Chapter 479
Chapter 479
Seoul Waterbomb.
"Waaaaah!!"
"Agh! Hey!"
Streams of water, laughter, screams, and music erupted from all directions.
The frantic summer festival, where one traded stamina for fun, had been in full swing since the afternoon.
Usually, at these types of events, the majority of people came with the sole focus of partying themselves, but at today’s Waterbomb, a significant number of people stood out for a different reason.
"They’re the last ones, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Probably?"
They were TeSTAR fans.
Of course, since TeSTAR had immense public recognition and this wasn't their solo concert, not everyone there was a fan.
However, it was also true that many people who would normally never attend a ten-hour party involving water guns, running, and screaming—simply because it was too exhausting—had made the effort to come.
And even for those who weren't fans, most of the attendees were looking forward to seeing TeSTAR as 'famous singers' and having a blast during their set.
"Ugh, it’s freezing."
"Hey, the more famous ones come out in the evening anyway. TeSTAR probably won't show up until after 9:00."
"Okay. Let’s hold out... Whoa, look! Mudie’s coming up!"
"Awesome!"
However, unlike the general participants who were just focused on the festival itself, some of TeSTAR’s fans were suffering from a different kind of anxiety.
Naturally, it was because of Cha Yu-jin’s absence.
The notice that Cha Yu-jin had suspended his schedule for health reasons had already been posted a few days ago, so the general consensus was that he wouldn't be at today’s Waterbomb.
Posts worrying about Cha Yu-jin’s health and wishing him a speedy recovery were easy to find on social media.
But things didn't just end there. There was one problem.
Cha Yu-jin’s star power was simply too high.
Had Cha Yu-jin ever been sick since his debut?
Especially to the point of suddenly suspending his schedule indefinitely?
Furthermore, the specific nature of his illness hadn't been announced.
The notice only stated that he had been advised to take a temporary rest due to 'physical and mental strain.'
Naturally, some people began to think—either subtly or overtly:
I’m curious.
Why exactly is he sick?
While nothing had surfaced publicly yet, all sorts of speculations were swirling beneath the surface of the fandom.
To make matters worse, several trolls suddenly began appearing since dawn.
They were anonymous accounts.
These accounts, all using similar speech patterns, appeared out of nowhere to spout provocative nonsense.
Everything from claims that he had a girlfriend, to rumors that he fought with the members and left the dorm, to allegations that there had been friction since the contract renewals—all sorts of stories were being told.
And as an aftermath, there were even rumors that TeSTAR might not show up at Waterbomb at all today!
At that point, gullible people who believed 'where there's smoke, there's fire' began to emerge.
The rumors died down a bit around noon, but the fans who had seen them were left feeling uneasy.
Ugh, this is so annoying...
The same went for Kim Rae-bin’s fan, who had come to Waterbomb with her friends despite it not being her usual scene.
Cha Yu-jin, why did you have to get sick right now of all times?
She was even starting to think she should get a partial refund on the ticket since one of the members who suited Waterbomb the best was missing.
Of course, she wouldn't actually do that because of Kim Rae-bin.
Kim Rae-bin going shirtless... yeah, that’s not happening.
Muttering that she didn't even expect it, the fan slowly edged her way forward and to the side, getting as close to the protruding stage fence as possible.
The fact that she was starting to feel clammy and cold from standing outside in the wet for hours couldn't stop her.
"Huh? You want to watch from the front?"
"Yeah."
Her friends followed along.
Looking around, she saw many people playing a game of wits, filling in the gaps as others moved. It was clear everyone had the timetable memorized.
Fine.
Uneasiness was one thing, but seeing TeSTAR in person was another.
What do they mean TeSTAR isn't coming?
In the end, no cancellation notice ever appeared.
Now, for the final corner.
They’re coming out!!
[Hello Seoul~]
Boom-boom-boom-pow!!
Amidst water cannons, intense audio, flame effects like fireworks, and exploding LEDs, six tall silhouettes ascended the massive outdoor stage in the dimming summer evening.
[Make some noise!]
It was TeSTAR!
"Waaaaah!!!"
Even as she screamed reflexively, the fan noticed.
Cha Yu-jin really was missing.
But that was only for a moment. Simultaneously, her eyes were drawn to TeSTAR’s outfits.
They were dressed simply in white T-shirts and jeans. A light look, with only two or three members wearing denim jackets.
But in a place like this, simple was always best.
Because the water would become the highlight of everything else.
"Aaaaaagh!!!"
Against a backdrop of ear-splitting cheers, the familiar intro began to flow.
A fun, fast beat.
It was "Promise," rearranged to be slightly more rhythmical for the festival.
[Take your STAR
On a day when stars pour down
Kick the waves and run
To the sky, Run and Fly!]
