Chapter 91
[WE-US, successfully concludes sold-out Gocheok Dome solo concert mobilizing 44,000 over two days... Now onto Asia.]
[WE-US 1st Asia Tour starts. 9 performances across 7 countries, starting from Hong Kong to Tokyo.]
[Scorching heat delivered from Bangkok, WE-US proves top-tier popularity in Asia.]
[WE-US, first Asia tour finale concert in Tokyo, Japan.]
[WE-US, crowned K-pop trend.., mobilizes around 100,000 audience for first Asia tour.]
After finishing our first solo concert at Gocheok Dome. We had been running non-stop, digesting a relentlessly busy schedule through September and October.
WE-US's first Asia tour.
Almost 1 or 2 times a week. A schedule of moving between countries to conduct the tour.
The pressure of the first overseas performance and the first Asia tour was only momentary. From the second performance onwards, it felt like I just left my body to the schedule and stood on stage in a daze.
‘Still, it's a relief it ended well without any accidents.’
There were minor episodes experienced here and there during the tour, but anyway, we safely completed the first Asia tour.
After spending such a hectic September and October, we finally finished all tour schedules and arrived at our accommodation.
“...”
“It's home...”
Some members who would normally be jumping for joy were keeping quiet since earlier, perhaps not wanting to break this peaceful feeling today.
‘We're that exhausted, too.’
“Alright, kids, there's no other schedule for today, so get some good rest...”
Listening to our manager hyung's words, the members slowly entered the accommodation.
We tossed our luggage roughly into our respective rooms and gathered around the sofa as if we had promised to.
The members who gathered around the sofa soon looked at my face without saying a word.
It was something I experienced every time, but today I said it with a little more intense emotion.
“Rest!”
“Oh, yeah...!”
“Let's rest...!”
With the short answers, the members seemed to regain a bit of vitality.
“But are we doing a W-app live to commemorate entering the dorm today?”
“Let's rest today.”
“The fans will understand...”
“Instead, how about taking pictures later and uploading them to SNS?”
“Sounds good.”
Even when told to rest, work-related talk always came out first.
Even now.
“So until the end of the year, we'll be focusing on album preparation and individual schedules, right?”
“How's the song production going?”
“Well... not yet.”
“I mean, we didn't have time...”
Once again, when told to just rest, the album talk was brought up first.
I wondered if this really counted as resting, but well, it was also something we needed to discuss among ourselves first.
For reference, the next album would likely be WE-US's first full album.
The two mini-albums released previously.
Both achieved incredible results that were hard to believe for rookies, but a full album was another challenge.
It wasn't simply at the level of preparing more songs than a mini-album.
‘Because it could be the album that determines WE-US's musical color.’
I thought the first full album would become the indicator setting the direction of our future musical activities.
“There's a lot to do.”
“Still, it'll be better than the Asia tour.”
“I admit that...”
The conversation had circled back to the starting point.
Well, we could talk about the album slowly later.
When I was thinking that.
“Now that we're back from the Asia tour, winter is creeping in.”
“This year is almost over...”
“Around this time last year, we were all trainees.”
“Ugh, it's terrible just thinking about that time.”
“That was exactly a year ago.”
The members suddenly brought up the audition story.
Actually, thinking of the audition brings up some not-so-pleasant memories, but still, wasn't it the audition that made us debut as WE-US?
Of course, that's not what's important right now.
“This is Season 3, right?”
“That's right, since we were Season 2.”
“Are we finally getting direct juniors?”
“Whoa... direct juniors!”
As the members said, National Idol Season 3 is starting anew.
Since Season 2 was a massive hit, I naturally thought the next season would come out.
‘Has it already been a year?’
Now that the day had actually arrived, the feeling was a bit subtle.
***
[Sunwoo Rin, Kang A-jin]
I saw the names written on the door.
“Wow, hyung, we have our own waiting room!”
“Isn't that obvious...?”
“No, it's just... it feels fascinating.”
I kind of understood why Kang A-jin was acting like that.
During our trainee days, let alone a waiting room, we had to wait endlessly in the empty spaces on set.
‘Well, it's not like we've returned as trainees.’
Right now, we were at the filming set of National Idol Season 3.
It was none other than the first filming of National Idol. We were here to participate as special judges for the rank evaluation.
