Idol Hides His Military Service

Debut showcase.

Suyeon, with a showcase ahead that would announce the first start as an idol, could not get a handle on what to do with the hands that were trembling and the heart that was pounding.

DARE; ON.

It was the name of the rookie girl group that Zero One Entertainment had prepared with ambition, and it was also the name of the group Suyeon belonged to.

"In the sense of continuing to challenge, we added On to Dare. How is it?"

Suyeon remembered that the company, of course, and all the members had been satisfied with the name Nayeon, who took the role of the group’s leader, made.

By coincidence, since all except one member were a group gathered from contestants who had dropped out of Agbaek, the group name felt even more meaningful.

And that DARE; ON was finally facing debut right in front of them.

Starting with today’s showcase, from tomorrow they were scheduled to debut on music shows as well, and already at midnight, even their song had been released.

And Suyeon, who had waited for nothing but debut that whole time, was now closing Suyeon’s eyes in the waiting room behind the showcase stage, sitting on the sofa, hands clasped together, and praying.

'What if I make a mistake?'

Five months after Idol Ground 100 ended.

More exactly, for close to half a year, a little over five months, Suyeon had practiced without skipping even a single day for debut.

Originally, they tried to debut earlier, but because big rookie girl groups represented by Iam, LYNX, and VYNNIA debuted one after another, the debut date had been pushed back from the existing schedule.

If Suyeon said that waiting was not hard, that would be a lie.

To what extent? Even Yoo Jihye, the oldest among the members and someone who had already experienced debut, showed a sensitive side that could not be seen normally, because even Yoo Jihye found that wait anxious.

But when debut was actually right in front of Suyeon, Suyeon felt pressure that could not even be compared to before.

[What are the kids who got eliminated from Agbaek doing?]

"Feels like I saw an article that the kids banded together and went in somewhere, but there’s no news until now?"

⤷Zero One took all the top-tier eliminations, didn’t they

⤷SY and TSP debuted rookie girl groups, so if they come out now they’ll die

⤷But honestly, wouldn’t the Agbaek boost have dropped by now? Since Iam is doing so well, it seems like people aren’t even that curious about the eliminations

⤷Yeah, they would’ve gotten some effect if they came out right after Agbaek ended, but now it’s been a long time since it ended so it’s way too awkward

⤷If they had popularity in the first place, they would’ve debuted in Iam

It was clear that Suyeon and the members of DARE; ON had received «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» popularity as high as the Iam members back during Agbaek.

However, because debut kept getting delayed, Suyeon and the members could not stop the fandom that had barely been built through Agbaek from scattering quickly.

And in that situation, what Suyeon and the members could do was only to keep practicing and practicing for a debut that might come at any time.

And now that debut was right in front of them, Suyeon was anxious about everything.

Would people take interest in DARE; ON like they did during Agbaek?

If they started music show promotions in earnest, would they get a fandom like other groups, and would there be places on broadcasts that called for them?

If the things from Agbaek ended like a dream, without sound or news, without any reaction at all, would promotions end?

In a year, there were more than dozens of idol groups that debuted.

It was hard to become an idol, but it was not the end even if you became an idol; even after becoming one, you had to keep climbing again for success, endlessly, and Suyeon was very afraid of that.

'If only Sion were here at times like this.'

Suyeon suddenly thought of one person.

Someone who did not get nervous in any situation, and rather bound teammates into one and made even things that seemed impossible possible.

That person was Lee Sion.

"See you tomorrow."

Suyeon remembered the words “see you tomorrow” that Lee Sion spoke at the end after Suyeon called at dawn because Suyeon was nervous and Lee Sion listened to Suyeon’s complaining for quite a while.

'That would be impossible, right?'

But Suyeon thought it would be words Lee Sion said as a matter of course.

Because if you picked the busiest and also most popular idol in the Republic of Korea right now, a group that would definitely be within the top three even if not first place was Iam.

And among that Iam, the most popular member was Lee Sion, so even if Sion cherished Suyeon normally, attending the showcase was impossible.

"Suyeon, let’s go."

"···Yes."

Like that, Suyeon, who had been thinking about Lee Sion to soothe anxious feelings for a moment, opened the eyes Suyeon had closed at the familiar voice calling Suyeon and stood up.

Then, in front of Suyeon, members who had finished everything from outfits to makeup for the showcase stage came into view.

Starting with Kim Nayeon who called Suyeon now, then Yoo Jihye, Choi Garam, Park Soyeon.

At first, aside from Nayeon, they were all awkward and distant, but during the process of living together and practicing for the past five months, they had now grown close like family.

"I understand that everyone is nervous."

Those five members gathered, drawing a circle, one last time before leaving the waiting room.

And leader Kim Nayeon’s words began.

"I’m ashamed, but up until I went on Agbaek, I trembled even during monthly evaluations, never mind a stage. So I understand better than anyone how you feel right now."

At Nayeon’s continuing words, everyone nodded.

