Episode 173. Meet-and-Greet (2)
When was the last time she'd gone to a fan meeting? Won Chaehui tried to remember. Aside from the fact that it had been an insanely long time, nothing particularly stood out.
At the fan meeting she'd paid her own money to attend, Won Chaehui had suffered plenty of humiliation. She'd heard more warnings from security and staff than lines from the idol, so she'd definitely said everything she had to say about that.
On the other hand, the fan meeting notice UA had put up was a bit…… refreshing in some aspects.
≫ [OFFICIAL] Pre-Participation Notice Regarding Spark's First Fan Meeting 'IGNITION'
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Filming Policy
— At this fan meeting, free filming is permitted so long as it does not interfere with the proceedings. We would appreciate it if you take beautiful photos. (In exceptional cases where burst filming, etc., causes harm to other fans, staff may request that you refrain from filming.)
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There had been no photography ban. It wasn't simply absent—they were actively encouraging it.
This was the first time she'd seen a fan meeting with such boldness. Won Chaehui's camera seemed to squirm inside her bag.
Moreover, the venue was a famous fan meeting spot known for its good sightlines. She wondered just how badly the company had gotten its ass kicked to show such overflowing sincerity in everything.
Until the fan meeting began, Won Chaehui idly browsed the Spark bait floating up on her timeline.
'Since the Ahwangsil final was their last activity, will they come out in hanbok today? Or school uniforms?'
Honestly, she'd been willing to look kindly upon anything as long as they didn't come out in a three-stripe tracksuit. Having actually seen someone do that remained one of the few stains on Won Chaehui's life.
But as they say.
Spark is sincere about 'every activity.'
The venue, which had grown raucous as silhouettes flickered at the entrance, soon filled with happy cheers.
The first to appear was the leader, Jeong Seongbin.
A bronze-colored wreath modeled after a laurel crown rested atop his brown hair, and metal chain accessories sparkled on his fingers and wrists.
Draped in a white tunic and a thin shawl with a greenish sheen, he exuded a strange classical beauty. The outfit was reminiscent of Greco-Roman mythology.
Damn, he was practically an elf. Before Won Chaehui could even marvel, another guy came out from behind.
It was Park Juu, in a silk shirt where blue light coursed through the folds like waves, with a touch of light sky-blue glitter on both cheeks that wasn't overdone.
When Won Chaehui zoomed in, the glitter became clearer. Three or four elongated ovals with pointed ends were settled on Park Juu's cheeks.
So Park Juu is like a mermaid prince? As she was inferring to herself, a scream burst from one side.
"Shit."
Choi Jeho appeared, his bangs neatly swept back, dressed in a burgundy shirt paired with a black setup.
A chain was attached to his shirt collar, as if it were a brooch. The gold ornament sparkled under the lights.
Uncharacteristic of Spark, who didn't usually wear heavy makeup, his eyes and lips were done up with intense precision. Even from Won Chaehui's seat, his face looked like it was in 4K.
Gang Giyeon, who followed after, looked like he was wearing clothing from an earlier era compared to Choi Jeho.
Not a single stray hair out of place, slicked back with pomade—it emphasized Gang Giyeon's inherent sharpness even more.
A muffler, a fancy vest, and a well-fitted coat formed a perfect trifecta.
"And he's even wearing gloves. Who the hell is this bastard, seriously, is he a pervert?"
The spotless white gloves enveloping Gang Giyeon's hands gave Won Chaehui a lot to think about.
Shutter sounds were heard here and there. The funny thing was that no one was blasting burst shots. The sounds of people taking photos carefully, one frame at a time, combined to create a volume on par with burst shooting.
That was when the stage entrance lit up brightly as if under a spotlight.
It was Lee Cheonghyeon's entrance.
The splendid embroidery on his dignified outfit—something a professor at an academy in a romance fantasy novel might wear—stood out.
They say purple has symbolized wealth since ancient times, and one look at his face made him look every bit a millionaire.
A mortarboard matched to the color scheme suited him well too. In a way, he looked like a valedictorian. Even so, Won Chaehui was reminded of some nameless wine that cost 10 million won per bottle.
A visual like that was a loss if you didn't see it with your own eyes. She found herself thinking that even during the brief moments she spent looking through her viewfinder.
Taking one photo and lifting her head, then craning her neck back down like a turtle to take another—Won Chaehui was incredibly busy.
Only one member remained. While Won Chaehui adjusted her cannon's angle, people around her bustled about. They seemed to be taking out slogans.
'Can a solo fan event really be this blatant?'
She was bewildered. If the favoritism among members was so severe that fans prepared slogan events for just one member, the group couldn't function properly.
Regardless of Won Chaehui's concerns, the last member began to walk out.
In a tacky style quite different from the flashy fashions of the earlier members.
A checkered button-up, overalls, semi-rimless glasses, and vintage sneakers intensely indicated some specific fashion style he was aiming for.
Somehow, the kind of style that made you think his hobby was Bitcoin mining and his specialty was speedcubing.
"Wait, does the coordi hate only him? Is that why the fans are coddling him like this?"
At least the perm in his hair gave him a cute charm, and while it was funny how he walked in stiffly despite his upright posture, there was something poignant about it.
Just as pity was about to wash over her, loud voices started coming from the audience.
"Iwol!"
"You are all better now, right?!"
Only then did the slogans fans were holding enter Won Chaehui's eyes. They were inscribed with the words, "Congrats on your return, Iwol."
"Right. This is his first offline event since his injury."
That was why the competition for this fan meeting had been fiercer; she'd forgotten.
