In the monitoring equipment, it was seen that VTIC continued talking fluently without any awkwardness on the stage.
[In fact, the longer you work, the less you have to cover the songs of your fellow idols.]
[That's right, that's right~ The concert would be filled with our songs!]
[That's a wonderful thing. Still, it was a lot of fun preparing for the cover stage after a long time.]
Even if I didn't watch it, I knew that there would be a lot of comments like "That's right, even if they took off their skill badges, but it must have been unfair haha.'
I tried to cross my arms, but I held back. This was to avoid interfering with the staff who were adjusting my mic position.
Those other two guys didn't have strength in professional entertainment, but they knew how to talk quite plausibly among themselves.
"T-talking… they are doing well."
"They've been doing it for over 8 years, so, of course, they should."
"I-is that so?"
To Seon Ahyeon's admiration, Bae Sejin answered bluntly. It seemed that he wasn't very happy that Cheongryeo came here.
Well, that was to be expected. Even when I first said it, he was shocked.
-Why is that crazy guy coming to an event like this… !!
-Because the platform belongs to the agency. I guess it's hard to refuse.
-Ugh…
-So… I think it would be better for all of them to come and perform as a group, what do you think?
-…. Okay. That sounds better.
After that, a lengthy discussion ensued, which was replaced with 'Should this concert be held on that platform in the first place?'', but Bae Sejin eventually lost in a majority vote.
By the way, the other guy who knew that Cheongryeo was the bastard who had a dog fight with me while on vacation… Well, he happened to be a reaction robot that only shouted yes.
-… Really? Okay~ I have to work hard.
At that time, Keun Sejin's reaction ended with that.
The problem was that now he was making a pretty disrespectful gesture… Hey, don't pretend to fan yourself while making a motion that looks like you're slicing your hand across your neck.
Looking at it like this, everyone seemed to be nervous and wary, but of course, there were guys who were just excited.
For example, Kim Raebin.
"It was quite an adventurous yet sophisticated arrangement. Next time, I think it will be fun if we arrange the seniors'
"…"
That wasn't it.
'If we go that far, it would become a real fight…'
It was like we'd be saying 'How dare you do that to Haengcha? We'll do the same for Sangun.'
Right now, in the name of a donation concert, it seemed that it would go over to a warm atmosphere on the surface, but if we went that far, there would really be no answer.
It wasn't a contest program, and excited WeTubers who liked to talk about issues would join in asking what kind of diss match this was, and then the real shit would happen.
Fortunately, before I could open my mouth, Ryu Chungwoo gently cut Kim Raebin's words first.
"Let's do it if we have a chance."
"Yes!"
It was a face that didn't even assume that that opportunity wouldn't come at all.
"… …"
But… It was enough that he was happy.
No, there was one more guy.
"We should use flags too!! Flags are cool!!"
Cha Eugene was in the mood to make a new song. Bae Sejin asked him a question with a confused face.
"… Aren't you nervous?"
"Why?"
"That… Because the people before us did well."
"It's okay. I'm good! Well, we're good!"
"… … !"
Bae Sejin suddenly had a sense of urgency on his face.
"Yeah, that's right!"
"That's right!"
Yes, let's get into the spirit.
I nodded and spoke.
"Let's work hard."
"Yes, yes!"
"Yes, Moondae-ssi, who strongly insisted on this concert~"
"Moondae-ssi hired a choreographer the day after he was discharged from the hospital."
(TN: the suffix -ssi (씨) is used when addressing someone you're not close with/when you want to address them formally. Obviously, the members are close, so the -ssi used after Moondae's name is used in a joking manner)
"… …"
Ryu Chungwoo too?
I had to do the stage right. The moment I failed, these guys would hang me upside down and pour red ginseng into my mouth.
Of course, I had no intention of ruining it.
'Let's just do what we prepared.'
I laughed and got up from my seat and followed them.
Soon, it was TeStar's turn again.
• * *
"Wow!!"
The graduate student sitting in front of the computer was admiring the VTIC stage she had just seen.
Because there was no disagreement that it was a really cool stage!
'Umm, but the original stage is better, but… I can't help it! Because it's the original song of TeStar!'
She once again felt proud of TeStar, who performed such a masterpiece as a title, and applauded VTIC.
'Korean idols are really cool~'
This was the opinion of a person who had not tasted the abyss of the industry.
Unlike ordinary people who excitedly praised both of them, hardcore fans were holding their heads and talking about whether this could be good.
-VTIC bastards can't control their members, but they come to their juniors' concerts.
-It would have been enough just with the kids… It's really disgusting.
