Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Rehearsal with Tenshi-san
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I figured that once Tenshi-san arrived in Korea, we'd start with some sightseeing, but she shook her head and said,
"Let's head straight to the company!"
"Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Yes!"
Her main goal was the live recording, but... was she really okay with this?
Well, it was Tenshi-san's call, so we headed right to The Six headquarters.
Tenshi-san had surprisingly little luggage for someone who had just traveled.
Just a backpack? And it wasn't even packed full.
"Why do you have so little luggage?"
I was wondering about that on the subway ride to The Six headquarters when I asked, and Tenshi-san grinned and replied,
"I can just buy everything here, right?"
"Hmm..."
She had a point. No arguing with that.
If you've got money, even travel is a breeze.
"So once recording's done, Suhyun, you have to go shopping with me at the department store!"
"Oh, the department store?"
"Yes!"
Well, I could manage a department store trip.
I'd promised to give her the full Korean tour, but my schedule was a bit iffy.
No matter how well I planned it, it was better to just do whatever Tenshi-san wanted.
After agreeing to hit the department store together, we got off at the station near headquarters and walked the rest of the way.
But...
"Wow, Korean subway exit!"
The moment we reached the station exit, Tenshi-san exclaimed with wide eyes.
...Thank goodness there weren't many people around.
I'd been amazed by Japanese subways my first time too, so I got it.
However...
"Wow! Korean convenience store!"
"Wow! Korean apartments!"
"Wow, Korean buildings!"
"Wow! Korean people!"
"Me?"
"You're Korean, right?"
"Well, yeah..."
If she put it that way, I had nothing to say, but her gushing over everything was embarrassing me.
Why was someone who'd lived in a Japanese city acting like such a tourist?
It was only a few minutes' walk from the station to headquarters, but she found so much to marvel at along the way.
Tenshi-san kept exclaiming and looking around until we arrived at the headquarters building, where her eyes went wide.
"Wow... Is this whole building the company?!"
"Huh? No? We just use a few floors here."
"Oh- I see..."
As if The Six owned the entire building.
It'd be nice if we did, but... not yet. Not even close.
We entered the building, and there—rarer than a blue moon these days—was Manager-nim, waiting to greet us.
"Ah! Welcome! And you must be..."
"Yes! Tenshi here!"
"Wow! Just as expected!"
Manager-nim welcomed Tenshi-san even more enthusiastically than me and led us to the prepped studio.
They'd built a studio in the same building as the company? That must've cost a fortune.
There were probably good reasons for setting it up here, but as an outsider to that side of things, I had no clue.
The elevator took us to a space that screamed "studio" the moment we stepped out.
What was it? It reminded me of the broadcasting station set where I'd first met Toad Director.
Of course, it was much smaller, and the equipment was probably leagues apart.
Still, it was way better than I'd feared, which put my mind at ease. No wonder he'd bragged about it so proudly.
"Ooh... This is nice!"
Tenshi-san seemed impressed too.
"Alright, let me give you a tour."
Manager-nim proceeded to show us around, explaining all the facilities.
From the waiting room to everything else, it really felt like the company was going all-in.
Heavenly Realm might not end at just the 1st and 2nd Gens, huh?
The Korean market was small, but... if it worked out, great for me.
If we hit 10 generations someday, I'd be a 1st Gen big senior.
Looking forward to that distant future, Tenshi-san and I entered the set that Manager-nim had guided us to.
"Ooh..."
The ceiling, walls, and floor were all bright green. Chroma key, right? A camera in the corner was aimed at us.
Chroma key meant... we'd have to wear those tight green suits?
It didn't matter, but it'd look pretty ridiculous.
As I was thinking that, Manager-nim handed out blue bands to us.
"What's this?"
"Oh, these are trackers."
"These?"
They just looked like thick blue bands.
"Oh, these! They use them here too!"
But Tenshi-san was familiar with them and started attaching them to her joints.
Starting from her wrists, then elbows, and even around her neck.
"You put them on your neck too?"
"Yes! That way it tracks better."
