Chapter 62: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

Since our unit ended up being the five members of New Days and me, the other twelve members, including Minjiho and Hanhyoseok who usually didn't get along, naturally became the same unit. Despite their shyness, they had no one else to rely on but each other, so they were sitting against the wall, quietly chatting while the other ten members were talking loudly.

Seeing this, I was worried about the other members who might be feeling awkward and isolated... but no, they're not kids, they'll figure it out on their own.

I had gone through all the songs from New Days and our previous songs, but there was nothing suitable for this week's theme. We concluded the unproductive meeting by suggesting that we each think about it and have a video call later.

Before leaving the waiting room, Kang Jin-young said to me,

"Hyung, we really want to do well this time. Even if we end up last, I want to show a performance that makes New Days fans think it was worth participating in this survival show."

Although he's a strange guy, I knew the reason for this gamble. I nodded.

"Right, let's give it our all."

Upon hearing my words, the New Days members hesitated for a moment before turning to me and saying,

"We'll do whatever Hyung tells us!"

"Should I buy you coffee?"

"If you need it, I can give you our producer's contact information!"

"......Can you just give it to me?"

"I don't know!"

After spitting it out, he called and got permission, then gave me the contact. He was one of the top hitmakers in Korea, composer Heo Hae-joon. Great. I should take this opportunity to ask him about everything I don't know, hehe.

Just as I was about to head back to our waiting room, I saw the INO and First Light members gathered in the hallway.

"Here we go again?"

Feeling annoyed, I said, and Hanhyoseok, standing a step behind me, spoke up.

"It's a serious issue."

"I don't understand."

The problem that arose during our last activity, where the two teams suggested playing baseball as their own content, still hasn't been resolved, causing delays.

INO's leader, Kang Han-woo, said,

"Why don't we just use the rules of adult baseball? Only players registered with the Korean Baseball Association can be selected. Or everyone can be a civilian."

As soon as he said this, An Ju-won frowned and replied,

"That's not fair. Hyung Seo-han was a pitcher for a prestigious middle school, even though he's a transfer student. How can a civilian hit his pitches?"

"What civilians? You guys are already a bunch of cheaters who played baseball."

"It's Little League."

"Hey, Hanhyoseok played sports in high school too!"

Kang Han-woo pointed at Hanhyoseok, who replied with a look of disbelief,

"Sports? Ballet is an art."

"Where else do you see people using their bodies like that?"

"Right here, ballet. And Hyung Seo-han should be classified as a selection. Or he can be the right fielder."

At this, INO's Seo-han, who was at the center of the controversy, raised his hand and said,

"I can't throw with all my strength anyway. There's no one to catch it."

To this, Shin Ji-won said,

"Hyung, then take out the curveballs."

"You're going to throw, right?"

"Ah, Hyung. My pitches are just for batting practice."

"Damn, don't cheat."

Are they elementary school students? No, that would be an insult to elementary school students.

"Rather, New Days are the adults here."

Hearing my mutter, Minjiho said seriously,

"Hyung, don't just focus on New Days, think about me and Hanhyoseok too."

"You guys usually do well on your own."

"......I suddenly feel like an outcast."

Minjiho grumbled. Since the units were divided, people seem to like me more. It's a bit stressful to have to maintain that quality, but honestly, it's kind of nice.

Anyway, do I have to play baseball too, when I don't even know the rules... I was thinking this when the production team and PD Woo Hye-jeong were talking, and PD Hwang Ji-seok came over to ask us,

"Nothing decided yet, right?"

"We haven't decided."

Kang Han-woo answered, and Hwang Saegil, who had been silent, said a beat later,

"Neither have we."

It seems that by meeting other team leaders frequently, they are gradually learning their roles as leaders. It's a bit slow, but...

After a brief meeting with each team's managers and staff, our team's manager Park Jung-woon came over and said,

"We could play baseball at Gocheok. As a special New Year's episode."

Both teams were silent for a moment. This was because they had bad memories from a sports event filmed during a holiday on another channel.

Manager Park Jung-woon continued,

"They said there won't be any audience. They want to keep it simple and just play baseball."

From the additional explanation, it seems there are baseball fans among the production team. It's not just a few, it's a hundred percent.

Only after hearing that there would be no audience did the members of both teams look relieved. Hanhyoseok muttered,

"Idol Baseball Classic..."

"IBC?"

"What? IBC? That sounds good."

Everyone got excited. They weren't excited about performing at Gocheok but about playing baseball, which was honestly quite amusing.

* * *

I returned to the company's studio and sat down.

Despite having more people to rely on than usual, I couldn't think of anything, so I lay on the sofa and listened to music. The door opened, and Shin Ji-won came in.

"Hyung, aren't you going back to the dorm today?"

