Chapter 61
Next was Team <A Midsummer Day>’s stage.
Seo Baek-young, Lee Kyung-a, Lee Juseon, Park Ha-eun, Shin Yu-hyun, and Bang Su-in. Six members formed the team.
It was a typical summer season song that had been a big hit by a girl group a few years ago.
A refreshing and sweet dance track.
Go Go Let’s go
Under the opalescent sky, we
You and I on the sapphire sea
Go Go beach girl
“So refreshing.”
“It really suits Juseon. She’s got this bright energy lately, so this concept fits her even better.”
“Definitely, everyone shines the most when they’re doing what suits them best.”
Blue Duck and Prism Homma watched the stage with satisfaction.
Just because their favorite wasn’t performing didn’t mean they weren’t interested.
They just watched without tension.
In some ways, it was nice to be able to watch with a much more relaxed mind.
“Baek-young looks amazing again today.”
“How can she dance so well?”
“I didn’t really get the whole ‘dance line’ thing before. As long as they didn’t mess up the choreography, I thought it was fine. But after watching Baek-young, I completely changed my mind.”
“Right? She’s all smooth and graceful, but also perfectly controlled.”
“She makes it look so easy, even though they’re all doing the same dance.”
“But when I try to follow, it looks like some awkward puppet dance.”
The two laughed in agreement.
As expected, the main dancer.
They nodded naturally.
“There used to be a rumor that Cheong couldn’t dance well, right?”
Colors was a large agency with a lot of popularity, so there was a lot of interest in the trainees.
Of course, to know such rumors, you had to be a hardcore Colors fan.
One of the famous rumors was about Yoon Cheong.
“There’s a trainee who was a main vocal candidate for another agency’s debut team but got dropped and moved to Colors. The reason she got dropped was because she couldn’t dance at all and had no charisma. But she’s appearing in this survival program. She’s got an amazing voice, though.”
When they heard that rumor, no one thought Yoon Cheong would become so popular.
But wha is this?
They opened the egg and found a fully formed pentagon all-rounder inside.
“Right. I heard that rumor so much that I didn’t pay attention to Cheong at first. But then in the first episode, with Baek-young…”
“Dancing together, wow, it was so thrilling. She danced so well.”
“The main vocal dancing as well as the main dancer? That’s…”
“Also, doesn’t she have that Colors look? Like she’s a beauty with a story, but also charming and sly…”
They said things that would make Yoon Cheong faint if she heard them and laughed happily.
“But she’s also super cute.”
“It’s like a sign to start stanning.”
No matter how a conversation started with Seo Baek-young, it always ended with Yoon Cheong.
The refreshing and lively stage ended after about three minutes.
“No matter how easy the choreography is, it’s amazing they practiced it all in one day.”
“They must have practiced it before, right?”
“Probably? If not, it’s really impressive.”
And after watching the broadcast, they learned that this stage was indeed practiced in just one day.
“But really, none of them are lacking in skill.”
“Even though they’re rookies!”
“I heard our girls don’t have any choreography this time… What if it seems less impressive? Fancy performances look better on TV.”
“That’s what I was worried about too. Of course! Our Cheong Cheong will do great! But still…”
Just as their worries, typical of true fans, were about to continue,
The production team finished setting up five standing microphones and five chairs.
“Oh my. It looks like it’s starting.”
Then, five trainees sat in their places.
The order was, Kim Geum – Yeon Juhong – Kim Ryeo-yu – Ryu Bo-ra – Yoon Cheong.
Only Yoon Cheong was holding a guitar.
“This is crazy.”
It was a completely different concept from before.
Earlier, they had all worn fancy, girlish dresses, but now they were in white T-shirts and jeans.
Only Yoon Cheong and Kim Ryeo-yu wore thin checkered shirts.
“It looks more like casual clothes, which is even better.”
“For real. This is driving me crazy… Whose idea was this?!”
Ding.
When Yoon Cheong strummed the guitar once, the fans screamed.
Yoon Cheong’s eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn’t expected such a reaction from the fans.
