A short time to prepare the stage for the next team's performance.
At the very end of the back row of the audience, nearly a hundred well-concealed camera lenses slid down.
A so-called 'fan photographer', heavily armed with a hat and a mask, sighed in relief as she watched the security guard walking menacingly to the other side.
"I almost got caught…"
Even for a fan photographer hardened by years of 'Music Days' survival shows, avoiding the piercing gazes of security was always a back-breaking task.
If caught, not only will you be blacklisted, but you'll also be banned from attending all future audiences. Since there isn't a fan club yet, there are no fan club-related penalties, but anyways.
She satisfied her desire to film by being active briefly and diligently only during the period between survival and debut.
After debuting, the spark from the survival days disappears, and so does the desperation. Thus, she's returning to a survival show to find a trainee who'll shine again.
It was her own prevailing opinion, which may seem 'disgusting' to whoever else that hears it. Still, she didn't care.
Because someday, if she met an idol who desperately needed those moments, she could've stopped then.
'For now, I'll have to take as many pictures as possible. This moment is the most desperate. Let's see, so this time…'
[ㅇㅇ @FDNPFADKAD
Leaked Stage Order
Group song ㅇㅇㅁ
Leopold - Shadow
Lady Swan - Calendar
Min S.O. - Us Beyond the Waves
2OCD - Be the Low]
'Us Beyond the Waves', the opening song of the children's anime, 'Galleon and the Return of the King'.
Performing an anime song; while it may be a surprise to others, Min Si-young simply concluded that 'Since the song is related to the sea, this must be a marine concept', having already mastered all kinds of songs and concepts through numerous survival shows.
'I didn't know it was a Min Si-young song. Oh well, it's okay, it's exciting, and the song is good. Plus, despite the cliché marine look… it's a decent choice.'
After her brief evaluation, she tightened her grip on the camera and waited for the stage to light up again.
The trainees to be filmed this time are Bang Yoo-chan and Jang Si-woo.
Marking the already popular trainees in advance was one of the basic skills every fan photographer needed. So, she's been keeping an eye on the trainees since the high-touch event.
In addition to the aforementioned Bang Yu-chan and Jang Si-woo, there were trainees like Son Jae-ha, Ji Hwa-seong, and Liu Wei.
"Um, by any chance… let me talk for a moment…"
For some reason, a timid trainee had nudged her at the end of the high-touch event, but she didn't pay much attention to him.
Since it wasn't easy to get intrigued by a trainee you hadn't even thought of.
'Even if it did happen, it'd be closer to a miracle.'
A miracle
Doesn't it seem too far-fetched?
"Then, let's go straight to meeting Senior Min Si-young's 'Us Beyond the Waves' team!"
Following Choi Ga-on's commentary from beside the stage, the fan photographer quickly pushed aside her thoughts and brought her camera up to her face.
Alright, focus.
A faint blue light shone on the venue, and the trainees' silhouettes appeared vaguely.
On the screen behind them, was a white moon shining and the night sea rippling calmly.
Three people were kneeling on the stage, a single large cloth draped over their bodies.
"..."
One person stood tall with their hand on their forehead, gazing into the distance.
The sound of an acoustic guitar rang out clearly through the speakers, and a boy standing in a loose-fitting white dress shirt and shorts was the first to open his mouth, fully bathed in the spotlight.
-Last night, I couldn't sleep
The moon spoke to me
Have you ever seen beyond the horizon?
A delicate and pretty face, a tear mole under his eye.
'Jang Si-woo!'
She frantically spammed the silent shutter as her camera locked on his figure.
In Jang Si-woo, with his hand outstretched in the air as if entranced—as if the moon actually spoke to him, one could feel a purity that had only ever been seen in fiction.
With an innocent expression, Jang Si-woo stepped aside from the members and spun around.
-Take me to the end.
To the brilliant tomorrow I have not seen
And a playful smile was plastered on his face as he turned to the audience.
