The idol concert, lasting about two hours, was obviously not just made up of the stage.
Due to the physical demands of performing idol choreography, it was a significant burden.
That’s why it was planned with breaks in between.
First, there would be simple talk times between the stages.
Unit performances where members could take a breather by swapping in and out.
And more importantly, a VCR video to give us time to change into our stage outfits.
This meant we now had a schedule for filming the VCR.
We had a total of three videos to prepare.
One of them would be shot during the concert poster session in a few weeks with fancy effects added later, so we only needed to set aside time for the other two.
“The units will be divided into 2 vocal units, 3 dance units, and 2 rap units.”
And one of them was forming the concert unit team we were currently filming.
“Hey, Jeon Ha-rang, you’re a participant too.”
“Unni, be quiet and come down.”
While the setlist included three slots for unit performances, the members and songs were still undecided.
And the method wasn’t easy either.
It would borrow from the team composition method used during the “Dodoll” filming.
The set we arrived at looked like a downsized version of the set we saw during the “Dodoll” shoot.
“Ha-ah…”
According to the content team at the agency, it would be a VCR that fans could reminisce over for a moment, and they’d love it.
But it seemed clear to me that they were subconsciously trying to leave a mark of “Dodoll Season 4” on fans attending the concert.
At this point, it felt like the agency wanted a shift in the fandom.
“Before you know it, they might even show a cheering video of the “Dodoll Season 4” participants during the concert.”
In any case, Ha-rang unni was still up on stage reading from her hidden cue sheet and continuing with the event.
“Alright, we need to form teams, right? The method is simple!”
“What? Were you really an MC for the day?”
“Everyone, can you see what’s written on the signs? The method is simple. We’ll decide the order through a karaoke game, and those with lower scores will stand where they want. And of course, pushing each other out is allowed!”
It was just like the “Dodoll” rules previously announced.
“But does this even matter?”
“Exactly. Everyone’s already decided what they want to do. Sara probably wants to do a pop song, and Ha-rang most likely wants hip-hop.”
“Let’s just get on with it quickly.”
“Ah, today’s proceedings will be directly managed by me, Jeon Ha-rang.”
“Jeon Ha-rang will lead the way.”
Next up is the karaoke game.
“…82 points…? The karaoke machine is weird… Huh…”
“I sing better than Eun Se-ra!”
“Your turn, 85 points.”
“Let’s see what score you get.”
Even though I’m on the same team as Topist, honestly, I think Sara Unni sings a bit better.
“Is it supposed to get 72 points?”
“Pfft.”
“No, the machine’s acting weird.”
How is my score 72? I’ve never scored below 90 in karaoke.
“Chae-rin Unni got 100 points…!!!”
“But the machine really seems weird, huh?”
“I told you so.”
“…Guys?”
Once all the orders are decided.
“Then, let’s start from the youngest in last place!”
The sign I chose says:
‘Raps will be done by Kim Seo-yoon and Ha-rang Unni as we discussed beforehand, and pop songs will be handled by Ye-eun Unni and Sara Unni, right?’
I chose the dance unit.
“Do-hee, will you dance with Unni?”
“Okay, I don’t mind.”
Then I got pushed by Hana Unni towards the vocal part.
Sara Unni unexpectedly chose dance.
“Why are you pushing me away…! Can’t we all just do what we want peacefully-!”
“If the person in question is okay with it, why are you acting up?”
Lately, Sara Unni’s empathy is really impressive.
In the end, I became a team with Ye-eun Unni in the vocal team.
“Youngest squad, fighting~”
“Uh…?”
*
Late at night.
After finishing the new SEVEN group advertisement and sports brand modeling photoshoot from the morning through the afternoon, we returned to the practice room.
“Come on~ You can do it, Ye-eun Unni!”
“…Nooo.”
Relentlessly, I was preparing for a unit performance with Ye-eun Unni.
“That’s right, good job!”
“Lee Do-hee! I’m the Unni, remember!”
Now that she’s in high school, even compliments could easily be gaslit.
Like a chick that escapes her nest, you know?
Ye-eun Unni’s growth is something I really feel more and more.
‘I thought she was the cutest when I first saw her…’
“Should I go to the bathroom? I need to wash my face.”
“If we go onstage like this, the fans will be disappointed… I gotta practice…!”
After hours of practice, we finally took a short break.
Lying on the floor, I breathed heavily, sweeping sweat and hair back.
Having lived a life with long hair due to Mom’s princess stubbornness, I’ve gotten used to it, but sometimes when dancing, the discomfort makes me want to get a bob.
‘Would a bob suit me?’
Curious about how I would look with short hair right away, I set up a selfie app with a bob filter and took a picture when suddenly a notification popped up in the group chat.
Setting up the adjustments and taking pictures, a group chat notification popped up on the screen.
[Seven Leader to Hana: (photo) We’re practicing hard! Is everyone doing well?]
The photo captured Chae-rin Unni and Sara Unni lying on the floor, whining.
[Seven Leader to Hana: From now on, everyone, send your unit practice proof shots, go go!]
