Chapter 23

Inside the vehicle heading to the broadcasting station.

It's quiet.

Although no one is sleeping, it's extremely calm here.

Why is the atmosphere like this?

It's because today is our first appearance on a music show.

Our debut on terrestrial TV.

Something gained a whirlwind of popularity, and the broadcasting station suddenly contacted us.

They said we should appear since we became a top candidate.

When we heard the news, we looked at each other with blank faces rather than hugging and rejoicing.

"Why are we a top candidate?"

"Did we hear it wrong?"

"Manager, wait a moment. Did you say we're number one?"

"Guys, we must have heard it wrong."

In response to our questions, Manager Yun Seok-hwan nodded.

"Is this real?"

He nodded again.

From then on, we started to feel flustered, stammering and unable to speak properly.

A top candidate before even debuting?

It's an incredibly unrealistic situation.

There are groups that don't even get a number one after three years of debut, yet we, who haven't even debuted, are top candidates?

And they were even strong candidates.

While TNT's Blink might have overwhelming album sales, our overall performance, including streaming, was superior.

That's why the broadcasting station's invitation to appear had a strong nuance of "You're number one, so come and receive it."

But being flustered was inevitable.

"What should we do, hyung? We're not prepared at all."

Looking at my juniors with eyes that expected me to have a brilliant solution, I could only shrug.

"What can we do? We have to give it our all."

Everything proceeded as if we were roasting beans in a lightning storm.

We had only one week to practice.

We reduced our sleep to about 30 minutes a day to prepare for the stage.

Senior Chang So-won's help was invaluable.

Being experienced in music shows, she knew exactly what to pay attention to.

If we had done it alone, we wouldn't have even dared to try.

After practicing to the point of exhaustion for a week, we were still nervous.

Can we really do this well?

"Guys."

Manager Yun Seok-hwan, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to look at us.

"You know there will be a lot of people at the broadcasting station, right? There will be reporters too."

"Okay."

"Photos taken there will be posted on the internet. Once they're up, there's no going back, so be very careful."

"Okay."

"If you don't want to be remembered as 'the newbies who acted cocky just because they were top candidates once,' you need to behave properly. Got it?"

"We'll keep that in mind."

"Basic manners, right? Bow as soon as you get out of the car. There's no one at the broadcasting station who is lower than you."

He nagged more than usual, probably because he was worried about us.

After about 30 minutes of instructions, Biju, who was standing in the empty parking lot, rubbed his hands.

Because the heater was set low due to makeup, steam came out of his mouth.

"Hyung, I'm really nervous."

"Me too."

"Are you really nervous? It doesn't seem like it."

To Biju's doubtful question, I replied.

"Really. Want to put your hand on my heart?"

"Hyung, you want me to touch your chest?"

"Hey, that makes me sound like a weirdo."

Realizing how strange it sounded, Biju covered his mouth and laughed.

It was a warm smile that revealed his even white teeth.

Lee Hyuk, sitting next to him, grumbled with a displeased look.

"Stop pretending to be nervous. I can see you're not shaking at all. It's annoying to those who are really nervous."

"Wow."

Jiho, looking at Lee Hyuk, exclaimed.

"Hyung, your face is really good today."

"Really? Did the makeup work well?"

As Lee Hyuk, who took it as a compliment, smiled, the youngest member shook his head and laughed brightly.

"No, your eyelids are really twitching. It's like 120 times a minute."

"Shut up. It's because I'm lacking magnesium."

"Shut up? Our Lee Hyuk, saying such things to the cute youngest?"

"Ah, really."

As Jiho grinned and leaned in, Lee Hyuk pushed his face away with his hand.

The youngest member's face crumpled like a steamed bun.

While they were bickering, I realized something was missing.

"Is Jung-hyun sleeping?"

"He seems to be."

"This guy can't tell the difference between sleeping and not sleeping."

Biju laughed, as if something had just occurred to him.

"Hyung, you don't know how to tell if Jung-hyun is sleeping."

"Is there a way to tell?"

"There is. You can tell if Jung-hyun hyung is sleeping or not by looking at his feet. If he's wearing shoes, he can't sleep outside. So he always takes off his shoes when he sleeps."

"Wow, what a strange habit."

"Jung-hyun is a bit unusual, after all."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Biju's words.

Strange.

He didn't seem like a four-dimensional character.

Noticing the confusion on my face, Lee Hyuk made a face as if he had a lot to say but decided not to.

"…You'll understand when you see it."

"But he's a good kid."

Biju added.

No, that makes it even stranger.

