Chapter 291: Will I Be Able to Calm Down?
A silent forest where not even the sound of birds could be heard.
Beyond the waist-high thicket, pitch-black darkness stretched endlessly.
“……”
Step.
Step.
Kang Siwoo carefully parted the thicket and walked forward.
The lamp in his hand was the only small source of light he could rely on in this pitch-black place.
Behind Kang Siwoo stood the six other members.
The boys shivered as they followed after him.
A quiet English narration flowed over the screen.
[The boys had searched for a very long time.]
[Deep within this forest….]
[There was a rumor that a star existed.]
A strange tale that there was a star in the middle of the forest.
It had been a rumor passed down for hundreds of years in the village where the boys lived.
For boys who had dreamed of stars for so long, it was a temptation far too powerful to ignore.
It was nonsense.
A baseless rumor.
Many people had dismissed it as ridiculous, but in the end, the boys risked the danger and set out in search of the star.
And so, they arrived at this forest.
I'm scared….
The lamp in his hand swayed gently, casting a faint glow.
The unfamiliar forest was filled with danger and frightening things, but the boys could never give up.
Because wherever the star they longed for was, they had no choice but to go.
Their destination had never been clearly defined.
One step.
Another step.
They simply continued walking without end.
Then—
“……!”
The hand holding the lamp froze in place.
The boys slowly raised their heads, their eyes tightly shut.
Light…!
A blinding flash poured down above their heads.
It was so intense that it completely swallowed their vision.
Who spoke first?
No one knew.
A quiet voice escaped the boys' lips.
[We found it….]
The crystallization of light they had searched for all this time.
[DREAM THE STAR: In Los Angeles]
It was a star.
.
.
.
Numbers appeared over the opening VCR.
The fans immediately began the countdown.
“10!”
“9!”
The enormous concert hall filled with thunderous cheers.
Though their nationalities and languages were different, they had all gathered together because of Stardust.
They shouted at the top of their lungs.
“5!”
“4!”
“3!”
“2!”
Blink.
Blink.
Blink.
“1!”
As the final number echoed out, brilliant lights illuminated the dark stage.
And then—
With the heart-pounding intro, Do Seohan walked out from center stage.
“Waaaaaaah!”
“Kyaaaaaaaah—!”
Starf's Signal Song, <Take me>.
Even though the location had changed to Los Angeles, there wasn't a single fan who didn't know this song.
Seohan grinned and raised the microphone to his lips.
Get up and chase your dreams.
You can do it.
Take me, Take me.
Reach out your hand.
His vocals were as stable as though he had never worried.
He had performed this choreography hundreds of times—to the point where he could wake up in the middle of the night and dance it automatically.
I am the center of the Signal Song.
As if proving that fact, Seohan poured strength into every movement.
His dance lines perfectly balanced power and softness.
When he finished the smooth choreography and smiled brightly, screams erupted from the front rows.
The one who believes in me is you.
So don't hesitate.
Catch me.
Whenever he stood on stage, his heart burned hot.
Because it made him realize—
People can truly, sincerely cheer for someone like this.
He never wanted to lose any of those moments.
Smiling brightly, Seohan turned his gaze toward the audience.
The precious people who loved him with pure hearts.
“Do Seohan! Do Seohan! Do Seohan!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
As he slowly took in the fans seated in the nearby ground section—
“……!”
Huh?
Seohan doubted his own eyes.
At the same time, the pleased smile on his lips instantly turned cold.
His eyelids trembled as though they had gone into a spasm.
Faced with a sight he simply couldn't believe, Seohan slowly blinked.
[Milky-white Do Seohan!]
[We love you, Do Seohan!]
One man stood there smiling brightly while holding a banner that looked like it belonged in the 1990s.
The banner bobbed up and down.
[You're dead, Do Seohan!]
This lunatic.
Do Seojun was sitting in the audience.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
As soon as the performance of <Dream the Star> ended, the concert hall heated up with the fans' cheers.
Even though the Korean fan chants should have been difficult, the overseas fans were second to none when it came to cheering.
It was such an unfamiliar language for them.
Yet watching so many people who loved K-pop gathered together stirred something deep inside him.
The concert continued amid that overwhelming gratitude.
Then came a brief talking segment.
“Aah—. Dustys.”
While testing the microphone, Cha Seongbin smiled brightly as he began speaking.
Since he had personally witnessed the youngest member trembling earlier, there was one incident that absolutely had to be addressed.
Cha Seongbin continued fluently in English.
“Actually, there's something we'd like to tell everyone….”
His gaze shifted toward the audience.
At the same time, the camera slowly turned in that direction.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, it finally settled on one person.
“Hah. You can see him over there, right?”
One man sat in the ground section with his arms crossed.
Even from a distance, his handsome face stood out.
Cha Seongbin chuckled softly before speaking.
“Seohan hyung is here with us today!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
“Kyaaaaaaaah!”
The giant screen naturally displayed Do Seojun's face as well.
Murmur—
Murmur—
“Isn't that really Do Seohan's brother?”
“Yeah… Yeah!”
“I've seen him on variety shows!”
