Chapter 58: Chronos History (2)

Three days after the fan meeting, the absence of constant rehearsals and competition preparations left a strange void in our routine. The quiet ease almost bordered on dullness. Despite being told to take a well-deserved break, we often found ourselves drifting back to the practice studio.

"You all are just like Allure kids. No wonder you guys are under the same agency," the manager commented, smiling as he watched us singing through the rearview mirror. "After their concerts, they also mumble their lyrics like you guys."

During the competition, we were constantly in the spotlight, surrounded by dazzling lights. Now, not being on stage or even practicing felt oddly suffocating.

"But hyung, what exactly is this reality program? Is it like the unit competition where we had cameras all around us?" Jin-Sung asked. As our manager drove into UNET's parking lot, he replied, "It could be. We will find out more details inside."

"That makes sense," I mused.

“I heard the staff had already planned out the content, but I am not sure if they will tell you guys about it. Let’s get out.”

Goh Yoo-Joon asked, “Why are they not telling us?”

“In variety shows, everyone, except for the MC, usually goes in blind. It might be something like that," I replied. Our manager nodded in agreement as he finished parking.

"That's right," he said.

"I might not know for sure, but it sounds like it'll be fun. Everyone says it's awkward, but I actually found it pretty amusing to have cameras in the dorm," Goh Yoo-Joon commented. As we entered the broadcasting station lobby, staff who recognized us from

Pick We Up

greeted us warmly. We then politely nodded to each one even though we didn't know their names. After that, we headed to the meeting room.

"Good to see you!"

"Hello!"

"Did you get some rest?" Familiar faces greeted us as we entered the meeting room.

“We have met a couple of times from

Pick We Up

, right? I am Lee Won-Jae, the PD, and this is our lead writer.”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Song Yi-Hee,” the lead writer introduced herself with a smile.

"Hello, we are Chronos!" We responded in unison, trying to maintain our composure despite the overwhelming presence of these industry heavyweights.

"Ah, these guys are always so courteous," the director chuckled. Even though we recognized them, their significant roles in the industry still instilled a sense of awe in us. Director Lee Won-Jae, ever so friendly, gestured toward the drinks laid out on the table, encouraging us to help ourselves.

"You all played a big part in the success of

Pick We Up

. No need for formalities here. Let's keep this meeting casual and productive. We are here to brainstorm about your exclusive program."

"Thank you so much!" Jin-Sung quickly sprang into action, distributing the drinks to us while Song Yi-Hee started handing out a stack of documents.

"I've made enough copies for all the members, including Mr. In-Hyun," she informed us. “This reality show aims to capture every facet of Chronos's journey toward debut, especially given the immense interest from your fans after the competition."

"But it's not all business. Each episode will be crafted in the style of a variety show, with its unique flair," she continued. I then glanced through the documents—sixteen episodes, each an hour long. The specifics of each episode were shrouded in mystery, keeping the cast in the dark.

"We are planning to focus on special segments that will be filmed separately, and each episode will conclude with a fifteen-minute part dedicated to your debut preparations."

"Will cameras be installed in our dorm?" I asked.

Song Yi-Hee pondered for a brief moment before nodding affirmatively. “Yes, initially cameras will be set up in the dorm to document the debut process as it unfolds. However, unlike your training camp days, we will create some private spaces for you. It's just about a day of filming every two weeks."

Director Lee Won-Jae then chimed in, “We will start installing cameras in the dorm next week. There's also your upcoming title track meeting. Ah, we'll be covering that too. Our goal is to showcase the unique personalities of each Chronos member throughout the series, so please give it your best."

"Now, for the most exciting part. The title of your variety show." Song Yi-Hee flipped to the front page of her document, revealing the title to us.

[Tentative:

Chronos History

]

Our eyes widened in surprise. “This title...”

“It was inspired by your recent performance." She observed our reactions with a smile. We were dumbfounded as the title on the writer’s document was familiar to us.

“The two songs you performed were these two words, right? One of them contains your group name, and it sounds fancy. What do you think?”

"I love it!"

“It’s beyond my expectation!” We collectively agreed, genuinely liking the proposed title.

Pleased with our response, Song Yi-Hee gathered her papers. "If there are no objections, we'll go ahead with this as the final title.”

No matter how much I thought about it, no other title could replace this.

“We've outlined the general content, so let's look forward to a successful collaboration. See you all at the title track meeting."

And just like that, our first meeting into the world of variety shows officially ended.

***

A few weeks had passed since

Pick We Up

ended. We could see our following on

BlueBird

steadily growing without us having to do anything, and we just posted updates at least once every three days. Caught up in the excitement, YMM also uploaded behind-the-scenes videos of us on

UTube

.

