Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 800



Only Noblemtl

Episode 800

The samurai girls’ outfit was a school uniform.

Korean style school uniform.

Black tights and a checkered skirt. White shirt, black tie, and knit. Lastly, an oversized knit.

It was a stage costume to express the youthful sweetness of the Amaibol commercial song ‘Sweet’.

Yoon Hee-yeon claims that Korean school uniforms would feel much fresher to the Japanese public.

They say that sailor uniforms are disappearing in Japan these days, but I think it’s still interesting because it’s unfamiliar.

A feeling of unfamiliarity was shared by all the samurai girls.

“For some reason, school uniforms make me feel good!”

After Rika changed into her stage costume, her excitement level increased several times over.

“It’s like I’m being compensated for the youth I couldn’t enjoy!”

As the saying goes, none of the samurai girls, including Rika, graduated from high school.

For them, school uniforms are unfamiliar attire. When they wear them, they feel awkward, like they are wearing a costume, rather than recalling memories.

Erika has worn several outfits inspired by school uniforms while working as an idol, but this is her first time wearing such a full-fledged outfit.

As he was fiddling with his tie, Rika gently grabbed his hand.

“Eri-chan, are you nervous?”

Nervous?

Of course, Erica is also human, so she gets nervous. But those instances are few and far between.

I’ve never been particularly nervous before going on stage. If anything, it was when the results came out. For example, when I competed with Arabesque from the Girls’ League.

Standing on stage is Erica’s livelihood.

There’s no need to be nervous about something like that…

“In times like this, take a deep breath!”

Rika tried to take several deep breaths, saying, “Huh, hoo.” Erica just opened her eyes and stared at it, then unconsciously took a deep breath.

My chest swelled and sank.

“how is it?”

Whatever, it doesn’t matter.

“ah…….”

Rika combed her hair with her hand sheepishly.

“Well, Eri-chan probably isn’t used to this kind of situation. There’s nothing we can do! We’ll just keep bumping into each other!”

What are you talking about?

Why do you say that?

What about me?

I am as usual… … .

“Ugh… … .”

Erica covered her mouth and retched. Cold sweat formed on her forehead and slowly dripped down to her eyebrows.

The staff quickly wiped Erica’s sweat with a cotton swab and rechecked her makeup.

Meanwhile, Erica couldn’t take her hand off her mouth.

“Ah, Noah-chan’s face is pale too!”

Erica’s eyes turned sideways to Noah.

As Rika said, Noah’s face was pale. Yesterday, when they rented a practice room and practiced their performance, he had a big smile on his face.

Noah was worse than Erica.

His hands and feet were shaking like a sick person. His lips were so dry they felt like they were going to crack.

‘why…….’

Both Erica and Noah must have been tired of standing on stage.

Why is the reaction so extreme? Is it as if I am trembling as if I have met the eyes of a beast revealed from the darkness of the bushes?

It wasn’t like this even when I debuted.

‘This won’t do.’

If you keep doing this, you’ll end up looking like an eyesore on stage. That absolutely must not happen.

‘At least for the sake of my seniors.’

Darkest.

BIS.

Butes.

PTR―17.

And Caius.

‘I am the tip of a tall tree. And the spine of the branches that will continue to grow after me.’

I can’t even face my seniors when I’m just shaking in a place like this…

‘Erica.’

Senior, Darkest Hamin’s voice rang in my head. I remembered his sad face as he told me an old story.

‘As I ran as a Darkest, the obstacles that filled my field of vision disappeared, and a landscape with no one in it was revealed. Even though I reached my destination as an idol, a lonely landscape with no one in sight, there was someone I could not overtake.’

That was Seo Yu-seon, the leader of the Darkest.

‘I think I’m destined to see Yooseon’s back forever… ‘

I was so scared I could die. I knew I would always be behind Seo Yu-seon, not in front of her.

That is the fear of those who stand with the so-called best. Since they cannot see the day when they will become the main character, they naturally set limits.

The fear of seeing the highest point you can reach and not being number one.

“… … .”

“Eri-chan, we have to go now. We have to film.”

Erica stood up.

I followed Rika to the studio, watching her back.

‘Why did I… … .’

