Chapter 159
Supporting an idol can be a financial and mental burden for fans who aren’t financially well-off. It also comes with the hassle of managing and certifying received gifts, potentially leading to other problems in the future.
Recognizing these long-term drawbacks, Ok Do-yoon and Ban Yo-han proposed a no-support policy even before their debut, which Orca accepted.
Thus, the money Airies, who were disappointed they couldn’t give gifts directly, was generously spent elsewhere.
Some fans might tell those who send support or tribute to use their money more meaningfully or for themselves.
Even if the artist bans support, fans will just spend that money on their favorite idol in other ways.
Fans operated birthday cafes with various themes across different locations or put up ads on subway billboards. They also donated significant amounts of money, celebrating On Raon’s first birthday since his debut.
In Busan, where On Raon was born, a bus adorned with birthday advertisements for On Raon roamed the streets for three days.
On Raon’s home master, “ToYouMyWorld,” made headlines with a birthday advertisement on a huge billboard in the heart of New York, On Raon’s hometown, without even soliciting donations.
Amazed and grateful that someone would hold such events for him, On Raon would sneak out to visit nearby cafes or subway stations with the advertisements during off-peak hours.
**[ORCA]**
(Photo)
I wanted to visit all of them, but I couldn’t because of time constraints. So sadㅠㅠㅠ
I’m always grateful, our Airies!! Today, I’m the happiest person in the world!
And I hope you all are too.
#Orca #ORCA
#Raon #RAON
#HappyRAONDay
On Raon’s stylist had affectionately placed a soft, light beige hooded scarf with adorable bear ears on him as he visited the birthday celebration spots.
Fans were thrilled with the improved selfie skills that On Raon had developed under Gyun Seong-ha’s special guidance.
**[On Raon’s subway birthday ad and birthday cafe visit certified by Orca On Raon.jpg]**
– Lovely, cute, prettyㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ah, Raonㅠㅠㅠ
– He must have visited after workㅠㅠㅠㅠ
– I’ve seen female idols do this, but hardly any male idols. Fans must be so touched.
– Raon, happy birthday, love youㅠㅠㅠ
– He posted this and then another one, amazingㅠ
– Raon is the real deal, his heart is so beautifulㅠㅠ
On Raon’s birthday didn’t end there.
A reply was added to the event certification post.
**[ORCA]**
Oh right, see you in a bit!!!
As he promised, late at night, a notification came from Orca’s V-App channel that someone had started a live broadcast.
**[Orca (ORCA) has started a live broadcast.**
Orca (ORCA): Everyone, come watch Mark.]
Orca often posted selfies or updates on SNS but rarely did live broadcasts, preferring refined content.
This was one of the few things Airies were disappointed about with Orca.
During times like now, without communication through V-App, the company should actively produce its own content, but Seed was being criticized for its poor handling.
On the other hand, some fans disliked the current trend emphasizing “communication” with idols, preferring the past when singing and dancing well was enough.
Despite not frequenting official cafes or SNS often or treating fans insincerely, some fans felt Orca’s current level of engagement was sufficient.
Anyway.
Tonight, one of the members had turned on V-App after a long time, likely because it was On Raon’s birthday.
Excited Airies joined V-App, and as expected, they saw On Raon, who looked especially cozy today.
**[It seems to be working… Oh, hello. So many of you… so many are coming.]**
On Raon, wearing a warm-looking brown sweater, had the bear hooded scarf that had thrilled fans in the afternoon.
**[Thank you so much to everyone who celebrated today.]**
The comment section was flooded with birthday wishes as the last moments of his birthday approached.
– Raon, happy birthday!
– Raon happy birthday
– Happy birthday, On Rang-doong!!
– お誕生日おめでとう!
– Happy birthday, Ona!
**[I’m at the dorm right now. This is my room. Actually, it’s Yo-han and Ji-woo’s room, but I kicked them out to do the V-App alone… Just kidding. They went to the convenience store for a bit.]**
He continued with some casual updates.
Seeing comments wanting him to wear the bear hooded scarf again, On Raon obliged, and he also shared stories about the surprise birthday party his members threw for him.
