Chapter 215
The morning of KAMA has dawned.
We sat in our seats in the cast block and watched the opening ceremony, listening to the cheers of fans who filled the audience from early on.
"Hyung-nim, this strangely reminds me of the IPS finals."
"Hmm. The atmosphere is definitely a bit similar to that time."
"I suddenly feel nervous when I think about the finals. What should I do?"
Heo Yu-bin spoke to me with his lips trembling slightly.
The smug look he had shown at the departure lounge yesterday was nowhere to be found.
I thought about it for a moment, then lightly hit Heo Yu-bin on the forehead.
"Ouch! Hyung-nim, what are you doing!"
"It wakes up your mind."
"But I am awake?"
"Why are you afraid of memories from the finals when you're awake?"
"Yes?"
I smiled faintly and pointed out only the necessary parts.
"Yubin, didn't you confidently make it through the finals and debut? If so, your memories of the finals must have ended with a happy ending."
"Well, that's true. I'm just nervous because of the atmosphere."
"Didn't I say that during practice yesterday? You should enjoy the tension."
"Ugh...."
Heo Yu-bin pursed his lips after hearing my words.
"Then I'll just be thinking about hitting Siyoon hyung in my head."
"Does thinking about that ease your tension?"
"I can't help but laugh when I think about the expression hyung would make. I always think about it whenever I'm nervous."
I don't think it used to be like this.
It seems that Heo Yu-bin has also developed a bad taste.
"If that's okay with you, feel free to do so."
"Yes!"
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I can hear all that chattering?"
At the right moment, Kang Si-yoon grabbed Heo Yu-bin's shoulder from behind.
"Why do you want to hit this weak hyung so badly, Yubin?"
"Because it's fun?"
"You learned how to tease me from Karis."
"I'm saying this just in case, but I didn't teach anything to Yubin."
"I'm the only one who was treated as a punching bag from the members. Ah, how sad."
While they were having a silly conversation with each other, the opening ceremony ended, and now the MCs took over the microphone and began the official hosting.
Since KAMA has so many artists scheduled to appear, the awards ceremony will be held during breaks in the middle of the stage.
There are even items where 10 teams share the award, so the running time is expected to be quite long.
I looked around to see if I could spot any familiar faces.
We were sitting in the first row of the cast block, center left.
A few meters away, Hailight was applauding, and behind them, Hwanjo and Plea, the solo artists who had worked with us, were taking their places.
The moment I glanced around the back, my eyes met with several Connex members sitting on the right side of the second row.
Bae Min-seo, who still boasted his bleached yellow hair, immediately winked at me.
'That guy also has a great memory.'
I nodded my head awkwardly and thought.
I met Connex Bae Min-seo once in the early part of
When we went to the filming set to record the Music K Showdown Special Stage, Bae Min-seo came into our waiting room.
There, he deliberately mentioned Cha Eun-gyu's past to us and then disappeared.
Listening to Chae Eun-gyu's story, it seems clear that he is not on good terms with Connex.
It seems that we should avoid situations where Cha Eun-gyu meets Connex members one-on-one at official events like this.
After several award ceremonies held in the first part of KAMA, the stage began with groups with relatively younger years or lesser recognition.
We are also rookies who debuted this year, but our manager told us early on that we were assigned to the latter half of the second division.
I watched other groups' stages carefully to see if there were any parts I could reference.
Because there are always things to learn in the field.
Song Hyung-bin also spoke quietly as he looked at the male idol group that was now on stage, wondering if he had the same thoughts as me.
"We could use a sequence like that too. It looks neat."
"I think it would be good to take note of it."
"If I keep looking at it like this, my body starts to shiver."
Song Hyung-bin smiled at me.
"I hope our turn comes quickly."
After some time had passed, there was a moment when all the members went up on stage.
The 'Global Hottest Artist' award is shared jointly among 10 groups.
It was an honor given to the most popular groups selected through global fan voting.
We were the fourth to be called in the overall order, and with such excitement, we went up to the year-end awards ceremony stage for the first time ever.
"We are honored beyond measure to receive this valuable award. From the moment our group was formed, we would not have been able to come this far without our fans. We will always keep in mind that we are receiving so much love, and we will always do our best to become idols."
