PBS Song Festival stage.
When we ca on second and stepped to the center, the Soufflés waved their light sticks to welco us.
"—Waaaaaaaa!"
While we waved big and greeted everyone, the Sweet Potato Trio seniors leaned over.
"Do you know what’s going on?"
"No. Not at all."
"For that, you sure ca out and landed like you’d rehearsed. They carried you like a coffin."
"Well, we do this kind of thing so much..."
At the line that my body just reacted first, he burst into hearty laughter.
"—Waaaaaa!"
After us, other singers ca out one by one.
Backstage, people who’d been flustered going, "What is that? What’s with the VCR?" were now sauntering out with playful smiles.
At the ㅅ slot, Street Boys strode out solemnly and took up a spot right beside us.
"Hey."
Hanj o whispered,
"What is this?"
"I don’t know either."
"...Weren’t you supposed to know the opening ahead of ti?"
I shook my head at the Street Boys mbers’ sparkling eyes.
They must have misunderstood from the way we first bounced out that we’d known in advance.
Jiho shook his head and said,
"Hanj o hyung, if we’d known in advance, would that be all we did? Wooju hyung would’ve been out on wires by now."
"Ah!"
"Huh?"
I was genuinely curious how far my image had spread.
Since we were in front of the audience, I kept a brilliant smile and narrowed my eyes a touch, and the Street Boys mbers pretended not to notice and just rode the rhythm.
Then the ㅌ slot.
The TNT mbers, who’d set a formation and made a cheeky entrance, ca up to stand next to us. My original lackey’s eyes turned this way.
"Hyung."
"Don’t know."
I answered roughly with my eyes, and he nodded.
"[Teen Spirit!]"
As the radiant pretty boys appeared, the heat in the venue spiked. Fans were making strange bird cries.
The Teen Spirit mbers flashed slight smiles.
From our view, their expressions said, We’re freaking strong, and they looked satisfied. LB, standing beside Teen Spirit next to us, said,
"NewBlack didn’t know either."
"Confird."
Teen Spirit accepted it imdiately.
Maybe because the director was variety PD Shin Muruk, the mood was basically, If NewBlack doesn’t know, nobody knows.
I asked Biju with a smile,
"It’s not because of our image, right?"
"It’s not."
Biju and I smiled toward a few impure colleagues nearby whose lips were twitching.
"..."
"..."
Since there was no answer at all, it definitely wasn’t because of our image.
After the opening where all perforrs waved and sang "One Candle" together, we sat in the singer section.
Murmur, murmur.
Maybe because of the lingering shock from the opening VCR, you could hear the singers in the seats whispering.
"Was it okay to just ntion the low ratings out loud...?"
"What even is the Song Festival this ti."
"I heard even the NewBlack seniors don’t know how this happened."
...Those were the lines Junghyeon relayed with ears perked.
Apparently that last one was from Wonder Child, who’d done the ntor–ntee thing with us. I wore a briefly sad smile.
"But how did this actually happen? I’ve never seen anything like this watching year-end stages."
" neither."
Ri Hyuk covered his mouth and replied,
"Feels like they went with a hard counter because of the low ratings. Like, call PD Shin Muruk and try to make the year-end show fun."
"...It is definitely fun."
Year-end shows usually feel pretty say.
Repeating the sa format every ti, even as a singer you get curious when soone tries sothing new.
Other singers seed to feel the sa.
"[Music is ‘story.’]"
After the opening, a briefly serious VCR played.
If the concept was to fill the Well of Ratings that had dried up in the drought, what they were showing now felt like the the.
"[Our joy, our sorrow, our fun, our mories... music is with all of it. Have you had that feeling? When a song brings those old mories back, crisp as ever.]"
It was narration by Ha Seungju, host of PBS Music Café.
"[Today, at the PBS Song Festival, we want to talk about the singers who sing the music—and the stories about their songs.]"
As the images under the narration blurred, Ha Seungju appeared, seated at a grand piano.
The bespectacled pianist snapped his fingers elegantly.
"[...!]"
"Ha Seungju, where are you going?"
Ha Seungju stopped playing and hurried out.
"Huh?"
The next scene made , my younger mbers, and other singers go wide-eyed.
Because I was walking into that grand-piano studio where Ha Seungju had disappeared. , coming in with a "Hello."
