Chapter 71

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The new teaser video started with a cheerful voice.

-Hi-five~

Against the backdrop of a ground that looked like a school athletic field and a bright blue sky, Cha Yujin spoke while waving his hand.

Behind Cha Yujin, the appearance of members having choreography formation was seen.

Everyone was wearing striped baseball uniforms that fit perfectly. The members, who were warming up, suddenly caught the choreography according to the starting chorus.

-This shot is
Tang Tang Tang
Will it fit perfectly?
-In your heart
Pang Pang Pang
Like a fanfare!
-Just bursting out!

It was an exciting choreography with large movements and the beat split finely.
When one phrase of the chorus ended, the screen stopped exactly as the last choreography pose. It was a posture of stretching a foot toward the screen and looking back.

And after a while.

[…Cut!]
[Whoa!]

Over the appearance of members sitting down on the ground at the director’s words, white subtitles appeared.

[‘Hi-five’ Music Video]
[First disclosure in Episode 2 of !]

It was a humorous and dynamic teaser, contrasted with the first revealed ‘Magical Boy’ teaser.
Naturally, comments increased in an instant.

-Crazy, are there two titles?
-Is it a pre-release? What should I do, this is also good
-No, they really pulled out everything with schoolㅋㅋ?
-Is it ‘one of the two will be to your liking’?ㅋㅋㅋ For reference, both are to my liking. TeSTAR is excellent.
└ㅋㅋㅋYou too? Me too!
-Wow, I only heard the chorus and the form is already out, this will probably win in digital charts
└No, the ‘Magical Boy’ choreography hasn’t come out yet, please give it a fair chance!ㅋㅋㅋ?
-The drum roll is coming out and it seems you’re also hitting my heart; Ah, TeSTAR is indeed a human defibrillator!

The internet was hot with people who were excited and joyful enough to completely overturn the previous gloomy incident.

However, they were also slightly flustered.
Because they worked so well beyond expectations.

-No, seriously, did the agency do some closed-door training while the news was cut off? They pulled out two songs and both are good?
-Even the concepts are exactly contrasted but they seem to have linked them a bit;; Do you remember the glove and baseball appearing in the Magical Boy teaser?
└Whoa
└It’s crazy seriously…
-Looking at the trailer for reality episode 2, the kids seem to have participated quite proactively, I’m already looking forward to it.
-Let’s go for 500k initial sales for our debut album!

And this reaction exploded once more the moment reality episode 2 came out.

[These are the related image references and arrangement drafts.]

Because the members preparing the presentation material in one day was aired.
Thanks to the broadcast connecting the front and back appropriately, the general manager’s overreach or the mention of simultaneous release with VTIC were all cut off.

Instead, the appearance of TeSTAR members passionately capturing the title song was well reflected.

-No, why do the kids work so well;;
-I never imagined, they chose all the songs themselves and even caught the concept
-Moreover, no one fights and they are harmonious! Even though their opinions are different, they’re persuading each other!
-TeSTAR’s group assignment happy circuit becomes a reality…

Of course, people who were suspicious also popped out.

-A rookie did this?ㅋㅋ It’s all a setup. Please don’t be fished~
-It’s just extracting screen time as if the idols were presenting what was already decided. Please don’t believe the broadcast script!
└The idol you like probably can’t do anything alone, it’s pitiful for themㅠㅠ
└Indeed… cheer up!

However, fans whose damage meters exploded ignored them all with just one or two words. They didn’t even care much.
It was because the feeling that it would go well was already rampant.

-This will definitely be a hit.
-The buzz index is already soaring without knowing the endㅋㅋㅋ even if it’s a teaser fraud, it’ll go well anyway
-The music video will come out at the end of the broadcast, right?

Reality episode 2 was close to a production diary. However, at the end, they put in the claw machine scene as a bit of a variety show portion.
It was a cut that was omitted while pulling the horror movie portion to episode 1.

It mainly captured the appearance of members failing the ivory picking and having mental victory cutely.

[You’re right. The machine is strange.]

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Ah Keun Sejin is so funny!

Episode 2 finished with Lee Sejin picking a rabbit ivory from the claw machine.
And as the music video trailer subtitle popped up, the atmosphere heated up with tension again.

-It’s starting.
-The music video is coming out!

The moment the middle advertisement ended.
The screen changed to a classroom window where the sun was shining brightly.

* * *

“The music video is coming out.”

“W-Wait a minute.”

Seon Ahyun slid into the living room. And at the same time, the middle advertisement ended.

‘Timing is good.’

I focused my gaze on the screen.
The first scene started with a cut where Park Moondae… that is, I was looking out the window. It was a blue sky where the sun was shining brightly.

And a paper notice was presented in front of Park Moondae’s eyes.

