The Malicious Member Has Returned! Chapter 136
Every teaser, concept photo, mood sampler, and music video that had been released up until now.
In the heads of fans who had watched all of this, along with a sense of relief that their idol had finally debuted, one question began to blossom.
[Is the ToZ showcase over now? It's still ongoing, right? People who haven't seen it, come out for a bit. I still don't fully understand the music video contents; let's talk together]
[⎿222 At the end, a dog jumped out from the wooden floor of the house where ToZ lives together, and they even did a zoom-in on the dog... But nobody went toward that wooden floor, so what the hell is it?]
[⎿⎿The puppy's cute heh]
[ㅇㅇ @qkqanjajrwl
Video: Beauty (a deep bow in Mun Yunha's direction)
Song: Freaking good (no need to stream it on mute)
Concept: Dope (i'm crying tears of joy that they'll perform on stage in those outfits)
So: If nobody stole it, why was the dog gone?]
Using eeriness as a base could earn a lot of extra points for piquing curiosity, but if there was no clear answer, it could become a minus.
No matter how well-made a movie is, open endings always divide opinions.
However, fortunately, the work called 'Hide and Seek' that ToZ created under Mun Yunha's direction had a clearly defined ending, and if one paid a little attention, they could easily find that answer.
[Title: Compiled everything about ToZ's MV and what's come out so far.
Did you all watch the MV well? I was bawling my eyes out at Bang Yuchan's face so I watched it kind of hazily... The song is good and the dance is freaking good; i'm on a dopamine overdose right now. These guys really 'have it'...
Anyway, I'll wrap up the intro around here and talk about the concept story everyone's confused about. You remember the first teaser site that was released? And the mood sampler too?
All of ToZ really really liked Jenia and wanted to steal it, and conspired with their partners (Hwaseong+Jaeha / Chunyong+Logan / Siu+Yuchan)
But!! Even after conspiring like that, they each secretly thought about stealing it alone!
But because they really liked it, in the end nobody stole it... Pure love is crazy.
In the MV, Kim Chunyong tried to secretly unhook the leash behind Logan's back, but just cut meat for him with a Swiss Army knife instead; and Son Jaeha tried to secretly untie Jenia's leash behind Ji Hwaseong's back, but just rewrote the name tag with a fountain pen instead. I'll let these explain instead. (Photo) (Photo)
Even Bang Yuchan turned a blind eye to Jang Siu trying to secretly steal it... They're shoving this relationship down our throats. Giving 1 thumbs up to Mun Yunha today too.
Now, back to the main point.
But why did the dog disappear? This is actually a very simple reason. The song title is Hide and Seek from the start lolololol.
Jenia (Not me Yes, cute bark bark Jenia)
Already saw ToZ whispering amongst themselves because of it, and judged that this was the start of the game. The reason I think this way, I'll explain with the photos below instead. (photo) (photo)]
Just like this.
Some people immediately began touring communities and SNS with the answers to the story they had put forth as soon as the music video ended, and that naturally affected ToZ's showcase, which hadn't ended yet.
[Right, just now at the showcase, Kim Chunyong just straight-up told us nobody stole it. Crazy]
[⎿ Please, can I still watch it? Give us the showcase link, consider it saving a person's life]
[⎿⎿Do some searching, sir. If you type WTube, it all comes out]
[⎿No, I went into WTube and only replayed the Hong Kong guy and Japanese guy reviewing the MV like 3 times. That stuff's drugs, you can't quit it]
AG, which had matched the showcase start and music video release time simultaneously, had been cursed at with words like 'They still haven't come to their senses,' but this time, that judgment was correct.
- "Good heavens. There is no culprit at all? Then, then! What was the penalty that the wrong person between Gao Yan and me would receive?"
- "Ahem, that is no longer important, Ryota. We must envy the red carpet laid out before ToZ, band together tightly with the thought that we will do better, and move forward...."
- "Wait, wait! I saw it, I saw it! What is this, Gao Yan? A strange mascot costume prepared only in my size! You coward, you planned to make only me take the fall from the start!"
- "Make someone take the fall? Where on earth did you learn such words, Ryota!"
