Chapter 52

The New Black members were collectively in a state of panic.

‘What should we do?’

They had never experienced this kind of sound accident before.

Naturally, they all looked at one person.

Sunwoo Joo.

Whenever difficult situations arose, the members always believed that their leader would find a solution.

Due to the bright lighting, Sunwoo Joo's facial expressions were visible in real-time.

At first, he seemed as flustered as they were, then he wore a blank expression before nodding his head.

‘What is he thinking?’

While the Lemon Entertainment staff were scolding the agency staff and a cold chill spread from the journalists,

Sunwoo Joo took a step forward.

A low, melodic voice began to resonate on the quiet stage.

Where am I now?

Unfamiliar sea, unfamiliar air

As Sunwoo Joo's choreography fluttered his sleeves, everyone below the stage stopped what they were doing.

The staff who were frantically fixing the sound,

The managers who were scolding the on-site staff,

Even the journalists who were typing away with disgruntled faces.

Everyone stared blankly at Sunwoo Joo's sudden actions.

Where are you?

I opened my eyes in a remote place

After a moment of being dazed, the members also started their choreography as their leader sang the first verse.

It was a cappella, but it wasn't difficult.

Thanks to the countless hours of practice over the past month, their bodies moved automatically as soon as the lyrics started.

But the confusion remained.

‘What is Joo-ssi trying to do?’

In a situation where they couldn't communicate, the members were confused about their leader's intentions.

Just as they were thinking this,

Sunwoo Joo, who was performing a solo at the front, showed four fingers behind his back.

The number 4.

They immediately understood his intention.

‘He wants us to go to track 4.’

It had been nagging at them that the pitch was subtly different.

Track 4 of their debut album was also a firework song.

Unlike the original version, which had a refreshing feel, it was an arranged version suitable for a concert.

Indeed, track 4 was more fitting for an a cappella performance.

‘The song is a cappella track 4. The choreography remains the same.’

The members who understood the situation naturally took over their parts.

From Sunwoo Joo's part to Wang Jiho's part.

From Kim Jung-hyun's part to Kim Bi-ju's part.

The confusion and panic that had spread in their hearts vanished without a trace.

They were no longer afraid.

Because someone had taken the first step on the path they needed to follow.

‘Let's do our best for now.’

While showcasing the choreography they had honed over the past month, the members were so focused on the stage that they didn't notice the journalists had stopped typing and were watching them.

* * *

Oh So-hee, a journalist from Entertainment IN, sighed.

‘Why did they even invite journalists here?’

It was ridiculous that they couldn't control the sound at a mere showcase, not even a live broadcast.

Of course, it wasn't Lemon Entertainment's fault.

It was entirely the fault of the agency managing the event.

But no matter what, it was frustrating.

Journalists are people too.

A profession that requires constant vigilance in the entertainment industry, where incidents and accidents never cease.

They are always tired.

That's why delays in the schedule, which affect when photo sessions and Q&A sessions are held, and when articles need to be posted and the next location visited, are frustrating.

‘It will take at least 30 minutes to fix it.’

She sighed, tapping the keyboard of her laptop.

- New Black Debut Showcase, Poor On-Site Management Regrettable...

She was increasing her typing speed when she saw others writing similar titles.

Suddenly.

A pleasant voice echoed in the quiet hall.

Where am I now?

Unfamiliar sea, unfamiliar air

A low, humming-like song.

Journalist Oh raised her head.

Was it because of the sudden voice?

Journalists who had their heads buried in their laptop screens stuck their heads out.

What they saw was a member standing in the center of the stage.

A face that looked like a painting due to the heavy stage makeup.

New Black's lead vocalist, Sunwoo Joo, was singing without any accompaniment.

‘What is he doing?’

Journalists who were pouring their dissatisfaction with the organizers into their articles wore bewildered expressions.

Journalist Oh narrowed her eyes and looked at the stage.

‘Is he planning to do it a cappella?’

Idol live performances are done with pre-recorded AR.

In simple terms, if 100 is a perfect live performance, 30 is pre-recorded AR, and 70 is the live performance on top of it.

It's natural.