It was a song with a refreshing idol charm that had been a mainstream hit.
While it felt quite wholesome for Waterbomb, it provided plenty of fun, like a university festival where everyone sang along to a song they knew.
Furthermore, because of the shared keyword 'water,' it fit perfectly in terms of performance.
"Whoa!!"
"They’re so f*cking good!"
Raw cheers erupted at TeSTAR’s performance as they ran around splashing water, wearing only specially made non-slip pads on their bare feet.
Moreover, the TeSTAR members didn't hold back physically.
[Today is good because it’s today,
Let’s go!]
In the second verse, they had intentionally added an ad-lib instrumental break, allowing them to run freely around the protruding stage.
"A-hyun!"
For instance, Seon A-hyun dashed to the front of the stage, spinning gracefully and nimbly while being showered in spray.
"Waaaah!!"
As Seon A-hyun waved, a slightly bashful, shy expression flitting across his face, another stream of water poured over him.
And looking to the side...
"Ryu Cheong-woo! Ryu Cheong-woo!"
"Please, look over here!"
Wow...
One could practically see the whirlpool of desire. Even people who didn't seem to be TeSTAR fans were doing it.
Ryu Cheong-woo was providing fan service without any sign of distaste, letting the water pour over his neck and back.
Those insane abs...
Restraining her head from naturally turning that way, Kim Rae-bin’s fan turned to find her bias, and...
[Yes, fly so far just like this]
He was right in front of her!
Kim Rae-bin’s pale face, adorned with particularly flashy piercings, was right before her eyes.
K-K-Kim Rae-bin...
The fan almost lost her mind for a moment...
But she had to snap out of it quickly.
Because the boy, who was one of the members wearing a jacket, was facing the enthusiastic requests of a mischievous couple in the audience head-on.
"Take it off! Take it off!"
They were basically saying, Let’s take off our jackets and party hot together.
As if Kim Rae-bin would ever do that with his personality!
However...
The boy, after tilting his head for a moment... actually took off his jacket!
"...?!"
And he handed it to the audience.
"Aaaaaah?!"
"Oh my god!"
You crazy guy!
The area turned into a total madhouse with the screams of the person who received it and those around them.
Kim Rae-bin seemed unable to understand why he was being blasted with water guns instead of receiving thanks, but he seemed to take it as a sign of gratitude.
As Kim Rae-bin bowed his head and ran back across the stage, his white top was completely soaked and clinging to his back.
F... Fck.*
Thank you.
She wanted to slap her own mouth for cursing them for coming to a dangerous event like Waterbomb.
The stimulation was insane.
You... you had a good body too...?!
Kim Rae-bin’s fan marveled once again at her choice not to hold up her smartphone.
Someone else would take the pictures. It was more important for her to see this with her own eyes!
[Today will sparkle—!]
TeSTAR finished their first song only after circling the protruding stage and showing off one more exciting dance break.
Cheers that felt like they would tear the outdoor venue apart shook the air.
[Hello~! Nice to meet you!]
It was the same when TeSTAR attempted a brief greeting and talk.
[Oh boy, we’d appreciate it if you could avoid our faces so we can actually sing... Whoa.]
Even as he spoke, streams of water splashed mercilessly against his face.
But Lee Se-jin just grinned, wiped his cheek with his shirt, laughed it off, and moved on.
[Got it! But having fun is more important, right?]
At that, a deafening roar of agreement echoed through the venue.
However, even in that hot and exciting atmosphere, Kim Rae-bin’s fan frowned for a moment.
Ah, this is why I was a bit iffy about Waterbomb.
It was because it could be dangerous due to thoughtless jerks who aimed for the eyes or crazy people who filled their guns with alcohol instead of water.
Especially for famous male idols, who often attracted strange anti-fans or people filled with inferiority complexes.
But then.
Park Moon-dae, who already looked like a soaking wet puppy, made a serious, bombshell statement.
[Then just... feel free to shoot.]
"...??"
[We’ll block it ourselves.]
With that, the TeSTAR members all started pulling something out of their pockets.
It was waterproof goggles.
"Hahaha!"
They hadn't worn them when they came out, but now they were putting on their defensive gear!
While the people who had been caught off guard by the timing laughed, TeSTAR also laughed sheepishly and pulled their goggles on tight.
They were quite stylish-looking fashion goggles.
And without a moment to catch their breath, they dashed out onto the protruding stage one by one in the order they finished putting them on!
[Next song, right away!]
"Waaaaah!!"
"Aagh!!"
My spot is so good!! Crazy!!
While Kim Rae-bin’s fan was screaming and clutching her friend’s arm, a barrage of water guns hit Bae Se-jin, who was standing right in front of them.
Jacket or not, the white shirt he wore underneath was on the verge of becoming completely transparent.
