The card news format post consisted of large eye-catching fonts and images.

Below that, Onyx's scores were attached. It was a record that rookie idols, who had established themselves well, such as selling 80,000 copies in the first week and having overseas performances, could achieve.

The post emphasized the appearance, name, and performance of the award-winning 'TeStar' by devoting an entire next page to it.

And there was a one-sided explanation about TeStar.

There was a talk about how was a program with a strong variety show color in which the broadcasting station was heavily involved in.

And even the controversial issue about casting a show writer's relative and screen time editing was listed following the article's title.

And the expected questions and defense page were also included without missing it.

Along with the pictogram, there were photos of rookie idols struggling.

Lastly, an additional page was attached.

Images of other rookies clapping their hands were in the background.

The card news ended with a quote from the bestseller 'The Illusion of Fairness'.

They even used images that people would consider authoritative which meant that they had devotedly taken care of the composition.

Moreover, the tone of the argument was stealthily changed again.

'It's linked to the variety show industry's infiltration into the music industry.'

Of course, if you came to your senses, this was bullshit.

This was because performance projects in variety shows were single-shot and were intended for individual episodes.

' on the other hand is a show that was launched for the sake of creating an idol group from the beginning.'

The nature of the shows was completely different.

Besides, this field had always been an unfair place.

The problem of having different starting lines in terms of attention and opportunities was already a chronic problem with people coming from large entertainment companies in this industry.

'TeStar isn't particularly the only one with this problem.'

However, the issue was that there were many people who originally already disliked TeStar itself, and public opinion in the community pages was not good due to the issue about fairness that emerged with the issue of casting a relative.

In addition, the article didn't mention that TeStar's scores were unfair but only limited the topic to the 'Rookie of the Year Award' to lower people's rejection.

Therefore, the conversation that normally wouldn't work on people was gently accepted thanks to the many 'people who wanted to believe it'.

Thanks to this, the comment was filled with people who sympathized and people who were saying to stop talking nonsense.

The more the opinions were divided, the bigger the topic became.

'Fuck this, really.'

This was obviously not made by Onyx fans. It was because the difference in weight with TeStar was almost ten times higher, so there was no way they would want to get hated.

It was probably made by guys who just want to fuck TeStar over.

'They're going this far?'

Making even card news wasn't ordinary devotion. Not to mention the diligence in posting on all sorts of social media and communities at the same time.

I didn't know just how much would I have to hate something to do something like this. If it were me, I would simply just not look at it.

Honestly... it kind of gave me goosebumps.

'Don't tell me I can't get the rookie award because of this.'

No, that would be irrational.

'It would have to grow big enough to appear on general society news pages to take it away.'

At an awards ceremony of any size, it would be impossible for something like this not to happen to someone who was receiving it.

'They just want TeStar's image to be ruined. The fans are tired so I want this to stop.'

My head cooled down.

'...Should I use a more extreme method?'

I had put it on hold since I was afraid of getting innocent people involved in it but now the camouflage of fans was more important than them.

And I didn't have to think about it for too long.

It was because more crazy posts came up.

The comments were full of VTIC's fans who pushed and told them not to talk nonsense, but honestly, it was the end when the post appeared.

Even the article was a countdown announcement.

'What's with this shit again?'

It was obviously posted on purpose. Adjusting the water level in an easily excused line was not something he had done just once or twice.

'What are you thinking, you bastard?'

I opened the text messaging app in a fit of rage... and turned it off the next moment.

'Let's not react.'

It would be straining to add anything more to that bastard.

There was no way the fans liked meddling in sensitive matters like this since it could become an excuse for a quarrel later on.

'He's just trying to have a fight of nerves with me.'

Did he try to say that he could screw me up with this so I should cooperate and reveal everything I was hiding?

Even if I contacted him now, there was a high possibility that I would only suffer losses because of my anger.

'...I should resolve the matter and then contact with a clear mind.'

I blocked Chungryeo. In other words, I blocked myself from contacting him because I was pissed off.

However, I had to think about how to deal with this bastard in the near future.

'Let's take care of this first.'

I haven't looked at social media yet, so I called out the members who had settled down. Now, the guys who were getting ready to go to sleep gathered in the living room with puzzled faces.

"I-I guess everyone was called..."

"Ah, did you prepare presents to celebrate the first award ceremony? I'll take the biggest one then. Thanks."

"Using the prejudice that a big gift would be the best one, the probability that a small gift is also a good gift..."

"...It's not a gift."

"Yes."

All of a sudden, the tension melted away.

"About our SBC performance."

"Hmh?"

"How about changing the arrangement?"

Everyone was perplexed.

"Now?"

"Just one song from the special stage."

"...Is there a reason?"

Bae Sejin looked like he wanted to reject it right away but his expression said that he was willing to listen to what I had to say.

After pondering, I explained the situation.

It was because there was nothing else I could do but to talk and persuade them, and I thought it would be known tomorrow at the latest anyway.

"Actually, on the Internet right now..."

As the explanation continued, the member's faces hardened.

"This reminds me of IdolCo."

"I guess the people are still the same way. Uhm... but why change the arrangement?"

