Chapter 107
Chapter 107
2 PM.
The venue for HAZERD's first in-person fansign event.
Just a few days ago, 'Ssipdeonkkum,' who had been a Wonseokit fan, had become one of the 100 HAZERD fans privileged to experience the thrill of a first fansign, proudly securing a spot here.
So, as for how much the fansign cut was this time....
'No idea.'
At some point, 'Never disclose the fansign cut' had become an unspoken rule among idol fandoms.
It was to prevent needless competition that would drive up the cut for the next fansign.
Thanks to that, Ssipdeonkkum himself had no way of knowing whether he had bought albums generously over the cut, barely squeaked in at the last moment, or had simply been blessed by the random draw.
Just chalking it up to good luck was the way to maintain peace of mind.
'Still... well, I didn't go that overboard!'
Considering the recent idol scene where in-person fansigns had shrunk to an average of 30 attendees, a size of 100 was like rain in a drought.
More people naturally meant a lower cut.
'Are they truly fairies who appeared to root out the deep-seated ills of the idol industry....'
Of course, once he got in, human greed was cunning, and a twinge of regret had crept in.
'100 people goes by way too fast. A small-scale one would leave a longer-lasting memory.'
Tsk. Clicking his tongue, Ssipdeonkkum scanned the list of questions crammed into his phone's memo pad once more.
Things he wanted to ask each member, extra questions to toss out if time allowed, his own reactions based on their responses....
After running countless mental simulations, he glanced down at the paper bag at his feet.
'And most importantly....'
The fansign prop.
Gifts were prohibited at HAZERD's fansign, but bringing props for the members to briefly wear was allowed.
Ssipdeonkkum had agonized day and night over this 'fansign prop chance.'
Anything too outlandish or ridiculous might burden the members, and above all, there was a high chance of getting cursed out by other fans.
But on the other hand, something plain ran a high risk of overlap.
'Fox ears are definitely going to be brought by someone.'
Frankly, in Ssipdeonkkum's eyes, Seo Cha-gyeom was just a handsome human rather than a fox, but moe-ification was originally something that stuck because fans insisted on it.
Anyway, after much deliberation, the props Ssipdeonkkum had prepared were a headset, a digital camera, and a zip-up jacket in slightly faded tones.
He did think this was practically dressing him up.
'Honestly, that is the goal.'
Since tribute gifts were also banned, this was his only chance to try putting him in the clothes he wanted. Seo Cha-gyeom's personal style was... exceptionally simple, after all.
And a moment later, a door opened at the side of the stage, and the members finally appeared.
"Waaaaaah!!"
"Cha-gyeom!!!!!"
Ssipdeonkkum, who had reflexively let out a cheer, clapped a hand over his mouth.
The real-life visuals of the members, bowing politely and lining up in the center, were genuinely shocking.
'Wow, up close... why is everyone so tall?'
It wasn't just their height—their proportions and how they wore their clothes were no joke.
"One, two, three! Hello, we are HAZERD!"
The members greeted in unison, cued by Kim Yuri's lead.
After that, predictable talk followed—simple greetings and thoughts on having achieved debut—and then the event proper began.
Ssipdeonkkum's number was right around the early-to-mid range.
Not too early, not too late. An exquisite spot.
'The earlier ones will be nervous and won't be able to have a proper conversation.'
And the later ones come at a time when the members start to get tired. Their focus would drop and their reactions would likely become soulless.
In that sense, the number Ssipdeonkkum got was a very lucky one.
The seating in the venue had a clearly tiered arrangement, likely out of consideration for the fans. Thanks to that, he could comfortably watch the members signing without worrying about his view being blocked by the person in front.
'Wait, but the time allocated per person... is a bit long?'
At Wonseokit fansigns, he had had to pour out everything he wanted to say within practically 40 seconds and then scramble over to the next member.
By feel... it seemed to be taking twice as long now.
'If you add in the photo time, it'll easily exceed three hours, right?'
