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If I could, I would completely erase the two characters “Dia” from Dayun’s mind.

Yeah, if only I could.

‘I’ve never felt so powerless before…’

Situations where one thinks ‘if only I could’ are mostly like that.

Because I couldn’t, I was engulfed in a gloomy reality that confronted me, and I felt a mix of emotions.

No matter how hard I wracked my brain, I couldn’t find a way.

There was nowhere to prevent the disaster of Dia’s voice pack from playing in Dayun’s pristine white wireless earphones.

The mere existence of Dayun owning and enjoying a compilation of Dia’s adorable voice was already a problem.

But the bigger issue was the possibility of an even greater disaster occurring.

What if.

Really, in the event that—

“Hey, Lee Ha-eun…. You should listen to this…. It’s cute and whispers nicely….”

If Dayun played Dia’s lively voice for Ha-eun, suggesting she should listen too.

Surely, the moment Dayun’s earphones were plugged into Ha-eun’s ears, it would end in embarrassment.

Nonetheless, all Ha-eun could do was gently decline Dayun’s purchase proposal for Dia’s goods, asking if she would buy one too.

In the miserable reality where she could only be fearful of a disaster waiting to unfold, Ha-eun eventually covered her face with her hands.

And she bowed her head.

“…Huff….”

Unable to hold back any longer, she let out a groan.

Soon, the voice of Dayun, bewildered by Ha-eun’s sudden change, could be heard.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

‘…It’s because of you.’

In Dayun’s voice, filled with curiosity as she asked about Ha-eun’s state, there seemed to be a hint of laughter—was it a fleeting illusion?

After a while, Dayun, who had been bustling about, pulled out her phone again to check out the Dia goods preview post.

And nearly simultaneously.

“I’ll put the acrylic stand on my bed shelf. I’ll attach the keyring to my wallet.”

Dayun mumbled her shopping list almost as if to be overheard right next to Ha-eun.

It was right after she heard Dayun’s not-quite-private mutterings.

“Hmm, I wish there was a character cushion too. Why aren’t they selling cushions?”

“…I guess there were circumstances….”

Ha-eun knew that maintaining a poker face was crucial to hide her identity, but.

Right now, pretending to care as little as possible about Dia’s goods was the best Ha-eun could do.

Anyway, lunchtime was almost over.

Finally, with the excuse of needing to prepare for the fifth period, Ha-eun stood up and hurried off toward her classroom.

And unlike her, Dayun, still sitting on the corridor bench, let out a momentary sound.

“…Pff.”

That meaningful laugh went unheard.

*

“Hey, Ha-eun. Did something happen at school?”

The curious voice of Joo Jeong-yoon as he just got Ha-eun into his van.

Ha-eun brushed it off, saying it was nothing, trailing off her words.

The conversation shifted to the upcoming final recording of <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> scheduled for the next week.

“Next week, we have to go to the broadcasting station instead of the studio?”

“Yeah. We’ll probably stop by the makeup shop on the way too.”

The recording next week would be the last gathering before the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> cast’s performance at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Unlike their previous meetings where each had only met with their respective partners at their studios.

All cast members of the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> would gather at the broadcasting studio to share their determination and expectations for the performance.

However, since <Infinite Challenge> was primarily a variety show and not a documentary.

Filming would also take place for various mini-games with rewards related to the performance at stake.

‘Did they say they would decide the performance order then?’

I remembered there was a talk about selecting the performance order as one of the prizes for the mini-games.

In other words, Ha-eun had to show a good performance in the mini-games next week if she wanted to perform in her desired order.

She didn’t know what the mini-games would be yet.

But no matter what they were, she was determined to do her best and achieve high scores.

As she fell deep into thoughts about the upcoming recording next week, she had arrived at the familiar practice room before she knew it.

Upon entering the practice room, she was greeted with a warm hello from Yoon Si-hyuk, who had been waiting for her sitting on the floor.

“Hi, Ha-eun~.”

“Hello.”

Before long, the practice rehearsal for the song “T.R.E.N.D.” by the Lee Ha-eun & Yoon Si-hyuk duo began.

It took a quite a long time to synchronize with everyone who would be performing at Gocheok Sky Dome alongside Ha-eun.

Like every past rehearsal after the song “T.R.E.N.D.” was completed, this one went smoothly as well.

Rehearsals for their movement paths on stage and the choreographies that Yoon Si-hyuk and Ha-eun had created together ended without a single mistake.

