This was what the caller said.

  All of the other components managed to pass customs without a hitch, but the most important part that actually shot the laser, named ‘Bim-Votan’, did not get through.

  As KangYoon had heard that passing through customs wouldn’t be a problem when he first did a meeting with them, he was at a loss.

  [Didn’t you say that there will be no problems with passing through customs?]

  [I apologize. This is the first time it happened to us as well… We got one through Japan no problem, and Japan has even stricter customs… I did not realize that it would be a problem in Korea.]

  KangYoon heaved a deep sigh.

  ‘I should have expected this when they guaranteed me that it would get through…’


  It was his fault for not being thorough.

  He was at fault for not expecting the ‘what if’.

  KangYoon no longer blamed the other party.

  Right now, what mattered more was to look for a solution.

  […Okay, then. For now, I’ll have to look for a solution. Since it’s tied up at the airport, it won’t be easy for it to get here on time.]

  [I apologize. If you need it, we can send you other devices…]

  The caller apologized deeply, but KangYoon shook his head.

  [Right now, looking for a solution is the priority. For now, please focus on getting out of the airport.]

  [Understood.]

  [I’ll take care of the matters here, so please do your best on your part.]

  After the call, KangYoon called Yoo DongChul, the general director, as well as the lighting designer, and explained the current situation.

  Yoo DongChul’s expression turned yellow after hearing that they wouldn’t be able to use the laser.

  “That’s a big problem. If it’s like this, we’ll have to change all of the tones used in that part…”


  Jo HanYul, the light designer, bit his lips with a serious expression.

  Changing the lights wasn’t so easy as it sounded. It had to be done while considering the traits of the song, the stage, as well as other stage devices.

  Yoo DongChul, the general director, also crossed his arms and frowned.

  “President, if it’s like this we can’t use the sprinkler device. We were originally going to attract attention by shooting lasers at the spouting water but without the laser… we can’t do that. The lights can’t fill the job of the laser.”


  KangYoon was of the same opinion. However, there was something more important than that.

  “For now, we can think of two things. One is to remove the sprinkler and fill it with something else, or two, look for other devices that can work with the sprinkler. Let’s see what we can do with this.”


  “You’ve made it clear for us.”


  General Director Yoo DongChul smiled. Although this was a crisis, the leader wasn’t wavering so there was no confusion among the crew.

  KangYoon clapped to gather attention.

  “It’ll be too hard to think of one right now. For now, it’ll be better to think about it while we do other things. I’ll also look into things that can replace it. If you think of anything, please give me a call. If there’s nothing that can replace it…”


  KangYoon had an intense glint in his eyes.

  “We can just start over from scratch so don’t think about it too seriously.”


  The two of them laughed seeing that KangYoon was trying to smooth over this serious situation.

  ***

  (T/N: I OCR’d the Japanese texts, so please forgive me if I’m wrong on anything. The author also didn’t provide a translation, so I made do with what I got…)

  “上を向いてあるこう — 涙がこぼれないように–”


  (Let’s walk looking up — so that the tears won’t fall)

  Inside the booth.

  In MoonHee holding a microphone, was practicing enka, a popular Japanese music genre, with her awkward pronunciation.

  She was singing an enka from the 60s, which was rarely heard in recent years.

  “思い出す春の日– ー人ぼっちの夜–”


  (Remember that spring day — On this lonely night –)

  Her voice harmonized with the melody without many difficulties.

  Just as she was singing, a voice could be heard from her headphones.

  – MoonHee-unni, your pronunciation must be a little clearer.

  Outside the booth, in front of the mixer.

  HeeYoon’s eyes were sharp as she watched In MoonHee inside the booth.

  “Okay.”


  – Let’s try that again.

  In MoonHee’s voice flowed out from the speaker once again.

  HeeYoon flipped over the pages of the book that was titled “Japanese Free Talking with Lee ChangYeon”.

  She wasn’t studying music, but Japanese…


  ‘At this point, I feel like I got to know MoonHee-unni enough… but why is oppa telling me to stick with her?’


  Was she somehow different from the other singers?

  It had been a few days since she had started watching In MoonHee practice trot and enka.

  It wasn’t easy to notice any different points about her that the other singers did not have.

  ‘Well, since it’s him that’s telling me to do this…


  He should have his reasons.

  The brother she knew of never spoke without reason.

  ***

  “W, wait. Wh, what?”


  Inside a director’s office at MG Entertainment, a very loud noise could be heard.