Song Hyung-bin neatly concluded his prepared remarks.
He could tell more, but we had some kimchi stew last night.
If you say everything in your first award, you might have to repeat the same things when we come out to win the Rookie of the Year award later, so let's adjust.
I even prepared separate comments in English and Estonian for the Rookie of the Year award acceptance speech, so I am truly fully prepared.
"There is definitely a different sense of weight."
"I want to hear it too!"
The members who returned to their seats took turns lifting the golden trophies.
Yoo Minha looked ecstatic as he held the trophy with both hands.
"It's definitely heavier than the regular music show trophies! This isn't real gold, is it?"
"Of course not. If all the prizes presented today were made of pure gold, KAMA would have already gone bankrupt."
"It's a shame...."
"I didn't know Min-ha would be greedy for gold."
The announcement of the Rookie of the Year award took place before the end of Part 1.
The actors who came out to present the awards began to mention the nominees, and when Seleste's name was called last, the entire Tokyo Dome erupted in loud cheers.
'So many of our fans came?'
It felt like the idols around us were also turning their gazes towards us.
While Heo Yu-bin, sitting next to me, twitched his fingers and looked helpless under the pouring gaze, I straightened my shoulders and looked forward with confidence.
Finally, the winner of the Rookie of the Year award was announced.
"Congratulations! Seleste!"
It was a result that everyone had already anticipated in their hearts, but when imagination became reality, an indescribable joy arose.
We walked back onto the stage to everyone's congratulations.
"I had a really vague thought. We only get one chance to win the Rookie of the Year award in our lives, but I wonder if that chance will ever come. But now that I'm holding this award with our name on it, I can't believe it."
Chae Eun-gyu slowly expressed his feelings in a tearful voice.
Because he had invested time and effort for a long time to pursue his dream of becoming an idol, it seemed like his emotions reached deep into his heart.
"We promise to everyone that we will work hard to give back the love you've given to us."
Finally, I gave a brief thank you in English and Estonian, and the tens of thousands of foreign fans gathered at the scene gave us another round of applause and cheers.
I smiled brightly at the twinkling lights as I listened to the system's congratulatory message.
[You have completed the hidden achievement,
[Reward: 4 Lucky Draw Coins]
And now it's time to burn these hot emotions on stage.
* * *
KAMA Part 2, middle part.
Finally, it was Seleste's turn to receive the honor of Rookie of the Year.
Subtitles appeared as a faint light appeared on the giant LED panel.
[Conquer and seize your victory]
[Because in the end]
[History remembers the last one standing]
A huge cheer erupted, and at the same time, a huge number of backup dancers ran out from both ends of the main stage.
A move to force the opponent to submit by any means possible.
At the moment when the desire to achieve victory was in full bloom, a huge screen began to open with a magnificent sound.
And behind them, seven slender new figures, led by the man holding the flag, walked slowly.
「See The Light(see the light)」
「See The Light(see the light)」
The lyrics rang out like a hymn chanted by dozens of people together.
The camera focuses on Karis von Walden, who walks out in a stately manner, carrying a red flag at the front.
His gorgeous blonde hair, neatly parted and swept back, catches the light and shines like a halo.
Everyone took a deep breath at the sight of him looking like the crown prince of some empire.
There are also people watching him on the scene.
People are watching from home via broadcast.
The moment when Karis raises the flag high, waving the sleeves of his black uniform.
The backup dancers who had filled the stage stopped moving.
And then a sweet voice began to come out of Karis' mouth.
「I See The Light
Your eyes see a bright light
Focus on one or two」
The backup dancers moved in unison and cleverly retrieved the flag from Karis' hand without being caught on camera.
The members gradually headed towards the center of the main stage and formed a line led by Song Hyung-bin.
「I See The Light
It started now is the highlight
Break all the frames that confine me」
The accompaniment exploded with a fierce guitar riff sound different from the original song.
The members immediately got into the fast-paced beat and matched their famous sharp breathing.
The intense sound and performance, which could not be found in the original song, captivated the eyes and ears of everyone gathered at Tokyo Dome.
As expected from Seleste, who decided on a war concept, their facial expressions were also completely different from what they had shown in previous music shows.
More intensely.
More powerful.
