Chapter 144: Invincible Youth (3)
144. Invincible Youth (3)
"......"
"Won-ho, here's some water."
"...Ah. Thanks."
Inside the tented waiting area.
Won-ho reacted a beat too late when Tae-hyun handed him a water bottle after noticing he'd been searching for one.
Tae-hyun quickly checked Won-ho's complexion, wondering if this delayed reaction might be lingering effects from what happened earlier on stage.
Contrary to his worries, Won-ho didn't appear pale or sweaty like before. Yet even after accepting the bottle, Won-ho's gaze remained fixed somewhere in the distance.
"......?"
Following Won-ho's line of sight, Tae-hyun saw the monitor broadcasting the stage performance in real time.
Still standing, Tae-hyun also turned to watch the screen.
On the LED backdrop behind the stage, childhood photos of the Invincible Youth team members slowly transitioned in slideshow fashion.
The full-shot camera angle showing all four members shifted to a solo shot of Ha-ru.
Dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, blue shorts, white socks and beige Converse shoes, Ha-ru made eye contact with each of his hyungs on stage one by one.
Fly far away, little butterfly
Stay wherever your heart desires
Go wherever your dreams take you
Wherever you may be
Flowers will bloom in their own way
"......Ah."
Perhaps touched by Ha-ru's pure message of encouragement?
The moment Tae-hyun heard those lyrics, he felt an unexpected warmth prickling behind his eyes without realizing it.
Even when he'd first heard the lyrics through Ha-jin, he'd thought them warm—but hearing them in this context made each line feel like a gentle caress.
Now the camera framed Seok-i on the left side. Overlapping this image, Si-woo appeared on the right.
As Ha-jin's piano and Si-woo's guitar blended with the percussion from the backing track, gradually building in intensity, both opened their mouths simultaneously.
Where am I?
(Even through raging storms, sprouts emerge)
I must have been running breathlessly
(Even through bitter cold, sunlight still shines)
Not knowing my destination
(So child, it's okay to fall sometimes)
Only I remain stuck here alone
(Because you already know how to rise again)
Their voices intertwined in counterpoint.
Like call-and-response, their lyrics—originally from separate songs—didn't perfectly align, yet the messages and emotions conveyed shone clearer than any polished harmony could.
Si-woo and Seok-i locked eyes. Only then could they share a relaxed smile.
Where are we, now?
(Fly far away, little butterfly)
Is it already too late to turn back?
(Your fluttering wings are beautiful as they are)
Nights when even dreams won't bring stars
(But child, it's okay to simply go with the flow)
Will I just disappear like this?
(Sometimes, enduring is enough in life)
This time Ha-ru and Ha-jin's voices harmonized.
Their starkly contrasting vocal tones created a dialogue reminiscent of a boy speaking with a young man.
After the intense verse came an instrumental break.
Over the rich accompaniment of Si-woo's guitar and Ha-jin's piano, Seok-i's mournful violin solo soared. Ha-ru subtly kept rhythm with his body before punctuating each phrase with crisp xylophone notes playing Where am I's top line.
"...Amazing."
"Yeah. They prepared well. Makes you want to cry, right?"
"...Yeah."
Relieved by Won-ho's quiet agreement, Tae-hyun smiled faintly and took the seat beside him.
The four members' performance raced toward its conclusion.
Seok-i's violin—like a depiction of their restless, wandering hearts—climbed higher and higher in pitch until...
All instruments cut out simultaneously.
On days I suffered, unable to love myself
A single beautiful flower stubbornly bloomed
Through times I ached, unable to accept myself
That faint breath still stubbornly wove happiness
Only Invincible Youth's four voices now filled the space.
Their a cappella harmonies, each member contributing distinct tones, created something more beautiful and powerful than any instrument.
Then all instruments surged back together as the song built to its climax.
Fly far away, little butterfly
Stay wherever your heart desires
Go wherever your dreams take you
Wherever you may be
Flowers will bloom in their own way
Kim Won-ho kept chewing over those lyrics long after.
He strained to commit their harmonies to memory as waves kept crashing against the sandcastle in his heart.
Only after everything had shattered did Won-ho realize:
He hadn't even tried to protect that sandcastle.
'...When I can't even love myself.'
How could I ask others to love me?
When even I find standing here overwhelming.
When even I doubt my skills and talent daily.
How could I ask people to love and cheer for me?
'Even I... don't believe flowers will bloom for me.'
When the largest white wave crashing in turned out to be himself,
A new question washed up on Won-ho's shores:
'Did I really do my best?'
Did I sweat as much as those I envied?
Did I yearn as desperately as those who surpassed me?
Could I honestly say I'd done all I could, with no regrets if everything ended now?
"Kim Won-ho."
"...Huh?"
Lost in thought seeking answers to new questions, Won-ho lifted his head at the voice calling him.
