NOVEL NEXT Chapter 236
“I’ve finished composing the title track and the songs for ISIS’s first album.”
“…What, already?”
Han Si-woo announced that he had composed all the songs shortly after naming the group ISIS.
“Let’s all listen together. This is the title track of ISIS’s first album [Re: start] – [Once Again, Into the Light].”
As Han Si-woo said that, he played the melody of the new song he produced.
♪♩♬♬♩-!
Our members, along with Kang Hyung-man and choreographer Lee Ji-woo, listened intently to the song.
And the impression after hearing the whole thing was….
“It’s really good.”
As expected from Han Si-woo.
We had released two albums and two digital singles as Rookies, but this was our first album as ISIS.
The title track [Once Again, Into the Light] of album [Re: start] showcased a refreshing and lively quality, making it a tune that anyone could love regardless of their preferences.
It was the perfect first song for the group.
“We have about 100 days left until the showcase. That’s quite a lot compared to when we were Rookies, but it’s still not overly ample.”
With our first showcase being held at a dome stadium—boasting overwhelming scale—we had to ensure perfect quality to meet the expectations of countless fans.
Noticing that the members were feeling the pressure of the showcase being in a dome, Kang Hyung-man spoke up last.
“I’m sorry for making the showcase scale so large without your permission. I was worried people would look down on you since we moved to a small company from a big one, so I got a bit greedy.”
“Ah….”
Indeed… former Rookies fans were expressing dissatisfaction about moving from a well-known company, NAS Entertainment to a relatively unknown company called Brotherhood Planning.
It seemed that Kang Hyung-man was quite concerned about that.
“Brotherhood Planning is still a small company, but one day it will become the best entertainment company. Let’s all make it happen together.”
“Yes!”
“Our company is already good, but I’ll make it even better!”
After Park Yoo-jung’s statement, Kang Hyung-man beamed before bringing his hands together.
“Alright, let’s do our best for this first album’s activities.”
“Fighting!!”
With that, the preparation for ISIS’s first album activities began as we shouted fighting together.
Of course, it doesn’t matter how much money you have; if you don’t know how to spend it, it’s pointless.
That’s how Brotherhood Planning was.
Kang Hyung-man promised us generous investment and splashed money, but…
It seemed the lack of know-how and experience showed as the details fell short compared to NAS Entertainment.
These small details were tough to cover even with the talent of Han Si-woo.
If we break down these details, the first would be the diet.
At NAS Entertainment, the diet had drastically improved as soon as we began preparing for album activities, but Brotherhood Planning was still giving us regular meals since they hadn’t found a nutritionist or trainer.
There were also shortcomings in reserving shops, renting equipment, securing practice rooms, and recording studios.
At NAS, Han Si-woo’s songs would be accompanied by a professional choreographer immediately, but at Brotherhood Planning, the only choreographer was Lee Ji-woo.
Overall, if NAS Entertainment operated like a factory following procedures to the letter, Brotherhood Planning felt more like homemade craftsmanship.
However, no members had voiced complaints about these things.
We all knew beforehand that Brotherhood Planning was a small company.
And compared to other small companies that lacked money and passion, Brotherhood Planning had plenty of resources and a burning desire to succeed.
So, instead of complaining, the members, including myself, worked to help Brotherhood Planning fill in its shortcomings.
First, the diet.
“Last night, I analyzed the ingredients and made a temporary meal plan. Until the official meal plan arrives, let’s eat this.”
Our diligent Yoo Seol had carefully put together the meal plan.
Her plan, which referenced a lot from JJ Entertainment, looked so professional that it seemed like it had been crafted by a real nutritionist, and Brotherhood Planning stocked the fridge with food according to her plan.
Other problems were being resolved as well….
“How about we keep using the shop we used for Rookies?”
“I’ll purchase the speakers and necessary items with our company card.”
“Director Jang Sang-gu said the recording studio construction would be completed by tomorrow, so we can start recording immediately.”
We each used our experiences and wisdom to tackle everything one by one.
Lastly, the most crucial aspect, the choreography.
Kang Hyung-man was planning to hire a professional choreographer like at NAS Entertainment, even if it was a bit late.
But….
Someone unexpectedly shone.
“Ooh…. Maybe it’s because the song is good, but inspiration is overflowing?”
It was Lee Ji-woo, Brotherhood Planning’s only dance trainer.
As soon as Han Si-woo released the music, she grabbed an mp3 and dashed down to the practice room….
She created most of the choreography for [Once Again, Into the Light] all on her own.
The members of Brotherhood Planning were amazed by Lee Ji-woo’s shocking genius, but I actually knew the backstory.
In her past life, she was a promising dancer who had won a dance competition.
Her potential was beginning to blossom.
“Ji-woo, you only need to create the choreography for the bridge before the break, so let’s do that together.”
“Sure, sounds good.”
“If you have any other good ideas, just let us know.”
As we completed the finishing touches with Lee Ji-woo, who had created most of the choreography, the moves became absolutely perfect.
Thus, the issues of diet, shop, location, and choreography.
The problems that had been limitations and drawbacks of being a small company were resolved.