Since there were two practice rooms at Shock Enter’s building, Hana Unni’s unit was preparing on the stage in a practice room two blocks away.
This made it impossible to check on the members directly, hence the request for proof shots of their practice.
“Ye-eun Unni, come here. Hana Unni told us to take a selfie and post it.”
“You come here!”
Sigh…
Anyway, I took a selfie with sweat dripping down.
[Me: (photo) Finished my workout]
[Seven Leader to Hana: Are Ha-rang and Seo-yoon still practicing? I haven’t seen any messages.]
[Me: I’ll check and post it, hold on]
“Unni, wait here; I’m going to see Ha-rang Unni and Kim Seo-yoon.”
“Okay!”
I wanted to keep teasing the now-flushed Ye-eun Unni, but I headed toward the nearby practice room.
I figured those two would be messing around.
“Hey~”
As I stepped into the adjacent practice room.
“Ah! Kim Seo-yoon, you suck! You should’ve pressed the bottom!”
“No, she used her ult already! How am I supposed to react?!”
“If it were me, I would’ve reacted~”
“Shut it.”
I found Kim Seo-yoon and Jeon Ha-rang huddled over a small laptop screen playing a game.
“What are you doing?”
They both raised their heads.
“Huh.”
“Oh, I was wondering why we lost; turns out Do-hee’s energy was near, ah.”
As I got closer, I saw the red defeat sign on the screen.
I immediately pulled out my phone and took a picture.
“…? Why are you taking a picture?”
While Ha-rang Unni looked puzzled, Seo-yoon Unni, quick to catch on, started making excuses.
“Do-hee, I think you might be misunderstanding. We were practicing until just now. Can’t you see the sweat? We practiced really hard. And the game just now was part of a discussion about how to incorporate game beats into the unit stage, so we tried it out, you know?”
“And?”
Only then did Ha-rang Unni grasp the situation.
“Suddenly, I feel like practicing. Do-hee, you know Kim Seo-yoon was the one playing, right?”
Ha-rang Unni stood up, slowly trying to leave.
“Do-hee, I didn’t want to say this, but while I was practicing, Ha-rang Unni played first. You can just search ‘Top God Jeon Ha-rang’ in the records, and it’ll pop right up.”
“So what?”
“Unni, you absolutely love Do-hee, right? You know? Our sister chemistry? We’re true love.”
“Do you know it’s there? You know our sister chemistry, right? We’re true love.”
“I don’t have any sisters except for our Do-ah. What sisterhood?”
In the meantime, Ha-rang Unni abandoned her comrades and stepped out the door.
“I wonder what Ye-eun is up to~?”
Kim Seo-yoon’s gaze changed.
“Hey, Ha-rang Unni left too. Let’s just cut the photo and post only Ha-rang Unni. Sound good?”
That sounds a bit tempting.
“Should we?”
“I really can’t hate Do-hee. Should we have a heartfelt hug with our youngest unni?”
Kim Seo-yoon pretended to pout her lips.
“I don’t know. Just massage my shoulders a bit.”
My shoulders have been sore lately.
Maybe it’s because my chest has grown.
“Oh, of course.”
Seo-yoon Unni got up from her seat and started massaging my shoulders.
“Ah, the fatigue is lifting a bit.”
“Of course. I also do a massage.”
“Oh man, you have no idea how tired I’ve been because of that girl Kim Seo-yoon.”
Kim Seo-yoon pressed firmly on the knotted areas.
“Uh-? Is my grip suddenly hurting a bit?”
Seo-yoon Unni let out a staccato laugh.
“It seems like there’s a spot that’s a bit knotted~ But more than that, are you misunderstanding who Kim Seo-yoon is?”
“Tsk, is that so? Do you know Seven by any chance?”
“How could I not? They’re a top girl group nowadays.”
“Then you know. I’m part of the staff, and there’s a girl named Kim Seo-yoon in there, you know? But lately, fans have been praising each other, so her shoulders have risen so high.”
Of course, even I can see that Seo-yoon Unni’s beauty has risen a lot since her debut.
“She thinks she’s as pretty as Do-hee.”
Kim Seo-yoon pressed on the knotted area again.
“…Oh, I see~”
“Honestly, from a massage therapist’s perspective, who do you think is prettier, Kim Seo-yoon or Do-hee?”
“…Of course, it’s Do-hee~”
“Right? Uh-! But why is your grip tightening again?”
“You’ve got a knot here too! Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“Are you maybe a fan of Kim Seo-yoon by any chance?”
“Oh no, not at all. I’m a complete Do-hee fan.”
“Really?”
“Of course! But you’re sweating a lot. You seem quite hot. Would you like me to turn on the air conditioning?”
“Oh, then please do.”
“Sure, I’ll set it to 18 degrees for you.”
“Huh?”
Seo-yoon Unni pressed the remote.
“To keep you cool, 18 degrees. Oh, 18 is nice and cool.”
“That sounds a bit weird.”
“Oh, come on.”
Still, her actions were a bit cute, so I decided to let it slide.
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