The Malicious Member Is Back! Episode 132
* * *
The next day, naturally, there was only one person whose face looked refreshed.
“Did everyone sleep well? I slept on the sofa, so I feel a little stiff… but it wasn’t bad, haha.”
It was Kim Chun-yong, wearing a face brighter than ever as he patted the shoulders of the members lying dead over the dining table.
In truth, it would have been stranger if he hadn’t felt refreshed.
“One, two, three! Three-six-nine! Three-six-nine! Ultra three-six-nine!”
“No, Yongyong hyung. What the heck is ultra three-six-nine!?”
“Ah, if you don’t know! You learn! While drinking! Ultra three-six-nine! But Hwaseong is a minor… so Yuchan hyung, will you drink in his place? Haha. I saw this on the internet too, but if you mix soda and beer—”
“Ugh, please, Chun-yong…. Hyung, no. We were wrong. We’ll never suggest a drinking party again! This really isn’t it!”
After all, he had wrapped up the drinking games he had excelled at even in his past life spectacularly, he hadn’t drunk enough to give himself a headache, and even though he’d slept on the sofa, he’d done so thoroughly equipped with a checkered blanket and even cushions.
“I made bean sprout soup. Yuchan hyung, Jaeha hyung. Do you want some?”
“You don’t need to ask about that. Bring it to me right now. Please…!”
“…
I’m begging you, Chun-yong.”
At the miserable sight of the two eldest, pale-faced and clutching their foreheads, the others covered their mouths with their hands and whispered in small voices.
“Wow, damn. I thought the thing Yongyong hyung was best at was dancing… I never dreamed there’d be one more thing. No, was that really someone playing drinking games for the first time? And he can’t cook, but somehow he makes snacks just fine!”
“That’s what I’m saying. Come to think of it, didn’t Jaeha hyung say before that everything Chun-yong hyung makes is either sweet or salty? Is this what you call, like, natural talent? Right?”
“But it was too greasy… My stomach is, ugh. Not feeling great either….”
“…
For now, the rest of you should have some bean sprout soup to settle your stomachs. I’ll go buy some digestive medicine and hangover cures.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you!”
“Why are you saying thank you when you’re completely fine, Yongyong hyung! You demon!”
And so, while the five members of ToZ and one manager came to designate Kim Chun-yong as “the demon of drinking parties who doesn’t drink.”
[A Prepared Major Rookie… AG, Is This Time Different? “ToZ Showcase Preparations Are Already Complete”]
[The Debut Showcase of ToZ from
[Similar Timing, Concepts on Different Levels? A Deep Dive into Rookie Boy Groups ToZ vs. Wiz]
Online spaces, agency insiders, and various media outlets had not had a moment’s rest as they buzzed over ToZ’s debut showcase, scheduled for the following day.
On top of that, the previously released music video teaser and concept photos were adding fuel to the fire.
[AG Trading Company @HARDWARE_store
(Photo)(Photo)
Guys, it’s my wish, please look at Jaeha and Mr. 火seong’s main concept photos… The fountain pen Jaeha was holding in the MV teaser shows up here exactly the same, and the two of them are whispering to each other?
Based on my many years of analyzing Moon Yunha, it feels like only those two are exchanging a super secret, covert secret. In my opinion, I think the two of them stole the dog]
[⎿Isn’t this seriously reading way too much into it]
[Top Male Idol Instructor @Mega_Sky11
There’s only one day left until the debut showcase of ToZ, the group currently drawing the most attention among male idol fans on social media.
I’m very much looking forward to it as well, so before the showcase, I thought I’d point out some interesting parts of the music video teaser and concept photos.]
[⎿First, aside from the ones clearly designated as “individual shots,” all the concept photos seem to feature two members together. It really makes you say, as expected of Moon Yunha, who has emphasized chemistry between members since she was overseeing Serenia.]
[⎿What I found interesting was how that aspect was incorporated into ToZ’s album and concept this time. Here, Moon Yunha very cleverly gives us hints through the number two.]
