On Sunday evening, we reorganized the choreography. And when I woke up, it was already the next week.

This means it is the right time to check the first week's album sales tally.

The result was...... terrifying.

I asked the manager one more time.

For your information, pre-order volume means the amount of pre-order at the retail store in anticipation of the album being sold.

'I was skeptical that this might be the case because I tend to put in more than I did in the beginning.'

I can't believe that 670,000 copies were sold.

'I can't believe it.'

Although the recent album sales inflation is severe, it's a volume that seems to paralyze your senses.

It was even more enormous considering that TeSTAR's fan base was mainly formed in Korea as former audition program candidates.

It is even more than what it was.

'Isn't it 600,000 copies originally?'

I'm certain that the initial number of sales of the group that originally debuted with was 600,000 copies. I couldn't figure out where the 70,000 came from and bought it......

The other guys were overwhelmed with joy.

If it was about 300,000 copies, I would have been happy and rolled on the floor, but I felt a little scared when the volume doubled.

Soon, of course, someone came to his senses and spoke out. It means that we have begun to make realistic judgments.

At that moment, the tension rose all the way.

Ryu Chung-woo opened his mouth.

Kim Rae-bin immediately started searching. We could check the weekly sales right from the album chart.

[LONG NIGHT / VTIC 312,608]

It was an unbelievable figure in the second week.

[T/N: The mtl translations really went off in this. I tried my best to understand what this means but I couldn't haha. But I think, he means that the number of sales VTIC has for this week is crazy. Considering that this is their last week of promotions. You'll get what I mean when you see the following narration.]

It was at the level of the total sales of male idols who were quite popular.

At this point, I'm really curious about the beginning (sales) of this album.

I checked Kim Rae-bin's smartphone screen a few times to check VTIC's album sales for the first 7 days and the beginning sales.

[1,872, 863]

The tension suddenly disappeared. The members began to laugh and cheer each other up.

I expected it, but with such a difference in basic scores, the winning heart disappeared.

The tally, which is twice the difference in album sales, was just right, but it seemed difficult (maybe winning 1st place) because it was pushed back from the music source.

'Even after we've done well in the first week, there's no way the album sales will go well......, maybe even the second week will be hard.'

Although the music ranking (of our song) continued to rise slowly, it was doubtful whether it could push out VTIC, which is currently in the top spot.

I shrugged my shoulders.

The members scattered to change into their outdoor clothes.

The manager said something like 'This isn't it...' and murmured it several times before he sighed deeply as if he had accepted reality.

'You must have had other thoughts.'

Well, he'll take care of it.

It was right after the manager got on board that he opened a new topic.

The members were very nervous. I heard about it when we started promoting, but I had forgotten the date because of our busy schedule. The manager nodded.

Perhaps it was the thought of building up like this that he threw the album sales first. He looks relieved to say it now.

'A fan sign event.'

You need to talk to a hundred people in a row at a time and put a little energy to avoid making mistakes.

However, some members seemed to have had a reverse effect. This is because Seon A-hyun turned blue at once.

Seon A-hyun, who was caught up in Cha Yu-jin's nonsense, began to be more confused.

I sighed and interrupted.

Seon A-hyun smiled faintly and replied, but it wasn't a face that didn't worry much.

'It's understandable.'

I haven't even talked to a fan much in the first place.

Sometimes, I see fans at close range during schedules but usually, I had to quickly exchange greetings or fan services and get in the car.

Sometimes, it's hard to put it in a sample because it's not a fan but a sasaeng who persistently follows near the accommodation or at a convenience store.

'I'm sure any of the members are nervous because some (sasaengs) are trying to talk to them one-on-one...'

Except for that guy.

Big Se-jin in the front seat is humming and rummaging through his smartphone.

'I'm confident, this is it.'

I didn't expect I'd see an example of an idol before a fan signing event

...How am I?

'I don't know.'

If it is a public fan signing event for famous idols, I have been tasked to take pictures on behalf of them a few times.

But I've never heard what the two (fan and idol) are talking about while receiving autographs. This is because the space itself is noisier than expected, so most of the sounds are crushed.

'Well... I've seen them (the idols) wear headbands a lot.'

It's kind of embarrassing, but there's nothing I can't do, so let's move on.

I clicked my tongue as I looked back at the brain that was left with only the pure image. That's not real.

'Should I find out what kind of conversation they usually have?'

I'm on the move, so I'm in the car, but there's no reality camera. I immediately accessed SNS on my smartphone and started searching.

'I put 'review' on the back, so I guess I can skip the Homma photos.'

[T/N: 'Homma' means homepage master. You know that idols have fansites right? Now the people who are behind or the 'master' of those fansites are called Homepage master(s). And 'Homma' is the slang term for it. Please remember because I am going to use it whenever it is mentioned.]

But even before moving to the popular posts tab, one of the latest posts that just popped up caught my eye.

Wait.

The image attached to the article was a capture of a certified article that said it bought 100 copies and

[T/N: 'fell off' there probably means the op didn't get in??! With like 100 copies??!?!]

120 copies?

To be honest, this thought came to mind as soon as I saw it.

'...How much is this?'

