Front Row Fangirling

"...So, the concert's a total of three hours, starting at 6 PM. But factoring in the soundcheck beforehand and making sure the fans leave safely afterward..."

"Just think of it as an all-day thing."

Yul had never been to one herself, but she knew the basics about concerts, so this was about what she'd expected. She was there purely as combat support in case a Gate popped up at the stadium. Protecting the people inside would be up to Yu-na. Ryu Shin-ah and Joo Young would handle the 10km radius outside the main stadium.

With that in mind, Yul ironed out the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠details with Yu-na. There was just one potential snag.

The obvious spot that came to mind was right in front of the stage—first row, naturally.

First row... would be too much.

But she couldn't let her personal biases creep in, so Yul passed the buck to the Double Black side.

Their positions were set based on the reply that came back shortly after... and that's how they ended up here.

"Mike check, please."

The entire Double Black crew had just taken the stage at the stadium.

"When's Lee Seonjwa-nim arriving?"

Park Sa-ha fiddled with his in-ear monitor as he asked. Kim Yu-jun, who was checking their movements nearby, shrugged.

Who knows.

"She said she'd be on time... so maybe if we wait?"

Two days ago, during their meeting with the Management Bureau in the middle, Lee Seonjwa had promised not to be late.

Han Jun-yeol said gravely, "You don't think she's mad that we didn't put her on stage and gave her seats down below instea— Ow! In-ah hyung!"

"Cut the nonsense and focus."

Seo In-ah lightly smacked his back. Han Jun-yeol pouted with a whine.

That day, when Lee Seonjwa had asked where they'd prefer her to be, the whole Double Black team had held an emergency meeting.

"Backstage?"

"Isn't that too far back?"

"...But asking her to guard from right under the stage feels kinda rude, doesn't it? We should just put a chair onstage for her..."

"Are you nuts, Sa-ha?"

Park Sa-ha had clung to his pet idea of "setting aside a corner of the stage for Lee Seonjwa-nim," but Kim Yu-jun laughed it off. In the end, Seo In-ah's suggestion won out, though the maknaes couldn't hide their disappointment.

Who's the most bummed out here?

Seo In-ah let out a silent sigh. After pulling an all-nighter agonizing over it, he'd mustered the courage to say he'd like to meet her once and talk. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠But Jeon Se-han said she wasn't taking calls, and his request via Ryu Shin-ah got shot down. He'd expected it to be tough, but still.

Seo In-ah scratched his head and refocused on rehearsal. As the rest prepared to get back to work—

"H-Hyung!"

"...?"

"Up there! The sky!"

Park Ho-young freaked out, pointing upward. Everyone's gazes followed his finger... and

"L-Lee Seonjwa-nim?!"

"Hunter-nim? For real?!"

...they spotted Yul flying straight toward them.

Her hair fluttered in the wind, looking even blacker against the backlight. As Lee Seonjwa drew closer, everyone's jaws dropped.

Tak.

A light footfall echoed through the stadium, contrasting her blazing speed through the air. A puff of dust bloomed softly around her feet. Yul landed gracefully between the audience seats and walked toward the stage.

"...Hello."

A tentative greeting. Double Black snapped to attention. She was the one down below position-wise, but somehow it felt like they were the ones looking up.

She's a real hunter, alright. That entrance was insane. Holy crap.

As excited and tense glances flew between them,

Yul bowed her head.

"Sorry I'm late."

A perfectly ordinary apology from someone running behind schedule.

* * *

"...You're saying you'll postpone it?"

Kim Jae-won muttered puzzledly. His pale brown eyes clouded in thought for a moment before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠returning to normal.

"Yes. In that case..."

He whispered softly. His lips curved slyly.

"I'll step in instead."

Just in time for some good gossip, too.

He grinned, adding that. Beyond his sparkling brown eyes, the image of a black-haired middle-aged woman formed— Yul's mother, Kang Young-hwa.

* * *

Double Black, deep in serious rehearsal, took a short break near the end.

"Sa-ha, water."

"Ah, thanks."

Park Sa-ha took the bottle from Yu-jun and quenched his thirst. Slumped on the stage, he naturally turned his gaze to Yul.

Incredibly, after her dramatic entrance, she'd settled into a deadpan focus on the job the moment she arrived.

"Then from this side..."

"Ah, yes. I have a skill that'd work well for that."

"Let's stick to the plan, then."

Yul's conversation with Yu-na drifted over faintly. It had to be something incredibly impressive. After all, it was Lee Seonjwa-nim!

Han Jun-yeol and Park Ho-young sidled up, whispering.

"She looks super serious, right?"

"Gotta be some next-level talk. Hunter combat sims we've only heard about...!"

"Wonder what she's thinking."

Park Sa-ha nodded in agreement. Yul, meanwhile, bathed in their intense(?) stares, was actually...

Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god.

Real-life encounter! Full-group real-life encounter!!

...not thinking much of anything.

Only after the constellation's alert and skill trigger did Yul grab hold of herself. Right— this was work. She cleared her throat awkwardly and looked away.

I wake up on time even on Suneung day, but oversleep today of all days...

She'd meant to be fully prepared— staying up all night, watching the sunrise, then crashing hard. That blew any chance of "arrive early and stay low-key."

"Ah, hello!"

"Welcome!"

"I-I'll just stand here. Go ahead with your stuff... don't mind me."

It had been an excruciatingly awkward first greeting, but thankfully they'd moved past it to now. Yul scanned the still-empty audience seats.

The main stadium she'd only heard about. Right up by the stage. And she was here.

This might qualify me as a proper stan at this point.

Sure, her first street encounter had bombed the impression, but just meeting them was a huge deal. Years of tearing up over Lee Seonjwa fancams flashed by wistfully.

Hey now, Star-nim.

But still what?

Ignoring her constellation's whining, Yul turned her attention to the map in Yu-na's hand.

"Shall we call it for now?"

"Yes. Thanks for your work, Lee Seonjwa-nim."

"You too."

Yu-na headed toward the entrance for a final stadium sweep. Yul turned at the sudden halt in singing and locked eyes with the five staring right at her.

"...!"

"Uh."

"Ah."

An awkward exclamation burst out. Armed with bandages and her constellation's loving skill, Yul sported a flawless poker face. Double Black froze at their fave's icy expression.

But maknae Park Ho-young mustered his courage.

"Um, Hunter-nim!"

"Yes?"

"Would you come up here for a bit? Rehearsal's wrapping up soon...! Thought you could relax till then."

His face flushed as excitedly as his orange-dyed hair.

Yul couldn't believe her ears. Onstage? Me?

Swallowing tears, Yul slowly nodded. The day she'd share a stage with Double Black was finally here...!

The faces around her, who had been holding their breath, lit up instantly.

"Is it okay if I come up?"

"Of course, you're a hunter!"

"We actually wanted to set up a seat for you during the show too..."

"Nah, that's fine."

Yul shook her head at Han Jun-yeol's words.

"The stage is yours. Fans came to see that, paying good money and traveling far. Me taking space would be rude."

She knew she had fans too, but a line was a line. Tonight's stage belonged solely to Double Black. The fans weren't here for her.

So she'd just hang right under the stage. That was enough.

Even that's kinda cheating, and I'm sorry to the civilian fans for it.

Kim Yu-jun gave a small laugh at Yul's firm refusal.

"Thanks for thinking that way. But the fans will be grateful you're here today too."

"I accepted 'cause I wanted to."

"Separate from that, we're able to do this show thanks to you hunters."

Kim Yu-jun switched the mic to his other hand and extended his.

Yul stared blankly before tentatively shaking it.