By Zephyria 「Open your eyes wide and set your thoughts straight. Because the thoughts I have today will become my future.」
In Soo-in’s eyes, which were shooting at the camera, both a shy boy and a wild masculinity were felt at the same time. It was the face of a clear youth that matched the spirited lyrics itself.
In conjunction with Soo-in’s rap, the clear vocals of ‘Gun’ and ‘Ho-soo’ followed in order.
「I’m not a fool.」
「I know the future isn’t far away.」
「So it’s today.」
「So today, we. Right! Now!」
「I’m going to love you!」
Finally, ‘Jeong-min’, the main rapper, boasts sophisticated rap skills.
「I’ll decide exactly what to do in the position I’m standing in. I’m not going to be scattered, I’m going to move forward.」
「It’s not fake.」
「I’m going to love you more than I love myself. It’s from right now. I’m going to love you more!」
The members’ songs and raps were directed at the fans who were led into the classroom. The members who left the classroom where the sunlight was shining ran down the hallway. But they keep looking back and reaching out to the fans.
The place where they were led by the Sky Blue members up the stairs was the turquoise rooftop. The members who joined the twenty dancers waiting there showed off a group dance for the fans.
「We under the sky!」
「Live today.」
「Yesterday is gone.」
「We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We don’t know the future like tomorrow. We are right now.」
Tae-kyung’s solid high note, standing in the center, became the center of the song and led to the climax. When the camera filled Tae-kyung’s face, it was amazing how the cold and warm expressions changed from moment to moment.
「You in front of me.」
「I’m going to love you more than myself.」
「The sincerity I can give that will never fade even tomorrow. That’s everything.」
Just as the fans were falling into the climax’s confession, the camera moved further and further away from the rooftop, and was pulled out into the gray city as if grabbed by the collar.
In the next scene, a female student who was watching Sky Blue’s music video in front of a complicated traffic light saw the signal and hurried away.
Fans poured out enthusiastic cheers for the music video of 3 minutes and 35 seconds that left a lingering impression.
Kyaaaa! Did you see our members’ faces? Did you see them! These are our Sky Blue’s faces!
It’s the best! I’m so glad I’m a fan! I’m so happyㅠㅠㅠㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠㅜ
I’m going to watch it ten million times!! Everyone get out of the way! Sky Blue is the bestㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Did you see Tae-kyung Oppa’s face? It’s really heavenㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Isn’t our Gun really a pretty boy? He’s the oldest but he’s like the youngestㅠㅠㅠ
What am I going to do with Soo-in! How can a baby be so manly? I was suffocating during the dance breakㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I’m not trying to pour cold water on it, but let’s focus on our first week sales. We raised the pre-orders to 30,000 copies, but we have to buy even one more copy each to digest them all. Let’s all do our best ⌎I ordered ten more copies after watching the music video. I’m planning to buy more after seeing the trend.
⌎Let’s bring in some certification from social media! The encouraging atmosphere is important
Let’s encourage streaming first, check the announcements from the team well! But first of all, I’m so happyㅠㅠㅠㅠ
*
“Tae-kyung Hyung, why am I so nervous?”
Jeong-min was shaking his legs, as if it had been transferred from me.
Even though they had finished the showcase, the members had already completely forgotten their fatigue or nervousness. This was because the report card for their efforts would be released shortly.
Our future was also at stake in that grade.
“It’s natural to be nervous.”
“Right? It’s natural to be nervous, right? Hyung, the music video trend is good right now, but surely we’re not debuting at number one on the music charts, are we?”
Jeong-min’s delusion went too far. When I frowned, Jeong-min withdrew his statement on his own.
“I’m kidding! It’s a wish!”
But the face of the younger member looking at his phone couldn’t hide his expectations. Even Gun-woo Hyung’s calm face was flushed.
Sigh. Suddenly, my chest felt heavy.
It was impossible to make the members, who had never experienced it, understand how difficult it was to get on the music charts.
In the past, we had only looked at all the music in the top 100 with envious eyes.
Our song was not on the charts, and very few people even knew of VOB’s existence.
At that time, I had to endure extreme fear that I would be isolated from the world and ignored forever.
The reality was more terrible than fear.
“Tae-kyung Hyungnim.”
Soo-in, who put down his phone, looked straight at me.
“How do you expect our music ranking to be, Tae-kyung Hyungnim? I… I believe that you look at our team objectively, so I’m curious about your thoughts.”
