Chapter 198

Seo-yoon Unni and I appeared in the media a few times to promote ourselves.

But of course, since we’re debuting as a group, we had to make a group appearance on a variety show at least once.

However, we hadn’t had the chance until now.

We had to be careful about spoilers until yesterday when the older sisters in the group were not publicly known.

But now that all the members are revealed, and today the group trailer is out,

we finally set off to film a group variety show in public.

Of course, the three of us, excluding me and Seo-yoon Unni, are rookies, so it’s not a program that requires variety skills—just a casual YouTube web variety show.

“PD-nim~”

“Oh my? Has Seo-yoon gotten even prettier!?”

“Hehe, really?”

“I greeted too…”

“Oh, Do-hee is pretty every day~”

Filming in the familiar training room of the company where rookies feel most at ease, the YouTube web variety show [Idol Human Theater] was a perfect fit for showing the genuine sides of the members.

*

During the Seven days, we appeared on this program at least once every comeback, making it very familiar to both me and Seo-yoon Unni.

But of course, for Woo-ah Unni and Na-eun Unni, this was their first time, so they seemed a bit nervous.

Both of their faces were tense.

“Ooo…! There are so many cameras!”

‘No problem on this side.’

Honestly, it was understandable to be nervous.

It’s a YouTube program, but there are more cameras and production staff than you’d expect.

Seo-yoon Unni patted Woo-ah Unni reassuringly.

“Woo-ah, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here.”

Woo-ah Unni looked at Kim Seo-yoon and sighed deeply.

“Hu… Jiwoo, you can do it. Trust in yourself.”

“Woo-ah?”

“Hehe, where’s my camera director~~”

I also patted Na-eun Unni next to me.

“Unni, think easy. Remember when we filmed self-content last time?”

Debonaire’s own variety content.

Na-eun Unni nodded when I mentioned the group MT we went to a few weeks ago.

“I remember…”

“It’s no different from that time. Just think of it as only us and be relaxed. Wasn’t there a ton of cameras then?”

Still, Na-eun Unni’s face showed no signs of easing.

What in the world is wrong?

“Okay. Unni, then recall when we filmed the ‘Dojol’ episode. There were way more cameras then, yet you adapted quickly, right?”

Seo-yoon Unni, who struggled to persuade Woo-ah Unni, joined in and patted her chest.
He thumps his chest.

“Yeah, just trust us, okay? We’re veterans. VETERANS.”

But Na-eun Unni shakes her head again.

“I’m not really nervous. Just…”

“Just?”

Na-eun Unni’s eyes dart around, glancing at some of the members.

“Oh…! My camera!? Uh, is that right? Please take good care of it!”

“I’m worried we might mess up right from the start…”

And I’m part of that worry.

“Ah, no, I totally trust Do-hee… You know? Right? Right…?”

Uh.

*

The news of the new girl group launch from Topist, which Se-yoon and Do-hee are part of, had already spread across the internet through various promotional strategies.

And thanks to that, today’s video is attracting interest from countless K-pop fans both domestic and abroad, not to mention the general public.

▶[TRAILER: WHAT IS DEBONAIR?]

─3 minutes until the premiere

-170,000 waiting

The total amount of interest is proven by the number of people waiting.

Do-hee’s Home Mama, feeling more thrilled seeing that number.

Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee

─170,000 waiting I’m so freaking nervous

Of course, it’s not the highest number.

There’s no need to reach Coral Blue, which boasts over 2 million waiting, and Seven had drawn 300,000 for their premiere countdown.

Ailee also surpassed 250,000 for this music video premiere.

But still, it’s satisfying.

Topist has barely 8 million subscribers.

Coral Blue has 100 million.

Comparing it to JS Entertainment’s 32 million is bizarre.

Honestly, it’s a joy.

For a mid-tier entertainment agency with a weak overseas base to gather 170,000 shows that this interest is purely towards the Debonaire members.

Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee

─Wi-dong, honestly, if you had taken Do-hee, I believe you’d have prepared well. Just don’t make people say to let her stick with Seven instead; it’s a miracle she’s part of your company, so always remember that for life.

Yet, the Home Mama criticized Kim Wi-dong, the representative of the small-scale Topist compared to the major agencies, and finally the countdown appeared on the screen.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

The video began with only the text [Debonair] on a black screen.

A screen filled with text, silence.

The sound of a page from some book gently turning was heard.

─Shhh, shhh, shhh.

The transitioned screen featured an English dictionary and a hand slowly flipping through the pages.

