The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 206

“It’s Sang-hun!”

“Whoa, it’s really Ha Sang-hun.”

“Sang-hun, it’s been so long!”

MILLENNIUM, who were closest to the stage, immediately recognized the identity of the familiar face.

〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 finale.

As Ha Sang-hun walked out with a smile, the one who had engaged in a fierce battle with Yu Ha-woon for the final debut spot, everyone erupted in cheers.

“MILLENNIUM, are you ready to jump even more!”

With his spirited tone raising the audience’s excitement, the atmosphere at Gocheok Dome instantly reached its peak.

CENTIX mischievously welcomed Ha Sang-hun as he walked up from behind.

They suddenly bent him backward and playfully gave him a cheerful Indian bob before letting him go.

“You look much less tired than when we saw you in Japan?”

“Korea really is the best after all.”

“Brothers, we don’t have time for small talk!”

MILLENNIUM didn’t hear this brief conversation that passed in just a few seconds, but a homma in the standing area who was diligently operating a telephoto camera captured the short interaction between Seong-hwi and Ha Sang-hun.

Just as she was savoring the preview of the two idols looking so bright, the deep house verse of 〈Royal Road〉 powerfully erupted.

「We are on the Royal Road

We’ll leap into the moment of dreams

Here the Synergy between you and me

I’ll repay all those hearts

Sing it with me

Our time of victory!」

Even during the finale, all the surviving trainees had created a spectacular scene with their beautiful group choreography.

But with enough dancers to fill the vast stage of Gocheok Dome, they created an even more magnificent scene.

And Ha Sang-hun, who came out alone in a white uniform, stood in the center and showed off his presence.

On his face shown through the large screen was equipped a leisurely smile.

Even though he hadn’t debuted long ago, just the fact that he could put down the burden on his heart allowed him to have this kind of ease.

Even though they hadn’t practiced together for a long time, the bodies of CENTIX and Ha Sang-hun remembered everything.

As they successfully executed clean choreography in succession as if they had regressed to the 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 era, CENTIX’s clock sticks were dyed in frenzied red.

「My mind is made up

No need to hold on anymore

Throw everything I’ve been holding back

Cause today’s the final day

Make ’em pay

I’ll only move forward toward the light」

〈Royal Road〉’s signature, the genre switch.

The sensuous future EDM beat with its impressive rhythm rang out heavily.

Then Kang Seon-woo, who had just been showing off his silly blank expression while looking at the MC, rapidly delivered tight rap.

After Ma Si-hyeok’s rap part that followed passed and the chorus came again, the stage structure flipped.

CENTIX and Ha Sang-hun stood in a circular formation at the center of the stage.

Silence came along with the melody that seemed like warning sounds were fading.

Then, a circular stage began to slowly rise from under the feet of the seven idols.

K-pop’s proud addictive melody, mainstream pop shattered the silence and filled Gocheok Dome.

CENTIX and Ha Sang-hun, who had risen several meters into the air, smiled brightly and powerfully sang the iconic chorus lyrics of 〈Royal Road〉 until the end.

「Sing it with me

Our time of victory!」

Sparks and fireworks erupted from the outer edges of the stage.

Red and white lights frantically whipped around like lasers.

The idols who slowly descended to the ground bowed their heads continuously to MILLENNIUM who were sending enthusiastic cheers.

“Ah, it’s been so long since I properly danced!”

“Everyone, Sang-hun finally came! Sang-hun, who hadn’t responded to our messages for such a long time, finally—.”

“I already explained the circumstances of all that!”

Even while sweat poured down like rain, Seong-hwi and Ha Sang-hun seemed to have enough leisure to exchange jokes.

Seong-hwi was grinning with joy even though he was being pushed around by Ha Sang-hun.

“Anyway, shall we give a proper formal greeting again?”

“Ah, yes.”

At Ryu Si-hwan’s suggestion, Ha Sang-hun came to the very front of the stage, took a deep breath, and bowed.

“Hello! I’m Ha Sang-hun who debuted this year as ‘A89′. I’m so grateful and honored that my precious friends invited me to stand on such a wonderful stage. I always thought in my heart that I wanted to stand on stage again with the connections I made in 〈Idol Stove League〉. That wish has finally come true today, so I’m really happy. Thank you!”

The majority of MILLENNIUM who came to Gocheok Dome were people who had liked CENTIX since their 〈Idol Stove League〉 days.

So they knew all too well how closely Ha Sang-hun had gotten along with the members during that harsh survival period.

Fans who never dreamed they would see this combination of seven again sent warm applause after hearing Ha Sang-hun’s heartfelt greeting.

“How about telling us how you’ve been living all this time.”

“I already told you that—.”

“You have to explain to the fans too. Why there was no news all this time.”

Ryu Si-hwan kept passing the microphone initiative to Ha Sang-hun with his sly tone.

Since it had been such a long time since he stood in a place like this, there was an intention to definitely give him screen time.

“After debuting, I’ve been active in Japan first, so my Korean debut was a bit delayed.”

“I heard that because your Korean debut was delayed, you’re working even harder. Is that right?”

“Ah. Ah! Of course!”

