Second Try Idol

The week leading up to Chronos' first concert was a whirlwind. We'd been moving at full speed with rehearsals flowing as smoothly as a ship with its sails catching just the right wind. But then, everything changed after one particularly tense rehearsal, when sudden modifications to our stage formations started piling up and threw us against the harsh winds of time constraints.

“No more changes, I swear! We've finished with the rehearsals, so there's absolutely no need," someone would insist adamantly.

However, complications always found a way. Another voice would chime in and point out an overlooked flaw. “Ah, but I have a feeling Yoo-Joon and Joo-Han moving backstage after their performance might get tangled up. Wouldn't it be better if they exit separately from the dancers?"

Even with our rehearsal space mirroring the actual stage's setup, the reality of performing live meant adjustments were inevitable. We had to consider the scale, the equipment, and safety.

“Let's try this path. It seemed to work earlier without any issues," Goh Yoo-Joon suggested after a trial run with Joo-Han and the dancers. Confident nods followed his proposal.

His optimism was infectious because it earned a nod of approval from our choreographer. “Alright, let’s just see how it goes in the final rehearsal, and we can tweak it if there's a problem," they decided by setting the plan in motion.

With the pathways seemingly ironed out, it was time for Yoon-Chan’s solo rehearsal on “Forest.” The stage for "Forest" jutted out into the audience like a promontory into the sea, demanding attention.

I was meandering around the main stage while being careful not to disrupt Yoon-Chan’s focus. Jin-Sung approached with his arms laden with snacks and a behind-the-scenes camera tagging along. His eyes sparkled with mischief and a hint of hunger.

“Hyung, the catering's loaded with goodies today. They even have cup noodles. Can you believe it?"

“Are you thinking of eating now? What about digestion during the concert?" I teased, half concerned about his pre-performance meal choices.

“Nah, I’ll be fine. When have you ever seen me back down from a meal?"

Jin-Sung, ever the foodie of Chronos, had been munching on jam-slathered toast since he arrived. It was a fact that never ceased to amaze me.

“Come on, let's grab a bite before we dive back into rehearsals."

“I’ll eat later. Just danced through a whole set, so my stomach's in knots."

Jin-Sung’s face then morphed into a mask of exaggerated shock. "How can you not digest? That’s crazy!”

“Not everyone's stomach is a black hole like yours, kid," I chuckled and gave him a light pat on the back. “Let's take a break and walk around the stage. When else will we get the chance to have it all to ourselves?" I suggested, gesturing to the expansive set around us.

As we strolled across the vast stage, Jin-Sung and I reminisced about the venues we’d performed in the past. “This place is huge... It feels even bigger than where we performed for the year-end awards," I mused as the empty seats stretched out before us.

“Yeah, and it can hold more people, too."

Our gaze swept over the auditorium that would soon be filled with the Rings.

“Never thought our first concert would be in such a grand venue," I said, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling inside me.

“It's all thanks to our Rings," Jin-Sung replied with a grin, waving at an imaginary audience.

“We owe you big time. Thank you!" We both bowed theatrically to the camera, playing up our gratitude for the fans who'd supported us this far.

If I recalled correctly, wasn't this the stage where Elated, the group the members belonged to before my journey back in time, held their last concert before disbanding? I never imagined that this place would someday be etched with memories even more vivid and impactful than their farewell. ꭆΑꞐỗВƐṤ

“Yoon-Chan hyung is deep in rehearsal for ‘Forest’ over there. And what are we up to?" Jin-Sung quipped, keeping the mood light despite the day's significance.

“We’re just chilling out here. And Yoon-Chan is killing it as usual," I added by pointing toward the stage where Yoon-Chan was engrossed in perfecting his solo. The camera briefly swung his way to capture a few moments of his intense focus before switching back to us.

Today was the concert day, yet neither Jin-Sung nor I felt the usual pre-show jitters. When the curtains rose, the nerves would likely kick in full force. But for now, the endless rehearsals and numerous stage experiences lent us calmness.

“Hmm, I think I’m going to grab something to eat," Jin-Sung muttered, possibly bored from our leisurely stroll across the stage. He made a beeline for the catering area with a sly glance at me.

***

The moment before the concert's opening was electric.

“Once again, the fire effects will start when you walk onto the main stage, so make sure you stay away from the devices," a staff member instructed firmly.

“Okay!” While some members nodded in acknowledgment, others like Joo-Han and Yoo-Joon were too captivated by the sight of seats being filled beyond the curtain. Their anticipation was palpable.

“What do we do now? Waaah." They were awestruck by the sea of Rings that filled every visible seat.

“...”

“It's all Rings."

The expanse of Chronos light sticks and faces stretched to the very ceiling. It was a testament to the magnitude of the event.