“Let's go in first.”
“Yes, sir!”
I entered the waiting room with Kang A-jin, who seemed to be in an excited mood.
There was still plenty of time left before the main filming.
However, as someone who had experienced it once and knew roughly when today's filming would end, I quickly took a rest as soon as I entered the waiting room.
‘Within today... is absolutely impossible. I wonder if I can get home before lunch tomorrow.’
Originally, when I heard a new season of National Idol was starting, I was prepared to some extent.
With WE-US doing so well, there was no way the broadcasting station guys would leave us alone.
I had been thinking that.
‘But I didn't expect to be dragged in from the very first filming.’
Under the title of special judges, we were participating in today's first rank evaluation.
Well, it's not like they want us to judge seriously.
They probably just want us as figureheads plus some buzz generation.
I heard the production team originally tried to cast me and Eugene Kim, but Eugene Kim dropped out under the excuse of album preparation.
Instead, I ended up coming with Kang A-jin.
“Hehe, judging... I feel kind of nervous.”
Seeing Kang A-jin speaking with a nervous voice beside me, I wanted to tell him, ‘We're not judging, we're just going to sit there...’ but.
Since the manager was sitting next to me with an even more worried expression, I figured it would be fine even if I didn't say it.
“A-jin, you must never say anything that could cause controversy when judging today. Especially since they're female trainees...”
Listening to the manager's endless nagging like that, it was finally time for us to enter.
‘Are we almost the last?’
The massive set visible from afar.
I could see nearly 100 trainees sitting on the set, which rose like a pyramid.
The judges' seats in front of the stage.
There, familiar faces from last season had taken their seats before us.
Kyaaah-
WE-US seniors...
As we gradually approached the set, the murmuring voices of the trainees began to be heard.
“It's really amazing even seeing this after a long time.”
“Right...”
Muttering like that, I went up onto the set with Kang A-jin, who was already a bit exhausted from the manager's thorough mental education.
Hello-
The trainees stood up all at once and bowed toward me and Kang A-jin.
I always used to just be the one greeting, so standing in the exact opposite position felt somewhat strange.
“It's the WE-US kids!”
“Hello, guys!”
“Long time no see, everyone.”
And I saw the judges greeting us as they looked at us.
“Hello!”
“Have you been well?”
Greeting them back, I slowly approached the judges' seats.
“Wait, Teacher Na-hee, you were glaring fiercely just a moment ago, and suddenly your expression brightened up?”
“What are you talking about. Rin, have you been well?”
“Yes, Teacher, long time no see.”
I smiled and shook hands with Kim Na-hee as she approached me.
A moment that felt like PTSD.
The broadcast would probably overlap this with my first meeting with Kim Na-hee...
Starting with Kim Na-hee like that, I exchanged greetings with the National Idol trainer teachers whom I hadn't seen in nearly a year.
“No, if I met you on the street, I wouldn't have recognized you. How did you get so handsome?”
“I heard you finished your Asia tour well this time.”
“When is the next album coming out? Are you preparing for it right now?”
As soon as I sat down, countless questions poured in from all around.
Anyone watching would have thought we were the main characters of today.
Of course, it's true we're popular right now, but...
‘It feels like they're doing it even more on purpose.’
Even without turning around, I could feel the intense gazes.
From our perspective, just as the debut group of this Season 3 would be our direct juniors, the trainees were probably feeling some special emotions looking at me and Kang A-jin.
“We were probably sitting around there... Rin hyung, do you remember?”
Hearing Kang A-jin's words, memories of when the four of us—me, Kang A-jin, and the Bu-ssi brothers—prepared for the stage together came to mind.
And the action that suddenly came to mind: ‘Achoo.’
‘Hmm, without a doubt, that scene will be broadcast again too.’
While I was recalling my dark history from the past.
The owner of the last empty seat in the judges' section, following us.
Yoo Dong-wook, a former idol-turned-actor who was the main MC for this Season 3, entered the set.
A sense of tension soon began to linger in the noisy set.
“Now then, National Idol Season 3. Let's take a look at the stage of the first rank evaluation starting now.”
Finally, with Yoo Dong-wook's hosting, the stage of the first rank evaluation began.
“Hello, we are from MUM Entertainment...”
