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Chapter 53: The Last Time (3)

- They say you are quitting being a trainee, is that right?

- Umm, yeah. I held on for a while but started thinking maybe there was a line I just couldn’t cross, no matter how hard I tried. Seeing the Chronos members shine after joining the debut group made me think that way.

- Hyun-Woo and Yoo-Joon seemed really sad about it.

- I am really grateful that they encouraged me to continue training. We are close, you know. We used to sneak out for ice cream after practice every day, and we said we\'d perform on the same stage even if we debuted separately. But here we are, together this way.

Han Jun spoke candidly, but his expression was full of regret.

‘If he\'s that regretful, why not try a little longer? Nobody\'s forcing him out. After all, the judges in the debut group auditions are just harsh on purpose.’ I was fiddling with my in-ear monitor, wearing a troubled expression when he continued.

- It feels really cruel. I said I was quitting, and then I got this chance to perform. Everything that seemed boring suddenly became fun. Maybe it\'s because I\'m doing it with Hyun-Woo and Yoo-Joon. I\'m having so much fun that I want to keep going.

I looked at the screen, which had now shifted to Il-Seong.

- Chronos members are showing a lot of consideration toward us. After all, there are better dancers out there, and sharing parts among the trainees isn\'t easy.

- How does it feel to perform with the Chronos members?

- It\'s strange to think that the friends I practiced with will soon debut. But I\'m giving it my all, supporting their beginning. I hope they will shine even brighter!

The screen shifted to Hye-Seong.

- What\'s your personal goal, Hye-Seong?

After hesitating a bit, Hye-Seong replied to the staff\'s question.

- I have to debut someday too.

- Any words for the Chronos members?

- It\'s hard to say because we are so close, haha. A bit cringy.

The screen alternated between several members responding to the writer\'s question. I then heard what Woo-Jae-Seok had to say.

- They will debut soon, and we as trainees will continue to work hard. I hope to debut next time and meet them again.

Han Jun smiled.

- Thanks for holding onto me. I think I can keep going a bit longer.

Then, the screen zoomed into Il-Seong’s face.

- Thank you so much. Let\'s do our best in this last round with all fourteen of us. No matter how, I hope we can meet again after we debut.

The video seemed to be wrapping up, but all of our eyes were still glued to the screen.

"We\'ll get ready for Chronos’s stage." Just then, a staff member lightly tapped my shoulder.

"Hyun-Woo."

"Yes, I\'m going." I finished adjusting my in-ear monitor, which I had stopped fiddling to watch the video, and headed to the stage.

"Don\'t think about the rankings. Just enjoy it, Hyun-Woo." I could hear Joo-Han encourage me, so I just nodded and walked onto the stage alone[1].

The stage seemed unusually large, and I felt a bit scared to face the audience\'s gaze alone.

After suppressing the intense nervousness that shook my body, I took a deep breath and faced forward.

\'I need to get used to facing the spotlight alone.\'

Gone were the disdainful stares, those looks of contempt as if I were some disgusting animal. I had to remind myself that I had been on stage several times, and there were those who liked me for who I was.

- This stage is full of the original Chronos\'s memories and passion. At least for us, Chronos is not just five... but fourteen members.

Joo-Han\'s comment at the end of the VTR summarized the essence of our performance.

- This stage is to show the original Chronos. It might be the last time we perform together, so we want to finish it together. We hope you like it.

As the video ended, the blackout curtains slowly opened, and the audience\'s cheers filled the air, brimming with anticipation. I took a deep breath, fiddled with my ear mic for a moment, and then readied myself.

Chronos’s performance began!

***

“Is Chronos\'s song called ‘Chronos’ as well?”

"That\'s pretty unique, and so are their costumes," Woo Ji-Hyuk remarked. While it was typical for albums to showcase songs introducing the members, it was a risky concept for a competition. Ji-Hyuk made an unbelievable prediction just by looking at their costumes.

Woo Ji-Hyuk\'s face was full of anticipation as he watched the stage. “YMM must have invested significant effort into this song, considering the tremendous buzz surrounding Chronos.”

Well, not investing here would have been foolish. Soon, the stage curtains fully opened, revealing only one person on stage.

"Why\'s there only one person? Who is that? Hyun-Woo? Joo-Han?"

It felt similar to their first performance “Moon Sea” — eerie lighting, a gloomy set, and fog covering the stage floor. It took them a while to realize the lone figure was me. I stood still, simply looking at the camera.

"Wow, he is incredibly handsome."

"The dyed hair really brings out his looks."

The close-up presented my face head-on, as if Chronos aimed to secure victory solely through my appearance. Despite only seeing my impassive expression, the crowd and viewers erupted in cheers.

As the music started, I commenced my dance. The camera intentionally refrained from zooming in, meticulously capturing every nuance of my movements. My fluid dance style set me apart from Lee Jin-Sung, creating the type of performance that our fans would undoubtedly cherish, especially those who had joined since our "Moon Sea" stage.

"This clip is definitely worth saving. I need to buy it and watch it repeatedly."

"My Hyun-Woo... I knew I\'d nosebleed over him one day," whispered some fans as they couldn\'t take their eyes off me.

My dance moves were almost balletic. Just when it seemed like I would take the entire intro solo, I moved to the side and another member entered.

"Who\'s that? Wow! Joo-Han! Joo-Han!!!"

