Chapter 141
Rumis House.
The living room looked like a battlefield.
Crushed energy drink cans and crumpled snack bags rolled across the table, and hastily scribbled notes were scattered around like the remnants of a fierce fight.
“Phew…”
Baek Doha let out a deep sigh and pushed the trash aside.
The sound of cans and snack wrappers rolling broke the silence of the early morning.
“REMAKE mission…”
Rubbing his bloodshot eyes, Baek Doha muttered under his breath.
“Maybe it’s safest to pick a group similar to our style?”
His fingers twirled a pen anxiously. They had been discussing ideas for hours, but nothing promising had come up.
“One Japanese group, one Chinese group.”
Thunk, thunk.
Ryu Sian, who had been rhythmically tapping his forehead on the table, suddenly looked up.
“How about combining two songs into one stage?”
“Time’s the problem. We have ten days to rearrange two songs, choreograph, and sync everything…”
Ha Jinwoo said with a worried expression.
“Ah, we can do it quickly.”
Kang Ian chuckled and patted Jinwoo on the back.
“Yeah, we have two genius producers here, right?”
Ryu Sian winked at Jinwoo, his tired eyes still full of absolute trust in Jinwoo, his fellow producer.
“Then, how about Nova?”
Cha Eun-gyeol picked up a tablet.
“They have the strongest K-POP vibe, so remaking them shouldn’t be too stressful.”
Baek Doha slowly shook his head.
“Wouldn’t other groups think the same? There’s a high chance the songs will overlap.”
“Hmm…”
“Then, what about Eternal?”
“Hyung, can I borrow the tablet?”
Kang Ian grabbed the tablet from Cha Eun-gyeol and quickly played something.
Dum dum dum dum!
The heavy drumbeats shook the living room.
A majestic, oriental-inspired melody filled the space.
On the screen, the Eternal members were performing dynamic, synchronized choreography in dazzling outfits.
“…Not bad.”
“Too…”
The members’ expressions stiffened slightly.
“Their style is too strong. If we mess this up…”
Baek Doha trailed off.
Everyone understood without words: the pride of continental fans in their own culture, and the backlash if it were mishandled.
“Then, let’s start with Japan!”
Ryu Sian quickly shifted the mood, snatching the tablet. His fingers flew across the screen.
♪♫ – !
Powerful high notes filled the living room.
A dazzling display of vocal technique followed.
The song fully showcased the group’s harmonic skills.
“Wow…”
A mix of admiration and a sigh escaped.
“Definitely a talented vocal group. The difficulty… is pretty high.”
Ha Jinwoo bit his lip.
“Sigh…”
A heavy sense of frustration settled over the room.
Only the ticking of the wall clock broke the silence.
At that moment—
Creak!
The sound of the door opening made all five heads turn.
“Aww, so cute!”
Ryu Sian jumped up, spreading his arms dramatically.
Through the slightly open door, Luha shuffled in.
The turtle pajamas gifted by Choi Eun-bi slipped off one shoulder, and his hair stuck out in every direction like a bird’s nest.
Half-closed eyes, open mouth, and pillow marks clearly stamped on his cheeks.
“Sorry, did we wake you up?”
Baek Doha asked apologetically.
“Haaam…!”
Luha’s small mouth opened wide, tears glistening in his eyes.
“Our Luha must be really tired.”
Ryu Sian scooped him up and rubbed his cheeks.
“Is kindergarten busier once you get older?”
Kang Ian tilted his head.
“Yeah… Luha seems especially tired these days.”
Ha Jinwoo also looked at him with concern.
The members themselves hadn’t slept properly for days and had dark circles under their eyes, but they were even more worried about the youngest.
“Haa…”
Luha sighed deeply, his breath heavier than one would expect for a six-year-old.
‘Nikaaa!’, ‘Melody biiim!’, ‘Hyung!’, ‘Oppaaa!’, ‘Noooooljaa!’
Even thinking about it made their heads throb.
It felt like a tiny chorus of little devils echoing in their ears.
“Ah!”
As Luha flailed his short arms, Ryu Sian scratched his back expertly.
“Ah… put me down—”
Luha, looking drowsier, gestured toward the sofa.
Plop.
His small body settled onto the sofa.
“Today, Seorarin came to kindergarten.”
“…!”
The five pairs of eyes sparkled. Their tired faces suddenly brightened.
The older girl who followed Luha around!
“So? How did it go?”
Ryu Sian leaned forward eagerly.
“Tell us in detail!”
Kang Ian’s eyes also gleamed.
“Ihael was there too…”
“No way!”
“Wow!”
“A love triangle!?”
The members excitedly commented on the youngest’s romantic news, letting their imaginations run wild.
“Hehe…”
Ha Jinwoo buried his face in his knees, his ears turning red.
‘Ah, these idiots…’
Luha clicked his tongue.
“They were hugging and crying.”
“What? Did they fight?”
“Really… because of you?”
“Luha, you can’t make girls cry!”
The five lifelong singles imagined dramatic scenarios in their heads, panicking over nothing.
“Sigh…”
Luha had no energy to scold them. He rubbed his temple with a tiny hand, looking like a middle-aged man.
“Seorarin was going to elementary school. They cried because it was sad to say goodbye.”
