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“Is this it?”

Hyejeong arrived at the Concert Hall and looked around.

…There’s really a lot of people. They must all be trying to get inside.

I heard from a few friends who like Slim Gold that getting tickets was really tough, so I guess I’m lucky.

Who would have thought I’d get a free ticket because my friend is featuring?

It’s still absurd to think about it. Just a year and a half ago, that friend was pulling her hair out doing assignments alone, and now she’s performing as a guest at a concert with thousands of people attending.

It’s quite ridiculous, but…

‘It’s not that I don’t understand.’

You need a certain look to be able to accept it. Since the first time I saw her at school, she did have that celebrity vibe.

With those thoughts in mind, I stood in line and entered the Concert Hall.

Once inside, I saw even more people filling the Audience Area than I expected from outside.

With everyone looking so excited, Hyejeong couldn’t help but feel her own anticipation rising for the concert.

‘…Wait a minute, this is Slim Gold’s concert, isn’t it?’

Slim Gold is currently the hottest MZ singer.

Hyejeong, who often listens to and loves his songs, had heard all of Slim Gold’s hit tracks multiple times.

She had been focused solely on the fact that Soo-hyun was guesting, but since it’s a famous singer’s concert, it’s probably fine to enjoy it a bit, right?

It had always been Hyejeong’s dream to attend an idol concert.

Well, Slim Gold may not be an idol, but he’s similar enough.

Mainly because he’s really good-looking.

Thus, she decided to ease her mind and went to her assigned seat on the ticket.

The stage wasn’t too close, but it was still an okay view as she waited for the performance when a group of girls suddenly sat down beside her.

“Wow, there are so many people.”

“Right?”

“So, Soo-hyun is going to be on that stage, huh?”

“Wow….”

Exactly five people.

And overhearing their conversation, Hyejeong could roughly predict who they were.

Did Soo-hyun even care about where everyone sat? He probably piled up all his friends together.

And all of them had pretty nice voices; they seemed to be members of the Vtuber group that Soo-hyun belonged to.

‘…I should pretend I don’t know.’

If I act like I recognize them, won’t it just make things awkward for them too?

From the sound of it, it felt like they really are sensitive about their identities.

Until the performance ends, I’ll do my best to act casually…

“Excuse me….”

“Yes?”

But contrary to Hyejeong’s thoughts, the girl sitting right next to her struck up a conversation.

‘…W-Why is she talking to me?’

She was quite pretty. A woman who looked to be in her late twenties smiled gently and pulled out a drink to offer it.

“You’re Soo-hyun’s friend, right? I heard you were sitting next to me.”

“Ah, t-thank you.”

‘D-Did you mention it beforehand?’

Even though Soo-hyun wasn’t here.

I feel like I want to give him a playful smack on the head.

‘…He should have told me too!’

He only told one side, and now I’m acting all clueless.

What would they think of me with my stiff expression just staring ahead?

“Looks like Soo-hyun didn’t tell you, huh?”

“Yeah…”

“Ahahaha….”

After that awkward exchange, the conversation didn’t continue further.

Both sides were now focused on the concert that was about to begin.

How much time passed since then?

When would it start… I was pondering when the lights in the Performance Hall went out, and then suddenly—

“Waaaaah—!”

As a man stepped onto the stage, a deafening cheer filled the air.

“Wow, wow…!”

Hyejeong, hearing the roar, mimicked the cheers while looking at the guy who walked out with his band.

-Thank you all for coming!-

A bright, golden-haired boy who just turned twenty flashed a relaxed smile and waved enthusiastically.

-I’ll start the first song now!-

And so, the Slim Gold concert began.

Once the performance started, it was non-stop live entertainment, making it hard to keep track of time.

The band’s music booming through the massive speakers shook the entire venue, and her eyes couldn’t glance away from the singer on stage.

The first song, the second song.

In between, guests appeared while she was deeply engrossed.

-Next up is….

A melody came through, shaking Hyejeong from her reverie.

It was the same tune from the song Soo-hyun had played in the café.

She had liked it since she first heard it but couldn’t find it even after searching.