[Athletic Meet]
[Inter-school Baseball Match]

The person who presented the notice was Lee Sejin. His usual blunt appearance was gone, and he looked like a nervous honor student.
The moment Park Moondae, who looked into the notice, tilted his head in a disgruntled manner, the prelude started.

Whistle!
The song started with a cheerful whistle melody.

A modified disco with an electric guitar on top while removing the remaining beats of the up-beat drum… or so they said, but honestly I didn’t know well, but it was exciting.
Anyway, it was a relief that the previous cheap feeling completely disappeared as we followed what Kim Raebin had recommended.

However… the lyrics couldn’t be changed due to the time issue.

-OH After worrying and worrying?
I made a decision Um~
Today I’m going to throw
I’m going to throw myself
In your heart~ Shot Shot!

…That should be enough.

“Choreography matches well.”

“Yujin is flying around?”

“Hehe.”

As soon as the group choreography cut came out, members tossed a word each.
It seemed they were conscious of the reality camera installed to extract music video reaction content.

‘In the first place, I saw the storyboard and started, so there’s nothing particularly to be surprised about.’

On the screen, the story was being developed while choreography cuts were inserted in the middle.
To summarize roughly, it was a story about the honor student Lee Sejin gathering kids in the class to participate in the baseball match to fill his school record.

As he gathered guys who hadn’t participated in the athletic meet, he ended up gathering all sorts of geeks or unique characters…… well, it was such a story.

“Moondae is in the library club!”

“I-It suits you well.”

I was given a role of mainly looking into a book or an e-book.

-You need to give a bit of a mysterious feeling. You know?

The director had emphasized that, but honestly I didn’t know about mystery… it just came out as not being able to tell what I was thinking.

The next player was Seon Ahyun. As everyone would have guessed… it was the dance club.

“He’s really good.”

“It’s a skill worthy of a major.”

“T-Thanks…….”

Seon Ahyun, who was working hard on modern dance on the screen, was certainly impressive. Right after, the appearance of being dragged away to do baseball because he couldn’t refuse was also a solid historical evidence.

The next was Ryu Chungwoo.

“Indeed, a national representative!”

“Guys! That hyung actually hit that by shooting!”

“Haha, the posture is all loosened because I put down the practice.”

This side was given a scene of being cast while doing archery, and of course it wasn’t awkward at all. Because he wasn’t an amateur.

And the next were… Cha Yujin and Kim Raebin appearing together.
A small skit was included.

First, Lee Sejin opened the door of the gym equipment storage room forcefully.

Sliding!
Then Kim Raebin and Cha Yujin, who were lounging in the storage room, were seen.

The two guys, who looked like delinquents to anyone, stared blankly at Lee Sejin who opened the door.

[…….]
[…….]
[…I’m sorry!]

Sliding!
The door that was opened was closed again in an instant.

“Hahahaha!!”

“Keuk, it came out well.”

The guys watching the music video burst into laughter.
Honestly, it was funny to me too.

‘It’ll be more fun because such roles were given to the youngest two.’

For reference, they claimed those delinquent characters themselves.

‘In creative works, I want to experience the life of the top-tier peer relationship… or something like that.’

As I recalled Kim Raebin’s long-winded remark, Cha Yujin’s cheerful remark also came to mind.

Anyway, since both didn’t have a gentle impression, they performed it well as being scary.

Lastly… Keun Sejin, who was in the middle of the student council president election, was recruited on the condition of campaign canvassing.

“An experienced person is indeed different.”

“Ah, I would have been elected in that world~”

Keun Sejin spoke cleverly and then gave a smirk.

‘He chose it on purpose.’

Since the story of the student council president election came out at the time of the school violence rumor, he was going to cover up that story by choosing that character in the music video.

Anyway, the music video ended with a humorous ending where the motley crew gathers and somehow beats the other school in the athletic meet.

For reference, Lee Sejin’s purpose, the school record, was included in the end like a post-credit scene, saving the twist slightly.

“Wow!”
“It was fun until the end!”

It gave perfect fun as it wasn’t cut to the point of being hard to understand, nor was the story too long to be boring. It seemed to be due to the appropriate arrangement with the group choreography cuts.

“Everyone, you all worked hard!”
“Well done!”

First of all, words of relief poured out from here and there at the joy that a music video was safely announced.
And Ryu Chungwoo said, seemingly on purpose, in a suggestive way.

“Especially… Sejin-ah, thanks.”
“…!”
“You’re right. Thanks to Sejin hyung-nim, it seems our cuts came out naturally even though we are amateurs.”
“Heh, Raebin-ssi. You guys were quite like amateurs to hyungs…….”
“Ah, no, that’s not it…….”

Ignoring Kim Raebin being fished again by Keun Sejin’s words.

“…….”

