Chapter 101

Chapter 101

The date was September 23 and TeSTAR’s fans, the Loviewers, were saddened by the sudden lack of content. TeSTAR still uploaded regularly on their social media and there were updates about sponsorships or events every few days, but the fans couldn’t forget the endless flow of content they’d enjoyed during the group’s debut promotions.

- Anything new from them, guys?

- We got rid of that director. I wish they’d hold a party on W App or something, like a week-long stream

- We know better than to expect news of a comeback already, guys. But maybe they could throw us some self-made variety show content on WeTube, at least?

- It’s like going back to a vegetarian diet after feasting on meat everyday T_T

The fans were thus caught in a tug-of-war between being realistic and their desire for more. The majority of them were about to turn in, dreading the Monday looming over them, when a new video was uploaded.

- Huh? Something came out on an official account. And it’s on WeTube!! (link)

[TeSTAR “Bonus Book” Comeback Trailer (with 127 Section)]

- ??

- A comeback trailer?

- Just like that, out of nowhere?

- I nearly had a heart attack

Fans all over the country screamed with joy, clicking on the video immediately. The thumbnail was an image of someone’s left eye, visible through a crosshair. The eye glowed a slightly chilling purple, though it wasn’t clear if this was thanks to a contact lens or visual effects.

The video began to play.

[...]

Long legs in fitted black leather pants came into view, walking confidently. The camera followed this person’s feet as they strode down the corridor, which was decrepit and patched with planks and bits of fabric.

Then the shot panned up the figure’s legs, settling on their left hand, which wore a black, fingerless glove. The camera then closed in on the person’s side profile.

It was Cha Eugene, his red hair spilling over his forehead. In his hand, he was clutching a tattered, red stuffed toy.

[♬♪♩♪]

Cha Eugene whistled a familiar melody as he flipped the toy over, revealing a winding mechanism. Taking it with his right hand, he began turning it. The mechanism spinning was loud, and before long strange noises began to join the mix of sounds.

Pi pi pi— pipipipipi—

PPi—

There was a loud explosion and then the screen turned black. A narrator began speaking in a voice-over.

“What makes people live?”

“...a choice.”

When the screen came alive again, the scene had changed, now showing a partially ruined school field. The sand had visibly become hard, and the soccer goalposts were missing their nets. A strange emblem flashed briefly on screen as an aerial view of the field appeared, and a deep, heavy beat began to play.

DOOM DOOM DOOM DOOM

The beat was joined by a string orchestra, playing a tune that instilled a sense of urgency in the viewer. Layered over this were powerful notes played on an electric synthesizer, the melody having the impact of thunder.

I’m gonna survive,

Like you did before

I’m gonna grab it,

Just like I dreamed

It was a high introduction, and at that moment, there was an explosion below one of the goalposts. Cha Eugene burst from within the dust of the detonation.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

But NOT for me, not for me

I’m alive, that’s right

Legends never die

Cha Eugene shook the dust and sand out of his hair and aimed an excited kick at the goalpost. Then he ran toward the front gate. As he pushed open the iron barrier, covered with dark red creeping vines, and walked through, the scene transitioned.

Every fork in the road is another choice

But wherever you go, use your eyes

To find the surest formula

You will never die

Lee Sejin, the actor, was standing in a lab lit with a blue glow and filled with glass containers full of samples, staring into a monitor. In contrast to the delicate appearance the glasses perched on his nose lent him, his gown was covered in green and dark red splotches. Having watched Cha Eugene rush through the gate on the monitor, Lee Sejin got to his feet.

He approached the iron bar that sealed the lab door shut, then stopped to eye the signs plastered all over the wall—they were biohazard warnings. The video cut to a different pair of hands, tearing the same mark off a wall but in a different location.

That’s what keeps me alive

I chase it as hard as my body will permit

My steps are my life’s completion

If I reach out, I can hold it

Big Sejin held a torn piece of paper in his hand and was dressed neatly in modern attire. He was standing behind a worn-looking podium and it looked as though he was delivering a speech. He threw the piece of paper in his hand at an old fence and it bounced uselessly off the metal, but the people gathered below the stage all rushed toward the fence.

Big Sejin shrugged and took a baseball cap from where it was hanging on the wall. He pulled it on his head, tugging it low and disappearing from the stage. Then the shot soared upwards.

I’m gonna survive,

Like you did before

I’m gonna grab it,

Just like I dreamed!

A sniper was perched on the roof, decked out in the latest tech and aiming at a strange target. Blue light erupted from the rifle and when the beam impacted with a red, pulsing globule, it exploded. The camera spun and showed the sniper tossing aside the rifle and getting to his feet. It was Ryu Chungwoo.

The moment his gun tumbled to the ground, it melted away in a burst of red light and disappeared into the asphalt. And then the camera sank rapidly downwards, through the tarmac.

I will never die

Like I did before

I’m gonna keep you

Alive— Alive— Alive!

The scene playing onscreen now featured a wide sewer chamber, full of water. There were battered and broken mannequins and all sorts of weapons that were clearly unusable.

