Hard Mode Idol

“Oh, it must be them.”

“Are they starting?”

“Crazy… Are their faces real? It wasn’t just editing?”

I could hear the conversations of people who were sitting and holding their spots out of simple curiosity. The stage and the audience seats were close, and they didn’t bother lowering their voices, so it was blatantly audible. So, without realizing it, I looked in the direction where I heard the conversation.

Ah. Our eyes met. Was I managing my expression well? For now, I should smile.

“Gasp.”

“Eek!”

As our eyes met, the two audience members who were conversing covered their mouths with both hands and blinked at me with wide-open eyes. In situations like this, how long should I maintain eye contact? I kept smiling brightly, and the two of them stared at me intently. It’s awkward…

“Now! Then, DIAS members, please introduce yourselves!”

Just in time, the MC saved me. I shifted my gaze and looked at Yoochan hyung. Hyung slightly tilted his head and looked at us. Following the signal he sent with his fingers, we bowed in unison and greeted.

“Hello! We are your DIAS!”

“Kyaaaaaa!”

The cheers from our fans right in front of us grew even louder. Even if you count generously, there were less than twenty of them, but their voices were resounding. It was enough to startle the other people nearby.

Because of that, memories from my past life vividly resurfaced. Wherever we went, our fans were very few. Still, whenever we had a stage, they would move to the front row and shout until their voices went hoarse, saying they would revive the members. Even that wasn’t for me, but I still liked the fans.

If I like them first and actively approach them, maybe the way they look at me will change. In the end, I gave up. Even if I tried, what doesn’t work doesn’t work. But this time will be different.

[Doorii♡ Haon♡]

A placard that was clearly for me was waved below the stage. When I looked in that direction and smiled, the placard that was being waved dropped.

The fan who was staring at me with her mouth wide open was tapped by a woman next to her who seemed to be her companion, and she shook her head. Then she raised the placard above her head again and started waving it enthusiastically.

“Haon! Thank you! For becoming! My idol!”

The loudly shouted voice precisely entered and stuck in my ears. I’m the one who’s thankful. For liking me. I’ll truly cherish the feelings you give me. Hoping my feelings would be conveyed, I slightly bowed my head.

“Wow! The reaction is really hot! First! We should hear a song before we start, right? From their 1st single album ‘Dear.’, here’s the track ‘Spring Sent to You’!”

As soon as the MC’s words ended, the intro started flowing. The 1st single album had a total of three songs, including the title track. ‘Spring Sent to You’ is a song with lyrics about confessing to your first love during your school days.

With a fresh and bright atmosphere, we successfully sang the first song with light free dance. Although I said free dance, it was also a song we had practiced over and over again under the direction of Kanghyun hyung, who had created the choreography for today, while revising the formations countless times.

The members’ expressions brightened significantly as we finished well without any mistakes. The MC praised us enthusiastically and encouraged the audience’s response.

“Now, then, please briefly introduce yourselves one by one! Because after the introductions, various stages of these handsome men will unfold! Everyone, please stay in your seats!”

Various stages when there are only two songs. That’s quite an exaggeration.

The MC called Yoochan hyung, and hyung started the introductions first. It will take some time for my turn to come. In the meantime, I made eye contact with the people looking at me and glanced at the woman on the sculpture who still concerned me. It’s driving me crazy. I want to focus only on the showcase, but I can’t, so I felt a bit disappointed.

“Hello! I’m Lee Seoho! I’m in charge of being the team’s cutie! I’m the sub vocalist!”

“The cutie? But there’s a separate maknae?”

The MC threw a playful jab. Then Seoho suddenly pulled me. Caught off guard by the surprise attack, I was helplessly dragged. Seoho brought his face close to my cheek.

“Yes! Aren’t I cuter?”

“Aaaaah! They’re both cute!”

“Wahaha!”

The reactions of fans and non-fans were clearly divided. The leaking pot is leaking outside too…

“Yes! We should hear the opinions of the members on this, right? Leader hyung? What do you think?”

“Hmm. Am I the hyung?”

“Oho! You should just gloss over such trivial matters. So, between self-proclaimed team cutie Seoho and the real maknae Haon, who’s cuter?”

“Hmm.”

Yoochan hyung pondered very seriously. His brows were slightly furrowed as he alternated glances between me and Seoho. You don’t have to answer that seriously. The silence stretched on. If this were radio, it would be a broadcast accident-level situation.

