The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 206
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Year-end music festivals, and year-end music award ceremonies.
Put simply, year-end stages.
What were year-end stages to an idol?
This wasn't simply because Gim Chunyong was contracted with X, but it was one of the biggest events of the year that any idol had to devote all their time outside of promotions to prepare for.
[Is Sladix coming out on Seo Jega this time? Did they make up with their agency? Juyeong posted a practice live, but I can't tell if Seo Jega is in it or not.]
[⎿They say it's still up in the air]
[⎿Ugh, fuck, just make up already, I'm so tired of this]
[If you roughly look at this year's lineup, Leopold will probably come out really late…]
[⎿Is it true that my year started with Leopold's year-end/New Year stage live and is ending with Leopold's year-end stage too?]
[⎿Yes, it's damn true]
[I'm seriously so damn curious about TOJ's repackage outfits, crazy. Back when Mun Yunha was in charge of Serenia, she styled them so beautifully… I wonder how they'll dress the boys]
And it was when all of TOJ returned to their dorm after taking a regrettable yet gladly accepted 2nd place on the BNS Sound Stage music show that they properly realized this fact.
"Um, before you get off work… I'd like to briefly explain the schedule coming up next."
"Huh? Do we have more schedules today?"
"That's not it. I think you should know in advance about the year-end stage preparations."
Yu Hobin, TOJ's assigned manager, had always been on the serious side, but today the grim determination on his face was exceptional.
Such was the nature of year-end stages.
A rare stage where numerous idol fans and others preparing for the new year turn on the TV and watch, offering more group exposure than any other time.
So even if it passes by very briefly on broadcast, they couldn't be negligent in their preparation.
"Yes, I know the members are tired and it will be hard… but since we have to start preparing in earnest for the year-end stages, I think we'll need additional practice after schedules."
"Huh? Ah, well… I guess that's to be expected. Year-end stages are almost like new stages after all. We have to do it, then."
"Ugh, it'll be a bit tiring… but year-end stages? I've always wanted to stand on them. Even when I was preparing for practical exams after the CSAT, I looked up and watched all the year-end stages."
"Haha. I'm really glad you're all so motivated. So, about the practice schedule…."
"Oh, there's another practice schedule? There's a separate schedule just for practice?"
"Ah… since this is your first time preparing for these kinds of year-end stages. I'll explain in detail how we prepare for them."
No, it wasn't just that they couldn't be negligent.
They had to throw their bodies into it, to the point of screaming that it had to be now or never.
"…Hoo."
Gim Chunyong, who had been leisurely taking off his shoes behind Yu Hobin and stepping into the dorm, clenched his fist tightly without realizing it.
He had a feeling what words would come from the mouth of that capable manager standing before him.
"…After broadcast promotions end, TOJ members will practice for your individual stages for 2 to 5 hours each, and you'll meet the WIZ members twice a week to prepare for the collaboration stage, adding another 3 hours each time."
Right, this was a journey for the Rookie Award.
This couldn't possibly be easy.
"…Huh? Then, is it up to 5 hours of additional practice per day?"
"No. When meeting the WIZ members, probably up to 8 hours…."
"What? Isn't that too much? We still have broadcast schedules!"
"We're really b-busy… even when preparing for the monthly evaluations, I never practiced this… much…."
"Yes, I expected as much, but…."
"…There are at least 4 stages you're going on this time. At least, 4. Since you won't be performing the same stages for all of them, you must practice until various variations and arrangements are ingrained in your bodies."
"Hurk… h-how long…?"
"Until you immediately know which stage it is when I count the beat, and can get into formation."
"Uuuuh…."
Some members who had maintained a 'he's joking' expression at first began to turn deathly pale at Yu Hobin's grim determination.
Ji Hwaseong was no exception, even though he usually boasted, "AG's in-house practice volume is no joke, so I'm confident in using my body and time."
No, rather than not being an exception.
"Th-then, Logan and me! And Siu is a minor, so we can't go on stage after a certain time, right? No, is this even possible?"
"That's for those under 15. Fortunately, all TOJ members can appear on the year-end live broadcast stages. You all did the pre-recordings before, so you know."
