The hall that would host the TOP 5 semifinal was in an uproar.
“Where’s Sim Da-in? If the rehearsal doesn’t start right now, we’ll miss the live-broadcast slot!”
“They said everyone just arrived!”
“See? That’s why I kept saying the contestants should stay in one dorm until the final!”
Staff members, faces taut with urgency, shouted into walkie-talkies while racing through the venue.
The live show would last only one hour, yet countless checks and hours of preparation had to precede it.
It was not only the crew who felt the pressure.
The contestants, too, mounted the rehearsal stage while running dozens of simulations of their sets inside their heads.
Muttering lyrics under their breath so they would not forget them, they checked their blocking.
Today even the judges wore stiff expressions as they gave last-minute inspections to the contestants under their charge.
“Hajun, how’s your throat?”
“Good.”
“All right, let’s try the last high part once more.”
“Okay.”
Lee Young-a looked calmer than expected. She was certainly nervous, yet she had an unspoken conviction:
Hajun would finish inside the top two.
She could not ignore the solid fan base that would give him high scores in the pre-vote and text vote, but more than that it was the certainty she had gained while coaching him and observing his practice.
Does this kid ever sleep?
Day and night, dawn included, he had kept sending practice recordings. Each round his vocal grew better, surely thanks to that amount of work.
Rather than anyone else’s strong voice, Hajun himself made her confident.
─ I almost wish none of this had happened, I wish I had never known you.
Even now, singing just the highlight, he sounded better than on yesterday’s file; he had improved yet again in a single day.
A contestant like that would not fail.
Yet she could not promise he would take first place: there was Yoon Jaeyi, the only contestant she personally acknowledged as a musician, good enough that she wanted to invite her as a guest singer at her concert.
Besides, Yoon Jaeyi’s semifinal mentor was HS.
He was the very person who had discovered her potential and cast the hints that let her show it. Such a man would be coaching her in earnest. His main job was composing, so the arrangement would surely be fantastic.
This was almost unfair.
Still, as long as Hajun finished second he would reach the final. If he performed as he had practiced, that would be enough.
Apparently Hajun was also thinking about Yoon Jaeyi.
“Hmm?”
He kept glancing toward her and HS. Sensing it, Lee Young-a stared steadily at him.
He is really wary of her.
Normally he kept the same bright expression, like a robot that executed its set practice quota every day. But the look he gave Yoon Jaeyi mixed vigilance and will to win in a dangerous ripple.
A moderate tension born of rivalry was good, but if it grew too strong it would backfire.
“Hajun.”
“…Yes?”
“At an important moment like this, where is your mind?”
“Sorry.”
“Winning today matters, but something matters more.” Her tone turned firm.
“What matters more is giving a performance that satisfies you.”
Meeting her steady gaze, Hajun bowed his head.
“I understand wanting desperately not to lose, given the nature of this show. But if you keep going onstage only to beat someone, you’ll end up hurting yourself.”
She spoke not as a judge but as an industry senior who had walked this road for over a decade, repeating choices and regrets.
“Someday you will even forget why you first picked up a microphone.”
That must never happen to a singer. A singer who forgets that reason has reached the end of their life as an artist.
“Don’t let that be you.”
“Yes, I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Go and give your own stage, that’s enough.”
He nodded strongly. She hoped that even if he did not win first place he would at least come down with no regrets.
The live semifinal began.
The once-empty seats were filled by thousands of spectators. Before the competition proper the MC grabbed the mic to raise the temperature.
“Good evening, I’m Kim Seong-gyu, host of K-SingerStar.”
He went through the routine introductions of judges and TOP 5 contestants, then pointed to the main screen to explain the rules and order.
- Sim Da-in × Kim Gwang-jin
- Kim Seok-hun × Won Jin-seop
- Lee Yuju × Jayble
- Kang Hajun × Lee Young-a
- Yoon Jaeyi × HS
“Real-time text voting starts now. Send the contestant’s name or the number of their turn.”
Thanks to the MC’s smooth skills the broadcast flowed like water—at least on stage it looked that way.
Backstage Jayble spoke to Lee Yuju.
“You practiced a lot, right?”
“Yes…”
“The arrangement is perfect, so all you have to do is sing.”
He had no leisure to observe her closely.
“With dancers and flashy staging you don’t need big moves. Keep your breath steady on the high notes and keep your face relaxed.”
Victory tonight was crucial, because his name and pride were at stake.
