<Seo Hoyun – Baekchun Art Awards Best Supporting Actor Acceptance Speech>
At the smallest training room corner in WH Entertainment, Kang Yeonhoo was scrolling through short YouTube clips on his phone when he faintly furrowed his brow.
Because of Hi-Five’s comeback, he had been too busy to actually watch Vile Trial, but he had heard the news — that Seo Hoyun had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Baekchun Art Awards.
On his way back to the dorm after finishing a prerecording for a music show, he saw through the Baekchun Awards live broadcast that Hoyun had won. Watching that acceptance speech, Kang Yeonhoo let out a brief, disbelieving laugh.
【—There are always those who work hard behind the spotlight.】
He was sure someone had prepared the speech for Seo Hoyun, just as they did for everyone else, but the man didn’t seem to care in the slightest and said whatever he wanted. It was so very Seo Hoyun.
However, that thought quickly scattered with what came next.
【...I’d like to say something personal to my younger brother.】
Because the name of Hoyun’s brother had come out of his mouth.
【It might sound a little gross, but let’s spend the year-end together as a family.】
He usually avoided mentioning his family at all costs. He must have known exactly what kind of aftermath could follow when an idol with an exposed family background publicly brought it up again.
Sure enough, people were desperate to interpret the meaning behind his vague words, digging into the lives of Seo Hoyun and his brother — even dragging back out the video of Hoyun’s car accident.
‘A smart guy like him, why...’
Skimming through related posts, Kang Yeonhoo almost clicked on the comments but stopped, shook his head, and turned off the phone.
Something about it left a sour taste in his mouth. He clicked his tongue just as the door burst open.
“Oh, sorry— huh? Isn’t that Kang Yeonhoo hyung!”
“Ah, Gyutae.”
The man barging in, wearing a black cap pulled low, was Yoo Gyutae, rapper of WH Entertainment’s rookie idol group Estelle.
To be honest, the debut of a new idol group wasn’t exactly a pleasant thing for Kang Yeonhoo either.
But Yoo Gyutae was a bit different. He’d been a trainee overlapping with Yeonhoo for quite a long time, so there was a sense of familiarity between them.
The usually stiff-faced Gyutae suddenly brightened and ran up to him in excitement.
“Perfect timing! Hyung, wanna watch The Dawn’s concert livestream together?”
“...No......”
“Really? It’s gonna be amazing, though?”
Yoo Gyutae’s defining trait was his absolute admiration for The Dawn, especially for Seo Hoyun.
“Ah, it’s gonna be insanely good... Seo Hoyun sunbaenim will be out of this world...”
He practically worshiped that snake of a man like a god of idols.
Even though Kang Yeonhoo firmly refused, Gyutae sat down beside him, opened his laptop, and started playing the concert he had already paid for. Yeonhoo looked at him like he was insane.
Ever since The Dawn’s performance of “Second Chance,” Gyutae had been completely hooked.
“...Didn’t you say you actually ran into Seo Hoyun recently?”
“Yes, we briefly passed by each other!”
A few days ago, in mid-December, several WH Entertainment idols had gathered to film a new company-wide music video.
Because everyone’s schedules were packed, there was no group shooting, but they got to meet artists scheduled before and after them.
That day, even though Kang Yeonhoo had been there too, he spotted Gyutae struggling to maintain a blank face while bowing silently when facing Seo Hoyun.
As always, Hoyun sat surrounded by his members, listening to their chatter with an irritated expression, only giving Gyutae a faint nod in acknowledgment.
Gyutae had always pretended not to be a The Dawn fan, so to Hoyun, he was just another unfamiliar rookie.
“Does Seo Hoyun know you’re his fan?”
“He doesn’t need to.”
Yoo Gyutae answered firmly.
“I don’t want to bother him by showing it.”
Well, at this point, revealing it probably wouldn’t bother him anymore.
Earlier this year, when The Dawn’s activities had gone quiet, WH Entertainment ambitiously debuted Estelle. Naturally, existing WH artists’ fandoms — especially Noeul — reacted most aggressively.
However, once The Dawn began topping every domestic chart and even entering Billboard, fans no longer seemed to care. Rookie idols like them weren’t seen as real competition.
Even if Gyutae publicly declared himself a fan of The Dawn, it wouldn’t cause much of a ripple.
“Of course!! I know The Dawn sunbaenims have climbed far beyond the level of rookies like us. Even if I say I respect them, it won’t stir up anything.”
“But?”
“So I sometimes run happy little delusions! About confessing I’m their fan! But... imagining Seo Hoyun sunbaenim’s reaction...”
His excited voice trailed off, his shoulders drooping.
“...He’d probably say I’m exaggerating, or just think I’m good at socializing...”
“Oh...”
...That does sound about right.
Even if a rookie idol tried to express admiration, Seo Hoyun — whose baseline personality was pure distrust — would most likely brush it off indifferently.
Persuaded by how realistic that sounded, Kang Yeonhoo rubbed his forehead and asked,
“Still, if you told him, maybe you could’ve gotten a ticket to the year-end concert. It’s normal for juniors to attend seniors’ shows.”
“I tried buying one myself. Failed, of course.”
“...Hmm, what about getting a VIP ticket—”
“That’s impossible!!”
Remembering the chaos when hardcore Noeul fans saw someone in the VIP section, Kang Yeonhoo closed his mouth.