"Urk, I'm happy but sad…!"
He was greatly shocked by the fact that 'though I started this because I wanted it, I have to push myself harder than I thought to do well.'
"Hey, Hwaseong. Smile, smile."
"Uuuuh, Yongyong hyeong…."
Gim Chunyong threw his arm around the shoulder of Ji Hwaseong, who was on the verge of collapsing to his knees from a frustration of unknown joy or sorrow, patted his shoulder, and clicked his tongue.
They'd be busy.
They were already tired and swamped with work just from current promotions; they must be surprised that they had to do even more.
But it had to be done.
It was proof that TOJ's stock had been rising very well since debut, and ultimately it meant that TOJ—and Gim Chunyong—were taking steps toward their final goal of becoming the 'greatest idol in K-pop history.'
Realizing anew that he was experiencing something he had never gone through before, Gim Chunyong pressed his lips into a straight line and let out a low hum.
Many things had changed.
And many more had to change going forward.
'Of course, what it means to be the greatest idol in K-pop history is still a bit vague. Even so….'
Gim Chunyong tightened the arm around Ji Hwaseong's shoulder and made his sharply slit eyes sparkle brightly.
'Anyway, all I have to do now is do well with what's right in front of me. Repackage promotions, winning the Rookie Award, and finding the others.'
It was obvious that if he thought about an unprepared future right now, Gim Chunyong's head couldn't imagine what came after, nor could it produce any solutions.
Then, he had to do what he could do right now.
Knowing that he himself wasn't very smart, this was the root and operating principle that moved Gim Chunyong, who went through countless plans and trial and error.
"Hmm, Chunyong seems more sentimental than usual today. Haha, I don't think he was even like this when we got first place…."
"Well, I think it's because he talked briefly with me on stage! After that, Chunyong hyung's face, whew."
"Huh? What did you talk about to make him like that, Logan?"
"Shh, shh. Stop it, everyone. Stop! It's just… I was happy that we were 1st place candidates again… that's why."
Having once stepped onto the peak of first place with his current members, and having felt many emotions along with it, Gim Chunyong was somewhat different from before.
Whether compared to when he had first returned and resolved to atone no matter what, or the moment he debuted as TOJ rather than Arrows.
"…Hoo."
"Eeeeeng, practice is always the way to survive, but. I'm really going to die practicing…."
Gim Chunyong, who had briefly pondered what that foundation was, stepped away from the still-whining Ji Hwaseong and cautiously opened his mouth to Yu Hobin.
"Um, Hobin hyung. Then when do we start practicing in earnest…?"
"Ah, I think we'll start after the 3rd week of promotions next week, reducing radio and other variety show appearances a bit. Ah, your first practice with the WIZ members will be on Monday."
"Monday… so that's in 3 days."
"Yes. You're busy now, but you'll get busier. Haha. …I'll really, really take good care of your conditions. Don't worry."
"Aha, yes. Thank you."
Having briefly organized the schedule in his head, Gim Chunyong soon raised his slightly bowed head again and muttered internally.
'I do have to prepare. Anyway, finding the others is one thing, but the stage is the most important.'
They say that if you do your best, the results will naturally follow.
That was what Gim Chunyong thought of as doing his best.
Using everything he could muster to produce the best possible result that could be born from that moment.
Now, facing repackage album promotions and preparing for the year-end music festival collaboration stage with WIZ.
What Gim Chunyong had to do was clearly set.
"Hey, Siu. And Yuchan hyung."
"Hmm…? Chunyong hyung, what's… the matter? I was about to wash up now…."
"That's right. Siu and I are first in the shower order today. I want to wash up right away if possible!"
"Sorry, but push it back to later. There's something important."
"Huh? Something important?"
"…Hyung and Siu, you're still awkward with the WIZ members, right? Am I wrong?"
"Uh, yeah…."
"Hmm? I wasn't really, though. Uh, now that you mention it, Chunyong, I feel…."
Recalling the time during the 'Catch Me, Catch You' filming, Gim Chunyong watched the subtly changing expressions on Bang Yuchan and Jang Siu's faces and wore a slight smile.
