Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Year-End Music Festival (1)
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After our performance at the children's hospital, we dove headfirst into rehearsals for the year-end music festival stage.
A few weeks prior, MBS had already extended the invitation, so we'd prepared everything from the arrangements to the choreography and performance.
All that was left was repetitive practice.
'No major pressure, though.'
The stage was built on choreography we'd rehearsed so many times we could perform it in our sleep.
But then, out of nowhere, we got a sudden request from the MBS team.
"Huh? We need to prepare an extra stage?"
"WHY! What the hell for?"
"Come on, Manager Hwang. Don't lie to us. You're just messing with us, right? I know it."
"This is too sudden. Less than a week left."
Tell me about it. It really was sudden... Is this for real?
Like Go Eun-young said, I wondered if Manager Hwang was just joking to tease us. I glanced at her face.
But seeing the complete absence of even 1% humor in Manager Hwang's eyes, I snapped to seriousness in an instant.
Go Eun-young seemed to grasp the situation too, asking back in a grave tone.
"...For real? Seriously?"
"I'd love to say it's a lie, but surprisingly, it's true."
"Wow, never pegged MBS for having no sense of decency."
Han Tae-hee crossed her arms, grumbling in disbelief.
I silently agreed. Isn't this a bit much? They should've given us at least two weeks' notice to prepare properly.
Manager Hwang let out a sigh, looking troubled herself. Then she began explaining the situation.
"Apparently, a part-time staffer at MBS snapped a photo of the cue sheet and sent it to a friend, and it got leaked. When a cue sheet leaks, it spoils the fun for viewers and hurts ratings, so they're scrapping it entirely and making a new one."
"What's that got to do with us doing a new song?"
When Go Eun-young asked, Manager Hwang nodded and continued.
"They said changing the cue sheet isn't just about shuffling the order. They need to add one or two extra stages or something..."
"What about the timing?"
"Yeah. The next program is a foreign film slot anyway, so they plan to adjust internally."
That was a relief, at least. I nodded.
Just then, Park Su-rim, who'd been quietly listening, spoke up.
"So, what song do we have to do?"
"...It's a BlueBlack song."
"A BlueBlack song?"
"Let's do it."
Lee Jae-oh responded instantly, like a reflex, the moment BlueBlack was mentioned.
True BlueBlack fan.
Manager Hwang gauged our reactions before continuing.
"But among BlueBlack's songs..."
The song title that came out of her mouth next made it impossible for me to keep a straight face.
"...Us? That song?"
"Oof... Honestly, I'm not confident."
Even Teddy, who charged into any stage with full confidence, showed clear hesitation.
"Out of all their songs, why that one?"
"Because it's the first song BlueBlack won an award for on MBS."
Still, that song of all things?
"But if we nail this requested stage, the PD promised us a spot on MBS's main variety show later."
At Manager Hwang's follow-up, Park Su-rim replied in a resigned tone.
"Guess we have to, then."
I nodded too.
...The song's a bit daunting, but opportunities like this don't come around often.
Right then, a ding! popped up in front of me—a new sub quest. I clicked the button to check it.
[SUB QUEST GENERATED!
[Make Your First Music Festival Shine]
▶Year-end award shows and music festivals from the broadcasters are a seasonal staple. But this music festival won't go entirely smoothly for certain reasons. Even so, EverPlanet must put on a dazzling show for the Sunlights. Win everyone's approval at EverPlanet's first music festival since debut!
Rank: C+
Quest Completion Conditions:
1) Prepare and perform the main stage and additional stage within the time limit
2) Receive positive feedback from 50% or more of the on-site audience
Completion Rewards: EXP, EverPlanet Fame Increase, SPECIAL ITEM
Failure Penalty: EverPlanet Infamy Increase]
This penalty thing had started showing up recently. What happens if EverPlanet's infamy goes up? I was curious, but no way to know.
I accepted the quest and spent the remaining time preparing the stage with the members.
And just like that, the day of the music festival arrived in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to pulling all-nighters right up to the day before, we barely scraped by the cutoff.
* * *
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[Anon] That MBS music festival cue sheet—is that the real final version?
Confirming
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Comments (22)
- Nah, MBS already said it's not
└ Lol yeah, confirmed
- That's the unconfirmed draft cue sheet!! But it's arranged so harmoniously that everyone's hoping it stays that way
└ Honestly, my fave's order looks perfect, so I'd love if it did ㅠㅠ Kinda bummed it's not final
└ Bet it won't change much??? We'll see tho
- They say it's not, but who knows, maybe it leaked and they changed it? lol
└ If so, they're hunting down the leaker and destroying them
- Insider here, that was the original final. But after the leak, they did a total overhaul... Added stages too... So expect it to be completely different
└ Proof or gtfo?
