Chapter 103

Chapter 103

I returned to the dorm after a rather fruitless meeting with Cheongryeo. It was already three A.M. by the time I returned. Everyone was already asleep, of course.

I have to be up by eight in the morning... I needed to get to sleep straight away. Tiptoeing, I made my way to my room and was shocked by what I found inside.

Lee Sejin was in his bed, crying as he watched something on his phone. The light from his screen illuminated the tears streaking down his face.

Is he watching a movie or something? Finding him like this was deeply awkward. I made a lot of noise on purpose as I moved past the room. I would give him some time to pull himself together.

I’ll wash up first, then change. I came out after my shower and found him buried completely under his sheets. No doubt he was pretty embarrassed.

I should get some sleep... I lay down in bed. The hour was late, so I decided I probably wouldn’t need to wear earplugs. Before long, I came to deeply regret this decision, however. I began to hear muffled sobbing from the bed next to mine. Lee Sejin was obviously crying into his pillow.

I must be losing it. I seriously considered just shoving my earplugs in and trying to get some sleep, in the end, I reluctantly got up and approached the other bed. I patted the lump in the sheets lightly.

“Hey. Is something going on?”

The sheets moved and I heard a cough.

He’s covered in snot and tears by the sounds of it... I crossed my arms over my chest and waited patiently since it was obvious he didn’t want anyone to see him in this state.

“You... you didn’t put in your earplugs?”

“I didn’t think I’d have to wear them so late at night.”

He squirmed under the sheets again, and his voice almost sounded normal when he spoke next. “You should go to sleep. It’s nothing.”

So that means something is going on. Alarm bells rang in my head, a sensation that had grown unfamiliar over the months.

“Wait... Don’t tell me this has something to do with drugs?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

I guess not, then. Glancing at Lee Sejin, who had bolted upright in shock, I went back to my own bed. I could see his face grow an angry red despite the darkness.

“Do I look like someone who would do drugs?”

“No... I met up with Cheongryeo today and he was talking about someone who ruined their career by getting mixed up in drugs. I just have that story on the brain, is all.”

He frowned, probably able to think of a few specific examples of just this happening. “It’s best to stay away from people into that stuff. You shouldn’t get involved with them if you can help it.”

“Yeah, I agree,” I said with a shrug, pulling my sheets over me.

I guess I shouldn’t push him to answer. Lee Sejin seemed pretty determined to pursue this career, so he would speak out if there was a real problem.

But I’ll remind him anyway, just in case.

“Hey,” I said.

“What?”

“You should say something if you’re having a hard time.”

“Right...”

“To Chungwoo, that is.”

“Hey!”

I waved at him casually, before laying back. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

***

With our comeback approaching, we had to juggle both practice and a variety of other things, meaning we were all growing increasingly tired.

“At least things are better than during our debut.”

“Agreed.”

The other members all seemed pretty happy, still, since this time felt like a cakewalk compared to when they’d been forced to complete two title tracks in a single month. For sure, things were far easier to handle now that we had a fixed minimum time set aside for sleep.

We even have time to look into how things are going online from time to time. I checked on the current state of affairs within our fandom on my phone. Until a few days ago, the fans had been comparing the concept photos and the information about the album that had been recently released, trying to make guesses at how the album would turn out.

- Is it because the album has a Side A and a Side B that it’s called Choose Your Side? Details like these are what make fans like us cry with happiness

- My guess is that A will have a more young, innocent feeling, while B will be dreamier.

└ What about the trailer?

└ Maybe that’s just an intro song?

└ I think that must be on Side B

- There were Magical Boys props in the trailer, guys T_T. We can’t assume it’s just a game advertisement at this point. But the game hasn’t been released yet, so we can’t compare them even if we wanted to...

└ Hey there. Ruins Factory has always produced excellent games. Please give the game a try when it releases!

└ Oh, okay. Sure

The second set of concept photos had been released today.

[TeSTAR Concept Photos: Side B]

TeSTAR was wearing classic winter school uniforms. While there were certainly ties to the previous album, the mood was markedly different. The classroom that made up the backdrop wasn’t old or damaged—instead, the walls were covered with rough, fluorescent graffiti.

The walls visible behind all the paint weren’t the usual ivory finish but made of some kind of rusted chrome metal. Some of the members were also holding gas masks or peculiar pieces of equipment that also glowed neon. They were obviously giving dystopian cyberpunk.

- Oh god!

- Cyberpunk! Yes!

- I love it

- They’re wearing winter uniforms because they didn’t get to wear them in the last album... They’re so on top of things, we Loviewers are so happy!

- T_T Chungwoo finally dyed his hair, guys. It’s still pretty close to black, but it’s actually blue! I’m so happy right now. Wishing you all happiness, too

- I was so stupid for thinking it would just be another dreamy theme...

- I love both sets of photos. I wish the albums would drop already T_T

The fans were happy, so there seemed to be no need to monitor them too closely.

Seems like they’re not so worried about the game anymore. The recent set of concept photos had quite a few things in common with the trailer. They came out looking great, and that seemed to have eased the fans’ concerns quite a bit.

Even online communities with more general interests, not just the fan communities, were responding well to the photos.

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

[TeSTAR Choose Your Side Concept photos]

: Side A (photos)

Side B (photos)

Most people think these came out great

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

- Wow, they’re so handsome

- Seon Ahyeon gets more and more handsome every time I see him

- Their concepts are always over the top. I think they put so much money into it that it works

└ LOL that’s the perfect way to put it

└ I’m a pretty two-dimensional fan and I’m drawn to their work

- Kim Raebin looks really great in the second set of photos. He looks decadent but in a good way. He really stands out

- I’m looking forward to the music video! Please share it here when it comes out

Of course, there were those doing their best to muddy the waters, but they weren’t having much success.

