Chapter 314: Break (10)

Entering the raid to an immediate total wipeout was a massive shock to me, a seasoned RPG gamer. Even after we wrapped up the shoot, I couldn't shake off the disbelief. It was to the point that I went straight back to our dorm and dove right back into Flame of Belief with Ji-Hyuk and Goh Yoo-Joon using our original usernames and characters.

It had been ages since I got so hooked on a game that I didn’t stop until Joo-Han smacked me on the back to snap me out of it.

But as engrossing as gaming was, I couldn't let it overshadow my main job. The end of our promotional activities for “Phantom Spirit” was rapidly approaching. Today was the final day for “Phantom Spirit” on the music show.

“Today’s ending fairy[1] is Hyun-Woo!"

“Ah..."

I had stepped out briefly to grab a drink, and when I returned, the atmosphere in the dressing room had shifted. It turned out I had been chosen for today's ending close-up. Since we'd been taking turns with this responsibility, I had half-expected it might be my turn anyway.

I showed a mixed reaction, neither thrilled nor displeased, and then sat down and cracked open my drink. “Shouldn’t we all do this together since it’s the last one?"

“All of us?"

“Let’s plan something. It’s our last chance, after all."

Every time I was up for the ending fairy, I wondered why this trend even started. It wasn’t just about me dealing with awkward close-ups. All members, even all performers on the music broadcast, had to share this load.

But the fans seemed to love it. They even made compilations of the ending fairy moments from each music broadcast. So, no matter how burdensome, it was an event we couldn’t just gloss over.

‘What should we do?’

Fortunately, even if I was the ending fairy, I could involve the other members since today was the final broadcast. The members naturally gathered around me.

Jin-Sung had handled the ending for yesterday’s music broadcast, and he quickly bowed out. “I’ve tried every idea I can think of, so I am out of suggestions. Yesterday’s ending was my limit."

Joo-Han raised his hand as if he had been waiting for his cue. “As Hyun-Woo said, it would be good to do something together to express our gratitude to the fans who have been with us throughout all the promotions. It’s our last shoot, so the timing is perfect."

His proposal was neatly put together as if he had been gearing up to suggest this today.

Joo-Han flashed a professionally bright smile and added, “I’ve got it all planned out. It’s nothing major, though."

***

“Do they look prettier because this is their last performance for this comeback?"

“Don’t read too much into their looks. They don’t need a reason to be pretty. They are just always beautiful."

Two fans were watching Chronos’ performance on TV with enlightened expressions.

‘I thought I’d get to see them this time...’

However, seeing them in person during this promotion period had remained just a dream. It was impossible. The two lived in Daegu[2], and Chronos had activities only in Seoul.

The two fans couldn’t just travel to Seoul to attend a music broadcast because of their jobs. They bought twenty albums hoping to win a spot at a fan signing event, but didn’t get lucky. Those insane bourgeois-types usually bought two to three hundred albums.

“Such a fan pit. This damn fan pit." [3]

“Why can’t I meet them when I love them just as much?"

Ah, time flew by so fast. It felt like just yesterday they were thrilled about Chronos starting promotions for “Phantom Spirit, and now, the promotion period was already ending.

On top of that, there would be no group schedules for a while so that the members wouldn’t overwork themselves. This made it more disappointing. Even though Chronos bitterly mentioned that they struggled just to dance at the start of “Phantom Spirit” in the music video behind-the-scenes, the members had now mastered the stage.

All members were exhausted, and frequent stage mistakes—someone on

UTube

had even targeted Park Yoon-Chan with a compilation of these mistakes—had caused stress for both the members and fans. Just as they started enjoying the stage more, the end was suddenly upon them.

No matter the song, it was always like this. That was why the ending was filled with so much longing.

The Rings suppressed their words to match the cheers, and Chronos gave more glances to the camera and smiled more than usual since this was the last performance for this comeback. This was how “Phantom Spirit” schedules concluded with a flawless stage.

After the song was over, Rings unleashed their pent-up cheers as the melody faded. At that moment, the screen switched to a close-up of Suh Hyun-Woo. The ending lasted for fifteen seconds.

“Whew! Why is he so gorgeous today? Is Hyun-Woo the fairy today?"

“He's unreal, seriously. My baby, awwww. Is he even a human?”

Bitterness stayed bitter, loneliness stayed lonely, and beauty stayed beautiful. Amidst the melancholy of their final schedules, the seamless interaction between Chronos and their fanbase flowed effortlessly like an ingrained habit.

Suh Hyun-Woo was gasping for breath and staring fixedly at the camera. In an instant, his grave expression dissolved, and he glanced around playfully.

‘Ah, you are up to something!'

The two Rings leaned forward toward the TV as if drawn by an invisible force. Suh Hyun-Woo caught the camera's gaze again after looking around. He flashed a small post-it note with a sly grin.

[TO. RINGS

I really love you]

“...”

Words failed them, not for lack of something to say, but because they were overwhelmed with emotion. It wasn’t that they felt like crying. It was rather the kind of tearful reaction you have when you encounter something profoundly touching.

Suddenly, more faces popped into view. Soon enough, all five members of Chronos were squeezing into the narrow frame. Their faces were brimming with joy as they each held up their post-its alongside Suh Hyun-Woo.

