Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Request
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A BRAVE waited with a trembling heart for RE-V to appear.
She clutched her Cube Stick tightly to her chest, her gaze fixed solely on the stage.
Just then, RE-V walked onto the stage.
They were dressed in casual T-shirts and pants, their outfits seemingly coordinated with a green and white color scheme.
“Waaaaaah!”
At the BRAVE’s cry, RE-V smiled and waved.
They immediately stood back-to-back.
Soon, the intro began to play, and the performance started.
―It's like
As Jung Eun-woo sang the first line and stomped his foot, the other members jumped out as if propelled, changing their formation.
‘Our Eun-woo is a master of opening parts.’
The intro had also been Jung Eun-woo’s part during their ‘MESS’ promotions, so the BRAVE was having a similar thought.
―UMM UMM UMM
Haru stepped forward, crossing his legs.
A pentagonal formation naturally formed.
―I can't explain it with ordinary words
Seo Yoon-seul sang using a mixed voice and winked at the camera.
The BRAVE’s cheeks lifted into a wide grin.
―This is dangerous
UMM UMM UMM
Park Ji-ham and Lee Ho-jun stood back-to-back, performing a mirrored choreography with their arms.
―I think I've fallen in love
UH WOO UH
The two moved apart, and the formation changed again.
This time, it was a V-shape with Haru standing in the center.
―Why is it that I can only look at your eyes
Waving their arms naturally, RE-V stepped to the left.
‘This time, it feels more free-form than perfectly synchronized.’
If their last title track, ‘MESS,’ had sharp, synchronized choreography, this one felt like controlled chaos.
While maintaining an overall sense of unity, they were maximizing their individual styles.
‘I love how their dance lines are all different yet so harmonious. How is that even possible?’
―My gaze won't leave you
Haru moved back, and Park Ji-ham, whose part it was, moved to the center. The formation remained the same, but their positions had swapped.
―I'm looking
at you
Lee Ho-jun pointed a finger at the camera and grinned.
“I’m only looking at you, too!”
Even though the BRAVE had no time for other thoughts because of RE-V’s performance, she was perfectly executing the fan chants.
The RE-V members had even filmed a fan chant guide video themselves, so she couldn't possibly neglect it.
‘My mouth is moving on its own. I didn't even try to memorize it, but it must be from watching it so many times.’
During the short instrumental break before the chorus, RE-V quickly returned to the center of the stage.
‘They’re just walking, so why do they look so cool?’
―It's like
UMM UMM UMM
I can't explain it with ordinary words
RE-V crossed their arms from inside to out, repeating an up-and-down motion.
Then, they curled their arms inward and switched places with the members next to them, as if doing a "crab dance."
“RE-V! I love you!”
―My heart
(Heart)
They jumped lightly in place, their arms moving above their heads as if trying to grab something.
After landing, they made a sideways ‘8’ with their hands and held the pose for a moment.
―When you look at me
My pupils shake
The second verse opened with Lee Ho-jun’s part.
With a hand on his hip, Lee Ho-jun showcased an isolation, moving his head from side to side.
‘Our boy’s neck is so flexible.’
Then, he suddenly did a wave, bending his back.
“Whoa!”
There was originally no fan chant for that part, but the BRAVE was so surprised she couldn't help but cry out.
Behind Lee Ho-jun, Seo Yoon-seul and Haru were supporting him with their arms outstretched.
He used the momentum to straighten himself up.
―Please tell me
Haru gave Seo Yoon-seul a light high-five and moved to the side.
―That all of this is natural
It feels like I'm not myself
Jung Eun-woo took the center, delivering a short rap part.
―It's strange
(Strange)
RE-V stood with their arms spread wide, tilting their upper bodies to the right and then the left.
―It's like
UMM UMM UMM
I can't explain it with ordinary words
The chorus choreography was the same.
―My heart
(Heart)
A shower of brilliant confetti burst forth.
―It's like
UMM UMM UMM
I can't explain it with ordinary words
RE-V stood in a single line.
Then, with a light wave, they moved out one by one to the left and right.
―Love
(Love)
RE-V transitioned straight into a dance break.
It was the same scene from the music video.
“Waaaaaah!”
The loudest cheers of the entire performance erupted.
RE-V placed their left hands on the inside of their left thighs and popped their right hips.
“RE-V!”
―UMM UMM UMM
Standing in a zigzag formation, RE-V slapped their knees once and turned their bodies.
From that position, they immediately performed a low kick.
It definitely looked more powerful than it did on screen.
―My heart is racing
Me
I'm shy
UMM
RE-V bent their upper bodies, then kicked their feet to propel themselves forward.
