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Chapter 66: Chronos History (10)

The members rallied protectively around Park Yoon-Chan. Their plea made the director shake his head, a mix of surprise and concern etched on his face.

- Of course not. We don\'t resort to such frightening stuff nowadays. It could cause real trouble. Yoon-Chan\'s penalty is...

He unveiled a large poster board and peeled away a sticker to reveal the dreaded punishment.

- He will have to dance in a penalty costume during an encore performance when Chronos gets first place in a music show.

“A penalty costume?"

“Even for topping the charts on UNET?"

- No, it doesn\'t matter from which broadcast company. The penalty has nothing to do with that.

One of the staff arrived with Park Yoon-Chan\'s penalty costume in tow.

“Oh my gosh, look at that!" The revelation not only surprised us but also sent our staff team into a momentary state of commotion, a wave of laughter washing over us.

“What is that? Ha ha ha! That\'s insane!" Goh Yoo-Joon couldn\'t contain his laughter. It was the costume that Joo-Han had worn during Pick We Up’s unit stage for his first self-composed song, “Meow Meow Woof Woof,” and it was now in Yoon-Chan\'s hands.

- It will suit you perfectly, Yoon-Chan.

“...You must be kidding me. Ah! Aah!” Park Yoon-Chan collapsed in a mix of horror and disbelief. Another embarrassing moment in Yoon-Chan\'s history was about to unfold, following the infamous “Red Riding Hood Cha-Cha”.

Beaming with an almost triumphant glow, Joo-Han offered Yoon-Chan a consoling smile. “You could always do Cha-Cha again."

“...That\'s definitely not okay!" Park Yoon-Chan\'s adamant refusal brought a light-hearted mood to the set.

- Then we will see Yoo-Joon and Hyun-Woo as MCs later. Thank you everyone for your hard work. Let\'s wrap up with your final greetings.

All of us then returned to our designated spots, ready to wrap up the shoot. Facing the camera, Joo-Han expressed, “Hope you all had fun. Please look forward to seeing Yoo-Joon and Hyun-Woo as the MCs. We don’t know when we will get first place, but please keep an eye out for Yoon-Chan\'s penalty costume as well. Our very first reality show, Chronos History, continues next week."

“Thank you!"

With Joo-Han\'s smooth conclusion, the shoot wrapped up. "Well done, everyone!"

Despite the exhaustion from the morning\'s shoot, there was no time for us to rest. “You guys are aware that the choreography for the title track is being released today, right? We\'re heading straight to the company," our manager reminded us, keeping a close eye on the day\'s schedule. The day was far from over.

***

Four months of working in front of the camera had made me more at ease with engaging in natural conversation and maintaining eye contact, even when the lens was directly focused on me. Perhaps that was why our faces were etched with serious expressions regardless of the camera\'s presence.

“The movements keep changing."

“It feels like it\'ll take quite some time to memorize all this."

“I wonder if we can do this live."

It was 5 PM, and the dancers, each wearing one of our member\'s name tags, were showcasing the choreography for our debut song, “Parade,” all under our watchful gaze.

“This is incredibly cool though.”

“Yeah. It is beyond my expectation from the beginning.”

Tailored to fit the song\'s uniqueness, the choreography made full use of Chronos’s strengths in delivering high-quality group performances. It emanated both sophistication and style.

“What do you think?" asked the choreographer once the demonstration was over. “We\'ve decided on this for now, but if you have better ideas, we\'re open to adjustments. Feel free to share your thoughts, okay?"

“It\'s fantastic! Can\'t wait to see how it looks when we\'re all decked out."

“Yeah. The live performance seems tough, but with more practice, we can pull it off."

Everyone was in awe of the meticulously planned choreography. Beaming with pride, the choreographer turned to me. “How about you, Hyun-Woo? You\'ve been quiet the whole time."

That was when I finally broke my hesitation and voiced my concerns. “The choreography seems a bit too challenging."

“Too difficult?" The choreographer looked puzzled, tilting his head slightly.

With a trace of surprise in his voice, he remarked, “I think Chronos is more than capable of handling this.”

“It’s an amazing dance, but a simpler chorus would be ideal in my opinion.”

