Hobbyist VTuber Chapter 126

On the Stage, Checking and Adjusting Lighting and Sound

The vast number of audience seats spread out in all directions.

The view of the Gocheok Sky Do, which Ha-eun had reunited with after 12 long years since her baseball pitch, was still as grand as ever.

In such an imnse space, Ha-eun couldn’t help but wonder how she had managed to perform her pitch without any nerves. She found herself reflecting on her past self.

‘Five hours. No, maybe four hours left.’

Every seat in front of her was already booked.

In other words, by the ti the Infinite Challenge Song Festival performance began, the whole place would be packed with people.

And, it was none other than Ha-eun herself who needed to provide these people with an unforgettable mont.

The weight on her shoulders felt a little heavier.

Joining Yoon Si-hyuk who had been chatting with the other perforrs from the Infinite Challenge Song Festival ca next.

“I’m here.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

The next question was about how Ha-eun was feeling.

She responded with a vague answer, saying she wasn’t sure yet, and the two began discussing their rehearsal for the Ha-eun & Yoon Si-hyuk team.

The discussion with Yoon Si-hyuk lasted for about ten minutes, covering what parts of the stage needed more attention and which parts of the song required the most focus.

However, just before the first rehearsal was to begin, they were inford that they would need to do a quick interview.

So, they moved to a folding chair, placed slightly away from the stage, for the interview.

The first question was about their teamwork throughout the preparation for the performance.

The interview writer requested an honest, unembellished answer, and Ha-eun replied,

“Uncle Si-hyuk was the one who approached first, so it was comfortable. He really listened to my feedback.”

It was a simple, honest answer that summarized their smooth practice sessions.

Yoon Si-hyuk’s answer was similarly aligned with Ha-eun’s.

However,

“When I got first place in the mini-ga, I thought I’d perform last, and my back seriously ached.”

With his half-serious, half-joking remark, Yoon Si-hyuk shot a playful glare at Ha-eun, causing her to smile awkwardly and barely mutter a “Fighting” under her breath.

Then ca Yoon Si-hyuk’s playful response,

“If I fight with Ha-eun, I lose. To stay alive, I have to be obedient. If Ha-eun wants to perform last, then she performs last…”

Ha-eun knew very well that there would be no actual fighting with Yoon Si-hyuk, so she didn’t bother to counter his words.

Still, she did wonder, in hindsight, whether her slightly aggressive behavior in the mini-ga might have worried him a bit.

‘Well, it’s just a rubber hamr… nothing major.’

She decided to think of it as just part of the variety show.

She had no idea how her passionate monts from the mini-ga would be edited for the broadcast.

The second question ca—this ti about the people who had co to watch Ha-eun and Yoon Si-hyuk perform.

“You’ll be performing in front of so familiar faces. Please share your thoughts.”

Asked to deliver a sort of video ssage, Ha-eun paused for a mont to collect her thoughts.

Once her thoughts were fully in order, she spoke,

“I’ll make sure you have a fun day from start to finish. I hope you enjoy my performance.”

Nayeon and Seongyun.

And Da-yeon and Yoon Seong-jae.

She also sent a video ssage to Ji Hye-min and the rest of the Illusionary Realm mbers, who would be watching from the TV.

Although the final airing of the Infinite Challenge Song Festival, which would feature Ha-eun’s stage, wouldn’t be shown until two weeks later.

After Ha-eun’s video ssage ended, Yoon Si-hyuk’s video ssage began.

Then, Yoon Si-hyuk began talking about his son, who had just entered kindergarten.

Swoosh.

Now, closer to Ha-eun than before, Yoon Si-hyuk spoke about his son,

“Our Dohyeon will perform hard with the cool noona he said was the best. Let’s give him a lot of applause~. Love you~.”

Seeing Yoon Si-hyuk talk so fondly about his son left Ha-eun with a heavy heart.

She still wasn’t quite used to seeing parental affection like this, just as it had been when she had seen the Sea Butterfly days.

After a few more questions, the interview wrapped up.

That ant it was ti to head to the real rehearsal.

“Ah, ah. Mic test, mic test~.”

