Chapter 173
“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
“Yes.”
I confidently nodded in response to Ryu Bo-ra’s trembling voice.
“Are you really going to go with the concept exactly as I wrote in the proposal?”
“Yes.”
Not only the concept, but I also planned to follow through with the plan outlined in your proposal.
“You must have gotten used to working in the film industry because the budget you set is huge. The CEO almost had a heart attack.”
“That was…!”
Ryu Bo-ra’s face turned bright red.
Just like a rookie director.
“Don’t worry. I told her we saved a lot of money by producing it ourselves. I asked her when she was going to spend it, if not now.”
“Did you really say that?”
“Yes.”
And I meant it.
CEO Hong didn’t invest enough in us.
There wasn’t a group as cost-effective as Steel Blue.
At least we saved money on buying songs.
Since Seo Baek-young choreographed the dances, we saved on that budget too.
How could we save any more than this?
We had to spend it now if ever.
“You’ve often planned self-produced videos. Why are you suddenly so scared?”
“I never thought you’d actually let me direct a color film.”
Ah.
So that was what scared you.
“You’ve always wanted to direct.”
“That’s true.”
“You didn’t even create the story alone. You said you worked on it with the other members.”
We had all roughly decided on the album concept together.
However, the detailed world-building and story setup were not completed.
Suddenly, Ryu Bo-ra said she wanted to try directing, so I let her.
The other members got excited and started planning together, leaving me out.
Whenever I tried to join, they would lock the door and kick me out.
They said I was overworked and should just rest while they handled it.
That only made me feel more uneasy.
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand why everyone is excluding me these days. Why leave me out? I wrote the song, but you guys are making the lyrics without me.”
“Kim Geum and I are the only ones who wrote the lyrics.”
“Hmph.”
This must be what they mean when they say being nice gets you nowhere.
I felt so left out.
I made all the songs.
“And the story won’t be complete if you know it.”
“…Why? I’m the main character in this color film.”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t have been more surprised when I first saw the proposal.
I’m the main character?
But the story was created by the four of you without me?
“Then why won’t you tell the main character the story? How am I supposed to act?”
“You’ll act better if you don’t know.”
“…”
I didn’t understand, but I decided to give up trying.
They must have thought it through…
“So when will I know the story?”
“On July 3rd.”
“…What?”
Isn’t July 3rd the day the color film gets released to the world?
“Wait. Are you seriously not going to tell me until the end?”
“I’ll show you a brief treatment. There are only a few scenes, so you’ll manage.”
“What?!”
Ryu Bo-ra finally relaxed and smiled.
“And it’s not like we didn’t include your opinions.”
“…?”
I frowned at her incomprehensible words.
“Yeah, we included everything you usually say and your personality, so it’s like your opinions are reflected.”
Just then, Kim Geum joined our conversation.
Even you, Kim Geum, whom I trusted.
“We incorporated everything Cheong usually talks about and her personality 100%, so it’s basically like her opinions are in there.”
How is that the same as including my opinions?
I couldn’t hide my astonishment.
“You’ll see. You won’t be disappointed.”
Kim Geum was eager for the new album.
At some point, the members’ activities had almost come to a halt.
Other than fan events and live broadcasts, our official schedule had noticeably decreased.
The fans sensed it.
“They must be preparing for a new album!”
Everyone missed Steel Blue but patiently waited.
Our fans only had to trust and wait for us to return with the best album.
“But what are we supposed to do when we miss them so much~!”
The joy of commuting was gone…
I miss you… Steel Blue, please come back soon…
One day, after many days of lamenting.
Photos of the members’ recent activities were posted on our official SNS account.
★
Hello everyone! Did you miss us?
All five of us appeared, our heads tightly covered.
Seeing the members smiling brightly in the photo, Kim Geum was almost moved to tears.
Finally, the wait was over…!
Ding!
But that wasn’t the end.
Steel Blue’s timetable is outㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
7.02 : Color Film Part 1
7.03 : Teaser
7.04 ~ 7.08 : Member Concept Photos
7.10 : Highlight Medley
7.12 : Music Video & Album Release
7.13 : Showcase
7.14 : Color Film Part 2 & First Music Show
They’re releasing two color films?
And Part 2 comes out after the showcase…?? What is it, why won’t they tell usㅠㅠ
Wait, isn’t July 2nd today?
★
Everyone, go check YouTube right nowㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
Something had been uploaded to Steel Blue’s YouTube account.
▶ [Steel Blue – Color Film ‘Beyond All Time’ (1/2)]
“Crazy.”
A color film?
The debut album that came out to reveal the group concept… is happening again…?
‘Beyond All Time’…?
With a reverent heart, Kim Geum clicked on the video.
Then,
[No matter what world you are in.]
An outdoor subway platform appeared.
It seemed to be winter, as pure white snow was falling.
As the snow piled up,
Ryu Bo-ra’s narration began.
With a clattering sound, the subway sped away quickly.
[No matter what time you are in.]
Only after the subway had completely departed,
Yoon Cheong was left on the platform.
White Bluetooth earphones, a bare face.
A black coat, a white shirt, a blue scarf.
She wore neat clothes typical of an office worker, standing there with a tired expression.
[I will find you.]
As Ryu Bo-ra’s narration ended,
the screen suddenly rewound.
Then the departing subway clattered back,
and the snow quickly whirled in the opposite direction.
The sharp sound of the wind.
The vibration of the subway shaking the world.
[Do you remember the time we spent together?]
Breaking through that loud noise, Kim Geum’s narration began.
The subway ran backwards at an unprecedented speed—
and stopped.
But this time it was a different platform.
No, to be precise, it was the same platform at a different time.
[What did you think when you looked at me?]
A radiant summer day.
The lush greenery and the shattering sunlight created a dazzling rainbow.
The once pale station was now filled with greenery.
There stood Yoon Cheong in a school uniform, wearing wired earphones.
But this time, she didn’t have a tired face.
[Did you feel as anxious as I did?]
Somehow, her face was bright.
It was the face of someone looking forward to tomorrow.
The subway took Yoon Cheong and sped off somewhere again.
When the door opened and Yoon Cheong stepped out,
it became a school playground.
[They say everyone has unforgettable memories.]
This time, it was Yeon Juhong’s voice.
Everywhere Yoon Cheong’s gaze landed was full of freshness.
The sound of water flowing at the tap.
Voices playing in front of it.
[Can I become such a memory for you?]
Laughter filling the playground.
The sound of someone running.
Cutting through those sounds, Yoon Cheong walked forward.
At that moment, someone placed a hand on Yoon Cheong’s shoulder.
As Yoon Cheong turned around to check who it was, the screen blacked out.
[Remember me.]
Seo Baek-young’s voice and white text appeared.
[Think of me.]
The screen returned.
Yoon Cheong turned around.
And there—
[Call out all our moments.]
Ryu Bo-ra was there.
[Then, beyond all time,]
Kim Geum was there.
[I will find you,]
Yeon Juhong was there.
[and I will surely hold you.]
Seo Baek-young was there.
All wearing the same school uniform.
Waiting for Yoon Cheong.
[We are still here]
Sparkle.
The background is erased, leaving only white light.
The four members stood behind the turned Yoon Cheong.
[We are waiting for you]
[Forever and Ever]
With the subtitles, the members’ narrations were heard.
The light turned off, leading to a blackout.
[Forever Blue]
Then, like shimmering water, the album’s logo appeared.
Like a summer day’s mirage.