Ch.6262. Uninvited Guest

Suhyuk’s heart was still racing even after he had left the stage.

Back behind the stage, the first-year juniors rushed over to greet their seniors.

“Great job!”

“Kang-i hyung! You looked so cool!”

“Hana noona! Can you share what you posted on your story? I think I got some really good shots!”

The juniors gathered in small groups, gushing with excitement.

In front of Suhyuk stood Taeho, who could be called his direct junior, praising him.

“Suhyuk hyung! You were really cool.”

“Thanks.”

Being called cool.

It was unfamiliar but certainly a pleasant compliment.

“Ah~ Next year, I’ll be able to nail a solo performance like you did, right?”

“…Yeah. If I could do it, you can too.”

Suhyuk responded with a hint of shyness.

But it wasn’t a lie.

He believed that if the current 24th generation worked hard enough, they could do as well as the 23rd generation, or perhaps even better.

“Haa… Still, doing two shows in one day is pretty intense.”

The performances weren’t over yet.

After the outdoor show, they still had the regular performance in the evening, which could be considered the main event.

“Still, I think it’s better to be able to show it twice rather than just once.”

After practicing so hard, the thought of performing just once and being done with it felt disappointing.

“You think so?”

“It’s not often we get the chance to perform with Spirit.”

How many more times would they be able to take the stage with this exact lineup?

After today, the only officially scheduled event left was the winter regular performance.

Of course, today wasn’t over yet, so it was presumptuous to be thinking ahead, but Suhyuk still felt a little melancholic.

“I guess that makes sense for you, hyung. This is my first time.”

“I wish I had joined Spirit in my first year too.”

He couldn’t help but regret the year he had wasted at PurpleStorm.

Perhaps he would have been rejected if he had applied back then, but now Suhyuk was angry at himself for not having the courage to try.

“Hey. Lee Suhyuk.”

Hana, with her guitar slung over her back, approached Suhyuk.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve saved the photos taken of you, so ask me for them later, okay?”

Hana was offering to share photos taken of him on stage.

This seemingly normal courtesy felt strangely unfamiliar to Suhyuk.

“Who took the photos?”

“Friends took them.”

“Friends?”

“Friends from our department.”

…I see?

So that’s how it normally works?

Suhyuk, who had no one to invite, awkwardly scratched his head.

“…Hana’s friends really love watching our performances.”

Juyeon’s voice suddenly came from behind him.

“That’s why they take pictures of each member and send them to Hana.”

It was a simple fact, but Juyeon also didn’t have anyone who had come to see her at the outdoor stage.

“Everyone uses this opportunity to get a good profile picture~ Park Juyeon! You were happy to receive them too!”

Hana rested her chin on Juyeon’s shoulder.

“…Tell your friends thank you, Hana.”

Nothing evokes nostalgia as directly as photographs.

Even the most beautiful memories fade with time.

People leave images and videos behind to prevent their fading memories from being forgotten.

Juyeon rarely took pictures of herself.

She also seldom took photos with others.

That’s why the individual and group photos taken during Spirit activities were the only traces of her twenties.

Though she never mentioned it to the members, Juyeon treasured the photos Hana gave her more than anyone else.

“Ah~ I wonder how many people will come to the regular performance. I’m so nervous.”

The topic naturally shifted to the next performance.

“Lee Suhyuk. Park Juyeon. So how many people did you two end up inviting?”

Suhyuk and Juyeon, both startled, looked at each other.

With just a nervous glance, they could read each other’s thoughts.

‘…Don’t tell me you too?’

‘Yes, yes’

“Hahaha… Should we go get some bread, Juyeon?”

“…I want cream puffs.”

“Hey! Why are you two ignoring me!”

Yoon Hana chased after the two who were trying to escape.

* * *

The atmosphere of the outdoor performance and the regular performance was quite different.

This was because the nature of the audience was completely different.

The audience at the outdoor performance mainly consisted of students who came to enjoy various performances at the festival.

The regular performance attracted people who came to the auditorium specifically to see the “Spirit” club.

In other words, the level of focus was incomparably different.

“Unnie… Do you think I can do the introduction well?”

15 minutes until the start of the regular performance.

The female vocalist of the 24th generation.

Jiyeon was holding Juyeon’s hand and bowing her head as if making a confession.

“You’ll do fine…!”

“What if I stutter and become a laughingstock!”

Juyeon momentarily wondered what expression she should make.

Though there seemed to be no malice, Jiyeon’s words felt painfully familiar.

“Everyone will be supportive, so don’t worry about it~”

Seo-eun calmed the anxious first-years.

“These people are all here because they like you.”

Of course, there were some who came out of pure curiosity about band performances, but they were a minority.

Most were friends or seniors and juniors who came to see someone they knew.

