These lewd things are idols?: Episode 45

Episode: 45

After sleeping well for a day, I feel a bit more clear-headed.

Is it really right to contact the composer just to record one song and go to the studio?

These days, unlike in the past, people don’t debut with a full-length album of nearly ten songs anymore.

It feels more like debuting with a mini album.

But still, we had to at least produce four to five songs.

One of those could become the title track.

Or even three.

If we like them, it doesn’t matter if it’s three or four.

However, that would mean making music videos for all of them and coming up with choreography too.

Everyone would just have to put in a little more effort in those areas.

"But still... this isn’t plagiarized, right?"

As soon as I woke up in the morning, I started worrying about something stupid.

No, maybe that’s too harsh of a word.

Listening to the song recorded in the composer’s somewhat lacking voice made me worry about all sorts of things.

At least when it’s recorded in the composer’s voice, I can’t imagine it being a plagiarized song.

'These days, plagiarism controversies pop up so often.'

Of course, I understand the composers’ frustrations too.

We’re living in a world where the process of making music that can be truly called original barely exists anymore.

Even when they try their best to infuse it with their own unique touch in the chords...

Plagiarism accusations still happen.

"Well, at least with Composer Kim Gi-bok, that’s unlikely, right?"

This person’s chords are truly one of a kind.

There was a moment when I worried if this would really appeal to the public.

But after listening to it, it seems like I don’t have to worry about that.

The lyrics are the same.

It’s hard to believe that this is the same composer who used to write such vulgar lyrics—these lyrics are so pure and refreshing.

"So, what should I do? Should I go see him or not?"

[Stop being so hesitant. I'll tell you.]

[Telling you this won’t make a big difference in the outcome anyway, so I’ll let you know.]

"Thank you. You’re so kind, Nobel."

[Tsk. Really. As expected from someone in the management industry. You’re shameless.]

[Anyway, going to see him would be much better.]

[Kim Gi-bok was able to create this song in just two days because he was genuinely impressed by the kids.]

[He’s someone who usually doesn’t leave the house much. In fact, the only concert he’s ever been to was watching a university festival performance from a distance. But seeing the kids in person, performing just as they would on stage, really shocked him.]

"Oh, really? That’s unexpected."

From his appearance...

How should I put it...

With all the tattoos and piercings on his ears and lips, I thought he liked being out and about.

[Kim Gi-bok chose to be a composer, and specifically for 19+ content, because he doesn’t really like socializing with others.]

[In fact, he doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight.]

[You could say he doesn’t have any ambition.]

But for someone like that, he sure handled himself well in front of people.

[He’s a man who delivers when it matters. You’ve seen it yourself, haven’t you?]

Ah, I see.

[Anyway, it’s a situation similar to Eun Hee-ju’s. After spending two days composing and writing lyrics, he’s burned through almost all the fire inside him. So, you need to help reignite that flame.]

"Should I ask the kids to wear something a bit sexy and dance in front of him?"

[That would probably have the opposite effect.]

[Just take the kids to the studio and work on the recording together. That should be enough.]

"Okay."

If it were someone else, I wouldn’t have agreed so readily.

But since it's Nobel saying it.

[Of course, I am the godly AI, so it’s only natural, but still... it feels nice, somehow. Hmph.]

Are you a tsundere?

After finishing my thoughts, I leave the room and see the kids preparing their usual breakfast of salad.

By the way, the crab rice bowl we had yesterday was the first real meal we’d had in almost 30 days.

Other than that, even though they’re my kids, we didn’t have a particularly lavish diet.

The blessing of sex isn’t invincible, after all.

"Team Leader, you’re awake?"

"Yeah, give me a bowl too."

"But Team Leader, you don’t need to eat salad. And besides, they say men with a bit of a belly are more huggable."

"What are you talking about? We’re on the same team, we should suffer together."

At least mine is drenched in dressing.

The kids’ salad doesn’t even have any dressing on it, just plain greens.

Crunch, crunch.

Only the sound of chewing greens echoed through the room, making it unclear whether this was a dining table or a rabbit hutch.

“Ah. Maybe I’ll just have some water.”

Instead of her usual favorite sparkling water, Sung Se-ri pulled out an utterly plain bottle of still water. That’s when I grabbed her wrist.

“Hold on.”

“What are you doing, Team Leader? Can’t I even drink water?”

“Do you take me for a fool? You’ve hidden soju in that bottle, haven’t you? And when you open the cap, the smell of alcohol will come out.”

“Can you back that up?”

“I’ll stake my wrist on it.”

Sung Se-ri looked at me for a moment, then clicked her tongue.

“You’re sharp, aren’t you? I was only planning to have one drink.”

“You really should start shaking off that alcohol addiction.”

“I don’t really feel like it. If my debut tanks, I’ll just go back to drowning in booze. These days, the more weight I lose, the more I crave it. It’s driving me crazy.”

“That’s why I’m here to help you.”

“It’s only because you’re helping that I’m managing to hold on. So in that sense, let me have a shot after the meal—both by mouth and by body.”

Here we go again.

What’s more surprising is that the girls were just going about their lives, eating their salads, not bothered at all by this conversation.

“What are you up to, Min-seo?”

“Ah, I’m sending a message to my parents to see if they had breakfast and to check in on them. I’m planning to video call them later too.”

