“—Listener 9151 says it was raining outside and they were feeling down, but listening to the radio really cheered them up. Must be thanks to our guests, huh?”
Even though it was late at night, a crowd had gathered outside the glass-walled studio of Moonlight Nights Together. They were Noeul—fans who had come after hearing that The Dawn would be appearing tonight.
The broadcast centered around topics like their comeback, behind-the-scenes stories, and streaming performance updates.
Because the group was currently appearing on the hottest show, Song Camp, the live comments were more chaotic than ever—from encouragements hoping for their next performance to absurd personal attacks directed at Kang Ichae.
Even after seeing all that, the members calmly kept their expressions neutral and carried on the conversation naturally.
As the radio was nearing its end, DJ Jeon Woojin announced that they’d close the show by playing “Wave,” a track from The Dawn’s latest album, and asked each member to say a final word.
“Then, Seo Hoyun? Can we hear from you?”
“Ah, it’s been such a fun time being here tonight. This is a song we worked really hard on, so I hope you’ll listen to ‘Wave’ and spend a soft, moonlit night with us.”
The familiar intro of “Wave” began to play, perfectly timed with the DJ’s closing lines.
【I don’t want to fight over something small,
But tears keep falling from the hurt,
I’m scared it’ll end if I hold on to my pride,
I just want to fall deep inside you】
As DJ Jeon Woojin took off his headset and thanked us for our hard work,
【I said I wanted to leave you,
But the sea that soaked us both,
I said I wanted to throw away hope,
But that night’s sky poured with stars】
Outside the window, under a star-sprinkled sky, slogans and phone lights waved like makeshift billboards.
【Lately I can’t sleep much,
It means I still need you】
As the song reached its climax, the blinds inside the studio began to lower. Seeing that, Jung Dajun jumped up and rushed to the window, lying flat on the floor and waving until the fans’ faces disappeared from sight.
【If we meet again,
I could fall in love at once】
After the broadcast ended, we repeatedly thanked DJ Jeon Woojin and the staff before leaving the studio. On the way to the parking lot, I took out my phone, opened PopPop, and sent a short message: Thank you for coming, but it’s raining and late—go home safely.
Then I decided to text Kang Ichae as well.
[Me: Message me when you wake up.]
Just as I hit send—
“...Huh? Manager just texted, asking if anyone knows where Kang Ichae went.”
Kim Sunghyun’s voice came from beside me, slightly uneasy.
“What? Wasn’t he supposed to be at the hospital?”
“He... apparently disappeared before they could take him there.”
“What?! He ran away?!”
Before Jung Dajun’s startled voice could get any louder, Sung Jiwon smoothly covered his mouth and patted his shoulder.
Still looking grim, Sunghyun redialed Ichae’s number.
“...Guys, go back to the dorm first. I’ll check the studio.”
“Mmph?! Mmphm...!”
“Got it. He might come back.”
Sung Jiwon frowned, dragging the squirming Dajun into the van.
Watching the situation closely, I turned and followed Sunghyun as he left the parking lot. He gave me a brief glance but didn’t question why I was coming—just kept walking silently.
The taxi ride to the company was quiet.
We arrived faster than expected. Without a word, we headed straight to Ichae’s studio. As soon as Sunghyun entered the password and opened the door, a dim glow and the whirring rainbow-colored CPU fan greeted us.
“So he was here.”
Sunghyun muttered, looking at the monitor.
The file containing the second-round competition track was open, its save time marked just ten minutes ago.
“...At least it’s nothing serious, thank god. Hoyun, stay here and keep him if he comes back.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll call the manager.”
After watching Sunghyun leave with a relieved sigh, I pulled out the chair and sat down.
Clicking on Ichae’s track, a cleaner, sharper intro poured out from the speakers.
‘...Nice.’
So good it might’ve overturned the rankings.
He’d been reworking a song he’d already submitted.
Crossing my arms, I glared at the speaker as if it were to blame. Then, the phone on the desk lit up.
[Kang Ichae: ?????]
...You little bastard.
[Me: wya]
He must’ve gotten dozens of missed calls and messages, yet he was acting like nothing happened. I fired off the text, and moments later, his reply came.
[Kang Ichae: Rooftop]
***
Taking the elevator to the top floor and climbing the emergency stairs, I reached the rooftop garden.
It was quiet, close to dawn, and the honks from distant traffic echoed unnaturally loud.
The air was thick and sticky against my skin from the earlier downpour.
Stepping onto damp grass, I saw a wooden pergola—and beneath it, someone slumped over a table, upper body hidden under a jacket. The red basketball shoes gave him away.
Kang Ichae.
“Hey.”
He hardly ever left the dorm or studio unless it was for schedules. What the hell was he doing here?
“Ichae, it’s me.”
“......”
“...You dead?”
No answer. When I lifted the jacket, a hoarse, rusted voice crept out.
“...Ugh, can you draw the curtains?”
His reddened eyes squinted against the light, his face flushed with fever. His skin looked rougher than usual, his lips pale and cracked.
