7. Debut Preparations (1)
Before, at least there hadn’t been anything like a stage name. He had thought about wanting one, but if it was going to be *that* kind of stage name, promoting under his real name would have been a hundred times, a thousand times—no, ten thousand times better!
“C-CEO!!!”
Eunchan shouted urgently. The CEO watched with interest as Eunchan suddenly raised his voice, his face flushed.
“I have something I want to use as our group name!”
“Hmm, suddenly? What is it?”
The CEO rested his chin on his palm and continued. His tone suggested he would hear what Eunchan had to say.
‘…Ah, damn it.’
He’d shouted reflexively out of a sense of crisis, but he didn’t even have a group name he actually wanted. He’d simply thought that slapping on some English word would be better than Chilwol Chilseok. Because of memories of being mocked in the past, anything would have been fine as long as it wasn’t Chilwol Chilseok.
‘What should I do?’
Eunchan had to spit something out, so he hurriedly rolled his eyes left and right. The number of members had already deviated from expectations, so his head was a blank slate—how was he supposed to come up with a group name?
Then his eyes caught sight of one of the CEO’s cars entering the parking lot outside the window. That’s it! Nice timing!
“Genesis… sir!”
The CEO’s beloved car. That exact car from Company H.
The moment he saw that sleek, sharply designed black sedan, Eunchan shouted reflexively.
Eunchan felt secretly relieved that the word he’d blurted out wasn’t bad, considering the rush. Whatever it was, it would be better than Chilwol Chilseok, so he was fine with it either way. Eunchan emphasized once more.
“Genesis!”
“Genesis?”
“Yes, how is it? The origin of idols… or, something like that….”
The origin of idols, my foot. He’d just slapped on whatever came to mind.
Still, since it was the top-tier line among Company H’s cars and was popular, couldn’t he understand it in the context of “we’ll become popular idols too”? Honestly, it was bullshit without logic, but the CEO’s taste had always leaned that way.
‘It won’t work…’
Even I thought it was a bit lame. Should I check the favorability rating at a time like this? I shouldn’t have told it to turn off earlier for no reason.
“It’s not bad?”
“Huh?”
“Hm? What do you mean, huh?”
“Nothing!”
At the CEO’s answer, Eunchan unclasped his hands and waved them hurriedly. Seeing the CEO’s face wearing an expression of approval—unlike when he’d been told the member count earlier—Eunchan also brightened. Honestly, he hadn’t thought he’d go along with it. He was newly struck by the thought, but the CEO really had peculiar tastes.
Since he’d come this far, should he try pushing for one more thing?
“U-um, also, I like my own name….”
He knew that with such a unique stage name, they could get some attention early on. Of course, it would be one hundred percent negative attention.
Moreover, just thinking about standing before fans with such a stage name made his eyes squeeze shut on their own. He might faint from shame every time he introduced himself.
Hello. I’m Jiknyeo of Chilwol Chilseok? I’m Jiknyeo of Genesis?
This was a stage name that even Hyeonjuin would get cursed at and mocked for. Gyeonwu and Jiknyeo—thinking about it again, it was horrific.
“Well, if you’re going with a group name like that, it’s better to use your real names.”
He raised his head, which had been slightly bowed from tension, and opened his eyes wide. Eunchan let go of his hands clasped in front of him and immediately gauged the CEO’s expression. Seeing him nod, he seemed to have a face of understanding.
‘Did I make a good bet?’
He knew from the past few years of experience. That was definitely not a face of dislike.
A sliver of anticipation stirred in Eunchan’s heart. And then he waited only for the CEO’s mouth to move. One second felt like one hour.
“Alright. I think it was a good idea to ask for your opinion first.”
‘What? Is this actually working?’
Even though he’d created this situation, he couldn’t believe it at all. He was happy, but there was a strangely nagging feeling in one corner of his heart. The situation was flowing too smoothly compared to what he’d expected, so he felt a strange sense of anxiety. On the other hand, he wondered why he’d been so terrified in the past.
This was a successful first step. He could feel the corners of his mouth slowly rising.
“I’ll send word to the debut team kids soon, so gather later and talk about it together.”
“Yes!”
Eunchan clasped his hands again in front of his navel and answered loudly.
