Chapter 80 of The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

After the performance, we collapsed in the waiting room. Since we didn't have the energy to return to our accommodation, I asked,

“Can we just sleep here?”

“Really...”

The staff laughed, thinking it was a joke, but I was serious...

Fortunately, we were left alone for a moment, so we lay down and rested for a while. Minjiho suddenly sat up and said,

“It’s getting better. There’s only one concert left.”

It was tough, but it wasn’t as hard as the thought of the concert ending tomorrow. Hanhyoseok muttered,

“I want to do this every day.”

At that moment, Anjuwon, who was checking the fans' reactions on his phone, said,

“Oh, it’s supposed to snow tomorrow.”

“Really? What about the fans?”

“Why does it have to snow on concert day?”

“...Isn’t it always snowing on important days for us?”

There was a brief silence after Hanhyoseok’s words, then Anjuwon said,

“Actually, the fans are saying that. It always snows on important days.”

The members became solemn for a moment, feeling genuinely apologetic.

To change the mood, Hwangsaebek said,

“Anjuwon, Junghaewon. Let’s do a punishment.”

“Right.”

I got up and handed my phone to Anjuwon.

“Let’s take pictures of each other.”

Anjuwon sighed as he took the phone. We had lost a game during our earlier banter and were now supposed to take 'cute' pictures as punishment. It seemed everyone secretly enjoyed being cute.

I posed for the camera, making a flower shape with my hands and winking. The members grumbled from the side.

“This guy really likes being cute, it’s not fun.”

“Yeah, it’s only fun if he doesn’t like it.”

The members then surrounded Anjuwon. I held the camera and giggled,

“I’ll show you if you follow me.”

“Ha...”

Anjuwon sighed deeply, tried to make a flower shape with his hands, but then covered his face with one hand, looking distressed. The members laughed and teased him.

* * *

On Sunday, the second day of the Firstlight Concert, it really snowed heavily. I usually like snow, but not today. I arrived at the venue early and, with permission, went outside with my cap pulled down. The roads were a mess, and the sign at the nearby bus stop said the next bus would arrive in 42 minutes. The snow was causing delays.

Bakseonjae, who had followed me out, asked,

“Will the fans be able to make it?”

“Let’s check. Is the highway situation okay?”

“I should.”

Bakseonjae took a picture of the bus schedule and posted it on XBus.

[Youngest: Oppa Haewon was worried about the road conditions and came out to check. The bus schedule is 😭😭😭 Will the fans be able to make it on time? Is the highway okay? How will they get home?]

[↳I’ll walk if I have to 😭😭😭]

[↳Why are the performers out here!!! Get back inside!!!!!!]

[↳My sister is driving. If I leave now, I should be able to make it.]

[↳↳Haha, typical fans.]

[↳I’ll figure it out, just go back inside!!!]

[↳Why are you worried about this 😭😭😭😭]

We got a severe scolding.

Still, from my experience touring the country with Park Hee-young, it’s hard not to worry when it snows.

I stood there for a moment, checking the traffic, and then returned to the venue with Bakseonjae.

Fortunately, the snow stopped and the temperature rose above zero. I felt a bit more at ease.

The venue only had 2,000 seats, and all the members' parents decided not to come to avoid taking seats from the fans for two days. So, the second and final day was packed with fans, no family seats.

Before going on stage, I made a video call to my sister.

“Sister.”

-Yeah, do the concert. Why are you calling?

“Geez, who does he take after?”

-Our parents.

While we were talking, my brother-in-law was almost reflexively waving a light stick.

“My brother-in-law is really into the merchandise.”

-He was really down because the concert merchandise didn’t arrive before the show. You should have gone alone.

“...Does that make sense? She’s in the early stages of pregnancy. If my brother-in-law comes, I won’t let him off.”

-But, if he’s a fan, it’s also tough for him to miss the first concert.

“Why is he such a hardcore fan?”

-I don’t know. I thought he liked the group because I did, but now it seems he’s just a fan.

“Really?”

-Can you listen to your favorite group’s songs all day just out of politeness? I can’t.

That way, he tried to console himself over the phone for not being able to attend the concert, and then we hung up.

By the way, there was a middle-aged foreigner in the backstage again. We thought he was someone’s relative and just nodded in greeting as we passed by. But just before the concert started, TRV’s A&R, Park Geon-hoon, asked the members,

“Did anyone see a foreigner in the backstage?”

