That was Park Moondae, or rather Keundal, who was using Ryu Gunwoo's body. Right now, it seemed that he was launching the pop-up.
[Hyung? Are you okay?]
"… … Hoo."
I got it. I relaxed my shoulders and sighed.
I suddenly heard a voice, so naturally I thought it was a ghost… No.
"Since when did you become like this?"
Clearly, he didn't have this kind of talent.
[Uh, I'm not sure. I just tried it because I thought it would work… Is it working?]
"… Yes."
It seemed that synchronization with the status window had come to an end. It looked like he could use it like that.
It wasn't a very positive sign, but since he was having fun, I kept my mouth shut and stopped talking nonsense.
[Wow… It's been a long time since I felt like we were sharing our views like this. It's a bit…It feels like I'm sharing a room with hyung? Wow!]
No, I think he was having a bit too much fun…
I kept my mouth shut for a while at the always static description text or the chat that flooded the status window that came up.
It was to the point of feeling uncomfortable.
[Can I use emojis too? Like this… >_< Heok!]
"Yeah, that's amazing."
He was doing things I never could have imagined.
I held my breath and got up. It was a pity that Ryu Chungwoo was out on the phone with the company. At least it would have been funny.
[I'm sorry if I was reckless… Heck, it's the comeback season now, so if you're missing something…]
"No."
I blocked the text of the pop-up window that was growing. Who did he think I was?
"I'm fine, so don't worry about that, I was a bit surprised because I was concentrating on checking my stats for the first time in a while."
[Yes… …]
It seemed a bit genuine. I twitched my eyebrows at the pop-up window that seemed to convey even the nuances skillfully even though it was only text.
Still, I didn't know where I could use it, so I checked it out.
"Looking at what you're saying now, it looks like you can see my situation. How much can you see?"
[Just to the extent that hyung sees… Yes. It seems to be the same!]
"Anything other than sight?"
[The sound is a bit muffled, but I can hear it. Other than that, I don't feel anything else!]
Now we had a quick answer.
"Always?"
[No! I think it only happens when you access the status window like this. Something… When you turn on the status window, it feels like an electronic signal is coming to me!]
Right.
So, when I turned on the status window, a call was sent to this guy and it was synchronized.
'If I'm in a hurry, I could use it.'
The possibility was extremely low, but if, for example, I got stranded on an uninhabited island again within a few months, I could use it. I nodded.
"Okay. It's nice to have one more way to contact you."
Unless he was on the verge of death.
[Yes??]
The pop-up window vibrated slightly. This… I hoped it was because he was excited.
And even slightly smaller, soon a new message was written slowly as if hesitating.
[I… Can I contact you when you open the status window?]
I chuckled.
"Of course."
[Thank you!]
The window grew again. It seemed to reflect him quite well.
And he started pouring out his impressions in earnest.
[Oh, my heart was so excited to see you checking your stats! I wanted to see the first live show in real life, but it's a shame I can't go!]
"Does it seem useful to you?"
[Yes! I'm so excited that my heart is about to come out of my mouth!]
He made watching TeStar a pleasure in his entrance exam life, so why did the words that fans use stick to his mouth?
I opened my mouth for an answer, but the text that came up quickly came first.
[Really, fighting! Oh, I'm going to go to work now! Lunch break is over.]
"… …"
That was how the pop-up window disappeared with a glitch in an instant.
'It's like a real KakaoTalk.'
… I guess it would take some time to get used to. I rubbed my shoulders and turned off the rest of the status window.
It was time to go ahead and come back to reality.
The important thing now was the first stage.
'The preparations are over.'
The amount of practice, actual combat experience, and even a trump card were all filled.
… Somehow, it didn't seem like a performance, and it sounded like we were going to the World's Best Martial Arts Competition.
I laughed while shaking my head.
'Well, there's not much difference.'
It was just that we wouldn't have to lift swords, so wasn't it the same to have results that wouldn't be embarrassing?
'Let's go to the real sword fight.'
Because it was a soldering iron, we couldn't add any special effects or devices. The only thing given was a firecracker originally installed on the stage.
So, it was better. If people were impressed by this stage, they wouldn't be able to give credit to anything else other than the people who performed it, TeStar.
