Second Try Idol

Chapter 204: Joy (41)

- It seems like YMM is finally starting to pay attention to fan services. Aww, we finally get a fan meeting as soon as they start promoting the second album, along with the launch of lightsticks and fan signings...😭😭😭 Please take care of the Rings... We've bought so many merchandise...😢

- Anyway, I went to Chronos's second album fan signing. I was worried I couldn't make it because of the restriction on the number of fans, and I had to split my tiny salary to buy as much as I could. But I made it!

Review: I fucking love them. I will raise you with my bank account.

- The fan signing order was Jin-Sung, Yoo-Joon, Hyun-Woo, Joo-Han, then Yoon-Chan. It was their first time doing this, so they seemed as nervous as I was...haha.

- Jin-Sung's sticky note (sticky note question.jpg) [Jin-Sung, do you prefer older, same age, or younger girls? Answer: Noona, you]

He looked at the sticky note and then asked, “Are you older than me?"

Me: "Yes!" And then he immediately wrote down “Noona” as the answer... My god, where did you learn to be so cute?😭😭😭 I really love you 😭😭😭

- Yoo-Joon looks even sharper in person, so I was worried he might not be approachable. But he greeted me with a big smile as soon as I sat in front of him.

Yoo-Joon: "Hello!"

Yoo-Joon: "Are you also a noona to me?"

Me: "Yeah, way older..."

Then Yoo-Joon said, "Really? You don't look like it." He naturally looked at Jin-Sung's autograph in front of him and then wrote my name. He seemed much more mature and skilled than what I've seen on TV... I felt a deep, invincible love inside 😭

- Yoo-Joon's sticky note [What was the first thing you heard this morning and who said it?

Answer: Swear words—"Ah, please just turn off the game and let's sleep" (Suh Hyun-Woo)] Yoo-Joon said, "And he's the one who wakes up late..." 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Looks like they had a fight first thing in the morning ahahaha.

- Hyun-Woo seemed particularly nervous, but it was relieving to see him gradually relaxing as time went by.

- Hyun-Woo... After I went to the fan signing, you became my favorite... How could you treat me so warmly and kindly with that gaze and tone...? I didn't usually fall for people easily, but I did this time, Hyun-Woo 😭...

- Does Hyun-Woo have a bit of stage fright? He seemed quite nervous, and I'm a bit worried because I've been there too.

- Hyun-Woo's sticky note [Draw Jin-Sung!] 😂😂😂😂😂 Yes, he drew a muscle monster.

- Hyun-Woo's sticky note [If you were to compare the members to a family, who would they be?

Answer: Mom - Joo-Han, Dad - Manager Su-Hwan, Firstborn - Me, Secondborn - Yoon-Chan, Dog - Jin-Sung, Others (please specify): Professional gamer neighbor - Goh Yoo-Joon] 😂😂😂 Ah... Yoo-Joon 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

- At the fan signing, the two of the same age were bickering😂😂😂 Yoo-Joon wore a headband he received, posed for a bit, and then immediately put it on Hyun-Woo > After putting on four, Hyun-Woo collapsed, and they wrestled to put it on each other > Hyun-Woo got caught in a headlock, and Yoo-Joon ended up kicking Hyun-Woo's shin to finish it off > The fans who saw this in person were laughing and snapping pictures.

- Joo-Han's sticky note [When will Joo-Han's solo be released?

Answer: After I make songs for the kids] 😭😭😭 Joo-Han, you are such a kind person...

- I thought Joo-Han was the type to maintain a professional distance, so I expected a brief conversation and an autograph, but he was incredibly kind 😭 He reached out his hand right away, interlocked fingers first, and smiled well...

- Yoon-Chan's sticky note [My favorite and the healing fairy of the members, our Yoon-Chan! How do you feel when your fellow members hold your hands?

Answer: They must be nervous.]

- Review after actually seeing Yoon-Chan in real life: he is so pale and fluffy.

- What the fuck!!! Why am I the only one who couldn’t go? 😭😢 I will definitely go next time, even if I have to buy hundreds of albums and tickets. Just for you, Chronos!!! I will go to the inauguration ceremony!

***

The sticky note answers and heartfelt conversations we had shared during the fan-signing event were making their rounds on social media. All of us were on edge, worried about unintentional blunders we might have made. However, the online buzz seemed to indicate that, at least outwardly, the event concluded on a high note.

As we were buoyed by the successful comeback, we eagerly plunged into organizing an upcoming fan meeting. Our schedules used to be a tranquil stream but now were swiftly turning into a bustling river once more.

Joo-Han was the first among us to dive into the solo variety show scene with Catch the Thief, Boom-ba! His silence on the filming details—met with a simple "It was fun" even when asked—left us more curious.

However, the manager hinted at Joo-Han's commendable performance.

“With all the TV appearances lined up, remember to not just aim for screen time but also to safeguard your image," our manager advised.

A chorus of "Yes!" filled the space.

We were in a small meeting room at YMM Entertainment. The manager had not only laid out Joo-Han's itinerary but also disclosed the individual engagements for Jin-Sung and Yoon-Chan, which made him earn a nod of approval from Supervisor Kim.

As the manager wrapped up, Supervisor Kim flipped through his diary and pondered aloud, “Hmm, is Graduating wrapping up in about two weeks?"

