Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Your Name Is
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Chapter 12. Your Name Is
Splash.
With my eyes closed lying down, the sound of water tickled my ears.
Someone gently stroked my hair.
"Is the temperature okay?"
"Yeah, it's good."
Routine question, routine answer.
While the hair salon assistant washed my hair, I drifted off to sleep.
I barely woke up to a shaking hand and sat in front of the mirror.
Glancing at the clock, it was 4 a.m.
As my hair dried, I could see corpses sprawled on the sofa behind the mirror.
Jung-hyun was lying spread-eagled without shoes, tangled up with Ji-ho, while Bi-ju and Ri-hyeok dozed off sitting up, nodding.
Next to them, Min-gi hyung and the actor team road manager who came to help today had their baseball caps pulled low.
The only ones moving were the expressionless shop stylists.
So quiet.
We'll laugh and chat at the broadcasting station later, but at this hour, everyone was corpse-like silent.
The perfect Monday morning look.
The reason we were up at this hour was the music show.
People who only know the three major terrestrial networks and K-Net might go, "Huh? A music show on Monday?"
But it exists.
The main broadcast is on a different day.
Today's recording was for "Global K-Pop," a music show on Korean TV that promotes Korea in English.
The main recording starts at 10, but standby is at 7, so we're prepping this early.
Well.
Still better than the occasional 4 a.m. call times.
"You look extra tired today. Didn't sleep well?"
"No. Slept the usual amount, but maybe because of yesterday's radio schedule."
"Oh, you mentioned going on radio."
While chatting casually with the hair stylist, a youthful face plopped down in the chair next to me with a thud.
The youngest zombie let out a groan and leaned against me.
"Huuung, I feel like I'm gonna die."
"Why again."
"The spot where hyung and Ri-hyeok hyung hit me keeps throbbing."
"Hey, when did I hit you?"
As I waved my hands denying it, the tired faces cracked smiles.
Under the drying hands, Ji-ho, who had been swaying like a roly-poly doll, spoke up as if remembering.
"Oh, my bad. Must've been a dream."
"Hey."
"But my body does ache. You two kept poking me from behind and trying wrestling moves."
Well, yeah.
After the radio ended, on the way back to the dorm, we'd thoroughly imprinted wrestling and jiu-jitsu moves on his body via MiTube.
"You deserved it, you punk."
"But thanks to me, we got some airtime, right? Admit that."
"You're so shameless, face doesn't even change."
"What can I do? It's my charm."
Too tired for a comeback.
As I chuckled and shook my head, Ji-ho pulled out his smartphone.
A familiar motion tapped the favorites.
Soon, the yellow mango icon appeared.
What rank today?
Too tired to even touch my phone.
From what I remembered, Fireworks had been stuck in the early 40s for days.
It did spike to 39 yesterday.
About to ask the maknae our rank, I glanced at the mirror and paused.
Why's he like that?
His eyes were bulging like a cartoon character.
"Ji-ho, what's up?"
"Hyung. 'Night Sea' is on Mango real-time search."
"What?"
"Looked it up, and the song's there too. 135th."
"Wait, hold on."
My head spun.
"What? You mean the song went up after the radio yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"Does that make sense?"
"See here. 135th."
He shoved his phone at me like, look for yourself.
There it was: Night Sea at 135.
135. Woojoo & Ri-hyeok - Night Sea (Original Ver.)
Even with album art.
A song hastily made a week ago was out as a digital single, ranking pretty high.
Only two people could explain this phenomenon, but neither was here.
The stylists behind us peered curiously too.
"Ji-ho, what happened?"
"Yeah, what is this."
The only two awake here started searching on their phones.
After a bit.
Browsing idol communities and portals, I found the cause.
[Best] Military idol's reaction to reenlistment joke.gif
"......"
Turning with a chilling glare, only an empty chair spun around.
* * *
Music show "Global K-Pop" waiting room.
"......New Black is drawing attention for appearing on HBS Super FM's 'Jang Sowon's Wonderful Night.' On this broadcast, members Woojoo and Ri-hyeok captivated with sensible advice and great live performances, while Woojoo's self-composed song 'Night Sea,' revealed for the first time, earned admiration from listeners and the DJ for its lyrical vibe and story."
A pleasant mid-low voice rapped out the article like lyrics.
"But the real buzz after the show was Woojoo's expression. To a listener comment suggesting 'reenlistment' as his #1 promise, his reaction had the DJ and guests in stitches......"
Rubbing my throbbing temples, I tapped my smartphone.
The abuse articles vanished, replaced by the community best post from earlier.
Comments had multiplied.
-Lmao dead serious
-Expression so real
-Even tries to fix it after realizing, funnier
-Looks fun to tease
-Gif expression like "what nonsense is this?"
-Who? Who said reenlist?
At first I wondered what the hype was, but seeing the gif, even I got it.
Fair enough.
And since it was military-related, it spread beyond idol communities to other sites.
Don't people have anything better to laugh at?
It's funny, sure...
No idea where to vent this burning feeling.
"Hyung, don't worry. Like with Soufflés last time, it blew up on idol community then died down."
"Bi-ju. Thanks, but..."
"Yeah."
"You're grinning too much right now...?"
"No, hyung. I'm suffering too."
If the expression-master second youngest was barely holding back laughs, the rest were hopeless.
They'd been cackling at their phones since earlier.
"Having a blast, huh. Everyone's thrilled."
"Honestly, it's hilarious. Wow, this gif is art."
"You'd be buried without me."
"That's luck for you."
The fourth, thrilled his red face was overshadowed, munched sweet potato sticks like popcorn.
Next to him, the third smiled warmly at fan cafe posts.
