Day of the award ceremony.
Numerous fans came to the concert hall to see the singers who shone this year.
Of the total capacity of 10,000 people, about 1,500 were KK fans. Among the over 20 teams present, they boasted the largest number of fans by far.
When the KK fans heard that there was a performance KK worked hard to prepare for, they braved the extreme cold and flocked to the venue. There were so many people that it was hard to feel the coldness near the concert hall.
The award show, which was to be broadcasted live, was to start at 8:50 pm. Doors would open at 6 pm after rehearsal was finished.
You had to request a ticket online to attend the TBN award show this year. On the day the tickets went on sale, a large number of people participated in the ticketing to the point that it caused the server to crash.
They could freely pick their seats as they purchased the ticket, so fans on the KK fan cafe decided in advance that they would get seats in area 17, 18, and 19, which was the center and center right section.
It might be inconvenient because each person would have a different area they preferred to watch from, but it was easier to cheer as a fandom if they were gathered. If they were separated, the sound of cheering would also be dispersed.
Although the sections were not forced, KK fans showed remarkable unity and most of them gathered in the agreed sections 17, 18, and 19.
The fans who went to a different section didn’t do it on purpose. They were trying to buy tickets and when looking at what seats were left, the seats were in other sections.
So many people were KK fans that many among the audiences in section 16 and 20 were also KK fans holding KK’s cheering sticks.
Many people were waving the KK cheering sticks not only from section 17, 18, and 19 on the second floor, but also on the third floor. A blue light was gathered in one area, twinkling.
The next biggest fandom in attendance number was, of course, Sa Bang Shin Hwa.
Honestly, even just last year there weren’t many fandoms that could surpass Sa Bang Shin Hwa’s fandom in number.
However, KK rapidly expanded their fandom. During that time, there was division within Sa Bang Shin Hwa, so they lost fans which naturally made it tricky to give Sa Bang Shin Hwa the title of Largest Fandom.
Many of the fans that left Sa Bang Shin Hwa became KK fans, but those who still stood by the divided Sa Bang Shin Hwa were trying hard to maintain their position as number 1, putting all their passion for the group into it.
At the same time, they were feeling pressure from KK who was shooting to the top. The fans and the agency were feeling the same way.
In fact, only the Sa Bang Shin Hwa members, having worked hard for a long time, and having made plenty of money and having gotten plenty of popularity already, were indifferent about what would happen to the group.
Of course, they didn’t express it publically, but if you looked at their actions it was obvious.
The battle of nerves between Sa Bang Shin Hwa fans, who were concentrated in section 15 and 16, and KK fans, who were next to them, was astounding.
As the first music award show of the year, the interest in who would win the TBN award show grand prize was enormous not only on site but online as well, going as far as posts criticizing each other being uploaded.
Sa Bang Shin Hwa had continuously won the grand prize. It wasn’t that there weren’t other candidates until now, but there was never a popular consensus like this that the grand prize winner would change.
Even if a person wasn’t necessarily a fan of one or the other, there were many who were curious whether Sa Bang Shin Hwa would continue to take home the honor of the grand prize, or KK would become the new protagonist of it.
As things started heating up, the KK members were in the waiting area trying to calm down before the award ceremony started.
Unlike during rehearsal where they wore comfortable clothes, they were wearing a shiny shirt embedded with cubic zirconia along with black skinny jeans and black sneakers. They were the very picture of ‘heavenly idol’.
With heavy makeup on, they had a look that no one could just pass by, a look that one couldn’t help but turn their head to gaze.
On top of that, Do Wook’s appearance today was shocking. Do Wook already had extravagant features to boast, but unlike the norm, Do Wook’s hair color was platinum.
Platinum hair and blue color contacts in, he didn’t look Korean. It was known that he had a unique appearance, but it really was extraordinary.
A picture of Do Wook on the red carpet was already posted and causing a commotion.
“Wow…the pink last time suited you too. There isn’t any color that you can’t pull off.”
“Man, he’s not the face of our group for no reason,”
Jung Yoon Ki responded to Ahn Hyung Seo. Ahn Hyung Seo took a look at himself in the mirror behind him, then looked at Do Wook, then drooped his shoulders.
“Ah, why do I have to stand next to Do Wook today of all days. This formation…I’m the only one that’s screwed over with this formation.”
“You won’t look handsome no matter who you stand next to.”
“Why are you being like that when I want to stand next to you?”
The two of them were bickering over something ridiculous again.
“What do you mean, you’re good looking too.”
Do Wook said as if stating the obvious. Ahn Hyung Seo was also a member who got his name known with his cute face. Ahn Hyung-seo’s lively personality and cute appearance matched well so there were many fans who were his stans.
“Don’t be a liar.”
Kim Won grabbed Do Wook’s shoulder and shook his head. With Kim Won against him as well, Ahn Hyung Seo pounded his chest, feeling wronged.
“KK! Please come to the stage!”
The award ceremony staff said with a loud voice as they opened the waiting room door. Before the members could even make eye contact with the staff member, they busily opened the door to the waiting room next to KK’s.
Manager Oh Baek Ho, who was sitting in the corner of the waiting room and was on a call, came to his senses and got the members together.
“That’s enough talking, get out there already!”
The MC’s opening remarks could be heard from outside the venue.
Do Wook being the MC was cancelled due to the special performance. Being the MC on top of everything was definitely too much. There were too many things to prepare.
It was arranged for participating singers to sit and watch from the waiting area for the entire duration of today’s award ceremony. The more popular the singer, the more often the camera pointed at them, so it was difficult to vacate their seats or stop maintaining their expressions.
Bluntly put, for the entirety of the award ceremony, they had to either be performing or acting.
