Chapter 160

"Kang Yeonhoo! Look over here!"

"Yeonhoo!!!!!!!"

"Sehyun, fighting today too!!"

Yeonhoo greeted the fans he encountered as he entered the venue for the second round.

After getting his makeup done according to today's concept and stretching his body to shake off the stiffness from the waiting room, he crossed paths with The Dawn in the hallway.

"Oh."

Seo Hoyun's expression was cool and indifferent.

When their eyes met, Yeonhoo reflexively smiled.

"Seo Hoyun-ssi—"

He called out to greet him, but perhaps because there were no cameras or spectators around, Seo Hoyun casually ignored him and walked past. The rest of The Dawn's members followed suit, awkwardly lowering their heads as they went.

"Ugh."

Yeonhoo watched them closely.

While group members tend to resemble each other, and the other members of The Dawn seemed impressive, Seo Hoyun was on another level compared to anyone he had ever seen.

"All the members must have strong mentalities."

After organizing his thoughts with a sigh, Yeonhoo stretched his arms out again and loosened his body.

Shortly after finishing the rehearsal with the guidance of the staff and taking the High-Five members with him, he witnessed a strange encounter.

"The rehearsal was impressive this time. But it seemed difficult to handle the props, didn't it?"

"..."

"What if someone makes a mistake? It wouldn't be good if it hampers the performance~."

'There are still people like that.'

It sounded like genuine concern, but in reality, it was a slimy and insidious wish to drag someone down to the ground.

There were countless people like that.

During his trainee days, and even after his debut.

'Well, it'll be okay...'

Even though it was 'him,' a member of the group Seo Hoyun belonged to, Yeonhoo thought they would handle it well on their own.

"..."

'Huh?'

But Jung Dajun's expression was uneasy.

As if his complex had been touched.

"Yes."

After answering, Jung Dajun quickly turned around and walked away.

Watching the TEW main vocalist who was left behind, with a flushed face, Yeonhoo's gaze narrowed slightly.

'What's going on?'

Although he felt a little uneasy, he didn't pay much attention and returned to the waiting room. It was almost time for the second round to begin.

"Welcome to Shining Star Season 2, Second Round."

Just as he finished fixing his makeup and outfit, the MC's voice came through the monitoring TV. The cameras were already rolling to capture High-Five's reaction.

"I'm nervous!"

"..."

In WH, everyone naturally assumed that High-Five would be the final winner.

Therefore, what they actually wanted was not the first place title itself, but the additional elements that would follow afterwards.

"Hyung, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just..."

"Shining Star Season 2" consists of a total of four competitions. Despite their brevity, each stage required meticulous attention to detail.

This second round competition boasted fairness by offering a wide range of choices. It was like saying, "If you think our selections are unfair, then choose for yourselves."

Whether it was a cover or an original composition, as long as the genre and concept matched, it was akin to searching for the most beautiful pearl in a vast ocean.

While luck played a role like a spinning wheel, it often highlighted the capabilities of each group and the power of their agencies even more.

'Hmm.'

Perhaps this was what Kim Heeyoung PD wanted.

And as expected, through information from managers, it was heard that all groups had prepared performances with original songs.

Since they had showcased cover songs in the first round, they chose something new and original to showcase their abilities.

High Five had prepared a lively and upbeat song with a cheerful beat brought in from overseas.

This was both an advantage and stability for a large-scale agency, but it was also a strategic choice made by the company to differentiate from Black Call, known for their intense performances.

Kang Yeonhoo earnestly watched the performances of other groups, carefully considering them.

'The other groups aren't bad either.'

However, due to the short time frame to complete the performances compared to the months spent on the official title, there were limitations.

After the two performances ended, The Dawn's VCR came on.

"The Dawn with an Oriental hip-hop concept?"

Naturally, after confirming their appearance in Shining Star, they thoroughly reviewed Season 1 clips. It was quite impressive how they rearranged "Make Love" by Today, which had been disbanded, into an Oriental style.

"Oh... I see."

"It won't be easy for The Dawn."

Since The Dawn had already exhausted all the weapons they could use in an Oriental style during Season 1, their performance could become boring to viewers.

'Genre could be an issue.'

The concepts and genres chosen by The Dawn weren't actually bad.