Then, the gentle guitar music shifted, one of the kneeling trainees threw back the cloth to reveal himself.
In an instant, the spotlight landed on him.
The trainee, with a bandana styled loosely on top of his well-groomed hair, turned to the opposite side of Jang Si-woo and sang passionately.
-There are still so many things I don't know
I want to know the things beyond the waves
Pouring jewels, sweet gold!
The same white dress shirt as Jang Si-woo's, fluttering with every movement.
However, perhaps the numbers of buttons on his shirt differed, a unique maturity could be felt.
On top of that, his high notes were smooth in contrast to the languid impression, and the resounding volume.
It was Bang Yoo-chan.
The fan photographer also managed to get a few shots of him and was blown away by his vocal skills.
'Really, they sing so well… the roof's gonna fly off. Is that why he's the top of his class at Korea University? He doesn't look like a master singer either. It's amazing.'
And yet, the question regarding the trainees still kneeling under the cloth still stood.
Sure, they added some musical elements, but would they keep staying there?
Why?
And as if answering her, Jang Si-woo and Bang Yoo-chan simultaneously lifted the cloth while singing in harmony.
- Take me home
Waves and wind, and a message in a bottle floating
To the sea beyond.
Give me a ride
"…ah?"
The female photographer's eyebrows raised upon realizing the true purpose of the piece of cloth fluttering beyond the camera.
What she thought was a cloth wasn't a cloth.
…flag.
It was a flag.
The flag was stuck into the microphone stand next to the stage, and all four trainees gathered to begin the group choreography. Then, the lighting, which had been shining only on Jang Si-woo and Bang Yoo-chan, shifted to the center, revealing the details of their costumes.
The flag was tied to the microphone stand next to the stage, and all four trainees gathered to begin their group choreography. The lighting shifted from Jang Si-woo and Bang Yoo-chan to the center, shining on the details of their costumes.
"Woah…"
The mouths of those who expected a marine concept due to the sea-related anime slowly gaped, and it was no different for the female photographer.
That thing.
A pi… pirate?
A pirate? Not an adventurous marine boy!?
A black flag with a large X, embedded in the microphone stand.
The shaped bandanas worn by Ryota and Bang Yoo-chan. Western-style boots with laces swaying beneath Jang Si-woo's shorts.
- It's not the first time I've felt this way.
Since I met you
I had already dreamed of the next day.
And, even the black eye patch worn by Kim Chunyong, who was dancing in the center.
Despite a restricted field of vision being a huge disadvantage for the main dancer, Kim Chunyong had to convey the concept of the song to the audience, 'even if it meant doing it that way'.
The background screen, which had been showing the night sky, lit up brightly, soon changing into a vast ocean with high waves crashing.
-I can see beyond the swaying water
Higher, higher
There is nothing to be afraid of because we are together
The stage they prepared by brainstorming the arrangement, pulling an all-nighter to choreograph, and overcoming the issues following Jang Si-woo's mental breakdown:
This isn't just a song about going on an adventure.
-Take me home
Let's go together
Leaving on the wind
A tomorrow awaits, of unknown what it may be.
Okay.
Us Beyond Those Waves
It is a journey to find the treasure box called our 'debut'.
The stage, which layered synths over a band sound that might've sounded slightly childish, led the main melody with acoustic guitar and double electrics, and featured choreography meticulously crafted by Kim Chunyong and Jang Si-woo…
'It's actually pretty amazing…!'
It was much, much better than expected.
Since the 'Calender' team delivered such a sophisticated and detailed performance, she assumed this one would be lackluster.
But rather, it was overflowing with freshness only present in trainees, touching the hearts of survival show fanatics scattered in the audience.
Eyes looking for the camera with slight awkwardness, a smile for the audience when not in the center. Then the dancing and singing, where strength outweighs weakness despite everything.
And, among them, what catches the eye of the fan photographer most is...
