Chapter 47: Forever, on the Stage
We asked the original composer to rearrange 'Touch Me' without significantly altering the original idea.
That’s how the solo dance in the intro was born.
It was Kang Siwoo who first suggested the idea.
“If you want an impact at the beginning, there’s something I’d like you to do, Seohan.”
“What is it?”
“A solo dance.”
Even for the center, a solo dance could be a sensitive issue.
It was a composition I wouldn’t have even dared to try without the support of the hyungs who believed in me.
However.
I thought of it as the final card for first place.
Kang Siwoo patted my shoulder and spoke with certainty.
“There must be a picture you wanted to create. From what I see, to make that picture happen, you’re essential.”
Do Seohan’s younger-guy concept.
Kang Siwoo had perfectly grasped Seohan’s intention. Aiming for first place with an impact that could defeat the Betters team.
If that was the plan, we needed a solid blow.
“A solo dance… Of course I’ll do it.”
If the opportunity was given, I had to tear up the stage.
Seohan smiled brightly as he looked down at the placard with his name on it.
“You can definitely do it, Do Seohan.”
Because that’s what being the center means.
Because proving it on stage was my job.
.
.
.
.
Thump.
With a stomp, Seohan stretched out his hand gracefully in rhythm.
“Wow…”
Long arms and legs. Detailed choreography that made perfect use of his tall physique.
That heavy movement instantly pulled the audience into the stage.
Fans followed the tip of his fingers as if hypnotized.
“What is this?”
“I feel like I’m falling into it…”
It was an extension of the concept set during the first evaluation.
A lone boy left in the dark universe.
Seohan glided lightly as if swimming through space.
His movements were both smooth and intense.
With a fast-paced tempo, he twisted his body to the beat of a drum without lyrics.
It was a dizzying path that spanned from one end of the stage to the other, but Seohan leapt in one bound to the center of the stage.
Doo-doo-doong.
Bang—
The tempo of the song grew faster and faster. Despite the complex choreography that could’ve easily gone wrong, there wasn’t a single falter.
Not missing a single beat, Jo Yoonseo clasped her hands at the level of detail.
“Was he always this good?”
It was a piece of art.
A talented kid soared once the stage was set for him.
Jo Yoonseo swallowed hard and silently watched the performance.
“……”
Space is vast and lonely.
The lone boy wants to go to another star beyond.
He struggles to reach for that star, but he can’t.
Even when he climbs high, it still feels far away.
That’s why he grows more desperate, little by little.
A low platform set at the center of the stage.
The boy leapt onto the platform and pulled his arms back like drawing a bow.
In those fierce eyes, you could see the determination to reach that star.
But the boy’s arrow didn’t reach the star.
There remained a sense of regret and despair. A lingering longing for something unattained.
And then.
That longing crumbled helplessly.
Thump—
Watching Do Seohan fall backward like he was collapsing against Kang Siwoo, Jo Yoonseo held her breath for a moment.
“Huuup…”
Immediately, the choreography reversed time and bounced back.
“…!”
Without a single moment of hesitation, Seohan sprang up perfectly and reached into the air with a sly smile.
“That, that’s even possible?”
Choreography that seemed impossible without incredible core strength.
With just the short thirty-second intro, the audience was already in a stir.
The actual stage of ‘Touch Me’ hadn’t even started yet.
You are my star.
Your bright light keeps touching me.
I can’t stand it.
At the same time as Kang Siwoo’s low narration, four lights lit up the stage.
Flash—
Under the bright lights,
Four trainees with roses in their mouths walked out slowly.
“Kyaaaaah!”
It was the beginning of the performance.
Before I knew it, you came close and looked at me.
Why are you looking at me like that?
My head is spinning, I can’t come to my senses.
As Seohan gently turned his head and smiled sweetly, fans in the front row gripped their placards tightly.
Right then, a rose hidden inside his denim jacket popped out.
“Aaah! Do Seohan!”
Whoosh—
The rose Seohan lightly tossed brushed the hand of a fan who was bouncing in place, and another fan snatched it.
“Crazy. Did that just touch my hand…?”
“Yaaah!”
The girl screamed unconsciously and almost collapsed to the ground.
Cha Seongbin appeared, knocking in the air as if he were at a door.
He wrote and erased the word Love.
He read the sentence he was trying to engrave in your heart.
This is love I think it’s a love.
