Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Debut Stage (3)
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WM Media Center, first-floor lobby.
The homma, who had been waiting outside since the crack of dawn, finally made it inside after a long wait.
The pre-recording was originally scheduled for 5 a.m. But as always with M League, there was an on-site delay announcement, forcing fans to wait another hour outdoors before entering the broadcasting station.
"Still chilly at dawn, though. Good thing I brought my cardigan."
"Without it, we'd both have frozen to death."
The homma let out a sigh as she chatted with her companion.
She'd run into this acquaintance by chance in the standby line, and she turned out to be a Wonderland homma too.
They'd greet each other whenever they met without much rivalry since they stanned different members, exchange contacts, and text occasionally. Never expected to bump into her here.
Her acquaintance said with excitement all over her face,
"Ha, I can't wait to see Tae-hee. Bet he's even more stunning in person."
From the conversation, it seemed her friend had already decided to switch allegiances.
Her taste for strikingly handsome members, famous even in Wonderland for their sculpted looks, hadn't changed here either.
Taste Like Pine Tree was unbeatable, after all.
'Same with me, though.'
She thought of her pick, Jae-oh, as she adjusted the backpack slung over her shoulder.
The camera made it no light load.
'Can't wait to see him.'
She was dying to know what that cat-like guy would feel like in real life.
Soon after, she followed staff directions with her friend, entering the second-floor studio in turn.
She'd deliberately chosen a mid-to-late slot because of the camera, but with standing spots right up front, the view was perfect.
'M League's the best for this, hands down.'
Other music shows made you sit in seats no matter what. Seats were comfy, sure, but nothing beat standing this close to capture the stage.
'Of course, getting caught would be a disaster.'
Whatever. If you didn't get caught, it was fine. She'd snapped Wonderland pics all this time without a hitch, so she confidently brought her camera to the music show.
She and her friend had just settled into a good spot when a staffer announced, "EverPlanet's taking the stage!" and seven boys climbed onstage.
The boys' entrance triggered thunderous cheers from the fans.
The boys looked pretty shocked as they stared this way, then bowed deeply.
'So fresh-faced.'
They really screamed rookie. It fired her up.
She smiled warmly, watching the members get touch-ups from the staff.
Jae-oh, in particular, was straightening the collar of his black tee with a Saturn graphic while adding more eye makeup.
'Outfit's not bad.'
T-shirts in different colors and designs, paired with white jackets. Similar to the MV teaser but more polished.
The heavy makeup was unchanged, though.
"Alright, BLAST OFF first take starting now. Everyone ready?"
"Yes!"
"Fans are watching. Pull it together and nail it."
Once makeup was done and the PD called out, the members hurriedly formed their positions.
Standing in the middle of the space-themed set, each one looked like a planet orbiting.
Before long, the intro poured from the side speakers with a deep thrum.
Wheeeeng- ding, ding-ding-. Ta-ra ding ding daaan-.
Engine-like effects mimicked a spaceship launch, followed by modulated piano notes like a robotic voice.
EverPlanet's historic debut stage had begun.
Fans shouted their practiced chants along with the boys' choreography.
"Su-lim! Tae-hee! Jae-oh! Ha Jae! Teddy! Kwang-myeong! Eun-young! Ever! Planet!"
Amid the excited fans, she pulled out her hidden camera and carefully focused on the boys.
'Getting caught means I'm screwed. Gotta be stealthy.'
She glanced at the staff while starting to film. Their images filled the camera screen.
The intro ended, and the intro member stepped to center. The first verse went to—
'Jae-oh on intro?'
Ha Jae.
- The moment I met you, the first explosion began
You spread to me like a scorching wildfire
'That timbre is insane. What?'
Her finger unconsciously hit the shutter as she doubted her ears. Never expected such falsetto.
Jae-oh's voice had the power to captivate in an instant.
It outshone even her former fave, dubbed the intro master.
As she marveled at Jae-oh's tone, the next member took over.
- Brighter than hope, my one and only Sunlight
I orbit around you always, like planets in the sky
'He's the leader, right?'
He beamed like a golden retriever, dancing center stage.
The other members circled him like planets, smoothly shifting formations.
Go Eun-young from that old audition show [My Singing Voice Got Better] and her friend's pick Han Tae-hee handled the first verse.
- Like an unstoppable force
Drawn to you, isn't it amazing?
- Everyone calls this fate
Even if I drown, come crashing to me
"Ugh... Tae-hee..."
Her friend beside her, clutching her own camera, was on the verge of tears staring at the stage.
The upbeat dance track shifted to a clean melody. Pre-chorus.
- Now the time is up
The moment we've waited for is here
Dive in rough (right now)
Into your universe at last!
For a split second, all sound and motion froze.
Center stage, B-light—the one famous from the rap battle vid—stared straight ahead, fist clenched, and leaped, slamming the floor!
- BLAST OFF!
The title lyric hit like a declaration, heavy and final.
Her heart dropped with it.
True to "launch," the song's energy skyrocketed.
