Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail – Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The first scene of the first episode was undeniably the debut stage.

In line with the agency’s name, “Colors,” the debut song was titled “Rainbow.”

The song was composed by Dan Ha from Colors’ idol group, “Burn Ash.”

The lyrics were written by Do Yi from Colors’ idol group, “White Noise.”

The slogan for the stage was clear: “A stage by Colors, for Colors, and of Colors.”

“Writer Kang.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of the song?”

PD Oh bit his nails as he watched the twelve trainees preparing to go on stage.

“For a song to succeed, it has to be good. I don’t have an ear for music, so I can’t tell if it’s good or not. I don’t like that it was composed and written by Colors’ idols.”

PD Oh was dissatisfied with CEO Hong’s directive to use only Colors’ idols for the stage.

Even the choreography was created by Jin Hwa from Colors’ idol group, “Grayish,” making it a thoroughly in-house production.

“CEO Hong’s obsession with Colors is something to be reckoned with. She dotes on his idols too much. It’s likes she’s addicted to self-sufficiency. Why is everything self-produced?”

“Well, it’s annoying, but… if I’d raised them to that level, I’d want to use them too.”

That was a fair point. PD Oh wiped his lips with his fingers.

“Right, after investing so much money in their development, you have to use them.”

“Exactly.”

“I heard he hardly leaves the studio these days? Obsessed with producing and composing?”

“Everyone knows that CEO Hong isn’t interested in management. That’s why Director Kim can act so tyrannically.”

“CEO Hong is great, but that’s a major flaw. If she had removed Director Kim, Colors could have been the top company domestically by now.”

“True. But she’s so obsessed with music… it’s a shame.”

Writer Kang nodded calmly.

Since planning ‘Make a New Color,’ the production team and Director Kim often clashed.

Director Kim chose to debut his niece, Kim Ryeo-yu, even if it meant ruining the entire group.

If PD Oh hadn’t kept her in check, Kim Ryeo-yu and her close trainees would have already debuted, monopolizing the spotlight.

“How could a major agency allow this?”

“It’s a major agency, but not a conglomerate. And even conglomerates don’t always run smoothly.”

“Look at our broadcasting station…”

PD Oh clicked his tongue, thinking about the director being manipulated by Director Kim.

How much money had he taken?

“Even so, the song is good.”

At Writer Kang’s words, PD Oh’s eyes sparkled.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Yes. As you know, despite the flaws with the management…”

Writer Kang continued, glancing at the trainees on the monitor.

“Their idols are quite good.”

On the darkened stage, twelve trainees stood in a V-formation.

The center was Kim Ryeo-yu.

On either side were Seo Baek-young and Ryu Bo-ra.

Nine other trainees followed behind them.

Each trainee wore a white shirt and a black school skirt.

The overall look aimed for a preppy style.

Despite the uniform outfits, the unique accessories stood out.

Yoon Cheong had a necklace, Seo Baek-young an anklet, Ryu Bo-ra a hairpin, Kim Ryeo-yu earrings, Yeon Juhong a brooch, and Kim Geum a ring.

The other trainees also had different accessories.

Though varied, they all shared a common feature: a golden wing pendant.

As the observant noticed this, the intro music began.

With the lively pop sound, Kim Ryeo-yu led the center.

“I was your new color.

Color me, draw me.

I will dye you, I will paint you.”

From the beginning, the chorus was playing.

All twelve of them performed a moderately difficult group dance without drastically changing the formation.

However,

“But in a flash, the rainbow disappeared

Only the blue sky remains forever”

With Yoon Cheong’s vocals, the atmosphere of the song completely changed.

Unlike the first part, which was a hook song that anyone could listen to lightly –

“Over the rainbow

We’re waiting for you

I’ll steal all your colors

And paint mine over yours”

The overall atmosphere became grand and somber.

The previously light-hearted choreography grew increasingly intense.

As the song reached its climax,

The twelve trainees formed a circle, pointing their hands to the center.

“Over the rainbow

We’re still here

We’re still blue”

With Ryu Bo-ra’s final vocals, all the trainees turned around and sat down.

Hugging their knees, the song ended.

***

“….”

As expected, the atmosphere was grim.

I looked around.

Even though it was an hour before the announced meeting time, everyone had gathered early.

But no one opened their mouths.

It was understandable.

Just yesterday, the video of our first joint stage and our so-called debut song, “Rainbow,” had been released.

“Hey, it’s up, it’s up”

▶ [First release! The first stage of ‘Make a New Color.’ The girls are coming to paint a rainbow in your hearts]

It hadn’t even been 24 hours, yet the video’s views were incredible.

However, the attention we received wasn’t all positive.

“Is the formation right? The kids are scattered, it looks like a small company.”

└ “Underestimating small companies, even they are better than this LOL.”

“Colors is outdated.”

“The center is a bit awkward.”

└ “Exactly, they should have made Ryu Bo-ra the center.”

└ “Next, we have a Ryu Bo-ra fan.”

└ “Seo Baek-young has the best dance lines.”

