Chapter 321
Chapter 321
The buzzing of the crowd below the stage, the mechanical whirring of the equipment, and the swaying lights of the lightsticks brought my senses back to life.
I was back.
“…….”
Someone grabbed my shoulder. Turning my head, I saw Keun Se-jin and the other familiar faces standing around me.
The punk was smiling, but his grip on my shoulder was tight. He must have been the one who called out to me earlier.
‘I must have stumbled or something.’
I remembered nearly collapsing when I saw the first Truth Verification after debuting on Aju-sa.
The situation might have been similar, but the difference in how I perceived the passage of time was vast.
I took a moment to quickly scan the faces of the guys standing behind me.
‘It’s been a while.’
From Ryu Cheong-woo on the edge to Bae Se-jin. Actually, I’d seen Bae Se-jin just a few days ago, but his expression was so different from those early debut days that it was almost startling.
‘I really have been looking at them for a long time.’
Four years.
In student terms, it was no different from going to the same high school and then attending the same university together.
I had come this far by forming a team—not even by choice—with six total strangers of a similar age. It was a rare experience.
Yet, an irrational thought crossed my mind: even with my insight aided by the Status Window, I don’t think I could have picked a better team than this.
It was a strange thing.
I looked at Kim Rae-bin, whose pupils were trembling, and smiled inwardly.
‘You were right.’
—Even though we didn’t meet for the purpose of friendship, I believe a true sense of solidarity can grow within that!
There was a sentiment here that went beyond simply wanting to keep this going because the results were good.
And the same went for the lightsticks swaying in front of me.
I gave a small nod to the guys standing behind me and turned back toward the front.
The people cheering for TeSTAR.
And I was the one standing before them as TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae.
After everything I had gone through, the conclusion remained the same.
“…….”
This wouldn't do. Perhaps because of the words I’d just heard in the mental world, my head was drowning in sentimentality.
‘This is awkward.’
Right then, I noticed text appearing on the prompter.
“…!”
Right, the speech.
I snapped out of it. Having an immediate task pulled my mind back to reality.
I must have been frozen for about three or four seconds. People were already complaining about award speeches dragging on, demanding they be cut short.
‘Still, this is the first Grand Prize we’ve won fairly based on our results, so I hope they’ll understand.’
I let out a small chuckle and gripped the microphone.
“I took too long, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I was nervous.”
A small ripple of laughter broke out in the audience.
I didn’t think it was a particularly funny comment… but well, they took it well, so I moved on.
“Looking back at our time as TeSTAR, it feels like it’s been a very long journey, yet it also feels like we just debuted yesterday.”
I took a brief breath before continuing.
“The same goes for the moment I decided to aim for becoming an idol.”
It was a journey that began because of an absurd threat of sudden death.
“To be honest, as a complete layman, I had no confidence or expectations about how far I could go. I just… I was told I could do it, so I appeared on the program.”
If it hadn't been for the threat of sudden death, I wouldn't have even considered it. But…
Just before I regained consciousness, I recalled what I had said to Keun-dal.
—I didn't know I wanted to be an idol either, but I guess I did.
Right now, I could vividly imagine the perspective of the person below this platform, dodging security to take my picture.
Because I had done it many times.
Back then, I never bothered to trace the source of my satisfaction. I never even imagined the view looking down from the stage itself, outside of that lens.
“But after meeting these members and meeting the fans, TeSTAR has somehow made it all the way here.”
But if standing on the stage myself felt more truthful and thrillingly better than watching from the audience…
Then… it meant that my time as a data seller really was exactly that: vicarious satisfaction.
And if I felt like the rush would be even greater thinking that finding this genuine joy was actually thanks to my ‘Infinite Potential’… well, that was just a delusion.
‘That’s a stretch.’
Countless variables had aligned. And I wasn't the only one moving those variables.
Because an idol is a group.
“Regardless of this award, I think I made a very good choice in challenging myself to become an idol back then. …I am very happy.”
I never expected such embarrassing words to come out of my mouth, but hey, it’s the Grand Prize—what can they do if they don’t understand?
“I believe the members feel the same way.”
I put my arm around Seon A-hyun’s shoulder.
“…!”
‘…I think he’s terrified?’
I thought he’d naturally play along with the mood, but it almost turned awkward.
Still, he didn't look displeased, so I looked around and said what needed to be said.
“Thank you.”
“…….”
Then, a strange, choked-up look began to spread across their faces, and naturally, a celebration like a sports victory ceremony broke out.
Encouragement for the hard work and a sense of achievement.
‘Good grief.’
In the audience, lightsticks swayed frantically, and cheers erupted.
I accepted being one of the seven professionals embracing each other.
And I thought of one other person.
‘Did you get back safely?’
Thinking of the guy who was probably watching on TV, I finished my last words from within the circle of arms.
“Thank you so much for letting us receive this award.”
It was a comprehensive message of gratitude.
*
The fanfare intended to signal the end of the speech and clear the stage went off, and we moved backstage while holding the trophy.
As soon as the award ceremony ended, our performance would follow after a brief preparation period.
They probably arranged the first Grand Prize like this with that in mind.
I moved along, still holding the trophy, thinking silently.
‘I should definitely concede the speech for the next ceremony’s Grand Prize.’
Now that my reason had returned, I realized I had been excessively over the top.