It was just time spent sitting and waiting for the members... but since all six were exuding stellar visuals, simply watching them was enjoyable content in itself.
Since it was their first fansign, there was none of the territoriality or cliqueyness veteran fans sometimes had, making it a very happy wait.
In no time, Ssipdeonkkum's turn approached, and the first to greet him was Jeong Sowol.
'Wow, in person... he looks really cold.'
On screen, he had seemed to have a cute impression that hadn't quite shed its boyishness, but up close, his real-life appearance gave off a much sharper, more aloof vibe.
His skin was so pale it almost felt mystical—a visual that was nearly ethereal....
"Hello?"
Jeong Sowol made eye contact first and offered a soft greeting.
Having been blankly admiring Jeong Sowol's real-life visuals, Ssipdeonkkum had completely forgotten all his prepared comments and hastily answered.
"Oh, uh, uh, yeah! Hi! Hello!"
'Ah, dammit, this isn't even my first fansign, what's wrong with me!'
Ssipdeonkkum frantically rifled through the mental question list. But for some reason, nothing came to mind.
In the end, he blurted out the easiest, most generic question.
"Uh, um.... How old do I look?"
Jeong Sowol narrowed his eyes for a moment, then stared intently at Ssipdeonkkum's face.
After a few seconds of silence, a voice filled with certainty rang out.
"23?"
"......!"
Ssipdeonkkum's eyes grew round.
He was so shocked that he dropped into casual speech without realizing it.
"Tha, that's spot on! How did you know?"
At that, a smile spread across Jeong Sowol's previously cold-looking face.
"Heh...."
He looked immensely proud.
"I've been hitting it one hundred for one hundred. This is huge, for me."
Watching Jeong Sowol, who seemed almost intoxicated with himself, Ssipdeonkkum suddenly felt a familiar emotion.
That's right. This feeling was....
'Like playing along with a younger cousin.'
Experiencing the familiar vibe of a family holiday gathering at an idol fansign, Ssipdeonkkum moved on to the next one.
This time, it was Kim Sanho's turn.
"Hello."
As soon as Ssipdeonkkum stood before him, Kim Sanho bent deeply at the waist, his forehead almost touching the table, in a polite bow.
And then he lifted his head and made eye contact with Ssipdeonkkum.
'Oh my god, how can eyes look this kind....'
He knew that among current fans, there was a fierce debate over whether Kim Sanho's look-alike animal was a deer or a puppy, but the one Ssipdeonkkum saw in person was 99.9% puppy.
'And not just any puppy, but the gentle, friendly country mutt type that follows people well, no questions asked!'
His downturned eyes and gentle impression wildly triggered protective instincts.
He wanted to protect him. Even though he was a towering 188 cm that would make your neck snap if he stood up from his seat....
Having been momentarily lost in admiration of his face, Ssipdeonkkum, now fully relaxed, was able to successfully ask the question he had prepared this time.
"I heard you used to play the violin. What made you quit?"
Kim Sanho, who had been flipping through the album, raised his head at the question.
And as if determined to answer the fan's question sincerely, he even set his pen down for a moment.
"The violin, right."
Then, after a brief hesitation, his lips quivering, Kim Sanho answered in an almost whispered, quiet voice.
"I injured my shoulder... so I can't do it anymore."
"Huh?"
It was an answer he had never expected.
He had asked expecting a dramatic story—either a simple loss of interest, or a change of career path sparked solely by passion after seeing an idol on TV one day.
'A, an injury?'
Flustered, Ssipdeonkkum asked again.
"Yo, your shoulder? How badly did you hurt it? Was it serious?"
"Mm.... It's been a long time, so it's okay now."
"Then is it okay when you dance? The choreo's freaking... intense!"
Despite the rapid-fire questions, Kim Sanho nodded as if it truly was fine.
"It's gotten a lot better, so there's no problem. But...."
"But?"
"This is a secret."
"...A secret?"
A secret with a member from the very first fansign?
What kind of fanfic-like development was this?
But after hearing Kim Sanho's next words, Ssipdeonkkum realized that he himself was not the subject of that secret.
