Chapter 44
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Keyword Music Stage Planning (2)
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“My concept is…”
With all the members’ attention focused on me, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Circus.”
Amid the members’ curious gazes, I pressed play.
Soon, jazzy, flashy keyboard sounds filled the room.
The members, who had been bobbing along to the rhythm with puzzled looks, had their eyes change.
“Huh? This song…”
“It’s Uriel sunbaenim’s song.”
Mid-2010s.
It was the title track [Rose-Tinted Circus] from the girl group Uriel, who had been popular at the time.
A dark-atmosphere song, characterized by its eerie lyrics cursing an ex-lover.
- Nana nana nana
The voice, layered with reverb for an uncanny feel, heightened the song’s darkness even more.
- Let’s begin
Our circus
On the unfolding stage
Precarious tightrope walk
Rowdy secret party
Watching the members listen intently, I stopped the music.
“This is the stage concept I prepared.”
The moment I heard the keyword at the meeting, the first song that came to mind was [Rose-Tinted Circus], and right after, a theme naturally flowed into my head.
That was…
“I want to create a stage that snipes the haters with this song.”
At my words, the members showed somewhat surprised reactions.
“A stage sniping haters?”
“Yeah. We’re the case that got hit with hate comments right after debuting, right?”
From the group name being mocked starting at debut, then appearance shaming, and even fabricated rumors after that.
I felt like I’d seen every kind of hate comment there was.
“What image comes to mind for you guys with circus?”
Baek Si-woo seemed to think for a moment, then tilted his head and muttered.
“Fun? Exciting?”
Cha Jae-hyun chimed in.
“It also brings to mind some grotesque images. Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon to put people on display as circus attractions.”
Nodding, I built on Cha Jae-hyun’s words and continued the explanation.
“That’s exactly the concept I’m thinking of. Expressing a grotesque circus.”
“Explain in more detail.”
“Haters are just immoral people who treat someone as their personal entertainment and bash them, right?”
“Yeah.”
The members nodded.
“I thought that might resemble circus audience members. So, ones who laugh even while watching a horrific show…”
“Ah. I get the vibe.”
Reactions of intrigue burst out here and there.
“If we become circus performers, dancing and acting out agony…”
“And the haters laugh at that?”
“Yeah. Satirizing them through the stage.”
Just then, Cha Jae-hyun, who had been studying the drawing intently, spoke up.
“Everything sounds good, but I have a question.”
I tensed up without realizing it. Cha Jae-hyun always made cool-headed judgments.
“What is it, hyung?”
“So, the backup dancers will be playing the haters, right.”
I nodded briefly.
“Have you thought about where to position the backup dancers?”
As expected, Cha Jae-hyun was the first to worry about the formation.
If the stage formation was messy, the overall stage quality would look low, and it could give a chaotic feel.
“Hold on a sec.”
I borrowed Song Yu-bin’s notebook and quickly sketched the stage layout.
“I’m planning to build a stage on the stage.”
I placed a cylindrical set in the center of the stage, filling the bottom with black-clad haters.
“And position backup dancers evoking haters below the stage.”
The members watched with interested eyes as I drew.
After finishing the drawing, I handed the notebook to the members.
“So the stage will probably look something like this…”
The members huddled together to look at the drawing in the notebook.
“Oh.”
“Eun-ho draws well too.”
Their praise felt good, but somehow embarrassing.
“But hyung.”
Song Yu-bin, examining the drawing, seemed curious about something.
“Have you thought about the arrangement? For circus, it probably won’t stray far from the jazz vibe…”
“I’ll share that if my idea gets picked by vote.”
“Okay.”
I closed the notebook.
“Alright. That’s it!”
All presentations were done. Now, just the vote left.
I scanned the members’ faces.
‘Did my plan leave a good impression?’
There were plenty of other good ideas, so mine might not make it.
But no sulking. With cameras everywhere, I had to manage my expressions better than anyone.
“We’ll vote anonymously.”
Cha Jae-hyun passed out ballot papers one by one to the members.
Then Baek Si-woo cautiously raised his head and asked.
“Can we self-vote?”
“What’s self-vote.”
“Voting for yourself.”
Laughter-suppressing breaths came from here and there.
“Oh, Si-woo self-voting?”
Baek Si-woo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and laughed.
“…You know I’m kidding, right? Guys.”
I held the pen to the ballot, pondered briefly, then quickly wrote ‘Cha Jae-hyun’ and folded it.
‘Cha Jae-hyun’s idea was the best, after all.’
I passed the ballot forward. Cha Jae-hyun, collecting them in one spot, shouted.
“Voting closed!”
Why was my heart pounding over this.
“Who’s it gonna be?”
“This is exciting.”
“What if it’s a tie?”
“We revote.”
Amid the chattering members, Cha Jae-hyun unfolded one ballot.
“Baek Si-woo.”
Baek Si-woo’s lips curved up slightly at the result.