[Hang in there. We will meet again soon.]

[We will work even harder. Thank you.]

[Rings have worked hard too. See you in a bit!]

[Missing you always. Love and thank you so much <3 Start snapping pictures now :)]

This wasn't just any message. It was a heartfelt note from Chronos to their fans, rolled out during the live stream. But that wasn’t all. As the stream neared its end, Chronos managed to sneak one last fun moment with Goh Yoo-Joon holding a phone in his hand.

'One, two, three,' Joo-Han counted silently, and everyone in Chronos beamed and flashed peace signs on cue. It was a scene reminiscent of a group selfie. Chronos had perfectly orchestrated the moment for Rings to capture.

“Ah, this is unbelievable.”

It was such bliss.

The two Rings were unable to contain their excitement and erupted in cheers. Thus concluded the promotional cycle for “Phantom Spirit.” But it wasn’t completely over. There was always a mini fan meeting after the last music show, and tales from that gathering would start popping up online soon.

***

Maybe this was what it felt like to retire. Ever since the comeback kicked off, constant fatigue and sleepiness were my shadows. However, now that it was all ending, a cocktail of bitterness, regret, and invigoration surged through me.

“Wow, what should I do now? Should I sleep first or dive into some gaming?”

“Yoo-Joon, aren't you going out to meet friends?”

“You said to cut back on hanging out, hyung. I flatly refused when my friends suggested drinks after the wrap-up. That was a good decision, right?”

“Shouldn't we celebrate with a team dinner? Su-Hwan hyung, aren’t we up for some BBQ tonight?”

“...If you want to go, we can. But, aren’t you tired?”

The rest of the members were all visibly relieved. We left the broadcasting station and naturally gravitated toward a secluded bench. A shrill beep cut through the air.

Beep! Beeeeeep!

“Oops, sorry.”

The noise blaring from Goh Yoo-Joon’s megaphone abruptly ceased as we approached the bench, and the nearby crowd began cheering us on. The click of cameras served as a backdrop.

At the mini fan meeting with our fans...

“Yaaaah!!!”

Jin-Sung burst out in excitement and dashed toward the Rings. Yoon-Chan was hesitant and lagging behind, and Goh Yoo-Joon had a casual hand on Yoon-Chan's shoulder.

“...Let's just take it slow.”

“Yeah. My joints aren't what they used to be,” I said.

Joo-Han and I decided to simply wave and walk over at our own pace. As we strolled, someone with a serious expression suddenly popped up from behind me.

“Ah, you scared me...”

It was Tae-Seong. “Are your joints bothering you?”

I smiled awkwardly and shook my head. “No. It’s just because of the dance routines. They are not really hurting.”

Tae-Seong was a fitness enthusiast who paid extra attention to our hip joints and muscle aches. He seemed skeptical of my quick denial since he probably thought I wanted to avoid another hospital trip like last time. He scrutinized my face with a stoic look, then quietly nodded and backed off.

Given his nature, I’d probably find myself in a hospital within a week anyway.

When Joo-Han and I arrived at the scene of the fan meeting, Goh Yoo-Joon started things off with his usual banter.

“Rings, we’re so sorry. Have you been waiting long?”

“Yes... No!!! Not really!”

“Hey, someone just said 'yes!’ You've all been so patient.”

The fan meeting today was held in a relaxed manner, but there were a few announcements that naturally needed to be made during the event. These included news about our upcoming long vacation and a special live broadcast tonight on

Q-app

to commemorate the final episode. Lastly, there were teasers about Yoon-Chan's solo track "Forest," which would be released tomorrow with a special live video.

“How did you like the performance today?"

“It was great!!!"

Joo-Han smoothly started the discussion with a story about the ending scene. “You might have missed this at the end of the show because the camera didn’t fully capture the message. Here's the rolling paper we wrote for our fans."

Despite the fan meeting not being meticulously planned like the last time, all the members comfortably assisted Joo-Han and interacted with the Rings. The meeting proceeded smoothly and, as usual, it ended with a Q&A session.

“Uh, I choose you! The person at the very back!" Jin-Sung pointed to one of the fans who had raised their hand to ask a question.

The fan was blushing deeply. She stood up and said, “I'm curious about the most memorable thing that happened to Chronos recently!"

“Ah!" Jin-Sung exclaimed, looking around at the other members. The question immediately brought to mind a night soaked in alcohol and tears—the Game of Truth they'd played.

From their expressions, it was clear that all the members were thinking of the same event.

“...Hmm, there is something, but should I really talk about it?" Goh Yoo-Joon was already hinting at a willingness to spill the beans with his suggestive tone and a playful expression.

1. The "Ending Fairy" in K-Pop describes a performer who captures attention with a memorable pose or expression during the final shot of a live performance, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. This role varies by performance and is seen as a coveted spot for idols to showcase their charisma and connect emotionally with fans, often leading to memorable moments that resonate with their audience. ☜

2. Daegu is 1.5 to 2 hours away from Seoul by high-speed train, and around 4 hours by car. ☜

3. Referring to the inability of the fan to reach their idols/connect with them in person. ☜