The choreo ramped up beyond the first verse.
- You lead my BLAST OFF
BLAST OFF to space
Can't refuse it
My final BLAST OFF
'Whoa, main dancer? How's he dance like that?'
Amid it, the blond center shone blindingly.
Not just lines—body control, expressions, everything was flawless performance.
Undeniably perfect. Impossible to look away. Glowing unnaturally.
- The moment I met you, the first wave began
You crash over me like a vast ocean
- You dispel even despair, my perfect Sunlight
I orbit around you always, like planets in the sky
Post-first chorus lull. As Eun-young and Tae-hee started verse two, blondie and B-light burst forward with rap.
- We never gonna stop, never turnin' off
Endless voyage we can't halt
Sails up, onward like Columbus
Till we reach you at last
'Oh, the fencer.'
A deer-like giant picked up the rap. Fencing background showed—insane physique.
That face with that build? Unreal.
- Even if I collapse from exhaustion, I endure
Because loving you is my fate
You're the sun I can't escape
Blind moth to flame, charging to you
As she shutter-clicked in awe, the track shifted from rap back to pre-chorus.
Jae-oh at center now.
He spun in place, pointing two fingers at his wrist—adorably cute move.
Silence again, then the buff guy spun his long legs full circle and stomped!
- BLAST OFF!
'Whoa, totally nuts...'
The second chorus dance break followed. She nearly forgot to shoot.
The choreo was stunningly beautiful.
Like contemporary dance.
Complex paths wove feet, waists, arms in fluid waves.
All seven synced knife-sharp to the beat.
Sweat flew from fervent moves, sparkling like shards.
Overwhelming the audience—a pro-level show.
Unbelievable for fresh rookies.
Second chorus melted into soft melody.
Mood flipped instantly as Jae-oh stepped forward from the back.
- Beyond limits, this moment
See all of me I've hidden
'In, insane... Jae-oh...'
She blankly stared, finger mashing the shutter.
With that face, those eyes demanding you see all of him—how could you not?
Jae-oh lightly smiled, waved, brushed his cheek.
A halo seemed to glow around his face. Lighting trick?
As Jae-oh advanced, Eun-young joined him side-by-side.
Members fanned out like a peacock tail.
- I'm waiting for us, you and me
The day we finally become one
Oh baby (YEAH-!)
Main vocal Eun-young's highlight high note signaled the end stretch.
Blondie leaped center, unleashing hyper-syncopated choreo.
Pro-level dance skills, no exaggeration.
Meanwhile, Jae-oh and Eun-young filled vocal gaps during the chorus lyrics with ad-libs.
- This is my
Jae-oh led,
- Even if it's the last
Eun-young followed.
- I'll run to you
A moment of captivating falsetto and solid vocals blending.
- Because that's my fate
Their harmony was stellar.
With Eun-young's final line, all seven thrust clenched right fists skyward.
- BLAST OFF!
Hands dropped to faces as confetti burst from above.
MR cut, fans screamed, cameras swiftly captured ending poses.
'Tore the stage up. Quality's off the charts.'
She hastily stashed her camera, gaping at the members in a daze.
Then the PD beamed and yelled,
"Okay, cut! Great. Live sounded good? Scared you into performing well, huh?"
"Thank you!"
"Keep it up for second take. Got a bit before prep—say hi to fans. Debut fans must feel extra special."
His words snapped her back to reality.
Before second take prep, members touched up makeup and approached the fans as close as possible.
Close enough to touch.
Fans erupted in screams as they neared.
"Shall we greet first?"
"Yeah."
"Let's."
The boys, whispering and eye-contacting, greeted under big-dog leader Park Su-lim's count from the left.
"One, two, Turn Around! Hello, we're EverPlanet!"
A signature group greeting with a unique call.
Like Wonderland's 'Welcome we are' or Red Bee's 'Let's Dream the Best'—a pre-greeting chant.
EverPlanet's was Turn Around.
They pointed index fingers skyward, spun once, and bowed; fans cheered and clapped back.
"Congrats on debut, boys!"
"Tae-hee, I love you!"
"Eun-young slayed the stage!"
"Teddy, look here!"
Members' faces lit with natural smiles at the shouts.
Then the leader at the right end bowed with a bright smile and spoke.
"Hello, I'm leader Su-lim. On behalf of the members, thank you so much for coming and cheering our debut stage today. Thanks to you all, it'll be an even more memorable milestone. Thank you."
"Thank you!"
All members bowed and echoed thanks.
"We'll keep working hard, so please keep supporting us."
"We'll cheer to the end, boys!"
"Thanks so much. Hey, kids, want to each say a word?"
But no one else got a turn.
The PD called for second take prep just as the leader passed the mic.
Members waved regretfully to fans, reforming ranks.
Seeing Jae-oh smile brightly and wave at her, she thought,
'Definitely switching!'
This group was worth devoting her youth to—no doubt top-tier idols!
And just like that, she was fully hooked on EverPlanet.