Chapter 57
The first thing Hong Yoon-ah saw after playing the music video was the scenery of a gray city.
'Isn't this the vibe I was thinking of? And... black and white?'
A black-and-white screen.
She had confirmed it was Weers' official music video, so Hong Yoon-ah hadn't clicked on the wrong one.
'Have there been music videos like this lately? It's unique from the start.'
She thought the colors would return once the intro was over, but the black-and-white screen continued even when Seon Woo-rin appeared for the first time.
-Faintly felt sensation at the fingertips
In this stopped time
Blooming gray lilacs
On the rooftop of a building in the middle of the city.
In a place where it was hard to tell if it was night or day because of the black-and-white screen, Seon Woo-rin's back was seen standing against the backdrop of the vast city.
-In the future diary containing today
My hidden self
Slowly draw it again
The scene shifted, showing students leaving school,
And Kang A-jin standing blankly in front of them, watching the students leave like a background.
The peculiar thing was that the members who appeared after this were also keeping their distance from the people around them.
'I feel like I roughly understand what the concept is...'
A black-and-white screen and the members staring somewhere out of focus.
The first singularity appeared when Eugene Kim's eyes were close-up on the screen.
Eyes shining with a blue circle.
-Reclaim what was lost
As the chorus came out, the members were seen dancing on a huge set made entirely of white space.
-With a hero in my eyes
Wake me in another dimension
The sight of Weers dancing in a group to the intense music conveyed an even more mysterious feeling, perhaps due to the visual aesthetics.
'Is the center Seon Woo-rin? Something really stands out.'
There was a separate member who danced the best, but perhaps because of the intense vibe from his eyes, he had an extraordinary presence.
After the first chorus ended, the members looked a little different.
Sim Seong-ha was seen taking out a diary and marking something.
Woo Jung-woo was walking endlessly through a dark underpass.
And Baek Si-hyun and Park Han-hwi passing by each other.
Reflected in the eyes of the two who immediately turned around at the sense of incongruity, each other's blue eyes.
At that moment, the music stopped.
When everything on the street stopped and silence arrived...
-What do they know about us?
Along with Eugene Kim's words whispered as if looking at his reflection in the glass, the glass window slowly cracked. And Eugene Kim's reflection in the glass split into multiple directions.
At the same time, the huge space made of white.
While the members were dancing there, particles fell like sand dust, cracks began to form on the wall, and colorful lights poured out from beyond the wall.
-With a hero in my eyes
Wake me in another dimension
To the even more intense chorus accompaniment, the seven members were seen dancing passionately.
-The gaze visible beyond the open door
You've already realized it too
The music, which seemed like it couldn't climb any higher to its climax, endlessly maintained its peak section amidst the feast of high notes belted out by the two main vocals, Eugene Kim and Woo Jung-woo, as if competing.
'How are they going to end this later? Is this even possible live?'
The song consisted of a breathless succession of performances to the point where she was worried while watching the music video.
Finally, the set began to collapse,
The white wall became thousands of shards of glass, reflecting the members dancing.
Amidst the cataclysm that occurred as if two dimensions were mixing.
Along with the blooming colorful lights, the landscape of the evening city that had regained its colors was reflected.
The scene changed to the rooftop of the building where Seon Woo-rin, who was the starting point of the music video, was standing.
On it, the last choreography ended with the red sunset.
When the sunset shone and half-covered the members' faces, a person slowly approaching the camera was seen.
-We're heroes
With Seon Woo-rin's small whisper, the screen went dark.
'Are these guys newly debuted rookies?'
Hong Yoon-ah let out the breath she was holding and thought.
As for the overwhelming visual aesthetics, that depends on how much was invested in the music video, so she'd let that pass.
Their ability to handle the performance or the song didn't look like rookies at all.
'The last scene... I want to see it again. Is there no live?'
Contrary to her initial thoughts, Hong Yoon-ah was already searching for Weers' 'HERO' live video.
***
Weers' first music broadcast schedule was naturally Music Station on Music Net.
Music Station, broadcast on Thursday, was the first program to air among all music broadcasts.
Weers' music broadcast debut was already scheduled as a pre-recording for Music Station.
And the day Music Station aired was also the day Weers' fans, who had once tried to catch up with Blue Red's music ranking for the showcase stage effect, were waiting with determination.
-After the Music Station stage ends, let's definitely recapture the 1st place on the music charts!
-Blue Red won't appear, so there's plenty of possibility.
-Although I didn't get audience tickets, I'll be streaming hard from home ㅠㅠ
-Before Blue Red appears on a music broadcast, this is a golden opportunity...
The reason fans were looking forward to this so much was that they were convinced Blue Red wouldn't appear on Music Station.
Due to the issue with Blue Red's agency, which had a bad relationship with Music Net from the past, Blue Red had never done a comeback stage on Music Station.
If Blue Red didn't appear on Music Station this time either, the buzz would inevitably focus on Weers, who would be doing their comeback stage first.
While the fans were expecting that.
Two days before the Music Station broadcast, the lineup for this week's Music Station was newly announced.
[COMEBACK! Blue Red]
-What...? There was no Blue Red in last week's preview?
-Isn't that lineup wrong? Why is Blue Red doing a comeback on Music Station?
└No, it looks like it's correct. It just went up on Blue Red's SNS that they're appearing on Music Station.
