Chiyo Unni, wrapped in a long towel, came out of the bathroom.
“Eh…!”
She jumped in surprise, clutching the towel tightly and reaching out toward my camera lens.
“Do-hee-chan, what are you taking a picture of right now…!”
No need to panic.
“You all still don’t know who this strange person is, right?”
She’s fully dressed under that towel.
‘I was wondering why she suddenly went to the bathroom.’
“But since we’re going to see each other often from now on, I hope you get used to it. Even after three years, I’m still not used to it…”
“Ah! Do-hee-chan is such a pervert!”
-Thunk.
“Hey, damn it.”
*
“The camera dropped, and it turned off for a moment due to the shock.”
I sat down in front of the piano as I entered the room and turned the camcorder back on.
I wanted to start with a calm mindset.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve done a self-cam. I miss our Shabenyu…”
“What did you say? Seo-yoon said she missed you the most?”
Ha…
“I miss her too~ V~ Hatu~”
“Are you telling me you missed Chiyo? There’s nothing that can be done. Look at her as much as you want.”
“What, you. The fans don’t even know your name yet.”
“Not true. I was also a Shabenyu. So we’re supporting each other with one heart.”
I should have locked the door.
“What does that have to do with…”
“Oh, my favorite is Seo-yoon Unni.”
“The fans must really be looking forward to seeing Chiyo.”
“That’s right.”
“Ah, just go outside!”
“Favorite changed. It’s Do-hee now.”
Does it even connect?
“Woo-ah Unni!!!”
I called out for Woo-ah Unni, my voice echoing.
“Eh… small-minded Do-hee-chan… big breasts are just decoration…”
“Chiyo, don’t interrupt while Do-hee is working.”
Woo-ah Unni entered the room.
“Let’s go out and have a snack. Doesn’t it smell bad? Na-eun Unni just baked some snacks.”
And she patted Chiyo Unni on the back and sent her out.
Phew…
“But why aren’t you going out?”
“Why? I’m a public member. I just want to stay. I need to listen to the song Do-hee made.”
“I’ll let you hear it later. I’m too embarrassed to concentrate while playing.”
“Sigh… embarrassed? You were the youngest little bunny who used to kiss my cheek and show me cute charm…”
When exactly…
Did I…
Grow up to this point and hit puberty in a whirlwind…? The sad Seo-yoon Unni misses those times… I’m leaving now… trudging out…
I barely managed to send Seo-yoon Unni away.
But this time, someone else walked in as if they were tagging in.
Just when I was about to act annoyed…
“Do-hee, eat your snacks and get back to work.”
Na-eun Unni,
holding a tray filled with tea and cookies.
“I love you.”
Na-eun Unni didn’t even listen to my confession.
She set the tray down, grinning.
I looked at the camera with a slightly embarrassed expression.
Then I tossed my hair behind my ear and said shyly.
“Hello. I’m Kim Na-eun…”
I’m going crazy.
*
It’s obvious that MIDI instruments can’t capture the charm of an acoustic one.
It has to vary according to my playing style.
Since it can’t truly reflect my unique performance.
The dynamics and accents.
That’s why this piano piece had to be recorded directly from my performance.
“Today is the day for recording.”
The studio doesn’t need much.
My room, though it only has simple recording equipment set up on my piano, is not lacking when compared to a professional studio.
That’s partly thanks to the perfectly constructed soundproofing.
After all, even when going to a piano recording studio, the piano itself will inevitably produce background noise.
In the end, a noise processing step will still be required.
What I had to consider was only the tone and sound of the piano.
In other words, which piano to choose.
There were several pianos that performers preferred.
All of them were high-end luxury brands.
The rich and beautiful sound, with a soft touch of Italian Pacioli.
The naturally resonant and highly transmissive Austrian Bösendorfer.
The wide and deep sound, rich in upper harmonics, of the Japanese Kawai.
And now, my piano.
I splurged on it.
Among countless luxury options, its grand feel and sound are incomparable: a Hamburg Steinway.
These expensive piano keys perfectly capture this piece.
I placed my hands on it and began the recording.
*
“Ah! Director, I was thinking of revealing this as a behind-the-scenes, so I filmed a self-cam while recording…”
I wasn’t expecting much.
Although I showed my musicality last year during my activities with Seven, I was still just a 17-year-old kid without an independent song, and I only started serious study this early year.
So, I was worried that I might be making an unreasonable request.
I thought about asking Do-hee in between if we should collaborate with another pianist.
But I couldn’t bring myself to say it since I always find myself just touching the piano in my spare time.
So when the song played from the speakers.
I was once again reminded.
That having this kid in the company is nothing short of a blessing.
Even though Jung So-hyun, who has worked in the A&R department for a long time, lacks expertise in classical music, she could tell.
It was perfectly intense.
The trailer would undoubtedly grab the public’s attention.
The rest is up to the title tracks.
So, I thought it might be time to gradually increase media exposure one by one.
*
As soon as school ended, I arrived at Mokdong SBC.
Radio studio hallway.
“You here?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
Seo-yoon Unni, chatting softly with Teacher Coordinator, greeted me.
I then smoothly stepped in between and went to fix my makeup.
Got edited.
The studio welcomed us as we greeted the writers.
“Like the noble TS Shampoo, which sticks to good ingredients for a long time…”
As commercials played between segments, the DJ in the booth spotted us and waved.
An Ji-hyo, a comedian in her 40s, greeted the members with her bright and cheerful energy.
“Do-hee! Seo-yoon!”
“Hello!”
“It’s been a while, Senior!”