Though Gim Chunyong had more or less patched things up, it was true that some other TOJ members still found the WIZ members somewhat uncomfortable.
If so, it was only natural that a tailored solution was needed for it.
"…Let's prepare a bit, just among ourselves. In a good direction."
Namely, the Dud Follow-up Countermeasures Team.
Although he was receiving help in 'finding the others' through An Taei, what mattered most to Gim Chunyong in the end were his family and members.
Therefore, he couldn't leave even slight discomfort in that process.
* * *
WIZ, who had received the news of the year-end collaboration stage with TOJ, wasn't exactly in a celebratory mood either.
They had somehow cleared up the misunderstanding, but the way they treated Gim Chunyong and TOJ among themselves was still a bit….
"No, what face am I supposed to look at that team with? I'm still dying of embarrassment…!"
"I don't know. We were completely obnoxious in TOJ's waiting room back then. Ah, why did the company even make this schedule…."
"Hawon hyung and Eun were on good terms from the start! Ah, damn. I completely flew off the handle with Danu hyung. This is a disaster…."
…Out of embarrassment.
"……."
The leader of WIZ, Han Danu, who was sitting in the middle of the practice room with his arms crossed, also wore a grave expression.
He had felt that he had somehow resolved the emotional knots with Gim Chunyong shortly after the 'Catch Me, Catch You' filming.
"Probably… we won't run into each other much in the future."
"Yeah. Your agency probably set the debut schedule like this for marketing intentions… after this, well. We'll go in a direction where we don't get in each other's way."
"Yeah… got it. Take care, Gim Chunyong."
"You too."
The situation being what it was, the conversation being what it was, and with a noisy bomb stuck beside them, they had spoken while being considerate of each other somewhat.
[Gim Chunyong: I heard our teams are doing a collab this time]
[Gim Chunyong: I think we'll be tied together… please take care of me in advance]
[Han Danu: Yeah, I ask the same of you]
And occasionally exchanging messages was fine too.
Isn't that the nature of messages?
Rather than revealing immediate feelings, as you type, you could peel away a layer of that emotion with your fingers, so you could write moderately embarrassing words without feeling awkward.
But… meeting in person and being on the same stage?
Even… practicing together for days on end?
No, but we're still a bit awkward?
I don't think we're really in a state to just talk like before?
"…Ugh."
In the end, a deep sigh escaped from the mouth of Han Danu, who hung his head low.
"I'm glad I can see Logan again. Logan and I have made plans to watch soccer together. It's the deep bond shared by foreigners."
"Good for you, Jaden. I too… I think I'm glad to see Chunyong hyung again after so long. Our promotions didn't overlap much after that, so I couldn't even say thank you for back then."
In this practice room attached to the Queens Agency building, the ones maintaining some semblance of composure were the Canadian boy Jaden, who knew nothing, and Jo Eun, who had maintained a good relationship with Gim Chunyong from before.
And….
"No, guys. Why are you all so down? This is a good thing! Wow, it's really been a while since I've seen Chunyong. I'm so looking forward to it. If he acts cocky like last time, he'll get scolded, right?"
"Be quiet, you bastard… you're the biggest problem, you are."
Only the Dud, An Taei, who somehow seemed much more relaxed, spouting nonsense with a neat porcelain-like face.
"I'm going crazy…."
On Han Danu's face—who had no confidence in controlling An Taei himself—the worry showed no signs of fading until the day TOJ and WIZ began their first practice together.
Ah, they were bringing that guy along, was it really okay?
Was it really going to be okay preparing for this collaboration stage like this?
…However.
Fortunately, Han Danu wasn't the only one worried about the bomb named An Taei and the relationship with the awkward rival group.
"Huh? You want us to do more here?"
"Y-yes… you can… do more? Since it's a collaboration stage, after all… I think it would be good to match up perfectly…."
"…Wait. You, you. Siu, you. Was it always this vibe? …I don't think so."
"Haha, Taei-ssi. What's wrong with our maknae? Our kid always works hard!"
"Your eldest hyung too! It wasn't this intense!"
And that was turning out in a very good direction ahead of the 4th generation male idols' collaboration stage.