Chapter 301: First Full Album (37)

- And the final champion of this season's

Pick Mew Up

is...

“Wow, why is this so nerve-wracking?" Gun-Seok commented, his voice trembling with palpable tension.

I sneaked a glance at my teammates. Joo-Han appeared disinterested since his attention was not really captured since there was no prize at stake. However, he managed to feign a mild curiosity while the rest of the members were utterly engrossed.

I mirrored the general anxiety and adopted a tense expression as I turned to face the director. Excluding Joo-Han, everyone’s gaze was intensely fixed on the director as he excitedly made the announcement.

- Team Kang Joo-Han!

“Yeeeeesssss!!!"

“Woooooahhhhh!!!!"

Ji Byeok-San, Kim Do-Rim, and On Jung-Woo erupted in cheers. They quickly lifted me and Joo-Han up and enveloped us in a joyous group embrace. They bounced around jubilantly while sharing their victory in spirited leaps. Team Red Riding Hood Cha Cha was frustrated by their loss, angrily tossing their props aside.

“Ah, I knew it! How could we possibly win against that?"

“How can anyone beat Allure, exaggerated acting, and even a shattered toilet? It's absurd!"

- Today's Slacker is Team Kang Joo-Han. This means that in the next shoot, Team Kang Joo-Han will enjoy beneficial advantages and some delightful snacks.

“Yay!!! But, Director, our Chronos friends also worked hard. Do you have something for them?"

Ji Byeok-San's question sparked a gleam in Joo-Han's eyes.

- Usually, we don’t let people leave empty-handed. We’ve prepared gifts for our Chronos friends as well, though just for the two members of Team Cha Cha.

“Ah! It would be so much better if everyone received the same rewards, considering we all put in the same effort."

“You are so cruel, terribly cruel." Joo So-Dam and Gun-Seok complained with a hint of sorrow in their eyes, but the director merely grinned and playfully dismissed their pleas.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

- Byeok-San, could you give us the closing remarks?

“Yes! With that, today's Slacker title proudly goes to our Team “Kang Joo-Han!” We promise to bring even more thrilling competitions to you next week at our first Slacker branch! Until next week, then. Goodbye everyone!”

“Great job everyone!"

“Hard work pays off!"

And with that, the filming for

Slacker Number One

came to a close. Despite the members having rolled around in laughter during the shoot, the exhaustion was evident as they instantly fell asleep the moment they boarded the car after today’s relentless schedule of back-to-back shoots for songs and variety shows.

“Hyun-Woo, try to get some rest too," Tae-Seong gently suggested.

I let sleep take over after a slight nod, comforted by the rhythm of the moving car.

***

“Great job!"

“Congratulations on taking the number one spot!"

In the immediate aftermath of the music broadcast’s thrilling announcement that declared we got first place, a wave of exuberant celebrations washed over everyone. Amidst the celebration, Yoon-Chan stood apart, his face clouded and expression somber.

“The blue sea, the glaring sun obscured by trees, and you... amidst the shadows..."

These were the lyrics from Yoon-Chan's solo song “Forest” which I had penned for him. He murmured them under his breath. His movements were hesitant as he practiced the choreography he had hastily memorized just hours before.

Moments earlier, he had seemed completely immersed in his performance of “Phantom Spirit” on the broadcast, but now, his anxiety about the upcoming performances was palpable as the studio lights dimmed.

His face was a transparent display of worry. This was typical for Yoon-Chan, especially today, with the looming pressure of his first solo performance recording.

“It's alright, man! Why are you so worried when you are already nailing it? You were flawless during the last rehearsal," Goh Yoo-Joon boomed, his voice echoing off the studio walls as he wrapped his arms around Yoon-Chan in a comforting bear hug. He was trying to shake off his nerves.

“Ha ha..." Yoon-Chan's laughter barely masked his lingering unease. He scanned the room nervously before his gaze settled on me. After a moment's hesitation, his voice broke the silence, tinted with desperation. “Hyung... Hyun-Woo hyung, if you are not too busy... Could you... perhaps come with me today?"

“Of course I’ll be there. You know I wouldn’t miss it," I reassured him. My words seemed to ease some of his tension. After all, having the composer of his song by his side was a small comfort he cherished.

“If that’s the case, Tae-Seong, please take the members back to the dorm. Yoon-Chan, you will head to the shooting location with me and Hyun-Woo," Su-Hwan directed.

“Okay!”

On our way to the location, Yoon-Chan rested his hand on my shoulder while continuously humming his song.

“You are doing great. That's right, just like that." I encouraged him, though he hadn’t explicitly asked for feedback. His closeness and the soft hum of his voice seemed to be his way of seeking assurance, and I was more than willing to provide it.

***

Yoon-Chan's song was progressing remarkably well so far. Set against a backdrop that conjured images of a breezy jungle with the ocean nearby, he brought the tropical Latin-inspired song to life with increasing confidence.

He had been a bundle of nerves by fumbling through the first few takes at first, but his confidence grew with each repetition, and soon he was not just singing, but also emoting with a professional ease.

“We plan to finalize and upload the performance within two weeks," I mentioned to Su-Hwan, who was nodding appreciatively beside me.

