Chapter 102

“No. I’ll stay and hold our spot. It’s starting to get crowded.”

That was true.

As the daytime performances began one after another, picnic mats had already spread all the way into the distance. Quite a few people were also keeping a sharp eye out for any chance to advance toward the front.

“Then I’ll walk around, look at some things, and bring back whatever seems good.”

“Mhm.”

Hazel barely seemed to notice the other fan leaving, too busy tapping away at a phone.

The reason was easy enough to guess.

HANSEL

(Photo) +11

See you soon

Han River Jazz Festival

Hazel @HeyAngel_

(Photo)

Our precious, ridiculously talented baby master vocalist Megaton Baby is already making the fans proud by appearing as a headliner, and on top of that, he’s diligently showing us photos from the preparation process too. How are we supposed to not adore him?

Of course.

Hazel had been busy gushing over Hanje, who had uploaded a stack of photos as thick as a holiday cash envelope from a devoted son.

Of course, every single word in that post was absolutely correct.

Even from the occasional glimpses on variety shows or self-produced content, it was obvious that their favorite had never been the easiest person to deal with.

And yet, if it was for the fans, he would practice anything—cute poses, cover dances, livestreams—until he could deliver it properly.

That was exactly what made him even more irresistible.

Among the photos posted today, the one where he cupped both cheeks in his hands had already become the fan’s new wallpaper.

“Wow, there are even more people over here.”

The food booth zone was packed so tightly that there was barely anywhere to step.

And a large portion of the crowd held Young Ace light sticks in one hand.

As someone who had supported them since they were only just beginning to escape flop status, the fan couldn’t help feeling how much times had changed.

Our big, precious Megaton Baby... He was always a genius idol who was obviously destined to make it, but he really became a superstar....

But once he got famous, a bunch of clueless assholes came flooding in too and started stirring shit up—no. No.

The fan barely managed to suppress that train of thought.

The precious singer had stayed true to himself for twelve years. It wouldn’t do for a fan to start gatekeeping now.

Whenever people appeared who dragged Hanje’s reputation through the mud, all that needed to be done was beat them down as thoroughly as possible and clean the place up.

“Hansel sticker packs! Free giveaway!”

Oh!

By sheer luck, the fan had stopped right where some angel had set up a giveaway spot.

People began gathering one by one at the sound of the announcement. Every one of them was unmistakably a fan, either carrying a light stick or hanging official merchandise keychains from a bag.

Then one man who looked completely out of place suddenly slipped into the line.

The man had pulled a hood over a cap worn low, and even covered his face with glasses and a mask, leaving almost nothing visible.

The fans’ eyes narrowed at once.

Reseller!

There were always shameless people who took merchandise that fans gave away out of goodwill and then sold it for money on secondhand marketplaces.

No matter how anyone looked at him, he didn’t look like a fan at all, and suspicion gradually hardened into certainty.

It’s because of bastards like that that fandom culture collapses, society gets polluted, and the whole damn country goes to shit...!

Someone else must have had the same thought, because a person whispered something to the fan running the giveaway.

The giveaway organizer looked troubled for a moment, then soon called out with grim determination.

“Please show streaming proof for any Hansel solo song!”

Good. Excellent decision.

Of course, personally, I’m confident no matter which song you name.

But even after hearing the warning, the reseller didn’t leave.

Just go before you get all the way to the front and embarrass yourself....

Despite the icy looks around him, the man simply kept his head lowered and stared at his phone.

Then suddenly, he carefully tapped the shoulder of the person standing in front of him.

“Um....”

“Yes?”

“Where do I go to show streaming proof?”

The man held out his phone.

At least he had made the effort to open <Talk It Up>, the biggest hit among Hanje’s solo songs.

“...Go into the song information, then open your listening history....”

Huh?

The moment the number appeared on the screen, the fan’s eyes widened.

And a deep apology was offered internally.

So he was a male fan....

...Just... a harmless fan who happened to dress in a lot of black.

I’m sorry, comrade. The world’s been such a mess lately that I got suspicious....

And I really am sorry, but if I may defend myself just a little, you looked way too much like a reseller....

“Here... you just need to show them this number.”

“Thank you.”

The man bowed his head and straightened again. The hood covering him shifted with the motion.

The fan suddenly froze.

First of all, the bridge of the nose barely visible beneath the hood looked anything but ordinary.

And that voice sounded strangely familiar...?

“Next person, please show your streaming proof.”

“Ah, yes, yes!”

There was no time to think. The fan’s turn had already come.

“Wow, you’ve streamed a lot!”

“Ahaha....”

Except the person behind me has done even more.

Sure enough, when it was the male fan’s turn next, his streaming count shocked everyone nearby.

Come to think of it, that guy is really tall. About as tall as Hanje or Gowon would be....

Wait.

Huh?!

“...Thank you.”

The man bowed again.

That voice!

And now that there were a few steps of distance between them, his proportions were impossible to miss.

