Chapter 190
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 190
“Let’s do a great job today too!!”
“Yes, sir!!”
It had been quite some time since he joined the audio team as the youngest staff member. Consequently, he was finally starting to get used to the sight of idols with faces so radiant they practically glowed.
The Dawn is next, right?
After checking the broadcast cue sheet as the pre-recording progressed, he saw it was finally The Dawn’s turn.
He had seen them during the dry rehearsal, but perhaps because they were first-place candidates, their time allocation—from the title track to the B-sides—was quite generous.
The version of ‘The Dawn’ he usually knew was a group that performed powerful songs with razor-sharp choreography. However, the tracks he had heard during yesterday’s pre-mixing session felt somewhat different.
No mistakes until the very end!
The song they were about to record now was one that had received overwhelming praise from experts.
Some said that after hearing this song, Kang Yi-chae’s signature roughness had vanished, making it a perfect example of ‘easy listening.’ Others evaluated it as a new beginning for The Dawn, one that fully embraced mainstream appeal.
As Kang Yi-chae was already receiving numerous love calls for his songwriting and composition, the industry’s attention on this album seemed even higher than expected.
“Hello!”
With a face that seemed entirely indifferent to such lofty evaluations, Kang Yi-chae stepped onto the stage, gave the fans a bright smile, and took his seat.
For the B-side performance, they wore comfortable outfits: light ivory knits paired with jeans.
The audio team rookie checked the notes for this stage on the storyboard once more and did a final sound check.
【When I wake at dawn and sit by your side,
If I want to kiss you and whisper for you to sleep a little longer,
Is that what love is?】
It was Kang Yi-chae who opened the song.
And it wasn't a rap, but a vocal performance.
A high-level one at that.
【My heart, growing clearer in the light,
I hide it and smile, fearing it might be too much for you】
Kang Yi-chae’s pitch-black hair swayed under the bright lights.
As he opened the song with a calm, steady voice, the youngest member, Jeong Da-jun, took over.
【Don’t smile at me, it makes it hard,
Don’t be kind to me, it makes it difficult】
A soft, clear tone reached the ears.
【When I wake at dawn and look at your face,
If I never tire of watching you, even with my chin in my hands,
Is that abnormal?】
Then, Seo Ho-yun’s voice rang out. His vocal color and the atmosphere he projected fit the song perfectly, elevating the stage.
Standing before the mixing console, the audio team rookie watched Seo Ho-yun fill the screen and grew tense, terrified of making even a single mistake.
【My words, floating in the darkness,
I hide them and go slowly, fearing they might burden you】
The Dawn’s harmonies layered on top of one another, step by step.
【Slowly, one step, two steps,
Once more, slowly, one step】
Seong Ji-won, who had been slowly catching the beat by tapping his finger against his microphone, finally began to sing.
【If you stride toward me, I get dizzy and run away】
“...!”
Goosebumps instantly erupted along the rookie’s arms.
It was the same no matter how many times he heard it.
The rhythm and pitch were perfect, but more than anything, the emotions transmitted through the microphone felt desperately real.
It truly felt as if he were overwhelmed, as if he were unstable.
【Please, slowly, one step, two steps,
Once more, slowly, two steps】
Kim Seong-hyeon caught Seong Ji-won’s eye and offered a faint smile.
【My heart, growing clearer in the light,
I hide it and smile, fearing it might be too much for you】
When the first pre-recording ended, the audio team rookie felt dazed, wondering if that was actually a live performance despite having set up the equipment himself.
After filming once or twice more, the members of The Dawn stepped off the stage, telling their fans they would see them again soon.
Even in that moment, they didn't forget to greet the staff.
“Wow, how can someone that age have that kind of emotional depth...?”
“The Dawn’s vocals have improved even more, haven't they?”
Afterward, the pre-recordings for other singers finished successfully, and the live broadcast began.
The show proceeded smoothly, and following the MC’s introduction, The Dawn returned to the stage.
They had slightly modified the outfits from the music video to make the subtle skin exposure more prominent.
It was the result of a collaboration between Lee Ji-hyeon, who insisted on a summer-appropriate ‘pure-sexy’ look, and a stylist who screamed that they needed a powerful finishing blow.