There had been instances of blending rap beats with Eastern elegance among previous artists, and commercials that incorporated Eastern melodies with hip sensibilities had become famous worldwide.

However, it was clear that there were countless things to consider.

Not only did they need to select songs that were trendy, but the person performing also needed to have innate sensibility and plenty of experience to freely manipulate the stage.

In that regard, with limited experience and capital, The Dawn was at a disadvantage.

'But it's quite strange.'

Why am I feeling so uneasy?

"Let's begin!"

Shoo-shoo-shoo-.

As soon as the intro started, everyone bit their lips in tension.

With the sound of rain and the damp and dirty streets, the dark and gloomy stage unfolded. Dim neon signs flickered amidst it.

"Oriental hip-hop?"

The main dancer of High-Five, who had thought they would push forward with a gentle atmosphere, blinked in confusion.

Shoo-shoo-.

As if walking through that street, a screen showing a man in a dark walker, slowly rising up.

Wearing glossy leather pants and a lavishly embroidered modified hanbok over a rash guard, a man sat on a matte black and ominous bike with one leg stretched out.

"Wow."

Reaching his jawline through the mask,

[Are you ready? ]

Eventually, Seo Hoyun's face, with one corner of his mouth slightly lifted, filled the screen.

[If you thought I couldn't keep up with you, I'll be born again and diligently chase your traces]

As Seo Hoyun, who had gotten off the bike, brushed his hair roughly and walked out, the hanbok fluttered.

Standing in the center of the stage, dancers emerged from both sides to synchronize their choreography.

""What, they're doing hip-hop like this??"

This song was Kang Ichae's response after listening to the song recommended by Chae Jungwoo. He put his own preferences into it.

"It didn't fit the Oriental theme."

[Even if the carriage wheels turn six times, I'll find you. Do you believe me now?]

"Wow!!"

"It's awesome!!!"

It was an easy trap to fall into.

Rather than being confined to the notion of Oriental style, The Dawn decided to incorporate that concept into the song.

"Incredible."

The cycle of rebirth in Buddhism.

Those who have reached modern times after countless cycles of rebirth.

The lyrics conveyed the idea of circling back around and determinedly seeking out competitors.

[Even if you pretend not to know anything, you're already cold. You can't chase me out. Your scent is thick between the city.]

The meaning wasn't lost on anyone. But even without opening my mouth, the beats were sophisticated and the choreography was razor-sharp. Ready to pounce on their opponent.

Just seeing Kim Seonghyun, who was expressing the scent that brushed past his nose through dance, was enough to answer.

"Wow."

The main dancer of High-Five seemed to feel the overwhelming gap in skill.

His expression was reminiscent of when he first saw Joo Seung's dance practice in the practice room.

[Was that your Karma?

Craving for your fears]

Furthermore, in the part of The Dawn's main vocalist, Sung Jiwon, he started with a low pitch, showing off his wide vocal range, and raised his tone at the end, almost screaming. It sounded like a growl.

[Was this my fate?

Should I stack up with you?]

While it could be said that luck played a significant role in the first round, this stage was completely different.

It was pure skill.

The usual cool-headed Seo Hoyun or gentle Sung Jiwon, the taciturn Kim Seonghyun seemed to have disappeared, and they unleashed their power like crazy.

[Grrrrrr…]

At that moment, along with the low cry of a beast, a mad dog appeared.

[I won't let go if you bite. Living foolishly like a beast. How did you know? I wanted to prey]

Kang Ichae, with his hair slicked back with pomade, looked sharp as he rapped, scratching the beat with a sharp gaze.

"This is insane...."

[Bared fangs revealed. When you try to escape, it's already too late]

As the beat picked up, and the melody that had been rising since Seo Hoyun's entrance continued to climb, when it reached a high pitch, the stage lights dimmed, and everything came to a halt, with only the melody of the salt flowing.

"This is insane, insane, oh, chills!!"

"What's this, why is it so cool...?"

Adding the high-pitched sound of salt to the song tempo deliberately raised the atmosphere.

At that moment, Seo Hoyun appeared on the second-floor stage railing and pretended to tap it with his hand.

[Some laugh, some mock. People don't know you anyway. Okay]

Seo Hoyun, wiping his lips, flicked his fingers towards the approaching camera.

"...Wow."

It looked like he was flicking a cigarette for a moment.

