Debut or Die

If you can’t debut, you’ll get a fatal disease Episode 570

The next morning.

Inside Testa’s car, which is moving on schedule.

“It’s Moondae… ! Over there, the manager asks how we will eat our breakfast… … .”

“… … .”

“It’s dumb… ?”

“… uh. Anything is fine.”

“… … Yes.”

I put my head on the window. Calculations were running tight in my brain.

Regarding the further activities of this group.

‘It’s a crossroads.’

The problem is that both roads are at the edge of a cliff.

If you release an intense regular album now, the public who expects comfortable music will turn away from you.

However, if you continue to take a comfortable route, you will not be able to stop the fandom from leaving.

‘And the cultural decoration is over.’

It tasted like death.

At least, if I can get rid of the flaws and try to pull them out… There was a hybrid called Easy Listening where the choreography was intense.

Just like the debut song < Magical Boy >.

‘But that won’t get a response from overseas.’

What is eaten by global KPOP fans is always a strong concept.

Group dance A powerful melody with a strong beat.

Of course, if you want to go beyond that and gain support from the English-speaking world, there is also a step to target easy listening that is popular there.

But that’s how higher classes do it.

First of all, it is possible to secure a global fan scale of VTIC level… If you don’t care, you could lose your group color and start struggling from the next album.

like now.

‘X feet.’

In addition, since the fandom has already started to break away, there is a high probability that even this ‘easy listening and high-level choreography’ method will be accepted as an attempt to ‘look at the liver’.

-This time, it’s time to do something hard, but I couldn’t give up on Easy Listening and when I looked

at what I brought, I got angry.

I pressed my forehead.

‘It’s okay to be criticized.’

The problem is that there will be quite a lot of fans who leave without swearing and quietly saying, “I’m having fun.”

Perhaps it’s after seeing the rookie of the mixed group succeed with an absurd strategy, but the foreboding doesn’t go away.

difficult times to maintain.

‘The way we knit is changing.’

As the generational change approaches… It was felt.

“… … .”

In fact, Testa’s years of age might not be a problem.

Even so, it’s only New Year’s, so it’s been 7 years. It has only been about 5 and a half years since their debut.

‘Right now, there are many groups that are senior to Testa but are active in their prime.’

the problem is… It is that Testa has been successful since its debut.

Large-scale concert tour Breaks the record for album sales by a rookie group in the annual music charts.

All of this happened in the first year of debut.

And until now, except for special situations such as traffic accidents, it has been self-updating its grades by drawing an upward-sloping graph.

‘So I managed it well, alternately using variety shows and albums so that people wouldn’t get tired of Testa… I thought.’

In fact, the problem may have been in the opposite direction.

-It’s not strange even if Testa thinks they’ve done enough

-Wouldn’t they have no regrets about group activities?

these perceptions.

Even if people are not tired of Testa, they predict that Testa will get tired of Testa’s activities.

And just as expectations are reflected in stock prices in advance, the trend of finding other idols to replace Testa in advance… … .

“It’s the door.”

I turned my head.

“this.”

Seon Ah-hyun was holding out a piping hot sandwich toast.

The manager seemed to have prepared breakfast.

“thanks.”

I casually opened the package and took the toast sandwich to my mouth.

I didn’t have time to evaluate the taste.

Meanwhile, he asked in a quiet voice.

“I… if. If you’re sick or… … Are you worried?”

“… … .”

“Because you look a little tired.”

Shall I tell you?

Seon Ah-hyun was a good listener, and if I brought up a problem like this, he would listen and worry with me.

No, most of the guys in this group are like that. therefore… .

I opened my mouth.

“It’s because I worked overtime yesterday morning.”

“… ?”

“I looked for some rookies who beat us and reached #1 on digital music charts.”

I took two with my fingers.

“With them.”

“Whoa?”

The guys, who were each shoving their own toast into their mouths, blinked their eyes. They are Keun Se-jin and Cha Yu-jin.

Of course, both are fine. They don’t have the stamina to feel tired just because they didn’t sleep, and they don’t have the styles to show off just because they’re a bit tired.

In that sense, this situation where I say I’m tired alone… … .

‘Is it strange?’

Cha Yu-jin opened her mouth with a pitiful face.

“Whoo… Moondae hyung, is it because you’re older now?”

“… … .”

I’m two years older than you, kid.

It’s been like that ever since the new year.

“Is the toast delicious?”

Cha Yu-jin flinched when she realized that she had to chew on toast for dinner, and quickly corrected her words. Is it really quick-witted?

“I made a mistake! There are hyungs who are older than Moondae hyung! Sejin Bae is the oldest!”

“… … ??”

Bae Se-jin, who was suddenly beaten, makes a futile expression, and Keun Se-jin, who almost burst out laughing, turns around.

“What are you talking about! In Korea, age is official! We are still in our 20s~”

“That is reasonable!”

The chattering guys over a hot breakfast stopped asking me about my condition.

I also chewed my toast again.

“… … .”

It was just right up to here.

‘There is no need to talk about my prediction.’

Whatever we do now, be prepared to face a downtrend?

Since the Cultural Merit is over, let’s prepare for enlistment together next year?

‘Even if I say it, it’s like scaring me.’

Even if it didn’t raise morale any more, it couldn’t be destroyed like that.

I’m satisfied with the fact that I moderately raised the team atmosphere… … .

“Wow, at the beginning of the new year, Park Moon-dae looked at the camera and pretended to be cute, and his stamina is at a cute level… … .”

That’s it.

I sneaked a can of sejin’s carbonated water that hadn’t been opened, shook it mercilessly, and sent it back to its original position.

Cha Yoo-jin giggled and recorded the scene as a video.

“Wow! What is this!”