We felt an unexpected sense of pride.
If at NAS Entertainment we were just following orders, now it felt good to be creating our own things.
Moreover….
“The CEO paid ten million won in a lump sum at the shop already!”
“No way! At the recording studio, all the new equipment is top-notch! That must have been hard to get!”
Brotherhood Planning may have been inexperienced, but they weren’t lacking money, as they provided us with tremendous support, so spending felt great.
Brotherhood Planning felt like a dad who hands over the credit card and says, “Buy whatever you want.”
Thanks to that, we could prepare for our album in a self-directed and fulfilling way, even if it was a bit tough.
Being an idol in a small company was more fun than expected.
Needless to say, moving companies didn’t reduce our practice time.
Instead, we increased our practice time to prove to fans that our quality hadn’t diminished after switching companies.
Our already intense practice hours increased, and it became the norm to return to our dorm well past midnight.
That day was just another ordinary day.
We kept practicing the choreography for the title song and the included songs until dawn….
“Oof, can we take a break….”
“Phew….”
In the end, everyone collapsed on the floor of the practice room, exhausted.
“…Sang-gu oppa said he’d come pick us up at 2, so we have 20 minutes left.”
“……Let’s rest a bit until our Director arrives…, …zzzz.”
Seo Yoo-jin started to speak but couldn’t hold back her sleepiness and ended up dozing off.
Soon, other members began to close their eyes one by one and fell asleep.
It was no wonder.
After all, we had practiced all day and done various other tasks to help fill in the gaps of Brotherhood Planning.
The perks of being in a wealthy small company allowing us to do many things also came with the downside of accumulated physical fatigue.
‘If I’m feeling this tired with a stamina stat of 96, that says it all.’
I was feeling the drowsiness from the long, exhausting schedule of the day…and was on the verge of falling asleep.
However….
Swish, swish.
“…What are you doing, unnie?”
I woke up when I saw Yoo Seol next to me, intently drawing something on her tablet.
“I was just briefly sketching out our outfits for this album.”
“…Outfits? Isn’t that the company’s job…? Ah.”
This was Brotherhood Planning, not NAS Entertainment.
No matter how much effort Brotherhood Planning put into costumes, they likely wouldn’t match the quality of NAS Entertainment.
Yoo Seol seemed to predict that and was sketching outfits she might use months later.
Swish-, swish.
“……”
Staring at Yoo Seol, who was diligently searching for materials and focusing as if she were an art student designing outfits… I suddenly asked.
“…Aren’t you regretting it?”
“Hmm?”
“Coming to Brotherhood Planning. If you were still at a big company, you wouldn’t have to do these tasks.”
“…….”
Yoo Seol had been handling the most chores among our members, so it could be bothersome for her.
But without a hint of concern, she continued working while answering.
“I don’t regret it at all.”
“……”
“More than anything, I haven’t kept my promise yet.”
“…Promise? What do you…”
When Yoo Seol suddenly mentioned her promise, I tilted my head in confusion.
Then Yoo Seol met my eyes and said, her gaze slightly subdued.
“That day…. We promised to become the best idols together.”
“……!”
I finally realized what promise Yoo Seol was referring to.
One year ago.
As soon as the quest window appeared, telling me to become the best idol, abandoning my parents…
‘Ugh, we’ll definitely become… the best idols…. for sure…’
I had clutched onto my members, crying and vowed to become the best idols.
…She still remembered that.
“To be honest, I don’t really know what being the best idol means, Ye-rin, but…. Until I figure it out, we have to keep pushing ourselves together.”
In fact, the quest to become the best idol was completed, as we received the notification after the final concert of Rookies.
But like Yoo Seol, I still had no clue what being the best idol meant.
The only entity that could provide me that meaning, the Status Window, had promised future rewards but had vanished without a word.
Still….
‘I’m glad unnie remembered our promise.’
Just the fact that Yoo Seol remembered the promise we made and came to Brotherhood Planning to keep it made me smile.
Seeing my smile, Yoo Seol returned the grin.
“You’re starting to smile more now.”
“…Huh?”
“You used to not smile much. But I’m glad to see you looking happy nowadays.”
…Happiness.
After living alone as an orphan in my past life until death, I believed that ‘family’ was what could truly bring me happiness.
So, I desperately wished for a family…and was reborn as Ha Ye-rin, who had parents.
But despite having family, I wasn’t happy.
It was only after my parents disappeared that my life began to change positively.
‘Family…, parents…, happiness.’
In this past year, I hadn’t thought about my parents even once.
It wasn’t simply because I had lost interest in them.
It was because the absence left an overflowing space filled by the people around me.
“Yeah, I really do think I’m happy nowadays.”
I replied to Yoo Seol’s words with an even bigger smile than before.
There was not a single lie in what I just said.
A warm feeling that I had never experienced before, in both my past and present life, was spreading throughout my life these days.
That was happiness.
The people of Brotherhood Planning, Lee Ji-woo, Han Si-woo.
And this life I was living with my members brought me genuine happiness.
Really….
To the extent that I would have no regrets even in death.