Chapter 119
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 119
Chapter Title Tiramisu Woes and Title Track Triumph
The manager hyung had told us not to stay up too late, but Ji Yooncheol and I spent the night searching up tiramisu recipes.
As Id feared, the process was far more complicated than making a regular beverage.
We have to make coffee and meringue too?
Ji Yooncheol muttered in a daze while watching a YouTube video with detailed instructions.
While the other members made one beverage each, it said that a single tiramisu cake from Ji Yooncheol would take roughly 3 to 5 hours.
Fortunately, one large sheet could be divided into multiple slices, but it was still an incredibly tedious and painful process.
Its fine, Yooncheol. They definitely wont make us prepare tiramisu during cafe operating hours. Its impossible to make and serve a dish that takes five hours on the day of. Theyll probably give us time to prep it in advance.
Still. Maybe I shouldve picked coffee after all.
I tried to ease Ji Yooncheols worries by emphasizing only the bright sides, but once his expression soured, there was no sign of it recovering.
As always, Ji Yooncheols dejected face looked just like a cat that had its spirit completely broken.
They told us to pick our favorite menu, so I chose cake.
You made the right choice, Yooncheol. The directive was to pick a menu we like from the start, and you followed it perfectly.
Can I really make this well?
Didnt they say were getting a lesson from a pro instructor tomorrow? Theyll teach us properly, so dont worry too much.
Okay.
Still, itll be handy to have the recipe somewhat memorized before the lesson, so lets focus on committing this video to memory until bedtime.
After two hours of doing our utmost to memorize the recipe, Ji Yooncheol hugged Mutou and fell into a deep sleep.
I turned off the lights and returned to my bed.
I didnt forget to set my phone alarm for 7 a.m. either.
Ji Yooncheol sleeps a lot, so Ill get up first, wash up, and wake him at the right time.
With all preparations complete, I fell asleep in an instant.
And the next morning. The alarm rang for the second time at exactly 7, and I woke right on cue.
My body feels strangely refreshed.
After washing up with warm water, I did my usual morning routine of stretching.
I really felt invigorated.
Ever since returning to reality, Id been sleeping at the Idol Training Simulation dorms nonstop.
Thanks to the passive skills effect maintaining my composure, I hadnt felt much tension or anxiety, but there mightve been a subtle obsession with needing to debut no matter what.
Now that the survival show was over and our debut confirmed, my body felt incredibly light.
Of course, theres the new mission to prevent the system from disappearing.
A new quest to repair the damage gauge had appeared, but it was true that achieving my longheld dream of debuting had eased my mind.
At 8 a.m., I shook the soundly sleeping Ji Yooncheol awake.
Yooncheol, time to get up and wash.
Five more minuteslet me sleep.
No. Didnt the manager hyung say we have a 9 oclock meeting? If you dont get up and wash now, youll have to face the company staff looking all grubby.
Wouldnt that be okay.
No.
I firmly rejected Ji Yooncheols desperate sleeptalk and propped his body up.
Up close like this, he really looked every bit the firstyear high schooler.
While Ji Yooncheol finally staggered into the bathroom for a shower, I headed down to the first floor first.
Youre up early.
We have to be there by 9, so isnt it obvious to be awake by now?
The guys in that room seem to think differently.
Kang Siyoon, Yu Minha, and Song Hyeongbin had finished all their prep and were sprawled on the living room sofas.
Kang Siyoon greeted me with a good morning and shrugged, pointing toward the end of the hallway.
The door to Chae Eungyu and Heo Yubins room was still closed.
Did something happen?
Nah. I checked by opening the door just in case, but theyre both still deep asleep.
Then we should wake them.
WWell, youll see for yourself.
I had no idea what he meant.
Ill go wake them.
I wanna watch!
Me too.
For whatever amusing sight this was, Yu Minha and Song Hyeongbin stuck right behind me.
I reached Chae Eungyu and Heo Yubins door with quick steps.
From the faint sounds leaking through, it seemed they were still quietly fast asleep.
Opening the door.
They probably wouldnt hear, but I gave fair warning and flung it open.
And what appeared before my eyes was.
Wow, its even more intense than Siyoon said.
Amazing! How does a room get this messy? I couldnt achieve this even if I tried to trash it on purpose.
So this is what Siyoon was talking about.
The room looked like it had been hit deadon by a hurricane.
Halfunpacked luggage was scattered everywhere.
Clothes had embarked on a long journey of selfdiscovery, barely leaving any floor visible.
I looked at the snoring Chae Eungyu and rummaged through my memories.
Back when we shared a cell during filming, it wasnt this bad.
