Ch.6161. The Dawn is Blue

30 minutes until they take the stage.

Suhyeok, waiting in the outdoor tent backstage with his instrument, was on the verge of losing his mind.

“Ahh…”

On stage, the dance club’s performance was in full swing. As idol songs played, enthusiastic fan chants erupted at every key point.

The sheer number of people was overwhelming enough, but the volume of their cheers was something else. The pressure of being the next performer was increasingly tightening around Suhyeok’s throat.

Band songs probably won’t get this kind of response…

Suhyeok was well aware of the high barriers between genres.

No matter how popular a band song might be, it could never compete with current idol dance performances.

Meanwhile, Hana, still shocked by Seo-eun’s not-so-subtle advice, kept rambling about military service beside Suhyeok.

“So are you going in January? Or February?”

“I don’t know yet… I’ll go when the notice comes…”

“Come on… give me a straight answer!”

Hana couldn’t calm herself.

For the first time, she had feelings for a boy.

But that boy would be leaving for military service in just half a year. Even if they started dating tomorrow, they’d have less than a year together!

Though nothing was official between her and Suhyeok yet, an anxious Hana grabbed his shoulders and shook him frantically.

“Hey, so you’re not doing the first semester of your third year, right? Am I right?”

“…Hana.”

Juyeon, who had been watching, intervened as if she couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Suhyeok is already nervous enough…”

Juyeon removed Hana’s hands from Suhyeok’s shoulders.

Hana’s eyes grew cold at Juyeon’s attitude, which seemed intent on separating her from Suhyeok.

“I know he’s nervous, but it’s not hard to answer a simple question.”

“I think that conversation can wait until after the performance.”

“What are you, Suhyeok’s spokesperson?”

Hana narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed by how Juyeon was hovering around Suhyeok.

“Haah…”

Seo-eun, who had been talking with a student council member managing the stage, sighed.

“Everyone.”

The president’s single word captured everyone’s attention.

“You can play around later, but right now, let’s focus on the performance, okay?”

Seo-eun wasn’t smiling.

The members knew exactly what that meant.

Sitting back in her chair with clenched fists, Hana sank into a swamp of worries.

Military service.

If it’s 18 months as she knew… that’s over 500 days…

Assuming she would wait for him during his service, the days spent waiting would vastly outnumber the days they could spend together.

Just that single fact made Hana deflate like a dejected puppy.

Ah, why is it like this…

“…Hana.”

Suhyeok quietly called her name.

Mistakenly thinking she was upset because Seo-eun had scolded her because of him, Suhyeok wanted to cheer her up with a forced smile.

“…What.”

“Don’t worry about it. Seo-eun is probably just on edge.”

“…That’s not it.”

Hana wanted Suhyeok to notice her real concern, but that was realistically impossible. Besides, they couldn’t keep discussing the topic right before going on stage.

“…So it’s not about that?”

“No, it’s not.”

Hearing this, Suhyeok became gloomy alongside Hana.

He thought he had acted with some tact just the other day, but perhaps that wasn’t his own growth—maybe it was just luck that things had aligned well.

“Hey, Suhyeok.”

Hana brushed her hair back.

“Yeah?”

“Like I said earlier today, there’s nothing to be scared of. Just do what you always do.”

Having cooled down from Seo-eun’s words, Hana reflected on what Juyeon had said. Looking at it objectively, nothing Juyeon said was wrong.

“You’re good enough. Even Jaejun said you’re doing well.”

Suhyeok smiled at her words.

“Spirit, please get ready to go on stage!”

The members gathered their equipment at the signal.

Hana carried the heaviest load, taking both her effects pedals and guitar.

“Yes! Please proceed now!”

As they climbed the half-flight of stairs, the stage gradually came into view.

From the people clustered close to the stage to those spread out on picnic blankets on the grass in the back.

The outdoor stage had truly become a playground for all students.

“Juyeon! Can you handle the intro talk?”

It would take time for the session musicians to set up their equipment.

Filling those few minutes was the vocalist’s job—all she needed was a microphone.

Juyeon gripped the microphone and faced straight ahead.

[Ah, hello everyone!]

Though her tone wasn’t extremely energetic, the Spirit members could tell how much courage Juyeon was mustering to speak.

Juyeon could feel her shoulders trembling, but she steadfastly tried to fulfill her duty.

[Are you… enjoying the festival?]

“Yes!”

“Woohoo!”

Unless it was an idol fan meeting, it was hard to expect cooperative responses to such prompts. Only a few kind-hearted students cheered back.

Juyeon smiled gently in the direction of the voices and continued.

[Our band club Spirit has practiced hard to give you all a good time and a great performance. So please! Enjoy it with us!]

For a band, they might have seemed excessively well-behaved and earnest. But this was Juyeon’s best effort.

[Is everyone… ready…?]

The question was directed at the session musicians. As each nodded in turn, Juyeon felt relieved that her solo MC time was finally over.

[Then… Spirit, 23rd generation! Let’s begin!!!]

-Clap clap clap clap

With the powerful sound of drums, the first song began.

Despite having practiced dozens, perhaps over a hundred times, Suhyeok felt like he was performing for the first time today.

More than a hundred pairs of eyes were focused solely on him.

Every movement of his hands was evidence that he was making this huge space resonate.

The biggest sound ever made by this infinitely shy loner. The magic he created was shining through the wand of his six strings.

[I’ll come to meet you once more~!]

The audience in the front row sang along. People swaying their hands from side to side created a large, unified wave.

Suhyeok finally realized that the moment he had been dreaming of had arrived.

What he had dreamed of since childhood—the rock star moment he’d seen in videos was now unfolding before him as reality.

-The experience of being on stage gives artists an incomparable thrill.

-The stage is a space that transforms living, breathing humans into stars.

-You get addicted to that feeling, don’t you? Then you can never escape it.

-It’s a miracle that money can’t buy, something that can only happen there.

These were the words of Suhyeok’s favorite guitarist, Nick Brandon, in an interview with a British music magazine.

The audience before him hadn’t gathered solely to see Spirit. And they weren’t performing in front of thousands like Nick Brandon.

But Suhyeok could thoroughly relate to his idol’s words.

He raised his arm high and brought it down in a sweeping motion. The rough stroke captured the raw sound perfectly.

Turning his gaze from the stage to the side, he saw Juyeon imploring the audience to look at them, and Choegang smiling while sweating.

Beyond them was Hana, racing through the climax of her solo.

As she twisted her body at an angle, Suhyeok naturally made eye contact with her.

Her eyes curved as if asking, “Not bad, right?” In response, Suhyeok threw himself into the rhythm so intensely that his hair bounced wildly.

Both on stage and below—it was a cauldron of excitement.

Catching her breath, Juyeon finished the song and expressed her thanks.

[Everyone! We’re now at our last song!]

Disappointed boos came from the crowd.

[We’ll be performing our first original song, “Dawn Is Blue”!]

Hana, who had been so worried, was no longer anxious. Suhyeok had told her this was his favorite song.

So this song must be good.

-Thump thump thump thump

Choegang stomped his foot to the signal. Following was Hana’s ear-piercing riff.

Juyeon, who had practiced her lines separately in front of a mirror for this song, shouted with all her might before the intro even ended.

[Here we go!]

It was the moment their first original song entered the world.