Chapter 108
“Wow, I really feel like I’m going to pass out.”
Yeon Juhong said as she threw herself onto the dorm sofa.
I agreed.
I really felt like I was going to pass out right now.
The fan signing event, which felt like the busiest heaven in the world, had ended.
“Look at Bo-ra. She must have received at least twenty animal headbands today.”
“And all different animals too.”
“When Geum unnie appeared, the fans were crying. Honestly, I almost died trying to hold back my tears too.”
“…Actually, I teared up a bit too.”
Even Seo Baek-young?
Well, I also felt a bit of warmth in my heart today.
It was my first time having real conversations with fans.
“We could have met them during our showcase. But we had to rush the schedule, so it was only online.”
“I know. Everyone was really disappointed back then.”
“We were really disappointed too.”
“That’s why today was so great.”
Today, even though Kim Geum had said it was absolutely impossible, she showed up at the fan signing event in a wheelchair.
She received an enormous amount of cheers but also an enormous amount of concern.
It was to the point that real-time popular trends on social media included hashtags like #KimGeum_Please_Rest, #KimGeum_InjuredAtFanSign, and #CheongLeader_PleaseStopHer.
I’m sorry.
I tried my best to stop her, but who can break her stubbornness….
“By the way, we finally have a music show tomorrow!”
Yeon Juhong said, rolling around with her knees tucked into her hoodie.
She really looked like a rebellious chick.
“It’s the second week… so from this week, senior Burn Ash will also be on the music shows, right?!”
“Yeah.”
“I saw the chart rankings for senior Burn Ash’s songs earlier. Our title track ‘Blue’ is number one, and their ‘BURY ME’ is number two. Their other tracks are in third and fifth place, and our other tracks are in fourth and seventh place….”
Kim Geum bit her nails, expressing her anxiety.
I quietly put a squid leg in her mouth.
I started carrying squid legs around to stop Kim Geum from biting her nails.
“Nom.”
“If you bite your nails one more time, I’ll give you vegetables instead of squid legs.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m more surprised that we’re still holding onto first place.”
Seo Baek-young said, looking at the music site.
Yeah.
I was really surprised too.
“Today was the second day of Burn Ash’s initial sales, did you see the results?! We sold 380,000 copies in a week, but they surpassed 700,000 copies on the first day.”
“Wow.”
“They’re obviously going to become million-sellers. The question is how high they’ll set the initial sales record. They already surpassed 700,000 copies yesterday… so a million copies should be soon.”
We were slightly ahead in digital sales.
The physical sales were incomparable.
In short, if we didn’t get first place this week, there would be no chance next week.
“Do you think we’ll ever have a day like that?! Selling a million copies of an album?!”
“…If we work hard… someday….”
“Actually, I don’t really have that kind of ambition.”
At that moment, Ryu Bo-ra quietly added.
“Oh my gosh. Really?!”
“Yeah.”
“Why?! Isn’t it every idol’s dream? To become a million-seller idol?”
“That’s not my dream.”
“Then? What is it?”
Even Kim Geum, who was quite curious, threw aside the squid leg she was eating and stuck close to Ryu Bo-ra.
“You smell. Move.”
“If you tell me what it is, I’ll move.”
“I’ll just move.”
Ryu Bo-ra said that and picked up a towel.
“I’m going to wash up first.”
“That’s unfair, Ryu Bo-ra! Someday I’ll reveal your true self to our fans-”
“That’s it!”
The mention of fans reminded me of something.
“Bo-ra, don’t wash up just yet.”
“Why?”
“There’s something really important we need to do before we go on the music show.”
“Something important?”
“Oh. What is it?”
“What is it?”
Even Ryu Bo-ra stopped and asked me.
“We need to decide our fandom name…! If we get first place, what are we going to call our fans…! Just saying ‘our beloved fans’ sounds too bland…!”
“!”
Everyone’s mouths dropped open at my words.
“I’ve never thought about it because we’ve never gotten first place before!”
“Me too…. I’ve never been first in my life….”
“So it was the experienced Cheong who thought of it.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Really, I couldn’t talk about anything in front of these guys.
“Then should we turn on K-app and ask our fans?!”
***
★
Today’s fan signing event was legendary. Spending all my nnn won was totally worth it.
└I also want to go to a fan signing event just onceㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠPlease share the fan signing cut..
Blue Duck posted a bunch of photos from Yoon Cheong’s fan signing on SNS.
And she scrolled through the timeline.
Today’s fan signing event was.
Truly legendary.
### “Truly a fan service that will go down in Steel Blue history….”
★
Our little animals are truly touchingㅠㅠ Even though the company banned fansign items, they said it was okay and just used their own. Where else can you find idols like this?
#YeonJuhong is legendary. She worried that fans might forget to bring fansign items because of the notice, so she packed everything herselfㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋahㅠㅠㅠㅠ she’s an insane sweetheartㅠㅠㅠㅠ We might forget our lives, but we won’t forget fansign items…
Seo Baek-young didn’t know what fansign items were, so she just kept stacking them on top of each other one by oneㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋso clueless… adorably clueless
To whoever gave Yoon-bl an authentic military cap as a fansign item today, accept my deepest respects. There was a rumor that it’s a boyfriend’s capㅋㅋㅋ
And to the person who gave Geum a tiger headband and tiger paws… live long and prosper.