Soon after, Ha-eun and Yoon Si-hyuk climbed onto the stage together.

Yoon Si-hyuk, with his usual light voice, was doing a mic test next to Ha-eun. There wasn’t a hint of nervousness in his deanor.

After all, Yoon Si-hyuk had been in the entertainnt industry for over ten years.

This wasn’t his first ti on a big stage like the Gocheok Sky Do, and this wasn’t his first ti participating in a special show like Infinite Challenge Song Festival, so he displayed a confident, seasoned attitude.

On the other hand, Ha-eun was still unfamiliar with such a large stage.

It was fortunate that there weren’t any major mistakes during the rehearsal.

‘...Considering it’s only been a year since I started, though.’

Ha-eun thought to herself that she was still far from becoming as familiar with the environnt as Yoon Si-hyuk.

Having only started gaining recognition less than a year ago, Ha-eun knew there was still a long road ahead before she could achieve her goal of becoming a major star.

Anyway, the rehearsal ended without a hitch.

Now it was ti to watch the rehearsals of the other teams.

She spent quite a bit of ti watching the rehearsals of the other teams while also doing so reactions for the broadcast.

The other teams’ performances were impressive in their own right.

“Hmm, you can really tell the difference when the person’s a professional singer.”

“I heard they’re saying their al tickets might be cut off because of you.”

“…Haha.”

After the Rehearsal

The ti after the rehearsal passed in the blink of an eye.

There were a million things to do—makeup and costu changes, checking the in-ear monitors, and so on.

“Wow… you really look like an idol now.”

Joo Jeong-yoon’s remark after seeing Ha-eun all set up was exactly what Ha-eun expected.

A few cara shutters clicked in her direction.

Of course, the photos wouldn’t be uploaded until after the performance was completely over.

For now, it was just…

“Your mom said you look really pretty, Ha-eun.”

“…Mhm.”

Ha-eun sent a picture of her stage outfit to Nayeon and Seongyun, who were waiting in the VIP seats.

Her earlobes turned a bit red as a result.

She spent the remaining ti listening to the track for her performance over and over again, rehearsing ntally.

Not long from now, she would be performing in front of the full Gocheok Sky Do, and she quietly recited her lyrics to herself.

Ti passed again, and then...

“Until now, the Rick & Song Hyun-min team! Thank you─!”

Ha-eun’s performance was next.

That is, the Infinite Challenge Song Festival’s second-to-last performance had just ended.

“Alright, let’s go~.”

Ha-eun walked backstage with Yoon Si-hyuk, as casually as always.

Not long after, Seong Yu-seok’s announcent rang through the speakers.

“Next up is Ha-eun & Yoon Si-hyuk’s ‘T. R. E. N. D.! Let’s give them a big round of applause─!”

The loud roar of the crowd followed.

Ha-eun and Yoon Si-hyuk’s footsteps moved toward opposite sides of the stage.

The stage was still completely dark.

Ha-eun exhaled a deep breath as she faced the many audience mbers, their cara flashes resembling fireflies in the darkness.

It would have been a blatant lie to say she wasn’t nervous at all.

Still, the lody of the song began to play, and she knew the ti to raise the handheld mic was fast approaching.

-♬──♪♪!

As the lody sped up, Ha-eun turned her gaze toward the cara moving toward her.

Then, at the exact mont the music abruptly stopped...

Swoosh.

Ha-eun and Yoon Si-hyuk struck the pose they had carefully chosen.

Almost imdiately, the stage lights ca to life, illuminating the whole area.

Ha-eun and Yoon Si-hyuk stood at the center of the vast stage at Gocheok Sky Do, their images filling the screen.

The deafening roar of the crowd followed.

Waaaahhhh!!!

Then, the lody of T. R. E. N. D. resud, and Seong Yu-seok’s voice echoed,

“Are you all ready to enjoy this─!!”

The mont the whole do was filled with the sound of the audience’s response,

“Now I go higher─♪”

Ha-eun’s clear and pure voice resonated powerfully from the start, without any need to hold back.

The mont had arrived—the stage that Ha-eun had said would be rembered for a long ti.