Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Woes of a Rookie Idol (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This is taking forever.
As I ate the delivered lunch box, I thought to myself.
The main broadcast of M League started at 6 p.m.
Considering the pre-recording had happened that morning, it really meant we were just killing time at the station for ages.
It was because everyone had to appear on the ending stage along with the main performance stages.
I knew they were busy with rehearsals and stage setups, but having to just wait around like this felt a bit boring.
'They said if we get popular, they'll let us go out.'
Since there were such long gaps, I heard the station made allowances for more successful groups to squeeze in other schedules.
Of course, it was irrelevant for rookie idols like us. We just had to wait around aimlessly. This was the woe of a rookie idol.
'I should've won that round of rock-paper-scissors earlier.'
Then I could've gone nap in the car too.
Only three people could lie down and sleep, so Park Su-rim, Teddy, and Lee Jae-oh—who won rock-paper-scissors—had gone to catch some shut-eye in the van.
Man, my luck is just trash.
Or maybe, on second thought, my luck was pretty good.
I'd survived that accident unscathed, after all. Well, unscathed might be a stretch.
I stared at the two guys sprawled on the mat-covered floor and Han Tae-hee sitting in a chair with his laptop.
Just as I was wondering if I should say something, Kim Kwang-myeong, who was lounging on the floor, let out a massive sigh and muttered.
"Tomorrow, I gotta remember to bring my laptop. At least I could make some beats while waiting."
"I told you to grab it this morning, you idiot."
Han Tae-hee tapped away at his keyboard and scolded Kim Kwang-myeong.
What was he typing so furiously anyway? Out of curiosity, I pulled my chair closer to Han Tae-hee and asked.
"Tae-hee hyung."
"Yeah, Jae-oh?"
"What are you writing right now?"
"Huh? Oh, school assignment."
"Assignment?"
"I had class today originally. But since I couldn't go, they said I could submit a report instead to cover attendance."
The school Han Tae-hee attended was Seoyeonn University. It used to be my school too.
Attendance substitute report? I'd never heard of such a thing. Did our school even have that?
"Does that actually work?"
"I'm in film studies. They make exceptions for entertainment activities. Of course, you still gotta show up to class once in a while... That's how a lot of my Sunbaes graduated."
"I see."
I hadn't known that.
It must be some special arrangement just within the film department.
Makes sense. Forcing leaves of absence wouldn't help when schedules pile up and prevent graduation anyway.
Better to just accommodate it nicely like this. Good for school PR too.
Or maybe that's why our school's film department was so famous.
"So what about exams? If you can't attend classes."
"What can you do? Just scatter some seeds on the transcript. They can't expect you to handle exams while working."
Fair enough. I nodded and sneakily peeked at Han Tae-hee's report.
It was packed with details about on-site events and the feel of performing on stage.
Ah, I'd written tons of reports back when I was in college.
It was a moment that brought back memories of my past self.
'Come to think of it, does Ha Jae go to school?'
He'd come back from abroad and started school a year late, so at twenty now, if he was following a normal track, he'd be a high school Sunbae.
But I'd never heard him mention going to school. I hadn't seen Kim Kwang-myeong or Go Eun-young heading to school either.
I asked Go Eun-young, who was lying on the mat playing a mobile game.
"Eun-young."
"What, hyung?"
"Just curious all of a sudden, but don't you go to school?"
"Why ask that while I'm gaming, hyung?"
"......"
"I dropped out ages ago. What's the point? I can't even attend anyway."
"I see. So did I drop out too?"
"Probably. Kwang-myeong hyung did... Ah, I'm dead."
So I had dropped out too. Not exactly surprising. Back at TL, some trainees even quit middle school to go all-in on debuting.
'I guess I'll have to take the high school equivalency exam later.'
At least it shouldn't be as tough as the college entrance exam.
With my experience cramming after quitting training, I could probably handle it. Hopefully.
Just then, Kim Kwang-myeong, who was checking SNS on the side, spoke up.
"But why bring that up out of nowhere?"
"Just wondering. Tae-hee hyung goes to college, so I thought maybe I don't go to school."
"Sigh. How am I supposed to deal with you forgetting even stuff like that?"
Why does this guy keep calling me "you" though?
We're the same age, sure, but I'm technically the hyung here.
"Hey, Kim Kwang-myeong. I said call me hyung. Our hierarchy's gonna get messed up."
"Argh. We've been hanging out like friends forever. Calling you hyung now feels awkward as hell."
"You do it in front of the CEO just fine."
I recalled how he'd spoken formally to me in the recording studio.
Kim Kwang-myeong averted his eyes and grumbled.
"That was an official setting, so I did. We always talked like that at work."
"Then you can do it all the time now."
"......You didn't care before you lost your memory. Why the sudden change? You're not Ha Jae, are you."
"......"
Spot on.
But I couldn't admit it.
"And a year or two age gap is basically friends anyway."
What kind of logic is that?
I was speechless watching Kim Kwang-myeong justify treating me like a peer.
That's when Go Eun-young, who'd been listening, suddenly chimed in.
"Hey, Kwang-myeong. Does that mean we're friends too?"
"......"
"Ah, Go Eun-young, you're hilarious."
Han Tae-hee burst out laughing at that.
I couldn't help but chuckle too.
Man, these guys are funny.
Feeling much lighter, I asked Han Tae-hee.
"But Tae-hee hyung, did this guy and I really skip school together?"
