Chapter 155
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155
“Waaaaah!”
When she found out she’d successfully won the lottery for the 1st Competition, the worn-out modern office worker kicked her feet in the air with joy.
“Yeon-hu, here I come!!”
A die-hard fan of High Five, she headed to the filming location on the day of the event, her heart thumping with anticipation.
“Hey, look who it is. The traitor’s here?”
“Hahaha, sorry!”
Her friend, who was laughing heartily at the entrance of the venue, had once been a fan of High Five—though it was a fleeting phase, like broth made by a cow just dipping its hoof in and calling it bone soup.
After suffering through the grind of daily life, she’d distanced herself from fandom culture, seemingly "quitting K-pop" for good. But then, she’d fallen hard for the youngest member of The Dawn and was back on the scene, running around like a rookie.
“But hey, we’ve got another chance to come to a show together~. Keep me around forever, okay?”
“I’m already sick of you… Fine.”
Having reached a cool agreement, the two entered the venue. Even though the show hadn't started yet, the sweltering heat of the crowd pressed against their skin.
While she looked around, trying to calm her racing heart, the MC made her entrance.
“Hello, I’m Ha Seo-yeon~.”
“Whoa, look at Actress Ha Seo-yeon’s aura.”
“Her acting is legendary!!”
While they whispered, unable to take their eyes off Ha Seo-yeon, the introductions passed quickly, and the first group, Verci, took the stage.
“Oh!!”
“Not bad~.”
Even looking at the lineup, she’d expected the quality to be high since the performers were all experienced, but the production was more than just solid—it was flashy.
“It’s definitely better than last season.”
They packed the setlist with A-list songs.
Next up was a song by Black Call, a group she’d briefly "dipped her toes into" a long time ago.
The performance wasn't bad.
However, it didn't feel particularly charming to the office worker or her friend.
Songs like that should be left to Black Call…
Black Call was a group that boasted Chae Jeong-woo, a K-pop god whose voice cracks throughout his entire career could be counted on one hand, and Ju Woo-seong, who commanded the stage just by walking onto it.
No matter what you do, it just feels like an inferior version.
The group seemed to think that performing a highly recognizable song would be an automatic win, but they were sorely mistaken.
If you weren't careful, you’d just end up swallowed by the original song’s shadow.
“Whoa, it’s getting hot in here.”
“Guys~, summer is coming~.”
As a series of similarly intense songs continued, the stage effects—bursts of fire—never let up.
Because of that, every time the flames roared, she felt like her hair was being singed, and sarcasm naturally slipped out.
Her friend, Noeul, had lost interest to the point where she’d pulled out her smuggled phone to browse online communities.
“When is our Da-jun coming out?”
Meanwhile, while Verci, Try, and TEW performed back-to-back, the office worker’s entire focus was on High Five.
Then, for the fourth stage, The Dawn stepped up.
“Hello!”
“??”
The moment they appeared, everyone in the venue fell silent, their mouths hanging open in shock. A second later, the building shook with screams.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
They were dressed in skin-tight black leather pants and flowing black silk shirts. Each member wore various shimmering, thin body chains—some wrapped from waist to thigh, others peeking out from under their clothes.
Wait, are they insane??
Seo Ho-yun even had a long velvet ribbon tied in a bow around his neck like a choker.
“I’m literally about to faint…”
Furthermore, Seong Ji-won wore a flower crown woven with pure white blossoms, and Kang Yi-chae had his hair styled in a wet look with a few strands braided with beads.
But the ultimate reason for the explosive screaming was…
“Holy shit!!”
It was because the dancer line, Kim Seong-hyeon and Jeong Da-jun, appeared wearing incredibly, incredibly, incredibly cute cat-ear headbands made of black-painted iron!!
“It’s over! Today is over! Everyone, go home!”
“Wow, fuck. I’m losing my mind here…”
Leather pants, body chains, and cat ears.
The office worker felt her competitive spirit flare up at the sight of The Dawn, who were essentially declaring war with such a blatant fan-service concept.
Beside her, her friend Noeul had thrown her dignity into the depths of hell and was screaming while shaking her lightstick like a madwoman.
When Seo Ho-yun reached out to gently adjust Seong Ji-won’s flower crown, which had tilted slightly after they bowed 90 degrees to greet the audience, another wave of screams erupted.
“Hello, we are the rising dawn, The Dawn!”
“Wow, the cheers are incredible! The Dawn, what kind of stage have you prepared for us today?”
