translation by mourningmoor
The first Japan schedule was truly a forced march.
As soon as we arrived at Haneda Airport, we moved to downtown Tokyo and shot a magazine pictorial along with a short interview.
The next morning, we moved to the Niji TV studio and finished filming the performance for <Cotton Candy>.
Then, we appeared on the live broadcast and continued with a fairly long interview.
At first, we spoke through the interpreter prepared by Niji TV.
But whether it was intentional or just clumsy.
There were parts that were mistranslated, so I eventually had to step in.
"No, that's not what I meant."
I stopped the Korean interpretation and continued the explanation in fluent Japanese. Because of that, everyone seemed surprised.
Not only the Japanese staff but also PD Pyo Cheonhee, who was standing behind the camera watching us, was so shocked that she couldn't close her mouth.
Although we had a tutor for accelerated lessons to prepare for our Japanese debut, they didn't expect me to be this good.
This isn't just about being capable; it's more like being proficient.
After the interview ended, the prepared performance footage was broadcasted.
And just like that, the talk show was over.
Then, we moved to the next scheduled location.
It was a cherry blossom festival event held in the outskirts of Tokyo.
I was slightly surprised by the large outdoor stage and the enormous scale of the audience seating. It seemed larger than most event venues in Korea.
Here, we were also scheduled to perform <Cotton Candy>.
Although it was a bit different from the Korean system, with the help of the temporary manager assigned by Niji TV, we managed to finish the rehearsal without much difficulty.
Now, the audience would soon be entering, and since our turn was sixth, we had plenty of time to eat.
"Let's eat something first. You guys had brunch and haven't eaten anything since."
At Gyuhyung's words, Hyerim placed a large paper bag on the table.
"I prepared something simple since eating too much might affect the performance. Let's eat properly after the stage, okay?"
Hyerim, feeling a bit apologetic about the modest lunchboxes, spoke with an awkward expression.
Well, we already knew this.
On days with performances, we should only fill our stomachs halfway.
So, I accepted the modest lunchbox Hyerim handed over without much complaint.
Then, we huddled together in a small corner of the waiting room and ate.
"Hey, hey guys? Why are you sitting there when there's a table...?"
Hyerim gestured toward the cameras in the staff's hands.
It meant to be careful with our words and actions since we were in front of the cameras.
Cameras.
Right, the cameras had been following us since yesterday's photoshoot.
Moreover, now it's not just the managers casually filming, but a dedicated VJ from the video production team following us around.
The footage filmed like this will be released as an episode titled <L.I.T Goes to Japan> or something like that.
Then, secondary content will flood out in no time.
That, in turn, naturally leads to promotion.
That's why the company has been so enthusiastic about producing their own content lately.
"We cleared the table here. Come and eat here, okay?"
Eating on the floor when there's a perfectly good table.
This might lead to comments like 'poor idols' under the video.
But none of the kids made a move to go to the table.
"The table's too small for all of us to sit. Some would have to sit while others stand. We'd rather all eat together on the floor."
That was Roa's answer.
The reason for squatting on the floor and eating like this was for teamwork.
Even Hyerim was at a loss for words.
Indeed, L.I.T is L.I.T.
As Hyerim quieted down and the lunchboxes were halfway eaten, the presence of the camera was forgotten.
"By the way, there's probably no one here who knows us, right?"
"Right? Then the stage might be a bit boring."
Jaewon and Roa exchanged worried looks.
"Didn't you say a Japanese fan cafe was created?"
"I heard it was created, but it doesn't seem like there are many members."
As Siu listened to the two kids, his face gradually darkened.
"Youngjun ssaem said that no matter how good the stage is, without fan response, it's like a dead stage. Will today be like that?"
"Why worry about that? Did we have many fans from the beginning? Think about our first stage. This is just the beginning here."
At Hanjoon's words, the kids nodded.
On the day we debuted through M-start last year, how many fans came?
There were barely over ten fans who lined up to enter the pre-recorded stage. In fact, there were far more broadcasting station staff who came to check us out.
One of them was writer Jeong Haeseong.
Will today, as we take our first steps in Japan, be like that?
I shook my head lightly.
"It won't be that bad."
Then, the kids widened their eyes and looked at me.
"Really?"
"The reaction to the Olympics was quite good."
I rummaged through my phone and found a screenshot of the Japanese reactions, showing it to Hanjoon.
Then, the kids huddled around the phone and read the reactions.
