Chapter 91: Debut (14)

Jin-Sung was someone brimming with passion and skill, and teaching him had me riding a wave of excitement, something I hadn't felt in a long while. Our plan was originally just to cover the first verse of the choreography, but we got so caught up in the moment that we ended up completing a full-song cover. By the time we wrapped up the recording and passed it to our

UTube

channel manager, the clock had struck 4 AM. Luckily, we had a free day ahead of us.

Back at the dorm, I had a deep sleep and was slurping down some ramen that Joo-Han had whipped up when our cover video popped up on

UTube

. The reaction was astonishingly positive, almost shockingly so. I decided to hold off on the comments and rewatched the video first, keen to ensure that our bloopers and casual banter had been edited out. I had given clear instructions to the manager, but

sometimes

they got creative for extra views.

A comment I had briefly seen earlier was littered with '????????' (a string of laughter). Seeing it already seeded some anxiety in me...

“Ah, seriously? I specifically asked for all that to be edited out."

And there it was... every single moment of us talking and fooling around made it into the final cut. As I muttered my annoyance, the manager leaned over to see what I was fussing about on my phone.

“What's the problem? It's adorable."

“But we were aiming for a cool vibe with this one," I protested.

What was initially a video just shy of four minutes had ballooned to ten. I was baffled at how much they had added in.

The video started off just as I wanted, with the intended music overlaying our flawless choreography. I was pleased until the cover ended and suddenly, a “bonus clip” started, showing the same footage but stripped of the music, exposing the raw version.

Instead of the sleek soundtrack, all you could hear were the slightly jumbled sounds from the speakers in the practice room, the squeaking of our shoes, and of course our voices.

— Jin-Sung is a turtle! A turtle! Turtleeeee! Brainwash yourself! You are moving too fast!

— Ughhhh! So frustrating!

— Jin-Sung, you can do this. Hold on! Just endure this part, and it will speed up!

— Why is the wave even so slow!?

My voice sounded desperate as I tried to teach Jin-Sung the beauty of moving slowly, and there were his frustrated cries. No wonder the comments section was erupting in laughter.

I scrolled down to take a look at the comments myself.

ASK_WIFI · 1 hour ago

???: Jin-Sung is a turtle!!! Turtle!!!

???: Uwaaaah! The rabbit inside me is waking up!!!

Likes 309 Dislikes 0

2 replies

└AHAHAHAHHA

└LMAOOOOO my inner rabbit ????????????????????

SHER · 30 minutes ago

Watching this, it's clear Jin-Sung is the main dancer, but Hyun-Woo seems better at these flexible, sexy dances

Likes 123 Dislikes 4

2 replies

└But the lack of flexibility is the catch

└????????? that reply tho 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Jin-SungHyun-WooFan · 1 hour ago

Freak, my favorites dancing together! My happiness for the year is complete.

Likes 52 Dislikes 0

Krong · 20 minutes ago

Hyun-Woo's ultimate Jin-Sung-pacifying skills

Likes 89 Dislikes 0

RenRen ·10 minutes ago

Guys, is it the dance you like?

I like you guys

Likes 20 Dislikes 0

Well, the video was for the fans' enjoyment, so as long as they found it fun, that was all that mattered. Jin-Sung also seemed quite pleased by it.

“The views are extraordinary! The channel manager said that it could even reach overseas audiences, so they added an English title. The response is really something," the manager remarked with amazement, refreshing the website with the phone in my hand.

I handed the phone over to the manager and questioned, “By the way, why are you here today? There is no schedule, right?"

“Oh, yeah," the manager responded, clapping his hands as he gently nudged a half-awake Jin-Sung toward the bathroom. “We didn't have anything planned, but something unexpected came up. Everyone needs to get ready. We have a meeting with UNET."

“A meeting with UNET? What's the reason?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Well, you remember the mishap during the live show? Supervisor Kim has been really on top of it, and it seems like we've managed to secure a new program because of it. Plus, we're scheduled for some long-overdue shooting for

Chronos History

.”

***

We arrived at the UNET meeting room. As our hectic schedules kept us busy,

Chronos History

had been airing without any new footage, using only what was recorded during our debut preparations and first showcase. But now, it was time for more filming.

We were all there in the meeting room together with Director Lee Won-Jae and Writer Song Yi-Hee to talk about

Chronos History

and discuss compensation for the unplanned event on

Countdown

.

“Chronos has been making waves lately. I heard you guys are up for first place on the major broadcasting charts?"

“We haven't clinched first place yet," I said modestly.

“The barrier set by major agencies is quite high, but don't lose heart. I'm sure there's good news on the horizon.” Director Lee Won-Jae looked particularly worn out, a stark contrast to our last meeting.

Foregoing any small talk, Writer Song Yi-Hee handed us the storyboards she brought. “There's a lot on our agenda today, so let's dive straight in.”

“Sure.” We all nodded in agreement. Two storyboards were laid out before us. One detailed the additional footage we were expecting, while the other was intriguingly titled

Chronos History

but had a different content.

“The first board details the extra footage. With your debut, this will mark the final shooting for

Chronos History

."

“Is it ending already?" Park Yoon-Chan sounded disappointed, a sentiment mirrored by Writer Song Yi-Hee.

“Typically, idol reality shows are short series. That's why we've reached this point. Anyway, the final shoot will have a healing theme, like a fun trip to a mansion, considering how busy you all have been after your debut."

