Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 46

46.

After the press showcase, it was time for the Q&A with reporters. Ryu Iden was handling most of the questions, so I mostly just observed.

‘Ryu Iden… he’s got eyes that look like he’s going to beat someone to death with the microphone.’

His passion and determination to avoid even a single mistake were striking.

Then, one reporter asked a question.

“You’re the only rookie who debuted with a self-composed title track this time. Is it safe to say that you’re emphasizing your musicality to differentiate yourselves from other rookies?”

Oh, a viper in the grass.

It’s a question designed to elicit an answer implying that other rookies lack musicality.

‘…Ryu Iden seems to have caught on to the hidden meaning too, judging by his expression.’

But he doesn’t know how to answer, so he hesitates to raise the microphone.

…Ha, what low-quality wordplay. I raised the microphone with a blank expression.

“…Everyone debuting this time has shown great musicality. I don’t think composing is the *only* thing that determines musicality.”

Simply put, your argument is based on the bizarre definition that musicality equals composing, and I don’t agree with that definition.

It’s a reasonably polite expression, so if you understand, put down your sly tongue.

I could feel Ryu Iden smiling and looking at me from the side.

“I have a question for Ji Donghwa. I know Nietzsche Entertainment has been consistently collaborating with composer DYE since TOT [an earlier group from the same company]. Was DYE’s song ever mentioned as a candidate for this album?”

…Ha. Another question of this kind.

Let’s think logically. What’s the answer that won’t give them even an inch to grab onto?

“…I’ve never actually met DYE, but I have respect for their work.”

I wasn’t even competing with them for the title track, so is it even reasonable to compare them to me? That’s the gist of my answer.

* * *

Reporter Shin Minsoo watched the questions suddenly pouring towards Ji Donghwa and thought.

‘…That Ji Donghwa guy, he seemed to lack social skills, but he’s calculating how his words will be received.’

Of course, he only says what’s necessary, and sometimes he’s so firm that it feels more like a corporate press conference than an idol interview.

So, rather than being a social butterfly, he’s so logical that he forces his opinions to be understood without misunderstanding.

Ugh, I should ask him an easy question.

“Where did you get the inspiration for the song you composed this time?”

Really, I felt sorry for the struggling rookie, so I scrapped all the questions I had prepared for stirring things up.

But surprisingly, Ji Donghwa, who had been answering without hesitation, paused for a moment, nodded expressionlessly a few times, and then said.

“…When we went to the sea during the reality show filming with our members, one member picked me up and threw me into the sea. At that time, just before I fell into the water, I looked up at the sky with my body half-submerged. At that moment, I felt like I was somewhere between the sky and the sea… and that’s how I came to compose the song.”

Wow, such an emotional song was created in such a dynamic moment… I guess the origins of other people’s work are always extraordinary.

Shin Minsoo, who had been admiring him, clearly saw Ji Donghwa’s ears turning red.

‘…I have to capture this.’

He quietly raised his camera.

* * *

Backstage, waiting for the fan showcase. The members are gathered, holding hands.

“We, we really debuted!”

Ryu Iden shouted, and the members responded with cheers.

In the midst of all that, I’m being forcibly held by Chae Hamin and Lee Hyunjae on both sides.

I can see a camcorder filming my expression from afar.

‘…They said it’s a backstage video that will be uploaded to the official channel.’

Maybe I’ll be shown in that video with an expression of disillusionment.

“…Do you know that this is exactly the seventh time you’ve said we debuted?”

And the cheering is exactly the seventh time too.

“The more you repeat it, the better, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

“That’s right! Donghwa, you like it too, right!”

Then, Chae Hamin opened his mouth as if he suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, but the song is about to be released, right?”

Hmm, now that I think about it, they said they would release the song around the time the articles from the press showcase start coming out.

“…Will it do well?”

Lee Hyunjae asked quietly. At that question, Chae Hamin suddenly became gloomy and said.

“I know. Blue Jack is making a comeback this time… after we debut.”

I know that name. It pays to have studied idol culture diligently.

Then, Ryu Iden smiled weakly and said.

“Well, HighSix made a comeback last week, so it’ll be a bit tough anyway. We’re sandwiched in between.”

He has the intelligence to use the difficult rhetorical device of a metaphor, that puppy.

“…If the results aren’t good, I’ll just think it’s because I didn’t compose well and move on.”

