Chapter 45

# Episode 045

"If there's no stage video... do we have to create our own performance?"

When Seong Pil first gave the assignment, he said, "You can do whatever you want."

At the time, no one understood what he meant.

"There can't be no stage video. Just by checking the song's views, it's over ten million. We'll find it if we look."

"Right?"

"Let's listen to the song first."

Joa-ra's calm response helped Baek Seol-ha calm down.

Yeah, it won't be too late to listen and search more.

A refreshing melody echoed through the Bluetooth speaker.

It was a beautiful piece of music that could captivate people's ears in just two seconds.

When the members started singing, it got even better.

'Good. Why didn't I know about this song?'

The pre-chorus was also excellent.

It clearly indicated when the song would enter the highlight, but it was so sweet that you'd wish it would continue.

Finally, when the highlight arrived, the built-up sounds exploded.

And with that, the main vocalist's voice.

'Is this three octaves?'

Baek Seol-ha was surprised.

If it was just a brief rise to three octaves, Baek Seol-ha wouldn't have been so shocked.

The highlight smoothly continued at the three-octave range, reaching up to a C3.

'Can you dance while singing this?'

Her throat felt sore just thinking about it.

Baek Seol-ha wasn't the only one to grasp the difficulty of the song.

Rika let out a bitter laugh and observed the members' reactions.

The two of them exchanged glances and smiled bitterly.

"It's a rap."

Right after the second chorus, the rap began.

Fortunately, it wasn't difficult and was quite short.

However, the rapper's voice was so good that even with its simplicity, it would be hard to match.

When the song ended, Jang Ha-yang asked,

"Is this a difficult song?"

Baek Seol-ha couldn't answer easily.

If she took the chorus part, the overall difficulty for the members would decrease.

But that doesn't mean the other parts would be easy.

This was a song created by the established group EMC, putting all their effort into it, so it couldn't be easy.

"Practice will help..."

Baek Seol-ha was about to say that but then remembered Jang Ha-yang's learning speed and closed her mouth.

'Can we only reduce Ha-yang's part?'

"Should we assign parts right now?"

"Let's look for a choreography video first. There must be one. Even if it's not official, they might have performed it at a fan meeting."

It wasn't there.

"Let's try searching in English."

Still nothing.

"Is there really no official choreography?"

"Oh! I found a stage video when I searched in Japanese!"

The members, who had fallen into despair, gathered around Rika.

"But there are only two people on stage. Oh, wow. It's a concert. There are so many people."

Most of the audience were women.

They waved white glow sticks and cheered loudly as the EMC members appeared.

"At least if we can learn the choreography from two people, it will be easier..."

But there was none.

The two people only sang into the microphones.

There were some simple movements, but they were just to excite the audience.

Baek Seol-ha felt a lump in her throat.

It wasn't just the lack of choreography; it was seeing how easily the EMC members handled the highlight.

'Singing up to three octaves so comfortably...'

Especially considering they had been jumping around to engage the audience just moments before.

It showed the caliber of an idol.

Baek Seol-ha had always thought that the failure of her old group was just bad luck, but successful groups had their reasons.

"We'll have to create our own choreography..."

Everyone's eyes turned to Joa-ra.

Joa-ra crossed her arms.

"It's time for me to step up."

"Oh, there's a choreography video uploaded by dancers. Can't we just follow that?"

"..."

Rika was skeptical, but Joa-ra preferred to copy someone else's work.

Even with her long dance experience, she couldn't compare to professional dancers.

There were about two choreography videos for "oh my own," both made by dance schools.

Joa-ra was disappointed after watching them.

"They just combined basic moves poorly."

"Yeah, they didn't put much effort into it."

It felt like they were hastily put together for promotional purposes.

Moreover, the choreography only covered the first verse, not the entire song.

Both videos were the same.

Everyone's eyes turned back to Joa-ra.

Joa-ra, looking annoyed, said,

"Why not just follow the choreography made by the dancers?"

"Ara-chan, I love you."

"Damn."

"Ara, please."

"Teacher, you didn't believe in me either..."

"Ara, please."

Jang Ha-yang hugged Joa-ra's arm and rubbed her cheek against it.

Joa-ra frowned but replied,

"I have no choice."

"Joa-ra! Joa-ra! Joa-ra! Joa-ra! Joa-ra!"