Should I feel afraid?

‘Rika has never beaten me?’

Even the Girls’ League has never defeated Caius?

Music video views? What do you want?

Music chart rankings? What do you want me to do?

‘Cayers has never lost in sales.’

The power of an idol comes from its fandom.

And KARA is the group with the biggest fandom in the K-pop scene. Their all-time sales prove it.

The number of views on iTube videos and the rankings on music charts are ultimately just means to gather fandom.

‘Why should I be afraid of someone who has never defeated me?’

Rika’s back gets closer and closer. Soon, Erica overtakes Rika and moves forward.

‘I’ve been winning victories as if I was breathing.’

I got sick of that so I became an idol.

‘Yeah, just what I was hoping for.’

A thrilling tension.

The anxiety that one might lose.

The victory that comes after such suffering is a great happiness that cannot be compared to anything in the world.

But this time, none of that is necessary.

Tension, anxiety, fear.

‘I win.’

Just like breathing, just like it has always been.

* * *

[iTube Shorts]

[On the fact that three Japanese people are invincible in K-pop]

[Views, 15 million]

In conclusion, Samurai Girls was a huge success.

The project of having three K-pop idols debut in Japan touched a chord with the Japanese people’s nationalistic sentiments.

K-pop is also popular in Japan, as it is considered a given that when a famous K-pop idol makes a comeback, it will be in the top 50 of the Japanese music charts.

And Japan is fully aware of K-pop’s global popularity.

The fact that Japanese people are active in such fields satisfies national pride.

Moreover, interest has doubled because they are not simply immersed in K-pop, but are active in Japan with a very Japanese concept called ‘Samurai Girls’.

[Are these people Disney actors?]

[It became a habit to watch it 30 times a day]

[How come your bangs don’t move when you’re moving your head so hard?]

[I have nothing to say because I am just a god]

[It’s always fun to see Japanese people being active in K-pop!]

What’s unique about Samurai Girls is that they’ve become hugely popular not just among the K-pop fandom, but also among the Japanese public.

Yubin’s strategy of gathering three Japanese people and making them sing a Japanese song worked well.

This also created an opportunity for Keus and Globe, who were unfamiliar to the Japanese public, to make their names known.

As expected, Erica attracted attention with her unique blinding appearance and passed the second round of verification with her performance skills.

[Erika is amazing. It’s a great talent to be able to be girly and charming at the same time.]

[He looks like someone chosen by KS Entertainment. He says he was accepted at the first audition based on his looks alone. But his skills… … ]

[When you look at it, your face relaxes. It’s like you’re saying that this is an idol.]

[I’m hearing the group and the name for the first time. But they’re still cute!]

[This is the first time I’ve thought this way after seeing an idol, but Erika is a pro. It feels like she takes the stage seriously.]

What’s surprising is that Noah wasn’t buried as much as Erica.

Anyway, looks are important to idols. Most people like them just for their looks.

However, Noah, who is considered ‘moderately pretty’ in Korea, has become ‘very cute’ in Japan.

Perhaps because Yoon Sang-yeol, who hates cat-like appearances, chose her, her innocent puppy-like appearance radiated charm that contrasted sharply with Erica.

[The feeling of not taking each stage lightly and cherishing it is conveyed.]

[I absolutely love Noah’s costume and styling from the first stage. I wish they would wear it again.]

[It’s a style that really stands out when you’re in a group.]

[Noah, cutie. As an idol, please eat everything in this life, the next life, and the next life.]

[I got goosebumps when I first heard Noah Yang’s voice. I was surprised that it didn’t match his face, but that’s also a great charm!]

[Unbelievably cute. I’m falling in love with it. I want to eat it every day.]

Erika and Noah’s Japanese debut as Samurai Girls was a success.

but.

[Rika is just a god]

[Unmatched]

[K-pop icon]

[When you start dancing in the center, it feels like you’re pulling out a gun. It breaks the viewer.]

[You proved that you’re not a media idiot. You did show and prove. You’re already the best!]

[His dancing and vocal skills stand out. He has great confidence that it is his stage.]

[This kid is real.]

Rica’s popularity was divine.

