Chapter 185
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 185
“Waaaaah!!”
Right up until the start of the concert, the fandom was buzzing with various concerns.
First, the fact that they were still rookies.
The fact that the concert duration might be very short since they didn't have many songs.
The uncertainty of whether Daepasung, notorious for its incompetence, could properly manage the fans.
The question of whether The Dawn had the skill and caliber to lead a full concert… and so on.
As much as they loved the group, their worries took precedence, leaving everyone restless. However, the moment they saw the massive posters hanging in front of the stadium on the day of the event, their hearts began to race like crazy.
“KANG!! YI!! CHAE!!”
Noeul, a university student, felt like she was floating on air with excitement.
She had fallen for Kang Yi-chae after seeing him rap like a madman in Kill The Lights. Although her time as a fan was relatively short, she had bet her life on them at the end of the year, successfully joining the official fan club and even snagging a concert ticket.
“Yi-chae, I made it…!”
She used to think the only thing she’d gained from university was the ability to secure a "God-tier" class schedule at lightning speed, faster than anyone else. She never imagined that skill would pay off like this.
Since all her friends had failed to get tickets, she was facing her first-ever concert—and The Dawn’s first concert—alone, but she was more than ready to enjoy it.
The closer she got to the entrance, the more crowded it became.
The area was packed with people waiting in line for concert goods and those who had failed to get tickets but came anyway just to take photos.
Seeing The Dawn’s popularity with her own eyes made Noeul’s heart swell.
After successfully making it into the standing section, she let out a silent scream as she looked at the stage, which felt close enough to touch.
Holy crap! I’ll be able to see their pores from here!
She clasped her hands together.
Please, God, let Kang Yi-chae look even more like a total bad boy in person….
As a fan, her tastes were very specific, and she knew it.
Regardless, she was determined to have the time of her life. She started fantasizing about the kind of fanservice she’d seen other idols give on Nutube before shaking her head vigorously.
Even she knew the chances of that happening were as slim as winning the lottery.
Kang Yi-chae just existing is enough. Truly.
Nodding to herself, she turned her gaze back to the stage. Just then, the lights slowly dimmed, and an announcement echoed through the stadium, signaling the start of the concert.
Then, the intro beat began to flow.
【♩, ♪, ♫, ♬】
Sensing the start of the show from the sharp, rhythmic melody, the fans' cheers filled the stadium.
A VCR began to play on the screens.
It was Seo Ho-yun, gazing at the moonlight with moist eyes before slowly lifting his head. Next, Kim Seong-hyeon, Seong Ji-won, Kang Yi-chae, and Jeong Da-jun appeared in quick succession. The moon completed a full rotation, turning a deep crimson, before the members of The Dawn were swallowed by darkness.
【Drrrrr-!】
【Drrrrr----!】
The laser lights that had been shooting in all directions suddenly stopped. With a loud bang!, the screen turned black.
THE DAWN
And so, the curtain rose on The Dawn’s first concert.
【You showed me the way!】
Waaaaaaah—!
At that moment, Kang Yi-chae’s low, husky voice pierced through the darkness. Everyone let out frantic screams as if they had lost their minds.
The lights flashed back on, and blue lasers enveloped the stage.
As the VCR screen rose, the members of The Dawn were revealed, standing on a lift.
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!
The aura they radiated in person was far more overwhelming than anything seen through a screen.
While Noeul was losing her mind over Kang Yi-chae—who looked even more masculine and rebellious in the flesh—Seo Ho-yun’s face filled the entire digital billboard.
“AAAAAAAH!! YOU CRAZY BASTARD!!!”
Wow… Seo Ho-yun’s face is fucking insane….
Standing at the center, Seo Ho-yun locked eyes with the camera and let his lips curl into a tiny smirk before letting it fade.
The fans' roars grew even louder.
【Drrrrr- You showed me the way!】
The lift slowly descended, and the long-awaited first song, Kismet, began.
【Lift your head and open your eyes amidst the dust!】
Since the majority of the fans were hearing The Dawn live for the first time, their eyes went wide.
