Debut or Die-Chapter 304
“Uhahaha-hah!!”
Sejin burst into uproarious laughter in the living room. On the giant Smart TV screen, the three fully grown guys were swinging their capes.
[♡Magic Heart Bullet!♡]
“.......”
It was the edited clip of the punishment stage from YouTube. Playing a children’s anime cover performance in the middle of the living room was practically a public execution.
“Turn it off.”
Before Cha Yoo-jin could jump out and grab me by the collar—
“Ah, come on~ It’s so professional, I love it!”
But Big Sejin just chuckled.
“Sejin’s all about professionalism, too—ugh, I’m so bummed you couldn’t join in~”
“You just came back from the jungle.”
While the others were goofing around in capes, he was off filming a solo commercial and appearing on variety shows—look at that tongue sticking out.
Honestly, if it were anyone else, we’d really miss them.
“That’s what I’m saying. If he’d been around the team for even two more weeks, he’d have made time somehow....”
I could feel Big Sejin casting regretful looks at the TV.
“The reaction’s really great.”
That was undeniable.
[Testar’s maknae so immersed lol]
[Gen M completely defenseless against Gen Z idols lol]
[Park Mundae’s pine tree certification broadcast.jpg]
[Today’s T-Show VIP for Testar is insane]
The character they’d built up since the debates had exploded into full buzz when the punishment hit.
‘That’s ours.’
It wasn’t thanks to the program but to the performers themselves—so we could count it as a win for Testar’s image....
“Look at this—someone asked if Mundae’s hobby is watching magical girl shows.”
“Would he watch it?”
“Uhahaha-hah!!”
...At our age, doing that was a bit...awkward.
‘Damn popcorn—didn’t even try dancing, did they?’
Luckily, after a while, people started marveling at the stage itself and getting hooked.
‘It really was well made.’
Had the stage been utterly ridiculous, it’d be buried as a cringe moment—but they’d solidified their image as singers, not just variety performers.
–Drop the soundtrack, please.
–Not releasing this as an official track is mocking our ’90s childhood lolol
–Thanks to Park Mundae, it’s one key—vocals are precious
There were compliments for Nana and Cha Yoo-jin’s stage work, but most attention went to Kim Rae-bin’s stats.
At the end of the punishment video, they’d cut to an interview with cookies, and Kim Rae-bin had answered about the arrangement process with brutal honesty.
[“Senior Mundae recommended a meaningful, great song, so I enjoyed working on it. Thank you for the opportunity.”]
[“It took a total of five hours!”]
–He rearranged a twenty-year-old anime theme in just five hours?
–Wow, Kim Rae-bin solo arrangement ㄷㄷㄷ
–And Park Mundae recommended it lol—you really meant it, huh
–It’s just celestial—rattles off an arrangement in a single day
Even viewers who’d tuned in just for the variety show were impressed, and it seemed even the fans were surprised.
–What’s up with Kim Rae-bin? I knew he was a genius “My Little Medieval Rabbit,” but this is next-level
└Well, he’s a rabbit after all
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
–Should we just give him a country of his own instead of making him an idol?
No one expected that level of skill. Everyone was floored at how he’d polished an old children’s magical-girl theme—something easily turned into a joke—completely on his own.
‘Because most of the time he co-produces, Rae-bin’s full capabilities were underrated.’
“You guys see this? They’re calling you a genius!”
“Thank you for such undeserved praise—I’ll work even harder!”
Kim Rae-bin answered instantly, like a programmed robot.
Seeing how determined he looked, he’d probably seen the online reactions and gone all in.
‘Well, he’s always been great.’
It wasn’t an overreaction. Rae-bin’s skill set was basically cheat codes in this industry.
His composition abilities—unstatted—were exceptional. He even had the “Maestro (S)” trait, so he was fast, too.
He churned out results as orders came in.
‘Isn’t that exactly the ideal modern employee?’
He lacked some social cues...but his single-minded dedication was a plus.
‘Looking back, we got lucky.’
During Ajusa, everyone was desperate to debut and didn’t know about the debuff-filled future—so we didn’t assess long-term value.
But after debut, having a perfectly balanced, highly capable team from a survival show was almost miraculous.
‘Thought at least one of them would be a jerk.’
I shrugged.
Anyway, now we were neck-and-neck with T-Holic, so our buzz for the second half of the year was secure.
If we managed them well through awards season at the end of the year, we’d be set.
Ryu Cheong-woo smiled and offered his congratulations.
“Come to think of it, this promotion is almost over. Good work, everyone.”
“It really is.”
Our domestic schedule was wrapping up—no new ads or events lined up.
All that remained was the concert and preparing the next album. A clean success.
“Rae-bin will do a great job arranging the concert tracks for us~”
“I’ll create a splendid piece to meet expectations...!”
The mood was good. No pressing issues, and we were basking in the glow of well-received results.
I nodded and turned the TV off.
‘Time to relax and enjoy.’
The big stuff was over; it seemed safe.
But one of us couldn’t truly unwind.
He still had a “big thing” ahead of him.
A few days later, after the final domestic event, we entered a short rest period.
Knock knock.
“Mundae. Have you...seen Rae-bin lately?”
“Hmm?”
Seon Ah-hyun knocked gently and entered, asking just as cautiously.
‘Random question.’
Rae-bin’s whereabouts? I looked up from my planning doc.
“No. Why?”