Among these were snippets from

Pick We Up

, our casual hangouts, and our snacking session in the practice room. We were just us being ourselves. Aside from Cha-Cha and performance clips, there were a lot of things to watch. Thanks to this variety of content, the activity in our fan channels on

UTube

and

BlueBird

was buzzing.

In YMM's boardroom, small cameras were set up not only in front of each member but also in front of Manager In-Hyun, Supervisor Kim, and other key figures. In the midst of discussing our debut title track, Supervisor Kim suddenly shot up, his face alight with excitement. He definitely had forgotten that we were filming at the moment.

"'Chronos' and 'History' have just charted! They're at twenty-sixth and thirtieth right now!"

"Whoa!"

"Not even debuted and already making waves? The momentum of Chronos is unstoppable!"

"Well done! Congratulations, Chronos!"

We responded to their celebrations with bashful smiles, not quite knowing how to react. “Thank you!"

The tracks released to coincide with the end of the live broadcast had finally charted, thanks in part to UNET's support and our mini fan meeting.

“I'm proud of you all. What do you want to eat? Let's order something delicious later at the dorm! It will be on me!" Supervisor Kim shouted in excitement.

"Then let's go for pig's feet!"

"Okay!"

There was no guarantee that the success of the first launched group would carry over to the second. Yet, Chronos was making waves strong enough to sweep away YMM's worries. This success brought a much-needed breath of fresh air into the otherwise tense and focused boardroom meeting.

However, as soon as Supervisor Kim sat back down, the respite was over. We dove back into the discussion right away. There was still so much to decide before Chronos's debut, and the schedule was tight.

"So, Mr. Seong, are we passing on the third song? I personally like it. With this composer, there's no need to worry about success."

"But Supervisor Kim, there's also the composer whom Reina introduced to us who sent over the teaser music. It's not easy to get a track from this person, so I really think we should consider it..."

Fifty songs had been meticulously narrowed down to just five, including one from the composer whom Reina had introduced.

Hearing Mr. Seong's suggestion, Supervisor Kim glanced at the name of the composer. “Oh Dong-Hoon? Isn't he the one who writes quite crazy songs? I don't think he has written title tracks before."

“That is true, but remember the response we got when our kids covered 'There's No Night for Me'? His style may be unique, but it fits Chronos perfectly." Mr. Seong laid the information for Oh Dong-Hoon's track on top of the third song's details, prompting Supervisor Kim to squint suspiciously.

The two supervisors were classic rivals and had never seen eye to eye on any decision since we became Chronos. Supervisor Kim then skimmed the song introduction and then dismissively tossed the paper aside. “Tsk, the working title is 'Chronos1.' It lacks sincerity."

“Come on, just give it a go. I bet you'll be hooked the moment you hear it!" Mr. Seong pressed play with confidence. If YMM's ace planner, Mr. Seong, was so sure about this track, it had to be something special. Everyone in the room tuned into the music flowing from the speakers with anticipation.

‘Wait, what?’

"Uh?" The moment the song played, it was as if the world of the track unfurled in my mind. I could even visualize a music video that hadn't been made yet. This... wasn't the first time I'd heard this song. Feeling my heart sank and my head went light, I directly raised my hand. “Supervisor Kim..."

“Yes, Hyun-Woo? What is it?"

“I want this song. I definitely want us to do this one." My certainty seemed to puzzle Supervisor Kim.

“You like this track? It's not like you to be so insistent."

“See? Even Hyun-Woo thinks this song is great!" Mr. Seong laughed heartily, slapping the table.

No, it was not about whether it was good or not—frankly, I had heard it so many times I couldn’t even tell anymore. But one thing was clear. We had to secure this song at all costs. It was a track that probably wouldn't have come our way if we hadn't won the competition.

This song was once a hit by a popular idol group that had swept through every school retreat in South Korea. It was originally intended for an established idol group under Reina’s company, which would disband four years later due to legal battles and discord. Thanks to our victory in

Pick We Up

and Reina’s help, the song found its way to us.

“We should definitely go with this song. I really want this one.” I pushed for it strongly, knowing that it was a track we absolutely had to secure. Despite its unconventional vibe, its uniqueness was the very reason it had been a hit. Perhaps it could even prolong the lifespan of Chronos, which seemed destined to disband due to declining popularity.

The other members and staff started to agree with me. “It’s actually good. Unique and fresh.”

“It has a distinct vibe, perfect for establishing Chronos’s own concept. I think it is a great choice.”

As more and more people voiced their agreement, Producer Do, who had been listening quietly, made up his mind and decisively put down his pen. “Alright, it’s good. Let’s go with this track. There is a surprisingly large audience that appreciates this kind of music. Let’s give it a shot.”