Thus, under Ryu Jae-hee’s guidance, we established our characters, but our work was far from over.
We had a significant hurdle ahead: the year-end awards ceremonies hosted by various broadcasting stations.
As rookies who debuted this year, we only needed to perform one song and leave the stage, but the problem lay in the special stages.
Thanks to our popularity, we were set to perform a song switch stage with KICKS at M’s music big match event and a collaboration stage with Adora at another network’s music festival, all because of Kim Dobin.
The Music War event preferred to fill its special stages with groups that had a certain amount of experience and recognition, so we only needed to perform our latest song there.
The same went for the WAMA event in Hong Kong.
Additionally, I was scheduled to do a featured performance with Seoraon.
Although my part was only 25 seconds, we still needed to coordinate our movements for the stage, so I would be called in for rehearsals a few times before the events.
As for the featured performance, I could just perform as usual, so that was a non-issue. But…
“We can’t afford to half-ass the song switch stage with KICKS. We have to show them that we outclass them in skill.”
This was about the pride of our group, and by extension, my pride.
“But the thought of those guys performing our song is annoying. Of course, they’ll get praised for performing a good song. Why should my efforts be used to elevate them?”
I frowned as I spoke, and Ryu Jae-hee nodded vigorously in agreement beside me.
“Exactly my point. Isn’t this too disadvantageous for us? Honestly, comparing ‘Watch Out’ with ‘One Chance,’ ‘Watch Out’ is clearly inferior.”
“Oh, I deliberately chose a weaker song. We’ll rearrange it completely, so it’ll stand in stark contrast to the original.”
I’ll make sure that when people search on YouTube, the REVE version will be the first to appear. I’ll see to it that comments on the original version say things like, ‘I came here after listening to the REVE version, and the original feels dullㅠ The arrangement is better.’
Imagining comments like ‘You can’t beat the original artist’ on their stage video made me smile with satisfaction.
“Eden hyung, you seem particularly reliable at times like this, which is reassuring.”
“Oh, so you’re saying I’m usually unreliable?”
“No comment.”
Kim Dobin quickly crossed his fingers over his lips, forming an X.
“But the problem is that KICKS’s choreography is all synchronized.”
Gyeon Ha-jun carefully pointed out, drawing everyone’s attention to a single person.
Seo Ye-hyun, who was now the focus of everyone’s gaze, scratched his head awkwardly.
“Since Eden’s rearranging the song, maybe we could also adjust the choreography a bit…”
“Even if we change it slightly, we have to maintain the synchronized choreography style. We don’t want to give them any excuse to criticize us.”
Gyeon Ha-jun said sternly, placing both hands on Seo Ye-hyun’s shoulders.
“It’s okay, hyung. You can do it.”
“Oh, uh…”
“Eden will be busy, so I’ll help you out. You don’t want people saying we’re worse than KICKS, right?”
“Well, of course, we have to do it…”
In Gyeon Ha-jun’s usually calm brown eyes, there was a sharp gleam. The mention of KICKS had clearly triggered something in him.
“Good. Use this opportunity to practice together and clear up any awkwardness between you two.”
Since it wasn’t my job, I just threw in a word of encouragement. Wait, could this be where Gyeon Ha-jun loses his temper while teaching Seo Ye-hyun? If REVE’s only calm member turns into a second Seo Ye-hyun filled with anger… oh, the thought alone is terrifying.
“Jun-ah, if you can’t take it anymore, call for SOS. I’ll help you as much as I can, based on my experience.”
“I know you’re the busiest one here, so how could I do that?”
“Can you two stop creating such a heartwarming scene without me?”
Kim Dobin suddenly interjected into the warm, friendly atmosphere.
“But besides the song switch stage with KICKS, aren’t we missing something else?”
“What’s more important than this?”
“How can you say such a dangerous thing! We have to give our best for the collaboration with Adora seniors too!”
I had no doubt that Kim Dobin would tweak the choreography for the first verse to make it less awkward for us, so I didn’t feel the need to say more. If he’s going to work hard and do his best, who am I to say anything against it?
“We’re really going to have to push ourselves hard.”
After sighing, I paused and added, looking at Kim Dobin.
“And just to be clear, I’m not talking about you, Dobin. Don’t misunderstand.”
“I won’t misunderstand anymore!”
Good, then.
* * *
[snow dream (Christmas commemorative song)_really_really_the_final.mp3]
“It’s finally over…”
I muttered, slumping back into my chair as soon as I saved the work file. I was too exhausted to fully celebrate the completion of the project.
Who would have thought that the ‘Someday’s USB’ item I pulled with the random ticket wouldn’t have any of my composed Christmas songs? If it had, I could have gotten away with it this time without much effort.
I was a bit disappointed in my past self for not considering making a Christmas carol that would become a perpetual source of income.
As I lay sprawled in my chair like a deflated balloon, Yong-cheol hyung, who was slurping cup noodles behind me, spoke up.
“Congratulations. So, can I get my studio back now?”
“No, I still have to rearrange the KICKS song.”