-When I came to the donation concert as a guest, they dragged all the dancers… Wow
- They need to cut off the internet.
There was no big difference on the VTIC side, but there were people who enjoved it as the initial shock and anger subsided.
Because the stage was so overwhelming.
-It would have been better to send them on an entertainment show during this time. But since they won, it's okay.
└ㅋㅋㅋ They'll have to work hard on a sales video**
└Since they're going to go back to the track one more time, let's go and ask for the VTIC version. ㅎㅎ
-It's so much run to win a mysterious victory that only they don't know about. That's why we're TICA.
-If they have time to do something like this during their promotional period, they should do it at a fansign ㅠㅠㅠ Ah, there would be a dogfight.
The time when VTIC's surprise appearance on social media and the community was coming up…
[Let's go into VTIC~]
[Please participate a lot!]
VTIC concluded their short talk after saying their parting messages and then exited.
The electric signboard then came up with a new phrase.
[Next stage]
1. VTIC covered by TeStar
2. VTIC covered by TeStar..?
It was the same view as before.
However, the original example with "TeStar covered by VTIC" disappeared, and a sentence with a mysterious code filled the place.
-?
-Number 2
-Why is there a question mark?
Of course. The comments gained momentum again with the feeling that they couldn't understand the meaning
VTIC fans who logged on because of VTIC also put off leaving for a while since VTIC's name was mentioned again.
-Hey, this is the second time.
-I wonder why it has a question mark.
-If you think something funny will come out, quickly hit #2
-ㅋㅋㅋ Ah, so fun
With the words of the audience members who were delighted with the unpredictable view, the choice was voted on in an instant.
3. VTIC covered by TeStar..? (179557)
The result was two outright victories.
'Will this be okay?'
'I don't care because I think VTIC will continue to come out.'
TeStar's fans were uneasy at the sight itself, but they couldn't say anything to the excited audience, so they quietly waited for TeStar's next stage.
And, as usual, the screen suddenly went black.
Changing the stage like this had been the beginning of all the other stages so far…
But this time, instead, they heard a sound in the dark.
-Sangun
Their claws are hella sharp
Readily tear you apart
"… … !"
The song VTIC performed just before… It was Sangun.
-Is TeStar alive?
-Crazy. No way
-Oh my gosh
Beyond the shocked comments, a spotlight came down on the screen stage.
Pas.
What it was shining on was… It was a table on one side of the dark stage. The camera sneaked a close-up of it.
On the table was a red retro radio with an antenna.
As a matter of fact, it was as if a singing voice was heard on the radio.
Suddenly, however, a hand climbed onto the table and pressed a button on the radio.
-No, you can't…
The song died out with a crackling noise.
And the head of the owner of the hand popped up on the table.
It was Cha Eugene with a mischievous face.
[Hum, hum, hum~]
Cha Eugene hummed along to Sangun's melody with an excited expression and even shook his shoulders to the rhythm.
It was the excitement of the fans who could see it.
However, the moment even the audience relaxed, Cha Eugene suddenly stopped humming, grabbed the table without warning, and then somersaulted back!
BBA-BAM!
A cheerful brass sound exploded.
In line with that brass sound, the stage lights around Cha Eugene brightened as if they were about to burst, and the surroundings shimmered brightly.
And on the stage unfolding in the eyes of the audience… It was a teenage party, filled with gold, purple and red balloons, and LED lights.
At each sofa, bar seat, and table, TeStar members stopped with drinks or sat down.
There was a short silence without movement as if the tape had stopped, and…
BBABAM, BAM, BBA-BAAAM!
A chord full of splendid technique entered the brass.
And around Cha Eugene, Ryu Chungwoo and Lee Sejin began to run around in jeans and got into formation as if transfusing.
The moment they started choreographing around a column cluttered with stickers and banners, a fast-beat electro-swing accompaniment bursted out!
[Hey partner
Are you thinking of me
Wonder. Mv owner
Where our communion goes]
These lyrics were sung cheerfully by Cha Eugene with a smile.
It was a song that everyone knew.
-Night Sign
-Night sign!!!
-???? This?
Yes.
TeStar's selection was 'Night Sign', which would remain as VTIC's immortal hit.
The title track of a monster album that sold 1.8 million copies in the first week.
And it was also a song that was judged as a K.O. for simultaneous release as soon as TeStar debuted.
This song boasted a very difficult stage intensity with sexy lyrics and a languid melody, and an intense instrument and performance that contrasted with it.
However, TeStar did not call it 'that'.
-I didn't notice
-Awesome ㅋㅋㅋ
- Was it such an exciting song?