The Soufflés shrieked.
"Wait."
I rembered filming a VCR like this during a recent PBS visit.
Back then there had definitely been no one there.
While I narrowed my eyes, the edited footage flowed.
"[Do I read this line? Music is our story.]"
Starting from that, tons of idols went, "Music is story!" like a campaign slogan.
And then a cookie-scene-like last bit.
"[Huh?]"
It was asking while looking at a steaming mug of coffee nearby.
"[Whose is this?]"
And a shot of Ha Seungju, who had been about to co back in behind , quickly turning on his heel and vanishing.
As the crowd laughed, the caption rolled: "[PBS Song Festival begins now]."
Ri Hyuk said with a laugh,
"You both acted well. Senior Ha Seungju really looked like he was running away."
"He really was running away."
"..."
"No wonder it felt weird that day. I kept feeling like soone was staring at from behind. And there was just this steaming cup sitting there."
"Wow, so he really did run."
I’d better ssage PD Ha Seungju afterward.
While the stage screens that had been in blackout lit up again, the Mister Producer mbers appeared in kingdom-noble costus.
To those lingering by the [Well of Ratings], Choo Giseok ca running with sothing in a bucket.
"[I have here a pre-pre-precious tonic!]"
"[A tonic?]"
"[Yes, even a single drop of this will make the clogged ratings gush forth! I definitely heard it! It’s true!]"
Maybe because of the character, it was obvious at a glance he looked like he’d been scamd.
To the kingdom folk staring with eyes full of distrust, Choo Giseok unveiled the bundle wrapped in cloth.
"[Behold, Refreshing Vitamin! Full of juice!]"
"[Refreshing vitamin?]"
"[Just a single drop of this and... the ratings gush!]"
"[Let’s try one.]"
As Choo Giseok chucked a giant pill into the well, a caption rose over the screen.
"[Mission 1. Refreshing! Juice-packed Vitamin!]"
It looked like they were presenting the act-one stage concept.
When the Mister Producer mbers went "Let’s see," and peered into the well, the girl group High Color was inside, gathered in a stage formation.
And—
"Oh..."
It cut straight to the live stage, and from the overhead cara, High Color’s formation onstage spread out exactly like in the VCR.
"—Waaaaaaaa!"
As the fresh-and-bright concept stage of a group that debuted last year continued, the audience cheered.
The VCR timing was on point.
I couldn’t help admiring the sense of a national variety PD who had secured plenty of stage ti. And the most amazing part was—
"Hyung."
Junghyeon widened his eyes and whispered,
"It’s still amazing when I look again. The cara is fine."
"Exactly."
Just like we’d checked in rehearsal, the cara work was steady.
No wobbly zoom in, zoom out; no sudden whoooosh pulling way back.
They held the group’s stage formation with a stable full shot and used close-ups at proper monts.
When I turned my head, I saw elderly veterans standing behind the caras.
"The old guard is great."
"Agreed."
I nodded, smiling with my younger mbers.
I wondered what expressions the Soufflés watching live on TV were wearing. I hoped our stage would co out pretty later too.
While we took in the act-one stages, Jiho—who was handling the act-one ending for the 98 line—kept whispering.
"You know I’m on this one, right?"
"Yes."
"You’ve gotta keep both eyes wide open and watch how aweso I am. If you miss it, I’ll hold a grudge for the next forty years."
"I’ll watch well."
I told him over and over not to worry.
As Jiho headed down from the singer section with the other 98s, I waved, and Biju said,
"Looks like they practiced a ton."
"Let’s clap really big. A standing ovation should do."
I rehearsed an overjoyed face with big applause, and Biju burst into laughter.
Ri Hyuk frowned.
"Stop encouraging him. When you smile at him, this guy gets confident about being absurd."
"Ri Hyuk."
I winked and sent him a finger heart, and got nothing back. I lowered my hand, smiling.
"...I don’t lose confidence over stuff like this."
"I’ll give you jelly later, hyung."
While we were talking, it finally ca ti for the act-one ending stage.
The screen darkened and a VCR rolled.
"—Waaaaaaaaaaa!"
As the English nas "Jiho," "Hahyun" matched with photobook shots, screams erupted.
Yun Giwon, Gil Chaegyeong, Petit Pumpkin, Yoran, and so on—
The video began with 98-liners from various debut years gathering in one place.
