The Villainous Member Has Returned! Episode 115
* * *
The debut teasing for ToZ, for which Mun Yunha and her division had poured every ounce of their beings into burning with artistic fervor, had already begun, and the public wanted more.
"I'll keep it brief. You all found the member-specific traits hidden on the site yesterday, right? Up to number three."
"Yes…."
"What that means is, today we absolutely must release more concept photos, including the membership cards above those. We've held out for three days without releasing photos, so the fans must be getting annoyed by now."
It was an album with a short preparation period, which meant that in order to show a higher-quality side…
"Today, no matter what happens, everything goes through confirmation. We'll finish all filming before six in the evening, then edit and upload at midnight on the dot."
They had no choice but to minimize wasted time.
"So, the directing will be straightforward. But I won't tolerate anyone getting flustered and crying, their face heating up, and their makeup smudging. I have no intention of coddling a bunch of grown men."
"……"
"If you understand, then whoever's going to cry, hurry to the bathroom and cry it out now. Honestly, you should know I'm looking out for you. Back in the day, I'd just film kids while they were crying. Really, I've gone soft…"
"……"
"…Huh? You're not going to cry? You must be confident you won't cry later? You've got some serious nerve. *I'm* confident I can make you cry."
"I-I'll be right back…!"
"Holy. Siu, let's go together!"
At Director Mun Yunha's sharp, prideful declaration, Jang Siu and Logan hurriedly dashed out of the set.
"Whew…."
Bang Yuchan, who had been watching them from behind, clicked his tongue and put his hands on his hips.
'Being an idol is really no joke.'
Sixth grade of elementary school. Third year of middle school. Third year of high school, the college entrance exam.
And two years of college life supplemented with all manner of part-time jobs.
'I thought I'd met my share of unique and diverse people, and experienced what needed to be experienced. But this is really… different.'
Those thoughts of Bang Yuchan's had to be broken and reshaped anew every single day, thanks to the survival show called
And sure enough.
"And Mr. Bang Yuchan."
"Ah. Yes, Director!"
"Tsk, practice your expressions in the mirror. You don't do this on stage, but when it comes to posing, it's zero. If you're going to be an idol, you should know how to use your face as much as you use your neck and body on stage."
"…Haha, yes! I'll keep that in mind. But, by that, do you mean the photos we took the day before yesterday…"
"We're taking new ones. What can you do? I didn't like the A-cuts we picked, so I threw them all away."
"Wahaha! I'm glad we can take even, even better ones!"
"Thanks for understanding. Do well today, okay?"
After showering them with praise and applause, calling them perfect the day before yesterday, her attitude had flipped like the palm of a hand today.
She was worse than some convenience store nightmare customer who asks for a blue cigarette, then a gold one, then opens the pack and says it's not what they usually smoke and demands a refund.
'I've never met someone like that before. If we officially debut going forward… I might meet even stranger people. Just imagining it is terrifying!'
And as Bang Yuchan steeled himself thinking that, Gao Yan—who was just about to finish his role as a twenty-four-hour temporary manager—handed him a bottle of water and whispered quietly.
"…Good Lord, Yuchan-hyung."
Normally, Gao Yan never let his momentum be broken no matter who stood before him, but faced with this "real" filming, even he couldn't help but be somewhat cautious.
"I thought the greatest dictator I knew was Ji Hwaseong! But the real one was that director. The word 'incarnation of Stalin' isn't enough for her. Probably… Mussolini or Hitler? Hmm, very similar temperament indeed."
That was the one thing he'd seen.
At this fiery remark, the kind where he couldn't even imagine what reaction Mun Yunha would have if she heard, Bang Yuchan nearly panicked and clamped his hand over Gao Yan's mouth.
"Gao Yan. Shh, shh! What are you going to do if she hears?!"
"Mmph! What do you mean, what? Gao Yan's one-day manager experience is ending soon, so I can simply flee immediately."
"You really are something, wow…."
"Ah, I know! For now, this body is still a manager. I shall be careful not to cause harm to ToZ!"
"Exactly, to do that you need to lower your voice…!"
Bang Yuchan, desperately hoping the cold sweat trickling down wouldn't wipe off his makeup, let out a sigh and slowly turned his head in another direction.
"……"
Well. He had been flustered by Gao Yan's shocking remarks, and had intended to re-imprint the atmosphere of the filming set into his eyes, but…
Thanks to what Gao Yan had just said, he'd remembered someone he'd briefly forgotten.
'I wonder if Chunyong and Hwaseong talked to him properly.'