“Surprisingly, the unknown trainee is better. Who’s the one singing the chorus? She sounds refreshing.”

└ “She’s probably the main vocal.”

└ “Her name is Yoon Cheong. Please support our Cheong prettily.”

“Ryu Bo-ra is amazing, even though she’s a former actress.”

“Who’s the one with pink pigtails? I’m impressed.”

└ “Yeon Juhong.”

└ “Wow, even her name is Yeon Juhong.”

The teaser had already caused a stir, and the introduction video had confirmed it.

When the stage was revealed in this context, it was chaotic.

Some trainees received good reviews, but others did not.

The trainees who had already been exposed to the public received harsher evaluations.

“…It was an expected result.”

Fundamentally, known trainees have high expectations placed on them.

Unknown trainees start with literally zero expectations, so the first impression can be better.

“Trainees with high recognition are… a double-edged sword.”

If they do well, it’s great, but if they make even a slight mistake, they fall into the abyss.

That’s the fate of trainees.

Everyone looked unhappy, but the most tense person seemed to be Kim Ryeo-yu.

Why?

Because the production team –

‘Earlier, it seemed like there was some tension between Kim Ryeo-yu and another trainee over the center position.’

‘Could there be any dissatisfaction with the center selection?’

This was the kind of interview they conducted.

Yes, just being chosen as the center wasn’t enough.

The broadcast was just beginning.

***

Production team: Earlier, it seemed like there was some tension between Kim Ryeo-yu and another trainee over the center position?

[Kyunga: Haha… (awkward laugh)]

[Kyunga: Shouldn’t I not say this?]

[Production team: Why?]

[Kyunga: I’ll get marked.]

[Production team: By whom?]

Caption: Kyunga points upward… what does she mean?

[Ha-eun: You know… she’s the niece of the judge.]

[Suin: Why are people being so hush-hush about it? Is there any trainee who doesn’t know that Ryeo-yu is Director Kim’s niece?]

[Kim Geum: Honestly, everyone feels a bit hurt. They just don’t say it.]

[Juhong: I thought there would be a center selection contest.]

[Yu-hyun: But then, on the first day of learning the choreography, Director Kim and Trainer Wonho came in…]

[Juseon: They just told us directly. The formation was already decided, so just memorize it as it is.]

[Kyunga: So I was curious. Then who is the center? Baek-young?]

[Juhong: But then it turned out to be Ryeo-yu unnie. It was surprising.]

Caption: Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu immediately became the center

[Suin: I thought Baek-young or Bo-ra would be the center.]

[Seo Baek-young: I didn’t expect to be the center. But, just…]

Caption: (Bitter)

[Seo Baek-young: I didn’t think it would be Ryeo-yu either.]

[Cheong: Actually, everyone deserves to be the center. I think we all have the right to compete. But we couldn’t even compete, so it’s disappointing.]

Production team: Actually, this isn’t the first time Ryeo-yu has been the center.

[Suin: That’s why it’s really strange. She was also the center in our first teaser.]

[Juhong: Back then, we just thought someone had to be the center, and it happened to be Ryeo-yu unnie.]

[Ha-eun: But being the center again this time, isn’t it a bit too much?]

Production team: Aren’t you disappointed that you couldn’t be the center?

[Seo Baek-young: Of course, I’m disappointed. How could I not be? Just this much.]

[Ryu Bo-ra: I’m not particularly disappointed.]

Production team: Do you not have any ambition for the center position?

[Ryu Bo-ra: No, of course I do.]

Production team: Then why?

[Ryu Bo-ra: I can be the center after debuting. It doesn’t matter.]

Production team: How did you feel when you became the center?

[Ryeo-yu: I was really happy. It felt like all my hard work was being recognized.]

[Ryeo-yu: I felt like, oh, finally, my chance is coming. It felt like a reward for my efforts.]

Production team: There’s a lot of talk about the center controversy.

[Ryeo-yu: ….]

Caption: Ryeo-yu unable to continue her words…

[Ryeo-yu: It’s upsetting because there are so many misunderstandings.]

Production team: Why do you think you were chosen as the center?

[Ryeo-yu: Back then, Director Kim and Trainer Wonho explained everything. They said my image matched the concept of this time, so I was chosen. For the next song, the person who fits that song will be the center.]

Caption: Ryeo-yu wiping her tears

[Ryeo-yu: I’m sorry, I shouldn’t cry….]

[Ryeo-yu: Everyone understands, but I’m not going to be the permanent center, and the center will change according to the concept each time….]

Caption: Though she couldn’t say it, her heart was hurt…

[Ryeo-yu: I think it’s a matter of doing well myself.]

[Will trainee Kim Ryeo-yu be able to prove herself…?

Find out next week at this time!

Don’t miss it, don’t miss the live broadcast!]

With such a cheesy caption, the first episode of ‘Make a New Color’ ended.

[Paint the new color of Colors!]

[What new color will our Colorists choose?]

[See you next week at this time, goodbye~!]

“…It’s more interesting than I thought?”

Viewers who had been watching without any expectations found themselves tilting their heads after the first episode ended.

This is more interesting than I thought…!