247-249

Chapter 247: Chemistry Reaction 

Light-hearted. Skilled. Natural. Relaxed. Engaging. And… hilarious. 

Everything was just as Jimmy had hoped. Ronan was absolutely the ideal guest for a talk show. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, he flipped the script and took control. His playful banter and effortless charm had the entire vibe of the show wrapped around his finger. Not just the audience—even Jimmy himself found it hard to keep up. 

Only sixty seconds into the show, and there had already been two genuine outbursts of laughter from the crowd. 

As Ronan had pointed out, One Day King wasn’t exactly a household name. So naturally, the audience’s enthusiasm might be a little reserved—not quite the frenzy that greeted A-list celebrities. That meant there was a real risk of lukewarm energy and lukewarm reactions. 

But now? That concern was already out the window. Even if the band wasn’t famous, humor was universal. And audiences loved watching Jimmy get roasted. 

Jimmy turned to the crowd with a deadpan expression, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Jimmy Kimmel, and I’m honored to be tonight’s guest here on the Ronan Cooper Show. Thanks so much for inviting me.” 

Brilliant. Quick on his feet. 

Seeing Ronan steal the spotlight, Jimmy didn’t try to argue. Instead, he played along perfectly, pretending to be the guest instead of the host. The audience roared with laughter and applause. 

Then—right on cue—Ronan’s voice chimed in beside him. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Ronan Cooper Show! I’m your host, Ronan Cooper. Tonight’s guest is the band One Day King. Security! Could you please escort this gentleman off the set? He’s disrupting our taping, and that’s just not acceptable.” 

Laughter exploded again. 

The whole studio was shaking with the roar of the crowd, and even Jimmy was left speechless by how effortlessly Ronan was owning the moment. 

Now, as a seasoned talk show host, Jimmy was no slouch in the quick-wit department. But off-the-cuff comedic timing had never been his strongest suit. Both he and Ellen DeGeneres were known for being among the nicest talk show hosts—meaning they avoided confrontations or controversial topics and generally kept things light, friendly, and family-friendly. 

This diplomatic approach was part of the reason both Jimmy and Ellen had been asked to host the Oscars—over other late-night hosts. 

Jimmy’s real strength was in pranks—Halloween candy stunts, surprise parties in people's bedrooms, celebrities reading mean tweets, and other lighthearted chaos that captured genuine reactions and big laughs. Perfect for a family audience. 

And right now? This was exactly that vibe. 

Rather than try to fight Ronan for the spotlight, Jimmy joined the audience in applause and smiled wide. 

“Ronan, are you sure this is your first time on a talk show? I was counting on the 'exclusive debut’ title. Don’t tell me you’ve been fooling me!” 

Ronan furrowed his brow in mock seriousness. “I’m not entirely sure. My memory’s a little fuzzy. Maybe in a past life, I did a few appearances…” 

Another burst of laughter. 

Even Ollie joined in, patting Ronan’s thigh with a grin. “Past life, huh? Hahaha, past life…” 

Jimmy didn’t continue the bit. He knew that if this kept going, they’d never get the show properly started— He couldn’t exactly leave the audience wondering who the guest even was, could he? 

“Three months ago,” Jimmy began, “my good friend Bruno Mars was wrapping up his world tour, and I decided to go see one of his final shows. During the opening act, I came across a band that was bursting with energy and heart, and their music spoke to me immediately. I was really impressed. From that moment, I knew I wanted to meet these guys.” 

“I love music,” Jimmy added with a grin, “Not as much as movies, but I do love it.” 

More light chuckles from the crowd. 

“Later on, I got the chance to meet them—and I realized they weren’t just great performers, they were also hilariously entertaining. I thought, my audience needs to see this. And so, here they are tonight: One Day King.” 

A warm round of applause and cheers welcomed the band once more. The atmosphere had clearly shifted—they had won over the crowd. 

Jimmy then turned toward Maksim. “So, tell me—what’s it like touring with Bruno Mars?” 

“Uh… wha—wait, what?” Maksim was prepared for questions, but this one caught him off guard. His words stumbled a little. 

Reflexively, he turned to Ronan, silently asking for help. 

Originally, Ronan planned to stay quiet—this was Maksim’s moment. But with both Jimmy and Maksim looking his way, he casually stepped in. 

