Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 127

127.

I woke up in the morning and was immediately greeted by a bizarre scene.

“Hello, Dong-hwa, my junior!”

“Hello, composers!”

…What is this? Get out, all of you, from our territory.

Ye-eon and Jun-sung had come to our dorm and were winning the kids over with sweets again. How can they be so unguarded against outsiders?

“Well, what brings you two, who are clearly busy and important, here?”

“Your words are sharp. I feel like I’m going to get cut.”

“We even wrote a song for you! Why are you keeping your distance, junior!”

Right, surprisingly, they said they would use my song as a B-side track this time. I need these guys to buy Mok-hwa gifts, even if it means pushing away seniors who give me pocket money. Damn capitalism.

“…So, what’s the matter?”

Then Jun-sung replies with his characteristic exaggeration and smoothness.

“No way! I was watching a drama yesterday! And your acting! How! Could you be so good! I saw the article this morning and rushed right over!”

…Is it even worth writing an article about? Isn’t it just a common occurrence for idols to be used in dramas to secure viewership?

“You were thinking, ‘Why even an article for something so common…’ weren’t you? There are so many reactions saying they thought you were a rookie actor. They’re so sad that a rookie is leaving so early!”

I paused for a moment, feeling a headache coming on, and then wondered why I should care since I’m a singer. It’s something I’ll never do again anyway, except when filming our own content.

“Hey, you’re being too indifferent, our junior. So, you’re saying you won’t be acting again, huh? But ta-da! Listen to the prophecy of our namesake, Ye-eon!”

“Dong-hwa will appear in another drama!”

Well, silence. There’s no way I’d believe words without any basis. Especially since I’ve gained confidence that I can crush possibilities through the Giji Agency [likely a powerful management company].

I pick up my phone to check the time. Well, there’s still some time.

“Oh, do you have any plans today?”

“I’m planning to visit my younger sibling’s showcase to support them for a while.”

Ye-eon listened to my words, thought carefully, and then clapped his hands.

“Ah! That must be the rookie that Dione Entertainment is launching this time.”

I simply nod once in response.

“The timing of their debut isn’t great, though. It overlaps with ours.”

“Ye-eon, our juniors overlapped with Blue Jack and still came in first among the rookies.”

“Well, that’s true. If the group has charm, it doesn’t matter who they’re promoting with.”

Well, that’s true. I haven’t seen all the members yet, but with Kim Hyun-jin and our Mok-hwa, what could go wrong?

While I was thinking that, I saw Jun-sung and Ye-eon making eye contact and exchanging silent signals. Jun-sung seemed to be stopping something, and Ye-eon nodded as if he understood. I hope they’re just gauging the timing to go home.

* * *

I asked the manager to safely take me to the showcase venue. I put on casual clothes and pulled down my baseball cap. Since the people coming here aren’t here to see me anyway, I came in clothes that wouldn’t stand out as much as possible so that my face wouldn’t be seen properly.

Unlike us, they’re holding a press showcase and a fan showcase at the same time, so I thought it would be better to watch from the staff seats and go backstage later rather than going in now.

I approached someone who looked like a staff member and carefully opened my mouth.

“Excuse me. May I ask where the family members of the performers can go to watch?”

The person flinched when they heard my voice, trembled with both hands, and then answered.

“…J-just go that way and turn right, and you’ll see the entrance, but, a-are you a celebrity?”

Since this person seems to be working in the entertainment industry anyway, there’s no need to hide it.

“Yes, I’m Dong-hwa from Blossoms. I’m also Mok-hwa’s older brother. Thank you for the guidance.”

I bowed once and went inside. Come to think of it, it seems like it’s my first time sitting in the audience and watching a stage. Usually, even if I watch, I’m waiting in the performer’s position, so I can’t fully enjoy the stage.

…I hope it’s a stage worth watching, apart from the fact that it’s my younger sibling. It’s been a while since I’ve had some cultural enrichment.

After waiting for a while, the lights gradually dimmed along with a countdown announcing the exact time. The most common method adopted to focus attention.

The typography unfolds in a fancy yet not excessive way, showing that money was spent on it. As expected of a large company. I smiled, satisfied with the company my sibling belongs to. In a capitalist market, common problems can be solved through money, so the song must have been beautifully produced. If you attack a talented composer with money, they’ll produce anything.

Finally, the stage began as the count returned to 0. The lights turned on, and Mok-hwa can be seen standing with a slightly nervous expression. And then the intro begins with a classical feel.

……Classical?

I don’t know exactly how many stringed instruments there are, but it’s a clean-sounding scale with a short riff. It’s plain, but it’s an intro that would be used irregularly in the EDM genre rather than in an idol song.

And as soon as the first verse begins, I squint slightly. What on earth is that sound?

I’m listening to the lyrics, but they’re difficult to understand. …Well, the lyrics aren’t important. Frankly, even if you write nonsense for 3 minutes, it’s not a big problem as long as the song is good.

However, the song is also a bit… difficult to understand. The musicality itself is excellent. In terms of the completeness of EDM [Electronic Dance Music], it’s really beyond praise. There’s nothing to criticize in terms of tonality. However… this is a composition that is a little difficult to listen to repeatedly. Even the chorus is not catchy, and the rhythmic elements are emphasized, which makes the melody feel dead.

The concept is a slightly dark yet intense image. The performance and choreography are all neatly composed, but they float because the song and lyrics don’t support them.

In short, it’s music that lacks popularity but is structurally excellent, dressed in lyrics that are no different from being naked, and based on that, they’re doing a flashy dance, so I don’t know what they want to do.

“…The kids’ skills are all good, though.”