“Cheong was surprised.”
“Oh my, my baby is startled!”
Blue Duck was almost in tears.
Prism Homma was also barely holding back a scream.
The four trainees glanced at Yoon Cheong.
Then, Yoon Cheong nodded.
The trainees nodded back, signaling they were ready.
Then, Yoon Cheong’s guitar playing began.
You were actually exhausted
“Crazy. Cheong-ah…!”
The intro was Yoon Cheong’s.
As soon as the song started, Yoon Cheong’s fans began covering their mouths.
They wanted to scream, but they held back, not wanting to interrupt the song.
You’re not looking forward to tomorrow
Just waiting for the day to end
A gentle, affectionate voice.
Yoon Cheong’s low yet clear voice stood out.
Like us with no destination
Let’s buy a night train ticket and leave
Next was Kim Ryeo-yu’s part.
It was a bit shaky, but she managed to get through it.
Not the sun of tomorrow
But looking at the moon of today
Forget everything
People were amazed by Kim Geum’s powerful voice.
Even Kim Geum’s fans were surprised.
She rarely sang solo parts, especially in ballads.
Not the season, weather, or time
None of it matters
Then came Yeon Juhong’s part.
Despite the high pitch, Yeon Juhong performed excellently.
Smiles spread across the faces of Yeon Juhong’s anxious fans.
Let’s leave, us
With no worries or troubles
The sentimental guitar sound and the harmonized voices of the five.
Let’s leave now
Without any hesitation
This chorus was so famous that everyone knew it.
Kim Geum raised her hands and waved them gently.
Then she gestured to the audience to join in.
“…She wants us to sing along… right?”
Fans glanced at each other and raised their hands to wave.
Even fans whose favorites weren’t in this team joined in.
Koreans had that kind of bond… but mainly,
Most fans liked more than one trainee.
Getting involved was the fate of fans.
When the five trainees smiled brightly and sang the chorus again, the fans were disarmed.
Relaxing, they all sang along.
With the chorus repeating often, the voices of thousands echoed across Hangang Park.
Passersby were drawn by the familiar song and began to gather.
When ordinary people joined the singing, fans felt an odd mix of joy and pride.
“Let’s show the kids our strength!”
“Yes…!”
The determination in their hearts grew.
The sparkling sea
The fresh smell of the valley
Let’s go anywhere, us
Yeon Juhong’s solo part.
But now, people began singing along even outside the chorus.
Yeon Juhong’s eyes were initially wide with surprise but then seemed to understand the situation.
Love and parting are fleeting
In an instant, they become memories
Ryu Bo-ra’s calm yet striking voice,
Hope and despair are soon forgotten
Only smiles remain
Kim Geum’s lazy smile and the gesture of lifting her mouth corners.
Capture everything with your eyes
Leave us only in your memory
And Yoon Cheong’s conclusion.
The audience cautiously joined in, responding to the trainees’ voices.
As the chorus returned, the crowd at Hangang Park sang in unison.
This time, the chorus was taken by turns, each trainee singing a part.
This ignited the fans even more.
Fans doubled their voices when their favorites sang.
The overwhelming response brought tears to the trainees’ eyes.
The first to tear up was unexpectedly-
“Geum… Geum is crying…!”
“Geum-ah… why are you crying…?!”
Kim Geum.
Fans began crying with Kim Geum.
Kim Geum’s tears triggered Kim Ryeo-yu and Yeon Juhong’s tears.
The audience quickly turned into a sea of tears.
Wherever you go, leave your sadness
When you return, I’ll give you my happiness
Then Yoon Cheong’s final climax.
The lyrics, unfortunately, were about leaving worries behind, making Yoon Cheong’s tears fall.
Let’s leave, us
With no worries or troubles
The last chorus of the five.
The song ended like that.
Don’t cry!
Don’t cry!
The trainees held hands tightly and bowed to the fans.
Everyone looked happy.
Except for a few.
“…But, doesn’t Ryeo-yu’s part seem especially short today?”