Live Tour

"We'll see you soon. Great work, everyone!"

"Great work!!"

The session musicians chorused back, applause rippling through the room. Some stood with bright smiles, while others looked visibly tense. Jeong Hyeona's friends were prime examples.

"Dude, I'm so nervous, what do we do…!"

"It's… not a big deal…"

"What do you mean not a big deal!"

Hyeona's friends, whom she'd bonded with over the previous acoustic show, had agreed to session again. But this was on a whole different level from a school festival—qualitatively and scale-wise. The college girls were clearly on edge.

"Just… do it, and it'll get done…"

"Girl! What do you mean 'just do it'?"

Ha Suyeon watched Hyeona, who usually shrank back in the band while trading similar worries with her friends. People really do change depending on where they stand, she thought. Even their vibe and style shift completely.

"How's the crowd?"

"I swung by the cafe and scouted—people are already lining up, for real."

"Entry's by order number anyway, so why line up?"

"Gotta buy merch."

Choi Iseo's report from her coffee run-slash-recon. Yoo Seoha muttered in disbelief, and Iseo shot back an answer. Suyeon watched their little skit while lightly running chromatic scales. Her fingers flew smoothly—condition was good. She tapped a few notes experimentally, then let her hands wander into a tune.

"What's that song?"

"You don't know it? We play it sometimes during sessions. Every Breath You Take."

A staple at guitar sessions. Especially handy for testing if the delay was kicking in right. It stuck to your fingers nicely, which made it pretty famous. She doesn't know this one? Suyeon wondered.

"Nowadays at sessions, the middle-aged uncles and old-timers crank this out and beg for backup vocals."

"You talk like you've been to a ton of those."

"…No, I just heard… Wait, no, I have done a bunch of sessions."

Iseo tilted her head, like really? Suyeon pouted, then scanned the venue. Sold out today, huh. She'd wondered if it'd really happen, but here it was. Reality had a way. When they'd first proposed booking this place, everyone had objected. Renting a smaller venue and selling it out would be more cost-effective, they'd argued. Still, she'd pushed hard for it. A place steeped in history and tradition—that's why she wanted it so bad…

If I'd known it'd sell out like this, I should've pushed for something even bigger.

Where major artists played on their Korea tours. With scalped tickets floating around and posts online crying "How do I get to a Group Sound concert?", she figured they could've leveled up.

"Alright, then…"

"Then?"

"Gonna catch some shut-eye. Wake me if something comes up."

Iseo's eyes went wide at Suyeon's words, her face screaming Sleep? Now?! Seoha actually voiced it from the side: "You sleepy right now?"

"What else am I supposed to do? Show doesn't start for ages—wanna just wait around?"

"No, but… couldn't we practice or something? Sleeping seems… aren't you tense?"

"We've done shows like this a million times. Still getting worked up? Nap, wake up thirty minutes early, warm up the hands—that's plenty."

Suyeon waved them off and headed for the waiting room. A good long stretch would leave her refreshed. But someone grabbed her by the nape.

"Where you going?!"

"Uh, to nap…"

"What?! Nap?! What are you talking about!! We have so much to do!! Makeup, YouTube self-cam interview, fan gift photos, thank-yous for the flower wreaths—tons!! Come on, over here!!"

Jeong Yu-young, the manager, dragging her off like a kid promised pork cutlet but hauled to the dentist instead. The bandmates burst out laughing as Suyeon burned with revenge fantasies.

At the end of an endlessly snaking line, Seyoon finally got her hands ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on what she'd been waiting for: tour-exclusive clothes and cheer gear. The limited badges (or keychains, whatever) and outfits were especially cute.

Merch quality feels more like regular brand clothes. I could rock this daily, no cap.

Maybe thanks to the two fashion-forward members, the merch looked thoughtfully made. Ignoring the jealous glares from others who'd also queued, she strode confidently into Jangchung Gymnasium.

She paused at the sight of the concert hall setup. Lights dimmed on purpose for drama. A 360-degree stage, faintly lit floor markings ensuring no missteps—like a procession of fireflies.

"Kim Seyoon!! Over here!!"

"You calling noona by her name like that?"

Her little brother Sehyun, already seated. Grumbling, she sat and stared at the stage. Her eyes adjusted to the dark. Faint shapes inside: something big planned? This setup alone must cost a fortune. Were they trying not to make money?

More importantly…

Seyoon thought of Juhyeon, her old fave (still kinda). He played bigger venues with way more seats, but he was going on a decade as an artist. He'd said around now, he was just busking—no concert dreams.

"Dude… for real."

"Huh?"

Sehyun's gasp from the side. He'd been scrolling his phone, then shoved the screen at her triumphantly.

"Check this. Rock bands? Wiped out. Among girl groups, only top-tier idols sell this out."

"No kidding?"

The data showed names from big agencies' flagship idols. Some short of the mark, some neck-and-neck. The point: Group Sound matched them. As an indie band.

"I've hit domestic band shows a few times, but never seen a crowd this huge."

"That big?"

Chatting with Sehyun, Seyoon waited. Showtime hit, and the announcement played. People rustled, hiding cameras; lights dimmed further.

"It's… starting!"

Murmurs swelled. Seyoon pocketed her phone, eyes locked—no missing a second. Then—pa-ba-ba-bap!—massive screens overhead blazed to life.

"Huuuh…"

Someone gasped. Spotlights slammed down, fierce. Center stage: four members striking poses in all directions. Iseo aping some idol manga stance, Hyeona a bit huddled. Seoha head high, smirking confidently; Suyeon whipping her hair, scanning the crowd. They took positions, and music swelled from the dark.

That song. Slightly down-tempo, rhythmic bass. The busy intro bassline screamed Iseo's growth.

The song cut off abruptly, just as it seemed ending. The crowd, sunk in feels, shot puzzled looks. But front-row folks buzzed, sensing something.

Iseo spoke up.

"Hey everyone~ Group Sound's leader!"

"What're you saying."

"Leader and vocalist! Inseong's top beauty! Choi Iseo, at your service!"

"No conscience, that girl. None. Girls who dress like that just steal everyone's style…"

"Kinda… weird, right…"

Sudden banter. But the classic Group Sound vibe had the crowd roaring with laughter. Iseo bantered a bit more, then passed the mic to Suyeon.

"Hello. Group Sound's leader and guitarist, guitarist Ha Suyeon here. Nice to see you. Heard we sold out—thanks for coming out. Maybe we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠booked too small? What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠do you think?"

"Too small!!" "Bigger venue next time!!"

Shouts echoed, mixed male-female voices showing the fanbase's breadth.

Suyeon grinned. "Knew it'd be like this—wish we'd gone bigger. We regret it too."

"If more folks came… y'know, revenue and all? Would've maxed out."

Iseo's out-of-nowhere money talk drew fresh laughs. She grinned slyly.

"Right~ You all made huge commitments—cash and time—to be here. We gotta satisfy you fully! So you come back next time, our shows level up, your life's better… for that!"

Lights shifted with a thunk—mysterious blue-purple. Too-doo-doo-doo effects, then sunset-orange pillars rose clockwise around the stage. One per: piano, guitar, trumpet, strings. Weird new instruments, mic-only choruses.

"For that! We prepared the Concert Full Setup!"

Way over ten sessions at a glance. Overkill for a first concert? But the promise of their sound thrilled.

"Let's restart!! Ashen Days!!"

Amid roaring applause as BGM, Iseo's shout kicked off the strings in glorious ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠harmony.