Chapter 192
“Wow, it’s been a really long time, guys.”
“Have you been well?! We listen to your new song all the time.”
“Thanks, even if you’re just being polite. I purposely don’t listen to your songs. I get jealous.”
Despite her blunt tone, Kyunga looked happy to see us after a long time.
She used to always seem down, but now, not at all.
It wasn’t just Kyunga who looked happy.
“Hey, Juseon. You look radiant since your debut.”
“I’ve always been radiant, okay?!”
“Wow. Self-praise much?”
Juseon, who debuted with Kyunga in the same team, was also there.
It seemed like the organizers intentionally mixed the guests at the tables, as Kyunga and Juseon’s team, 8Case, was seated at the same table as us.
“You guys are also nominated for the rookie award with us?!”
“Yeah, but we barely made it in. You guys are in for sure.”
“Come on. There’s no such thing.”
Both of them had joined good agencies.
Fortunately, they made it to their debut safely.
They debuted in September and were already attending award shows.
Impressive.
I heard CEO Hong made efforts to connect the eliminated trainees of “Make a New Color” to other agencies.
She worked hard to find agencies looking for debut teams, making sure everyone could debut as soon as possible.
Considering this, CEO Hong wasn’t a bad person.
She was just too obsessed with her music, which made her tired of managing the business.
“You guys must be in a good mood today?”
“Why?”
“Why else? Isn’t the rookie award almost confirmed for you?”
“Don’t say that. It’s bad luck.”
Kim Geum quickly covered Kyunga’s mouth.
The <Platinum Music Awards> was the first award show of the year-end ceremonies.
If we won the rookie award here, it would set the tone for winning at other award shows too.
Everyone was on edge.
Including us.
Especially me.
“They don’t accept joint winners. Those crazy bastards.”
The <Platinum Music Awards> was a ceremony under the TMM group, which owns the parent group Moment.
This year, TMM ambitiously promoted two groups: Inleven and NextGen.
Of course, they would be eager to give an award to one of them.
The question was, which award?
The chance of Inleven receiving the rookie award alone was slim.
No matter how reckless TMM was, they couldn’t ignore us.
Besides, the award show favored joint winners.
It wouldn’t be difficult to award Inleven and Steel Blue a joint rookie award if they decided to be shameless.
“Just try giving a joint rookie award. Those bastards. The career difference is massive.”
Baek Juha, seemingly uneasy, kept bringing it up the entire way to the ceremony.
The members, on the other hand, seemed grateful for any award, be it joint or solo.
“Cheong, aren’t you annoyed?”
“Well….”
I deliberately trailed off.
“TMM can’t just easily go for a joint award.”
“Huh? Why?”
Because.
“Inleven has someone darkened in their team too….”
I glanced over at Inleven’s table.
“!!”
When Dahin caught my eye, she waved with a delighted expression.
I couldn’t tell if it was her sunny disposition that was endearing or annoying….
I waved back lightly.
Dahin hurriedly got up and trotted over to me.
Since there was still some time before the ceremony started, she probably wanted to say hi.
“Sunbae!”
“I told you to call me unnie….”
“Hehe.”
Dahin smiled brightly.
In the past, she used to be so downcast.
After that morally bankrupt director left, she brightened up a lot.
Dahin started whispering directly into my ear.
“I made it very clear to our company!”
“I told you, there’s no need to go that far….”
“This decision isn’t just for you, but for our group as well! And we have someone now who listens to us…. I don’t think my words went unheard.”
“It’s good that someone decent has come.”
“It’s all thanks to you. I really won’t forget this kindness….”
“I keep telling you, you can repay me by just calling me unnie….”
Dahin smiled brightly again and returned to her seat.
She probably intended to call me sunbae until the day she died.
Both in my previous life and this one, there wasn’t much of an age difference between us, so I didn’t understand why she kept calling me sunbae so diligently.
Yet, during broadcast interviews, she seemed to call me unnie quite easily.
But whenever it was just the two of us, she always had “sunbae” on the tip of her tongue.
Was I really that difficult to approach?
Anyway.
That was how it was.
Ever since Dahin found out that I had to win the rookie award solo at the <Platinum Music Awards>, she consistently voiced her opinion to her agency.
I told her countless times it wasn’t necessary, but Dahin’s stance was very clear.
‘We are also trying to grow now. Our debut album still hasn’t fully escaped the controversy of chart manipulation. In such a situation, if we receive a joint rookie award at the biggest award ceremony… we can’t help but draw attention.’
Unlike their debut album, Inleven’s second album hadn’t been involved in chart manipulation.
As a result, their sales and initial performance metrics naturally dropped.
Some people started questioning whether their debut album had been manipulated.
Inleven kept their comments to a minimum under these circumstances.
Dahin likely told her agency that forcing a joint rookie award under these circumstances was not a good idea.
Partly for my sake, but also to protect her group.
She had already experienced enough in her past life to know how painful such controversies could be.
It was unfortunate that they had to suffer for something they hadn’t chosen themselves.
“I’m really looking forward to our joint stage today!”
“Ugh. I’m just happy to finally be free from those stage rehearsals.”
“It was exhausting….”
At Yeon Juhong’s words, the members of 8Case shook their heads vigorously.