Noeul was no exception.
Wow, the live vocals are insane.
She hadn't felt much when the Noeuls who had attended Shining Star or music show recordings praised them to high heaven, but hearing it for herself, her eardrums felt like they were melting from the rich volume that pierced through the air despite the intense choreography.
The booming sound system and the flashy special effects were the cherries on top.
Because The Dawn’s agency was a small company and this concert was a reward for Shining Star Season 2, many Noeuls had told themselves not to expect much. Now, they were being hit with a pleasant reality check that left them reeling.
Above all else.
Are their faces for real?
The members looked incredible.
Noeul was a die-hard Kang Yi-chae fan, but even she found herself wondering what Seo Ho-yun would have done for a living if he hadn't become an idol. Perhaps that was why a massive roar erupted every time he appeared on the screen.
【You showed me the way
Now I’ll become the lamp and show you】
As if determined to show everyone exactly what "The Dawn" was all about, Kismet was followed by a "spicy" combo of Kill the Lights and Fantasy Reincarnation.
To make it even more engaging, parts of the lyrics, beats, formations, and choreography were subtly changed for each stage.
During Fantasy Reincarnation—the song Jeong Da-jun had famously messed up in the past—he performed like a man possessed, as if he had completely moved past the incident.
“Incredible….”
Even though the choreography was intricately timed to the split-second beats, they didn't miss a single breath, rhythm, expression, or note.
Seeing The Dawn so focused and overflowing with poisonous ambition, the fans' cheers only grew louder as time passed.
“Haa… haa….”
After a few more songs, the music finally stopped.
In that moment, Noeul realized something. These guys had been performing for over thirty minutes without a single break.
Jeong Da-jun crouched down, gasping for air, before quickly dusting off his pants and standing up. Seo Ho-yun was also breathing heavily. When he gulped down some water and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, another small cheer rose and fell.
Kim Seong-hyeon looked around and raised his hand, prompting the members to line up.
“One, two, three!”
“The rising dawn, we are The Dawn!”
Seeing them standing together, they shared a similar group aura, yet their individual visuals were distinctly different. Next to her, she could hear another Noeul muttering manically about how it was like a "Baskin-Robbins 31 variety pack."
As soon as the greeting was over, Jeong Da-jun flopped onto the floor.
“I’m starting to wonder… if concerts are always like this….”
Seeing the youngest dying of exhaustion, Seo Ho-yun chuckled and poked his cheek.
“Well, we still have plenty of performances you haven't seen yet.”
Seong Ji-won smiled warmly and helped Jeong Da-jun up, looking for all the world like flower petals were fluttering around him.
“This is a fan song we released around this time last year.”
“Right! When Ho-yun hyung was filming his drama!”
“Shall we get into it?”
The fans screamed at the introduction of the next song.
Will you go to prom with me? was a song the fans had begged and pleaded for them to perform at least once. Despite being a fan song, they had never seen anything for it other than a low-budget MV and the occasional snippet sung on B App.
“Will you go to prom with me?”
【Will you go to prom with me?】
As the song began, the members pulled out a single flower from inside their leather jackets.
Matching the 1980s American high-teen concept, the screen behind them showed a motorcycle passing by a school campus.
【I tried talking to you, but you’re prickly again today
Actually, I kind of like that too
The moment I see your face, I just start to laugh】
Seo Ho-yun let out a smirk as he sang his part, tucking the flower behind his ear. He even waved at the Noeuls, making an effort to maintain eye contact.
They performed light choreography for the first verse, but by the second verse, they were running freely around the stage, greeting the fans.
【Ah- babe please answer me
I’ve been waiting so long】
The members' voices harmonized for the chorus, and the fans, who were waving their hands in unison, sang along.
【Will you go to Prom with me?
Say you’ll dance with me】
Noeul, who had been losing herself in the flow of the concert in the standing section, felt like she was going to faint as Kang Yi-chae drew closer.
Is he for real??
Swept up by the fans around her, she reached out a hand that she knew would never reach him.
