Chapter 96: Japan (4)
The news of the release of the theme song ‘Survival 100’ further ignited the media, which had already been buzzing with multiple issues. It was proof of the destructive power of ‘Produce That 100!’, which was hovering around a 30% viewership rating.
《‘Survival 100’ Release News Has ‘Produce That 100!’ Fans Fired Up “We'll Listening the Moment It Drops!”》
The endless spawning of new issues was the source of Produce That 100!’s popularity. While there had already been the experience of ‘Produce’, this time was a different matter entirely. That was because the lyrics and composition of ‘Survival 100’ were done by the popular contestants Kang Rojun and 58Si-hoo.
So the moment the official release of ‘Survival 100’ was announced:
-Ahhhhhhhhhh finally!!!
-I’ve been waitingㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜbb
-Gonna stay up until 2 no matter what!!!
-From the moment I heard the guide version in Episode 12, I just knew it was fireㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-According to those who went to the mini concert, the new theme song will melt your ears!! Super hyped!!!
The public’s reaction was several times greater than it had been during ‘Produce’. -All the contestants participated in the theme song this time, right?? Please release Rojun’s solo version too.....
-↑Agreed agreed. I’m replaying Rojun’s guide version on YouTube nonstopㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Rojun... Si-hoo... Lyrics and composition... How can anyone resist????
-But ㅋㅋㅋ isn’t it still kinda crazy that Rojun writes lyrics now ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-As someone who went to the concert!!! Give us the acoustic version too!!!!
-???There’s an acoustic version?
-If you look at the mini concert reviews, they say the special performance was with the acoustic version of the theme song???
-Whoa!!! Give it to us!! Produce That 100! We want the acoustic too!!!
-I'm going to stream infinitely as soon as the theme song comes out!!!!
The contestants they cherished and adored had written and composed the song, and even participated in the vocals. Naturally, the firepower was far greater than it had been during ‘Produce’. Thanks to that, the news of the theme song’s release spread in an instant, and the chart performance of ‘Produce’, which had slipped to the middle range as a casual listen, shot back up to the top ranks.
At this time, over in Japan, Kang Rojun was.
-Vroom!
Traveling in a van from early morning. The destination was, of course, the concert venue. Even before makeup, Rojun's eyes, which shone with visual brilliance, widened.
“Wow-”
About 20 minutes later.
Because of the crowd gathered at the plaza in front of the concert hall entrance. The main performance was to begin at noon, and even though there was still quite a bit of waiting time, hundreds of Japanese fans were already packed into the square. Soon, several other contestants crowded around Rojun, who was looking out the window.
“T-They’ve already gathered this many??!”
“This is crazy, how many people is that!”
“Wow......Ugh- I’m starting to get nervous.”
“There are even self-made slogans!!”
They had seen similar scenes in Korea, but since this was Japan and it was the first time they had seen fans from another country, all the contestants were excited. Kang Rojun was no exception.
‘It’s amazing, that all those people came to see us.’
To them, Rojun and the contestants were merely amateur idols from Korea who didn’t even speak the same language. But the heated atmosphere was no less intense than in Korea. The contestants’ nervousness and tension surged in an instant, and when they entered the venue for rehearsal.
-♬♪
They were full of energy. Seeing the Japanese fans had triggered a rush of adrenaline. Any idol, no matter who, would’ve felt the same. Foreign fans calling out their names in awkward Korean was an electrifying experience.
Meanwhile, the number of fans gathering in the plaza kept increasing.
“Is anyone willing to transfer their ticket??!!”
“Me too!! Please!!”
“Wow- Your slogan is so well made??? Could you make one for me too? I’ll pay you.”
“Ahh!! They say the boys already went into the venue!!”
There were far more people who hadn’t received invitations. Among the crowd were reporters and YouTubers with action cameras. What started as hundreds became over a thousand, and the plaza turned into complete chaos.
It was a moment where the typhoon-level impact of the Korean Wave could be felt.
Of course, the popularity of ‘Produce That 100!’ in Japan was significant in itself, but it had been amplified thanks to the backing of the Korean Wave through KPOP and other trends.
And so, several hours melted away like that.
Before anyone realized it, the thousands of Japanese fans who had been buzzing outside had now filled the 5,000-seat concert venue. Of course, due to a limited audience cap, there were quite a few empty seats on the second floor, but the main first floor was packed tightly with fans. All of them were busy waving their slogans or the cheering sticks distributed by the ‘Produce That 100!’ production team, screaming in anticipation.
Then, the lights suddenly dimmed.
The thousands of Japanese fans screamed, sensing that the moment had come.