Objectively speaking, that’s the right thing to say.

Of course, as a result of studying idol culture, I learned that a good song doesn’t necessarily guarantee popularity, and a good concept doesn’t necessarily guarantee popularity either.

However, after analyzing the correlation between the success of about 120 debut albums over about 5 years and the quality of the songs, there were no songs below a certain level of quality among the successful albums.

In other words, the quality of the song functions as a necessary condition for the album to succeed…….

“Again! Again! Our Donghwa is thinking strange things again!”

Ryu Iden scolded, pretending to be stern, and my thoughts were cut off.

“Saying it’s your fault if it fails, you can’t say that in front of the kids! You’ll spoil them.”

…Ryu Iden, why does your tone sound so… no.

“That’s right, Iden hyung! In times like this, it’s better to just think the situation was bad! Isn’t it better to avoid responsibility?”

Goodness, Iden hyung. I think he’s already spoiled beyond repair.

“Hyunjae, Donghwa looks like he’s about to explain how important responsibility is again!”

Chae Hamin glanced at me and whispered loud enough for me to hear.

Why don’t they even care about the obvious fact that they’re whispering in front of me because I’m between them?

Then, Lee Hyunjae flinched and looked at me with uneasy eyes.

“…Donghwa hyung, I don’t want to study responsibility ethics any deeper.”

He used to be curious about what responsibility ethics was, so I explained it to him for about an hour, and he’s completely sick of it.

“…It’s a happy day today, so I’ll let it slide.”

* * *

‘Hmm, the song must be released by now.’

An hour before the fan showcase, I took out my laptop and checked the album.

This debut album, ‘1st, Blue, Blooming, Blossence,’ has a total of seven songs, five if you exclude the intro and outro.

Of these, I wrote two songs, the intro ‘Ocean Fall’ and ‘Cloudy Blue.’

The intro is a song that combines parts that seemed to lack mass appeal after completing the title track and raised the quality. The refreshing breeze-like atmosphere of the original song is lessened, and only the dreamy atmosphere of being surrounded by clouds under the sea is emphasized.

I was blankly looking at the album, the result of the past few months, uploaded on ‘Watermelon’ [a popular Korean music streaming platform], feeling emotional.

“…Donghwa, because of the 24-hour system, the ranking won’t shoot up at first. So, don’t be disappointed if it’s low, and don’t say it’s your fault.”

Ryu Iden sat next to me and said casually, as if my words had bothered him a little.

…This culture scene is endless, even if you study it like a subject.

“…What’s that?”

Then, Ryu Iden was flustered.

“Um, so, while other people are fighting with the number of plays over 24 hours, we’re fighting for one hour when it’s first released…….”

I nodded, listening to Ryu Iden’s explanation. In other words, it’s a comparison of accumulated things.

“So, there’s no need to be disappointed.”

Hmm, I understand completely. However…….

“I’m not the type to be disappointed with bad results, Iden hyung.”

“…Really?”

Then, Ryu Iden smiled and stroked my head as if I were admirable.

“Oh my, our Donghwa. So admirable! So great!”

Wow, I’ve never experienced this kind of treatment for 6-year-olds, even when I was actually 6 years old.

“Your suicide attempt is quite novel.”

Ryu Iden takes his hand off when I say quietly.

“No, from the reporter’s answer to now, you’ve been too admirable!”

Saying that, Ryu Iden jumped up from his seat and ran away.

Ha, so energetic.

* * *

The stage at the fan showcase.

Every time we dance, every time we ride the wave, every time we raise the note, every time the group dance explodes, cheers erupt.

When the stage was over, cheers of a completely different magnitude erupted.

‘…Very loud.’

I felt strangely excited and greeted the audience with the members after the stage.

“To be Blooming! Long time no see!”

After a few greetings and small talk, it was time for the chairs to be set up on the stage, and I was about to sit down.

“Donghwa Professor! Please give us an memorization test!”

A loud voice echoed in the momentarily quiet atmosphere between the stage and the talk.

Soon, laughter erupted from here and there.

‘…I didn’t think you’d still remember the first episode of the reality show.’

I sat in the chair and raised the microphone.

“…Then, let’s start the oral test. Do you know the third reason why Blossence should be the team name?”

And the answer rings out.

“Phonology!”