He’s! So! Handsome!
She was screaming and waving her arms wildly when she made direct eye contact with Kang Yi-chae.
While Noeul was momentarily stunned, Kang Yi-chae lowered himself, resting one knee on the floor.
【Ah, I know I shouldn't be like this
But I want to act irrationally in front of you】
And then, he actually waved his hand toward her!
Even as her mind went blank, her instincts told her that if she missed this moment, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Noeul widened her eyes and lifted her head.
Bathed in the sparkling stage lights, Kang Yi-chae, squinting his eyes as he gave her a wink, filled her entire field of vision.
【I want to hold onto you passionately and pour out those words
What can I do?】
That exact moment was captured on the giant screen, and the fans' screams pierced the sky.
Holy fuck!!!!
She couldn't say it out loud, so she cursed up a storm in her head out of pure joy. Then, Kang Yi-chae pointed a finger directly at Noeul as he sang.
【I want to look good for you.】
“UWAAAAAAAH!! THAT’S INSANE, FUCK!!”
Her resolve to stop swearing vanished in three seconds.
Feeling lightheaded, Noeul could only smack her own forehead repeatedly.
“YI-CHAE!! I LOVE YOUUUUU!!!”
Kang Yi-chae turned around coolly and headed back up the stage.
【Say Yes!
Will you go to Prom with me!
Say Yes, say you’ll stay with me】
After the performance of Will you go to Prom with me?—which had made the Noeuls' hearts flutter like spring—the members of The Dawn, seemingly hot, took off their jackets and tossed them to the side of the stage.
In the meantime, Kang Yi-chae disappeared backstage, leaving only the four members standing with their microphones.
“He’s so fucking handsome….”
“Dammit, I never get tired of looking at them.”
If this was the reaction of fans watching the screen, the Noeuls in the standing section right in front of them were on the verge of passing out.
“We were worried that we might be lacking since it’s our first time performing this…”
Before Seong Ji-won could even finish his cautious sentence, a voice erupted from the audience.
“IT WAS PERFECT, JI-WON-AAAAAAAH!!!!!”
“Pfft.”
The fan’s vocal projection was strong enough to make one consider a career in opera. The four members, their faces flushed from performing, struggled to hold back their laughter.
Once things calmed down a bit, Kim Seong-hyeon put an arm around Jeong Da-jun’s shoulder.
“The next one is… well, it’s a song filled with memories for us.”
Seong Ji-won continued the introduction.
“It was a song that was briefly considered as a title track while we were preparing for our comeback after Ho-yun joined us.”
Jeong Da-jun chimed in with a bright smile.
“The more you listen to it, the better it gets! It even makes me want to eat fruit!”
The fans were thrilled to hear this unfamiliar behind-the-scenes story and the fact that a new song was being revealed exclusively here. If it had been discussed as a title track, it meant the quality was guaranteed to be at least on par with Second Chance, so they were buzzing with anticipation.
“It’s a song the company gave us before our Yi-chae started composing, right?”
“Shall we ask him what he thinks when he gets here?”
Listening to Seong Ji-won and Jeong Da-jun’s conversation, Kim Seong-hyeon let out a small breath.
“Well then, here it is.”
Then, a song with a bubbly melody mixed with EDM began to play.
【Pa-Pa-Pa】
Pa…, Pa… Parachute??
But they had said Parachute was a song Kang Yi-chae had made in just a few dozen minutes while filming a reality show.
Then what song was this? While the Noeuls were all tilting their heads in confusion,
“Let’s go!”
Kang Yi-chae ran out from the back wearing a hat that looked like a mango.
“AAAAAAAH!!!”
【Pa-pa】
He also started tossing hats to the other members.
Seo Ho-yun snatched a pineapple hat, jammed it onto his head, and picked up his microphone.
“It’s not Parachute.”
【—Pop-pop-pop like a pineapple!】
“It’s ‘Mang-Mang-Mang.’”
It was the debut of the concert version of Mang-Mang-Mang.