"Oh, oh, oh, come to me~"
The MC twisted his body, singing along to the cute lyrics.
The audience under the stage sent up playful jeers.
—Crazy bald guy!!!
—Uwaaack!
Of course, the members forced smiles and clapped in support.
"That just goes to show how good this song is, right? And yet it's only a b-side. How good must the title track be!?"
Hearing the boos, the MC quickly changed the subject and resumed the talk show.
"Come to think of it, a recent reality program aired its first episode. I really enjoyed watching it, but the ratings were a whopping 1.5 percent!?"
At the MC’s question, Hana unnie answered.
"I think it was possible thanks to our Chusers showing such great interest!"
"As expected of 'SAVEN,' bringing buzz wherever you go! Speaking of buzz, we can't leave this out, can we?"
The MC looked at me.
What.
"This time too, Dohee's aegyo became a huge hot topic!"
Ah... yes, well...
That's what happened...
"With so many Chusers here today, how can we not see cute aegyo from our maknae! We have to see Dohee’s aegyo, right? Applause~"
The MC gestured toward the audience.
...Ah.
The incited fans screamed.
—Waaaah!
—Show us!!!
"Uh..."
"Come on! Show us quickly!"
I really wanted to rip the hair from the MC’s head, truly.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I stretched out my arm, clenching and unclenching my hand, fumbling around as I forcibly squeezed out some aegyo.
"Uh... uh... c-carry me...?"
—Aaaack!!!
—Kyaaack!
...I want to die.
***
Dorm life.
Debut episode.
A music show number-one promise.
Q&A with fans.
After proceeding through the light talk show, the MC organized the mood and spoke.
"Then shall we talk with 'SAVEN' about their debut album? First, what does the album name mean?"
Following the cue sheet, Gong Chaerin answered the MC’s question.
"Yes, the word Aurora comes from Aurora, the goddess of dawn in Greek mythology, meaning dawn! As we debut today, it is an album name containing our wish and ambition to shine brightly by our fans' sides like the sun rising in the sky!"
"Ah~ I see! To me, the SAVEN members are already the sun, but the fans must feel even more so!"
Following the script, the MC and members continued introducing the album and its tracks.
Having talked while listening to all the b-sides, before they knew it, it was time for the final title track.
"Then now it's time to properly introduce the title track 'Rose Nebula' to our Chusers! But before that! Saying 'fans, fans' or 'Chusers, Chusers' by now feels a bit impersonal, don't you think?"
The fans screamed.
Because they were certain the fandom name would be announced.
"Yes! Of course, it might be a bit disappointing and sad that you're no longer Chusers, but the new fandom name is a good one!"
Like the group name, the fandom name had been decided through an open contest.
Following the flow, Eun Sera built up the moment.
"Our fandom name is...!"
The fandom name appeared on the screen.
[SAVEN+AVENUE: Fans who walk the same path as SAVEN]
[Members and fans who watch over and protect each other]
"It's SAVENU!"
Following the clapping members and MC, the fans cheered in unison.
"Waaaah~ I love it~"
"I should say it first! I love you, SAVENU~"
"Ah, I was going to say that too!"
"I love you more!"
And at the perfect timing, the MC cut in.
"Now everyone, didn't I say there's news to deliver besides the fandom name?"
"Yes! Starting tomorrow, SAVEN's official fanclub 'SAVEN-U' will begin recruiting its official first generation! The news will be posted on our official SNS at midnight today! Please check it and sign up lots and lots!"
"Excellent! I think everyone here today will sign up! Right?"
—Yeeees!
"Then returning to our topic, let's hear the explanation for the title track..."
.
.
.
"Now only the long-awaited title stage remains! It's truly a shame, but we'll send the members off to prepare for the stage, and I too should say my goodbyes after introducing the stage."
—Aaaaaah.
"It's a shame. It's sad. It's as sad as the last day. But we have to see the final stage, right?"
MC Jin Taeseop cleverly acknowledged the fans' sighs.
"When it aired, I too, as one Chuser, and as a viewer who watched more closely than anyone! I think it was a truly moving day. I think I fell for the members once again today. I definitely have to join the fanclub tomorrow. Hahaha."
"Now! Then, while we request the last stage, the title track ! I'll take my leave here! It was Jin Taeseop, who was honored to be the MC and the showcase MC! Thank you!"
On the screen, a VCR containing the music video and behind-the-scenes footage played.
***
Under the stage, we had changed into our title stage outfits and put in our in-ears.
Everyone was breathing calmly without a word, waiting for the staff's signal.
Even so, my already-flushed cheeks clearly revealed that my heart was fluttering.
A debut that I still hadn't grown used to.
Did my life's purpose reside within that excitement-filled word?
Did the word debut reside within my resolution to live without regrets?
I still didn't know, but at least when I looked back, the fact that there had never been a time when I didn't love myself must mean I had been satisfied until now.