Since the number of members hadn’t been firmly decided yet, he couldn’t completely relax, but Eunchan was grateful that he wouldn’t be debuting under the name Chilwol Chilseok.
To be honest, even if Hyeonjuin, the troublemaker, wasn’t in the debut team, he wasn’t confident it would go better than before. Perhaps he might end up repeating the exact same route as the past.
‘…Honestly, there’s more than a 90% chance it’ll get worse.’
Cold as it was, that was the reality.
“But Eunchan.”
“Yes?”
The CEO’s words telling him he could leave hadn’t yet fallen, so Eunchan had been sitting blankly, mulling over his thoughts. At the CEO’s voice calling him, Eunchan fixed his gaze forward.
But what fell from those lips was a completely different question than what he’d expected.
“Did you happen to fight with Jooin? Or did Jooin say something to you?”
“…Huh? No.”
Eunchan immediately shook his head.
Even looking back on his memories, there was absolutely nothing that would make him think they had a bad relationship. Rather, at this time, it seemed like he’d stepped up because he wanted to take care of Hyeonjuin, whom he wasn’t even close with. Because he’d been quite active and had a strong sense of justice.
Eunchan shook his head again.
“I’ve never fought with him.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Really, never. We’re not even that close.”
“Huh? I thought you were close… Well, alright for now.”
He couldn’t figure out what intention was behind such a question.
Even though he was a 27-year-old adult who’d lived through his share of hardships and was good at reading between the lines thanks to all the glares he’d endured, he couldn’t even guess the intention behind this.
Do I look like I fought with him? Or did he hear something from Hyeonjuin?
‘But Hyeonjuin isn’t the type to talk about himself to others.’
A guy like that, and of all people to tell the CEO something about me? He wouldn’t have. If anything, he would have come to me directly.
Their relationship was closer to an ill-fated one than a positive connection, but he’d watched him for so long that he knew this much.
“You’re going to be the group leader, right?”
“Yes!”
Then another important question flew in. It wasn’t the time to be lost in other thoughts.
Leader. A bothersome position, but one he absolutely had to seize. Rather than ordinary reasons like being the oldest or caring for the members,
‘I need to have a loud voice when deciding the concept.’
It was a rather realistic reason. But since this was his second time being leader, he should be able to do it even better.
“I thought you’d been down lately, so I’m glad you seem to be the same as ever.”
The CEO, hearing Eunchan’s booming answer, raised his cheekbones in a wide grin.
‘……?’
Just what had his personality been like at this time for even Gaeul and the CEO to make such comments? As far as he remembered, he’d just been younger, ignorant of the ways of the world, and full of motivation.
“Then, Eunchan, Genesis… I’m counting on you.”
The expression vanished from Eunchan’s face.
‘It’s real……’
If this was a dream, he hoped he wouldn’t wake up. Even if it was a dream, he’d work hard.
In this life, he would definitely hold a Genesis solo concert…!
The CEO was still smiling. It was the most transparent smile he’d seen all day.
His heart growing tight as well, Eunchan couldn’t give any particular answer and just nodded his head. The CEO felt like a lifeline straight out of a fairy tale.
“Why are you so tense? Eunchan, hand.”
“My hand?”
“Yeah, open your palm.”
Following the CEO’s instructions, Eunchan cupped and opened both palms, and a small object dropped onto them with a clink.
The moment he glanced at the object, Eunchan’s face relaxed into a bright, gentle expression.
Eunchan looked back and forth between the shining object in his hand and the CEO’s face.
‘……?’
It was a key.
“You’ll mainly use a door lock, but still, doesn’t having a key feel good?”
“Huh?”
The uncertain assumption instantly turned to certainty.
‘It’s about the dorm.’
Honestly, he’d noticed the moment he received the key. He’d thought it was about time for the CEO to talk about the dorm since they’d finished the group-related talk, but he hadn’t expected it to line up so perfectly.
Since this time things seemed to be proceeding as expected, Eunchan felt secretly relieved.
“Why?”
Eunchan pressed his lips together, holding back a laugh that seemed ready to burst out at any moment. Since his thoughts showed completely on his face, Eunchan lowered his head just enough for his bangs to hide his expression. Eunchan, looking at the floor, continued speaking.
“What key is this?”
He asked once more unnecessarily, pretending not to know. He felt he shouldn’t immediately bow deeply in gratitude or act like he knew what the key was.