I muttered in a small voice like that. Especially our Mok-hwa, her dance lines are so clean that I have to learn from her. Kim Hyun-jin’s facial expressions are also excellent, but… how can they produce such results with such materials?

I was about to sigh for a moment, but when Mok-hwa’s eyes glanced this way, I quickly put a smile on my face. Mok-hwa smiled for a moment and then made her expression serious again and looked straight ahead.

……Sigh, damn it.

* * *

Even in my troubled heart, I succeeded in rationalizing it. When I think about it, wouldn’t a large agency somehow manage with its capital? It’s no different to say that the success of a group is completed with the charm of the members and the company’s capital.

I received the snacks I had bought in advance from the manager and went to the waiting room.

“Hyung!”

As soon as I quietly opened the door to avoid attracting as much attention as possible, Mok-hwa’s loud shout echoed semi-automatically, and all eyes were on me. Mok-hwa, you know very well that I find this kind of attention burdensome.

“Oh, it’s Dong-hwa! The one who composes for Blossoms.”

“Dong-hwa hyung!”

Kim Hyun-jin also runs to me after seeing me.

“…You’ve worked hard.”

I praise the two on stage. I praise them by pointing out the detailed parts such as dance lines and facial expressions, and their expressions change to cheerful ones. Yes, you guys were beautiful without any problems.

After finishing the praise time for a while, I distributed the healthy snacks I had bought in advance to Mok-hwa and Dong-hwa.

Then, after receiving it, they quickly put it on the table, and then they stand in a row under the command of one person. Next time, when I come to a place like this, I should bring a sign that says, ‘Please treat me like I don’t exist.’

“Two, three. We the Hope, hello, we are Hoppin.”

I guess it’s Hope with ‘in’ attached. I clapped and bowed in response.

“I’m Dong-hwa from Blossoms.”

The child, who is presumed to be the leader standing in the middle, shines his eyes, takes a step forward, and shouts loudly.

“I’m Diki, the leader of Hoppin! Senior, I respect you!”

Could you please keep your distance, junior? It’s a little burdensome…….

“I always watch Senior’s vlogs, and I respect you so much for being good at composing and arranging that I started studying composition too!”

Stop. Diki has the perfect personality to be a celebrity.

Fortunately, at that time, the coffee boxes that had been ordered in advance from the cafe were delivered through the door.

“How many staff members does this team have, Diki?”

“…Uh, uh, about 50 people.”

“Well, that’s a shame. I bought 60 cups, so there will be some left over. Could you please tell anyone who is thirsty that they can have another cup?”

Mok-hwa quickly runs over and whispers.

“Hyung, isn’t it expensive?”

When you were a class president when you were young, you couldn’t even give out one hamburger, so I’m giving it out once like this.

“I earn this much, Mok-hwa.”

My composing income is higher than the company’s settlement. Seeing things like this, TOT [likely an abbreviation for a group name] are seniors who are capitalist and likeable.

“Wow… Hyung, you’re so cool…….”

Well, it’s okay because I bought it for Mok-hwa to do this, but can I ask why the other people behind me are looking at me with those eyes?

“S-Senior, I really respect you!”

I’m sorry, but I’m not a human being worthy of that much respect.

“Someday! I want to work with Senior! ‘Sorry’ and ‘The Last Beginning’, and even ‘Cliff and Boy’! I’ve put them all on my playlist! Senior!”

Diki suddenly starts running. I had prepared those kinds of comments in advance through Ryu I-deun’s social skills lecture when I was scheduling in the past, but I was embarrassed because it was the first time I was in the position of being on the receiving end.

“Hyung, that hyung is serious right now.”

Kim Hyun-jin quietly comes and whispers. What.

“He always asks me to talk about Dong-hwa hyung a lot.”

……That’s a little scary, Mok-hwa.

“I, is that so.”

“Yes, yes! I’m really honored, wow, what do you think of our debut song from Senior Dong-hwa’s point of view? I really have no wish if I hear a genius composer talk about it once!”

…Don’t ask me such difficult things. What am I supposed to say? I have no choice but to say why the hell is the producing like this.

“…Before I give you an answer, I would like to hear your opinion first. What do you think?”

“Actually, I don’t really know. The song is… I don’t think it’s bad, but it’s a bit difficult…….”

I think for a moment and then realize that this Diki’s position is the leader. I carefully examine Diki, predict what kind of personality he has, and then answer.

“May I ask if you want an honest answer?”

“Yes! Please rate it honestly!”

“…I wanted to work with you.”

Yes, I was so frustrated that I wanted to write and arrange the song myself.

Then Diki screams in a rapidly loud voice, jumps around, and shouts thank you and honor to me. I want to run away.

“……Mok-hwa.”

“Why, hyung?”

Mok-hwa was eating the strawberry jam cookies I bought deliciously.

“…Is it a familiar sight?”

Mok-hwa laughed so hard that she spat out the cookie she was eating and nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, yeah, Jin-han hyung is always like that.”

I also found out his real name. I leave the rampant Diki alone for a while and sit next to Mok-hwa for a while. I also try to ignore the fact that the eyes of the other members are focused on this side.

“Mok-hwa, remember the broadcasting station guys’ rules.”

“Yeah. I memorized them all perfectly. Never trust the broadcasting station guys.”

Mok-hwa smiles proudly, and I nod. How did I end up working in the same industry as my sibling?

“I think I’ll be making a comeback this time too, so it would be nice if we ran into each other at the broadcasting station.”

I get up from the sofa and prepare to leave.

“Me too! Me too! Senior! I definitely want to see you at the broadcasting station!”

I force a smile at him. When I think about it, he might be the same age as me or something.

“…I’ll see you again if I have the chance later.”

Hmm, I wonder if Dione Entertainment doesn’t try to hire outside composers.