Chapter 126
Physically, financially, and time-wise, it was a bit of a stretch to hold the fan meeting today, but there were two reasons for it.
One was to clearly show the fans that I was fine and uninjured.
I could still vividly remember the expressions and voices of the fans, who seemed more shocked than I was when I fell, as if their eyes were about to pop out.
Thankfully, I only got a minor scratch on my palm, but it could have been a more serious accident.
If I had twisted my ankle or something and couldn’t dance right from the start of my debut activities…
Ugh, just thinking about it was unlucky and dreadful.
I needed to stop thinking about it.
Anyway, the second reason was the topic I was about to start.
“You were really surprised when you heard that I fell, weren’t you?”
In response to my words, sounds of agreement came from all around.
Holding the microphone with both hands, I subtly rubbed the edge of the bandage on my left palm with my right thumb, clearly indicating that I was uninjured.
Now to the main point.
“But when I imagined one of you who came to support us falling instead of me, I got scared too.”
Speaking in the calmest tone I could manage, it felt like the atmosphere had become the quietest since the fan meeting began.
Even the noise from the expensive cameras seemed to have quieted down.
It made me feel good knowing that the people here were listening to my story without ignoring it, and the cold wind slicing across my cheeks didn’t bother me anymore.
People waiting for me to speak wasn’t new to me, having experienced it during Pick Heart broadcasts and debut showcases.
But it was the first time in an open place like this, where I could make eye contact with them at such a close distance.
Carefully choosing the words I had pre-thought, I continued.
“So, I have a request.”
Fans responded enthusiastically, asking, “What is it?”
By now, many seemed to have guessed what I was going to say, but I was grateful that they didn’t dislike it and continued to listen.
“We’ll be meeting face to face often as we continue our activities, so I hope we can continue to meet safely like today.”
I wasn’t the only one who fell that morning.
I later heard that someone who tried to jump over the fence and another person who was just taking pictures of their favorite artist following the rules got tangled up and fell, getting injured much worse than my scratched palm.
Both were Pluto fans, and I didn’t understand what fault the person who followed the rules had.
Thinking that this could happen to people who cherish us made my ribs feel cold inside, just as I had mentioned.
Though it seemed like I was going around in circles, the conclusion was clear: ‘Let’s follow the rules!’
In fandoms of a certain size, the issue of order was a common headache.
We weren’t as bad as Pluto yet, but we weren’t in a stable state either.
Staff members even told us that it was more likely to get worse rather than improve in the future.
Of course, I knew that the fans here were only a part of the whole.
However, considering they came to this sudden fan meeting, it was likely they would also attend other offline schedules.
Moreover, in today’s world, such stories would go up on SNS or communities, so by tomorrow, more fans would know what I had said.
“We debated a lot about whether to say this or not among ourselves. You might already be doing well, and having someone else say it could be discouraging.”
Before the silence could completely settle after I finished speaking, Ban Yo-han took the microphone from me and made a witty remark.
His unique looseness quickly lightened the atmosphere that was unintentionally becoming serious.
“Still, we wanted to say it. It’s most important that neither we nor you get hurt.”
Seo Moon-gyeol passed the microphone to Kang Ji-woo, who cheerfully shouted, ensuring it wouldn’t disturb the surroundings.
“Can you all follow the rules well?”
Fans responded in unison that they could.
We, who were only two days into our debut, repeatedly bowed, thanking them.
Both we who spoke and the fans who listened knew that this wouldn’t be solved just by saying it.
If words alone could make things happen, everyone would be walking around muttering things like, ‘Please let Mansour accidentally transfer 10 billion dollars to my account and then find it too bothersome to take back.’
In any case, I wanted to tell the fans that I worried about them as much as they worried about me.
* * *
Fans, including Yoon Sun-woo, could easily feel On Raon’s sincerity.
‘If that’s fake, he should be acting.’
Just like during the live Pick Heart broadcast, On Raon was kind to the point of seeming clumsy.
‘Order…’
While Yoon Sun-woo pondered how to fulfill the words of the artist he liked, the members distributed warm fish-shaped buns and drinks to the fans one by one.
Thanks to the recent request to maintain order, the line of fans waiting to receive the food was impressively neat.
“Enjoy your meal!”
Having smoothly distributed the food, the members turned to take commemorative photos with the fans before it got darker.