“Kids, what should you do if you make a mistake?”

The only rote education Seo-eun had imposed on her juniors.

“We should try to get back into the flow naturally!”

A performance was no different from a presentation.

Even if you were flustered, it was important to calmly find your place and regain your pace.

“Right. You remember well. Don’t just stand there with a face that says ‘I made a mistake!'”

No matter how supportive the audience was, it was hard to look favorably on performers who stood awkwardly on stage.

“Yes!”

“Yes, unnie!”

“It’ll be over before you know it.”

The first-years only had 4 songs in total.

The session musicians had a bit more, but considering that the male and female vocalists had only 2 songs each, it would be over in 10 minutes.

Finally, the time arrived.

Suhyuk and the 23rd generation nervously watched from the side as the first-years took the stage.

“Hello everyone~”

Juyeon was frustrated.

Jiyeon… despite saying she was nervous…!

Wasn’t she handling the introduction too skillfully!

“Let’s meet our first song!”

-Clap clap clap clap

The 24th generation drummer, Ji Sohye, signaled the start.

She wasn’t paying attention to the audience.

There was only one person she wanted recognition from.

It was Choi Gang, who was watching the first-years with his arms crossed.

Sohye had certainly managed to get closer to him through various efforts.

She had even gone exercising with him and Suhyuk, and received drum lessons with Seo-eun’s help.

But it wasn’t enough.

She still hadn’t won his heart.

All she could do now, not knowing what else to try, was to swing her drumsticks with all her might.

Look at how hard I’m trying.

Please look at me?

Are you really not going to notice me even after all this?

The feelings she couldn’t express in words became rhythm, resonating throughout the auditorium.

“Wow… Sohye has really improved.”

Hana, standing next to Choi Gang, let out a short exclamation.

“…Thanks to my teaching.”

“That’s ridiculous. You only taught her because Seo-eun unnie made you.”

“Teaching is teaching, regardless.”

Choi Gang closed his eyes as he watched the stage.

Blocking one sense meant that other senses became more acute.

The bass sound, similar to a heartbeat, definitely had a different power than before.

“…I have to admit it. But she’s still far from catching up to me!”

“Stop talking nonsense and just compliment her at the after-party.”

Hana cut off Choi Gang’s words with a disgusted shake of her head.

“Sohye worked so hard on her own.”

Sohye wasn’t the only one who had grown.

Hyejung and Taeho, who were in charge of guitars, also showed remarkable progress compared to when they first joined.

It wasn’t perfect.

Even now, occasional discordant notes could be heard.

But what Hana valued most was that they had diligently followed all the points she had pointed out.

The kids didn’t take my words lightly.

They practiced hard because I’m their senior.

The sense of fulfillment transformed into affection, and Hana looked at the 24th generation with even warmer eyes.

“That’s all from us! From now on, the 23rd generation seniors will show you an even more amazing performance, so please look forward to it! Thank you!”

As Gunwoo, the 24th generation vocalist, finished his final greeting, the stage lights dimmed.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”

At Seo-eun’s whisper, the 23rd generation members with their instruments hurried their steps.

When everyone reached their designated positions, a bright orange light illuminated the stage once again.

Suhyuk gazed at the audience.

He had been curious about how full it would be.

It looked about two-thirds full.

That meant at least 70-80 people were there.

“Ah. Ah.”

Juyeon blew into the microphone and began her greeting.

“Hello…! I’m Park Juyeon, the vocalist of the 23rd generation.”

Unlike the outdoor performance, there was no time limit here.

Juyeon took the time to introduce each member as she had prepared in advance.

“Our generation’s… strongest drummer. Choi Gang…!”

Despite her rather weak voice for emphasizing “strongest,” Choi Gang stood up and brought his drumsticks down.

A sharp cymbal sound resonated through the venue.

“On bass, our spiritual pillar and president…! Seo-eun unnie!”

As always, Seo-eun waved with a bright smile.

“Next is our generation’s ace and visual center! On guitar, Hana!”

Hana made a V-sign with her fingers and waved it toward her friends.

She even gave a little wink, clearly thinking about the photos being taken—the very definition of a social butterfly.

“And joining us this year. On guitar.”

Suhyuk, who had been contemplating his gesture, slightly raised his hand.

“This is Suhyuk…!”

The sound of applause and a few cheers were heard.

The volume was noticeably less compared to Hana’s introduction, probably because he didn’t have friends there.

Still, as he was feeling satisfied with the response, Suhyuk scanned the audience and discovered something.

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

But no matter how he looked, it was definitely that person he knew.

Someone who didn’t belong here, someone he never imagined he would encounter in this place.

His chest tightened and he felt strange the moment he saw her.

The leader of PurpleStorm who had ruined his year.

Nayoung was looking down at Suhyuk.