“Yes, and there's chatter about a potential spin-off given the positive response, though nothing's set in stone yet."

Supervisor Kim's next question caught us off guard. “Did I hear right that SES is picking up a new series by writer Bae Cha-Boon?"

“Writer Bae Cha-Boon?”

Supervisor Kim nodded and continued, “You all heard of her, right? She is the one who wrote the blockbuster drama A Hundred Million Stories for You.”

It had once fueled the Korean Wave[1] across East Asia. Writer Bae Cha-Boon, celebrated for her string of hit romance dramas, was a household name in South Korea.

The sudden shift to drama discussions piqued our curiosity. Was Yoon-Chan venturing into acting? However, his clueless expression suggested otherwise.

Supervisor Kim then dropped another bombshell. “You guys have been tasked with the original soundtrack for this drama. It's a bit of a favor from the director, but I'm suggesting Goh Yoo-Joon for the job."

Goh Yoo-Joon was taken aback, and he pointed to himself in disbelief. “Me?"

With a nod, Supervisor Kim continued, “Yes. Your voice has been the talk of the town since before debut, but you've yet to fully showcase it. This is your moment."

Goh Yoo-Joon's initial hesitation gave way to a bright smile as he eagerly accepted. “Yes! I'm on it!"

“The soundtrack is going to be popular with Goh Yoo-Joon's voice. It's a done deal," I said, patting Goh Yoo-Joon on the shoulder in congratulations.

Given it was a drama’s soundtrack, there was a high chance it would be a soft ballad. This would really highlight his voice well. For someone like me who loved Goh Yoo-Joon's voice, this was great news.

“I'm in the process of receiving a song, so if Joo-Han has any ideas, let me know. I will pass them on to the production team."

“Okay."

“And also......"

Supervisor Kim's notebook made a brisk flipping sound. He mentioned, “There's a schedule for Hyun-Woo that we've discussed, but it's not confirmed yet. It might be a gaming variety show. Just be aware of that."

“Is it like a variety show?" I asked, and Supervisor Kim shook his head. “No, a show about gaming. It's about computer games, and you are known among the fans for being good at games, right?"

“Yes... maybe."

“So, they are keeping you in mind. Just be aware of that."

“Okay!!”

“Oh, and how's the fan meeting preparation going by the planning team?"

As we grew in popularity, the volume of content we shared increased. After we attended numerous meetings and practices without a break, our eyes started to droop as Supervisor Kim continued to ask questions.

Then, the planning team cautiously presented their masterstroke—Chronos’s light stick.

“We've received the sample," said Supervisor Kim. My mind snapped back to attention at the sight of the unfamiliar, brightly glowing light stick before me.

“Based on the members' opinions, the design team worked on it, and the planning team really liked it. What do you all think?"

Inside an antique metal curved frame was a round transparent case with a clock's second hand slightly tilted and rotating inside. Moreover, it had great luminance and came equipped with Bluetooth functionality. All in all, it was a very cool and amazing light stick that reflected all of our opinions.

“It's so pretty, isn't it?" I said, and the planning team staff smiled proudly. “Right? Everyone liked it and said it's adorable."

We took turns touching the light stick and turned on the light, nodding in satisfaction. “We like it. It's good to go as is."

“What do you think, Supervisor?"

“I lack an aesthetic sense. If everyone says it's pretty, then let's proceed with it. Please move forward quickly. We are on a tight schedule."

“Ah, yes! Understood."

“Let's all do our best this week too. Let's work hard."

“Yes!"

The moment the meeting came to an end, we stretched and loosened our bodies in unison. Joo-Han managed to get a sample of the light stick from the planning team's deputy manager.

“Now, let's go back to practice."

“Yeah."

When we were about to follow everyone out of the meeting room…

“Ah, right, right. Guys!" Supervisor Kim hurriedly called us.

“Yes?"

“Do you guys have passports?"

We were caught off guard by the sudden question, hesitating and looking at each other.

Supervisor Kim laughed and said, "It's nothing much, just something we talked about before. Again After Rainfall. We are scheduled to start filming after the song promotion, and it will either be Tokyo or New York, so those without passports should prepare them in advance. We have to fly."

“…Gasp."

“Wow, really? We are going to fly?"

“New York! Tokyo! Either way, it's overseas. Yay!"

“Now that I think about it, this will be your first overseas schedule, right? You guys won’t have much time, but there should be a day or two to look around."

Excited by the news of our first overseas filming, the other members bombarded Supervisor Kim and the manager with questions.

No one seemed to notice my condition. A thrilling sensation started at my toes, making me feel dizzy, and my entire body trembled with a chilling sensation. Eventually, I quietly slipped out of the meeting room.

Overcoming one hardship only to face another… After I had endured the stares, now it was the vivid memory of explosions in my ears that convinced me I couldn’t board a plane. It felt like a warning that I could never achieve my dreams without enduring everything.

I leaned against the wall and sat down on the cold floor. Then, I rubbed my hands together. A little while later, the meeting room door opened and someone stood in front of me. "Ah, um, um…"

I looked up in surprise to find Su-Hwan looking down at me with a concerned expression.

1. 한류(Han-ryu) refers to the global popularity of South Korean culture, including music, TV dramas, movies, and entertainment. This phenomenon has spread worldwide, initially targeting regional neighbors like China and Japan before reaching global audiences through the internet and social media platforms. ☜