“Yeonhoo hyung, are you okay?”
Kang Yeonhoo nodded at Lee Sehyeon’s question while ignoring the throbbing pain in his ankle.
It hadn’t been long since they finished rehearsal, yet before he knew it, the seats were filled and the K-POP concert had begun.
The soft-hearted younger members, who had followed along without a word of complaint despite the packed schedule, were checking the live broadcast through the monitoring TV set up in one corner of the waiting room.
“Let’s see, The Dawn said they were doing three songs, right?”
“Do you think we’ll be able to watch their stage before we go out?”
“Probably? They said there’s a Japanese artist’s performance between The Dawn and us, so there should be some time.”
The company had told the members not to watch The Dawn’s videos if possible. They gave the excuse that they didn’t want overlapping influences to form similar images, but Kang Yeonhoo judged that it was really to prevent any shock that might interfere with their activities.
And he had ignored that rule completely.
He had to confirm it for himself.
Where the grand prize would flow this year.
‘There’s no way it’s going entirely to The Dawn... no....’
Kang Yeonhoo shook his head, scattering the thought before it could settle.
He didn’t exactly hate seeing the once timid and downcast kids now always laughing, excited and flushed with their rising recognition.
Yeonhoo turned his gaze away from the members. On the screen, idols he had occasionally seen on broadcasts were preparing their stage.
‘They’re not the problem.’
“Oh, it’s starting.”
The next one was.
As the lights went out and darkness fell all around, numbers of different colors surged onto the stage. Then, as lifts rose one by one, shadowy figures flickered into view. The concert hall erupted in cheers.
【THE DAWN】
The jumbled numbers arranged themselves into ASCII code, then shifted into letters that announced the group’s arrival.
【Don’t think too deep,
it’s my round】
Just as Kang Yeonhoo swallowed dryly in tension, Seo Hoyun’s low narration flowed out alongside a specially produced intro.
【Forget everything else and just hold me tight
Cut out the useless words
Just tell me you love me first】
The Dawn, matching the concept of their recent album title Level S2, wore tight black T-shirts that showed their frames, with racing jackets over them, each detailed and colored slightly differently.
【On this night we don’t need difficult words
Just whisper to me endlessly】
Though he had already checked this song countless times, Kang Yeonhoo felt his nerves being drawn taut.
【But let’s keep it under level S2
So we can split these letters before it gets too deep
Don’t ask, just come out and dance with me, Babe】
Above all, every time Seo Hoyun’s smiling face appeared, his shoulders {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} twitched involuntarily.
Normally such an ominous, unsettling guy, yet under the shining lights he looked as though he’d been born to be an entertainer. The sight alone almost blew away the pain in Yeonhoo’s ankle.
【Because the dawn belongs completely to us】
Yeonhoo, staring at the TV with his breath almost held, only managed to exhale when the melody broke.
Then he heard Lee Sehyeon muttering as he rubbed the back of his neck with his palm.
“...Still the same.”
Despite the faintly shaken voice, Lee Sehyeon’s face was expressionless.
Yeonhoo knew perfectly well what he meant.
The feeling of having to helplessly watch a rival group grow stronger day by day....
‘Still, it wasn’t like they were that much better.’
Besides, now that The Dawn’s activities were already over, their ability to grab more buzz was limited.
At this rate, Hi-Five, who had recently drawn all attention with “New Thrill,” had the clear advantage.
Having settled his thoughts, Kang Yeonhoo tried to calm his restless heartbeat. But just then, a new VCR appeared on the central screen, and instruments floated up onto the stage.
It looked like they were going to perform the album track “Superhero.”
“We should get ready to go—...”
“Huh?”
Riyoung, unable to tear his eyes from the monitor, let out a short gasp.
That sound stabbed down with ominous weight. Yeonhoo stopped his lifted foot back onto the floor and turned his head.
In that short instant, The Dawn appeared on screen, having changed only their outer clothes into casual suits.
The moment Kim Sunghyun, electric guitar slung over his shoulder, locked eyes with the camera, his throat bobbed—then a powerful voice boomed through the mic.
【Drop.】
At the same time, Kang Ichae’s pick struck the electric guitar strings hard.
Ziiiiiing—!
Lights scattered brilliantly in tune with the storm-like melody.
“Uwaaaaaaah!”
【Because I can find you
Among the countless people at the crossroads
I can spot you】
The soft, lively, hopeful feeling of the original track was gone, replaced by powerful, intense new music.
As if annoyed by the glasses he wore as a prop, Seo Hoyun wrinkled his nose and raked out the lyrics with a roughened voice.
【I want to be your superhero
Even if I wander strange roads to find you
I want to be your superhero
The ordinary me can
Become a hero who does anything for you】
“Wow......”
And then, in the second verse, they even switched the lyrics into Korean.
The sense of dread was starting to take shape. Struck by a sudden wave of dizziness, Kang Yeonhoo shut his eyes tightly, unable to keep watching.
Not knowing their hyung’s turmoil, Jung Chaehyeong and Riyoung chattered excitedly.
“Playing live like that is sick as hell.”
“Right? They’re really doing whatever they want.”
The harder Jung Dajun’s sticks beat the drums, the higher the atmosphere surged.
【The dream we painted backstage
The color of you that dyed my colorless self
Melted into the sunset, lighting up my world
You know what I will say?】
The vibrant, colorful stage suddenly washed into gray, thunder roared, and dark clouds gathered.
Kim Sunghyun grabbed a handheld mic off the stand and opened the intro of the next song.
【—I’m not mature enough】
‘What?’
Kang Yeonhoo’s brows knitted slightly. Jung Chaehyeong beside him also sensed something off, furrowing his brow.
‘Why the lyrics....’
But as the intro fully erupted, all of Hi-Five except Yeonhoo shot to their feet with shouts.
“Uwaaaaahhhk!”
It was the mega-hit song of “Revi,” a second-generation girl group who had spearheaded the Hallyu wave in Japan, a group so popular that nearly every Japanese person knew their name.
“‘Can’t Be Mature!!’”
Watching his members react with variety-show levels of exaggerated excitement, Yeonhoo felt a chill run down his spine.
‘Damn it.’
No wonder they suddenly said they were changing costumes.
Back then, this song had blown up with its unusual manly concept for a girl group.
【Yeahh——!】
As the warning siren blared in his head, Sung Jiwon’s clear high notes rang out refreshingly.
Meanwhile, one by one shedding their instruments, The Dawn snatched mics and strode down the thrust stage.
【If I meet you I’ll probably feel better
But right from the start I’ve got a bad feeling】
Seo Hoyun, standing dead center, flung off his glasses and pressed his lips to the mic.
【That unfamiliar perfume scent
You order coffee without a word
I’ve got this uneasy feeling today】
Once again, Yeonhoo could only realize—Seo Hoyun had the knack for pulling every gaze to himself.
【Why aren’t you wearing your ring?
Why are you looking at me so cold?
I can’t understand you saying we should break up】
Then the group’s maknae shook out his hair and made a puzzled face. Still baby-faced, yet all the more eye-catching for it.
【There’s no elegance in breaking up
But I should’ve at least brought you flowers】
Diagonal from him, Sung Jiwon switched places with Jung Dajun. Listening to the lyrics, Jung Chaehyeong blinked a few times and said,
“...Wait, wasn’t it originally ‘I should’ve thrown flowers at you’?”
“They changed a lot of the lines.”
Seemed they had arranged the medium-tempo blues-rock cover to suit themselves, lyrics included.
Lined up, The Dawn members danced the hip-sway trademark of “Can’t Be Mature!!”
【Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh...】
The endless cheers rang so vividly it reached all the way into Hi-Five’s waiting room.
Then Kang Ichae seized Seo Hoyun’s wrist and yanked him close.
【Please spare me some time, what’s your number?
Everyone asks me that when I walk down the street
But you don’t know my worth?】
Waaaaaaah—....
Originally the performance used ties, but since their outfits were different, they had tweaked the move. Still, mimicking the girl group’s choreography stirred the crowd into louder screams.
Kang Ichae smirked with one corner of his mouth, then flung the hand he’d grabbed back aside.
【This situation is just ridiculous】
Then he spun wide, and as Hoyun and Ichae retreated, Kim Sunghyun surged forward to fill the gap.
【It’s my first time feeling this frustrated
My chest hurts so much】
He snapped his hips up into a wave, the loosely worn jacket sliding off his shoulders with the motion.
【Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh...】
“Uwaaaahhh......”
【I hold back the shabby feeling
Keep my pride still
But you just coldly push me away】
Even Hi-Five’s members were silent now.
Kang Yeonhoo didn’t need to check their reactions to know how they felt.
【I’m not mature enough
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh...】
......So you’re dead set on stealing the spotlight until the very end, huh?
“They killed it......”
“Wow, damn. They absolutely tore the concert apart.”
Seeing Seo Hoyun smile faintly as he caught his breath, chest rising and falling, Yeonhoo had to forcibly suppress the sigh threatening to escape.
‘I screwed up.’
Even though he’d checked the set list in advance, he thought they wouldn’t lose out much. Even after experiencing firsthand on Shining Star just how strong they were onstage.
A sharp pain throbbed through his left ankle again. Yeonhoo deliberately stamped down harder and told the younger ones,
“Let’s go up too.”
They pushed through the bustling staff and headed backstage.
Up ahead, the unfamiliar words of a Japanese singer’s special stage echoed.
Kang Yeonhoo carefully kept his face composed as he watched the stage.
“Hi-Five VCR coming up! Performers to the lift in three minutes!”
Half-excited, half-nervous, Hi-Five’s members were warming up when—
“Wait a second.”
Someone grabbed Yeonhoo’s arm and yanked him back.
Startled, he turned his head—only to see Seo Hoyun, face twisted with annoyance, gasping for breath.
“Give me just ten seconds.”
