Chapter 36

36

[...Seo Hoyun.]

"I told you, if I were in charge, I would have done it this way."

[I don't get it? It's better to cut it off now while there's sympathy. If we keep dragging it out, the situation could turn around in an instant. And you'll end up getting blamed unfairly, you know?]

"PD."

[Yes.]

"PD, as you know, it's not a bad development for you either, right?"

If we keep fanning the flames of the confrontation, the ratings will gradually accelerate.

[What do you want?]

I burst out laughing. It was a phrase I had heard ad nauseam over the past few months.

From Im Hyunsu, from Ju U-seong, and even now from Kim Hee-young.

"A bowl of rice that can sustain a decent living."

[...Are you making fun of me?]

"I'm serious."

[Ha... I see.]

Kim Hee-young sighed deeply and said to me.

[I'm going to drop a bomb on today's broadcast. If you can't quit now, don't regret it.]

"I won't."

[Not curious at all?]

"Yes."

[You're a strange one, Seo Hoyun. Don't you want a title like 'Madman of the Great Success Planning'?]

"I think I already have a nickname like that."

[Oh, really.]

I chuckled. It was time to end the call, but I hesitated. There was one thing I wanted to say.

It required courage, and at this moment, even the dialogue box didn't appear.

I sighed so faintly that she couldn't hear it, closed my eyes, and said the words.

"Good luck."

[...What?]

"..."

[...Oh, yes. Thank you.]

With those words, a moment of silence followed, and Kim Hee-young hung up.

'Damn...'

I regretted not saying the last thing, but it was too late.

I picked up my phone and checked the time.

It was time to go.

***

"Hello, I'm Yoo Ji-ya, the MC of Shining Star."

"Wow!"

"Yoo Ji-ya! Yoo Ji-ya!"

The cheers were so loud that they could be heard from the waiting room, but there was a slight delay compared to the live monitoring TV.

"Thank you all for your participation today. The final Shining Star, the Final Star, will be determined by the total scores from the first to the third rounds. Before we start the first round, I will announce your voting scores."

As Yoo Ji-ya spun around, a huge number appeared on the stage screen.

9,000 points from the audience.

It was an overwhelming number. Jung Da-jun swallowed hard.

"An incredible 9,000 points. Along with 1,000 points from the judges, today's first round ranking is determined. Now, you understand how important your role is, right?"

"Today!!"

"Mars!"

"The more fighting!!"

"Ha, yes. I can already hear the cheers. The group that wins first place in the first round will be given a special privilege. I hope you look forward to it."

Yoo Ji-ya winked.

The special privilege, just hearing it gave a sense of what it might be.

During Mars' performance, when the main vocalist sang the highlight, Seong Ji-won was impressed.

"Wow, that's good."

"Really good. It gave me goosebumps."

Seeing the Mars vocalist reminded me of the conversation I had with Seong Ji-won. My face stiffened involuntarily.

The Mars vocalist is good, but Seong Ji-won is no less. He could have been even more popular if he had better luck.

I'm so frustrated.

"Ah, Hoyun! Don't frown like that now."

"Ah, sorry."

"How about it? I tried putting glitter under your eyes to make them look more exotic. It fits the concept perfectly, doesn't it?"

Honestly, I didn't hear the rest. I nodded and thanked her.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Oh, look at this well-mannered kid."

The makeup artist giggled.

"Do well today."

After receiving the encouragement and bowing, Seong Ji-won grabbed me and led me away. He smiled faintly.

"Looks like our fans are here."

"Quite a few of them."

Considering the eggs and the fire they started, it was a natural outcome, but it felt different.

As we walked down the long corridor with the kids, Seong Ji-won whispered.

"Hoyun."

"What?"

"Are you... scared or anything?"

What kind of nonsense is this?

I looked at him with disbelief, but Seong Ji-won was serious.