“As soon as you two come in, the studio brightens up. How come you’re both so pretty?”
Seo-yoon Unni replied with a bright smile.
“Really? Hehe, thank you~”
Then I gracefully flipped my hair.
“Oh, it’s nothing like that~”
Seo-yoon Unni shot me a glance with her eyes.
“What’s up with her?”
“Why, Seo-yoon Unni?”
“What’s with the formal speech?”
“What? Oh no… You told me to speak formally last time. Ah, I’m sorry for showing off outside, Unni… I’ll do better next time. Please don’t hit me…”
“Wait, is Seo-yoon hitting Do-hee?”
“Hitting? Come on, look at her height! If I lived with a beating, I’d live with a beating, but she’s stronger than me!”
“I’m sorry… Outside, you told me to pretend to bully you, but… I’m really sorry for being so oblivious…”
“Wow, I didn’t see Seo-yoon like that…”
Then Kim Seo-yoon jumps in.
“No…! I wouldn’t do that! I mean, she’s hardly someone to guard!”
An Ji-hyo bursts into laughter and gestures for us to come in.
“Yes, Senior! Unni, you go in first… since the older one should go first…”
Today was all about that.
“Ah, don’t do that outside!”
Now that I’m a high schooler, I gotta show a bit of maturity.
“We’re going to signal!”
As the PD’s sign dropped, An Ji-hyo wiped her smile and began the program.
“Welcome to the heart-pounding radio moment! I’m starting An Ji-hyo’s Doolai!”
“Today’s Doolai guests! Oh my, they are so fresh and cute, they’re the super-duper guests! Let me introduce them, whom I love dearly. Although we can’t see them right now, they always shine wherever they are, the Seven Stars! Among them, the Gemini! Lee Do-hee, Kim Seo-yoon. Come on in!”
“Hello, this is Do-hee~”
“Yes, this is Seo-yoon!”
“Is that it? Huh? You two look a bit down. Your cheeks are puffed up. Any feedback on my introduction?”
“We’re not twins.”
“That’s right, we’re not.”
“Oh, that part!? Okay, great! We’re currently on a visible radio, so prove you’re not twins by looking at the camera!”
“See? Perfectly bright-eyed and bigger eyes! Soft gaze!”
While Seo-yoon Unni clearly introduced our features, I gracefully flipped my hair again.
“Ah, she keeps making me look like the odd one out.”
“Yeah…? I’m usually like this…”
“Hahaha, looks like Do-hee came in with a fierce concept today?”
“Ah, exactly. She suddenly started speaking formally in the waiting room, and it’s weird.”
“Suddenly starting to speak formally, that’s strange.”
“Right now, Lee Soo-hwan has sent in a story, could you read it out loud?”
“…As expected, it’s nice to see our twins like this, hehehe.”
“Do-hee, please answer!”
“I said no.”
“Hey, you don’t like it? I don’t like it either!”
“Kim Min-gyu said, ‘Okay, just call them sisters instead of twins.'”
“Yes. Let’s keep it at that, sure.”
“That’s my limit right there.”
“That surely means you both look comfortable together, right?”
“I’m just being nice because she’s my younger sibling.”
“That’s just what you think. I usually get along well with my older sisters.”
“Hah, you don’t know how much I let it slide because I’m the older sister, do you?”
“That’s because the younger sibling is cute and pretty, of course.”
“Ah~ right now, Kwon Geun-woo said, ‘Seven Sisters, you guys look the same as always~’, so let’s take a short break here. I have a question for both of you! So, after your official activities ended in March, it’s only been three months since you appeared in the media, right? Seo-yoon, what have you been up to?”
“Um, after spending some time with my family, I’ve returned to the agency and am working really hard to prepare for our debut!”
“Oh! The debut. Right, right. You need to re-debut. And? Is that it?”
“Uh… I moved to a new dorm? There have been some dorm stories occasionally. But really, besides practice, there’s nothing else. In fact, if anything, Do-hee has more.”
“Okay, then let’s skip this question. What about you, Do-hee? What have you been up to?”
“Um, I…”
“Yes, I know too! You recently participated in a competition and won the grand prize, which has stirred up quite a buzz. And now, you’re the ambassador for luxury brand C, right?”
“Yes, and…”
“And you’re attending school now!”
You already know everything!
Then why did you ask?
“I just practiced like Seo-yoon Unni.”
“Oh, Do-hee is sulking!”
“…I’m not.”
“Now Kim Seon-wook has sent in another message. ‘The youngest is prone to sulking, so please understand, Jihyo unni~’ Oh, of course, I should understand!”
Seo-yoon Unni gave a standing ovation.
“Oh, Kim Seon-wook. Perfect character interpretation.”
I glared at the camera.
“I’m not sulking.”
Of course, Kim Seo-yoon excitedly brought her face closer to the mic.
And whispered.
“Oh, and this is something I got permission from the Director to share… it’s a real exclusive reveal here on Durai.”
“Oh, what is it, what is it…?”
“Spoiler. About our next group.”
Huh, this is the first I’m hearing of it.
Is it okay to give spoilers?
“Wow… Seo-yoon, such a huge scoop!? Viewers, did you hear that? Pay attention, pay attention!”
“We… even with a re-debut…”
“With a re-debut?”
“Do-hee…”
“Me?”
“Still remains the youngest!”
I can’t believe that’s the spoiler, but it’s absurd.
DJ and Seo-yoon Unni are buzzing with excitement.
Looking at the countless congratulatory radio messages coming in.
I don’t feel so good about this.
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