Chapter 99

There are two types of showcases.

First, there’s the press showcase, which consists solely of reporters, and then there’s the fan showcase, where fans get to enjoy the performance together.

And most idol groups have held both showcases.

To accommodate reporters who need newsworthy material, the press showcase is held in the afternoon.

In the evening, the fan showcase takes place, and once that’s over, the reporters release the articles they’ve prepared.

We were in the same boat.

The MC, Jin Tae-seop, who has been with us since [Idle3], shouted.

“With this, we’ll conclude the press showcase. Thank you to all the reporters who attended!”

-Thank you~

As we returned to the waiting room after greeting the reporters.

It was a bit of a downer, as our energy was low despite finishing the stage performance.

“Is this how reporters usually are?”

Ha-rang Unni was completely sulking.

And understandably so, because most of the reporters maintained silence throughout the performance, with only the sounds of camera shutters and keyboard typing echoing from the audience.

“Well, it’s a tradition, what can we do?”

There’s this unspoken rule among reporters that no matter how enjoyable the stage is, they mustn’t show it on the outside, and it’s merciless even toward top-tier famous idols.

Because of that, the anticipation for the fan showcase grew even stronger.

Oh, and I was also looking forward to the 6 PM music video and audio release.

“First, let’s tidy up our outfits and eat dinner!”

After an early dinner.

Finally, at 6 o’clock.

We moved to a neat, white waiting room to shoot the music video reaction.

I received a tablet.

“Thank you!”

“This is my first music video ever~”

“Ah! What do I do?”

“I’m so nervous…”

The members crowded around me holding the tablet, screaming. Everyone fixated their eyes on the tablet screen.

“Is that the thumbnail of Do-hee?”

“Oh~ Do-hee Lee looks really pretty!”

“So cute…”

“Our youngest looks beautiful~”

The thumbnail of the black-and-white photo captured me gazing at the sky, with particularly bright red eyes.

“Wow… Do-hee, how can your vibe be so unique?”

It’s an ethereal version of me.

With the red eyes and an otherworldly appearance, it reminded me of a fictional vampire.

This is practically art.

Shouldn’t UNESCO preserve this?

How does it even look like this?

Of course, while I was nurturing my self-love, the reactions around me were intense as well.

“Do-hee, can you stop staring at it and play it already?”

“Oh, she’s just admiring herself again.”

“What are you doing? Play it already!”
…I’m just jealous because I’m the thumbnail.

If you’re jealous, just get first place. Hmph.

Anyway, I started playing the video.

It begins in the classroom we saw in the teaser.

But this time, it’s a sunny daytime scene.

The members in their school uniforms casually greet each other as they leave the classroom.

And left alone in the now empty classroom is Sara Unni.

As the curtains flutter in the wind, a beam of sunset light shines on Sara Unni’s eyes, and the baseline kicks in.

And then comes the rebellious siren sound.

“Oh~ Eun Se-ra, you’re looking stunning~”

“Whoa, when was this filmed?”

“Hana Unni sneaked off alone after getting all her shots, how selfish.”

“I need to take a break too~”

Meanwhile, the members stepped outside the classroom.

With every structure they passed that blocked the camera’s view, the members’ outfits switched to casual street looks.

As soon as everyone’s outfits changed, my provocative walk onto the road came up, and the song began.

[One day to reach the Seven gifts]

“Whoa… that’s so cool.”

[Just as I bloom, I fit in]

“What was that? Why did it stop?”

“Hey, Do-hee, why are you stopping!”

“She’s checking herself out again.”

“Ahh! Stop it, Do-hee, for real.”

“Do-hee is cute, so it’s fine…”

“Do-hee… this looks like my next scene…? I wanna see my part too…”

Eventually, Hana Unni couldn’t hold back and snatched the tablet.

*

[Everything engraved with DNA is new]

[Sourness is always refreshing]

Outside the showcase venue.

Songs streamed from fans’ hands in synchrony as they lined up.

“Whoa, the song is so good!”

“This is insane. The song is really well made…”

“Who’s the composer? The music video is also a jackpot.”

After watching the music video, the fans jumped into their interpretations.

“Here’s Do-hee looking at the members through a telescope—there were clearly members in uniforms around her, right? But through the telescope, she’s seeing the members in street looks. Isn’t it like throwing off the image we saw in [Eager3] and showing a new side? And the telescope is about the observing fans. The lyrics and overall music video concept feel like a new version of me. What do you think?”

Two guys who look like friends were discussing.

The one holding a light stick pointed at the screen.

“I don’t know, it’s just so pretty…”

“That’s true.”

