Chapter 124

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Oh~ What kind of person is the new Headquarters Director?”

“They say he’s a decent person?”

I heard the conversation between the manager and Big Sejin.

‘Let’s not expect much.’

There was a high probability that the newly arrived high-ranking official was a possessor of a great way of thinking like the previous Headquarters Director.

Anyway, since Teastar’s results were good during the previous director’s time, wouldn’t the company have sent a similar guy from their perspective.

However, this expectation was broken in a good sense.

“…An approval bot?”

“That’s what they say! They say it seems like he’s being careful with his body because his retirement isn’t far away.”

What I heard from company people through word of mouth was that this director didn’t have much meddling or projects to push, and left the working staff to do as they had been doing.

‘…Come to think of it, there’s no word of him calling us either.’

Usually, one would think they’d want to see the face of the only singer in the agency, but there wasn’t a word.

It doesn’t seem like he’ll be around for long, but for now, it wasn’t bad. Because it was more comfortable for a superior who only shouts ‘okay’ than one who only has ambition without knowing well.

However, one big project fell because of this influence.

“A concert……”

“Finally, we are also preparing for a solo performance.”

As the delayed large approvals were being processed one by one, the concert date was finally set.

But here, one more problem arose.

“…Isn’t March a bit of an ambiguous date?”

That was true.

It matched perfectly with the semester-start and school-start season… a season when anyone’s mental leisure to go see a performance would be lacking.

……Originally, they were trying to do it aiming for the early-year special, but they said they couldn’t catch the rental properly because the company was in such a mess.

I don’t know if it should be called a relief, but thanks to the period being pushed back like this, the rental preparations for performance equipment and such were said to be already finished.

Fortunately, the members soon relieved their anxiety about the date.

“Still, since it’s the weekend, wouldn’t there be quite a few people who want to come?”

“S, since there will be fan-nim who have time…!”

“It’s good if many people come!”

“I want to prepare well and show a good performance.”

The atmosphere burned fiercely.

‘…And the remaining period is 3 months, I see.’

Well, I’ve seen singers who prepared for a concert for more than half a year, but 3 months wasn’t bad either.

‘Realistically, half a year ago was when only the debut song came out, so preparation itself would have been impossible too.’

It will become a bit of a tough job, but since it’s not an activity period, I thought I could handle it somewhat well.

…When I was thinking like that, a new suggestion fell to the working staff.

“How about announcing the first stage of the new song at the first concert?”

“…Are we also having a comeback in March?”

“Is it a bit too much?”

It was too much.

Are these people forgetting the hard work we did when we pulled out the debut album in a month, and pushing nonsensical words from somewhere.

…But unexpectedly, a common-sense answer followed.

“But anyway, to fill the concert setlist, you have to pull out a few new song stages, so wouldn’t it be nice if it’s Teastar’s song like this instead of another singer’s cover song if possible?”

“…Um, yes.”

“And for this album, almost all the b-side tracks are already out, and it’s a state where you only have to work on the title song.”

It was a correct word.

Actually, this comeback is… the 1st full album.

So to put effort into it, we had already pulled out half of the next album’s b-side tracks in advance when working on the previous album which had leisure.

Since then, we worked in between activities too.

“Since for the music video filming and such, we have to film the concert VCR anyway, I think we can just match the schedule and do it…… for the concept photos too, we just have to match them for the concert.”

“……”

The effect of reducing cost and time.

And it would be good for setting the concert concept too. If we organize it in connection with the 1st full album concept, there is a mutual promotion effect and fans will also find it interesting.

As a result, it was a situation where everyone would be happy if only the working staff and singers were ground.

‘I’m going crazy.’

As expected, Kim Raebin, who was only listening quietly from the side, was sneakily trying to raise his hand in the sense of agreement.

He was nothing short of a rabbit meat voluntarily entering the fire pit.

Ryu Chungwoo organized the situation for now.

“Can we talk among ourselves for a bit and then give you our answer?”