"Moondae. We have to go to the practice room… !"
"Okay."
I left the room.
The first release of the stage was right around the corner.
• * *
The news that TeStar's first performance would be pre-released on the famous American survival audition variety show, 〈You got a chance〉 hit the Internet.
-Hey, this is cruel and funny, but TeStar is participating? Awesome ㅋㅋㅋㅋ There are two external performers for each team, but I didn't know that Korean idols would come out ㅋㅋ
-This hasn't even happened to VTIC.
-I'm already looking forward to it. What time can I see it in Korean time?
It was famous for only inviting trendy or hot performers, so people said it was a very good thing.
Of course, the live worrying posts popped up all of a sudden as if they were determined.
- There was a review saying that the title track was really good.
└ Fans are always like that.
└ I'm worried about the American audition program; I know TeStar is good at live performances, but this?
Lee Sejin and Park Moondae's twin homma, who was an office worker, kept her reactions down.
'Now, in a little while, TeStar will do well, but people will praise them excessively, saying, 'What are you talking about?''
To make a fuss even if it ruins a little bit.
"Tsk."
She clicked her tongue.
But even so, she didn't bother to stop the corners of her mouth from moving.
Because, this was the person who came to see the pre-recording.
It was really not like herself. Whether it was an event or a concert, she was going directly to a pre-recording of a music show that was famous for treating fans like rubbish.
'Did I get enough of waiting in the middle of a crowd while receiving neglect from other broadcasting stations that early in the morning?'
She had enough.
No, it was to the point where she thought that what she saw for free did not fit her budget.
'It's better because it's a live broadcast.'
It was better because they couldn't correct it. If it was the guys she knew, they would never have neglected managing their neck or ankles in this situation.
The office worker nodded and calmly finished the correction.
However, somewhere in that hand, she felt a sense of rhythm caused by anticipation.
And time passed. Now, it was the day of TeStar's American TV show performer appearance.
[The following is a celebratory performance. Global KPOP singer and 'that' crazy band from 〈Cosmic Gunner〉, TeStar!]
In the middle of the program, a short introduction flowed without much expectation or grand notice.
Not only did they not have enough time to prepare in the first place, but it was only the first half of the celebration performance they were hired for as an experiment.
And, as always, the mid-advertisement went in and the screen returned again.
[…]
A group of people were standing on the huge stage where the auditionees were on until just now.
Dancers in red costumes.
And in the meantime, there were seven people wearing black jumpers and masks.
- TeStar!
-Hey, they came out.
'The outfits are fine.'
It wasn't too conceptual, and it had a modern look and fit to suit the seat.
While the office worker nodded…
The TeStar members who were dressed in black came forward at the end of a choreography that seemed to sever and push away the dancers in red.
While masked dancers turned their heads and stared, the beat began with an intense trombone sound.
Singing began.
Park Moondae casually threw off the black mask and scratched his vocals once.
[The sound of calling anxiously over there
Listen, the sound of my running footsteps]
Then, the choreography was slowed down.
And they galloped.
[First appearance
Head!]
There was a super high note in the first line of the introduction.
A sharp and clear sound that was not disturbed by a single pitch cut through the air firmly.
Thud!
Viewers could hear the sound of their hands hitting the floor and then jumping up and down.
At least, it was a clean sound without the AR put in to catch the scale.
-?????
- Park Moondae-ssi.
- It's live, right?
'That's right!'
The crazy sense of security she heard at the music show rang again in the office worker's ears.
'I wonder if they're humans.'
After the almost circus-like stunt left a strong impression, Kim Raebin's low and refined rap part followed along with a meaningful slow choreography.
The eyes covered with black bangs shone.
[Appearance!]
Then, the choreography continued with powerful, bursting movements.
[Rain shower in April
Untimely Visitor (Hi)
Knock on a hard heart, stride
Into it]
Even with the choreography that used footwork, the song was dropped again, ending with Ryu Chungwoo's middle and high notes.
[Now the rain fell]
There was a drop before the chorus that went in with the dancers to the comical sounds of the fiddle.
Even in the fierce group dance that seemed to be buried by the dancers, the composition and gestures made it stand out.