The members’ expressions turned odd watching him.
“No way, self-vote?”
“What? No!”
Baek Si-woo denied it vehemently, but the members’ eyes already half-convinced it was a self-vote.
Cha Jae-hyun picked up the next ballot.
“Jeong Eun-ho!”
…Phew, relief.
I’d worried not even getting one vote.
Soon, Cha Jae-hyun unfolded another.
“Cha Jae-hyun!”
So far:
Baek Si-woo one vote.
Me one vote.
Cha Jae-hyun one vote.
“Jeong Eun-ho!”
My name again.
The members draped arms over my shoulders with “Oh” reactions.
Now, just the last vote left.
If mine comes up, my plan is selected. If Cha Jae-hyun’s, we vote again.
‘How’ll it go.’
In the tension, Cha Jae-hyun unfolded the ballot. And looked at me.
‘What?’
With an inexplicable smile, what came from Cha Jae-hyun’s mouth was…
“Jeong Eun-ho.”
My name.
“Wooo!”
“Congrats, Eun-ho!”
Honestly, I was dazed.
I’d pulled out the notebook and persuaded them hoping my plan would pass, sure…
But a stage concept sniping haters was a risky challenge for rookies, so I’d expected some internal pushback.
Maybe they all felt the same as me.
‘Sick of the hate.’
Every day felt like a battlefield.
Hearing the flood of hate and rumors was exasperating. Infuriating too.
At those haters who get a thrill from crushing someone’s spirit.
So yeah, I’d wanted to make a stage like this someday.
Give a proper smackdown to those who trample others without a care.
‘Didn’t expect the day to come this soon.’
I shook my head vigorously.
Since it was my plan, I had to lead it well somehow. For the members who believed in me, at least.
* * *
Inside the manager’s office.
“So…”
No words came out.
Instead of me standing there dumbfounded with my mouth open, Cha Jae-hyun spoke up.
“Black Dice sunbaenim are appearing on Keyword Music with us too?”
The manager cleared his throat lightly and nodded. Watching him made my head spin.
‘They’ve lost it completely.’
Whether Black Dice appeared on some variety show or talk show, it was none of our business.
But why!
“Why are they appearing with us?”
The words I’d held back in my mind burst out.
The company surely knew. About the incident between us and Black Dice at the last music show.
So I’d assumed they’d block us from appearing on the same broadcast.
But putting us on the same show?
A music competition program at that?
‘What the hell are they thinking?’
Cha Jae-hyun seemed to share my feelings, exhaling deeply.
Suppressing the surging emotions, he asked.
“When was Black Dice booked?”
The manager scratched his head.
“I didn’t expect this either. The initial booking was just for you guys, but then a group that was supposed to appear dropped out. PD Sin Ho-jeong urgently asked if we could book one more team.”
My head throbbed.
I got the rough situation, but it was ironic that Black Dice accepted the booking.
In the end, it’d just sound like the company senior group paving the way for rookies.
Black Dice had already built enough recognition and proven their stage skills.
From their perspective, why appear on a program with no real merit?
‘They could refuse without batting an eye at their level, so why bother?’
And soon, I found out why.
On the desk in the manager’s office was a scribble that reeked of something fishy.
‘Black Dice Keyword Music appearance deal offered. Think it over by Friday and reply.’
The manager’s habit of jotting memos on nearby paper during calls.
This was likely a scribble from a phone call…
Deal?
A deal in exchange for Black Dice appearing on Keyword Music.
That made sense.
Keyword Music’s ratings were dropping compared to the start, so they needed performers to spark some potential.
I didn’t know what they got in return, but…
‘A deal with the broadcaster. Now it clicks.’
Still, really.
Putting two groups with feud rumors on the same show?
‘Like they just need to eat it all up among themselves.’
With our serious faces, the manager gave an awkward smile.
“Don’t think too badly of it. With Black Dice, ratings will go up, and in the end, it benefits you guys too.”
Right.
That’s exactly paving the way.
The picture of a label’s senior group sacrificing to boost a fresh debut’s recognition.
No one would like that picture.
A sudden unease flashed through me.
‘Ugh… we gonna get flak from Black Dice’s fandom now?’
Black Dice fandom, Number Six.
With their massive fanbase, they basically dominated communities.
The fandom would curse the company to hell if they knew their group was paving the way, and that anger might spill over to us.
Worse, if we beat Black Dice…
‘Total chaos.’
Might feel satisfying giving Hwang Tae-seok a smackdown, but that thrill would be brief.
Losing to label rookies? The aggro would be insane, our name dragged everywhere as they bash Black Dice.
Our group image would keep getting consumed negatively.
Fans get tired of the hassle and drift away on their own.
‘Us losing would be the unspoken better picture.’
Oblivious to my thoughts, Baek Si-woo clenched his fist and shouted.
“Let’s really give it our all!”
My head was already starting to hurt.