Chapter 74
Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Destined Partners
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Unlike Okinawa, Hokkaido had a label under JOP.
Shuji immediately booked the place and took Annosuke straight to the recording studio.
Once inside the booth, Annosuke faced Yeonwoo as Shuji and Heo Ok stepped back beyond the glass.
‘So that really is Yuin.’
Now fully convinced of what he’d suspected, Annosuke heard Yeonwoo speak to him.
-[What song?]
“[Flying Over the Blue Night, please.]”
-[Got it.]
Annosuke took a sip of the water he’d hurriedly brought, listening to the backing track start up, then began singing right on cue.
Hiramura Annosuke’s voice had great embracing power.
No matter what instrument you threw at it, it blended seamlessly with it, harmonizing like a chord.
If it were an instrument, it’d feel like the bass.
Beyond that, his singing skill was exceptional, spawning blue fairies left and right.
But what Yeonwoo focused on wasn’t the blue fairies.
Annosuke was producing even more yellow fairies than blue ones.
What value did that embracing voice hold to create so many yellow fairies?
Something was there, but no sudden insight came, and as he sank into thought, the fairies swarmed toward Yeonwoo, calling to him.
‘What? Why?’
The crowding fairies seemed to shove each other forward, until one shyly stepped out.
‘What is it?’
At Yeonwoo’s question, the forward fairy pointed at Annosuke, then hummed Mitsuda Seriko’s Blue Coral Reef in its signature babble.
‘Mitsuda... no, Jinen Yuri?’
The fairies nodded vigorously.
‘Why her...? Oh!’
Yeonwoo understood what the fairies were saying.
He immediately hit the talkback button.
“[Hyung, hold on a sec!]”
-What?
“[You know Mitsuda Seriko’s Blue Coral Reef?]”
-[Yeah, that song. I do.]
“[Sing that one.]”
-[Sure.]
Annosuke answered casually, and Yeonwoo played the Blue Coral Reef that Jinen Yuri had recorded not long ago.
Annosuke started to sing along but flinched at the unfamiliar voice that emerged, then soon joined in.
Jinen Yuri’s bright, powerful voice blended with Annosuke’s all-embracing one, making the song even richer.
‘This is it.’
Where Yuri needed to shine solo—her strong personality making her points sharply defined—Annosuke had a voice that made those around him shine.
It had the flaw of not standing out alone, but the strength of blending any voice, anywhere, into the song.
Yeonwoo turned to Shuji.
“[Just one of them? Or both separately?]”
“[I was thinking of raising them both as singers, but seeing this now, it feels like you have something else in mind. Right?]”
“[Yeah. Together.]”
Shuji glanced at Annoske.
Seeing him effortlessly blend with Jinen Yuri’s recorded voice to create synergy, Shuji could guess why Yeonwoo wanted to pair them.
A mixed-gender duo...
Rare in Korea these days—practically nonexistent—but in Japan, mixed groups still popped up now and then.
Shuji stroked his chin, picturing Annosuke and Jinen Yuri as he gazed at Annosuke.
‘These two could work. And more than that...’
This time, he looked at Yeonwoo.
‘This kid’s got musical talent, but his producer instincts are spot on too.’
He imagined Annosuke and Yuri singing as a mixed duo in his mind, with Yeonwoo’s silhouette producing them from behind.
‘With these three, anything’s possible.’
His calculations done, Shuji nodded.
“[Do it your way, Yeonwoo. I trust you.]”
“Yes!”
Yeonwoo nodded excitedly.
He called Annosuke out of the booth and explained the mixed duo with Jinen Yuri.
“[The owner of that Blue Coral Reef voice from earlier... she’s the one who wants to form a group with me?]”
“[That’s right. What do you think?]”
Annosuke paused as if thinking, then spoke.
“[Somehow... it felt like... destiny.]”
“[Destiny?]”
“[Like she’d be a fantastic partner?]”
It wasn’t a lie.
His voice had meshed so perfectly with hers that he’d felt chills without realizing it.
He suddenly craved meeting her and singing together for real.
“[Guess I’ll have to convince Yuri now.]”
Shuji seemed ready to push forward with Yeonwoo the moment Jinen Yuri agreed.
Meanwhile, Yeonwoo looked at Annosuke.
“[Why’d you ghost? Where were you?]”
“[Oh, went camping. There’s this spot I love, deep in the mountains—no signal.]”
Shuji freaked out at that.
“[Mountains? What about bears?]”
“[Well, gotta be careful, right?]”
Annosuke said it like no big deal, but Japan—especially Hokkaido—had frequent bear attacks.
Shuji resolved to keep a tight watch if Annosuke debuted, to prevent silent disappearances for camping.
* * *
Around the time Yeonwoo met Yuri and Annosuke in Japan.