It's unrealistic to expect perfect singing while performing intense performances like flying and bending.

That's why even the best live performances can only score 70 points.

It would be better for the company to take the blame for poor stage management than for New Black to make such a risky choice.

If they made a mistake, it would only expose their lack of skill and invite ridicule.

While it was commendable that they diverted the attention of the dissatisfied journalists, it was a choice with no practical benefits.

But she soon changed her mind.

‘...He's doing well?’

She already knew that New Black had excellent skills.

As seen with the senior group Scarlet, producer Jo Koo-hwan is known for being very picky about the people he selects.

Moreover, New Black had already demonstrated their skills at a music cafe.

A team with solid fundamentals and harmonious vocal combinations.

Of course, she didn't think it was that impressive.

There were many groups among top-tier idols with similar skills.

New Black was a promising team A.

But watching them perform naturally on stage now, her thoughts were changing.

How many teams could perform so naturally in a situation with no accompaniment and an unsympathetic audience?

Probably very few.

‘Lemon is really sending out some monstrous talents.’

The live performance was so impressive that she wondered if they had deliberately caused the sound accident.

Journalist Oh looked around.

Not only her, but other journalists were also watching the firework performance with curious expressions.

Under the dreamy blue light of the lone spotlight, the five members moved gracefully.

Even without the MR, it didn't feel lacking.

Rather, it felt more than sufficient.

Like coloring a blank paper, the colors of their voices filled the stage.

Look, this is our firework (Firework)

Our appearance adorning the night sky

With main dancer Bi-ju at the center, the members spread out like wings.

Together, they began to sing the chorus of the firework song.

Like a Firework

We're showing it

Like a Firework

Our colors

The harmony of the five voices, like a chorus.

Perhaps it was because of the joyful expressions of those singing, or the refreshing atmosphere of the song,

A few people watching smiled.

Most maintained a neutral expression, but everyone in the room had the same thought.

Who knows when,

But the idol group in front of them would definitely become famous.

“...”

Oh So-hee looked at the Korean document on her laptop screen with the cursor blinking.

- New Black Debut Showcase, Poor On-Site Management Regrettable...

She shook her head and pressed the backspace.

Then she started writing a new headline.

A completely different title from before.

* * *

At the same time. Backstage.

“Manager.”

“Hmm?”

“I heard from the on-site staff that it will probably take about 30 minutes to fix the sound.”

“Is that so?”

Yoon Seok-hwan replied indifferently.

His gaze was on the members singing the final part of the firework song.

“Please inform me as soon as the sound is fixed. Hold all the performances scheduled after the title track. If anyone asks what to do first, tell them to start with the photo session.”

“Understood, I'll pass it on.”

“And Min-ki, these people are really not up to the task. Keep a close eye on them. First impressions are lasting. One mistake can lead to more. We need to be careful.”

Seok-hwan turned his gaze to the press area.

Fortunately, it seemed the tension had eased.

In the entertainment industry, if the first priority is not to offend broadcasters and PDs, the zeroth priority is definitely entertainment reporters.

Because of their profession, if you upset them, it can get really bad.

Reporters can include personal biases in their articles for trivial reasons, like being 1 minute late for an interview.

Imagine what would happen if you made them wait for 30 minutes.

- Newcomer 'New Black' Debut, Showcase Stumbles

- Poor Event Management Regrettable 'New Black' Debut Showcase

- Oh! to Uh! New Black Showcase, 'The Song Was Good'

She shook her head to clear the headlines automatically playing in her mind.

Fortunately, such a situation didn't happen.

Because the journalists' reactions were good.

Every time the lights came on, the faces of the journalists in the press area were clearly visible.

They all looked entranced by the stage.

Like they were watching a mysterious and exotic animal.

Yoon Seok-hwan looked at the person who had elicited such a reaction.

Sunwoo Joo, who was dancing so hard that sweat droplets were visible in the air.

“Troublemaker. This kid.”

Yoon Seok-hwan smiled fondly.

He had felt it from the time he was cared for at TJ, but he really was something.

To make such a judgment in a split second.

While most newcomers would have frozen