After the second stage ended, the PD of [Asayan] watched the scene unfolding before him, ignoring his phone which was ringing incessantly as if it were on fire.
[Hey, you have to manipulate the results based on the atmosphere!!]
[And why did you return the money??!]
The money they had stuffed into his hands while asking for 'favors'? He had returned that to them a long time ago. He had already made enough money producing [Asayan]. The only reason he was still working as the [Asayan] PD, despite being able to climb to a much higher position, was solely because of his affection for the program.
"They're just talking a load of crap."
He had a gut feeling. He knew that the current semi-finals of [Asayan] would become a legendary moment in the history of popular music, one that would be talked about for decades to come.
'When I first saw them, I thought they were just some random bunch, but they turned out to be monsters, didn't they?'
He had already expected Enfants Terribles to deliver a better performance than [AAA]. Operating a program like [Asayan] gave him enough 'intuition' to predict that much. However, Enfants Terribles was delivering a stage that went beyond 'excellent' and could only be described as 'great.'
"Did they say that Rock 'n' Roll, which they always have on their lips, is about burning with [sincerity] for what you love??"
He didn't possess [sincerity] regarding music itself. As a broadcast PD, he was a layman when it came to the technicalities of the art. However, his affection for [Asayan] was [sincere]. If burning with [sincerity] was what defined rock 'n' roll, then the actions he was about to take could also be called rock 'n' roll.
'From now on, [Asayan] will become a sanctuary for Rock 'n' Roll. A survival program followed by those who pursue true romance, where everyone burns with [sincerity] for what they love.'
He was a PD.
Creating programs was his specialty.
Originally, the entertainment industry was full of [lies]. Because he hated that, he had extensively reorganized [Asayan] so it could show the public as much [sincerity] as possible. Wasn't it okay for there to be at least one sanctuary in the entertainment industry where [lies] did not exist?
He watched the scene quietly, firming his own resolve.
Tanaka Shuji, the buzz-cut perfectionist bassist, shouted as he kicked a trash can in the waiting room.
"Damn it!!! If only I hadn't made that mistake!!"
But he hadn't made a mistake at all. The 'mistake' he was referring to was a microscopic tremor in his wrist that didn't affect the performance in the slightest. It was merely a minute vibration that only he could perceive because of his perfectionist nature regarding music.
"Shuji!!"
As I shouted, Yokishi, the muscular mixed-race drummer, grabbed me with his brute strength, seemingly misunderstanding the situation.
"No. It's not what you think."
I tightened my core and spoke as if shouting.
"Shuji, open your ears and listen carefully. In the first place, this wasn't anyone's fault. We gave it our all, played our music, and came down. What you're doing right now is an act of disrespect toward the 30,000 people who went wild for us."
"I get it, Leader. But it's true that we lost. If so, then I'm the cause. The performances of Muscle-mon and the Leader were perfect."
In the middle of that, the PD of [Asayan] visited our waiting room. For some reason, he had a refreshed expression on his face.
"Enfants Terribles, you guys are going to lose this semi-final."
What he told us was shocking news. So shocking that all three of us dropped the instruments we were holding.
.
.
.
.
"Now it's the final stage. Let's burn everything up and come back."
We gathered in a huddle, grabbing each other's shoulders to solidify our resolve. Yokishi looked worried, but I knew he would do well on stage.
"Don't worry, Yokishi. And I'll be covering for you with the vocals in the middle."
"Muscle-mon, if you mess up, I'll cover you with the bass sound."
I'll say it again. We're a mess when we're alone, but when we gather, we become 'monstrous children.'
That is 'Enfants Terribles.'
'Fearless and unstoppable children beyond the control of adults.' That was why we were the ones who could rise to any height.
"What is the goal?"
""Victory!!""
We shouted like a roar and ran up onto the stage with grim determination. The sight of them was nothing short of being called the most brilliant [stars] in the world.