SSHIN kept running smoothly without him.
Invincible was in the middle of a nationwide tour, selling out venues everywhere and cruising along, while Chae Hayeon had picked one song Yeonwoo made—barely—and was preparing a comeback with Shin Jiyeong producing.
As SSHIN chugged along, Hadas made their comeback.
Their fourth album and third digital single, titled Indomitable.
The comeback teaser had drawn attention from the start.
The addictive beat flashed briefly, showcasing Hadas in striking techno fashion—not just visually striking, but because Ellis and Yuin, who’d crowned Hadas monster rookies right at debut, teamed up again.
-Hadas + Ellis + Yuin? Can’t resist ㄷ
-Ellis’s third album was good, but Yuin’s Fly High and Rising had insane impact
-Ellis and Yuin vibe well
-But timing’s a shame
-Why? What’s up?
-Hadas comeback overlaps with Albion, Maze, Rainia, Yehwa solo, Ladies comeback/activity
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Damn, Mango chart chaos incoming
-Rank battles gonna be fierce ;
-Ladies overlapping again ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Take Ladies out of that lineup now ㅋㅋㅋ They got wrecked by Hadas ㅋㅋ
-Ignoring Ladies fandom?
-If Ladies’ company gets their shit together and makes it right, who knows ; They’re still top-tier domestic idols
-ㄹㅇ ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Last album bombed so bad, people see them as jokes now
-Taein’s Jeong Yeongdo fucked it up ㅋㅋ
-This album got Jeong Yeongdo involved too?
-No way ;
-But fr, bloodbath. Hadas might struggle this time?
-Honestly Hadas fandom’s weak, rank fights tough
-ㅋㅋㅋ Y’all don’t know ㅋㅋ Hadas hit #1 on public pick with zero fandom back then ㅋㅋ
-Right ㅋㅋ If Yuin nailed another banger, who knows
-No matter how strong fandom, can’t beat public pick
Hadas’s comeback was a hot potato. Top artists were scheduled to comeback or promote right then.
Albion, a fifth-year top-tier boy group in their prime; Maze and Rainia, top girl groups alongside Ladies.
Most eye-catching: Yehwa.
Yehwa, main vocal of a tenth-year long-running girl group, was a star who succeeded in both group and solo albums every time.
Even a monster rookie like Hadas, grabbing #1s left and right, couldn’t escape the backlash over bad timing.
No matter how hot they were, their fandom was still weaker than these veterans.
They couldn’t delay, though—Japan expansion was set, with concrete dates out.
But Ellis was confident.
‘The song itself can’t fail.’
Hearing Yeonwoo’s track, failure never crossed her mind.
As always, Yuin created new realms even in familiar genres.
Composing things no one else could imagine.
Every song was uniquely monstrous—no similar parts even if you scrubbed your eyes raw.
Composers were copying Yeonwoo’s chord progressions, but none succeeded, left tongue-tied.
Yeonwoo’s chords were 100% original—any mimicry screamed plagiarism.
And damn hard to copy, too.
Anyway, a Yeonwoo song.
Ellis and BSK hadn’t slacked.
They poured fortunes into concept, outfits, choreography.
And on comeback day.
Mango had Yehwa’s solo at #1, with Ladies and Maze chasing fiercely.
Then Hadas joined.
The stage streamed live on YouTube, drawing 30,000 viewers—Hadas fans and new-song curious alike.
-Wow song’s insane
-Thought tech house would feel stale ;;;
-Just thought techno
-Is this the tech house I know? Song’s ridiculously good
-Yuin’s legit genius ㄷ
-Looks easy but hard af, how’s she singing this ;;;
-Live like this is the real miracle
-Genius composer x skilled idol collab ㄷ
-This can’t flop
-Personally, better than Yehwa’s song
Reactions were explosive.
Still original, addictive sound; flawless tough vocals from skilled idols; captivating visuals, outfits, choreo.
Nothing lacking.
Post-showcase, Hadas overtook Ladies for real-time #3.
Ladies, burned by last failure and ousting Jeong Yeongdo, still lost ground to Hadas.
Hadas and Indomitable’s hype didn’t stop.
An hour later, passed Maze for #2; that evening, toppled idol legend Yehwa for real-time #1.
Evening #1 got them daily #2, but holding real-time #1 let them claim daily #1 next day.
Smooth sailing after.
It became a public listen beyond fandom—even Albion’s comeback days later couldn’t topple them.
Hadas swept weekly #1 across platforms, proclaiming themselves idols’ new absolute power.
And one thing left.
[Hadas rides #1 wave into Japan.]
[Hadas, pre-Japan debut on famous Japanese show.]
[Ellis and Yuin’s myth continues. Hadas targets archipelago.]
Just the Japan push.