"No, I thought you might have developed a trauma from the guerrilla performance last time... I was worried you might be scared."

"Do I look like that now?"

"Um, no. Not at all."

Seong Ji-won said it bluntly but then glanced at me again.

"Are you nervous? You were last time, right?"

"A little."

I was more frustrated than nervous.

Seong Ji-won laughed softly, finding something amusing in my answer.

Fourth, it was our turn. The last performance, of course, was Today's.

Mars, who had just finished their performance, came out wiping sweat. A staff member was communicating over a walkie-talkie.

"Yes, The More is here."

"Good job."

Kim Sung-hyun, who was walking beside me, greeted Mars first. Mars smiled widely and bowed 90 degrees to us, despite being seniors, probably aware of the cameras.

"The More, good luck!"

"Good luck!"

"Yes, thank you."

The Mars vocalist, whom I had talked to before, looked at me and Seong Ji-won alternately, probably curious about our conversation.

Just as Seong Ji-won noticed the gaze and was about to question it, Kang Eun-chae interjected.

"Seniors, you were amazing!"

"Huh? Oh?"

"Especially the rap part, we were all impressed."

"Ha, thank you."

Whether Kang Eun-chae did it intentionally or not, she cut in at the right moment.

"I'll go up now. See you later, seniors."

"Uh-huh."

The vocalist nodded awkwardly.

We bowed and followed the staff's guidance onto the stage.

Yoo Ji-ya smiled at us and then turned to the audience.

"It's The More!"

"Ahhh!"

"The More, good luck!"

The cheers were unusually loud. The pressure was even more intense than the guerrilla performance last time.

I barely straightened my back and looked ahead.

'What?'

Almost half of the audience was holding blue slogans. It was our official color, which had solidified after our first album. At a glance, it seemed more than the yellow of Today.

That can't be right? Our fandom is much smaller than Today's.

"Hoyun, good luck!"

I heard a fan shouting. Only then did I realize.

The fans had put in effort. They must have distributed slogans to the general audience who were selected by lottery and promoted us.

'...Thank you.'

I bowed again. Then I turned and took my position. Today's members were probably seething and watching the stage.

All of our members seemed to have the same thought. Everyone's eyes were filled with determination.

At that moment, my eyes met Kim Sung-hyun's, who was glancing this way.

'Hey.'

'What?'

'Watch the camera.'

I grinned, and Kim Sung-hyun burst out laughing, finding it ridiculous. As the intro music started, his expression hardened.

It was time to unleash what we had prepared.

***

Ding, ding, ding.

A cheerful song played. The fans looked puzzled.

'What? It's not the Second Chance?'

"Didn't they say it would be our representative hit song today? What song is this?"

However, The More's fans, especially those who were fans before the 5-member lineup, covered their mouths.

Could it be... Could it be...

'Glow!'

A song that was released with a high school concept but quickly faded due to its calmness. Fans would get lost in the song just by hearing the intro, a song that didn't even chart and had less than 300,000 views on its music video.

But now, it was being performed again on Shining Star.

Kang Eun-chae and Kim Sung-hyun walked out, muttering.

[Is he still not back to normal?]

[That's what I'm saying.]

'Hey, kids!! You're in school uniforms, so it's a high school musical format?'

Seeing them talk, the original fans clutched their heads. The agency was doing something!

[We need to figure it out quickly.]

Kim Sung-hyun slowly got up, picked up a basketball, spun it, and smiled as he threw it into a makeshift hoop. The ball went in with a beeping sound.

[Hey, what are you looking at.]

Kang Eun-chae caught the ball below and dribbled it, passing it to Jung Da-jun.

Jung Da-jun, looking confused, caught it and looked around. Then the song started.

[No, I can't, I can't, I need to snap out of it.]

Jung Da-jun threw the basketball to the side and ran out, ignoring Kang Eun-chae, who was giggling and watching him. Note: This is realistic acting.

