244-246

Chapter 244: Debut on Talk Show 

From a completely unknown band to breaking into the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in their career, One Day King has had quite the head-turning journey. It’s hard not to compare them to the also-rising Shining Band—especially since the two groups are currently touring together, drawing even more connections between them. 

That said, their trajectories have been quite different, so there’s no need for a direct comparison. 

The single “Roar, Hey” was actually recorded way back in March of last year, but it made almost no impact at the time. It wasn’t until Shining Band’s manager kept pushing it tirelessly that the song was eventually picked up as the theme song for the second season of the TV drama Southern Love, airing in December. That’s when people finally started to notice. 

Exactly a year after the album was recorded, Shining Band finally released their debut album on April 3. Thanks to the exposure from the drama, the album charted immediately, debuting at number 11 on the Billboard 200—a very solid performance. 

Then on June 14, “Roar, Hey” was officially released as the lead single. It entered the Hot 100 at number 90 in its first week. 

What followed was a surprising and meteoric climb. After ten weeks on the chart, the song had cracked the Top 50. By week eighteen, its momentum briefly dipped—just as the band’s tour took a temporary break—but it quickly regained its footing and continued its ascent. Now, in its twenty-first week on the chart, “Roar, Hey” has entered the Top 20, currently sitting at number 19. 

Even more impressive? It’s already secured a spot on the Billboard year-end Hot 100. A remarkable achievement. 

For Shining Band, Southern Love marked a turning point. Before that, they were struggling. Afterward, they surged forward with both albums and singles finally reaping the rewards of their hard work. At this stage, all they need to do is keep touring—their music is doing the rest. 

One Day King, on the other hand, is still climbing. They haven’t quite hit their watershed moment yet. 

Sure, opening for Bruno’s concert was a big break. Signing with Atlantic Records was a major milestone too, laying the groundwork for “Chasing Light” to make it onto the Hot 100. But if you look at their album and single performance, it’s clear that they’re still in the slow-and-steady phase. It’ll take time, patience—and maybe a breakthrough. 

If they do hit that turning point, that critical moment when quantity becomes quality, then One Day King could have their own explosive rise just like Shining Band. But if not, once the brief buzz fades, things might just go quiet again. Like many indie bands, they risk slipping back into obscurity. 

So… could The Jimmy Chicken Show be that pivotal moment for One Day King, the way Southern Love was for Shining Band? 

They arrived at the studio just after 10 a.m. But not a trace of sunlight could be seen over Manhattan. The early winter sky was cold and gray, and towering steel buildings sliced the world into narrow, shadowy grids. The gloom seemed to press down from above. People and cars rushed past without pause, the whole scene blanketed in a weary shade of gray. 

“This place feels like a whole different world,” Ollie muttered as he tugged at the hem of his outfit, clearly uncomfortable and awkward. 

Cliff, with his sharp ears, caught Ollie’s whisper. He looked down at his own outfit and also felt a bit off. 

It wasn’t clear how Jimmy Kimmel—or maybe it was Alice—convinced Atlantic Records to approve the appearance. But the label finally gave the green light. One Day King would be appearing on national TV for the first time, as guests on a talk show. 

And since it was an official taping, the label made sure everything was done right: sponsored outfits, professional styling, full looks from head to toe. For the band, it was their first time doing anything like this. Naturally, they were a bit out of their element. 

They’d been up since 5 a.m. A whole team of stylists, makeup artists, and hairdressers had taken over both of their hotel rooms. The chaos lasted more than three hours before everything was finally in place. 

Until now, they’d always been on the road. Even when they hit the stage, there weren’t many demands—each member dressed for comfort and had their own style. “Styling” was never on their radar. 

But today was different. Even though it was just light makeup, it felt oddly overdone. The unfamiliar clothes only added to the discomfort—like wearing a sweater full of burrs. They couldn't help but squirm. 

