Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail – Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Today was a day off, but at the same time, it was also a day when I couldn’t really rest.

Soon, it would be the recording day for <Dear My Diva>.

We had just recently had the semifinals, and fortunately, we won by a reasonable margin.

Since we won with a fairly straightforward song, there wasn’t much controversy.

Now, all that was left was the finals.

I sighed as I looked at the bracket we received in advance.

There were a total of three contestants in the finals.

Me, Dahin, and the main vocalist of another girl group.

I knew that, having participated in the same program, we couldn’t avoid each other.

But the thought of facing Dahin head-on made me feel exhausted.

Today, as we were going to compete directly, there would likely be quite a few comparison posts.

It’s tiring to have this kind of competitive setup, but if it can’t be avoided, we should compete in a way that benefits both of us.

So now, I met with Dahin quietly to choose a song.

“So, we need to go with completely different concepts.”

“Ah, I see!”

When I explained my thoughts to Dahin, thankfully, she immediately understood.

“How about your agency? Do they respect your opinion?”

“No!”

…Don’t answer so cheerfully like that….

“Then, have they already decided on a song?”

If they can’t change their song, it would be better for me to change mine.

“Yes. This is the song…!”

I nodded as I looked at the song Dahin handed me.

“It’s a very classic ballad.”

“The company’s opinion was to go for something emotional. They said such songs are always a guaranteed win….”

“Generally, that’s true.”

If it were me, I would have used a similar strategy.

The song Dahin was going to sing was a very sad ballad.

In music, as long as you move emotions, you’ve already done 90% of the work.

“Are you planning to go for a different feel with your song, senior?”

“Yes. That way, the comparisons will be less. Although we can’t avoid it completely.”

“I’m sorry… because of me….”

“It’s not because of you. It’s because of Moment.”

I stopped choosing a song and looked up.

“How’s your company? Do you have any plans for the next album?”

“Oh, yes! Although it’s still rough, it’s scheduled for release in August! They haven’t told us yet, but it seems like it will come out as a mini-album like in the past life.”

“….”

“Ho, hopefully, senior too…?!”

I sighed.

“We’re also coming out in August.”

“Gasp.”

Dahin’s eyes shook.

“Then, I will make a small suggestion…! How about July…?!”

“They won’t even consider it.”

They must have scheduled it to target us from the start.

After creating a competitive scenario through reverse viral marketing, they’ll insanely boost their scores through bulk buying.

They’ll then use those boosted scores to publicly declare that they beat us, leaving us with a ‘lost’ image and themselves with a ‘won’ image.

Right now, the hottest idol isn’t Steel Blue but Inleven.

For girl groups, public image is extremely important because their fan base is relatively small.

It’s not just about album sales but also about generating revenue from events and advertisements, which comes from the ‘public.’

For male idols, most of their revenue comes from ‘fans.’

For female idols, most of their revenue comes from the ‘public’s choice.

Therefore, public recognition is very important for girl groups.

The benefits of being labeled as the ‘hottest rookie’ are enormous.

“Then… what should we do? If this continues, the same thing will happen as in our past life… That, that alone…”

“….”

Ordinary people don’t want to side with the losers.

They like to side with the winners.

Even if the victory is fake.

David and Goliath?

That kind of story is only possible if there’s an enormous narrative behind it.

Not many people want to see the story of an ordinary girl group.

No one will want to side with us except our fans.

Instead, they might throw stones at us.

I don’t want our fans to go through such things.

I know how painful it is from the Make a New Color days.

Going through such a tough process eventually tires out the fans too.

Moment probably knows this and is targeting us because of it.

Right now, we’re the hottest rookie.

If there wasn’t the element of bulk buying, we wouldn’t be afraid to face them head-on.

We thought we could win with our skills, and we were confident.

But the only way to beat bulk buying is with overwhelming popularity or similar bulk buying.

No matter how much we boost our scores, if they do even more massive bulk buying, it’s over.

There’s practically no way to win.

Whether it’s music or albums.

In the past life, it took over a year for Moment’s bulk buying to be exposed.

But I have less than a year.

I have to expose it right away.

There are few ways to prove bulk buying.

Especially from the ‘outside.’

But what about from the ‘inside’?

What if we gather evidence of bulk buying from the inside?

I looked at Dahin.

“Dahin. Do you really want to stop Moment’s bulk buying?”

***

Ding!

Deputy Kim checked the notification from the Colors idol-exclusive app, <Colorful>.

What is it?

Are the kids having some event?

The notification she casually checked read:

COLORFUL

Steel Blue│Come BACK! Track List & Spoiler♥

“!!!!!”

On the bus home.

Deputy Kim let out a silent scream.