It is hard to deny that this was due to the position held by the Girls’ League. The Girls’ League already has the same position as mainstream musicians in Japan.

People now consider Girls’ League not just a simple K-pop group, but a Japanese artist group.

Samurai Girls seemed to be a girl group led by Rika from the Girls’ League, along with other K-pop idols.

It was overwhelming.

“what…….”

It’s been a few days since Samurai Girls debuted.

Yoon Hee-yeon, who had been paying attention after watching the first stage, checked the Internet after hearing about the Japanese reaction.

It wasn’t that she looked at the comments. Of course she checked the comments, but what she looked at was the activity log of the Samurai Girls.

Music shows, talk shows, entertainment shows.

Even if they debuted in Korea, they are currently active at a level that makes you think they wouldn’t be getting this much push.

And on every broadcast… … .

Suddenly the phone rang. Yun Hee-yeon answered the phone nervously.

“hello.”

[Ms. Yuuka?]

I am Japanese.

[I am President Amanogawa. I called to say thank you. Thanks to Yuuka-san’s Samurai Gals, Amaiball sales are also booming. My subordinates say it might be chosen as the advertisement of the year. Thank you very much. It’s not much of a thank you, but I thought I’d send you a few boxes of Amaiball… … .]

Yuuka, no, Yun Hee-yeon hung up the phone and focused on the broadcast screen that appeared on the monitor again.

Samurai Girls is also popular in Korea.

Since uploading cut-up entertainment shows to iTube is subject to sanctions, people are uploading full videos through places like Naver Blog.

What Yoon Hee-yeon is watching is a variety show featuring the Samurai Girls.

“What is it… … .”

Erica, why are you doing that?

In variety shows, talk shows, and even as a simple MC on a music show… … .

“Why is it like this… … .”

What does Erica look like?

It looks like pickled vegetables.

Isn’t there such a group? A group where everyone except one member gets no attention. A small group led by a girl.

Erica is not showing off like the outcast member of that group. Noah is the same.

‘From the beginning, all broadcasts… … .’

I’m only focused on Rika.

When you talk to her, it’s Rika, when you capture her on camera, Rika is the center, and before you know it, even the comments are centered around Rika.

It’s called Caius.

‘You guys brought me to the broadcast… … .’

This is KARS, the cutting edge of K-pop.

But this kind of treatment, this kind of treatment… … .

Before the anger, Yun Hee-yeon’s spine was chilled.

‘If something like this spreads within the K-pop fandom… … .’

Yoon Hee-yeon recalled something she had said in the past.

When she took Jeong Ho-hwan’s place and, like any other leader, was belittling her predecessor, she described Jeong Ho-hwan’s generous attitude toward the Girls’ League in this way.

‘mistake…….’

But Yoon Hee-yeon went one step further. She made Erica subordinate to Rika.

“How long will it last? How long will this activity last… .”

Must be called in.

We need to bring Erica to Korea right now.

Yoon Hee-yeon tried to find out from her staff, but then remembered that she was the CEO of KS Entertainment, the Samurai Girls. Should she find out herself?

No, there’s Kang Dong-hyun.

She contacted Kang Dong-hyun and asked about Erica’s schedule.

[Erika? I heard you’re going to a brand store opening celebration concert today. Oh, I see. You want to see it, right? But it’s being held at an outdoor concert venue, so it’s not like they’re broadcasting it… ]

“I’m not curious about that. I just want to know how long I have to keep working.”

[That, that’s Yubin… … .]

“Contact me and find out.”

* * *

A European luxury brand has opened a store in Harajuku, Japan’s fashion district. As part of its promotion, the brand held a concert in the middle of winter.

The winter park, which had been empty because of the weather, was packed with thousands of people. Maybe even more than ten thousand.

Brand PR managers witnessed this chaos and regretted, saying, “We should have rented a place like Budokan instead.” They never thought so many people would gather.

Soon one of the reasons for the congestion emerged.

Next on stage was a ballad musician.

“Samurai Girls―!”

A loud noise shook the concert hall. The people’s passionate cheers shook the air, not caring about the overcast sky that seemed about to pour down snow.

The Girls’ League members, except for Rika, stayed slightly away from the madness.

