Debut or Die - Chapter 286

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

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A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 286
“Should we organize our thoughts first?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Yes!”
Big Sae-jin began writing the agenda on a whiteboard in the corner of the Conference Room.
It was an emergency meeting hastily convened past midnight.
[Testa Comeback Date]
Our scheduled comeback happened to overlap awkwardly with VTIC’s.
‘Normally, the Agency would decide this on their own, and idols at our level wouldn’t have any say in it….’
After going through various circumstances, I realized we were involved in everything.
Well, it was what I’d intended anyway, and honestly, it felt better this way. If someone else made the decision and our album flopped, I’d lose my mind.
“First… our current comeback date is here.”
Big Sae-jin drew a long line at the date, then marked it at the beginning of the July section.
Monday, July 5th. The date we’d originally set for our comeback.
“We can fit a week’s worth of Music Broadcast Studio appearances, a full month’s chart performance in July, and all the third-quarter awards performance from July, August, and September! Wow~ whoever chose this really knew what they were doing, right?”
It was a date the Company and all the members had unanimously agreed on. I nodded.
“And I think VTIC probably thought the same way.”
“…!”
Of course they would. If they were going for July, they’d naturally choose the most efficient option.
Sun Ah-hyun carefully opened his mouth.
“So… could they have chosen the exact same date…?”
“Probably not exactly, since their standard would be Billboard.”
The day Billboard fully reflects the data would be…. Big Sae-jin was already writing it on the whiteboard.
[VTIC Senior’s Comeback Date]
[Billboard is Friday!]
“Friday! So that would be Friday, July 2nd~”
“Hmm.”
Just three days difference from our comeback.
July 2nd and July 5th.
The two points Big Sae-jin marked on the date line looked frustratingly close. Around the room, the others stared at the whiteboard with serious expressions.
Of course, except for one guy.
“Is there a problem? You don’t want to meet our VTIC seniors?”
It was Cha Yu-jin.
Naturally, someone immediately stepped in to one-on-one mark Cha Yu-jin.
“Cha Yu-jin, this isn’t about personal preferences! We’re talking about how both teams lose out on many evaluation metrics that are calculated based on relative market share!”
Kim Rae-bin proudly boasted about the calculation method he’d learned while preparing for this comeback.
‘He’s putting something he figured out less than a month ago to good use.’
To put it simply, no matter how much either of us sells, since it’s the same period, we’re essentially splitting one pie when looking at percentages.
‘Both impact and short-term performance take a hit.’
But Cha Yu-jin seemed indifferent.
“No way! We got first place last time! There’s no problem. We just need to do our thing on the Stage!”
“Last time?”
“Our debut album!”
Ah, that debut album where we’d dragged things out for weeks and secured first place through sheer streaming persistence.
‘Honestly, wasn’t that basically just taking advantage of VTIC being away on tour?’
The timing had worked out almost too perfectly. Usually things didn’t flow that smoothly.
Sensing similar thoughts, objections came from various quarters.
“That was just luck.”
“Yeah, exactly. We didn’t hit first place the moment we dropped, so honestly it’s a bit different~”
Ryu Chung-woo gently reasoned with Cha Yu-jin.
“I think what Kim Rae-bin meant is that we don’t need to take an unnecessarily difficult path. It’s awkward for the senior and for us too.”
At this point, I didn’t need to say anything.
“Ugh….”
Cha Yu-jin reluctantly accepted the majority decision.
‘So everyone except Cha Yu-jin wants to change it…’
I looked around at the faces and organized my thoughts.
Possible approaches.
“Moving up the comeback is difficult first of all. We have the music video schedule to consider.”
“Right, we’re also releasing separate teasers. Even if we push it up, I think a week is about the limit?”
And even if we moved it up, once we secured one week on the Music Broadcast Studio, VTIC would push in and that would be the end of it.
“Right. So the main thing to consider is pushing it back….”
Ryu Chung-woo added carefully.
“The Company mentioned August or September.”
“Hmm.”
That meant losing over a month before year-end.
‘It already seems risky since it’s hard to beat VTIC in terms of performance.’
Still, from the perspective of avoiding bigger risks, it was a stable choice. At minimum, we could secure two to three weeks of Music Broadcast Studio first place.