Interpretations of the lyrics couldn’t be left out either.

[Everything is starting freshly like a rose]
[Title: Rosette Nebula]

“Isn’t the title Rosette Nebula? Nebula is where stars are born, right? So that means…”

“No, I don’t care about that, the kids are just beautiful!”

“That’s true.”

Anyway, entrance time starts at 6:30. The audience has already entered the showcase venue, repeating songs and music videos.

And finally, the long-awaited 8 o’clock.

The first thing that caught the audience’s eye was MC Jin Tae-seop, who they’ve been seeing on [Stone3] over and over.

“Get lost, bald head!”

“Woo woo!”

These days, MC Jin Tae-seop has been losing hair in clumps, going bald. With tears in his eyes, he playfully laughed and said,

“Hahaha, everyone who has filled the venue! And everyone watching through real-time broadcast! It’s so nice to see you! Once again hosting after [Stone3], I’m MC Jin Tae-seop!”

Jin Tae-seop continued professionally, tossing out simple recreation and humor.

“Now, let’s meet the glorious debut members of [Stone3]! Here comes the stage of SAVEN!”

As the stage darkened, a familiar intro echoed.

[Stone3]‘s title track [I'm in Love].

The central LED screen split open, revealing the members.

“Ahhh!”

“Hey, guys!!!!”

*

After the stage of [I'm in Love] ended, the members stood on stage.

Jin Tae-seop began to proceed according to the cue sheet.

“First, let’s greet each other! SAVEN, nice to meet you!”

“Yes! Let’s introduce ourselves! One, two!”

With leader Hana Kwon leading, the members shouted in unison.

“I’m in seventh heaven, hello! We are SAVEN!”

The fans enjoyed even the greeting they were seeing for the first time.

“It’s been a while, great to see you all! Seeing you like this really brings back memories… Right? Our trainees are now debuted and are proper idol stars! Idol stars! Congratulations on your debut!”

With the MC’s gesture prompting, an enormous cheer erupted from the 5000-seat audience.

“Congratulations!!!”

“Wow!!!”

“And there’s another reason to celebrate, isn’t there?”

The MC shouted with a cheeky smile.

“All chart entries for the inclusion tracks!”

The infamous ‘King Raen is Good’ phrase that sparked a trend of music source manipulation.
In the late 2010s, music charts were dominated by unheard-of singers or has-beens.

Their common statement?

“I hit the algorithm,” “It’s an SNS pick,” “It’s an insider pick.”

Of course, those were lame excuses that no one bought, and the music charts lost credibility.

As the music charts became irrelevant, every streaming service began to revamp their charts.

And thus, a more fair music chart was born.

However, this process impacted the idol scene as well.

The influence of fandom enthusiasm (especially streaming) decreased.

Thanks to that, the once-familiar top spot entry became a thing of the past.

Though, top idols still managed to successfully enter the highest ranks.

“The title track ‘Rose Nebula’ entered real-time at 4th place on the Watermelon chart! 3rd on the Genie chart! Not to mention entering the top spot on almost all charts! Just looking at the trend, 1st place is guaranteed! Truly amazing! Incredible!”

Debuting through the nationwide hit program [Jodo 3], ‘SAVEN’ was already a hot topic, comparable to top idols, right from their debut moment.

“Then we can’t skip their remarks, right? Um… great! Ye-eun! Please share your thoughts on behalf of everyone!”

Park Ye-eun, caught off guard by an unexpected question not listed on the cue sheet, looked at Do-hee as if asking for help.

But of course, there was no way Do-hee would help her during a live performance on stage.

Park Ye-eun stammered and said,

“Um… th-thank you!”

“Is that it?”

“I… I’ll work hard!”

The MC added some flair to her short answer to keep things moving.

“…Yes! I can feel the overwhelming emotion that leaves one speechless! I think the fans felt it too! Right?”

– Yeah!!!

“Yes! The fans all understand! I’d love to continue the talk show, but the staff keeps giving me looks! Haha, it seems we have a lot to show you today. Chae-rin! What performance do we have prepared?”

“Yes! Our debut album’s track ‘Oh’ is a cheerful teen dance genre song that cutely and wittily expresses the flustered yet excited feelings of a girl immersed in first love! It features a gently repeating piano loop that captivates the ears! Especially, the diverse and adorable voices of our members enhance the song’s charm! Please love it a lot!”

“Hahaha, the song description is great, but I can tell you memorized it well, Chae-rin!”

With the MC’s playful joke, behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process played on the screen.

The members hurried off to prepare for the stage, and soon the performance of the track began.

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