[You know we can't be together, but you still talk to me.]

In front of him, Seo Hoyun and Kang Eun-chae loitered, blocking his way. Jung Da-jun ignored them and dodged, and as Kang Eun-chae bent down to tie her shoelaces, he jumped over her, matching the beat.

He then took a book from a cabinet and made a sad face.

[My heart feels like it's going to jump out of my mouth.]

Seong Ji-won naturally took the book from Jung Da-jun, leaned against the cabinet, and messed up his hair.

Seo Hoyun sat nearby, uninterested, and added a line.

[I'm just talking nonsense (Yeah?)

I said the sky is beautiful today (It's raining?)

Ah, I should just stop talking, what can I say?]

The camera moved away from Seong Ji-won and focused on Kim Sung-hyun, who was spinning the basketball with one finger and sighed.

[No, I can't, I can't, I need to snap out of it. I must be crazy.]

Behind Kim Sung-hyun, Kang Eun-chae popped out, playfully taking the basketball and tapping his cheek.

[Our friends all say

You're different from us, I know, but I keep getting drawn to you.]

'Kids! The fresh concept is a hit!'

The song, rearranged as a musical, was much more lively than the original. The fans were already so satisfied that they felt like they were about to faint, but the song wasn't over yet.

Squeak!

Suddenly, the stage darkened, and a moonlit night appeared.

The group gathered in the center for a group dance. They bent their backs like wolves and shook their bodies. The music stopped abruptly, and the members huddled as if waiting for something.

Then, a wolf's howl echoed.

The fans were confused.

'This part wasn't in the original song?'

Kim Sung-hyun, raising his nails and scratching the floor, was approached by Kang Eun-chae.

[Again, moonlight comes

I'm not myself, my head is spinning, and my instincts are awakened.]

This was a new rap part added to the original song of 'Glow.'

'Shit...'

'Are they werewolves?'

The fans felt like they were about to faint. Of course, not just the fans, but everyone was speechless at the unexpected turn of events.

That's why I told you to snap out of it.

Because it's impossible for us to be together as different beings!

[From the distant full moon, I find you. You see, I can't stop thinking about you, even in this light.]

As Kang Eun-chae's part ended, Seo Hoyun, who had been lying on a table, appeared. The other members lifted the table from below. The bright white light shining on Seo Hoyun made him look almost inhuman.

[In the early morning, I keep thinking about you.]

Seo Hoyun slowly touched his lips.

As if all these emotions were regrettable, as if he was constantly wavering.

[Can we be together?

or not?

Can we stay together?

or not?]

"Seo Hoyun! Let's live together!"

A fan couldn't hold back and screamed. Seo Hoyun's lips curled up slightly, and the fan felt like they were about to faint.

Seo Hoyun slid off the table and ran his hand through his hair.

[But it's already over, my mind is full of thoughts of you. Please, hold my hand.]

At the same time, he slid to the side.

The stage suddenly brightened, and the high school atmosphere returned with the wolf's howl.

Jung Da-jun appeared, wiping his mouth, and slowly kicked the basketball.

[(No, she's not one of us)

Even your whims are beautiful (You gotta listen to me)

I know, I'm gonna regret this, but I got up and headed to your house with one text.]

Seong Ji-won added the final chorus. It was much higher than the previous Mars song but cleaner.

[I'll throw everything at you.]

The fan couldn't control the overwhelming emotion, clenching their fists and looking at Seong Ji-won and Seo Hoyun, who were harmonizing and making eye contact.

[Can we be together?

or not?

Can we stay together?

or not?]

Jung Da-jun, like the intro, stumbled out and slowly kicked the basketball.

[I'm not sane, I know, but I want to ask.]

He slowly stiffened as he opened the cabinet. He held the letter inside and muttered to himself.

[Can you really be with me?]

The popular high school theme, the enjoyable twist, the stimulating narrative.

It was truly a shocking first round performance.