Chapter 214. Welcome. It’s Your First Time at a Fan Sign Event, Right? (2)
In the car heading home after my first fansign event.
I was scrolling through the SNS timeline, admiring the reviews from our fansign and saving photos that I liked.
**LUVS2 @LUV_sty09**
**Kairos’s first fansign event.**
**Fans solidifying their perceptions of the members.**
*(Group photo of the members wearing their fansign outfits)*
723 shares, 1.2K hearts
Jeong Siwoo, dressed in a racecar jacket and goggles, Lee Doha in a special forces uniform holding a toy sniper rifle, and Joo Eunchan in a prince’s robe—all striking natural poses that matched their outfits.
Next to them was Dan Haru dressed as a wizard from *Harry X Potter*, playing with Lee Yugeon, who had somehow ended up as a fox with bells. Then there was Seo Taehyun, dressed as a café part-timer, sipping iced coffee….
“Oh, no….”
…The moment I saw myself standing there like a statue, dressed in a gown and holding a bright red apple, I couldn’t bear the embarrassment and turned off my phone.
**[System Alert: Princess, don’t eat that apple….]**
**[System Alert: The system gazes at Princess Gangsul with teary eyes….]**
“Do you want to die?”
**[System Alert: You’re the one who’s going to die, Princess….]**
**[System Alert: A…P…P…L…E….]**
Thinking this was the perfect opportunity, Thirteen mocked me fiercely. I glared at him as I opened the quest window.
What I needed after being physically and mentally exhausted by the brutal fansign outfits was financial therapy—a reward, to be exact.
**[System Alert: Sudden Quest!]**
**Content: ☆ Kairos Debut Commemoration ☆**
**Bonus time is back☺**
**Successfully complete the music show schedule and raise your recognition!**
**Deadline: During music show promotions**
**Rewards for success: ☆★More Info★☆**
– **Successfully complete the special MC for a music show (1/1)**
– **Successfully complete the stage on a music show (2/12)**
– **Become the ending fairy and appear on the thumbnail of a music show (0/1)**
– **Win first place on a music show and perform the encore stage (0/1)**
– **Finish the fansign event without any accidents or controversies (1/8)**
– **Conduct a group live with the members (0/1)**
– **Participate in a challenge with someone (excluding members) (2/10)**
**※ The success of all missions is based on objective indicators, public reactions, and fan satisfaction. ※**
**※ Upon successful completion of the mission, a reward that contributes to “Single Quest 03: The Happiness the Boy Desires” will be randomly given. ※**
“Damn, still a long way to go.”
I was completely deflated seeing how far I still had to go to get the rewards.
I closed my eyes, deciding it would be better to just sleep, but then my phone, which was resting on my stomach, buzzed briefly.
“……?”
**<Number One: Hyung>**
**<Number One: (photo)>**
**<Number One: lol>**
Curious about the sudden message from Kang Hawon, I opened the chat to find a batch of freshly taken high-definition preview and full-resolution photos from the fansign event.
The moment I saw the ultra-high-definition picture of me, dressed as Snow White, slouching on the table while eating an apple with a deadpan expression, I fired off a reply to Kang Hawon.
**<Are you crazy?>**
**<You’re supposed to be studying for your college entrance exams, not collecting these kinds of high-stimulus pics>**
**<Do you want to enter the exam hall with nothing but images of your hyung in a princess dress stuck in your mind?>**
In response to my genuine concern disguised as a threat, Kang Hawon coolly replied.
**<Number One: I’m a college applicant, hyung>**
**<Number One: Also, this is actually pretty helpful>**
**<Number One: Somehow….>**
**<Number One: It somehow motivates me, anyway>**
Hawon, I have a feeling that “motivation” isn’t in a positive sense.
But there was no point in arguing over trivial details since the situation had already happened. Resigned, I made a request to Hawon.
**<Make sure Dad never sees this>**
**<I’ll buy you something tasty next time>**
However, the reply I got was bleak.
