Hobbyist VTuber-Chapter 242

Ha-eun’s surprise collaboration with Song Hyunmin on stage—

It was something that could happen.

Nael already knew that the two had grown close while filming Start Again.

She also couldn’t deny that having Song Hyunmin cover Doubly’s featured verse made the performance even better.

Even to Nael, who considered One Spring Day her absolute favorite song, Ha-eun and Song Hyunmin’s voices blended together beautifully.

However— that choreography with physical contact was a different matter entirely—!

“A high-five isn’t even real physical contact.”

“But they touched!”

“I mean, can’t their palms at least touch?”

“No, they can’t!”

“...How do you even watch dramas...?”

If you’re here to sing, just sing!

That was the only thought running through Nael’s mind.

It didn’t matter that Song Hyunmin was a world-famous Hallyu star.

It didn’t matter that he was more than ten years older than Ha-eun.

None of that was relevant.

The fact that he had the audacity to touch Ha-eun’s hand—even if it was just part of the performance—was absolutely unacceptable.

Nael’s eyes burned with fury.

Meanwhile, Jeong Hwa-yoon, watching her from a little distance away, was utterly speechless.

Ha-eun and Song Hyunmin didn’t seem to think anything of it, so why was she the one making a big deal?

“Okay, Hwa-yoon, imagine this—your daughter goes to kindergarten, and one of the boys in her class is holding her hand, interlocking fingers. Would you be okay with that?”

“Nael, you’re only four years younger than Ha-eun.”

“She’s still in high school! She’s just a baby, a baby!”

“You’re shorter than her, though.”

As expected, Nael’s insane level of devotion to Ha-eun was something Jeong Hwa-yoon would never fully understand.

How could someone who got this worked up over a brief moment of skinship handle watching romance dramas?

So, actors were okay, but idols weren’t? How did that make any sense?

“This is completely different from a drama!”

“Oh yeah? How?”

“Just—it’s just different, okay?!”

“...Good grief.”

Giving up on understanding Nael yet again, Jeong Hwa-yoon simply decided to focus on the performance instead.

Either way, even Nael couldn’t deny that their voices were perfectly in sync.

I’ve never seen a more intense obsessive fan in my life.

And so, as Jeong turned her attention back to the massive stage—

Ha-eun, having just wrapped up One Spring Day, began introducing Song Hyunmin.

“Song Hyunmin took the time to come support me today. Could you say a few words?”

“Hello, everyone. I’m Song Hyunmin. Like Ha-eun just mentioned, I’m here to support her. Please take care of me!”

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause filled the audience.

And shortly after—

｢♬──♪♪!｣

The opening melody of T. R. E. N. D., Pinocchio’s debut song, echoed throughout the concert hall.

Then, as Song Hyunmin adjusted his microphone, he shouted—

“Is everyone ready to have some fun──!!”

｢Now I go higher─♪｣

The same pure, crystalline voice that had once filled the Gocheok Sky Dome a year ago now roared through the stadium’s speakers.

Ha-eun’s sharp gaze locked onto the front-stage camera, sending her confident expression onto the massive screens for the entire audience to see.

Even her light, effortless steps radiated confidence.

｢─────♪｣

The way her voice effortlessly shifted between head voice and chest voice only amplified the audience’s excitement.

Her presence alone was enough to command the entire stage.

Her graceful, fluid dance moves spread across the vast stage, leaving an overwhelming impact.

That clear, powerful voice—

It hadn’t changed at all since her last performance at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Or maybe...

She had grown even more comfortable on stage.

Perhaps that was why.

Or perhaps it was because of the déjà vu creeping in from the person seated next to her.

“She seemed a bit nervous earlier, but she really was made for the stage, huh?”

“...Mmm.”

Hearing Yoo Seong-jae casually remark beside her, Dayeon fell into thought.

No matter how much time passed, Ha-eun always felt different when she was on stage.

Dayeon’s gaze locked onto Ha-eun, standing tall ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) amid the sea of deafening cheers.

Roughly fifty thousand people were here, screaming for her.

How did she feel right now?

Last year, she had said her heart was racing—was it still the same now?

...I have no idea.

Dayeon had never held a concert herself, so she couldn’t begin to imagine how Ha-eun felt.

The only thing she could say for sure was that Ha-eun looked thrilled.

The darkened audience seating was a sea of glowing lightsticks, all swaying just for her.

With a view so vast, so breathtaking—

Could anyone really remain unaffected?

｢Dear my world. Don’t hesitate anymore─♪｣

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Another powerful high note burst through the speakers, carrying just the faintest trace of excitement.

And, once again, the stadium erupted with cheers.

When T. R. E. N. D. finally came to an end, Ha-eun’s expression held a subtle glow of excitement.

“...Thank you.”

Her voice through the microphone was as composed as ever.

But to someone like Dayeon, who knew her well—

It was obvious.

Ha-eun was having fun.

Stage presence... Maybe it really is in her blood.

With not a trace of nervousness to be found, Dayeon could no longer deny what Yoo Seong-jae had said.

Of course, she wasn’t about to say that out loud.

And then—

Song Hyunmin started talking about last year’s Infinite Challenge Song Festival.

“I already knew Ha-eun was an incredible singer since last year’s Gocheok Dome performance. But honestly? I think she’s gotten even better since then.”