-Sss.
Lights focused only on the main stage. Ten ‘Produce That 100!’ contestants stood in a line. The moment they appeared, fans in the standing zone around the protruding stage began to shriek, and the excitement quickly spread throughout the entire venue.
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
The ten contestants, dressed in matching blazers, briefly scanned the Japanese fans, and the first to move was the leader at center, Kang Rojun.
“Hello, everyone!”
Rojun delivered his prepared line in smooth Japanese. Perhaps because he was so fluent, quite a few of the thousands of Japanese fans covered their mouths with their hands. Their favorite idol speaking in their own language? The emotion would naturally be multiplied several times over.
Meanwhile, Kang Rojun also felt a tingling in his hands and feet.
It had been the same in Korea, but a small-scale concert in Japan brought a different kind of thrill.
‘So many people, are calling my name. Ha... what is this feeling.’
When he had been at his worst, everyone avoided and cursed Kang Rojun. But now, in both Korea and Japan, people were calling his name madly and cheering for him.
It was only natural for a rush of overwhelming euphoria to explode.
Following him, 58Si-hoo and the rest of the contestants took turns delivering their Japanese greetings, which they had practiced together.
-♬♪
The mini concert officially began.
From that point on,
Starting with ‘Produce’, Kang Rojun and the nine other contestants dominated the stage. The initial nervousness had vanished. Their previous experience in Korea helped, and the countless rehearsals they had done at this venue also paid off.
The contestants had grown to the point where they could now communicate with the thousands of Japanese fans from their performances.
By making eye contact, grabbing hands, waving, and so on.
Even without speaking the same language, it didn’t matter. The unique heat of a concert overcame everything. It was clear that those in attendance were true fans of ‘Produce That 100!’
-♬♪
Most were waving cheering sticks while listening attentively, but there were also fans who sang along in awkward Korean to the songs the contestants were performing. The excitement level gradually increased, and the peak came when.
-Fwoooosh!
Fireworks exploded onstage, signaling the start of ‘Survival 100’. Naturally, it was the Japanese version, and Rojun and the contestants, all dressed in coordinated outfits, confidently showed off what they had been relentlessly practicing. When Kang Rojun and a few of the others walked out onto the protruding stage, the Japanese fans reached out frantically.
“Rojun!! Rojun!!”
“Do-kyung!!! So cute!!”
Compared to professional idols, there were clearly still areas where they fell short. There were also disappointing aspects. In fact, a few contestants even made mistakes. Still, the Japanese fans enjoyed every moment.
“I didn’t expect them to sing the theme song in Japanese too.”
“Ha- Isn’t this the most satisfying concert of the year?”
“It’s the best...... I love it so much.”
Just being able to see the contestants they adored and cherished in person made them feel completely fulfilled. At that point, PD Woo Han-suk and Netflix Japan Executive Director Tom Cavill, who were scanning the entire concert,
“......”
“......”
Were each deeply impressed in their own way. PD Woo Han-suk watched the contestants with a broad smile.
‘They’ve become proper idols now.’
Tom Cavill, who had co-prepared the concert, covered his mouth with one hand and clicked his tongue.
‘I expected a lot, but this is remarkable. How could anyone call these kids amateurs?’
The concert, which had reached its boiling point with ‘Survival 100’, hit its peak with the following performances. The thousands of Japanese fans wished this moment would go on forever, but unfortunately, according to the cue sheet, the concert was drawing to a close.
Suddenly, the entire concert hall went dark.
But the stars in the night sky no, the thousands of cheering sticks, continued to wave without pause. The murmurs grew louder. It lasted for about thirty seconds. Is it over? Is it really over? Just as the frenzied Japanese fans were overcome with deep disappointment, suddenly.
-♬♪
Late at night, as if echoing from an empty lot, the sound of a guitar rang out across the pitch-black concert hall. What the thousands of fans could see was darkness, and the silhouettes of two people on stage.
It was calm, yet melodic.
Ad-libs made by plucking or scratching the guitar strings in a way that pleased the ear. With no audio enhancements, no special effects, the sound of the high-level guitar playing spread purely and completely, and the Japanese fans reacted in their own varied ways.
“W-What is that? A guitar??”
“I love it. I love it so much???”
“There’s never been a guitar-related performance in ‘Produce That 100!’.”
Some blinked, others gaped, some were frozen, or had goosebumps all over.
“......Wait, are contestants playing that??”
“L-Looks like it. But who is it?”
Japanese fans deeply love guitar. There are many famous singer-songwriters, and band culture is well established. So expectations naturally began to rise. Just then, a few of the dim lights in the concert hall shone on the stage.