“Obviously,” Ronan said with a straight face, “Bruno Mars is like He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Only Harry Potter can speak his name aloud. That’s why Maksim’s hesitating.” 

Jimmy stared at him, stunned. Did that just happen? 

But he played along instantly. “So… you’re Harry Potter?” 

“Yes, I’m Harry Potter,” Ronan replied solemnly. “The only one who can say his name.” 

The crowd burst into laughter again. 

Even Ollie couldn’t hold it in, snorting beside him. 

“You see,” Ronan continued smoothly, “you asked the wrong guy. Everyone in the band knows—Maksim is Narcissus. He only sees himself. Doesn’t even notice anyone else.” 

Jimmy laughed. “Even Bruno?” 

“Even Bruno. Even you. Even me.” 

Maksim didn’t seem bothered. In fact, he lifted his chin slightly and accepted all the “accusations” with full confidence, basking in the spotlight. 

The camera zoomed in on Maksim’s proud pose, while Ronan provided commentary in a documentary-style voiceover, “Maksim Puning, our bassist.” 

The chemistry was undeniable. 

It wasn’t just the funny lines—it was the expressions, the timing, the effortless back-and-forth. The entire opening segment radiated that elusive spark. It was the kind of performance that made people sit up and take notice. 

Jimmy grinned from ear to ear. “So if I shouldn’t ask Maksim, who should I ask about Bruno? You?” 

“Oh, no, no, no,” Ronan replied quickly. “I think our captain is the man for the job.” 

He turned to look at Cliff. “Cliff, what do you think?” 

Chapter 248: Taking the Initiative 

The most challenging and crucial part of a group interview is making sure everyone gets their moment. It's easy to accidentally overlook a member, which would be a serious oversight. While it's impossible for a host to divide attention perfectly evenly, it's important to make a conscious effort to include everyone—especially a newly emerging band like One-Day Kings. 

In a setting where no one in the studio is familiar with the interviewees—perhaps not even knowing their names—the pressure on Jimmy, the host, was even greater. 

But to everyone’s surprise, from the very beginning, Ronan deftly and naturally balanced the flow of the interview. Most impressively, he made excellent use of the band’s seating arrangement—guiding attention smoothly from Maksim to Cliff in a counterclockwise arc. It subtly directed the audience's gaze in a seamless way, as if by instinct. Ronan took on the role of a “wildlife documentary narrator,” guiding viewers through the interaction. 

Jimmy found himself once again impressed by Ronan’s quiet command of the situation. His calm, sharp, and clever handling might not stand out to casual viewers, but professionals knew how hard it was to pull off. Out of the corner of his eye, Jimmy glanced at Ronan, then quickly turned his attention to Cliff, adopting a listening pose. 

He kept his admiration to himself. The show needed to keep moving. 

Cliff, unaware of the masterful hand guiding the conversation, simply followed Ronan’s lead. “Bruno is a very talented singer and an equally gifted producer. During our tour with him, he offered us plenty of insight and advice. We had some amazing conversations about songwriting and performance. It was a truly valuable experience.” 

His response flowed smoothly and confidently. While it was a standard, diplomatic answer, it was clear Cliff had prepared well. Ronan had barely opened the door before Cliff picked up the baton seamlessly. 

“Folks, this is Cliff Baren, our band’s guitarist and also our leader. He’s the one handling our communications with the outside world. And as for the handsome guy on the far left—well, he’s just here to look good,” Ronan added with perfect timing, giving Cliff a proper introduction while playfully teasing Maksim. 

Just as the audience was getting ready to applaud, they burst out laughing instead. The chuckles grew louder when Maksim responded, turning the polite applause into full-on amusement. 

Maksim caught the jab, of course. Not only was he unfazed, he straightened his back and grinned confidently at Jimmy. “I’m used to it. They’re just jealous.” 

Subtly but surely, Ronan had taken control of the show’s rhythm, guiding the energy so that the live audience was fully engaged. Jimmy realized he’d met a formidable partner—which was a good thing. Interviews were, after all, a two-way street. It was the back-and-forth that sparked the magic. 

An idea flashed in Jimmy’s mind. He had originally planned to dive deeper into the topic of Bruno, but changed direction and turned to Ronan instead. “Is he always like this?” he asked, referring to Maksim. 

Ronan threw his hands up in mock despair. “Now you’re one of us—another victim.” 

Laughter erupted again! 

