Devil’s Music

Dressed entirely in black—black coat, black shirt, black slacks, and black shoes—Geon twisted his bright red lips into a smile against his pale face. Though this look was far removed from Geon's angelic original image, making him seem more demonic than any demon, there was something irresistibly sexy and mischievous about him now. Circling around Shizuka, who was seated at a golden grand piano, playing with intense focus, eyes closed and head shaking to the music, Geon teased her concentration. Eventually, he perched on the edge of the piano and took up the microphone.

The scent of magnolias

Tickles the nose

Leading you to me that day

Through the playful grasshoppers

As Geon sang, Ayano, captivated by his voice, blushed and gazed at him dreamily. Not only Ayano but also Koharu and all the female members of the audience experienced a similar spellbinding effect. Geon, maintaining a seductive smile, left the piano and walked to the center stage. A giant multivision screen behind him emitted pink flames and electrical waves, following his movements, eventually coalescing into black wings at his back. As Geon spread his arms and lifted his head, the wings spread out, releasing black feathers into the air.

Black and shimmering you

Large and formidable you

The sounds you made

Soft and sweet

Small and scared I was

Listening intently to your voice

As Koharu lost herself in the moment, she said, "He... he looks like a real demon. And yet, so irresistibly sexy and lovable."

Ayano, wiping drool from her mouth, nodded, "Yeah, it's spectacular."

Geon, after singing, sat beside Shizuka at the piano, appearing as if the piano itself was urging her to play with him. This posed them in a curious composition: Shizuka facing the audience as she played and Geon opposite, looking at her. Leaning back to face Shizuka, Geon picked up the microphone again.

As enduring as the bond between us through the years

As resilient as we've been throughout the day

Despite countless setbacks, may this solidity be mine

May we be a bit happier, a bit more steadfast

As always, forever

As Shizuka opened her long-lashed eyes, the left-side giant screen close-upped her profile, showing her affectionate gaze towards Geon and his playful, smiling response. The audience erupted in screams.

"They're both so beautiful!"

"They match each other so well!"

"How can both a man and a woman be this beautiful?"

"Idiots, it's Kay!"

"Screaming! I want to capture this moment and keep it forever!"

"Huh? Oh!! Kay's going in!"

"Scream! Where are you going, Kay!"

After Geon finished the first verse and disappeared backstage, Shizuka continued her performance. The audience murmured in anticipation of the second verse, yet Geon was nowhere to be seen. Unaware, Shizuka blissfully played on. Ayano, noting the change in Shizuka's performance, widened her eyes, "What...? She's playing the melody and the lyrics on the piano? Does she have three hands?"

Koharu, too, was astonished. The camera crew zoomed in on Shizuka's hands, and the audio staff pulled their headphones closer, shocked. It seemed as though Shizuka's hands multiplied, managing both the piano and the melody. The audience, stunned, stood but could not voice their amazement, merely watching the performance on the giant screen.

Descending from the stage, Geon smiled as he listened to Shizuka's playing. Byungjun approached him, tapping his back, "Thanks. It's a pity to only perform the first verse, especially here in Japan. M Stage is one of the best, after all. You would have wanted to do the whole thing, right?"

Geon, passing the microphone to a staff member, glanced back at the obscured stage, listening to Shizuka's piano, "It's Shizuka's stage."

As Geon quietly left for the dressing room, Byungjun called out a bit louder, "Where are you going? Shizuka's performance isn't over!"

Without looking back, Geon gestured it was okay and continued to the dressing room. Alone, he opened the door to the empty room. Smiling at Shizuka's passionate performance on the large TV, Geon grabbed a soda from the fridge. Sitting down, he took a sip and closed his eyes.

"My promise to myself, to finish school. I must keep it."

Indeed, Geon was also thirsty for the stage. Though he could not be satisfied with just a part of the performance in Japan, it wasn't his stage—it was Shizuka's. Contemplating while looking at the half-drunk can

, Geon thought,

"In a year and a half, I'll also be on such a stage, not as a supporting role but as the main act."

Geon downed the rest of the soda and crushed the can. As he saw Shizuka waving to her cheering fans on TV, he briefly savored the moment, then tossed the can basketball-style into the trash. Missing and hitting the side, he smiled wryly, picked up the can, and properly disposed of it. Seeing Shizuka descend from the stage, Geon adjusted his clothes and headed backstage.

Meeting an exuberant Shizuka, they high-fived. Shizuka, beaming, raised her arms, "Kay! Thanks to you, Kay!"

Geon chuckled, "Why thanks to me? It was all you, Shizuka. Well done."

"I was so nervous, it being my first time on such a stage! My heart was pounding; I felt like I couldn't do anything!"

Geon, smiling, reassured her, "Were you happy?"

Shizuka nodded vigorously, placing her hands over her heart, "Yes! So happy!"

"Ha, good. Let's head to the dressing room; there's another recording coming up."

As they walked, Shizuka, still lingering on her first performance, kept looking back, eventually stopping, "You go ahead! I'll stay here a bit longer."

Geon watched her for a moment, then nodded slightly and headed to the dressing room. Byungjun, arms crossed, watched Geon thoughtfully.

"Why's he like that? It's unlike Geon..."

Tempted to follow and ask, but not wanting to leave Shizuka alone, Byungjun waited until another musician's recording began before joining the dressing room. Shizuka, still exhilarated, began filming the dressing room with her phone camera. Despite her experience in classical music competitions, the celebrity dressing room fascinated her. Byungjun, watching Geon's smiling face with seriousness, sat opposite him.

"Feeling off?"

Geon, without losing his smile, turned to Shizuka, "Why do you ask?"

Byungjun, staring intensely at Geon, prompted a puzzled reaction from him, "What's up, bro?"

Byungjun, turning to Shizuka, suggested, "Didn't you want to go to the bathroom earlier? Go now."

Shizuka, confused, saw Byungjun's serious expression and hesitated before leaving.

"Uh? Ah... Okay, I'll be back."

Once the door closed, Byungjun scrutinized Geon, "I've known you for more than a day or two. What's going on? If you have concerns, I'm here to listen. If there's a problem, I'll solve it."

Geon shrugged off concern, "What problem? There's nothing wrong."

Byungjun, eyeing Geon skeptically, continued probing until conceding, "Alright, you may not want to tell me everything. I hope you'll share someday."

Disappointed, Byungjun listened as Geon casually recounted his musical journey—from his first stage in China as a high schooler singing drama OSTs, to touring as a rock band guitarist, producing music for others, and even starring in music videos, including his own. He reminisced about performing in an opera watched by millions.

Byungjun reflected, "Impressive. And there was that incident in Nepal. As a student, there's no star with your impact."

Standing, Geon glanced at a Japanese musician's recording on TV, "You remember, bro, I said I wouldn't actively pursue my career until after graduation?"

Acknowledging, Byungjun remembered it as a promise to Producer Yeongseok.

"No, it was a promise to myself."

"So, what now?"

Geon, turning away from the TV, smiled at Byungjun, "Just thinking, after watching Shizuka's performance, I too long for my own stage. I'm feeling a bit impatient, though I haven't changed my mind about graduating."

Byungjun, smiling, clapped Geon's shoulder, "You always seemed too selfless, but I see you still desire music and the stage."

Ensuring Geon, "Don't worry. When it's time for you to spread your wings, I'll give you the best stage, with Director Lin and me supporting you. I'm your manager, after all."

The two shared a moment, looking at each other with a smile.

>

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