translation by mourningmoor
It turns out that opera singer Doyoon was a fan of LIT.
Of course, it had been a secret until now.
If a classical musician, especially a globally recognized opera singer, admitted to liking idol music and dance performances, people would immediately frown.
So, he had never told anyone except his manager.
Not his family, not his agency’s CEO, not his fellow opera singers, not even his album producers.
No one knew that idol music dominated most of his playlist. And of course, no one knew that the majority of that majority was LIT’s music.
So, when he received the offer to appear on Yoon Yiho’s <Music Sketch> and found out that RIT was also a guest on the same day, he couldn’t help but let out a cry of joy.
To share the same stage with his favorite singers—there was no greater honor. He was over the moon.
He had tried to get concert tickets but failed to overcome the barriers of ticketing. He didn’t have the connections to secure even one invitation, so he had been left frustrated.
But now that he had exchanged greetings and made an acquaintance with LIT, he could proudly call himself a “fanboy.”
“They say the fan life is tough, but I’m fully immersed.”
He even got a signed CD.
Doyoon, who had finished filming his segment first, asked the staff to let him sit in the front row of the audience. He waited there for LIT’s performance, which was next.
The stage set changed, and soon LIT took the stage.
They looked completely different from when he had seen them in the waiting room.
In the waiting room, they had been dressed casually, slightly sporty, and had been quietly chatting. But now, they were undeniably sparkling idols.
The LIT members, dressed in black suits with differently designed shirts, took their positions on stage as directed by the stage manager.
Kang Ichan, who had been sitting at the piano earlier, watched them.
The look on his face as he gazed at the members was filled with deep affection and trust.
The members’ expressions as they looked at Kang Ichan were no different.
This was the number one reason for LIT’s popularity. Their infinite trust in each other. The way they treated one another. A bond stronger than family.
They had a unique dynamic that only fans truly understood.
After exchanging glances, the members nodded at Kang Ichan, signaling they were ready.
Kang Ichan smiled slightly at them and began playing the piano.
Kang Ichan and the piano.
This was the moment he had been waiting for.
At the 1st anniversary fan meeting, Kang Ichan had played the piano. Fans who reminisced about that moment all raved about his piano skills.
It was the same during the first round of <Survival, Music Genius>.
Fans who saw Kang Ichan skillfully playing the piano and singing said their bias had changed.
Even a short clip of him playing the piano went viral among non-fans, who called it “boyfriend material.”
And now, he was watching Kang Ichan play the piano in real time.
“Insane…”
As the rumors said, Kang Ichan was an incredibly skilled and beautiful pianist.
From the very first sweet melody, his heart ached.
“What song is this?”
It sounded unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar, so Doyoon tilted his head.
Then, Roa’s soft voice began humming.
“Oh, this is…?”
It was LIT’s “ID.”
They had rearranged the grand, spine-chilling song into a jazz-inspired R&B track, creating something entirely different. But it wasn’t bad. In fact, it was refreshing and delightful to the ears.
Moreover, the vocal tones of the five members were nothing short of incredible.
The way they rapped with a melodic whisper was also incredibly cool.
Even without elaborate choreography, the members’ expressions and movements, filled with soul, created the illusion of a stunning performance.
As the song reached its midpoint, an interlude flowed.
Though it had been an R&B rhythm, Kang Ichan’s fingers skillfully danced across the piano keys, shifting the genre into swing.
The back of the stage opened, and a brass band appeared.
The lights brightened dazzlingly, and a glamorous swing dance floor was set up.
Kang Ichan rose from the piano and joined the members’ formation as the performance began.
The dazzling steps and hand movements left not only Doyoon but the entire audience in awe. Even Yoon Yiho, watching from the side of the stage, was the same.
Even musical actor Lee Gaeul, standing at the side of the stage, watched LIT with her mouth agape.
And so, LIT, who had stolen the hearts of everyone watching, finished their performance.
Doyoon jumped up from his seat and clapped so hard his hands might catch fire.
Is it embarrassing for a classical singer to like an idol group?
Why should it be embarrassing? They’re this good—isn’t it natural to like them?
Look. I’m not the only one giving a standing ovation. The other audience members are the same. Even Yoon Yiho is enjoying it this much.
“Bravo!”
Doyoon, being a classical singer, shouted “Bravo!” and fully revealed his fanboy heart.
* * *
A space for the talk segment was set up.
Following Yoon Yiho’s guidance, we took our seats and greeted the audience once more.
“Two, three. Hello, we’re LIT.”
Applause erupted from the audience.
