It was when TeStar was busy preparing for a live broadcast on the last day of the year.
"They started early."
The homma, who was an office worker that took pictures of Park Moondae and Lee Sejin, clicked her tongue as she watched the second part of MBS Gayo Daejeon, in which they would appear near the end.
It was funny that she was barely able to rest while in front of the TV because she had to work overtime just before New Year's Eve, but it was also funny that a program that lasted past midnight started before 9 o'clock.
And in fact, she didn't really need to watch it at the moment.
Because TeStar would come out after a while.
'I've already requested data for uploading because I'm working overtime.'
So, she was just watching it now for light interest.
'I'm a bit curious about what the collaboration with Seon Ahyeon will be like.'
Of course, it wasn't a question of skill.
In fact, in a group chat where some of Park Moondae's fansites gathered, there was a bit of talk.
On the day of MCing on SBC, Park Moondae's scary eyes were seen for a very short time.
'It rarely happens.'
Park Moondae was surprisingly the type to refine himself in front of the camera.
Of course, it was not as much as Lee Sejin, since there were a few times when he gave bad glances during the summer package, but… That was almost his only flaw.
This time, too, it was so short that there was no controversy, but the fansites, feeling somehow unsure, analyzed the angle and even found who was in the singer's seat at that time.
And they confirmed it.
-The other collaboration kids were greeting them…
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
- I think it's just the angle, but don't say anything.
So, they had already reached the point of speculation that was very similar to the truth: 'Ahyeon seems to have had a hard time preparing for the collaboration stage'
Of course, being conscious of threats such as public opinion, they deleted them all without mentioning them in detail, but the office worker was there anyway.
'Did Seon Ahyeon have a mental breakdown?'
After speculating on the behind-the-scenes story, she wanted to check out this stage. She was curious if it would show.
She updated her social media account once and watched TV indifferently.
[Coming up!]
[Gayo Daejeon Special Stage]
[Winter boys]
The special stage formation was at the end of Part 2.
It was a typical composition of gathering juniors to the songs of the legendary 1st generation KPOP seniors and having them put on an improvised stage.
'It's still tacky.'
It was said that half of the first-generation seniors had been blown away by drunk driving, so she watched TV quite skeptically.
It was a bit regretful that a member she wasn't interested in was playing a song she wasn't interested in.
Soon, the accompaniment mixed with mechanical sounds came out. It was music arranged for a dance performance without singing.
-Wee Oo Wee Oo
They must have spent some money, so the LED signboard and floor with water puddle-like LED effects were quite good.
'Of course, it will cool down the moment they start dancing.'
She expected that a group shot would likely be a mess because the busy guys would have practiced separately, so they would have needed to be in sync with the group dance.
But the moment the choreography started…
-Oo-u Oo Oo-u Oo
The quality was decent.
"Hmm?"
And she knew the cause right away by using her many years of KPOP experience.
'It's because the person in the center did well.'
And the opening center was Seon Ahyeon.
"Oh."
In the beginning, the style of acrobatic movements using long limbs was different.
Even though the camera couldn't catch it, in Seon Ahyeon's movements, there was even an optical illusion effect that seemed to catch it well.
There was no need for a sharp group dance. The performer in the center was overwhelmingly good, so it seemed like everyone was doing well.
No, wait.
"Nevermind."
But four seconds later, she clicked her tongue at the mess in the corner where one of them got up late from the floor or almost fell into it.
'It's ruined.'
Originally, year-end collaborations that gathered busy people and stage one-offs often ended up like this, but somehow it felt more clumsy.
It was because of the stark contrast to when Seon Ahyeon was in the center.
"Is Seon Ahyeon the only one that's winning?"
There was a difference in competence, and the office worker looked at the screen with interest.
It seemed that Seon Ahyeon was the only one who benefited from the fact that the choreography was close to real dance rather than a dance for general broadcasting.
It was said that he majored in ballet or modern dance, and it seemed that he studied for a longer time than the average person in the industry.
Just in time, a close-up of Seon Ahyeon caught on camera filled the screen.
Above the motion of touching the floor with one hand, the shining eyes on his beautiful face were unexpectedly intense.
She knew he had a pretty face, but this was unexpected.
'I thought he couldn't show all his skills because he couldn't show his strength.'
She corrected her judgment.
Since Lee Sejin and Park Moondae were in the same group, she thought he would join in as a helper, but it seemed that he had his own podium.
Without taking her eyes off the TV, she watched Seon Ahyeon's dance performance until it reached the end.
And if this reaction was changed to something more extreme, it would be the reaction of the viewers.
• * *
"Ahyeon is awesome!"
"It was really cool."
"Th-thank you. Thank you… !"
Seon Ahyeon blushed and returned to the waiting room.
