The reason why the baseball team concept was suddenly brought out was because of the director.

Apparently, the original concept that the working staff came up with was rejected yesterday evening.

"The director has set his foot towards a worldview that is like comics and animations. He said that there are school life animations with sports elements so, well, it is decided to be a baseball team."

For reference, the original concept was retro.

'Isn't it irrational to think the worldview as school-related in this?'

Still, at least the retro one suited a disco song.

Disco and a baseball team... They were neither porridge nor rice.

Also knowing that, the staff only kept talking about the song. They also seemed to think it was unfair when they talked about the director, but it was clear that they were regretting the fact that there was nothing they could do.

"The work was rushed a bit, but the song came out well, too."

"Um, yes."

Come to think of it, I have heard the song before. The song was a debut song of the original debut members. Although the arrangement was a little different and there was no lyrics yet.

"Everyone too... I hope you can capture a concept that isn't too different from the youthful style of high school students with the other song."

"Yes. We will work hard."

"If it doesn't work out well, it's okay to just pick some song and give it to us."

"Ah...yes."

"Don't worry too much, you just need to quickly tell us."

'I don't have much expectations.'

I just felt the urgency of these office workers trying to meet the deadline quickly.

'There really isn't much time.'

Perhaps if it became more urgent, they would only use 'TeStar's participation in the production process' as marketing purposes, and the company would feel like it had everything under control.

Preparing in such a hurry, what kind of album would it be like... Well, it doesn't really have a very promising outlook.

"Thank you!"

The atmosphere of the members coming out from the meeting was ambiguous.

Everyone felt it instinctively. The reviews for the debut performance is probably not going to be great.

Ryu Chungwoo opened his mouth.

"...Shall we do as much as we can?"

"Okay."

"Let's use a studio or something!"

Surprisingly, the opinions that gathered went to the direction of getting results as soon as possible, even if we had to stay up all night.

These guys, who couldn't forget the habit of working to death in the audition show, have been accustomed to worrying about the results first.

"Guys, wait a minute!"

I had a strong hunch, as I confirmed that the manager was in a hurry to contact the reality show producers.

'It's been a while since I slept more than five hours.'

The chaotic march towards making our debut within a month, has just begun.

* * *

The practice studio, where reality show cameras were urgently installed, was located in the basement of a building near the company.

'It seems there are no extra studios or dance practice rooms in the company yet.'

It was really an agency with no system, neither intellectual nor physical.

"Hello~"

"We are working from now on!"

After responding appropriately to the camera, the discussion began immediately.

"Let's choose between songs number two and seven. Majority vote?"

"Yes!"

What I want to push for is No. 7.

The result was 4 : 3.

"Then number two?"

"Yes~"

It was No. 2's win.

The people who voted for No. 2 were Ryu Chungwoo, Keun Sejin, Seon Ahyun, and Lee Sejin.

"Since the company's song is an upbeat disco song, I think it would be better for us to choose a song that is more comfortable to listen to."

"The medium tempo like song number two is easy to listen to. Should I say it has a feeling of sentimental youth? I think it'd be nice to use it as a school concept."

"M-me too... for number two."

To summarize, it means that we were conscious of the agency's song choice and had to consider the school concept.

'Hmm.'

I wanted to persuade them, but the timing was vague since we went with majority vote from the beginning. It's less convincing, if I look like I can't agree with the results.

'Should I try my luck again later?'

And after some time, the timing arrived with some unwelcome news.

"Oh? Heol!"

"Ah..."

This was because we were looking at our smartphones while eating dinner and saw an article pop up.

The article was listing the artists who are making a comeback next month in June. And among them, VTIC was included in the 'Scheduled for second week of June' category.

Our scheduled date was just around the same time.

'Fuck.'

So... this means that the artists, who are considered as one of the best and who are able to crush TeStar's first week of debut, will join.

"If the article is correct... It seems VTIC sunbaenim's promotions will overlap with ours?"

Keun Sejin, who quickly finished the calculation, mumbled.

"...We can get autographs."

"Uh, hmm..."

The members made awkward sounds and bitterly smiled.

If the schedule is really fixed like this, it was like getting an announcement to give up on the number one spot in the public television.

Besides, looking at the way the company has been doing so far, I had a general conclusion.

'Seeing how the director is full of nonsense, he's going to say some bullshit like there's a chance to win against VTIC too. Can this be postponed by a week, even if the working staff tries to convince him?'

Even if you think of it as the best case scenario, it will be on the second week of VTIC's promotions. We would still be pushed out of the weight class.

'The total sales of their last album was definitely more than 1.8 million copies.'

Therefore, this means that the outline of the first place can be only seen if the title song is selected properly.

'I can't miss this chance to avoid sudden death.'

Now was the time to bring it up.

"...Wait a minute."

I immediately switched my stance.

"I'm sorry for bringing this up when the agreement is over, but no matter how much I think about it, I want to push for the No. 7."

"Oh?"

The members were extremely surprised.

'...?'

I thought they would be annoyed since I'm bringing up a topic that was already decided and finished, but the reactions feels a bit different from that.

"Why, why?"

"Oh, this is the first time I'm seeing Moondae like this. I'm getting emotional."

"I guess you really liked demo No. 7."

"Did the overlapping activities with VTIC sunbaenim awaken Moondae?"

"..."

The guys were sitting in amazement.

Say what you want. We have to do number seven, anyway.

"Um, Moondaeya. I know it's unfortunate, but it's hard to reverse what has already been decided. It's a majority vote and we don't have much time."

Ryu Chungwoo looked at the other members and smiled, but tried to straighten out the situation right away.

