Chapter 469: What Should We Do From Now On (33)

"Come on, run faster!"

"I’m running as fast as I can! Hey, stop—walk!"

I quickly grabbed Goh Yoo-Joon and brought our hasty sprint through the corridor to a stop. We paused to greet a staff member approaching from the opposite direction with a friendly, "Hello!" Then, after we resumed running, I turned to the camera while being slightly out of breath.

"Everyone, I know we shouldn't be running in the hallways, but we are seriously short on time. Please excuse any shaky footage."

"We’re going to be late!" Goh Yoo-Joon added with a tone a mix of worry and excitement.

In a stroke of luck, we had managed to snag interviews with nearly all the participants due to some impeccable timing. Now, I was hoping to catch Kun-Ho for an interview too, since he was the one who had handed off the camera to me.

But time was slipping away.

We dashed backstage and arrived at our destination breathlessly. Joo-Han was there to meet us, but he didn’t look exactly pleased.

"What time do you guys think it is?" he asked sternly.

"Sorry," we mumbled in unison.

"We nearly missed the rehearsal, okay?"

Joo-Han shook his head in disbelief, gave us a light slap on the back—more admonishing than aggressive—and grudgingly let the incident slide. Luckily, rehearsal hadn’t started yet, though we were definitely late.

I regained my composure among the other members, then scanned the room and noticed Su-Hwan and Kun-Ho deep in conversation. With a bit of time before rehearsal officially began, I wondered if I could quickly head over to pass off the camera.

Should I go? I glanced at Joo-Han for approval. He looked at his watch, then at the stage and the staff milling around, and reluctantly nodded. This indicated I was supposed to make it quick.

"Don’t stray too far," he warned.

"I will just hand the camera to Senior Kun-Ho and come right back."

"Okay, is Yoo-Joon going with you as well?" he asked.

"Can I?" Goh Yoo-Joon looked eager.

Joo-Han gestured for him to go ahead, then added with a playful smirk. "If the cutie is going, the freshie better follow. Or is it the other way around?"

"Gosh, stop it," Goh Yoo-Joon protested. This was a rare moment of him being the butt of the joke captured on camera.

"See you later, hyungs!" Jin-Sung called out.

"See you!" We waved our hands at Chronos members who were crouched and waving us off.

Goh Yoo-Joon and I approached Kun-Ho and Su-Hwan. When he saw us, Kun-Ho waved with a big smile. "Hyun-Woo and Yoo-Joon are here?"

"Did you guys enjoy your meal?" Goh Yoo-Joon asked cheekily, and Kun-Ho laughed before nodding in amusement.

"Very much! Come over here, my students."

Su-Hwan glanced at the camera and subtly moved behind me, easing out of the shot. I would have loved to pull him into an interview too, but since he wasn't a celebrity, it seemed better not to press.

"Hey, I hear you've been giving some pretty stellar interviews," Kun-Ho playfully teased.

"Oh, hardly," I replied modestly. He must have heard about this from someone considering I had interviewed nearly the entire cast by now.

I decided to dive into the interview with Kun-Ho since we were short on time. "As you prepare for this concert, is there a particular performance you are looking forward to the most?"

"Perhaps... our duet?" Kun-Ho winked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha! Just kidding. Actually, I’m really looking forward to the joint performance with our juniors. I've heard they've been preparing diligently, so I’m curious to see what they will bring to the stage."

I quickly carried on the interview. Goh Yoo-Joon piped up. "One last question, if I may."

"Oh, what is it?"

"This is a bit off the cuff, but please answer honestly. What was your first impression when you met us?"

I looked at Kun-Ho, intrigued by Goh Yoo-Joon’s unexpected question.

"When I first met you guys? Ah, that was during the filming of

Graduating."

"Yes, that's correct."

"My first thought was, 'Wow, idols these days are really good-looking.’"

"Really?"

"Yes, and so young and innocent. I remember thinking, 'It’s rare to find such polite and well-mannered kids in the entertainment industry. Plus, they can actually sing very well, and they said they looked up to me.’ That really touched my heart."

Kun-Ho's words were genuine. He really took great care of Goh Yoo-Joon and me after that shoot. He was a truly considerate senior.

I said, "Kun-Ho hyung really looked after us in so many ways. After filming, he even helped us with vocal practice."

"That's right. And if I recall correctly, wasn't it Hyun-Woo who couldn't participate in gym class because of a bad back or leg?"