The Chronos fans were ecstatic as Joo-Han, who wasn’t known for his dancing skills, joined me for a partner dance. Surprisingly, his performance exhibited no shortcomings. While the difficulty level was lower compared to when I danced alone, it clearly demonstrated that Kang Joo-Han\'s skills were anything but lacking.

"Joo-Han can dance like that..."

"Joo-Han is dancing! Crazy!"

"But what\'s with this entry order?"

Unaware of the entry sequence, the fans naturally questioned why Kang Joo-Han came after me. Typically, it was Goh Yoo-Joon or Lee Jin-Sung who followed after I opened the intro.

"Is Joo-Han the main center now? Wow! Insane!"

"It\'s so good!"

Amidst the heightened cheers, the atmosphere in the venue changed as the next member made an entrance.

"Who\'s that?" asked someone in the audience. In response to it, a Chronos fan said somewhat calmly, "Isn\'t that one of the trainees from the interview video? Why is he coming out earlier than Chronos members?"

The mood took a noticeable dip as Goh Il-Seong made his appearance, even to a casual observer. Before anyone could understand why Goh Il-Seong was stepping out ahead of other Chronos members, another trainee leaped onto the stage and started to dance behind me and Kang Joo-Han.

"That\'s Han Jun, right?"

"Hyun-Woo and Yoo-Joon\'s friend?"

"Yeah, the one from the video who was talking about quitting."

Han Jun seemed awkward and shy in the interview, but he was now dancing expressionlessly on stage. He seemed to be trying not to stand out too much, focusing on elevating the presence of me and Kang Joo-Han. After a bit, the lengthy intro ended before even half of the trainees got on the stage.

We turn back to the past, time and time again?

Kang Joo-Han took charge of the first part of the song, a departure from our usual routine in Pick We Up. I then seamlessly joined him to continue the next part.

In the meantime, Lee Jin-Sung, Goh Yoo-Joon, and the rest of the members entered the stage, finding their designated spots. Following the planned sequence, Lee Jin-Sung and Goh Yoo-Joon delivered their parts, paving the way for Park Yoon-Chan to make his entrance and take over the vocals.

With all the performers now on stage, the distinctive quality of the song "Chronos" became evident. The dance mood underwent a distinct shift with each member\'s turn to sing, even though the accompaniment remained constant.

When Park Yoon-Chan’s soft falsetto voice rang out, even the accompaniment quieted down, and the spotlight focused on him. The other members either slowed their movements or paused altogether, ensuring all eyes were on Park Yoon-Chan\'s captivating performance.

Where has the film, filled with spaces, disappeared to? Try entrusting your body somewhere your heart is drawn to?

The subdued accompaniment underwent a dramatic transformation as Lee Jin-Sung energetically initiated a powerful and precise dance alongside four other trainees. However, as Lee Jin-Sung\'s dance segment reached its climax, the song abruptly ceased, and the stage went dark.

"What?"

It was a performance designed to accentuate the overall visual impact. Fans with their mouths agape stared at the darkened stage, murmuring in confusion.

"It\'s not over, right?"

"No way it ends like this. Impossible."

The performance was too short for that. In that moment of doubt... “Sigh."

The audible sigh echoed with familiarity, resembling Goh Yoo-Joon\'s trademark. However, the figure occupying an antique wooden chair beneath the soft glow of purple lights wasn\'t Goh Yoo-Joon—it was Kang Joo-Han. He appeared fatigued, his gaze fixed on the emptiness before him.

It’s okay if you think of it as an obsession?

In a gentle transition, Goh Yoo-Joon took the microphone from Kang Joo-Han and seamlessly continued the part.

Even if you abandon me the moment we are touched?

The camera then panned out from Goh Yoo-Joon. Positioned at a calculated distance in the center, I and some trainees awaited our turn. As the camera zoomed in on me, I started to sing, my mouth forming the words with precision.

Let\'s meet again?

The lighting reversed, signaling the onset of the second dance break featuring me and the trainees. In contrast to Lee Jin-Sung\'s dynamic moves, my dance exuded elegance. The movements were consistent with the earlier solo, carrying a subtle but sorrowful undertone. Distinct from Lee Jin-Sung\'s style, my unique dance approach wasn\'t innate but rather the result of my deliberate effort to set myself apart.

Having showcased our individual talents through various stages, we ultimately gathered at the center of the stage, with each member popping up one by one. I stepped back after the last part and dance break, and Lee Jin-Sung took my place.

The audience erupted with applause, reaching a crescendo as Lee Jin-Sung set the stage ablaze. At the peak of the cheers, Kang Joo-Han intervened, grabbing Jin-Sung’s shoulder and pulling him down. Lee Jin-Sung then knelt, bowing his head.

As the stage and audience quieted, Kang Joo-Han extended his hand toward the close-up camera, covering the lens as if expressing annoyance. As a result, the bright lights gradually dimmed, bringing Chronos\'s performance to a close.

"Wow."

It marked another legendary performance, following in the footsteps of "Moon Sea.” Still basking in the aftermath, the audience belatedly erupted into applause.

However, the stage wasn\'t over yet. Suddenly, the lights brightened.

"What, wow!"

The audience wondered what happened during the blackout. The once dark and somber stage, along with the members\' costumes, had undergone a transformation. A new song, "History," started.

1. Prob because he is the one starting the stage. ?