However, since these stage rehearsals were also part of <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> filming.

During breaks, they had to fill the filming quota with casual talk with Yoon Si-hyuk.

To sum it up, Ha-eun’s talk went without any major issues.

Her partner Yoon Si-hyuk was a veteran entertainer with more than ten years of broadcasting experience and a long-time fan of Ha-eun.

“I’ve always been curious. Did you really do all your swordplay acting from start to finish?”

“Ah, yes. There weren’t any separate stunts used.”

“So, you were the one sweeping away assassins in the palace too?”

“Yes.”

“Whoa, I better not mess around.”

Conversations about Ha-eun’s past projects, like <Moonlight Through the Clouds>, were indeed lively.

“Did you say there are action scenes in the drama you’re currently filming?”

“Yes. I’m shooting gunfight scenes lately, and the gun is bigger than I expected.”

“Is it different than what you saw in the video?”

“It’s definitely different. It has quite a weight to it.”

Ha-eun smoothly transitioned into talking about the drama she was still filming.

It was easy to see why Yoon Si-hyuk had maintained his place as an entertainer for over a decade.

The conversation culminated with a discussion about Ha-eun’s daily life.

“Isn’t it tiring to go to school early in the morning? Back when I was in school, waking up in the morning was the hardest for me.”

It was similar to a question Yoon Si-hyuk had asked during the filming of <2 Nights, 3 Days> when he was the VJ, just as Ha-eun was about to give a similar reply she had given long ago.

​‘Ha-eun’s advertisement will begin airing two weeks before Chuseok. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime.’

‘Oh, that’s right.’

I just remembered Ha-eun’s Sears bed advertisement that would air during the upcoming autumn wedding and moving season.

Maybe that was why.

“Honestly, I was a bit tired before changing my bed. But I feel much better after switching beds.”

Ha-eun’s words conveyed to the mic on her chest were a bit different from her previous answer during <2 Nights, 3 Days>.

For Yoon Si-hyuk, it was only natural that he would show curiosity towards Ha-eun’s response.

“What kind of bed did you buy?”

“Oh, I didn’t buy it. They sponsored it while I was filming the advertisement.”

Although she couldn’t mention the exact brand due to various conditions in the broadcasting industry.

Ha-eun thought that merely mentioning the advertisement could positively influence Sears’ sales.

However, she had no idea what kind of ripple effect her mention would create in the furniture industry.

She hadn’t yet realized how significantly Ha-eun’s value as an advertisement model would change.

Currently, Ha-eun’s mind was solely focused on the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> that would begin airing this Saturday.

As it was her first appearance in a variety show as a singer rather than an actress, she was most curious about how people would react.

Crucially, since the footage of the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> performance would air during the Chuseok holiday.

‘…Let’s do well.’

She wanted her stage to be an unforgettable memory for those resting comfortably at home during the holidays.

She aimed to engrain the three characters ‘Lee Ha-eun’ more vividly in people’s minds.

The goal Ha-eun set when she accepted Lee Jun’s invitation to appear on the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> had not changed at all.

She dreamed of turning the stage at Gocheok Sky Dome, which would become a turning point in her career as an entertainer, into a perfect one.

Thus, just as Ha-eun definitively organized her blueprint as an entertainer.

A notification regarding another turning point reached Ha-eun’s phone.

[ The samples for the Fantasia goods have been completed, Ha-eun. They will arrive within this week, so let me know when you receive the package~. ]

If Ha-eun faced a turning point on the Gocheok Sky Dome stage as an entertainer.

As Dia, Ha-eun was at a turning point, unveiling her first cover song and releasing her first goods.

Whichever the case, both turning points were significant for Ha-eun.

So she didn’t want to overlook either of them.

That was why she began to devise her plans related to Dia’s broadcasts much more meticulously.

She contemplated how to interconnect the important events of the cover song release and the goods launch to achieve better results.

After a long period of deep thought, she concluded that a consecutive broadcast would be best.

‘Doing it all in one day seems like a better idea….’

Thinking about it, the cover song release and goods launch for Dia would also be significant events for her fans, the Noeuls.

Both events were sufficient to capture the Noeuls’ interest.

Thus, to avoid splitting their attention by broadcasting on separate days.

She aimed to maximize their interest, even if it meant slightly extending the normal broadcast time.

This was why Ha-eun proactively contacted the overall manager of Fantasia.

[ If you’re saying it will be quite a long broadcast, is the timing okay? ]

“Yes. I have no schedules on the cover song release day.”