Got it... Better than full-body green suits, at least?
Even if they'd given us suits, I'd have gritted my teeth and worn one, so I followed Tenshi-san's lead and banded up.
"Wow, having an experienced pro makes this so much easier."
Manager-nim watched us—mostly Tenshi-san—with a pleased smile and moved on to the next part of the tour.
Wasn't that a bit too much favoritism?
I might not look it, but I'm Heavenly Realm's unofficial top ace.
"For now, get comfortable here and prep. Call us when you're ready. We'll do a test shoot, then bring in the cameramen for the real thing."
...It hadn't fully sunk in until now, but mentioning cameramen made it real.
This was the real deal. Good thing I'd practiced my singing and dancing on my own.
"Take your time practicing."
With that, Manager-nim left us alone in the set.
Was practicing here the right call? Everything was green... A mirror would've helped with checking poses.
"Alright, let me show you the movement lines!"
But Tenshi-san took charge like a pro.
Having an expert meant no fumbling around.
"First, here you go like this..."
...So when I do this with the members, I'll have to lead?
Ugh... Couldn't Anna come instead, rack up the experience, and lead for me? I shook off the thought.
No stray thoughts while she was explaining movements... Focus.
Luckily, my memory was sharp enough that I picked up Tenshi-san's pre-planned lines easily.
They weren't that complex to begin with.
"Now, let's run the staging!"
"Huh?"
"I pop out from over there singing, and you have to react perfectly, Suhyun?"
Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
Right, this was mid-live performance, so entrance to exit had to flow seamlessly.
My head was starting to ache already.
This was more complicated than it seemed.
"Let's try a practice run!"
And so the real practice began, and I paid the price for underestimating it.
"Okay, again! React more enthusiastically!"
"You messed up there! Bigger!"
I never took this live recording lightly.
But I was paying now for not taking it seriously enough.
"Okay! Breathe!"
"Wa-wait..."
"Here! Water!"
Now I understood why Tenshi-san had come straight here from the airport.
As a veteran, she knew.
To get newbie-me up to her satisfaction level, there was no time to waste!
The friendly Japanese girl who'd marveled at Korean scenery on the subway was gone.
In her place was Devil Instructor Tenshi, cracking the whip on noob Miro...
"Okay! You two, head to the waiting room and eat the lunch boxes!"
Even in this hellish practice, Manager-nim casually dropped by with snacks and towels like he'd planned for it.
Somehow, that made me even grumpier.
Anyway, the killer practice session paused when the sun had shifted quite a bit.
"Good! Ready for rehearsal?"
"Ju-just a quick break..."
Of course, I was already wiped out.
No, if I hadn't kept up my stamina training, I'd have collapsed already.
"Just a little more effort!"
"Yeah, I know..."
Just two more?-ish times.
After all today's practices, a quick breather and some water, and I could do it.
"You look exhausted. Should we get permission and continue tomorrow?"
Maybe I looked that bad? Tenshi-san hesitated and suggested it.
"No, no. We can do it today."
But we couldn't. Cameramen were prepped, and Tenshi-san's Korea trip was short.
No wasting her time, and right now, after endless drills sharpening my senses, it felt like prime time to go live.
"We have to do it today."
Sensing my resolve, Tenshi-san beamed and nodded.
"Hai!"
And so, with the cameramen assembled, rehearsal began.
"Okay, standby."
Cameras didn't faze me much.
Maybe from my film shoot experience? If anything, my senses sharpened more than tensed.
Film shoot...
Come to think of it, couldn't I use my acting skills here?
Why hadn't I thought of that sooner?
No time like now—let's try it.
"Hoo..."
I overlaid an image on my surroundings.
The green walls, ceiling, and floor became a stage. The cameras and crew watching me were the audience.
My band-plastered clothes were stage attire, and Tenshi-san bounding out with a bright smile was today's guest.
Yeah.
Something clicked.
Practice had felt stuffy, but now that void was filled.
Here, I would.
Become top star Han Hye-jin once more.
Not in some dingy booth with a has-been producer, but on her true stage: the concert hall.