And the tenacity to sing even the narration and chorus.
[Whoa uh]
- Calling all of them.
- They must be crazy;
TeStar never ran out of energy until the end of the first verse.
There was no rush or a moment of rest. A performance that exploded as if it were flowing, where all the dynamics were exquisitely controlled without any breaks in their body parts.
A momentum suitable for the concept of a hero movie.
[That's a Savior!]
Before the introduction of the 2nd verse, a slow choreography where both arms were moved backwards began.
The black jumper had a blue Haetae opening its mouth like a tiger on the back, just like a college tailored jumper.
-Is this gukppong?
- I'm excited
- When does TeStar breathe?
Comments of admiration without even a hint of laughter were being updated like crazy.
A density that was full without even a gap for cheers to fit into a composition like a single organism.
However, because of the wow point that caught the eyes and the sense of immersion, the useless burden that would come from that full feeling was not conveyed.
Thanks to this, the office worker was ready whenever she noticed.
'It was like this in the other music show.'
They were originally good at it, and when she thought it was time for them to slow down, they brought something stronger like a ghost.
Even the choreography of the huge bombardment in the final chorus thrilled even the office worker.
-Yeah, that's ma Savior.
Click.
Lee Sejin in the center smiled.
Thud!
The light scattered in the choreography that was connected as if they were flying, and the accompaniment exploded again.
"… !"
The firecrackers of the stage set were made to pop out in time with the beats and movements like artillery fire.
There was a connection to the exquisite stage.
And then, a light and splendid choreography with lots of lingering beats began.
It was a festive ending.
-Ring the bell, Ring my bell
I wanna be your Savior
Between the fallen dancers, TeStar raised and folded their arms one after another, getting into formation.
That was how TeStar's first stage ended.
And the comments and the scene exploded.
- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
- They tore it off.
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is live? Idol Inc, what the hell did you create?
- Don't ever ignore TeStar ever again.
The office worker exhaled without even having time to read the comments.
'Poisonous, poisonous.'
It was as cool and charming as it was poisonous.
Didn't they start completely raw without any special equipment and ended the stage with the power of themselves?
Her mouth was about to fall open.
'Their bodies… No, are their vocal cords and lungs okay?'
A question came to her mind at the moment, because she hated to see it as if they did it on a local broadcasting stage or at an event.
'They're making a lot of money, so they'll take care of it themselves.'
This stage was really worth the money to see.
Besides, this wasn't the end.
'In the pre-recording, they even did an intro glow-in-the-dark performance in addition to that.'
She was already looking forward to how public opinion would go when it came out.
Recalling the comeback show two days later to be aired on TNet, she folded her hands.
Looking at the reaction, she thought that it would be harder to see the real thing now… Well, what could she do? They did well!
She laughed involuntarily.
'Still, since it's the railroad season, they should participate in one or two college events. I should get more uploads.'
And surprisingly, as she wished, TeStar scheduled a university event.
Of course, the important thing in their careers was not the event, but the official broadcasting schedule after that.
At the same time…
"Heeoook."
"S-some water."
Most of the TeStar members who came off the stage sat down in a state of exhaustion.
They heard cheers, but more than that, their eyes were spinning.
'It seems to consume the most stamina among all the things I've done.'
'Lungs… My lungs are about to pop out!'
They couldn't help it.
Of course, among TeStar's title tracks and sub-songs so far, there have been too many difficult performances.
However, there was no reckless level of one song performances where they could barely match the energy by exerting all their strength.
'That's why it's meaningful.'
Because it was intense.
Likewise, Park Moondae, who was sitting on the floor, holding his ribs and breathing heavily, eyes were shining.
The appearance was a success if the gut feeling that he felt on stage earlier was not wrong.
'Of course, we have to monitor properly, but…'
Still, with years of experience, his stage sense was quite good.
After checking the original program order in his head, he smiled.
"Cha Eugene."
"Yes!"
"The next stage performance is ready."
Cha Eugene, who was stretching alone with the adrenaline effect, smiled and shrugged.
[It always is.]
Park Moondae nodded.
'Good.'
Next was the second stage of market entry.
This was the so-called 'close the distance' operation.