Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 198

—————

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

—————

Chapter 198. Epilogue (3)

“I’m telling you, I’m not good at writing letters or anything like that.”
“You should make an exception for EVEL.”
“…Hmph.”

I really am terrible at writing letters.
I didn’t even write one for Ryu Bora’s birthday when I was younger and got scolded for it, and I still don’t write them now.
Of course, thanks to that, I get scolded every year.

“When did I suddenly hit puberty?”
“I’m twenty years old now, and you’re talking about puberty?”
“Maybe it’s delayed puberty….”

Why do I hate writing letters so much?
Because it’s embarrassing?
Because I’ve gotten so used to expressing myself through lyrics….
Prose is difficult for me.
But the reader asked me to do it.
And most importantly, since the person receiving it is EVEL, I’ll muster my courage and give it a try.
…How should I even start?
Hi, EVEL.
My name is Kim Geum.
Have you been well?
I’ve been doing really great.

“….”

Something feels off about this.

“Hey, Ryu Bora.”

When you don’t know something, asking a friend is always the best approach.
I nudge Ryu Bora, who’s resting in the adjacent room.
She’s watching a movie alone again.
At least today it’s not a horror film.
These days, Ryu Bora has been completely absorbed in time travel, regression, and loop-genre stories.
Chung-chung always freaks out whenever she watches those.
I’m not entirely sure why.

“…Get out.”
“I haven’t even told you what I need yet.”

Ryu Bora is prickly as always today.
But I’m used to it, so it’s fine.
Despite what she says, she seems to enjoy it when I come find her.

“How do I write a letter?”
“You can’t write a letter by yourself?”
“Right. I can’t. Help me out.”
“What exactly do you do all day?”

Ryu Bora glares at me.
But she does take my letter paper from me.
First victory.

“…You really haven’t written a letter before. What is this?”
“Well, what did you write so well?! What did you put down? Show me.”
“I finished and submitted mine ages ago.”

I have nothing to say to that.
Fine, you’re amazing.

“If you can’t write it well, convey it in your own way instead.”
“Huh?”
“You’re… good at writing songs. So use that to express it. Besides, we need to submit our title track demo candidates soon anyway. Why not put your feelings into one of the candidate lyrics?”

Ryu Bora seems like a genius sometimes.
She knows it too, which is the only reason she’s so insufferable about it.
But somehow, I just heard something that made me feel good.

“Do I write good songs?”
“Now get out for real.”

She’s not being honest.
Since she’s kicking me out, well, I suppose I’ll go.
Anyway, I’m getting the hang of it now.
Lyrics.
Even if I’m not great at writing letters, I’m confident I can write lyrics….
No, I’m confident I can write them diligently.
Since we’re in front of EVEL, I’ll be humble about it.

“Unnie.”

Oh.
It’s Ju-hong.

“Did you finish the letter?!”
“I’m already done.”
“…That won’t do! I can’t be slower than Kim Geum…!”
“You’re really going to get scolded.”

I flicked Ju-hong on the forehead.

“I’m heading to the Studio.”
“Kim Geum’s back at the Studio again….”

Time to head to the Studio for work.

***

“Geum, are you done?”

Chung-chung is calling me.
Our Chung-chung.
She’s acting like a mom again today.
The days I call her Mom Chung are increasing.

“Of course I finished.”
“…Really?”

Chung-chung is doubting me.
This is a wound to the heart.

“I want to tell everyone. StillBlue needs to gather.”
“…Tell us?”

Chung-chung’s eyebrows twitch.
Oh, how frightening.

“My name is Kim Geum. I’m an idol. Idols speak through song. I’ll tell you through this title track. As a bonus, I’ve created the concept myself.”
“….”
“Wow. The number one true member of this era, Kim Geum. The number one member who handles everything flawlessly, Geum Kim. There’s no other member like this, number one Kim Geum. The leader’s favorite character, Geum Kim.”
“That’s the gist of it.”
“Once you hear it, your anger will fade. Just listen.”

Before Chung-chung can get angry, I hurriedly summon the members.
Everyone has gathered in the living room.

“Actually, it’s not the title track. I think it would work well as a B-side. Still, since this is our first full-length album, the song is a bit too dark for a title track.”
“A dark song?”

The members look surprised.
It’s true—I don’t deliberately make the songs for our albums dark.
I can’t impose my personal tastes on the group.

“You could call it a dark, moody song. It’s time for StillBlue to try a dark song. We’re already in our third year, after all.”
“….”

Since they seem reassured now, shall I play it for them?
Truth is, I love dark songs.
This one is made with plenty of my personal feelings poured into it.

“The title is.”

I should build some suspense here, right?

“【Blue Sparkle】.”

***

Kim Deputy turned on the beam projector for the first time in a while.
It was because her favorite idol, Kim Geum, had asked her to watch this song’s music video on the largest screen possible.
Just before playing the music video.
Kim Deputy began reading the handwritten lyrics that the members had written.
This album’s title was 【My Blue Letter For You】.
It was a concept of StillBlue sending a letter to Ever Blue.
Since all the members participated in writing the lyrics.
StillBlue’s heart was contained within it completely, so fans called it ‘an album that should be buried in the grave together with you’.
Moreover, the album included personal letters from each member.
Wasn’t this the ultimate fan-targeting concept?
Kim Deputy checked Kim Geum’s letter with an excited heart.

***

This song is a song I dedicate to Ever Blue.
In the distant, very distant future.
Even if the moment comes when Ever Blue forgets us.
I wanted to write a song that Ever Blue could occasionally take out and listen to, thinking, ‘Ah, we were so happy back then.’
Actually, we always go to the Sea on January 1st every year.
This year, we brought something called Sparklers and played with small fireworks toys.
Everyone tries to write ‘LOVE’, but we couldn’t do it well.
So when we tried ‘EVER’, it somehow worked really well?
Even though there were only more difficult letters.
It must have been because our sincerity reached you.
I’m sending you a photo of the letters we wrote that day, included in this letter.
Rather than becoming the final firework in a splendid fireworks festival.
We want to remain as a small spark that shines eternally in EVEL’s hands.
I’m sending this with much affection and love.

P.S.
The lyrics are the original paper from the day I first wrote them.
So the handwriting might be a bit messy.

From Kim Geum.

***

It wasn’t even the title track.
Just a B-side.
But the moment I read the letter while listening to the song.
【Blue Sparkle】 became Kim Deputy’s favorite song.
R&B pop—something Kim Geum had barely attempted before.
A letter and lyrics written in crooked, distinctly Kim Geum-like handwriting.
Kim Deputy pressed play on the music video.
Then, the face of Kim Geum, freshly turned twenty, filled the screen.
The dawn of January 1st, filmed directly by the members with a camcorder.

[Wow, it’s freezing.]

Kim Geum breathed out, her breath misting in the cold air.

[I bought sparklers. Everyone grab one.]

Except for Ryu Bora, who held the camcorder, the other members each picked up a sparkler.

[…How do you use a lighter?]

No one answered Yeon Ju-hong’s question.
Eventually, they asked a passing stranger, and barely managed to learn how to use the lighter.

[This one won’t light up.]
[Did we buy the wrong ones?!]
[No, these are fine.]
[It’s lit, it’s lit!]

The moment the sparklers ignited, the members hurriedly lined up in a row.

[One, two, three.]

Following Yun Chung’s signal.

[Hello, EVEL!]
[Forever Blue, StillBlue!]

The members shouted their chant.
With that, the song’s intro began to play.

I am a blue Spark
to fill your black night
I was born

The members struggled to write ‘LOVE’, seeming lost in their efforts.
Then Ryu Bora whispered something into Kim Geum’s ear.
Kim Geum nodded in understanding, curling her fingers into an okay sign.

You said
I will love your flame forever
I said
For you, I’ll ignite everything and shine

Seo Baek-young held E.
Yun Chung held V.
Kim Geum held E.
Yeon Ju-hong held R.
The four of them waved their hands eagerly.
The letters ‘EVER’ gradually came into focus.

Spark Up
A shower of sparks spark up
Fly Up
Tell me fireworks will last forever
We are sparkling forever
and ever

Once they finished one set of sparklers.
Kim Geum snatched Ryu Bora’s camcorder and pressed a sparkler toy into her hands.

When the sparks burn out
where does the light go
such a question, like an ember
had burned within me before

Ryu Bora shook her head in refusal.
But soon, as if she had no choice, she accepted the sparkler and lit it.

The night remains dark
You remain lonely
And will be left behind

The hesitation lasted only a moment. As the spark ignited, Ryu Bora smiled faintly.
At the same time, the camcorder shook from Kim Geum’s laughter.

When my voice bursts forth
Like a festival of fireworks
I’ll take the remaining embers
And become your small spark

Yeon Ju-hong, thrilled by fireworks after so long, darted across the sandy beach with a new sparkler in hand.

Spark Up
A shower of sparks spark up
Fly Up
Tell me fireworks will last forever
We are sparkling forever
and ever

Seo Baek-young held the sparkler close to the water’s surface.
Light rippled across the water.
Yun Chung stepped beside her, gazing intently at the shimmering light.
The members gathered in a circle, looking down at the blazing sparks and the water beneath them.

I am a blue spark
Born to fill
Your dark night

In the dim morning, the boundary between sky and sea was unclear.
But that single light gradually made them distinct.
At the shallow water’s edge, their feet grew wet, yet no one minded—all eyes fixed on that light alone.
Kim Geum set the camcorder down on the sand.
Half the camcorder’s screen filled with sand.

Even when all festivals end
Take me with you
And bloom a spark of light in your heart

Half the sky was filled with the hazy dawn and my five members.

—————

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

—————