Chapter 80: Showcase (3)

“Stardust! Stardust! Stardust!”

“Guys, I love you!”

“Kyaaaaah!”

Having hosted countless events and showcases, MC Ader had seen plenty—but even she felt the intensity of today’s atmosphere was remarkable.

Just sitting here felt hot and oppressive.

It was strong enough to make her think that.

‘Is this really a rookie debut?’

Could a brand‑new group already have such a thick fan base?

It was evidence that Stardust’s ratings weren’t just flukes.

With her hair cut just to shoulder length and wearing a bright fluorescent suit, Ader spoke in a clear, sharp voice.

“Wow, fans’ energy is really hot.”

At the mention of “Dusty” from Ader’s mouth, even more passionate cheers immediately followed.

Meanwhile, a few loud voices from the crowd pierced her ears.

“Waaaah!”

“Haim‑aaah! You look even more handsome today!”

Ahem.

Even for someone used to flattery, it was hard to control her expression when it hit like that.

Seohan, who heard his name, kept blinking shyly to suppress a grin, while MC Ader smoothly changed the subject.

“Aww, you really seem to love being called handsome.”

“Haim secretly likes ‘handsome’ more than being called ‘cute.’”

“Oh, really? Why’s that?”

According to Seohan, being called cute was something he heard every day, but being called handsome happened less often.

Seohan blinked his eyes shyly.

“From now on, please call me handsome.”

“No, you’ll get spoiled.”

“That’s too mean.”

Though those bright eyes got cut off by Cha Seongbin, who didn’t like it.

Let’s stop indulging Seohan’s personal bias here.

MC Ader moved the topic along naturally.

“So our Stardust members… you’re debuting today, right?”

Stardust would debut with “Spacewalk.”

At Ader’s question, Seo Ian took the microphone.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow, this is your very first stage, right?”

“Yes!”

“Are you nervous?”

To the blunt question, Seo Ian smiled shyly and nodded.

“Yes… I’m a bit nervous.”

“I’m fine.”

Cha Seongbin shrugged and cockily interjected.

“Because so many Dustys came today… it already feels like someone is protecting me.”

“Kyaaaaah! Seongbin‑a, we’ll protect you!”

“So I’ve never been nervous before~.”

Huh.

Who was the one trembling behind the stage again?

Seohan suppressed his urge to contradict that statement.

‘Yeah, as long as my ocean sunfish mentality holds up.’

A gesture of generosity from the maknae.

Unaware of his inner thoughts, Cha Seongbin tapped Kang Siwoo’s shoulder and grinned.

“Our leader feels the same, right?”

“Yes, well. I‑I’m fine too.”

Kang Siwoo politely clasped his hands and stared straight into the camera.

Thanks to his always composed expression, he looked calm on the outside.

However, when it came time to introduce the song, his poker face quickly collapsed.

“All right, our leader! Could you briefly tell us about the title track Spacewalk?”

“Yes! The title track Spacewalk is about a boy who drifts through space to find you, whom he happened to see from far across the earth.”

Wow, what a great explanation…

“As a pop‑genre song with deep‑house bass, the powerful refreshing melody contrasts with the wistful lyrics, making it even more attractive as a title track.”

That pace—what speed?

It sounded like he just rattled off everything in one breath.

With textbook‑recital tone, MC Ader burst into laughter in admiration.

“Leader, didn’t you nearly lose your breath just now?”

“Me, me?”

“As expected of the main rapper~.”

“Your diction is good, hyung!”

As praise from the members continued, Kang Siwoo’s ears turned bright red.

“Uh… was it weird?”

“No, you were good.”

Even as they offered comfort, it was already too late.

It was rare to see Kang Siwoo get flustered like that, so camera shutters went off everywhere.

He fanned his hot cheeks with his hand and partially covered his face.

“Siwoo‑ya, you did great!”

“So cute! So cute!”

Normally he wasn’t exactly “cute,” but there are plenty of people in the world who find a Siberian Husky adorable.

Kang Siwoo smiled awkwardly and scratched his head.

Still, it was okay since he didn’t make a big mistake.

It was just that his fellow members sitting behind were lying in wait to tease him for even the smallest slip‑up.

‘Are we sure he won’t slip on anything else?’

That’s what those bright, expectant eyes seemed to say.

Was it just my imagination?

“Sc‑scary.”

Kang Siwoo shivered briefly as a chill crawled down his spine.

Ader, watching that, smiled and spoke.

“From what I see, our Stardust members are really tight because they went through the survival together.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“We were just about to send a member off warmly….”

“Busted.”

Ahem.

Someone coughed in the back.

“From what I see, the team’s atmosphere is really good.”

MC Ader added that and opened her next line.

In fact, she was reading from the script, so the next segment had already been decided.

"Because… it’s no fun if the rookie is too charming~. Shall we try something fun that can break this warmth?"

"Uh!"

"The very corner that our fans requested the most…."

Drumroll.

Tense BGM spread across the stage, and a booming voice erupted from MC Arthur’s mouth.

It was—

"Yaja Time!"

Yaja Time?

"Wak!"

"Waaah!"

The youngest line, Jin Sehyun and Seo Haim, screamed joyfully and stood up from their seats.

And then.

The one who had been waiting for this corner the most.

"Yes!"

This team’s strongest force, Do Seohan’s eyes sparkled.

To be honest, I never had high expectations for Yaja Time.

I figured it was a topic they’d use at least once since debut….