[⎿When doing something, it feels easier with two people than alone, right? Yes. Each pair of members is a candidate for accomplices.]
[⎿With Son Jaeha and Ji Hwaseong’s main items appearing to be a fountain pen and a kerosene lantern, Kim Chun-yong and Logan’s a Swiss Army knife and a guitar, and Bang Yuchan and Jang Siu’s a necktie and a hand shovel, we can use the items shown in the MV teaser to suspect who the culprit is and who helped.]
[⎿With the fandom name confirmed as “Xenia” through a statement made during member Kim Chun-yong’s live broadcast, I’m curious whether the culprit will be revealed clearly tomorrow when the showcase and music video are released. I’m really looking forward to it.]
[⎿Tae, Let’s Play @taeiiiiya
Top Male Idol Instructor, do you perhaps have any plans to post an analysis of Wiz’s member reveal cuts?? I’m curious what you’ll say about our Tae ㅠㅠ]
[⎿Top Male Idol Instructor @Mega_Sky11
I’ll try writing one after ToZ’s showcase ends tomorrow. Thank you ^^]
There had been attention on them back when Arrows won the rookie award too, but the heat had not been at this level.
At the time, the public had definitely paid more attention to Wiz from Queens, which had a firmer position as an idol agency than Arrows did, and in fact, Wiz had also won more rookie awards than Arrows.
‘Since so many things have changed this time, it makes sense that attention is focused more this way. I can completely understand it.’
While slurping down bean sprout soup, Kim Chun-yong checked articles and social media reactions with a light heart.
Before, he had tried to be more analytical and keep a close eye on how he should act next, but….
Well.
“Ugh, my god. Even the soup is sweet and salty. At this rate, I feel like it’ll only make my stomach feel greasier…!”
“Yuchan hyung, just pick out the bean sprouts and eat those. I’ve been eating it like that, and it’s a bit better.”
“Eww… Seriously, this is really too much. Even I would be better than this!”
“I’ll be really honest, I thought Logan was like the symbol of the prejudice that ‘British people eat terrible food,’ you know? But I admit it this time. Logan really would be better than Yongyong hyung.”
“Hyungs, Chun-yong hyung will get hurt….”
Was it because he had learned that the members grumbling like that had done such a cute thing yesterday in order to get to know him better and lessen his burden?
“I think it’d be good to cut back on things like that now.”
“…
Pardon?”
“Monitoring and checking reactions and stuff. Mm, I don’t think that’s your job. Originally, I was going to do it, but you told me not to.”
“…….”
Kim Chun-yong, a faint smile on his face, quietly slipped his phone into his pocket and leaned back in his chair.
Of course, in order to fulfill the terms of his contract with X, he intended to keep checking steadily from now on too.
“…
No, is it really that sweet? I think it’s just normal.”
“This won’t do. Yongyong hyung, don’t go into the kitchen unless you absolutely have to. Seriously, just let me catch you! Ugh, maybe I should throw out all the sugar.”
“Mm… Normally I’d say you shouldn’t talk to Hwaseong like that. But today, it can’t be helped.”
“Guys. Hyung will definitely go throw out all the sugar today. No, maybe we should install some kind of alarm that goes off when Chun-yong enters the kitchen.”
“Haha, you’re all too much, seriously!”
Because when they had conversations like this, it really did feel like he should relax his shoulders a little.
* * *
[ToZ: Six-leaf Clover Premiere Showcase]
On the day of the showcase, at the live hall where a pale green banner bearing those words fluttered.
“Please move slowly! Don’t run! If you run, you’ll get hurt! If you end up on the blacklist, you’ll never be able to get into broadcast recordings again!”
“If you’re going to tell us not to run, then let us in faster…!”
“Excuse me, what did you just say!?”
Leaving behind the fans and reporters slowly entering through the main gate, there were two middle-aged men moving from the underground parking lot to the elevator.
“Whew, it shouldn’t be this hard to see your face. Hm? Have you been well? Were the business trips manageable?”
