Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Overwhelmed by Hadass
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Nanase Datemura hadn't gone home despite it being Friday evening. She was still at the company.
She sat on the recliner sofa she'd placed in the basement audiovisual room that doubled as a practice space.
Behind her stood the JOP trainees—stiff as boards—the very ones Yeonwoo had called hopeless.
"Now, let's begin."
"Got it."
She turned her gaze to the large screen in the audiovisual room.
It was tuned to Music Station.
"Focus."
At Nanase's command, everyone straightened up once more and fixed their eyes on the screen.
The three MCs, joined by a new female announcer, introduced the singers one by one, saving the finale for last.
-The people drawing the hottest attention in K-pop right now. They crushed major idols right out of the gate to claim number one, followed it up with consecutive wins, and with this album, they've even surpassed Japan-favorites like Ye-Hwa, Albion, and Maze to hold the top spot for weeks.
-That's right, we present... Hadass!
With those words, the screen cut to a darkened stage.
The song title—*Fly High*—appeared at the bottom, followed by the intro.
One by one, they began to sing along with the intro, spotlights hitting each member as their parts kicked in.
By the time all four had appeared, the song hit its climax, weaving a fantastical harmony.
Nanase stared at the screen in stony silence.
Honestly...
*I'm overwhelmed.*
She was speechless at the level of these Korean idols.
Was there any idol in the current J-pop scene with vocals like that?
Right now, idols were just one genre of entertainment.
Music was merely one tool for making money, and idols were basically character IPs for merchandising—like cartoons—built around their unique personalities and visuals, be they quirky or stunning.
Singers who could actually *sing* like that?
None.
At best, a few idols inspired by K-pop were starting to emphasize vocals and dance, slapping on "real talent" labels as they emerged.
Meanwhile, Korean idols were casually storming charts like the Melboard Hot 100, widening the gap.
And Hadass was embodying that exact gap.
It felt like the current K-pop scene was declaring: *This* is the vocal standard you need just to be an idol.
Nanase turned to glance behind her.
Some stood dumbfounded in shock, others looked moved by the song, and a few seemed utterly defeated.
Watching them, then back at Hadass, Nanase thought of Yuin.
*No wonder my kids can't catch her eye—she's handing her songs to talents like these and building them up.*
Nanase paused in thought, then ordered the trainees out. The moment they left, she turned to her secretary.
"Bring in everyone from the JOP Korea branch who's worked on idol production. No—scout people who've done idol production in Korea and get ready to hire them."
She admitted her own arrogance and resolved to adopt the Korean idol system.
Combine that with idols JOP raised in-house, plus Yuin's songs? JOP could dominate Japan—no, the entire world music market.
"Then we'll proceed as instructed."
"Mm. Oh, and..."
"Yes?"
"Send all those kids home."
"......Understood."
Nanase rose from her seat, her expression icy.
* * *
"So this song's yours too, huh?"
"Yeah."
Yuri's question earned a nod from Yeonwoo as he eyed the TV.
Hadass—who'd made a massive splash on Music Station—was making the rounds on Japanese music shows.
Today's slot was Fuji TV's Music Fair.
It had a reputation for camera work that outshone other networks' music programs.
Sure enough, they framed each member's face at its most flattering angle during their parts, highlighting their charms perfectly.
"You give zero thought to the people singing your songs..."
"Sis, I said Japanese."
"Anyway, zero consideration! You're heartless!"
While living in Japan, Yeonwoo insisted on Japanese-only conversations—even with those who spoke Korean—to master it fluently.
Grandma and the others followed suit, so by late May, his everyday Japanese had improved by leaps and bounds; casual chat was no problem.
"It's tough, but listeners love it. You write all our songs like that?"
"I've already done one. Bro, Sis—did you finish what I asked?"
*Ahem.*
*Hem hem.*
His question made them avert their eyes.
Yeonwoo had tasked them with lyrics for the jazz track he'd composed last time.
"Not even a draft?"
Disappointment in his voice, Annosuke scratched his head.
"Well... I wrote something."
"What? You traitor!"
Yuri—who hadn't written a single word—glared and yelled at Annosuke.