The complexity of this choreography was, in fact, less daunting than what we had tackled in our Pick We Up days, so with some practice, mastering it should be relatively easy. However, I couldn\'t shake off the concern that, despite the song\'s potential for success, it might not be as appealing as the hits I had witnessed in the past.

“We made it challenging for your debut, and you don\'t like it?" The choreographer\'s voice carried a hint of wounded pride as he ruffled his hair, his brow furrowing.

I quickly shook my head. “It’s not about liking it or not. I\'m just sharing my thoughts. I was hoping the chorus could be simplified a bit, so it\'s easier for the general public to follow...”

The song was a guaranteed hit, and expectations for Chronos were soaring. We had worked diligently to establish this favorable setting, but if the choreography was too complicated, wouldn\'t it be challenging for people to follow along? Also, the reason this song had been a hit in the past, dominating school and festival stages nationwide, was its unique yet catchy melody combined with a dance routine that appealed to all.

Reina\'s agency had gotten this song back then and opted for a simpler choreography to accommodate members who weren\'t as adept at dancing, a decision that ultimately contributed to its widespread success.

“Could we tone down the difficulty of the chorus a bit? Would that be possible?" I asked, my tone filled with respect and consideration for the choreographer\'s sentiments. Chronos certainly warranted a more elaborate dance than just something simplistic, but the current difficulty was a tad too much for the general public.

“I have a different opinion." Lee Jin-Sung spoke up when the choreographer and other members interpreted my suggestion as merely a personal preference. “Why do we need to make the current choreography simpler? What’s the reason?"

“I actually agree with Hyun-Woo," Joo-Han interjected. Hearing this, Jin-Sung expressed clear discontent, his lips forming a pout as he insisted, “There\'s nothing wrong with the choreography!"

“I don’t say that Hyun-Woo is entirely correct, but there is some merit to his perspective,” Joo-Han added. The dynamic and powerful choreography seemed to resonate perfectly with Jin-Sung’s tastes, and he was evidently not inclined to consider my viewpoint.

I paused for a moment and spoke softly, almost as if trying to persuade a child gently. “Our target audience ranges from trend-conscious teens to those in their twenties. Also, I\'m not proposing a complete overhaul of the choreography, just a refinement of the chorus. Let\'s make it something both celebrities and the general public can easily follow."

“But why should we compromise our strength? Chronos is known for its complex group dances," Jin-Sung countered.

I nodded in agreement. “Indeed, that is our strong point."

“But...?" My proposal was understandably a letdown for Jin-Sung, the group’s main dancer. The idea of toning down the choreography probably seemed illogical to him.

I pondered over how to convince Jin-Sung and briefly slipped into my trainer mode to rationalize the need for simplifying the choreography. “Jin-Sung, is there anyone who doesn’t recognize our dance skills?"

“Huh?"

“We’re known for our dance prowess, and lowering the difficulty of our title track\'s chorus won’t make people forget that, will it?” The public\'s enthusiasm for Pick We Up had been incredible. To exaggerate it slightly, I was certain that anyone with a fleeting interest in idols would associate Chronos with dance.

“Still, I’m against lowering the standard of something that’s already perfect," Jin-Sung expressed, offering no further argument but maintaining a firm stance.

“Sophisticated and complex choreography is the core identity of Chronos, so I don\'t agree with you," he declared, exiting the practice room.

“Sigh, this kid always avoids a confrontation," the manager muttered as he trailed after Jin-Sung.

“...I\'m sorry," I apologized.

“No need to apologize. You\'re entitled to your opinion," the choreographer reassured me, as he started to pack up his things and guided the dancers out of the room. “Once you sort this out, let me know. I\'ll adjust the choreography to suit your consensus."

As the choreographer left, a heavy silence enveloped the practice room. Joo-Han stood up, letting out a heavy sigh. “I\'ll go talk to Jin-Sung and bring him back. You guys can head back to the dorm now."

“I thought I did a decent job convincing him this time," I said.

“I guess not. I will see you at the dorm.”

“Okay.”

Joo-Han followed the manager, and the three of us made our way back to the dormitory. The echoes of our previous disagreement still lingered, casting a shadow over the atmosphere. Even in the presence of cameras, the somber mood persisted.

“...I will bring some ice,” Park Yoon-Chan announced, heading toward the kitchen with a visible awareness of the cameras. Meanwhile, Goh Yoo-Joon and I swiftly grabbed a basin and filled it with water, as if seizing the opportunity to lighten the mood.