-Broken oars and sails
Even if it hurts us
The moon is smiling beneath that sea
It doesn't hurt, this is nothing
Beyond the wave (Beyond the wave)
Kim Chunyong, who's rapping back and forth with Ryota in a husky voice while dancing intensely to the drums.
'That guy. The one who stood at the end of the high-touch event earlier…'
The fan photographer unconsciously turned her lens to face Kim Chunyong.
He's definitely not her type of trainee.
She didn't even care earlier, more focused on the youthful and pretty Jang Si-woo or the languid and sexy Bang Yoo-chan.
Actually, Ryota, who's standing right next to him with a cute bandaid on his nose, was more her type!
Why was she taking pictures of someone like that…?
And, just before the dance break with the handkerchief Kim Chunyong made with all his heart.
-Okay, let's go together.
To a world never seen before
Kim Chunyong lifted his eyepatch and pointed straight at her camera.
"...!"
From the fangs appearing beneath the cheerfully raised corners of his mouth, to the deep pupils shining beneath the eyepatch, and the matching sharp eyes.
All of Kim Chunyong's features filled the lens of the fan photographer.
It was a perfect shutter chance.
"Uh, eh…?"
She stuttered while frantically pressing the shutter.
He already recognized a fan photographer? A trainee with an audience for the first time?
'I'm sitting at the very back… how on earth did he notice me!?'
There's one thing the flustered photographer didn't know. Only to Kim Chunyong, who's currently dancing his heart out on stage.
"Rex! Hang in there today too! I'll always be cheering for you!"
The woman engraved in his memories, his top supporter until she left—'Shooting Rex'.
Although she always wore a mask and a hat to conceal her appearance as much as possible, there was no way Kim Chunyong wouldn't recognize her.
Because she was 'Shooting Rex', who supported him so passionately on SNS even when he became known by the whole world as the malicious member 'Trash Rex'.
'Sh… Shooting Rex noona… came to the first recording again this time!?'
When Kim Chunyong saw her at the high-touch event, he felt his heart drop.
He acted all charming with the other audience members, yet he could barely utter a word to her.
He thought that it would've been better for her if she liked a different trainee instead.
Regret. Guilt.
The sorrow of not being able to bring complete joy to the person who adored him.
Yet, regardless of emotions, her lens eventually found him again. The moment he saw her gleaming camera hiding from security at the very back row, Kim Chunyong changed his mind.
I really won't disappoint you this time.
Since she was still filming Kim Chunyong even after returning eight years, Kim Chunyong had to show her on stage.
[ShootingREX @Shooting_REX
I hope the day comes when we can start everything over again. For me, and for you.]
Now that the day has come to start over, I'll show you.
This stage he's standing on is now a place of atonement and unparalleled determination.
* * *
"—Thank you! This was the 'Us Beyond the Waves' team!"
Even after Min Si-young's team gave a brief speech and left the stage, and as 2OCD's team took their place, the photographer stared blankly at the photo of Kim Chunyong on her camera.
I... I don't even know his name…
She should have paid a little more attention when they met at the high-touch event earlier.
No, she should have checked the profile beforehand!
"Um… his name is Kim Chunyong. I found out too after coming to the site…"
She flinched at the voice that spoke beside her. The woman sitting next to her, AG Corporation, stroked her chin with a bashful expression and whispered softly.
"Ah, maybe you already knew. I was just wondering if you were right. I…"
"No, no! Thank you for letting me know. Really, really thank you."
She repeatedly thanked AG Corporation and quickly started creating a new SNS account on her phone.
"Because his name was Chunyong, Chunyong. The pure Korean word for dragon..."
There are emotions that eventually reach the other person, even without direct contact or expressing them through tears.
[Neulbommir @NBML__0000
#TargetingStar #KimChunYong #YongYong(DragonEmoticon) #FanFan]
And the last hashtag.
#miracle.
It seems 'Shooting Rex' has a new account under the name 'Neulbommir' now.