Because everyone knew that Nayeon originally had stage fright.

But,

"If there’s one thing I realized after overcoming that tension about the stage, it’s that in the end, the only one who can make me believe in myself is me. Let’s think that everything we’ve built up until now is all for right now."

Because it was Nayeon, who overcame stage fright, saying it?

The members, who had clearly looked nervous even aside from Suyeon, seemed to find at least a little ease.

"Lastly, think about what will happen today if we make a mistake on the showcase stage."

"What will happen?"

"Making a mistake and getting an article? Or getting a video clip permanently saved? That’s nothing."

As Nayeon spoke with a resolute face while looking around at the members one by one, around when everyone was slightly puzzled,

"Lee Sion. Do you think that devil will let that slide? Probably without skipping a single day, she’ll send the clip of us messing up on KakaoTalk, and if we don’t read it she’ll call, and if we don’t even answer the call, she’ll talk about it every time we meet. I can’t stand that."

"Ah."

"If it’s Sion, definitely···."

"Lee Sion would do that and more."

Everyone had no choice but to squeeze their eyes shut and agree.

"Is Lee Sion really that much?"

Only Park Soyeon, who was the only one who did not know Lee Sion, tilted Park Soyeon’s head, saying it seemed like Lee Sion would not be that kind of person, but.

'Sion would do that and more.'

For Suyeon, who thought Suyeon knew Lee Sion the best among these, Nayeon’s words were an undeniable fact.

"Tsk, tsk. Guess it won’t do without me?"

It was to the point that Lee Sion, with a face full of mischief, excited and teasing, already rose up in Suyeon’s head.

"So, this time, let’s do our best and show the stage we prepared perfectly without any mistakes!"

"Yes!"

Finally, with Nayeon’s last words, the members of DARE; ON left the waiting room and headed up to the stage.

'Dazzling.'

Even though Suyeon worried that reporters would not have interest, at the showcase site it was filled with reporters and fans who had won through a drawing.

Because they kept bursting flashes nonstop and taking photos toward Suyeon and the members coming up onto the stage, Suyeon’s eyes hurt, but Suyeon endured that and kept the expression.

"Let me introduce you! Zero One’s rookie girl group, DARE; ON!"

When the members all got up onto the stage, as if they had been waiting, starting with the famous comedian who took the role of the showcase MC beginning to speak the group introduction, the lights went out and darkness sank onto the stage, and Suyeon and the members stood in formation.

"The first song will be ‘Spotlight.’"

Even if the Agbaek craze had passed, the agency judged that they could not completely let it go, so the first stage of the showcase was set as Spotlight, which had been Agbaek’s theme song.

At first, the members hesitated because it felt like they were trying to ride on the afterglow of Agbaek and Iam, but,

"Let’s get a grip. We have to use everything we can use! That’s the real Agbaek spirit."

Thanks to Yoo Jihye, the oldest, scolding them that it was even stupider to act proud when they had not even debuted yet, that sense of resistance had disappeared long ago.

♬

As Spotlight’s intro flowed out, the lights on the stage turned on again.

Then Suyeon could see the expressions the reporters and fans in the audience were making.

'We did well to do this.'

Since it was a song that anyone who came here could not not know, Suyeon could see them smiling at the familiar melody.

I’ve been waiting for this moment (Oh yeah)

The light I’ve been hiding

Now it’s time to show it

You can’t avoid my eyes

The first stage of the showcase began like that.

When Suyeon, who took the first part, stepped forward, the fans responded with cheers and the reporters responded with camera flashes.

'At this point, I can dance this song even if I’m asleep.'

Unlike what Suyeon worried about, Suyeon was singing Spotlight with a relaxed expression and powerful movements.

Because they played the pre-recorded AR, there was also the fact that Suyeon could focus only on dance and expression, but if it was the biggest reason, Spotlight was something Suyeon had practiced countless times from Agbaek until now.

"After the basic step, what do I have to learn next to dance better?"

Even though it was a different team now, Suyeon was someone who, together with Lee Sion, danced even at dawn in the practice room to prepare for the live broadcast stage.

'If Sion sees this, will Sion praise me?'

Suyeon was curious how Lee Sion would react if Lee Sion saw Suyeon, who was now taking the first part of Spotlight and showing it confidently in front of people, but.

For now, Suyeon had to focus on the stage.

It might feel like a dream

But I’ll become reality

Now it’s my turn

Make everyone remember me

Following Suyeon, Yoo Jihye and Choi Garam finished the part right before reaching the highlight excellently.

Now, for the long-awaited highlight part, the members of DARE; ON formed a triangle again.

The highlight part of Spotlight, where you had to stomp your feet endlessly while, in reverse, stretching your upper body excitedly toward the sky, was intense even if you danced without vocals, so they had to prepare their hearts in advance.

'It’s a shame. Originally, this song has to be danced as a group to be cool.'