President Do Jaechan, who was thoroughly excited by the fact that his second idol group was debuting, and….
“…
Business trips are all the same, aren’t they? What would be different?”
Director Shin Giho, who had returned to Korea after a little less than two months.
Between the two, who had only communicated in writing since the moment ToZ was born on
“No, that’s not true. Up until now, you only went to China, didn’t you? I heard the very air is different between America and China.”
“Yes, and that also implies that President Do does not personally move for the company’s practical work, so it would be best to refrain from saying such things outside if possible.”
“Hah, even when you say something, honestly….”
Of course, it was only “more than before.”
In any case, good was good.
“Ah, you’ve arrived at just the right time. Both of you, please come this way. We’ve set aside seats for you….”
Following the guidance of the internal staff member, the two men moved toward the VIP seats, and different emotions appeared on each of their faces.
“Huh… This was the same stage for our swans too. This feels nothing if not strange.”
For one, anxiety and anticipation.
A desperate yearning that “this time,” they would definitely do well.
“We deliberately chose this place. Avoiding the space from back then would only mean we were scared.”
For the other, ambition to make this succeed no matter what, and a subtle sense of emptiness.
However, both of them were thinking the same thing.
“It’ll go well, okay? They said the kids practiced hard. Do you know how much I hounded our A&R team?”
“It will go well, of course. Do you know how much I suffered while I was in America, even with the time difference?”
That ToZ would definitely do well this time.
— “The premium showcase for Target of Xenon, ToZ, will begin shortly. We ask all attendees to take and remain in your seats.”
At the announcement ringing softly through the venue, President Do Jaechan fixed his gaze on the stage again and muttered in a low voice.
“Director Shin.”
“Go ahead.”
“The new idol group coming out from Queens this time. I heard that originally Kim Chun-yong was supposed to be a trainee… no. That Kim Chun-yong was supposed to join them.”
“Yes. When I investigated later, I heard he had been cut from the debut lineup.”
“…
You know. What if our kids suffer damage because they’re debuting too? No, well. It’s not something I should say right before the showcase… but worrying is my job, you know.”
“…
Ha.”
At President Do Jaechan suddenly making a confession to him, Director Shin Giho touched the front of his hair, slicked neatly back with wax, and replied in a cynical voice.
His hand was already checking his work phone.
“It seems you’re saying that because of the video of that group that was suddenly released last night, but that is truly a pointless thought.”
“I told you, worrying is my job!”
“If that were going to happen, I would have tried hard to move to another industry long ago. Instead of scheduling a business trip to America right away, as you said.”
He slid his phone toward Do Jaechan and raised the corners of his mouth with an arrogant expression.
“Either watch the stage, or watch the music video that will be released soon. Please do one of the two. If I’m going to analyze the stage situation, it helps if there’s no talking beside me.”
“Really, what kind of person….”
Even as he said that, President Do Jaechan obediently took the phone from him and was entering ToZ’s official WeTube channel.
Although there had been a major conflict before, after LadySwan’s failure, it had been Director Shin Giho who rebuilt AG, which had been tottering, through the strength of solo singers and actors.
The fact that he had come to Korea for this showcase while in the middle of a business trip meant a great many things.
It meant that Director Shin Giho had judged ToZ would do well enough for him to ultimately withdraw his thoughts of leaving AG, and that he would exert his strength for that purpose.
‘…
Since that picky, black-hearted man thinks so, I should believe it this time.’
On the phone in President Do Jaechan’s hand, the countdown began to slowly rise over the real-time premiere video.
[3… 2… 1]
[ToZ - 1st Mini Album ‘Six-leaf Clover’ Title “Hide and Seek” MV]
And so, the moment the music video for “Hide and Seek” was released, beginning against the backdrop of an old map.
— Hi, Xenia. How was your day?
At the same time, the same voice rang through the live hall….
――And onto the stage, where pale yellow-green spotlights poured down, appeared the six men receiving everyone’s expectations.