“ha ha ha!”

It seemed that my doubtful attitude passed away, buried in a loud and warm atmosphere.

However, even in this mess, there were people who were silent and lost their thoughts.

Because there was one guy there who was good at dealing with teammates who predicted a pessimistic future.

“It’s Moondae. Shall we talk for a minute?”

“… … .”

that afternoon.

The moment I entered the waiting room, I realized that Liu Chengyu was waiting for me to talk.

* * *

I went into the room behind the waiting room where there was a cot with him.

And instead of taking a nap, they both sat on the mattress.

“Ahyeon kept worrying about me. Maybe it was too much at dawn, but Mundae is not in a good condition today.”

Right.

Even though I tried not to show off, it seems that my head is complicated. I sighed and nodded.

“I told you, but it’s because I’m tired.”

“really?”

“… … .”

“It’s Moondae. Right now I’m not asking my cousin, but the group leader is asking the members.”

oh shit

I pressed my eyelids and opened my mouth.

“Leave your brother alone.”

And I started to tell Ryu Cheng-wu about Testa’s current situation that I had analyzed so far.

A time of dilemma.

What kind of butterfly effect did the song I made when I said, ‘Let’s do what I want to do’, ended with it.

“… So, no matter how and when the next album is released, it seems inevitable that the image will be on the decline.”

Liu Qingyu was not surprised.

He didn’t laugh at it, saying it was nonsense, but quietly nodded his head and listened to my words.

So I was able to finish talking quietly.

“… … I couldn’t come up with a solution yet, so I kept my mouth shut for the first time.”

“I see.”

“… … .”

“I heard you. Thanks for telling me.”

Liu Qingyu smiled.

“but… It doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.”

“… … .”

what?

“It’s Moondae.”

Liu Cheng-wu put on a pod and spoke softly.

“It’s okay if you get an image that Testa is on the decline.”

What kind of crazy is this all of a sudden?

“That doesn’t mean that our group will suddenly disappear or all of our fans will disappear.”

Did you not understand

“It means that there is a high probability that fans will fall for it because of that image, and there will be a real decline.”

“But if we release another good album, you will listen to it. If you put on a great performance, you will see it.”

“yes. Maybe only some.”

People basically pay less attention to things that are out of fashion. Testa would be in the same situation.

“okay. It’s past its heyday… . But it’s Mundae.”

Liu Cheng-wu smiled bitterly.

“It’s prime time because it passes.”

“… … !”

It was something familiar.

that… This was what I said to Cheong-ryeo, who suffered from reset syndrome.

-The prime time passes, so it’s the prime time.

Yes.

Every group goes well, but there comes a moment when it stagnates.

Whether it’s T-Holic, VTIC, or Testa.

Whether it’s years from now or now.

“Even if you receive the Order of Cultural Merit, it’s just a delay, and everyone will go to the army except me and Yujin.”

“… … .”

“You must be worried that the prime time is over again when the blank period comes, right?”

‘I didn’t bother to say it until now because it’s because I’m not going to mention it,’ Ryu Cheng-wu continued.

“But we’re going to plan our activities accordingly.”

Calm and logical speech.

“Of course, it would be nice to always get good grades. but. Even if the grades drop, this group does not end.”

-Testa can continue to release as many albums as he wants and promote well, and there will always be people who will listen to him.

I quietly listened to those words.

And send it to the head and digest it slowly.

‘Right.’

It wasn’t even a status ailment like ‘target or death’, but I thought it was like that.

‘As if Testa would die if he wasn’t in the first team.’

But that’s not true.

This group will continue to exist, and there will be no disintegration due to sudden poor grades. Isn’t it the company we founded in the first place?

Testa does not disband suddenly.

‘okay.’

I succinctly admitted that I had been buried in an overzealous way of thinking.

And after taking a deep breath, he responded with a much more determined brain.

“understand. … Thank you bro.”

“Thank you.”

As if my complexion had improved, Liu Chengwu grinned as if he were relieved.

But that’s it.

“Still, I feel dirty.”

“… ?!”

“I don’t think I will be able to sleep if I face a downward trend due to misunderstandings like this.”

Isn’t it just as unfair as a dog?

‘It’s not like there’s been any controversy, and it’s not like the quality of the album has changed.’

No, who knew that a sound source released just for fan service would suddenly go well and then be misunderstood like this.

In order to go up, even this year’s plan was pulled out… .

“Honestly, I don’t see an answer right now, but I want to somehow find a solution.”

OK.

“okay. I knew it!”

Liu Qingyu smiled.

“… … ?”

“Oh sorry. hmm… … Actually, I did say that. Still, I thought I would do my best to challenge myself in the future.”

Liu Qingyu’s smile faded slightly.

“Because not being able to do my best is not a pleasant thing… … .”

“… … .”

Apparently, it reminded me of the days of Steer. However, Liu Cheng-wu quickly erased that expression.

“But let’s remember this.”

The guy held out his hand.

“first of all… … It’s not your fault that the fans misunderstood you.”

“… !”

“Let’s admit that sometimes the unexpected happens,” said Ryu Cheng-wu.

“… … thank you.”

“haha. It’s true, but it’s nothing to be thankful for. Well, and the next one is the most important one.”

Liu Chengwu smiled and grabbed my shoulder.

“I’m not trying to do anything because I’m afraid of the end of my prime, I’m doing it because I want to keep trying.”

If I don’t do it, it’s not because I’m dying.

Because there is a goal.

“We are not being chased, we are chasing. Let’s not forget.”

That was enough.

“yes.”

I shook his hand and acknowledged his words.

So then… … .

“Please hold a meeting.”

“okay.”

Let’s make it whether or not all 7 of us squeeze our brains like squeezing lemon juice.

solution.