"Ah, yes. That's right."

"I remember thinking, 'Idols need to conserve their strength to last long in this business.' But you guys in Chronos still dance your hearts out."

Goh Yoo-Joon nodded in agreement. "That's very true."

"Do you still keep in touch with Hee-Su and the others?"

"Yes! They’re coming to the concert. They've all found jobs now, and become office workers."

"Really? That's impressive. I’m so glad to hear that. The kids from

Graduating

were all quite wholesome."

Though there had been a few incidents, it had been a shoot filled with good memories.

Just then, a staff member called out, "Chronos, it's time for rehearsal!"

"Ah, Senior..."

"Alright, go ahead to rehearsal. I will wrap up this recording." Kun-Ho smoothly took over the camera, and we hurried off to the stage. It was time for Chronos' final rehearsal.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

I had been on this stage before, but it always seemed so vast every time I stood there.

"Rehearsal for ‘Ario 愛’ will start now."

As the director's words faded, the prelude to "Ario 愛" began to play over the stage. It was the day before the joint concert, and the rehearsal proceeded smoothly.

***

The next day was the day of the performance. The backstage area was bustling. Not just the waiting rooms, but the corridors, behind the stage—everywhere was teeming with a great number of artists and staff. It was as busy as a music broadcast.

"I love this buzz. It reminds me of when we filmed

Pick We Up.

"

"Right? There are a lot of people, just like at a music broadcast. But it feels like

Pick We Up.

You know?"

Despite the chaos, the members were now fully dressed and had make-up on.

The atmosphere of a music broadcast was one where many people were busy with their own tasks, but now, it felt more like everyone was collaborating as one group or one performance.

Pick We Up

had built a camaraderie among groups toward its latter stages despite it being a competition show. By the final rounds, there was a cozy atmosphere which made everyone feel close to each other, similar to what we felt now. It was an ambiance I personally loved but rarely experienced.

"I saw something on the way here today. There are a lot of fans, but the Rings are the most noticeable."

"It’s because they are our fans."

"Seriously, it’s kind of like the saying 'blood is thicker than water.’ Although we are not blood-related to the Rings, we are like a family. There are supposed to be similar numbers of fans for everyone, but our fans stand out the most," Jin-Sung commented.

Tae-Seong replied, "It's actually true that the Rings are the majority in the audience."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, you guys have the most fans here today."

The seating at the concert had been allocated based on the number of fans registered in the fan club, and it seemed the Rings had the highest numbers. I couldn't have been prouder.

"Hehe." Jin-Sung's mood visibly brightened as he chuckled, prompting Joo-Han to interject.

"Since so many people are coming to see us, let’s give it our all. You got that?"

"Absolutely!"

"Shall we go then?" Tae-Seong asked.

"Aah..."

The stylists' hands reluctantly left us. They seemed eager to make more adjustments, but it was time for us to move backstage for the performance.

As we walked through the corridors towards the stage, the voices of the Rings grew clearer. It reminded me of the vibe from Chronos’ past solo concerts.

"We are really doing this, huh? The concert," Goh Yoo-Joon muttered softly. There was a unique nervous excitement that only a concert could bring.

We reached backstage, then Kun-Ho, Allure, Sequence, and even Yeong-Yee were all waiting to go up on stage.

An announcement for the concert started and the opening VCR began to play. Suddenly, the bustling backstage quieted down. Everyone's attention was fixed on the VCR playing above the stage.

After the somewhat lengthy VCR ended, staff voices could be heard. "Please move to the stage!"

The performers started moving towards the curtain in a quiet and slow manner. And the moment the VCR ended....

"Hello!" Kun-Ho greeted from the front, and with his greeting, the fans erupted into cheers. This marked the start of the concert. We were one of the last groups to go on stage.

"Kyaaaah!!!!!"

As soon as we stepped onto the stage, all of us couldn't help but break into wide smiles.

‘What he said was true.’

Among the sea of fans, the Rings’ light sticks shone the brightest, just as Jin-Sung had said.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"The brightness of the Ring's light stick is really something," Goh Yoo-Joon whispered. I nodded in agreement, and together with the other members, we moved to our designated spots.

The first opening song was Sequence's "HAPPY." It was a bright and cheerful song, perfectly fitting for the start of the concert. Tonight, all the performers were going to sing it.

Starting with Sequence's main vocalist Aeon, each performer took turns singing their parts. It was the beginning of a festival.