Kim Iwol, looking at the audience with wide eyes, bowed repeatedly with an embarrassed, awkward smile.
From the audience came shouts of "Don't bow your head! You'll strain yourself!" but he didn't seem to care. It was an impressive professional spirit.
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Led by Jeong Seongbin, the members spoke about their gratitude to the fans who came to their first fan meeting and their thoughts on the fan club's formation. Since Won Chaehui wasn't curious about their talking, she just took photos diligently.
The Spark inside her viewfinder was literally all over the place.
They'd thrown unity out the window, but the strong will of each and every member to show off peak beauty was palpable.
So Spark was…… a group with a strong sense of aesthetics……. Won Chaehui's hand pressed the shutter on its own, without waiting for its owner's command.
"We've prepared some special content for today."
"That's right."
Jeong Seongbin and Gang Giyeon exchanged lines. It seemed like they'd already prepared plenty with just their clothes, but apparently there was more. Having crawled out from the depths of three-stripe tracksuit hell, Won Chaehui's expectations were at rock bottom.
"Since our outfits lack so much unity, you all must have been confused, but actually, there was a concept planned!"
"We nearly ended up with frazzled hair like Juu hyung trying to decide this!"
Naturally, people's eyes turned to Park Juu, who was maintaining a bright expression. So that's what he meant by nearly ending up with frazzled black hair like Juu.
What they meant by having a concept became clear with the following special stage. Thanks to the members who prepared each stage forming a somewhat shared atmosphere among themselves.
The first stage was opened by Jeong Seongbin and Park Juu.
To Jeong Seongbin's acoustic guitar accompaniment, Park Juu sang "With List," arranged in a classical style.
So that was why they'd dressed like an elf and a mermaid prince—the motif seemed to be a pastoral music-loving boy of nature and a siren.
Park Juu's tone color was famous even outside the Sparkler fandom for being unique. This voice shone even in an ordinary fan meeting venue.
"Hearing it live is totally different."
She'd thought he sounded good even listening to the recorded track, but his voice was so tremendous that her previous assessment felt laughable. It was simply a shame this unit had prepared only one song.
Next, the dance line in a suit concept came out. She'd wondered what they'd dance in those clothes, and…….
The two of them waltzed. Won Chaehui doubted her own eyes.
She didn't know if that was how a waltz was supposed to be danced. She'd never been particularly interested in that sort of thing.
But it was certainly cool to watch. The angles were sharp, the movements fluid, and there was a sense of unity with the music.
So idols these days have to dance the waltz to survive. Even as she had such an old-fogey thought, Won Chaehui found herself getting drawn in little by little. The stiffness in her shoulders was gradually forgotten.
By now, she was curious about what the last pair would do. She even had a small wish that the heated atmosphere from the waltz would continue.
An anxiety crept over her that if they did something like a quiz battle in those scholar-and-grad-student outfits, they'd become no-fun in an instant.
Whether they knew Won Chaehui's feelings or not, Kim Iwol and Lee Cheonghyeon stepped onto the stage with solemn expressions.
"As you all know, these two are our team's official brains."
Jeong Seongbin, returning from elf to MC, grabbed the mic.
"So we've chosen an item that lets the two of them use their brains to their hearts' content."
It's over. Quiz battle confirmed.
Now they'd spend time guessing obscure foreign capitals no one cared about…….
"Its name is the 'My Secret Story About the Other Person That Only I Know' relay expose!"
……Huh?
Are they allowed to do that? Was this mutually agreed upon?
While a bewildered Won Chaehui stood there, the surroundings erupted in heated cheers. Somehow, everyone looked used to exposés and TMI bombardments.
"The rules are simple. You expose stories about each other that we don't know, and if even one member knows the story, or if one person feels excessive shame, the game ends immediately!"
In simple terms, they were being told to spill some interesting stories from their time together. In the idol industry, where relationships matter, it was an interesting topic.
"……Both contestants, are you ready?"
Park Juu asked, massaging Lee Cheonghyeon's shoulder. Lee Cheonghyeon smiled, raising one corner of his mouth as if he were completely at ease.
"Want to go first, hyung? Or should I?"
He even threw out a provocation. One of Kim Iwol's eyebrows twitched.
"Bring it on."
Once Kim Iwol permitted the first strike, Lee Cheonghyeon strutted across the stage.
It was a damned shame. After all, she had to look at that face with her bare eyes and capture it on camera too.
"Hyung."
"……."
"If there are no commas in numbers, it annoys you even if you pretend it doesn't, right?"
Lee Cheonghyeon snickered.
Kim Iwol didn't back down either. His composure stood out—not even losing his smile over something so trivial.
"Then why don't you change the number format? I told you how."
"It's just too funny how you change it so diligently every time……."
"Sorry, but without that, I can't read anything over 10,000 won."
It was an utterly trivial story.
But the two of them were more serious than anyone. At this very moment, Won Chaehui thought it would be nice if the event staff sold some popcorn.
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Profile
Name: Jeong Seongbin
Birthday: March 30
Birthplace: Seoul
Height: 179cm
MBTI: ESFJ
Nicknames: Spiritual Pillar, Squad Leader, Captain, Teacher, Spark's Only Conscience
Likes: Vocal lessons, watching the news, enjoying night views
Dislikes: His own shortcomings, Jeong Seongjun's sudden antics, overly sweet food
Motto: Do your best so you have no regrets
Favorite food: Gamjatang
Preferred scent: Cotton
Favorite music genre: Ballad
Favorite sport: Esports
Body part he's confident in: Ankles
Unique habit: Talks in his sleep when tired