Everyone except Hwangsaebek answered,

“Yes.”

“...Aren’t you curious who it is?”

“We thought it was a relative of one of the members. We all greeted him.”

Shinjiun’s response made the others nod. Anjuwon pointed at me and said,

“Haewon’s brother-in-law is also a foreigner.”

“No, he’s not at that level...”

Park Geon-hoon looked bewildered and trailed off, then Hanhyoseok said,

“Maybe an uncle.”

“Or an aunt’s husband.”

Bakseonjae chimed in from the side.

While we were talking, Hwangsaebek, who had been resting like a dead person after his makeup, slowly got up, walked out, and came back a moment later to tell me,

“It’s Dave Levitan.”

“Oh, really?”

“Didn’t you know, since you arranged the cover?”

“I was busy arranging it, new friend.”

“Still, you should show a bit more enthusiasm for rock.”

Hwangsaebek said and collapsed again. He seemed to be using all his energy to be enthusiastic. I replied,

“Hey, that guy is really tired. Do you know how many times I had to change the arrangement to get his permission? He always said it wasn’t to his liking.”

“He didn’t say no, he just asked for changes. He thought you could make it to his liking.”

...Is that so?

Anyway, he must have been really particular about the song to come and check it himself. He’s a stubborn person.

...It doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem. I would probably do the same.

As we headed to the stage, I asked Hwangsaebek, seeing Dave Levitan watching us intently,

“What did he say when you introduced yourself?”

“He said we should form a band. Then he said we could work together for decades.”

“What? We can work together for decades even if we’re not a band.”

“Yeah, he said that too.”

“In English?”

“No way. There was an interpreter.”

“Oh, right.”

I replied and giggled with Hwangsaebek as we went on stage.

* * *

Soon, the two-day concert was over. The first day was so hectic that we didn’t have time to look around, but today we felt much more relaxed.

Before getting into the car after the performance, we went outside with the members, and it was incredibly cold.

“Wow, what do we do? It’s so cold. How will the fans get home?”

Minjiho asked, and the usual response was that they would manage. Bakseonjae asked,

“Did everyone get their hand warmers?”

It was so cold that we had prepared 2,000 hand warmers for both days.

Bakseonjae continued,

“Haewon’s idea was to put stickers on the packaging so the fans wouldn’t tear them open, but we included the stickers separately.”

Fortunately, the fans were using the hand warmers.

We said our goodbyes, reminding them to be careful as the snow hadn’t fully melted, and then got back into the car. On the way to the accommodation, Minjiho was unusually quiet, staring out the window.

The concert was really, too enjoyable. When I came off the stage, the world suddenly felt colorless and tasteless. The encore concert seemed so far away.

For Minjiho, who was especially excited and energetic on stage, it might have been even harder. I should help him unwind when we get back.

As soon as we returned to the accommodation, the members, instead of removing their makeup, couldn’t even take off their down jackets and just lay on the floor.

“It’s so quiet.”

Anjuwon nodded at Shinjiun’s comment.

“Yeah, it’s suddenly too quiet.”

With more experience, it might be different, but the after-effects of the first concert didn’t easily fade. I knew from experience that huddling up would only make us more depressed.

“Let’s remove the makeup and sleep.”

“Okay.”

Regardless of their distress, I shook the lying members awake. Fortunately, Bakseonjae, who always follows me, got up and sat down.

“Want to hear something uplifting?”

Then he held up his hand with the team ring. I was surprised that they all wore it to bed.

“We asked for white gold, but Haewon changed it to platinum without telling us.”

“...How did you know?”

“Fan cafe Instagram.”

He definitely seemed more energetic. Enough to hit me...

Someone covered me with a down jacket, and a punch came. Of course, it wasn’t a real punch, just a pretend one, but I could feel the frustration. Hehe.

“Ouch, it really hurts, really.”

When I exaggerated, the members backed off. Taking advantage of the down jacket, I turned over and said,

“Platinum doesn’t tarnish and lasts longer. I’m cool-toned, so it has to be silver.”

The kids seemed to clench their fists again at my joke, so I hid in the down jacket. Fortunately, they were too tired to do more. Indeed, a tough setlist has many advantages. Hehe.

I pushed the members into the bathroom and headed towards Minjiho, who was still lying down.