Little Pink Starfish

Big entertainment companies like Ryan don’t dominate the industry because people are afraid of them.

It’s because they make money.

There’s this belief that giving up a short-term gain will lead to Ryan Entertainment eventually bringing in more money.

When beliefs like this accumulate, they turn into a cartel, and as time passes, it becomes an established power.

Once you become a vested cartel, you acquire a certain ability.

That is… normalcy.

Entertainment reporters didn’t mention Sedalbaekil’s name in their coverage of Coming Up Next’s conclusion.

It wasn’t because the media companies carefully calculated profits and losses.

It’s because no one asks, ‘Why shouldn’t we listen to Ryan Entertainment’s requests?’

It’s simply taken for granted.

Of course, Ryan Entertainment maintains this sense of normalcy by entertaining, spending on advertising, and granting favors to media companies.

Sometimes even at a loss.

Because the profit from maintaining the cartel always outweighs the cost.

That’s why this Sedalbaekil issue was dangerous.

When an issue grows, people start thinking.

Why did Sedalbaekil go independent?

Why did Drop Out appear on Sedalbaekil’s content?

Why are they close?

At the end of all these ‘whys’, another question may follow.

Why shouldn’t we write about it?

This was where Choi Daeho felt a sense of crisis.

The moment normalcy stops being taken for granted, the cartel weakens.

‘What is Double M thinking?’

They wouldn’t have sided with Sedalbaekil out of some sense of justice.

Double M is a company that would act the same way if the situation were reversed.

In other words, Double M has something to gain from the relationship between Drop Out and Han Sion.

But he couldn’t figure it out.

Could it be that Double M signed with Sedalbaekil?

That didn’t make sense.

If they were interested, Double M would’ve contacted Ryan Entertainment earlier with a negotiation offer.

Did Han Sion give them a good song?

That didn’t make sense either.

They wouldn’t risk clashing with a giant like Ryan Entertainment over a single song.

He racked his brain but couldn’t understand Double M’s motives.

He briefly considered contacting Double M but gave up quickly.

Double M wasn’t some small local agency; what’s decided can’t be reversed now.

Besides, reaching out first would be like yielding a step.

At times like this, it’s better to watch the situation quietly before acting.

Two days later, NOP’s single was released.

-Ah, so when is the self-content coming out? They’re dragging this forever.

-Still nothing on Sedalbaekil’s official channel.

-Did they just post a picture to change the mood?

-Does Drop Out look like fools? As if they’d go along with that.

-Guys, NOP’s single dropped.

-Oh, it really did. How’s the song?

-Good. Might be able to compete with Selfish.

-Hey, it’s up.

-Personally, I like NOP better.

-No way, Drop Out’s way better.

-No, seriously, it’s up!

-What is?

-Sedalbaekil’s self-content! Set to premiere in an hour!

-Whoa.

Sedalbaekil’s self-content was revealed.

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The self-produced content titled Sedalbaekil’s Independence Diary was broadcasted via YouTube live streaming.

Pre-recorded video being streamed live.

Naturally, viewers’ complaints piled up.

-Why the hell am I even watching this?

-When is Drop Out showing up?

-My life’s legendary. Watching boring idol self-content.

What people were curious about was Sedalbaekil’s relationship with Drop Out.

They didn’t care whether Sedalbaekil was moving into their dorm or excited about the place.

If it was a regular video, they could fast forward, but live streaming doesn’t allow that, hence the frustration.

-I can’t watch this. I’ll come back in a few hours when the recap channels summarize it.

-I’ll just leave the sound on while I play games lol.

-Let me know if Drop Out shows up.

-How?

-The chat will explode, duh.

-Wow, already 9,000 viewers. Soon over 10,000?

Many shared these sentiments, but not everyone.

-Wow, nice dorm. Which agency are they under?

-Han Sion boldly telling everyone to play games without him because he’ll be using a single room lol.

-Isn’t that a bit rude?

-Maybe there’s a reason? The members seem fine with it.

-Does he snore a lot?

-Excuse me, our idols don’t snore, okay?

-??? What are they pulling out?

-Hwatu (Korean card game) lol.

-Who the hell plays Seotda for room assignments in idol content????

-Hwatu. A battle of flowers. Fits our flowers, perhaps?

-What are you talking about, you weeb.

-Way From Flower: ???

-Why are they barely showing the game? Looks fun though.

-It’s more like a Tazza impression contest than a game.

-Feels like a college MT.

-They seem close? Nice vibe.

-Why is Han Sion so serious with the impressions when he’s not even playing lol.

-He’s good at it too lol.

Coming Up Next was a program with massive ratings, and most of Sedalbaekil and Han Sion’s songs had topped the charts.

Which meant many had good memories associated with them.

Especially those who weren’t swayed much by entertainment articles.

What’s packaged online as “public opinion” doesn’t always reflect actual public sentiment.