Amid Rika's cheers, Joa-ra said resolutely,

"My first career starts right here, right now."

"Okay, let's assign parts."

"I just said something cool."

Baek Seol-ha printed out the lyrics and distributed them to the members.

Each of them held a pen and listened to the music repeatedly.

"If anyone has a part they want, let me know."

"Let the teacher decide."

"But..."

"Teacher, culture isn't decided by the majority. It's the few geniuses who pave the way!"

"Are you all okay with that?"

Nods.

"Alright, then..."

Baek Seol-ha's previous agency only made them copy songs during weekly evaluations.

It was a small agency with little expertise.

They thought that just by practicing a lot, the members would improve, but it didn't work well.

Practicing without a trainer wouldn't be very effective.

'In this case, it helps.'

She had done part assignments countless times.

Considering the members' characteristics, Baek Seol-ha assigned the parts.

"Let's all hum it lightly. Don't put in too much effort. One, two, three, four."

[Rika: Why don't you listen to me

My voice keeps getting higher]

[Joa-ra: You don't listen to me

You've drifted away]

[Baek Seol-ha: Hey, hey

Even when you look at me

You, you

Don't you feel nervous?]

[Jang Ha-yang: I live with you]

[oh my own

Always

oh my own

Anywhere

oh my own

Until the end

oh my own]

"This is the first verse. The chorus after that is more difficult..."

Joa-ra and Jang Ha-yang, who were not familiar with the song, had to be excluded.

Fortunately, they understood and accepted it.

[Rika: With you]

[Baek Seol-ha: Even if you say you hate me and leave

Wake up and be with me]

[Rika: Try to imagine holding hands

oh my own]

This part is exactly 1 minute and 30 seconds.

The next minute has a similar structure.

The problematic part is the rap that comes after the second chorus.

Rika was the only hope.

"I've never learned how to rap."

"Hmm, what should we do? It's a singing rap, so you don't need much technique."

"I'll do it."

Jang Ha-yang raised her hand.

Baek Seol-ha asked gently to avoid hurting her feelings,

"Have you ever rapped before?"

"No, but I think it will be easier for me than singing. My vocal range is lower."

Seong Pil described Jang Ha-yang's voice as deep and resonant.

While it was a disadvantage for an actor, it could be a unique charm for an idol.

"Want to try?"

"Sure!"

[Jang Ha-yang: Teacher, is this love?

No matter when or where I see you

Soft and fluffy

No matter how hard I try, I can't let go

Even when I lie in bed, you come to mind

I shouldn't just think of you]

Then the chorus comes again.

"Wow, Unni Ha-yang, you have the feel. It sounds like a rap even when you just read it."

"Really? Hehe, I feel good getting praised by Ara."

But this left Joa-ra's part as a problem.

With Baek Seol-ha and Rika almost monopolizing the highlight.

"Then I'll try the last pre-chorus. It's a bit short, so I think I can handle it."

"Are you sure?"

"Even if I can't, I'll try."

The part assignment was complete.

A sense of accomplishment enveloped the members.

Maybe this could succeed?

Maybe they could surprise Seong Pil, Hong Gyu-hun, and Han Goo-in?

As Jang Ha-yang divided the parts with the members, she felt more strongly that this was a collaboration, not a competition.

Her stomach no longer hurt.

"The only thing left is the choreography. Rika and I will assist."

While she recognized Joa-ra's abilities, if she left it all to her, the choreography would be too difficult.

"What can I do?"

Jang Ha-yang asked enthusiastically, but there wasn't much for her to do.

"Do you want to practice the rap?"

"Sure."

Baek Seol-ha felt a sense of duty more than the others.

Though she wasn't officially the leader yet, she was already acting like one.

The others relied on her.

30 days until the monthly evaluation.

Let's start.

* * *

"Ugh..."

Jang Ha-yang stopped eating and felt nauseous.

Seong Pil quickly offered a tissue, but Jang Ha-yang waved it off, saying she was fine.

"If it's hard to eat, stop."

"No, I can eat."

Jang Ha-yang was eating out for lunch to gain weight.

She was consuming more calories than the other trainees.

Rika would have finished her plate easily, but Jang Ha-yang found it difficult.

"I need to get healthy quickly..."

"Stop eating."

"...Okay."

Jang Ha-yang put down her utensils at Seong Pil's firm tone.

