Chapter 53
The title track was ultimately decided to be a song that could showcase a more powerful performance.
Everyone agreed with me and Yujin Kim that we couldn't win with a safe song if we wanted to face Blue Red head-on and win.
'Yeah, let's prepare intensely this time!'
'Well, we prepared almost one song a week during the auditions, what could be impossible!'
Unlike the initial atmosphere where everyone triumphantly shouted, 'It's war now!'.
'Agh, I feel like I'm going to die...!'
'I can't... feel my limbs.'
As soon as we started practicing the choreography, a feast of whining unfolded... but still, the debut preparations were progressing smoothly.
'Is this the power of a large corporation, no, the power of capital...?'
I thought the debut preparation would be done haphazardly due to the tight schedule, but it was proceeding quite systematically and well-organized compared to my expectations.
Compared to when trainees prepared for competitions during the audition, I could feel we were receiving management on a whole different level now.
'Of course, that doesn't change the fact that we're grinding our bodies away.'
Like that, the choreography for the title track was almost finished, and it was about time to start recording the b-sides.
Due to the tight debut preparation schedule, the reality filming team, who grumbled that there would be nothing to broadcast other than us practicing, eventually took extreme measures.
-Please live wearing these clothes for the day.
A large box given to us as we woke up and prepared to head to the company as usual.
And inside the box.
'Isn't this just a sweatshirt?'
'Wait, it looks a bit weird.'
It had a bizarre shape, like two sweatshirts cut and pasted into one.
'It looks like two people are supposed to wear this together...'
Come to think of it, it had two sleeves like a normal shirt, but there was one extra hole at the neck.
'Since there are three sweatshirts, it seems like one person doesn't have to wear one?'
With someone's remark, it was revealed that one person could survive, and a fierce battle of nerves began.
The result was...
"Um, couldn't you narrow your shoulders? Every time I move, it feels like I'm crashing into a wall."
"How do I narrow my shoulders, Yujin Kim...?"
"Haa..."
Hey. If you sigh like I'm being unreasonable, it makes it seem like I'm bullying you...?
What am I supposed to do about having broad shoulders!
"Um, what's the schedule for today? Surely not choreography practice?"
As Kang A-jin, the sole survivor of this bizarre mission, said while holding back a laugh, Sim Sung-ha, who had become one with Park Han-hwi through the sweatshirt, grumbled.
"How are we supposed to practice choreography wearing this..."
"Well, if we try, can't we do it somehow? I think it'll be fun!"
At Park Han-hwi's unchanging ultra-positive energy, Sim Sung-ha looked at Park Han-hwi with a gaze that said, 'What on earth is this person?'.
'That combination isn't actually that bad?'
The combination of Sim Sung-ha, who chattered non-stop, and Park Han-hwi, who entertained it all from beside him, looked good.
While I was looking at Park Han-hwi and Sim Sung-ha and thinking that, a bizarre laughter came from somewhere.
"Heheheheheheheh"
"Hahahahahahahaha"
Looking back, I saw Baek Si-hyun and Woo Jung-woo sitting in the corner of the practice room, making bizarre laughter sounds side by side.
'Are they really okay over there...?'
At the sight of the two who seemed to have a screw loose, Yujin Kim was also looking at them with concern just like me, when...
"Choreography practice is impossible today, so we'll record the b-sides instead of the title track."
At the manager's words, the members frowned and said.
"That's, even worse!"
"You want us to go into the recording studio like this?"
The members, except for Kang A-jin who was still smiling brightly, protested, but.
"Then, do you want to start with choreography practice right away?"
"We'll work hard on the recording!"
"As expected, recording is the best."
The members, who had instantly changed their stance, began to move excitedly to the recording studio.
The sight of two people wearing one sweatshirt together looked a bit bizarre when viewed from behind, but.
'Somehow, it seems like it's not bad for a change of pace...'
In the situation where everyone was exhausted from preparing for the title track so fiercely, I thought an event like this once in a while wouldn't be bad.
"Agh...! Hyung! Your shoulder...!"
Of course, if only this kind of thing was excluded...
