The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 206



Only Noblemtl

The Malicious Member Returns! Episode 206

* * *

Year-end music festivals, and year-end music award ceremonies.

To put it simply, it’s a year-end stage.

What is the end-of-year stage like for idols?

This was one of the biggest events of the year that idols had to prepare for, devoting all their time outside of their activities, not just because of Kim Chun-yong’s contract with X.

[Is Sledix appearing in Seojega this time? Did he reconcile with his agency? Jooyoung uploaded a practice live, but I’m not sure if Seojega is appearing in it or not.]

[⎿I want you]

[⎿Oh my god, just make up cheaply, I’m dying from boredom]

[If you look at this year’s lineup roughly, it looks like Leopold will come out really late…]

[⎿Is it true that I started this year with a Leopold year-end stage live, and ended it with a Leopold year-end stage live?]

[⎿Yes, it’s totally true]

[I’m really curious about Tioje Reka’s costume. When Moon Yoon-ha was in charge of Serenia, she dressed it up so beautifully… I wonder how she’ll dress the boys.]

And it was when they returned to their accommodations after taking second place, which was unfortunate but also a joyous one, on the BNS Sound Stage music show, that Tioze fully realized this fact.

“I’d like to give you a brief explanation of my upcoming schedule before I leave work.”

“Oh? Do you have more plans today?”

“No, that’s not it. I think you should know a little bit about preparing for the end-of-year stage in advance.”

Yoo Ho-bin, the manager in charge of Tioje, has always been a serious person, but today, the seriousness on his face was different.

That’s what the end-of-year stage was like.

A rare stage where the group is exposed more than ever before, and countless idol fans and other people preparing for the new year tune in to watch.

So, even though it was a very short broadcast, I couldn’t neglect the preparation.

“Well, I know the members are tired and having a hard time… but since we have to prepare for the end-of-year stage in earnest, I think we’ll have to have additional practice after our schedules.”

“Huh? Oh, well… I guess so. The year-end stage is almost like a new stage. I guess I should do it.”

“Oh, I guess I’m a little tired… but the year-end stage? I always wanted to go on it. Even after the college entrance exam and while preparing for the practical exam, I looked for all the year-end stages and watched them.”

“Haha. I’m glad you guys are motivated. So, what’s your practice schedule like…?”

“Oh, there’s another practice schedule? You even have a separate schedule?”

“Ah… This is probably your first time preparing for a year-end stage like this. I’ll explain in detail how to prepare.”

No, it’s just that I can’t neglect it.

I had to really put my body into it and scream that it had to be now.

“…after.”

Kim Chun-yong, who was leisurely taking off his shoes and stepping into the dorm behind Yoo Ho-bin, unconsciously clenched his fist.

I had a feeling what would come out of the mouth of the capable manager standing in front of me.

“… After the broadcast activities are over, you will practice individual stages with T.O.J for 2 to 5 hours each time, and then meet with Wiz twice a week to prepare for the collaboration stage for an additional 3 hours each time.”

Yeah, it’s a journey for the Rookie of the Year award.

There’s no way this will be easy.

“… Huh? So, that’s up to 5 hours of extra practice per day?”

“No. When I meet with the wizards, it’s probably up to 8 hours…”

“What? Aren’t you having too much? You have a broadcast schedule too!”

“I’m really, really busy… Even when I was preparing for the month-end evaluation, I didn’t practice this much… .”

“Hmm, I expected that….”

“… There are at least four stages you will be performing on this time. At least, four. There will never be a time when you will be performing on the same stage, so you will need to practice until you are comfortable with the various variations and arrangements.”

“Ugh… Uh, how much…?”

“When I get a beat, I immediately remember where the stage is and can hold the formation.”

“Uh uh uh… .”

At first, some members who had been consistently looking at him with an expression of ‘this must be a joke’ began to slowly turn pale at Yoo Ho-bin’s determination.

Ji Hwa-seong, who usually boasted, “The amount of practice within AG is extraordinary, so I am confident in using my body and time,” was no exception.

No, it’s not just an exception.

“Me, me, Logan and Siwoo! And since we’re minors, aren’t we not allowed to go on stage after a certain time? No, is that even possible?”