The members’ eyes turned to me. Everyone seemed to agree with Soo-in’s words.
“Realistically.”
I also put down my phone and made eye contact with the members.
“Our fandom isn’t that big, and it’s actually difficult to get on the music charts with just the power of the fandom.”
The members’ faces gradually hardened, but I tried to ignore the sight.
“Can we get into the top 100 on the music charts? I think it’s actually difficult.”
“Gasp…!”
In the end, Jeong-min’s mouth opened and an unbearable lament came out.
“Tae-kyung Hyung, you, you were thinking that…?”
“I’m telling you honestly because you asked me what I thought.”
Gun-woo Hyung covered his forehead with one hand. It seemed like he wanted to cover his rapidly darkening face.
I had to watch the members crash into the wall of reality, become frustrated, and wither for months. The current desperate feeling comes from not wanting to repeat the same pain. This time, I really desperately hope that a different direction, a different path, will open up for us.
But, we had to know the reality.
“I, I hope that ‘We Under the Sky’ can only be named in the top 100 on the 7 o’clock music charts.”
I spat out my desperate wish in the members’ hardened silence.
“If our team’s name is in the top 100… I really won’t want anything more. I’m really going to live harder with a grateful heart.”
It was good that we gathered in the conference room like this. If we were prepared from now on, the pain would be a little less compared to the shock that would come.
Still, the reality of having to disappoint them in advance actually hurt.
“Tae-kyung Hyungnim, I want to be a little more greedy.”
I pretended not to be shaken by Soo-in’s words and smiled.
“You can be greedy. So, Soo-in, what rank do you want to achieve?”
“100th place is too close for comfort… I hope I can get 98th place. Then I won’t ask for more, just like Tae-kyung Hyung.”
Ah, what a commendable kid. It’s really hard to let go of greed for your debut song. I can tell by looking back at myself in the past. Yet, young Soo-in completely understood my intention and accepted it with his heart.
“If we get 98th place… let’s have a party.”
I reached across the desk and stroked Soo-in’s head. Then Jeong-min, who was sitting next to him, glared at me.
“Really, what’s with 100th or 98th place? I really… think it’s okay to be more greedy than that.”
“Okay. What rank would our youngest, Jeong-min, like to achieve?”
Feeling the members’ gazes, Jeong-min hesitated as if nervous, then opened his mouth with difficulty.
“I want, around 95th place….”
“Pfft.”
I quickly covered my mouth to hold back my laughter, and the other members burst into laughter. The members started patting each other on the shoulders, encouraging each other.
Somehow, my heart felt full.
If I could bring these good kids 95th or 90th place with my own power, how great would that be?
It would be really great if it was something I could do.
“Tae-kyung, the 7 o’clock chart has been updated.”
At Gun-woo Hyung’s words, silence fell in the room. While I picked up my phone and opened the music site, I couldn’t feel anything in my cold fingertips.
“I don’t think we made it into the chart.”
Even if Ho-soo hadn’t said it in a subdued voice, I had already confirmed it with my own eyes. From 100th to 90th place, no matter how many times I looked, our team wasn’t there.
Maybe because I was prepared, my heart feels calm.
“There’s no need to be disappointed already just because we didn’t make it in.”
Looking around at my younger brothers, they all looked deflated. I put strength in my voice and raised it.
“Let’s watch the 8 o’clock chart. Our showcase video is also getting good view counts, and because the song is good, I think there’s a good chance we can get in.”
“Tae-kyung is right. We can climb up quickly.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Okay, Gun-woo Hyung.”
Gun-woo Hyung spoke cheerfully, but the younger brothers couldn’t loosen their expressions. Should I feed them a lot of late-night snacks? It’s just the beginning, but if they’re already losing energy….
My fingers, which were scrolling up without thinking, stopped at a certain point. Huh…?
What is this?
The moment I raised my head sharply, my eyes met Soo-in’s.
“Tae-kyung Hyung, Gun-woo Hyung….”
Soo-in, his eyes wide, looked back and forth between his Hyungs.
“Tae-kyung Hyung! Look at this, look at this!”
Jeong-min, who had jumped up, ran to me, circling around the desk. Then Ho-soo jumped up.
“Tae-kyung Hyung! Hyung, is this us?”
“Gun-woo Hyung! Tae-kyung Hyung! We made it into the chart!”