The kind of miraculous proportions that looked like they shouldn’t exist in real life.

After receiving the Baek Hanje sticker, the man hurried a few steps aside and popped the case off his phone.

Then he carefully placed the sticker between his phone and the clear case before smiling with genuine delight.

That catlike eye shape revealed by the smile.

The fan became certain.

G-Gowon!

Once it clicked, the distinctive traits of Baek Hanje’s direct junior became even more obvious.

The blond hair peeking out slightly near his ear.

The eyelashes so long that if he lay down on the ground, you might not know where the grass ended and they began.

And the cool, shadowy aura that couldn’t possibly be hidden no matter how thoroughly he bundled himself up....

Gowon really exists, standing here happily holding a sticker of his senior like it’s precious...!

The fan inhaled until the lungs felt ready to burst, then immediately unclipped the keychain hanging from the bag.

It was official summer merchandise from two years ago: White Wolf Hansel, the pure-white wolf character based on Hansel.

“Excuse me!”

“...Y-Yes?!”

“Would you like this? It’s a Hanje plush!”

“A-A plush?”

“Hanje’s character is a white wolf!”

Gowon’s eyes went wide.

He looked as though he knew he ought to refuse, but the moment his gaze met the plush’s fierce little eyes, his hand reached out as if hypnotized.

“Are you... really sure I can have this?”

“I have four more at home.”

“......! Then, thank you...!”

Gowon... no.

The male fan carefully accepted the Baek Hanje merchandise.

Then several others nearby who had apparently figured it out too gathered their courage and began slipping gifts into his hands.

“This is a Hanje badge!”

“This is a photo card I made from a picture I took!”

“Take some Boggle washi tape too!”

“Put this hat on the White Wolf Hansel that person gave you! It’s super cute!”

“Damn it, why didn’t I bring anything... at least take some snacks!”

“Th-Thank you. Thank....”

Before long, both his hands were overflowing with things people had gone far beyond merely slipping into his sleeves and had practically stuffed into them.

And before the commotion could grow, the fans let the young, endearing, handsome, completely unidentified male fan go and expertly dispersed on their way.

***

Left standing alone at the edge of Han River Park, Gowon carefully packed everything he had received into his bag.

Spades fans are really warmhearted....

Apparently, fans of an artist with such a long career had built equally deep bonds with one another over the years.

Although Gowon had only joined their ranks recently, the overflowing warmth from his more experienced fellow fans made his sense of belonging grow even stronger.

Was it that obvious I only became a fan recently...?

It was probably because his streaming count was too low....

He appreciated everyone looking after him, but he felt guilty about receiving anything more, so he moved a little farther away from the giveaway area.

The Han River Jazz Festival had performances taking place in three separate zones, allowing visitors to move freely between them and enjoy whatever they wanted.

People sat on picnic mats as though they were out on a picnic.

They watched performances while comfortably eating food-truck meals and drinking beer.

There was also the warm culture of fans giving things to one another....

It was completely different from the concerts Gowon had learned about during agency training, and he found the whole thing fascinating.

Coming to see Baek Hanje perform had shown Gowon yet another new world.

Baek Hanje was scheduled to close the main stage here at Fountain Plaza.

Maybe that was why there were especially many Spades nearby.

Gowon wanted to move a little closer to the stage, but he had just received a call from Chief Manager Park.

—Gowon, I mean, of course I knew there was no way you’d go completely unnoticed, but Hanje’s staff says you’re... standing out a little too much....

“Ah, really? I covered my face as much as I could....”

—Well.... You said you absolutely had to see Hanje perform, so I had no choice but to let you go.... But I think you should move quite a bit farther back than where you are now.

A little disappointed, Gowon quietly retreated almost all the way to the edge, where there were hardly any spectators.

Standing beside a large tree hid him reasonably well from the crowd while still giving him a clear enough view of the stage.

Because the sun set late in summer, dusk only began to settle as Baek Hanje’s turn approached.

By then, even the area farther back where Gowon had retreated was beginning to fill with people.

“Who’s last?”

“Hansel. From Young Ace.”

“What? An idol?”

From the passing conversation, Gowon vaguely understood why Baek Hanje had said that festivals were a double-edged sword for idols.

Foreign singers, singer-songwriters, indie bands....

There hadn’t been a single idol singer anywhere in the lineup so far.

To people who had come purely to enjoy jazz music, the appearance of a Young Ace member didn’t seem particularly welcome.

...Hmph.

In the past, those words might have made him angry.

But Gowon, who had gone through <Debut Chart! 100> together with Baek Hanje, only scoffed.

The moment Baek Hanje sang his first line, those people would want to take back every thoughtless jeer they had just thrown out.

Even before the waiting time ended, excited cheers began erupting from every direction.

As though announcing that it was finally time for today’s highlight.

Young Ace’s Hansel.

—Han River Jazz Festival, it’s good to see you.