She had finished the salad, but more than half of the main dish remained.

They returned to the company by car.

"Teacher, is this love? No matter when or where I see you. Soft and fluffy."

In the passenger seat, Jang Ha-yang was muttering the lyrics while looking at them.

Seong Pil felt proud seeing Jang Ha-yang so focused.

"Are you pushing yourself too hard?"

"Yes, I'm sleeping well and eating a lot."

A diligent trainee.

Isn't that every idol trainee's dream?

"But the lyrics seem strange. 'Teacher, is this love?' is in formal language, but the next line is informal."

"Maybe she's asking the teacher in her heart while looking at the person she likes."

"Teacher, is this love?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Manager, is this love?"

Seong Pil chuckled at the sudden change in lyrics.

"No matter when or where I see you, soft and fluffy... This 'soft and fluffy' is strange. What does it mean?"

"Maybe it's a feeling of being soft and fluffy inside? What do you think?"

"Maybe it's a bit early for you."

"Teach me."

"You have to learn it yourself."

When they arrived at the company, a call came from Son Hye-bin.

[Is it 7 PM today?]

"Yes, but are you really coming? Won't it be a bother?"

[I can't wait to see the kids. Should I run away? I'm leaving here soon anyway?]

[I'll tell the CEO.]

[Ah, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! It's a joke. Don't get it?]

Today was the seventh day since Seong Pil announced the monthly evaluation.

They decided to conduct a weekly evaluation to check the members' progress.

If left to the members alone, they might produce something terrible.

It was also necessary to correct any deviations.

[Why is this company so obsessed with me?]

"It's because you said something strange, Unni."

[You should be on my side. Ah, Seol-ha, did you bring the album today?]

"I left it at the company."

[What should I bring? A pen?]

"Anything."

After hanging up, Seong Pil relaxed.

Since he had stopped scouting trainees, he had no real work except for bringing the kids to the company.

As 7 PM approached, Seong Pil and Han Goo-in brought in a table and chairs to the practice room.

They were where Seong Pil, Han Goo-in, and Son Hye-bin would sit.

The members had been practicing all day and were now resting on the first floor.

Soon, Son Hye-bin entered the practice room.

"Hi, Seong Pil! Hello, Manager Han."

"Hello."

"Manager Han, you look even better today. Are you going to meet someone special?"

"No."

"Huh? So you look like this every day?"

If it weren't for Han Goo-in, he might have imagined a grandchild.

"Thank you. Hye-bin, you look beautiful too."

"Really? I've never heard that before."

"Really? I thought you heard it so often that you got used to it."

"Most people just say 'pretty'!"

Son Hye-bin laughed louder than usual.

It seemed she was the one imagining a grandchild.

Han Goo-in gently smiled or nodded at her chatter.

When the time came, the members entered the practice room one by one.

Han Goo-in's expression turned tense, worried about how well they had prepared.

Compared to when he was chatting with Son Hye-bin, the change was dramatic.

"Do you only get interested in younger people, Manager Han?"

"Don't even joke about that. Ara is still a minor."

"I didn't say who."

"......I was the one with impure thoughts."

"Everyone, please focus."

At Han Goo-in's request, Seong Pil and Son Hye-bin also became serious.

The members were highly tense.

Baek Seol-ha, holding the microphone, was even trembling.

Not just her, but everyone showed signs of nervousness.

"I'll start."

The music started, and the performance began.

The song was about 3 minutes and 30 seconds long.

To Seong Pil, it felt much longer.

"......"

The members avoided eye contact with Seong Pil, knowing they hadn't done well.

Seong Pil deliberately smiled.

"Good job. I'll give you feedback later. Well done."

"Yes."

The four of them quickly left the practice room.

Han Goo-in asked anxiously,

"Did they do poorly?"

He was impressed that the members had prepared this much on their own.

He thought, "This is good enough."

By his standards, it was a satisfactory performance.

But Seong Pil, who had been professionally evaluating idols since his previous life, and Son Hye-bin, who had performed on stage, had different perspectives.

"Seong Pil, do you want to go first?"

"Sure, I'll go first..."

They took turns pointing out the flaws.

Seong Pil identified the major issues, while Son Hye-bin, drawing on her experience as a dance singer, found specific problems.

Seong Pil's vague criticisms were complemented by Son Hye-bin's detailed explanations.

Han