Chapter 161: End-of-Year Stage (31)

The questions from the

Graduating

team were straightforward and manageable, as they delved into the dynamics between Yoo-Joon and me, for example, the history of our friendship and the journey that led us to become close.

Then came the lighter questions that sparked a bit of nostalgia and laughter, like our favorite spots in the classroom, our academic standings, and any cherished memories or missed opportunities from our school days.

“You both seem so genuine and articulate.”

“The non-celebrity participants might need some time to get accustomed to it, so we are really counting on your support.”

“Absolutely! We are all in," we assured them, our voices brimming with enthusiasm.

As the session wrapped up and the writer collected her files, there was a brief pause.

She then asked, “Any questions?”

I raised my hand.

“Hyun-Woo?”

Curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself asking, “Who exactly are the non-celebrity participants joining us?" It was a question borne out of genuine interest and perhaps a slight concern for the unknown dynamics that awaited us.

“Ah!” The writer's face lit up with a knowing smile, as if she had anticipated the question. “Don't worry. We are steering clear of any potential troublemakers. Anyone with a history of serious disciplinary issues or involvement in untoward incidents won't make it past our screening process. After all, we aim to maintain a positive and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone involved."

“I see...”

Her reassurance was a relief to us. She then added, “But the cast would be a mosaic of personalities. Some could be rough around the edges, others perhaps shy or mischievously playful, mirroring the diverse spectrum of individuals you might encounter in a school setting.”

“...”

“But don’t worry. We have conducted thorough background checks, so there's no need for concern," she explained, further easing our minds.

“Okay, sounds good!” I nodded in thanks. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with the director promptly signaling it was time to wrap up.

As we left the meeting space, I found my thoughts drifting back to the past, trying to remember what had happened before. It was a time when personal challenges kept me isolated, far removed from the bustling world of entertainment and the friendship of my peers.

It was a period of solitude and recovery, where even the thought of watching my group members on stage or tuning into any broadcast felt overwhelmingly daunting.

Yet, as I gradually embraced my new role as a trainer and started to immerse myself in the world of entertainment once again, I did hear the buzz around the

Graduating

show. It was a project that soared in popularity thanks to its talented crew and captivating casts.

The non-celebrity participants also managed to carve out their own niches in the public eye, long after the show's conclusion.

But there was more to it. A niggling negative memory seemed to linger on the fringes of my mind. “Hmm..."

‘What was it exactly?’

The more I pondered, the more blurry the details became. My focus back then had been solely on survival, on honing my skills as a trainer, so I had only watched choreography practice videos of idol groups or news related to them, paying very little attention to anything beyond the immediate needs of my role.

Yet, I vaguely remembered the echoes of a scandal that was tied to the show.

Of course, appearing on a popular show was great. Even if problems arose later, as long as we did our job well, we shouldn't be affected. However, it was best to be cautious.

“Hyun-Woo, you've been out of it lately. Is something on your mind? You seem so blank these days." Yoo-Joon's voice was tinged with concern, breaking my train of thought. He frowned and lightly punched my back.

I just glared at him playfully and chuckled, “You can just say that you are concerned about me, dude.”

Goh Yoo-Joon chuckled as well and took the lead. “What? I am not concerned at all.”

We headed back to the Chronos practice room, where the discussions from the earlier meeting with the leader and main dancers had borne fruit. Their conclusion set the stage for our next steps.

Despite our decision to not perform on stage together and only switch songs, Renewal and we still managed to squeeze in some joint practice sessions. These sessions were crucial, especially for those moments when the songs transitioned—a mere fifteen seconds where precision was key.

Today was another day slated for such a collaboration with Renewal. As I walked into the practice room, Yoon-Chan was the first to greet us with a warm smile. “Hey, you guys made it, hyungs!"

His greeting prompted nods and hellos from the other members and even the seniors from Renewal. “Glad you could join us.”

“Sorry for the delay," we apologized, even though we didn’t intend to be late.

Eun-Sae reassured us, “No worries, you are just in time. We were on a break anyway."

We found a spot to settle down among the others after placing our bags on the floor.

With the performance just two days away, every moment and breaks were potential practice opportunities. Right now, Eun-Ji, the rapper of Renewal, was deep in her own world, practicing for her part of the joint stage.

Jin-Sung couldn't hide his admiration. “Seriously, you are just awesome, senior." His enthusiasm reminded me of the time he got hooked on Kim Jin-Wook's rap in “Once Again.”

Jin-Sung might label himself strictly as a dancer, but it was clear he had a soft spot for rap too.