We were about to perform our first concert in front of a crowd this massive. The reality set in. Our names echoed through the venue.

“Kang Joo-Han! Goh Yoo-Joon! Suh Hyun-Woo! Park Yoon-Chan! Lee Jin-Sung! Chronos!"

The chants from the Rings merged into a wave of sound and energy that washed over us, fueling our spirits before we'd even begun.

“This is what it feels like to be on the brink of something real," I mused aloud.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Wait till we step out there. It’s going to be electrifying," the seasoned dancers advised, trying to steady a visibly nervous Goh Yoo-Joon.

Meanwhile, Joo-Han remained silent, his gaze fixed on the crowd.

“Joo-Han hyung looks really tense. He is usually so composed," I commented to the camera and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. Finally, Joo-Han tore his eyes away from the sea of faces and rallied us together.

We formed a tight circle. Our hands joined in the center, each gripping our custom microphones. These were the gifts we had received from Chronos History. Surrounded by our supportive crew and dancers, we made a collective vow.

“Tonight, let’s show everything we've worked for on this gigantic stage! It’s time to show everything to the Rings! Let’s perform without regrets and, above all, stay safe.”

“Yes!" The response was a resounding chorus from every member, the collective resolve filling the air.

“To everyone who’s been part of this journey—staff, dancers, thank you. Let's nail this tonight! If I say ‘Let’s,’ please say ‘Nail this!’"

Everyone nodded while looking at Joo-Han.

“Let’s…”

“Nail this!” Our voices rang out in unison and echoed across the backstage area. A rallying cry set the tone for the night.

And then, the concert began. As the stage darkened and the roars of the Rings intensified, the opening VCR lit up the screens flanking the main stage. This launched into the narrative that extended the stories of “Parade,” “Joy,” and “Phantom Spirit.”

[A snare]

White letters appeared and then vanished on a black screen. The screen suddenly filled with darkness and closely zoomed in on my face.

- Gasp!

On the screen, I woke from a nightmare. I sat up abruptly and looked around with a gloomy expression before hugging my knees and lowering my head. The haunted expression filled the screen for a while. Then, a dim, pastel pink light filtered in from the front. As I raised my head in response to some noise, I discovered something intriguing.

I was compelled as if under a spell and got out of bed. I walked toward the source of the light, mirroring the opening scene of the "Parade" music video, where we ventured into a fantasy world searching for the missing Joo-Han.

“Hyun-Woo?"

A different type of pink hue crept into the dark room. It was Joo-Han, who had come in, worried about me.

“What the...?"

As he entered the room, Joo-Han also noticed the pink light and widened his eyes in surprise. I continued walking, seemingly deaf to his voice, as the pastel pink light on my face grew stronger. Petals flowed from beyond the screen.

Just as Joo-Han tried to grab me, a brilliant white light engulfed the entire screen.

Then, the dark room reappeared. It was empty, completely deserted.

“Waaah!" The Rings sensed the video had ended. They cheered loudly, and as the dark room faded, more white text appeared on the black screen.

[Flamma]

This was the name of the coupling song from “Phantom Spirit" and the theme for this concert. The cheers from the Rings grew even louder.

“Chronos present!"

All the lights went out, and only the glowing light sticks illuminated the venue. The members and dancers moved toward the stage.

‘Wow, this is insane.’ I was overwhelmed by the affectionate cheers and the beautiful lights from the stage. It felt like I was walking on air.

"Just wait till we get out there, you’ll get goosebumps," said one of the dancers, his words echoing the immense feeling of the moment.

‘Luminosity, light sticks… the brightness is indeed impressive,’ I joked internally, trying to relax and face the overwhelming crowd head-on.

As the lights came on and revealed us, the cheers were deafening even through our in-ears. I wondered how loud it must be without them. As we slowly walked forward, the planned pyrotechnics from the front of the stage burst into life. Even prepared, the loud bangs made me flinch, though it was subtle enough not to be seen by the audience.

We slowly got into a formation, and when every member and dancer was perfectly positioned, the first song began. It was our first original song released before our debut, "Chronos." The opening of "Chronos" was my solo dance.

Being the focus of everyone's attention, including the members and dancers, especially at the start of the concert, put a lot of pressure on me. I had practiced intensely ever since we began rehearsing the setlist.

On top of that, the choreography had even changed completely due to a remix specifically made for the concert. This had taken up several days of practice on its own. Fortunately, the effort paid off, and I was able to perform the dance with satisfactory quality.

As the lighting that initially brightened everyone gradually narrowed to spotlight just me, the cheers from the Rings also decreased. It was probably because they wanted to focus on my performance.

‘No, don't think about it,’ I told myself as I tried pushing away the rising pressure and started performing my solo. It was better to move without thinking than to make a foolish mistake in the middle of my performance.

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