“Yeah, it’s important to stay in touch with your parents. They must be worried about you. How about you, Da-young?”

“I’m studying by watching dramas. If I succeed later, I’ll need to shoot dramas right away. You know that’s why I want to be an idol, right? By the way, the singing part is tough. The dance isn’t going to be that intense, is it? I might actually die.”

“And Hee-ju?”

“I’m just waiting to do whatever you tell me, Team Leader.”

What a group, each one brimming with personality.

Still, well…

“Today, we’re heading to Composer Kim Gi-bok’s studio to record, so just keep that in mind.”

“Yes!”

“Okay.”

“Got it.”

Even Da-young, who was engrossed in her drama, nodded along.

They’re all unique, but none of them neglect their responsibilities.

“Oh, right. We really need to decide on our group name soon.”

As I put my empty dish in the sink, only Min-seo showed any real interest.

“Just decide for us, Team Leader. It’s a hassle.”

“Ooh! Ooh! How about ‘Happy Virus’? A team that spreads happiness!”

“Dramatic Girls?”

“I’ll go with whatever you say, Team Leader.”

Uh. Hmm.

I knew naming a group wasn’t easy, but I thought something would come to mind right away. Turns out, not a single idea comes to me.

Happy Virus? Dramatic Girls?

“Even a group debuting in the '90s wouldn’t use those names.”

“Maybe if we search, we’d find one that did?”

Seong Seri said as she did the dishes.

“‘Team Leader and the Girls’ wouldn’t be bad.”

What a crazy suggestion, I thought, but—

“I actually think that’s good.”

Hee-ju agreed far too strongly.

Please, no.

Even a successful group would flop with a name like that.

“Cookies? Teddy Bear?”

“Teddy Bear doesn’t sound bad. It’s a common song title too. But saying, ‘Hello, we are Teddy Bear!’ feels a bit off. Remember the Oasis girls?”

“Yes.”

“They introduced themselves like, ‘We are Oasis! The meaning behind Oasis is blah blah blah.’ The group name needs to carry a certain meaning. It’s the same with WhitePink. They added White to Pink to give a fresh vibe.”

“It’s difficult.”

“Yeah, it is.”

When I actually tried to come up with something, it was hard to think of anything good.

The name needs to carry a special meaning.

“Miracle? Something like wanting to bring miracles to everyone?”

“It’s kind of a common name, and honestly, it doesn’t seem fitting for a girl group.”

Da-young, having finished her drama, lifted her head to comment.

Next was Hee-ju.

“I think that name from earlier is good.”

“Which one?”

“‘Team Leader’s Girls.’ It really means we’re girls that you raised like your daughters. I think it’s nice.”

“Hee-ju, let’s just keep quiet.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

I had to consider various factors.

“Well, as you all know, names like WhitePink, NewSia, and La Seras are a bit unique but also approachable. At the same time, they need to stick in people’s minds and not be too similar to existing names.”

“Ugh. Who would’ve thought naming a group would be this hard? It makes me newly grateful to my parents for giving me such a nice name like Min-seo.”

"Yeah. It must have been just as hard to come up with your names."

Even after that, a variety of names came up, but none seemed to meet the necessary conditions.

"Let’s not rush it."

"No one's in a rush."

At first glance, it might have seemed like they were just nitpicking, but both Da-young and Seong Seri said the same thing.

"We trust that you’ll figure it out, Team Leader. This is for real. You’re the one who brought all of us here."

"Everyone? Every?"

"Every sounds a bit lacking. ‘Hello, we’re Every, which means everyone!’”

“Ahem. Just kidding. Anyway, like I always say, you just need to focus on doing what I tell you to do. Got it?”

"Wait a minute. What did you just say?"

It wasn’t just Seong Seri who froze.

Everyone except Hee-ju looked at me as if they’d had a brilliant idea.

"Just listen to what I say, you guys."

"Not that. The word you mentioned first. Always, you said."

"Always? What about it? You should always do your best. Me, you, all of us."

"Isn’t it nice? Always? ‘Always’ is a word that can hold a lot of meaning. Honestly, it wouldn’t sound strange when introducing ourselves either.”

Min-seo nodded in agreement.

"Hello, we are Always! The meaning behind our group name is that we wish to always be a source of strength for you, whether you’re tired or feeling good. Additionally, it means we always strive to show our best selves."

"Always, huh. Always."

Sure enough, the more I repeated it, the less bad it sounded.

As Minseo said, there weren't many words as easy to assign a meaningful interpretation to as "Always."

Just to be sure, I checked to see if there was already a group with the same name.

There was a group that had been active in Thailand for the past five years.

I might sound a bit harsh saying this, but they weren’t exactly well-known, so it didn't seem like something to worry about.

It looked like they’d already disbanded anyway.

"Okay, let's go with 'Always' as our temporary group name for now."

"Sounds good."

"I like it too."

In the end, the group name just needed to have some impact.

What really mattered was how well the girls performed on stage and captured people's attention.

Feeling a bit dazed after deciding on the group name, we contacted Kim Gi-bok and started heading to the studio for recording.

When we arrived and all of us, except for Hee-ju, faced Kim Gi-bok at the same time, we couldn’t help but say the same thing.

"Um, are you okay?"

This guy...

How is he even alive?

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