Yet even as the whole room roared, Maksim sat calm and composed, his chin slightly raised in quiet confidence. He wasn’t about to be rattled—at least not when it came to his looks. 

Ronan turned to his right. “We go through this kind of abuse every morning, don’t we?” 

Ollie felt Ronan’s gaze and nodded eagerly. That familiar sense of camaraderie made him speak up without hesitation. “Every morning? Try every second of the day.” 

Oh? Everyone leaned in. 

In that instant, all eyes were on Ollie—especially Jimmy, who seized the moment. “Sounds like there’s a story behind this. What do you say, Ollie? Want to share it with us?” 

Ollie’s back muscles tensed up immediately. One second ago, he was just another audience member sitting on the stage couch, listening in. The next, he was thrust into the spotlight. The sudden attention made him retreat back into his shell. 

This wasn’t how Ollie usually acted, but when faced with strangers, this was his default mode. 

Ronan wasn’t surprised at all. He quickly stepped in during the silence and addressed Jimmy. “I have a feeling this story might not end well. The audience doesn’t even remember our names yet, and we’re already roasting Maksim? Probably not great for the band’s long-term image.” 

“No, no, no,” Jimmy replied, waving his hands. “One-Day Kings will win over audiences with your talent. I fell in love with your band because of your live performances. I’m sure the audience feels the same. No one’s judging your looks… right?” 

He turned to the audience with a knowing look. Naturally, the crowd jumped in, making even more noise. 

Ronan pulled a troubled face and shook his head. “See… while I’d love for Maksim to become the next Tom Cruise, the problem is—I don’t want him to go through everything Tom Cruise has gone through.” 

Wait—what? 

Jimmy, however, immediately caught the reference. “Hahaha… hahahahaha!” Even though he tried to hold it in, he couldn’t stop himself from laughing. 

Tom Cruise—one of Hollywood’s biggest stars—shot to fame in the ’80s and has stayed in the top tier ever since. With the Mission: Impossible series, he remains a box office powerhouse. Known as one of the cleanest, most professional public figures, he rarely got caught up in scandals. 

But in 2005, one infamous moment shattered that image. 

At the time, Tom Cruise was newly in love with Katie Holmes. In less than six months, they were married. The speed and intensity of the relationship sparked suspicion among the media. Some speculated that Cruise’s whirlwind marriage was meant to deflect persistent rumors about his sexuality. 

After a private wedding at an Italian castle, Tom appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to talk about his romance with Katie. The goal was to put those rumors to rest. But during the taping, he suddenly jumped on Oprah’s couch and started enthusiastically declaring his love—wildly, dramatically, almost like he’d lost his mind. 

When the episode aired, it caused a media firestorm. Far from silencing the gossip, it amplified it. That infamous moment also triggered a wave of negative stories about Tom’s personal beliefs. 

Jimmy never expected Ronan to compare Maksim to that moment in Cruise’s life. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! 

Chapter 249: Letting Go of the Burden 

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! 

Ronan didn’t just compare Maxim to Tom Cruise to highlight Maxim’s dashing good looks—he also cleverly used Cruise’s past scandals to subtly dissuade Jimmy from digging deeper into Maxim’s “dirt.” It was a perfectly subtle metaphor, hidden in plain sight, understood only by the sharpest minds. 

Genius! Absolute genius! 

Jimmy couldn’t contain himself. He burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, while the audience just looked confused— 

Their brains couldn’t quite keep up. With only “Tom Cruise” as the keyword, it was hard for them to connect the dots in real time. 

And that’s exactly what made Ronan’s move so smart: subtle hints, no explicit explanation, and it all depended on interpretation. Even after the show aired, Ronan would be safe from any blowback. 

Of course, the internet is full of nitpicky trolls—you can never predict how they’ll react. As for the show’s long-term impact, all they could do now was wait and see. 

Jimmy rubbed his sore cheeks, gears turning in his head. How should he respond? If he kept digging into the Tom Cruise bit, it might spark unnecessary backlash. But letting it go just like that? It felt like such a waste. 

“Oli, did you just say that Maxim thinks he’s as handsome as Tom Cruise?” 

Jimmy circled back, completely ignoring Ronan’s clever setup, and addressed the audience as he pivoted. 

“Oli Love, the drummer. Honestly, I didn’t expect that inside this Hulk-like body lives a delicate little princess.” 

