Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Once First Album Activities End, Second Album Prep Begins (1)
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Afterward, the activities followed a similar pattern, repeating over and over.
Endless music show stages, fan signings that took us all over the place, multiple radio appearances, photoshoot sessions, and interviews.
Even then, we were lucky to squeeze in just one or two per day.
'No helping it. We barely have any recognition yet.'
Sure, we had a Sunbae who charted well on music sites, but at our core, we were rookies who had just debuted under a mid-to-small agency.
So it was inevitable that few places knew us or invited us.
In a way, it was only natural.
A brand-new rookie idol group suddenly blowing up and getting love calls from everywhere? That only happened in novels.
Reality was harsh. Success didn't come easy.
No matter how talented you were, if the public didn't notice, it was all for nothing.
'In the end, we need to get on some TV shows to get our faces out there and make an impression.'
Landing a TV appearance wasn't easy at all.
Shows like *Immortal Songs* or *Star Golden Bell* that rookies often appeared on? Those spots went to groups with more recognition than us.
To build recognition, you needed TV exposure. But to get TV exposure, you needed some recognition already.
That was the dilemma of TV appearances and fame.
'A company like TL could probably snag us spots on shows like that right after debut without breaking a sweat.'
Our company, UJ Entertainment, didn't have that kind of pull yet.
As a result—or maybe thanks to it—once music show promotions fully wrapped up, our schedule opened up with gaps.
On a morning with no schedule, all seven of us, including me, gathered in the living room for some peaceful downtime.
I even got to sit on the couch and read a book for the first time in ages.
*The Secret Color*. A mystery novel I'd been meaning to get to forever.
That's when Teddy, sitting next to me watching TV, let out a satisfied sigh and leaned his head back.
"Ahh, this must be heaven. After grinding non-stop, a little break feels incredible."
"Yeah? Doesn't it make you anxious instead? Maybe 'cause we've been so busy, but suddenly having all this free time feels off."
"Still, promotions are over now."
"True."
Lee Jae-oh nodded in agreement with Park Su-rim's comment.
Han Tae-hee, who was at the kitchen table mixing cereal, chimed in.
"Rest up while you can. I give it a few days tops."
I nodded along while reading, even though I was deep in my book.
Once first album prep ended, second album prep kicked off like clockwork.
And sure enough, the next day, CEO Oh called us into the company.
"Second album prep?"
When Park Su-rim asked, CEO Oh elaborated.
"Yeah. Three months from now—around September—we should aim to come back right away. Rookies can't afford long breaks."
He was right.
Veteran idols with some fame could use a hiatus to draw in more fans, but for rookies like us, a long gap could jeopardize the group's survival.
Debut in June, first comeback in September? A bit tight, but not bad.
I could see CEO Oh's big picture coming together.
"The title track's pretty much set. Guide recording's done, choreography's in the works... should be ready by next week."
"So..."
"Yeah. All that's left is your practice. Training starts tomorrow."
The members' faces fell a bit at the news of jumping straight into training tomorrow.
Did the idea of no real break before prepping the next comeback feel overwhelming?
'Can't start whining already.'
Once our value went up, we'd be running on minute-by-minute schedules.
That's when our bold maknae, Go Eun-young, fearlessly asked CEO Oh.
"Any chance of a short break, CEO?"
"A break? Just sleep it off."
Fair point. Quality sleep was rest enough.
CEO Oh replied firmly.
"Come on, why's our Eun-young sounding so weak all of a sudden? Rookies don't get breaks."
"Of course. Just testing the waters. I just... miss my mom a bit..."
"Isn't your family home close by, Eun-young?"
"Yeah, it is."
Go Eun-young scratched her head sheepishly at CEO Oh's jab.
I was wondering where her hometown was when Han Tae-hee voiced my curiosity.
"But where's your family home again, Eun-young?"
"Apgujeong."
Apgujeong? That's practically next door. Wouldn't even take 20 minutes.
Back in my day, I'd hole up in a one-room for a month practicing, then squeeze in one trip home to Cheongju per month.
She could head home after practice tonight. What a drama queen.
I shot her a side-eye, knowing I'd sound 200% like a boomer if I said it out loud.
CEO Oh cleared his throat and continued.
"Anyway, get a good night's sleep tonight. Be in the practice room by 9 a.m. tomorrow. Until choreography's ready, focus on training and self-practice. You guys still have a lot to improve. Got it? And don't forget to film your practice sessions here and there."
"Yes."
After that, we dove headfirst into comeback prep.
Practice, practice, and more practice.
Aside from occasional small schedules like interviews, we poured everything into practice and training.