“...Didn’t they say even dogs don’t catch colds in summer?”
“So moved by your kindness I could cry.”
“If you’re sick, why aren’t you at the hospital? What are you doing here?”
“Wow, can’t believe you’re the one telling me to go to the hospital.”
Slowly sitting up, he rubbed his cheek with one hand and raised his chin.
“Sorry I didn’t reply. My power was off while I was working. I already contacted the manager, so don’t worry.”
“......”
“I texted Sunghyun-hyung to go back first too. You should go rest. I’ll head back to the studio for a bit.”
As if Sunghyun would ever leave someone this sick alone.
I stepped in front of him before he could leave the rooftop. His head tilted toward me, his eyes narrowing sideways.
“What?”
“Why are you still revising the second-round track?”
His tone and faint smirk were the same as always.
“Why else? It’s not perfect.”
Of course he’d say that. Perfectionism was part of the job—and he had offered to help me, after all.
“Hey, Kang Ichae.”
Even so, understanding that didn’t stop it from pissing me off.
He’d been so visibly strung out that even the members noticed, yet he stayed quiet and kept working like nothing was wrong. Slaving away on a song he’d already submitted—while sick—was just pathetic.
I looked at his weary face and said,
“Do you have to win first place?”
“...What?”
I regretted it the moment it left my mouth, but words don’t go back.
For a second he looked surprised—then gave a small, dry laugh.
“...I must be hearing things from this fever. Normally, the Seo-something from The Dawn would actually kill me if I didn’t bring home the trophy.”
“It’s not worth it if it breaks you.”
This was supposed to be my burden alone from the start.
I did want first place—but that was just for exposure. If Song Camp didn’t work out, there’d be other ways.
“...Are you serious?”
He stared at me like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Sighing, I shoved my hair back with a rough hand.
“Did I ever say I had to* win Song Camp? You look like you’re about to collapse—stop hanging on to a past deadline. We should focus on the next stage instead.”
“...Hmm.”
He rubbed his forehead, then lowered his gaze. A moment of silence passed before a low, sharp voice escaped his pale lips.
“...I don’t get it.”
“......”
“We were doing fine. Why come here just to pick a fight?”
I had no idea why he was acting like someone cornered to the edge of a cliff.
“Why? Hurt your pride? I’m just saying be realistic. If something’s lacking, I’ll handle it—”
“Pride?”
His interruption cut my words clean.
Ichae looked straight at me, a bitter smile twisting on his lips.
“Wow. I didn’t think I even had that left.”
He blinked slowly, then turned his eyes away.
“Well... thanks for worrying. But let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. I’ll take care of it myself—”
He was putting up a wall again, telling me without words to back off—when suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence and looked up at the air.
Something about it was wrong.
“...Hey, you okay?”
He didn’t seem fine at all.
When I grabbed his arm, his skin burned like a furnace.
“This won’t do. Ichae, we’re going to the hospi—”
Ding!
Right then, the last sound I wanted to hear pierced the air.
[――...Loading—...]
And along with it—something I should not have been able to see.
[Loading...]
[Loading...]
[Loading...]
[Loading...]
[Loading...]
...
...
A system window—one I’d grown sick of long ago, that had vanished for months—now filled the summer night sky before my eyes.
[¿?do: ?5¿??]
[À¹° ‘°Àä’°¡물 ‘Kang Ichae’가 한Ù.¸계에 다다릅니다.]
[X?¿: 2?%??]
[ÇÑ°è¿인 ‘Kang Ichae’에게 부여되었던 ‘´ë¸±대??리 권한’이 회수됩니다.]
Ding!
[—Player ‘Seo Hoyun’ has been regranted the [Visibility] effect.]
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding...
Then—
———
—......
[Quest Arrived!
‘Collaborate with a foreign artist!’]
[Quest Complete!
‘Collaborate with a foreign artist!’]
[Quest Arrived!
‘Chart on the Billboard Hot 100!’]
[Quest Complete!
‘Chart on the Billboard Hot 100!’]
[Quest Arrived!
‘Have your entire comeback album chart on the top 3 streaming sites!’]
[Quest Complete!
‘Have your entire comeback album chart on the top 3 streaming sites!’]
Messages flooded in, a blue tidal wave crashing over my vision.
[Quest Arrived!]
As the alarms faded, one last window appeared—another quest. Floating beside a spinning golden trophy, the words gleamed bright.
[‘Achieve 1st Place on Song Camp!’]
“...What...”
I stared at the text, dumbfounded, ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) before slowly lowering my head toward Kang Ichae.
“...Oh.”
“......”
“Hyung, you can see it too, right? Ah—uh... so this is how you’ve been feeling all this time, huh, cough...”
The prickly attitude from before had vanished, replaced with pure panic.
“...Heheh, hyung.”
He looked between me and the glowing window, the corners of his eyes curving gently into an awkward, sheepish smile.
“...So yeah. That’s how it is.”
...What the fuck, this insane bastard.