If one got caught making a wrong expression even once, they would likely be criticized for being rude during another singer’s performance.
The staff member who had knocked on the waiting room door watched the KK members run out and asked Manager Oh Baek Ho.
“All the KK members have gone, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“It seems like there’s 5 people, not 6.”
“Ahh…one person will come a little later. He’ll be here when the second part starts.”
The staff member rummaged through the papers that had the participant list written down.
“Ah! If he’s not able to be here for that first part, that means…got it.”
The staff member had to assist with running the broadcast, so they said goodbye to Manager Oh Baek Ho with a nod and started busily running all around again.
The KK member that hadn’t arrived yet was Suk Ji Hoon.
***
“KVS Entertainment Grand Prize…The nominee who will win the honor of the Rookie of the Year Award is..”
While the members were at the TBN Award Show, Suk Ji Hoon was at the KVS Broadcast station. Suk Ji Hoon, who was wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, anxiously gulped.
“He’s currently on Camping 48 Hours as the daring youngest member, right? It’s Suk Ji Hoon!”
At that moment, the screen cut to a new shot and showed Suk Ji Hoon.
When Suk Ji Hoon appeared on the screen, cheers erupted from the audience. Since idols with large fandoms do not often attend entertainment award shows, most of the audience was filled with the family members, officials, and a small number of fans of comedians and entertainers.
This time, however, the audience was louder than ever when Suk Ji Hoon appeared.
The camera panned over to Suk Ji Hoon’s fans waving a large banner. They gave up on KK’s performance at the awards ceremony and came just to support Suk Ji Hoon.
< Even with a broken shin, Suk. Ji. Hoon >
< Ji Hoon, you can stop worrying about food! I’ll take care of everything for you ♡ >
And when the camera went back to Suk Ji Hoon, he looked stunned.
“The cheering from the fans is incredible. Please come on up, Suk Ji Hoon!”
The cast of ‘Camping 48 Hours’, who was sitting next to Suk Ji Hoon, encouraged and urged him to hurry up and go up to the stage. He went up to the stage, uncertain what to do.
Suk Ji Hoon, who had received the trophy, stood in front of the standing microphone and tried to speak.
“Ummm…thank you very much. I haven’t done much so I don’t know if it’s ok for me to accept this award, but I’ll understand it as me needing to do even better from here on out. To my fellow Camping 48 Hours cast, thank you very much for all your help. To the PD and writers, thank you to each and every one of you. They’re not here with me right now, but to my fellow KK members…”
When he mentioned the word KK, there was cheering from a section of the audience area. There was laughter throughout the venue.
“To the KK members, especially Do Wook who gave me a lot of advice…thank you! You all…You guys know I couldn’t have done it without you guys, right?!”
***
Unfortunately, the members were not able to watch Suk Ji Hoon’s acceptance speech which was broadcasted.
Members were doing their best to participate in the awards ceremony, trying to smile or look like they were enjoying the performance whenever the camera was on them.
The acceptance speech from the youngest, who was known for being blunt but whose speech was overflowing with love for his fellow members, was a hot topic among fans. A new idiom ‘No Me Without Them, No Me Without KK’ was also going viral.
The first part was over already and the curtain rose for the second part.
“Hey, Suk Ji Hoon~!”
“I heard you won an award!”
“Congratulations!”
The members welcomed Suk Ji Hoon, who came into the waiting room just before the second part began. Fans who were sitting in an area where they could see the waiting area were buzzing.
Before long, Suk Ji Hoon was wearing a silk shirt like the members, not a tuxedo. He looked embarrassed as he was congratulated by the members. Ahn Hyung Seo clicked his tongue as he watched Suk Ji Hoon sit down, not expressing much joy.
“Are you happy? You must be happy~!”
“Ah, why are you being like that?”
“Gee, you’re as shy as ever.”
As Ahn Hyung Seo said, Suk Ji Hoon became embarrassed now that he was with the members. Receiving the award was one thing, but he was concerned about the acceptance speech that he gave with a grateful and tearful heart. Fortunately, Ahn Hyung Seo seemed to have not seen it yet, but he definitely would get teased about it.
In the meantime, the second part’s opening performance started.
Along with a flashy video, the M2M members were introduced one by one.
Starting with Oh Bin, every time a familiar face was shown the M2M fans screamed. They fell just as they were making it big, so the scale of the cheers wasn’t as impressive. Still, it wasn’t a negligible amount.
‘Is it now…?’
Do Wook was watching the video with a piercing gaze. It was time for the last member to be introduced. The person who would replace Seo Kang Jun.
Along with the caption ‘CHOI EUN HO!’, M2M’s new member, Choi Eun Ho, was announced.
People from other fandoms were also watching intently who the trainee was that Ara Entertainment, famous for having lots of trainees, had chosen.
‘I knew it!’
Looking at Choi Eun Ho’s released photo, Do Wook couldn’t get rid of the thought that it was as he predicted. He wasn’t at Seo Kang Jun’s level, but he was definitely handsome.
‘They say he sings better than Seo Kang Jun….maybe he will become a proper competitor.’
After the introduction video was over, M2M began to perform their new song. It was not common to release new songs at award ceremonies, but it was possible because they were the hubae singers who would succeed Sa Bang Shin Hwa.
With a majestic sound, the M2M members started moving in perfect sync.
‘Compared to before…’
Do Wook stopped his thought and focused on M2M’s performance.
Park Tae Hyung, who was next to Do Wook and was watching M2M’s performance with a blank expression, muttered,
“They got … much better…”
—
Next chapter: Time for a member other than Do Wook to get a little bit of the spotlight