On the stage where lighting and sound were being checked and maintained, there were numerous seats spread all around.
The sight of Gocheok Sky Dome, where Ha Eun reunited after 12 long years following her baseball pitch, was still vast.
How she had managed to pitch without feeling nervous in such a large space made Ha Eun reflect on herself.
‘Five hours. No, maybe about four hours left.’
The countless audience seats in front of her were already fully booked, meaning that by the time the Infinite Challenge Music Show began, everywhere would be filled with people.
And, it was Ha Eun herself who had to provide an unforgettable moment to those many people.
She felt a slight heaviness on her shoulders.
It was after this that she joined Yoon Si-hyeok, who had been chatting with the other cast members of the Infinite Challenge Music Show.
“I’ve arrived.”
“Oh, you’re here?”
Then came the question regarding Ha Eun’s condition.
She answered vaguely, saying that she wasn’t sure yet, and then they started discussing the rehearsal for the Lee Ha-eun & Yoon Si-hyeok team.
The discussion with Yoon Si-hyeok continued for about 10 minutes, focusing on which parts of the stage needed to be checked and which parts of the performance song required the most attention.
However, news was conveyed that they had to do a brief interview with Yoon Si-hyeok before the first rehearsal.
She sat down on a foldable chair set up a little away from the performance stage for the interview.
The first question that came was about how the teamwork between Ha Eun and Yoon Si-hyeok was during the preparation for the performance.
In response to the interviewer’s request to speak as honestly as possible, Ha Eun said, “Uncle Si-hyeok approached me first, which made it comfortable. He listened well to my feedback.”
She summarized the rehearsals, which had no notable disharmony.
Immediately following that, Yoon Si-hyeok’s answer was generally similar to Ha Eun’s.
However,
“When I finally got first place in the mini-games and said I’d perform last, I really felt a pain at the back of my head.”
With a tone half-serious, half-joking, he shot a playful glare at Ha Eun.
Embarrassed, she managed to utter just the three words “Fighting” with a smile.
What came back from Yoon Si-hyeok next was a kind of comedic banter.
“If I fight with Ha Eun, I’ll lose, so I have to be obedient. If Ha Eun wants to perform last, then we’re performing last….”
Knowing that there wasn’t likely to be an actual confrontation with Yoon Si-hyeok, Ha Eun didn’t argue.
She did feel a bit worried about the slightly aggressive display she had shown during the mini-game, but.
‘Well, it was just a plastic hammer… so there shouldn’t be any big deal.’
She decided to think of it purely as part of the entertainment.
She was still not sure how Ha Eun’s passionate image displayed in the mini-game would be edited.
The second question that came up was about acquaintances who had come to see Ha Eun and Yoon Si-hyeok’s performance today.
“You’ll be performing in front of familiar faces. Please share your thoughts.”
In response to the request to reply as if sending a video message, Ha Eun took a moment to think deeply.
Finally, once her thoughts were organized, she spoke.
“I’ll make sure you have an enjoyable day from start to finish. I hope you enjoy my stage.”
She sent a video message to Na-yeon and Sung Yoon, as well as to Jee Hye-min and other members of the Fantasia group who would be watching Ha Eun’s performance from the TV.
Although the last broadcast featuring Ha Eun’s stage video on the Infinite Challenge Music Show was not set to air until two weeks later.
After Ha Eun’s video message ended, Yoon Si-hyeok’s video message began.
He started sharing a story about his son, who had just entered kindergarten, and then leaned closer to Ha Eun and spoke about her.
“Our Do-hyun said you’re a cool noona and he’ll perform hard, so please give him lots of applause! Love you!”
Seeing Yoon Si-hyeok display such an affectionate side made Ha Eun ponder for a moment.
Like in the past with the Sea Butterfly, it seemed she was still not used to witnessing such parental affection.
After about two or three more questions, the interview time came to an end.
In other words, it meant they had to go rehearse for real now.
“Oh, uh. Mic test, mic test~.”
Shortly after, she finally stepped on stage with Yoon Si-hyeok.
There was no trace of tension as Yoon Si-hyeok conducted a mic test in his characteristic light voice right next to Ha Eun.
