Chapter 51

51

"Wowww!"

"More! More!"

"Seohyun!!"

"Seoho Yun-!!"

Outside, thunderous cheers poured out.

It seemed they were playing a VCR before the stage. The voice of Seo Ji Won from an interview could be heard.

[The Dun, in fact, was on the verge of breaking up. Our performance wasn't good, and everyone thought it was inevitable, that we should be grateful for what we had.]

Next was Jeong Da Jun.

[I just followed my seniors! Is this what they call self-made? Oh, is it called cottage industry? Well, anyway. Lee Chae composed, Seo Hyun made the choreography, Ji Won took the vocals, and Ho Yun led us!]

[What? Da Jun says he just followed us? Haha, he's so... What about me? I just did it because it was fun. The life with the members was fun, and I loved the fans.]

Following Kang Eun Chae, Kim Seo Hyun's interview came up. After a long silence, Kim Seo Hyun smiled slightly.

[To those who believed in me, I feel like I owe them a debt that can never be repaid...]

Well edited.

"Wowww!!"

"I'll move now!"

A staff member shouted loudly.

Nodding, I approached the wall blocking the stage. The wall would split and open when the VCR ended.

"The Dun!"

The cheers grew louder, almost drowning out the VCR. The members standing beside me seemed a bit tense but also excited.

The last VCR was mine.

[Seo Ho Yun, tell us your determination for the final stage.]

It was Kim Hee Young's voice.

My laughter echoed.

[Of course,]

My voice resonated in the hall.

[We have to do well.]

Kim Seo Hyun turned to look at me, his mouth twitching.

'Do well.'

It was exactly what Seo Ji Won had told me before, and I smiled.

Of course.

How much preparation have we done?

The stage opened. Walking forward from the dark backstage, dazzling lights flooded my eyes.

Adapting to the blinding lights, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

Wowww!

The audience seats were filled with fans waving the Dun's slogan.

Seo Ho Yun! Seo Ho Yun!

Cheers poured out. Even with just a glimpse, the fans were ecstatic.

The effect of the 6% rating was significant, and I was starting to feel overwhelmed.

At the same time, the intro ended, and the beat of the song composed by Kang Eun Chae echoed.

The song's name is Kismet.

It means a destiny beyond human control.

'To be born as a star, intense friction is necessary.'

Substituting the Dun for the star and the hardships we've faced as the process of being born.

'What does that mean?'

'It means our hardships were inevitable.'

Ultimately, we were destined to become stars.

[No, sir. There is nothing here.]

It started with the static of a radio and the voice of an astronaut communicating.

[Only little clouds of dust.]

Bang! The sound cut off, and the Jimmy set approached us.

Lying in five directions, we looked like stars. Inside, Seo Ji Won lifted his upper body and stretched out his hand.

[In the vast universe, I met you, a miracle, and reached out to you, captivated. I am so small.]

Behind Seo Ji Won, a large nebula spread out. Seo Ji Won smiled calmly.

[But you told me, that I can be a star.]

At the same time, everyone stood up with a pop.

The song changed to a faster tempo. Unlike the previous performance, the rhythm was funky and lively.

Kim Seo Hyun walked forward.

[Lift your head and open your eyes in the dust.]

As he came into the camera, the fans' cheers grew louder.

"Ahhhh!"

"Kim Seo Hyun! Kim Seo Hyun!"

This was the appearance of Kim Seo Hyun, the biggest beneficiary and hero of this episode.

The reaction was overwhelming.

[Everyone warned me that to be born, I have to jump into the storm.]

Kim Seo Hyun's appearance on the large screen looked quite cool to me.

All the sweat he had shed was ultimately for this stage.

[It's okay, I've already made up my mind. I want to meet you, and I'm okay with burning. I know things are going to be alright.]

Kim Seo Hyun waved his hand widely and bowed. Kang Eun Chae suddenly popped out beside him, laughing mischievously as he rapped.

[You see, the nebulae gather and jump into the storm, resisting gravity. This collision is nothing, it's the path to you, the birth of a star.]

Adjusting the formation, Seo Ji Won fiddled with his in-ear and started the chorus. I added a double line as an ad-lib to match.

[A brilliant light bursts, don't miss it. This is it (Well, I told you) The moment a star is born.]

The reaction was good. At the same time, Jeong Da Jun ran to the center, and the other four scattered to the sides.

"Da Jun!!"

[I'm running to you, I want to proudly tell you that because of you, I became a star.]

The audience seats swayed beautifully. Fans were cheering and waving the slogans.

As Jeong Da Jun made a gesture to turn the camera, the focus shifted to me.

A blue light illuminated me brightly.

I squinted, thinking it was too bright, but it felt like...

the future of these silly, naive guys.

[Don't panic, you only have to do one thing.]

This is a message to the fans who believed in the Dun through all the ups and downs.