And why does he look like a dog owner saying, "My dog doesn't bite"?

* * *

PBS Broadcasting Station.

In front of the building, fans who had waited since the early morning to see the artists performing on Music ON were bustling about.

A place where the artists' arrival is openly shown.

Fans gathered here to catch a glimpse of their artists in casual clothes, and fans of other artists were also present, ready to take candid photos.

Thanks to the popularity of K-POP overseas, occasional foreign languages could be heard.

The people gathered within the yellow lines were dressed in various fashions, but most wore masks or sat on mini ladders waiting.

Soon, artists began to get out of the vans one by one.

"Hello! It's Lavian Rose!"

"One, two, three. With your girl, hello, it's Autumn Girls!"

"Hello! It's Teen Spirit!"

Every time the artists standing in the photo zone greeted, the flashes went off.

"Hyun-woo hyung! You look great!"

"Yubin! Yubin!"

"Your song is amazing!"

While the artists came and went, the candid photographers chatted.

"Isn't it unusual for so many newbies to appear this time?"

"There's a top candidate among the newbies, too."

"Really? Who is it?"

"There's New Black. The group that collaborated with Chang So-won."

"You should watch it because of Chang So-won. Honestly, if it were just their name, I wouldn't have heard of them."

"Sugar Fish's name value is strong. They were strong in streaming."

"Hwa Entertainment is too much. Instead of worrying about Chang So-won, they should focus more on the quality of our On Top's songs. This time, their outfits and streaming are a total mess. I'm just holding back because it feels like they're criticizing our kids."

"Are you a Girls On Top fan?"

"Yes."

"The atmosphere isn't good these days. Hang in there."

"Frankly, it's all because of Sixty Seconds. If it weren't for those guys."

The candid photographer's words about Sixty Seconds were met with nods of agreement from those around.

Especially the fans of Lavian Rose and Girls On Top, whose members, Baek Yujin and Ju Hana, were caught in dating rumors due to Ju Wan.

"Girls On Top is coming in."

"Here they come! Here they come!"

"Did you see Hana's cheek? How much must she have suffered from hate comments to look so thin? It's really pitiful."

As the other group finished, murmurs came from another direction.

The veterans who had secured their spots in the photo zone turned their heads.

"What is it? It's not time for TNT yet."

TNT, the hottest boy group currently, usually appears last on the Music ON arrival route.

It wasn't their time to appear yet.

However, the candid photographers soon realized the identity of the murmurs.

"Wow…"

Five young men were walking towards the photo zone.

When they lined up, people were momentarily amazed.

"Who are these guys?"

"Seems like they're appearing for the first time today?"

Their beauty was more distinctive than just being good-looking.

They seemed to be lined up from youngest to oldest.

The youngest member, who looked good but turned puppy-like when he smiled.

The member with sharp eyes and an intellectual look.

The tall, muscular member who looked very manly.

The member with a pretty-boy look and graceful movements.

And.

The member who received the most attention.

Despite the same makeup, he stood out like a peacock.

His small face was packed with features, almost to the point of being unbelievable.

'Really, he looks unreal.'

'His nose isn't natural, right? It looks like he stuffed chalk in there.'

'This guy would survive even without editing.'

As people were lost in their own thoughts, the five young men bowed politely and loudly announced:

"Hello! It's New Black!"

* * *

We're lagging behind. We're really lagging behind.

I could feel the trembling in my knees from how nervous I was.

If I had relaxed, I might have collapsed.

I wasn't the only one; the others were also nervous.

Standing on the photo zone, which looked like red heart cushions, in the empty parking lot, we tried our best to hide our trembling hearts.

"Hello! It's New Black!"

Camera flashes went off, and the shutter sounds kept coming.

Swallow.

I swallowed and forced a smile.

Please, don't show how nervous I am, and act naturally.

"Look this way, please!"

But from the start, we received criticism.

We waved in the direction of the voice.

"Put your hands down! We can't see your faces!"

We tried V signs and thumbs up.

We had thought of all sorts of poses in the car, but we were so nervous that our bodies were stiff and the poses didn't come out.

In the empty parking lot.

We were standing in the middle, and strangers were taking pictures of us.

It was hundreds of times more nerve-wracking than the year-end evaluation.

What are these people thinking as they look at us?

Are we coming off as inexperienced newbies?

No.

I shouldn't think like that.

Naturally, naturally.

Seeing Biju naturally posing, I regained my composure and soon smiled and posed.

After a while of shooting, a voice came from the crowd.

"Thank you!"