Instead of the leader, the youngest, Jeong Da-jun, took the mic first with a bright, beaming smile.
“The song we’ve prepared today is Lia Purple sunbae-nim’s ‘Easy Tempo’!”
“Is everyone ready to follow along with the tempo~?”
Seong Ji-won chimed in right after.
Even though he only slightly lifted the corners of his mouth, the surroundings seemed to brighten. Watching the radiant Seong Ji-won and the fluffy Jeong Da-jun exchange smiles and banter, even the office worker—a fan of another group—thought they were incredibly cute.
“Let’s go!!! I’ll follow you to the depths of hell!!!!”
“Calm down…”
But she was nothing compared to her friend, who was excited to the point of madness.
But still…
The High Five fan gave up on restraining Noeul and thought about the song The Dawn had chosen.
Lia Purple’s ‘Easy Tempo’?
There was a decent demand for boy groups covering girl group songs. However, it was usually something done for year-end stages or fan meetings.
Moreover, this song wasn't even that famous.
She only vaguely remembered that the original outfits had been quite provocative.
Did they rearrange it? Or do they have some other trick up their sleeve?
She didn't realize it herself, but the fact that she, a fan of another group, was this concerned and wary was proof that The Dawn was shaking up the entire scene.
【Easy Tempo One and Two
Easy Tempo One and Two…】
The lights dimmed, and an unfamiliar melody flowed out.
Soon, the stage brightened again. Jeong Da-jun, leaning his head on the shoulder of Kim Seong-hyeon who was sitting in a chair, opened the intro.
【I sit beside you and whisper softly
I’m feeling a bit dizzy today—
You smile slightly, as if you already know】
“Da-jun, please…”
Her friend, whose bias was Jeong Da-jun, slumped as if she were actually feeling dizzy from the very first line.
Seong Ji-won, who was perched on the edge of a table nearby, leaned toward Jeong Da-jun with a smile.
【I get this feeling
You see me as someone light
But you’re already drawn to me】
Damn, he’s a definitive vocal…
【But Easy Tempo One and Two
Don’t rush in without being sure】
Seong Ji-won grabbed Seo Ho-yun’s right arm and spun him around, performing a pair choreography.
【You can mistake me for an easy guy, we have plenty of time
Cherish me slowly
Easy Tempo One and Two
Don’t hurry
Easy Tempo One and Two
Don’t be so impatient】
“Are they crazy? Are they crazy? Hey!! Are they insane??”
…Whoa.
While being shaken and screamed at by her friend, the office worker was re-evaluating the group.
I used to think the original lyrics were kind of meh.
It was a close call.
With voices that held a bit more breath than usual and gestures that subtly curved their eyes and lifted their lips, it looked like "flirting that no one could possibly match."
They’re providing a great change of pace for the audience, who are exhausted from the string of intense songs.
Just as she was judging The Dawn’s performance with the cold eyes of a K-pop veteran…
【Don’t play hard to get with me
I’m different from the others you’ve met】
Kim Seong-hyeon stepped forward, letting his leather jacket hang halfway off his shoulders. The body chains tangled from his neck to his chest clinked, and his toned forearms, revealed by his sleeveless shirt, rippled with the wave of his dance.
“Yeah, you’re damn different!!!!!”
It was a calculated, deliberate tactic, but it was a classic for a reason: people loved it.
【I know you’re going crazy with anticipation
But I said!
Easy Tempo One and Two】
His expression was fatal, but the tips of his ears were so red they looked like they’d bleed crimson if flicked.
“Kyahaaaaak!!”
The High Five fan felt a sense of crisis at the cheers and frantic screams pouring from all around her.
These guys really want to succeed, damn it!
She wondered if Kim Seong-hyeon’s dance part was specifically prepared to make up for coming in second to a set of abs during the unit competition.
Next, Kang Yi-chae took the center spot. After a cute little scrunch of his nose, he began his rap.
【Hey, don’t look away, you’re making me jealous】
It was a perfect, snappy rap that fit the situation flawlessly.
【Don’t you know I’m pushing everyone else aside
And running straight to you?
Baby, you are my one and only thrill】
This time, Jeong Da-jun walked in from the side and tapped his cat-ear headband.
【The moment I first saw you
I felt it
That you would change my everything】
At that moment, a hint of pink seeped into the blue lighting. While all the other members froze in place, only Seo Ho-yun lifted his head.
【Mistake me for an easy guy, we have plenty of time】
And then, along with a body wave, he grabbed the ribbon tied around his neck…
【Love me slowly】
…and pulled it clean off.
