Chapter 45

The moment the sprout emerges,

I am in a daze. A friend insisted I watch the music show, so I rushed to the live broadcast. On the way, I saw some new faces.

First, I was captivated by their visuals; they all had distinct, elongated features and unique characters.

Their refreshing concept, free from polarizing opinions, was complemented by their outfits and hairstyles, fitting for newcomers.

Listening to their song felt like a refreshing breeze in my ears. I had a gut feeling they would become popular.

From that moment on, I listened intently.

The dance was more intense than expected, but their live performance was steady.

It was their first music show, yet they were surprisingly stable, which was quite impressive. I recommend checking them out.

+) (Photo)(Photo)(Photo)(Photo)(Photo)(Photo)

They belong to Hanul Entertainment, and from left to right, they are Oh Ran, Jeteon, Chorok, Baekha, Seohoon, and Ham Iwon.

I feel like I'm already immersed...

I'm sorry, friend.

– They all look uniquely handsome, don't they? Oh~

– They've already been advertised on TV.

└I was about to watch a drama, but I saw the ad, and it was the Hanul kids? How could Hanul, known for poor promotion, do this?

└They clearly put in a lot of effort to build recognition.

└However, the charts are dominated by established artists, so it's tough for newcomers...

– I ran to the practice room today, and other artists came to watch during the rehearsal. This surprised other fans.

└Newcomers came to watch the rehearsal? What's going on...

└Maybe because they performed well?

– It's just the beginning, but the initial reception seems good.

The title of the post sounds like a novel, but it describes the exact situation.

While flipping through channels, I stumbled upon Music Bank to listen to some songs.

I ended up seeing a new boy group...

Six members, and among them, the one with the silver-green hair... I almost dove into the TV when he smiled slightly.

There's a lyric that goes, "Imprint you on me," and I thought, "Did they go crazy?"

I think I'm falling for these guys. Please share more information!

– This group is getting a lot of mentions today.

– Summary: TheoRa / Hanul Entertainment / Seohoon, Chorok, Jeteon, Ham Iwon, Oh Ran, Baekha / Debut 3 days ago / Potential to become a pentagon group

└Thank you! I was searching for a while because I missed their names.

└Additional: The MV director is Juyeong Won / They debuted with a TV ad / Jeteon is from Show Gol, Seohoon is a child actor, the silver-green hair is Ham Iwon, the cute one is Oh Ran, the green hair is Chorok, and the classic handsome is Baekha.

– Despite the debut timing being a bit off, the members seem promising.

└Their start isn't bad; they've already entered the daily charts.

– The debut title song was composed by the main vocalist of TheoRa, who has silver hair.

└With such a song, looks, and composition skills? They have it all.

└If they avoid scandals, they can grow steadily.

– I don't know about the song, but the visuals will definitely stick.

– I saw them too!!! Based on my experience, they will definitely become popular.

└We'll see; idols need to be scrutinized to be truly understood.

* * *

After removing all makeup, we gathered in the living room of our dorm to hold a reflection meeting.

It would be difficult to do this if we had a lot of schedules, but now, with each schedule being crucial and some free time, it was something we could manage. Chorok asked how our first music show felt.

"The showcase was live, but this time it felt real. There were MCs and other senior artists, and the stage felt different. If the showcase was a table set for us, the music show was a feast we helped prepare."

"Wow! Chorok, you have a knack for describing things!"

It was a funny but apt metaphor. It was more nerve-wracking but also more vibrant and diverse. Except for the press conference, which was like sitting on a bed of thorns.

"I enjoyed the closeness to the fans."

As Jeteon said, during the showcase, the journalists took the front seats, which was inconvenient and disappointing.

The fans' enthusiastic support from the back was encouraging, but I wished we could have been closer. It would have enhanced the atmosphere.

"I loved going to the broadcasting station! Debuting and appearing on a music show was my dream."

"It was surreal and touching to see us on TV as TheoRa."

"Iwon, I felt the same! I wondered if my mom and sister would be proud of me!"

Of course, our parents were moved to see us. However, I was choked up thinking about Hyunoh.

Hyunoh, who wanted the stage more than anyone. The process of getting to this point flashed through my mind. How did he feel watching me take the stage with my voice? I hoped he was satisfied.

"Great job on your first music show. But we all know it wasn't perfect, right?"

Chorok brought the laptop assigned to the dorm and played the part where our performance started. He played it through once, paused it, and replayed sections that seemed off.

"Ohran, your movement almost got tangled. It didn't turn into a mistake, but be careful. Seohoon, reduce the angle of your arm. You seem to stick out a bit because of your height."

