Chapter 414: Concert (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 414: Concert (1)
Listening to With List right after the previous song left me completely drained. It was a stroke of absolute luck that the chairs were cushioned.
In the midst of it all, Baek Hae-won locked eyes with Kang Gi-yeon as he stepped forward to grab some water. His eyes, naturally sharp at the corners, stood out even more when he smiled. Even the character bandage stuck to his cheek was enough to drive a person crazy.
‘I’m saying this for the thirtieth time. Wearing a school uniform and giving that mischievous smile is a crime.’
Kang Gi-yeon was unbearably cute as he picked up two water bottles with straws, handed one to Park Ju-woo, and started sipping. Even when apart, the members of Spark were adorable, but gathered together, they were six times as charming.
‘That school uniform is seriously driving me insane.’
The dark navy school jackets and trousers gave off a more composed impression compared to the uniforms Spark had worn in previous music videos. Rather than the "freshman" vibe from their debut days, they had the aura of upperclassmen. Of course, no such seniors existed at Baek Hae-won’s school.
“It’s good to see you, Sparklers!”
“Good to see you!”
The fans roared back in response to Spark’s greeting.
“The weather was really cold, wasn’t it…?”
Park Ju-woo asked, clutching the microphone tightly with both hands. Not that the Sparklers would have felt the cold at all. The Sparklers… had been burning up for about five hours already.
“The day has finally come for us to hold a concert. Maybe it’s because something we only imagined has become a reality, but I’m still in a daze.”
The members nodded at Jeong Seong-bin’s words. In the distance, Kim I-wol was slowly scanning the audience. Following Kim I-wol’s gaze toward the back, a wave of lightsticks swayed in response to their comments.
“We opened the show with Flowering and With List. Did you enjoy it?”
“In just two months, it’ll be two years since Flowering was released to the world.”
“Time really flies. I was a middle schooler when I first met the hyungs.”
“It’s been that long already?”
Choi Je-ho looked at Kang Gi-yeon with a dazed expression. Baek Hae-won’s reaction wasn’t much different.
Two years—it was startling. So much had happened that it felt more like five years had passed.
To think that all of Spark would be adults next year. It felt like only yesterday that the majority of them were minors; time was moving incredibly fast.
“Our maknaes are saying goodbye to their school uniforms this year. How do you feel?”
At Kim I-wol’s words, a chorus of disappointed groans erupted from the audience. If refreshing idols don't wear school uniforms, what are they supposed to wear?!
The groans quickly subsided thanks to Lee Cheong-hyeon, who said he felt relieved because his own school uniform wasn't pretty but would bring back the uniform concept whenever the Sparklers wanted, and Kang Gi-yeon, who seconded the sentiment.
“It’ll be a bit awkward for me if we do a school uniform concept next year, though.”
As soon as Kim I-wol tried to change the subject…
“You can wear it for ten more years!”
…a thunderous permission fell from the other side. Kim I-wol’s eyes widened, and he lowered his mic, laughing.
“Still, since we’re entering our second year, shouldn’t we show you a more mature side?”
“We can show them, but can the hyungs?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked, looking at Kim I-wol and Choi Je-ho.
“You hyungs didn't even grow any taller!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, whose eye level was now slightly higher than Kim I-wol’s, waved his hand over the top of his head. Kim I-wol looked utterly speechless.
“Cheong-hyeon, we have seniority.”
“Beyond growth, you’ve just gained… vintage?”
“Speaking of which, Je-ho.”
Kim I-wol placed a hand firmly on Choi Je-ho’s shoulder.
“I think it’s time for the oldest members to show them something.”
During ‘Adan-un,’ Choi Je-ho had smacked Kim I-wol’s back, but at the concert, Kim I-wol was patting Choi Je-ho’s shoulder. Baek Hae-won, who was weak to shifts in character dynamics, covered her mouth.
The lights illuminating the stage all went out. Soon after, the sound of splashing liquid echoed. From the bottom of the electronic screens installed on both sides of the stage, a purple liquid slowly began to rise.
‘Is it Under Bar?’
It was a cover song the fans loved, but since they had already seen the full version with all the members during the 1st-anniversary content, it wasn't exactly brand new.
At least, not until Kim I-wol and Choi Je-ho revealed themselves in the darkness.
“Aaaaah!”
A scream tore out of Baek Hae-won’s mouth, independent of her will. Starting from the people on the floor seats in the front row who saw the two first, chaos erupted in waves.
Choi Je-ho, appearing after having shed his jacket, looked perfect in his white shirt. His forearms boasted their presence beneath his rolled-up sleeves. The fact that he had tossed the jacket aside but kept his tie perfectly in place was enough to drive anyone mad.
Kim I-wol, standing with his back turned next to him, was even worse. It looked as though the waist of his dress shirt had been cinched with a cord, making the shirt line curve inward at the middle. The way his torso tapered sharply from his square shoulders was deeply distressing to the heart. His black uniform trousers now looked like a well-fitted suit.
The song began as Choi Je-ho tapped the stage floor with the toe of his dress shoe.