Must be fun stuff.
Wanted to ask reactions, but couldn't.
And the culprit behind this sat next to me, gauging my mood.
"Woojoo hyung, think positive."
"About what."
"Um. Thanks to your epic expression changes, something good happened again. You burned yourself to save us."
"I burn and die?"
"...No, not that. Aaa, ow."
I pinched the maknae's side as he tilted his head, words tangled.
"Reactions are good though."
Yoon Seok-hwan, peering at his phone, smiled satisfied.
"Like Ji-ho said, it drew attention to the live."
"I'm invisible, huh?"
"No way. Just happy as a manager for my celebrity's success."
I clicked my tongue at the smug math ghost's grin.
No one's on my side.
But they weren't wrong.
My unintended expression went viral, boosting our name incidentally.
"Funny. But who's that guy?" style.
Various factors, but clearly, Night Sea blew up because of it.
"Didn't expect the song this fast."
"After you mentioned self-composed, the executive director ordered it right away. Was prepped, just timing."
Our producer's quick action got it out fast.
Strike while the iron's hot.
Originally planned later, but after hearing the live, they sped through internal meetings.
Not official digital single though.
Official one's getting A&R tweaks, out in 3 weeks.
As "(Original Ver.)" said, this was just yesterday's demo by me and Ri-hyeok.
Hence, rough as hell.
Plenty of fixes jumped out.
Like a high schooler whose doodle got submitted to an international art contest unknowingly.
Embarrassing.
At least reviews praised Night Sea.
-Warm song. ^^
-Heard live yesterday, digital out already,, thanks for good song.
- Feels like an old song, love it
Energizing.
My melody getting such undeserved love.
"Puhaha, hyungs. Look at this comment. Aaa...!"
Of course, fueling laughs elsewhere too.
* * *
11 a.m.
Unlike other stations, Global K-Pop pre-records 2-3 weeks' worth.
So they split into parts 1-5; low seniority like us got morning part 1.
Others were rookies too.
Rival Street Boys, Eulim's Soul Six right after our debut, girl group Blink from early this year, etc.
"Hey, saw our gif! The army one! Right?"
"Yeah......"
Waiting backstage, Blink members returned and acted familiar.
They giggled at my resigned smile.
Soul Six behind us, I bet.
My hunch: they'll recognize me too.
"See, hyung? Thanks to me, networking up."
"Don't need connections like this......"
"Whoa, so negative today."
Who made me negative? About to glare, then spotted the camera and smiled kindly.
Ri-hyeok stifled a guffaw.
VJ with ENG camera and writer approached laughing.
"Shooting behind-the-scenes for MiTube. How's everyone feeling about today's recording?"
"Great!"
"So excited, thinking of meeting fans."
Chatting, company staff checked waist mic packs and pinned mics on outfits.
Phew.
Deep breath, waiting for standby cue.
Hope the vibe's good today.
Excited to see fans, but a bit worried.
Last recording was iffy.
Global K-Pop does joint recordings, so seats allocated from each fandom.
Meaning other groups' fans mixed in now.
With Street Boys fans, last time felt tense.
Not outright hate faces or curses, but subtle rivalry.
Problem: stage super close, like Hongdae indie cafe.
Fans right in your face, hard not to care.
"Heading in."
Staff cue, we hit the stage.
Waaa- cheers.
Our fans in side seats.
Smiling warmly, then dongsaengs giggled spotting something.
"Hyung, look."
Jung-hyun pointed: a fan playfully waving [Woojoo, I'll enlist for you].
Instantly, me and the whole audience burst laughing.
Even other fans.
Street Boys fans awkward-laughed, but vibe different.
What?
No hostility like last time.
No subtle tension.
Something happened?
Gonna check later, then noticed another change.
Usually, whispers of "Who's Woojoo?" but now everyone looked at me knowingly, smiling.
People knowing my name.
Maybe.
Like maknae said, a good thing.
"Starting recording!"
Naturally, today's Fireworks was spectacular.
* * *
Post-music show recording, quick interview with Young Daily reporter, back to company.
3rd floor large conference room.
Second time here since introducing Fireworks to staff.
Bi-ju puzzled.
"Heard team leaders coming by department today. What's up?"
"Dunno, something to say probably."
"You got no guess?"
Me too clueless.
Just told to attend New Black meeting.
"Maybe that TBC thing Seok-hwan hyung went for."
"Oh yeah. Airing?"
"Nah. Wouldn't announce big if so. Not like survival show."
Back to mystery, Ji-ho piped up remembering.
"I think I heard. Chatted with PR noona days ago, said something around fansign soon. Like picking fandom name."
Right, first fansign this Sunday.
But more interested in what Ji-ho said.
"Fandom name?"
"Yeah, think they're doing fan contest this time......"
"Fans decide?"
At TJ, planning team made it.
Amazed at the method.
Ri-hyeok glanced around, whispered.
"Makes sense. Last time company picked Scarlett's, huge backlash. Probably changed because."
"What happened?"
"CEO pushed one he liked. Curtain."
"Curtain?"
"Yeah, Curtain."
Suddenly recalled pre-New Black name proposals.
Lemon Boys, Flying Angels, Black Hole, Hot Voice.
Chill down my spine.
"Must've been chaos."
"Yeah. Search CEO on Scarlett cafe, tons of savage posts."
"Well, meaning's nice."
Ri-hyeok said.
"Curtain shielding and embracing our singer from outside eyes. Good intent, staff liked internally."
Still, fandom Curtain? Nah.
Felt bad for Scarlett members.
'Our Curtain best!', 'Love you, Curtain!'? Oof.
Hoping our fans get a pretty name instead.
Click.
Door opened, staff entered.