As the leader and main dancer, Chorok focused on dance critiques. The two members who received feedback checked their parts.

Next, it was my turn as the main vocalist.

"Chorok, my breathing was off when the solo dance started at the end of the song. If I don't fix it, I might go off-key. I need to practice breathing control. And Baekha, you need to practice singing while dancing. You're doing your best now, but with better lung capacity, you'll sound more relaxed. Want to practice running and singing with me?"

Even veterans find it hard to dance and sing perfectly. But there are ways to improve, and we couldn't just leave it as it was.

Even a small difference can make a masterpiece. If we keep improving our stage performance, we will surely reach the day when we can present a perfect stage.

"Both of you are very sharp, very sharp. I think we did well for our first live show."

"True, but I can't be satisfied with this."

"TheoRa is full of perfectionists."

"Isn't that you too?"

"Of course. I'm a member of TheoRa."

We concluded that TheoRa is a group of people obsessed with perfect performances. No one could deny it.

We were all sincere about our idol careers and were the last to leave the practice room as trainees. That trait wouldn't just disappear.

"It's too early to add variations to the overall performance. Should we focus more on makeup and hair? Our concept is refreshing..."

"Discuss with the staff and try it out. We can adjust since it's the early stage."

"The outfits match the song's mood and concept well, but they seem a bit safe. I think we can be a bit more daring on stage! Adding accessories or using colors as accents..."

I couldn't follow the conversation between Chorok, Ohran, and Baekha. I had no interest in makeup, hair, and fashion, so I lacked the foundational knowledge.

Chorok had always been interested in makeup, and Ohran had a natural sense. Among us, Baekha was the fashionista.

The three of them looked incredibly happy discussing and exchanging ideas. Their excitement was evident in their sparkling eyes and raised, faster voices.

Perhaps it was the sense of achievement in building TheoRa from scratch. The effort put into something you create yourself is different from a mass-produced item.

Seohoon and Jeteon, who handle the rap parts, also shared their thoughts.

"Jeteon, how was the rap?"

"What about it?"

"I thought there could be more room for movement."

"Room? Ah, blank? Got it. I want to freestyle on different stages."

Seohoon seemed thirsty for rap. He started rapping as a hobby and hung out with friends who shared the same interest. He didn't have many opportunities to showcase his skills.

His desire to rap was strong. This drive could be a powerful motivator, but if unfulfilled, it could lead to unpredictable behavior.

I'm glad he was honest with us. We can work together to find a solution.

"Isn't it too early for us, as newcomers, to freestyle on stage? It's already hard to get the public to recognize our title song, and we might face harsh criticism. Instead, I'll try to create some rap beats."

Creating personal works is a personal choice. We are idols and artists.

Seohoon, with tears in his eyes, approached me and hugged me, saying thank you. His emotional threshold is too low.

Again, he's crying. I awkwardly patted his back. I was needlessly worrying about whether to pat in a steady rhythm.

I wasn't used to such physical contact. In contrast, Seohoon, who has two younger brothers, seemed to have a good sense of control, gently wrapping his arms around me.

If Seohoon hugged me with full force, I might be flattened. I'm not joking.

"You won't just focus on Seohoon, right? Iwon baby."

"Huh? Stop calling me baby. Then it's your turn, Jeteon."

I didn't have the composure to handle such a cheesy line. Ohran's detailed lecture on cuteness almost swayed me but didn't knock me over.

After discussing and wrapping up, we decided to talk about tomorrow's schedule. The company emphasized the importance of the early stage, so we had music show schedules a few times a week.

"Tomorrow is a cable channel, but it's a music-focused channel, so be careful. If we mess up, it will be replayed multiple times."

"Let's stop by the practice room before the schedule."

"Of course, if our main vocalist says so."

"Agreed!"

If we keep improving from our current level, we can do even better tomorrow and the day after. I believe this. All members are giving their best.

"Promise not to overdo it. Iwon, you have a history, so you're a concern."

Are you still watching me closely? Is the leader's role too heavy for Chorok? I decided to move actively without causing worry.

"Listen to the leader. I understand, Chorok. We need to look for opportunities to showcase ourselves while keeping a long-term view."

"You're thinking right. We're just starting, and the possibilities are endless."

"Endless possibilities! TheoRa!"

Baekha extended his hand and mimicked TheoRa's signature gesture, spreading his fingers in sequence. He looked like he was proudly showing off that he was an idol.

All members smiled lightly and followed the gesture, spreading their fingers like blooming flowers.

Yes, we are seeds of potential that haven't even sprouted yet. If we give our best every day, we can grow strong roots, bloom, and bear fruit.

The moment the sprout emerges will come soon.