Meanwhile, without having the slightest clue about what kind of thoughts were running through Jayble’s head as he stared at him, Hyunseung was scowling with every muscle in his face.
My ears are getting itchy.
He was simply irritated because the helmet kept him from scratching his ears.
“Mentor….”
Just then, Yoon Jaeyi, who had stepped off to a corner, came back over and called to him cautiously.
“Do you really think I can make it to the final like this?”
“I wondered what you came to ask.”
“Yuju’s stage was so powerful and good. The public always prefers something that’s visually exciting…”
Yes.
Lee Yuju’s stage? It was powerful enough to grab attention at once. The arrangement was fresh, not cliché, and the flashy choreography and staging showed how much effort had gone in.
But…
That’s as far as it goes.
Jayble must have worked hard, but the instrument was the problem. Yuju’s vocal body is small and her range is narrow. She can only be played so far.
Jayble must know that, so he made the arrangement and staging as flashy as possible to scatter the audience’s focus. In a competition, people do cheer for that kind of performance, but…
It won’t last.
A stage that intense is forgotten just as quickly.
Right.
Once Kang Hajun’s stage starts, people will forget it in a flash.
“Oh… looks like Hajun’s about to start.”
Seeing that Hyunseung did not respond, Yoon Jaeyi assumed he agreed with her about Yuju’s stage and switched the subject.
“Yeah, so it does.”
Hyunseung answered indifferently and lifted his eyes to the stage.
“Stop talking nonsense and just watch Hajun’s stage.”
“Okay….”
The middle of the stage, still being set up, looked chaotic, and on the side the MC was buying time and guiding the audience’s eyes by interviewing Kang Hajun.
“You prepared this round with judge Lee Young-a. How was it?”
“She really is called the goddess of vocals, so I received a lot of help.”
Kang Hajun was clearly born for the stage. Aesthetic looks, smooth speech, innate sense.
Every time he opened his mouth, the gallery burst into squeals of “Kyaa—!”, proof enough that many had already fallen for his shining star quality.
“Hajun seems really popular with the public.”
“Just look at that face. Of course he is.”
“Well, yes. Great personality, great voice….”
“He’s first in every pre-vote, right?”
“Yeah. They say his fan-club membership is increasing exponentially….”
Hyunseung was about to say something to Yoon Jaeyi, who drifted off again mid-sentence, when—
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!
The lights suddenly went dark and a gentle spotlight poured down over Kang Hajun’s head amid loud applause.
Gulp.
The hush was so complete that he could hear Yoon Jaeyi swallow beside him.
When Hajun’s face filled the giant screen, everyone held their breath.
A face that draws the eye by itself.
For a singer, an innate voice and skill matter, but in today’s scene looks that pull focus are also a powerful weapon.
Hajun possessed that weapon. Not just handsome—his fine features and likeable aura blended into an overwhelming star presence.
Probably Lee Young-a knew it, too. That is why she kept the staging simple, skipped the background video and instead chose to show a close-up of Hajun’s singing face.
It would pull people deeper into his song.
A good opening.
He let out a short breath and the accompaniment began.
I just cannot figure out why we had to break up.
It was the classic ballad style, the kind of arrangement that always goes down well.
Hajun drove the song’s storyline with far more immersion than when Hyunseung first saw him.
“Hu-up—”
Beside him, Yoon Jaeyi’s jaw dropped; she even clapped both hands over her mouth while staring at the stage.
“Try breathing now and then.”
“N-no….”
“You’re gonna cry listening to a song.”
“He’s too good.”
“He certainly is.”
In only one week, Hajun’s phrasing and breath control had become tighter; evidently he had received first-rate coaching from Lee Young-a, the queen of ballads.
“Mentor….”
Again, that spiritless voice beside him. He turned to see Yoon Jaeyi still fixed on the stage.
“Even if I give it everything, what if I still can’t reach the final? It won’t be your fault, okay?”
“Huh?”
“It’ll only be because I’m not good enough….”
He listened wondering what she would say. Pointless worries, obviously. She must have lost confidence after watching Yuju and now Hajun back to back.
Earlier, she had been saying uneasy words and had a gloomy air; now she seemed to be preparing herself for elimination.
What a useless anxiety.
“Yoon Jaeyi, you’re not dropping today.”
“How can you be sure?”
“You’ll make the final.”
Yes.
Hyunseung could be sure. He had rearranged the song several times to let her use her voice at its limits and had drilled her obsessively.