“Well...he’s barely been in his room lately.”
“.......”
That alone was odd. Ah-hyun was Rae-bin’s roommate. Both of them stayed in their rooms a lot, so they’d bump into each other. The fact that he wasn’t in his room was strange.
He wasn’t the type to go out much...
“I haven’t seen him today, either. Want me to ask around?”
“Yeah, that’d be good. Wait a sec...!”
“No, hold on.
With my phone in hand, I stopped Ah-hyun from going back to her room and sent a message myself.
[Where are you?]
But there was no reply.
“......?”
He usually replies politely within five seconds.
“Huh.”
“No...reply?”
“Looks like it.”
I tried calling him.
Ring ring—
“.......”
But he didn’t pick up.
‘What’s going on?’
Maybe he’d left his phone inside and was on the dorm balcony...If he wasn’t in the dorm, he’d gone out.
‘Did anyone see Kim Rae-bin leave?’
I headed to the living room and asked the others if they’d spotted him.
Cha Yoo-jin and Big Sejin were out. Only Ryu Cheong-woo and Bae Sejin remained.
“Rae-bin? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him today.”
Ryu Cheong-woo in the living room looked just as puzzled.
And Bae Sejin.
He avoided my gaze.
“I...haven’t left my room today.”
“.......”
“W-what’s wrong??”
“I’m just saying I can’t find Kim Rae-bin.”
I understood. Rae-bin had basically vanished without a trace. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
This was...weird, even for a rest period. Even Cha Yoo-jin would have at least said goodbye before leaving and not answered calls.
“You said he’s not picking up.”
“Yes. Should we call the company?”
I checked one last detail with Ah-hyun.
“When did you last see him?”
“Yesterday evening, and I haven’t seen him since...”
“And at bedtime?”
“I...went to bed early, so I don’t...know. Sorry. I’m his roommate.”
“No need to apologize.”
“Right! I shouldn’t apologize!”
I left the comforting to Bae Sejin and grabbed my phone again to call the company.
Just then—
[Kim Rae-bin]
“...!”
He was calling.
“Ah, ah...!”
“Rae-bin?”
“Yes.”
I picked up. He launched into words as if he’d been waiting.
–I saw your missed call and I apologize for the delay...!
“No, it’s fine. Where are you now?”
–Hm? Ah, I’m at the company recording studio!
Ryu Cheong-woo spoke up quietly.
“Rae-bin, even on a holiday you should’ve let us know. Everyone was worried since no one saw you today.”
–Today....
There was a brief silence on the line. What was that?
Then he offered a vigorous apology.
–I’m sorry! I was careless!
“There was no need...Anyway, good luck with your work.”
–Yes!
After a few polite thanks, Rae-bin finally hung up.
Bae Sejin sighed.
“False alarm, huh.”
“Yeah.”
“Guess he got so into his work he forgot to call.”
That was the internal consensus—that some inspiration hit, and he bolted.
‘All right, then.’
I shrugged and headed back to finish my planning doc.
A few hours later, in the evening—
Rae-bin, wearing glasses, came in and bowed first thing.
“I’ve reviewed plans for the upcoming work at the studio. It’s been a while since I had this much time—I thought I couldn’t miss this chance!”
“Good.”
“If I caused concern, I apologize.”
“No, it’s fine. I just worried something was wrong...If there is, please tell me.”
“Nothing is wrong. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
They exchanged considerate words in a friendly conversation.
‘All set, then.’
I shrugged and tried to walk past, but at that moment I noticed how drawn Rae-bin looked.
“.......”
He didn’t look well at all.
‘Hmm.’
He often works on tracks in the dorm, so pulling an all-nighter once wouldn’t faze him...
‘Could it be...’
I grabbed Ah-hyun, who was about to leave after our talk.
“Kim Rae-bin.”
“Yes?”
“You stayed up all night working?”
“......!”
“You weren’t in the dorm at all—Ah-hyun didn’t see you last night.”
“...Well, that’s...”
Caught, he hesitated, then confessed.
“I got so absorbed I lost track of time and couldn’t report it. I’m sorry.”
True to form—he told the truth.
Pulling all-nighters was routine for his job, but now was hardly the season for it, which felt unsettling.
“What were you working on?”
“The concert tracks and preparations for the next album!”
I probed gently.
“You didn’t have to. We have plenty of time before the concert.”
We had ample time until the concert; the next album even more so.
“You’re fast, so no need to pull all-nighters....”
“I can’t rely on that!”
“...!”
He seemed shocked at himself for interrupting me.
“I’m sorry! But this time I might not be so quick, so I want to be extra prepared....”
It wasn’t a sudden flash of inspiration but pressure driving him.
“All right. Just don’t overdo it.”
“Yes....”
He nodded and slowly walked back to his room.
Ah-hyun stayed, watching it all.
Her face said, I’m worried.
“Concerned?”
“Mhm.”
She seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
“He seems under a lot of pressure... I think I’ve been like that before.”
“Yeah.”
With everyone online calling him a genius, he’d naturally fret over the next result.
He always ran through every possible outcome before an album drop.
‘He’s done well so far.’
It was just worry—and once the results were in, he’d regain confidence.
‘Right now, telling him not to worry only makes him think of counterarguments.’
I decided to let him work as he wished.
But then came a twist.
A few days later, ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) at the blind listening test for the concert arrangements... Kim Rae-bin’s arrangement was eliminated.