『Under the table
You send a signal
Telling me to come to you』
‘Are they singing live?!’
For the 1st anniversary, like a typical challenge video, Spark had only followed the choreography.
This time, it seemed they were singing it themselves. Listening closely, even the accompaniment was subtly different.
『As if you knew
I’ve been waiting
Those eyes smiling from across the way』
The solo dance of a 187cm man was breathtakingly good. Every time the deep wine-colored lights washed over the shirt, the shadows created by Choi Je-ho’s movements made it look as if the fabric was soaked in red wine.
『Watching from
Beyond the boundary』
Choi Je-ho, covering both eyes with one arm, thrust his hips.
The fine muscles of his forearm, covering his downcast gaze, rippled. The fit of his trousers traced the line of his solid thighs.
The fact that Choi Je-ho was skilled at wave-based dancing was one of the elements that made many Sparklers tear their hair out.
And now, Choi Je-ho was performing a new dance, a variation of the original choreography. He had packed it full of the things he was exceptionally good at.
After delivering a massive shock, Choi Je-ho stood in a straight line overlapping with Kim I-wol and turned around. A snow-white hand slid down Choi Je-ho’s back toward the audience.
Kim I-wol revealed himself, his arm sweeping down Choi Je-ho’s back.
『I know you don’t want
To cross the gap
So stop right there』
‘They didn’t do this for the 1st anniversary!’
Of course not. This performance wasn't in the original song.
Since Hi, Kim I-wol’s sexiness had peaked along with his dance stats. Baek Hae-won couldn't take her hands off her mouth. She was already screaming at the top of her lungs; if she left her mouth unguarded, there was no telling what kind of profanity might burst through her throat.
『Stop pretending
You don’t crave this
Admit your heart is leaking out』
However, Baek Hae-won failed to maintain her dignity. Seeing Kim I-wol brush his hair back and smirk with one corner of his mouth, Baek Hae-won had no idea how to restrain herself.
『If you don’t want to be caught
Come over here』
Kim I-wol yanked Choi Je-ho’s tie. Wrapping the end of the tie around his hand, Kim I-wol sang.
『Beneath the bar
Where you knocked』
Everyone around Baek Hae-won—front, back, left, and right—screamed so hard it felt like their lightsticks might shatter, drowning out the sound of the professional "cannon" camera shutters.
When the three-minute song ended, all the strength left her body. Baek Hae-won wiped her damp hands on her pants. Her head was spinning. But she couldn't rest yet.
『I want the last person
Standing by your side
To be me』
MISSION, which could be classified as the sexiest song in Spark’s discography, followed immediately. Kang Gi-yeon appeared, wearing tight leather pants and a black turtleneck.
‘Mom…’
Though their tops differed, all of Spark appeared in leather pants. Choi Je-ho had returned, having traded his tie for a black harness over his white shirt.
Kim I-wol’s top was still a shirt.
Except now, half of it was missing.
Seeing the cropped shirt and his clearly exposed abs, Baek Hae-won realized that the white belt he’d worn around his midriff earlier had actually been a "cut line" for a quick styling change.
And situated on Kim I-wol’s snow-white back, beneath the white shirt, was…
A long, elegant orchid. Profanities kept trying to escape her lips. Being a refined and dignified Sparkler was just too difficult.
『All the way to the stage
I’ll escort you』
Isn't it a bit foul for the person who says he'll "escort" us to come out in a body chain on his bare skin?
It was absurd. She couldn't believe the reality that the successor to Choi Je-ho’s bare-skin black leather harness was Jeong Seong-bin. Wasn't Jeong Seong-bin the one most bundled up in the MISSION music video?
If it had been an excessive, "otaku-style" body chain, the mood might have been ruined with thoughts like, ‘Putting a jacket over Jeong Seong-bin’s bare skin! That’s a characterization fail!’ But Spark’s styling team, as always, boasted excellent aesthetic sense.
The simple, thin chain suited Jeong Seong-bin’s clean-cut image perfectly. It crossed his chest but wasn't overly flashy. The silver-glinting chain provided a sense of unity with the bracelet on his wrist. Basically, it was just great.
Spark must have worked out incredibly hard for today. There was no other way their shirts could fit like that. Especially the shoulders.
When the signature choreography came out, the venue turned into a cauldron of frenzy. Voices boiled up from deep within everyone's chests.
The fact that Park Ju-woo had unbuttoned three buttons of his shirt, and that Lee Cheong-hyeon was wearing glossy walkers that reached his shins, was maddeningly good, but…
『The goal is only one
To remain by your side
That is all』
When Kang Gi-yeon—wearing leather gloves that only covered the backs of his hands, he who hadn't been able to promote at the time for health reasons—stepped into the center of the stage with a languid, relaxed smile, she was simply overwhelmed with emotion.
She had been relieved that he could at least join for the last broadcast. Her heart had ached seeing Kang Gi-yeon say he was so, so sorry and that it was such a shame.
Seeing the proof that the opportunity to perform remained even after promotions ended, Baek Hae-won was sincerely happy.