But it was so exquisite, it was a gesture that was difficult to describe, as if precisely pinching and saying something.

Seo Hoyunsmiled as if he had aimed for it.

[Since you're going to swallow it in one gulp anyway]

"Wow!!"

"What, what is this, wow... it's cool....."

Despite knowing they'll swallow up their competitors, the High-Five members cheered enthusiastically.

The center of this song seemed to be Jung Dajun, as he appeared in the highlight part.

[We've been through that]

Everyone admired Jung Dayun's appearance in his platinum blond hair with a few strands tied into thin knots on the right side, wearing a black shirt and light-colored jeans.

However, only Kang Yeonhoo remained quiet.

Because The Dawn's youngest member seemed somehow unsettled.

"Gasp, gasp! Behind, the carriage wheel!"

[I've returned through hell. Turning six times around the wheel of rebirth....]

The other members didn't seem to notice, simply anticipating what Jung Dajun would show them.

When Jung Dajuns fingertips were supposed to point towards the wheel, and he exerted force to turn it,

"...Gasp."

It didn't turn.

Since they had rehearsed the camera angles with the assumption that it would turn smoothly, naturally, the screen was facing the wheel.

The missed timing and the flames of the stage effect suddenly seemed out of place.

'It's still okay.'

Viewers might just think it's part of the show or feel a slight awkwardness.

Kang Yeonhoo judged that it was more important to smoothly continue the stage as if nothing had happened.

[...You, I...]

However, the real problem arose next.

Jung Dajun skipped a verse in a panic.

'...Ah, that thing earlier.'

It seemed that TEW's main vocalist's words had properly shaken Jung Dajun's mind because he looked uneasy.

Whether AR was set low or not, the audio went silent, and Seo Hoyun, who was beside him, quickly intervened.

[That was it, I found you]

At this point, it didn't look easy to recover.

[It was visible at a glance between the buildings]

Everyone could tell that Jung Dajun messed up his part, and Seo Hoyun was doing his best to cover it up.

Although Jung Daju belatedly regained his composure and followed Seo Hoyun's lead, he couldn't hide his trembling eyes.

[You can't follow me down]

Perhaps that's why, as if to attract attention, Seong Ji-

won raised his octave and belted out.

[Was that your Karma? Craving for your urgency. Was this my fate? Should I stack up with you?]

"...The vocals are heavenly."

Despite it being another team's mistake, the High-Five members, who couldn't easily speak up due to the dizzying feeling as if they had made a mistake themselves, expressed admiration at Sung Ji-won's high notes.

Following that, Kang Ichae, who fixed the microphone, waved his right hand towards the front, and The Dawn members and back dancers split and rotated in opposite directions.

[Before you spit it out, I've gone through this tiresome cycle and realized it's too late to apologize]

And as Kang Ichae's hand descended to the ground,

[It's already Dawn]

As dazzling fireworks exploded and obscured the view, when the stage was revealed again, everyone had disappeared without a trace.

The camera zoomed in on the motionless wheel of the carriage, signaling the end of the song.

"...Wow."

The High-Five members took deep breaths, still trying to process what they had just witnessed.

"What did I just... see?"

"What are we supposed to do after watching this??"

"Really, they must have prepared so hard."

Watching his excited and somewhat anxious members chattering away, Kang Yeonhoo rubbed his forehead.

"Sigh..."

As other groups' performances followed one after another, Kang Yeonhoo kept mulling over The Dawn's performance.

To cut to the chase.

Boom!

"Congratulations, TEW is in first place!"

High-Five placed second.

"There's been quite a shake-up this time."

While TEW's performance was unexpectedly good, they never expected to take first place.

"The Dawn-"

And then.

"-is in fifth place!"

It wasn't just their group that experienced a significant change in rankings.

"Ahaha. Good job!"

"Good job~."

After seeing Jung Dajun turn pale blue when the rankings were announced, the other members of The Dawn surrounded him and comforted him, Kang Yeonhoo included, before descending to the waiting room together.

Once they changed their clothes and got back on the van, the High-Five members wasted no time in pouring out their thoughts.

"Second place is a bit disappointing."

"The Dawn performed so well, but how did they end up in last place.... Did they make a mistake?"

"But their expert score was the highest, wasn't it."

"Hmm."

