Chapter 329: Farewell Party (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 329: Farewell Party (1)
The set was actually quite high-quality.
The baseball stadium lights were set low, and the background, decorated with colorful interwoven nets, looked bright and vibrant. She had heard that some stadiums hung international flags for special events, and international flags were indeed draped across Spark’s stage as well.
Looking at the scoreboard, Spark was currently winning 5-0 against a team whose name was left blank. 5-0? Is it because they’re making their comeback in May? Exhausted from the long wait, Won Chae-hee found herself overthinking even the smallest details.
“Everyone, we’re here!”
Just as they received the third notification that the recording would be delayed, Lee Cheong-hyeon popped out from one side of the stage as if he’d been waiting for the cue. Despite the concept being "youthful high school baseball players," he was decked out in pale pink makeup and a generous amount of glitter. She had a feeling Lee Cheong-hyeon’s facecam views were about to set a new record once again.
“You waited a long time today, didn't you? We’re so sorry.”
Jeong Seong-bin followed Lee Cheong-hyeon out in a hurry. Wasn't orange hair usually a hard color for Koreans to pull off? For some reason, whether it was blonde or orange, there wasn't a single color that didn't suit Jeong Seong-bin.
And that turtleneck was incredibly stoic. Through her years of stanning experience, Won Chae-hee knew that sometimes, covering up was sexier.
As she watched the shadows flicker across his collarbone, a roar of cheers erupted from the entrance.
“Hello, everyone!”
Kim I-wol had appeared, his hair styled into cat ears.
Didn't you say your representative animals were the panda and the eagle? Did you decide to change your image after 『IRREGULAR』? Well, he looks so damn good in it that I’m not exactly complaining.
“My hair… it’s interesting, right?”
“It’s cute!”
“I never imagined I could do something like this with short hair.”
“Exactly, you’re so cute!”
Communication was non-existent on-site. The Sparklers were too busy shouting how cute he was. Their oldest member had literally shown up with cat-ear hair, after all.
Moreover, seeing him again, his skin was so white and fair it was hard to believe he was human. In the idol scene, where people used to describe pale idols as "flour dough," they had started using the term "snowman" starting with Kim I-wol.
In idol fandoms, the creation of a new standard or modifier usually signifies a certain level of recognition or influence. In that regard, Kim I-wol had reached a level beyond even a white rice cake.
Even after all six members gathered, Spark apologized for being late at least five more times. The veteran fans, knowing the delay wasn't the idols' fault, shouted for them not to apologize and to stand tall. In the first place, the longer we get to see you, the better it is for us.
“The stage is going to look so pretty today. Look at how the audience is packed for the game.”
At Lee Cheong-hyeon’s banter, the person next to her squeezed their eyes shut and mouthed his words. This person would likely open their phone’s notepad and transcribe those exact words into a review the moment the pre-recording ended.
“By any chance, are we doing that again today? The Reverse Flash…?”
Park Ju-woo asked. He was talking about the cheering guide.
It was an event inspired by how people at baseball stadiums turn on their phone flashes to cheer and then turn them off when the game resumes; conversely, the fans would wave their lightsticks and then turn the lights off during a specific part. It was a cheering method Park Ju-woo loved, saying it was beautiful when the lights suddenly flared back to life.
Of course we’re doing it, it’s the last broadcast! Won Chae-hee fiddled with the spare batteries in her pocket.
The three consecutive performances made Won Chae-hee feel that using her precious vacation days was more than worth it. She had watched Kim I-wol’s "cool guy smile" on his facecam until it was worn out, but seeing it in person had a completely different impact.
『Because you make my heart race!』
Who told him to tilt his head back and smile like he owned the world against such a colorful blue background? And with cat-ear hair, no less. Was this really the talent of a twenty-two-year-old?
The background didn't look like blue lights; it looked like the Hawaiian sky. Won Chae-hee wanted to just lay down right there. She had never been more grateful that the venue was seated.
The boys shared plenty of stories in between. The person next to Won Chae-hee seemed to have given up on remembering every single conversation by now.
Clear your mind. It’s easier if you give up. I’ll just trust in the collective intelligence of the fandom.
“The nickname Hyung gave Je-ho Hyung was really funny.”
“There’s another funny nickname besides Center Emperor?”
At the conversation between Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Gi-yeon, the Sparklers' attention shifted entirely to one side.
Unable to handle the pouring gazes, Kim I-wol made an excuse.
“It’s a bit… insulting, so… I need Choi Je-ho’s permission to reveal it….”
“I don’t care.”
Choi Je-ho shrugged his shoulders, which filled out his baseball uniform perfectly. Won Chae-hee remembered vividly how private account quote tweets exploded when the still cut of those shoulders in catcher’s gear was first posted.
“It’s Zestral Erectus… It’s a nickname limited to the ‘Unmanned Rest Stop.’ I don’t usually think of Je-ho that way!”
“Don’t you think of him like that all the time?”
“Well, at least it’s a limited-time nickname, Je-ho Hyung!”
