Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Fan Club Name Vote (1)
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It was news that made even my exhausted body, worn out from J-O's training, spring right back up.
The others looked just as shocked, their eyes going wide.
"Wait, really?"
"Whoa, a fan club name! My heart's pounding already."
"Oh yeah, a notice went up on the fan community a few days ago about soliciting entries."
"I saw that too."
Just as J-O said, a notice had gone up on our official fan community a few days earlier, announcing a call for fan club name submissions via email.
There hadn't been a deadline listed, so I'd figured they'd decide around the end of our second album promotions.
'Did a bunch of good suggestions come in?'
It felt a little sooner than I'd expected, but the idea of settling on a fandom name still had my heart racing.
Honestly, anyone dreaming of being an idol has probably fantasized about this at least once.
Calling out the name of your fandom during a concert after debuting!
...Or maybe not? Is that just me?
Anyway. Choosing a fandom name was one of my ultimate dreams.
"So the solicitation's already over, Su-rim hyung?"
When Kim Kwang-myeong asked, Park Su-rim nodded.
"Yeah. They said the finalists just went up on the community. We're voting on those to decide."
"No way. Then we gotta check it out right now."
"Oh, let me see too."
"Come here."
The guys huddled together, peering at their smartphones. I wanted in too.
"J-O hyung, can I check the rest after?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thanks."
I quickly set down the weights and grabbed my phone.
I tapped the cafe app and logged into our official fan community.
Right at the top of the notices was a post about the fan club name vote.
I clicked it and carefully read through the text that came up.
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[Notice] Fan Club Name Vote for EverPlanet Now Open
Hello, this is UJ Entertainment.
To strengthen the bond among our precious fans who support EverPlanet, we plan to establish an official fan club.
Please help decide the name for EverPlanet's eternal companion and friend—our fan club—yourselves.
From the pre-submitted entries, we've selected five finalists. Pick your favorite and vote below.
▶ EverPlanet Fan Club Name Finalists
1. LovePlanet (LOVE:PLANET)
A play on EverPlanet's "EVER," swapped for "LOVE." It means a planet gathered by fans who passionately love EverPlanet. It mirrors EverPlanet and signifies always moving forward together.
2. Sunlight (SUNLIGHT)
Fans are like the warm sunlight that always cheers and loves EverPlanet. It also means fans are the sun at EverPlanet's center, always orbiting and staying by their side.
A word from the lyrics of our debut album's title track.
3. Mood (MOOD)
Fans are the "law" that controls EverPlanet's "mood," and the only "way" to EverPlanet is through fans' love. It plays on the multiple meanings of the English word "mood."
Taken from the title of a track on our debut album.
4. Turner (TURNER)
Fans are the driving force that keeps EverPlanet always turning. It also means fans turn alongside EverPlanet, staying together.
Short for EverPlanet's slogan, "Turn Around."
5. Lute (LUTE)
Acronym from L(ove) / U(ntil) / T(he) / E(nd). Means fans who love EverPlanet to the end. Also signifies fans as EverPlanet's roots (root).
(Secret ballot)
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The finalists that made it to the final vote. Not bad at all.
If I had to pick, though, it'd be number 2, Sunlight.
It captured our group's identity perfectly.
I scanned the whole list, then asked the members.
"Which one's the best?"
"I'm going with 2. Most meaningful, right?"
"Same, 2."
With Park Su-rim and J-O chiming in, the others piled on.
"2's pretty clean."
"Me too, 2. But honestly, I like 4 too, Kwang-myeong. TURNER! It sticks in your mouth."
"That's 'rolls off the tongue,' Teddy hyung."
Listening to them bicker over this or that, I took another look at the candidates.
I didn't know what EverPlanet's fandom name was originally, but 2 was still the best.
I sneakily cast my vote for 2. I was a member of the fan community, so I had voting rights too.
Number 2, Sunlight. In Korean, sunlight.
'Calling them sunlight would sound so pretty.'
...But isn't all this arguing among ourselves pointless anyway?
The thought slipped out of my mouth before I knew it.
"Doesn't matter what we say—it'll be decided by the fans' votes, right?"
"True."
Park Su-rim, who'd been quietly listening, shrugged and added casually.
"No way it ends up as LovePlanet, though? Honestly, anything but that is fine by me. That's just... lame."
"Pfft. The others are way better. Our fans won't like LovePlanet either, I bet."
"Why not? I think it's fine."
"Tae-hee hyung, are you crazy?"
"What's wrong with tastes?"
"Don't say that, Tae-hee hyung!"
"No, really. Isn't it just normal? And it's from a fan suggestion anyway..."
