Episode 99
With WeUs's explosive stage, Part 2's sequence came to a close.
Unlike Part 2's atmosphere which felt more like a festival than an awards ceremony, a strange tension lingered during Part 3's awards ceremony.
The reason was precisely the rivalry atmosphere between the two groups, Cross and Next.
'They really look ready to devour each other.'
A bone-chilling atmosphere that I felt the entire time sitting in the singers' waiting area.
Even within this World Cup Stadium where various groups' fandoms gathered, the headcount of Cross and Next's fandoms was overwhelming.
When those two fandoms exuded a combative atmosphere, the interior of the awards ceremony venue felt like it had become a battlefield for the two fandoms.
'Those people seem used to this.'
I could see the members of Cross and Next wearing relaxed smiles even amidst the fandoms' psychological warfare.
And in that tense atmosphere, the two groups' stages proceeded in turn.
"Wow!"
"They're really good as expected."
Exclamations burst out from here and there in the singer seats as Cross's stage ended.
Baek Sihyun and Kang Ajin next to me also talked with dazed faces, seemingly admiring Cross's stage.
'Is this why Cross is considered the top?'
Even though Cross and Next formed a rivalry structure, there were actually many evaluations that Cross was superior.
Seeing their stage today, I could definitely understand the reason.
It wasn't that Next performed poorly on stage, but Cross's skill was simply too overwhelming.
'Cross will receive the Grand Award this time.'
The Grand Award wasn't given solely based on stage skills, but if public opinion that Cross was superior to Next was stronger, MusicNet wouldn't be able to go against that public opinion either.
And I could confirm that my prediction wasn't wrong before long.
"MusicNet Asian Music Awards Grand Award... The Grand Award goes to, Cross!"
Kyaaaaaaa-
The Cross fans who hadn't let go of their tension until the end finally erupted in shouts of victory.
The screen that had been showing the Grand Award candidates until just now was now focused on the Cross members.
After briefly exchanging greetings with surrounding singers, Cross walked up onto the stage with long strides.
'I didn't expect to receive it this time anyway... but still, the feeling is strange.'
It seemed my expression management wasn't perfect for a moment.
Of course, most people right now would be looking at the faces of Cross and Next members rather than my face, so it probably wouldn't be a big problem.
Still, I should put on a congratulatory expression just in case.
While I was working hard on managing my expression, the Cross members' acceptance speech was proceeding on stage.
'Will I be able to receive the Grand Award next year?'
While listening to the acceptance speech, such a thought suddenly occurred to me.
Hoping that Cross wouldn't be active next year would be too shameless a thought.
Then for WeUs to receive the Grand Award, we would have to beat that group called Cross standing up there.
'It won't be easy.'
I didn't know exactly how far Cross's advancement into America was currently progressing, but at least Cross's position in Korea seemed solid for the next 2 or 3 years.
'Hmm, to beat Cross next year...'
I was dazedly watching the acceptance speech while lost in various thoughts, and only came back to my senses when the acceptance speech was almost ending.
On stage right now, I could see Cross's leader Jinhyuk wrapping up the acceptance speech.
"And I'd also like to express my gratitude to all the fellow singers and senior and junior artists who brightened today's awards ceremony stage. While watching the preceding stages, I thought that we should also work harder."
The acceptance speech gradually ending.
Jinhyuk's acceptance speech was ordinary. He appeared to be humbly wrapping up the speech while expressing gratitude to fellow singers.
If only that gaze that rubbed against my intuition wasn't there.
'Why does he keep looking this way?'
Jinhyuk's gaze constantly heading in this direction was strangely bothersome.
Even though there was no reason for the person giving the acceptance speech right now to pay attention to us.
Around the time I was feeling something was off.
Jinhyuk's final remark reached my ears.
"Thank you so much for giving us this honorable award... We will work even harder so that we can receive this award next year as well. Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
With Jinhyuk's final greeting, I could see all of Cross bowing their heads together.
