Chapter 68
We were currently heading to Narita Airport in Japan.
The reason WeUs's first overseas schedule was arranged...
wasn't because our CEO suddenly went crazy about advancing into Japan!
It was to participate in the annual K-pop Concert IN JAPAN hosted by the CL Group.
The K-pop concert, held for three days at a concert hall in Chiba Prefecture, mostly featured idol singers in its lineup.
‘For us, it's practically mandatory participation.’
Since it was hosted by the CL Group, it was an event WeUs had no choice but to participate in unconditionally.
Still, for a rookie group, just being able to participate in such a concert was a great opportunity.
Since this trip to Japan would mark the end of our debut album promotions, we were heading to Japan without any particular complaints.
"Ah, I'm so nervous, so nervous..."
"We're not performing right away today, why are you so nervous?"
"But it's my first time performing overseas. Aren't you nervous at all, hyung?"
Kang A-jin, sitting in the seat next to me, spoke with a slightly flushed expression.
"Well. Maybe because it hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm fine for now."
As I spoke to Kang A-jin, I looked around at the members sitting nearby.
Yujin Kim, sitting alone away from us, was quietly reading a basic Japanese conversation book.
Baek Si-hyun, who had been excited even before going to Japan, had been grinning broadly and walking around like a completely different person since we boarded the plane.
Now, he had taken out a Japanese travel book and was explaining this and that to Park Han-hwi sitting next to him.
‘Um... we won't have time to go sightseeing separately.’
Baek Si-hyun probably knew that too. I figured he was just happy about the fact itself that we were going to Japan to perform, and let it slide.
‘Well, we might be able to at least look around the city after the concert.’
For Baek Si-hyun's sake, I should subtly ask the manager later.
And, Woo Jung-woo and Shim Sung-ha...
"No, the angle should be slightly around 30 degrees. Yeah, the left side of the face seems to come out better."
"Would it look more natural to wear sunglasses, or is it better to hang them around the neck like this..."
The two of them had been having an in-depth discussion for a while now about how to look cooler when getting off at the airport.
Of course, from my perspective...
‘Please don't do this outside, guys...’
As the leader, I only felt vicarious embarrassment.
I'd definitely need to keep my distance from those two when we get off.
While I was thinking that, we finished our short flight and arrived at Narita Airport.
"I wonder... did people come to see us?"
"Come on, wouldn't there be at least a few?"
"No, don't count your chickens before they hatch. There might be no one."
Listening to the members' conversation, I swallowed a laugh inwardly.
To think that fans would be waiting at an overseas airport for a group that debuted a little over a month ago in Korea.
It was too wild of a thought.
‘Well, wouldn't at least a few reporters come?’
Thinking that, we headed toward the arrival hall.
But as we got closer to the doors leading outside, the atmosphere felt unusual.
"Don't you hear people murmuring outside?"
When Baek Si-hyun said that, the other members wore expressions of disbelief.
"Nah, probably not."
"Right. Airports are usually a bit noisy anyway..."
At that moment, the gates of the arrival hall opened.
Kyaaaaah-
"W-what is that?"
In front of the arrival gates,
looking as if they had been waiting for us, we saw people holding papers with welcome messages written on them.
In a situation I couldn't understand, I instantly looked around and spoke to the members.
"Wait a minute, guys. At times like this, we need to be even calmer. Quickly check if there's another famous person behind us."
"There's no one behind us...?"
"Hurry up and accept reality... Can't you see it says 'Welcome WeUs' over there?"
When Yujin Kim spoke, the messages people had written finally started to become visible.
Welcome messages written in Korean in crooked handwriting.
Occasionally, I saw my name too.
-Sunwoo Rin, I love you!
-Welcome to Japan, Rin!
-Sunwoo Rin, smash the Earth! Smash the universe! Smash Japan too!!
‘Wait, what do we do if they smash Japan...?’
I frantically sent a signal to that fan—afraid I'd become a traitor to my country—to lower the placard, but
Kyah-
perhaps my gesture acted as a detonator, as the fan waved the placard even more enthusiastically.
While I was thrown into confusion by the sight of that one fan,
the other members spoke with bewildered expressions.
"Anyway... is it okay for us to just walk out?"
"Shouldn't we properly greet the fans?"
As we were panicking in this first-time experience,
the manager signaled us to quickly greet them and get out.
In the end, we waved to the fans and started to quickly make our way out of the airport.
"Thank you for coming all the way here to greet us!"
"See you at the concert tomorrow!"
Exchanging simple greetings, we could see the line of fans following us as we moved.
Thanks to the fans taking photos and following us, Woo Jung-woo and Shim Sung-ha were able to get as many of those coveted airport photos as they wanted.
And when we finally boarded the waiting car, we relaxed a little and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew, is everyone safe?"
"Of course..."
The members' faces looked exhausted in that short amount of time.
Ah, of course, excluding those two.
"Kyahahaha! Our popularity has already conquered Japan!"
"At this rate, aren't we already Hallyu stars? Heheheheh."
I wanted to object to what the two were saying so triumphantly, but
the situation at the airport was certainly very impressive to me as well.
"So there were fans in Japan too..."
As Baek Si-hyun muttered in wonder, Yujin Kim spoke up from next to him.
"It's probably because of National Idol."
"Huh? Because of National Idol?"
"I heard National Idol Season 2 was quite a hot topic in Japan too."
