When Nael was sitting in the designated seat for Ha-eun's fans at the Star Athletics Competition, Ha-eun, for a brief mont, was taken aback.
‘I hope Ha-eun wins all the gold dals♪’
Originally, Star Athletics Competition was a program with a strong fan-service elent. Not only could fans watch various athletic events featuring celebrities, but they could also cheer at the top of their lungs, just like at a real athletics competition.
There was also a separate designated seating for each fan group, added to enhance the fan experience. Fans were allowed to hang banners supporting their idols in their designated seats. Plus, it made it easier for celebrities to spot their own fans when everyone was seated together.
And most notably:
- Thud, thud.
- Nod.
During breaks before or in between the recordings, celebrities would often walk up to the fan seats to greet their fans. Just like Ha-eun had just done.
“Lee Ha-eun is so pretty—!!” “Kya!!!” “Ha-eun, fighting!!!”
Just a few days ago, like Nael, many fans tried to secure tickets for Star Athletics Competition at any cost. After all, it was a rare chance to cheer for their favorite celebrities up close and personal.
By pure luck, however, Nael had managed to get an extra ticket while gathering her friends to get tickets for the event.
Soone had to accompany Nael to the competition, and that’s how Da-yeon ended up sitting next to her, with her cap pulled down low.
‘...Why am I here...’
The vast stadium was packed with fans of the celebrities participating # Nоvеlight # in Star Athletics Competition. Right in front of Da-yeon and Nael’s seats, a banner supporting Ha-eun was hung.
From top to bottom, everything about this place was unfamiliar to Da-yeon. The fact that Nael’s fans were all around them, including Ha-eun’s own supporters, made it even more obvious.
“Don’t you think Ha-eun looks great in her athletic uniform? She looks so pretty today~!” “Ah, yes... She looks great...”
It would be a complete lie to say that Da-yeon wasn’t embarrassed. She regretted agreeing to co to Star Athletics Competition with Nael a few days ago.
‘I only agreed because I didn’t have a schedule... I didn’t expect this kind of atmosphere...’
Well, to be fair, Da-yeon could cheer for Ha-eun as her friend while watching her compete. Honestly, it seed like it could be fun.
It was just that sitting with fans who were as enthusiastic as Nael made it feel a bit awkward.
At this point, it almost seed like Da-yeon was a fanatic fan of Ha-eun, just like Nael.
Da-yeon always considered herself Ha-eun’s close friend, not a fan. No matter how it looked, she was embarrassed to be seen as a fan.
But, unfortunately for Da-yeon...
Swipe.
“Hey, Da-yeon. Could you hold this for ?”
“...?”
Nael handed Da-yeon a small banner that she had brought along.
With a quick flick of her wrist, Nael unfurled the banner, revealing a ssage of support for Ha-eun.
[ ★ The actress with ten million fans is here to conquer the Star Athletics Competition ★ ]
“...Wow.”
Da-yeon let out a hollow sigh of amazent at the overly flashy banner. The problem was that, before Nael even suggested that she hold it, the Star Athletics Competition had already begun.
[ Now, welco to the grand festival of stars with a long history, the Star Athletics Competition— ]
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
By the ti all the spectators turned their eyes to the huge screen in the middle of the stadium, the announcer had finished introducing the celebrities attending the event and was now expressing gratitude to the audience.
[ Many fans have co to support this year’s Star Athletics Competition. The atmosphere is already heating up! ]
The screen continued to focus on the crowd, and Da-yeon imdiately sensed sothing bad was about to happen.
[ Oh! Isn’t that Min Da-yeon? ]
Da-yeon’s na echoed across the vast stadium. Imdiately after, all eyes were on her, and another announcer started talking about Ha-eun.
[ Isn’t Ha-eun participating in this year’s Star Athletics Competition as well? It looks like the two of you, being such close friends, ca to cheer her on today. ] [ Oh, and I see you’re holding a banner too! You’re really showing your support for Ha-eun! ]
The huge screen displayed Da-yeon holding the banner supporting Ha-eun, and almost simultaneously, her face and ears turned bright red.
[ Wait, isn’t Min Da-yeon from a different agency? Was this sothing that was cleared with her CEO? ] [ Well, it’s probably a case of friendship over company loyalty, don’t you think? ]
To be blunt, Da-yeon felt like she was about to die from embarrassnt. She wished she could hide in a hole right then and there.
Despite everything, though, because she had to maintain her image as an actress, Da-yeon clenched her trembling lips, forced herself to smile, and waved lightly at the cara. The applause that followed was deafening.
‘I’m going crazy...’
So this is what it feels like to be too embarrassed to even look up. Da-yeon, who had just betrayed her agency to cheer for Ha-eun, felt utterly miserable.