"I'm saying this because we aren't being recorded with any cameras, but Ahyeon really did the best~"
"That's right! Hyung did a good job alone! The others didn't do well…"
"Hey, that's too much."
The words that did not pass through Cha Eugene's brain were quickly suppressed. Seon Ahyeon's face looked like he was about to shed a cold sweat.
In fact, he said the other guys did well during the practice. No matter how much their personalities exploded, they were also professionals.
The problem came from the stage.
"Th-that's because the floor was a bit slippery…"
Because it was a live broadcast, there was a mistake in time calculation, and the water sprayed as an effect in the previous stage did not dry properly.
However, since only Seon Ahyeon moved normally, that would be an excuse for a loser.
"But you didn't slip!"
"It's because I've practiced before…!"
"As expected, you have gained experience in the past and completed it with your current skills! I respect you!"
"Th-that… Yes, thank you…"
Like this.
'That's too bad.'
Originally, it would have ended up with public opinion criticizing the poor working space of the broadcasting station when the facts were revealed after a bit of swearing.
But now that it was like this, it looked like Seon Ahyeon would get all the praise and end it.
-Seon Ahyeon is not a popular member of a first-tier group for nothing.
-He's the Top 1 male idol main dancer
-From modern dance, ballet, to auditioning? Honestly, I think it's an impossible combination ㅋㅋㅋ
After checking the public opinion, it was going in a similar trend as expected.
'Good.'
It was cool, and everything was good. Everything was running well.
Except for the fact that this waiting room was not a private room.
"We had a good time too, Ahyeon-ssi!"
"Yes, yes! Th-thank you…"
"We did something similar in the past… Ah, Shin-oh, didn't you cover Battle A-sunbaenim's stage back then?"
"It wasn't me, it was Cheongryeo hyung. Hyung is our main dancer."
"Aha, that's right! Anyway, we did something similar, so it reminds me of that time."
"… …"
VTIC shared this waiting room with us.
And they were trying to get involved in TeStar's conversation.
'Why did it end up like this?'
In fact, I could roughly understand why we shared a room.
Since VTIC was actually the top in the industry now, it would have been uncomfortable to share a room with them.
So, if they chose a group that was too sharply different from them, they'd feel uncomfortable, so TeStar, who seemed to be close to them, seemed to have been finally selected as their roommate.
They managed to call those who could go to the American New Year's Eve program here, so of course they had to be careful.
'Damn it.'
I understood that, but these bastards seemed to have not developed a sense of interpersonal relationships during their 9 years of activity, so they kept trying to interfere with the kids playing.
'Stop.'
However, they were also dragging the other guy into the conversation.
"Do you remember, hyung? The year-end special stage!"
"Yes."
Cheongryeo, who was getting his hair done by a stylist, raised the corners of his mouth.
"We did a lot."
"… …"
To think that I'd have to celebrate the New Year with this bastard. I'd rather be exiled to an outdoor stage.
"Guys, Sejin is coming."
"Oh!!"
At that time, Ryu Chungwoo, who was sitting on the sofa, called the others together.
On the screen of the smartphone Ryu Chungwoo was looking at… The acting grand prize was coming out.
[Hello. I am Ahn Sohyun.]
[Hello. I am TeStar's Bae Sejin.]
Bae Sejin entered with the only member who succeeded as an actor in the group 'Fluffy Sweet'.
He looked a bit nervous but dressed neatly, and he definitely looked like an actor.
"Oh, a suit."
"He didn't have much time, so he must have had a hard time setting it up."
"Hyung, you are handsome!"
As expected, while the others were whispering that he should wear a suit for the next album, Bae Sejin on the screen calmly continued the process.
[We, who have experience in idol activities, are standing on the podium together today. I think it must be a new feeling to be presenting the acting award today, Sejin-ssi!]
[Yes. It's been a while, so I think I need to do better. Thank you so much for inviting me.]
"Hy-hyung, is really good at it… !"
"I know."
Bae Sejin had good pronunciation and did not tremble.
[I started acting in a drama after being an idol, but Sejin-ssi is the opposite, right? How are your idol activities?]
[Yes. I am a member of a group called TeStar. … It is a very enjoyable and rewarding time. I met a lot of nice people.]
"Oh…"
"Ooh, is this our story?"
"… I guess so."
Bae Seiin faintly smiled on the small screen. And between the guys who were watching the screen, an embarrassing warmth circulated.
"Oh, he looks so sincere."
"TeStar is cool~"
Without saying a word, I tapped Keun Sejin, who had a strange expression on his face. The guy shrugged his shoulders with an embarrassed face.
'As expected, time is the answer.'
It seemed that they had come to recognize each other. Seeing how those guys lived these days, they seemed to be the worst roommates.