We sat on a hillside in the park, each holding a festival food in their hand, looking at the stage in the distance.

There were many people around who wanted to see Samurai Girls from afar rather than from seats close to the stage.

“Are festival foods similar in every country?”

Joara said while chewing on takoyaki.

“I don’t really know what the taste of the mainland is. Teacher, can I try that noodle?”

“Yeah, here.”

[The first one is ‘Lotus’! Please listen!]

The members who were concentrating on the food turned their attention to the stage. Noah in the center played the tambourine and sang, while Erika played the guitar and Rika played the synthesizer.

Since the main vocalist was Noah, Rika and Erika put on a good performance by adding back chorus and harmonizing.

“You sing well.”

Shin A-reum gave a harsh evaluation. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Noah sang surprisingly well.

Noah was a member of the Globe who didn’t really stand out, so I was a little surprised.

“I’m sure you’ll do well.”

Jang Ha-yang crumpled up the hamburger wrapper and wiped her mouth.

“It’s a glove.”

Globe’s recent comeback song, ‘Chemical Impact’, was also surprising to Girls’ League. The performance we saw at KCON was especially amazing.

Jang Ha-yang’s comment, “It’s a globe,” was an expression of his respect for the globe.

“By the way, is Director Park here too?”

Snow White had been looking around the entire concert hall, wondering if anything was amiss. She was looking for Seongpil.

“I told you we were here, right?”

“Yes, sister.”

“You’re lost… … .”

“You must want to see the stage up close. It’s not too late to meet up after the show.”

[Thank you for listening! Next is ‘Sweet’! Huh? Isn’t it hard? Not at all!]

“Rika, she’s excited.”

[Go right now!]

The Samurai Girls’ “Sweet” performance began. Listening to the cheerful and lively sound of Kawaii Bass, Joara burst into laughter without realizing it.

“No, this is really popular. Senior Pink isn’t just a crazy person.”

“Who is Senior Pink?”

“It’s Waypercent’s Yubin. Because her hair is pink.”

“Ahaha, Ara is close with her seniors from boy groups.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … I thought you were going to bring up Senior Gyuyoung, but you didn’t. I thought Unnie Hayang’s life was saved.”

“I told you that if you take it out again, you’ll die. What’s he doing these days?”

“I went to the army. It’s been over a year since I said ‘Ao-ah’ and went. I bet he’s shoveling snow by now.”

As the small talk ended, ‘Sweet’ also ended. The members stood up and looked around.

“Now, find the old man… … .”

Just as they were about to leave, all the members froze. Their eyes were turned towards the stage, and their ears were also turned towards the stage.

The shouts are transmitted with a difference of about 1 to 2 seconds.

The cheers of thousands, maybe even more than ten thousand, chanting the name of the Samurai Girls, and those cheers are also heard from the hill where the members are located.

Yeah, it screams samurai girls.

But there is a name that sounds unique among them, like a nobleman’s sword.

“Rika… … .”

People are cheering for Rika. Rika’s face appears on the screen behind the stage at just the right time.

Rika’s eyes grew wide in surprise.

It’s a call that seems to go on forever. It’s a demand from people to stay longer, to not go.

Suddenly, Jo Ara.

“Ugh… … .”

Tears suddenly burst out.

The scene where Rika stands next to Erica of Caius and receives unparalleled cheers reminded Joara of the past.

HPT Music Awards 3 years ago.

The Girls’ League took over the first part finale, beating out Caius. I still can’t forget the chill and silence I felt when I stood on stage that day.

The audience was furious at the Girls’ League.

Why did you guys beat out Caius and stand in the finale? You are not qualified, so step down voluntarily right now. We don’t have even a little bit of support to give you.

But now, Rika stands with the leader of Caius and monopolizes the cheers of thousands of people.

On a distant hill, hundreds of meters away from the stage, the Girls’ League was in a state of ecstasy, as if they were seeing their dream.

* * *

‘Is this an outdoor stage in this winter? I’m going to freeze to death!’

When I made this schedule, Rika got angry.

Seongpil said he couldn’t help it at the time, but he apologized only now.

‘Sorry, Rika.’

