The status abnormality related to the Rookie of the Year award was resolved faster than I expected.

'I thought it would go until February.'

The fact that it got resolved as soon as we received the award at the last large awards ceremony... would mean that the current public opinion was that overwhelming. 

It must have been the influence of overcoming the messy Rookie of the Year controversy. I didn't even know it could make it into an opportunity to lift the status abnormality.

'Well, it's good to be able to confirm it quickly.'

After all, I didn't intend to click on the 'Check the Truth' any time soon, so there was no point in getting a new status abnormality prematurely just because I achieved this one quickly.

"Thank you!"

While I was in my thoughts, Keun Sejin, who finished his speech, moved out of the way and gave me the space to stand in front of the mic stand. That meant that it was my turn.

I slowly walked forward and stood in front of the microphone. A wave of lights obscured my view. It was TeStar's light stick with the kind of shining power that could be seen from afar.

'...There are overwhelmingly more than at any other awards ceremonies.'

It was most likely because VTIC was absent. 

I confirmed the sight in front of me and put my mouth to the microphone.

"First of all, I would like to start my speech by saying thank you."

I didn't mind doing acceptance speeches but I had never felt the need to step out to do it.

'I'm just doing this because we're taking turns.'

But looking at it now... it seemed like a good way to express gratitude.

"...TeStar is not a group that was prepared as a team in a long time period. We, who had not proven ourselves as a team yet, put a lot of thought and effort into debuting as a group after a short preparation period."

Of course, I didn't only express my worries, I also cursed at the company, but it wasn't like there were any lies in it anyway.

And so were my next words.

"And I think that the driving force behind it... was the people waiting for us."

...It wasn't just during the preparation for the debut.

The same was true about the Rookie of the Year controversy. I was able to make such simple choices because I knew that there were people who would respond immediately when the situation was reversed.

Wasn't it really strange and amazing that there were people waiting to support you as long as you put out good results?

"Thank you for trusting and waiting for us, and for looking forward to us."

Thank you for not giving up on your expectations even with the exhausting public opinions and annoying situations.

"We will continue to do our best without forgetting our present passion so that we can become a group that can give you excitement rather than make you worry about TeStar's tomorrow. Thank you."

I bowed my head. And for a little while, I kept expressing my gratitude like that.

Wonderful cheers poured over my head.

The sounds as powerful as the shining power of the light sticks, somehow made me feel hot.

And I felt hands tapping on my back.

'Must be the members.'

The moment I tried to think positively about how this would make a good picture, I heard a slightly bewildered whisper.

"M-moondae, are you okay?"

"Are you crying?"

I wasn't crying.

Another guy whispered seriously.

"If you raise your head quickly, cover your face and turn around."

Why were they thinking that I couldn't lift my head because I was embarrassed for crying?

'Isn't it normal to think that the bowing for gratitude would last longer?'

I held back my sigh and looked up.

Then, the light sticks, which were as brilliant as the cheers, shook and swayed countless times. Somehow, it looked bigger than before, like the Milky Way.

"..."

'I almost got into trouble there.'

If I had lifted my head without thinking, I would have truly almost burst into tears by myself.

Thanks to those who had misunderstood that I was crying, I had cooled down and managed to neutralize myself, and I avoided becoming a laughingstock.

'I'm breaking out in a cold sweat.'

And at the same time, I got reminded of an ability I had thrown away a few months ago.

I felt a slight chill down my spine.

'...Surely I won't need it?'

I doubted for a moment that it might be like the Unwavering Mind that I needed as soon as I abandoned it... but I soon shook my head.

'Even so, I can't give up my other attributes for something like that.'

And well, would it happen often? Just like today, when complex circumstances overlapped?

'Let's just wave my hand.'

I waved and bowed to the audience with the guys trying to poke me on the sides with the attitude of saying 'I thought you were crying!'

The lights still felt hot.

* * *

After the awards ceremony season was over, preparations for the concert began on full scale. Among them, of course, there was the unit performance preparation with the cameras.

"It's even coming up on Youtube now?"

"It's Chungwoo hyung!"

Ryu Chungwoo, who had bird wings edited over his shoulders, smiled and winked and made a slight shooting motion with his index finger and thumb.

It was a very normal commercial scene in which Ryu Chungwoo appeared as a cheerful handsome man.

"What the!"

"Why is hyung the only one doing something cool?"

"...It's not, an animal?"

Bae Sejin's last question sounded almost gloomy.

However, Ryu Chungwoo seemed to be embarrassed even by this and just laughed and shook his head.

"Haha, it's not cool... fans compare me to a 'bird' a lot so I guess it just turned out like this."

However, the members' responses were cold.

"You could've done something like 'chirp-chirp baby chick', but you did something cool."

"I was going to press skip for you but I guess I didn't have to."

"No, it's not something I decided, guys!"

Ryu Chungwoo was puzzled for a moment but soon realized that their reactions were just out of light injustice. He laughed and looked at the situation cutely and let it pass.

'...It must be nice since the image animal was a hawk.'

Someone pushed for the dog, and I ended up like that.

I quickly shook off my commercial cuts that appeared in my mind and focused on the video playing.

A slow and beautiful chanson music played on the screen. It was a unit song chosen by Kim Raebin and Ryu Chungwoo.

Keun Sejin asked with reluctant admiration.

"Oh, you're going to write to that song?"

