Chapter 274: Year-End (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 274: Year-End (2)
The waiting room became even more chaotic immediately after the cover stage ended.
“Guys! We’re wiping off all your makeup and starting over, so get ready!”
“Anyone with zippers in the back, come over here!”
I took off my clothes on my own, wiped my face thoroughly with cleansing tissues, and even went to the restroom to wash up. While the others were changing into their next outfits, I quickly scanned the online communities.
Searching for terms like ‘Spark,’ ‘ㅅㅍha,’ or ‘Spam’ brought up all sorts of posts.
There was even a slight misunderstanding amidst the confusion.
≫ Is K.G.Y. dating H.S.M.?
Otherwise, there’s no reason for them to cover H.S.M.’s group.
└ I flinched a bit seeing this too.
└ Isn’t there a huge age gap between them??
└ It’s probably over a decade.
└ Did they hit it off during In-My-Office?
Thankfully, this misunderstanding was cleared up within five minutes thanks to the netizens’ lightning-fast searching skills.
≫ Sparklers, I think we can put away the pitchforks.
(Photo)
Apparently, the vocal trainer at UA is from P.C.
└ To think my baby, who I thought was dating instead of focusing on his career, was actually doing a ‘Teacher’s Appreciation’ event.
└ Wasn’t H.S.M. also from P.C.?
└ I guess they did the cover because both H.S.M. and the trainer are from P.C.
└ Com-fort-ing.
≫ Am I the only one laughing at Gu Ja-han’s Insta?
Mr. Ja-han, that’s not how you prove you’re watching from home.
└ I went to see what he posted and LOL... I just saw ten ghost photos. Hahahaha.
└ If S.M. and I-wol were actually dating, he wouldn’t have posted that. Lol.
└ Mr. Ja-han, you’re really bad at taking photos. But I can tell you really wanted to cheer for I-wol.
└ All ten are photos of I-wol, but there isn’t a single one where you can actually see him clearly.
└ Schrödinger’s I-wol.
Aside from the fake news that Kim I-wol had dared to perform a deceptive stage, the other reactions were incredibly positive.
≫ I thoroughly enjoyed the giant boy group’s hip-hop pink punk look runway. As expected, real men wear pink.
└ Their frames are like models, their faces are like actors, their dancing is pure idol, and their singing is at a legendary, old-school level without any AR.
└ I can’t believe my idol achieved the Y2K pink aesthetic I was aiming for before I did.
≫ My sanity was swept away like the tide by Choi Je-ho’s body rolls.
I can’t stop thinking about Choi Je-ho doing those waves.
The idols on TV keep changing, but I keep seeing Choi Je-ho like an afterimage. I’m going crazy.
I just... feel like I’ve been hit over the head with something heavy.
└ I-wol gave Je-ho the wrong nickname. He shouldn’t be the Center Emperor; he should be the Sexy Emperor.
└ Our Emperor Je-ho was just a clueless kid until yesterday, but today he’s reclaimed his dignity. The imperial authority has been resurrected like a beast.
≫ Spark’s main vocal carry is insane.
The future of K-pop is bright.
└ With this much talent, why did he debut in a group instead of going solo...? It feels like a choice that’s actually a disadvantage to him.
└ Look at this backseat driver. What do you even know about Ju-woo?
≫ I finally understand why Indenia worked so hard on those pictorials.
They couldn’t just take normal photos with these faces.
They had to milk it for all it was worth. I understand.
└ I understand too. It’s a natural choice in a capitalist society.
└ Exactly. Indenia just invested a little more to get the best possible result.
≫ The world is so unfair.
They’re handsome, but they can dance and sing too.
└ Hahaha, honestly, that’s the most important point. If you can’t sing, you’re just acting out based on your face. ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ My pride is soaring thanks to the boys. Supporting Spark, the best master singers! ^^
└ I knew our boys were going for the refreshing, bubbly idol vibe, but I’m one of those who didn’t realize they could be this bubbly.
While more detailed evaluations would likely pop up once the individual group stage videos were released after the Music Grand Festival ended, the real-time reaction was plenty hot. I turned off my phone, satisfied.
“After we finish our next stage, we’re staying in the audience until the ending, right?”
“Yeah. What did you decide for Seong-bin and the others?”
“We’re going to stay in the audience for a bit, and then head back to the dorm with Manager Dae-yeon when it’s time!”
While I was monitoring, the subsequent schedule was being quickly discussed behind me.
Usually, it’s customary to stay until the very end... but Spark, with a majority of its members being minors, couldn’t stay even if they wanted to.
So, it was decided that the kids, including Jeong Seong-bin, would return to the dorm with Manager Dae-yeon midway through, while only Choi Je-ho and I would remain until the ending stage.
“I’m sorry, Hyung. Next year, I’ll definitely stay until the end.”
Jeong Seong-bin approached me with a troubled expression.
“What are you talking about? I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“Huh?”
“When I think about how much those guys are going to be yapping once they get back to the dorm...”
I let my voice trail off.
With a performance extravaganza like this happening, would Kang Gi-yeon stay quiet? With all these different arrangements pouring out, would Lee Cheong-hyeon just listen? It wasn’t just idols; there would be special stages too. Would Park Ju-woo really just go to sleep without watching them?
Realizing the underlying meaning, Jeong Seong-bin’s face turned pale. He grabbed my sleeve.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“You have to come back quickly...”
“If there’s no traffic...”
At my answer, Jeong Seong-bin was overcome with sorrow. It was because he realized it was impossible.
The Spark that had boasted a hip pink punk look just ten minutes ago had vanished. In its place, a pure white Spark filled the void.
