Chapter 639
Chapter 639
“Are there a lot of people?”
“Tons.”
As Keun Se-jin grinned and stepped slightly to the side, the spectator stands became visible through the window behind him.
Jamsil Main Stadium. A staggering crowd of nearly 50,000 people filled the massive space to the brim.
Waaaaaa—!
Beyond the open window, a cool sunset breeze carried the resonant roar of countless excited voices, reaching all the way to the waiting room.
“...”
It was a magnificent sight, no matter how many times he saw it.
“I remember our first concert. Rae-bin and Yu-jin pretended they were going to the bathroom just to sneak a peek outside. They came back so hyped because of how many people there were.”
“Ooooh, I remember that!”
“It was a pleasant memory...” Kim Rae-bin muttered blankly.
It seemed the electric sensation of their first solo concert—an experience they had never known before—was surging back to him. Now that he knew exactly what that feeling was like, the adrenaline was likely pumping even harder.
‘I suppose the flavors you know are the ones you crave most.’
I wasn't any different. I looked out the window and took a deep breath. It felt as though hormones were surging all the way to the top of my head.
“Then, let’s get ready to—”
“Wait, wait!” Keun Se-jin interjected quickly. “We have to do the chant~”
“Ah.”
“Right. That’s important.”
The members gathered around, smiling. Originally, they used to stack their hands in a typical "fighting" stance, but starting from this promotion cycle, they had taken to huddling close, shoulders pressed together and arms draped over one another.
With their heads bowed and touching, the chant passed between them. Their voices were more powerful and serious than usual, sounding like a team right before a final match.
“TeSTAR, let’s show them something today.”
“...”
“Yes.”
A strange mix of tension and excitement vibrated through the group as they stood with their arms linked. Breath, body heat.
And then, they stood up as one.
“Let’s go.”
The concert was beginning.
*
Sitting in the VIP section, enduring the suffocating wait, the TeSTAR all-fan fidgeted with her hands.
‘I-I should just be excited, but...’
The high school student was swallowing hard, feeling the pressure of her surroundings alongside her excitement.
The industry officials. Even the handsome (presumably) celebrity sitting next to her.
‘No. Once it starts, this will be a really fun memory...!’
She had tried to message ‘Big Moon’—the person who had transferred the ticket to her via social media—to ask where they were, but with so many people gathered, the internet wasn't working well.
‘Phew...’
She was just glad she had pre-synced her new lightstick. She turned it on and off aimlessly. The small, newly purchased employee ID card keyring dangled from it.
She noticed the person next to her was also fiddling with something. She thought they were taking out a lightstick too, but...
It was a camera.
“Huh?”
The high schooler let out a small sound involuntarily. When the person next to her turned to look at her, she almost screamed, but...
“Ah, um... I won't let it interfere with your view.”
The person’s tone was surprisingly kind. The student swallowed.
“O-oh, no, it’s fine.”
There were some fansite masters or data sellers who acted rudely under the guise of filming, like standing behind regular audience members or resting their long telephoto lenses on other people's shoulders.
However, the camera the person next to her held was small, so it didn't seem like it would block anyone's view. Moreover, there was a strangely relaxed atmosphere about him.
‘Maybe he’s an official taking photos for the company.’
She was half right.
‘Because I got permission!’
Keun-dal thought confidently. I even got permission from the hyungs!
—As long as it doesn't interfere with the viewing, it's fine.
He hadn't even imagined that Park Moon-dae was prepared to shield him by using the photos officially if necessary, but regardless, Keun-dal kept the premise of ‘not being a nuisance’ firmly in mind.
‘It’s small... I’ll keep it steady on my lap so the people around me won't notice.’
Of course, Keun-dal knew he had absolutely no talent for photography.
‘Ugh...’
Furthermore, there was a high probability that once the concert started, he would forget everything and fail to take a single shot, just like before.
But he still wanted to keep trying.
‘Because Hyung did it...’
The memories of his younger self—the one who had dropped out of high school and gained strength by watching the videos Hyung had filmed—were still vivid within him. Even if he lacked the talent, he wanted to understand. He wanted to know what Hyung felt while filming these things.
“Whew.”
