Chapter 11

One day before the Music Station live broadcast .

KangYoon was at the opening hall of Asai TV where the live recordings would be carried out .

[There, there!! Ah, really!! Hey, what do you want me to do if you put the moving there?]

(Im not sure what a moving is Probably a stage prop)

[Im sorry, Im sorry . ]

[You idiot! Look at the blueprint, the blueprint!!]

Music Station didnt have a lot of stage props to set, but today a large scale construction was underway . Thanks to that, they had to hire one-time workers, which they didnt do normally, so the place was chaotic .

A Music Station stage was a stage where various singers requested various things . If they accepted all those requests then the stage would just become pure chaos . Still, due to Producer Yokozeki cutting a majority of the requests so the stage was less chaotic than before .

However, there was one person who this knife-like producer couldnt refuse a request from . It was the request from KangYoon, who was in front of his eyes .

[I repeat but if you spread rumors around how I let you do all this, then I will be in a real mess . ]

[I understand . Thank you . ]

Producer Yokozeki spoke to KangYoon with a difficult expression . KangYoon nodded as if he knew everything . For him, he needed to repay KangYoon, who filled the sudden blank . KangYoon also knew that fact and used it moderately . Of course, if rumors spread around how this happened, then chaos would ensue . If the live broadcast happens, then there maybe suspicions, but Producer Yokozeki said he would take care of what would happen afterwards .

[This really is a first . You did say you will take care of the stage prop expenses but a specialized stage like this should never happen . ]

[I will make not regret your consideration . ]

To think he allowed a foreigner, moreover, a Korean, to do this Producer Yokozeki sighed . Of course, he partnered with Genex, one of the big 3 entertainment companies of Japan, but strictly speaking, this was a contract between a Korean entertainment company and Asai TV . To think something like this would happen in this close-minded TV station

KangYoon left Producer Yokozeki and headed to the stage . The stage was wide and the lightings and the stage props were all beautiful . He checked the blueprint and the devices one by one and he went to the lightings director to discuss about the settings .

[It will start with a blue tone and it will slowly]

After discussing the settings of the lights with the lightings director, he also discussed how the device should be used, timing and lots of other details . Originally, he would just leave it to the lightings director completely, but this time, he couldnt completely let it go . KangYoon needed to have the entire structure of the stage in mind .

KangYoon, who was at Asai TV station all morning, returned to MG Entertainment Japanese branch in the afternoon . In the branch office, the already produced albums were piled up and the office workers including the promotion team, JooAhs manager, and various on-the-scene workers were on their edge waiting for the schedule .

The day before JooAhs Japanese debut, the entire company was in tension .

Oppa, you came?

Yes, I came .

JooAh, who was practicing the dance with the dance team greeted KangYoon cheerfully . Her thin clothes were tightly clinging to her body due to sweat . KangYoon handed out bottles of cold water .

Thank you!!

Everyone, who were practicing, quickly whisked away the bottles . Then, resting time came naturally . JooAh naturally came next to KangYoon and sat .

Is the preparation going well, oppa?

It is going well . You can do the rehearsal, and the dry rehearsal too, so dont worry about it .

Wow . Oppas really skillful . I didnt think I would be able to do that here .

JooAh resolved that she would start from the bottom no matter the treatment, when she came to Japan . She heard that Japanese idols came to work on the subway . No rehearsal time was the basics . However, when she worked with KangYoon, the preparation was so perfect that she didnt need to worry about anything .

Didnt I say? That you only need to focus on the music .

JooAh never had it this easy . Until now, KangYoon never contacted her outside singing, or made her worry while working . He really made JooAh be able to focus only on music .

Oppa is really amazing huh .

Hey, youre giving me the shivers . I can watch the practice, right?

OF course . Please watch .

JooAh had no hesitation at all . Until now, she had no schedules including minor ones . This meant that she could pour all her effort into practice . JooAh was confident .

Resting time ended soon .

In the training room which had mirrors on all 4 sides, Dancers stood around JooAh with her as the center . With the ready signal, KangYoon played the music .

- dream (munede sakebu dream - / dream my heart cries out -)

Through the speaker, JooAhs voice spread out to the surroundings . And JooAh and the dancers started dancing in unison . JooAhs wave and the dancers wave matched nad the dance became one .

In KangYoons eyes, it wasnt only the dance that was reflected .

The light comes out with JooAh as the center, huh . The light from the dancers makes JooAh seem brighter . Is it due to the rhythm of the song? It sure is beautiful .

White light came out from JooAh originally but today, she looked more shiny . That light was so bright that KangYoon subconsciously wanted to close his eyes . It was that bright, and beautiful, of a light .

This in addition to live I wont be able to open my eyes .

Looking at JooAhs rehearsal, KangYoons expectations became higher . JooAh was a top class singer no matter who said something . His expectations were also becoming reality like that .

***

Currently, MG Entertainment was all focused on JooAhs Japansese album . It was because they would decide if they would spread overseas for real, according to the success and failure of this album .

Is it not time yet?

Yes, President . Theres two more hours .

President Lee HyunJi showed an expression of nervousness, which was unlike her . The secretary brought her a cup of tea, but unlike usual, she didnt drink it and she just cooled it down .

JooAh has to do well today, Im worried .