“Yes, yes. But please tell us by tomorrow for sure.”

And there was no need to go until tomorrow. Because a conclusion was reached in the company’s practice room.

Surprisingly, it was unanimous.

“We are going to try working on it.”

“Ah, you thought well!”

The company was happy.

And the members… it was obvious they had faces thinking ‘it turned out we could do it if we tried’.

It was the ill effect of the results being good in the previous crazy schedules.

‘Even Bae Sejin has been influenced, I see.’

After changing a year-end stage in just a week, it seemed they were starting to gain some experience too.

* * *

Not long after, the company sent a draft of the concert setlist.

Ryu Chungwoo briefed quickly.

“Our title and sub songs all go in……. Even if we put in the fan song and b-side tracks, ten songs are the total.”

“Hmm~ To have a concert, we need at least twenty songs, right?”

“Actually, even twenty songs seems on the low side. Shouldn’t we put in more?”

“R, right.”

The setlist with empty songs here and there was still meager.

“Even if we assume we bring two songs from the new album, we have to put in eight more new songs.”

A plan to put in new album b-side tracks without choreography was also considered, but it was rejected by the opinion that they wanted to do more performance songs.

Seeing the guys cutting away the sections where they could catch their breath on their own accord, I was lost for words.

‘At this rate, they’ll collapse.’

Fortunately, I remembered the recommendation of the company.

“They asked us to put in some unit songs, so let’s fill that first.”

In this way, a section where they could semi-forcibly rest while other members were performing arises.

Moreover, the company seemed to be drawing a bigger picture.

“Ah, you said you’ll film own content with that, right?”

That’s right. They said they were planning to upload the process of dividing and preparing unit stages like an entertainment show by editing it for Wetube.

And they thought of uploading those unit stages like dance practice videos after the concert was over.

“Then first let’s take out those 3 songs and think about the remaining 5 songs. Anyone who has a song they want to do?”

“Me!”

“M, me too……!”

And after a fierce contest, five songs were selected.

Thanks to Bae Sejin who exercised his right to remain silent and Ryu Chungwoo who chose to concede, the process was very smooth.

“Then I’ll upload it like this for now.”

“Yep!”

And only after the company asked ten times ‘are you really okay with this rate’, they confirmed the setlist by correcting a few orders.

But whether they still weren’t certain, I heard by word of mouth the news that the VCR time was set to be long.

‘…I should work harder on cardio.’

Looking at the reaction of the working staff, I had a strong conviction that the concert would be dead-hard.

And after spending a few days deciding the new album title and concept.

Cameras entered the dorm after a long time.

It was true they were going to film the scene of dividing units for the concert stage.

But the method was unique.

“What day is today?”

“The day to change roommates~”

It was because they decided to do the stages with the guys who got matched together by changing roommates.

‘……This feels completely like an Idol Inc. team battle.’

They say if you stare into the abyss for too long, the abyss also stares back at you, it seemed everyone has been influenced by that method.

Well, actually, it was true it had strong unpredictability and was interesting. I could also feel the confidence of these guys that they could do well with anyone.

“Let’s say goodbye to the roommates we’ve grown fond of! Oh my, hyung-nim dongsaeng~”

Big Sejin, who was holding the cue card, while proceeding, pretended to sob shamelessly and hugged Cha Yujin and Ryu Chungwoo.

It was a full-fledged skit atmosphere.

The swept-up Kim Raebin greeted Seon Ahyun politely.

“Thank you very much for always responding to my noise and work with a generous and gentle attitude. I hope it would be good if we could use a room together again next time.”

“I, I was also thankful! A, and, it was good to hear the sound of you working. The song was good…!”

It was a harmonious but extremely polite appearance.

It seemed they got along well and their feelings were good, but they failed in opening up and becoming close.

I also greeted Bae Sejin.

“I think we were good roommates because our lifestyle styles were similar, so it’s a pity.”

“……I see. It would have been good if it went like that.”

