At exactly 10 o’clock, Debonaire’s self-content was released.
─Ding!
Do-hee’s No. 1 fan, Home Mama, eagerly hummed along while immediately launching YouTube.
“10 o’clock is perfect for working people to wash up and lie down in bed, right?”
Typically, rookie idols’ self-content could be incredibly boring, but naturally, she didn’t care at all.
“Actually, I’m looking forward to this even more.”
According to Home Mama’s expectations, the first self-content was supposed to be more reality documentary than entertainment.
From the debut preparation process to the showcase, it would imply, “Wouldn’t you want to support this member?”
“And serious Do-hee? I love it~”
After all, this side might even be more precious.
Do-hee was always full of mischief.
Of course, when she was on stage, she would become incredibly serious, and that was great too.
Anyway, whether it was true to Home Mama’s guess, the thumbnail for the first self-content showed a large group of members standing in the practice room.
And what Do-hee was wearing today, as shown in the thumbnail, was…
“Yes, sweatpants and a white tee, huh.”
Now she would dress up nicely to go to work, but her outfit for practice was always consistent.
‘Well, comfortable clothes are definitely right for practice…’
And honestly, this was also really good.
This slight pop of skin only highlighted…
Her abdomen revealed by a cropped boxy tee.
Clearly visible, straight abs.
“Crazy Do-hee…”
It was January during the debut activities.
In winter, there wasn’t much reason to expose her abdomen, so she had no idea.
There had been some hints during the Seven days, but she never imagined her abs would be this defined.
Moreover, despite clearly wearing compression underwear…
The lines couldn’t be hidden… and high stimulation…
“…Are you out of your mind? What are you thinking about right now, unni… Oh! Get a grip now!”
─Clap clap
Home Mama slapped her cheeks several times.
[DEB: ON AIR | EP.1]
“Oh… Debonaire… ON AIR… The title is really great, right?”
She exaggeratedly gasped at the title and immediately hit play on the 45-minute video.
‘Huh? 45 minutes? That long for a self-content?’
Reflecting her overflowing excitement, the opening featured the majestic sound of piano keys.
It was Do-hee’s self-composed song, which had been revealed earlier in the trailer.
And just as it had appeared, the English dictionary from the trailer was there.
The dictionary had a big definition written like this:
DEB:
─1. A young woman debuting in society
─2. The Soon-to-Debut Girl
Ink fading effect and newly written letters.
DEB: ON AIR
“Huh? Really?”
Home Mama exclaimed in genuine surprise, unlike earlier when it was just exaggerated.
She thought the title was well-chosen.
“DEB had this meaning too?”
Home Mama quickly searched it up.
“…A young woman debuting into society. Derived from 1917 Debutant, Sub+deb… wait, it’s real…?”
Still, there was another meaning hidden in the group name.
It was clear they had intentionally kept Self-Content under wraps.
Already, everywhere in the community and on Social Networking Services, Topist fans were gushing about how they were a bunch of perverts targeting fans’ preferences…
No, it was already showing up on her SNS feed.
─ I’m a real fan, but does Do-hee’s face, body, and proportions even make sense? What the heck, she’s doing this all on her own?
─ Is this really a minor? I’m really curious about Do-hee at 20… How does she get more beautiful each day…
“Ah, not this.”
She quickly clicked a like on the relatable post and scrolled down her news feed.
─ Do these Topist guys always do this? Such planning…
─ I never thought I’d be in awe just from their Self-Content title.
─ For real, everything here is way too polished for a small agency.
Home Mama couldn’t hold back her excitement and wrote a post.
Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee
─ For real, let’s keep going like this, Top Dong. As long as we work hard for our older sisters, listing on the stock market isn’t just a dream!
Anyway, that wasn’t the important thing right now.
Back… back to focusing on the video.
It might just be her feeling, but knowing the title somehow made her feel even more drawn in.
Regardless, the opening and teaser were still ongoing.
[Na-eun: Huh? Is that a camera? Where are we going today?]
[Woo-ah: Right? Where are we going?]
[Seo-yoon: But, you know, sometimes ignorance is bliss.]
[Do-hee: Not knowing is actually fun.]
[Chiyo: Is it like walking the dog while not knowing…?]
The members were sitting around in the meeting room.
[All: (Ignored)]
[Chiyo: Dogs are scary… When I was little, the neighbor’s Shiba bit me… It hurts… Itai…]
Spouting nonsense.
“…Hmm.”
<☆Hello, we are Debonaire!☆>
In the midst of it all, the subtitles were vividly in pink.
Home Mama pondered.
It might be a variety show, not reality.
Well, variety could be good too.
*
Fortunately, after the opening, there were unexpected real documentary segments in abundance.
There were scenes so void of laughter, she almost wondered if they’d be boring.
It kept showing members deeply focused on something.
Home Mama found herself nodding in concentration before she knew it.
But before long, I was simply nodding in concentration.
Choreography practice, endurance exercises, vocal room, stories among the members.
[Na-eun: Hold on, wait. (gesturing) This side isn’t aligned. Seo-yoon is a bit out. Adjust your stride.]
[Seo-yoon: Okay, I’ll try to match Woo-ah.]