In response to Keun Sejin's question, I answered without hesitation.

"To give a shock."

And I talked about what direction I wanted to change.

"...!"

The members seemed a little taken aback.

"W-wouldn't that be t-too much?"

"I'm also a little worried."

But Keun Sejin voted in favor for now.

"I feel like we really have to prepare for it, but well~ I'll agree for now."

"...!"

At this point, the persuasion was honestly halfway over.

"I think that's the most effective response to the current situation. Is there anyone who doesn't like it?"

"..."

Bae Sejin seemed to be glaring at Keun Sejin, but when our eyes met, the feeling of resentment subsided.

"...?"

No, I was going to listen to his opinion first if he didn't like it.

However, no objection came out. Even Ryu Chungwoo just nodded.

"Let's do it. Right now I can't think of anyone else's point of view other than yours."

"Hyung..."

Ryu Chungwoo seemed to have been concerned about public opinion because of himself.

"The people have always been like that. Even if it wasn't hyung's issue, they would have made some other issues so don't worry about it."

Of course, if that was the case, let's not tell the truth that it wouldn't have been like this timing.

Surprisingly, Seon Ahyun responded.

"...Tha-that's right. P-people like that don't change, so you don't have to waste your e-energy on them...!"

Perhaps he wanted to relay what he had heard during the consultation.

"Oh~ Ahyun, what wonderful words!"

"Wonderful words!"

"Oh, no..."

Seon Ahyun blushed. Ryu Chungwoo smiled and nodded his head.

"You're right. Thanks."

Bae Sejin looked around at the warm atmosphere and then started talking coweringly.

"...So, let's change the arrangement..."

"Change it!"

"Anyone with an opposing opinion?"

No one commented on Cha Yujin's lead and Keun Sejin's reinstatement.

And Bae Sejin seemed resigned.

It seemed that in the battle between his consciousness which wanted to agree to this and the physical body that wanted to oppose the idea, the former won.

"It's going to be a tight schedule. I'll do my best."

"Let's do our best~"

So the change of arrangement was agreed like that.

And the next day, at the end of the meeting at the company, a confirmation came down. Thanks to that, we received the song without delay and started practicing again.

"I think that it couldn't be helped."

Kim Raebin seemed a little disappointed that he couldn't do the arrangement himself but he seemed to understand the situation.

And over the course of a little over a week, we fixed the movement and choreography.

In the meantime, it seemed that all kinds of stories came out on the Internet as expected. It seemed that an article also appeared.

I even heard that Onyx received the Rookie of the Year award at a small awards ceremony that TeStar did not attend.

It was done 100% by voting and seemed to have been broadcasted live in each community while driving the vote with the idea of 'achieving justice'. In addition, VTIC fans had apparently secretly voted together while also voting for the grand prize for VTIC.

Awards ceremony like that didn't really matter but the problem was that our fans' dejection accelerated and the aggros became excited.

When the fans participated in the vote, the condemnation was framed as 'You want to take even this rookie award when TeStar doesn't even appear?'

Because of that, the preparation for the performance went very smoothly. Some of the members, who had been a bit conflicted about the stage format, also had their eyes lit up with determination.

And on the day of SBC Gayo Daejun...

//TN: SBC Song Festival

A very decisive event happened.

"Hello~"

"Hello!"

The moment we passed Onyx after running into them and greeting them with a smile, we heard a mention about it.

"...Didn't they just mention something about achieving justice?"

"I heard that too."

"I-I also heard it."

...Honestly, that was a topic that people usually only talked about when they were by themselves.

Well, of course, the situation could feel good right now. They got an award and their competitor was slightly screwed because of controversies.

However, the issue was that there were guys with good ears, so we also overheard what was said.

"Wow, I can't wait to perform."

"Me too."

"...Me too."

Thanks to that, everyone in our group discarded all the possible internal conflicts while looking forward to performing on stage with excitement.

How nice of those guys to get rid of our sense of guilt and even make us bond internally.

* * *

SBC Gayo Daejun was usually aired during the evening of Christmas, but this year it was pushed forward due to the organization of a special program.

Because of this, it was organized at an ambiguous time on a Friday night in mid-December. It was aired at a time when a drama was over.

Of course, the people, who waited for the first end-of-the-year music program, were the mainstream. However, because of the popular drama that had just ended, there were quite a few people who turned on SBC out of habit.

Indifferent remarks from non-fans were thrown into the comments.

People were only glancing at part 1 while talking to each other.

Excluding the opening, there were mostly rookies in their third year or younger, or groups who had just begun to make their names known.

Then, a short video recording appeared.

No matter what the real-time comments said, the video recording showed groups drawing lots and shouting, and ended it with a final caption.

Then the familiar-sounding songs of the performances went on.

Everyone had chosen the songs of the group that was as close to a hit as possible.

While the people were laughing and commenting, the three groups entered after a short performance.

And captions appeared under the dark stage.

However, as soon as the short prelude and the intro went in, the comments were a little taken aback.

TeStar brought out Onyx's debut song.

Without touching anything, they did the original song as it was.