***
After the Star Athletics Competition kicked off with the witty banter of the announcers, the stadium gradually dimd, and a very famous song started playing.
Soon, the spotlight shifted to the center of the arena, and the atmosphere beca electrified as the famous idol group Ignite appeared on stage.
The celebrities’ celebrities. The original Hallyu stars. The national idols.
Ignite, a group that included Song Hyun-min, who had gone to Europe with Ha-eun in the past, instantly lifted the mood of the stadium with their entrance. Their opening performance imdiately began.
Kyaaah—!
I! G! N! I! T! E!
Oppas are so cool—!!
Ignite was the senior idol group that all the idols currently gathered at the stadium looked up to. Fans in the stands, as well as the other celebrities in the stadium, were completely captivated by their performance.
After their successful opening performance, a surprising announcent was made: Song Hyun-min and his team would be the special judges for this Star Athletics Competition.
After getting off the stage, Song Hyun-min approached Ha-eun with his colleagues.
“It’s been a while, Ha-eun. How have you been?” “Oh, yes. It’s been a while.”
The conversation that followed was light and casual. Ha-eun, who had grown sowhat close to Song Hyun-min during the filming of Start Again, didn’t feel any distance between them.
However, Ha-eun had never t any of Song Hyun-min’s colleagues before. Plus, it seed like Song Hyun-min had told them sothing because they referred to Ha-eun as “the girl Hyun-min tossed aside.”
“Hyun-min’s into sports, you know. Ha-eun, you’re amazing.” “By the way, what’s your bench press, Ha-eun?”
Most of the questions directed at Ha-eun were along those lines. There were also playful remarks from Song Hyun-min, saying that no celebrity could ever beat Ha-eun.
“Well, anyway. Fighting, Ha-eun! I’ll see you during the competition later~.” “Ah, yes. See you later...”
It felt like Song Hyun-min had been teasing Ha-eun, and that was why Ha-eun tilted her head slightly as she watched him and his colleagues walk away.
Still, for now, Ha-eun had to focus on the recording of Star Athletics Competition. So, she headed toward the so-called “Luna Entertainnt Team.”
A little while later, Ha-eun began greeting the idols she had t a few tis while going back and forth from Luna Entertainnt’s building.
‘Co to think of it, I’m an idol too.’
At this point, Ha-eun had a strong intention of becoming friends with the idols around her.
The reason? She was also active as a virtual idol under the na Diah.
Of course, she couldn’t reveal Diah’s identity, and while Diah wasn’t exactly the sa as the idols around her, she still thought of herself as one.
‘An idol is an idol...!’
For now, at least, Ha-eun considered herself an idol with no sha.
However, unlike Ha-eun, who had beco a little excited, the idols from Luna Entertainnt, who were in the sa group as Ha-eun, seed quite hesitant.
“We should do our best.” “Yes, yes!”
They seed to have a tendency to be a bit nervous around Ha-eun. And that made sense—Ha-eun, from their perspective, was like an invasive species.
After all, her backer was Doublely. She had recently casually chatted with Ignite’s mbers, and her debut album had shot up the charts.
‘What are we even supposed to live on?’
The idols watching Ha-eun probably had similar thoughts. Ha-eun’s success as an actress and now her venture into the music industry was definitely a red flag for them.
Above all, Star Athletics Competition was a golden opportunity for idols to gain exposure, and seeing Ha-eun greet so many idols with polite manners didn’t sit well with them.
‘We can’t let this kid beat us.’ ‘She seems fit, but our stamina is no joke either.’
As Ha-eun beca more of an enemy than an ally among the idols, the first event of the Star Athletics Competition, the short-distance race, was about to begin.
The preliminaries started, and Ha-eun took her position at the starting line, just like the other idols around her.
The idols assigned to the sa heat as Ha-eun thought they could easily beat the 19-year-old Ha-eun and move on to the next round. But as soon as the flag of Ignite, the special judges, was raised—
Whoosh!
In an instant, Ha-eun, who had been standing at the sa line as the other idols, was gone.
Less than 8 seconds later, the won’s 60-ter dash preliminaries were over.
[ 7.13 seconds! A new record for Star Athletics Competition! ] [ The world record for the 60-ter dash is 6.92 seconds, right? Ha-eun is truly a track and field prodigy! ]
The bewildered voices of the announcers echoed, leaving everyone stunned. What in the world had just happened?
“Wow... That’s insane...”
***
“Ha, Ha-eun’s ponytail! She’s got a ponytail, Da-yeon!!” “...I see it too...” “Take a picture, take a picture!”
Click! Click click click click!
“Uh, uh...? Ha-eun’s running!! Wow!!! 1st place!!!” ‘...Should I run away now...?’
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