Poor thing!
Even as she thought that, she didn't stop her friend from diligently shooting water at Bae Se-jin’s stomach...
In an atmosphere where excitement was peaking due to fun and a hormonal rush, the intro began.
[Doong...!]
"Oh, the latest song!"
It was "Roll the Dice."
This too seemed to have been rearranged to be slightly more intense, with the beat feeling a bit faster.
Just as people were about to start screaming and responding...
[Ah, and... we have a guest.]
"Huh?"
Ryu Cheong-woo suddenly said that with a smile.
But without explaining what he meant, and before people could even murmur in curiosity...
[Touching your hand
My tape winding again!]
The song began with Park Moon-dae’s high note.
"Waaaah!"
Park Moon-dae, wearing his goggles, now moved gallantly as if he didn't care who shot water where. People cheered and followed his movements.
[The moment the heart beats
All senses go Slow]
TeSTAR executed the characteristic and impressive choreography with precision, but they moved around the protruding stage with somewhat free formations and gestures.
Lights flashed from people’s cameras.
The song raced, the beat jumped, and it was a moment of performance where the summer evening air felt like it would explode with heat and moisture.
The final part right before the pre-chorus!
[Searching for the certain answer—]
And then.
The music suddenly stopped.
"...?"
At the very moment when it should have reached its peak and exploded!
Just as people thought it might be an audio accident...
Ping!
Far behind the protruding stage, the LED lights on the main stage screen flared brilliantly.
And standing there... was someone.
Blonde hair. Jeans and a well-fitting white T-shirt.
A seventh silhouette wearing goggles.
Cha Yu-jin.
[......]
Holding a microphone, he made a short sound to check the pitch, as if testing it.
[Ah, ah.]
In that instant.
"Waaaaah!!"
"Yu-jin!!"
"What?? Who is that?"
Amidst the heat of fans being shocked in a good way by the sudden appearance and even those who didn't know him getting swept up in the atmosphere and cheering.
The band accompaniment returned like a whirlwind.
[!!]
And Cha Yu-jin began to dash toward the protruding stage.
"C-Crazy!"
Cha Yu-jin, with his hair half-swept back, ran across the wet stage without a care, charging forward as if he were going to pierce through it.
Even then, without his breath wavering in the slightest, he belted out his part without pause, piercing through the microphone.
[The choice is one
Yeah, take it all, one more
Even if I lose this tightly held hand]
And at the very front.
The moment he stepped into the dead center of TeSTAR’s formation.
[Let’s Start, begin the melee]
The song dropped.
A flashy dance break that wasn't in the original song.
[side side side]
Cha Yu-jin snapped his body forward.
"......!!"
Crazy.
Crazy, crazy!
The water gun fire temporarily ceased in front of the stage.
An incredible sense of three-dimensionality, a presence so impressive it felt violent, and a thrilling explosiveness.
What is this??
[Just roll the dice]
Cha Yu-jin performed the dance break in a form close to a solo dance.
The movements—kicking off the ground and using the body’s recoil to snap his frame as if sweeping the floor—looked incredibly cool at a glance, but also seemed to carry a heavy physical load.
Wait, wait??
But there was no time to process it.
Cha Yu-jin’s next move was to casually lift his shirt and toss it aside amidst the stunned crowd.
His well-trained upper body was instantly revealed.
"...?!"
"Euaaaaah!!"
It continued like that.
He kept creating moments that made it impossible to look away.
When the song reached a slower section, Cha Yu-jin intentionally sat down and took the water.
So they could hit his face directly.
C... Crazy.
And without even closing his eyes, he stared intently at each person shooting water guns before tossing his goggles aside and standing up.
Very naturally.
But at the perfect timing as the instrumental break ended, he rejoined the formation.
Then came the final chorus performance of the title track.
[Pull it in]
Fireworks exploded.
But he burned through every limit, making even that noisy and flashy finale look like mere background.
At that same time.
Social media was being turned upside down.
And there was only one reason all of this was possible.
It wasn't that Steer Cha Yu-jin had higher absolute stats than TeSTAR Cha Yu-jin.
The lack of management and training had been that painful.
However, experience.
All the things he had endured because of a group that had so many incidents and accidents.
An environment where his ability to quickly learn and adapt choreography had no choice but to grow extremely high because of the frequent sudden changes depending on the situation.
Because he couldn't have survived if he didn't improve.
That was how he had completely mastered the choreography for TeSTAR’s latest title remix and two other event songs in just four hours.
And...
The moments he had spent desperately staying afloat, adapting to extremely uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations just to show an impressive stage.
To seize an opportunity, there was one stat he had developed to the limit himself.
[Star Quality: EX (EX)]
If only given the chance.
He was a man who would never let a gaze slip away.