Chapter 30: Fans of Each Other

Showcase.

It was an event held just before the release of a new album—a presentation, so to speak.

Among them, unlike the 'media showcase' which was only for journalists, there was also a 'fan showcase' open to the general audience.

The more popular the idol, the fiercer the ticket battle became.

It was only natural. Opportunities to see idols up close on a small stage were rare.

Besides, the new song was unveiled at the same time.

Faster than anyone else.

Different from others.

Watching my singer’s comeback must have been a deeply emotional experience.

In other words—

“If you don’t have time or aren’t interested, it’s okay not to come…”

If you weren’t a fan or involved, it was easy not to care much.

Watching a singer you don’t like for over an hour was pretty boring.

That’s why Han Yujin’s voice had shrunk like this.

“But it would really be nice if you came. No, I’m not trying to pressure you. Um… the competition for tickets was actually really fierce. There aren’t many seats for people involved, either.”

She even babbled unusually, nervously glancing around.

Should I give this? Or not?

The reason for her hesitation was simple.

It was her first time inviting someone to a showcase.

As someone once said—

Friends? None.

Han Yujin had been a trainee since she was very young.

The few people she could even call acquaintances were all related to ToMe Entertainment, so there was no particular reason to invite anyone like this.

Even her family only asked during her debut.

Once she started her activities, their interest faded. They didn’t seem to care much.

The thought of “I wish someone I care about would come see my performance” had long been abandoned.

So this was very…

Exciting.

During idol activities.

Other members’ eyes moved busily.

They were looking for someone.

Sometimes for their parents, sometimes smiling and waving when their younger siblings waved to them.

When they spotted someone they knew—

Their faces brightened noticeably.

At that moment, Han Yujin’s feeling was really simple.

“Jealous.”

That was all.

She wondered how it would feel to have the people she cared about come see her.

But Han Yujin had someone like that now.

Seo Taeyoon.

Taeyoon was Han Yujin’s muse and friend.

Though it was a short time, while making music together, she felt like she met the real her.

Someone who let her dress comfortably, talk comfortably, and eat comfortably.

“But… what if he refuses?”

It was just a small scrap of paper, but it could be a burden.

Burden creates distance.

Realizing this, she spoke longer than intended.

“It’s during the day, so it won’t interfere with the DJ performance. Ah, but he might already have plans. Right. Haha. You can’t help prior plans. Yeah, that’s true.”

Whether he understood Han Yujin’s cautious heart or not,

Taeyoon responded as if to soothe her.

“Wait, wait, Han Yujin.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you talking so much?”

“Um… Well, modern people are busy, right? And Taeyoon writer must be even busier. He’s busy today, too, but still came…”

No more.

Taeyoon cut her off and asked.

“So… this isn’t you asking me to come? No, that would be too cold. You did invite me.”

“Oh, right. An invitation! It is an invitation!”

“Then why are you so unsure?”

“As I said earlier, modern people are busy…”

Taeyoon looked straight at Han Yujin.

She was utterly unpredictable.

Sometimes like the mischievous older sister on TV.

Sometimes like the tragic heroine who bore every hardship imaginable.

Anyway, there was one thing he really wanted to say.

Why hesitate so much over something like this?

“I’m busy. That’s true.”

“Ah, I thought so. I knew it.”

“But you know, Han Yujin.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it okay to nag sometimes?”

“But maybe they’re not interested…”

Taeyoon, finally realizing Han Yujin’s feelings, smiled gently.

She was clearly thinking all wrong.

“How could they not be interested? It’s a song I made, sung by my singer, and today is the day my music is first revealed to the world.”

“Ah…”

“The showcase day is the day the song is released. Right?”

“That’s right.”

“Just being invited is an honor for me, really. Even the ticket design is cool.”

Only then did Han Yujin’s expression soften a bit.

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“The lottery was insanely competitive, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. Have you ever been to a showcase before?”

Taeyoon shook his head.

“No.”

Even though he had been to DJ performances, the showcase was unfamiliar.

Because only real fans attended.

The song was good, the performance was cool, the producing was well done.

He had often thought like that.

But he had never once claimed to be someone’s ‘fan,’ listened to new songs first, or looked forward to what they would show this time.

However...

“The showcase is really only for real fans.”

“Yeah… I guess so?”

“So, I’m planning to go to Han Yujin’s showcase. I’ll genuinely support you.”

For the first time ever,

he thought it wouldn’t be so bad to become someone’s fan.

Like Han Yujin, who, after long nights, exhausted, came to see his performance,

he wanted to support her, even from afar.

While smiling happily at the thought, suddenly—

“Gasp! This is totally… whoa whoa.”

Han Yujin, realizing what he meant, alternated between inhaling and exhaling as if at a loss.

Why were her eyes so wide?

She covered her mouth with her hands and stomped her feet.

Why? What? What?

“So, that means… we’re…”

“Yes?”

“Fans of each other?”

“Um… I guess so?”

Fans of each other.

Just as she was about to feel oddly proud of those soft words—

“Kyaaah!”

Han Yujin jumped up and screamed.

“I really like it! It’s totally amazing!”

“Then why shout… Ugh! Why are you grabbing and shaking my collar? These are the clothes I’m wearing for the first time today…!”

Even as Taeyoon flailed like a paper doll grabbed by the collar,

Han Yujin expressed joy to the fullest after a long time.

“I’m really going to do well! Someone I’m a fan of became my fan—I can’t do this half-heartedly! Does that sound weird? Whatever. It’s so fun! Everyone, it’s a beautiful night!”

Hey.

It’s broad daylight right now…

As soon as I got home,

I sat in front of my PC, breathless, without even changing clothes.

Then I plugged in the USB I had received today.

“Ohh.”

A low sigh escaped.

I thought I was somewhat confident in mixing and mastering.

‘Still not enough. Definitely different.’

Layering Han Yujin’s vocals,

and with a famous engineer involved, the song really came alive.

It was an undeniable truth.

This was the real music.

The rough texture became smooth, the blurred edges became sharp.

The sound was richer and clearer than I had imagined.

Han Yujin’s vocals were attractively placed within it.

‘What score should I give?’

Whenever a new album came out, I always listened and gave it a score.

As if I were something important, quite seriously.

This level? About… 120 points?

The full score was 100 points.

The album cover was expressed more elegantly than the rough drafts I had shown before.

I locked eyes with Han Yujin’s captivating gaze.

Even I, who had just met her, was startled by how striking the cover was.

It borrowed a light black-and-white tone overall.

Below, there was a phrase scrawled in red paint.

The clearly engraved word FATAL strongly showed the concept of this album.

“Credits are always the highlight of an album. Ahem.”

My name was proudly listed there.

The album contained five tracks in total.

I barely noticed the other songs.

Super Ride.

Only my song, Super Ride, shone with rainbow light, catching my attention.

I looked over the credits with a full heart.

Lyrics: STaY

Composition: STaY

Arrangement: STaY

What was this?

I froze like a statue, staring at the credits until they looked like holes.

After staring for a long time, I thought of other things.

The first thing I took out was the Nike sneaker box!

I was dying of curiosity.

It was a gift.

I wanted to open it right there and then, but some stubborn sense of pride held me back.

Did Han Yujin notice how often I kept glancing at the sneaker box?

With a pounding heart, I opened the sneaker box.

“A note?”

The shoes were wrapped in tissue paper, and on top lay a single note.

Along with a trademark rabbit drawing.

[YO, DJ! Let’s jump farther and higher wearing these!]

Wow. Sharp-eyed, indeed.

Not surprising for a celebrity, the gift was exactly to my taste.

Honestly, I didn’t know much about sneakers.

Jordan? Force? Max?

I could barely tell them apart.

Judging by the design, these looked like Jordans.

I tried them on, and they fit perfectly.

They matched well with my usual style.

Nike shoes cost over two hundred thousand won for the expensive ones.

Guess celebrities really have big tastes.

I’m wearing these shoes today.

New shoes are like that.

Even the streets you walk every day feel special.

Cool shoes feel like they’ll definitely take me somewhere cool.

“Hey, Rackhole, what’s that you’re wearing?”

“Where did you get them? Did you do an open run?”

“If you set a queue, don’t they do a lottery?”

“Probably bought them at premium price.”

But—

As soon as I got to work, MD hyungs and other staff gathered around me, each saying something.

The topic was the shoes I was wearing.

“How did you get them?”

With no good answer, I replied casually.

I couldn’t say Han Yujin gave them to me.

“Just got them?”

“How can you just get these?”

“Paid for them?”

“So our Rackhole acts, too.”

Hmm? I really didn’t get what they were saying.

As I just rolled my eyes and stood there, one MD hyung fussed.

“You really don’t know? That can’t be.”

“Oh, it was a gift.”

“From who?”

“A friend. I helped them a bit with music.”

At the mention of music, the hyungs all nodded in unison.

“Why?”

“This is that, right? Limited edition. Some collaboration with Scott something.”

“Oh, then it must be expensive.”

“Over a million won. Premium’s huge.”

“Mi, mi, mi, million won?”

Hearing the million-won price, I stammered without realizing it.

No way.

I never imagined shoes costing over a million won per pair.

Well, even masks from luxury brands cost hundreds of thousands.

Shoes could well exceed a million.

“Whoever gave the gift sure has taste. Must’ve been really thankful.”

“Right? I didn’t expect this much. I should send a thank-you text.”

“Looks great on you. Good luck with today’s show.”

After everyone returned to their spots,

I sent a simple message with a photo of the shoes.

[Me: (photo)]

[Me: The shoes are awesome! Thanks for the music that’s even cooler than the shoes!]

Immediately, a reply came.

[Han Yujin singer: I knew you’d like them! Oh, I forgot to mention something important.]

[Han Yujin singer: I got too excited earlier and forgot to tell you!]

[Han Yujin singer: Drumroll! One hour before the tracklist and highlight medley release!]

Oh.

I’d heard the highlight medley would be released before the showcase.

Today was the day.

Right before the performance time.

While eating and preparing for DJing, I kept sneaking glances at the clock.

Then, exactly at 6 PM,

“It’s out!”

“What is?”

“Ah, nothing.”

The video was uploaded to ToMe Entertainment’s official YouTube.

Highlight medley.

Shortened to ‘Harame.’

[Han Yujin 2nd mini album ‘FATAL’ Highlight Medley]

Like a fan waiting for their favorite singer’s comeback,

I clicked the YouTube video.

Han Yujin planned the promotion so fans could guess which song would be the title after watching the highlight medley.

It was a promotional method she’d been trying more often recently.

That was also why the title hadn’t been revealed in advance.

To build fans’ anticipation, and depending on reactions, she could attach a double title to any track.

From a composer’s perspective, it was a bit… cruel?

[Skip]

As the 10-second ad ended and the highlight medley began,

“...!”

I jumped up from my seat.

My song.

Super Ride was playing as the first track in the highlight medley.

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