"The traitor's you, Sis. Bro kept his promise. You didn't, so you're the traitor to me."
"......Sorry."
Ignoring Yuri's mumble, Yeonwoo peered at the phone Annosuke held out.
"So... what do you think?"
"I... can't read kanji, Bro."
"Oh, right. Here, I'll read it."
Annoske began reciting his lyrics.
Yuri teased him for looking like a bear, but with his model-tall frame and sharp features under those thick brows, Annosuke had this inherently poetic vibe.
The lyrics matched: deeply poetic and beautiful.
"You're... gifted in literature too, Bro."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's great. Lyrics are yours."
"Ooh...!"
"But Yuri Sis has to write hers too. Her parts need her own emotions."
"Ugh...... Fine."
As Yuri groaned, racking her brain for lyrics, Yeonwoo turned back.
Hadass members were chatting cheerfully onscreen.
Annosuke eyed Yeonwoo and asked,
"Special affection since they're the first you gave songs to?"
"They're meaningful, but no affection. Those girls don't even know I'm Yuin."
"Then what about us?"
Yuri cut in abruptly. Yeonwoo shot her an *obvious* look.
"Of course there's affection. You're my singers—I'm raising you from the start."
It felt weird being raised by a kid half their age, but it sparked a strange pride.
*Genius-approved artists,* or something.
"Alright, show's over. One more practice, then home."
"Okay."
"Coming in!"
They rose and entered the booth.
Mics in front, headsets on, they waited for Yeonwoo to cue the MR track.
No full song for them yet, so practice focused on duets or solos Yeonwoo had reworked for two voices.
Today was no different.
First, they'd layer harmonies on any song, any range.
Once comfortable, they'd split parts, trading lines on their own.
Now? They'd blend both in a single track—entering and exiting harmonies without prompts.
It was grueling prep for any live curveball.
It paid off: their chemistry clicked fast.
Truth be told, for a while it was Yuri belting freely with her powerhouse voice, Annosuke scrambling to smooth it out into something decent.
Yeonwoo hated that. He drilled Yuri on matching her partner.
And now...
"To auto-harmony any range on the fly, your ears have to be wide open. You're lacking there. I don't expect my level—just get to where you can match pitch instantly on hearing it."
Yeonwoo's fairy sight let him spot flaws visually, but his hearing was inhuman even before that.
Just months ago, he'd wondered why others couldn't grasp it—*Why's it off?* Now he got it.
His ears were different.
He wouldn't demand his standard.
Problem was, his bare minimum was still tough.
Yuri sang great but had weak relative pitch; Annosuke's ears were sharp, but he couldn't snap his voice to match on cue.
How were their talents, personalities—even tendencies—so opposite?
Weirdly, though, after a few warm-up tries, they'd launch into flawless sync.
Yeonwoo tapped his fingers to their ear-pleasing duet, then hit the talkback.
"Good! That's it for today!"
His voice sent them bounding out, pumped.
"Good work!"
"Home for food!"
"Hurry! Butcher's croquettes'll be gone!"
The trio—quitting time on the horizon—were like the Peach Garden Oath sworn brothers.
United, they dashed out, snagged croquettes at the butcher, grabbed discounted sides and snacks at the mart, and headed home.
"Food time!"
Annosuke's yell led the charge as Yuri and Yeonwoo whooped and plopped at the table.
Heo Ok watched the three with fond eyes—until she glanced at Yeonwoo and flinched.
The kid who'd barely eaten back then, all gaunt cheeks? Now they were pudgy, downright chubby.
His belly was starting to poke out too.
Was obesity creeping in? Or already here?
She couldn't starve a child who'd just discovered eating's joy after going without.
Besides, Annosuke and Yuri looked plumper too.
Fed up, Heo Ok laid down the law.
"No late-night snacks for any of you three. No treats either—period."
"Eh?"
"Why?"
"Grandma...?"
Her face stern.
"You two have debuts coming—manage your weight."
"Grandma, what about me? Why me...?"
"Producer sets the example!"
Faced with Heo Ok's iron tone, Yeonwoo wore a lost-puppy stare.
Big dog, medium dog, and little pup: the world's glummest dinner dragged on.