“That’s because they’re under 15 years old. Fortunately, all of you T.O.J.s can appear on the live stage at the end of the year. You know, we pre-recorded everything beforehand.”

“Ugh, I’m happy but sad…!”

I was really shocked by the fact that ‘it started out as something good, but it took more effort than I thought to do well.’

“Human, Mars. Smile, smile.”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh… .”

Kim Chun-yong, who was on the verge of kneeling in frustration that could not be determined whether it was joy or sadness, put his arm around Ji Hwa-seong’s shoulder and tapped the guy’s shoulder and stuck out his tongue.

You must be busy.

You must be tired enough just from your current activities and have a lot to do, so you must be surprised by the fact that you have to do more.

But it had to be that way.

That was proof that T.O.J. had been doing very well since his debut, and it ultimately meant that T.O.J. was getting closer to Kim Chun-yong’s ultimate goal of becoming the ‘best idol in K-pop history’.

Kim Chun-yong, who realized anew that he was experiencing something he had never experienced before, opened his mouth wide and fell silent.

A lot has changed.

And it had to change going forward.

‘Of course, it’s still a bit tricky to know what it means to be the greatest idol in K-pop history. Still… .

Kim Chun-yong put strength into the arm he had around Ji Hwa-seong’s shoulder, and his sharp eyes sparkled.

‘Anyway, for now, I just need to do well with what’s in front of me. Repackage promotions, winning the rookie award, and finding other guys.’

Even if he thought about a future that he wasn’t ready for, it was clear that Kim Chun-yong wouldn’t be able to imagine what would happen after that, nor would he be able to come up with a solution.

Well then, we need to do what we can do right now.

That was the fundamental driving force and principle of action of Kim Chun-yong, who knew that he was not very smart and therefore went through countless plans and trials and errors.

“Hmm, Chun-yong seems more emotional today. Haha, I don’t think he was like this when he won first place… .”

“Well, I think it was after we had a brief conversation on stage! From then on, Chun-yong hyung’s face was like, oh my.”

“Huh? What did you talk about, Logan?”

“Shh, shh. Stop it. Stop it! We’re just happy that we were nominated for first place again… that’s why.”

Kim Chun-yong, who once reached the top spot with the current members and felt many emotions with them, was a bit different from before.

Even when I made up my mind to atone for my sins no matter what happened right after I returned, and even when I ended up debuting as T.O.ZE and not Arrows.

“…after.”

“Eww, practice is always the way to survive. But really, if I keep practicing I’ll die….”

Kim Chun-yong, who had been pondering for a moment about what the basis was, took a step back from Ji Hwa-seong, who was still whining, and carefully opened his mouth to Yoo Ho-bin.

“Excuse me, Hobin hyung. Then when do we start practicing in earnest…?”

“Oh, after the start of the third week of promotions next week, I think I’ll start off by reducing my appearances on radio and other entertainment shows. Oh, and we’ll have our first practice with Wiz on Monday.”

“Monday… Then that’ll be three days later.”

“Yes. I’m already busy, and I’ll get busier. Haha. … I’ll really, really take care of your condition. Don’t worry.”

“Aha, yes. Thank you.”

Kim Chun-yong, who briefly organized his schedule in his head, soon raised his head again and muttered to himself.

‘I have to prepare. After all, finding other guys is also important, but the most important thing is the stage.’

They say that if you do your best, the results will naturally follow.

That was what Kim Chun-yong thought was best.

It’s about using everything you can to create the best possible outcome at that moment.

Now, with the repackaged album promotions and the year-end music festival collaboration with Wiz ahead,

It was clearly determined what Kim Chun-yong had to do.

“Me, Siwoo. And Yoochan hyung.”

“Hmm…? Hyung Chun-yong, what… is going on? I was just about to shower….”

“That’s right. Siwoo and I are first in line for the shower today. If possible, I want to shower right now!”

“I’m sorry, but I have to postpone it to a later date. I have something important to do.”

“Huh? Something important?”

“… It’s still awkward with Hyung, Siwoo, and the Wiz members, right? Right?”

“Uh uh… .”

“Hmm? I’m not like that. Oh, Chun-yong, after you said that, again…”

Kim Chun-yong smiled faintly as he watched the faces of Bang Yoo-chan and Jang Si-woo subtly changing while recalling the filming of ‘Catch Me Catch You’.

