Chapter 76
The reactions to the performances of Team Desperate and Team Winners were distinctly different.
Even though the songs and choreography were the same.
It wasn’t simply because of a difference in concept or skill.
Team Desperate had something more.
Comfort. And joy. The sheer enjoyment and overwhelming emotions of just being on stage.
Those elements were present in Team Desperate’s performance.
Of course, it wasn’t like that from the beginning of practice.
The catalyst was Yoon Cheong.
***
“…The arrangement is well done.”
I sighed as I watched the video of the six practicing.
“The concept matches well and it’s visually appealing.”
I was already watching it for the tenth time.
But the more I watched, the more frustrated I felt.
“They all look good together, and each one of them is charming.”
I couldn’t figure out the reason.
“Why… isn’t it fun?”
A performance video must have one essential element.
A point that makes people want to watch it again and again.
For some performances, it could be a person’s expression, or for others, it could be the chemistry between team members.
What was clear was that the performance must have its unique charm.
But the performance of Team Desperate had none of that.
I looked up at the five others.
They were either chatting or resting.
It had been a long time since we had a break.
There were only two days left until the performance….
Everyone looked so carefree.
Was I… the only one… worried?
“Hey, do you guys know something?”
“Huh?”
“Mm…”
They were all lying down and answered lazily.
…It seemed I had become quite comfortable with them.
“We… aren’t good.”
Saying this took a lot of courage.
I was worried it might shake their mental state.
With the performance so close, if they were shaken… that would be a big problem.
But something was strange.
The kids…
They were just staring blankly.
“Why… isn’t anyone saying anything?”
“That’s because you’re stating the obvious….”
Huh?
“Oh… you all knew?”
“Who doesn’t know that here? We all know.”
Kim Geum said, scratching her belly.
She looked like a relaxed cheetah.
“…And yet you’re just lying there scratching your belly?!”
I felt wronged.
These brats.
I felt like I was hurting young kids, worried they might be disappointed if I said this.
I felt betrayed.
No, calm down.
I composed myself and asked again.
“Then tell me, why do you think we’re not good?”
“Because it’s boring?”
Yeon Juhong immediately stated the truth.
“Why… is it boring?”
As I continued to speak seriously, the others also started to get serious.
…While still lying down.
“Maybe it’s because we don’t have much freedom this time.”
Ryu Bo-ra, resting her head on Kim Geum’s shoulder, said.
“We weren’t allowed to change much, like the arrangement.”
Well. The song was set, and the choreography was all planned out.
But such restrictions were something we’ve faced before and will continue to face.
An idol’s job is unique but not special.
In any job, newcomers have no voice.
You have to prove yourself to gain a voice.
It seemed there was more to it than just that.
“Even if no one says it, there’s another problem.”
At that moment, Seo Baek-young, supporting her head, interjected.
“Honestly, everyone is feeling down.”
Yes.
As expected of the future leader I acknowledged.
That seemed like the correct answer.
“We… are six.”
It was something no one could bring themselves to say.
One of us would not debut.
No matter how hard we tried.
Even in the best-case scenario… at least one of us would not debut.
And perhaps… half of us might not debut.
Only one might debut, or at most two or three.
Nothing was certain, and nothing was guaranteed.
With the final broadcast approaching, everyone had to face this reality.
The practice room fell silent in an instant.
Everyone was lost in thought.
They were probably worried about their future.
I understood. I could guess what worries were filling their minds.
I, too, wondered for years if I would really debut.
And after barely debuting… I wondered how much I could make a living off this job. Could I really make a living?
Would people even look at me?
Someone as ordinary as me?
“Hey, guys.”
Having experienced all this, I could speak confidently.
“Hmm?”
“You’re all very worried right now.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to me.
…Of course, since I was the only one sitting, they all had to look up at me.
Their sparkling eyes were quite burdensome.
It felt like they thought I had a solution.
“Think of that worry as a ball.”
“?