This was Oli’s first time speaking since the taping began. Jimmy’s playful jab finally got the audience laughing again. 

Oli looked a little stiff, but Ronan quickly stepped in to help him out. “Let me correct that—it should be Princess Fiona.” 

Bwahahaha! 

HA! 😂 

Princess Fiona from Shrek, who also happens to be green, was a perfect match for the “Hulk” image Jimmy used. Glancing at the towering Oli just completed the mental picture, and the crowd totally lost it—some even started whistling in delight. 

Oli shot Ronan a helpless look, still too nervous to protest out loud. But the lively atmosphere helped him relax a little, and he finally found his voice—kind of like those cozy college bonfire nights with friends, not nearly as intimidating as he thought. 

“Well, Maxim’s got a pretty bad case of prince syndrome. I think he genuinely believes he’s the most handsome man on the planet,” Oli said, his voice a bit tense but clear. 

Then Maxim leaned forward and waggled his finger at Oli. “No, no, no. You’ve misunderstood me.” Just as the audience thought he was about to act modest, Maxim proudly added, “I’m the most handsome man in the universe.” 

HA! 

Oli was getting into it too. “See what I mean? He does this every day. First thing in the morning, he’ll look in the mirror and sigh, ‘Dear God, how can someone have features this perfect?’” 

Once he started, Oli couldn’t stop. His real personality peeked through. “We’re always on the road for our tours, worn out and scruffy most of the time. But this narcissist—any time he catches a reflection…” 

“Any reflection?” Jimmy interjected. 

Oli nodded hard. “Yep, any. Not just mirrors—car windows, glass doors, puddles! He’ll stop in his tracks to admire himself. And it’s not just fixing his hair. He talks. Every time he says, ‘Oli, don’t you think I’m ridiculously handsome?’ Even when I ignore him, he just keeps going—for five whole minutes—like he’s giving a TED Talk to himself!” 

The audience erupted with laughter. 

But right in the eye of the comedic storm, Maxim didn’t flinch. Calm and composed, he owned every word. 

Even Cliff couldn’t help jumping in. “It’s true, we’re used to it by now. When we were shooting our album’s booklet photos for the first time, we all flipped through the proofs together. Maxim was sitting next to me, flipping through. He saw Ronan—okay. Saw Oli—okay. Saw himself—and just stopped. He stared at the page for so long, I thought he was about to kiss it. Then he finally said, ‘Devastatingly handsome. Irresistible. Not just to women—everyone should fall for me.’ I swear, I thought I was hallucinating.” 

Since it wasn’t a formal interview, Cliff’s storytelling had rhythm and energy. His words came alive. 

Even Maxim, with all his usual swagger, looked a little embarrassed under the team’s joint “attack.” He glared at them, clearly annoyed, but all he said was, “What? Am I wrong? I’m just stating facts.” 

Hahahaha! 

The laughter wouldn’t stop. Then Ronan glanced at Jimmy, who was watching the show unfold with glee, and chimed in, “Sure, Maxim is seriously narcissistic—but to be honest, all four of us are. Just like every young person in the 21st century, we really believe in ourselves.” 

In fact, that’s one of the biggest things Ronan had noticed over the past few months: 

Everyone is confident. 

No matter their looks, size, or style—people walked around radiating self-assurance. Especially Black folks—they carried themselves with even more pride. And it wasn’t just about looks—every part of life was like that. Even tone-deaf folks thought they were born for the stage. 

Sure, insecure people still existed. Everyone has their own vulnerabilities. But those folks rarely showed up in the public eye, so it created the illusion that “everyone is super confident all the time,” and that illusion put a ton of pressure on Ronan. 

Still, they were filming a show. Ronan knew a little exaggeration was good for the vibe. Being too modest just wouldn’t spark that kind of chemistry. 

Jimmy immediately picked up on Ronan’s unspoken cue. “So what you’re saying is, you’re all pretty confident in your looks?” 

“Absolutely.” The four bandmates nodded one after the other. 

Then Maxim, without missing a beat, added, “As long as we’re not talking about height.” 

“Hey! Maxim Pooning!” Cliff suddenly jumped up, glaring at him. 

Jimmy glanced at Cliff, then the audience, and lowered his voice dramatically, “Sit down, Cliff, or the audience won’t even notice what he said.” 

Cliff froze, scratched his head, and sheepishly sat back down as the room burst into laughter again. 

(End of Chapter) 

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