The conversation between the two also cleared up my curiosity.
After all, although it had only been a month since our official debut, it had already been quite some time since we appeared on broadcast through the audition program.
"Then a lot of our fans will come to the K-pop concert tomorrow too, right?"
At Kang A-jin's words, tension began to fill the car again.
"I didn't expect there to be so many fans in Japan."
"I really need to work hard tomorrow..."
It was the moment our first overseas activity, which we had come to with relatively light hearts, shifted into a strange atmosphere where we felt we absolutely had to do well.
‘If that's the case, I need to do this properly too.’
I didn't expect to get an opportunity to use it so soon right after acquiring the trait, but
shouldn't I properly utilize what I have anyway?
‘I'm also curious about how strong the trait's ability is.’
Looking at the members burning with enthusiasm, I said to the manager.
"By any chance, do we have any other schedule after arriving at the accommodation today?"
"Huh? No, rehearsals start early tomorrow morning, so I didn't schedule anything for tonight."
"Then could you look for a space near the accommodation where we can all practice together?"
"Uh? You're going to practice today?"
At my words, I could see the manager and members looking at me in surprise.
"Everyone's saying we need to work hard. Working hard only in words is meaningless."
-The leader's spurring is activated.
"Let's cause a proper sensation on tomorrow's stage."
***
Day 2 of the three-day K-pop Concert.
WeUs, having finished the rehearsal that started in the morning, was waiting for the stage with eyes full of fierce intensity.
‘The effect... is quite good...’
It was only a brief time yesterday evening up to today's rehearsal.
It wasn't a very long time, but looking at the members now, the effect of the newly acquired trait was very certain.
‘Everyone's gazes are intense.’
Eyes that said they were going to smash that stage to pieces.
A tension similar to the final round of the audition was circulating in this waiting room.
And not long after, audiences began entering the massive concert hall that could accommodate over 10,000 people.
The K-pop concert was broadcast live in Korea on MusicNet, and live-broadcast nationwide in Japan through a private broadcaster.
That stage opened with the first act.
With over 10 teams participating in this concert, WeUs was set to sing a total of two songs.
"Shall we get ready now?"
"Yeah, let's get up."
Our turn, the last act of Part 1, drew closer.
We quietly exchanged glances and headed toward the back of the stage.
"So, what are we going to do on today's stage?"
"Let's tear it up for once."
"Yeah, we need to firmly imprint that we are WeUs."
It was time to go on stage.
The moment I said my final words to the members.
-Currently, WeUs members' morale is at 100%.
-Members' latent abilities are temporarily activated for this stage.
-Due to the effect of the trait 'Telepathy', a random trait is activated. The trait 'Concentration Enhancement' is activated.
I saw the status message floating before my eyes.
Kyaaaaaaaah-
With the cheers, the stage of the girl group before us ended.
At the same time, the stage device in front of us opened, and the sight of the massive concert hall began to unfold before our eyes.
Thump thump-
Listening to the intro music of 'HERO' that started with intense drum sounds, we slowly walked toward the stage.
The concert hall was filled with cheers upon our appearance.
We could see fans holding up and waving WeUs's slogans at head height all over the venue.
And finally, the moment we reached the very center of the stage.
Along with the short intro.
The stage for 'HERO' began.
***
While the K-pop Concert was in full swing in Japan,
WeUs fans in Korea were looking up news about WeUs's trip to Japan to soothe their disappointment.
-WeUs Narita Airport Arrival Scene (Photo)
└Wow... are those all actually Japanese people? Was WeUs this popular in Japan?
└I know National Idol 2 was aired by Japanese broadcasters and got decent viewership, but that level of popularity is still a bit surprising.
-I live in Japan, and WeUs's debut album got quite a response here too.
-Crazy, hasn't it not been long since WeUs debuted?
WeUs's Japanese airport arrival photos started becoming a hot topic in the community.
Most were surprised by WeUs's popularity in Japan and showed positive reactions, but
as it is everywhere, there were also people pouring out negative reactions upon seeing others do well.
-Aren't those not local fans but just Koreans gathering? It was always like that originally.
-How is WeUs popular in Japan? I'm hearing that for the first time.
└They're probably starting media play from the agency now to promote in Japan later.
While people were showing various reactions to WeUs, which had once again heated up the community through its Japan trip at the end of its promotions,
the second day's stage of the K-pop Concert began.
When WeUs's stage was broadcast live, WeUs fans could no longer hold back and went completely wild.
-Aaaaaaaaaaah! They're performing so well on stage!!!
-I should have been there ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-How do they improve even more while promoting??? Is WeUs really a god...!
-They devoured the stage... They turned the Japanese archipelago upside down...
-Please we need a concert in Korea too ㅠ Come back quickly... ㅠㅠ
The WeUs members who had grown even more compared to when they were in Korea.
And the heated response at the venue reminiscent of a solo concert.
All of that made the fans waiting for WeUs in Korea incredibly excited.
While WeUs fans were losing their minds watching the K-pop Concert stage,
-Wow... crazy! What is this?? (Photo)
└Hul, daebak...!
└Is that Japan's real-time search rankings?
A captured photo posted on the community showed the real-time search ranking of a Japanese portal site.
-WeUs settles in the top 10 of Japan's portal site real-time search rankings!
With just a single stage, WeUs had intensely etched itself into the memories of Japanese K-pop fans.