TeSTAR's debut mini-album is priced at 15,000 won. Even if you increased the discount rate by purchasing jointly...... 11,000 won would be the lowest price.

'Even if you pay for it......'

It's 1.32 million won.

My brain was spinning.

'Even if the conversation was long, it would have been cut for a minute or two.'

Since there are 7 members of TeSTAR, it means that it should be worth more than 180,000 won per person.

'Isn't this too inefficient?'

Can I make a 100,000 won worth of conversation for a minute? Of course, I'm not confident.

'Should I just... do everything they ask me to do?'

Other than that, I couldn't think of any special measures. I put down my smartphone and pressed my forehead.

I've been around taking more than 100 fan signing cuts, but I never thought I'd be involved.

I broke out in cold sweat.

***

Park Moon-dae's first homma arrived, with full preparation, at an art hall in Mokdong, where the fan signing event was held.

The small stage and audience seats that can accommodate 300 people, accommodated 100 people without difficulty.

And the waiting number was distributed.

'Hurray for the front number!'

The homma happily set up the camera quickly, thinking they can talk to Moon-dae before he gets tired.

And when it's a little past 7:30.

TeSTAR entered from the side of the stage.

In an instant, loud shouts filled the small art hall. Originally, the sound of taking pictures was heard first, but before that, the excitement of the first fan sign was full.

TeSTAR, who was waving their hand and entered the room a little shyly, stood in front of the signing table set on the stage and bowed.

It was a rookie-like official greeting that was not familiar with the fan signing yet. Fans cheered enthusiastically, but inside, each member was crying out for their support.

The same was true of Park Mun-dae's homma.

'Black-haired Moon-dae!! Ah, I love it so much!!"

it wasn't the first time they've seen Park Moon-dae's black hair as they had been to pre-recording several times but, it was good every time they saw it.

It may have been because Park Mun-dae had black hair at the time when she first became a fan.

[T/N: Oh, she's a 'girl']

'The blonde hair was good, but as expected, black hair's better.'

She briefly thought of her hard-hitting blonde friend, but soon erased it and quickly focused on the camera.

I had to take a good picture and spread that face.

'I think he gets more handsome every time I see him.'

Perhaps because of the album concept, the black-haired Park Moon-dae, wearing the white summer uniform, which is now the stage costume, had a strangely refreshing atmosphere.

'This is not a silly comment, it's the truth...!'

While she was muttering like that, TeSTAR, who had finished greeting, crept back to the table and sat down.

'Moon-dae will be last.'

[T/N: I'm cracking, every time MD's name comes up, it always translates to 'door'. SKDJSHDKAKSJ]

Homma murmured, "I'm glad I brought gifts for other members one by one just in case." It's kind of weird if I don't give them a gift while I carry one to give to Moon-dae at the last.

Soon, the fan signing event began.

She received the front number so she could start getting autographs without waiting long. Moon-dae was about to meet the first number of fans.

The first was Ryu Chung-woo.

Homma stammered slightly when Ryu Chung-woo greeted her first.

'He's handsome, too.'

She'd seen him being called by a nickname like a hot Confucian man on social media, but seeing him up close in person, she seemed to understand why.

'He looks like a sports college student coming out as a male protagonist in a webtoon......'

She shared a few light small talks and after a high-five, she handed him a small box of red ginseng.

The first sign ended happily. And next member.

It was the child actor, Lee Se-jin. Lee Se-jin, who has a strong and neat impression, was not particularly active, but he was also not insincere.

Unexpectedly, he asked questions first.

Lee Se-jin answered without being particularly sensitive and finished signing neatly.

'He's cooler than I thought.'

For some reason, the more each person's autographs were received, the better the updated image was. [T/N: I think they mean that every time they meet another member, their impression of them keeps getting better than they initially thought.]

It was the same for the next members.

Unlike his sharp impression, Kim Rae-bin, who signed shyly, showing his nervousness, is also good.

Cha Yu-jin, who was more excited than the fans who received autographs, threw all kinds of graffiti around his autograph and asked questions, was also cute.

'At the beginning of , I hated him.'

She praised herself, saying she was glad she didn't say anything useless then.

Then came Big Se-jin.

In a friendly tone, Big Se-jin made her say about what she did during the day, her current mood, and her condition and made her worries blow up in an instant.

Besides, she didn't even tell him but she automatically got a high-five.

'...I think we got close?'

She felt like she had built a close relationship with a handsome business major. In fact, even though she vaguely guessed that he was friendly to all his colleagues.

She was impressed by the insider's vibe she felt with only two-and-a-half minutes of conversation but was alert for Moon-dae's turn to come.

'Now, the n, next one is Moon-dae...!'

She was so excited that she was thinking of passing by Seon A-hyun quickly.

'...was too much for a face to say......'

Seon A-hyun smiled softly and listened to her with sincerity. Because of this, it was as if she was bewitched while getting her autograph. Seon A-hyun even added a sincere p.s.

[Thank you so much for coming today, Jiwon! We'll work harder and show you great performances!*^^*]

'...is a natural monument, right.'

That personality with that face. It will be hard to maintain even the character.

...And what's left is, the long-awaited favorite.

She gulped and looked at Moon-dae.