Because of Ollie’s fidgeting, Cliff looked down at himself again—just a T-shirt and jeans with a leather jacket, plus a few accessories like bracelets and earrings. Nothing fancy. Still, he felt stiff and awkward, like his limbs had forgotten how to move naturally. 

When Cliff looked up, he saw Ronan in a tailored black suit that hugged his tall, lean frame perfectly. The subtle muscular lines gave the suit shape, and confidence radiated from within. He looked effortlessly stylish—youthful, bold, and full of sunshine. It was hard to look away. 

“Ronan… don’t you feel weird?” Cliff asked hesitantly. Normally, Ronan was all about T-shirts and jeans. Suddenly switching to a hand-tailored suit—with that perfect, almost restrictive fit—had to feel strange. 

Before Ronan could answer, Maxime chimed in. 

“This is the perfect look, okay? I feel like a prince again today.” 

Behind them, Maxime was using the car window reflection to fix his hair, like some modern-day Narcissus. He admired himself, nodding in satisfaction, completely absorbed in his own handsomeness and perfectly pleased with his styling. 

Cliff shot Maxime a glance, but said nothing. He chose to ignore him. 

A soft chuckle rumbled from Ronan’s throat. “You should trust yourself. This is a performance too. When we’re on stage, we perform with music. But in front of the camera, we perform with our words, our posture, our expressions.” 

Then he turned to Cliff with a calm, confident smile. “You’re doing great. Really.” 

Cliff cleared his throat, trying to cover up his awkwardness. 

Next to him, Ollie muttered under his breath, “Now you’re all full of pep talks. But when we compliment you, where’s your confidence then?” 

“…” Ronan scratched his nose, looking a little shy. Then he turned to Ollie and said, “You know… doesn’t that building look like a giant slice of Black Forest cake?” 

Chapter 245: Backed by a Giant 

“This is another world. You all come from the music world, but this is the television world. Don’t worry, though—you won’t be eaten alive or anything. Just think of it as Alice in Wonderland, and enjoy the adventure. Who knows? Maybe you’ll stumble upon some unexpected surprises.” 

Alice’s calm voice echoed in their ears. Compared to the members of the One-Day King band, she was far more composed and unshaken, striding forward without hesitation toward the looming TV station building. 

Maxime looked at Ollie, then at Cliff, and finally settled his gaze on Ronan, wiggling his eyebrows playfully. “So... we’re following Alice on a trip through Wonderland now?” 

A name pun. Not funny. So cringe-worthy it made goosebumps rise. 

But Ronan answered with a straight face, “Or would you rather follow the Mad Hatter into Wonderland?” 

“….” Maxime was immediately at a loss for words. He rubbed his nose and shot Ronan a look of exasperation before quickly striding after Alice. 

Ollie turned to Ronan, his nerves gradually easing. No matter what happened, having his bandmates beside him gave him a sense of security. He chuckled at their banter and walked alongside Ronan, following Cliff into the building. 

“Whoa.” 

“Wait—whoa!” 

“Oh... oh wow.” 

Exclamations of awe accompanied them all the way inside. 

Once Ollie stepped into the TV station, his nerves melted away. Excitement fluttered inside him like wings eager to take off. Just the sounds he made said it all—his footsteps light, his eyes darting around curiously. Even a small sign could make him gasp with wonder. 

Maxime stood by the elevator with a look that screamed, “I don’t know this guy.” It seemed like the moment the elevator doors opened, he’d jump in and disown Ollie completely. 

Cliff, meanwhile, stared off into space, his eyes fixed on a promotional poster for Once Upon a Time Season 2 inside the elevator. His thoughts had already drifted to some far-off place. 

Alice glanced back at Ronan, who was smiling beside Ollie, and the corners of her lips tugged upward slightly. Then she lowered her gaze to the schedule in her hand. 

As the band’s manager, Alice was slowly but surely stepping into her role. Today, they were at the TV station to record an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!—and Alice was running the entire show. 