**[I was about to check the time on my phone when Seong-ha suddenly grabbed my hand. He said he would read my palm and started spouting nonsense. I seriously thought, ‘What’s up with this guy?’]**
– We want to see the birthday party tooㅠㅠㅠㅠ
– Raoning’s hands are so pretty ㅠㅠㅠ
[Oh, they filmed that video. What happened was, we were originally having a meeting to decide on the concept for our next album, and we thought it would be a good idea to record it. But it turned out it wasn’t actually a meeting for the next album, but for my birthday party! That video will be uploaded either tomorrow or the day after, so make sure to watch it. Gyun Seong-ha is really funny. The manager told me not to say this but… Why shouldn’t I share such good news!]
– Raon is getting angry on our behalf ㄱㅇㄱ
– Even when Raon gets angry, he’s so cute
– Such a natural spoilerㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– I can totally imagine Seong-ha’s reactionㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Sometimes I answered comments in real-time.
– Onrangoo
– What does rangoo mean??
– Rangoo sounds like a cute bell
[Ah, rangoo. Actually, it’s because Seong-ha and I…]
– But why don’t you call Seong-ha hyungㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Seong-ha: (feeling down)
Gyun Seong-ha’s image was solidified among the Airy fans as a large dog hiding his strength, especially after a fancam of his performance in the first preliminaries of the idol variety show aired.
[Seong-ha isn’t a hyung. He always tells me to call him hyung, but even though all the other twenty-year-olds are older than me, he isn’t a hyung. If you’re watching this broadcast, Seong-ha, knock on my door…]
Before I could finish speaking, there was a clear ‘knock’ sound at the door.
[!]
The viewers couldn’t stop laughing when they saw the back of On Raon’s hooded head as he turned to look at the door.
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Seong-ha is watchingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[As expected, I locked the door.]
[(On Raon!)]
[I’m talking to the Airies right now. Let’s talk later.]
Gyun Seong-ha must have accepted this and returned to his room, as it became quiet again.
– Why do I fall for thisㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– A true idol who cares about communication with fans..
[Anyway, Seong-ha and I often play games together, and he calls me that a lot during games. Now even the hyungs call me rangoo. I don’t really know why they call me that. It’s a bit weird, like Maengoo or Jjangoo…]
– What’s Maengoo and Jjangoo??
– Black hair suits you
– If you’re Jjangoo, what am Iㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
On Raon, who mentioned that they are silly characters, quickly changed the topic.
[Oh, the hyungs and the company people bought me a computer as a birthday gift.]
On Raon took the camera and showed the new computer in the living room that the members and some company staff had pooled money to buy.
[I wondered where they got the money for this, and it turns out they’ve been earning money. Ji-woo hyung had some solo projects, Gyeol hyung has royalty fees, and Seong-ha had work from when he was young. Yo-han hyung did some tutoring while attending college. It’s amazing how they all earned money at such a young age…]
– At a young ageㅋㅋㅋ You’re young tooㅋㅋㅋ
– Why is the way you talk so funnyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Raon, you’re lucky to have good hyungs
[Anyway, now that there are two computers in the dorm, we can comfortably play games together. Of course, we’ll also be practicing hard. Ah, and we’re not just playing games; we’re also learning how to compose music.]
After updating on his current situation, On Raon paused and looked intently at the comment section.
– HAPPY BIRTHDAY
– please do blive often
– Please speak in english
– Please speak in english
– Please speak in english
Seeing the flood of comments asking him to speak in English, the Airies watching, including Geum Gyuri, frowned.
Fortunately, with his experience as a YouTuber, On Raon could skillfully distinguish between comments to ignore and those worth responding to, even though this was his first solo live broadcast.
– Raon, did you see the Times Square ad???
– happy birthday my prince
– You’re in Times Square!!
When the comment section started buzzing about the New York ad that Yoon Sun-woo had put up, On Raon noticed it too.
[Times Square? Is that the one in Yeongdeungpo?]
The comment section was flooded with ‘ㅋ’ as the Korean moment was etched into everyone’s memory.
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Noㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Suddenly Yeongdeungpoㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Not thereㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ!!
Realizing his mistake too late, On Raon hurriedly shouted, “Ah, the one in New York!” but it was already too late.
After the V app broadcast ended, a post titled “An American Idol Who Thinks of Yeongdeungpo Instead of New York When Mentioning Times Square” appeared on an idol community, and On Raon faced another round of nationality controversy.
– Raon, be honest, you’re not American, right? You’re Korean, right?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Raon, let’s just naturalize in 15 years
– Favorite food: spicy tteokbokki… Favorite idol: Chronicle, who debuted about 20 years ago… Doesn’t know much about pop songs… Thinks Times Square is Yeongdeungpo Times Square… At this point, it’s reasonable suspicion