NOVEL NEXT Chapter 217
The NANA organized by Nnet is the first to kick off all year-end awards ceremonies.
The first experience of the year-end awards, NANA, was truly….
“Quick! Get my makeup done!!!”
“Everything is ready for standby!”
…a battlefield.
“Ugh…, it’s so chaotic….”
With so many idols gathered, the staff were abundant too, causing a tremendous ruckus and a total mess.
Moreover, since my turn was in the third part, the overwhelming noise and the long wait were wearing me down.
And the one who looked out for me was….
“Hey, Ye-rin, do you want some snacks? I brought them from my country.”
“…Ah, thank you.”
It was surprisingly Kanna from Python.
Since our Rookies were scheduled for the main stage after a special stage with Python, I had no choice but to be apart from my Rookies members for a while.
On top of that, Yoo Seol was taking longer than expected for her makeup, so I spent most of the long wait with O Ah-ra and Kanna.
Among them, O Ah-ra was still avoiding me, leaving only Kanna by my side.
[Trait: Pervert – There are various kinds of love in this world. It’s just that your love might make ordinary people feel uncomfortable.]
[Trait Effect: Huff huff – Your face reddens and your breath gets rough in front of someone you find sexually appealing.]
“Huff…, by the way, Ye-rin, want me to read your palm while you eat? Huff….”
“……”
Kanna still had her perverted trait, but aside from occasionally squeezing my hand, she treated me nicely.
No….
“Ah, do you want me to get you some water? Just wait a second.”
She wasn’t just treating me well; it was as if she was meeting a very beloved guest.
I stared blankly at Kanna and eventually tilted my head, asking her.
“Kanna unni.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Do you normally take care of others like this? You seem to be really nice to me….”
Caught off guard by my sudden question, Kanna paused for a moment and then replied softly with a smile.
“No, it’s not like that with everyone…. To be honest… I like Ye-rin.”
I knew that Kanna liked me.
…It’s hard not to notice when she gets flustered and breathless every time she sees me.
What I was curious about was why she, who belonged to Python, a rival group of Rookies, liked me.
Noticing the look in my eyes, Kanna scratched the back of her head shyly and said.
“Actually, the first time I liked Ye-rin was because of your face.”
“……”
“I like the student council president style like Ye-rin. With those sharp eyes and… that chiseled jaw… hee hee….”
As Kanna wore her usual perverted smile again, I leaned back slightly.
But….
“However, later, when I watched Na Ah Ah’s videos, I ended up liking Ye-rin even more.”
At her next words, I stiffened.
“I’ve been watching Na Ah Ah since episode one! But Ye-rin, do you know that as we progressed from the first episode to the last, your smiles kept increasing?”
“Ah….”
My entry into the idol world was due to my parents’ debt and Kang Hyung-man’s recommendation, so it wasn’t my own will.
Also, I originally had no sense of humor, so the past me couldn’t find a smile when I first appeared in Na Ah Ah.
But….
‘It became more enjoyable as I performed on stage….’
As the episodes went on, my smiles increased, and I became more sincere about being an idol.
“Seeing Ye-rin smile more and more sincerely made my heart flutter. I cheered for you a lot while binge-watching Na Ah Ah!”
It was incredibly heartwarming to have someone notice my changes so keenly and cheer for me.
To that, I bowed my head to Kanna.
But….
“…Thank you, Kanna unni. For watching over me all this time.”
“But there’s someone who watched you even more than me right here?”
“…Huh?”
Kanna pointed her finger at someone else.
“That’s right, it’s O Ah-ra!”
“…O Ah-ra unni?”
“……!”
Suddenly pointed out, O Ah-ra, drinking water, spluttered it out and turned her head in surprise.
Of course, Kanna’s mouth wasn’t resting in the meantime.
“O Ah-ra liked Na Ah Ah a lot since our trainee days!”
“Ah….”
“Of course, O Ah-ra is a fan of Yoo Seol. While watching Na Ah Ah, she was always like, ‘Ugh… why isn’t Yoo Seol winning, damn it…’!”
For sure… from O Ah-ra’s perspective, she must’ve been curious about what would happen to the current Na Ah Ah without any self-confidence.
Eventually, seeing the plot change from my past life, she probably figured out that I was another reincarnator.
“Still, it didn’t seem like O Ah-ra disliked Ye-rin!”
“Kanna, stop.”
Even O Ah-ra growled at Kanna, but she didn’t stop talking.
“O Ah-ra watched a ton of Ye-rin’s fancams! Probably more than me! So, her snappy behavior now is probably because she’s acting tsundere.”
“Kanna…!!!”
Kanna’s mouth finally shut when O Ah-ra forcibly covered it.
O Ah-ra glared at me while tightly holding Kanna’s mouth.
“……”
However, perhaps because of what I had just heard from Kanna.
Or maybe because she helped me with this Shin Si-woo matter.
The glare from O Ah-ra, who was staring at me…, didn’t feel as fierce as it could have.
“Okay, now you’ll go backstage!”
After some time passed and night fell, it was finally our turn.
In the meantime, I joined Yoo Seol, who had finished her makeup, and temporary team members O Ah-ra and Kanna backstage.
After waiting a bit longer, just before going on stage….
“Hey, we all worked hard for a month! Shall we cheer together at least?”
Yoo Seol made an unexpected suggestion.
