Chapter 286: Chapter 286

“Jung Dajun, wake up!!”

Throwing off the blanket, Jung Dajun sprang to his feet and shouted.

Normally, someone would have immediately snapped at him for being too loud, but since they were still in their LA hotel, only quiet stillness came back to him.

He headed straight to the bathroom, brushed thoroughly, and spat out the rinse water with satisfaction.

His throat felt fine, his body felt fine—everything was perfect.

Even his knee didn’t ache today.

For no particular reason, he just had a feeling everything would go well.

And usually, when he felt , good things really did happen.

“Let’s do well today!!”

Stretching both arms, he shouted energetically, pulled his cap low, and hurried out. The road manager was already waiting by the hotel entrance.

As soon as he got into the van, Kim Sunghyun greeted him.

Dajun squinted playfully and gave him a discreet thumbs-up.

‘Today I’ll talk to {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Hoyun-hyung!’

Yesterday, Kim Sunghyun had told him to watch Seo Hoyun’s reaction carefully during the stage. There had to be a reason.

Convinced his hyungs had talked it over, Dajun planned to thank Seo Hoyun for the donuts and make up.

From the very back seat, Dajun suddenly popped up. Seo Hoyun’s gaze flicked toward him.

As expected, seeing his face already made Dajun’s anger fade.

“...Um, Hoyun-hyung, thanks for the donuts yester—”

“Guys, we’re leaving! Seatbelts on~.”

But the manager’s voice drowned out his cautious words.

Seo Hoyun, without reacting, put in his earphones, pulled on an eye mask, and sank into his seat to sleep.

He must not have heard.

It couldn’t be that he was ignoring him.

Besides, The Dawn had an unspoken rule: don’t bother Hoyun once he’s in the van. So Dajun couldn’t push further.

‘I’ll say it when we get off, then!’

But there was no chance.

Camera flashes greeted them at the venue entrance, and after being ushered in by security, they had to rush through rehearsals one after another.

Before he knew it, it was time for the stage.

“The Dawn! This way.”

“Get ready for standby!”

Backstage was buzzing with Caris Games staff, WH employees, and Daepaseong staff all moving about.

Frustrated, Dajun turned his head while getting his final makeup and costume check.

The members all wore variations of white outfits with slightly different detailing.

“This part when we go up—”

“Got it, I’ll do it that way.”

It was a sharp contrast from the Cyberpunk concept stage. But Dajun thought this new version of Connected matched perfectly too.

At that moment, he saw Seo Hoyun—his hair tied with a few feathers at the back—finishing his outfit check and putting in his in-ear monitors.

Dajun rushed over and grabbed his shoulder.

A cool, indifferent gaze met his. It even felt a little cold.

He shrank slightly but, remembering his other hyungs’ advice, forced himself to speak.

“Hyung, um, the donuts were really good.... Did you enjoy your half-day off? No, wait, and also, I wasn’t avoiding you.”

He blurted out everything in a jumble, and Seo Hoyun just listened silently.

Getting nervous, Dajun dropped his head and mumbled,

“...Don’t you have anything to say to me, hyung?!”

His toes wiggled outside his slippers—since he was performing barefoot—while he waited. But no answer came for a long time.

Just as he was about to peek up,

“Something to say to you?”

Hoyun tilted his head.

“I said I don’t have anything to say.”

Dajun’s mouth slowly dropped open.

As he reeled in shock, Hoyun turned his back and walked away.

“What did you just....”

“Going up on the lift now!”

No “don’t get hurt,” no “let’s do well,” not even his usual half-hearted comment.

Shoved by staff, Dajun had no choice but to take off his slippers and step onto the rising lift.

‘Why is he being scary?!’

First came bewilderment. Then disappointment quickly washed over it.

‘Wait! Sunghyun-hyung told me to watch him carefully!’

But while Dajun floundered in confusion, the members were already taking their positions.

He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.

Beneath the stage, darkness surrounded them.

Five shoulders lined up side by side.

Dajun fixed his gaze forward instead of toward Hoyun.

He wanted to do well.

No—he had to do well.

【Fly neither too low nor too high

Sun’s heat will melt your feathers apart】

The VCR began playing above, showing pre-filmed concept clips of the members combined with IRIX character CGs.

Slowly, the lift rose.

Kang Ichae had re-arranged Connected with the motif of Icarus, symbolizing a human pushing limits. In mythology, Icarus falls from flying too close to the sun, but Ichae twisted it—turning him into someone who pierces through the sun and transcends limits.

When Dajun asked why he was chosen for the main role, Ichae only smirked.

“Because this kind of thing is perfect for you, Dajun.”