- "Hah, I can finally say the words Gao Yan always says. 'My Korean, I taught it myself!'"
A shameless promotional push through creators from the same agency that grabbed people's attention.
Countless mentions bursting out all at once on communities and SNS.
All of this fitting together so appropriately....
"Yeonu? What are you watching right now?"
"Mhm. There's some stuff I wanted to check."
"Huh, isn't that the music video of the rookies debuting from AG this time? Yeonu, you don't even watch our juniors' MVs properly...!"
"Haha... well, you know I watch everything if I think it'll help me. You know that too."
Even those who had been interested in ToZ from the start.
"—Hey, An Tae-i. Stop fiddling with your phone and hurry up. Your debut is right around the corner, so what the hell are you spacing out over?"
"Sorry, sorry! It's nothing else, just, well. Gathering materials? I'll go once I finish watching this. Uh... I think it'll take 10 minutes!"
"Gathering materials, my foot. I'm already dying of a headache because of our debut timing, and where are you spending another 10 minutes?"
"Haha, Danu, you... You always act so fastidious. Gathering materials is important too."
"...It really is important."
Even those who knew of ToZ's existence but hadn't paid that much attention to them.
Very clearly, it left a deep impression.
And, at the same time.
"Then, we've listened to your words along with the reporters' questions until now. We shall conclude this showcase with the final song. From Target of Zenon's 1st mini album, the track 'Boyhood ending'!"
The ToZ showcase that had been racing toward the name of debut was slowly showing its end as well.
* * *
[Male Idol #1 Instructor @Mega_Sky11...
Thus, ToZ's journey of suspecting yet protecting each other, relying on each other while searching for Jenia, actually ends by revealing the fact that 'Jenia' hid on its own.]
[⎿I didn't know they'd pay off the foreshadowing that had been slowly building up until now, and the title 'Hide and Seek,' so pleasantly like this. What was most impressive was the fact that Jenia only appeared after ToZ eventually put aside all their suspicions toward each other.]
[⎿ToZ is a group created through the idol survival show
[⎿Therefore, it meshes with the b-side track 'Boyhood ending' and the overall theme, explaining the direction ToZ will take going forward...]
"...Phew."
Lying on his bed and looking through SNS, Kim Chunyong soon roughly tossed his phone beside him and let out a tired sigh.
Watching the reactions plastered all over SNS and communities? Good.
Eating out using the corporate card chance CEO Do Jaechan gave while bawling that he "didn't know ToZ would pull it off this well"? It's good.
But, more than anything, the problem is....
"...I'm so tired! I feel like I'm going to die. Is it because I'm nervous? No, I was definitely nervous when I performed during
"I... Do-yo. I can't move a single finger...."
"Please, someone erase my makeup for me! I don't want to move a muscle while lying down!"
"Mhm, Logan. Don't be like that; if you just go into the bathroom first, it'll help. Your body will move on its own."
"I want to speak maturely like Jaeha does, but today...! I wish someone would erase my makeup for me!"
Yeah. That.
They're saying it's so, so hard.
"Keo-heok...."
Listening to the voices coming from the rooms scattered here and there, Kim Chunyong, who had washed up first and flung his body onto his bed as soon as he arrived at the dorm, rubbed his face roughly against the pillow.
Truthfully, his body wasn't that exhausted.
As Ji Hwaseong had cried out, they were already fairly used to the stage itself thanks to the
But.
"Ah, I'd like to ask Yuchan a question. There's a famous rumor that you entered Korea University's Applied Music Department as the top student. If you don't mind, what is your secret to passing the entrance exam?"
"...Yes? My secret? I just... sang... hard, ugh. I'm sorry. My tongue is twisted!"
"I'll ask Hwaseong. I heard you came from Daegu. But your dialect isn't very noticeable; did you fix it consciously?"
"Why would I fix my dialect... haha! No! It's just, after being in Seoul for a long time, it decreased. Yes. It decreased. I've never 'fixed' my dialect!"
"Then, I'll direct this question to Logan. Logan? Your Liverpool accent isn't very noticeable in your speech, so fans are very curious. If there's a separate secret to it, please tell us...."