“Juhong, don’t you have a lot of stages today?”
“I’m also part of the rookie girl group maknae line stage.”
“Doesn’t Steel Blue almost always do special stages?”
“What about you, Geum? What are you doing?”
“You’ll find out later. No spoilers.”
“What? I already saw it in the articles.”
Steel Blue’s social butterfly, Kim Geum, and Yeon Juhong chatted enthusiastically with the members of 8Case.
Thanks to them, at least we weren’t accused of lacking social skills….
“Unnie, look over there. Your fan.”
At that moment, Ryu Bo-ra tapped my shoulder and said.
Turning to where Ryu Bo-ra pointed, I saw a fan in the audience.
They seemed to be taking pictures of me with their camera.
I should be careful during the award ceremony, but since it hadn’t started yet….
Feeling happy, I waved lightly.
‘!!!!!!’
Hmm.
The camera seemed to shake like a trembling leaf just now.
It must have been my imagination.
Actually, that fan….
I knew them well even back in the Baek Nokha days.
Their name was… Min-young, right?
“That person seems to come to see you no matter where you go.”
“Yeah. I’m grateful.”
“Didn’t they film half of your legendary fancams? I heard from our manager that they were famous in the Colors fandom.”
“Yeah. They operated the Prism account, I think.”
In my previous life, they had run the Prism account before creating a new one with their name.
Baek Nokha’s “Nokha” used the characters for green and summer, so.
That’s why my signature song was.
When I first saw them in this world, I was so surprised.
When I was Baek Nokha.
And when I was Yoon Cheong.
They recognized and liked me consistently.
At first, I had an absurd thought that they might have recognized me.
But… maybe they just had a consistent preference for voices or songs.
The phrase ‘transcending all time and worlds.’
Perhaps….
‘Thank you.’
It’s also a phrase that means those who like me.
I mouthed a thank you to the fan, then patted Ryu Bo-ra’s head.
Now, even remembering my fans.
She’s become a real idol.
“You’re messing up my hair.”
“It doesn’t matter whether your hair is messed up or not, you still look the same.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means if my hair gets messed up it’s a big deal, but for you, it’s fine…. Anyway, it’s fine.”
“Why do you keep saying weird things? Is it because you’re cold?”
Haha.
I laughed lightly.
Then I suddenly realized Seo Baek-young was too quiet.
“Unnie?”
“Huh?”
Oh.
This person….
“Why are you so tense? Relax your shoulders a bit.”
“I, I… I’m, I’m not nervous?”
“….”
Don’t stutter if you’re going to say that….
I sighed softly.
The boldest yet the most timid person among us.
The one who has been a trainee the longest.
Therefore, the one who must have waited for this moment the most.
The longer the wait, the stronger the longing.
“At this rate, will you be okay for the special stage today?”
“That’s fine. I practiced a lot…!”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“If we win… how do I give the acceptance speech…? If we don’t… how do I manage my facial expressions….”
She was breaking down.
I opened a bottle of water and handed it to Seo Baek-young.
“If you’re this nervous, the fans will get nervous too.”
“!”
At those words, Seo Baek-young immediately relaxed her whole body.
No.
I didn’t mean for her to relax that much.
“Whether we win or not, you’re still in Steel Blue. What does it matter?”
“That’s true….”
“And let Juhong give the acceptance speech.”
“?!”
“Lately, Juhong has been speaking well. If you really can’t do it, just hand the mic to Juhong.”
“I think I heard my name just now?!”
“It’s just your imagination.”
After making a secret pact.
Seo Baek-young seemed a little less tense.
Well, she only talks like that.
I know better than anyone how skillful she can be.
Even during “Make a New Color,” Seo Baek-young’s acceptance speeches were amazing.
Now it was my turn.
Today, Steel Blue had four stages to participate in.
One.
Yeon Juhong’s maknae line stage.
Another one for the girl group performance with Kim Geum, Ryu Bo-ra, and me.
Seo Baek-young’s main dancer line stage.
“Alright, everyone. Let’s go prepare for the special stage.”
I had to give it my all until the end, too.
…Even if the mission fails.
I knew that I, at least, had done my best.
All that was left now was to earnestly hope.
This was beyond what I could control.
<Member Profiles>
Name: Ryu Bo-ra
Height: 170 cm
Shoe Size: 235 mm
Vision: L: 0.4 R: 0.4
Position: Sub Vocal
Family: Mother, Father, Younger Brother
Education: Graduated from Haneul Elementary School, Haneul Arts Middle School, GED
Birthday: December 17
Blood Type: B
Hobbies: Watching dramas/movies, filming videos
Motto: The protagonist can have a happy ending because they face hardships
Name: Yeon Ju-hong
Height: 167 cm
Shoe Size: 230 mm
Vision: L: 1.1 R: 1.1
Position: Sub Vocal
Family: Mother, Grandmother
Education: Lakevill Elementary, transferred from Hyoyoung Middle School, graduated from Haneul Arts Middle School, dropped out of Haneul Arts High School, GED
Birthday: August 17
Blood Type: O
Hobbies: Taking photos, coordinating outfits, makeup
Motto: Just do what the unnies tell you to do!