Feedback flew back and forth without a hint of a joke.
[Do-hee: Let’s change this part a bit.]
[Seo-yoon: How?]
[Do-hee: If you use your hips too strongly, it becomes too old school. Even considering it’s disco and retro.]
[Woo-ah: So, like how you danced earlier?]
[Do-hee: Yeah. Just use your hips a bit less and instead of forcing your arms out, if you give your shoulders a bit of a bounce, it makes the movements of your arms and upper body feel much more dynamic. What do you think?]
As I watched, there were countless real-time updates and reactions appearing on SNS.
─Oh, so this was changed by Do-hee?
─I see why Do-hee’s abs have become so defined. Their workouts are intense…
The documentary grew heavier as it progressed.
It began to include individual interviews capturing the members’ honest feelings, dubbed “inner heart cam.”
─Na-eun
Unfortunately eliminated at a blunt 8th place, Na-eun felt her heart uneasy watching her siblings perform as Seven.
Moreover, the thought that she might have become the leader not for her abilities, but merely because of her age weighed on her.
She found herself repeatedly pondering while observing the talented members with abundant experience.
─Seo-yoon
In contrast, Seo-yoon, who had more experience, found herself burdened by it.
Despite her daily best efforts, the lingering negativity and jinx from the sub-groups, along with her already established popularity, lingered.
She worried sweetly that her new image might disappoint the fans.
─Woo-ah
Woo-ah held the longest training period as a trainee.
This inevitably meant she could hardly shake off her sense of unease.
She constantly questioned what she excelled at, harboring endless doubts about herself.
Though she adopted an optimistic attitude, the wait for her opportunities was anything but comfortable.
─Chiyo
Chiyo, who had come alone from Japan, often felt her language shortcomings and recognized that her trainee period was the shortest among the members. She felt her inadequacies intensely and couldn’t shake the loneliness of being unable to see her parents.
However, it was Do-hee, who the Home Mama was most concerned about…
[Do-hee: But I think everyone wants to do their best, (editing) like, it’s how we all feel.]
She simply smiled and moved on.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t boring.
The melodramatic emotional code ran through the documentary, focusing on how serious the members were and how desperately they wanted to present their debut stage perfectly.
Though it tugged at my heart, it was a lovely healing content.
Fans resonated, enjoyed, and loved it.
─The members all have such great stories…
But in the final 10 minutes, the video suddenly became lively and chaotic.
The atmosphere quickly became lively and chaotic without warning.
This was the meeting room that first appeared during the opening.
It was the meeting room where Chiyo’s nonsense was coming from.
[Ha Ji-young/Content Production Team Leader: Alright everyone, pay attention.]
In fact, after the nonsense, a company staff member came in and tidied up the atmosphere.
[Actually, the fandom name has as much significance to the artists as it does to the fans.]
Since the next topic wouldn’t be anything chaotic,
[…What if the members themselves create the fandom name? I think that would be good.]
─Is the fandom name finally being revealed?
─Thump thump
The 40-minute documentary that was progressing seemed like it would wrap up with a warm and meaningful ending as the members created the fandom name themselves.
However, the problem was Do-hee pulling out a notebook from her bag.
[Do-hee: Oh… I actually have a lot of ideas I’ve been thinking about. (flips through)]
From this moment, the atmosphere changed drastically.
Knowing the video was pre-watched, whether they were aware of the impending chaos, or perhaps wanting to end the serious documentary on a comical note, the editor changed the emotional tone of the video.
<What’s in Do-hee’s notebook?>
[◀◀◀]
The screen flipped back.
[Do-hee: …(deep in thought)]
Even during the dance practice breaks, Do-hee was often seen smiling and chatting with the members, while also pondering alone, pulling out her notebook and scribbling something with a pen.
Such scenes were frequently spotted in the vocal room, the dining hall, and even in the car while they were moving.
And back to the present in the meeting room.
Do-hee hid the notebook under the table, flipping through the pages as if searching for something.
[Seo-yoon: What is it?]
[Na-eun: (curious) What is it? What’s written there?]
[Chiyo: What is it…?]
Everyone, including the members, was just as curious as the viewers.
Woo-ah leaned over and peeked at Do-hee’s notebook over her shoulder.
Soon after, Woo-ah giggled.
Woo-ah lightly moved her lips.
[Woo-ah:
Like I’m a weirdo
As if nothing ever
Happened at all]
And it was obviously the rhyme of a lyric.
[Do-hee: Ah…! What is this!]
[Seo-yoon: What’s this, you’ve been writing lyrics lately?]
Do-hee’s face turned bright red.
[Do-hee: No, it’s just that among composers, some write the lyrics first before composing… and sometimes when I create songs, I need to stick any lyrics to it right away…]
A bunch of excuses tumbled out.
[Seo-yoon: But hey, what Woo-ah just read is actually better than I expected.]
[Na-eun: Right, it was good! Even though it’s just a verse, it feels like it has a story right away.]
Do-hee’s lips had a slight upward curve, clearly delighted.
[Do-hee: Really…? This has a bit of a pop ballad feel to it, huh? Um… is it okay…?]
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