“Gyutae... why exactly do you respect Seo Hoyun?”
“Can I be honest?”
“Go ahead.”
“His attitude.”
“......”
“...His guts?”
“No, never mind, stop there.”
Gyutae hurriedly explained that Hoyun’s temperament and guts were actually a form of fearlessness — the kind of boldness that could overcome any adversity — but Yeonhoo decided to pretend he hadn’t heard any of it.
“And he always seems fine in front of fans. That’s cool.”
“Hm?”
“Most people, when they’re struggling, you can see it on their faces, right?”
True.
Especially in their line of work, where most of their private lives were on display to the public, sometimes the emotions they couldn’t fully hide would slip through.
“But I’ve never seen that side from Seo Hoyun. He’s a real professional. It’s admirable!”
“...Yeah?”
Kang Yeonhoo crossed his arms and squinted slightly. Once upon a time, he might’ve agreed...
“Every idol wants to be like that, don’t they?”
“......”
“Oh, it’s starting.”
While Yeonhoo hesitated on how to reply, the screen darkened, and The Dawn’s concert was about to begin.
Yoo Gyutae threw off his cap, eyes ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) gleaming, completely absorbed. Kang Yeonhoo brushed back his hair and followed his gaze.
‘...Well, maybe that really is the best way.’
Still, was it really possible to only ever show the good side to fans?
He knew Seo Hoyun worked incredibly hard as an idol. That’s why they could hold a concert in Jamsil Stadium, why they could even make it onto Billboard, and why they were nominated for a grand prize again this year.
But something about it bothered him.
Seo Hoyun was human too; he must have his own ups and downs. Yet he always looked unshakably composed.
An idol who never shows his struggles.
‘But... is that really what fans want?’
***
The flower shop owner — a Noeul who had taken a two-year break from offline fan activities — was currently standing outside the concert hall, trying to calm her pounding heart. Then her eyes caught on a slogan.
‘What’s that?’
It was a huge banner printed with a photo of Kim Sunghyun, blonde hair shining as he smiled awkwardly beside a motorcycle. There wasn’t just one — they were everywhere.
After showing her ticket and stepping inside, she was handed a blue slogan. Apparently, it was for a group chant event; everyone entering was getting one.
‘Oh, thank God, the lyrics are on the back.’
She had rushed here straight from her hectic real-life schedule, unaware of any of these events.
Following the directions to her seat — front protruding row, first section — she found chairs lined up.
‘Seated zone... I’m so grateful!’
A few years ago, she would’ve preferred standing, but now? No chance. Too exhausting.
“Since when do they allow reentry after sound check?”
“Right? The notice said no reentry. Hey, but what was with Seo Hoyun’s white casual outfit?”
“For him, even sound check is an official schedule...”
‘Ah, I should’ve come earlier!!!’
She’d debated until the end, thinking reentry wasn’t allowed, and missed it.
From the fans seated behind her, she overheard stories — apparently, Seo Hoyun’s fan service had reached divine levels lately. Once you experienced it, no other idol’s reactions could compare.
“He was amazing before, but now he’s just...”
“A god......”
Lies...
He was already perfect years ago. How could he have gotten even better...
There had been a time when she, too, had been completely obsessed with The Dawn. But due to external circumstances, she’d had to stop — her last fan activity had been a video-call fansign.
Back then, when she told Seo Hoyun she might not be able to see him for a while, he had smiled and said something she still remembered vividly.
‘Hope you’re doing well.’
Compared to those days, The Dawn now had soared so high that they didn’t need her worries anymore.
‘Well, looks like the December grand prize is out of reach this year.’
For some reason, all WH Entertainment artists had skipped the December award shows.
Even so, the grand prizes at Mango Music Awards and GMA still went to Black Call, as usual.
‘Honestly, I thought The Dawn would win one this year.’
Would even January end up belonging to Black Call again?
After all, The Dawn had dominated both domestic charts and Billboard this year.
If they still didn’t win a single grand prize... she might just find herself praying for Black Call’s disbandment without realizing it.
‘Ugh, I’m getting frustrated... ha...’
As she sighed deeply, a gusting sound of sand filled the hall. Then the massive screen lit up, revealing an endless desert spreading across the stage.
The camera swept rapidly over the shifting sand, and along the side screens, rows of pillars appeared topped with arched roofs, forming an arcade building.
Suddenly, the center screen turned black, and a golden coin spun into view, twirling in midair.
【THE DAWN IS COMING—】
At once, the arcade lit up, neon green lights flooded the venue, and flames roared around the stage.
“Oh my god.”
As the center screen rose, the stage was revealed — a lavish semicircular table shining under the spotlights.
Through the VCR, she thought the opening song would be Level S2, but instead, The Dawn appeared in monochrome suits.
Repeating to herself, I’m so glad I came, over and over, she watched Kim Sunghyun toss a coin and catch it, climbing onto the table and raising his hand.
【Don’t overthink it, it’s my round】
The raw sound of their live voices filled the arena, and all her earlier worries vanished in an instant.
【Blow away all your complicated thoughts】
As Sunghyun jumped down from the table, Seo Hoyun’s face — hidden in his shadow — came into full view on the giant screen.
Wearing a gray suit and a red-and-navy striped tie, he tossed a card behind his back, rested his chin on his hand, and curved his eyes with a knowing smile.
【In this dawn, leave everything to me】
It was, in every sense, the entrance of a born idol.