Their trusting eyes turned to skeptical ones in an instant.
“Just do it. Close your eyes.”
“…”
Though they were reluctant, they followed my words.
“Now think of that worry.”
Nod.
“Hit it with all your strength. Hit it until the air is out.”
“?
Their eyes popped open.
But I wouldn’t back down. I opened my eyes wide and glared at them.
“Do it quickly!”
“…”
They eventually followed my instructions.
They closed their eyes again.
“I know what you’re worried about. But you might lose the right to worry in two days.”
“…”
“If you want to earn the right to worry, you can’t just sit around.”
I could feel their shoulders tensing up.
“What we need to focus on right now is this performance. Debuting comes after that. If we don’t solve this problem first, we won’t even get to face the next one.”
“…!”
We didn’t need to look far ahead.
Right now, we had to solve the immediate problem.
“So let’s make this performance fun.”
Let’s make this boring performance that never was fun, fun.
“For the audience to enjoy it… we have to enjoy it first. Fans don’t watch idol performances just for the singing and dancing.”
“Then for what?”
Yeon Juhong asked seriously.
I liked her when she got serious like this.
“To be happy.”
At least, that’s how it is for me.
So I set one condition.
That this performance be happy and enjoyable.
So the audience can feel happy and enjoy it too.
I pointed out every little expression, gesture, and cute act.
How can we make fans happy?
What do fans love about us, and what do they expect?
It wasn’t easy.
I told them to think about why fans love us.
And emphasized that we should amplify those reasons in this performance.
We needed to be loved.
To be loved, we had to be lovable.
“So now we need to show ourselves why we’re cute, charming, lovely, cool, hot, very hip, and irresistible.”
“?!”
“Well… you need to know to practice it.”
“???”
“We don’t have time, so I’ll show you a bit this time. But remember, once you debut, you have to figure this out yourself.”
I’m really giving you a free pass this time.
I took out the secret weapon I had been preparing little by little.
Why I liked their performance.
A fan analysis report of five pages per person.
***
And all of this was broadcasted.
Writer Kang initially had no special feelings toward Yoon Cheong.
She thought she was amazing.
A face seemingly born to target female fans.
No doubt about her singing, dancing, or charm.
Her aura was truly that of an idol.
But what stood out most was her mind.
She felt unusually smart for her age.
Even manipulating the most annoying boss in the world, PD Oh, to her will, which was no small feat.
He’s a difficult person to handle even at a hundred years old.
She thought Yoon Cheong was amazing.
But that was it.
Amazing, but irrelevant to her.
However, when she saw Yoon Cheong’s analysis of the trainees…
Writer Kang felt something moving in her heart.
She could have left it out.
The higher-ups had instructed not to highlight Yoon Cheong too much.
They were to focus on other likely debut trainees.
But seeing Yoon Cheong’s analysis… Writer Kang felt it had to be broadcasted.
It wasn’t just about the effort.
It was astonishingly… written from a fan’s perspective.
Writer Kang immediately recognized it.
Because she, too, was a longtime fan of Colors’ idols, All Colors.
She entered the broadcasting industry because she loved All Colors so much.
As a fellow fan.
This report had to be shown to the world.
Writer Kang broadcasted this report with a sense of duty.
Believing that only fans would understand its significance.
★
Wow
Whoa
Ah, the kids seemed so much brighter and more energetic than usual… trulyㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I was so worried our little ones would get discouragedㅠㅠㅠ but it turns out they were pretending to be bright to reassure us fansㅠㅠ
#YoonCheong #MenuColor
Our mental health manager, I love you so much˚₊·—̳͟͞͞♡
But Team Desperate really touched my fan heart so deeply, I don’t know what to say, but my heartstrings are pulled because of that report
My eyes had already recognized it. My choice… wasn’t wrong #YoonCheong
Whoa, Yoon Cheong’s and Baek-young’s report even has my comment in it;;;;;;; whoa, such an honor
Writer Kang’s prediction was correct.