"Yes."

Kim Raebin nodded with his eyes twinkling.

"I think it's a melody that goes well with Chungwoo hyung's voice. If I change the rhythm to kitsch, leaving only the sound of the keyboard instrument, the instrumental will become very sensual...!"

"Yeah. Raebin seems to be enjoying this so I'm also looking forward to it."

Ryu Chungwoo smiled and nodded his head.

I could guess what kind of atmosphere this team had.

'He's letting Kim Raebin run wild.'

Since it was a unit performance anyway, Ryu Chungwoo didn't make any conservative judgments and seemed to fully accept Kim Raebin's ideas.

'It's going to be an interesting picture.'

It was quite interesting.

And next, Cha Yujin was excited and searched for a video and played it.

An old western pop song played against the brown album cover.

'...Why a pop song?'

I wondered if the selection would be too advantageous for Cha Yujin, who was Korean-American, but I soon realized it couldn't be the case. Perhaps Keun Sejin picked the song he wanted after taking Cha Yujin into consideration.

'If that guy conceded then I will eat my hat.'

It was already decided but he bet on it one more time.

When Keun Sejin made eye contact with me, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. I thought perhaps that pop song was the one he induced.

"I like this song! I totally look forward to it!"

"That's right, let's make a great performance~"

"Let's make it!"

Cha Yujin excitedly raised his hand and Keun Sejin responded with an exciting high-five.

'Well, as long as both of them seem satisfied.'

So far, it didn't seem to be a problem.

"Th-then... I'll play the song we chose...!"

"Ooh~"

The last group was me, Bae Sejin, and Seon Ahyun.

Seon Ahyun came forward according to the script and navigated the WeTube screen. Then an old-fashioned and laid-back band instrumental began to play.

"Huh?"

Looking at the other guys who were a little flustered, I explained with a smile.

"It's Miso sunbae-nim's "

It was a song by a female solo artist who was active in the late 80s. It was moderately bright and moderately emotional.

The chorus of this song 'Wooo~ Amazing!' was so well known that even teenagers and those in their twenties had heard it at least once in variety shows.

But that was all.

For a song to be used at the latest concert, both the impact and the atmosphere probably didn't seem right.

Ryu Chungwoo had a slightly shocked face.

"The three of you are going to sing this song?"

"Yes."

I calmly nodded, and the other two team members also affirmed with slightly flushed faces.

Ryu Chungwoo looked at their expressions and barely nodded.

"Okay... Did you choose it, Moondae?"

"...? No. Seon Ahyun and Sejin hyung chose it."

The two of them put it on the song candidate list first, and after discussing it, they chose it together.

"...Hmm. I see."

Ryu Chungwoo immediately nodded his head, but it could be felt that he was hiding his concern.

'If not for the cameras, he would have already asked if this was really going to be okay.'

Seon Ahyun, who didn't notice the sign, just muttered with an excited face.

"I- I think it will go well with us so I'm already looking forward to it!"

Bae Sejin also looked hesitant about whether to speak or not but eventually opened his mouth while looking at the camera.

"...I think it will be a great performance, so I hope you can look forward to it."

Ryu Chungwoo's face became more and more relaxed as he watched the two actively expressing themselves which was uncommon for them. I didn't know if he liked it that much but he must have thought that this song had some charm.

Ryu Chungwoo glanced at me for the last time. And he asked with a face hoping for one last assurance.

"...Moondae, are you also confident in this?"

"It's hard to be confident in any performance. We'll do our best to complete it."

"..."

"We will all do our best!"

"Let's do our best!"

"TeStar, fighting!"

As soon as the filming was over, Ryu Chungwoo asked the question 'Are you sure about this?' about three times, and I nodded my head all three times.

Only then did Ryu Chungwoo disappear to make coffee with a somewhat relieved face.

'Maybe I shouldn't joke around.'

I was going to make fun of him for avoiding the commercial Russian roulette by himself, but that worked for him better than expected since he was someone with a strong sense of responsibility.

'I'm actually worried about something else.'

My concern... was the performance of the new song.

'It's the first performance at the concert even before the song will be released.'

The title song and the sub-song. We had to make it enjoyable for the audience to enjoy two songs that were unfamiliar to them and not verified by the public.

It was important to pull it off so that the atmosphere wouldn't drop.

"...Hmm."

After pondering about it, I came up with a short and clear answer.

'Let's pour out the capital.'

Fortunately, the company had plenty of money.

* * *

During the time when TeStar was busy preparing for the concert and a new album.

The concert date had finally been announced.

The fans were already excited since they knew and confirmed that the agency had rented the gymnastics stadium.

And the moment the expectation came true, people screamed of joy and immediately started preparing for ticketing.

However, before they could calmly start preparing for ticketing, news poured in.

The fans were already baffled but the news weren't over yet.

There was more.

Fans frantically struggled to digest the news, but only one fact was firmly established.

'The competition for the concert is going to be insanely high!'

And in this whirlwind of confusion and tension, TeStar uploaded a social media post.

There was no challenge such as this.

//TN: I feel like the translation of some of these past chapters was kinda bad since there were a lot of phrases I didn't know how to interpret. I tried to make it so that it at least made sense with the flow of the storytelling. 

So if one day there's going to be an official translation or you happen to read another translation from someone more fluent than me and turns out that mine was completely inaccurate, I apologize.