Anyway, these guys haven't changed from a year ago.
They're still not conscious of the cameras.
"It'll be much better than our debut stage."
Then, Jaewon's head perked up.
"About ten people came for our first broadcast, so maybe twenty will come this time?"
"Maybe fifty?"
"I bet on a hundred."
Roa and Hanjoon added their bets, and Jaewon's eyes sparkled.
"Hyungs, want to make a bet? The one who guesses closest wins."
"I'm in."
"A bet? What does the winner get?"
"The winner gets whatever they want. The loser buys the members a meal. How about it?"
"Sounds good. I want the ○○○ game pack."
"What, are you sure you'll win, hyung?"
"If I do."
"Alright. I'll bet on fifty."
"I'll go for a hundred. Maknae, what about you?"
"Everyone's dreaming big. I told you it won't be that many. I'll go for thirty."
The three of them started a playful bet and then looked at me and Siu.
They wanted us to join in.
Siu, who had been munching on a rolled omelet, put down his lunchbox.
"I'll go for... seventy."
Should I call them fools or just naive?
Who would pay to invite an idol that only attracts thirty to a hundred people to such an event?
There's a reason Niji TV went all out to invite us. The reaction to <Idol Olympics> was unusual.
Moreover, the Japanese fan cafe has grown significantly since the last HAMA. The K-POP fans in Nagoya have started to take notice of us.
"What about you, Chan-hyung?"
"Me?"
I smiled slightly at the kids and gave a number slightly lower than my expectation.
"Seven hundred."
At least a thousand will come.
At my answer, the kids' eyes widened.
And when we got on stage, just like the kids, my eyes widened too.
A thousand? No, more than that.
* * *
We returned to the hotel at 8 PM.
After quickly changing clothes, we headed straight to Akihabara.
"Why Akihabara?"
Hanjoon answered Jaewon, who was grumbling.
"I heard the Donki○○ there is worth seeing. Anyway, you need to buy your mom some patches and stomach medicine, right?"
"Donki○○ is everywhere. You just want to buy a game pack, hyung."
Since those two became roommates, they've been bickering more often.
It meant they had grown closer.
Following them, Roa stopped in front of a ramen shop.
"Should we have ramen for dinner?"
Jaewon turned around and made a face.
"Why eat ramen for dinner? I'll buy you something better. Let's go somewhere else."
Jaewon approached Roa and pulled his arm.
But then, Jaewon was dragged into the ramen shop by Hanjoon.
"Let's eat ramen. Ramen."
"Okay, ramen. Ramen."
Everyone followed Hanjoon and Jaewon into the ramen shop with smiles.
* * *
It was a fairly large ramen shop.
You place your order at a vending machine on the first floor, find a seat, and the staff brings your ramen. Well, this is common in Korea too, so nothing special.
We were about to go up to the second floor but ended up sitting in a corner on the first floor.
Just in case someone recognized us, it would be easier to slip out. If we went up to the second floor and someone blocked the narrow stairs, it would be a real hassle.
"I said I'd buy you something better."
Jaewon grumbled after placing the order.
Then, Hanjoon took off his mask and replied.
"I wanted to try Japanese ramyeon."
"Me too."
Siu agreed with Hanjoon.
Then, Jaewon, looking embarrassed, turned his head.
"I said I'd buy you something good, and you chose this? And it's ramen, not ramyeon."
Good kids.
They all chose the cheapest option to consider Jaewon's financial situation. They didn't want to burden the youngest, who lost the bet, with an expensive meal.
Although we received payment from the company, the youngest was broke.
He recently brought his mom to Seoul and spent almost all his money. I heard the company even advanced some of his payment.
He managed to get a small apartment in Mapo on lease and finally brought his mom to Seoul.
He didn't want her to be alone in Masan, undergoing cancer treatment.
After several refusals, Jaewon's mom finally gave in to her son's persistence.
Since then, Jaewon has been able to maintain a more stable mental state.
I glanced at the youngest and picked up my chopsticks.
At times like this, eating well helps ease the awkwardness.
"Let's eat. We need to compare whether Japanese ramen is better than the ramen sold in Korea."
"Eh? To whom?"
"Loots."
"Ah, that leader meeting? Why would they want to know that?"
"That's why I don't want to meet them."
We exchanged silly jokes and enjoyed the ramen.
That's when I felt something slightly off.
Click, click.
Amidst the chatter, I heard the sound of a camera shutter.