After putting angel wings on Ryupub, Geum took a photo of itㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋshe said she’ll tease her about it foreverㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ The chemistry between the same-age members is so good.
To whoever prepared coral goggles for Coral Bird, may you and your descendants enjoy prosperity and glory.
Ryupub wearing a princess crown… she looks like a queen of *JuX*!?
While basking in this happiness.
Ding!
K [StillBlue │ Live Broadcast Starting]
K [Let’s decide our fandom name together!! >_<]
It was a live broadcast notification from K-app.
‘No way.’
Is there an idol group that does both a fansign and a live broadcast in one day?
That would be our girls.
[Juhong: Hello!!!]
[Baek-young: Hello! We missed you, so we’re back again!]
[Bo-ra: It was great to see everyone today. We missed you, so we came back again!]
[Geum: Come on in, everyone. Come on in. I’m waiting.]
[Cheong: Today, we’re going to decide on a name for our fans! Before we go on the music show tomorrow, it’d be nice to have it decided!]
No way.
Are they thinking of calling our name when they thank us for winning first place tomorrow…?
My heart…
English please.
It feels like there’s a ghost behind me.
Unnie, I have an exam tomorrowㅠㅠ Can you please say “fighting” just once?
Ah, if only they’d come a bit earlierㅠㅠ I have work tomorrow, how can I sleep?
Gasp, I’ve been waiting for the fandom name, guysㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Juhong, can you please say “Woongni” just once?!
Cheongㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Can you please sing ‘bury me’ just once?!
Why are they asking for Burn Ash’s new song here?
And for those complaining about them coming late when they’re this exhausted but still showed up, what’s their problem?
Blue Duck started to get angry at the rude comments in the K-app chat.
[Cheong: Haha. You’ve all been waiting for us, right? Sorry for being late. We’ll quickly decide your name and let you get to bed soon.]
[Baek-young: We’ll be back tomorrow.]
[Juhong: Exactly.]
Hah….
Guys… are you angels?
Blue Duck calmed her anger towards the rude comments by focusing on Steel Blue.
[Cheong: So what should our fandom name be~?]
***
“Steel Blue, 5 minutes until standby.”
“Yes!”
The stage video for the broadcast had already been filmed in a pre-recording session.
All that was left was the live broadcast performance.
After this, they would announce the first place winner.
We had already done the pre-recording stage five times, so everyone was exhausted.
In addition to individual fancams and redoing several parts, it was no wonder everyone was drained.
But nobody showed any signs of fatigue, all smiling brightly.
“Whew whew.”
“Everyone, don’t be nervous. I believe in our members. I know you’ll all do well.”
“…Are you really telling us not to be nervous, Cheong?”
“Do you know the first place announcement is coming up soon? Let’s go.”
At my words, the members’ eyes started to widen.
“Aaaaah someone please give me some sedatives!!”
“…I need to go to the bathroom for a moment.”
“Why?”
“I feel like I’m going to throw up….”
“No, Bo-ra! Hold it until we’re off stage!”
“…Okay.”
Second week.
Wednesday.
Our first music broadcast, <Music QQ>.
“Alright. Let’s do our cheer before we go!”
At my words, all the members gathered and put their heads together.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, Steel Blue, Steel Blue, Steel Blue!”
…I didn’t come up with that.
It would be sad if they said I was showing my age.
Kim Geum came up with it.
“Cue ready!”
“Yes!”
We rushed onto the stage.
Every sense was heightened.
I could feel the members complaining about how hot the lights were.
Despite the in-ear monitors, the cheers were deafening.
The moment I saw the fan lights shaped like telescopes and the colorful banners we designed ourselves.
Why are you so Blue
You look as pale as I do
Pale, Fail Blue Blue
I heard Bo-ra’s voice.
But starting today, things would be different.
It was my part from now on.
I brought the mic close to my lips and blinked.
Again.
As I opened my eyes.
“We will now announce the winner for first place!”
The stage was already over.
I couldn’t even tell when it had ended.
All the members were holding my hand tightly.
I didn’t even have time to wonder what was happening before I heard the members’ breaths.
Seo Baek-young’s hands were trembling more than usual.
Ryu Bo-ra was pretending to be calm, staring at the camera but more nervous than anyone else.
Kim Geum was acting cool, but I could hear the sound of her heart pounding.
Maknae Yeon Juhong couldn’t even open her eyes, leaning on the unnies.
And there was me, standing in the middle,
With <Everblue> in front of us.
Our fans.
“For the first week of December, Music~ QQ! Today’s-”
What expression was I wearing right now?
I should be smiling.
The fans were watching.
The members were probably too busy crying to say anything.
Of course, as the leader, I would have to give the acceptance speech, so I needed to keep my composure.
Even if we didn’t win first place, we should never show disappointment.
We should genuinely congratulate the winners.
Because I knew.
I knew how much… how much effort they must have put in to win first place.
I didn’t struggle much.
The members must have had a much harder time than I did.
I had done this many times before, but it was their first time. It must have been really tough for them.
I was fine.
I think it was manageable.
I was okay.
I could handle it. Really.
Even with such a grueling schedule, practice, and composing, it wasn’t like I was doing it for the first time.
This time, I wasn’t alone; we were doing it together, so… it was really bearable.
“The first place goes to, Steel Blue!”
But why did it feel like my heart was about to burst?