Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 27
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How could I showcase the members' singing abilities?
How could I create that opportunity?
It was a dilemma for the leader guiding the team.
After appearing on music shows for three weeks, the feedback I'd gathered boiled down to this:
-Their visuals are top-tier. Each has such distinct charm they could go solo as actors.
-Why does only the main vocalist sing?
-What's the point of the rest showing up? Can't they sing?
-Aren't they just riding his coattails?
It was a problem stemming from an ambiguous start.
The composition of "Something" had basically been done by Jang Sowon and me.
But when it came time to record, issues arose.
There was only one woman handling the parts, while several men were involved, making it feel off-balance.
So we unified the vocals into one, and that was Ri-hyeok.
But around then, titling it "Jang Sowon X Ri-hyeok - Something" felt awkward somehow.
We'd each contributed significantly.
To be honest, it was a byproduct of work done without expecting the track to perform this well.
When our first music show appearance was confirmed, both agencies had planned to send only Ri-hyeok.
Then Jang Sowon strongly objected with, "If that's how it's gonna be, I'm out," forcing us all to perform together.
It worked out in the end, but on the flip side, it left questions like, "Why do all these guys come out just to add harmonies and dip? Can't they sing?"
A tricky situation all around.
Our kids can sing well.
The problem was the lack of chances to prove it.
We couldn't overhaul the music show setlist just to show off their skills.
Lost in my solo brooding, I noticed road manager Seo Min-gi glancing at me in the passenger seat.
"Tired?"
"Nah."
"The interview must've been rough."
"The vibe was fine."
It was a solo schedule after the music show, an interview as co-composer for "Something" with senior Jang Sowon. Nothing special.
"There were a few awkward questions, but I guess you get used to interviews over time. Less shaky than my first one. And when tough questions came up, senior Jang Sowon had my back from the side."
"She was like that with Sugarfish too. Always helping the juniors."
"And the reporter reacted great to everything I said. I figured they'd be prickly with a rookie, but they were super kind."
"I have a hunch why."
"What do you mean?"
"That reporter was a woman."
I shot him a clueless look, and Min-gi hyung chuckled like, whatever.
"Don't worry about it if you don't get it. I just asked 'cause you looked wiped. Thought maybe the interview did it."
"Nope."
I'd been about to spill my worries on showing off New Black's skills, but I eyed him instead.
We'd only known each other less than a month.
Gazing at passing street trees, I let out a chuckle.
"Guess I'm relaxing a bit."
"About time. Three weeks straight at number one."
"Still rookies, though. Gotta stay on edge."
Spotting his face jogged my memory of something I'd forgotten, so I rummaged in my pocket.
"Hyung, senior Jang Sowon gave me something for you today. Said to give it to her fan."
"Oh yeah? Where is it?"
"Here."
Min-gi hyung blinked at my empty palm. What the heck? his face said.
I closed and opened my hand, and chocolate appeared.
"Ta-da."
"Whoa, what was that?"
"Magic trick."
"You can do that too?"
"Learned it from a MeTube video recently. Haven't had a spot to use it."
A magic trick picked up via motion mimicry ability.
Honestly, outside of dance, there's not much daily use for it, so I'd been messing around with parlor tricks like this.
Handing over the chocolate, his plain, honest face broke into a full grin.
Like all his daily fatigue melted away.
"She said the on-site manager looks low on sugar these days with the packed schedule, so pass this on. From a friend in Belgium, apparently."
"Belgium? Must be from Lisa."
"Huh?"
"Sugarfish Lisa. She quit musicals and moved to Belgium."
Right, this hyung's ultimate bias is Sugarfish Lisa.
I laughed in disbelief.
"You should transfer to Hwayi Entertainment."
"Hmm, maybe I should've."
"Nah, don't go anywhere. Stick with us."
Grinning at my playful retort, Min-gi hyung focused on driving.
Streetlights flickered past as the car sped on.
10 p.m.
We were heading to the company.
"No need to go straight to the dorm? Music show rehearsal's at dawn tomorrow."
"Got a meeting scheduled with Executive Director Jo today."
"This late?"
"Yeah, we're both swamped, so this was the only slot that lined up."
The agenda was, naturally, my current dilemma on showcasing skills.
Surely he'd have some answer for my questions.
Bzzz-
Deep in thought, my phone buzzed.
-A-Yo. Soufflé man~
The maknae's bright laughter rang through the receiver.
-Interview go okay?
"Yeah, fine."
-Totally half-hearted reply. How can you sound so indifferent when your cute maknae calls?
"Cute maknae? Never had one of those."
-Why not? He's right here.
"Hanging up."
-Wow, so hurtful. After how well I've raised you.
His absurd line cracked me up.
"Hey, when did you ever raise me?"
-Fed you, put you to bed. Hyung, don't you remember a thing?
"Kinda rings a bell."
-See?
"Yeah, I remember now. Two weeks ago? You came to me with no underwear, going, 'Ha... lend me one, please.' That it?"
-Why's your memory so good?
"Family trait. Grandma's even sharper."
'Who you talking to? Ji-ho?' Min-gi asked, and I nodded.
Hearing that, the voice on the line turned gloomy fast.
-Manager hyung heard too?
"Yep."
-This is top secret, seriously. If the hyungs find out, they'll milk it like beef bone soup till we die. Especially that viper Seo Ri-hyeok...
"Depends on you."
-Ahng.
"Who to text first? Ri-hyeok?"
-Stop! Stop! Woojoo hyung, have some mercy...
I chuckled at the maknae's surrender.
Cute kid.
Chatting with Ji-ho eased my fatigue a touch.
"Why'd you call? Night snacks again?"
-Nope, not tonight.
"Why?"