This was because TeStar raised the tone to the limit with an accompaniment full of cheerful electric guitars, drums, and disco-style electronic sounds.
The lyrics sounded like childish flirting.
[Two hands held together
When mixed and twisted
Remember again
Night after night]
Right from the couch, from the bar to the table.
TeStar moved the formation and naturally passed the center to the member of the next part.
A stage without an actual audience had no façade. So, the performance freely changed its center according to the angle of the camera.
When taking a picture of Park Moondae lying on the sofa, the camera came down from the ceiling, and for Seon Ahyeon, who was sitting at the bar, the camera came in like a bartender's point of view.
Then, the members laughed mischievously and stood on the sofa or bar and joined the choreography with big movements as the center.
[Until the end of this night
Remember my eyes
Like a night sign
Drag you into a trap]
Colorful luminous mirror balls shimmered and confetti exploded.
The members showed a choreography full of energy by applying disco movements with large hands and feet in a snappy rhythm.
It was a retro high-teen atmosphere in the early 80s.
-Oh, what the fuck!
-It's cute.
-I'm sitting on the edge of my seat
From the point of view of the junior host, TeStar did not choose a head-to-head confrontation as if they were going to fight back.
Instead, they chose a direction in which VTIC, who had been in the industry for much longer, could no longer show more effectiveness than TeStar.
It was the heat and freshness of childhood.
[Whoo~
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Like a night sign]
The members took turns, ran, and sang until their cheeks turned red. They drew the song with a sense of respect without being radical. It was clean and respectful.
In addition, the main vocal part performed by Park Moondae aroused a strange feeling.
Now, VTIC wouldn't be able to sing that part like that.
-I'm trembling;
-The real song is excellent
-That's why the main vocalist is a must.
That alone slightly turned off the hearts of the audience who were swollen by VTIC's stage. It was because their overwhelmed heads had cooled down.
TeStar, with their overflowing energy, led the stage neatly and excitedly without lagging.
And, the difference between No. 2 and No. 1 was only revealed at the end.
On the stage that seemed to be ending with an exciting party, the moment the members dressed in colorful clothes lined up in a finishing formation…
Suddenly, the lighting turned black and white.
And the members stopped moving with their heads bowed.
On a black-and-white stage.
The narration rang.
[Welcome, welcome
This is the sound calling you]
It was the chorus of their song, Nightmare Concept,
A gloomy voice.
Behind the party, a huge banner suddenly unraveled and fell, revealing a huge gothic phrase behind it.
[To be continued..?]
Kwagwagwang!!
With the sound of thunder, the members bent their heads and looked at each other.
Like a trailer for a classic American teen horror movie.
And… The stage suddenly ended with the lights disappearing.
[---.]
A peaceful progression set of 7 chairs casually occupied the screen.
-???
-Hey, if they hang up here
-Okay, I'll vote hahahahahahahaha
-Show me your calling.
-We have to shoot donations for them to show it?? Call the standard amount
Of course, after being shocked, the comments naturally started asking for a voting window.
The curiosity made them look forward to the next stage.
TeStar dared to use VTIC like that, and it kept the audience's attention on the screen.
It was a successful plan.
• * *
After a while, during the time in which
Advertisements were scheduled…
We quickly changed our clothes without a break and started social life with VTIC.
"Wow!! I loved it!"
"…Thank you."
"Looking at the dance, we can't dance like that anymore. Everyone, hurry up and take a joint supplement. Our knees are our lives in this job."
"Wow! Can we recommend you a product you can use?"
"… … Okay."
These bastards were… pretending to be friendly.
I glanced back at Cheongryeo and the people I had only seen once in variety shows giving personal advice.
"… …"
While talking to Kim Rabin, he looked at me and smiled. Yes, he wanted to know which ones he arranged.
"Oh, I sent you the product name via text message. Take a look."
"Hm, yes."
I sighed and took out my smartphone.
The two men's eyes widened.
"Oh~ How did you save our names…"
[VTIC Shinoh sunbaenim]
[VTIC ChaeYul sunbaenim]
"Oh…"
"You classified it very professionally…"
What did they expect?
After casually reciting thanks for the supplement recommendation, I got out of the swamp of this conversation.
"Hyungs, it's been a while-"
"Oh, Sejin!"
I wouldn't deny that it was convenient because he backed me up.
And shortly after, right before VTIC left for their schedule…
Instead of saying goodbye to Cheongryeo, who was still wearing his stage costume, I heard a question.
No, confidence disguised as a question.
"Did you get what you wanted?"
"… …"
I brought up the status window.