“The dorm. You manage that key, Eunchan.”
As expected.
He’d wondered if he’d made a mistake when the CEO hadn’t said anything. He felt secretly relieved that it seemed to be passing without issue.
The CEO was certainly right. Even if all the members knew the door lock password, there was a certain weight to having the physical key.
A feeling of responsibility and indebtedness toward the position of ‘leader’ filled him at the same time.
“I’ll send you the location and door lock password by message. You must keep it clean.”
“…Thank you! Thank you so much! I’ll really, totally keep it clean!”
“Decide roommates among yourselves.”
“Yes! We’ll coordinate well among ourselves!”
“I had it cleaned roughly, so it’s fine for you to go in first, Eunchan.”
A subtle gesture of consideration for Eunchan, who was currently living in a gosiwon.
He knew these were words containing the CEO’s own affection. Because the CEO had known Eunchan was adding his hard-earned part-time job money to the gosiwon monthly rent and had suggested several times that he could come live in a spare room at his own house.
Eunchan tightly clenched his hand holding the key.
Reading the trust contained in the CEO’s straight gaze, Eunchan answered “Yes!” once more and then bent his upper body in a deep bow. No matter how many times he expressed his gratitude, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Now go on back. You need to talk with the kids too.”
Even after seeing the gesture waving him off, Eunchan bowed his waist a few more times before leaving the CEO’s office. Then one more word fell from behind him.
“Use the big room. You’ve had it hard.”
Hearing those words, Eunchan honestly choked up. To the point where he momentarily reflected on himself, wondering if he’d been this emotional of a person.
Honestly, if there was a trainee who wouldn’t be moved by these words, they should come forward.
‘Our CEO is totally a father, a father.’
Eunchan, having exited the office, let out a sigh of relief.
By the way, this damn system. It wasn’t like he could change others’ behavior with favorability ratings, so he couldn’t understand why something like this had been given to him. He had no one he liked, nor could he think of anywhere useful to apply it.
Besides, what could he do with only five viewings per day? Weird things floating above people’s heads only made it hard to concentrate on conversations.
‘Did I regress just to play some dating simulation?’
Is this some shoujo manga?
As if I’d do something like dating. I’m going to spend a hundred years with my fans.
***
‘Goodbye to this tiresome place at last!’
Even at this time, if he’d looked, there must have been plenty of one-room studios decent enough to live in, yet he’d picked a place like this. But since it was a place an ignorant 18-year-old had found on his own, it wasn’t strange in a way.
He didn’t feel petty emotions like regret, but he did reproach his past self. He should have at least gotten a slightly cleaner place. The musty smell that hit his nose the moment he opened the door made Eunchan subtly frown.
‘Still, thanks to this place, I lived harder.’
Because getting out of this gosiwon by debuting quickly was the goal he’d reminded himself of every morning.
And today was exactly that day.
The emotions were fresh. Eunchan immediately put on a smile. It was the lightest footstep he’d taken since entering this gosiwon.
It was the same today, the same day, but in the Chilwol Chilseok days, the tension of moving into the dorm had weighed so heavily on his back.
“I don’t really have any luggage….”
To think that one backpack and one shopping bag were enough to pack to move to the dorm. It’s not like I’m here traveling. Still, haven’t I lived here quite a while?
‘I even worked part-time, so why do I have so little?’
He’d always been a neat freak, but to think he had so little. He had been in a poor situation, but he felt he’d lived quite frugally.
On the other hand, he was also proud of himself for enduring the past so desperately. Perhaps because he could vividly see himself struggling to survive in this cramped place, his heart felt oddly tight for no reason.
Finally, reaching out to clean the corner of the desk, his eyes caught an unidentified notebook.
Since he’d not been particularly good at studying at that time, it definitely wasn’t a reference book; he’d thought it was at best a comic book he read in his spare time or a doodling notebook.
‘What did I enjoy reading back then?’ he wondered, reaching out to pull out one book of moderate size.
“…Huh.”
What his hand grasped was a thick notebook with no pattern drawn on it. It wasn’t a comic book, nor was it an album of the seniors he’d respected at the time.
“Wow, this… holy crap.”
Eunchan stared intently at the notebook he’d pulled out and sank to the floor as he was.
“It’s a practice diary.”