After all the twists and turns, we arrived at the recording studio.
"But isn't there a separate producer?"
At Kang A-jin's words, Yujin Kim raised his right hand, which didn't overlap with mine.
"I will take on the producer role today as well."
'Ah, come to think of it...'
One of the b-sides was a song composed by Yujin Kim.
The title was
It was the follow-up song to the one revealed on the National Idol 2nd competition stage, and also a song for We:uS with lyrics added after debut.
Since the genre was a ballad, it was excluded from the title track list early on and included as a b-side in this debut album.
'But if Yujin Kim produces...'
"Now... let's get started quickly. You've all prepared properly, right?"
"..."
Yujin Kim's nostalgic voice, reminiscent of his vocal class during the National Idol days, was heard.
"Again... again."
As expected, recording with Yujin Kim was not easy.
By the time the word "again" was heard about 100 times, Kang A-jin, completely exhausted, barely made it out of the recording booth.
"Haa..."
As Kang A-jin took a seat in one corner of the recording studio with no energy.
Baek Si-hyun, who was waiting for his turn and quietly listening to the flowing accompaniment, muttered softly.
"But it's a shame."
"About what?"
"It wouldn't have been strange if this song was the title track. Rather than coming out as a b-side this time, even if it's later..."
'It is a shame...'
Because it was a ballad, it inevitably couldn't be included in the title track candidates this time. But looking at the song alone, it was definitely too good to just leave as a b-side.
I sympathized with Baek Si-hyun's words, but I could also understand the company's strategy of wanting to include Yujin Kim's self-composed song in this album to gain the title of a self-producing idol.
'It's difficult.'
What was Yujin Kim thinking when he readily gave up this song as a b-side?
Since Yujin Kim usually didn't reveal his thoughts well, I only then started to worry if he had any complaints.
At that time, Yujin Kim, who had been pondering for a moment, spoke as if it wasn't a big deal.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be the title track from the very beginning."
"Pardon?"
"What happens if a b-side ranks first on the chart?"
"First on the chart?"
"I'm joking."
Seeing Yujin Kim say it as a joke and pass it off lightly, my worries lessened a bit, but.
'First on the chart...'
For a moment, I wondered if it could actually be possible.
***
After the date for We:uS's debut showcase was set, time flowed quickly.
Before long, there were only about 10 days left until the showcase date.
Even for the fans who waited only for the debut schedule with high expectations, the limits of their patience began to approach.
-No... there are only 2 weeks left until debut, why isn't there any proper news about our kids?
-Are our kids actually debuting? Nothing's being posted on SNS. It's been quite a while since anything was uploaded on the official channel after the behind-the-scenes video of the last commercial shoot.
-No, even if the schedule is tight, shouldn't they drop something by now?
-I'm going to die first waiting for We:uS's debut... *growl*...
While We:uS remained silent despite the nearing debut schedule.
The first teaser video for Blue Red's title track released a few days ago had already recorded tremendous views.
[BLUELED 'VILLAIN' Official Teaser]
[Views: 6,703,546]
-As expected, even if they get cursed at as has-beens, Blue Red is Blue Red. They're still trendy.
-You can tell they came out with a determination from the title alone. "Curse us if you want, we're villains anyway." Doesn't it mean something like that?
-Seeing this level of firepower even after Daniel left and they had a 1.5-year hiatus, Blue Red definitely isn't dead yet.
-Doesn't this just make We:uS pitiful... If only they didn't completely overlap, they would've gotten first place a few times.
Like that, as Blue Red predicted a splendid comeback with an unusual momentum.
When the even more anxious We:uS fans were quietly venting their frustrations.
-Guys! Guys! The We:uS reality teaser is out!
[Teaser] We:uS's first reality, 'We are We:uS!'
The teaser video for We:uS's first reality program 'We are We:uS!' was released.
In the teaser video, a brief glimpse of We:uS living in their dorm was revealed.
The sight of Yujin Kim and Sunwoo Rin bickering while wearing one sweatshirt together was revealed.
-Waaaaah guys ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-The kids are alive at least ㅠㅠ
-That looks like the dorm? Guys, they're staying in a good place at least... I feel a bit relieved.