"[In a few days, when the New Year cos, we ‘98s beco adults, right? We prepared this stage with that in mind.]"
"[The song we prepared is Twinkle by our seniors Twinkle!]"
"[By day we’re ordinary students, but at night we beco magical girls and magical boys who vanquish villains—that’s the concept.]"
It was a VCR boldly stating their ambition to show a stage on that border between child and adult.
Right after, our maknae showed up in the VCR interview.
"[I’m about to beco an adult. I want to put what I think ‘adult’ feels like into the stage and show it.]"
We went "Ooooh" and laughed.
Another 98, Hahyun, continued with an interview like, "Hahyun wants to be an adult! Ppuing!"
The Teen Spirit mbers shot kill-lasers with their eyes.
Then ca the practice clips, and our maknae kept catching the eye in between.
"[There’s TPO on stage, right? Ti, place, oc...]"
"[Oc?]"
"[Occasion—oh! That’s what I an! Oh!]"
"[Oooooh!]"
He put my TPO gag from getting ready for the 2013 year-end evaluation to solid use.
"[Let’s match the choreo.]"
When he led choreo with Gil Chaegyeong, Biju’s expression showed up.
"[Mm, let’s raise our key about a half-step?]"
When Ri Hyuk did vocal directing, his hand cues were there.
And when they ate, he ate with Junghyeon’s expression.
"..."
Junghyeon, who’d been full of anticipation, drooped his shoulders, crestfallen.
"I’ll give you jelly."
Anyway, it was cute and funny how the maknae, trying as hard as he could to act adult, borrowed soone’s behavior point by point.
Apparently, to him, his hyungs were what "adult" ant.
We’re still kids ourselves.
"..."
"Don’t talk to with your eyes, Ri Hyuk."
"Hmph."
In any case, it was a warm VCR.
Even seeing Girls on Top’s Gil Chaegyeong and Jiho—known to be sworn rivals—laughing together.
When Hahyun recoiled from a bug during practice, a freezer label reading "Hahyun’s" appeared on the frozen pupae in the neighbor’s refrigerator.
As we smiled at the 98s being "adult" in their little fibs—
"Hyung, it’s starting."
Determined not to get an earful from the maknae later, I fixed my eyes on the stage as the blackout curtain lifted.
Like Tinker Bell sprinkling pixie dust, a sparkling VCR rose as the backdrop.
As the lights brightened, the 98-line idols in school looks ca into view.
"Jiho...!"
Soufflés, online and off, erupted.
Jiho, in a white shirt and gray vest, bead a juice-popping smile, and the star-shaped glitter on his cheek sparkled in the lights.
Our kid who broke an idol star and was born from it ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Why is he so fresh today
I can see Mr. Sunmo in the audience being jealous of the school uniform
Jiho, don’t be an adult ㅠㅠㅠ
Among idols striking cute poses, Jiho popped to the very front.
A soft voice followed.
I wake from the sa dream every day
Climb onto the sa bus and wait
Smiling brightly with his hand extended forward, Jiho passed the baton to Hahyun in a red cardigan.
Lollipop-like pink candy graphics rose and fell in the backdrop as the fresh stage continued.
Bob-cut Gil Chaegyeong twitched one leg while the mbers supported from behind.
anwhile, the Soufflés’ gaze stayed glued to the brown-haired maknae whose line of sight moved between side and center.
"Nice..."
My mouth fell open into a goofy grin before I knew it.
Because in the lineup of titles like Fireworks, Masquerade, Windflower, and so on, this was a concept we’d never seen once.
After seeing only hard-hitting choreo, watching sothing gently swaying felt strange and good.
"So he’s good at this too."
Smiling fresh and blasting idol charms, the maknae made the Soufflés smile.
Wooju, let’s make the next song a cute one
I’d only imagined it, but our kid fits this kind of concept too
Wow but what’s with the visuals, they’re all insane
Jiho’s good.. is he the main vocal here
Most satisfying of all was Jiho’s position.
As if Ri Hyuk were smirking behind him, Jiho played a key role in the high notes.
That didn’t an the dance was weak either.
"Well done. Our Jiho."
There wasn’t an official center, but naturally, in that stacked lineup, he stood out most.
In the middle, a fan clapping and tearing up...
"Wooju?"
