Debut or Die-Chapter 326

When I struck the deal with the director that “if we win the Grand Prize, you’ll establish an independent label,” there was a deliberately stringent criterion attached to the award.

It was meant to look almost impossible to achieve within the timeframe, so the company would sign off with less vigilance.

– “Annual ceremony” refers to any awards show held by a music or album platform that reflects at least 70% of that year’s market sales.

And look at the Grand Prize we won.

It was at an awards show hosted by a streaming platform that counts 75% of sales metrics.

“No flaws to pick apart.”

We met the undisputed condition.

And someone beat me to announcing it.

“We... can go independent now!”

The moment the manager disappeared from the studio today, Bae Sejin shouted it as if he’d been waiting.

“G-going independent...?”

“Hyung, are you leaving home? Isn’t that what independence means?”

Of course, everyone turned to him as if he’d lost his mind, and Sejin’s face flushed red, but he stood his ground.

“No, no... don’t you remember? Park Mundae brought the contract. If we win the Grand Prize, we can launch our own label!”

Perfect timing. With someone else spearheading it, it was easier to bring it up. I nodded to the others looking at me.

“That’s right. I asked that our dedicated team be spun off into its own label under the company.”

“Oooo.”

“I’d forgotten with everything we’ve been through....”

Most of them nodded and responded positively.

After the damn car accident, my feelings toward the company had softened over time, though my wrecked reputation hadn’t recovered.

“Right. Sejin, you brought it up well. We should talk to the company.”

“Ahem, exactly. So when the manager gets back, let’s bring it up immediately.”

But not everyone agreed.

Big Sejin glanced a few times at the studio mirror and at Bae Sejin, then spoke gently. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“Ah~ it’s a great idea, but how about we talk after the awards season ends? We still have a lot to prepare....”

“What are you talking about? If we can do it now, we must talk now so they can’t say otherwise...!”

“.......”

Big Sejin twitched his lips for a moment, then continued calmly.

“Think about it, hyung. Won’t we win more Grand Prizes this year?”

Hmm, true.

“There are a lot of ceremonies early next year. If we win a few more Grand Prizes there and then bring it up, the company really won’t be able to argue. It’s a sure thing~”

“Ooh~”

He gave Yujin a thumbs-up at his interjection, then wrapped up.

“So for now, I’d like us to focus on rehearsals. The stage is most important~ Just my opinion.”

“.......”

That seemed to strike a nerve; after a long silence, Bae Sejin spoke up.

“...I’m not saying we should neglect stage prep. I’ll work hard.”

“I’m not saying that... but that’s not the point.”

They were both trying to remain polite despite clashing. I cut in.

“Let’s not waste energy arguing whether to bring it up now or later.”

There’s only one answer anyway. I crossed my arms.

“We’re setting up the label no matter what.”

“......”

“R-right.”

“Yeah, we have to.”

Why not.

“Um... shall we decide by majority vote?”

As Ryu Cheong-woo proposed to wrap up the minor dispute, we voted.

It was close.

“It’s 4–3.”

Those voting to bring it up immediately were Bae Sejin, Seon Ah-hyun, and Ryu Cheong-woo.

And one more vote decided the winner.

“Mundae, you’re on the immediate side too, right?”

“Yes.”

That’s me.

“...!”

Cheong-woo announced immediately.

“More of us want to bring it up now. So that’s our direction?”

“Sejin hyung sounds great! This vote is weird....”

“Ayy, Yujin, what are you doing! You have to respect the result!”

Big Sejin laughed and raised both hands.

“Understood. If the team’s decided, then that’s it~ But everyone, keep practicing as usual, okay?”

“Of course!”

“Of course.”

With that warm atmosphere, we resumed practice.

But shortly after.

While heading to the bathroom during a break, Big Sejin followed and put me in a headlock.

“Mundae-mundae, this is betrayal...! We need to handle things one by one—what’s with this? Have you already talked to the company or what?”

There’s no respecting the result. He’d faked neutrality and then lost it.

I wriggled free and said, “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it?”

I rubbed the back of my neck and muttered, “I just want to rip open that label asap....”

“.......”

Even if it’s not just for the mission, seeing the company execs run things pisses me off.

They keep overstepping. It’s a talent, I guess.

Big Sejin sighed.

“Yeah, Mundae, I get it....”

Why? Oh, because I was the one most injured in the accident, so they felt obligated.

‘By contrast, it means Sejin and the others don’t get it.’

Bae Sejin, that is.

I’d sensed his wavering for a while, but especially during high-stress seasons like year-end performances, their ability to let things go barely holds.

Having been a team for so long, the tacit ranking had eroded; Sejin wasn’t automatically the stronger one, but equality brought new friction.

‘Hmm.’

Instead of steaming in to defend Bae Sejin and ruining the mood, I deflected.

“I’ll balance it so it won’t affect stage prep. Don’t worry.”

“I know... but that’s still something else to worry about.”

Big Sejin sighed and walked on.

“Everyone’s too impatient. Label independence isn’t a joke, and the company won’t give it up easily... Why give them extra time to prepare... sigh.”

He was right. We can’t blindly rely on that contract clause; we need to set the stage ourselves.

I admitted it.