Han Tae-hee scratched his head, unfairly catching flak.
I shrugged and added.
"Yeah, no way that'll win. Not with all these prettier options."
But "no way" has a way of biting you.
A few days later, in the company's conference room to film the fan club name announcement video, we received shocking news.
"What?! The fan club name is decided as LovePlanet?!"
"Yes."
"...No, that can't be right?"
Our fans' taste is really that?
I couldn't believe it, so I asked again, but CEO Oh's answer didn't change.
"No... way... Why...?"
Park Su-rim, who'd said anything but LovePlanet was fine, stuttered in shock.
It wasn't just him—the other members looked pretty stunned too.
Even J-O, who usually stayed composed, was staring at CEO Oh with bulging eyes. That said it all.
Then Teddy slapped his cheeks like Munch's Scream and yelled.
"WHY! Why! Why on earth! CEO!"
"CEO. Seriously, this isn't it."
"CEO. We had Sunlight. Mood. Turner. Why LovePlanet of all things?"
J-O and Go Eun-young joined in.
To Go Eun-young's question, CEO Oh shrugged.
"What's wrong with LovePlanet? EverPlanet and LovePlanet—the names match, and it's great for merch displays side by side."
Then Kim Kwang-myeong raised his hand.
"Can I just debut solo again?"
That sounded half-serious.
But honestly... I couldn't believe it either.
That out of all those options, our fans picked LovePlanet.
That our fandom name was really going to be LovePlanet...
It was something I'd never even dreamed of.
There were prettier names—why that one?
"But why are you all reacting like this? You don't like it?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"It's lame."
"Too childish."
"Others are prettier, so why..."
"We just hate it, what can we do!"
Faced with the members' strong reactions, CEO Oh tilted his head like he couldn't understand.
"Come on, what's wrong with LovePlanet, kids? People who love EverPlanet—naturally LovePlanet. What, the 'love' part? But fan club names have 'love' in them all the time. Look—MyGirls' fandom is LoveGirls, JuniorBoys' is LovingJuniors."
CEO Oh wasn't wrong. The problem was his examples were all first-gen idols.
'LovePlanet over Sunlight...'
My chest felt tight, like I'd swallowed raw chicken breast. I could barely breathe. Then Go Eun-young burst out laughing.
"CEO, why not just go with Esamo? EverPlanet lovers' gathering, shortened to Esamo. Classic and nice."
Esamo? Eun-young, if the fan club was called that, even dedicated fans would walk away.
It was obvious sarcasm, so I just sighed in frustration.
"Why not? I think it's fine."
"Tae-hee hyung!"
"Come on!"
"Shut!"
With everyone but Han Tae-hee against it, CEO Oh started looking troubled.
"Really? If you guys don't like it, what am I supposed to do... Can't change everything now."
"Pardon? Change everything—what do you mean?"
"Truth is, LovePlanet was internally decided as your fan club name even before you debuted."
What? Internally decided? CEO, what are you talking about?
Hearing CEO Oh, my brain froze for a moment.
The others looked just as dazed, staring blankly at him.
Park Su-rim's mouth hung wide open. Must be a huge shock.
Meanwhile, I tried to stay calm and asked CEO Oh.
"...'Can't change everything now'—you mean everything fan club-related is already set up as LovePlanet?"
"Exactly."
"Then... why let the fans vote in the first place?"
I could understand it being internally decided.
Setting aside why it was that name.
But holding a solicitation for fan club name ideas and then a vote, despite having a pre-decided name? That made no sense.
But what came out of CEO Oh's mouth next was,
"That's how everyone does it these days?"
And I was completely speechless.
Oh, right—I'd forgotten. Why EverPlanet failed.
'The company's blunders played a big part.'
Like suddenly sending them on an overseas tour right when they started gaining popularity from a show, or obsessing over Japan and stirring up scandals.
I remembered feeling bad whenever I'd search S-T and stumble on EverPlanet mishap stories.
'No. Get it together, Seo Il-hyun.'
This wasn't the time to feel sorry.
Living as 'Ha Jae' right now, this was the biggest crisis—and harsh reality—for both EverPlanet and Ha Jae.
One thing I knew: we had to stop our fandom name from being LovePlanet.
It was just... too lame.
I calmly gathered my thoughts and spoke to CEO Oh.
"CEO. Is LovePlanet really the best choice?"
"Yeah. Seems best to me... And it's all set already."
"I get that. Honestly, it's not that bad,"
No. It is bad.
"But there's one thing that's bothering me."
"What? Speak up."
Ignoring the members staring at me in horrified disbelief over my "not that bad" line, I continued.