Chapter 72
"Could you wait a moment?"
At Yoojin Kim's proposal, the company officials showed flustered expressions while glancing at us, then excused themselves and stepped out of the meeting room.
Only the members of WEUS remained in the now-empty meeting room.
Yoojin Kim had a face deep in thought.
And the other members...
"Hyung, do something about this!"
They were all looking at me, not Yoojin Kim, asking for a solution to this situation.
I sighed inwardly as I looked at the members' faces, then spoke to Yoojin Kim who was lost in thought.
"Yoojin?"
"Yes...?"
"Do you happen to have a song in mind for the title track?"
At my words, Yoojin Kim slowly nodded.
"But what do you mean you need two weeks? Is it still unfinished?"
"Yes, it's unfinished, and there's also a bit of a problem besides that."
"A problem?"
What was this about now?
I asked Yoojin Kim again at the unexpected answer.
Then Yoojin Kim furrowed her brow as if troubled and answered.
"I do have a song I composed thinking of it as the title track. And I'm confident that the song I composed is better than the demo tracks we just heard."
It was a confidence level that would make someone who didn't know her think she was arrogant.
Of course, the members of WEUS including myself knew what kind of person Yoojin Kim was, so rather than thinking she was arrogant, our first thought was that she was amazing.
'If Yoojin says so, it must be true.'
Yoojin Kim's composition skills being amazing was already a proven fact.
The solo album she released when active in America also received good reviews.
And didn't she achieve better results with the b-side track "Our Spring" on WEUS's first mini album than the title track?
'That's why the company officials are out there worrying like that.'
But what kind of problem could Yoojin Kim have?
Requesting two weeks didn't match Yoojin Kim's usual confident attitude.
"Hmm... If you've composed the song, can't you just play it for the staff?"
"I wanted to let the members hear it first before revealing it to the company. Honestly, even if I make the song, we all have to perform it together if we're going to promote it. I wanted to tell the company after everyone agreed."
'She wanted to let the members hear it first...'
Listening to Yoojin Kim's words didn't resolve all my questions.
But putting aside the discussion with members, the biggest problem right now was ultimately that the song wasn't fully completed, wasn't it?
"Then if you have two weeks, is it certain the song will be completed?"
"That, I can't guarantee."
"Hmm..."
At Yoojin Kim's honest answer, I thought for a moment before continuing.
"Then how about giving up this time and using that song for the next album? The preparation period for this album seems short probably because of the summer concert. It would be too unfortunate if we had to give up our first concert because the album preparation got delayed."
At my words, the other members all seemed to be thinking various things, silently pondering.
Yoojin Kim's expression didn't show any particular change either, but her silently thinking appearance seemed a bit unsettling to me.
'Perhaps her feelings were hurt?'
No matter how nicely I said it, I was essentially telling Yoojin Kim to give up this time.
It wouldn't be strange if Yoojin Kim's feelings were hurt.
I had brought it up because my head said it was the right thing to do. But the worry that I should have taken the member's side kept circling in my head.
As I was looking at Yoojin Kim with such worries.
"I think I was being a bit greedy. You're right, hyung."
At Yoojin Kim's answer, I let out the tension I had been holding and quickly continued speaking to change the atmosphere.
"Then when the staff come back, let's tell them that. Shall we choose a title track from among the songs we heard earlier? The faster we decide on a title track, the easier the album preparation will be..."
"But, Rin-ah."
As I was quickly continuing my words toward the members.
Park Hanhwi, who had been quietly listening all along, suddenly spoke up.
"Yes?"
"I don't think we need to rush to decide first like this. The company won't be able to decide today anyway. Most of all, I want to hear Yoojin's composed song before deciding."
"Hmm, so you mean to delay the decision a bit?"
"That's right."
At Park Hanhwi's words, the conversation went right back to square one.
Since Park Hanhwi was someone who would always smile and let things pass without saying much no matter what happened.
Him expressing his opinion like today was quite rare, so the other members were also looking at Park Hanhwi with slightly surprised expressions.
After Park Hanhwi's words, silence lingered inside the meeting room for a while.
