Chapter 42: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

Han Hyoseok disappeared into the practice room, and Min Jihoo entered the recording studio to start practicing. I put on the headphones and tried to fall asleep, but the effects of the medication hadn't fully worn off, so I couldn't sleep well. So, I got up and peeked into the recording studio to see if Min Jihoo was practicing well. He was sitting on the floor in his practice clothes, listening to the music on his phone, and there was a palpable intensity in his demeanor. He was so focused that he didn't even notice I was watching. He had a clear purpose: to excel not only in dancing but also in singing. He really suited being an idol.

Suddenly, Min Jihoo jumped up, came to the door, and said, startled, "Ah, what's up? What are you doing there, bro? You scared me."

"What do you need?"

"A pen! Can I try some doubling here?"

"Ah, sure."

I took out a pen and handed it to him.

Just as an hour had passed, Han Hyoseok arrived in the control room, and Min Jihoo, who said he wanted to practice one more time, was dragged out by Han Hyoseok, who insisted that time must be strictly adhered to. I alternated between looking at the notes I had written on both of their sheet music and burst out laughing.

"Are you guys sharing a brain?"

"Bro, why are you being so harsh?"

Han Hyoseok grumbled, but when he took the sheet music I handed him, he only sighed.

Both of them had written the same comments.

[LAB!!!!!!!☆☆☆☆☆]

[Short breaths]

They just expressed it differently.

It was funny how different they were. Even though they were saying the same thing, it seemed like they wouldn't understand each other if they read it the other way around.

But the most interesting part was the lyrics.

[Even when the night ends, our world doesn't]

Both of them had commented on the lyrics I wrote.

[Bro, why does the night end?????????? It doesn't end…♥]

[Hyun, in the next line, it says the sun won't rise anymore, so I think the night won't end.]

"I get why you guys are fighting."

Your thought processes are similar, but your ways of expressing them are completely opposite.

Considering both of their tendencies, I changed the line "Even when the night ends."

"How about this?"

[Even if we run in opposite directions, our world doesn't end]

When Min Jihoo saw the lyrics, he had a slightly dazed look, so Han Hyoseok explained for him.

"Bro, in 'Turn on the Light,' we ran in the same direction following the sun, so the lyrics were about perpetual daylight, remember?"

"Ah."

"But here, it means that even if we run in opposite directions, it's still night."

"Ah, the sun is completely gone?"

"…Ah, that's right."

"Bro, this is it. The lyrics are so…."

"Logical."

"Logical! And I want to shoot a music video for this. So let's go to the boss's office and get it, Hyoseok. Is 'get it' the right word?"

"Let's persuade and get it. It's roughly correct."

Min Jihoo, who processes a lot of information at once, sometimes freezes like a computer, while Han Hyoseok processes things one by one. It doesn't match, but it fits well.

I kept chuckling as I watched their conversation. Despite being only two years apart, I couldn't understand why Min Jihoo looked so much like a younger brother. Even while we were doing pre-production, we would chuckle and exchange ideas.

* * *

A few days later, we had a concept photo shoot scheduled.

A&R Park Geon-ho, who was on site, showed the finalized track list for our first full album to the members, including me.

While checking the track list, Shin Jiwoon said to me, "I think you should sue the company for giving you this much work."

"I just did a lot, that's all. I like it when they use my songs."

"By saying that, you've already lost the case."

I laughed, and Shin Jiwoon got serious.

"I'm not joking."

Each member complains about having too much work, but they're busy too, so it's understandable. From the day our 'Turn on the Light' activities ended to today's concept photo shoot, we've been living our lives at the most intense pace.

Although the arrangement and mixing are still left, now that the track list is out, the album's structure is clearly defined.

I checked the title of our new title track.

'Just Waiting for Morning (Q&A)'

There was a debate between 'Just Waiting for Morning' and 'Q&A.' The 'morning' faction thought 'Q&A' was too overused for a full album title, while the 'Q&A' faction thought 'Just Waiting for Morning' was too forgettable.

So, we combined them, making 'Q&A' the subtitle.

I didn't see much difference, but looking at the track list, it does seem to make sense.

This full album has a completely different atmosphere from our previous digital single, so the members' styling has changed significantly.

The concept for our first full album is about teenagers who, despite having different personalities, gather to eat after school, and who can't sleep because they have a crush. Therefore, all of us, including me, changed our hair color to a darker shade. I think this might be the last time we use school uniforms as a concept.

Anyway, I finally returned to my brown hair, but looking in the mirror, I felt a bit too ordinary.

The album will have two versions: a white version and a night version. The white version will be shot outdoors, and the night version will be shot indoors. Today, we were shooting the indoor version.

At the end of July, with the temperature approaching 40 degrees, the members wore cardigans, knits, and pajamas for the shoot.

Anyway.