└ You blind or what... This whole mess is from an insider leak;;;
└ Fr lmao leaking internal secrets while claiming insider during the leak drama lmao what a moron sigh win or lose it's doomed
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The college student, wearing special touch-enabled gloves thinned at the fingertips for smartphone use, scrolled through the entertainment anon board on her phone.
A few days ago, a supposed MBS music festival cue sheet had spread online.
MBS denied it was final, but since it was so well-put-together, it sparked tons of discussion online.
'Doesn't matter to me.'
She only had one stage she needed to focus on anyway.
EverPlanet, the rookies of rookies who debuted this year!
The college student, who'd never once considered liking idols in her life, fell for EverPlanet because of a guy she met on campus recently.
A man deep in thought on a bench in front of Moran Hall.
Even with a hat, mask, black coat, and gray turtleneck, he had this insanely cool aura.
The kind that draws you in at first sight.
'Who'd have thought he was actually an idol.'
She figured he was just some student, but then spotting him in a photo of an idol group blew her mind.
That sparked her first-ever dive into idol fandom.
"Never thought I'd come all this way on December 31st to see idols."
"That's fandom for ya."
She sighed at her friend's words as they waited in line together.
This friend had been a die-hard K-pop fanatic since high school.
When the college student first decided to stan EverPlanet, her friend supported her newbie journey every step of the way.
The total muggle was learning a ton from her friend lately.
Then, her friend tugged at her sleeve.
"Hey, we're going in."
"Whoa!"
The college student showed her ticket to the usher and entered with her friend.
An enormous outdoor stage came into full view.
'This is huge!'
Bet the stage looks killer. She found her seat on the ground level—pretty close up, too—and thought so.
Beginner's luck? She'd snagged tickets on the first try. This spot was ground seating, front rows even.
Power of perfect course registration. She plopped down, inwardly proud of her win.
Meanwhile, her friend, who'd grabbed even closer seats, swapped tickets to sit next to her.
She flopped down and started unpacking her massive haul.
"What, you brought all this?"
"Just the essentials."
URM lightstick, cheer headband, slogan with her fave Yoon Da-on's face, hot packs, two blankets, water, snacks...
This gear could survive a few days dropped anywhere.
But amid it all sat a baffling item.
Why the binoculars? Not birdwatching or anything.
She asked in confusion.
"Why'd you bring binoculars? We're already up front."
"That's why you're a muggle."
"...Guess I'm an otaku now."
"As if. Anyway, binoculars are a must at these things. Otherwise, you just end up staring at face coverings."
"Face coverings?"
"You'll see soon. You'll be thanking me on your knees."
Her friend smugly tapped the binoculars.
No clue what that meant, but the college student let it slide.
Soon, grand opening music blared, and the long-awaited festival kicked off.
As the two MCs walked to the front, she cheered excitedly.
"Hello, everyone who came to the MBS Music Festival. Great to see you all. I'm Chi-hyun, your MC for this event."
"And I'm Summer, co-MC with Chi-hyun. Nice to meet you."
Applause erupted here and there after their intros. Probably 'cause both were from big groups.
Under Summer and Chi-hyun's lead, the main festival began.
Part 1 featured mostly rookies.
The college student only really knew EverPlanet and major groups, but live, every stage was fun and lively. She enjoyed the moment with her friend.
As the rookies wrapped up, a special stage appeared out of nowhere.
"Yes, this next one is a festival exclusive—a special within a special."
"To honor the legacy of Sunbae artists who topped charts on MBS's long-running music shows, our juniors have reinterpreted their hits in their own style."
"That stage everyone from back in the day remembers! MBS Nostalgia Stage—let's check it out now."
Her friend, mid-chocolate, tilted her head.
"Wasn't this in Part 2 on the leaked cue sheet? Must've changed."
"Yeah. Whatever, doesn't matter."
As an MBS special, the nostalgia stage featured plenty of name idols.
Her friend's fave S-T was there too. Friend kept the binoculars glued to her eyes, cheering nonstop.
She must really love them.
From Turbo Engine to Elix, every cover from the cue sheet wrapped up.
Or so she thought.
"Now, for the final nostalgia stage. The group hailed for kicking off second-gen boy groups."
"Yes. The legend of boy group legends. A reinterpretation of BlueBlack's song!"
"Performed by EverPlanet. BlueBlack's Bluebird."
Until EverPlanet's name dropped from the MC's mouth.