“Oh! Sounds good!”
“Yeah, let’s cheer once.”
“…Sure.”
At Yoo Seol’s words, Kanna and I nodded, and O Ah-ra, seeming reluctant at first, eventually came over, unable to go against Yoo Seol.
So we stacked our hands together….
“Okay, everyone worked hard, let’s do well on stage like we practiced!”
“Fighting!”
Even though it was a short time, our temporary team, after going through many ups and downs together, shouted “fighting!” to boost our energy.
“You need to go up now!”
With that, as we focused our minds, it was the moment we were about to go on stage.
“…You better do your best this time.”
“…!”
Hearing a suddenly cold voice, I turned my head to see O Ah-ra with a sharp expression.
“…I’m going to give it my all this time too. Let’s see who’s better.”
“……”
From our first meeting to rehearsals over the past month.
We practiced hard together, knowing each other’s levels better than anyone else.
But now, “I’m going to give it my all…”
For an ordinary person, it could sound like a simple encouragement, but….
‘Does that mean I should use all my skills?’
To a reincarnator like me, it carried a different meaning.
“…Excuse me.”
Swish.
I reached out to her, wanting to say something, but she ignored me and passed by.
“Ye-rin! What are you doing! Hurry up!”
“……Yes.”
Like that, I couldn’t even respond to O Ah-ra’s declaration of war and went up on stage.
“Yawn… When is Rookies going to start….”
Meanwhile, in the audience.
Once again, Yoo Chang-seon, who successfully got tickets for the NANA awards, was yawning and waiting for Rookies to come out.
Rookies were set to appear in the latter half of part three.
Of course, that didn’t mean parts one and two were boring, but….
It was only natural to feel a bit bored watching the performances of idols one didn’t know much about.
“Ah…, if Rookies were in part one, I could just watch their stage and leave…”
Just as Yoo Chang-seon kept glancing at his phone watch, the time came.
Boom!
As the break of part two ended and part three began….
“Hello, everyone! We will now begin the third part of the NANA awards!”
“Waaah—!”
The famous actor who was the host started the proceedings.
“The opening stage of part three is a special stage!”
“A special stage? Ah….”
Now that I think about it, there was mention of a special stage in the pamphlet handed out earlier.
At first, Yoo Chang-seon regarded it lightly, but….
“A special stage featuring members of Rookies and Python coming together! Please enjoy!”
“…What?”
Hearing the word Rookies made him jump.
‘Rookies? Did I mishear that?’
It turned out he hadn’t misheard as Rookies and Python fans around him began to murmur.
And the commotion soon transformed into anticipation.
Rookies and Python.
Two groups that had been in a competitive stance now presenting a stage together…!
As fans of both teams, they couldn’t help but be excited.
Pop.
Soon the lights on stage went out, leaving only the glow of fans’ light sticks for a few seconds.
Pop, pop, pop, pop.
Four lights turned on sequentially like a musical, revealing four members.
“Ah…, but where’s Yoo-jin?”
“Where is Hye-jung?”
People were a bit disappointed to realize that not all Rookies and Python members were there, but….
‘Yes, it’s Ye-rin…!’
Seeing Ha Ye-rin made Yoo Chang-seon happy.
‘But what song will they perform? A Rookies song? A Python song?’
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the intro began to play.
And….
♪♩-!!
“Hmm…?”
Yoo Chang-seon and the other fans couldn’t help but widen their eyes upon hearing the intro.
No wonder….
“This isn’t… a Rookies or Python song?”
Neither a Rookies nor a Python tune….
It was the legendary girl group from YW, Twenty-Two Nights’ [Black Swan].
-dark side~
-What you see now is a black-winged black bird
Though it was a bit old, no idol fan, or Korean for that matter, could miss this song.
With the rapid start of the members’ dance lines, the crowd went wild.
“Waaah—!!”
But that wasn’t all.
-The moment you and I clasp our hands.
-Our story begins
This was NAS Entertainment’s sub-label’s legendary idol Rolling One’s [Energetic Start!].
Moreover, the special stage continued with songs everyone would know, further heating the atmosphere when….
Thud.
“……”
“…Hmm?”
The members on stage suddenly froze like dolls with the strings cut, and then….
♪♬♬-!!
The intro of Rookies’ debut title song [Secret Girl] began to play.
As soon as he heard it, Yoo Chang-seon understood the intent of the stage.
From [Black Swan] to [Secret Girl]…. All songs flowed with the passage of time.
This meant that after going through past idols, it was now Rookies’ era.
But that wasn’t the end.
♬♬♩♩-!
“…Is this?”
It flowed a bit differently than the usual [Secret Girl].
Then the melody that unfolded was….
Python’s debut title song [Poison Heart].
Only then did Yoo Chang-seon notice Ha Ye-rin and Yoo Seol’s eye-catching outfits.
After months of being a crazy fanboy, he could tell.
Those weren’t Rookies’ outfits.
‘Python outfits…!’
Ha Ye-rin and Yoo Seol were dressed in Python’s clothes.
In contrast, O Ah-ra and Kanna were wearing Rookies’ outfits.
“Wow, amazing…!”
As Yoo Chang-seon and the other fans finally grasped the concept of this special stage….
♪♬♬♩-!
The rearranged melody of Rookies’ [Secret Girl] and Python’s [Poison Heart] flowed as the members began their performance.