Eventually, it was decided that the cover song release broadcast would be Part 1, and the Dia goods introduction would be Part 2.

By combining the interest in Dia’s first cover song and first goods into one day, both events would gain more attention.

Of course, she also planned to carry out broadcasts reviewing the cover songs or goods from the other members at the earliest opportunity.

Among them, especially the review broadcast for Yuna’s cover song, which Ha-eun had devoted significant effort into, would surely mean something special.

‘…I’m looking forward to it.’

It was exciting for Ha-eun to reveal the song she had loved in her previous life by coaching and refining it herself.

Since Dia was the first among the Fantasia members to release the cover song and goods, she was merely focused on Dia for now instead of Yuna.

For Dia to kick off her debut successfully, Ha-eun had chosen the option of consecutive broadcasting for that reason as well.

And so, time passed.

Finally, on the day of Dia’s cover song & goods reveal broadcast.

– Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang

– Is this the show where that baby is singing?

– Open the door! Open the door! Open the door! Open the door! Open the door!

– FBI OPEN UP!!!!!

– At last, the day when our Dia sings is coming…

– Dia, I’m so anxious, please save me.

– Still three minutes left, oh no.

Now that Ha-eun had just finished preparing the broadcast, she played the cover song, which had been re-recorded in a calm atmosphere, on her phone once again.

Then, without saying a word, she simply listened to it and steadied her heart.

​

｢♪──♪♪───♪♪─♬♪｣

The mood was a bit more subdued and calm than Dia’s usual high tension.

Yet, there was a neat voice that was somehow different from Pinocchio’s superb technique and clear tone.

Though Ha-eun couldn’t know how others would perceive it.

At least for herself, it was a song that truly expressed ‘Dia’s serious side’.

Not long after, the countdown finally began.

– 10!

– We finally have 10 seconds left.

– 10, 9.

– 99999999

– What’s that pigeon noise?

– 99999

– 8!!!!

– 8888888

As the pace in the chat window quickened, Ha-eun gently put on the headset hanging around her neck.

Then, when the Noeuls’ countdown reached zero.

– Click.

Dia’s first cover song <Old Staccato> music video appeared on the previously blank streaming screen.

Gradually, a peaceful illustration filled the entire broadcast screen.

– Oh, what is this?

– Wow

– Look at that illustration!

– Kyaa!

– There was a reason for keeping it hidden.

– Is that really our baby?

In the past, Ji Hae-min had said that it would have been fine to reveal the cover song music video illustration in advance.

However, it had been hidden until now, fearing that it would diminish the anticipation if revealed early.

The chatroom, filled with praise, confirmed that Ha-eun’s judgment was indeed not wrong.

Before long, the introduction part drew to a close.

After reaching the first vocal part at long last, Ha-eun began to capture Dia’s song once again with the broadcast mic.

The sound playing in the broadcast background wasn’t an entirely complete music video but rather the MR.

However, among the countless Noeuls, none of them.

– Staccato, such a nostalgic tune.

– Great job with the Korean lyrics.

– Why does she sing so well?

– Go D. I. A.

– Look how quiet the chat is while listening. LOL.

No one noticed that the song in the current broadcast was Ha-eun’s live performance.

Because she hadn’t informed anyone, including Ji Hae-min, no one even realized Ha-eun’s surprise live singing.

Of course, even if Ha-eun had simply played the music video instead of performing live, it would have been fine.

But since the past Ha-eun had wanted to realize the reason she learned to sing, she didn’t turn off the broadcast mic.

As she shifted her gaze slightly to the mic, she met the small Dia acrylic stand on the broadcast desk.

And right behind it, the screen was filled with countless praises.

– It’s different because she’s being serious.

– Who are you even? LOL.

– Who are you! Who are you! Who are you! Who are you! Who are you!

– Was it originally such a song?

– Our baby has become charismatic..!

– ‘Playlist Passed’

These were all things she had dreamed of for a long time.

Maybe because of becoming a little emotional, her vision blurred slightly at some point.

Though <Old Staccato> wasn’t particularly a sad song, just singing it felt.

Like a dream.

“…How was it?”

– Great D. I. A.

– So emotional, what happened? T.T

– It’s soothing and nice.

– You practiced a lot, huh?

– You sure were right to nag Yuna. ㅇㅇ

– Will you be doing song broadcasts from now on?

– Don’t forget to say our baby is the best singer among the one-year-olds in Fantasia!

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