Seongpil stood among the audience members who were praising Rika and stared at Rika on stage.

Standing between the lotus and cherry blossoms, Rika did not lose her light, but rather added to it.

‘Rika, you said you didn’t have any strengths of your own.’

So she pursued cloning.

In the past, I learned difficult dances to imitate Jo Ara, practiced singing to imitate Baek Seol-ha, and even tried to get the position of rapper that Jang Ha-yang was trying to take.

Because he had nothing of his own, he tried to pick up what others had left behind and make it his own.

A copy of a copy of a copy of an original.

Rika has been living in a world of simulacra without an aura.

‘I was so sad that you couldn’t find your own light. No matter how much I explained your light, you didn’t believe me.’

Rika stacked up the replicas.

I have collected things that are meaningless to others, but valuable to me because I don’t have them.

Rika, who had tried to get as close as possible to the original’s aura, ultimately had no choice but to remain a replica.

However, the copy that Rika reached was one where the original no longer existed. It became a copy that didn’t need to match the original.

For Rika, there is no need for the presence or aura that only the original possesses. There is no need for proof that it is the original either.

After piling up duplicates, I ended up with so many auras that proving that I was the only one became trivial.

‘That must have been a more lonely path than I could have ever imagined.’

For Seongpil, not being able to affirm himself and instead gathering the good points of others must have been an ordeal that he could not even imagine and did not want to imagine.

I admire Joara.

Longing for Snow White.

I respect Jang Ha-yang.

I wished for Shin Areum.

And I was jealous of Erica.

Pear blossoms (梨花, Rika) are alive, but they contain the ugliness and ugliness of living things. That is why they have been jealous of the painted pear blossoms (絵梨花, Erica) that only depict beauty.

A completeness, a heavenliness, an aesthetic perfection without error that he does not have.

Compared to that, the fundamental truth of being alive was meaningless to the pear blossom. Since she only wanted beauty, she had been painting all kinds of colors on the shabby petals.

After painting and painting, you will finally reach beyond all loneliness and ugliness.

‘Rica.’

I’m sorry to make you stand on stage on such a cold day.

But I really wanted to give it to you.

‘It’s my gift.’

The power of life that overpowers pictures and such.

The realm that the aura that Seongpil has seen will reach.

A piece of scenery that the two finally face together.

and.

‘Proof that you don’t have to feel jealous anymore.’

I’ve told you this a thousand times, but you don’t seem to notice, so I wanted to show you this.

You are perfect just the way you are.

That’s why I brought it.

* * *

My ears are filled with the sound of panting. In comparison, the scenery is so dynamic.

The shouts and breaths of people mixed together, making it sound like a forest fire with smoke rising.

Rika turned around and looked at the stage screen.

Sandwiched between the lotus and cherry blossoms, no, between the two, Rika, with her overwhelming presence, was receiving cheers from thousands of people.

Something cold fell on my nose.

It’s snow.

Rika closed her eyes, exhaling white breath.

‘I didn’t trust Director Park.’

He felt inferior when comparing himself to Baek Seol-ha, felt frustrated when comparing himself to Jo A-ra, sighed when comparing himself to Jang Ha-yang, and despaired when comparing himself to Shin A-reum.

Whenever Rika had trouble believing in herself and started to complain, Seongpil would comfort her with warm words.

This was the most memorable one.

‘Even if Erica had a truckload of them, I’d choose you.’

Now that I think about it, it was comforting, but I guess I just thought of it as something I said.

Because I am a member of the Girls’ League.

Because you shouldn’t let your mentality break down.

It’s not a lie to say that I cherish it, but it still lacks sincerity.

‘Of course.’

Compared to Erica, I was infinitely lacking.

But, it was all Rika’s guess. Seongpil must have really thought that way.

Rika opened her eyes.

The evidence is right in front of you.

Even though he was standing next to Erica and Caius, the world’s attention and interest was directed only at him. He felt exhilarated as if he was the only one here.

This is probably it.

‘The scenery that Director Park has always seen.’

This is the future scenery he drew.

Seongpil said, “Dreams are not points, but landscapes.” So, this is a fragment and a preview of the dream that Seongpil will definitely achieve in the future.