**<Number One: Dad already set it as his KakaoTalk profile picture?>**
**<? Mine’s still the old one, though?>**
**<Number One: Maybe it’s a multi-profile thing>**
**<Number One: Anyway, I’m heading back to class now, bye>**
**<Hawon-ah>**
**<Wona>**
**<What am I supposed to do if you just leave like that?>**
**<Hawon-ah?>**
**<Little brother>**
**<Hey, Kang Hawon>**
What’s the correct response when you find out that your little brother, and even your dad, have discovered your business and plastered it as a profile picture?
“Ugh… Ugh… Hic….”
Unable to bear the embarrassment and anguish, I leaned my head against the window and groaned. Lee Doha, who was sitting next to me, offered a water bottle with a puzzled expression.
“Want some water?”
Is this your way of telling me to calm down?
But it seemed like I needed to drink it, so I thanked him with a glance and downed the water bottle that Doha had opened for me in one go.
Man, I was parched.
“Come to think of it, did this bear do well at the fansign?”
He may have a blunt way of speaking, but he’s good with words, so I figured he did fine….
Suddenly curious, I squeezed the empty bottle and asked Doha.
“Did you enjoy the fansign? It was your first one, right?”
“Oh, well. It was fun.”
“…Really?”
That was an unexpected answer.
Given that the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about “facing fans” with Doha is “that incident” during the fourth round of *Miro Maze*, when he was rude and had terrible manners, it was even more surprising.
Unable to quell my curiosity, I picked up my phone again and immediately searched for “Lee Doha fansign review” on Bluebird.
**Rossy Day @rossy_1017**
**Kairos Wake Line Fansign Review**
**#LeeDoha**
**Went to the fansign to see my fave in person,**
**but ended up in a heated debate about a Disney movie.**
*(Edited video of Doha having a serious discussion with a fan)*
…Let’s stop searching.
“So basically, he had some deep fandom discussions with the fans, right?”
Still, the curiosity remained, so I scrolled down my timeline again to find other reviews.
**Jung Cream @ice_ciu**
**I asked Doha about the Kkaetnip debate,**
**and ended up discussing whether friendship can exist between men and women,**
**what defines a friend,**
**and what the relationship between a fan and an idol is…**
*(Fansign certification photo)*
*(Post-it note with the Kkaetnip debate question written on it)*
‖
**Jung Cream @ice_ciu**
**For those asking,**
**Doha said he finds people who are skilled at using chopsticks attractive because they can pick up their own kkaetnip.**
**If someone skillfully picks up kkaetnip for him,**
**he said he might find that person charming.**
**Looks like I might lose Doha to my imaginary male friend just because of this.**
**Folks, the kkaetnip isn’t the problem right now.**
…I really should stop looking.
Besides learning that my friend’s ideal type is someone good at using chopsticks, there were no significant discoveries from my search.
“Well, at least everyone seems to be adjusting well.”
In the two weeks of music show promotions, there were at least seven more fansigns to go.
Considering video call fansigns or any additional events that might be scheduled after the promotion ends, there would be at least ten more similar events.
While it sounds simple enough to have a one-on-one fansign, it’s never easy to smile at over a hundred people for days on end, coming up with new conversations each time.
“I was a bit worried since we still have a lot of personal fans….”
Maybe I should check how the other members did?
Even though it would probably require some mental fortitude, I decided it was necessary to ensure the success of the fansign and picked up my phone.
Just then, a short buzz and a message from Seo Taehyun appeared.
**<Miro_Kairos_Seo Taehyun ‖ Emergency>**
“Emergency?”
I opened the chat and saw that it was a group chat with the members.
My heart sank, thinking something had happened, but I quickly realized that there were only three of us in the chat, including me.
**<Miro_Kairos_Jeong Siwoo hyung ‖ What’s wrong?>**
Jeong Siwoo, the only other member in the chat besides Seo Taehyun and me, replied.
Siwoo, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to meet my eyes, shrugging as if to ask what was going on. I shook my head, indicating I
didn’t know either. Soon, Taehyun, who was squeezed between Dan Haru and Joo Eunchan in the backseat, squirmed as he sent a reply.