“Seo Ho-yun, are you trying to kill me?!”
“Hey!! I don’t even need to eat, I’m full just looking at you!!”
The voices of the frenzied fans reached all the way to the audio team, reacting to the outfits that were more provocative than usual.
“Whoa.”
The audio team rookie let out an involuntary exclamation at the aura, which was entirely different from the B-side stage or the rehearsal.
Seo Ho-yun, with pure white lace wrapped around his right wrist and hanging down to his knees, gave a slight wave toward the camera following him for his fancam.
While all the staff members wore fond smiles at the sight of him acting like a cute second-year idol, the members of The Dawn took their starting positions. Soon, the music began to flow.
【I keep poking at you out of curiosity,
You make me wonder about you】
Seo Ho-yun turned his head, thrusting his lace-wrapped hand forward before curling his fingers and pulling it back toward his chest. The jib camera followed him closely.
【The first time is always the most stimulating】
As he transitioned into a body wave, the lines of his physique were vividly revealed beneath the fluttering lace.
While the audio team rookie was purely admiring his skill, the Snowflakes in the audience were busy screaming at a concept that was practically being hand-fed to them.
【Holding hands urgently,
Don’t hold back, give me everything,
I can’t afford to be leisurely】
The sound of white shoes dragging against the floor echoed rhythmically.
At the same time, Kang Yi-chae, wearing a black sleeveless turtleneck and a ring piercing on his bottom lip, stepped into the center.
His husky voice, which had showcased high-level singing in the previous B-side, now delivered a powerful rap.
【I’m not ready to let you go,
I want to keep making mistakes,
I walked in out of curiosity and got trapped,
You can be my divine】
Next, Jeong Da-jun was caught on screen with a grin, pressing down the brim of his white cap which had been ruffled by the intense choreography.
Seo Ho-yun slid in beside him.
【Right now, Do it,
baby love me
I’ll give you everything】
Simultaneously, he crossed both hands over his neck and slowly stroked downward.
【The first time is always the most stimulating,
I’m sorry, I’m a bit fickle,
But that’s why you like me, isn’t it?】
Under the blue lights, Seo Ho-yun tilted his head back and slowly turned it, his lips curling into a languid smirk. Screams erupted throughout the hall.
【Actually, I’m a little afraid,
That you’ll get tired of me,
But not right now,
Do it, baby love me】
The audio team rookie was surprised by Seo Ho-yun’s appearance, but even more so by the voice coming through his headset.
【If you hate it, I won’t do it,
But when I try to stop, you block my path,
(Then I give a small laugh)】
His low, resonant voice blended with the song. Despite the track having a refreshing, light melody with a fast tempo rather than being sticky or heavy, it felt strangely seductive.
【So that this isn't our end】
After filming the final pose following the last line, Seo Ho-yun mischievously snatched the hat off Jeong Da-jun’s head. The audio team rookie heard a startled “Ack!” through his headset, and with that, The Dawn’s title track stage came to an end.
*
“I want to do it again.”
“Stop it, just stop.”
I cut off Seong Ji-won, who was muttering about wanting to perform again, and waited for the other first-place candidate’s stage to finish.
A moment later, we followed the staff’s guidance and walked back onto the stage.
“The Dawn, congratulations on 1st place!!”
It was expected, but the trophy came to us.
Under the fluttering confetti, we waved the trophy and performed the title track live for the encore.
This is only the first one.
I intended to sweep up as much as possible with this album.
And for good reason—a new quest had appeared beside me.
[Quest Arrived!
Claim a Triple Crown on music shows!
Success Reward: 3,000 Points
Failure Penalty: Banned from variety shows for six months]
The penalty was as nonsensical as ever, but since I was confident in this title track, the difficulty itself wasn't too bad.
I wonder how many wins we can get.
I felt like we needed to bag at least four or five trophies to save face for the fans who suffered during the Shining Star era.
The song was well-made, the B-sides were solid, and the choreography was great.
Perhaps because we were currently raking in popularity, I could feel gazes of wariness, envy, jealousy, and admiration piercing us every time we walked down the hallway.
“Hello, sunbae-nims!!”
“Huh??”