Initially, Atlantic Records had planned to assign a professional manager to handle things. They were worried Alice lacked experience with the industry's logistics. This kind of dual-management setup is pretty common in the entertainment world: one person handles the business side, while a more familiar figure—often a friend or family member—supports the artists personally. 

To them, Alice looked more like a personal manager. When it came to real business, they’d intended to have professionals handle it—like a tour manager for concerts, or someone from the label for TV appearances. 

But Alice had proven herself. Through sheer effort and attention to detail, she learned every step of the process and gained the label’s respect. In the end, Atlantic didn’t send anyone else. They just gave the TV station a heads-up. 

And so far today, everything had gone off without a hitch. 

From checking in at the front desk and collecting access passes, to confirming the show’s itinerary and interview script with the producers, to arranging transportation and coordinating hair and makeup—every single task had been handled smoothly, step by step. 

Of course, it wasn’t just Alice’s hard work that made this possible. 

The truth was clear from ABC’s attitude: if they were just another unknown indie band, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. Navigating an unfamiliar industry isn’t easy, and someone like Alice—technically an outsider—could never cover all bases alone. But with Atlantic Records backing them, it was a different story. Even if she slipped up, the station would gently point it out so she could fix it right away. 

Alice knew this very well. That’s why she stayed on high alert, hyper-focused, leading the band through every step. 

Once they reached the green room, the crew helped them with makeup and fitted their microphones. Jimmy Kimmel soon dropped by to greet them personally, his warmth and excitement shining through. 

But Alice’s job still wasn’t done. 

Quietly slipping out, she headed for the studio set—her first time there, actually. She didn’t have the luxury of looking around; she made a beeline for the producer to confirm the timeline, script, and other logistics. Then she quickly made several phone calls, arranging coffee and donuts for the crew based on headcount, before returning to the green room to walk the band through the rundown. 

She never stopped moving. 

Only after the band walked into the studio to begin filming did Alice finally get a chance to breathe. 

“Alice.” 

A voice called out beside her. Instinctively, Alice spun around like a hawk ready to strike, her sharp gaze making the person flinch and take a half-step back. But Alice didn’t relax. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” 

Even though they had Atlantic Records backing them, Alice knew better than to let her guard down. The band was still new, and she herself was still learning on the job. She couldn’t afford to let her attention slip. 

“N-No, it’s nothing,” the person stammered, holding out a coffee and a donut. “This is from Ronan. He asked me to bring it to you.” 

Ronan? 

Alice blinked in surprise, hesitantly taking the snack. Before she could say anything, the person turned and bolted away, as if being chased by a dragon. 

She took a sip of the coffee—it was a latte with added maple syrup. The rich, sweet flavor seemed to ease the soreness in her muscles and calm her taut nerves. Looking down at the chocolate donut, she frowned. 

“You’re the one who likes chocolate,” she muttered in mock disapproval. 

But complaints aside, she still took a big bite. As the donut slid down her throat, the empty feeling in her stomach finally eased a bit. She looked back toward the studio and, for the first time today, allowed herself a brief moment of peace. 

Chapter 246: A Rocky Start 

“Tonight, our first guests are truly special. Just three months ago, they were a completely unknown indie band—no one knew their name, and no one had heard their music. But now, only three months later, they’ve taken social media by storm.” “Let’s give a warm welcome to One Day King!” 

With this concise yet engaging opening line, Jimmy Kimmel, sitting comfortably behind his desk, kicked off the latest taping of his show like the seasoned host he was. 

Cheers erupted— Applause thundered— 

From the left side of the studio, a door opened automatically, and the four members of One Day King stepped into view. The wave of noise crashing toward them was overwhelming, and for a moment, their movements stalled slightly under the weight of the moment. 

Unlike a concert venue, the studio was compact and tightly packed. Only about 300 live audience members were present, but even that modest number filled every inch of the space. The wall of spectators loomed like a dark curtain ahead, shrinking the stage and intensifying the pressure. 