Although Kim Chun-yong says that they have managed to get along well, it is true that some of the other T.O.J members are secretly uncomfortable with the Wiz members.

So, it was only natural that a customized solution was needed.

“… Let’s prepare ourselves. In a good direction.”

Namely, the unexploded ordnance follow-up response team.

Although he gets help from Antae to ‘find other guys’, in the end, the most important things to Kim Chun-yong are his family and members.

So, we couldn’t afford to have any inconveniences during the process.

* * *

Even Wiz, who received news of the year-end collaboration stage with T.O.J.E., was not in a very enjoyable mood.

Even though they somehow resolved the misunderstanding, they still have a bit of a problem with Kim Chun-yong and Tioje.

“No, what kind of face are you looking at that team with? I’m still so embarrassed…!”

“I don’t know. We were a total nuisance in the T.O.J. waiting room back then. Oh, and why does the company schedule things like this… .”

“Ha-won and Eun-i were on good terms from the beginning! Oh, shit. I was completely turned on by Dan-woo. This is a big deal… .”

…because I was sold out.

“… … .”

The face of Wiz’s leader, Han Dan-woo, who was sitting in the middle of the practice room with his arms crossed, also had a serious look on it.

Right after filming ‘Catch Me Catch You’, I felt like I had somehow managed to resolve the pent-up tension between myself and Kim Chun-yong.

“Probably… we won’t be meeting much in the future.”

“Uh. Your agency must have set the debut date like this for marketing purposes… After that, well. We’ll go in a direction where we don’t harm each other.”

“Okay… I understand. Take care, Kim Chun-yong.”

“you also.”

The situation was the situation, the conversation was the conversation, and there was a loud bomb right next to it, so we talked while being considerate of each other.

[Kim Chun-yong: I heard that your team and our team are collaborating this time]

[Kim Chun-yong: I think we’ll probably get involved together… Please take care of me in advance]

[Han Dan-woo: Oh, please take care of me too]

And, it was okay to exchange messages every now and then.

Isn’t that what a message is?

Rather than expressing my immediate feelings, I can write with my fingers to peel away a layer of those emotions, so I can write somewhat embarrassing words without any hesitation.

But… meeting in person and performing on stage together?

Even… how many days do we have to practice that together?

No, but it’s still a bit awkward, isn’t it?

What the heck, it doesn’t seem like we’re in a position to have a conversation like we used to?

“… Ugh.”

Finally, a loud sigh escaped from Han Dan-woo’s mouth as he lowered his head.

“I’m glad to see Logan again. Logan and I were going to watch a football game together. It’s a deep bond that foreigners share.”

“That’s good, Jaden. Me too… I think it’s good to see Chun-yong hyung again after such a long time. Our activities didn’t overlap much after that, so I didn’t get to say thank you before.”

The only ones who are maintaining their composure in this practice room attached to the Queens agency building are Canadian boy Jayden, who knows nothing, and Jo Eun, who has maintained a good relationship with Kim Chun-yong since before.

and….

“No, guys. Why are you all so down? It’s a good thing! Wow, it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen Chun-yong again. I’m so excited. If I act like that again, I’ll get in trouble, right?”

“Shut up, you little shit… You’re the real problem, you.”

An Tae-man, a dud bomb spouting nonsense with a face as neat as porcelain, who seems to be much more relaxed somewhere.

“I’m going crazy… .”

Even on the day when Tioje and Wiz first started practicing together, the worry on Han Dan-woo’s face did not go away, as he did not have the confidence to control Antaei himself.

Oh, I’m taking that with me, but is it really okay?

Are you sure there won’t be any problems preparing for this collaboration stage?

…however.

Fortunately, Han Dan-woo wasn’t the only one worried about the bomb called Antae and his awkward relationship with the rival group.

“Huh? You want me to do more here?”

“Yes… you can… do more. Since it’s a collaboration stage, I think it would be good to… match it perfectly…”

“… Wait. You, you. Siwoo, you. Was this how it always felt? … I don’t think it was.”

“Haha, Tae-yi. What’s wrong with our youngest? Our kid always works hard!”

“Your eldest brother too! He wasn’t this tough!”

And, it was unfolding in a very good direction ahead of the collaboration stage of the 4th generation male idols.