Kim Raebin lay quietly on top of the pile. A single ray of sunlight shone perfectly on his fallen form, but water also dripped down, leaving his face and hair damp.

Raebin opened his eyes and glanced to the side, otherwise utterly unmoving, giving off a slightly creepy vibe. The camera followed his gaze. Water splashed loudly as a group of people ran through the sewer, and the song slowed, growing more melodic.

A gentle, beautiful voice sang.

Choose your way

Choose your side

Make your way

Decide your fate

The camera zoomed in on what looked like an enormous water tank, which the individuals were carrying. It shook and trembled, the top flying off and a pale arm flopping out.

Seon Ahyeon pulled himself out of the container. The water in it seemed to be glowing strangely. Water droplets scattered behind him, shining with a clearly other-worldly glow.

The camera followed the water droplets, bouncing upwards and out of the sewer, transitioning to the broken window of a high-rise building.

Choose your way

Choose your side

Make your way

Decide your fate...

A boy was standing at the window, staring at his phone. The music died away.

[...]

The boy had a black hood pulled over his face and, with his back to the camera, he looked up and stared out the window. He was holding an outdated smartphone.

The city was full of rippling lights even though it was night and the light from the cityscape only made the boy’s figure harder to make out in the gloom. The shot was slowly panning in on his upper body when he suddenly spun and looked directly into the camera.

It was Park Moondae. The camera jerked away as if in surprise, and the drones that had been hovering around him came into view. They glowed with lights of their own, the beams now pointed at the camera.

Moondae’s eyes were gleaming and glowing a strange purple color as he turned and chucked his phone out the window. He walked purposefully toward the camera, and the screen went black with a blip, captions appearing.

[Choose Your Side]

[127 Section]

[Coming Soon]

This was the end of the video.

- ??

- What the?

The fans were left shocked and confused.

***

The trailer had been short—only two minutes and forty-two seconds—and only the first verse of the song had been used.

The cinematography had been astounding, the scenes dripping with meaning, and there had been a handful of visual links back to the previous album. TeSTAR-related social media fan accounts and various communities immediately forgot that tomorrow was a Monday as they chattered with excitement about the video they’d just seen.

- I mean, that trailer came with zero warning. Faint-hearted fans like me can’t take this kind of attack T_T. But thank you! Please do it again.

- Good thing we got rid of that director. They’re doing just fine without him, obviously

- This seems like an early reveal, right? It was too bad there was no choreography, but I liked it. If they add a tight choreography, it’ll help cut through the tension

└ Yeah. And even though it wasn’t really filmed in a single take, I love how they went for that feeling

- I don’t understand why the title is Bonus Book, though. LOL That means appendix, right? Is it just the title of the video?

The news spread across celebrity communities as well, of course.

========================

[TeSTAR uploaded a comeback trailer]

: Even the fans didn’t expect it and seem confused

========================

- Wow, that must have cost so much money

- It’s like a movie trailer

- But there’s no choreography and the song itself doesn’t feel like an idol song T_T

- T1 must be investing so much money in them. Look at Lee Sejin, he got in the group at the last second and he’s reaping the benefits practically for free

└ Hmm, I think he contributes to the quality of the video since he’s originally an actor

└ LOL you saw him for all of twenty seconds. How can you tell if he’s a good actor?

└ Ah, I get it. Your stock didn’t make the cut in Idol Inc. Poor you. What was his name? LOL

- They’ve gone too far with the concept this time... It feels overdone

- This is amazing stuff

Many people were loud about their like or dislike for the trailer, but the comments and views didn’t lie. As one might expect, the final captions that had appeared toward the end of the video were quickly analyzed.

========================

[TeSTAR’s recent video seems to be based around a game]

: You know 127 Section in the captions at the end?

It’s the name of a game releasing in October

(Screen capture of an article)

They used to be a small studio, but T1 bought them

========================

- Whoa

- So it’s a game collab?

- I love it. No wonder it felt like a game

- So it was an ad, then?

└ Well, it’s a comeback trailer... Definitely a cut above a simple advertisement...

- Hmm, I don’t like it. They’re only just finding their own color T_T

- But there were too many throwbacks to the Magical Boys music video for it to be made expressly for a game. The fans are really into it

└ Did T1 make the game for the TeSTAR universe? LOL

└ Whoa

└ Dude, are you on to something?

└ That would take being over the top to a whole new level

Anyone who was only moderately interested in TeSTAR watched the situation unfold with amusement. The fans were alternating between concern and excitement, but they decided to wait and see what would happen since an announcement for album preorders appeared the very next day.

- They put so much money into that video. They clearly don’t think it’ll be a flop. The music’s good and it’s connected to the last album’s universe, so I’m remaining neutral for the time being

- This doesn’t seem like the title song. They probably only made a couple of songs with the game studio. I’m happy we got to see a trailer of this quality!

- The music, cinematography, and the visuals were perfectly in harmony. Now I’m looking forward to the title song T_T

The ripples had not quite settled yet.

[Hey guys, you seen this?]

This comment appeared in a gaming community.