Since it was originally a song sung by 100 people, at least more than 10, with 5 people doing it, it was unavoidable that the stage looked empty.

Like that, while the members were preparing to do the highlight choreography together, suddenly, behind them, Suyeon felt someone entering.

So, Suyeon and the members, who had been focused only on the stage, were startled by the presence that was not planned and turned their heads, and what came into view was six mysterious people wearing mascot costumes.

Whoosh, whoosh.

As if saying do not mind them and focus, they waved their hands, so Suyeon and the members of DARE; ON, with baffled expressions, still focused on the stage again for now.

Pick me now, pick me wow

The name that makes you flutter

Among countless stars

Pick me—now!

Soon, with Nayeon’s voice taking the highlight part, the intense choreography began, and.

'What are these people!'

Suyeon had to struggle to hide the shocked expression while dancing the highlight part.

Snap!

Because the mascots that barged into the stage, with identities that could not be known, were matching the stage’s timing unbelievably perfectly.

Maybe it was not only Suyeon who was surprised by the choreography of those mascots, because Suyeon could see the other members also glancing sideways, eyes widening.

Shine me now, light me up

Trust me to the end

The chance is only once

"Now it’s me, now it is!"

Thankfully, since the words about being able to dance even after waking up were not a lie, because the body moved on its own, the stage could continue without a hitch.

Like that, after the prepared stage ended, Suyeon and the members were at the moment of debating whether they should look forward or look at the mascots standing behind them.

Slide.

The person wearing the tiger mascot costume at the very front took off the head and shouted.

"Surprise!"

Blond hair, blue eyes.

The owner of an appearance that looked like not a person of this world was drenched in sweat and smiling brightly.

***

"You did not neglect training, Kim Unfaithful."

"Seriously, you decided to scare people on purpose, didn’t you?"

"You’re pitiful. You don’t know the charm of surprise. Did you see how people liked it?"

"···What if we got startled and made a mistake!"

"Then you’re Kim Nayeon who’s only that much."

"What?"

Looks like a born coward cannot be helped.

Even though I and our members prepared a surprise show for them, asking what if they made a mistake was exactly like Kim Nayeon from the old Agbaek days, trembling in fear.

"Are we allowed to go on stage?"

When I arrived at the showcase of DARE; ON, Suyeon’s and Nayeon’s group, suddenly a good idea came to me.

When I heard they planned to show Spotlight as the first stage, I got a feeling close to certainty that it would be fun if we popped in during the stage as a surprise.

Of course, it would be a shame to just appear, so we wore the mascot costumes that were prepared as props.

Kim Nayeon, who did not know my noble will, grabbed me the moment the showcase ended and slapped my back, the shameless one.

"Sion, and Yunkyung, and even Shinyu too... I didn’t think you’d come when you’re busy."

Of course, my sworn little sister Suyeon seemed moved, eyes shimmering with tears, and it made me feel it was worth it to prepare the surprise show.

"I told you I would definitely come."

"Seriously, you’re impossible to predict."

When I hooked an arm around Suyeon’s shoulders, Suyeon curled the corners of the mouth up while letting out a sigh with an expression like there’s no stopping me.

And besides me and Suyeon,

"Nayeon, I watched the stage so well! The song was really good too!"

"It seems your skills have improved even more since I last saw you!"

"Jihye, I’m saying this because Gahyeon isn’t here, but you look younger."

"Choi Garam, in your debut song’s chorus part, that choreography step, how do you step that?"

Our members were each grabbing Suyeon’s group, no, the members of DARE; ON, and chattering loudly.

Shinyu and Yunkyung, since Shinyu and Yunkyung were close with Kim Nayeon, were excitedly talking, and Seo Ryujin was praising Yoo Jihye while using the absent Lee Gahyeon as a sacrifice.

In the middle of that, Ryu Ayeon showed madness by cluelessly asking Choi Garam about choreography, making me flustered.

"Are you happy?"

"Huh?"

"I asked if debut feels good."

Watching that scene, I threw a question to Suyeon, who was being hugged like a headlock was on.

Suyeon, who, when we first met, complained to me that the future was unclear and that talented people could not understand Suyeon.

After Suyeon dropped out in the Agbaek Final Round, even if Suyeon did not show it, I knew Suyeon was having a very hard time, because I felt it through contact back and forth, so I had been worried a lot without showing it.

So I was paying attention in my own way, and now that Suyeon finally achieved that goal, I could not help being curious about what Suyeon was feeling right now, so I had to ask what the mood was.

"I’m still anxious."

"Still?" frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Yes."

Because I knew how much Suyeon wanted debut, I was slightly surprised at the answer being anxiety instead of something like being so happy Suyeon could die.

But,

"Still, when I went on stage and saw the fans’ faces, I was so happy. So even if I’m anxious, it’s okay."

"I think I wanted to see people smiling at me, not debut."

When I heard Suyeon’s last words, I could feel my chest go thump.