'No way.'

It gave me a headache just imagining how angry I would be waiting for the next album if we missed the 1st place win by a narrow margin.

'Besides, if this gets dropped, and the next album doesn't win first place, it really is going to be a sudden death crisis for me.'

"Give me five minutes. I'd like to try to persuade you."

"...Re-really?"

"Moondae is even going to do this much?"

"It's weird!"

It wasn't my intention, but rather than the reaction I expected, the members started to make a fuss.

'...What the hell do you see Park Moondae as?'

Anyway, it was a good start to cause a bit of disturbance. I quickly sorted things out.

'If we're going to go by majority vote anyway, I only need to pick one person who is easy to persuade. Since the score was 4 to 3.'

"First of all, Keun Sejin... and Chungwoo hyung chose number two because of the easiness of the concept, right?"

"Ah, that's right."

"Right."

The two obediently nodded. So they were willing to listen.

If I go beyond five minutes, I think Ryu Chungwoo would start sorting out the situation again, so I had to develop the contents quickly.

"Aside for the concept, if you objectively compare the two songs, number seven was okay, right?"

"I did like the seven a bit more. But would just that be enough?"

Keun Sejin immediately answered.

'I got you.'

"You mean because it wouldn't go well with the company's title song?"

"That's right."

"Then how about changing the company's song?"

"...??"

In an instant, the members became noisy.

"Hyung, that's a bit..."

"That's not possible!"

"...There's no way that can be done."

"But I do want to change it."

"Wait a minute."

Ryu Chungwoo resumed the conversation.

"Moondaeya. Let's think about it. Excluding the company's song, number seven with a school, youth concept... It's not the kind of song that goes well with it."

"That's right."

Kim Rae-bin nodded sullenly after choosing number seven.

"Number seven is a deep house song. In addition it's somewhat dreamlike because of the riff melody with the kalimba... It would be difficult to keep a theme like 'youth' alive. If we remove that part of the song, the charm of the song would disappear."

I shook my head.

"Even if we don't get rid of it, we can keep the concept alive."

"...!"

While talking about the company's concept, I brought out the idea I had in mind.

And the members became quiet.

"..."

'Their expressions seem good.'

Kim Raebin while in a daze seemed like he was already making something up in his head with a blank expression.

"No, that's... a good idea."

Ryu Chungwoo struggled to open his mouth.

"I don't know if the company can be persuaded. We're running out of time."

"..."

I couldn't help but think about that. Of course I would be worried about the director who can't be communicated with.

'This is the only thing I didn't want to say.'

I swallowed.

Whatever.

All I have to do is to adapt to the director's tastes.

"...I'll make a powerpoint."

"...!"

"By tomorrow morning."

"...!!"

Is there any other way to show hard work and passion than this?

'I guess the use of going to college shows up here.'

I sighed.

* * *

That day, Park Moondae stayed up all night at the dormitory. And the other members couldn't sleep either.

It was because their conscience and loyalty to not shove all the work to the presenter kept them awake. Thanks to this, the presentation material became a picture that everyone made together.

"What should I look for?"

"I'll write it here."

"This one, this image is nice! It's perfect!"

However, the one who proposed to stay up all night to produce the powerpoint, wasn't very pleased.

'Too many cooks spoil the broth.'

//TN: The original in Korean is 'If there are too many sailors, I will go to the mountains.'

Park Moondae's plan was to just show the finished version in the morning and receive feedback.

In the first place, the help of some twenty-year-olds, who never had to prepare much materials for presentations before, were not really needed for the work.

'Kim Raebin is doing some data research, but it doesn't matter since it's not something I can't also do.'

In addition, there was also another purpose.

'...I'm even doing this much, so they can't say they want to do No. 2.'

The intention was to shut the mouths of the minority voters of song number two while adding a sense of indebtedness to these guys. A representative example was Seon Ahyun, who chose song number two purely because he liked it.

"Mo-moondaeya. Wo-would you like to drink this?"

However, Seon Ahyun was one of the guys who struggled to help complete the powerpoint. He seemed way too enthusiastic about this to be awake just because of his conscience.

"...?"

Park Moondae was displeased with the disparity, and finally asked.

"Are you okay with this? Since I'm making this to push for the song seven."

Seon Ahyun eagerly nodded his head.

"I th-thought about this a lot. The nu-number two....uhm, we can do it next time!"

"Well...thank you."

"Uh-huh. N-no, it's fine! Since, since we're all doing this together...!"

"..."

'Why is it that I'm feeling indebted here?'

Park Moondae decided to be kinder to Seon Ahyun.

"Where did Cha Yujin go?"

"He's sleeping in the kitchen."

Anyway, the night passed without troubles.

And in the morning when the sun came up.

"Good morning."

Park Moondae and the members entered the company's morning meeting with the PPT.

"Very full of passion."

"Thank you."

The director, who did not know the contents of the presentation yet, was favorable, saying that he liked our speed and attitude.

It was natural to be favorable since in the first place, this wasn't about some unknown rookies whose futures were uncertain, but a group that would become a golden goose.

And five minutes later.

The director was extremely confused.

"Director, I heard that the baseball team concept was created by bringing references from animated films."

"That's right."

"Certainly, when it comes to school-related animations, sports seems to be the trend."

"Mmm."

"And one more thing, in school-related comics and animations, there is a classic genre that is on par with sports."

"Oh~ What is it?"

Park Moondae changed the PPT screen.

A magic wand floated across the screen.

"It is magical girls."

"...?"

The conference room fell into a vortex of confusion.