Having participated in Infinite Challenge Song Festival himself, Song Hyunmin had personally witnessed Ha-eun and Yoon Si-hyuk’s T. R. E. N. D. performance.

That was why he decided to share his personal thoughts about it on the mic.

However, what followed—

Was completely unexpected.

It was something that had never been announced.

Something that had never been leaked to any media outlet.

“In fact, I actually want to release a song with Ha-eun, just like Si-hyuk did. What do you all think?”

As soon as Song Hyunmin casually hinted at a new collaboration song with Ha-eun, chaos erupted.

Because to the audience—

This was huge.

-Waaaaaaaah!!!

-We love it!!!

-Kyaa──!!

“Looks like everyone’s loving it. What do you think, Lee Ha-eun?”

“Hmm... Could you give me an example?”

“Well, for instance, we could give them a little teaser right here, right now. Just for the fans.”

-Kyaaaaaa!!—

“If we just move on now... we’d end up looking like the bad guys, wouldn’t we? Both you and me, Song Hyunmin.”

“Oh, we definitely can’t have that. We’re such good people, aren’t we, everyone?”

-Yeeeeees!!—

And just like that, the anticipation in the stadium soared even higher.

Then, just seconds later, a brand-new melody began flowing from the speakers.

｢Num zero feat pinocchio. Let's go.｣

With his mic raised once more, Song Hyunmin kicked off the never-before-heard performance of Num0.

At the same time, the stage lights shifted dramatically.

Song Hyunmin’s steps moved effortlessly in sync with the pulsing beat of the track—

The commanding presence of a man known as Asia’s most successful idol.

“Damn... you can really tell he’s on another level....”

Watching Song Hyunmin take control of the stage in an instant, Jeong Hwa-yoon found herself speaking without thinking.

Even though she wasn’t a fan, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

However, she suddenly remembered—

The person standing right next to her had just been glaring daggers at Song Hyunmin.

Oh no, she’s gonna start again, isn’t she?

Clamping her mouth shut, she cautiously glanced at Nael.

Fortunately, it seemed Nael hadn’t caught what she said. But just in case—

That’s when she noticed—

Nael’s phone camera was zoomed in to its absolute limit on Ha-eun.

And the muttered words that followed—half sigh, half admiration—

“She’s so damn good at dancing.... She’s literally good at everything....”

It was obvious.

Right now, Nael had zero interest in Song Hyunmin’s new song.

The only thing she cared about—

Was Ha-eun’s feature and her mesmerizing dance moves.

Letting out a quiet figures, Jeong Hwa-yoon simply turned back to the stage.

After all, the new song, featuring Ha-eun, was insanely catchy.

This is gonna hit #1 on the charts, no doubt.

She could already see it—when Num0 officially dropped, it was going to blow up.

Not only was the song itself addictive, but the combined star power of Ha-eun and Song Hyunmin was insane.

Ha-eun was already the talk of the town again because of God and the Goblin.

Song Hyunmin’s new song would definitely ride the wave of her soaring popularity.

And so, after the electrifying performance of Num0 wrapped up with thunderous cheers—

And after all of Ha-eun’s remaining solo performances smoothly came to a close—

“Alright, everyone! Are you all still having fun?”

Lenny, who had stepped off stage for a while, returned to take the lead again.

She smoothly transitioned into the final segment of the concert.

“The night sky is so beautiful tonight. Not a single cloud in sight.”

Tilting her head up to glance at the sky, Lenny subtly hinted at the next song.

Ha-eun, catching on, responded with a knowing smile—dropping the title of another one of Lenny’s hits.

“We might even see the Milky Way if we’re lucky.”

“Oh, so you were thinking the same thing, Ha-eun.”

This was for a very special guest in the audience.

The person who had been the reason this entire concert was planned in the first place—Park Yeon-woo.

That’s why they had intentionally saved this song for last.

And so, after a brief pause—

As the first lines of Between the Milky Way resonated softly across the stadium—

“...Huh?”

Park Yeon-woo, who had been quietly watching every performance, suddenly felt his ears tingle.

Something about this duet felt oddly familiar.

His hands instinctively reached for his tablet.

Slipping a wired earphone into one ear, he pulled up a specific video and pressed play.

｢You said you suddenly remembered—so I turned around♪｣

Holding onto the hands of memory, through the blurred rain—♪

The moment the song played—

He froze.

The same voice came through both his left ear (from the tablet) and his right (from the stage).

At first, he thought he was just imagining it.

But the longer he listened—

The more the resemblance became undeniable.

“This... No way....”

His gaze shot up toward the stage, his vision trembling slightly.

And then—

His eyes met hers.

The graceful figure standing there—

The entertainer of all trades—

Was now singing his favorite song.

And with a voice that sounded so eerily familiar to the one in his earphone—

Too similar.

That day. That memory.

The reason why he had never been able to forget.

Because, for a fleeting moment back then—

The delicate pair of eyes that had met his—

Had smiled.

Just like the youthful face on the screen.

“...Ha-ha.”

A dry chuckle slipped from his lips.

For a moment, he could see them overlap.

Two different images.

Two different figures.

Yet...

For the first time ever—

His thoughts refused to organize themselves.