“That’s pretty fast," he replied just as someone sidled up next to us, humming contentedly.

“Hyun-Woo, you came too? Out of concern for the younger one?" Supervisor Kim asked. His tone was light but curious.

“Ah, Supervisor." I turned to face him, a bit startled.

“Oh, wait, this was your composition, right? I've been so distracted that I nearly forgot."

Supervisor Kim had a whirlwind of responsibilities and we rarely saw him after the initial broadcast of “Phantom Spirit” and subsequent meetings. His presence here was a testament to his interest in Yoon-Chan's solo venture.

“Wow. He is improving day by day," Supervisor Kim said as he watched Yoon-Chan perform on the monitor. His voice carried a mixture of pride and surprise. “When he first debuted, I wasn’t sure he was ready for it."

“Indeed. He’s been incredibly diligent ever since ‘Pick We Up,’" I agreed, watching the young artist bring his vision to life on the screen.

“And look at his visuals! Isn’t he the perfect idol? I raised him. Well, you did too, Hyun-Woo."

Ah, yes. I gave a noncommittal nod while focusing intently on Yoon-Chan's performance.

“Hey, look at you." Supervisor Kim suddenly exclaimed and gave a light, playful kick to my foot. “You should do this too." There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“Excuse me?" I was taken aback, my attention now divided.

“You should release a solo song. Not just ‘Once Again,’ but something that’s fit for the stage. We will include it in the album this time.”

“That’s... so sudden?” I was determined to only focus on Yoon-Chan’s stage no matter what Supervisor Kim said. However, my attention wavered instantly with the mention of my solo song, which prompted me to look at him. He smiled slyly and patted my shoulder. “You will need to perform your solo track on stage soon.”

“Pardon?”

What the heck was he talking about? As I frowned in confusion, Supervisor Kim merely laughed mysteriously.

“I will gather all the members and explain in detail later. Anyway, the main point is that I've secured a new solo song for you, Hyun-Woo. So ask your manager for more details."

Supervisor Kim gestured that he was going out for a smoke and then disappeared. I watched him retreating in a daze before turning to look at Su-Hwan next to me. He seemed annoyed as he watched Supervisor Kim, but changed his expression when he noticed me.

“Umm... About the solo song..." Su-Hwan hyung pulled some documents from his bag to show me. “The concept is set, and I was going to tell you once we finalized more details. Just have a quick look for now."

[Suh Hyun-Woo Solo Track Proposal

Details: Request for composition of a solo song for Suh Hyun-Woo, a member of Chronos under YMM Entertainment.

Title: TBD

Concept: Sirens[1]

- Keywords: Mystical, Dreamy, Beautiful, Fantasy

I'd like to meet in person to discuss the details. Please reply to the email sent and use 'Reply All.' If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Kind regards, Kim Seong-Woo]

“Sirens...?”

What was this? The name hadn’t been decided yet, but the concept was clearly marked as 'Sirens.’

***

The next day, a self-cam shoot for the game variety show

Newbie Crew

took place. Perhaps due to the show’s low ratings and tight budget, all members had to film themselves up until they met on the actual set, and today's filming location was an internet cafe.

Today was the day for a meet-up in the virtual world of

One Hours

, not in reality. Some of the cast, who were close, had decided to film together. Ji-Hyuk and I were among them.

“Hyun-Woo!"

“Hey, Ji-Hyuk hyung. Long time no see."

As soon as Ji-Hyuk arrived at the internet cafe, he made a ruckus and darted around before finally settling at the counter and calling out to me.

“Man, it’s my first time at an internet cafe. Do they really sell ramen and fried rice here? Wow, they really have a reception desk over there!”

Our nobleman seemed fascinated by everything. I nodded nonchalantly and took a seat.

“What do you want to eat, Hyun-Woo? It’s on me today. Fried rice? Ramen? Sausage? Fried rice with cheese? Eggs too?"

“I will have ramen..."

“With cheese? Or eggs?"

“No, I’m fine with anything, but hyung, more importantly—"

“I will have the ramen with extra cheese and eggs, please~ And for me—"

“..."

It seemed like Ji-Hyuk was completely preoccupied with food, so I decided to start up the computer and check if

One Hours

was installed.

After powering up Ji-Hyuk’s PCs and seeing that the game was indeed installed, I sat down and stared intensely at Ji-Hyuk as he continued to obsess over the food menu.

“Uh... Hyung..."

“Should I get some sausage too?"

“No, wait, stop that and come here, hyung."

It looked like he would need to create his character first. But more importantly, does he even know how to play?

“Just a moment, Hyun-Woo. Let me just order this. They have butter egg rice! Wow, that’s no joke."

“No, hyung..." I wondered whether he had come here to eat or to shoot. “...I will also have egg rice."

I gave up and just launched

One Hours

on both computers.

“Ji-Hyuk, do you like magic wands?"

“Huh? Like Cha Cha?"

“No, magic wands..." I planned to start by finding a class that might interest him.

1. In Korean mythology, "???" (Sirens) are often depicted as mystical and alluring creatures, similar to the Western concept of sirens in Greek mythology. These beings are known for their enchanting voices and beauty, which they use to lure sailors to their doom with their irresistible songs. ☜