**<Miro_Kairos_Seo Taehyun ‖ Eunchan is crying.>**
**<Miro_Kairos_Seo Taehyun ‖ He’s asleep now, but he cried alone earlier.>**
<? Why is Joo Eunchan crying?>
<Did something happen?>
**<Miro_Kairos_Jeong Siwoo hyung ‖ There didn’t seem to be anything wrong at the fansign.>**
Instead of replying, Taehyun sent us an anonymous post.
**[Today was my first time at my favorite idol’s fansign, and I’m having a reality check…]**
**I knew they weren’t great at talking… lol**
**But today was my first time seeing them in person,**
**and they couldn’t even look me in the eye.**
**They barely responded to my questions,**
**and when I jokingly asked if they could sing at my sister’s wedding next week,**
**they seriously said it wasn’t possible, flatly rejecting me.**
**I wasn’t really asking them to come…**
**They could’ve just played along a bit, but the conversation was dead.**
**They seemed so immature, it just turned me off.**
**Everything annoyed me today.**
**I spent so much money on clothes and stuff for today’s fansign,**
**but I should’ve just spent it on something tasty instead…**
**Reality checks are brutal. Staying at home and just looking at their pictures is way more fun.**
This was a typical “post-fansign reality check” rant from a fan. It’s common enough in the idol world. If it goes a bit further, it turns into a “leaving the fandom” post, or in other words, a dissatisfied customer review.
**<Miro_Kairos_Seo Taehyun ‖ I think this is about Eunchan.>**
**<Miro_Kairos_Seo Taehyun ‖ We have another fansign tomorrow, and if he’s still down, he might not say a word.>**
**<Miro_Kairos_Seo Taehyun ‖ What should we do?>**
…So, not everyone was adjusting smoothly.
Clicking my tongue, I began typing.
**<What do you mean, what should we do?>**
**<We need to fix this.>**
And so, the “Emergency Meeting for Joo Eunchan’s Mental Recovery” was initiated.
* * *
The plan was for Seo Taehyun, Jeong Siwoo, and me to secretly meet in Siwoo and Taehyun’s room after the other members had fallen asleep.
Since we had a music show schedule early the next morning, we didn’t want to wake up all the members and make a big deal out of it.
However, when the late hour arrived, it wasn’t just the three of us gathered in Siwoo and Taehyun’s room.
“…Weren’t we supposed to meet just the three of us?”
Siwoo crossed his arms and looked at us with a gaze that demanded an explanation.
Given that it was quite cramped for six guys to be sitting together, I had no choice but to sit on Taehyun’s bed with my legs folded. Feeling a bit awkward, I turned my head and pointed at Lee Doha, who was sitting next to me.
“Well, it felt too unnatural to leave him alone since we share a room. He already goes to bed late and is a light sleeper…. I figured it was better to bring him along than risk waking him up when I got back….”
At this, Taehyun, who had given up his bed to Doha and was now sitting on the floor, glanced around nervously. He then gestured with his eyes toward Dan Haru, who was sitting across from him, and said,
“Well, actually, Haru was the one who told me Eunchan was crying…. I thought Haru had fallen asleep, but I guess he saw everything. He said he wanted to help too….”
Baby bunny warrior Dan Haru, with his keen senses and bright eyes, beamed as he nodded his head enthusiastically.
“I want to help Eunchan hyung too!”
“…Alright. Got it….”
Siwoo sighed deeply, resting his chin on his hand. Just then, Yugeon, who was sitting next to Haru with a sleepy, irritable look, yawned loudly and announced his presence.
“I was just dragged here by Dan Haru.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Siwoo glanced at the proud-looking Haru and nodded, understanding the situation.
Finally, everyone’s gaze turned toward the last person in the room, standing in the center.
Siwoo, unusually exasperated, asked in a deflated voice,
“Then who on earth brought Eunchan here…?”
Who was the madman that brought Joo Eunchan to the “Joo Eunchan Mental Recovery Task Force”?
At this, Eunchan, who had been standing there blankly, fiddling with his ears, finally spoke up.
“I just followed everyone because I saw the hyungs going into this room.”
Ah….
And so, the second emergency meeting of Kairos, the “Joo Eunchan Fansign Adaptation Project”….
All Kairos members attended, successfully convened.