-Ri-hyeok hyung says a pimple might pop up if he eats.
"You guys eat without me then."
-Bi-ju hyung says no. Can't eat without everyone—that's bad manners.
From his words, I could guess the real point.
"You want snacks, huh?"
-Yeah.
"Text the menu. I'll grab it on the way in."
-Love you, hyung~
Messages pinged right after we hung up.
Instant tteokbokki, sausages, snacks from the convenience store.
Skimming them, I tilted my head.
Weird.
The list was lighter than usual.
Probably under 10,000 won total.
These guys who drop near 30,000 on snacks—what gives?
* * *
Lemon Entertainment.
Past 10 p.m., after hours for staff, but the practice room lights would still be on.
No rest for the weary.
Music shows eat your day from dawn rehearsal to evening end.
Even then, no downtime in between.
Practice never stops.
We couldn't slack on group choreo or vocals just because we're performing "Something" live.
You'll know if you've lived it.
Skip stretching one day, and your lines get sloppy the next.
In that vein, New Black had been coming back to the company post-music show every day to grind practice.
Or...
That used to be the routine.
"Why are the lights off?"
Something felt off today.
The basement stairs were dark too, nothing but green emergency lights.
Fumbling down, I cocked my head.
Power outage?
I'd gone up and down these stairs nonstop since last December—no tripping.
Maybe thanks to the mimicry ability.
When senses sharpen, the needed moves just flow automatically.
Hallway's dark too. Where are these kids?
Multiple practice rooms, but all lights out today.
Weird.
If they weren't practicing, they'd have told me.
Ssshh-
About to turn on my phone light, a sound came from ahead.
Like a cockroach skittering fast.
What...?
Ssshh-
Now behind me.
Fear hit hard.
Something was wrong.
As I edged back, something clamped my shoulder—snap!
"Eek...!"
Before I could scream in shock, my body reacted on instinct.
Just like the day I awakened my ability during the college entrance exam and flipped that cop.
The exact move flowed out.
Thud-!
Something hit the floor.
Then, from the dark, hands reached to grab me.
My body responded naturally again.
A MMA move I'd watched idly on MeTube popped out automatically.
Slipping.
Boxing technique: swaying the upper body side to side to slip an opponent's strike.
If it'd stopped there, great—but adrenaline-pumped, I seized the arm and threw like a judo player.
"Argh!"
Argh?
"Hey, hey! Lights! Lights!"
"Why?"
"Hey! Wang Ji-ho! Turn on the damn lights!"
"R-Representative, you okay?"
Familiar voices, and the hallway lights snapped on.
I blinked in stunned silence.
A balding, mild-mannered middle-aged man clutched his back on the floor, groaning.
Yoon Seok-hwan was in the same boat.
Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan clung to the wall like a chicken joint magnet in shock.
And.
"What the heck...?"
New Black kids with baffled faces.
Cone-hat-wearing boys held a cake, frozen awkwardly, watching the chaos with bunny-wide eyes.
What situation is this?
I was just as flustered.
No warning—what the hell?
I scanned for the culprit who'd sent me down here on an errand.
"Wang Ji-ho, where are you."
"...Huh?"
"Explain this mess."
Only after helping up the two fallen men did I get the full story.
No need for explanations, really.
The kids' whipped cream cake.
Topped with "Congrats on 3 Weeks Straight #1!"
Surprise party.
To celebrate three weeks at number one on music shows, they'd planned a pop-up bash.
Frowning, I asked,
"Who came up with this brilliant plan?"
"The representative."
"Ay, what a stellar idea."
Brief chaos, but no injuries.
After songs and congrats, the adults handed us pre-ordered night snacks and left.
Yoon Seok-hwan and the rep hobbling off arm-in-arm was kinda poignant.
As the kids wiped cream off my face, someone offered tissues.
"Here."
"Thanks."
Ri-hyeok asked,
"You look kinda dazed."
"Bit startled."
"We should be the shocked ones. Rep almost got incense-burned behind the screen."
"You grabbed me from behind outta nowhere..."
Scratching my sideburns awkwardly, I met Ri-hyeok's deadpan stare—like a living 'facepalm.'
"Anyway, shocked. A surprise for me?"
"Why else?"
Our main vocal grumbled.
"You composed it, so thanks and congrats..."
"Oh? You were grateful to me?"
"Gotta spell it out?"
"Not a mind reader—say it. Since it's out, let's hear it. Go on, say thanks."
"Tha..."
Ri-hyeok spotted the convenience bag on the floor mid-word and snatched it.
"Sweet potato sticks. I'll enjoy."
"Hey."
He bolted with the bag.
Ridiculous—I burst out laughing.
Bi-ju sidled up with a 'what's new' smile.
"Ri-hyeok's just bad at expressing emotions."
"That guy's personality is weird."
"But the more you see, the nicer he is."
Bi-ju grinned at me.
"Come on, hyung. Bossam and jokbal in heaps. Rep said order plenty, no worries."
Jung-hyun and Ji-ho set up bossam and jokbal sets on newspaper-covered floor.
With gatjeori kimchi and bibim guksu—perfect combo.
"Bi-ju hyung, can we eat yet?"
"Not yet. All together."
"Whoa, hyung's total commie...!"
Bi-ju smiled, urging me over.
"Oh, uh... Bi-ju."
"Yeah?"
"Think I can't join. Got a meeting soon..."
His face fell instantly—I backpedaled.
"Maybe grab a bit first?"
"Good call, hyung."
Back to bright smiles.
Led by Bi-ju's hand, I thought.
Everyone's got their quirks.
One needs group activities to be satisfied, one can't sleep without shoes off even outdoors, one struggles with emotions.
And the maknae... whew.
Guess I'm the only normal one in this group.