President Lee HyunJi, who was stirring her tea cup round and round all the time, turned her eyes to the paperwork which she didnt go over . It was a report about the selection of the next generation girl group .

The things trainers evaluate on are all about ability and they are no good in evaluation the qualities of a star . Hmm Secretary Yang . The planner for the next generation girl group wasnt decided yet right?

Yes, President .

The Chairman also didnt say anything special, right?

Yes, he didnt mention anything concrete yet .

Is that so

President Lee HyunJi started flipping the report with the title Report on Candidates for the Next Generation Girl Group and looked through it . There was a acceptance box, but she didnt check the box . She just wrote turned down in big letters and put it on one side .

Shall I give it to the Team Leader?

Just leave it . Theres another person to give this to .

The secretary politely bowed and left, and President Lee HyunJi looked at the clock again nervously .

***

D-Day .

From early morning, KangYoon and JooAh headed towards Asai TV on the van . They came early thinking they would rehearse first and confirm the line of sight, unlike other singers .

[You really are hard working . ]

[Hahaha . ]

Producer Yokozeki could only be stunned while looking at KangYoon . Until now, he hadnt seen this kind of strange planner . Moreover, a planner that appeared on the scene so frequently like this He even wondered if all Koreans were like this .

They came early in the morning so JooAh could have a total of 3 rehearsals before other singers came . Although they couldnt use the stage devices, but they could confirm the line of sight and even had a dress rehearsal so it was all worth it .

After KangYoon greeted the staff again, when he came back to see that JooAh was missing, he asked her manager who was behind the stage .

Where has JooAh gone to?

Shes in the waiting room . She said she wanted to be alone

KangYoon headed straight towards the waiting room . It was to check for her condition for the final time . He knocked the tightly shut waiting room door .

Who is it?

However, a sharp voice could be heard .

May I come in?

KangYoon-oppa? Come in .

When she realized it was KangYoon, her voice became softer . KangYoon carefully went inside .

How is your condition?

Its the best .

JooAh, who was already wearing the dress for the stage and prepared to go on the stage, was calming her mind . The makeup wasnt completely done yet, but she was imagining todays stage while controlling her mind .

Thats a relief . Then have a good rest .

KangYoon didnt talk a lot . JooAh was a person who did better if you believed in her . KangYoon who already knew her character didnt need to say anything more to her .

However, it was JooAh who grabbed KangYoon who was about to leave .

Oppa .

Yes? Do you need anything else?

Oppa is sure different .

What is?

KangYoon felt strange . JooAh always said this . When he was about to ask what she meant, since he didnt know, JooAh spoke .

Everybody else only tries to control me . Saying Im too young, saying Im being paid attention to, saying I cant look after myself alone, etc But oppa was different . You kept believing in me . Thank you .

The thought that that person believed in me . Trust .

To JooAh, KangYoons such thoughts were very big . MG Entertainment meticulously only sends a singer that was planned by a planner . They were tight on the watch even to the point that they wrote scripts for what one should say and what one shouldnt, and even made up ones character . However, KangYoon was different .

He set the environment for JooAh to do whatever she wanted to do on the stage, and he planted the thought that he always belived in her . This was the reason why JooAh came to trust KangYoon . And the various things KangYoon showed him, whether it was the incident in the recording studio or the debut stage I am behind your back so do whatever you wanted to do this reassurance was the final strike .

Now, JooAh would believe it even if KangYoon said that the sun rose from the west .

JooAh .

Yes, Oppa?

If you are thankful, then just sweep them all . Okay?

Of course . Look forward to it .

When KangYoon held up his right hand, JooAh high fived him with a loud sound before running onto the stage .

.

.

.

[Singer JooAh goes on top of Japan after Korea]

9:25AM Thursday 20th December

-Celebrity news reporter Lee YeonCham . [1]

JooAh, a Korean singer, topped 1st on the Oricon chart . JooAh, who debuted with the album Girls on Best, had her debut stage on Asai TVs Music Station with the title song The One . And after that she rose up sharply and within one week, she was at the summit . Until now, there wasnt a case where a foreigner singer stood on Music Station and it is analyzed that her astonishing ability was the main reason .

(Omitted)

JooAh is considered one of the top singers of the Korean singer industry . She debuted at 14

(Omitted)

JooAh who debuted beautifully through Music Station gathered momentum and various TV stations are sending love-calls to her . The order for albums were also endless and so a 2nd production is now in process .

(Omitted)

Through JooAhs precedent, it is expected that Korean singers would finally start debuting in Japan for real .

(The above is a news article, if you didnt get it)

Translators note

Girls on Top'(which sounds a bit lewd?) is changed to Girls on Best . Author was inconsistent with the title, so Im going with Girls on Best, which he used more frequently, (and is used in this chapter too)

[1] Interesting note, YeonCham means chain release of chapters . Author probably did a double, and guess what, I did a double too .

Btw, Sweeping Japan arc is 8 chapters (i . e . one more left)

Oh, if anyone has a better word for planner (or even better, know the actual term) then please leave it in the comments . A planner (like MC) is someone who makes strategies for a singer/idol for their debut/album/etc . Producer is fixed to a program . manager is fixed to an idol, but a planner may have to move between idols . Supervisor is too generic Anyway, the dictionary isnt helping right now .