Regardless of anything else, Yoon Si-hyeok was a person who had lived busily as an entertainer for over ten years.
This wasn’t his first time standing on a large stage like Gocheok Sky Dome.
Since this wasn’t his first time with the Infinite Challenge Music Show either, he showed various skills.
In contrast, it was true that Ha Eun still felt awkward on such a big stage.
While it was fortunate that there were no significant mistakes during the rehearsals that followed, she thought, ‘… After all, it’s only been a year.’
She felt she still had a long way to go before she could become as familiar with the crew as Yoon Si-hyeok.
Ha Eun, who had only begun to make her name known less than a year ago, had a long way to go to achieve her goal of becoming a mega-star.
In any case, since the rehearsal went well, it was now time to watch the rehearsals of other teams.
For a while after that, she was busy observing the rehearsals of other teams and providing reactions for the broadcast.
It was also partly because the performances from other teams were quite impressive.
“Well, the people whose main job is singing are different, aren’t they?”
“I heard they said they might lose their livelihood because of you.”
“…Ahaha.”
*
Time after the rehearsal passed by in the blink of an eye.
There were numerous tasks to complete, such as makeup and costume changes for the main performance, and checking the in-ears.
“Wow… you look totally like an idol.”
Ju Jung-yun’s impression when he finally saw Ha Eun after all the preparation.
As expected, the sounds of camera shutters clicked two to three times into Ha Eun’s ears.
Of course, the uploading of photos would only happen after the main performance was entirely over.
For now, it was just.
“Your mom said you’re incredibly pretty, Ha Eun.”
“…Um.”
She was merely sending photos of her stage outfit to Na-yeon and Sung Yoon, who were sitting in the audience awaiting Ha Eun’s stage.
Thanks to that, Ha Eun’s earlobes turned a bit red.
Afterward, she listened to the audio files of the performance song repeatedly as part of her imagery training.
Not long after, she whispered the lyrics of her song in her heart, picturing herself filling Gocheok Sky Dome.
Thus, time flowed once again.
“That was the Rick & Song Hyun-min team! Thank you─!”
It was Ha Eun’s turn to perform right in front of her.
That is, the moment the second-to-last performance of the Infinite Challenge Music Show ended completely.
“Alright, let’s go~.”
She walked toward the back of the stage alongside Yoon Si-hyeok, who displayed his usual approachable demeanor.
Shortly after, Sung Yoo-seok’s introduction began.
“Next is the Lee Ha-eun & Yoon Si-hyeok team’s ‘T. R. E. N. D.!’ Please give a big round of applause─!”
The roar and applause sounded as if the air was exploding.
Thus, Ha Eun and Yoon Si-hyeok each stepped towards the left and right sides of the stage.
The stage was still completely dark.
Ha. A deep breath escaped her as she faced the numerous audience members beyond the pitch-black stage.
The twinkling lights in front of her were all the camera flashes of people watching Ha Eun’s performance.
If she were to claim she wasn’t nervous at all, that would undoubtedly be a bright red lie.
Nonetheless, the melody of the performance song began to play, and the moment to raise her handheld microphone was drawing closer.
-♬──♪♪!
As the tempo of the melody quickened, she shifted her gaze toward the camera of the performance staff approaching her.
And then, at the moment when all music completely stopped.
-Swush.
She took the pose that she and Yoon Si-hyeok had meticulously chosen for the start position.
Almost simultaneously, the numerous lights in the performance venue brightly illuminated.
Standing in the very center of the vast stage of Gocheok Sky Dome, Ha Eun and Yoon Si-hyeok filled the screen alternately.
Cheers filled the air, ready to burst.
-Waahhh!!!!
Then, the previously interrupted melody of “T. R. E. N. D.” began to play again.
At the moment when Yoon Si-hyeok shouted, “Is everyone ready to enjoy it─!!”, Gocheok Sky Dome was filled with excitement.
“Now I go higher─♪”
The pure and clear tone of voice unique to Pinocchio erupted powerfully from the very beginning without any concern for adjusting the strength.
It was the moment that the stage, which would be talked about for a long time as Ha Eun had once said, began.