-It seems like they've all lost weight from being managed. Feed the kids better, you bad guys!! How is A-jin's leg as thin as my forearm... ㅂㄷㅂㄷ
While fans were relieved to see the We:uS members looking like they were living well in a good dorm.
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Is that to make them get closer? Yujin and Rin are so funny ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Rin's resigned expression and the movement of Yujin's uncomfortable brow are conveyed all the way here ㅋㅋㅋ
-No, our kids are already close! Why make them do this... But it's so cute... Saving it for now.
-Did the other kids wear those sweatshirts too? I want to see it on broadcast quickly ㅠㅠ
Like that, while fans were excitedly chatting, not realizing how time flew, at the first We:uS video released in a long time.
Suddenly, new news was delivered in the community.
-Breaking newwwws! Breaking newwwws!
└What... what? What's going on?
└We:uS...! Teaser video released!!!!!
└?????????
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Looks like this person just woke up from sleeping until now. It's been over half a day since the reality teaser came out ㅋㅋ
-No wait, what is this??? Am I seeing it wrong??? A new We:uS teaser video just dropped?
-No, why is everyone late to the party...???? What... what? It really did drop??
-We:uS title track teaser is out everyone!!!! (Link)
Making the fans' minds hazy, who were soothing their disappointment with the reality program teaser released today.
Without any warning, the teaser for We:uS's first debut title track was released.
[We:uS 'HERO' Official Teaser]
A sky dyed in black and white. Beneath it, a gray city landscape, and at the center, someone standing with their back turned.
The thumbnail of the teaser was subtle to the point where one couldn't tell what this song was about.
When the video was played, the newly decorated We:uS group logo was first seen.
The dark screen brightened, and the video played.
***
A black and white street.
The sight of fast-running cars was seen.
Along with the noise of the city.
Loudly blaring car horns.
Beep beep-
The pedestrian overpass above that congested road.
Footsteps slowly climbing the stairs of the overpass were seen.
Thud- thud-
The figure of the person, whose lower half was only visible at first, began to gradually appear.
The back of a man who went up the overpass was captured on screen.
A black and white background where it was hard to distinguish whether it was night or day.
In contrast to the underpass where numerous cars were passing by, on the empty overpass, someone who was slowly crossing the bridge soon stopped walking and turned their head.
The finally revealed face.
Sunwoo Rin, who stopped in his tracks, was seen slowly raising his head and staring at somewhere.
And the moment Sunwoo Rin put on the headphones hanging around his neck.
-.....
The city's noise and the cars' horns. Even the small sounds of the wind brushing past, all noise stopped in an instant, and a severe silence descended.
The scenery on the frozen road was seen in the black and white screen.
Click- click-
The sound of footsteps heard along with the sight of Sunwoo Rin moving alone in a space where all time seemed to have stopped.
And.
Thump- thump- thump thump thump-
As a resonance like a heartbeat was heard at the same time.
Bzzt-
A noise like something distorting was heard, and the frozen world began to move again.
At the same time, colors like blue, red, and green bloomed in the black and white screen, and the colors consisting of numerous dots began to fill the colors of the objects on the road.
-What do they know about us?
Along with the sound of someone whispering, an explosive sound spread through the speakers.
Kwaaaaang-
Along with the feeling of something exploding, the intense sound of rock music was heard.
At the same time, the screen transitioned, starting with the sight of Kang A-jin in a school uniform sitting alone on a desk in an empty classroom, looking out the window.
The appearances of the We:uS members, who all seemed to be staring at one place, quickly flashed across the screen.
And.
As the music quieted down, a peaceful space inside a house was seen in the transitioned screen.
Ring ring ring ring- Ring ring ring ring-
The ringing alarm sound.
The moment Yujin Kim, who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, opened his eyes at the sound.
Eyes dyed blue.
However, the blue eyes instantly dyed back to black.
Along with the sight of Yujin Kim getting up from his seat as if nothing had happened, the screen transitioned to black.
And letters were engraved on the blackened screen.
[HERO]
[We:uS 0413 12:00]