Big Hit's New Girl Group: I'm a K-Pop Star

"I know it feels like d-day is now fast approaching, but we still have time. And it's not good to be over-anxious like this as it'll throw you off your game."

Ahreum sighed and relaxed her dancing posture to a normal standing stance. "I know Jiyeonie. I'm just excited and nervous at the same time, so I get stiff and my mind sorta just stumbles..."

Jiyeon patted the other girl's head. "It's okay, but you'll need to overcome this eventually with this sort of career. 'You can do it,' okay? Just like how Iris would say. We believe in you."

Ahreum nodded gratefully. "Thanks Jiji, hehe~" She offered a small, wry smile. "I won't hold you all back and let my talents shine through. Making it through the Big Hit auditions to this point counts for something, right?"

Jiyeon chuckled. "Yes, and you'll have plenty of opportunity to demonstrate it in a month. That's also ample time to brush up on your and Riri's performance of 'Fearless.'"

"Hm!" Ahreum furrowed her eyebrows and clasped her fists in determination to stop her fretting and do well in her duo MV.

Three months ago, Bang PD had told them that the group plans had changed. This was just a few days after their last gathering as pre-debut LUXIA at Haemong for barbecue. The company had decided to pre-debut their group in duos after Iris promoted as a solo while still in IZ*ONE.

The duo MV singles would premiere during the time just before IZ*ONE had a comeback with their last album and right after those promotions. In this way, it would tell an unbroken story while slowly forming and introducing the group members to the public and build the hype. Thus, the public would already have an attachment and interest to the group upon debut.

Jiyeon and Cindy had already made their MV appearance a few weeks ago. Together, they told the tale of a two heroines that established a new rule in a war-torn kingdom full of hidden deceit and hindering politics. Both were from opposing nations, but together, these heirs established newfound peace as dual-rulers of the land.

And in classic Big Hit style, the MV read like a mini-movie in grand fashion. The company spared no corners to make their first girl group a big success having found a unique company 'formula' to success with their previous two boy groups.

Thus, Jiyeon and Cindy's 'Everlasting' song became a smash hit largely due to the shock factor and with a quickly trending status from the surprising reveal that Big Hit had been hiding something huge right under their noses.

The public largely attributed the shock to the prevalent exposure and apparent focus on Iris Huang by the company. Many critics and experts bravoed Big Hit for the brilliant move for not only the timing and execution of a high quality MV and song, but the enormously successful press releases about a subsequent pre-debut MV now that the cat was out of the bag—

Big Hit was releasing a new girl group all of their own.

The news topped the media headlines and social media for days as everyone looked forward to the follow-up MV by two more undisclosed trainees of the group.

Of course, this also sparked heavy debate on whether Iris Huang would be joining as no group debut day was set, but fans predicted that it would be after IZ*ONE disbanded. So the possibility was very real.

However, the confounding factor to this was Iris's solo debut while still in IZ*ONE. Many questioned if this was a clear indication that she would go solo and be separate from the new girl group. But if this was the case, then why was everything released so close together? This is what stumped fans and industry onlookers from a marketing standpoint.

Thankfully, the public didn't have to wait too long for answers, and the girls were glad to depend on Big Hit for the entire intricate pre-debut process.

"Riri, what do you think about adding this to the choreography?" Ahreum performed a short sequence in front of Rinah who had just gotten up from sitting on the floor by the back wall. She had taken a water break and short rest from practicing.

"Mmh!" Rinah nodded firmly with a thoughtful expression. "That detail enhances the point choreography by subtly building up to it more fluidly. I like it! What do you think Jiyeon?"

The eldest girl in the room gave her approval. "Yes, good idea Ahreum! I'm proud of you! You might not be able to pick up choreography super quickly, but you have a knack and eye for brainstorming and creating cool new moves."

"Eh? Is that supposed to be a compliment or back-handed insult?" Ahreum demurred with a pout.

"Haha! A compliment of course, little Ahrie!" Jiyeon lightly ruffled the girl's hair.

"Wuhuhu~ unnie is teasing me again, grr!" The maknae bristled cutely.

Rinah giggled, covering her mouth partially with her fingertips. "You're going to be 21 this year, and yet you're still like this! Our cute baby aigoo~" She pulled on Ahreum's cheeks gently with a sweet grin.

"Puhu~" Ahreum protested weakly while puffing her lips and flailing her arms.

"Technically, she IS 21 since it's the new year." Jiyeon snickered with a roguish wink. According to Korean custom, a year older was also marked by the new calendar year itself and not just an individual's birthday. Additionally, babies were considered to be one year old at birth. So internationally, the '01 liner was 19 turning 20 in this current 2021 year.

"Uwah! You're such a punk these days unnie! I want mom! Where's Cindy when I need her..."

"She's been studying Korean all day, hasn't she?" Rinah remarked, looking at Jiyeon for confirmation.

Their leader nodded. "Hm. Ever since our MV, Cindy was complimented for her Korean singing, but instead of it making her feel confident or relieved, that silly girl is concerned about disappointing the fans because she's still learning." Jiyeon sighed and face-palmed.

"Ever the perfectionist, huh? It's no wonder that those two are cousins. Talent and dedication runs in the family, haha."

Jiyeon smiled and nodded at Rinah's comment. "Yeah almost to a detriment at times, but things somehow manage to turn out fine in the end."

"We'll just have to support and push them to rest more often is all," said Ahreum. "And step up to the plate so that Iris-unnie doesn't feel burdened being our composer basically."

Sighs escaped all of them. Although that girl had a brilliant gift for composition and songwriting, they all didn't want to depend on her too much and take up an exorbitant amount of the load.

After all, even though RM had a hand in 90% of BTS's music, and Soyeon of (G)I-DLE also made much of her group's music, as a girl group example for LUXIA, none of the four girls wanted to repeat this arrangement.

Only in recent years had the other BTS members besides the rap line been showcasing their songwriting abilities more prominently to the public. And they all received praises for them.

However, on the other hand, (G)I-DLE still received criticisms for not making their music while simultaneously criticizing Soyeon for standing out too much—this was a girl group double standard that the LUXIA members had to keep in mind.

Jiyeon especially felt the burden of being their leader and not filling up the shoes properly in comparison to these two examples and other similar groups, like Seventeen for one.

They all wanted their debut to be legendary, to say the least, and pave a way for not only Big Hit but K-Pop and all girl idols and musicians alike. It was an ambitious endeavor, but it was better to shoot high for the moon in order to fall among the stars as the saying goes.

Lastly, and most importantly, they also wanted to stay true to themselves. And luckily, LUXIA was in a very good position to make ripples in the rigid industry and become pioneers. It was all thanks to Big Hit's support and willingness to be different and daring.