“Sigh…”
As soon as the staff left, Baekya collapsed onto the floor. He buried his face in his knees, but the redness of his ears was impossible to hide.
“Why are you like that after doing well? You were cute. Ang!”
Yulmu sat beside Baekya and put an arm over his shoulder. His comforting words sounded more like teasing. Baekya shrugged off the arm with a flick.
“Go away.”
Yulmu bit back a laugh and turned his head away. Baekya, raising his head, gave Yulmu a glare.
“You, d*mn…”
“I’m Yulmu. Stay away from Baekya right now.”
The leader’s quick order to keep distance was enforced as Cheong and Yugyeon, who had been waiting, ran over and pulled Yulmu away.
“We won’t upset our Peach.”
“Don’t tease the hamster!”
Cheong, Yugyeon, and Minsung looked at Baekya with expectant faces, hoping for praise.
‘Ugh… my head hurts.’
Jihan, sitting on the sofa, shook his head watching the five of them.
They’re having cute fun.
By the way, this place, where they came for the music broadcast today, was the only broadcasting station with a spacious waiting room where rookies could get their own rooms.
Namgyeong, who had just met with the staff, gathered the members saying it was almost time to prepare for the stage.
Behind the set they arrived at following him, DASE moved about. Violet and Nice had finished their stages, and the remaining boy group was in full swing.
Beep Beep Beep Beep
BB9.
Although their debut was a few months earlier than DASE’s, the difference was small, so recently they were often considered rivals.
Today, due to the broadcasting station’s schedule, DASE’s turn was suddenly pushed back. So, despite debuting later, they performed after BB9.
“That team’s choreography was cool.”
DASE watched their performance nearby. Especially Yugyeon’s eyes sparkled. The performance was flashy, befitting their introduction as a ‘synchronized dance group.’
After watching their serious faces for a moment, BB9 struck their ending pose, breathing heavily as the song ended.
The camera that initially showed the entire stage quickly switched to a close-up of one member’s face. That member seemed to notice it, looking surprised at first, then smiled immediately. A smile that made even the viewers feel good.
“Oh~ the ending fairy~”
Yulmu rejoiced as if it was his own achievement. Then he suggested to the members that if they were picked as the ending fairy, they should do something.
“The person caught on camera last should do something. How about that?”
“Deal! I’m totally confident.”
Cheong agreed enthusiastically first.
The ‘ending fairy’ means the singer caught last on the broadcast stage, a minor performance topic among fans lately.
Senior singers with many years on the scene sometimes ran off stage or struck unexpected poses to delight fans.
Other members seemed to like Yulmu’s idea.
“As long as it’s not over the top, I think it’s fine.”
With the leader’s permission finally given, Yugyeon quickly voiced an opinion.
“How about we wink? What do you think?”
Namgyeong, watching, agreed, saying that other teams do about that much, so it should be okay. Baekya nodded, thinking there was no way he would get chosen.
└ DASE Baekya’s♡ Try it once, tastes good
DASE, the rookie group debuted at ID after 8 years, was holding a good position. Because of that, the company atmosphere was very lively.
The public’s response far exceeded expectations, so it was natural that DASE’s comeback schedule was moved up. The planning team was busy again.
“I heard you guys will start preparing for a comeback soon.”
Namgyeong, who had been to the planning office, delivered the news.
The A&R team had mostly finished song selection, and once the concept was finalized, they would start recording the next song. DASE was surprised.
“Already?”
Jihan’s eyes widened slightly.
“We just started doing music broadcasts, though?”
Baekya also looked dazed. But the reply was calm.
“It’s because you’re rookies, you start working faster, but most other teams do the same.”
That meant many singers start preparing the next album immediately after finishing a cycle of music broadcasts during the comeback week.
Except for digital singles, the smallest album was a mini album with at least five songs. For full albums, there were even more songs to record, so it took more time.
“It’ll probably be a mini album. Even if you start now, after activities end, you’ll probably have a few months of downtime.”
Even with this preparation, there would still be a gap in activities. The members looked blank but amazed at Namgyeong’s words.
Furthermore, there was an important company decision after persistent fan requests to plan their own content.
“And your reality show was confirmed. Congratulations.”
Namgyeong smiled widely and dropped big news.
DASE’s first solo program. Although it would only be on the YouTube official channel, having a show starring all six members was a happy thing.
“You’ll be very busy preparing for the comeback and filming the reality show. But you can do it, right?”