Lee Sejin bit his lips hard, but he soon nodded his head.
And he added smallly.

“…No, everyone did well. And… if my attitude has been poor so far, I’m sorry.”
“……!”
“Ah, no….”
“From now on… there will be no such avoiding. I’ll pull myself together.”

Lee Sejin was clenching both hands each.

‘He seems to have pulled himself together after putting out the urgent fire.’

He had looked back on the past situations for a few days.

“I-It’s okay! H-H-Hyung rather worked hard and…….”
“We’re debuting now. It’s natural to go through trial and error.”
“Cheer up!”
“…Thanks.”

Thanks to the guys with low hurdles accepting it well, the atmosphere became warm again.

After Lee Sejin’s incident broke out, the slightly awkward air that flowed for a few days seemed to have gone thanks to the music video.

That said, it didn’t mean they suddenly became close enough to open their hearts more than as coworkers.

“Let’s fighting~”

For example, Keun Sejin, who was giggling there, still didn’t seem to like Lee Sejin, but well… it was also strange for all seven people, who had been total strangers, to like each other.
It was enough if they didn’t fight.

‘The atmosphere will likely come out well in reality too.’

They would probably just edit out the apology.

I rolled my shoulders and stretched. At that moment, Ryu Chungwoo spoke to me gently.

“Now, let’s go back to the practice room.”

“…….”
“…Yes!”

Even for the great Cha Yujin, the answer came half a beat late.
Because of the previous forced march, everyone was already sick of practice, but they all knew they couldn’t just sleep like this.

Because there were only three days left until the debut showcase…….

“Let’s cheer up, it’s not long now.”
“Of course……”
“Fi, fighting!”

Ending with a few meaningless slogans, it was confirmed that they would practice almost all night on that day too.

“…….”

I hoped many fans would come to the showcase rather than journalists……. That seemed to be a consolation at least.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

I was pressing my eyelids when Lee Sejin spoke to me. I turned my head as a courtesy, and heard a small mutter.

“Thanks, for writing it together.”

“…?”

The room?
As I was tired, my head didn’t turn for a moment.
I immediately recalled a more suitable recent example than that.

“Ah, the handwritten letter?”

“……Yeah!”

Lee Sejin shouted out loud, and then inhaled and calmed down by himself.

“…Thanks to you, it ended well. I’ll surely repay it.”

“Yes……. Well, you don’t need to care too much.”

In fact, it was just what anyone would have pulled out once they pulled themselves together; I had just organized it quickly. Because there was no time.

So the grace was enough and he just needed not to cause a drug scandal.
Well… in fact, my suspicion was that that drug scandal would also be a problem related to the former agency.

‘…I hope some other situation doesn’t pop out after I said this.’

I didn’t know when I would be hit in the back of the head, and it might not be once or twice, so I decided to continue to be careful.

“I told you I’ll repay! …Anyway, thanks.”

Lee Sejin eventually shouted again, and then soon handled it himself and hurriedly left the dorm.
Even though we would see each other again in less than 30 seconds.

‘…Anyway, you and I both have to go to the practice room.’

It was clear that his head didn’t turn either because he couldn’t sleep. I shook my head and moved my feet.

* * *

TeSTAR’s Hi-five music video satisfied the fans.
It was a sentence that could sound like nothing special, but in fact, it had an enormous meaning.

It meant that they satisfied the expectation that soared to the point of breaking through the ceiling for the debut group.

-Honestly when I heard about double titles and saw only the teaser I was a bit worried that the fire would just be dispersed… but it was a useless worryㅋㅋㅋ

-Ah, did you see the music video quality~ This is the taste of major company capital!

-Ah what should I do I’m so excitedㅠㅠ the Magical Boy music video will also be crazy, right?

-God-song is crazy, please release the digital song quickly guys, take my moneyㅠㅠ

Moreover, the tears of people who couldn’t get the showcase ticket also overflowed.

-Ajusa these crazy guys sold all the voting packages so there’s no ticketingㅠㅠ they say the showcase was already sold out before the final!

-Does this make sense Tnet!! Among the people who bought it, there are fans of the eliminated ones too, and they say those guys sell the scalped tickets incredibly expensivelyㅠㅠ
└It’s a relief if it ends with scalping. What if someone who has bad thoughts comes out and heckles in the showcase… ha…

When the fans who couldn’t get the ticket were hitting their chests with worry and unfairness.
In fact, some of the fans of the eliminated ones didn’t even sell their showcase tickets as scalped ones.

‘Let’s see how well they do.’

It wasn’t known if heckling or a disturbance would actually occur, but it was certain that it was a risk factor that Tnet unintentionally overlooked.

And June 18th, when the ‘Magical Boy’ music video was revealed.
The showcase started at 8 PM on that evening.