  “J, JooAh…! You want t, two months off? How can you tell me this at such an important time?”


  Director Jung HyunTae felt his vision blurring after hearing JooAh’s words.

  The company was already lacking money due to the construction, but she was going to rest for a whole two months?

  If it was anyone else, he would have punished without a second thought, but it was JooAh of all people.

  “I’m not telling you to give me two months off for nothing. How many days did I rest last year?”


  “…Hmhm, that’s…”


  Her emotionless words made Director Jung HyunTae shrink back a little, and feeling empowered from that, JooAh pressed on.

  “I didn’t say this before, but I’m not on Hello Tint’s level where I can be ordered around as I wish, right? But I still did your bidding. Korea in the morning, Japan at night, and Vietnam the next day! Just what the hell is up with this? My schedule was like this all of last year, without a single day off!”


  “…..”


  “Forget it, and don’t schedule anything from here to here. Otherwise, I might just act like JinSeo.”


  Director Jung HyunTae paled when he heard the word ‘JinSeo’.

  JooAh at least pretended to listen, but JinSeo…


  “JooAh. The thing is…”


  “I’m off then.”


  Having finished speaking, JooAh slammed the door open and left.

  She had digested a tough schedule until now without a single complaint, but she was getting frustrated on the inside.

  Looking at the door, Director Jung HyunTae heaved a deep sigh.

  “…JooAh, this girl, she always brings back a bomb when she comes back from America. Who am I supposed to get to fill her part?”


  If JooAh leaves a gap, there was no choice but to have other artists fill the gap.

  He picked up his telephone to call the secretarial office.

  ***

  “Your heart is distancing away from me — I don’t have the courage to grab it–”


  Various fancy lights fell upon Kim JaeHoon’s head and a dry ice fog was on the stage. At the same time, the place he was standing on started moving upwards into the air.

  KangYoon, who was watching that from below the stage, spoke to General Director Yoo DongChul.

  “The levitation device isn’t bad, but dry ice, huh…”


  “Old tricks work the best. Rising to the air is simple, but it will definitely gather attention.

  General Director Yoo DongChul had confidence in his job.

  While working, he told KangYoon to leave this to him and the result was this levitation device.

  Seeing Kim JaeHoon rising into the air, KangYoon narrowed his eyes.

  “…How about using a fog machine instead? Since dry ice fog is too heavy, it won’t rise, and the levitation device will be revealed…”


  “A fog machine can’t produce as much smoke. That’s why I used dry ice…”


  “Hmm, this is difficult. This is very good, but I’m worried that it may have the inverse effect if the levitation device is revealed.”


  While Kim JaeHoon passionately sang, KangYoon discussed the stage with the general director.

  However, there was no clear solution in sight.

  They had finished 99% and were striving towards doing the last 1%.

  Just as the two were having a serious discussion, President Ha SeYeon, who was watching Kim JaeHoon’s song, approached the two.

  “Aah, JaeHoon-oppa… Hm? President, what is it? Is something not working out?”


  President Ha SeYeon seemed to have become curious after seeing KangYoon make such a serious expression.

  KangYoon sent away the general director and smiled as he replied.

  “It’s not much. The stage just isn’t 100% satisfactory.”


  “Really? I think it’s really good though… Of course, there’s the fact that I’m a member of Kim JaeHoon’s fan club. Heheh.”


  Seeing President Ha SeYeon full of smiles unlike when she did business, KangYoon chuckled.

  “Now that’s good to see. Oh, I haven’t thanked you yet, have I? Thanks for the screen.”


  KangYoon thanked her for the screen, which was a big part of the stage.

  Thanks to President Ha SeYeon, he could halve the costs necessary for the screen.

  “Not at all. I’m thankful instead that I could be of help to the concert. Ah, JaeHoon-oppa…”


  “…..”


  KangYoon coughed awkwardly and turned around to Kim JaeHoon.

  The levitation device was lowering now and his voice was slowly fading out.

  ‘There’s a lot of dry ice, but it’s not going up at all. At that rate, a part of the device will be revealed.’


  KangYoon approached Kim JaeHoon, who was talking to the staff about the stage.

  “How’s the stage?”


  “The acoustics are really good, and the reverb is just right as well. But when I go up, the lights are too blinding, I can’t see what’s in front of me…”


  Kim JaeHoon was uncomfortable with going up.

  He nodded when the lighting director told him that he would reduce the lights.

  At that moment, KangYoon took out his walkie-talkie.

