A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 291

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Initial Intentions Episode 291

The evaluation method for the first round of the main competition is the infamous ‘mic selection’.

The team producer delivers the song for the first round main stage, you practice it, and then perform it in front of the producers.

It sounds simple and straightforward at first glance, but the reason this mic selection is infamous is because those who will perform on the first round main stage are chosen right before going on stage.

That’s why it was constantly criticized and disappeared starting from season 6.

Usually, they prepare individually and perform solo stages, then the producers choose two people to put on stage. They even decide the first and second verses at that time.

And now Gongchul and BQ9 have chosen a method where they’ll pit 2v2 team combinations against each other and definitely put one team up.

Considering there was no such method from seasons 1 to 3, it was quite a radical evaluation approach.

‘Since I’ve already rolled in as the troublemaker, might as well stir up even bigger trouble.’

Moreover, Seven Kick has set up a confrontation structure of connection hip hop versus skill, so interest will grow even more.

Anyway, it seemed they had properly succeeded in securing entertainment value and screen time.

“Are all the teams decided?”

Gongchul, who had returned, started handing out USB drives to us one by one.

“This is the first round main song, and the midterm evaluation will be held here in two days. Prepare well.”

Everyone here knew that the final evaluation would be the mic selection conducted beneath the main stage.

The time given was only two days.

The practice room was provided by Dub Net, just like during the group soundtrack mission. The first thing we did upon arriving at the practice room was listen to the first round main song.

“Oh, it’s BQ9.”

I could easily tell the composer was BQ9 from this song that was clearly different from Gongchul’s style from previous seasons, which I had deliberately looked up when choosing teams.

Then it would be advantageous to match the stage concept to BQ9’s style.

“Front, back?”

“I think we should decide parts based on who can do them with higher quality. We’re not competing against each other anyway, right?”

At my leisurely response, Seven Kick roughly ruffled his hair and bluntly said,

“Then you do verse 2. Anything else to decide?”

“Since we’re already paired up as a team going on stage, let’s also decide stage outfits and stage concept. Every time I watch the first round main, the impromptu selection makes the stages chaotic and messy, which was quite annoying.”

“Let’s go with the attitude of tearing everything apart. What does concept matter.”

“I think you’re thinking of idol activity concepts because I’m an idol, but I was talking about setting the stage framework and rapping according to the song. So we don’t each do our own thing and end up like oil and water. And this really works well for showing that we prepared hard.”

“Ah, that’s what you meant?”

Seven Kick nodded and hesitated.

“The outfit isn’t… you’re not suggesting we wear idol looks, are you?”

Looking at Seven Kick’s trembling eyes as if I had suggested a 5-part shorts marine look, I nodded. Seven Kick’s mouth fell open.

“Fuck, seriously?”

“Idol looks have a wide range. Fresh, sexy, cute, high teen, and so on. But I don’t think hyung could pull off any of these.”

When I spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously, Seven Kick made a face like he couldn’t decide whether to get angry or feel relieved.

“So what should we wear?”

“This.”

I showed him the phone screen with search results.

An outfit that Seven Kick could also pull off splendidly.

* * *

“Wow, this is driving me crazy. The song absolutely has to come out by this month.”

After finishing intense song practice with Seven Kick, I could only return to my studio in the dark evening.

The hip hop survival and Rev activity preparations overlapped, but I happened to become a team of destiny with Seven Kick for the first round main.

So what can I do? I have no choice but to cut down on my sleep time.

“But is it possible to do DTB at the same time? The main competition has a lot to prepare. You have to spend that much time on it too.”

“I need to at least get the song draft done within this week. The first round main is just singing the given song, but from the semi-final onwards it gets crazy. The final requires preparing two songs.”

I stretched fully and responded to Gyeon Hajun’s worried question.

They’ll probably film the process of preparing for the second round main this week to secure footage for episodes 8 and 9.

But still, the second round main was less burdensome than the semi-final stage I’d need to worry about, so this week would clearly be the most mentally relaxed week.

Currently, I was in a state where my confidence had returned quite a bit after going through the DTB group soundtrack mission process and evaluation of the results I put out into the world.

“This one seems to have turned out pretty decent. Hey, Jun. Let’s try guide recording once. Skip the rap parts and just do the first verse for now.”

When I handed the sheet music with lyrics to Gyeon Hajun, he scanned through the lyrics and music and entered the recording booth.

I nodded along to Gyeon Hajun’s voice echoing through the studio. Since the songs I had struggled to work on during my slump were such low quality, this song that came out decently after a long time was quite satisfying.

Gyeon Hajun’s expression was subtle as he took off his headset and came out of the recording booth. But that was only for a moment, and he returned to his usual gentle face as if nothing had happened.