Before him stood Yu-geon, his blue-black hair swept back stylishly, wearing a black crewneck under a gray hoodie and flashy embroidered blue ska jacket, leaning at a slant. Probably preparing to move for his upcoming stage.
"Here."
"......?"
When Won-ho looked at him questioningly, Yu-geon jutted his chin and thrust out a fist. As Won-ho stared blankly at the gesture, Yu-geon just shrugged and extended his fist again.
"...What, what am I supposed to do?"
"Cheer me up."
"Huh?"
"You're why I ended up rapping. I'm so nervous I might die, so hurry up and cheer me."
"How am I the reason... Wait, you chose it."
"You told me after Blue Flare that I suit rap more than vocals. Because of you, I got special training from Do-ha hyung every damn day."
"That's ridiculous..."
Won-ho gave Yu-geon an incredulous look at this shameless blame-shifting.
But Yu-geon ignored it, urgently shaking his fist since he needed to leave soon.
Finally bumping his fist lightly against Yu-geon's, Won-ho saw the other boy step back satisfied.
"Hey."
"What."
"I'll crush it out there."
"......"
"And I'll say it was thanks to you in interviews."
"...You're unbelievable."
Won-ho finally burst out laughing at Yu-geon's audacity.
He'd realized this was Yu-geon's peculiar way of comforting him.
"Don't forget the lyrics."
"Never. I could sing it in my sleep now."
"Yeah, I'll be watching."
Hearing Won-ho's slightly more normal tone, Yu-geon seemed reassured as he pocketed his hands and turned toward his team.
Just as he took a step, he noticed Tae-hyun looking at him with oddly proud eyes.
That "good job, little buddy" expression—like watching a 7-year-old succeed at an errand—somehow irritated him. So Yu-geon pulled a hand from his pocket and flicked Tae-hyun's forehead when he least expected it.
"Ow! Hey!"
"Cheer hard for me, hyung~"
"...What's wrong with you guys?"
As Tae-hyun reacted, Yu-geon quickly dodged away.
Watching them, Won-ho laughed again.
Meanwhile, the Invincible Youth performance serving as their backdrop reached its finale.
Won-ho glanced subtly at:
- Tae-hyun trying not to sniffle conspicuously on camera
- Yu-geon's team heading to stage
- The Invincible Youth stage now transitioning from red sunset to blue night sky
"......"
...I envy them. For being so confident.
Kim Won-ho still envied them.
But it was fundamentally different now.
'I want... to become like that too.'
In Won-ho's heart, a cornerstone was being laid for a new castle.
Onstage, only Jung Si-woo's acoustic guitar remained.
When even that sound faded, Si-woo finally sang the last verse with his usual precise breath control.
Where am I?
After all this wandering, what comes next?
Nights too starless for answers
Si-woo slowly lifted his gaze to the night sky.
Like the lyrics described, the starless black expanse felt strangely close tonight.
Shall we try
Flying up just once more?
The idea to modify the final lyrics by incorporating Si-woo's father's song had come from Ha-jin.
Since "flying up" held symbolic meaning for Miro Maze,
And because the image of flowers blooming where one stands—from Si-woo's father's lyrics—felt like a more satisfying conclusion than Where am I's metaphor of walking sand that leaves no footprints.
"......"
The song ended completely.
Like a midsummer dream, the audience snapped out of their trance quickly, erupting in applause.
"Encore! Encore! Encore!"
Weather, song, lyrics—everything aligned perfectly for this beautiful stage, and the audience responded with their utmost enthusiasm.
Destiny members wiping tears appeared everywhere. Of course, the Invincible Youth members weren't faring much better.
"Aww~ Seok-ah, don't cry! You did great!"
"Si-woo, your dad's song is amazing!"
Gong Seok had been crying since the final chorus,
While Jung Si-woo broke down immediately after finishing, his emotions overwhelming him on the big screen.
Ha-jin and Ha-ru each comforted their hyungs before moving forward to bow.
"Hey, not going?"
"...Ah."
Meanwhile, someone watched this scene from a corner of the plaza, lost in another sea of thoughts.
"What, let's watch a bit more before going."
"...Sorry. You guys go ahead. I'll skip today."
"Huh? Suddenly? You're not coming?"
"Just go without me. I want to watch this more."
When his friends asked why, the boy in the black cap just gestured for them to go first.
"Hey, let's just go ourselves. Tae-hee wants to watch more."
"But still. We waited because of him..."
"Yoon Tae-hee hasn't seen his hyungs in ages, maybe he wants to watch longer. Hey Tae-hee, we'll go then? See you next time."
"Yeah. Get going."
One perceptive friend seemed to read the boy's mind, herding the questioning others along with quick goodbyes.
Yoon Tae-hee in the black cap waved them off before turning back to the stage.
"...They're all so cool."
In someone's heart,
Another wave was crashing.