Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 235

—————

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

—————

Episode 27.

“…So that’s the situation.”

Inside the Dormitory.
The members huddled together in a tight circle in the Living Room, their eyes fixed on me as I stood before them.

“So we have to make a comeback within the next month… is that right?”
“Yes.”

Yeon Ju-hong looked utterly dumbfounded,

“But we don’t even have the title track yet? We’ve only completed half the songs for the full album?”
“Yes.”

Kim Geum’s jaw had practically unhinged in shock,

“If we factor in the concept photos, teasers, and all the other promotional materials… we basically have to finish everything in two weeks, don’t we?”

Seo Baek-young’s expression screamed disbelief at this reality.

“Actually, no. I told them that schedule was impossible, and the Shop Owner adjusted it for us. The music video shoot is set for exactly three weeks from now. So….”
“Which means the album needs to be nearly complete by then. We can’t shoot the music video without the concept finalized.”
“But in exchange, he’s assigned us an extremely talented director. Someone who can turn even our roughest ideas into something polished.”
“….”

The members said nothing to me, but their eyes spoke volumes of silent curses.
The kind that meant: ‘In other words, schedule things generously enough that we don’t have to pitch half-baked ideas in the first place.’

“For this comeback, both Label 1 and Label 3 are being mobilized entirely.”
“!”
“…You all know what Colors is like. They would never normally—”
“Provide support like this to us.”

Nodding as if acknowledging the truth of those words, I continued.

“We’re essentially pouring all the resources we originally planned to use for launching a rookie girl group into you all.”
“!”
“So we can’t afford to miss an opportunity like this.”

I exhaled a long breath in front of the members for the first time.
I hadn’t meant to sigh. But seeing Kim Geum, I found myself tensing up and releasing a long breath without realizing it.
Because I could only restore Kim Geum’s hearing if this album succeeded.
So that’s why.

“I know this will be hard on everyone. But… just this once. I’d really appreciate it if you’d trust me and run with me.”

At those words, the members looked up at me in silence for a moment—

“!”

Then they suddenly jumped up and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“What are you saying!! Just this once?!”
“We’ve always been like this, and Chung-chung will always be ours.”
“That’s right, Chung. If anything, we should be asking you. Please don’t get tired and keep doing your best for us.”
“…I’ve told you several times there’s no need to ask for something like that.”

At the words each member threw at me, I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
This is why I can’t help but worry. These members push themselves too hard even when I tell them not to overdo it, so if I’m the one asking them to push just a little…
They’d definitely run like they’d gone mad.
But since this time everyone had to work together with all their hearts, instead of trying to stop the members, I held them close.
Ready to run in their place whenever they grew tired.

***

? What’s this StillBlue suddenly changed their homepage

Huh?
StillBlue’s communication app changed to a personal app???

What is this what’s going on
It’s called Blueming

Blooming!!
Dropped it right away
(photo)
Damn, the app UI is so cute though
Wait, StillBlue is making a comeback?

EVEL fans, go into the Blooming app right now OMG

As the sudden teaser sent the fan community into a frenzy, Bleduck hurriedly installed the Blooming app on their phone.
Originally, idols under Colors had been registered on Colors’ exclusive communication app.
But a few weeks ago, they suddenly announced they’d be temporarily halting service for app maintenance… and now it was back without any warning.

‘This is insane.’

After chanting comeback prayers over and over, it was finally returning.
Bleduck opened the app with a beaming smile spread across their face.

“!”

The app screen was filled with a dazzling shimmer—pale, refreshing waterside hues and the glimmering light dancing across the surface.
Above it, the text 【Blooming】 appeared before gradually blurring and transforming into 【Still Blue, And Ever Blue】.
And then.
A small sailboat emerged slowly from the left edge of the screen.
As the boat came to a stop in the middle of the screen, ripples continued spreading outward around it.
As if begging to be tapped.

‘How could I not tap it.’

Bleduck tapped the boat immediately.
Then,
The screen suddenly darkened as a fierce rain poured down on the ocean, thunder and lightning crashing down.

An endless storm
Rain that seems eternal falls
Before my eyes is Blue
Have I lost my way
I’m a castaway

At that very moment, a ballad layered with the five members’ harmonies flowed out.
Following the members’ voices, the boat swayed endlessly back and forth, rocking and rocking again.
Then.
Small girl character versions of the members appeared on the boat, waving their hands toward me as if pleading for rescue.

‘The members!’

Bleduck’s eyes widened at the sight of these characters that seemed oddly familiar.
Wait, weren’t these the characters the members had drawn during a recent live broadcast when they asked “what if we were turned into characters?”
Back then I thought they were just creating content for new merchandise…!

‘But the clothes they’re wearing are strange?’

Like… something a prince might wear… no, wait, that?
They were too small to see clearly, but
either way, I couldn’t ignore the members’ desperate signal for help, so I clicked on the boat once more.
Then.
The members began sending something down from beneath the boat.
And the boat was swept away by the storm and disappeared somewhere.

‘No!’

As the boat carrying the members vanished, the sky cleared as if by magic, and the beautiful, serene ocean returned, but my heart ached inexplicably.
But then.

Beyond that horizon somewhere
Are you there?
You are my Big Dipper
I still can’t forget
The night the fireworks burst

Suddenly, a glass bottle containing a note appeared from the direction where the members had vanished, and a new song began to play.
The glass bottle grew larger as it drifted toward me, and soon the cork sealing it opened.
Then the note inside the bottle slipped out and unfolded.

We invite you now
to StillBlue’s party to find what was lost.
Will you accept the invitation?

YES

NO

That note turned out to be an invitation.

‘What StillBlue lost?’

What could that be?
Bleduck was puzzled, but I couldn’t ignore an invitation from the members, so I immediately pressed the 【YES】 button.
The screen changed again, and the small boat from before had transformed into an enormous vessel.
Not only that, but my perspective shifted as well—now I was hiding behind a rock, gazing up at the ship.

‘…Wait. This composition feels so familiar…?’

The overwhelming sense of déjà vu made me freeze for a moment.
But before I could collect myself, brilliant fireworks suddenly erupted from the ship as if a grand Fireworks Festival were unfolding.
And then….

‘The members!’

My jaw dropped at the sight of the members appearing on the deck.
They wore lavish ensembles that blended regal military dress uniforms with the elegance of gowns, all of them gripping the ship’s railing as they gazed at the fireworks.
Then, all at once, they turned to look in my direction, as if seeing through the screen.
And,

[We found you.]

As if they’d finally discovered something they’d been searching for endlessly, they spoke softly with radiant smiles.
At that very moment.

You don’t need to say a word
I hear it all
The brilliant burst of light
Pop Pop Pop
Pop Pop Pop
You are the spark spark of the night sky, radiant like a pearl
I am the Bubble Bubble of the night sea, a fleeting sparkle

An easy-listening style song flowed out—calm yet rhythmic. Emotionally resonant, yet never dull, the beat was captivating.

Crystalline plosives bursting through
Pop Pop Pop
Pop Pop Pop
It’s okay if I can’t hear anything
Because I can see it all

As the brief yet intense song came to an end.

[I won’t lose it again]

With one of the members’ whispered voice, the screen faded to black.
Then it returned to the ocean-themed communication app’s screen.
Yet Bleduck still couldn’t fully return to reality.

‘The StillBlue prince… actually exists.’

—————

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

—————