A citizen who had been engrossed in the members’ stories, seated without moving for the entire time, finally saw the face of the white-haired boy he had been curious about.
Thud. The shopping bag he had been holding like a doll tilted and fell to the ground due to gravity.
Several tangerines rolled out of the bag, scattering at the citizen’s feet. Some continued rolling far away.
“?
On Raon and the other members, who had been roughly facing that direction to take photos, also saw the tangerines rolling on the street, with some even falling onto the road.
It was a curious sight, seeing the tangerines roll around while their owner didn’t care and only looked towards them.
Fans sitting at the front could also fully understand the citizen’s feelings.
Even though they had been facing On Raon and the other members for over an hour, there were still many people who hadn’t gotten used to the faces emitting such different charms.
On Raon’s gaze followed the tangerines rolling on the ground and then focused entirely on the citizen.
With a subtle gesture, as if asking if they wouldn’t pick them up, a timid finger pointed out from under his sleeve.
Only then did the citizen hurriedly gather the tangerines with a face reddened either from the cold, embarrassment, or the sudden pull of emotion.
At that moment.
The streetlights, recognizing the low light, flickered on.
Momentarily forgetting that it was merely a scientific technology illuminating the city, everyone present admired the scene, which seemed like a movie or magical moment.
Even if they forgot this incident as time passed…
One day, even if it’s by chance, seeing the streetlights flicker and turn on in the night will vividly remind you of the times when merely looking at someone with a heart full of happiness mattered more than logic.
Orca’s first mini fan meeting was over.
* * *
Although I didn’t think I would be okay, as soon as we reached the car, it felt like my fatigue had hit 100, confirming that I had indeed overdone it.
At the same time, the effect of the “Korean of Willpower” skill I had been maintaining disappeared, making me feel even more drained.
Moreover, due to the fatigue management failure penalty, my head began to ache as if it was about to burst.
Maybe it was because of the sensation of thin wires digging through my brain, but even closing my eyes didn’t help me sleep.
Even when I switched the sleep setting to fatigue recovery mode, which usually forced me to sleep, I couldn’t fall asleep and started to panic a little.
‘If only I had just had a brief nosebleed like last time, I wouldn’t be suffering from such persistent pain…’
Though, in reality, the nosebleed back then wasn’t that minor either. Memories tend to be romanticized.
With the penalty, an hourglass appeared in the corner of my vision, probably indicating the remaining time of this damn penalty.
Unfortunately, the sand didn’t seem to be running out anytime soon.
“Are you in pain?”
Seo Moon-gyeol, sitting next to me, asked.
He must have been tired too because of the sudden fan meeting I had insisted on.
“No, just tired.”
Determined not to show it since it would soon pass, I shook my head.
Seo Moon-gyeol seemed slightly skeptical but soon looked away, since the headache wasn’t something visible unless I grimaced.
Upon arriving at the dorm, we were too exhausted to even say goodnight and went to our rooms to rest in the order we took our showers.
I pretended to sleep, and once I heard the steady breathing of the two others, who must have been tired, I quietly slipped out of my bed and left the room.
The sound of the December wind blowing beyond the glass windows felt chilly. It must be cold outside.
Would sticking my head out into the cold air dull the pain inside? No, that would be dangerous. Instead, should I open the fridge and stick my head in there?
…Stop thinking crazy thoughts.
“Ugh…”
I stared intently at the hourglass, now with very little sand left at the top.
Focusing on a single point made the headache feel slightly more bearable.
‘I can sleep soon.’
At that moment, I sensed someone moving from the main room to the living room.
It was probably Kang Ji-woo or Ban Yo-han, getting up to drink water.
The person only noticed my presence after switching on the kitchen light, seeing me curled up quietly on the sofa.
“…You startled me.”
Ban Yo-han, who seemed slightly disheveled from sleep, asked in a hoarse voice, still half-asleep.
“You’re usually the first to sleep. What are you doing up?”
“Had some things to think about. I was just about to sleep.”
He seemed to accept this and, moving more slowly than during the day, found some water to drink.
As he gulped down the water, his previously unfocused eyes cleared up.
Instead of going straight back, Ban Yo-han approached me with the kitchen light still on.
“On Raon.”
I turned my head.
Calling my name softly, Ban Yo-han spoke with a guarded yet frank look on his face.
“You shouldn’t think of the fans as individuals equal to you.”
What the heck is he suddenly talking about?