Once again, snow fell on Rika’s forehead. And just as the darkness in Rika’s heart melted away, the snow melted and disappeared in vain at Rika’s body temperature.

Rika turned around and looked at the audience.

And the scenery you see is Rika’s first victory over Erika.

Rika Debut +1,460.

It’s been four years.

But she wasn’t satisfied. Having witnessed a fragment of the dream, Rika wanted to see the whole dream.

I wanted to make all of Seongpil’s dreams come true.

‘in future.’

Win as a girls’ league.

I have no doubts.

Rika saw with her own eyes the fragments of the dream landscape that Seongpil had drawn in his head. So she came to believe not only the fragments but also the whole thing.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

* * *

Parking lot at the park.

There was a makeshift wall in front of the van, preventing anyone from seeing what was inside.

Rika sat down on a cheap plastic chair and took off her shoes. Her socks were soaked with sweat. It seemed to be because she had put on thick socks because it was cold.

‘That’s why my feet kept getting rubbed.’

You might get blisters.

Rika sighed and lowered her head. Then, someone came in through the gap in the makeshift wall.

“Ah, sir!”

“Oh, hi Rika.”

Rika quickly put on her shoes, placed her hands on her knees, and sat up straight.

“Have you seen the stage?”

“I saw it. You did well. What about Noah and Erica?”

“Hey, are you looking for those two before Atashi (me)? As expected, the nature of the first crush hasn’t changed!”

“No, just… … .”

Seongpil looked around and handed the drink he was holding to Rika. Rika accepted the drink in a daze. And then she was surprised.

“It’s cold! You’re putting me on a stage in the middle of winter and giving me a cold drink! Is this torture?”

“It’s orange aid.”

“……to.”

Seongpil tapped the floor with the heel of his shoe while pretending not to know anything.

“They don’t sell Hallabong ade. What, is Hallabong ade or orange ade similar?”

“… … .”

Rika took a sip of orange juice and let out a cheerful sigh.

“This is the taste!”

“delicious?”

“Hi! You get 100 points for remembering what I like!”

While Rika was drinking orange juice, she noticed something strange about Seongpil.

The hairstyle is… … .

“… … Are you trying to get younger?”

Seongpil’s hairstyle was the one he enjoyed a few years ago. It was a hairstyle neatly combed up with pomade.

“Ahem.”

Seongpil coughed and straightened the collar of his coat. He then crossed his arms and looked down at Rika.

“……iced coffee!”

Come to think of it, the clothes are the same ones worn in the past.

“I really need to complain to the boss about this! Aren’t those the clothes I wore when I was a trainee? How can you not pay me enough to wear the same clothes for 5 years! I can’t do this, let’s go to the department store first!”

“I wanted to wear this outfit today. And my hairstyle too.”

“Are you trying to make me buy clothes?”

“I like this look the best.”

Seongpil blushed in response and let out a low voice.

“I like the day I looked like this the best. That’s why I look like this today.”

“The day I looked like that… … ?”

“It’s the day I met you.”

This time Rika’s cheeks turned red.

“Rika, thank you for following me that day. And, are you glad you came?”

Rika blankly stared at Seongpil, then raised the corners of her lips and closed her eyes. A few empty laughs escaped her lips.

“I see. Today’s stage was a gift from Director Park. There is no romanticist like this one. The fact that he took the comment from Natsume Soseki targeting me also has a strong sense of the player.”

“Oh, oh? Oh, do you understand? Natsume Soseki?”

“I.”

Rika recited the passage with a faint smile.

“When I asked why you don’t change, you said that you do it because you like that face, that outfit, that month, that day with that hair the best. When I asked you when that was, you said.”

Rika opened her eyes and reached out her hand to Seongpil.

“When I met you,” he said.

Seongpil took her hand.

“This is the book I recommended to Director Park. I recommended it because it was good, and I remember it. I guess Director Park liked that part too.”

Seongpil grabbed Rika’s hand and helped her up.

“Today, good things just kept happening. This is in my top 2 best memories with Director Park.”

“What? It’s not the best?”

Seongpil spoke as if he was pretending to be angry.

“The best.”

Rika smiled brightly.

“When I met the director.”