I’ll knock until the door opens, please open the door.
A light sky-blue knit and an ivory beret.
Even fans who once chanted extreme Betters melted at Cha Seongbin’s new charm.
‘He’s this cute?’
He used to seem like he could only pull off slick songs, but with the beret, Cha Seongbin looked like a baby fennec fox.
The fennec fox charmed the camera, tilting his head playfully.
Then he quickly moved to the back of the stage.
“Kyaaaaah! Cha Seongbin, are you insane!”
“He’s seriously so handsome… ha…”
“Baby fox Cha Seongbin is legendary…”
Next to walk out were Kang Siwoo and Seo Haim.
I’ll be annoying.
I’ll hover right in front of your eyes.
Touch you, touch you, touch your heart, baby.
Though they seemed like they’d be completely different, the chemistry between them was surprisingly good.
Soft vocals from Seo Haim, and deep harmony from Kang Siwoo.
The two executed their pair choreography flawlessly and stepped back.
And then.
At the final moment, when Seo Ian appeared, a fan holding a rose trembled uncontrollably.
“…!”
She almost couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Crazy, Ian.”
The pure white jacket wasn’t the issue, but why was the white t-shirt underneath riding up so dangerously?
Fans had already felt like fainting when they all came out with roses in their mouths.
But the fans present were certain.
This was…
It was definitely intentional.
“Waaahhhh!”
“Fresh sexy?”
“Soft bunny! Cover him! Cover him up!”
“Aaaah! Someone protect Seo Ian!”
Seo Ian grinned and fixed his gaze on the camera.
His now more relaxed gaze naturally shifted between the audience and the camera.
Why do you touch my heart?
Keep touching it.
Bouncing, my love.
Now I’ll be the one to touch you first.
In the dazzlingly smiling sunlight,
I recall our promise.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll take a step closer.
“Waaahhhh!”
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
The screams filled the studio.
The stage was so hectic, they didn’t realize the cheers were for them.
There were no mistakes.
The powerful choreography, meant to pour out everything on stage, continued without a break.
The five-member group dance was flawless.
Even the angles of their arms, and the positions of their legs.
That’s because Kang Siwoo and Do Seohan checked and monitored every single detail.
There was pressure about dancing.
Because if anything went wrong, the mistake would be revealed to everyone, they had to be cautious.
Seo Ian focused every nerve to his fingertips, determined not to make a single mistake.
Why do you touch my heart?
Keep touching it.
Bouncing, my love.
Now I’ll be the one to touch you first.
In the dazzlingly smiling sunlight,
I recall our promise.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll take a step closer.
The choreography flowed smoothly.
Shoulders once tense with nerves slowly relaxed.
At some point,
The members began to enjoy it a little.
‘This is fun.’
Seohan spun around his spot with a bright smile, and Cha Seongbin gripped his knit lightly, raising the corners of his lips.
It was the signature expression fans loved.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Do Hamjji, I love youuuu!”
“Cha Seongbin is handsome!”
The five of us slid together into the center and then quickly dispersed.
Because it was a one-time stage, we were earnest,
The past two weeks had been so intense,
And this moment was so precious.
The song raced toward its climax.
Finally, the highlight of “Touch Me,” the three-step high note.
Main vocalist Seo Ian took a slight breath and gathered himself.
He had worked on this one part for a full two weeks.
So, he could do it.
Seo Ian gripped the mic with both hands and released a cool high note.
I’ve been waiting for you all this time
My heart was anxious that maybe it was too late
Wo‑ah‑ah‑ah‑ah‑
Yeeeee‑ah‑ah‑ah‑
“Crazy.”
“How is that even possible?”
Gasps erupted here and there at the unwavering, solid vocalization.
“Wow….”
Seohan smiled and layered heavy harmonies beneath Seo Ian’s high notes.
Their voices blended and melted together smoothly.
It was a stage that was refreshing yet powerful.
This was the feeling Seohan had envisioned for “Touch Me.”
And the stage he had imagined looked just like this.
“…….”
Onstage, Seo Ian clasped Seohan’s hand.
Seo Ian turned toward Seohan and smiled.
“Hah… ha.”
There was a pleasant tremble felt through their clasped fingertips.
The excitement of the stage conveyed the pounding heartbeats of the two of us clearly.
“Let’s stand on stage together.”
That long-ago, offhand remark had become reality.