Well, even though all the members here are older than me.

If we go by actual age, I’m the oldest at twenty-six.

I had no childish intentions of using Yaja Time to push them around.

So.

"Hey, Cha Seongbin."

“…!”

Let’s go smoothly.

"What’s with your hair?"

Blue-haired Cha Seongbin flinched and pointed at himself with his hand.

His gesture was a bit more polite than it was a minute ago.

"My, my hair?"

"Yeah, who told you to dye it that blue?"

"Are you an old geezer?"

"I don’t know, maybe that hyung’s an old geezer."

I ignored the whispering Seo Haim and Ha Junseo and swallowed hard.

"Seongbin, who told you?"

"Th-the manager."

The manager?

"Ah, that won’t do…."

I let out a hollow laugh and sighed deeply.

A voice filled with immersion slipped out of me without even realizing.

"Who’s that manager? Is he that great or something?"

"Excuse me?"

"Tell him to come over. Let’s have a talk."

"D-Do Seohan-ssi!"

At my words, MC Arthur hurriedly cut in.

She waved both hands in front of my face.

"Wait! Yaja Time is only for the people here!"

"Huh?"

"The manager isn’t participating in Yaja Time, you know?"

Oh.

So, that’s how it is?

"That’s… the rule?"

Ha Junseo jumped up in panic.

"Hey, Do Seohan, get a grip!"

"Maknae, hold it together."

"The manager was sitting right over there just now."

He was even sitting quite close to the front row.

A chill ran down my spine.

"Do Seohan’s dead now."

"You’re in big trouble…."

"Pfft."

The Dustys in the audience couldn’t hold back their laughter.

My mental state wavered for a moment, but I couldn’t let this precious Yaja Time go to waste.

I wasn’t entirely serious about Yaja Time, but still….

"Junseo, I get it, so just stay quiet."

"Ugh!"

"I’ll settle things with the manager afterward."

"Hyung, you’re so reliable!"

Seo Haim fluttered over to cling to me.

I pushed away Seo Haim’s hand and shook my head.

"Haim."

"Yes?"

"No fluttering your hands."

"……."

I sent off Seo Haim like that.

"Now, our Ian."

"Y-yes… hyung?"

Our soft tofu hyung….

Hmm.

What should I make him do?

A good idea came to mind.

"Our soft tofu’s abs are everything, so go over there and do some push-ups."

"Kyaaaah!"

"Ahahaha! Seohan hyung’s gone crazy."

With the happy laughter of the Dustys in the background, Seo Haim cackled while clutching his stomach.

Seo Ian tilted his head in confusion, as if he thought he misheard.

I drove the nail in.

"Do about thirty."

"R-right now?"

"…Should I make it fifty?"

Seo Ian walked forward in shock, dragging his feet.

For a moment, a murderous glint seemed to flash in that kind hyung’s eyes.

Must have been my imagination.

Still, he followed orders well.

Seo Ian gritted his teeth and started doing push-ups in front of the stage.

"One… two… three…. Do Seohan… you’re dead…."

"What was that?"

"Ah, no. Hyung."

And, our Stardust’s brain, Jin Sehyun.

I still remembered Jin Sehyun’s comment mocking me as a pseudo-science guy during Candle-blow Swing.

It really pissed me off.

"Because our Sehyun is smart…."

"Ah, thank you, hyungnim."

"Explain Kepler’s Third Law."

"What? Here?"

Of course, Jin Sehyun wasn’t going to answer.

Jin Sehyun frowned and fell deep into thought.

"Ah… ah… I’ve heard of it."

Time’s up.

"Please give me one more chance!"

"Then explain the Second Law of Thermodynamics."

"Damn it."

"Pseudo-science Sehyun, go do push-ups with him."

"Hy-hyung, you know this stuff, right?"

Me?

As if I would.

It’s been seven years since I graduated.

"I don’t know, just go."

"Yessir."

Soon after, counting voices echoed.

The beautiful harmony of the two filled the stage.

"One, two, three… Do Seohan… you’re dead…."

"Together… we’ll kill him…."

"Wow, Seo Haim’s about to lose his mind!"

"White Haim, out."

"Yes!"

The Stardust-only gym had officially opened.

After sending everyone off like that, there was one person left.

Our dependable leader of Stardust.

Kang Siwoo was just….

Thwack—

“…!”

I just wanted to hit him once.

If not now, when else could I try climbing over him?

With the vibe of a sneaky hamster doing a quick jab-and-run, I poked his side for no reason.

Tap—

Tap—

"……."

Why isn’t he reacting?

Just as I was wondering, his sharp eyes curved slightly.

Kang Siwoo smiled softly and spoke to me.

"Hyungnim, you must have two lives."

Scary.

That was really scary just now.

I heard whispering behind me.

"It’s like watching Tom and Jerry."

"Except Seohan’s way too scared to be Jerry."

"He’s Hyungnim Seohan."

"Ah, Seohan hyung. He’s trembling all over~."

Be quiet, that makes it even scarier.

Kang Siwoo added in a low voice.

"Yaja Time’s almost over."

"I-I was wrong…."

At that very moment, ding, a short alarm rang out.

MC Arthur, who had been watching us fondly, opened her mouth.

"Yes, the 5-minute Yaja Time is over!"

The moment that sentence echoed out—

"Hey, grab him."

"Get Do Seohan!"

Whoosh—

"Run."

I bolted from my seat faster than light.

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