Keun-dal, currently Park Moon-dae, took a deep breath and finished checking the camera with Ryu Gun-woo’s hands. He also checked his lightstick, which was properly connected to the central control. There wasn't much time left until the start.
However, there was one thing bothering him.
‘There’s still no one here.’
The seat to his left was empty. The person with the ticket hadn't arrived.
Did they get a ticket and just not show up? He had heard this happened frequently in the VIP section. Still, it felt like such a waste; it was almost infuriating. There were so many people on social media crying because they were desperate for a seat!
‘A fan should have seen the concert instead of someone who doesn't appreciate how precious that spot is.’
But before he could glare at the empty seat any longer...
The house lights went down.
“...!”
As the lights illuminating the stands vanished, the advertisements on the electronic displays cut to black. In the space where the light had disappeared, the band’s accompaniment began to flow.
Then, a sentence appeared on the central screen.
[See you in the epilogue]
[by TeSTAR]
Fireworks exploded along with a roar of cheers.
“Ah.”
They’re coming out.
Keun-dal held his breath, his eyes wide as he stared straight ahead.
The theme of TeSTAR’s concert this time was ‘Epilogue.’ It seemed to signify the conclusion of the story that had spanned from games and VR to attractions and their remix promotions.
He felt someone finally enter and sit in the seat next to him, but he no longer had the luxury of caring about that. He poured all his focus into the VCR.
The grand orchestral music faded, and the screen was filled with a cozy-looking attic and the soft sound of a piano. Seven scattered cushions, blankets. And the warm glow of small lightbulbs.
[......]
It looked like the setting from the worldview video where TeSTAR had played board games together during their album promotions.
But the seven members who used to huddle there were gone. The only one sitting there now was Seon A-hyun.
In the middle of a day where dust motes danced in the sunlight, the Seon A-hyun on screen quietly packed away the board game. The camera panned slightly, showing a high school graduation album tucked in a corner of the attic. There were even post-it notes stuck to it.
—Let’s play again!
—Keep in touch even after graduation.
It seemed the members had grown older and graduated, and now they couldn't come to play games as often. Seon A-hyun stopped his hands as he was tidying the game. The camera zoomed in on his profile.
[If we could meet again.]
The camera lowered to focus on the board game.
[Once more, us.]
The screen was sucked into the game.
“...!”
The image, pulled into the board game like a rollercoaster, pierced through blue and red graphics as if passing through a warp, before popping back out into the attic.
Seon A-hyun, who had been looking at the board game, raised his head. The attic was no longer empty.
[So... a board game? You want to play a TRPG?]
[Oh my god.]
[Why? It looks fun.]
From a grumbling Cha Yu-jin to a flustered Bae Se-jin and a Ryu Cheong-woo trying to liven the mood—the small room was bustling with all seven members of TeSTAR.
It was the very first day Seon A-hyun had called them together.
[So... you’re going to be the game master?]
[Yeah.]
[Have you played games like this a lot?]
Seon A-hyun raised his head and gazed at the audience beyond the screen.
[Yes.]
Gasp.
Keun-dal heard his social media friend next to him stifle a sob. Meanwhile, the VCR moved, the camera showing each member’s face in turn.
[Alright, fine.]
The members grinned.
[Let’s have fun.]
The final words echoed from the darkened screen, and the stage lights flared to life.
Click.
A massive, golden, glittering ‘Epilogue’ sign lit up, and gear-shaped stage mechanisms began to move as if by magic. Against the backdrop of only the mechanical whirring, a voice rang out without accompaniment.
[Bad Feelings—!]
KYAAAAAAA—!!!
Uwaaaaah!
The screen split open, and the seven members of TeSTAR burst out alongside a swarm of dancers. They were dressed in brilliant white suits befitting a concert.
“Whoa!!”
The opening stage began with the original version of Bad Feelings, exploding like fireworks through the grand and magnificent orchestral accompaniment.
[Even if the sun sets and the moonlight falls
Unforgettable feelings]
Keun-dal’s heart raced every time a face filled the screen. Their faces shone with immersion, heat, joy, anticipation, and determination. They looked just like the people in the fancams Ryu Gun-woo had filmed before.
No, even more so than that!
[Touching your hand
My tape winds again!]
The setlist continued relentlessly into Night of the Living Dead!