‘People are probably talking about it. Next time, I’ll make the guys who haven't given a speech prepare one separately…’
But I couldn't keep calculating. An urgent question came my way before we even reached the changing area.
First, Keun Se-jin.
“Park Moon-dae, are you okay?”
“…?”
“You almost fell just now. If you’re not feeling well, say so. Let’s get you a painkiller or something before we go out.”
So that’s why he grabbed my shoulder. I understood his actions now.
‘First, I need to gauge how bad it looked.’
“I almost fell?”
“I, I thought you were going to collapse…”
Seon A-hyun muttered, his face pale. It seemed I had stumbled more dramatically than I thought.
‘Damn.’
I had to see if this excuse would work. First, I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.
“Sorry. Since it was our first Grand Prize… I couldn't even remember what I was going to say, and I think it was just nerves.”
“…Because you were nervous?”
“You…?”
Why are these punks so suspicious?
I answered as calmly as possible.
“Of course.”
“Wait, hold on.”
“Manager, please get a thermometer!”
Suspicion bombarded me. I think I have a good idea of what my general image has been like until now.
I held up both hands.
“I’m perfectly fine. It’s just… I’m really happy, that’s all.”
I looked at their faces one by one—some of them looking almost horrified—and let out a smirk.
“It’s our first Grand Prize. I’m capable of being moved, too.”
“Park Moon-dae…”
The horror vanished, replaced by a warm atmosphere. I knew this would work since everyone was riding the high of the first Grand Prize.
“…Right. That could happen.”
“It’s a bit late to say this, but I think it was a really cool acceptance speech!”
Good. All the soft-hearted ones have been convinced.
‘…Well, it wasn't exactly a lie.’
It was true that I felt good. I handed the trophy over to the guys who were drunk on the Grand Prize atmosphere.
“Let’s work hard for next year, too.”
“Y-Yeah!”
“Gooood!”
Ryu Cheong-woo seemed to enjoy the atmosphere, looking pleased with the teamwork, before finishing gently.
“We’re still taking your temperature, though.”
“…….”
Do whatever you want.
While changing costumes, I was judged to have a normal temperature. It was ridiculous, but it felt like I had overcome some sort of hurdle.
“13 minutes left~!”
But at the same time, I realized the real problem.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake.’
I racked my brain and eventually nudged Seon A-hyun.
“A-hyun.”
“Y-Yes?”
I spoke quietly.
“The choreography we modified this time, could you quickly check it with me once…”
“Moon-dae, why? Did you suddenly forget the choreography?”
Quick-witted punk.
“…My tension dropped after the speech, so just to be sure.”
“Ah~ I see.”
It wasn't a lie.
‘It’s because I haven't danced or even sung for days, you punk…’
There was a one-time modified choreography for the year-end show that I had practiced for exactly one week right before entering Ryu Gun-woo’s body, and I had to use it now.
I was breaking into a cold sweat, worried I wouldn't remember it properly on stage.
“Anyway, just check it for me.”
“Okay! L-Let’s do it right now…!”
Fortunately, perhaps because time was tight, we skipped further conversation and went straight into a dance lesson.
With two members of the dance line helping, the form was caught in an instant.
“Kick here, turn… hit the tip of your toe with a point, and move over…”
“Moon-dae, you were half a beat fast, be careful!”
“Okay.”
“I know this choreography best. I’ll show you, Hyung!”
“Yu-jin, why don’t you go get some drinks?”
In that way, with the help of the others, I completely re-learned the choreography in three minutes.
Living alone was comfortable, but the flavor of being with several people wasn't bad either.
*
This evening, as the first prestigious music awards ceremony of the year-end was being broadcast.
Watching the real-time comments that made her lose hope in humanity, the office worker and twin fansite master for Lee Se-jin and Park Moon-dae clicked her tongue.
But such things were common, and for her, something else was more concerning.
‘For him to give such an emotional speech.’
Park Moon-dae had handled everything with razor-sharp rationality until now, but this time, he acted as if he couldn't contain his overwhelming emotions.
Being unable to speak before the acceptance speech, stumbling, looking back at the members, the long preamble… he did everything he usually didn't do.
She didn't know if there was a story behind it or if the Grand Prize was just that meaningful to him, but…
‘Well, it wasn't bad.’
The twin fansite master nodded, thinking she understood why Lee Se-jin had conceded to Park Moon-dae.
Since Park Moon-dae had an image so calm it almost seemed eccentric to the public, this one moment of shaking would come across as charming rather than annoying.
It was no different from showing the public a scene with the same effect as crying at a concert.
In fact, by the time Park Moon-dae’s speech ended, the comment reactions had changed quite a bit.
Furthermore, the final action that seemed to confirm the members’ affection for the team.
That series of events seemed to have something that tugged at people’s heartstrings.
‘This kind of thing works well.’
There was a reason why compilations of reactions from singers winning first place on music shows for the first time since debut circulated on WeTube.
People love the fall of a star, but they also love it when a star is overcome with emotion.
Fitting perfectly with those people’s tastes, TeSTAR’s emotion came across as raw.
The twin fansite master nodded with considerable satisfaction.
‘Well done.’
Not that Park Moon-dae had calculated any of it—in fact, he had been expecting a rather poor reaction.
Regardless, contrary to his own expectations, TeSTAR’s Grand Prize speech was destined to be talked about successfully as a touching acceptance speech.
The awards season was only just beginning.
And in this season, TeSTAR was scheduled to have a very large part.