Not long after, the staff who had left the meeting room returned.
"Since this isn't something we can decide right away, I think it would be good to talk about it again tomorrow."
With the staff's words to delay the decision, just as Park Hanhwi had said earlier.
In the end, we returned to our dorm without making any particular decision, ending the meeting.
***
The way back to the dorm was unusually quiet.
'I'm not bothered at all, so why...?'
I could see the other members glancing at me.
Even Shim Sungha and Woo Jungwoo, who would normally talk nonstop even while moving, were both quiet today, watching my mood.
Could they be thinking I'm in a bad mood?
Thinking that staying in this down atmosphere wasn't good, as soon as we arrived at the dorm, I gathered the members to the living room.
"Alright. Everyone, gather in the living room!"
At my words, the members were seen huddled together on the sofa in the living room.
Looking at the members like that, I immediately got to the main point.
"Before we talk in earnest, I think I tried to decide things too much on my own earlier. I'm sorry, everyone."
"Ah, no!"
"Hanhwi-hyung is right. We should listen to the song first and then think. So. Yoojin, could you play the song for us first?"
At my words, Yoojin Kim, who had been thinking for a moment, soon nodded and answered.
"It's not finished yet, but I'd also like to hear what everyone thinks after hearing this song."
Yoojin Kim said that and took out her phone, placing it on the table.
"Then I'll play it."
As Yoojin Kim played the music with her words, the sound of music echoed through the quiet dorm.
The members and I appreciated Yoojin Kim's new song with serious faces.
'Hmm... this is...?'
As the song flowed, various emotions appeared on the members' faces.
Kang Ajin with a face still unsure, and Shim Sungha making a complicated expression as if finding it difficult.
And Park Hanhwi listening to the music with an admiring face from beginning to end.
While the other members were also appreciating the song with their own characteristics.
The song exceeded a full 4 minutes, and finally ended only when it approached 5 minutes.
"Wow..."
"It feels novel."
"Something different from the songs so far, a new feeling?"
After the song ended, everyone seemed to feel similarly.
'How should I put this? The song is definitely good, but it doesn't feel like an idol song...'
One thing was certain - no matter how I thought about it, it didn't have a mainstream feel.
I could understand why Yoojin Kim wanted to hear the members' opinions first.
'I guess she wants us to take on the challenge together.'
To take this song as the title track, even putting the company aside, it seemed like we would need the members' full support.
As I was worrying after listening to Yoojin Kim's music.
In the quiet atmosphere, Park Hanhwi opened his mouth with an excited expression.
"Yoojin, is the part in the middle where the sound is empty because it's still unfinished?"
"Yes, that's right. I haven't put in all the orchestra parts yet."
"You're going to fill it in with an orchestra? Wow, I didn't think of that..."
I could see Park Hanhwi admiring as he listened to Yoojin Kim's words.
As the two were talking like that, Baek Sihyun soon joined their conversation.
"If it's this kind of song, how about incorporating modern dance into the choreography? Rather than a typical K-pop dance feel, I think it would be better to approach it more artistically."
It seemed various pictures were drawn in her head as soon as she heard the song, as Baek Sihyun talked about the choreography.
Seeing the three people seriously discussing the music, my head became increasingly complicated.
At times like this, it seemed inevitable that my lack of knowledge about music would show.
'Hmm, is that song really okay?'
I felt confused because I couldn't make a proper judgment.
I wondered if there was anything that could help. Then I remembered one method.
'There were remaining characteristic points...'
There were characteristic points left over from purchasing 'Leader's Whipping' last time.
And one characteristic that caught my eye when I entered the characteristic shop.
-Sharp Intuition
With sharp intuition, you can feel a different sensation from others.
Might it help with your choices someday?
There were also music-related characteristics, but since there were limits to what could be obtained with 1 point, for now, this characteristic seemed a bit more appealing.
'It seems like it might be useful later too.'
In the end, I purchased the 'Sharp Intuition' characteristic from the characteristic shop.
-Acquired the 'Sharp Intuition' characteristic.
With this, my remaining characteristic points were 0. But right now, our next title track was more important than that.
