Chapter 40

Debut Showcase (1)

One day until the debut album release. Tomorrow, the idol group named 'Theora' will make its debut. Even though I'm not usually nervous, my heart beats faster with anxiety every time I imagine tomorrow.

"Tomorrow is important not just for the debut album, but we also have to do a debut showcase and a press conference. Take care of your condition. If anyone is feeling unwell, raise your hand."

Our leader, Chorok-hyung, started by checking our health. We have to perform on the showcase stage after the album release tomorrow. To perform the showcase perfectly, being in good condition is the most important thing. If our condition is good, all the members are capable of devouring the stage.

"No!"

"Alright."

Everyone answered without hesitation, saying they were fine. I only had a slight muscle ache. Muscle aches are so common that I didn't consider them an 'abnormality.' Everyone else probably felt the same.

Chorok-hyung nodded in satisfaction after hearing our answers.

"I'm curious and scared about how people will react tomorrow."

I felt the same as Seohun-hyung. There are few days in my life as important as tomorrow. I was relieved to hear Seohun-hyung's honest feelings, as it meant that everyone felt the same universal emotions.

"Everyone, hold onto your mental strength. From tomorrow, we'll be in a series of roller-coaster-like situations."

Olan emphasized the importance of mental strength repeatedly. No one can predict what will happen from tomorrow.

Even if we become popular idols, we will have to go through a bumpy and rough path. This is a world where even Hyunoh-hyung, who worked desperately, ended up as a washed-up idol.

"My goal is to be a harmless attention-seeker. If I'm unsure whether to do something, I'll think from the fans' perspective. If I think the fans will dislike it, I won't do it. If I think they'll like it, I'll definitely do it. Remember that."

"Wow, Olan-hyung is really amazing!"

"Cool, bro."

His resolve was admirable. Olan was definitely different. A person with Olan's vibranium-like mental strength could achieve the top position in any field, not just as an idol.

I admired him just for that mindset. Olan also believed that failure was the result of insufficient effort, making him an incredible hard worker.

"Let's not forget that we are one group. As the leader of Theora, I'll do my part."

"Bakha will also do his best as a member of Theora!"

Bakha raised his hand and swore, speaking in the third person. His expression was playful, but it was filled with sincerity.

"I will too. If we succeed, we'll succeed together, and if we fail, we'll fail together."

"Olan-hyung! Don't say such ominous things!"

Even if one member of a group stands out, such groups usually don't last long. I couldn't be satisfied with that kind of success. I jumped into this world to become the best idol.

"I want to be the best idol."

I want to become a god-like idol at the top of the world. To achieve that, we need to work together. I was willing to dedicate myself entirely.

"Dreams are better when they're big. Call."

"Yeon-hyung is cool! I'll cooperate too!"

"Let's become top idols? I agree. Oppose is oppose."

Olan, Bakha, and Ji-on's reactions were not bad, which made me feel more at ease. Chorok-hyung and Seohun-hyung looked at me with pleased expressions, as if looking at a grown son. My face turned hot with embarrassment.

"The final goal of Theora is to become the best idol. To achieve that, everyone needs to cooperate. There will be many obstacles ahead, but let's not give up. If we don't give up, I believe we can achieve our dream."

Just as a rain ceremony will eventually bring rain.

We might face failures, but Theora won't just sit and give up.

There's a saying that idols have a limited time to be active, but Theora is a group that will definitely succeed. At least, to me.

"Is the goal for the first year to win the rookie award?"

As Bakha said, the first step to becoming the best idol is the rookie award. While some idols become popular later, that's an exception. The standard route is to win the rookie award in the first year and gradually increase recognition to win the grand prize.

"Rookie award... Yeah. If we set a goal for this year, there's nothing else but the rookie award."

Chorok-hyung and the other members agreed. The rookie award is the only objective measure of how successful a year's activities were. Even if we can feel the popularity, it's hard to measure the difference precisely.

"Everyone, let's put on a mask pack and go to bed."

To look beautiful, we need to take care of our appearance. Following Chorok-hyung's instructions, we lay down in the living room of the dormitory in order. Chorok-hyung burst out laughing while tearing open the mask pack, finding our appearance amusing.

"You guys look so cute, like brothers."

Was it funny because the sight of us lying down with mask packs on our faces didn't match our tall, slender figures?

Chorok-hyung told us to stay still, then went to get a selfie stick from his room. He put a mask pack on his face and lay down among us.

"Everyone, look here."

Even though the mask pack covered most of our faces, we looked at the camera. He took continuous shots, saying he would choose the best one to keep in the album.

We couldn't hold back our laughter when we saw the photos. They were funnier than we expected, even though we thought they would be funny based on Chorok-hyung's reaction.