When I played it again, the guide recording we just made flowed out from the audio exactly as it was.

“Oh, did you work on a regular album track first?”

Ryu Jaehee, who had entered the studio midway, listened to the recording for a bit and asked me. Ryu Jaehee, who immediately caught my darkening expression, quickly corrected himself with an “oops” expression.

“It wasn’t a B-side track, it was this year’s comeback title track…”

“To be precise, it’s not the title track but a title track candidate.”

I corrected Ryu Jaehee’s words again and made a groaning sound.

“Sorry. I should have realized quickly. It’s not that the song quality is bad, but compared to previous title tracks, the impact is weak? Should I say it lacks distinctiveness? Are you uncomfortable with this kind of evaluation too?”

At Ryu Jaehee’s cautious question added after his evaluation, I waved my hand and looked back at Gyeon Hajun.

“Jun, do you think the same as Jaehee?”

“It was safe.”

At that answer, I roughly ruffled my hair and buried my head on the desk, muttering.

“No, actually this worked out well. It’s better than making a comeback with B-side quality.”

No wonder his expression was subtle. It seems my standards and listening skills have lowered from hearing only the low-quality songs I’ve been churning out while trying to overcome my slump.

During DTB, all the beats were already laid out, so I didn’t have to add melodies.

Although it was meant to reduce the gap before the regular album, this activity was quite important.

The pie I brought in with DTB season 4, and the overseas pie I could pull in thanks to ‘s explosive overseas response.

Whether I could fully eat these two pies depended on this activity.

And to raise the morale of fans who were disappointed by ‘s poor domestic performance, this activity’s results absolutely had to exceed expectations.

“Rev 610th meeting, let’s change rooms.”

As soon as I roughly finished the song work and returned to the dormitory, I gathered the members and made a declaration disguised as a meeting.

“They say trying changes and creating new environments helps overcome stagnation and slumps.”

“I’ve also wanted to change rooms for a while. The sunlight in my room is too strong.”

Ryu Jaehee immediately agreed and chimed in. The other members also nodded one by one. Ryu Jaehee was already quickly making post-it notes for drawing roommates.

“It’s a bit regrettable. The private room was comfortable without interruptions.”

“Then Juni, you keep using the private room.”

After tossing the private room to Gyeon Hajun, I suddenly thought it seemed like I had decided unilaterally, so I sneakily turned it into a meeting.

“Alright, Rev 611th meeting. Anyone object to Hajun continuing to use the private room?”

Surprisingly, Kim Dobin, who could have easily objected saying he wanted the private room, readily agreed.

“Rather than rooming with Hajun hyung, I’d much rather endure Eden hyung’s morning nagging. I was seriously going crazy wanting to use my phone at dawn back then. Even when I tried to keep light from leaking by covering myself with blankets and turning on my phone, I’d immediately hear ‘Dobin’ flying at me, ugh…”

Kim Dobin shuddered and shook his head as if remembering that time.

“Right, Dobin. That was really hard for me too. I won’t say anything about tossing and turning since that’s a sleeping habit, but why turn on your phone at 2 AM instead of sleeping.”

Gyeon Hajun smiled kindly and verbally smacked Kim Dobin.

The other members also agreed to Gyeon Hajun using the private room. Everyone had experience rooming with Gyeon Hajun once, so they knew well about his sensitive hearing while sleeping.

The only one opposing Gyeon Hajun’s confirmed private room was the person who had been given the room himself.

“There must be others who want to use the private room besides me. I don’t think I should monopolize it alone for this long.”

Gyeon Hajun tore off another post-it, drew a star shape, and threw it among the other notes.

Two circles, two triangles, and one star. A total of five notes were thoroughly mixed.

Each person chose one, then unfolded and revealed their notes.

“It’s a star.”

Gyeon Hajun had won the private room again.

A subtle smile hung on Gyeon Hajun’s lips, as if he was pleased with the room lottery results.

Whether Gyeon Hajun, who had shown card shark potential, displayed his talent in this drawing too, or if it was really in the realm of luck, only he would know.

Considering his eyes didn’t leave the papers until Ryu Jaehee mixed them again, the former possibility was quite high…

“Who’s the triangle? Huh, Ryu Jae, is that you? Really? Yes! It’s been so long since the youngest line were roommates! Ryu Jae, we’re roommates!”

“Oh, now that I think about it, this is the first time hyung and I became roommates since we moved.”

While the youngest line high-fived each other on either side, celebrating their roommate formation, Seo Yehyeon and I stood looking straight ahead with sour expressions.

In front of each of us, papers with circles drawn on them were spread out on the floor.

It was a monumental third roommate lottery win. If you include the semi-basement dorm from before we moved, it would be the fourth time.

Are they telling me to close the distance that had grown before my regression all at once now?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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