Debut or Die-Chapter 439

Controversy, publicity, even synergy effects.

The VTIC charity concert was executed with meticulous precision and perfect timing by the former Reset Syndrome idol who’d spent his entire life as an idol.

Of course he was the one who planned ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ the concert.

“Hmm.”

Joo Dan nodded as he watched everything proceed smoothly.

An enormous, descending collapse event that should have devastated the building had been restored to its original state as if nothing had happened.

If the final curtain had fallen so perfectly and happily, it was only natural that a tension-free success story would follow immediately.

‘Everything will go well...’

“Joo Dan”

“Yes.”

The moment he heard that voice, Joo Dan hastily put away his smartphone.

Not because he felt his leader-hyung’s habitual pressure, but because it was a reasonable request.

And honestly, at the species level, wasn’t it natural to feel a certain amount of intimidation and fear?

Though his face was fresh and youthful, Cheongryeo was someone whose ego had been built over incredible expanses of time.

There must be a reason humanity has long respected its elders since ancient times.

‘Stay calm.’

Joo Dan mumbled inwardly.

And Cheongryeo, the person in question, glanced at Joo Dan’s behavior and said.

“I would’ve told you it was fine even if you hadn’t checked.”

“It’s a hobby.”

“Mm.”

Rather than saying “Don’t do it if I tell you not to,” Cheongryeo gave him a slight look and left.

An unspoken permission.

Generous... no, it wasn’t generosity. Permission! Even a leader was overstepping his authority.

‘But he’s been that kind of character since before debut.’

As a group leader, he was an efficient type.

Isn’t that why VTIC had remained strong for so long?

‘When it came time for the re-contract, I thought I’d be ruined.’

Someone else got ruined instead.

Joo Dan decided to set that thought aside. Instead, he recalled the internet reactions to the VTIC concert he’d been watching.

First, the negative ones.

They copied TeSTAR’s charity concert, right?

└ They rented it out in advance?

A small minority thought it reminded them of TeSTAR’s charity concert held on the same platform right after TeSTAR’s traffic accident, though that talk had almost disappeared thanks to the guest announcement.

He did admit they used the fairly novel “audience participation” format.

‘But that’s a niche policy that only works for internet aficionados.’

What VTIC had planned was a more classic and glamorous charity concert.

And it had worked.

This is actually fun to watch

It’s been ages since a concert only played familiar songs and the live audio is so clear lol

He didn’t deny that TeSTAR had helped to some extent. TeSTAR’s (already announced) surprise VCR appearance in the second half was quite entertaining.

[Park Mundae: Hello, I’m counselor Mundaeng for today]

[Maltese: (silent scream)]

The Maltese puppy character raised its front paws and covered its mouth. It was a fan who’d requested counseling from Park Mundae.

For anonymity, the members’ animal characters counseling applicants via VR-style compositing was cute and heartwarming.

It was funny too.

A humor device to adjust the tempo in the middle of a hectic stage.

[Seon Ah hyun: First, have a cup of warm water]

[Rudolph: (hiccup)]

[Seon Ah hyun: Th-that should help with hiccups....]

“Ah, you’re so cute”

“Ah-hyun is working so earnestly, it’s really nice to see”

While filming the ‘VTIC Reaction to the Charity Concert’ with the other members, Joo Dan inwardly nodded several times.

Of course, that reaction footage itself would soon be released as content.

Right after they... enlisted.

......

My goodness.

Enlisting.

He thought he’d quit before that large hiatus, but strangely he kept going.

Joo Dan nodded.

‘...But since there’s been nothing to consume so far, fans won’t really drift away as outsiders.’

With three in-house content releases, two free songs and music videos, and even a cinematic trailer for world-building, he felt confident.

All made by Cheongryeo.

‘I wonder how long they’d been preparing.’

They were releasing so much hiatus content for just six months next year.

That must be why it was hard to rebel against this superhuman leader.

Anyway, the screen moved on.

After the VCR ended, when it was time for the stage...

[Visiting TeSTAR’s Counseling Session!]