[Hold on and follow me. You showed me the way.]

A small token of our gratitude.

I want to show them that it will eventually become a bigger token of gratitude.

The slogans swayed like waves, and my heart pumped fiercely as if it would burst.

[Now I'll be the beacon to show you the way.]

A smile crept onto my face. Another unforgettable scene was added to my life as Seo Ho Yun, the idol.

As we returned to the overall formation, fireworks exploded beautifully.

[I will dance all night to please you until the heart of the star grows cold. I will sing all day only for you (only for you).]

Sweat trickled down. There was no time to wipe it away or rest. I combed my hair and focused until the end.

[It's okay, I've already made up my mind.]

As we all sang, the camera followed Seo Ji Won. Seo Ji Won, walking confidently, playfully drew a star with his hand, and the cheers burst out naturally.

[I'm okay with burning until the end.]

The song was racing towards its end.

The static of the radio communication was heard again.

[Wait, something is happening.]

We lifted our heads and stretched out our arms, facing forward. Our neatly spread palms were directed towards the fans, who were swaying like waves.

And the last one is our protagonist, Kim Seo Hyun.

Kim Seo Hyun looked straight ahead.

[Because you told me,]

Kim Seo Hyun smiled brilliantly.

[That I can be a star.]

***

"Great job!"

"Thank you, great job!"

After that, to be honest, I don't remember much. After finishing the stage and heading to the waiting room, everyone kept talking to me.

"This is the highest rating! The highest rating for the program!"

"Senior! You were amazing."

"Can I get an interview after the stage? It will be posted on YouTube!"

It felt like a bustling market. I was frantically responding to greetings and trying to catch my breath when the announcement time approached.

As we headed to the stage, bright lights shone towards us. Yoo Ji A, smiling brightly, announced the rankings in order.

"Fourth place! Re:find."

The Re:find members walked out, smiling as if they had expected it. It wasn't bad, but they were inevitably overshadowed by the other strong performances.

"Third place, Nightmare!"

Lee Han Seong of Nightmare screamed in surprise. Laughter burst out. He was so satisfied with the third place that he made a fuss, bowing repeatedly and eventually shedding tears as he gave his acceptance speech.

Nightmare felt like they would rise even higher in the future. Yoo Ji A smiled.

"Now only the first and second places are left. Mars and the Dun, who will get the Shining Star Season 2 qualification?"

My eyes met with the Mars vocalist. He smiled a bit helplessly, but there was recognition in his eyes.

The long wait for the votes, typical of a live broadcast, continued, but everyone on stage already knew the result. Yoo Ji A slowly raised the microphone.

"This time, with 7,220 points... it was an overwhelming score."

"Total score of 13,420 points...!"

Even at this point, the fans' heads were spinning, and they were already screaming. I smiled brightly.

"The Dun!"

"Ahhhh!"

"The Dun takes first place!"

Bang!

Fireworks exploded, and confetti fluttered down.

Although I had expected it, the members' faces, with a few pieces of confetti stuck to them, showed a dazed expression, as if they couldn't believe it was real.

'Silly guys.'

But I can't guarantee that my expression was any different from the others.

"We, we... "

"Congratulations!"

"Congratulations!!"

Ding!

[Quest completed!

'The Dun' took first place in 'Shining Star'.

Congratulations!]

[All stats increased by 50.]

[Obtained a hidden trait.]

[Do you want to check the hidden trait?]

'No, let's enjoy it now.'

"Ahahaha!"

The fans' cheers continued endlessly. Tears streamed down the faces of the fans waving the slogans frantically below the stage. I wished they wouldn't cry.

Even Yoo Ji A, swept up by the atmosphere, continued excitedly.

"The Dun has earned the opportunity to participate in Shining Star Season 2!!"

'That's it.'

Just as I was about to turn to the members to ask for their thoughts, someone suddenly crashed into me.

"Yaaaah!"

It was Jeong Da Jun.

"Senior! We're first place!"

At the same time, Kang Eun Chae pounced. Seo Ji Won and Kim Seo Hyun were the same. I felt like I was about to be crushed.

"First place! We really got first place!"

"Seoho Yun!!"

I didn't say a word, but my hair was tousled, and my body was pushed and pressed in all directions.

Finally, I managed to shake them off and opened my mouth.

"I told you we would."

"Senior, you really believed in me, right?!"

"Damn... That's it. Kim Seo Hyun, leader. Quickly get the microphone."

"Ah, uh, uh."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Kim Seo Hyun, who was uncharacteristically fidgeting, was calmed down, and I handed him the microphone from Yoo Ji A.

"Um... I really, really thank the fans who voted for us. It was really, really something I never expected..."

I watched Kim Seo Hyun, who was trying hard to speak.

The fans were still waving their hands, even though they were in tears. I couldn't help