Until then, Kang Yeonhoo had remained silent, but now he lowered his gaze.

'The expert score, it must have been high.'

Even to those with a keen eye, it was evident that The Dawn would have won first place today if not for the mistake. Everyone knew that The Dawn was the winner of the second round.

"It's tough."

Kang Yeonhoo sighed as he finished washing his face.

The Dawn's skills were even better than they appeared.

Moreover, it felt like 'Black call.'

Feeling uneasy about the fact he didn't want to know, Kang Yeonhoo forced a bitter smile.

***

"Ah, darn it."

'Fifth place, are you kidding me?'

Although they expected some backlash after their decent ranking in the first round, it was harsher than anticipated.

After the face-to-face ceremony and The Dawn's high ranking in the first round, there seemed to be internal discussions among the fandom about the voting.

Feeling suffocated, Kang Yeonhoo returned to the waiting room and gulped down some water. Everyone seemed to be contemplating the day's results.

"Shall we go back and have some ramen?"

"Hmm... Is that a good idea today?"

Even Kim Seonghyun, who usually imposed various dietary restrictions, nodded as if it was okay to let loose today.

As we were heading back to the van together, I turned back to see Jung Dajun, who was following a bit behind.

"Oh right, Jung Dajun. Did you bring your wallet—"

But I couldn't finish.

"....!"

Jung Daju was shedding tears like a broken dam.

Though he tried to hold back his tears after making a mistake, the floodgates burst open, and he continued to sob for quite some time.

Unable to speak properly and just crying, Jung Dajun was handed a tissue by Kim Seonghyun, who had come running all the way to the van.

"It's my fault. I'm sorry...."

"Huh?"

"I, I made a mistake, so everything went wrong. That's why we ended up in fifth place...."

He was talking about messing up and skipping a verse in the performance.

"While the others did so well without making any mistakes like adults. As expected, I tripped them up."

'As expected?'

Listening to Jung Dajun's tearful words, that one word caught my attention.

"I promised myself not to, but I made a mistake...."

"Dajun~! This is just something we'll laugh about later. And don't you think the others make mistakes too? Jiwon hyung, hurry up and get in the van."

As Kang ichae threw in a joke to lighten the mood, my mind was racing.

"Oh! Ichae, drop some rap."

"What's rap? Is it something you eat? And that oldest brother is lacking in character."

"Seo Hoyun can't argue with that."

"But, but...."

At the last words from Jung Dajun, I felt a sense of certainty.

"Mistakes cause trouble, you know...."

As everyone fell momentarily silent, I pressed my lips together.

'So that's it.'

"Jung Da-joon."

I approached Jung Dajun and gently wiped away the tears from his eyes.

"Everyone makes mistakes."

Jung Da-joon will continue to grow in the future.

"The mistake you made today is just one of the many mistakes people make."

When we look back on this later, it will just be a single episode in a long broadcast.

Until then, I'll be by his side.

'So what's the big deal?'

I smiled softly.

"It's not a big deal."

"...."

"Cheer up, Jung Dajun."

Jung Dajun sniffled and nodded slowly.

"...Yes."

"How can you hold back your tears like this?"

"Just, feeling sorry for the hyungs, made me hold back..."

When Kim Seonghyun asked while patting Jung Dajuns head vigorously, his hesitant answer came out intermittently. It was hard to understand due to his continuous crying.

Beside him, Kang ichae pressed Jung Dajun's cheeks firmly, saying nonsense like 'he's too fragile to even turn the wheel,' while Sung Jiwon gently brushed Jung Dajun's back.

After finally managing to calm him down and getting him into the van, the youngest, who was drinking water, burst into tears again.

Jung Dajun's hand, trying to wipe away hastily, was gently held back by Sung Jiwon.

"Dajun, you did well and worked hard."

"...Yes."

"It's okay to cry a lot. We'll be by your side until you stop."

"Yeah... Thank you...."

As I listened to their conversation while fastening the seatbelt, my gaze met Kang ichae's with a strange expression.

From Jung Dajun's sudden mental breakdown, the use of words he wouldn't normally use, and his recent strange behavior, Kang ichae seemed to already know, and now he seemed to be pondering the same question as me.

"Good job."

Jung Dajun.

"Ahaha, you too, hyung."

Who said that?

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