“Of course!”
Excited, Cheong ran up to Namgyeong. Namgyeong looked pleased being hugged. Then, feeling shy from all the attention, he grumbled that it was gross for a company guy to be like that.
“Oh, and you should get your passports ready early.”
He said those under 18 would probably need a legal guardian’s consent form. He hoped they prepared the documents in advance. While saying that, Namgyeong confessed he still hadn’t memorized all their birthdays and avoided eye contact.
For a moment, a playful expression flickered on Yulmu’s face.
“What? You don’t know our birthdays? I know hyung’s birthday.”
“That’s, that’s not it…”
Namgyeong stammered, embarrassed. But there was someone even more embarrassed.
‘This is bad.’
It was something that would eventually come out, but Namgyeong had hoped to handle it beforehand. Apparently, the heavens were not on Baekya’s side.
“First, you said Minsung and Cheong already have passports, right?”
Namgyeong hurriedly changed the subject, and the two nodded. Yugyeon, a high school junior who hadn’t had her birthday yet, would need documents, and Jihan cooperated straightforwardly.
“I also haven’t had my birthday yet, so I think I need to write it.”
“Hey, why would you give that away so easily?”
Yulmu’s reproach was heard for a moment but he couldn’t compete with Jihan.
“She’s only a few days younger than me.”
That settled Yulmu as well. Now only Baekya remained.
“I think Baekya’s birthday was early, right? Or not?”
“He is a senior in high school, but…”
The reply sounded somewhat uncomfortable. As his voice got smaller, Namgyeong came closer.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Baekya kept glancing toward Yugyeon and Cheong while speaking.
“Me?”
Tilting his head, Yugyeon pointed at him with a finger.
Baekya, moving his lips slightly, quickly grabbed Namgyeong’s arm. Namgyeong bent down to Baekya’s height.
The two whispered for a moment, then Namgyeong straightened up.
“Was it ‘fast’?”
But why did he say it like that? His face asked. Namgyeong looked back and forth between anxious Baekya and clueless youngest members. Then he realized the situation.
“Ah~ The kids call you ‘hyung,’ right? Now that I think about it, it’s kind of awkward.”
Namgyeong scratched his forehead in embarrassment. Saying Baekya was a senior in high school at the introduction was the root of the problem.
It was not the time for a long explanation that Baekya entered school earlier due to family reasons. Baekya hadn’t thought that far either.
To summarize:
Minsung was still the oldest. Next were Jihan and Yulmu, both born in November and the same age. Then Baekya, Yugyeon, and Cheong. That was the order.
“Anyway, Baekya is a senior in high school and the youngest with the earliest birthday. Would it be weird if we just leave it like this?”
Namgyeong stepped in to organize the matter.
‘Is that so…?’
The Sunfish had little conscience.
“How about this? It’s better to clear things up once the topic is raised.”
Instead of hesitant Baekya, Namgyeong asked Yugyeon and Cheong. Contrary to worries, Yugyeon didn’t mind.
“I don’t care. Why would I?”
But then she asked, genuinely curious, “What month is it?”
Yugyeon asked without any thought. But from an outside perspective, there was a strange atmosphere. Everyone except Yugyeon was sure Baekya’s mood had soured a bit.
“…March.”
Baekya couldn’t avoid answering when asked. His voice was low.
“…The 21st.”
At that moment, a question mark popped over the members’ heads.
Is March also counted as ‘fast’?
But then an afterthought came.
“…Lunar calendar.”
He said it was the lunar calendar.
“…Hey, don’t people celebrate solar birthdays these days? Besides, the lunar calendar birthday is much later. That’s practically early graduation, ugh.”
Yulmu meant no malice. He didn’t want to worsen the situation. He was just clueless.
Jihan jabbed Yulmu’s side hard and warned through gritted teeth.
“Be more careful.”
He didn’t swear, but his glare looked deadly.
Same birth year. But lunar calendar birthday.
All Koreans understood. But there was an American in the room…
“Fast?”
The only foreigner didn’t even understand the word ‘fast.’
“What’s lunar calendar?”
Cheong’s innocent question was calmly answered by Minsung. Meanwhile, someone was busy poking Baekya’s birthday.
[Lunar March 21 > Solar May 3]
Huh?
It was actually a date one month later than Yugyeon’s birthday.
“Wait a minute.”
Yugyeon raised her hand.
Time out.