  “This levitation device, Let’s just put it below.”


  “What?”


  When everyone was confused, KangYoon continued to speak.

  “Let’s change it so that it’s not a levitation device, but it’s a lift that comes from below the stage. I think this is our best option since we’re using dry ice and the lights are just right for it as well.”


  – That will be easier for us… but it’ll take two days at least. Is that alright with you?

  Moreover, a lot of other possibilities will open up once a lift was installed.

  When General Director Yoo DongChul spoke worriedly, KangYoon pressed on.

  “Rather than practicing while things are half-finished, it’ll be better to do proper practice even just once. I’m sorry for my stubbornness….”


  – Not at all. It’s easier for us since you are so decisive. You listen to our opinions a lot as well…


  Actually, Yoo DongChul didn’t like that levitation device either.

  And now, KangYoon was telling him he would remove it, so he felt more comfortable instead.

  “JaeHoon, I’m sorry about that. Please be patient.”


  “I’m fine with it. It’s for a better stage after all.”


  When KangYoon expressed his apology, Kim JaeHoon shook his head.

  To strike the iron while it was hot, they started installing the lift immediately.

  ***

  7 days later.

  5 hours until the concert.

  The last wave of the cold had struck today.

  Outside the Olympic Sports Complex, people wearing thick coats were waiting to enter the venue.

  “I, I’m looking f, forwawawaward to todddddday…”


  “So ccccold…”


  It was so cold that it was hard to talk, but the audience were of one mind.

  The final rehearsal was taking place on the stage.

  “I wait for you with tears –”


  Kim JaeHoon checked on his mic and his in-ear monitors one last time, while the staff took their respective positions.

  In front of the stage, the lighting director and the sound director tried their best to adjust the overall settings, and the beauty of the stage brightened as they continued doing their work.

  After the dress rehearsal, the curtain to the stage lowered.

  At the same time, people started entering

  “Uh, so cold!”


  The audience received a pack of milk and bread each and made their way to their seats. The snacks were a token of apology for making them wait for a long time outside. The highlight was the caricature of Kim JaeHoon on the bread.

  People were touched to receive such service, and some people uploaded photos of them to their social network.

  – I’m so touched by Kim JaeHoon’s consideration UwU. I was cold and hungry but lord JaeHoon consoled my heart with bread and milk…


  While the fans consoled their hunger with some food and warmed up, Kim JaeHoon was doing some mind control in his waiting room.

  “Phew…”


  He looked back at past events.

  After his debut as a stage, he walked on the path of success, but he fell due to his previous company.

  Then he went to the military. After that, he struggled to get back on his feet, but nothing good happened. However…


  He met KangYoon, and then…


  He was here today.

  ‘Perhaps this is all a dream…?’


  He pinched his cheeks, and it hurt.

  It didn’t seem to be a dream.

  Just as he chuckled to himself, KangYoon entered after knocking.

  “Hyung.”


  “I’m here to see how you’re doing.”


  Kim JaeHoon smiled at him as though he was alright.

  “Who do you think I am?”


  “I guess you’re right.”


  Kim JaeHoon raised his hand.

  KangYoon spoke after giving him a high five.

  “Go break a leg.”


  “Yes”


  KangYoon no longer spoke and left the waiting room.

  Looking at the closed door, Kim JaeHoon muttered in a small voice.

  “Thanks for everything, hyung.”


  He felt that he would cry if he looked at the door any longer so he looked away.

  ***

  A video about Kim JaeHoon started playing on the screen.

  A video from before his debut, to when he just debuted, as well as footage of him receiving some prizes, all played back on the screen.

  Then, the video started playing back Kim JaeHoon coughing amidst a blizzard. It showed the audience that he was falling into the abyss along with the narration that something bad happened to his vocal cords.

  It peaked out when no one looked for him after he was done with his military service.

  “…..”


  “…..”


  Those of the audience who knew a lot about him deeply sympathized.

  There was not a single subtitle, and it showed them all of his past. That rang deeply in the hearts of the audience. Some of them even started sobbing.

  However, he did not stop singing amidst the blizzard. Then, the sun started shining and the blizzard started waning.

  The dark screen gradually brightened up and all the lights started shining as well.

  At the same time.

  “ARE YOU READY!”


  The voice that the audience wanted to hear so much filled the venue and then,

  “WAAAAA—-!”


  They replied with immense cheers.

  At the same time, the screen was split in two before Kim JaeHoon walked out.

  That was how the concert began.