- What the... Who’s seeing this sh*t and buying it? LOL

└ Huh? Basically everyone. I mean, look at the responses on this site alone

└ It might just be their fans being loud T_T

└ If this many people are fans, then that’s basically everyone, isn’t it? LOL

This was how most such attempts usually ended.

Tough luck. I grinned and exited the site.

“M-Moondae, are you c-checking the internet?”

“Yes. I was seeing what people thought of the new concept photos.”

“I-I see.”

Ahyeon didn’t ask what the internet was saying. I’d heard that he was training himself to remain oblivious to what people thought of him. He looked cheerier these days. Maybe the new doctor was really helping him.

Hmm. I think he said he was going to start working on his stutter after our current promotions are over. I wished him the best.

“I-it was really hot when we took those,” Ahyeon said.

The members who heard his comment immediately began shouting in dramatic agreement.

“That’s right!”

“That shoot must have just been scheduled on an abnormally warm day. It was way too hot for early fall, and the air conditioning on set wasn’t cutting it!” Raebin said.

I was about to say the same thing. Thanks, I guess.

“Still, Sejin didn’t bat an eye when we took the photos. He’s pretty amazing.”

“That’s an actor’s chops at work!” Eugene said with a grin.

“Yeah.”

Lee Sejin nearly choked on his water as the conversation turned to suddenly complimenting him, but he soon replied quietly, “Thanks...”

“You deserve the kudos,” Chungwoo said, smiling as he continued stretching.

I had grown used to witnessing the members do this same song and dance by now. Lee Sejin always had trouble keeping up when we had to learn new choreography, and the members often showered him with compliments like this to make him feel better.

And it’s not like they’re lying. Whenever we had to shoot content that required that we act, Lee Sejin always came out looking the most impressive.

Big Sejin grumbled playfully, “Hey, that’s not fair! Don’t forget about the other Sejin, guys. I did a good job, too!”

“Haha!”

“Wow, you were amazing,” Eugene complimented obediently.

“Eugene, you don’t have to force yourself like that.”

“You know I’m no good at lying. Oh!”

Big Sejin caught Eugene in a gentle headlock, then laughed as he let him go. Lee Sejin turned away from the scene.

Those two still have a kind of weird relationship. It wasn’t that they often butted heads... But they seemed to avoid each other, probably because they disliked one another.

“Let’s get back to practicing, then!”

“Okay!”

After a short break, we started working on our choreography again.

“Watch your feet!”

“This way!”

The members had heard the choreographer calling out the same advice so many times at this point that they mimicked him as they danced the chorus. No one was able to resist smiling, but Lee Sejin still seemed to find keeping up difficult. He was staring at the mirror intently, his lips pursed.

Hardly surprising. His dancing stat was still at D+. Moving up an alphabet grade was a huge deal and it was very difficult for anyone to achieve such a thing in a short period of time without real talent.

I think he’ll manage it soon, though, if he keeps this up. I checked Lee Sejin’s stat window.

[Name: Lee Sejin.

Singing: C- (B+)

Dancing: D+ (B)

Physical attractiveness: A+ (S)

Charm: A (S-)

Trait: Focus (B)

Status abnormality:

His singing was already at C. He’d probably leveled up rather quickly since he’d been a better singer than he was a dancer to start with.

Lee Sejin’s potential highest dancing grade was B, so he would reach C before long if he kept practicing consistently.

Then there’s his trait to keep in mind. It wasn’t half bad.

[Focus (B)]

: I want to do this!

Focus +100%

The description and name were simple enough, but I could easily think of a variety of uses. I’d probably have kept it if I’d been given the trait.

That reminds me, I should take a look at my status, too. I summoned the window.

[Name: Park Moondae (Ryu Gunwoo)]

Level: 15

Title: None

Singing: A

Dancing: B-

Physical attractiveness: B+

Charm: B

Trait: Infinite potential, Words of Persuasion (C), Energy Drink (B), Catch-All Ears (A)

Status abnormality: Receive an Award or Die

Points Remaining: 3

These stats were the impressive result of getting more than 100 stage achievements and 5000 practice achievements. I’d already gotten two more pop-ups after putting on a great performance, receiving bonuses added to my stats. I’d also picked out a new trait...

[Trait: Govern Those Tears (B)]

- Cry at will!

: MAX control over your ability to cry on demand

I’d abandoned it immediately. What sh*t.

Regardless, even without that, I’d gained quite a lot.

Our debut promotional cycle was pretty tough, that’s for sure. Maybe the many sleepless nights had been worth it in the end though.

This wasn’t the most surprising aspect of my improved stats. I was most shocked to see that my charm level had increased on its own. If I had to guess, it was probably the W Live streams or the fansign events that had affected it. The other members, not only Lee Sejin and me, had also experienced a few natural increases to their stats.

“Moondae, you need to focus!” Big Sejin cried.

I was broken from my reverie. I should focus on practicing for now.

Moments later, the final accompaniment finished playing. Big Sejin swiped the sweat from his brow and said politely, “Phew. Should we do it from the beginning?”

“Yes,” Ryu Chungwoo said.

“All right!”

After Big Sejin had boosted his dancing stat from A- to A, he’d gotten much faster and more precise about picking up the choreographer’s moves, right up to and including the correct vibe.

I envy him. I wondered if I should invest all my remaining points into dancing. Without warning, Lee Sejin suddenly collapsed to the floor as the introduction to the song played.

“Whoa!”

“Are you all right?”

“Y-yes—” he flinched as he attempted to get up. Clutching his ankle while still sitting on the floor, he bit his lip.

I have a bad feeling about this...