If there was someone he'd unintentionally been paying attention to these past few days, it was naturally Son Jaeha.
Even if not as much as Kim Chunyong and Ji Hwaseong, Bang Yuchan wasn't such a cold-hearted person that he could remain nonchalant after knowing the facts.
'Back then, I said things like that were common to calm Hwaseong down… but frequency and severity don't always go hand in hand. I'm a bit worried.'
He searched with his dark eyes for traces of the one who shared the eldest-hyung line with him.
Wondering if things had gone well.
And furthermore, wondering if there was anything he could do to help.
Because they were one team, and because even if he lacked on-site experience, he was the hyung.
And as he looked like that…
"…Haha, are you looking for me?"
It was only natural that he would be caught by that sensitive and delicate person himself.
"Huh! J-Jaeha? Wow, how did you know I was looking for… no, where have you been?"
"What, what! Gao Yan is surprised too!"
"I went to get my makeup retouched. They said it'd be better to get some ink smudged on my face."
At Son Jaeha, who grinned and calmed him down, Bang Yuchan settled his startled heart and narrowed his eyes.
He had intended to check if Son Jaeha was needlessly suffering again using makeup retouches as an excuse.
However, what Bang Yuchan found in Son Jaeha was not the trace of a lie.
'What is it? I feel like…'
Of course. Even today, Son Jaeha looked perfect despite having some grimy ink lightly smudged on his cheeks for the concept.
Handsome, well-proportioned features and clean skin.
And black hair and pupils that seemed drained of water, the kind that inspired cringeworthy comments like [Isn't that the forest prince? Someone bring poison so I can drink it and collapse].
As always, a handsome face, a mysterious atmosphere.
But today, for some reason…
'I feel like he's somehow more… at ease.'
Definitely his speech, and his appearance. Nothing had changed, yet it felt like everything had changed.
Bang Yuchan, who had been intently studying his face, opened his mouth cautiously, mindful of Gao Yan standing beside him.
"Jaeha. You… um, did you have fun?"
"Yes?"
"I mean, yesterday Chunyong went out for a walk with you for a bit, right? And Hwaseong followed too."
"Aah… that's right. We went out for a bit."
"Wait. Idols. What did you just say? How dare you go for a walk without the manager's permission! Idols are so undisciplined these days! You should have reported to Gao Yan immediately!"
"Ugh, Gao Yan. You're too immersed for a one-day manager. Relax, relax."
While playing a very real joke on Bang Yuchan and Gao Yan in front of them, he waited for the answer directed at him.
"Hmm…."
Son Jaeha, who had opened his lips slightly and hesitated, unconsciously lowered the hand he had been about to raise to his mouth and briefly bowed his head.
"If you're asking whether yesterday's walk was fun."
Then he raised his head again, smiling brightly.
"—It's a secret."
He gave Bang Yuchan an answer that was the same as always, yet differently mischievous.
"Jaeha. You…"
"Ah, Hwaseong is here. We'll finish our additional filming quickly first, Yuchan-hyung. See you later."
Son Jaeha left in an instant.
Movements very familiar with avoiding such situations, and a skilled attitude.
'The same. It's the same, but… ah.'
Bang Yuchan, who had been staring blankly at that for a moment, came to his senses at the sound of Gao Yan chattering beside him and replied.
"Uh, Gao Yan. What did you say?"
"I said the manager whose contract is ending soon is very worried. Didn't I say that team ruined the pair cuts the day before yesterday and had to reshoot! It seems Gao Yan's mental care is urgently needed."
"…Well. Mental care."
Bang Yuchan carefully smoothed his well-styled hair so it wouldn't get disheveled, smiled his own refreshing smile, and responded quietly.
"I appreciate the thought, but I don't think I need it."
"What? Why! This kind of premium service isn't something just anyone can receive? Gao Yan only does this for family—do you not want it?"
"Haha, that's not it! It's just, it's better to do something that good at the moment it's truly needed."
That's right.
At the moment it's truly needed.
A smile quietly settled in Bang Yuchan's deep, clear eyes.
Within the pupils settled there…
Ji Hwaseong and Son Jaeha naturally playing jokes on each other while shooting their pair cut.
And Kim Chunyong, who was right beside them conducting his individual membership card filming with bright red hair, were fully reflected.
Bang Yuchan, who had spent twenty-one years outside the entertainment industry one way or another, could be certain.
He didn't need Gao Yan's mental care right now.
And probably not going forward, either.
"Mr. Yuchan, we're going into your next individual cut! Please get ready!"