But I was in a bind.
‘I need to avoid choices that would create flaws in my route to the Grand Prize.’
What I wanted was to pick a date that would benefit the Grand Prize more than just Music Broadcast Studio first place.
But this… I could only speak up if I had a concrete alternative.
‘Usually people just pick August and call it done here.’
I racked my brain to speak up before the consensus solidified in that direction.
That’s when it happened.
“But I don’t want to push it back that much.”
“…!”
Ryu Chung-woo spoke first.
“Really?”
“Why, why?”
“Sure, it’s nice to easily get Music Broadcast Studio first place right now, but looking at the bigger picture, I think it’s better to go according to the plan we originally had in mind.”
He laughed with refreshing ease.
“I should challenge for the Grand Prize this year.”
No way.
‘That….’
“Ooh~ hyung!”
“That’s an impressive ambition, sir.”
“I like that too!”
Since he rarely made such declarations, the response was quite positive.
And after our eyes met, I became certain.
‘He’s really backing me up.’
He’d taken my words about needing to win the Grand Prize seriously.
‘Good.’
With that, it was definitely easier for me to broach the subject.
“So if we think in terms of preserving our existing schedule as much as possible… let’s analyze the projected performance.”
Instead of the whiteboard Big Sae-jin had claimed, I began organizing my thoughts with a pen on paper.
“First, VTIC’s album has a shorter gap than ours, and since it’s a repackage, it won’t see dramatic growth.”
The implication about their years in the industry was clear without saying it outright.
“Then let’s estimate 1.93 million copies based on their previous work.”
That was a terrifying number.
“Yes. And for us….”
If Testa’s initial sales went well, we could expect around 1.3 million copies.
Even that was insane sales volume.
‘A million copies isn’t exactly pocket change.’
Still, there was an unavoidable gap.
“…If we cap it at around 1.3 million, it’ll be hard to keep up in album sales.”
“Mm.”
But this wasn’t the end.
“However, we tend to perform better in digital sales.”
“Oh, right.”
That was Testa’s advantage over other male idol groups. Mass appeal.
We maintained our conceptual image while releasing easy-listening tracks roughly every other time, and we’d secured several successful solo variety shows because of it.
‘Of course, I can’t deny that starting with Ajusa was a huge factor.’
In any case, digital sales had long-term potential worth anticipating.
“So if no other major artists release then, when we and VTIC come out together, after the initial week drops, from week two onward….”
Wait.
If it goes like this….
“…!”
“Moon-dae, what’s wrong?”
I reviewed everything I’d written down. And then I realized.
‘I see.’
I’d been so consumed by the simultaneous releases that plagued our debut that I’d missed a crucial point.
What we were doing now wasn’t a debut at all.
I spat out the answer almost unconsciously.
“We ride VTIC’s coattails in.”
“Huh? What?”
“Just delay by one week. Then….”
Bae Sae-jin interjected.
“Wait, that’s exactly the same as our debut timing.”
That’s the point.
“No. The incident is the same, but the circumstances have changed.”
I turned the paper toward Bae Sae-jin.
“VTIC’s initial sales window ends, and in week two, that inventory—we absolutely dominate our initial sales against it.”
“…!”
“The music charts too… once we enter and stabilize, the graph will drop similarly. Maybe even slightly higher for us.”
I wrote the comparison on the paper.
[Albums]
VTIC (Week 2) < Testa (Week 1)
[Digital]
VTIC (Week 2) ? Testa (Week 1)
(Expected strong performance based on existing graph)
Just looking at it, we'd win on the music broadcasts.
'Broadcast scores can't flip this.'
We're coming back Monday and hitting radio promotions hard from then on!
Social media mentions and music video views won't lag either—it's our first week.
We're first-tier now.
"The structure from our debut is replicated exactly, but this time we absolutely secure the first week."
That's an enormous image advantage.
"And from week three onward, even if we trade places, it doesn't matter. As long as we don't fall behind, it's pure profit."
Big Sae-jin nodded.
"So you're saying we've grown this much, and now we don't lose even against VTIC sunbae, right?"
"Exactly."
Following the simultaneous release with Young-rin in January, we were solidifying our weight class.
This time we could actually compete by releasing simultaneously with a top-tier rival in the same industry.
'With the narrative comparison to our debut added on top of this, the story itself becomes compelling—there's definitely buzz potential.'