Seeing that, we all stood up from our seats and sent applause toward Cross.
Waaaaaaa-
Cheering sounds that seemed ready to burst rang out.
When the music signaling the end of the awards ceremony was heard, all the singers came down from the singer seats and headed toward the stage.
"Thank you!"
"We love you everyone!"
Singers delivering greetings toward where their respective fandoms were.
And while we were waving our hands looking at the Wish fans shaking blue light sticks.
Tap-
I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder from behind.
I thought it was naturally one of our members, so I didn't bother to check who it was.
But suddenly an unfamiliar voice reached my ears.
"Today's stage was truly surprising."
"Yes? Ah...! Thank you."
When I turned to the side, I could see Cross's leader Jinhyuk with his hand on my shoulder.
I was briefly flustered by Jinhyuk's sudden familiarity, but soon managed my expression and answered Jinhyuk's words.
And seeing me like that, Jinhyuk smiled slightly and waved his hand toward the fans without saying anything.
Of course, the arm resting on my shoulder remained there.
'What... could his taste possibly be in that direction?'
Around the time I felt goosebumps rising on my back from a thought that suddenly crossed my mind.
Jinhyuk soon took his hand off my shoulder and offered me a short greeting.
"See you next time."
"Yes, sunbaenim."
"I hope you do as well as this time then."
"Yes?"
Before I could even answer, Jinhyuk left meaningful words and I could see him moving toward where the Cross members were.
'Do as well as this time?'
As I was momentarily flustered, Yujin Kim who was right next to me came over and spoke.
"He must have been quite bothered. By our stage, I mean."
I briefly nodded at Yujin Kim's words and gazed for a moment at Jinhyuk who was smiling relaxedly in the distance.
'Interesting.'
The emotion I felt while watching Cross's stage, Cross's leader Jinhyuk had also felt while watching our stage.
Of course, the difference was that we were in the challenger's position and they were already at the top.
'Being worried about getting caught up to is one thing, but us catching up to them is more fun.'
Thanks to Jinhyuk, my mind snapped wide awake.
We might have a rivalry competition with Cross next year.
Like Next today.
"Yujin, where's James Blake?"
"I don't see him, seems like he left first."
"Really?"
He had casually dropped a remark about whether I wanted to work together.
And then disappeared without even a proper chance to talk.
'Well, they'll contact me first.'
There was no need to wait anxiously.
Given a little more time, our value would rise much higher than it is now.
***
"Ah, isn't this the Rookie Award that's given only to the best rookie of the year?"
"Yeah, it's an amazing award that you can only receive once after debuting."
Sim Sungha and Woo Jungwoo's conditions didn't look good.
No, actually most of the members' conditions weren't good.
"My whole body aches..."
"Ugh... practicing until dawn today, rehearsal during the day. I feel like I'm going to collapse."
I could see Park Hanhui and Baek Sihyun flopping down on the floor as soon as they entered the office.
On one side, still intoxicated by the lingering emotions of the awards ceremony, on the other side, in a state where they could collapse at any moment.
First, I took the Rookie Award trophy away from Woo Jungwoo who seemed to be getting increasingly worse.
"Ah...! My trophy..."
"I'll give it back when you come to your senses."
After taking the trophy from Woo Jungwoo and passing it to Kang Ajin, I could see Kang Ajin stroking the trophy like a baby.
Toward that Kang Ajin, Woo Jungwoo rushed over desperately and said.
"Give me back my Rookie Award!"
"No! Rin hyung gave it to me."
I turned away from the sight of those two for a moment and somehow got the members stuck to the floor up and sat them in chairs.
"Now, I know everyone's tired. But once we do the WApp broadcast, we can go straight to the accommodation and rest, so just endure a little."
"Yeees..."
"Fighting... we can do it..."
I could see the members answering without energy, but knowing they would work harder than anyone once the live broadcast started, I let out a small sigh and sat in my seat.