Back when I was at KJ Entertainment, I couldn’t even imagine standing on stage together.
But now.
Here we were, facing each other and smiling on this stage.
In that case.
Might the reckless wish to debut together someday come true?
Seohan thought that as he sang the final line.
“You keep touching my heart.”
“Until I can’t resist‑.”
We both grinned and bowed our heads.
Because we poured everything into it, it was an all‑the‑way phenomenal stage.
No regrets, no lingering attachments.
“Woaahhhhh!”
“Seo Ian, debut already!”
“Do Seohan, I love youuuu!”
The floor of the studio vibrated with the fans’ cheers. Even amid so many people, I heard voices calling my name clearly.
It felt as if something intense struck my heart.
Watching the wave of waving placards, I gasped for breath.
MC Han Dawon turned toward us and picked up the mic.
“This was the third performance of Stardust Project, the first stage of the concept evaluation. You all did a great job. Let’s hear some thoughts from Team Touch Me.”
The microphone rolled over to us. Leader Kang Siwoo was the first to speak.
His voice trembled as if slightly nervous.
“Hello, everyone. We are the stars of Stardust who want to settle in the hearts of our sponsors. We are Light!”
“Shining shining! Please support us!”
The fans in the front row giggled at the hastily made team name.
None among the five of us had a knack for naming, so it was Seohan’s idea.
“Ahem.”
Kang Siwoo, face flushed, continued boldly.
“The ‘Touch Me’ stage we presented—did we touch the hearts of our sponsors?”
“Yeeeeeah!”
“Siwoo, you touched me so hard my heart hurts!”
At some point, a fan’s loud voice resounded, and Kang Siwoo burst into laughter.
With great resolve we took on a refreshing concept, and Kang Siwoo truly did well.
He showed that he could handle a song like this with clear skill.
His innate sense was outstanding—he might even go into producing.
“Thank you.”
“Kyaaaaaaa!”
After leader Kang Siwoo’s short greeting, the mic passed to Cha Seongbin.
“Hello, everyone! I’m Cha Seongbin!”
The beret‑wearing Cha Seongbin shone especially brightly today.
Cha Seongbin smiled broadly and waved toward the placards with his name on them.
“Thank you very much for watching—it would mean a lot if you enjoyed our hard preparation!”
Cha Seongbin bowed deeply at 90 degrees and passed the microphone to Seo Ian.
Perhaps shaken by the lingering excitement of the stage, my hyung raised his head belatedly.
“Ah.”
In a way, he was one of those who benefited most from the concept change in “Touch Me.”
The white cotton shirt riding up so steeply was clearly deliberate.
“Does anyone here have abs?”
“Me.”
“…Hyung?”
“Even if not, I’ll make them.”
My hyung boldly raised his hand—and in just two weeks, actually developed abs.
So, that was clearly the fruit of effort.
No sooner had Seo Ian taken the mic than a dolphin‑like squeal erupted from the front row.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Protect Seo Ian’s abs!”
“Fans, if you really don’t want them to stay intact, how can you shout like that?”
At Seo Haim’s teasing comment, the fans giggled, and Seo Ian smiled shyly.
From where I stood, that hyung.
He was embarrassed, yet enjoying it.
With a trembling voice, Seo Ian opened his mouth.
“I’ll work hard… to keep them.”
What is he saying?
“And to keep them in the future… please cast your vote!”
Seriously, what is he saying?
I think he was so nervous he didn’t even know what he was saying.
Hearing Seo Ian’s nonsense, I grabbed the mic urgently.
“Yes, I’m Do Seohan.”
At that one word from me, many placards shook up and down.
They were placards with a high proportion of hamster photos along with my face.
[Do‑Hamjji, let’s debut]
[Genius Hamster Byo‑Seohan]
I’m so thankful to those people.
I waved lightly toward the fans and began to speak.
Perhaps from the lingering excitement of the performance, my voice came out slightly flushed.
“Standing on stage feels like such a joyful experience every time.”
Maybe because it was our first stage performing our own song.
It was especially good.
“It feels like today’s stage will remain in my memory forever.”
It was a stage where I met great team members and poured everything.
I know I wouldn’t have stood on a stage like this without the fans.
The wave of placards swaying in the air was so beautiful.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
I smiled brightly and gripped the microphone.
What should I say?
There was only one thought on my mind.
“You’ll stay with us going forward too, right?”
I want to stand on stage forever.