[Let’s Start, let the melee begin]
Cha Yu-jin lunged forward, and a spectacular new dance break was inserted right from the center.
Uuuuugh.
From his right, Keun-dal heard something that was either a scream, a groan, or a cheer. Even in his trance-like state, he thought he had done the right thing by sending the extra ticket.
‘Hyung! I think I used it well, really well!!’
[Just roll the dice!]
He waved his lightstick vigorously while watching his hyung perform the synchronized choreography on stage. He felt his knees moving along, causing the object resting on them to wobble slightly.
‘Ah, the camera!!’
Fortunately, it was still recording. While he carefully readjusted the camera, the song ended. Even during that moment, he couldn't take his eyes off the stage.
—WAAAAAAA—!!!
A massive roar, refreshing enough to cool the hot outdoor stadium, erupted. It was loud enough to burst eardrums, but as the members caught their breath and gripped their microphones, it subsided as if by magic.
[Hello, Loviewers.]
Hello!
Uwaaaaah!
H-h-hello...
As a mix of indescribable individual shouts and screams broke out, the audience fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. TeSTAR’s shoulders shook with laughter before they shouted happily.
[Everyone who came to TeSTAR’s concert, welcome!]
[Thank you! Let’s have a great time!]
Another explosive cheer. After quenching their thirst with water hurriedly handed to them from below, TeSTAR continued.
[We’ve tried a lot of fun and unique things lately, haven't we? Because we wanted to give you various kinds of enjoyment.]
TeSTAR certainly tended to pick unique themes for every concert, often using interesting items or new technology. Keun-dal recalled how opinions on social media had been divided over whether VR choices would appear this time as well.
[But this time, it’s a little different.]
“...?”
[We wanted to move you in the most fundamental way possible.]
Among the TeSTAR members exchanging meaningful glances, Kim Rae-bin’s eyes sparkled as he held up his mic.
[That’s right. This concert... we’ve filled it completely with just our songs and performances, without anything else! We’ve added as many songs to the setlist as possible!]
The essence of a concert. The joy of hearing the songs you know!
There was a sense of overwhelming emotion in Kim Rae-bin’s words, and cheers and shouts erupted from the audience once more. Keun Se-jin laughed loudly and waved his hand.
[We’re going to keep running with almost no talk breaks now. Every song you know is really going to come out!]
‘Whoa!!’
Another frantic cheer. Hearing that sound, Keun-dal was feeling an immense internal conflict. Should he watch with his bare eyes, or should he at least try to film the talk segments properly while looking at the camera...!
It was just as he was nervously fiddling with the camera with a pounding heart.
“Shall I hold it for you?”
“...?”
When he looked to his side, someone was already sitting in the empty seat. The person, wearing a black hat and a black mask... was Cheong-ryeo.
“...?!”
What... did I just see?
Even more, another masked face popped out from beside Cheong-ryeo.
“Oh, hello! So it’s you. Have you been well?”
“Y-yes...?”
It was Chae-yul. Keun-dal’s pupils shook.
Why is VTIC here...?
Keun-dal, who never imagined his hyung would have given tickets to VTIC, gasped. But in reality, it wasn't that extraordinary of a situation. Since the two companies were tied together by capital and had become part of the ‘same line,’ the public would likely accept their visit as a kind of business appearance.
However, Keun-dal’s bewilderment at this moment surpassed all of that.
‘And why, why my camera?!’
Beside him, Cheong-ryeo, whose face was hidden in shadow, was still pointing at the camera with his eyes curved. Even without seeing it, it felt like he was wearing a gentle smile.
“......”
It was a little scary. Just a little.
“I-it’s okay.”
“Okay.”
Cheong-ryeo gave up easily, but Keun-dal swallowed hard and quietly turned his gaze back to the stage.
On one side, a high school social media friend. On the other side, his hyung’s rival idol. It was a fantastical seating arrangement that scattered his attention...
‘Ugh.’
But once he realized he was at a concert venue, those things became trivial thoughts that didn't matter. Especially when he looked at the idols holding their microphones on that stage.
[We’ll go to the next song.]
Keun-dal stared blankly ahead again. On stage, TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae smiled and wiped away the sweat beaded on his temple as if it were nothing.
The concert had only just begun.