The gaze of Bae Sejin while talking was secretly directed toward Cha Yujin. It seemed his stomach was aching just in case he would become the same room with that guy.

‘…Don’t tell me it won’t happen.’

It must not happen.

I finished the conversation by shaking hands while being assimilated with Bae Sejin’s thoughts.

“Now, then let’s meet the new roommates!”

“Waaaaa!”

After the conventional sound of applause passed, Big Sejin smiled and took out the prepared props from behind his back.

“The roommate method this time is… card flipping!”

“Oh!”

“You see the numbers on the back, right? It’s exactly the room number! Those who get the same number use it together~”

Big Sejin mixed the cards swish-swish. Whether he had done this kind of game quite a bit too, it was a very familiar motion.

And he laid down seven cards flipped on the floor.

“Now, here each person chooses the card they want on their own~”

“OK!”

“Understood!”

Who picks the card first was decided lightly by a karaoke score game.

“Ye-ep!!”

Actually, because it didn’t matter what the card picking order was, they focused on pulling out screen time for content more than the game.

And the scores were also completely meaningless.

“The 1st place is… Cha Yujin who got 100 points!”

“Ooh!!”

It was because the guy who accidentally selected a song he didn’t know and just made it up as he sang got 1st place.

“Now, pick a card!”

“Yes!”

“Now… oh! It’s number 1~”

Anyway, starting with Cha Yujin, one person at a time went out and picked a card.

And I… surprisingly, became the same room with Bae Sejin again.

“Oh, Bae Sejin hyung-nim’s room number is… number 3! He’s the same room with Moondae again~”

“…!! ”

Bae Sejin clenched his two fists, then cleared his throat as if embarrassed.

“Ahem, in the future too… please take care of me.”

“Of course.”

Actually, I also have no words to say since I was in such a state of mind avoiding Cha Yujin.

But the problem was that it was number 3. Just as it was when we first decided roommates in the reality show before, number 3 was a room used by 3 people.

And the remaining lineup currently was… Big Sejin and Seon Ahyun.

“Ah~ only we are left!”

“I, I see.”

“Now, then I will pick first~”

Big Sejin, who was first in order, put his hand on one of the remaining cards as if contemplating.

And after sliding it slightly, he put his hand on another card.

“……! ”

Wait, that b*stard right now…….

“I will go with this! Ahyun-ssi, then shall we flip together?”

“G, good!”

“Then… one, two, three!”

Swish. Big Sejin and Seon Ahyun flipped the cards.

The result was…….

“Oooooo!!”

“Hey! Yujin-ah! Please take care of me again!”

Big Sejin was number 1, Cha Yujin’s room.

And naturally the remaining number 3 was… Seon Ahyun.

Seon Ahyun showed the card while smiling brightly.

“…! P, please take care of me! Please take care of me!”

“Sure. Let’s get along well.”

Bae Sejin’s face became comfortable in an instant. It seemed he was satisfied with this room assignment.

I also added a word.

“We’re using the same room after a long time.”

“Y, yes!”

Seon Ahyun joined the number 3 room members in a hurry while holding the card tightly.

“Now, then there will be a surprise announcement for the Loviewers! What could it be?”

The members laughed and put in a drum roll.

“Dugudugudugu!”

Big Sejin held the cue card high.

“We’re doing unit stages with these roommates this time!”

“Please look forward to it a lot!”

As prepared, the members waved their hands diligently toward the camera.

In that way, the living room filming ended for now.

“Whew!”

“Then let’s move our luggage first~”

The members began to move immediately to move their luggage to the changed rooms.

But the guy who seemed like he would run first did another action.

He took the cards that were on the living room floor.

“Ah! Here you go.”

“네. 고마워요~”

Big Sejin organized the cards well into the original box and then passed them to the staff.

And seeing me still remaining in the living room, he laughed and talked to me.

“Moondae, aren’t you moving luggage?”

“……I should go.”

I moved to the hallway following Big Sejin.

And I thought.

‘He must have done something to those.’

That guy, he intentionally avoided number 3.