They had worn somewhat flashy outfits in the music video, but today was a year-end event. Thanks to the grand stage effects and the glowing, colorful lightsticks, the giant screens could broadcast all sorts of imagery.
Thus, Spark decided to blend the mindset of the early ‘Idol Dynasty Annals’ days with the new capital provided by UA.
The outfits were all-white—the simplest of colors—accented with luxurious silver accessories. Finally, while the color was the same, each of the six members had a different outfit with details tailored to their individual characteristics.
Thinking back to the Self-PR stage where we survived with just white T-shirts, jeans, and baseball jackets, I felt like I was going to cry. Guys, we made it.
As I was changing into a snow-white frilled ruffle shirt, Lee Cheong-hyeon spoke up.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you coming out of your ice castle in far too worldly an attire?”
“You insolent fellow, even I have styles I wish to wear from time to time.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon burst out laughing. The hair clips holding his bangs back were dangling, so I had no choice but to fix them for him.
“Why are you wearing so many necklaces and bracelets?”
“I’ve sealed them because I shouldn’t use the King’s power recklessly.”
“Ah, so that’s the setting.”
Choi Je-ho, who had been listening to our conversation, shook his head. He seemed to feel that our discourse wasn’t even worth a reaction.
“But won’t Je-ho Hyung be cold?”
Choi Je-ho, who had enjoyed the winter in a sleeveless top during the cover stage, had been punished by gaining sleeves but losing his chest coverage. I only realized today that a shirt could be cut that deep and wide. Being the center was a cruel fate where one had to choose between fabric to protect the chest or fabric to protect the forearms.
“Use a heat pack. If you stick it on your back, it won’t show, right? Just make sure to stick it on your clothes, not your bare skin.”
“You know if that falls off during the stage, my cool factor is completely dead, right?”
“Were you always the type to live and die by your cool factor?”
“Before the cool factor, it’s a matter of public humiliation.”
In the end, Choi Je-ho rejected the heat pack suggestion. We considered taping it to the clothes, but there was no way around it since the lining of the jacket might show while he was dancing.
“It’s not exactly winter gear, but do you want to wear a tie? Even one layer of fabric would be warmer.”
“Is that even fabric? And you want me to wear a tie on a bare neck?”
“It’s a fashion many seniors have done since ancient times, so what’s the big deal?”
Choi Je-ho rejected the tie as well, saying it was fine because his pants were long. I could only hope that the thick, high-top white walkers and the multiple belts fastened around his thighs and arms would provide at least a little warmth.
On the other hand, Park Ju-woo, who had been wearing a warm fleece sweatshirt until a moment ago, began to shiver as soon as he changed. It was quite a pitiful sight to see him clutching the heat pack Jeong Seong-bin gave him while getting his makeup redone.
“Ju-woo, what are you going to do about the cold?”
“I’ll get warm once I start dancing, so it’s okay...!”
Park Ju-woo answered positively. It was a great attitude.
“I’ll have blankets ready for when you go up to the audience,” Manager Dae-yeon said, tearing the plastic off some brand-new blankets.
Spark’s turn came quickly. The schedule was merciless to rookies.
“Since the stages are back-to-back, there’s not much prep time.”
“Once you have more years under your belt, you’ll be able to stand on the ending stage.”
At my encouragement, Jeong Seong-bin gave me a look that asked what I was talking about.
“You haven’t thought that far ahead?”
Jeong Seong-bin’s mouth fell open.
“Not at all.”
“It’s good to focus on the present, though.”
The day we stand on the ending stage will come eventually. It happened before, after all.
So, just bear with it for now. With that thought, I tapped him on the shoulder and grabbed my microphone.
Baek Hae-won, whose heart had been dyed pink, sprawled out on the sofa and took a deep breath. It had been a far too stimulating stage for a delicate girl.
≫ Happy Pink Christmas, everyone!
└ You have a Happy Pink Punk Cute Christmas too, Mi-heon.
└ It’s a Merry Happy Pink Punk Cute Chris-Spark-mas.
≫ Argh, you guys!
Who told you to come out wearing such cute hats?
Who told you to put a headband on top of a telephone pole?
Who told you to put cat ears on a totem pole?
└ You seem to be the one enjoying it the most.
≫ The choreography is insane. Unnies, please make a comeback.
└ Unnies... I have a bank account. Please come back...
└ Even the song is good ㅠㅠ Pink Carat, you must return.
After that, she had been in a daze. Baek Hae-won’s only task was to endlessly alternate between looking at the setlist and the clock.
≫ When are the boys coming out?
└ Teacher, the boys just went in.
Parte came out earlier and they’re coming out again now!
She was fuming, but she held it back. Baek Hae-won wasn’t so immature as to target another group on a day meant for everyone’s festival. If she was going to curse, she should curse the broadcasting station; attacking the group itself would only lead to fandom wars.
Instead of getting angry, Baek Hae-won collected clips being posted on social media. Her movements as she saved images and hit the like button were more precise than a machine. She was a seasoned social media user.
‘Look how pretty the boys are.’
At this rate, her gallery was going to explode. She should have bought the phone with the largest capacity from the start. Baek Hae-won struck her forehead like a regretful male lead.
Just then, the time in the corner of her phone caught her eye. It was the time she had been chanting for.
When she turned her gaze back to the TV screen, the turns were proceeding roughly in line with the setlist.
Once this stage was over, Baek Hae-won would be able to meet Spark again.
Spark, singing the song Sparklers had voted the best seasonal song of the winter: 『What I Want to Say』.