"Yeah, pretty much. You two went to the same school as trainees and were close... So I just figured that's how it was."
"We were close?"
"Surprisingly, yeah. Always bickering and sticking together. It was weird as hell."
Truly astonishing.
Well... he might talk sharp, but his actions weren't malicious. He looks out for people in his own way.
Probably why Ha Jae got along with him.
Anyway, I get why Kim Kwang-myeong hates it now.
I'd feel weird too if a buddy suddenly demanded "hyung."
Still, some things need changing.
"Even so, we gotta fix it. If Teddy weren't here, I might let it slide, but with him, our hierarchy's totally screwed. I'm close with Teddy, but he's your hyung. What will the fans think?"
"......Yeah, fair."
"If switching right away is too hard... how about we keep it casual for now? But on camera, always hyung."
That was the best compromise I could accept.
Plenty of time to adjust.
Kim Kwang-myeong rolled his eyes for a bit, then nodded.
"Got it. But I'm not speaking formally."
"Do what you want."
And with that, we settled the title issue.
* * *
A long time passed after that, and finally, it was time for the main broadcast stage.
I'd switched with the three who'd napped in the car and gotten some proper rest, so I felt refreshed.
The main broadcast was fully live. Had to stay sharp.
One slip-up, and it'd air nationwide.
'Now I'm getting nervous thinking about it.'
No stage fright per se, but live was a first for me too.
Couldn't help tensing up.
"......Calm pills. Any calm pills, manager hyung?"
"Su-rim hyung, what's that?"
"Pills to soothe the mind."
"Gasp. Manager hyung, Teddy needs some too."
If I was like this, how bad were they?
I pitied the guys fidgeting and shaking.
Han Tae-hee and Lee Jae-oh were subtly on edge too, just hiding it better.
Then Go Eun-young, fixing her hair in the mirror, said calmly.
"Hyungs, live's no big deal. Just do it like always. Don't tense up."
"Ooh, that experienced vibe. Our maknae's badass."
"I'm badass by nature."
Spoken like a true alum of the live competition show [My Song's Grown].
She was strutting after one compliment, and it made me laugh.
Tension eased a bit. Thanks, Go Eun-young.
Just then, a staffer approached. Time to hit the stage soon.
We followed him up.
We were seventh. Decent spot for rookies.
As the previous team's pre-recording played, we got into position onstage.
'Lots of people.'
From onstage, I could see countless cameras, staff, and live audience members.
Most holding placards for other groups.
So even as we took the stage, not a cheer or response.
Just blank stares watching us.
Those dry gazes made my breath catch.
'This pressure's no joke.'
As the stylist touched up my makeup, I took a deep breath. Hoo.
I can do this. I got this.
Then a small shout from the middle of the audience.
"EverPlanet fighting!"
We had fans after all.
Ah, that pumps me up.
"Alright, MC cue ends, then MR starts right away! Get ready!"
With the PD's call, the red light hit the MC camera, and the two MCs launched into their script.
"Yuna-ssi, if I said new planets were discovered on M League today, would you believe it?"
"Huh? Planets? Come on, Jin-ho oppa. How without a telescope?"
"But it actually happened."
"Really? Tell me more, Jin-ho oppa!"
"Today on M League, the first seven planets discovered! That's EverPlanet. Like planets orbiting fans, they promise stellar music and stages, throwing down the gauntlet to the music world. And they've prepped something special exclusive to M League."
Meanwhile, I locked eyes with the others and nodded subtly. We got this, guys.
"Wow! Can't wait to see what stage they'll bring!"
"Let's go meet them, Yuna-ssi."
"Sure, Jin-ho oppa."
"EverPlanet performs 'Cosmic Mood.'"
Red light on our camera as the cue ended. MR kicked in right away.
Cosmic Mood was track 3 on the album.
An upbeat dance track based on synth pop.
- Oh oh oh Yeah-!
Go Eun-young's crisp high note kicked it off, leading straight into the intro. My part.
Before starting, I pulled out my ace skill.
'Sparkle Sparkle, activate.'
[Active Skill 'Sparkle Sparkle!' used. Attention increases 50% for 30 seconds.]
With simple choreo, I moved center stage.
Then opened my mouth.
- On a cool summer night, a breeze cools the sweat
We play like star children under the Milky Way
Magic happened.
The blank faces lit up with surprise.
- In this perfect universe, such ecstatic vibes
How 'bout joining the Cosmic Mood?
As parts shifted, even after the 30-second skill ended, eyes that held zero expectation now fixed solely on me, on us.
Everyone in the venue was locked in.
- We got that Cosmic Mood in your mind
Beat shaking your body, melody that lasts forever
Surrender to this heart-burning rhythm
Go crazy together, let's run wild
'Thrilling.'
The instant I felt it, chills of euphoria ran down my spine.
Like that childhood stage where I first wanted to be an idol, reborn.
- Na nana Na, Nana nana Na
We got that Cosmic Mood
Na nana Nana, Nana na Nana
We got that Cosmic Mood
Like possessed, I panted roughly, singing and dancing like mad.
Even though it was a half-length edited version for time, didn't matter. This moment was pure bliss, electric, insane.
Ending pose hit, stage done.
"Wowwwwww!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from the audience.
Then, ding! A cheerful sound in my ear.
[SUB QUEST [Debut, First Stage, Successful] completed.]
[Click button to claim reward. Click!]
A truly successful debut.