Two figures in dark blue jackets, guitars strapped across their chests, were playing while looking at each other.
It was Kang Rojun and 58Si-hoo.
The two, exuding a rather free-spirited aura, smiled at one another as they synchronized their melody. Rojun and 58Si-hoo exchanged guitar ad-libs back and forth. Before anyone knew it, the wide concert hall was filled with the sound of guitars, and the intro performance that stole the hearts of the Japanese fans ended. The first to bring his mouth to the standing mic was Kang Rojun.
Opening with a low tone and Rojun’s distinctive vocal color, it was the acoustic version of ‘Survival 100’.
Kang Rojun delivered the vocals to the mesmerized Japanese fans, while 58Si-hoo supported him on guitar. When they switched roles, 58Si-hoo sang with a hint of a sweet tone, and Rojun played guitar.
Unlike the original version of ‘Survival 100’ that had been performed earlier by all the contestants, the acoustic version gently embraced the crowd. The thousands of Japanese fans.
“......”
“......”
Looked up at Kang Rojun and 58Si-hoo as if time had stopped.
Sometimes, when you hear a song so beautiful it feels like a fantasy, you can’t do anything else.
All you can do is listen.
That’s exactly how the Japanese fans felt at that moment. Aside from breathing, they didn’t move at all. Rojun and 58Si-hoo entered the chorus. They paused their guitar playing to let only their vocals shine, then both resumed strumming the strings again.
The acoustic version of ‘Survival 100’ wasn’t simply calm.
When it needed strength, it was bold. When the vocals needed to shine, it was daring. In duet parts, it was powerful.
And yet, at times, gentle.
Whether in guitar or vocals, the tempo control was impeccable. As the song drew to its end, the eyes of the comforted fans turned red with emotion.
The lyrics were in Korean, but it didn’t matter.
The voices and guitars music delivered by Kang Rojun and 58Si-hoo carried sincerity, and the melody alone fulfilled so much.
Eventually,
-♬♪
As the fading guitar performance ended, Rojun and 58Si-hoo remained still for about five seconds.
“Thank you for enjoying it.”
They expressed their thanks in Japanese and gave a deep bow. Only then did the thousands of Japanese fans, who had been frozen in time, come back to life.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Thousands clapped without holding back. Their arms were covered in goosebumps, and their minds were filled with Kang Rojun and 58Si-hoo. Many of them said similar things.
“When the track comes out, I’m seriously going to listen to it for the rest of my life.”
It was the perfect ending performance.
About an hour later.
After the Japan mini concert had fully wrapped up, Kang Rojun, the contestants, PD Woo Han-suk, and dozens of staff gathered, buzzing with energy, in the backstage waiting room.
“Great work, everyone!!”
“Ahh- it’s over!! I feel kind of regretful but also super relieved.”
“Everyone, amazing job!”
"Really really great performance!! Thank you for your hard work!”
Though the voices of the ‘Produce That 100!’ staff were loud, the ones with the biggest reactions were, of course, the sweat-drenched contestants. The thrill of the concert was still lingering, and their noisy chatter showed it. Amid that vibe, Kang Rojun sat in a makeup chair and checked his phone.
As expected, the ‘AI Simulation’ app had sent him a reward.
-[You’ve completed the Hidden Mission ‘First Ever Overseas Concert Performance!’ You have been awarded 20 coins.]
There wasn’t just one reward, there were two.
The second reward wasn’t just a coin gift.
-[The title ‘Recognition Monster’ meets the condition for increased recognition and is now enhanced by +1!]
-[The title ‘Recognition Monster’ is now enhanced to +4, increasing the bonus coins to 4.]
-[You have achieved +4 title enhancement! You have been awarded the item ‘10-Point Stat Enhancement Coupon’ as a gift.]
Among the titles, 'Recognition Monster' was enhanced by +1. Kang Rojun couldn’t help but burst into a smile.
“There’s one more thing to celebrate, everyone.”
PD Woo Han-suk, holding up his phone, spoke as he showed it to Rojun and the other contestants.
“Our theme song hit No. 1 the moment it was released.”
On his phone screen was the real-time chart of the major domestic music platform ‘Melon’.
[1(new!)] Survival 100 / Produce That 100! (Theme Song)
[2(↓1)] APT / Zero
[3(↓1)] Two Pages / Lee Chang-hoon
[4(↑2)] Small Boy / Ye-eun
[5(↑8)] Produce / Produce That 100! (Theme Song)
.
.
This happened just one hour after the song’s release.