Cameras stood in a wide arc—one, two, three, four, five—strategically positioned to cover every angle of the stage. Together with the sweltering stage lights and two overhead crane cams sweeping above them, the entire set felt like a giant microscope, capturing their every move in real time. 

It was suffocating. The kind of heat that didn’t just burn—it boiled. Muscles tensed. Joints stiffened. This was another world entirely. 

“Maxime,” Ronan murmured in a low voice. 

It was like a spell had been broken. Maxime straightened up, took a confident step forward, and strode onto the stage like he owned it. Tall, handsome, and effortlessly charming, he looked every bit the prince under the spotlight. 

The others quickly followed. 

“Welcome, welcome!” Jimmy opened his arms wide in greeting, his familiar face easing some of the tension from the band’s shoulders. For a second, it felt like they were back at that private party where they had first met. 

The four members settled into two couches arranged side by side. Maxime, having led the way, ended up closest to Jimmy’s desk. Cliff sat beside him, while Ronan and Ollie took the seats on the second couch farther away. 

Jimmy’s eyes flicked toward the producer with the briefest look of surprise. 

Normally, the seat nearest the desk was reserved for the main guest—who’d receive the most attention and camera focus. Though not a strict rule, Jimmy's interviews were known for being casual and conversational, built on face-to-face energy. 

In his mind, Ronan should’ve been sitting next to him. After all, Ronan was the lead vocalist and the most recognizable face of the band. Had there been a miscommunication? 

Just as Jimmy was about to speak, Ronan’s voice cut in from the side couch. “Is there some kind of seating arrangement we were supposed to follow?” 

Clearly, Ronan knew exactly what was going on. 

Before the show, Alice had relayed the production team’s hope for Ronan to sit front and center. But Ronan had disagreed. The band was still climbing, still grounded. There was no internal competition, no fan rankings, no reason to single anyone out. Even if no one said anything, the vibe would be off. It was better to just let things play out naturally. 

And so, Maxime had ended up in the spotlight. Good-looking and camera-friendly, he made a perfect frontman anyway. 

Jimmy returned his gaze to Ronan and, with a warm grin, said, “There’s no rule. You sit wherever you like. Comfort is key—that’s the spirit of this show.” 

Ronan smiled. “We did consider sitting by popularity rank, but after some thought, we realized… none of us are particularly popular, so we couldn’t come to an agreement. We gave up. This seating arrangement? Settled by rock-paper-scissors.” 

It was self-deprecating, light-hearted, and immediately drew laughter from the crowd. 

Jimmy’s grin widened. This guy is perfect for talk shows, he thought. “You’re too modest. Our audience really loves you guys. Didn’t you hear the cheers when you walked in?” 

Rooooar! The audience rallied again with another round of cheers. 

But Ronan just raised a hand and waved them off gently, still smiling. “Thank you, truly. I know you’re all doing your best to hide your disappointment. Based on Jimmy’s intro, I bet some of you were expecting Psy tonight. And clearly… we’re not Psy. I’m guessing most of you have no idea who we are.” 

The air got tense for a heartbeat. Was he really calling out the audience like that? 

But then— 

“Psy.” 

Just that one name flipped the mood. The crowd burst into laughter. 

Three months ago, totally unknown. Now, viral sensation. That intro line did sound like it was tailor-made for Psy, whose “Gangnam Style,” released in July, had taken the internet by storm. The dance, the beat, the quirky music video—everything had gone viral. Last week, Psy had appeared on this very show, and the episode had gone nuclear online. 

Ronan’s quip? It was self-aware, clever, and perfectly timed. He’d hit all the right notes. 

Even Jimmy couldn’t hold it in anymore. He doubled over laughing as Ronan completely stole the scene. 

“Hey, buddy, careful! I’m the host here!” 

Jimmy’s mock protest drew more chuckles, and Ronan leaned in without missing a beat. “Well then, Mr. Host, don’t you think it’s time you gave us a proper introduction?” 

Rooooar! Rooooar! Applause. Cheers. Laughter. 

The crowd erupted. 

(End of Chapter)