It was only when the song was officially released that she recognized that melody.

‘…Here it comes.’

She still can’t quite process it.

That he’s stepping onto the stage in front of so many people?

Really? The Kim Soo-hyun?

Whether Hyejeong believed it or not, the melody continued, and the song began.

And midway into the song, a woman with a deep hood walked out from behind the stage.

‘…Is that Soo-hyun?’

Looking at her long legs, it seemed like it was him, but why is he wearing a hood?

With that question, the featuring part began.

It’s a break that halts the energized atmosphere of the song.

As she listened to Soo-hyun’s voice, which sounded completely different from usual, the tempo of the music picked up gradually.

As the performance intensified, the spotlight turned on the hooded figure.

And with the highlight of the song ensuing—

“Wooooah—!”

The Audience Area erupted with a deafening cheer.

“Wow.”

Hyejeong couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

And that was to be expected.

A friend’s face on that colossal stage screen was definitely worthy of all the applause.

Soo-hyun’s face, revealed from beneath the hood, easily captured more attention than any guest before him.

Really now.

Is that really Kim Soo-hyun?

Thinking back, he had changed a lot since last year.

Suddenly suggested going to a rice soup place, and now he’s a Vtuber or something.

If it were the same old him, he would have kept quiet about starting something like that, but here he was, speaking confidently.

His subsequent actions have been different from before as well.

He boldly dropped out of school, chasing after what he wanted to do, which was sometimes enviable.

Well, anyway…

“Soo-hyun is the best!!”

“Hey, calm down!”

Following the girl cheering beside her, Hyejeong waved her light stick as well.

‘I have to brag about this later.’

Feeling proud to call him her friend.

**

A huge cheer rang out.

If it weren’t for the in-ear, I might even be confused about whether I was singing properly.

Nah, I’m still a little confused.

Am I doing well?

My heart is racing like crazy.

I understand now why Lee Hyun-jun said that.

I thought I’d gotten used to people’s gazes, but this is on another level.

It feels so eerie.

It’s not just a few people stealing glances; it’s the attention of thousands focused on you.

If I feel this way as a guest, how must Hyeon-su be feeling?

I turned to glance at him.

“–!”

Seeing Hyeon-su brightly smiling back at me made me internally chuckle.

…Looks like he doesn’t have to worry at all.

He appears to be having the time of his life on stage itself.

Is this guy really just twenty years old?

What a character, I thought, as I sang energetically.

I’m glad I practiced a lot.

I can sing despite being overwhelmed by all this attention.

If I mess up… I don’t even want to think about it.

Finishing the short yet lengthy featuring part, I stepped back.

After all, I’m just a guest.

Now it’s Hyeon-su’s turn.

Of course, I’m not leaving just like this.

I still have songs left to perform.

“Phew….”

Feeling slightly nervous, I took a deep breath while standing backstage, out of sight from the Audience Area, and drank some water.

I could rest here until the song finishes.

Calming my breath, I watched Hyeon-su sing out front.

Beyond Hyeon-su, seemingly lost in the music, the lights from the waving light sticks crashed like waves.

…Goodness.

Even while watching it on a monitor, he was definitely dazzling, and even in the middle of featuring, he shone impressively.

But seeing it from behind, where I could witness the audience’s excitement, felt completely different.

As I blankly gazed at the cheering crowd from behind the stage, Hyeon-su’s song came to an end.

“Waaaaah!!”

And just like that, a cheer erupted that blew away everything before it.

“Wow….”

Seeing Hyeon-su accepting those cheers alone, feelings I hadn’t often experienced since becoming a woman came rushing back.

‘…I’m envious.’

So many people just gaze at him and cheer for him alone.

What would it feel like to experience something like that firsthand?

Just thinking about it gives me chills.

“Haa.”

After the concert ends, I was hoping to relax and casually broadcast…

But witnessing that kind of sight changed everything.

‘The Six hasn’t been doing much lately…’

There hasn’t been much news since the one-year anniversary, which means they must have some free time.

I should contact the manager once it’s all over.

Seems like Vtuber Miro has found a new goal.

 

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