"Because the hyungs don't know this...."
"Huh?"
So, it was a secret from the members?
......No matter what, isn't he trusting a fan way too much?
Ssipdeonkkum sighed inwardly, but he couldn't bring himself to offer any realistic advice to that innocent face.
He had no choice but to nod awkwardly, smiling.
From the very first fansign, he ended up sharing an unexpected secret and even shouldering worry about a member's naivety. With somewhat complicated feelings, Ssipdeonkkum moved to the next spot.
And those complicated feelings became even more dense as he faced the next member, with excitement and tension layering on top.
Because the next up was....
"Cha, Cha, Cha-gyeom!"
"Hello."
It was Seo Cha-gyeom.
'Ahhhhh, he really looks sparkling and glittering!'
He could have sworn his nerves had settled after talking with the previous members, but his heart started pounding wildly of its own accord again.
Even though there was plenty of time—more than enough to not have to speed through a quiz—words came pouring out like a rap.
"Cha-gyeom, you know, I played the video of your Nice Zombie stage on my room's beam projector so many times, there's a freaking afterimage burned into the screen!"
What he had prepared to say was definitely under three lines, but every time it left his mouth, other words kept tacking themselves on.
He wasn't even aware of whether he was using casual or formal speech.
Amidst all that, Seo Cha-gyeom rested his chin on his hand and listened attentively, as if savoring Ssipdeonkkum's fangirling ramble.
He repeatedly started to open his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again as the next ceaseless wave of Ssipdeonkkum's words spilled out.
"Ah, and, and, you appeared in my dream today, so on my way here I even bought a lottery ticket, and if I win...."
Then, as if he had finally found an opening, Seo Cha-gyeom smoothly inserted a question into the middle of Ssipdeonkkum's speech.
"In your dream? What kind of dream?"
Wow, his voice was no joke either....
Spellbound, Ssipdeonkkum answered sonorously.
"A dream with you in it!!!"
"Did I just... show up in it?"
"No, you showed up and...."
Seo Cha-gyeom clicked open the pen cap and naturally picked up the end of Ssipdeonkkum's sentence.
And right about then, Ssipdeonkkum realized his mistake.
"And then?"
"Huh?"
"What did we do together in the dream?"
What did we do in the dream?
In the dream... what we did was....
Panicked, Ssipdeonkkum waved his hands frantically.
"Ah, ah, no, no, we didn't... do anything...."
"......?"
Seo Cha-gyeom asked back, puzzled.
"Why didn't we do anything?"
"Be, because we shouldn't!"
"Why shouldn't we...."
Seo Cha-gyeom started to continue but stopped mid-sentence. Seeing Ssipdeonkkum's face, clearly showing his fluster, he seemed to pick up on some strange vibe and stammered.
"......Ah, um, uh."
"......."
"We, we could.... No, that...."
Seo Cha-gyeom hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, but the awkward atmosphere didn't easily dissipate.
Even the staff behind Seo Cha-gyeom was shaking their pupils with a flustered expression, unsure of how to mediate this situation.
In this moment, which was nothing but a string of everyone being flustered....
Seo Cha-gyeom sweat-dropped and tried to change the subject.
"Wow, your nickname is unique. What does it mean?"
"That... it's... from an old movie...."
"Is it a movie you like?"
"Yeah. I watched it four times."
He hadn't gotten to ask all his prepared questions, but thanks to Seo Cha-gyeom's efforts, the conversation was fortunately filled well.
Even if his own information was the only thing that got extracted.
Ssipdeonkkum swallowed his disappointment with a sniffle and was about to move on.
Then, Seo Cha-gyeom gauged his reaction and spoke cautiously.
"Um, but really, what I asked earlier, I was just... asking...."
"Y, yeah...."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I won't say anything more now. But it's okay!"
In the end, words of apology came out of his ultimate bias's mouth.
A ruined fansign....
Ssipdeonkkum trudged toward the next member, swallowing tears internally.