The press section reporters who now looked at them as proper idols and rushed to create headlines were a bit of a problem.
"Siu, Siu! Did Jang Siwon come to cheer for you today? Because of your older brother who is already a very successful idol, you must have felt a lot of pressure!"
"Haha! As the MC, I'll let this one pass. Yes. Siu has received quite a lot of questions until now. Uh... anyone with a question for Chunyong?"
"—Chunyong. You must have suffered a lot because of the rumors that blew up during
"This too! I'll pass on this too!"
'The MC was a good person, so that was a relief. ...I should have handled my own questions myself. It's no big deal.'
Recalling Jang Siu's face that had stiffened in an instant when Jang Siwon was mentioned, Kim Chunyong clicked his tongue without realizing it.
"Tsch."
The road ahead was long and rough, but the ToZ members weren't in a perfectly prepared state.
Of course, thanks to the survival show, there were parts that could be covered to some extent, but compared to idols who had prepared together for a year or two building teamwork, it was natural that there would definitely be lacking parts.
"This year's Korea Popular Music Art Award for Male Idol Rookie of the Year goes to... yes, WEZ!"
And such an idol was planning to debut gloriously after ToZ.
"Will this be okay...."
While Kim Chunyong groaned and worried about the schedules to come.
His phone, which he had roughly tossed aside, flashed and several messages arrived.
- X: Oi oi, Chunyong-chunyong lol
- X: Congrats on finishing the showcase well? Right?
- X: You're now roughly~~ halfway of a half of a half of the beginning heh
- X: But for the Rookie Award, you know! You have to get chart #1 too? And win first place here and there? Right?
- X: Our company's standards for the Rookie Award are strict, so you have to work harder hehe
- X: The Rookie Award you received before doesn't count!
- X: Ah wait, should I have told you this a bit earlier?
- X: Well, not my business anyway hehe
Half-loosened up and checking his phone with a fed-up expression, Kim Chunyong's eyes snapped open sharply.
"...What is this guy saying?"
It couldn't be helped.
What X was saying now meant that the contract conditions between Kim Chunyong and X were harder core than he thought.
- Kim Chunyong: Hey, what are you talking about?
- Kim Chunyong: The Rookie Award I got before doesn't count? Why? Hey you punk, that's an award from a popular music awards ceremony too
- Kim Chunyong: Are you looking down on Arrows???? Are you looking down on my members???
- X: What's this all of a sudden? The Arrows fanboy went crazy
- X: Noo, I was just reminding you of an obvious fact ㅠ
- X: I looked up what award you got back then too, you know? That one, that CAMM Popular Music Award
- X: They said that one doesn't count because too much Chinese capital went into it and the selection criteria are unclear
- X: It's not like I made this up to torment you?? It's a notice that came down from above??
- X: Anyway, I'll send you the list of awards ceremonies the company sent, so check it!
- X: (Attachment)
- Kim Chunyong: Hey, you crazy bastard
- X: Hey, hey, what's the problem? Just win at a different popular music awards ceremony lol
"What's the problem, this is really...."
"Huh? Chunyong, what's wrong?"
"Ah, it's nothing, Jaeha. Please rest!"
Kim Chunyong, who had shut his mouth tight and put on the most innocent expression possible at Son Jaeha entering the room, covered himself with the blanket up to the top of his head.
The reality he had forgotten, having been focusing solely on the debut lately and being happy that he was finally getting close to the members, began to crawl up Kim Chunyong's spine.
That if he didn't do this properly, he would have to go back to the time of his emergency arrest.
"......."
Under the blanket, Kim Chunyong began to chew his nails click-clack while checking the list of awards ceremonies X had sent.
'Korea Popular Music Art Award, KPCA (K-Pop Culture Award), Seoul Zero One Music Award... Hah, the lineup is really something.'
In the end, Kim Chunyong covered his phone again, took a deep breath, and blinked his tired eyes.
The award that the previous Arrows couldn't win, ToZ absolutely had to win this time.
[WTube Real-Time Trending Video #7 <"WEZ" First Mini Album Teaser: MONOCHROME>]
Defeating an obvious strong competitor while doing so.