Chapter 81

“Please stay in line!!!”

“I won’t push you!!!”

The security guards in charge of the participants’ safety and arrival guidance shouted loudly at the fans, but it seemed like no one was listening.

Thank goodness for the gate; if it weren’t there, they would have charged straight at the participants.

Thanks to that, the gate was shaking, and her body was pushed.

‘This is why newbies are a problem.’

The arrival of the music show participants, which was mostly composed of seasoned fans like her, was relatively orderly, but perhaps because ‘Dodol3’ had many new fans, it was chaotic without a moment to calm down.

Fans continuously shouted the names of the participants at the top of their lungs.

The more popular the member, the louder the cheers.

‘This lacks scarcity, so it’s not worth much, but it’s better to take the shot anyway.’

Her ears felt like they were going to burst, but she endured and constantly pressed the shutter focusing on the popular members.

One by one, the participants came in, repeatedly taking pictures in front of the photo zone.

A new black van suddenly pulled up and stopped in the middle of the arrival path.

The doors swung open, and three people stepped out cheerfully.

– Seo Yoon-ah!!!

– Na-eun, I love youuuuu!!!

– Do-hee!!!

Despite being from the same agency, all three had established their own fandoms, and the noise echoed as if the whole neighborhood would collapse.

And she, a fan of Do-hee Lee, joined the crowd, shouting as she pressed the shutter.

“Do-hee! Look over here!!!”

Do-hee’s coordinator had her in a white tee and denim shorts.

It was a very basic yet neat outfit, but Do-hee’s fair skin looked even more pure and clean than the white short-sleeved shirt.

The moderately tight denim shorts accentuated Do-hee’s long legs and figure without being over the top.

Finally, her long black hair added to the charm.

‘This is insane… My baby looks like a total fairy…!’

“Do-hee!!! Please take this!!!”

In the midst of it all, a fan beside her was waving Do-hee’s slogan and shouting.

Do-hee approached the gate without hesitation, proving it was her first time experiencing this as a fan called out to her.

‘Huh…? She’s coming here!’

Her camera was busier than ever.

Seeing this, a security guard rushed over, urging her.

“You can’t stay by the gate!!”
“You can’t do that!!”

Do-hee startled at the voice of the shouting security guard, her eyes widening in surprise.

“I didn’t know, I’m sorry…”

Seeing that adorable sight, Home Mama kept clicking the camera shutter while clutching her pounding heart.

‘Oh no, so cute…!’

Having already arrived in front of the gate, Do-hee received the items from the fans, bowed in greeting, and quickly followed the security guard’s lead to take photos at the photo zone before hurriedly entering the gym.

*

“Please enter in order!”

Following the staff’s instructions, the audience members passed through the metal detector, leaving their phones behind.

For a newbie who had never been to an idol concert, it could be a confusing process, but for her, the seasoned Home Mama, it was familiar territory.

This was a common situation at large idol concerts to block photographers.

Yet, there was a way for her as a Home Mama to sneak in a camera.

Wrapping individual camera parts in tape and hiding them in hard-to-search areas like under her skirt.

Putting small parts in her bra, claiming they were just nipple piercings when caught by the metal detector.

Hiding the camera at the venue a day earlier.

Forming a team with other professional Home Mamas to sneak in parts one by one.

Today, she also successfully brought her camera into the competition venue using these tactics.

Naturally, she pulled out a pen from her bag.

She cut the tape tightly wrapped around her body with the pen and put the camera body and lens back into her bag.

If she got caught taking pictures during the competition, her memory card would be confiscated and she’d be kicked out, but nonetheless, there was a reason Home Mamas kept snapping photos.

At least 100,000 won.

That was the value of just one photo of the popular contestants competing.

It was a famous tale that a Home Mama who had successfully smuggled a camera into the competition through the metal detector during Season 2 made over 7 million won in just one day.

‘But I’m going to use this money for Do-hee again…!’

For some reason, she sat calmly in the assigned seat on the first floor, waiting for the stage to begin.

Not long after sitting down, a bright light illuminated the big screen.

What appeared on the screen were the dance videos for the four competition songs that would be judged in the third round.

Since it was a new song, it was hard to gauge the participants’ skill level.
It was hard to concentrate.