Just a short while ago, we had performed in front of fans filling arena-sized venues in the U.S. So, this small performance space felt oddly unfamiliar. Yet, it also felt strangely close, making us feel at ease.
Yoon Yiho pinpointed that exact feeling.
“From Seoul’s Gymnastics Stadium to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and five cities in the U.S. I heard you just finished touring all those places last week.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“How does it feel? This small performance space. It must feel different from those large concerts, right?”
It was a question not in the script. He said he’d help us, but it seems that wasn’t entirely the case.
I picked up the mic.
“Actually, I thought about it while on stage. We’ve performed nineteen times in arena-sized venues…”
“I heard all the shows were sold out. The venues must’ve been packed, right?”
He cut me off without even listening to the rest, steering the conversation in a slightly different direction.
“…Yes.”
“With such large venues packed with fans, the emotions must’ve been overwhelming, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
Then, as if he had been waiting, Yoon Yiho asked another question.
“After being immersed in such grand emotions, facing a small stage like this…”
“Are you asking if it feels underwhelming?”
Since Yoon Yiho had cut me off earlier, I decided to cut him off too.
Yoon Yiho, slightly flustered, nodded.
“Doesn’t it feel underwhelming? Your Dallas concert was just a week ago. It’s only natural to compare.”
At Yoon Yiho’s words, the members all shook their heads.
Seeing this, I chuckled and turned my gaze back to Yoon Yiho.
“They say no.”
“No?”
“It’s true that the sense of space a large stage gives and what a small stage gives can’t be the same. But the emotions we feel are the same.”
Then, Hanjoon continued from where I left off.
“We’ve talked about this among ourselves before. It was when we had just moved from New York to Chicago. While shopping at a mart, we spontaneously performed at a busking stage in a shopping center.”
Hanjoon briefly shared the story from that time.
“The emotions we felt at the New York concert and the emotions we felt at the shopping center busking stage were so similar that we couldn’t say which was greater. There were fans who loved us there too.”
Siu nodded and chimed in.
“That’s right. In the end, we realized that as long as there’s even one fan who loves us, we’re happy. Every stage feels like a concert.”
Yoon Yiho smiled.
Well, it was a very FM-like answer.
“How was today’s stage?”
At Yoon Yiho’s question, Jaewon quickly answered.
“We were happy today too.”
“So, there are LIT fans here today too?”
Since it was a public broadcast and announcements had been made, of course, Filaments had applied to attend. You could tell just by the cheers.
“Well…”
“Me! I’m here. A Filament.”
“Me too.”
Before Jaewon could answer, people here and there raised their hands and shouted that they were Filaments. Amusingly, even Doyoon, who had just finished his performance, was among them.
Yoon Yiho, looking at the audience, nodded quickly.
“Yes. They’re here.”
“No, it’s not just that they’re here—it feels like everyone here is a LIT fan,” he joked.
After that, Yoon Yiho continued talking about our fandom. He mentioned the tree-planting campaign Filaments had organized and various other campaigns, eventually bringing up how we had come to be called the “Superstar’s Idol.”
The members, now in high spirits, proudly boasted about Filaments.
They gushed about their fans as if there were no fans like them in the world. In the end, Yoon Yiho laughed and raised both hands and feet in surrender.
“I want fans like that too. Let’s share how you got such fans.”
This time, the Filaments in the audience shouted in unison.
“Just be like LIT.”
Yoon Yiho, who had initially been a bit skeptical, had now completely lowered his guard.
He had been slightly dissatisfied that a young idol group had been invited to this stage just because of their successful overseas tour, but now he had let go of that prejudice.
He even felt ashamed for thinking they were unworthy guests.
Now, Yoon Yiho’s expression was brighter, and his voice was softer.
“With such great love for your fans, it’s no wonder the fans love LIT too.”
Then, voices of agreement erupted from the audience, saying, “That’s right.”
“Well then, let’s talk about music now.”
Finally, after letting the members brag about their fans to his heart’s content, Yoon Yiho could get to the main point.
“We can’t not talk about the arrangement of ‘ID’ you performed today. It’s originally Kang Ichan’s song, and you rearranged it all by yourself, right?”
“Yes.”
“I was actually a bit surprised. I’m a songwriter too, and there’s something in Kang Ichan’s songs that transcends experience. I think it’s genius.”
Perhaps feeling sorry for trying to act like a know-it-all earlier, Yoon Yiho now actively praised our musical world and continued the talk.
While such highbrow conversations were happening on stage, a slightly different situation was unfolding backstage.
An unexpected person had blocked Lee Gaeul’s path.