Six of us, looking like friendly ghosts, stuck together. It was a natural and close-knit image, and it looked friendly at first glance. Chorok-hyung, not stopping there, fiddled with his phone, saying he would send the photos to our families.

"When did you start communicating with our parents?"

"Since we got our phones?"

So early? I was taken aback because I hadn't expected it. Chorok-hyung managed our phones and, with his affable nature, could easily form close relationships with anyone.

But to have created a group chat with not only our parents but also the families of other members without my knowledge!

It was surprising and reassuring. I felt both grateful and apologetic. I couldn't be a cute son to my parents, but Chorok-hyung could keep them informed affectionately.

Chorok-hyung would help ensure that Ji-on's parents, who were overseas, and Seohun-hyung's parents, who lived in the countryside, wouldn't worry. He would also keep Bakha's mother and Olan's brother informed.

Ironically, Chorok-hyung's parents were not included in the group chat. Not only me, but the other members also noticed this, but we decided to let it go.

"Everyone, be careful. I can report to your parents immediately."

"Report. Our parents are busy."

Ji-on, whose parents were overseas, tried to exclude himself. However, he couldn't resist Chorok-hyung's meaningful smile and caved in. No matter how much he claimed to be independent, he was still a worry to his parents.

"Chorok-hyung, tyrant!"

"But if you do well, I'll report that too."

He trained the members using both the carrot and the stick. Chorok-hyung's leadership was so strong that it was hard to believe Seohun-hyung was older. We followed his instructions, finished our skincare, and went to our respective rooms.

Tomorrow, we will debut as idols...

Various thoughts flooded my mind as I lay in bed, but I couldn't fall asleep easily.

* * *

The album and music video were scheduled to be released at noon, and the showcase was set for 6 PM. The members had come to the company to prepare for the stage. We gathered in a small meeting room, hearts pounding, and waited for 12 o'clock.

"I thought I had a big heart, but maybe not."

"Big heart? Seohun-hyung's heart? Where did that come from?"

No one agreed. While he might seem bold and cheerful on the surface, a little conversation revealed how sensitive and emotional he was. He was a typical tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside person.

"Seohun-hyung is Theora's official soft-hearted member!"

"Bakha..."

Seohun-hyung looked at Bakha with a resentful expression. The members were no different from usual, which helped ease the tension.

"It's 12 o'clock!"

The members opened the music platforms on their phones and laptops. The album was released and the music video was posted on time. The music video started playing on the TV connected to the laptop.

When I first saw the music video, the person in it didn't seem like me. After watching the album tracks and the music video multiple times, I had adapted.

Now, I even analyzed the costumes, expressions, and subtle movements in detail. The members also watched the screen with serious faces. After listening to all the songs, they gathered their belongings.

"It seems there are no issues, so let's head out."

While we wanted to check the reactions immediately, we had to move to the showcase stage. We needed to do hair and makeup and rehearse. With journalists attending and the event being live-streamed online, mistakes were not allowed.

We decided that focusing too much on the album's ranking could distract us, so we agreed to check after the showcase.

The showcase venue was a live hall often used by other artists.

The members prepared three songs from the album. The order was to show the music video, perform the title track, hold a press conference, and then sing the two other tracks.

While the showcase was important, we were also well-prepared for the press conference. Fortunately, Theora's members were all good at speaking, though they had different personalities and strong opinions.

After the rehearsal, we did our hair and makeup. The stage costumes and visuals were more refreshing and high school-like than the album and music video.

The costumes were similar to the album jacket photos. Clean-lined school uniforms with additional items tailored to each member. While the costumes were ordinary, the hair and lens colors were vibrant.

"We're really idols now…"

Bakha muttered, looking at our reflections in the mirror. Bakha, who didn't wear contacts, had bleached his hair to an ivory color and wore knitted gloves that covered his hands. With the makeup, he looked like a typical idol.

I pulled on my silver hair with a blue tint, wearing gray lenses. I never thought I'd bleach my hair, but here I was.

I was worried about hair damage and hair loss from bleaching and dyeing, which is a realistic concern for idols.

"Does this suit me?"

I still couldn't tell if this color suited me. The white wool gloves that covered my hands were one thing, but the hair and eye color...

"Totally! Amazingly! It really suits you!"

"Really...?"

I tilted my head, wondering if I looked that cold, but the other members nodded in agreement with Bakha. By majority rule, I accepted that it suited me.

The hair and makeup were almost done, and we put on the microphones. The staff helped us, as we were still inexperienced with wearing microphones.

As we prepared the stage, we heard singing from outside. The music video must be playing, so we would go out in a few minutes.

My heart was beating faster and faster.

"Let's do a cheer before we go out."

Chorok-hyung extended his hand forward, and the members placed their hands on top of his.