Then, they stood in a diagonal line, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
―Me (AH AH AH AH AH AH)
Me (AH AH AH AH AH AH)
Me (AH AH AH AH AH AH)
They lifted their right feet and swayed them left and right in time with the beat.
Seo Yoon-seul, standing at the very end, subtly slipped to the side.
―AH
It was Seo Yoon-seul’s high-note ad-lib part.
He sang it a key higher than the studio version.
“Huh?”
The BRAVEs couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.
It was the first time they had ever seen an idol raise the key during a music show performance, not a concert or a special event.
‘Wow. He’s really proving it’s live.’
It wasn't as if he had forced the key change just to show off his skills, even if it didn't fit.
On the contrary, it felt like it suited the song even better than the original recording.
―It's like
UMM UMM UMM
I can't explain it with ordinary words
RE-V naturally stepped into a zigzag formation.
Then, with their thighs slightly lowered, they shuffled their feet while swinging their arms from top to bottom.
They quickly closed the distance between them.
―My heart
(Heart)
Seo Yoon-seul and Lee Ho-jun, who were at the front, knelt on one knee and looked at Haru in the center.
Park Ji-ham and Jung Eun-woo, positioned at the back, also looked at Haru, but they stood diagonally.
In time with the beat, they brought their hands together on Haru’s chest.
Haru smirked and lightly pushed his chest out.
Simultaneously, the members pulled their hands away.
―UMM UMM UMM
UMM UMM UMM
UMM UMM UMM
Seo Yoon-seul and Lee Ho-jun, still kneeling, gently swayed their bodies as they stood up.
While Haru, in the center, stepped backward, the other members created a formation with their upper bodies slightly bent.
It was a diamond shape with one person inside.
―It's like
The performance ended with RE-V raising their left arms to cover their eyes.
* * *
“Guys, that was amazing. But Yoon-seul, why did you suddenly raise the key?”
As they came off stage, their manager praised them before asking his question.
“Just because. My throat felt pretty good today, and I thought that note would suit the song better.”
To be honest, it was to show LM Entertainment.
To make it clear that I had no intention of letting the fans who liked me during my GANGSTER-M days be taken by Zero to the Boy.
“You did well, but don’t do it too often. You need to save your voice. It’ll be trouble if you do that for every live performance.”
“That’s right. You can’t just strain your throat like that.”
Park Ji-ham quickly agreed with the manager.
During his time in GANGSTER-M’s second lineup, he had sung even higher notes without rest, and it hadn’t caused any major problems.
But Park Ji-ham had experienced the despair of vocal cord nodules, so I couldn't just say it would be fine.
“I understand. I’ll only do it for today and not again. I just tried it once, so you don’t have to worry.”
The manager and Park Ji-ham nodded vigorously.
“Let’s head back to the waiting room.”
“Yes.”
As we quickened our pace, I saw a figure standing in front of our waiting room in the distance.
‘Who is that?’
They were quite far away, so I couldn't tell who it was.
It was only after taking a few more steps that I realized it was Zero to the Boy.
“Hello, sunbaenims.”
This time, it seemed they had come alone, without their manager.
“Hello.”
“Um, we’re really sorry to ask, but could you please film a challenge with us just once? We know it’s an imposition, but our manager, the section chief, and the team leader all said we absolutely have to film this…”
Zero to the Boy’s words trailed off.
‘It’s not like it’s their fault, but…’
Still, I couldn’t film a challenge with them.
Now that I knew LM’s scheme, I couldn't just do what they wanted.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not going to work today.”
I stated my refusal as firmly as possible.
“You know how our manager is, sunbaenim. He has a bit of a fiery temper. Can’t you please help us out just this once?”
I was about to head straight into the waiting room, but my feet wouldn’t move.
‘Haa… I’m sure their manager put them up to this, too.’
There was no way Zero to the Boy would have come here on their own to make such a request.
“You should request a new manager from your company.”
“We already tried! We tried several times, but they just chewed us out, asking how we expect to survive in the entertainment industry if we can’t even handle something like this.”
At Ji Hyun-soo’s words, the other members nodded and exchanged glances.
“The company keeps threatening us, so there’s nothing we can do.”
Ji Hyun-soo’s shoulders slumped.
The last time I saw him, he was on edge, but he seemed so different now.
“But if you could just film something with simple hand movements, we’ll never bother you again.”
That was just what Zero to the Boy thought.
LM Entertainment wouldn’t be satisfied with something so small.
Having spent six years there, how could I not know?
“Let’s go inside the waiting room and talk. Not out here.”
There were too many watching eyes and listening ears here.
“Okay.”
And so, I had no choice but to let Zero to the Boy into our waiting room.