“There’s no superiority between them, is that it?!”

The MC interjected appropriately. Yoochan hyung laughed and replied, “Yes, because they’re both cute.”

“Then, second oldest hyung! What about our rapper Ilhan?”

“Ah, for me, it’s Seoho. Haon is more on the reliable side.”

“…Reliable?”

“Yes.”

Jung Ilhan answered with a bright smile. The MC mumbled “Reliable?” while looking at me. At that reaction, people’s laughter erupted. I know well that I’m far from being reliable too…

“Wait a moment. Ilhan? Come this way.”

The MC grabbed Jung Ilhan’s arm and pulled him towards me. Then he placed him right next to me and leaned his waist back as if appreciating a work of art.

“Is he really reliable?”

“Yes. He’s a dongsaeng I can rely on a lot.”

Jung Ilhan had an excellent talent for bringing down the atmosphere while smiling brightly. It seems like he’s trying to steer it towards comedy, but his answer was too serious.

“This is the freshness you can see from rookies! Thank you for the honest answer! Then, Ilhan, please go back to your original position! Lastly, we can’t miss the introduction of our reliable maknae Haon, right?”

The MC naturally turned the arrow towards me. In the end, there was no conclusion on who the cutie was, but even I think Seoho is the one in charge of cuteness.

“Hello. I’m Jin Haon, the main vocalist of DIAS. Uh, I am the maknae, but in terms of mental age, Seoho hyung here is younger. I acknowledge he’s the official cutie of DIAS.”

“…Wait. There’s something strange in the middle?”

Seoho perked up his ears and quickly turned his head towards me.

“Didn’t I say hyung is our team’s official cutie?”

“No! That part is correct!”

“Yes. That’s it.”

“…Huh?”

While Seoho was looking puzzled, the MC laughed heartily, saying, “Indeed! He’s definitely the official cutie!”

“Now! Before we see DIAS’s main stage, we should see a preview stage first, right? Right, right! DIAS Sampling!”

Preview stage? Sampling? What does that mean? It was the first time I heard of it. When I glanced at the members, they all had blank faces as if it was the first time for them too.

“Hahaha! The DIAS members probably haven’t heard about it! No, but. Even surprised faces are handsome for good-looking men? The world is so unfair like this. Everyone!”

Ah, so there was something planned. It would have been better if they had informed us in advance. Did they keep their mouths shut to see our real reactions? I looked for the manager and saw him brightly smiling while tapping his chest with his fist. It means fighting, right?

“So! Then who’s going first?”

It feels like they’ll make us do a talent show or something. For now, it’s better to save Jung Ilhan and Kanghyun hyung, who have the genius title, for last. It would be troublesome if the expectations rise too high. I think it would be better for Yoochan hyung, Seoho, or me to go first…

“Me!”

Seoho raised his hand high. Yeah, good job. We walked in a group to the opposite side of where we entered, following the staff’s gestures. Seoho, who was under the spotlight, was not afraid at all and looked extremely happy.

By the way, I still don’t see anything that might cause an accident. I looked around from time to time, but there was nothing I could anticipate yet. What concerned me the most was the person who climbed up the sculpture. They’re still up there.

Looking from here, it was unexpectedly close to the stage. If I stood at the very edge of the stage and somehow drew attention, it seemed like a conversation would be possible. The distance between the sculpture and the railing was indeed wide. Even if they accidentally stepped and fell, it didn’t seem like they would get seriously injured.

But it still bothers me, so I should say something after all. At this rate, it feels like I’ll ruin the debut stage. I need to find a way…

People’s attention was entirely focused on Seoho. Seoho was dancing while fully expressing his excitement and talent.

I didn’t want to ruin the stage. Is there a way to talk quietly without being noticed? I can’t directly talk from the stage because it might cause a commotion. Then, quietly going down and having a conversation…

With the thought of trying it out, I slowly moved to the edge of the stage. But the moment I was one step away from the stairs, Kanghyun hyung suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“It’s dangerous.”

“Ah, yes.”

The staff below the stage signaled with their palms to go inside. Maybe because it wasn’t a large-scale stage, attention was drawn no matter what I did. Then, this method is out. As I was pondering what to do, I realized there was one last method left.

Seoho’s stage ended. Light greetings were exchanged. When he looked at us with a very elated face, the hyungs applauded, saying he did well.

“Wow~ It was a really refreshing and cute stage! Who’s next?”

I raised my hand high. Me. Let me do it, please.