“So we're just going to relax at the mansion?"

“That's the main idea, but since it’s a show, expect some light-hearted games and missions. It's a one-night two-day event." The storyboard showed a campfire scene, suggesting a setting for heartfelt confessions, truth games, and emotional release—a perfect climax to our journey.

“Now, about the additional shooting. The next part is what's really important," Writer Song Yi-Hee said, shifting our focus. Feeling curious, I flipped through the storyboard.

Chronos History

was a reality show, but this section was tagged as a “live broadcast.”

“This wasn't initially part of the filming plan," clarified Director Lee Won-Jae. “It's more of a compensation for the recent incident during your music show hosting. We're talking about a live broadcast."

“What kind of live broadcast?" Joo-Han asked, looking for more details. The document was vague, merely stating “live broadcast” under the genre of “music.”

Director Lee Won-Jae explained, “It's exactly as it sounds—a live broadcast. We're planning to allocate a full thirty-minute segment for Chronos to showcase your talents. Picture something like the Ringo music channel on

UTube

—a grand stage with no audience, where Chronos can perform their debut single “Parade”, any unreleased tracks, and covers. It will be a real showcase of your talents."

“...” I was amazed. UNET was offering us a level of promotion that was usually reserved for top-tier agency groups. It was like our own parade, a celebration for both us and the fans.

“Plan your setlist and ensure to include ‘Parade’ since it's the title track. Remember, it's exclusive content, so no simultaneous broadcast on Q-app. Replays will only be available on UNET."

“Thank you, Director. Thank you so much!" our manager said, his voice cracking with gratitude as he almost banged his head on the table in relief. Director Lee Won-Jae, slightly taken aback by the reaction, tried to calm him down. However, there was an evident sense of relief on the director’s face, as if he had been liberated from a burden by granting us this opportunity.

“If Chronos weren’t famous or didn’t play a big role in the incident, we wouldn't have been able to offer you this slot."

“Let's coordinate the live broadcast date. In-Hyun, could you get in touch with us regarding Chronos's schedule? Let’s work things out.”

“Yes, of course!”

“Then, shall we wrap up the meeting here? Great work, everyone.”

With that, we all stood up and bid farewell to the ones leaving the meeting room. “Thank you so much!”

As the room door closed, Joo-Han grabbed the manager and started shaking him, being unusually excited. “Hyung, we have really hit the jackpot. You know that, right? Tell Supervisor Kim not to touch our setlist. We will handle it ourselves!”

“Uh, what?”

“Tell Supervisor Kim to keep his hands off the setlist, okay?” Joo-Han’s voice and gaze were intense as he made his point.

“That’s a brilliant idea.”

“Yeah, I agree.”

“Me... me, too.”

“Huh? Why Supervisor Kim?” Lee Jin-Sung asked, clueless. In response, Park Yoon-Chan gently patted his back, wearing a bittersweet smile.

“Lee Jin-Sung..."

“Yes?"

“Because Supervisor Kim's music taste... doesn't really align with ours," Park Yoon-Chan explained softly, while Joo-Han placed a hand on Lee Jin-Sung's shoulder.

“Yoon-Chan is putting it nicely. Simply put, he lacks a sense of music. Considering how he opposed every hit track we've had, I actually wonder how he became the head of the A&R team."

Supervisor Kim might have business acumen, but his musical intuition was questionable, and he was blissfully unaware of it.

“Alright, I will tell him that you guys want to handle it yourselves," the manager agreed, still processing the whole situation.

Our less-than-stellar global popularity had cost us a first-place finish, and it still stung until now. Domestically, sure, we had success, but there was always room for improvement. After all, the “Parade” I knew wasn't meant to end here. It should have been a sweeping hit, dominating high schools nationwide, but whether it was our shortfall or YMM's, calling it a major hit felt like a stretch.

The live broadcast with UNET was our chance to showcase “Parade” not just domestically but also to K-POP fans worldwide, seizing an opportunity we hadn't fully capitalized on yet.

I listened to the members' discussion before voicing my thoughts. “We need to focus on making the setlist not just complete but also visually entertaining. How about going all-out with dance songs, leaving out ballads?"

“Skip the ballads?" Joo-Han stopped shaking the manager and looked at me, surprised.

I nodded. “Going all dance songs will keep the viewers more engaged."

Joo-Han thought about the overall harmony of the broadcast while I considered the after-impact. We had different perspectives.

“Dance songs can vary: some are mellow, some are intense, and some are upbeat. If we mixed in a ballad, it might showcase our skills, but it could also feel relatively dull. Especially considering the clips will be uploaded on

UTube

..."

Joo-Han pondered for a moment, resting his chin on his hand, and then nodded. “You might be right, but we need to think more about it."

“What are you two talking about?"

“Yeah, I didn't get it either."

“Um... I'll explain in a bit," Park Yoon-Chan whispered to Goh Yoo-Joon and Lee Jin-Sung.

I proposed this as I considered the broadcast more than just a UNET live show. It was about maximizing views on UTube. After all, according to the statistics, dance performances by popular idols gained significantly more views than ballads. Additionally, given that the majority of UNET channel users were international K-POP fans, highlighting K-POP's distinctive dance aspect would expand our reach better.

Therefore, the idea was to capitalize on our strengths and go with all dance songs to maximize our exposure.