“Oh, just buy the upstairs unit and use it as your studio already. You’re making money now, so how long do you plan to stay here?”
“I’m sorry, hyung. I’ll really only impose on you until this project is done.”
I said, waving a card between my fingers. Yong-cheol hyung, showing a benevolent smile, said it was fine for me to stay longer since he didn’t have any work lined up for a while.
I hesitated to calculate the deposit for a new studio and the cost of the beef he’d consume before giving up. I need to set up my own studio soon.
As I rubbed my stiff eyelids, Yong-cheol hyung clicked his tongue and spoke.
“You’ll collapse from overwork at this rate. You know there’s no order to who comes and goes, right?”
“I’m already working out to avoid that.”
In reality, the system forced me to. It added a ‘body management’ category and eventually crammed exercise into the weekly quest list.
If it genuinely cared about my health, it could at least swap out the tasteless balsamic salad diet for some decent home-cooked meals.
“Exercise? Just sleep during that time, you crazy guy. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. Is your concept this time a ghost who died from lack of sleep?”
“We’re supposed to be fresh-faced teens.”
“Fresh-faced? Are you playing the ghost of a library nerd who died studying for Harvard?”
“What nerd would bleach his hair silver? And once I finish the rearrangement, I’ll have time to sleep.”
“You’re world-class when it comes to working, world-class.”
Shaking his head, Yong-cheol hyung tossed me a cup of noodles and asked,
“Hey, want to eat some cup noodles as a late-night snack? You said the older members at the dorm throw a fit if you even touch food at night.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll pass. We have a schedule tomorrow, and if my face gets puffy from the noodles, I’ll get an earful.”
As I responded with a yawn, my phone vibrated briefly on the desk.
[Ryu Jae-hee – Whoa, hyung]
[Ryu Jae-hee – Have you seen our first-week sales?]
It was only after seeing Ryu Jae-hee’s message that I realized our album’s first-week sales had come out.
Come to think of it, it’s already been a week since we started promoting. Time had flown by so quickly amidst the hectic schedule that I hadn’t even noticed.
[How many copies?]
[Ryu Jae-hee: 60,000!]
[Ryu Jae-hee: We’re only 5,000 copies behind KICKS!]
“Ahhh!”
I shot up from my chair, only to collapse back down as my legs gave way.
“Whoa, what’s going on?”
“Our group’s album first-week sales are 60,000 copies.”
“It’s not like it’s a million copies. Why the fuss?”
“Does this look like fussing? We’re doomed! Only 60,000 copies… Wait, what year is it?”
I checked the year on my phone and calmed down. The number was reasonable for this pre-inflation era when first-week sales weren’t as heavily emphasized.
Considering we’re a male idol group with a core fanbase, this number was decent. For girl groups, it would probably be half this amount.
Seeing that we were only 5,000 copies behind KICKS reassured me. This was normal for this era.
Plus, we had reached the top of the three major charts, boosted by an empty chart and music show appearances. The catchy hook helped us gain public appeal as well.
KICKS’s “It’s Time” had only held the number one spot for three days before dropping back to third. A fleeting triumph, indeed.
Compared to the junior groups that promoted with this song before my regression, REVE’s performance this time made me reevaluate them.
Even if we perfectly recreated a stage from my bucket list, the image of our group still stuck in my head was one of a team with poor teamwork, mediocre singing, and dancing far from synchronized—barely showing 50% of our potential.
That’s why I pushed Seo Ye-hyun so hard this round, given that he was a major contributor to that terrible group image.
Back then, around this time, I must have been preparing for our next activities, certain to fail, sitting on the practice room floor, determined to promote with my own song someday, with a complex song blaring in my ears that was hard to digest.
One thing for sure, I wasn’t this busy. Our song “Come to My Universe” hadn’t done well, so pre-regression REVE didn’t even perform at year-end music festivals.
I was free and leisurely enough to wander around Hongdae without anyone recognizing me. Eventually, I could even ride the subway without anyone noticing.
Of course, things changed once we made it to the second tier.
But around this time, didn’t something significant happen that winter…?
I couldn’t remember what it was, other than pulling my hair out and screaming my head off in what felt like seven years ago.
‘Isn’t there some system that could throw me an item to jog my memory?’
Cursing inwardly at the damn system, which had a knack for appearing to impose restrictions except when I actually needed it, I reached out to Yong-cheol hyung.
“Hyung, give me a cup of ramen.”
“Weren’t you worried about getting a puffy face?”
“After shouting, I suddenly got hungry. They say if you mix milk with ramen, it helps reduce puffiness. Should I buy some milk from the convenience store and mix it in?”
“Ugh, just hearing that makes me want to puke. Just eat it and drink the milk separately.”
With Yong-cheol hyung cringing, I reluctantly poured water into the cup noodles and, after an agonizing wait, compromised by using half the seasoning packet instead of milk. As I took a bite, the system promptly alerted me:
[Consumption of prohibited food during activity period detected.]
[Reason: High sodium content]
[Initial Intention -1]
See, this system only pops up when it’s time to deduct Initial Intention points.
***
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