“How did he end up here?”
The audience immediately became restless at Do Seojun's appearance.
Since he had done livestreams together with them before, even overseas fans knew who he was.
Everyone welcomed him enthusiastically.
Except for one person.
“Ha….”
Seohan tightly shut his eyes and desperately avoided Do Seojun's obvious stare.
Seeing that, Cha Seongbin quietly laughed.
“He really came without any warning, so honestly, we were surprised too.”
“If we'd known he was coming, we would've prepared something!”
“Like what?”
“Maybe Do Seohan's sexy dance?”
“…Don't say horrifying things like that.”
Personally providing his older brother with lifelong teasing material.
At Jin Sehyun's words, Seohan shuddered in horror.
“Ahahahaha! Come on, Do Seohan's a professional. He'd do it.”
“I won't.”
“Come on, you've got professional pride~.”
That professional pride felt like it was about to disappear.
Seohan's pupils shook violently.
Because, not even that far away—
Do Seojun was shamelessly waving his banner.
[Milky-white Do Seohan!]
To anyone else, it probably looked like the heartwarming sight of an older brother traveling all the way to Los Angeles just to support his younger brother.
But—
For those who knew the truth, it only sent chills down their spine.
I'm going insane.
He was already clenching his teeth that tightly….
There's no way anything nice is about to come out of this!
.
.
.
The concert ended safely.
Back in the waiting room to remove their hair and makeup, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the room.
“Ha….”
Remembering what had just happened, Seohan repeatedly shook his head.
“Wow. I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind.”
Honestly, it might have been less shocking if the stage lights had fallen right in front of him.
Didn't he say he went to work just fine?!
Someone who was obviously supposed to be in Korea—
Why was he openly in Los Angeles?!
“This isn't Seoul. Why is someone who should've been at work showing up here?!”
“Ahahahaha! Ahahaha!”
Cha Seongbin burst into laughter as he patted Seohan's shoulder.
“Hey, you seriously had no idea?”
“I never even imagined he'd get on a plane and come all the way here….”
“I'll admit, even I was surprised by that.”
Do you know how expensive plane tickets are…?
Do you know how far Korea is from America…?
Pressing his temples firmly with his fingers, Seohan let out another sigh.
Completely unaware of the turmoil inside him, the members casually continued.
“He must've been really worried about you.”
“Of course. It totally makes sense that he'd come.”
These people….
It's easy for them to stay calm when it's not their problem.
Making a pitiful face, Seohan took the Four-leaf Clover out of his pocket.
“Hyung, I don't think this thing works very well.”
“Why? Your brother showing up is lucky too~.”
“It's an enormous disaster.”
Groaning repeatedly, Seohan clutched his head.
There was no way someone who had flown all the way here would quietly return home.
Just thinking about facing Do Seojun later made him dizzy.
“I've got a bad feeling… I've got a really bad feel….”
And then—
That meeting happened much sooner than expected.
Creak—
Bang.
The moment the waiting room door opened with that ominous sound, Seohan's eyes widened.
“……!”
As expected.
“Hello?”
It looked like a scene straight out of a horror movie.
The moment Do Seojun smiled brightly and waved, Seohan recoiled in terror and took a step backward.
“Huhk….”
Looking as though he had just seen the Grim Reaper, Seohan quickly hid behind Ha Junseo.
Unfortunately, however, his 183-centimeter height made hiding impossible.
Ha Junseo smiled awkwardly and bowed.
“Ah, Producer, you're here?”
“Of course.”
This was getting interesting.
Smiling to himself, Cha Seongbin watched the reunion unfold from the front row.
Judging by the murderous aura radiating around Do Seojun, it didn't look like he intended to let this slide so easily.
His mouth was smiling.
His eyes were not.
Stretching out his neck, Do Seojun glanced toward Seohan hiding behind Ha Junseo.
“You think that's actually hiding?”
“Looks like there's a little rat hiding back there.”
A rat?
Now transformed into a hamster (feat. rat), Seohan frowned in disbelief.
Still, he didn't have the courage to provoke Do Seojun in this situation.
“What are you doing? Come out.”
In the end, Seohan timidly stepped forward.
Even while watching Do Seojun's expression, the complaint escaped automatically.
“It's not like Los Angeles is your front yard….”
“It feels close if you take a plane.”
“…Why did you even come here?”
“Why did I come?”
At Seohan's question, Do Seojun smiled pleasantly before answering.
“My little brother who's ten years younger than me kept splashing around, trying to cross the River Styx, so I personally came to launch a boat and send you the rest of the way.”
“Huh?”
No, wait a second.
Startled, Seohan raised both hands.
He understood being shocked after hearing that he'd suddenly collapsed overseas—
But this escalation was way too extreme.
“Calm down.”
“Do you think I can calm down?”
The moment Seohan met Do Seojun's terrifying gaze, he instinctively understood.
This guy….
He's completely lost it.
Twenty-eight years of experience as the youngest brother screamed at him.
This wasn't a situation that could be solved through conversation.
Run.
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
Seohan immediately turned around and bolted out the door.
“Hey!! Get back here!”