Even he was looking forward to her stage.
Drop? Impossible.
Of course, since the show does not score purely on skill he could not guarantee first place, but he had been startled again and again by her sound while they prepared.
Even if, by chance, she did drop…it would not be for lack of talent or because others out-sang her, but simply bad luck.
“Hajun is certainly a threat. Huge popular vote, growing skill.”
Realistically today’s number one would likely be Hajun; audience votes were weighted heavily.
Still.
In the music world only those with remarkable voices survive; those without fade from memory.
What keeps a singer alive is not momentary popularity but the unique sound they possess. A powerful, individual sound is the strongest weapon a singer can have.
“But no force is stronger than a voice you were born with.”
By that measure, Jaeyi already carried a formidable weapon.
“And Yuju is not in your class, so don’t even bother.”
“Sorry?”
“Fine for an idol, but as a singer, she’s not at same level as you.”
He was sure she would leave a mark on the scene.
“You put in the effort you said you would and you’ll reach the final. And if you don’t, so what? It doesn’t take away your worth as a singer.”
Hearing his even words, Yoon Jaeyi’s eyes glistened as though she might cry, but she nodded firmly.
“Yes. I’ll do my very best.”
Through the goggles he could see her expression set with resolve to pour out everything.
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!
Hajun’s stage ended just then, the hall filling with thunderous applause.
“Really, the composer helped with all his might, and I did my utmost to repay that.”
Jayble looked up at Yoon Jaeyi being interviewed beside the stage.
She was the last act of the semifinal.
Looking around, the other judges and contestants were also waiting at the stage apron instead of resting in the greenroom.
Naturally, she was the one everyone watched.
Himself included.
When her turn came she walked onto center stage with uncharacteristic confidence.
Kyaaaaaaa—!
The audience roared even louder than before. Turning his head he saw fans holding placards reading “Yoon-vely.”
When did she get this popular?
He tilted his head at the puzzle.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
A rough drum beat announced the start.
What?
Jaeyi had sung rhythmic songs before, but had she ever sung over such energetic beats?
Pretty sure it’s a famous pop song….
When she began to sing, the original melody and vocal were wiped from his mind.
Her swift, mysterious voice rose with the beat as though trying to leap beyond her limits.
Good grief, insane…
Jaeyi today moved her body with relaxed gestures, swaying to the music like someone else.
A chill of excitement shot through him.
He realized he was not the only one floored.
“Wow, insane.”
Won Jin-seob blurted exactly what he felt.
“Ha, ha-ha….”
Kim Kwang-jin let out a hollow laugh like he was seeing a mirage.
“Uh….”
Lee Young-ah shook her head, speechless.
And HS still stood with arms folded, unmoving.
Unbelievable.
He knew Jaeyi was blessed with tone. He knew her singing was indeed excellent, but…
What on earth was this stage?
The stage he had prepared with Yuju—no, every other contestant’s stage—now felt like mere accessories before hers.
The arrangement that went beyond bold into shocking and Jaeyi’s voice racing perfectly along it showed not a trace of haste.
Only the word perfect came to mind.
Facing a stage like this, after having sworn to take first place with such confidence, he felt utterly foolish.
Complacent.
He had assumed Jaeyi would never, could never, do something flashy.
It was not that she could not; she had simply never been shown the way.
HS must have shown her. This could not have been built on her own skills alone. Yes, this was the power HS possessed.
“Ha—”
Jayble let out a bitter laugh while staring at Jaeyi dancing brilliantly up there.
Truly a colossal misunderstanding.
All stages finished, the five contestants stood in a line on stage.
Their faces tense as though the stage were a judgment seat.
“Everyone worked hard. Now we have only the result left.”
The five judges had returned to their seats.
“Hmm.”
Jayble stroked his chin, scanning Yuju, Hajun and Jaeyi.
One of these three will sing my song in the final.
Yes.
Whether Yuju made it or not, two of the three would reach the final; that was almost an unspoken certainty after today’s performances.
In that case…
Jayble fixed his gaze last on Hajun.
That kid…
He fell into the wish that Hajun might sing his composition.
He’d do a great job.
With solid vocal skill and wide ability, he could digest Jayble’s style. If Jaeyi also reached the final and took HS’s song, Hajun’s firm fandom could match her.
Yes, if possible, that kid…
Jayble was still wishing when the MC spoke.
“We will now reveal the faces of the Top 2 who advance to the grand final!”
The MC swept his arm toward the screen, and every eye followed the gesture.
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