Suddenly, VTIC appeared at TeSTAR’s pension on a surprise visit.

gulp

That was a true surprise.

If Joo Dan had checked the internet on his hidden smartphone, he would have seen countless exclamation marks and excited reactions.

[Whoa!?]

[Uh? Hyungs?]

Even TeSTAR in the footage must have had his eyes pop out. That hadn’t been agreed upon.

‘Hmm.’

Joo Dan felt a secret pride. It was all for great reactions.

They’ll pass out lol

Look at Mundae pretending not to freak out my precious sorrydog ㅠㅠ

Bae Sejin ran out in slippers lololol

Is that TeSTAR’s dorm?

└ Probably rented somewhere since they can’t reveal the dorm

Anyway, after warmly greeting each other, they shared pizza and briefly talked about the charity concert and its meaning.

Then the scenario called for them to bond. Park Mundae kicked it off.

[I’m really sorry that I can’t participate on stage.]

[Don’t apologize! You even did counseling to try to join!]

[Right, you did more than enough.]

Amid their embarrassed glances, Ryu Cheong woo laughed and said.

[Thank you. Then just being here is enough.]

[Then....]

Cha Yoo jin answered with a bright face. He was the perfect member for that.

[How about a short performance right here? Onstage!]

[!]

[There are lights here... and we’re all performance pros!]

[Wahaha!]

Thus, an impromptu-looking stage was confirmed.

[Let’s go!]

It was already after sunset outside. Though the pension was in a remote natural spot, it had one advantage.

A large front yard like a pension’s, lined with lamp lights.

[Oooh!]

[They counseled in a cool place]

Excited, VTIC and TeSTAR ran onto the front yard, paused for a moment, and giggled.

[Shall we dance?]

[I haven’t thought about that!]

Then Lee Sejin of TeSTAR linked arms with the members and beamed.

[It’s senior hyungs’ concert~ So naturally we’ll do the seniors’ songs!]

[Wow~]

Of course, the lineup was pre-prepared.

Yet he delivered that line so naturally—he really was so sociable that he wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Joo Dan nodded.

Anyway, they applauded the chosen songs and the idols formed a circle in the yard.

[Music please!]

Under the sparkling lamp lights and the stage lights from the staff, the night grass shimmered.

As the familiar intro played in the dim backdrop,

[Aah!]

[Ah, I love this so much!]

The idols rushed out and their upbeat, energetic steps crisscrossed.

Then the opening chorus sounded like a mass sing-along.

[Hey parter!

I wonder if you’re thinking of me]

Night Sign.

VTIC’s immortal hit, released at the same time as TeSTAR’s debut song, filled the front yard.

Though normally excluded from the charity concert setlist for its dark, languid sexy concept, it felt different here.

[And again I remember

Night after night]

As the crowd’s mood rose at the concert, the party-like vibe showcased the song’s advantage as a hit.

Everyone knew the tune.

The excitement born of shared familiarity.

Even though it wasn’t choreographed for that feel, it worked.

The two groups laughed and mixed, taking turns stepping forward to match the choreography.

Sometimes VTIC deliberately stepped back to let the juniors have their moment, and TeSTAR, careful not to overstep, enjoyed the seniors’ song.

Since they’d already spent time together, the balance looked easy and natural.

At the chorus:

[Until the end of this night

Remember my eyes]

They improvised a formation and delivered the signature choreography.

Born from a spontaneous party atmosphere, the perfectly matched moves looked even more splendid.

[Um, Um]

The camera captured individual members laughing or enjoying themselves.

Though their movements were more excited than the song usually called for, it strangely fit.

[Like a night sign]

Gestures and cool freestyle dance filled the song’s quick tempo.

Then they definitely let loose.

[Woo!]

Following that collective exclamation, the idols dropped the choreography and smiled brightly.

“Ah....”

“That was so much fun!”

Watching the reactions being filmed, the VTIC members reminisced excitedly.

And Joo Dan glanced over.

Cheongryeo was faintly smiling too.

“Yeah.”