"Until choreography's out, let's nail the dances for the songs your teacher picked. You'll have to cover other artists' choreo plenty in this industry—I've told you that a million times. You've practiced a ton already, but keep at it steadily. Got it?"
"Alright, warm up your vocals first, then I'll check you one by one. Until title recording, our goal is maxing your skills. On that note, I picked songs considering your vocal styles and voices. Practice 'em and sing. This is how you grow. Come get the sheet music."
The company put heavy emphasis on our training. It felt as intense as right before debut.
Were they under orders from above to push us hard? The trainers went at us like sharks smelling blood.
'Works for me. Means I can level up my skills.'
Thanks to the newly unlocked practice mode feature, my skill proficiencies were rising faster than before.
[Passive Skill 'Vocal' has leveled up to Intermediate 5. Deep emotions begin to infuse your singing.]
[Passive Skill 'Dance' has leveled up to Intermediate 1. Dance technique and motion corrections added due to skill rank increase.]
[Passive Skill 'Performance' has leveled up to Beginner 7. Your performances become more fluid.]
With the levels up, my dancing and singing felt noticeably different—more expressive.
I could feel the improvement myself.
Best part? Unlike the past, where I just mechanically practiced without guidance, now I could see my growth tied directly to my effort...
'It's fun.'
Yeah, no denying it.
Being able to objectively track my progress from the work I put in? Felt exactly like playing a game.
'Well, with system windows popping up right in front of me, calling it a game isn't far off.'
At this point, I couldn't help but wonder. What was this world?
It was identical to the one I'd lived in.
Everything I knew still existed, common sense worked the same.
Except two things: I'd become 'Ha Jae,' and these weird system windows appeared before my eyes.
After some thought, I came up with one hypothesis.
'Did I get isekai'd into a game world super similar to my old one?'
Absurd, sure. But no more absurd than what was happening to me.
My current reality shattered all common sense.
Anyway, one conclusion: no way to figure it out right now. No clues, no methods.
So just keep chasing the goals in front of me.
Right then, amid my wandering thoughts, Liz teacher's cheerful voice cut through.
"Jae-oh, wanna show me what you practiced?"
"Oh, sure."
I grabbed the sheet music and walked over to her.
Liz teacher sat at the piano, flipping a page and asking.
"How'd it feel practicing the song?"
The track she gave me was Jin Soo-hyun's *Shadow of Memories*.
Signature song from the male soloist famous for his vocal prowess.
A ballad that best showcased Jin Soo-hyun's strengths in falsetto and emotional delivery.
I'd loved singing it even before becoming Ha Jae.
I nodded.
"Felt comfortable. Range fit perfectly."
She double-checked like she didn't believe it.
"Really? That's not good?"
"Huh?"
"I picked it deliberately a bit higher than your range... It really fits?"
"Oh... yeah."
"Did I misjudge your range? Anyway, great. Sing it for me. I'll cue the MR."
"Got it."
She hit the spacebar on her laptop, and the amp beside us played the backing track at a good volume.
A lyrical intro led by flowing violin melody.
I bobbed my head to the beat, then started singing right on cue.
- Beyond the glass window bathed in moonlight
The streetlights we walked under together
Shine brightly still
Just like that day we parted
As my calm voice flowed out, I felt all the members' eyes lock onto me.
They could tell something had changed.
Ever since practice mode unlocked, my vocal skill had hit Intermediate 5.
The level-up brought real changes to my singing.
- Nothing's changed at all
You're just gone
Why does the world feel so different?
The biggest shift? The dissonance was gone.
The tone so different from my old voice, and the unease it brought.
I'd figured I'd adapt over time, but now it was mostly gone. This voice felt like mine all along—comfortable.
- The times we spent together
Those precious memories
Now just traces of the past
Lingering in a corner of my heart
No dissonance meant full immersion.
Like all those songs I'd sung as my old self before becoming Ha Jae.
The emotions surging as I sang, the subtle nuances in the lyrics—even those faintly carried through.
It was Ha Jae's voice, but it felt purely like *me* singing.
- If I follow this shadow
Will you be there again?
If I could hold you just once more
That would be so nice
The highlight high note. Way smoother now.
Techniques like belting that used to trip me up? Now doable, if a bit raw.
My range had widened naturally.
Range wasn't everything in singing, but nothing beat it.
- I'm trapped in the shadow of memories
It seems
On the final line, I curved my lips in satisfaction.
Not perfect yet.
But compared to my debut evaluation audition? Massive growth—I could hear it myself.
Now I could make full use of this voice.
'Feels like I can handle most songs decently now.'
A surge of confidence hit me.