Ha Sang-hun, who understood the message hidden behind Ryu Si-hwan’s question, nodded his head vigorously.

The audience members watching the big screen burst into laughter at his puppy-like expression.

“In 3 days, A89’s first Korean mini album will finally be released!”

“Honestly, you don’t have friends like us. Who gives you a chance to promote your album in such a great place?”

“……I’m thinking very gratefully about it, of course.”

“If you really think that way, quickly sing a verse of a song.”

Following CENTIX’s natural lead, Ha Sang-hun briefly spoiled a verse of this title track.

The quality was good enough that MILLENNIUM listening to the song automatically reacted with “The song’s good?”

“Hey, guys.”

“What?”

“We need to work harder, right? At this rate, we’re going to be caught up by Sang-hun.”

“No, what on earth are you talking about—.”

Ha Sang-hun was very flustered by the strict, solemn, serious words of Kang Seon-woo.

However, playful CENTIX followed Kang Seon-woo and nodded their heads in unison.

“Let’s prepare for our 2nd full album right after our concert ends.”

“Si-hyeok, your enthusiasm is good, but a 2nd full album is going too far.”

“Right, we’ll die. The moment 10 or more tracks go in, Brother Seon-woo will definitely die in the studio first, you know?”

“I made a slip of the tongue because I had too much of a sense of crisis. I’m sorry.”

“Everyone stop it! I’m so embarrassed I want to hide.”

As Ha Sang-hun covered his reddened cheeks and shook his head, everyone burst out laughing.

Even while laughing loudly, Ryu Si-hwan held the microphone and began to give closing comments.

“Honestly, I’ve been waiting in secret. Because I knew better than anyone how desperate Sang-hun was for debut. We even made a promise to definitely meet next time at a music show site, not on an audition stage.”

“……That’s right.”

“So when I first met you in Japan, I was so happy. I could feel that finally, we who dreamed the same dream had reached the same place. I also came to realize anew that time had passed so quickly, and I realized that we had also grown a lot without knowing it.”

At the leader’s words, the members listened calmly and nodded continuously.

“Others might not see it that much, but at that time, each stage was so precious and grateful to us. Because we have those memories, we were able to be more passionate every time we went on stage. Being here with Sang-hun, who was with us at that time, makes me really happy.”

“……Why are you trying to make people cry again, Brother Si-hwan.”

As the sound of Ha Sang-hun sniffling could be heard, shouts of “Don’t cry!” gathered at Gocheok Dome.

Hearing that sound, Ha Sang-hun covered his mouth and smiled with difficulty.

“I absolutely won’t cry. I promised to cry together after watching all brothers’ last stage.”

“Wait, hold on. Did you promise that when I wasn’t there?”

“Wasn’t Seong-hwi there then?”

“He must have been.”

“Then why don’t I remember? So today I can really see the stone-hearted Ryu Si-hwan crying?”

Attention instantly focused on Ryu Si-hwan.

Not only the members on stage, but also the gaze of fans who endlessly filled the audience seats.

“Why, why is everyone looking at me with those eyes.”

“Don’t you know the answer to that best yourself?”

“Right. There was one strange person who didn’t cry until the end at the fan meeting.”

“Ahem.”

Ryu Si-hwan seems to be famous among the members as a person without tears too.

When Seong-hwi and Chae Ha-ru were caught on camera staring intently at Ryu Si-hwan, the audience even sent meaningful applause.

“Look, Brother. Everyone agrees with what we’re saying, right?”

“……MILLENNIUM, did I do something so wrong?”

As soon as Ryu Si-hwan’s question ended, shouts of “Yes!” could be heard from the entire stadium.

As if he hadn’t expected this kind of reaction, Ryu Si-hwan was greatly flustered and could only open his mouth.

“I’ve never seen that brother unable to say anything before.”

“As expected, it’s more effective when the fans say it than when we do.”

“No, that’s also right, but—.”

At that moment, someone with tremendous vocal power shouted a short word from somewhere in the 2nd floor seats.

“Look forward to later!”

Despite shouting from a very far distance, it was clearly heard in everyone’s ears.

While the audience seats were dyed with explosive laughter, CENTIX was momentarily thrown into confusion.

“What? What is it?”

“Something big is coming!”

“Today we might really see Brother Si-hwan cry, right?”

“MILLENNIUM, I’m so curious! Can’t you give us a little spoiler?”

Yu Ha-woon even knelt at the end of the extended stage and asked MILLENNIUM.

The audience members who had become mentally confused because of Yu Ha-woon right in front of them managed to hold onto their strings of reason because spoilers absolutely must not be given.

“A-anyway, thank you, MILLENNIUM!”

“Our Sang-hun worked hard too.”

“Ah, thank you!”

“Please show A89 lots of love!”

“MILLENNIUM, I’ll be back soon! See you in a little bit!”

And so Ha Sang-hun’s guest debut was also successfully accomplished at CENTIX’s solo concert.

The members who went down to the backstage exchanged light hugs with Ha Sang-hun and then moved into preparation for the next set list.

“Whew……”

Especially Ryu Si-hwan, who would be up next, took a deep breath and closed his eyes.