[Night sign!]

After shouting the final line like a mass chant, the members checked each other’s moves and struck a dramatic ending pose.

Screeeech – bang!

And fireworks exploded above, ending the impromptu stage.

Amid laughter.

[Wow!]

[Thank you!]

Behind the waving faces, the fireworks’ colors glowed in an emotional shot.

It was a moving mid-finale perfect for a charity concert.

Viewer reactions matched.

-ㅜㅜㅜ

-It was so heartwarming

-I didn’t expect them to participate like that, great inclusion

-Our country’s idols are amazing, how can they sync up like that instantly

└No no it’s VTIC and TeSTAR who are amazing

But one question remained in both fandoms’ minds.

-Why are they so close?

“Ah~ that was fun!”

“Thanks for the fun show!”

After VTIC’s sudden stage in the pension yard,

VTIC, busy toward the end of the concert, immediately began preparations to leave. TeSTAR, as juniors, gave them a courteous send-off.

I was replaying the stage in my mind.

‘That was fine.’

It had been a while since he’d pulled off such an impromptu song choice as if hearing it for the first time, but since they were all veterans it came out naturally.

If they’d chosen from VTIC’s songs, picking one of TeSTAR’s pre-debut hits would’ve been safer, but really... no problem.

‘They’re enlisting.’

In idol group relationships, all issues outside romance come from rivalry.

Since they won’t be rivals during the hiatus, fans will probably respond more forgivingly.

Just then.

“Mundae-ssi!”

“Yes.”

“Ah, now we’re back to formal speech!”

Re-changed into street clothes, Cha Yoo jin grinned.

“Can I contact you on leave? Let’s see each other often. And then we can speak informally like before!”

“I’d always like that.”

Of course, there’d be times when he’d be busy if something came up.

Anyway, Yoo jin nodded vigorously, dipped his head briefly, and whispered.

“And after we’ve all enlisted, Hyung is alone, you know. Emotionally.”

He probably hadn’t felt much different before enlisting either.

“You and Kong-i will keep in touch, right? Like I said before, you’re like a mountain spirit, I worry you won’t even eat properly!”

No, Cheongryeo would probably take in plenty of protein and fiber.

But I nodded.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Great!”

Yoo jin smiled brightly, gave an (unnecessary) hug, and left.

Joo Dan, who’d been listening, silently approached with a mysterious expression and said.

“Yoo jin-hyung has some emotional and irrational aspects. He attaches too much meaning to relationships.”

“....”

“Still, socially, people tend to accept what he says more easily. Amazing, right?”

No,

Anyway, I decided not to forget Yoo jin’s words. Just that much.

And a few days later.

VTIC’s charity concert ended successfully.

With a surprise event, they even released a high-production fan song MV, and all members except Cheongryeo truly enlisted that month.

Seeing the press photos felt strange. Maybe because I’d been in a group with those under-20s not long ago.

[“Loyalty! I’m off now.” VTIC salute by Shin-o 〈Hansung Star Photo〉]

“When we enlist, the cultural replacement service law should pass....”

“Hyung, the higher your expectations, the greater your disappointment.”

“....”

Our turn will come soon enough, but we still have years ahead. I might receive a national medal allowing me to defer enlistment,

‘That should be my next goal.’

I nodded.

“Why are you nodding?”

“Because I think I’ll have a good song.”

I set my smartphone, which I’d been using in the middle of the studio, down.

Seon Ah hyun, tense, was recording in the booth.

And the next in line, Lee Sejin, glanced at VTIC news on my smartphone, and as our eyes met, she said offhandedly.

“Hmm~ a January comeback?”

“A January comeback.”

A condition for receiving a national medal?

In K-pop, precedents exist.

Global recognition and evaluation.

You can’t just do well. You have to be the best in this genre.

VTIC had completely held that top tier so far.

‘I’ll dominate during the hiatus.’

Starting with the special stage at this year’s awards, where VTIC was gone.

“We don’t have much time left.”

We cheerfully began planning our raid on the empty house.

And so year-end came.