It meant evaluating the participants’ performances based on the choreography of skilled dancers.

“That’s good for me.”

Home Mama, a seasoned veteran in the idol scene, was intently checking the details and dynamic parts with a piercing gaze.

The more unique the parts, the better the photos turned out.

Especially, she paid extra attention to “Subtly,” a song expected to be Do-hee’s.

Before long, she was getting tired of the choreography video when the MC finally stepped onto the stage.

“Choose your girl! Welcome to the Just Choose Your Idol third round competition!”

The MC on stage explained the competition details and how to vote.

“… After all the performances, you’ll receive a voting slip on your way out! Choose the one team you think did the best! And vote for just one trainee who you think performed the best!”

While the MC was chattering away, the staff was busy behind the scenes setting up the first stage.

A cute atmosphere that reminded one of soft and warm sunlight.

“Huh? Is this Cute…? Right?”

As expected, it was the MC introducing the first stage.

“Yes! These trainees are the cutest trainees certified by you, Chusers! Please welcome our participants presenting the adorable and lively cute theme song ‘Subtly’!”

‘Do-hee right from the first stage…!’

Six trainees stepped onto the stage.

They were all wearing different warm-toned pastel color dresses.

Among them, Do-hee wore a pastel yellow dress reminiscent of a chick.

With white sneakers and her hair tied up with a white big bow as the perfect accent.

It was a coordination that captured the fresh vibe of a spring day.

“Wow… Who’s the coordinator…! They really did a great job…!”

She personally thought Do-hee’s fashion sense wasn’t quite up to par compared to her commuting outfits.

“Right, wearing nice clothes is cheating! It’s okay! She just needs to improve moving forward!”

Of course, without a coordinator later, Do-hee would just wear comfortable clothes, but as a fan, she didn’t know that yet.

“Hello! We are…”

While the trainees introduced themselves and did interviews on stage, she prepared her camera.

She was itching to take photos, but couldn’t due to the lights on in the venue and security roaming around.

“We will now begin the stage!”

All the lights went out, and a lyrical, innocent idol-style orchestral prelude began.
The show has begun.

A dazzling white light that enhances the members’ tones is switched on.

‘Huh…! Do-hee is the center this time!’

Standing at the very center of the big stage.

While waiting, I had attentively watched the choreography video, so I knew the center was in the middle.

Graceful and soft movements, reminding me of fluid dance.

Blending with the outfits, it made me think of spring despite it being summer.

She pulled out a black cloth disguised as a slogan and cleverly took pictures while hiding the camera.

– Subtly turning my eyes to see

As the wind intertwines

I’m getting lost in a dreamlike state

‘The song’s pretty good; the composer put in some effort…? If it were Bomi, it would’ve probably charted well.’

The stage flowed smoothly without any sharp edges.

– My heart moves like a little bug

Going lightly with a soft dash

With secret tremors, a little desire

Tightly surrounds the two of us

If they had covered an existing song, it might have felt a bit dull, but since it’s the participants’ original piece, it was fresh and unique, and above all, the adorable participants themselves were a treat for the eyes.

Of course, I was only looking at Do-hee.

– This rustling wind

Always moves my heart

Wobbling like a little tree within

But as the second verse was nearing its end.

An oddly out-of-place scene caught my eye.

‘Wait, it seems like Gu Eun-hee and Do-hee switched places?’

As Kim Seo-yoon at the front spun around, Gu Eun-hee was supposed to naturally step back to the right, leaving space for Do-hee to move in.

But for some reason, Gu Eun-hee couldn’t find her position and stood still in her spot.

Without showing any signs of panic, Do-hee quickly walked to the far right.

If she weren’t an idol veteran who studied the choreography video meticulously, I wouldn’t have caught the natural flow of movement.

After that, Gu Eun-hee hesitantly started to find her spot, while Do-hee seamlessly turned back to her original position.

‘Did Do-hee just cover a mistake?’

Of course, it could have been an intentional scenario, so I wasn’t sure.

However, I quickly kept pressing the shutter.

If she did cover up a mistake…

It would be a unique moment in a unique competition.

The value of each photo I was taking would skyrocket.

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