The members appeared one by one, perched like statues on sculpted pedestals. Finally, Dajun emerged, hugging his knees with a playful tilt of his head from between the ruffles of his sleeve.

On the big screen, his slightly grown figure still shone with boyish freshness.

Behind him, feather-, pearl-, and jewel-adorned metallic wings unfurled.

【Finally, tedious time is passing

I like watching you shine】

The midday sun blazed, the powerful beat filled the hall, the crowd roared. But Dajun’s chest only tightened further.

‘Don’t overthink it.’

【Chase me like if you can

Shift the gear, press the pedal down】

‘Stay calm, just stay calm to the end.’

Seo Hoyun took over his part next.

【I will never leave your side】

As always, his voice was unwavering, his presence commanding. His skill had grown so much it instantly captivated the audience.

‘Stay calm, stay calm....’

Moving backward, Dajun locked eyes with Kim Sunghyun stepping forward.

Sunghyun gave the tiniest smile, then revealed a new added line.

Stay at your position

Do what people have asked you】

Dajun knew himself now.

He didn’t need to compare himself to others to find his worth, nor did he need to prove himself.

The dancers’ gazes began to fix on him.

His tumbling part was coming.

Even if he skipped it, the dancers would cover smoothly.

He had practiced it over and over in rehearsals, but what if he failed here and actually got hurt? Seo Hoyun might truly be disappointed in him.

That thought terrified him.

More than anyone’s opinion, what scared him was failing the person he admired.

He could easily just give up.

【You hit me words to knock me out】

—But could he really live with that?

At that instant, Kang Ichae glanced back and grinned at him.

【But I don’t lose my temper, darling】

As if to say, Don’t worry.

The hesitation, fear, and nerves all clung to him.

But they couldn’t stop him.

Without pause, he stepped onto the dancers’ backs as they bent down.

‘I know. I wouldn’t be satisfied.’

He didn’t want to fail.

He didn’t want to stay stuck as a helpless dongsaeng.

Just before stepping onto the last dancer’s back, he looked at Seo Hoyun.

【I just keep tempering our hope】

Hoyun was already looking back at him.

That split-second stretched into eternity.

Under the white stage lights, Hoyun’s lips moved.

So Dajun didn’t hesitate.

The anxiety melts away】

He pushed off hard with his legs, soaring into the air.

【All that’s left for us...】

Heat slashed across his face.

The stage tilted, the backdrop swirled like paint in water. Then—impact surged up through his feet, solid and firm.

The roar of the crowd exploded, but to Dajun, it sounded far away. His body burned with exhilaration.

【Only wings and trust remain】

Panting as he moved to his next mark, Hoyun tapped his shoulder in passing.

At that moment, stage fireworks burst. Emotion welled up inside him.

【Even if I fly closer to the sun

These wings won’t melt】

There were times on stage with his hyungs when his chest shook uncontrollably.

【They only burn hotter】

Until now, he hadn’t known what to call it.

But now, he could say it clearly.

I will never leave your side】

When he came back to himself, all that remained was the sweat dripping from his hands and the audience’s cheers.

Realizing he was still frozen in the ending pose, he quickly bowed and hurried backstage.

“Dajun! That was amazing!”

He bowed repeatedly, thanking the staff, walking faster and faster.

“That part just now was great—”

“Yeah, the timing was—”

In the waiting room, the members were already giving quick comments on the stage. Seo Hoyun, standing by the door, looked at him.

His voice was flat, his face indifferent. But his eyes betrayed him.

Eyes brimming with pride.

Seeing that, Dajun suddenly understood why Hoyun had said he had nothing to say.

Slowly stepping closer, Dajun suddenly ran forward and hugged him tight.

Hoyun stumbled back, and the cluster of members toppled like bowling pins.

They yelled, but Dajun stayed buried against Hoyun’s shoulder.

From deep in his chest, a never-before-felt emotion surged. His eyes didn’t shed tears, but his heart churned endlessly.

“Hey, Jung Dajun, you....”

Hoyun sat up, about to say something—then stopped. Almost as if waiting for Dajun’s words.

Sorry. Thank you. You really are my hyung.

‘Forget it, none of that matters.’

He still didn’t know if he could become a reliable member for his hyungs.

But one thing was certain: unshakable trust had sprouted. Check latest chapters at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝘯𝘦𝘵

As long as he was with them, he could go anywhere, do anything. Even if they had to walk into pitch-black darkness.

“Hyung, you’re really annoying.”

Because we are the Dawn.

And we’ll be the ones to face the rising sun.

Seo Hoyun burst into laughter at his words.

Then he slowly patted Dajun’s back.

“Took you long enough to figure that out?”