Beyond Jin-Sung's personal growth, our practice and shared stages with Renewal proved to be a goldmine of benefits. Renewal's tracks were always chart-toppers, giving us plenty of material to work with.

Direct practice with their songs highlighted the distinct differences between Renewal and Chronos's styles, broadening our musical horizons and offering rich learning experiences. For instance, Joo-Han's creative range broadened with exposure to new styles, and both Yoo-Joon and I saw significant improvements in our vocal abilities, tackling Renewal's vocally challenging songs.

“Hey, I brought you some water.”

“Ah, thanks.” I took the warm bottle.

Diving into Renewal's repertoire had unexpectedly unlocked new vocal heights for me. The first time I hit those high notes flawlessly, thanks to Elisia's guidance, even the practice session came to a halt. Everyone's eyes widened in surprise as if I had just unveiled a hidden talent. Seeing their reaction, I couldn't help but bask in that moment of glory.

“Time to get back to practice," Joo-Han announced as he returned from a brief discussion with the agency staff. Immediately, the room's energy shifted as we all prepared to dive back into the grind.

***

It was December 31st, the final day of the year and the day of our performance. I gently shook Jin-Sung awake from his semi-slumber beside me to review the rehearsal footage.

Given that UNET's year-end awards were practically our home ground, Chronos was entrusted with significant parts of the show. We were to open the first part with a joint stage with Renewal, and then Chronos would close it. This ensured we were in a continuous loop of rehearsals since the early morning, which caused intense tension in us.

“Hyun-Woo, have you heard?" asked the stylist as she dabbed red eyeshadow under my eyes.

“Heard what?" I asked back while catching her reflection in the mirror.

“Your duet with Yoo-Joon is all the rage on social media.”

I had heard snippets from the manager but hadn't had the chance to delve into it. “Manager Su-Hwan usually isn't one for social media, but he keeps tabs on this stuff, huh?"

After our live rendition of "Christmas is Ours," the hashtag “#Christmas_is_for_besties” reportedly took

BlueBird

by storm. Joo-Han's concept was well-received, so I had anticipated this reaction. However, we couldn’t afford to check it due to our packed rehearsal schedule.

But that wasn't the problem.

“Um, noona," I hesitated, "isn't that a bit too much makeup?"

“Huh?” She paused, inspected my reflection, and then shrugged off my concern. “No, this is the look we are going for. It's an old trend—hangover makeup—meant to match the dreamy vibe Renewal had for their “Red Sun” stage."

To me, it seemed a bit excessive, but I trusted her expertise fully.

"

Sigh

... I hope our next concept is more laid-back. It was super hard to come up with all these outfits." The stylist looked drained, so I didn't press further.

Our attire involved black leather pants, an overly baggy black shirt, a thin choker, and an armful of bracelets. It was a bit too intense for my taste.

“Is Chronos ready?" A staff member popped in to check on us for the opening.

“Yes!" we responded in unison, and I set aside the manager's phone that I used to monitor our rehearsal clips.

Just before the opening, the corridor of the broadcasting station was several times noisier than before. As we headed toward the stage, we could hear the excited voices of the audience and the announcements.

When we arrived backstage, all the eyes of Renewal and the staff who had arrived earlier were on us.

“Chronos has arrived!" One of the production team members announced through a walkie-talkie and approached us. “The show will start in five minutes. It might be a bit noisy at first, but it will settle down once the stage starts, so don't be too nervous and just focus on your performance.”

“Okay!”

“Please move behind the blackout curtain."

We exchanged glances with our manager and moved toward the curtain. Joo-Han then gathered our hands to the center. “First off, Hyun-Woo, you know you are allowed to move, but you still need to be careful, okay?"

“Got it.”

“All of you, don't forget that if you get injured here, it will delay our comeback. Let's all be really careful on stage today."

“Okay!"

“Yoo-Joon and Hyun-Woo, make sure to handle your high notes well, and the rest of you, pay attention to the live performance. You felt how raw the mic sound is here during rehearsal, right?"

“Yes!"

“Alright, everyone!"

“Let’s nail this!”

“Yay!”

The sound signaling the start of the performance echoed out, and the commotion in the hall instantly turned into cheers. Soon, there was a blackout, and the large screen on the main stage turned black as well.

As each group had its own stage, both Chronos and Renewal agreed to include spoilers for our comebacks in this joint performance. Our spoiler was right there. On the black screen, three sentences appeared one by one and then slowly faded away.

Welcome to your enrollment.

Warning:

Ignore him.

“Chronos, please enter," whispered a staff member standing by the curtain while pulling the curtain aside for us. As we quietly made our way onto the stage along with the dancers, a new challenge "Red Sun” started.