A white off-shoulder blouse.
White-tone shorts to match.
This was the general outline of Ha-eun’s stage outfit. Her makeup, too, leaned more toward a singer's style than an actress's.
Unlike Ha-eun, however…
“…It looks kind of baggy on you guys.”
“That’s because of the dieting.”
Lee Jun and Lee Gun-yeol’s outfits didn’t look much different from their usual casual wear. The only notable additions were their caps and dark sunglasses.
“This is all for you, Ha-eun.”
“Yeah, we have to tone it down so that you can shine brighter. We didn’t dress up on purpose.”
“…Even if you did, I don’t think you’d outshine me.”
“Where’s this confidence coming from?”
While Ha-eun and Doublely exchanged casual banter, the performers scheduled ahead of them began to arrive backstage.
‘...They weren’t kidding about the star-studded lineup. They’ve only invited big names.’
From globally popular girl groups to hip-hop artists adored by guys Ha-eun’s age, the backstage area was brimming with celebrities. Some even stopped by Ha-eun and Doublely’s waiting room to greet them.
Many of the performers seemed to know each other, casually exchanging greetings when they crossed paths. Naturally, Ha-eun also received her share of introductions.
“I really enjoyed The Sunshine! Could I get a picture with you—”
“I heard you’re filming a movie these days—”
Most of the comments directed at Ha-eun didn’t feel like fellow performers introducing themselves, but more like fans talking to a celebrity. It was surreal to have people who had performed for tens of thousands asking for her photo, autograph, or a handshake.
Doublely, standing nearby with their arms crossed, watched with amused expressions.
“Young people really do like Ha-eun better.”
“Guess that means we’re washed-up, huh?”
“…No, they’re just trying to be polite to you guys.”
“What did we even do~?”
To be fair, Lee Jun and Lee Gun-yeol also received greetings. But as senior artists who had debuted when most of the younger performers were in kindergarten or elementary school, few dared to approach them too casually.
Watching this dynamic, Ha-eun finally understood why her old school friends used to act so formal around her. If even successful artists were this cautious, it must have been even more overwhelming for trainees who hadn’t debuted yet.
‘Hmm, it’s not like these two enforce strict hierarchies or anything….’
While lost in thought about the contrasting vibes between herself and Doublely, the first performer of the night finally stepped on stage, greeted by roaring cheers.
“Wow… They sound even better than they do on music shows.”
“University festivals are the busiest season for performers. You have to give it your all if you want to be invited back next year.”
“Jun’s right. So, if you want to come back next year, Ha-eun, you’ll have to sing your heart out too.”
“Well, by next year, I’ll be a college student myself. Maybe I’ll just be in the audience then?”
“Oh, that’s right. You’re aiming for college, aren’t you?”
“Time flies. I can’t believe you’re already in your last year of high school….”
For a while, they watched the other performers’ sets, fully soaking in the vibrant festival atmosphere. Most of the songs were upbeat and energetic, driving the crowd’s excitement to levels beyond Ha-eun’s expectations.
After two to three hours had passed…
“Excuse me… Please get ready.”
A visibly nervous college staff member entered Ha-eun and Doublely’s waiting room. In contrast, Lee Jun and Lee Gun-yeol showed no signs of tension whatsoever.
“Alright, let’s go~.”
“What if the crowd only cheers for Ha-eun?”
Leaving the waiting room, they started down the long hallway to the stage. However, unlike Doublely, who went straight ahead, Ha-eun stayed behind backstage.
“You’ve got to appear right during the chorus to make the biggest impact.”
“They already know I’ll be performing, though.”
“Doesn’t matter. In fact, knowing makes them anticipate how you’ll show up even more.”
This was part of Doublely’s plan to ensure Ha-eun got the spotlight during their performance. Shortly after, their first set began.
[ “Everyone, make some noise!” ]
[ “What’s this? Is that all you’ve got? Should we go back and try again?” ]
[ “Okay, DJ, let’s go!” ]
As the intro to Tunnel began, the crowd erupted with another wave of cheers. Within seconds, Lee Jun and Lee Gun-yeol launched into their flawless live performance, drawing everyone into the music.
“Miss Lee Ha-eun, as soon as the stage door opens, please make your entrance.”
Now on standby for her entrance, Ha-eun closed her eyes, taking in the sound of the roaring crowd from a distance.
To be honest, she felt a little nervous. But she also knew exactly who the thousands of people out there were waiting for.
♪ “After the long, long tunnel—” ♪
The moment her part began, Ha-eun raised her mic and stepped confidently toward center stage. The deafening cheers that greeted her were unlike anything she had experienced before.
Even though she had rehearsed on this stage many times, the energy of the live audience was something else entirely. The sheer passion of the crowd was both surprising and exhilarating.
Now, she finally understood why so many singers loved university festival season.
About five hours had passed since Doublely and Ha-eun’s first festival performance ended successfully.
Slightly tired, Ha-eun debated briefly before deciding to stream instead of taking the day off.
While part of her decision came from not wanting to break her promise to the Noeulis, the main reason was her desire to share the memories of the festival with them.
‘I didn’t get to try much food, though.’
She wanted to describe how the performances, including Doublely’s and her own, had felt—not from the perspective of a performer but as an audience member.
“Well, you know, Lenny? Watching their performance, I was like, wow, they’re really good—!”
It was, in essence, an afterparty of sorts.
To her surprise, quite a few Noeulis had also attended the same festival, and Ha-eun ended up having long conversations with them.
However, about 30 minutes into the stream, a donation message popped up, sending chills down her spine.
[ Kawatori d 50,000 won! ]
: Diah performed at the festival today, right? I saw you singing with Doublely—totally fell for you!
Ha-eun’s rational mind retreated into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Her thoughts froze, and her words got stuck in her throat.
Still, she knew she had to reopen her mouth and play it off as naturally as possible. Acting flustered or denying it too strongly would only make her look suspicious.
So, instead, she said:
“Ah! You caught me…!!”
She leaned into the popular meme on her stream, “Diah thinks of herself as Kim Jung-hyun level,” embracing the absurdity of the situation.
As expected, the chat instantly exploded with laughter and chaos.
“Su-sued?! It was just a joke! Come on, have mercy~!”
As the chat started teasing her relentlessly, Ha-eun seized the moment.
She swapped her cute streaming room background for a green-screen effect and superimposed an image of a neat business suit over her VTuber model.
Then, with her tone dropping dramatically, she began her “apology message.”
“Hello. This is Diah, the youngest VTuber of Illusionary Realm. I’d like to sincerely apologize to the Noeulis who may have been disappointed by my comments today….”
This was her way of flipping the situation into a lighthearted joke, doing her best to turn the Noeuli’s teasing into just another playful moment. There was no benefit to leaving room for suspicion, no matter how small.
“I promise never to impersonate a celebrity again… and I’m truly reflecting on my actions….”
[ HawaiianPizzaIsTheBest has subscribed for 7 months! ]
: Do a Hawaiian pizza mukbang as part of your apology.
“Ah… thank you for the subsc—… Do you want to fight?”