The hand stops on a page somewhere.
Push it.

A finger sweeps down the word.

And points to one place.

The word is clearly visible.

[Debonair adjective]

But the meaning of the word is hidden by the finger.

No time to be curious.

A book that opens and closes firmly.

With a sound pushing the air away, the screen fades to black, trapped in the book.

In that moment, a quiet question arises.

─What is Debonair?

Then, like the beginning of a symphony, a strong and powerful piano sound.

Home Mama has heard it many times, the third piano piece played by Do-hee.

A distinct shadow appears on the screen.

An image adorned with a glamorous hairpin and dazzling earrings.

The splendid lights of the ballroom, a crystal chandelier.

In that backlight, Na-eun gazes into the camera.

The blurry focus sharpens in the moment of backlight.

Na-eun, in a simple yet luxurious off-shoulder white dress and high heels, smiles brightly.

─Stylish charm, good lineage.

The screen seems to flee further away.

And the atmosphere shifts from dazzling and luminous to somewhat warm.

A sunlit park walkway.

Flapping outerwear, an oversized sweater underneath, and high-top shoes.

Kim Seo-yoon, dressed in warm and cozy coordination, greets passersby on the street.

She also pets a passing dog, finding it cute.

And then, as if startled, she glances at the camera and speaks.

─Polite, affectionate.

This time, the screen drops to the floor.

And the tone of the atmosphere darkens.

An underground parking lot, a faded city.

Where white artificial lights and green emergency lights burst like a flash.

Woo-ah walks in semi-formal attire and loafers as if strutting down a runway.

Then she suddenly starts dancing.

A dance created from the poses of fashion models in Vogue.

In sync with the strong beats of the piano.

The camera sweeps past a parking pillar, obscuring Woo-ah from view.

And each time, her poses and dances change.

Woo-ah is zoomed in as she brushes her hair back with both hands.

And flashes a provocative smile.

─Striking appearance, confident vibe.

Now the screen moves toward a darker place.

That place is a sewer.

Protruding concrete pipes.

The ground is littered with broken concrete fragments.

And inexplicably, a boat floats in the water.

In that boat, Chiyo lies barefoot in a dreamy black dress.

Her dark eyes gaze into the void.

Chiyo’s rough lips tremble.

─Urban, indifferent.

At the same time, the camera’s movement rewinds, slowly turning back.

From the sewer to the underground parking lot.
To the underground parking lot.

From the underground parking lot to the park.

And from the park to the ballroom.

But somewhere in the shining ballroom, there exists a dark space.

Everything around is turned off.

In one place, a faint round white light shines.

On stage, a piano.

The camera that arrives there observes keenly.

Fingers dancing on the ivory keys.

As the screen slightly pulls away, it captures arms as well.

Next, shoulders, then back.

In the meantime, the piano’s piece is coming to an end.

The right-hand performance in the upper register has changed from the beginning.

But in the lower register, the left hand plays the theme from earlier again.

A powerful and decisive performance.

Elegant yet intense.

Indifferent yet warm.

Another thing that has changed from the beginning.

Depending on the force of the left hand’s strikes.

The screen crosses endlessly.

─Tap, tap.

With strong intensity, a masculine loafer walks.

With medium intensity, androgynous high-top boots.

With weak intensity, feminine high heels.

The soles of various shoes walking are captured countless times on the screen.

And eventually, the screen returns to capture the intense performance again.

The body and hair shake relentlessly in response to the arms’ recoil.

Do-hee, dressed in a black dress.

By now, the sound of shoes that once blended into the background has stopped.

Do-hee’s hand also trembles softly, ending the piece.

Complete silence.

Do-hee stands up from the piano, looking at the camera while speaking.

─Whatever.

The round white light moves.

The spotlight follows Do-hee as she walks quietly.

She walks forward.

Do-hee stands in place.

On stage, within the round white light, five members stand in a line around Do-hee.

The members look at the camera, silently moving their lips.

And then the screen goes dark.

A phrase appears.

[DEBONAIR IS?]

Each letter gets erased one by one, and a new sentence begins to appear below.

[DE___AIR _S]
[BO_N ____I_]

When B disappears, B appears below.

When N disappears, N appears below.

Thus, the completed sentence.

[BORN IDEALS]

The two sentences merge, shining anew.

[DEBONAIR IS BORN IDEALS]

And finally, the softly moving lips of the members are heard.

─We Debonair.

And then, the Home Mama, who had been watching quietly, lets out a small gasp.

“Wow…”

---

Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.