"Yes!"
All that remained now was perfect preparation for ToZ's debut.
* * *
While the ToZ members were each doing their best in their respective places.
SNS and online communities were likewise packed to the brim with people bursting with impatience to mention them.
[Isn't ToZ's concept drop too similar to the unit song from the last regular album? Am I the only one who feels that?]
[⎿Same, I think so lololol A young cowboy appearing alone in a desolate wilderness… Our Juyeong absolutely killed it, so it'll suffer in comparison, sob poor things~]
[⎿Looks like it's just you guys!! It's kinda pathetic to speculate based on just one site when the concept photos haven't even dropped yet haha]
[⎿⎿I said I thought that, why are you picking a fight? Go your own way, Zenia-nim. Oh, you don't even know if that dog name is your fandom name or not? ㅠㅠ Sorry, fan of a survival show-born idol who doesn't even have a proper fandom name yet!]
[⎿⎿⎿ You even know what the dog name is, you must care so damn much, really mind your own comeback]
The online lunatics who were already arguing whether the concept overlapped or not based on a single teaser site.[Male Idol #1 Tutor @Mega_Sky11I'd like to talk about ToZ's teaser site and concept, which have made many idol fans excited and jealous this time.]
[⎿First, the teaser site. Director Mun Yunha maximized her strengths. Beautiful aesthetics, and stimulating curiosity. The more you dig, the more comes out. You think it's the end, but it keeps coming.]
[⎿At night, as it gets darker, the fluorescent spray painted on the collar is revealed. And if you press that collar, detailed information about the ToZ members' traits is written there, different from the daytime version.]
[⎿That the scar on the back of Kim Chunyong's neck was from falling while dancing in the past, and that Logan likes soccer because he was so impressed by an Everton FC match he went to with his parents in the past.]
[⎿What impressed me most was that Jang Siu hates his own birthday on December 23rd. He said it's not Christmas or Christmas Eve, just awkwardly in between, so he hates it.]
[⎿Did I put too much fan sentiment into it? However, all of it was necessary. Fans come to treasure information like that. This teaser site is a treasure chest for Zenia (still a guess, but almost certainly the fandom name) whom Mun Yunha has been waiting for so long.]
[⎿And by mixing those elements with a Boy Scout concept that has quite a youthful vibe and revealing them mysteriously, it stimulates the curiosity of 'just what is this story?' Very clever.]
[⎿Honestly, I was worried because ToZ's teaser came out so late, and it was revealed that one member of Wiz, Queens' new male idol group, is the son of actors Ahn Myeonguk and Baek Yeonghyeon.]
[⎿At this rate, ToZ is really worth looking forward to. Personally, this time I want to root for ToZ over Wiz.]
[⎿ㅇㅇ @RTRTGODY This bastard is always a troll who says the kids he's interested in are better, yeah. Anyone would think he's a fucking real industry worker lolol dude, male idol fans fucking hate you, please stop running your mouth!!]
[⎿Male Idol #1 Tutor @Mega_Sky11@RTRTGODY. In my previous analysis, I objectively stated that ToZ could be in a precarious position because of Wiz. I am not favoring either side. There is a flaw in your statement.]
[⎿ㅇㅇ @RTRTGODYWhat, why are you replying? Don't reply ;;]
The sharp confrontation between an armchair expert with strong pride and an attention seeker whose daily bread is tearing others down.[@logaaaanUKUKPlease, it's time for photos to drop now. Honestly, releasing one trait every day isn't enough feed. I won't be satisfied until I see our RoHoly's face and hear his voice.]
[⎿Give me feed on whether he dyed his hair, cut it, grew it out, whether he's still handsome, whether RoHoly participated in lyrics and composition for this album, more more more!!!!]
[⎿Please… if there's even one RoHoly song, I'll buy 30 albums and apply for a fansign right away. I'm ready. I even made a separate bank account.]
And even pure fans who just wanted to see their bias quickly and were thinking of nothing but raising firepower through album purchases and music streaming.
And because Mun Yunha knew all of their hearts.
That night.
[@logaaaanUKUKShit, it dropped]
[⎿Logan's perm is insane I'll just die oh our puppy has curls]
Not only the Boy Scout membership card ID photos and concept photos of the ToZ members…
[ToZ(Target of Zenón)- 1st mini album 'Six-leaf Clover' Mood Sampler]
The mood sampler, containing all of Mun Yunha's artistic philosophy that presented both the direction and identity that the team called 'ToZ' would move forward with, was also revealed together.