<Episode 45>
“Hello, sir.”
The members of Spade Joker arrived together with their manager.
They greeted me, then froze the moment they spotted Kang Woojin sitting beside me.
“I-Isn’t that actor Kang Woojin?”
Heeseo even stuttered.
“Hello. I’m Kang Woojin. But for today, I think it’d be better if you call me by a different name.”
The Spade Joker members turned their heads and looked around the meeting room.
It seemed like they were searching for hidden cameras.
‘It’s only natural they wouldn’t believe it.’
“This isn’t some kind of hidden camera prank, is it?”
“Not at all.”
“Then why is actor Kang Woojin here?”
“He agreed to help with your next album.”
The members’ gazes tangled in midair.
“Sorry, but no matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand. Could you explain?”
Cain spoke carefully.
“Nice to meet you. I’m composer Maru.”
“…What?!”
As expected of the main vocalist, Zen’s shout of surprise was loud and clear.
“Ah, sorry. I was just so shocked.”
He hurriedly bowed his head toward Woojin in apology.
“No, it’s fine. I was a bit surprised too, but you must be even more surprised. Oh, and it’s still a secret publicly, so you can’t talk about it anywhere.”
“Yes, understood.”
Juseok replied blankly.
“Alright, everyone, sit down. At this rate, we’ll be standing while talking.”
“Yes.”
The members of Spade Joker sat in the empty seats.
“I called you here because I wanted to hear your opinions.”
“Our opinions…?”
“Is it about a comeback?”
“That’s right. Of course, if you want to.”
They wouldn’t be able to refuse a comeback.
They had already come to fully understand the joy of being on stage.
“We want to make a comeback. As soon as possible.”
“Yeah. We want to show our fans something new.”
“Everyone said they were sad our promotions ended.”
Thinking about their fans, smiles slowly spread across the members’ faces.
‘They definitely do want a comeback.’
[Since I started stanning Spade Joker, I never once wished for a comeback. Sounds crazy, right? Even I didn’t want to know. Every comeback, I saw with my own eyes how the kids became more exhausted, how the light left their eyes… how could I wish for that? But then I thought, maybe they’ll rest since the company has no money? But songs kept coming out… Anyway, I never imagined I’d be desperately hoping for a comeback like this. They look so alive. So happy. I still can’t forget their first win. That overwhelming emotion!]
↳ I can’t believe I’m wishing for their comeback like this. They say a woman’s heart is fickle… guess it’s true.
↳ Seeing their eyes sparkle on stage makes it even harder to let them go. They look happiest when singing and dancing. How can we let them go?
↳ Agency, you know, right? You used to overwork them. Don’t deny it now. It’d break my heart.
↳↳ Seriously. Please. I’m desperate. More desperate than my grades.
[I’m praying with all my heart for Spade Joker’s comeback. Starting today, I’ve decided to have a religion.]
↳ LOL I’ll join that religion too. If it means Spade Joker can come back, I’ll pray hard.
↳↳ Exactly. Agency, you’ve got the hang of things now, right? This is the moment. You have to seize opportunities when they come.
↳ Now that they’ve met a good composer, I’m even more excited for the comeback. No more worrying about songs.
↳↳ LOL, we used to worry so much about songs, and now we don’t have to… it’s amazing.
“Really? Then that’s great. We have three candidate title tracks. Want to listen?”
“Yes!”
I played three songs for Spade Joker in succession: Han Youngjoo’s [POKER], Maru’s [LOG IN LOG OUT], and [End].
“For reference, we’re pushing [POKER] as the title track.”
All three songs were good, so I hesitated briefly, but to clearly differentiate from the previous album’s concept, [POKER] felt like the best fit.
Besides, we had already planned the concept and music video around it.
“We like all of them.”
Judging by their expressions, they weren’t lying.
‘Honestly, all three are good songs.’
“And we’re planning to hold a fan meeting.”
“A fan meeting?”
“Yeah.”
“Really? When?”
“Right before the next album release. I think it’d be good to pre-release the title track there.”
Anticipation filled their faces.
“And this time, we’ll be shooting two music videos.”
“Two?”
“Yeah.”
As I answered, Han Suseok stepped in to explain further.
“You probably guessed from the songs, but the concept of this album is a game.”
“Yes.”
“So one will be a standard music video like usual, and the other will be a story film, like a silent movie.”
“…Then do we have to act?”
Sora asked with a worried expression.
“Yes. But don’t worry too much. There won’t be any dialogue. Just think of it as expressing emotions as you do on stage.”
“Even so… we’ve never acted before.”
“I’ll teach you.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
At Woojin’s words, Sora’s face brightened.
“It won’t be too difficult since there’s no dialogue. And we won’t make you do anything too complex anyway.”
“Understood.”
“But why are you helping us this much, actor?”
Heeseo asked cautiously.
“Ah, I’m acquainted with your CEO. That’s why I’m helping.”
“With our CEO?”
“Yes.”
The members didn’t press further.
“Anyway, let’s talk about the fan meeting. Is there anything you want?”
“We want to give fans something they’d really like.”
“That’s not hard. Anything made with your sincerity, they’ll love.”
“Sincerity?”
Heeseo tilted her head, unsure.
“For example, giving out photo cards with your pictures and signing each one personally, or making something yourselves.”
“Would they really like that?”
“Of course,”
I answered Leejoo firmly.
“Expensive gifts? Sure, people like them. But nothing beats sincerity. Fans will be moved to tears just knowing you spent time and effort for them.”
Fans don’t want extravagant things.
You could tell just by looking at social media.
No fan expects luxury cosmetics or expensive items from idols.
Though of course, they’d still be happy if their favorite idol gave them one.
“Even if you give just a single flower, they’ll be happy. So give them heartfelt gifts, and a great performance on stage.”
“Performance?”
“You weren’t planning to skip performing just because it’s a fan meeting, were you?”
“It’s our first fan meeting, so we didn’t know.”
“You haven’t watched other idols’ fan meetings?”
“We avoided it… We thought it might make us feel inferior.”
That made me pause.
At this point, Spade Joker had never held a fan meeting.
Because in the game, there was no “fan meeting” command.
‘It’s been so long since I played the game, I forgot.’
“Start watching from today. If there are good ideas, we should use them too, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. And there’s something else I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“The comeback date. We shortlisted some available venues and dates for the fan meeting. We need to set the comeback date first. Take a look and choose.”
I handed them the document listing available venues and dates.
They examined it with serious expressions.
“Can we discuss it among ourselves for a moment?”
“Of course.”
With my permission, they moved aside and began discussing.
“Six months feels too long.”
“I agree.”
“The fans would have to wait too long.”
Six months.
In reality, that wasn’t long at all.
Unless everything, album specs, choreography, songs, was already finalized, six months was actually tight considering music video filming, recording, practice, and production.
While the company staff would manage fine since the concept and songs were already prepared, the members themselves would likely have to push through intense schedules with little rest.
And yet, Spade Joker said six months was too long.
“CEO.”
Cain called out, as if they had reached a decision.
“Yeah?”
“We’ve decided.”
“Alright. When?”
“Three months.”
Three months was the tightest schedule we had proposed.
Of course, I had expected it.
They would want to come back quickly, for their fans.
‘And before, they were overwhelmed with nonstop schedules. Now, even with fewer schedules, the fan response is better… so they’re more motivated.’
“Are you sure? It’s going to get really busy. Even more than you think.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll be even more overwhelmed than last time, especially preparing for the fan meeting. I’m warning you.”
“Yes. We’re really okay.”
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