Since it was just a modest awards ceremony after-party, there wasn't much to prepare.
Before long, the staff finished setting up the cameras and sent us a signal.
As we straightened our postures and nodded, the broadcast soon turned on.
-Waaa!!!
-Daebak!
-I missed you guys ㅠㅠ
-WeUs, I love you!!
As soon as the broadcast turned on, with the chat window rapidly rising before I could even greet first, Kang Ajin looked at the camera and excitedly shook the Rookie Award trophy.
"Everyone, we received the Rookie Award!"
"Wooaah!"
"Thank you so much!!!"
Along with Kang Ajin's words, the members who had been slumped lifelessly until just now let out vigorous cheers.
-Congratulations on the Rookie Award guys!
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ First Rookie Award, truly truly congratulations!
-All this year's Rookie Awards belong to WeUs!
-Let's do everything WeUs wants to do from now on!
For a moment, I could see the chats in the chat window exploding to a degree that couldn't even be compared to before.
The live broadcast's viewer count had already exceeded the ten thousands unit and was rapidly growing toward the hundred thousands unit.
"Hey members? We should greet properly first, right?"
"Yeees!"
"Two, three!"
"Forever together! Hello, we are WeUs!"
I barely calmed the runaway members and formally delivered greetings to the fans.
"Now, today we received the Rookie Award at the MusicNet Asian Music Awards. It's all thanks to you Wish fans supporting us. Thank you so much."
"We love you Wish!"
"Thank you!"
"The reason we turned on this WApp broadcast today is to express our gratitude to the fans. And also, we really worked hard preparing for this awards ceremony stage, right?"
"That's right!"
"We really worked hard..."
"We're planning to share behind-the-scenes stories about the awards ceremony stage here as well."
"Everyone, how was today's stage?"
I brought up the topic of the awards ceremony stage and observed the chat window's reactions.
Even if the现场 response was good, the evaluation of fans who watched through the broadcast could be different.
While I was trying to observe the chat window's reactions with a nervous heart.
"Uh uh?"
"What... what is it?"
I could hear the members' flustered voices.
"The chats aren't coming up!"
"It seems completely stopped?"
I could see the screen of the phone I had turned on to check chat reactions had completely frozen.
It wasn't just mine; all the other members' screens were also frozen.
"It seems like an error. What should we do?"
"Should we turn off the broadcast and turn it back on?"
While we were frantically staring only at the stopped phones.
The staff member who was adjusting the camera spoke to us.
"We'll turn the broadcast back on for now, so please wait a moment."
While we were dazedly waiting at the staff member's words.
"Uh... uh!"
"The chats are coming up again!"
"The screen came in too!"
Fortunately, the stopped live broadcast started playing normally again.
"Everyone, can you hear us well?"
"Is it okay now?"
"If it's okay, please post 'okay' in the chat!"
The live broadcast that started once again.
However.
"I think there's something wrong with the chat window?"
While the other members were talking toward the camera, Baek Sihyun who was observing the chat window muttered.
Thinking it was an error again, when I was about to check the chat window.
"It's not an error... it seems like it's because there are so many people..."
From next to me, I could hear Yujin Kim's flustered voice.
'How many people could there be?'
At the two people's unusual reactions, I checked the WApp live broadcast screen.
Then what caught my eyes was the chat window going up so fast that it was impossible to even read.
And.
'Did I see that wrong?'
Looking at the current number of viewers watching this broadcast, something was off about the numbers.
"Are 100,000 people watching right now?"
At the somewhat unrealistic figure, I looked at Yujin Kim and asked.
Yujin Kim, who had regained composure at some point, looked at me with an expression telling me to quickly return to reality and spoke.
"No. It's not 100,000, it's 1 million people."
About 10 minutes since the broadcast was turned on.
It was the moment of setting a new record for the highest number of viewers in WeUs's WApp history in just barely 10 minutes.