[The field is different, but I will do my best to show an image that I am not ashamed of either way. Then, we will tell you about the categories we will award today.]
Bae Sejin finished the rest of the award ceremony well, and finished the closing remarks well enough to say, 'If there is a good opportunity, I'll see you again'.
And sometime later, when Bae Sejin arrived through a congested highway…
"… I'm here."
"Oh, oh!"
"Hyung was really cool!"
"It was great."
"Oh, ahem, thank you… But this is originally a short script!"
"No, it was great! Thanks for talking about us!"
"…! N-no."
"It wasn't about us?"
"No… It was!"
There was a rain of strong welcome greetings. It made Bae Sejin's face redden.
But that mood didn't last long.
"Hello~ The award ceremony was great!"
"…Ah, yes. Thank you."
Bae Sejin greeted VTIC, who pretended to know him, but threw a suspicious gaze and quietly retreated to the TeStar section of the waiting room.
I guess he didn't forget that I had a dog fight with Cheongryeo.
"Hyung. Change your clothes first."
"… Yes!"
I spent time with him in the corner of the waiting room.
And then it was the time before TeStar's stage.
"Yes, everyone, are you enjoying the last and most splendid pleasure of the year, Gayo Daejeon?"
"It will be a new year soon."
We were called out onto a huge main stage to welcome the new year.
On the way out, it was nice for us to greet the poor guys who were defeated by Seon Ahyeon on purpose, but some of them seemed to have problems with other things.
"It's cold."
"Be quiet, Cha Eugene! Many people celebrating the New Year will see it, so let's start happily!"
"You're not even laughing!"
"I will laugh now!"
"Stop."
I grabbed the two guys who were about to fight and put my arms around their shoulders.
On a stage lined with all kinds of idols and singers, we took a seat in front of what looked like a lot of moderately familiar light sticks.
'Even if it's a direct cam, it should come out well.'
There was a place designated by the production team, but as people flocked to it anyway, the boundaries were blurred.
"Wow, it's already been a year~"
"Yes! I-it seems to have gone by so quickly…"
We exchanged small words so that the people around us would not be caught by the microphone. Slowly, the countdown began to start.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
The confetti exploded, and the lighting and sound heightened.
"Happy New Year!!"
Pop.
It felt strange to celebrate the new year by being caught in the crowd of people clapping and shouting.
"TeStar will show something this year too~"
"I hope it will be a year of healthy and wonderful songs released without any accidents!"
Encouragement came and went wildly. As we said hello to the light sticks that shook violently, they began to shake like crazy.
'Don't their arms hurt?'
Well, if they liked it, that was fine.
At that moment, an arm wrapped around my shoulder.
"Moondae, you've worked hard! From now on, let's work less and still work hard~"
"P-please take care of me… !"
"… Okay. Happy New Year.
I exchanged high-fives and good words with the members.
It felt a bit strange.
'Still, it's a new year, though.'
There was a significant risk of falling behind in the middle, so I wondered how I managed to pass it well and was celebrating the new year as an idol.
At this time last year, I thought that it would have been the last time.
"… … Hmm."
It was kind of fun.
"Happy new year!"
On the first stage of the new year, it was very cold, noisy, lively, and bright.
• * *
Following the colorful New Year's countdown, the main stage was quickly cleared for the next stage.
And TeStar was scheduled to wait right below.
Because the next people to perform would be us.
The problem was that I met this bastard again when I was coming off the stage and parted ways to go to the bathroom for a while.
"I will see you soon again this year. There are awards ceremonies all the way in January."
"I guess so."
It was Cheongryeo.
If this bastard was going to say such an obvious thing, then he shouldn't disturb the person who had just left on standby…
"You're going to release a new song on January 5th… There will be a performance of the new song at the awards ceremony, right? Well, that's a brave choice."
"… …"
I stopped.
'A brave choice?'
This nuance… It was like TeStar was making a loss with the new song.
"Oh, you don't know."
"… …"
"You don't know. You don't have an informant, do you? Hoobaenim, that's… It will be the biggest problem in the future."
His eyes gleamed slightly. And he spoke in a tone of voice that sounded like he was giving advice to his juniors.
"I have no connections."
"… …"
"Hmm… Let's call it a New Year's gift, and listen."
Cheongryeo laughed.
"Did you know that Youngrin is preparing for a promotion?"
"… I did."
While preparing for being the MC last time, I recalled what Youngrin said in passing.
I thought that she would do well whenever she came out because she was the one who got the best sound recording results among idols and idol-turned-soloists right now.
'… … Wait a minute.'
Cheongryeo smiled bitterly.
"It seems that you didn't know the date. It's a surprise New Year song."
"… !!"
"January 4th. Therefore… It's a day apart from yours, hoobaenim."
Oh, fuck.