She was wearing a pair of sweatpants so crumpled it was impossible to tell what she had done to them. Dragging her feet in a pair of Crocs—footwear no one would ever imagine her wearing—Iseor spoke in a completely hoarse, strained voice.
"I... I did it."
"What?"
"The opening line... I wrote it..."
Leaving only those words, Iseor collapsed face-first onto the floor. While Hyun-ah fussed over her, crying out, "Iseor?!" Suyun stared at her face. With her hollow, sunken eyes, she looked like a corpse that hadn't slept in days.