-Then... Weers and Blue Red will stand on the same stage on the same day?
Contrary to everyone's expectations, Blue Red announced a comeback stage on Music Station for the first time.
And on Thursday.
The broadcast day of Music Station, featuring Blue Red and Weers, finally arrived.
***
Ahead of the first pre-recording stage of Music Station. We were waiting at the broadcasting station since dawn.
Music Station was something I had experienced once during my national idol days, so it felt a little familiar.
But the pre-recording taking place since dawn seemed impossible to get used to.
"Yaaawn! What time is it now?"
"There's still a little time left, sleep more."
"Yees..."
When Kang A-jin, who was lying dead on the waiting room sofa, suddenly jumped up, Park Han-hwi, who was sitting next to him, pushed Kang A-jin back onto the sofa and covered his eyes with a sleep mask.
And on the sofa next to them, Sim Seong-ha and Baek Si-hyun were sleeping soundly, leaning on each other's shoulders.
"Aren't you tired, hyung?"
"I think I'm too nervous to sleep."
Next to Park Han-hwi, who answered with a smile, was the peel of Woohwangcheongsimhwan, though it was unclear when he ate it.
When I looked that way, Park Han-hwi, with a startled expression, hid the trash and said.
"Ah, this? They said it makes you less nervous if you eat it."
"Hyung, you weren't this nervous during the last showcase."
"I didn't feel nervous at all then, maybe because I was out of it. Music broadcasts feel a bit different... But I'm okay now."
Seeing Park Han-hwi like this for the first time, I had a newfound thought that even Park Han-hwi gets nervous.
Well, it's a pre-recording stage anyway, so it shouldn't matter.
And looking around, I wasn't the only one awake besides Park Han-hwi.
Hmm hmm hmm-
I saw Woo Jung-woo quietly warming up his voice in the corner of the waiting room so as not to disturb the sleeping members.
Given it was a pre-recording in the early morning, if not now, there would be no time to warm up his voice.
Is this the fate of a main vocal...
But.
"Eugene, are you okay without warming up your voice?"
I said to Eugene Kim, who had been staring at his phone screen for a while, unlike Woo Jung-woo.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Is this what talent is?
Even though he probably hadn't slept for a few hours, his clear voice was heard as usual.
Seeing Woo Jung-woo looking a bit stung by Eugene Kim's words, I thought maybe I shouldn't have asked.
Anyway, even though they were both main vocals, the two had very different styles.
"But what are you looking at so intently?"
At my words, Eugene Kim showed me his phone screen.
On Eugene Kim's phone screen, I could see the ranking chart of a music site.
"Have you just been looking at this the whole time?"
"Hyung, if you have nothing to do, please join us in streaming our album."
"..."
Eugene Kim was truly amazing in many ways.
Left with nothing to say, I took out my phone and joined the music streaming.
"Guys. It's time to go up."
When the manager came into the waiting room and gave the signal, the three sleeping members opened their eyes wide and got up from their seats.
And before us, as we went up on stage.
Waaaaaaah-
Despite it being the crack of dawn, fans letting out tremendous cheers welcomed us.
Below the stage, I saw fans holding the temporary lightsticks handed out at the showcase, and
fans waving their hands fiercely even without lightsticks.
"Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming to the pre-recording today!"
"Thank you!"
When I greeted them first, the members followed suit and greeted them.
It might sound like a meaningless expression of gratitude, but personally, I felt genuinely thankful to the fans who came here from dawn.
We waited comfortably in the waiting room, but the fans must have been standing in this set the whole time.
Thinking that, with a grateful heart, I focused on looking at them to remember each and every face as much as possible.
And perhaps a little of my feelings were conveyed.
I could see joy spreading across the faces of the fans who met my eyes.
"Isn't our set so cool?"
A-jin, you're cooler!!-
Our kids are the best!!!-
When Kang A-jin spoke while looking at the set prepared by Music Station, fans' reactions poured out that were different from Kang A-jin's intention, but...
'The set really looks like they spent quite a bit of money.'
The white set decorated with crystal-like materials reminded me of a scene from the music video.
It was probably a set possible because it was Music Net.
If we went to another broadcasting station, they wouldn't treat us this well.
'That's still the case, though.'
After this activity is over, if we beat Blue Red...
Well, that's for later.
Right now.
'Focus on the stage.'
After the short communication time with the fans ended, we started the stage right away.
-With a hero in my eyes
Wake me in another dimension
The gaze visible beyond the open door
You've already realized it too
The intense choreography of 'HERO' continued. While we were dancing amidst the even more intense cheering enthusiasm of the fans than that choreography.
At the very front of the stage, Park Han-hwi, who was matching the choreography with me, suddenly slipped and lost his footing.
Ugh...!
Because we were at the very front of the stage, that scene was directly visible to the fans.
When the fans' voices, momentarily startled by Park Han-hwi, were heard.
Without even time to think, I pulled Park Han-hwi's slipping arm with one hand while still executing the choreography.
Park Han-hwi, who quickly regained his balance, naturally continued to the next choreography as if the slip had also been part of the choreography.
Waaaaaaah-
Cheers erupted at the sight of the two of us.
Of course, a mistake was a mistake, so this scene would probably be edited out in the main broadcast, but.
-We're heroes
Even after finishing the stage, the fans' cheers continued endlessly.