We bowed and thanked them.

"Thank you!"

Everyone was so nervous that when the shooting at the photo zone ended, it felt like we had been released from prison.

We finally walked towards the broadcasting station with bright smiles.

There were still people with masks on both sides of the fence, holding cameras or phones, but the tension wasn't as intense as at the photo zone.

We bowed and greeted them as we passed.

Occasionally, light-hearted greetings came our way.

"I'm really enjoying 'Something'!"

"Good luck!"

"I love your song!"

I don't know who they are, but I love them.

Really.

Standing on the real stage of a broadcasting station, it feels like even the smallest words from people are encouraging.

Of course, most were indifferent rather than supportive.

Honestly, would a group even catch the eye of fans who came at four or five in the morning to see their idols?

But we all walked to the broadcasting station, smiling and greeting continuously.

* * *

Even after entering the broadcasting station, the chaos continued.

"Hello! It's New Black!"

How many times have I greeted passing staff and artists, and how many times have I repeated our group name?

I think I've said it more times than I've called my own name.

[Waiting Room - Chang So-won, New Black]

After the hectic morning rehearsal, we had some time to wait.

While Senior Chang So-won was out, we decided to play a game to choose who would go buy drinks.

Lee Hyuk, who usually has poor stamina, was sprawled on the sofa and said with a dazed look:

"I'm not going. Wow, I'm drained."

"You're tired before we even start? No, you can't. Your hair will mess up, Manager."

"Lee Hyuk."

At my call, Manager Yun Seok-hwan smiled at Lee Hyuk.

"If your hair messes up, I'll charge you for the hair cost."

"…I'm sorry."

"Let's exclude him, and among us… everyone's sleeping."

In just a few minutes, they were all nodding off.

I'm the oldest and I'm fine, but these guys.

I should tell the fitness trainer later that the kids lack stamina.

I left the waiting room.

How many were there?

Including Senior Chang So-won, the stylists, and the road manager, about ten? Eleven?

Approaching the vending machine, I met someone familiar.

A girl group member.

Her back view was so stylish that I was curious who it was, but when she turned around, I almost froze with a sour face.

Gil Chae-kyung.

Her innocent face was momentarily overshadowed by a look of stepping in something.

You're not the only one.

I feel the same way.

But no matter what, I smiled and greeted her.

"Hello, Senior. It's great to finally meet you on a music show."

"Ah, yes."

She was the same.

Although she momentarily lost her composure, she quickly regained her gentle smile, like a queen in a historical drama.

Such a warm expression.

The reason for her different attitude now is that our song is currently doing well.

"Being a top candidate for the first time, right? Congratulations. Oppa."

(Translation) We've been number one many times. You guys are just starting.

"Thank you, Senior. Being a top candidate before debuting, we're still in shock. Sometimes it feels like a dream."

(Translation) Yes, we're top candidates before debuting.

"That's great. By the way, what should I call you? Call me by my name. I debuted when I was in middle school, so I'm much younger."

(Translation) You debuted at that age? I did it much earlier.

"Okay, Chae-kyung."

At my sudden informal address, she widened her eyes.

"…Isn't that a bit inappropriate? Even if you're younger, you're still a senior. I prefer to maintain proper etiquette."

Gil Chae-kyung, who had just been put in her place, pursed her lips.

The gentle smile she had just moments ago vanished, and her expression turned cold.

"Move. I need to get a drink."

She nudged me with her shoulder and inserted a bill into the vending machine.

Why does she hate me?

I can understand her hating Jiho, but why does she lump me in with him and treat me like a disliked person?

If you're next to a disliked person, you become a disliked person, is that it?

Gil Chae-kyung, holding her drink, glanced at me and gave a strange smile.

"You'll be worth watching if you get number one."

"What do you mean?"

"Today's top candidate is TNT. Their fans are eager to take you down. You know how extreme their fans are. They'll leave a lot of hate comments, even if you get number one."

"Ah."

"Unless someone from TNT says, 'We don't know New Black,' and refuses to be friendly."

Just then,

"Chae-kyung, are you talking about us?"

A voice came from the other side.

Turning to where the voice came from, a boy group member with red-dyed hair stood there.

Gil Chae-kyung hesitated, looking flustered.

"Oh, Tae-hyun hyung."

However, the one called Tae-hyun didn't even look at her and instead looked at me.

His eyes widened.

"Uju hyung?"

"It's been a while, Tae-hyun."

Unable to grasp the situation, Gil Chae-kyung's eyes darted around.

I smiled brightly at her.