SNS and articles would flood with talk of a generational shift.
That's what we're aiming for.
'Honestly, beating VTIC on album sales this year is nearly impossible. Young-rin dominates the digital charts.'
So if balance is our advantage, there's only one category worth challenging.
[Artist of the Year]
The awards ceremony frames it as a "public opinion award" for whoever was the "trend" of the year.
'Both the digital and physical sales are top-tier, so there's no reason for anyone to object.'
It was a gamble, but worth attempting.
"Though I have to say, VTIC fans are really going to hate this, you know?"
"R-really?"
"I mean, wouldn't they feel used? That's the thing~"
That was precisely the risk we'd have to accept.
This kind of two-sided rivalry always brings backlash and fatigue.
"Y-yeah, the fans will probably struggle with it too…."
"Mm."
In truth, if the numbers came out as I predicted—with VTIC and us both performing well—it wouldn't matter. The satisfaction would outweigh the exhaustion.
'Wouldn't it also be good for fandom unity?'
Ajusa's current season was winding down anyway. Designating VTIC as an external rival right when internal fractures might resurface seemed like perfect timing.
And just as that thought crossed my mind, unexpected reinforcement arrived.
"If we do well, it's all good! No need to worry. Hyung, we'll do great! The fans will love it!"
It was Cha Yu-jin.
He seemed to be blindly shouting yes simply because the schedule could move forward without delay….
"How about us? Hyung, we'll do great, right?"
"Y-yeah. W-we'll do great…!"
"That's what I say!"
No one pushed harder than Cha Yu-jin. I watched as he somehow locked Sun Ah-hyun into the approval camp, then opened my mouth.
'This can't go on like this, no matter what.'
Everyone needed to think it through before agreeing. We couldn't afford to create division right after our comeback.
"I've shared my thoughts, but I'm sure some of you disagree. How about we all think it over individually and then vote?"
"Sounds good."
I proposed a majority vote, and the members readily agreed.
And moments later.
"…."
"Oh, unanimous~"
Surprisingly, the agreement passed without a single dissenting vote.
'This actually worked?'
I'd thought persuasion would be necessary.
And the ones I'd expected to object opened their mouths one by one to explain their reasoning.
"I-I didn't think we needed to be scared beforehand… For the fans, I think it really does come down to us doing well…!"
"Concept-wise, releasing this song at the end of summer would fail to fully showcase its appeal. Park Moon-dae hyung, that was excellent judgment."
The last was Bae Sae-jin.
"…Now that I think about it, delaying our schedule because another group is coming out feels like losing without even fighting."
"…."
I see.
Bae Sae-jin glanced away slightly. Ryu Chung-woo finished with a laugh.
"I've never lost by listening to what you say."
"…."
I rubbed the back of my neck and nodded.
"Then let's proceed as planned."
"Sounds good!"
We tentatively agreed on the comeback date.
Though I did have questions lingering in my mind.
Chung-ryeo's dyed hair and the secrecy surrounding it.
'What exactly is VTIC bringing to the table?'
And this was something I'd soon discover, whether I wanted to or not.
Two weeks later, VTIC released their first teaser.

* * *
[July K-pop Upheaval… A Mega-Scale Male Idol Group Eyes the Throne]
Mid-June, when the news of Testa's July comeback sent social media into a frenzy alongside VTIC's announcement.
The office worker who ran Park Moon-dae and Lee Sae-jin's twin fan account was keeping tabs on their biggest rival's movements as part of her research.
Haha, crawling in like some kind of creepy creature in the same month
-Our guys renewed their contract after five years and they seem to have lost it
'How predictable.'
The office worker clicked her tongue after checking VTIC's anonymous fan site, already bracing for a hectic month.
'Why are they so desperate to come out in July anyway?'
What grand summer song could they possibly be preparing?
'Fandoms are long-term investments anyway. I don't get why they're so obsessed with seasonal releases.'
The only silver lining was the extra income from selling VTIC's data with overlapping schedules, so she turned her attention back to her calculator.
'Both companies seem to have lost their touch. Well, T1 never had any to begin with.'
And then, that day, VTIC's teaser dropped.
[VTIC – 'H.E.L.P' Official M/V Teaser]
"…!!"
The office worker's mind flooded with exclamation marks.
'This is….'
It was definitely a summer special.
But the keyword they were targeting was entirely different.

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

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