After obtaining the characteristic, I didn't feel like anything had changed.
But thinking that I might feel something different when listening to the song, I said to Yoojin Kim.
"Yoojin, could you play the song one more time?"
At my words, Yoojin Kim played the song again.
After listening to the song once more.
'Huh... I'm even more confused?'
It felt like nothing had changed from before obtaining the characteristic. No, rather, trying to deliberately feel something while listening, the song sounded even stranger.
'Did I just blow away the characteristic points?'
As I was thinking that. Suddenly I felt something strange.
"Guys, I think this song will definitely do well if we go with it. What does everyone think?"
Seeing Park Hanhwi speaking with confidence.
'For some reason, I want to believe those words...?'
This feeling that everything would be resolved if I just believed Park Hanhwi's words.
A feeling I hadn't normally felt.
'What is this? Could this be the effect of the characteristic?'
-Due to the 'Sharp Intuition' characteristic, you can sense the energy of Park Hanhwi's characteristic '???'.
'What's with those question marks?'
The status window message visible before me.
I looked back and forth between Park Hanhwi, who was smiling brightly, and the message on the status window.
Then I asked Park Hanhwi.
"Hanhwi-hyung, you're confident this song will do well, right?"
"Of course."
"Why? Just because the song is good?"
"That too, but... to be honest."
As if telling an important secret, Park Hanhwi lowered his voice and spoke.
"All the songs I've thought would do well so far... have succeeded without exception."
"Come on, what's that about?"
"Hanhwi-hyung seems to be becoming more like Jungwoo-hyung. Your bluff is increasing."
"What are you talking about! Why am I bluffing...?"
The other members took Park Hanhwi's words as a joke. But to me, who had seen the status window message earlier, Park Hanhwi's words sounded significant.
"So you're saying all the songs that Hanhwi-hyung thought would do well actually did well? Is that certain?"
"That's right."
"Come on, Rin-hyung, are you seriously believing that?"
At my words, I could see the members looking at me in disbelief.
But from earlier, a strong feeling had been transmitted to me that I should believe Park Hanhwi right now.
"Alright. Then I think it would be good for me to try to persuade the company as much as possible with Yoojin's song too."
"Really?"
At my sudden words, the members looked flustered.
Even I thought my change in attitude was too abrupt, but the reason could be fitted however I wanted.
"Since we successfully built up our recognition during our debut activities, I think it's good to try an experimental song for this promotion. If not now, it'll become increasingly difficult to make such attempts."
At my words, I could see Park Hanhwi nodding vigorously.
Already Park Hanhwi, Yoojin Kim, and Baek Sihyun - these three seemed to have their opinions aligned.
All that was needed was for the remaining three members to agree.
"I'll follow what you hyungs say."
"I also like taking on new challenges!"
"Well, if it fails, we can just do better next time."
Kang Ajin spoke first.
And positive answers came from Shim Sungha and Woo Jungwoo as well.
"But, will the company allow it?"
"We have to try."
"The CEO will probably make the final decision. Will the CEO come to tomorrow's meeting too...?"
At the mention of the CEO, the other members' expressions rapidly darkened.
"Hmm, I think I need to do personal practice tomorrow."
"I feel like I had a personal schedule tomorrow."
"What are you talking about. Where is tomorrow's schedule...? Ah! Right, there was that... hahaha... I don't think I'll be able to go to tomorrow's meeting either..."
I sighed as I looked at the members making a fuss and said.
"Don't worry, I'll be the one to talk to the CEO."
"Wow! As expected from our true leader!!"
"I believed in you, leader...!"
"Leader Rin! Leader Rin!"
I could see the members changing their stance in an instant.
"But don't expect too much. Nothing has been decided yet. Yoojin, focus on completing the song for now. No matter how good the song is, it's hard to push back the entire comeback schedule."
"Yes, I understand."
Well, if it doesn't work out, it can't be helped, right?
I recalled the face of the CEO, whose thoughts I could never figure out, and thought inwardly.
'Surely... they won't get angry, right?'
I said it confidently.
But honestly, the CEO was still a bit scary to me too...