“Aaaaaaaah!!!! Ahhh! Ack!!”
Damn it!! So that’s why only he had a ribbon??!
The fans wouldn't know, but this entire result was thanks to Ju Woo-seong’s dedicated nagging.
Seo Ho-yun, who had been gnashing his teeth, had reached a state of enlightenment. He had broken down his movements into 0.1-second increments, setting x, y, and z coordinates and endlessly calculating where to place his body. That was how he was able to execute today’s stage so perfectly.
“Kyahaaaak!!”
Seo Ho-yun licked his red lower lip and curved his eyes into a smile.
【Easy Tempo One and Two
Don’t hurry
Easy Tempo One and Two
Don’t come too fast, okay?】
While Seo Ho-yun spun around and matched the pair choreography with Seong Ji-won again, the inverted triangle lightsticks shook even more violently.
When a guy like Seo Ho-yun, who looked like he knew everything there was to know about the world, asked you to love him because he was an "easy guy," how could a Noeul not be excited?
“Bunny!!! I’m coming fast!!!!”
These guys are really, really, really desperate…
They knew exactly what worked in the market.
The office worker, a High Five fan, let out a sigh that sounded like a groan, feeling dizzy at the thought of her "own kids'" upcoming stage.
At that moment, Seong Ji-won’s high note exploded.
【No, Please I can't stop!】
“……!!”
I thought he was the successor to Chae Jeong-woo, but this… he’s just on Chae Jeong-woo’s level?
Chills ran down her entire body.
While everyone stared with their mouths agape, Kang Yi-chae wedged himself into the song.
【No Easy Tempo, the beat keeps getting tangled】
It was a new rap verse added specifically for this stage.
【Throw away the act, I want to go further with you
My heart is burning pitch black】
Kang Yi-chae’s gaze, which seemed to pierce through the screen as if staring directly at the audience, was dripping with a mix of desire and affection. The rap continued in a voice an octave lower than before, spat out like a confession.
【Take My Tempo One and Two
I want to swallow your everything】
Most of the Noeuls were on the verge of fainting.
The reason he had won first place in the rap unit with an overwhelming number of votes was solidified by this performance.
【Ddu du ru ru
Ddu du ru ru ru】
Damn it…
The styling was insane, the balance of the members' abilities was incredible, and the stage was perfectly calculated down to how every movement would land with the fans.
【Easy Tempo One and Two
Don’t hurry
Easy Tempo One and Two
Cherish me slowly】
It was a stage that simply could not fail.
The Dawn’s breathing was heavy as they finished flawlessly. Confetti fluttered down over the members' heads on the screen.
【Easy Tempo…】
“…Whoa.”
In that moment, Seo Ho-yun’s pale face, with only his cheeks flushed a slight rose-pink, was caught on camera. The office worker muttered to herself without realizing it.
“Whoa. He’s seriously handsome.”
If even she, a hardcore fan of another group, was saying this, she didn't even need to ask how he looked to her friend, a Noeul.
“Hey, hey… is this a dream? If I pass out, please put me in a taxi.”
“After I see High Five.”
She spoke sharply while firmly grabbing her staggering friend’s hand. Looking around, even the fans of other groups had slightly dazed expressions.
“Oh my god, is this for real right now…”
She looked at her friend, who still had her hands clasped in emotion with tears welling in her eyes, but inside, she was filled with a sense of dread.
They’re desperate to succeed. This is dangerous.
In fact, on private social media accounts where leaks were hard to stop, the live reactions were already exploding.
[Just bury me here.....
Along with Seo Ho-yun’s ribbon...]
[Seriously, if these guys weren't idols, they wouldn't know a single thing about this kind of stuff, and that's why it's so fucking good.....]
[Thank you!!! Seriously, thank you!!!!
Who planned this??? Come out so I can kiss you!!!!]
It was Lee Ji-hyeon.
[Fainted at Kang Yi-chae’s rap
The new lyrics are insane.. This guy knows exactly how he appeals to fans.........]
The Dawn, these guys are seriously smart.
The office worker looked down at the voting device in her hand.
Wow, I really don't know how the live voting is going to turn out…
This was a "competition," after all, and it was a place where various fandoms had gathered, determined to support their senior groups. The previous groups seemed to have realized that and prepared intense boy group performances.
The fact that The Dawn was the only one to take a completely different route…
Only one thought stood firm in her chaotic mind.
This,
Damn it, this is bad…
Was very, very, very dangerous.