Chapter 72
Chapter 72
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Twisty Puzzle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We were waiting in the company conference room to watch our debut stage video together for monitoring.
[RE-V, who turned failure into success through RED CUBE, makes their explosive debut.]
[RE-V, taking their first step today.]
[RE-V appears, stating they are nervous but will work hard.]
Even before the music show started, a flood of articles had been released.
It meant RE-V was a highly anticipated group.
*Highly anticipated, huh.*
We'd never been welcomed when comeback articles came out, so even a single one like this felt incredibly precious.
“It's our turn now.”
At Haru's words, I quickly put down my phone and fixed my eyes on the screen.
RE-V's individual teasers appeared along with the members' names in subtitles.
“Wow.”
“They're doing this much for us?”
“This is the first time I've ever been treated like this.”
Since none of us had ever even had a comeback interview, the situation was simply fascinating and astonishing.
*Thump-thump.*
With a sound effect, the stage came into view.
“We're not there yet?”
Just as Jung Eun-woo said, no one was on the stage yet.
It was just an empty stage.
Since we didn't use a lift to get on stage, I was thinking, *'It would be a bit strange if they showed us walking up,'* when the screen flickered.
Then, we appeared, holding our starting poses.
“Oh.”
The screen glitched, alternating between the empty stage and us in our black outfits, making a sound like a radio tuning to a frequency.
A roar like an airplane preparing for takeoff sounded, and the screen froze on us in our starting poses.
―you messed up
everything is a mess
Even for me
And so, the performance began in earnest.
No one could take their eyes off the screen.
[Debut - RE-V]
The reality that we had debuted hit me once again.
“You guys were so good, you didn't seem like a group that just debuted.”
The manager said with a pleased smile.
“The reaction was really great too.”
“The reaction?”
Lee Ho-jun asked at the manager's words.
“Yeah. The staff's reaction. They all said the song was good and the dance was cool. They thought you'd do well. Plus, we're already getting offers for individual variety show appearances.”
The music show staff watched and filmed idol performances as part of their daily routine.
Watching idol stages every day, they had eyes and ears that were close to an expert's.
That's why they could gauge the potential for success just by watching a single performance.
*That's why there's the term 'PD's pick'.*
This was a very good sign.
“Do you think we can get first place?”
“Haru, why are you worrying about that? From now on, you guys just need to think about your first-place acceptance speech and what kind of performance you'll do for the encore.”
The manager said to us.
First place.
Even when GANGSTER-M was popular, we'd never achieved it.
We had barely managed to become a nominee, but going any further was impossible.
“Well, even for you guys, the first time you win, you'll probably be out of your minds.”
First place somehow felt like a very distant future.
RE-V had grasped the glory of winning first place right after their debut.
*As long as my presence doesn't negatively affect RE-V, that fact probably won't change.*
“Can we really get first place?”
Park Ji-ham mumbled to himself with a slightly dazed expression.
“We can get first place.”
“That's right. We'll definitely get first place.”
I quickly added to Haru's words.
“Let's think positively. We're getting good results right now. Even if we don't get first, we're receiving more love than we deserve.”
Jung Eun-woo was right.
We, who had only received indifference or criticism on stage, were now receiving cheers and love.
That was enough.
“True. We're all happy right now.”
Park Ji-ham gave a faint smile.
“Then let's continue monitoring with happy hearts.”
Before the second verse began, the camera spun 360 degrees, and the screen transitioned to us wearing brightly colored outfits.
“So this is how it changes.”
―I want to get the key to this question
After that, the screen transitioned several more times.
It had a strong resemblance to our music video.
―pretty things like you drive me crazy
And with that, the performance ended.
“You guys must be proud watching it, right?”
“Yes.”
“You didn't have that much time to prepare, but thank you for following along so well.”
The manager patted our shoulders one by one.
“I'm counting on you going forward. You're going to get a lot busier.”
* * *
As if timed with RE-V's debut, articles about 'Twisty Puzzle' began to surface.
[RED CUBE's successor, Twisty Puzzle, to launch?]
[The start of a new survival program, Twisty Puzzle.]
[Twisty Puzzle, this time it's rookie idols.]
[Rookie idol survival, will it be as popular as RED CUBE?]
In response, social media buzzed with activity again.
[What? Does the PD not plan on resting? He's really striking while the iron is hot. Please get some rest. What kind of rules are you going to bring this time to drive people crazy?]