“Honestly, you’re right if you think rationally.”

“Hey, you should’ve said that earlier!”

The vote might’ve flipped, you jerk.

I understood his frustration, so I offered my theory instead.

“The issue is the company’s already thought that rationally too.”

“.......”

Big Sejin was silent for a moment, then looked as if he’d been hit on the back of the head.

“They already know.”

“Exactly.”

The company wouldn’t forget that a major revenue stream might quietly pull out.

They must have scheduled a related meeting the moment we won the Grand Prize.

“Then it makes sense to talk sooner so we have a rationale.”

“...sigh.”

He gave a wry smile.

“Dragging it out would’ve been maddening.”

And as he said, that’s exactly how things unfolded.

On our way home after practice, the manager relayed word about the label proposal the next day, rather late:

“Right now, with year-end and new-year planning in full swing, it’s hard to schedule a meeting immediately.”

They’re dragging their feet. I scoffed.

‘They’re stalling for time.’

First, to push back the fulfilment window. They’ll be meeting with lawyers over this time.

‘They’ll offer “fulfill the contract period, then we’ll include the label in your next deal.”’

They omitted any deadline /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ in the contract deliberately.

They could threaten “good-faith performance” legally, but since T1 Stars is just a hastily formed subsidiary to house us, we must nudge them discreetly.

‘We can’t look like we want to bolt from T1 entirely.’

We need to give the impression that we just want to maximize our artistry.

“Hmm....”

I paced the studio hallway, organizing my thoughts. I planned to bring it up before break ended.

That’s when—

Click.

“Hyung.”

Bae Sejin emerged through the studio door and spoke. “What is it?”

He closed the door, glanced around, then walked over and murmured.

“...Thanks.”

“...?”

“Th-thank you for agreeing with my opinion!!”

Oh, last night.

Sejin exhaled, calming his excitement, then spoke earnestly.

“I honestly thought it wouldn’t work. Some might think I don’t have the knack or situational awareness....”

I see.

Even during the company dispute, Bae Sejin often found his suggestions dismissed by the team.

“No. We shared the same idea. I’m the one who should thank you for bringing it up.”

“...Right.”

Sejin finally relaxed his face. He seemed quietly proud.

‘Still, did he have to take extra time just to say that....’

Despite being so blunt and irreverent, he’s sensitive to support. A pillar at heart but prone to being leeched by con artists, it seems.

“......Hmm.”

Wait.

“Why thank me?!”

Seeing it that way jogged my memory.

‘I did something similar in Geon-woo’s body at the washbasin.’

I’d encouraged him then, when he wasn’t being acknowledged.

– “I saw the stage earlier. Your expressions are always so great.”

‘Could he really be so susceptible to praise that he remembered that remark?’

I thought of how he obsessively watched “Bae Sejin’s Stage Evolution” on WeTube, but dismissed it.

‘No way.’

Even if he caught flak, he had enough fans to debut with TeSTAR. He must have had countless such moments.

Let’s continue where we left off.

“Watching how the company operates, I realized they really don’t want to grant us independence.”

“Right... I’ve been hurt, right? They’re doing this on purpose! Should I push harder...?”

“Wait.”

I stopped him.

“You don’t need to push with force. You just... move first.”

“...?”

I actually just thought of a plan. There’s a reason I omitted any timeframe from the contract.

‘When did our power dynamic with the company ever get intact?’

As I thought earlier, we mustn’t ramp up tensions during the label’s creation.

But consider T1 Stars: a hastily formed sub-label whose own revenue would fall below half if we left.

‘With the right justification, they’re toast.’

I smiled and spoke.

“Hyung, I have an idea.”

A few days later, at ToneA—the annual awards ceremony hosted by T1—

We performed in modern suits in front of an ornate fountain set and, as planned, won the award.

Artist of the Year.

“Congratulations, TeSTAR!”

Amidst a shower of petals and cheers, the now-seasoned guys grinned and ascended the stage.

‘I mean, if we didn’t expect this, that’d be absurd.’

“Thank you. It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award in front of KPOP listeners watching live across 32 countries on ToneA, and above all, I’d like to dedicate this joy and gratitude to our LOVEs....”

I let Kim Rae-bin, who rattled off his speech without pausing, pass by, and listened closely to the other members’ remarks I hadn’t yet heard.

Then, at the very end, just as the prompter flashed “Wrap it up”—

When everyone seemed about to finish their speeches—

“Thank you~”

“Thank you!”

I grabbed the mic with a sudden bright grin, as if I’d just remembered something.

And I shouted:

“To commemorate our Grand Prize, we’re launching our label!”

Sorry, but you guys didn’t include a confidentiality clause in the new contracts.

‘So what are you gonna do?’

We’d already met the contract conditions and told the company. We can just say we were moved by the moment.

“Wahaha!!”

“Thank you for your support~”

The members all beamed and added their own cheers, as if they felt nothing odd. Perfect.

‘Nice.’

Beyond mere announcement, this move had an extra effect. One the company couldn’t possibly deny.

‘Can’t wait to see the reaction.’

“Thanks again to everyone at the company for all your support. We’ll show even more amazing performances. Thank you!”

I smiled and set down the mic.

And that very evening, articles began popping up like wildfire.