Jeong Da-jun, who had been bouncing around at the front, clutching the trophy on the way to the waiting room, froze at the greeting from the rookie idol group, Ri-kun.
“Hello.”
“Su-su-sunbae-nim, congratulations so much!”
“Yes, thank you.”
I grabbed the back of the stuttering Jeong Da-jun’s neck and pulled him back, responding in his stead.
After the members of Ri-kun disappeared, stealing glances at us with sparkling eyes, Da-jun belatedly rubbed his arms.
“Hyung, did you hear that?! They called me sunbae-nim?!”
“You like it?”
“No?! I was so shocked I got goosebumps!!”
We were a group that hadn't even reached their second full year yet.
Of course, in this industry where countless idols appeared and vanished in a single day, awareness was rank. But The Dawn had rarely been in the position of being seniors who received polite greetings from others.
How was I?
Thinking back to my past, I remembered either ignoring or clashing with the seniors who tried to act all high and mighty back when I was a PD.
Other than that, I had managed to survive by playing the social game and sucking up when necessary.
I thought Jeong Da-jun would enjoy being a ‘sunbae-nim,’ but he shook his head vigorously.
“I want to stay the maknae forever!!”
“...What?”
When I looked at him in confusion, our team’s youngest, who insisted on remaining the ‘maknae,’ wore a quite serious expression.
“I think if I grow any bigger than this...”
“Yeah.”
“Ho-yun hyung won't go easy on me anymore when I mess up...”
Kang Yi-chae, who was a step behind us, clapped his hands.
“Good thinking, maknae. Have you seen how this hyung treats me??”
“They say even a school dog can recite poetry after three years!”
Good grief, he even knows idioms like that?
“But I suppose accepting Ho-yun hyung’s discipline is also a part of becoming an adult...”
“Your process of becoming an adult is a bit weird, don't you think?”
Anyway, just as Seo Ho-jin would always be my younger brother, the maknae of our team would always be the maknae no matter how much he grew. I didn't bother correcting Da-jun’s thoughts.
“...!!”
He was practically the age of a nephew to me.
Wait, thinking about it like that, I really have no conscience, do I?
Being in the same group as someone the age of a nephew. Isn't that insane?
It was unavoidable, but the absurdity of the situation made me feel suffocated.
Just then, Jeong Da-jun clung to my arm.
“Wait, get off me for a second. I need to find my conscience.”
“Huh?! Hyung, since when did you have a conscience?!”
As I was shaking off Da-jun and reflecting on my life, someone blocked our path.
“Hello?”
It was Yun Hee-eon.
Kim Seong-hyeon looked puzzled, and Jeong Da-jun tilted his head.
Why is this guy popping up here?
He was the one who had talked nonsense to Seong Ji-won about acting all pure and whatever.
I had long since forgotten about him, but it seemed our promotion periods overlapped. Seeing his obnoxious face again made me like him even less.
In this industry, there was no one as upright, dedicated to practice, and as pure as Grade 1 Alpine water as Seong Ji-won.
At the very least, he wasn't someone who deserved to hear that kind of talk from a piece of trash like this guy.
“Ahaha, are you that happy just from winning one trophy?”
I contemplated whether to end the day happily by indulging in a bit of personality-shredding, but since the kids were watching and considering the overall situation, I hesitated.
Anyway, I needed to exercise more self-restraint as time went on.
Come to think of it, was Yun Hee-eon a member of F.O.B?
I recalled their results this time weren't particularly good, which was probably why his nerves were so frayed.
The guy pointedly looked Seong Ji-won up and down.
“Congratulations on 1st place. But if this is the peak of your popularity in your second year, it’s a bit...”
“I gotta go put the trophy on display~.”
But before Yun Hee-eon could even finish his sentence, Jeong Da-jun brushed past him.
“Selfie first for me~.”
Then, Kang Yi-chae followed behind, mimicking Da-jun’s tone with a mischievous face.
In that moment,
“Ahaha, I’m going to go practice~.”
= Go practice or something.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Seong Ji-won, whom I never expected this from, mimicked the members who went ahead and brushed past Yun Hee-eon.
And I realized once again.
Our Grade 1 Alpine water actually had the strongest backbone in the group.