The scene erupted in laughter at Lee Cheong-hyeon’s sly comment. Choi Je-ho himself seemed unfazed.
You guys are always the same. Won Chae-hee thought as she watched them—not exactly close, but never drifting apart. She hoped they would maintain exactly this kind of relationship. She prayed that no one would start dating or get "dead fish eyes," forcing another member to desperately shield them.
There were about three hours of free time until the next pre-recording. For Won Chae-hee, who had successfully secured tickets for both sessions, she needed something to do to pass the time.
She spent about an hour standing in line for the reverse fan gifts. Today’s gifts were a set consisting of an apple crumble pie the boys supposedly baked themselves, Greek yogurt piled high with toppings, a choice of drink, and a watery-type perfume perfect for the upcoming month of June. It seemed Kim I-wol had seen the comment on the Potluck Party self-produced content that said, "Give us apple crumble pie too!!!"
Won Chae-hee sat in a camping chair Spark had set up under a canopy, sipping an Americano from the coffee truck while checking the rest of the contents. As expected, there was also a set of unreleased photocards with handwritten messages on the back.
[Don’t forget us just because the promotions are over! Remember us while wearing the perfume!]
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s message was impressive. I’ll wear it until the bottle is dry, so just tell us the name of the perfume you guys use next time.
While eating the yogurt, Won Chae-hee scoured her brain to reconstruct the members' comments as much as possible. All she could say on the official account was, "The boys looked so happy today ㅠㅠ," but she could say the rest on her private account, so it didn't matter.
After taking a proof shot of the reverse fan gifts and leaving a few comments on social media along with photos of them arriving at work, the afternoon session approached. She had only repeated what she did in the morning, but it felt like 80% of her energy had been drained.
The moment she stepped back into the cramped studio.
‘Huh?’
Won Chae-hee’s keen eyes, trained through years as a fansite master, detected a change.
The set for 『On A High Note』 had transformed as if it had weathered a storm.
Even for a double title track, they had never used the same set twice. Just as she was about to wonder if they were losing steam for the last broadcast, the effort put into creating the signs of aging was evident.
The scoreboard was flickering so much it was hard to tell if it was a 5 or a 0, and the nets were full of holes and frayed.
The international flags were torn and trailing on the floor, and the broken bulbs in the lights contributed to a desolate atmosphere.
The color of the lighting was different too. Unlike the previous stage, which mixed green and blue, this stage was filled with the orange glow of a wasteland.
Props like "Keep Out" tape were common, yet they had a way of making people feel tense. It gave the impression that something had happened just moments ago.
However, Won Chae-hee wasn't given the leisure to look at the background any further.
The man known as the "Man of Banana Leaves" among Sparklers, "Wild Man" in the ‘Unmanned Rest Stop’ captions, and "Zestral Erectus" from Kim I-wol’s mouth.
Choi Je-ho had appeared with his dark red hair slicked back without a single stray strand. He was even wearing reddish-tinted lenses.
‘Holy shit, this is insane.’
The Choi Je-ho she saw this morning was the catcher with insanely good shoulders who was circulating in "Please come to our team" memes. He was the type whose physique was good enough to rival an active athlete, bringing honor to the "Northern Duke" archetype with a frame that looked like he could throw a home-run ball from the outfield—not that a catcher would ever need to. He even had that arrogant smile one might show after winning a game.
But the current Choi Je-ho shattered Won Chae-hee’s standard model of a "hot guy." The big data she had accumulated over the years was at risk of being redefined by this one outlier.
‘Cyberpunk techwear is just cheating, isn't it?’
Won Chae-hee lamented. All sorts of belts and gear were fastened over a black long-sleeved turtleneck, and the orange highlight lines crossing over them showed that Spark was serious about this last broadcast. No, seriously, who put a gas mask around Choi Je-ho’s neck...?
The walkie-talkie from the music video was hanging from his belt loop. The leather gloves, leather pants, and walkers formed a holy trinity, perfectly showcasing Choi Je-ho’s sturdy build.
Because he looked like this on stage, people couldn't associate Spark’s Je-ho with the "banana leaf guy" from ‘Unmanned Rest Stop.’ No one except the fans would ever think they were the same person. Who would believe that the kid who ate ten bananas a day was here doing this?
‘A matte functional strap watch, goddammit...’
Her past ability to memorize even the brands of watches her idols wore was resurrected. He’s wearing a waterproof watch for extreme sports because it’s post-apocalyptic. Why can't I use social media right now...
Won Chae-hee grieved. If it weren't for her honed patience, she would have become a foolish fan who couldn't even cheer for the boys.
And the moment Kim I-wol stepped onto the stage.
Won Chae-hee found herself repenting for ever thinking, ‘Why even go to a recording if you’re not going to react properly? Just give the seat to me instead.’
Black hair that looked as if it had been tossed by a breeze, a slim-fit black ribbed top that showed every line of his muscles, and glossy black leather pants that wrapped from his narrow hips down his thighs, following the line of his legs—it all paralyzed something deep within Won Chae-hee.