And to further overwhelm your opponent.
The members performed all the movements quickly, infusing energy into their entire bodies.
「The flashlight dazzled my eyes for a moment
Feel so high I feel like I'm going to explode
My heart is pounding faster and faster
This moment I've been waiting for」
A live performance that is clearly audible even in intense choreography.
In particular, main vocalist Heo Yu-bin's voice was conveyed intact without being buried even over the bright guitar sound.
Everyone's movements on stage were brisk.
And as if in tune with their excitement, the Tokyo Dome audience sang along to the chorus louder and louder.
「Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum
(like a miracle)
Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum
(like a destiny)
Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum
Like a Celeste」
Yoo Minha's rap connects immediately after the chorus.
The camera focuses on Yoo Minha in one shot, while the other members quickly move behind him to their designated positions.
Soon, the verse signaling the beginning of the scene they had practiced countless times was heard.
「Everyone was surprised to see us and flew higher」
The intense accompaniment abruptly stopped.
The black-clad dancers who had filled the stage earlier once again swarmed in like clouds, obscuring the view.
The moment when a siren sounds, as if indicating an emergency situation.
Song Hyung-bin flew out of nowhere, cutting through the crowd of dancers.
"Wow!"
The crowd roared instinctively.
Song Hyung-bin, who jumped forward boasting great elasticity, competed with the action school members as he had practiced.
One time, he landed on the ground after spinning around halfway while grabbing the enemy's neck.
After getting up with flexible movements, he ran straight into the middle of the enemy lines again.
At that time, no one could have predicted what kind of production would come out.
Song Hyung-bin flew over the backs of two dancers.
Song Hyung-bin, who successfully landed by spinning sideways with smooth movements, knocked down the last enemy with a spinning kick.
A tense drum beat echoed throughout Tokyo Dome.
The camera captured Ji Yoon-chul standing alone on the right side of the stage.
Ji Yoon-chul stands quietly with his eyes closed.
His appearance was like that of a lone knight from the Middle Ages.
And the moment he opens his eyes.
-Shriing!
There was a sharp sound, and he quickly pulled out a thin sword from his waistband.
And then, one by one, he began to cut down the enemies blocking his way with quick and beautiful sword strikes.
Ji Yoon-chul, who made good use of his long limbs, appeared to be performing dance moves.
The moment when Ji Yoon-chul puts his sword away after cutting down the last enemy on the right.
KAMA's camera captured the entire view of the stage.
Backup dancers surround someone in a circular formation.
Karis, standing in the center of the circle, looked at the camera, slightly raised the corners of his lips, and began to subdue his enemies with his bare hands.
He avoided all movements of the enemy, who was indiscriminately throwing punches, and knocked him down in return.
He ran forward, grabbing one man by the neck, and kicked both of them to the ground at once.
Movements that are truly like those of a wild beast.
Of course, all of these were competitions that had been arranged in advance, but Karis' body remembered.
What kind of battlefields he has been through.
How many battles did he fight to the death?
All of these experiences combined to create a more immersive action scene.
Suddenly, there was only one enemy left in front of Karis.
He was the culprit who stole the giant red flag that Karis was holding during the battle.
Without a moment's hesitation, Karis quickly closed the distance between himself and his enemy and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with his bare hands.
Karis evaded the attack with smooth movements and then countered the enemy's chin to eliminate him.
He retrieved his flag from the fallen enemy.
And he stood up with a proud look in his eyes.
The urgent drum beat gradually died down.
And then more and more specific melodies were amplified.
「Formula(formula)
Formula(formula」
Carrying the reclaimed flag, Karis led the members past their enemies and headed towards the raised stage.
When everyone reached the center of the stage.
Karis swung the flag vigorously with both hands.
And with his right hand, he firmly slammed the flag into the ground.
- Crackle!
An effect appeared where the ground appeared to split apart around the flag.
The camera showed a panoramic view of the stage at just the right time, and everyone held their breath and looked up at the stage at the amazing production.
To be exact, just one person.
Karis was breathing heavily, planting the flag on the ground.
His intense gaze seemed to convey a silent message.
This is our land.
As if a hero victorious in battle were declaring, Karis said his words in a low voice.
「Nowhere to run
You're under my rule」
.
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