“Dang, that’s freezing!”

“We haven’t done ice compress for a while.”

“Ah, I am too tired to even think about taking a shower. I just want to crash. It’s pretty amazing that we are still awake after the trip,” said Goh Yoo-Joon as he immersed his feet in the ice water and leaned back.

“We were up since dawn for the shoot, rode the amusement park rides, and then hit the practice room. Plus, yesterday was packed with meetings and extra recording."

“True. Everyone’s a bit on edge today. The argument earlier didn’t seem worth such a reaction.”

Their consoling words brought a faint smile to my face. “Sorry, guys."

“No worries! Joo-Han agreed you had a point, so just talk things out with Jin-Sung when he’s back. I’m cool with anything," reassured Yoo-Joon.

“That’s right, hyung. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were just looking out for the group, weren’t you? Don’t let Jin-Sung\'s stubbornness sway you," said Yoon-Chan.

Indeed, we all found ourselves growing more sensitive and fatigued amid the preparations for our debut. While the title track was complete, the mounting stress became too much for us, particularly with the producer\'s critical feedback during the recording of other songs and our limited input in meetings. As a result, Jin-Sung\'s frustration seemed to reach a boiling point when I suggested toning down the choreography on top of everything.

Sighing, I absentmindedly stirred the ice water. I had no choice but to speak up. The best strategy to match the success of the previous group’s “Parade” required simplifying the chorus. It would be a dent in my pride if this destined-to-be-great song couldn’t create the same impact as before.

“Stop worrying about it,” Goh Yoo-Joon reassured me, patting my back. “To be honest, I prefer the current choreography, but I see where you’re coming from. Also, Jin-Sung did react a bit too strongly." After a brief exchange, we cleaned up and headed to our rooms.

It was past 11 PM, but Joo-Han and Jin-Sung had not yet returned.

***

At 12:30 AM, my eyes ached from fatigue, but I couldn’t bring myself to sleep, particularly with Joo-Han and Jin-Sung still out. How could I possibly sleep after such a confrontation? I remained seated on the couch with the TV playing in the background, as I felt guilty hurting Jin-Sung with my greed.

Suddenly, the sound of the door lock clicking made me turn my head. Jin-Sung and Joo-Han were entering. “Huh? You haven’t slept yet, Hyun-Woo?"

I slowly stood up, feeling a bit relieved. “I can’t sleep. What about you guys? Where have you been?"

At that time, my eyes met Jin-Sung’s. He definitely seemed uneasy and quickly looked away. Joo-Han then nudged him toward me and said, “You two should talk. I’m off to shower."

“...Okay...”

After Joo-Han left for the bathroom, Jin-Sung walked past me into the living room, and I followed him, noticing his occasional glances back at me. He then sat somewhat apart from me on the couch, biting his lip as if struggling to find the right words.

I finally broke the silence. “Jin-Sung, I’m sorry. I know how much dancing means to you."

He directly waved his hands and shook his head, his expression one of concern. “No, no! I’m the one who should apologize, Hyun-Woo hyung. I overreacted. Your points were all valid. It was just my ego getting in the way."

“I was too abrupt in my approach, not considering how you’d feel," I said.

Jin-Sung\'s eyes welled up, regret evident from his earlier exit. “No, it\'s... you know your words are not that convincing... heup..."

“What?" I was taken aback as he brought this up out of nowhere. “You think I\'m not articulate...?"

“Earlier... umm... Joo-Han hyung said..."

“What did Joo-Han hyung say?"

“Waaah.”

“Don\'t cry, just tell me. What did he say?"

His tears weren\'t my focus. Grasping his shoulder, I urged him to speak, and Jin-Sung blurted out, “He said you\'re not good with words..."

What was that? That was unexpected. This awkward, disconcerting feeling...

“I.. sob sob... knew about it, but... Waaaah! I am sorry! I... I should have been more understanding, waaah!”

It was embarrassing to the point that my heart ached. “...Jin-Sung."

“I... heup... knew that you are... sob... not good at convincing...”

It would have been better to just hear him swearing at me. “I am okay with speaking. It’s just that I am not convincing.”

‘Ugh, I would have been the leader if I was good at that.’

A somewhat bitter dawn passed by.