Just like a year ago, the unremarkable stages of trainees from each agency unfolded.
‘Nothing special.’
I was watching the stage, wondering just how many stages were left to go.
“Hello! I am individual trainee Kang So-hee!”
The first individual trainee to appear.
The trainee who introduced herself as Kang So-hee appeared on stage.
‘She's alone?’
Unlike the stages of the agency trainees that continued earlier, seeing Kang So-hee come out on stage alone started to build some anticipation.
‘Usually, when you come out alone, it's either a complete flop or a huge hit.’
The other judges seemed to think similarly, looking at Kang So-hee with interested eyes.
“Trainee Kang So-hee wrote WE-US as the idol senior she respects the most,”
“Yes! I really respect WE-US seniors!”
A stiff answer that sounded heavily disciplined.
‘Is that kind of thing a concept too...?’
Kang So-hee's answer, which seemed to have too much forced energy, was heard.
“Then, with WE-US members sitting right here in front, aren't you more nervous?”
“I... I'm so nervous!”
“Hahaha, Trainee Kang So-hee is very nervous because of you two, how about a message of support?”
Kyaaaaah-
When Yoo Dong-wook looked at me and Kang A-jin and spoke, screaming voices started pouring out from the trainees in the back.
“Don't be nervous and cheer up!”
“Don't be tense and please show us your best as much as you've prepared.”
“T... Thank you,,,!”
Kang So-hee was seen answering with a moved expression at the words of me and Kang A-jin.
“Now then, if you're ready, please start right away.”
“Yes! Understood!”
When Kang So-hee, who answered vigorously, took her posture on stage.
Familiar music started playing.
-With a hero in my eyes
Wake me in another dimension
‘It'll be hard to sing alone.’
The song of WE-US's debut title track ‘HERO’ flowed through the set.
Kang So-hee dancing to the music...
‘What... what is this?’
A dancing skill that sounded like creaking sound effects coming from her whole body.
It was more shocking than any other stage so far.
“Uh... huh?”
I heard Kang A-jin's flustered voice next to me.
-The gaze seen beyond the open door
You've already realized it too
‘She's trying hard, but.’
The harder she danced, the more pathetic it looked.
Her singing skill itself wasn't bad, but her dancing skill was truly the worst.
While everyone was in shock watching a girl's clumsy floundering like that.
-We're heroes
The stage, which somehow felt longer than any other, came to an end.
I first observed Kim Na-hee in the judges' seats.
Kim Na-hee's eyes burning fiercely.
‘Oh no...’
I didn't know why she had to say she liked us the most and even chose a WE-US song.
This stage was at a level where I absolutely couldn't defend it.
‘Farewell.’
As I was looking at Kang So-hee, who seemed like she would soon become Kim Na-hee's prey.
In the short silence, Yoo Dong-wook spoke first.
“Um... well, we saw your hardworking appearance well.”
“Thank you!”
Hey, that's not a compliment.
When I was holding back what I wanted to say and quietly watching, Yoo Dong-wook suddenly looked at me and Kang A-jin.
“You chose a WE-US song, so how did the WE-US members see this stage?”
‘U-us?’
The opportunity for an evaluation suddenly passed to us.
I'd rather they let the dance trainers with their horrific expressions speak first if possible...
But since Yoo Dong-wook specifically pointed at us, I was about to have to speak about this stage first.
“Uh... I...”
I saw Kang A-jin unable to hide his flustered expression, hesitating and swallowing his words.
I felt like I had no choice but to speak first.
‘Phew...’
After sighing deeply inwardly, I grabbed the microphone and opened my mouth.
“First of all, Trainee Kang So-hee?”
“Yes, sir!”
When I called her name, I saw Kang So-hee looking at me with a nervous expression.
I thought about what words I could use to express this stage as mildly as possible. Then, I slowly spat out the words.
“Out of all the stages I've seen today... it was the worst.”
“Ah...”
‘I guess this much is enough?’
I was going to end the negative evaluation there and bring up something like, still, her singing skills weren't bad, so she should practice dancing harder.
Drop, drop.
If there had been a sound effect, this is probably how it would have sounded in my ears right now.
As for what this sound was...
It was the sound of Kang So-hee's tears falling.
In other words.
‘I... I caused an accident.’
I had messed up.