I couldn't delay it any longer, and there was something I had to do at this shoot, so I waited with my phone and caught Shin Jiwoon, who finished his shoot quickly thanks to his modeling experience.

"Let's take a photo together."

"What… Oh, a photo card selfie?"

Shin Jiwoon took my phone.

Even without Min Jihoo, who is a selfie master, the Firstlight members generally take good selfies, which made me even more nervous.

"I should have taken it when my hair was pink, but I kept putting it off."

"Why didn't you take it then? We need to match the concept for this album."

"I had more confidence in my appearance back then…."

Shin Jiwoon took my phone and only took selfies of himself. What the hell?

"This one turned out well. Bro, send it to me."

"Ah, help me. Don't take selfies of yourself."

The selfie turned out well, so I sent it to the album production team while scolding him. After sending all the photos, Shin Jiwoon said,

"If you feel uncomfortable, hold something as a prop. Oh, that's cute."

Shin Jiwoon talked to the staff and brought a bear cushion as a prop.

"They said we can use it."

"Oh, it's cute."

Since my sister was already in middle school when I was old enough to notice, I don't think I ever had stuffed animals at home. Stuffed animals are completely foreign to me.

I held the bear cushion with one arm and tried to find the right angle. Then I said to Shin Jiwoon, who was watching,

"Hey, get lost."

"Wow, you got rejected right away. Our bro has a great personality, huh?"

No, you can't pretend to be cute when someone is watching….

"Bro, take as many photos as possible. If you can't choose, the staff will help you."

"Got it."

Fortunately, Shin Jiwoon moved away to help with my business.

I took a deep breath and took another photo. Then I heard the staff gasp from the side and turned around to see them looking at me.

"Why, why are you doing that?"

"Because you're so cute…."

"Ah…."

Our company's staff, as always, gave great feedback for each photo. I don't think I'm cute at all, but they are professionals.

"Aww, you're so cute."

"Haewon, hold the bear a bit higher. Higher, higher. Just right!"

I don't know why they're helping so much, but I'm grateful.

"Leave one with a wink and a hand heart!"

… I don't know why, but I'm grateful.

Thanks to the staff's enthusiastic reactions and direction, I took a variety of selfies, even though I don't know if they turned out well. And their reactions continued when I shot the concept photos.

"Haewon, this concept really suits you…."

"Seems like the world is all about being cute."

Honestly, I was extremely worried and nervous about the shoot, but the constant chatter around me made me feel like my soul was being sucked out. Anyway, it was helpful because I secretly like it when people say I'm doing well. I'm a simple person. Hehe….

After taking all the individual shots, we took a group photo last.

The other members looked professional as they checked their photos, so I followed their lead. When I went to look at the photos, I said,

"Wow… How did they turn out so well?"

"That's why they're professionals."

The director smiled. He seemed like a hearty person. The director continued,

"Ah, but all the members of Firstlight are really good-looking. Even if we take a rough shot, it turns out well."

"It's probably because the photographer is good."

"Of course, that's also a factor."

Strangely, during the past one and a half months, I almost never went back to the dorm and just worked, but I didn't feel like I was making an album.

"Looking at the photos, it feels real that we're making an album."

A&R Park Geon-hun asked,

"You made so many songs, and now it feels real?"

"Yes."

I don't often feel like I'm a member of this team. But looking at our group photo, I felt like I really belonged to this team. That's why people leave memories in photos.

With the group shot, some members were ready to leave, so I caught them.

"Let's take a group selfie before you go."

"We already took one, didn't we?"

Hwang Saegil said, and I replied,

"I just want to take another one."

"It's the first time I've heard you suggest taking a photo."

Despite being tired from the long shoot, the members gathered without a word. Min Jihoo, who always handles the group selfie, said,

"I'll take it, one, two, three."

We took the photo.

This moment might be one of the most shining moments of my life when I look back. So, I need to leave a lot of photos during our activity period.

I was about to go out for the outdoor shoot when my roommate, Shin Jiwoon, asked,

"Bro, are you coming back to the dorm today?"

"I have to go to the studio."

"Shooting and then working again?"

"I'm busy."

Shin Jiwoon scolded me,

"Bro, that's actually a state of apathy."

"What?"

"Working too much without thinking about the future. It's a state of apathy where you can't break free from work."

I don't understand what he's saying.

Aren't work addiction and apathy completely different things?

I thought about it and headed outside for the outdoor shoot.

* * *

After finishing the concept photo shoot, I returned to the studio to finish the album. When I got there, a guest was waiting. It was Hei, who did the chorus recording, Jang Seokhoon.

"Hey, Hei bro."

When I greeted him, Yang Yi said,

"Actually, he used to be a vocal trainer when he was in school. He taught a lot of students with weak vocal cords, so he's almost an expert."

"Wow."

I sat on the sofa, and Jang Seokhoon said,

"Teaching students with weak