I thought it proved that choosing at least this moment to be happy wasn't a wrong choice.
"Dohee, are you okay? You're really red."
In the silence, Seoyoon unnie suddenly placed a cold hand against my cheek.
Seoyoon unnie's glistening eyes looked like something straight out of a melodrama.
Of course, I hated being serious.
"It's because my skin is thin and translucent as white jade. Just like my heart."
Seoyoon unnie sighed.
"Sigh..."
Harang unnie, who had been watching, also let out a breath.
"Sigh..."
Hana unnie hugged me.
"Why~ Our maknae is just so pretty, has great stamina, and practices so hard~"
Sera unnie placed her hand on my cheek.
"Right, so cute..."
"No, how long are you going to keep saying that cute thing? Is it a macro?"
"I don't know... it's just cute..."
While the tension was slowly easing.
The staff gave the signal.
"Everyone! You'll be going up in three minutes!"
Yeeun unnie stomped her feet and made weird noises.
"Dohee, scold her quickly!"
"Don't make weird sounds and focus."
"Nice! More!"
"Unnie, shouldn't you go to a mental hospital?"
Chaerin unnie smiled slightly and said.
"Hana unnie, aren't we going to do a fighting cheer?"
"Of course~ Now now, hands together!"
We gathered our lightly outstretched hands.
"Now, we're starting—it's our debut!"
After shouting a light fighting cheer.
We headed toward the stage, behind the screen.
***
The concert hall.
In the darkened silence, only faint screams could be heard.
The keyboards of viewers watching through YouTube Live were clattering noisily.
—Ah, I wanna watch from there too...
—It's a live broadcast, that's something, lol
—Let's go~~~
On the screen, and starting with 7, a countdown began.
The moment the number on screen reached '0,' the members calmly walking out of the school gate appeared on screen.
Dng Dng—
The bass intro signaling the start.
A siren sound transformed by synthesizer rang out.
And when the members on screen passed through the school gate, the screen opened.
The members in red-black street looks, not school uniforms.
Thin body chains faintly visible inside their clothes.
However, still model-student-like black straight hair.
—Wow, the stylist really went crazy... why are the kids so pretty
—Somehow innocent like students but somehow sexy, for real
—The rebellion concept is so good, crying ㅠㅠ
—Ah, f*ck lol this is what a girl group is
Centering on Dohee, the members walked in with provocative steps while maintaining formation.
When the siren sound's pitch rose a notch, Dohee swept her reddish lower lip.
And the screams echoing through the concert hall.
"Aaaaack!!!"
—This is Korea's cutie-sexy visual center
—This one's visuals are really on another level...
—Sorry, I think I'm a lolicon
Dohee's eyes curved, and her mouth opened.
[Someday I'll reach the Seven gift]
[The me that will bloom, just as I am, fit]
All eyes were drawn to the simple, low intoned voice.
At that moment, main dancer Gong Chaerin came forward with a leather jacket half-draped over her shoulders, and the bass rhythm grew even stronger.
[Everything engraved in DNA is new]
[Because the sour taste is always refreshing]
The large formation footwork moving like dominoes following the small beats between big movements felt refreshing, just like the lyrics.
—This is unconditionally the killing part
—Fr, this part feels amazing, dang
—I thought this part was so good, looks like everyone felt the same, lol
—Go Yunjeong made the choreography, lol
[Puzzle pieces of my life, one two three]
[Stardust I'll hold, one two three]
Followed by Jeon Harang's rapping.
Despite the fast beat, the laid-back off-beats placed between downbeats intertwined with the siren sound, diversifying the song's atmosphere.
—Is this the ace of big agency Haru?
—Damn, they're good, lolol
[My happy scent is always new]
[Everything begins anew, rose]
[A place far away where stars are born]
The last verse before the chorus.
Kwon Hana, Kim Seoyoon, and Park Yeeun each belting out a line.
Their distinctive vocal colors stood out even more, contrasting against the solo bass sound.
[New, new, new, shall we start anew now]
[Cue, cue, cue, one step closer]
[Knew, knew, knew, you knew]
[Blue, blue, blue, the resonance spreads and spreads]
Finally, the chorus—Dohee and Eun Sera alternating as center.
The addictive hook repeated with similarly pronounced words, easily lingering in the brain.
Fans who had listened to the audio before the showcase were already following along.
—They said they prepared this song even before Jeodol aired, they really sharpened it well, lol
—Forget firepower and all that, first the song has to be good, and it's damn good...
—It's a song with big corporate capital, lol. I looked it up, it's by a famous overseas composer who often gets on Billboard
—At this rate these kids will dominate the girl group scene for a year and a half, wow...
The show that started with the attention-grabbing hook of being from a big 4 agency.
And participants of unprecedented levels.
Another wave of buzz that began with Dohee.
Girl group SAVEN, debuting while carrying the show's popularity as it was.
The reaction could be seen in the article's headline.
[Unprecedented Debut]