So quite a few people were casually watching Sedalbaekil’s content.

It wasn’t a bad way to turn noise into noise marketing.

Then, idol community forums started reacting.

-What is this? The dorm looks super expensive, and their promotion style… Something’s off.

-I feel like they have an agency behind them.

-Could it be Double M? Is that why Drop Out’s involved?

-Really? Is Sedalbaekil debuting under Double M?

-But if that’s true, wouldn’t Double M’s PR team have stepped in when Han Sion was getting flak?

-They might’ve signed afterward. Using this content to announce the contract.

-That actually makes sense… except for the “Independence Diary” title.

As these discussions emerged, Han Sion called the members to the living room on screen.

Then he brought up the self-composed song.

[The beat draft and vocal lines are mostly done… but we don’t have lyrics yet. We should write them together.]

[How should we write it?]

[Like during Seoul Town Funk, write down as many things as you want to say.]

[The theme?]

[Resume.]

[Resume?]

[We need to find work in the music industry too. Like job hunting.]

[Job hunting… Okay. I get it.]

[Sion, don’t tell me you’re going to write something like “I’m handsome,” right?]

[Jaesung, what are you saying?]

[You’re not, right?]

[It should be: I am handsome. You shouldn’t drop the honorific.]

[…]

The scene of them writing lyrics flew by quickly.

Bits of the beat played in between, but the full song was hard to grasp.

Only the bright mood of the song was apparent.

-Actually, now it feels like they don’t have a company. You’d expect at least one trainer or producer to show up.

-Then who arranged that dorm?

-Damn, I came to see what’s up between them and Drop Out.

-Me too. But strangely, I keep watching.

Viewers naturally assumed the self-composed song wouldn’t be fully revealed here.

Self-content usually shows fragments, then makes a big reveal on music shows or official MVs.

But on screen, the song was already complete.

[What about choreography?]

[I don’t know. Can’t we just freestyle?]

[No way, we need at least some key moves.]

[Oh, Choi Jaesung. Showing your responsibility as the main dancer?]

[Ah, right. I’m the main dancer. Then let’s choreograph a few moves.]

Under Choi Jaesung’s lead, they started working on moves, and viewers finally heard the beat properly.

-Not bad.

-Oh, I like this. Feels like Mac DeMarco.

-Am I the only one confused by their stance? It feels like they’re goofing around for themselves but also serious about showing it to others.

-Yeah, same here.

But the viewers’ questions quickly vanished.

As they practiced the choreography, the screen faded to black.

-Resume (Live Version)

The title appeared, and the beat intro began.

-????

-They’re just dropping it like this???

-Wait. Is this a new song reveal?

The camera brightened, focusing on a bed.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto the bed, where someone was completely buried under a blanket.

Then a hand reached in from offscreen and yanked the blanket away, revealing Goo Taehwan curled up.

Lying on the bed, Goo Taehwan began to sing.

Woo- Hello

Did you

have a good dream

all night

in warmth

Goo Taehwan’s voice poured over the warm melody beautifully.

Comfortable like sunlight streaming through curtains, yet striking in presence.

-Damn, the intro master lol.

-Isn’t this Han Sion’s finest output?

-Yup yup. Almost failed B-Team auditions but Han Sion pulled him up.

-So chewy.

As Goo Taehwan sang and got up to put on slippers, they weren’t house slippers but bathroom slippers.

The camera zoomed up from the slippers, revealing Lee I-on standing in front of the bathroom mirror, freshly showered.

-Holy crap, so handsome.

-If I looked like Lee I-on, I’d cover my whole house in mirrors.

-Who puts on a t-shirt after showering? He should be shirtless.

Holding a razor, Lee I-on sang.

Woo- Hello

starting

the day a bit

early

fresh morning

-It’s really live lol.

-The echo in the bathroom is nice.

As Lee I-on brought the razor to his chin, the camera swung to Choi Jaesung sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper with his legs crossed.

Curious-

about everything

wondering

what I can-

do

A ding sound came from off-screen.

The camera quickly turned to Oh Saemi standing in front of dozens of toasters.

As the dings piled up, toast slices popped up from the machines.

Oh Saemi carefully plated them while singing.

the tasks

I must not avoid-

Her high notes burst forth effortlessly.

Carrying the loaded plate, Oh Saemi moved to the living room where the members were gathered at the dining table.

Except for Han Sion, who was tapping a digital keyboard beside the table.

The moment Oh Saemi placed the plate down, Han Sion began to sing.

We’re- here

earnestly

wanting this-

The chorus repeated again.

This time, all the members except Han Sion harmonized together.

Only Lee I-on tapped the table like playing drums.

We’re- here

earnestly

wanting this-

The mellow, warm melody created a dreamy atmosphere.

A simple chord progression and beat repeating.

It was Bedroom Pop.