Finally, the teaser for the next album was out!

COLORFUL

Steel Blue 1st single: Paper Doll

[Track 1. Paper Doll]

Composed by: Yoon Cheong

Lyrics by: Ryu Bo-ra, Yeon Juhong, Yoon Cheong, Kim Geum, Seo Baek-young

[Track 2. You’re My World]

Composed by: Kim Geum

Lyrics by: Ryu Bo-ra, Kim Geum, Yoon Cheong

Even with just two tracks, her heart was pounding.

And this album too, composed and written by the members…!

So good!

Moreover, judging by the articles from Colors, it seemed that the two songs were double title tracks.

Promoting twice with one album?

It’s not just double, it’s two billion times better.

That wasn’t all.

When I entered the Steel Blue tab within the app, it had been changed to a spoiler page.

And Deputy Kim nearly died trying to hold back a celebratory dance on the bus.

“Did you guys see the spoiler page?

It’s crazy;

Wow, I can’t even imagine what the title concept isㅠㅠ Give me more spoilers, more!

Wait, everyone, check out the season’s greetings diary; it looks similar to the spoiler page.”

└Oh, it seems right;; The cover and inner pages are exactly the same as the spoiler pages.

Indeed.

The first page of the spoiler page was the cover of the diary.

COLORFUL

<The Exchange Diary of Everblue & Steel Blue>

At the top of the blue diary cover, there was a heart-shaped hole, through which a photo of the five Steel Blue members was visible.

It was a group concept photo from the last <Blue> album.

At the bottom of the cover, it was scribbled, ‘Touch and you’ll get in trouble.’

Additionally, the diary was covered with stickers related to Steel Blue, making it clear that this was Everblue’s diary.

And the snap button part of the diary had a blinking arrow indicating to press it.

Thump thump.

Thump thump.

Deputy Kim pressed the snap button on the diary.

At that moment, the diary opened.

Inside, the pages and journal were revealed.

Judging by the date, it was last November when Steel Blue debuted.

The pages were filled with memories with Steel Blue.

COLORFUL

11.19

Today, our teaser was released ㅠㅠ I love the concept so much.

The day the first Steel Blue teaser was released.

COLORFUL

11.24

Showcase! It must have been nerve-wracking as it was their first stage, but they weren’t nervous at all and did so well♥

From the showcase day to the first music show appearances of Steel Blue.

The diary seemed to perfectly capture the feelings of the fans.

When you clicked on the date’s section, photos of Steel Blue taken on that day appeared.

They looked like behind-the-scenes photos, as they were ones I had never seen before.

‘Crazy… This is really generous….’

Are they really giving out this much content?

And that wasn’t all.

Another blinking arrow appeared in the bottom right corner, indicating to click to move to the next page.

Deputy Kim quickly clicked the arrow.

Then, the diary for December appeared.

This time, it was different.

Even the handwriting was a mess.

Could this be…?

Suddenly, the phrase from the cover came to mind.

‘The Exchange Diary of Everblue & Steel Blue.’

Could it be that November was Everblue’s diary, and December was Steel Blue’s diary…?!

When Deputy Kim clicked on the written section, videos started to play.

COLORFUL

12.17

Today is Bo-ra Bo-ra Day! Bo-ra took pretty pictures of us.

But we couldn’t take good pictures of Bo-ra…. Bo-ra scolded us! Bo-ra can be this scary.

A video of the five members blowing out the birthday cake candles together.

A video of Ryu Bo-ra hugging the members tightly.

A video of Kim Geum smearing the cake cream on Ryu Bo-ra’s face, and the two playfully fighting.

COLORFUL

12.31

Today is the last day of the year! It was so nice to do the New Year countdown with Everblue 3.3

We had another party at the dorm! We wished to be with Everblue forever; what did Everblue wish for~?

A video of the five members setting off fireworks and laughing together in the dorm.

After turning off the lights, they all huddled under a blanket and made wishes for the new year.

All of this was captured in the diary.

There was a video for almost every date.

Towards the end of the last video, Deputy Kim noticed another arrow appeared in the right corner.

‘There’s more?!’

Clicking the arrow one last time, multiple stickers appeared.

‘What is this…?’

The stickers were all outfits and props for paper dolls.

‘This is something from my mom’s era…!’

Paper dolls.

As the name suggests, they are dolls made out of paper.

You cut out the dolls and their clothes, and then dress the dolls with the clothes.

‘So this is the next concept…!’

When she clicked on the stickers, the final spoiler was revealed.

COLORFUL

Write a diary with me this year too

I will live in your Paper

I’m Steel Blue

I’m your Paper Doll

I’m Alive Doll!