Other judges might think second place was enough, but Jayble’s competitive spirit was different.
First place, no matter what.
From the moment he got Lee Yuju he had planned the stage. Frankly, she could not match the rivals on vocals alone, so he aimed for a shocking arrangement and spectacular performance, especially things Yoon Jaeyi had never shown and never would. He absolutely could not lose.
His gaze drifted past Lee Yuju to Yoon Jaeyi, or rather to the man standing behind her with arms folded.
HS…
Many times during the show, Jayble had been surprised by Yoon Jaeyi’s singing. Her unique tone and rhythm were enticing enough to make him want to write songs for her, and however much he hated to admit it, HS had seen her potential first.
But tonight was not the time to applaud. He had to compete, and that team was a real threat.
Even the other judges, he sensed, were on edge over HS and Yoon Jaeyi. Only HS himself seemed unconcerned, which annoyed Jayble, but he could not march over and demand why HS was so relaxed. He would instead beat Yoon Jaeyi and take first place.
What is he looking at?
Lee Yuju noticed the burning eyes behind his sunglasses and followed them to Yoon Jaeyi, who watched Kim Seok-hun’s stage like an audience member, flicking her hand to the beat.
How irritating.
Does she feel so sure of winning that she can sit back and enjoy?
Wasn’t she only here because of luck? Without HS she’d have been cut in prelims.
While she glared, Jayble spoke without turning.
“You aren’t going to lose, right?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if you plan to lose to her.”
“…No. I don’t want to lose.”
Satisfied with the fire in her eyes, he nodded.
“Then go up there to beat them all.”
Just then a staffer signaled that she was next.
Meanwhile Hyunseung waited below the stage for Lee Yuju’s performance, muttering irritably,
“Hurry up and start already…”
He was not eager for the stage itself, but curious about Jayble’s arrangement.
Suddenly the lights went out, and the screen blazed red as if wrapped in flames.
─ An ember that will never die inside my heart has flared up.
Lee Yuju’s recorded chorus echoed through the hall.
Boom, boom, boom, boom— a rough electric-guitar sound swelled, whipping the atmosphere higher.
Oh?
Hyunseung’s brows rose. A start powerful enough to seize all attention.
“Wow…”
Beside him, Yoon Jaeyi clasped her hands and whispered admiration.
“Close your mouth and watch.”
“Eh? Oh, yes…”
“You really are like my little sister.”
“You have a sister?”
“Yeah, a country-mouse kid.”
“Country mouse…?” she repeated, misunderstanding.
Whatever, her eyes were soon riveted to the stage, where fierce visuals, flashy effects, and Lee Yuju’s striking looks blended like a solo concert by a current idol.
She’s so pretty and good…
Just then Hyun-seung spoke.
“This is the charm of a competition stage.”
At the same time the performance reached its climax with jets of flame.
Cheers rose from the crowd.
Indeed, his words were right: a contest stage allowed varied shows and chances to overturn the game.
I’ve shown the same color every time…
Yoon Jaeyi’s head drooped.
“Hey.”
Hyunseung called.
“Already finished with your country-mouse act?”
“Pardon? What…”
“You were going ‘wow wow’, now you look like your whole world just collapsed..”
“The stage was so good…”
He snorted.
“Then you show a better one.”
“Me? A country mouse like me…”
“Stop the nonsense and go warm up your voice.”
“Yes.” She shuffled away, and he murmured,
“Maybe ‘country mouse’ was too harsh. Hyun-a hated that too…”
He concluded she had wilted because he had teased her.
Having finished her stage, Lee Yuju felt proud.
Yes, this should do…
Catching her breath as she came down, she looked for Jayble.
“Mentor—!”
Running over like a child with a perfect report card, she froze: HS and Yoon Jaeyi were standing by him.
“Ah, hello…”
“Great stage.”
“Thank you.”
After the formal words she hurried past, giving Yoon Jaeyi a glare before scampering to Jayble.
“I was oka—”
“What did HS say?”
He cut her off.
“He just said he enjoyed the stage, so I thanked him…”
Jayble repeated quietly, “Enjoyed the stage…” Only that phrase spun in his mind.
So even HS could not help paying attention, it seemed.
Looking again, HS stood anxiously (though the helmet hid it) and Yoon Jaeyi walked away utterly deflated. Going to practice in the break, perhaps.
This stage, with all his effort poured into it, had surely shaken HS and the other judges as well.
First place—
Jayble clenched his fist.
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