"Can't go."

"Ah, being alone in the solo room is lonely, lonely."

Shin Ji-won also couldn't go home because he had to work on the unit. Rappers have to write their own parts at the very least.

Regardless of the mission, we both just sighed deeply while listening to music. I asked,

"Did you decide on a song?"

"Uh, IMX's Choi Jae-bin... "

Shin Ji-won glanced at the camera and continued,

"has a beat, so we decided to divide the parts and each write our own rap."

"How will you combine them?"

"I don't know. We decided to write the lyrics first and then have a meeting. It's harder to write when it's vague."

Considering that we're not trainees but members of various already-debuted teams, it seems difficult to unify opinions. In that sense, our unit is peaceful... Wow, I really have been brainwashed. It's starting to look good...

Shin Ji-won said,

"Our members and the company might not like it, Hyung."

"Yeah."

"Internally, giving songs to your own team is relatively easy with your ability. But giving songs to other teams, other companies, is really difficult. It has to be a song that anyone can see is good. You have to get through their A&R and even composer Heo Hae-joon."

That's definitely true.

"I obviously want to sing this song. But if Hyung gives this song to another singer, then it will affect Hyung's standing."

Seeing him use the word 'standing,' I must have looked a bit anxious at times. I tried to sound more cheerful,

"Hey, am I getting scammed today, or are people suddenly all talking well?"

It was as Shin Ji-won said.

Compared to giving songs to my own company and team, giving songs to other companies and teams is several times more complicated and competitive. This was an opportunity to skip all that competition.

"If that happens, we'll have to start preparing for the final again. The staff and members will be really angry."

Thinking about it for a moment, I found the song I had stopped working on.

"There was another one I was working on."

"What is it?"

"Film noir."

During my two years of hikikomori, I watched a lot of movies. Some I watched the next day after seeing them. I even watched all three parts of The Lord of the Rings for three consecutive days. What can I say, it was a normal routine.

I watched all kinds of movies, including film noir.

I played the unfinished song for Shin Ji-won.

"I stopped because it wasn't suitable for a stage."

Shin Ji-won put on the headphones and listened to the music.

From his expression, I could tell.

"Do you like this more?"

"Yeah, it's great."

He really liked it.

"Hyung, why didn't you show me this?"

"I thought it was too dark."

"What are you talking about? The Hae-tal will definitely love this. They'll wear black suits or leather jackets on stage, right?"

Oh? Oh. It will look very cool...

Shin Ji-won immediately called Minjiho and Hanhyoseok, who were in the practice room. I contacted the A&R team.

At the end of the meeting, the final concept was decided to be 'film noir.'

* * *

Kang Jin-young of New Days was sitting in a corner of the practice room with his phone, and Choi Yu-ho, the leader and composer of New Days, sat next to him.

"Jin-young, are you still waiting for the call?"

"Can I call first? It might seem like nagging, but I'll bear with it."

Kang Jin-young had a plan to put the five members with the lowest chance of winning in one unit. Given their current state, even when they were together, they didn't produce much content, and he thought it would be even worse if they were split up.

It was a strategy for content, but Kang Jin-young's trust in Jeong Hae-won was almost concrete. During the first mission performance, the other members were also mesmerized, but Kang Jin-young was especially captivated.

The youngest member, Kwak Jun-woo, a third-year middle school student, also sat in front of his phone.

"Hyung, I'll wait with you."

"Sure, sit down, sit down."

Kang Jin-young waved his hand to make Kwak Jun-woo sit. Kwak Jun-woo asked,

"Hyung Jin-young, what if Hyung Hae-won can't find a song to arrange?"

"Then he'll let us know, and we'll start thinking from there."

As the waiting members increased one by one, the five of them gathered and started discussing potential songs. They narrowed it down to about five songs that were not perfect but somewhat suitable. Just as they were doing this, a video call came in.

Kang Jin-young immediately answered.

"Hyung Hae-won!"

-...Uh.

He was taken aback by the immediate answer and the five heads gathered around the screen.

At that moment, the practice room door burst open, and composer Heo Hae-joon, looking excited, came in. Realizing the members were on a call, he mouthed to call him and then left.

The five of them looked at their phones again.

-Composer Heo Hae-joon sent it first, and they liked it.

'That expression just now didn't look like they just liked it...'

The five of them thought and nodded. Jeong Hae-won turned his chair and brought the phone to the speaker, pressing a few keys on the keyboard.

-Can you hear me?

"We can hear you!"

-Then I'll play it.

The moment the music started, the five of them exchanged glances.

'Does Hyung Hae-won have extra songs?'

'Why isn't he using this song for First Light's stage but for ours?'

'Is he really giving it to us?'

'Is he just showing off that First Light has such a song?'