Now that I thought about it, Chae Eungyu hadnt brought much luggage during the Idol Training Simulation shoot.
Hed alternated between the group tracksuits provided by production and comfy sleep shirtsjust two outfits.
So this bombblasted scene hadnt occurred back then.
Kang Siyoon had probably retreated upon seeing this hopeless mess, but we really didnt have much time left now.
Without hesitation, I pushed through the clothes and strode forward.
Then I shook both culprits with both hands.
Wake up, both of you. The meetings soon.
Ughhhh. Dont wanna get upppp.
Heo Yubin resisted fiercely, but thankfully Chae Eungyu woke right away, ending the ordeal.
With 20 minutes to spare, the complete Celeste cell finally stepped out of the dorm.
Shall we play the prepared tracks right away?
Yes!
The planning team and AR team at the meeting wore deeply serious expressions.
They seemed to be fervently hoping the new songs wed present would pass muster.
We have four tracks suitable for title. The rest were meant for album cuts, so please listen and pick the ones you like.
The first track played.
A safe synth pop with a refreshing vibe.
Similar vein to what Id done in the third round.
The songs good, but anyone whos heard that one would easily notice the similar atmosphere.
A bit disappointing.
The second track felt like pop mixed with trap.
Rhythmic and fresh, but not fitting for Celestes members.
I internally evaluated the tracks while keeping my eyes fixed on Heo Yubin.
He was the only member with compositionrelated traits.
To judge which song was best, it was key to trust the senses of the one with the Genius Composer trait.
The third was dance pop overly focused on hook addictiveness.
Before long, the fourth track started.
A slightly muffled piano sound like from a synthesizer.
Impressive EDM layered over a sensual, sleek RB beat.
The moment the song hit, Heo Yubins eyes widened slightly.
Hed been sitting straight until then, but now he leaned forward to hear it closer.
Addictive, and the melody line is powerful.
A powerful melody line meant perfect for sharp group choreography.
Considering most of Celestes members had dance strengths, picking a title in this vein was definitely right.
Since the debut lineups completely different from the previous round, the title track had to change too.
I recalled the previous rounds Celeste track from a corner of my mind Id shoved away.
Id deliberately paid little attention, so it was a bit fuzzy, but it was probably similar to the first tracks fresh vibe.
But all things considered, this fourth track suited the current Celeste best.
As I thought that.
I think this ones the best.
After listening for over two minutes, Heo Yubin voiced his opinion.
Song Hyeongbin reacted first.
You think this tracks the best, Yubin?
Yeah. The others didnt spark anything, but the moment this one started, a picture formed in my head naturally.
Song Hyeongbin had witnessed Heo Yubins composing skills firsthand while prepping stages.
Recalling that, he nodded.
Then he gently followed up to draw out more of Heo Yubins thoughts.
What about it sparked something?
For a title track, it shouldnt lean too hard one way. The previous ones had good choruses, but the EDM sounded too noisy. This one fuses RB pop and EDM into an easyontheears melody. And theres power behind the melody, you know? We have members who dance well like Hyeongbin hyung, Siyoon hyung, Yooncheolso we can layer in varied choreo on this powerful melody.
With Heo Yubins detailed explanation, everyone looked a bit surprised.
Hearing Yubin say it, this track really does suit us best.
The others didnt get my heart racing, but like Yubin said, this one hit me bam! We could make some really cool group choreo too!
Yubins got talent for this stuff.
Chae Eungyu showed surprise toward his roommate.
Heo Yubins composer side had briefly appeared on the Idol Training Simulation broadcast, but that snippet hadnt revealed his full skill.
Hearing the hyungs praise, Heo Yubin puffed out his chest proudly.
This much is basic! Hope I get a chance to make original tracks later.
Thatd be great. Us making our own songs to share with the fans.
With that, the rest all agreed with Heo Yubin.
Deciding on the fourth track as title meant wed cleared the biggest hurdle in our debut album production.
Honestly, I was pretty surprised.
I hadnt expected the process to go this smoothly.
No matter how thoroughly wed prepped, we couldnt guarantee title track quality.
But considering the tracks the planning team played, they had releaseready completion even as singles.
Sigma Ent probably didnt have inhouse composers that skilled, so theyd outsourced.
Seemed theyd used their budget effectively.
Like the saying that a good start is half the battle, our debut process advanced a big step in a refreshing atmosphere.
However, after lunch when we headed to the cooking class.
Is this something we have to grind at all day?
UUweck! Isnt this, like, too bitter?
Maybe we really should switch menus.
An utter disaster that left us speechless had arrived.