The major debut is near

Byul-ho called the coaches back into the room, but as they moved to resume their positions, he held up a hand. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take the lead on this session," he said, his voice confident but respectful.

The coaches exchanged surprised glances but stepped back, curious to see what the young CEO had in mind.

The members of Ascend formed a semicircle around Byul-ho, their eyes wide with anticipation. They had seen glimpses of Byul-ho's skills before - his sharp eye for choreography, his insightful vocal tips - but this was different. For the first time, they were about to witness a full demonstration of his abilities.

Byul-ho took a deep breath, centering himself. He had danced for them before, guided their vocals, but singing in front of them? This was new territory. Yet, he knew it was necessary. To truly lead them, to push them to their limits, he needed to show them what was possible.

The room fell silent, all eyes on Byul-ho. The members leaned forward slightly, eager to see what their young leader was capable of. Even the coaches watched with interest, wondering what this unconventional CEO had up his sleeve.

Byul-ho closed his eyes for a moment, drawing on the skills and knowledge from his past life.

Byul-ho took a deep breath and began, his voice clear and strong. "Alright, let's start with some vocal warm-ups. Follow my lead."

He started with a series of scales, his voice effortlessly gliding through the notes. "La, la, la, la, la," he sang, each note precise and controlled. The members followed, their voices a bit hesitant at first.

Byul-ho then moved on to more complex exercises. "Now, let's work on your breath support. Breathe from your diaphragm, like this." He demonstrated a deep breathing technique before launching into a challenging vocal run.

"Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma," he sang, his voice dipping and soaring through an impressive range. The coaches' eyes widened in surprise.

Byul-ho continued, demonstrating various techniques. "Focus on your resonance here," he instructed, showing how to create a rich, full sound. "And for high notes, think about lifting your soft palate."

He then sang a portion of a ballad, his voice filled with emotion and technical precision. The room fell silent as he hit a particularly difficult high note with ease.

As he finished, Byul-ho looked at the members. "Did you get all that?"

Instead of answering, the members burst into applause. Jae-sung, usually composed, looked awestruck. "Byul-ho-ssi, we had no idea you could sing like that!"

Byul-ho felt his cheeks warm slightly at the praise. "Oh, well... thank you. But let's focus on the lesson. Did you understand the techniques I was demonstrating?"

The members nodded eagerly, still looking at Byul-ho with newfound respect and admiration. Even the coaches seemed impressed, exchanging meaningful glances.

Byul-ho cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention back to the task at hand. "Good. Now, let's break down each technique and practice them one by one. Who wants to go first?"

***

After hours of intense training, the members of Ascend slumped against the practice room walls, exhausted but exhilarated. As they caught their breath, Sung-ho voiced the question on everyone's mind.

"Byul-ho-ssi," he panted, "when will our music video be released?"

The other members perked up, their eyes shining with anticipation despite their fatigue. Byul-ho couldn't help but smile at their eagerness.

"The editing process takes time," he explained, leaning against the mirror. "We're looking at a few months before it's ready for release."

A chorus of groans filled the room. Hae-won, the youngest, couldn't hide his disappointment. "Months? But we just finished filming!"

Byul-ho nodded, understanding their impatience. "I know it seems like a long time, but trust me, it's necessary. We're incorporating some cutting-edge techniques that will make our video stand out. It's not just about piecing together the footage – there's color grading, special effects, and a lot of fine-tuning involved."

He saw the excitement in their eyes, mixed with a hint of frustration at the wait. Jae-sung spoke up. "It'll be worth the wait, right, Byul-ho-ssi?"

Byul-ho nodded, understanding their excitement but knowing they needed to understand the full process. "There's more to it than just finishing the music video," he explained. "After that, we still need to master the tracks and make any final adjustments. It's a time-consuming process, but it's crucial for ensuring the best quality."

He paused, making sure he had everyone's attention. "And even when all four songs are polished to perfection, including the three without music videos, we're not done. There's marketing to consider, teasers to release, and a whole promotional strategy to execute."

Some of the members groaned at the prospect of such a long wait. Hyun-woo slumped against the wall, muttering, "It feels like it'll take forever."

Jae-sung, however, straightened his posture and spoke up. "Even if it takes a year, I'll continue to give it my all," he declared, his voice firm with resolve. "We've come this far. We can't slack off now."

The other members exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. Do-hyun chimed in, "Jae-sung's right. We'll use this time to become even better."

Byul-ho smiled, proud of their determination. "That's the spirit. Remember, every day of practice, every hour spent perfecting our sound, it all contributes to our debut. When we finally hit the stage, you'll see that all this waiting and hard work was worth it."

He looked around the room, meeting each member's eyes. "This is how legends are made. Not overnight, but through persistent effort and patience. Are you with me?"

The members responded with a resounding "Yes!", their earlier fatigue seemingly forgotten.

***

Three months flew by in a whirlwind of activity. The music video editing was in its final stages, and the tracks had been meticulously adjusted to perfection. Byul-ho, along with his newly hired team of fresh marketing graduates, had been working tirelessly on a comprehensive marketing strategy.

Drawing on his experience from his past life, Byul-ho knew that while social media wasn't the powerhouse it would become, it was still a valuable tool. He focused their efforts on Cyworld, the dominant social networking platform in South Korea at the time.

"Keep uploading those practice videos and behind-the-scenes clips," Byul-ho instructed his team. "Consistency is key."

Their Cyworld page had been steadily gaining traction. With hundreds of followers already, it was a modest but promising start. Fans were leaving encouraging comments on their dance practice videos and candid moments shared from the recording studio.

Physical marketing was next on his agenda, after all, physical marketing was still the king.

He drafted a plan for distributing flyers in the bustling streets of Hongdae, a hub for youth culture and music. The members had already enthusiastically agreed to participate, understanding the importance of connecting directly with potential fans.

Byul-ho also prepared to document this grassroots marketing effort. He arranged for a videographer to capture footage of the members handing out flyers, interacting with the public, and spreading awareness about Ascend.

The footage would be perfect for their Cyworld page, giving fans a glimpse of Ascend's personality and dedication.

Byul-ho also noted the upcoming radio play scheduled in five days. This would be Ascend's first major opportunity to promote their song to a wide audience. He began jotting down key talking points for the members, ensuring they would make the most of this crucial exposure.

The marketing plan was coming together nicely. Byul-ho knew that in this era, before the dominance of social media, these traditional marketing methods could make or break a debut. With his future knowledge and careful planning, he was confident Ascend would make a lasting impression on the K-pop scene.