As my face, eyes dewy, clapping, flashed on-screen, everyone burst into laughter.
Whoa I thought I was looking at myself lolololol
Wooju must’ve yawned
Obviously a yawn,, no way that’s because of Jiho
Ugaoe director: "We asked for a crying reaction and Wooju asked which side I wanted the tears from. I was flustered."
lolol why are you all like this to Wooju
(Seo Ri Hyuk staring coldly at Sun Wooju.jpg) Ri Hyuk’s face just now lololol
While the Soufflés were chatting like that—
"Wow, but this concept really fits. It’s so... huh?"
While we smiled at the lively high-schooler stage, the lights onstage glittered and the mood changed in a snap.
The BGM shifted—like a transformation—and the idols froze in place for a beat.
With a stronger feel.
From within, NewBlack’s sub-vocal stepped forward and began to sing in a low voice, and the choreo turned powerful.
Oh the arrangent’s good
Did they just beco adults???
King Jiho do not beco adult ever
Whether it was his hair lightly mussed or the change in expression from the first half, his impression got more intense.
Singing high notes together with Giwon, main vocal of Street Boys, he climbed and climbed.
In a burst of confetti—pahng!—the idols hit the beat and did a fast footwork dance-break segnt.
Watching the maknae, whose school-tie had co loose from the rough choreo and was fluttering, the Soufflés felt sothing complicated.
"Jiho really is graduating high school..."
Unlike the first half, which started with bright, aegyo-filled expressions, now his face was adult and serious.
The baby fat from debut days had gone, sharpening his jawline.
Overall, the lines of his features had beco finer and more defined.
The maknae who used to go "Ehehehe!" shyly among his hyungs at debut had, before anyone knew it, grown into a big dog.
Sothing about it was bittersweet and proud.
"I raised him..."
" too."
"Raised my kid with streams."
"At least contributed the cost of a button on that school uniform."
Soufflés all over the country smiled.
Finally, stopping the hands that had been twirling, Jiho and the others crossed both hands into a magical-boy pose, and their faces were close-upped.
Until the blackout of lights, with the vibe of "a stage by nineteen-year-old youths gasping for breath!"
"But it’s really intense. What is that."
True to his words about showing his idea of an adult—
Jiho’s last charismatic smile kept lingering in my head.
The ’98 mbers ca down to cheers.
"He copied ."
"What are you saying. He definitely copied ."
"I think it was ."
"I kept seeing myself in him while he danced."
Between and my younger mbers, a debate broke out.
We were arguing over who he was imitating as we recalled the expression Jiho had just made.
"Who do you think Jiho sees as ‘adult’? Obviously the oldest—, right?"
"For that, the smile was too innocent. It wasn’t the smile of a grimy man like an ajusshi."
"It wasn’t you either."
"Why not ."
"The smile was bright."
"..."
While Ri Hyuk and I took psychic damage and leaned on Biju and Junghyeon,
the two of them finished their own debate too.
"I don’t think it was either of us."
"Looks that way."
It really was a mystery.
When the students were moving cute in the first half, it felt like himself, but after he transford into a magic boy, it was different again.
"I’ve seen it sowhere..."
The younger ones nodded.
It was definitely an expression where Jiho showed an adult-ness that was very him.
"A «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» bit greedy? That kind of feel."
"Right."
"Kind of like a handso Scrooge—third-generation chaebol with a slightly sly vibe..."
"He looked ambitious."
While we were talking like that—
As I tried mimicking the expression our maknae had just made, I went "Huh?" and looked at the guys.
"What is it?"
"I think I know."
"Know what?"
The expression Jiho unconsciously made to show off his adult side looked like soone I already knew.
"That’s Jiho’s father’s face."
"...!"
As the kids gasped and clapped hands over their mouths, a handso face poked out from behind us.
"What are you talking about?"
"..."
"I looked really adult, right? I made an adult face."
"Well..."
Behind our maknae, wearing a smile that was the spitting image of soone, it felt like the dark shadow of the Chicken Army flickered for so reason.
— My dad said this. If you make a mistake, just act like you don’t know.
— Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing? If the right hand’s a problem, remove the right hand.
— You know that, right? If you can’t buy sothing with money, it ans you don’t have enough money.
At the beaming face of our budding sapling, my younger mbers and I traded smiles.
This is fine... right?
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