I nodded in satisfaction.

“Passed. I’ll give you extra points for class attitude.”

Then, even the members who had been nervous next to me burst into laughter.

“Donghwa, you’ve been memorizing that all this time?”

I nodded.

“…Just in case.”

Then, a sincere exclamation mixed in from the audience. …I feel somehow ashamed.

After a short commotion among the members, the stage was set.

And the MC who was specially invited to help us, who was new to this kind of event. A top-tier idol who seems to have nothing to do, which is strange.

“Yeah! Nice to meet you! I’m special MC Junseong! Nice to meet you, Blossence fans!”

Junseong came up.

* * *

In the midst of the showcase, which was proceeding enjoyably, thanks to Junseong’s skillful hosting and Ryu Iden’s good speaking skills, the talk show flowed smoothly…….

“But Hamin, there’s a story that you witnessed Donghwa’s secret side.”

…Hmm?

I’ve never done anything that secretive.

“Yes! Actually, our members often visit Donghwa’s studio, bringing coffee. Donghwa almost lives in the studio.”

“That’s right. It was actually a shared studio, but the company changed the equipment so that Donghwa could use it as his personal studio, right?”

“Yes, but one day I accidentally forgot to knock and went in…….”

…Ah, ah, is it about that day?

“Donghwa was lying vertically on the long sofa, with his legs leaning against the wall and his face bent 90 degrees towards the floor.”

Chae Hamin explains the situation very specifically, adding gestures.

“I just opened the door and went in…….”

Chae Hamin turned the chair half a turn and leaned back, tilting his head back.

“In this state! Our eyes met!”

…He’s using his body unnecessarily well.

Junseong listened and asked me.

“No, Donghwa, why were you doing that?”

“…It’s a habit of mine to be like that when I can’t think of anything to write.”

“Wow, Donghwa’s ears are turning red again!”

…Why do you have to say that…….

I raised the microphone.

“…It’s not fair if only I’m being exposed like this, so I’ll reveal the flaws of the members that I’ve observed one by one.”

Then, the members turned to look at me and asked with their eyes what I was talking about.

“Oh, the atmosphere is getting hotter! Shall we listen?”

* * *

The story of Ryu Iden being nosy to someone on the street and being treated suspiciously: He said he would carry an old woman’s heavy luggage, but she asked how she could trust anyone these days. Then, Ryu Iden was upset and said he was sincere, but the old woman said his face looked like a dog and left, saying he was suspicious.

A collection of Chae Hamin’s slips of the tongue: Typically, when ordering an Americano at a cafe, he said, ‘Give me America.’ It is an incident that confirms his ambition to buy America with money.

Seokjun’s Wizney [likely a typo for Disney] goods behind-the-scenes: He saved his allowance for two months, but when he didn’t have enough money to buy the goods, he asked his mother for 70,000 won [Korean currency, roughly $50-60 USD] in the name of reference books. For reference, Seokjun’s mother sent a confirmation text to Ryu Iden, so it failed.

Lee Hyunjae’s illegal homework: Lee Hyunjae often talked about being curious about a certain philosopher recently, and I confirmed that he recorded what I told him and later copied it as it is and used it as a presentation.

As I told what I had memorized one by one, the guys who had been smiling brightly when it wasn’t their turn lowered their heads with gloomy expressions.

“No, Donghwa hyung. Why is your memory so good? That was from the survival show!”

Ryu Iden shouted as if he was wronged.

“Why… why do you remember more than five of my slips of the tongue, Donghwa.”

Chae Hamin looks at me with awe.

Lee Hyunjae lowered his head, embarrassed that it was revealed to the fans that he had done his homework that way, and surprisingly, Seokjun picked up the microphone and began to introduce how attractive the product he bought at that time was.

‘That guy… what on earth… has the most profoundly difficult brain structure of all the humans I’ve ever met.’

In that way, the mutual exposure battle disguised as behind-the-scenes album production passed, and it was time to show the second stage that wasn’t there at the press showcase after answering the questions from the fans.

“Before we watch the second stage, there is one thing we need to see.”

When Junseong was giving his closing remarks, Ryu Iden raised his hand. Then he looked at me and smiled.

“Fans! Don’t you want to see Donghwa’s famous line from ‘Detection,’ ‘I’m sorry, but would you die?’ in real life?”

…This dog… ha.