“Huh?”
The unexpected explanation made the members pause.
“Don’t they always fight?”
“That’s what I thought too.”
Luha muttered, half-buried in the sofa.
“I thought it was weird too. The little kids who usually growl at each other just by eye contact… why were they crying so much?”
The scene from that afternoon vividly came to mind.
Two kids, covered in tears and snot, refusing to let go of each other. Little hands linked by pinkies, promising to meet again.
“But they promised. That they would meet again looking even cooler.”
Luha’s voice softened.
“The teacher said that farewells are just the start of another meeting, a process for a better reunion.”
The touching story from a six-year-old brought soft smiles and silence to the living room.
“That’s a really warm story.”
Baek Doha smiled gently and pinched Luha’s cheek.
“I had that experience too. I was sad thinking I’d say goodbye to friends after middle school… but it turned out we went to the same high school.”
Ryu Sian chuckled.
“Oh! Me too, me too!”
Kang Ian raised his hand.
“After winter comes spring, and after that spring, winter comes again…”
Cha Eun-gyeol murmured, staring wistfully out the window.
“That’s it!”
Ha Jinwoo suddenly jumped up.
His unusually loud voice surprised everyone.
“Ah, you scared me!”
“Jinwoo!”
“How about we reflect Arin and Hael’s story on stage?”
His eyes shone with excitement.
“Suddenly?”
“A love triangle?”
The members tilted their heads.
“No, not that… farewell and reunion! Isn’t it perfect?”
Jinwoo clasped his hands together.
“The pain of parting and the joy of reunion on a single stage!”
“Jinwoo, calm down.”
Baek Doha guided the excited Jinwoo to sit.
“Yeah, I get that you’re eager, but this is a REMAKE mission, not storytelling…”
“No, no.”
Kang Ian wiggled his fingers side to side and interjected.
“This is why I’m needed.”
Heh!
Kang Ian lifted one side of his mouth in a smirk, picked up the tablet, and proudly showed the screen to the members.
‘Eternal – 春日重逢’
“Chun-il… what?”
Ryu Sian hesitated over the Chinese characters.
“Chun! Il! Jung! Bong!”
Kang Ian puffed up with pride, recognizing some words.
Cha Eun-gyeol furrowed his brows, analyzing the characters.
“Spring ‘Chun,’ day ‘Il,’ heavy… no. Here it’s ‘Jung’ repeated, and ‘Bong’ means meeting. In short: reunion on a spring day.”
“Wow! Kang Ian!”
Ryu Sian spun to face him. His expression was like seeing a clever puppy.
“Reunion on a spring day…”
Baek Doha murmured, resting his chin on his hand.
“Then… don’t we need a farewell song too?”
“Oh! I have one in mind!”
Ryu Sian tapped on the tablet.
“Ah, what was it? I definitely saw it…”
He searched for a while, muttering, until his face lit up.
“Found it!”
The members crowded around.
‘Last Bell’
It wasn’t an official release, but a track uploaded on YouTube.
“This… isn’t an official track, is it?”
Ha Jinwoo asked cautiously.
“Yeah! I heard it from Haruto on the rooftop not long ago while eating.”
“Haruto? Who’s that?”
Kang Ian asked.
“Kimura Haruto! My first Japanese friend!”
Ryu Sian proudly puffed out his chest.
“So… who is he?”
“Leader of Levery.”
Ryu Sian smiled and added,
“He told me this was a song he wrote when he decided to quit his band and become an idol.”
“Last Bell…?”
Ha Jinwoo tilted his head.
“It’s a fan song. Like our ‘Snow.’”
Ryu Sian’s voice gained strength.
“Even though he quits the band to become an idol, his love for music and fans won’t change. Our farewell is only temporary.”
“Wow… that’s so romantic!”
Ha Jinwoo exclaimed with a bright smile.
“Is that all?”
Ryu Sian grinned and played the song.
♪♫ – !
The song began with a gentle acoustic guitar riff.
The DNA of Levery’s band era was fully felt.
Over it came the lonely voice of Sato Yuuki.
“This is good…”
One by one, the members leaned in to listen.
“Looks like we’ve got something here?”
Baek Doha smiled. The members nodded at each other.
“Jinwoo, what are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“You need to get moving!”
“Oh, yes!”
Ha Jinwoo jumped up and saluted.
“I need to contact Producer Jin too!”
He ran to his workspace, light on his feet.
“Alright, shall we start planning the stage?”
“First, we need to translate the lyrics.”
Both songs were full of Japanese and Chinese. The members’ gazes naturally turned to Cha Eun-gyeol.
“The translator?”
“Yes, yes.”
Cha Eun-gyeol shook his head but smiled faintly.
“Everyone, don’t think about sleeping tonight.”
Baek Doha smiled and sternly warned.
“Maybe we should hit the convenience store first?”
“Huh?”
“This.”
Ryu Sian shook an empty energy drink can.
“I’ll go get it!”
Kang Ian raised his hand energetically.
“Luha, shall we go back to sleep now?”
Baek Doha asked gently.
“Nooo—”
Boing!
The little body jumped from the sofa. Luha pulled out his kids’ phone from the turtle pajama pocket.
“I have somewhere to go for a bit.”
“Eh? At this late hour!?”