↳Amazing. Truly amazing.
↳The cast is insane. There are even some who haven't debuted yet.
↳Then they're not rookies. They're trainees, and they're on the show?
↳Maybe the members won't change? If the members change, the fans will probably stage a protest in front of the agency. They wouldn't dare do it out of fear of that. Unless they want to burn down the agency lol. Unless they're aiming for bankruptcy because they can't close the company on their own, it's impossible.
[So Creatin is going to be on Twisty Puzzle. No wonder they were always leaving the company to practice. There was a reason for it all.]
↳I don't think so. Because at the bottom of the article, it says all the participating idols were tricked into joining, thinking it was just a variety show, not a survival program.
↳Tricked? Legendary from the start lol. No one's ever been tricked into participating before.
↳LMAO I saw this and went back to check just in case, and it's real. 'All participating idol groups joined thinking it was a variety show and were given a mission to present a special performance in just 5 hours.'
↳Seriously lol, it's so absurd I have to laugh. I mean, there's a limit to what you can trick people about. The participants should at least be mentally prepared. Just like a PD specializing in survival shows. He's getting more vicious.
[The agency that announced they were making a boy group right after Seo Yoon-seul left is also on Twisty Puzzle.]
↳Isn't that agency really terrible...? I was horrified during Seo Yoon-seul's live stream.
↳I can't forget that day either. It was so shocking. He's not even my idol, but I was just worried for him. Why haven't they gone bankrupt yet? I thought they would after what happened with GANGSTER-M, but they're still around.
↳Wow. That agency is full of thugs. Every time a GANGSTER-M member caused trouble and left, they made the remaining members do an apology broadcast while they just hid in the back. Not only that, the manager is really violent. The manager yelling during Seo Yoon-seul's live stream? That was him being *nice* because it was on air lol
↳No way, that was him being nice...? How bad is he normally?
↳Shoving them and pulling their hair is the basics. He raises his hand like he's going to hit them to intimidate them and yells. Anyone would think he's the idol.
↳Wow. I've seen celebrities act high and mighty, but this is the first time I've seen a manager do it.
↳Why don't they fire a manager like that? Don't they usually?
↳That's the real mystery. But people speculate it's because he rules by fear, making the kids easier to control.
[I really don't like that Yoon-seul's former agency is on the show. Of course, the kids are not at fault. But I just hate that agency. Yoon-seul didn't do anything wrong, he just said what he wanted to say because it was so unfair, right? But they kicked him out for that one thing. And immediately put out articles saying they were making another boy group. How can you trust an agency like that?]
↳Plus, the fact that they brought in kids who committed crimes left and right without even vetting them shatters all trust.
↳You can never trust them.
↳After giving them your heart, spending money, and investing time, how can you live with the heartache if they leave after committing a crime or get kicked out by the company?
[I feel like the PD intentionally picked that agency. If you think about it, Seo Yoon-seul was also cast to be a bit of an issue-maker.]
↳This is it. That agency is a gold mine for the PD.
↳There's no other reason. There has to be a reason he brought in kids who haven't even debuted yet.
↳But the PD's casting ability is amazing. This is also part of his devilish talent. He knows exactly what will become a point of contention.
↳I can see it. It's so obvious. I can see myself watching it while cursing it.
[Wow. They intentionally revealed this to coincide with our boys' debut. I mean, today is our debut day. Twisty Puzzle stole all the attention.]
↳The people who know best how long we've waited for this day are the ones who did this, and that's what makes me so angry.
↳Are you even human...
↳Is this why you gave them the car? lol. Even when there was no prize money for winning, we were just like, 'Oh, okay!' But you gave them a car as a gift, used it for promotion, and now you're using them to promote a new program. And a boy group show at that, not a girl group one.
The ones infuriated by this news were RE-V's fans.
It was because their time to excitedly talk about RE-V's debut stage had been stolen.
[But still, today is the day of our video call fan sign... We have to see the boys, and we can't be frowning, so let's smile. Let's force a smile if we have to. If they see our faces, they'll be upset too. They're probably nervous about seeing us.]
↳That's right. We can't show our boys our frowning faces.
↳Let's flood social media with our video call fan sign.
They tried their best to forget about Twisty Puzzle while waiting for the video call fan sign that would start soon.