The first pre-debut fan event was nothing grand.
A rented community hall in Gangnam, capacity two hundred, folding chairs squeaking under excited high-school girls and a handful of curious college students.
We arrived in matching black hoodies and caps pulled low, slipping through the back door like thieves stealing our own spotlight.
The stage was small, lights cheap, but the energy in the room crackled anyway.
This was real.
Not practice.
Not evaluation.
Real people who'd come just to see us.
Ae-Ri zipped ahead the moment we stepped inside, wings buzzing with excitement she couldn't fake.
She landed on the edge of the speaker stack, tiny legs kicking like she was at her own concert.
"Look at them, superstar! They're already yours. All you have to do is shine a little brighter."
We changed backstage into our pre-debut outfits—soft pastel coordis with silver accents, hair styled loose and glossy.
Mine was pink-white, ribbons woven through like Ae-Ri had dressed me herself.
The mirror backstage showed the same soft blur I'd grown used to.
A pretty haze.
A dream version of Yoona.
I touched my cheek.
Felt solid.
Saw fog.
The MC—a bubbly radio DJ Eclipse had hired—bounced onto the stage first.
"Everyone, are you ready for LUNARIS?!"
The crowd screamed.
Small, but fierce.
We walked out single file.
Chaewon first, waving with perfect leader grace.
Minseo next, dimples flashing.
Hyejin throwing finger hearts like confetti.
Sera with her cool smirk.
And me last.
The moment my foot hit the stage, the room shifted.
Heads turned.
Phones lifted.
A ripple of whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that Yoona-unnie?"
"She's so pretty in person."
"Her visuals are insane."
Ae-Ri perched on the mic stand now, invisible to them, grinning ear to ear.
"They're noticing, princess. Not the group. You."
We performed the title track twice—once full choreo, once acapella for the fans.
My parts cut through the air like glass shards wrapped in velvet.
High notes soared without effort.
Dance moves snapped with razor precision.
Every time I hit center, the screams spiked louder.
Not polite applause.
Real, hungry cheers.
During the ment segment, the MC handed us each a mic.
Chaewon spoke first—thank-yous, promises, leader charm.
Minseo shyly shared how grateful she was.
Hyejin joked about eating too much ramyeon during practice.
Sera kept it short, cool, mysterious.
Then me.
I stepped forward.
The spotlight felt warm, not blinding.
I smiled—the automatic one, teeth perfect, eyes crinkling just right.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Kang Yoona of LUNARIS. Thank you so much for coming today."
My voice wrapped around the room like silk ribbon.
Soft.
Clear.
Magnetic.
The crowd cooed.
Someone in the front row clutched her chest like I'd shot an arrow through it.
I continued, words flowing without thought.
"I've dreamed of this moment for so long. Standing here, seeing your faces, hearing your voices… it feels like magic. Please keep cheering for us. For LUNARIS. For me."
The last two words slipped out softer than I meant.
For me.
The room erupted.
"YOONA! YOONA!"
"YOONA-UNNIE FIGHTING!"
"Sing Yoona sing!"
It started as a scattered chant.
A few voices testing it.
Then more joined.
Then the whole room.
Rhythmic.
Insistent.
Sweet.
"Sing Yoona sing! Sing Yoona sing!"
Ae-Ri clapped wildly from her perch, wings fluttering so fast they blurred.
"Yes! YES! Listen to that, superstar! That's your name now. Not just a chant. A command. A prayer. They want you to keep going. They want you to never stop."
I raised the mic again.
The chant swelled louder.
I laughed—light, melodic, perfect.
Then I gave them what they wanted.
One clear, soaring note.
No song.
Just the sound of me.
Pure.
Flawless.
It hung in the air like a star falling in slow motion.
The crowd lost it.
Screams.
Tears.
Phones shaking as they filmed.
When the note faded, silence crashed in for half a second—then exploded again.
Ae-Ri floated down to hover in front of my face, eyes sparkling brighter than the stage lights.
"They love you, baby girl.
They adore you.
And the more they adore, the more you'll have to give."
The event ended with photos, high-touch, tiny signed polaroids.
Girls lined up shaking, some crying, some stammering compliments.
"You're my bias now."
"You're so perfect."
"I'll stream your song forever."
I smiled at each one.
Hugged when allowed.
Signed with neat, pretty handwriting I didn't remember practicing.
Every touch felt distant.
Every thank-you automatic.
Backstage afterward, the girls collapsed in a heap of laughter and exhaustion.
Hyejin replayed fancams on her phone.
"Look at this! Yoona's high note part—everyone screamed so loud!"
Minseo leaned against me, head on my shoulder.
"You were amazing. Really. I'm so proud."
Sera watched from across the room, expression unreadable.
Chaewon pulled me aside while the others packed.
Her voice was quiet, careful.
"The chant… 'Sing Yoona sing.' That's new."
I nodded.
"It just… happened."
She studied me.
"Be careful, Yoona. The spotlight can burn if you stand in it too long."
Ae-Ri landed between us, invisible to Chaewon, whispering in my ear.
"She's jealous, princess.
She sees you rising.
She sees the rest fading behind you."
I met Chaewon's eyes.
Smiled the perfect smile.
"I'll be fine, unnie.
We all will."
She didn't look convinced.
As we left through the back door, rain pattered on the awning outside.
I stepped into it.
Felt the drops hit my skin.
Heard them.
Saw them.
Smelled nothing.
Ae-Ri floated beside me under her own tiny umbrella made of sparkles.
"Next trade's coming soon, superstar.
Bigger stage.
Bigger crowd.
Bigger price."
The chant echoed in my head even after the fans had gone home.
Sing Yoona sing.
I whispered back to the empty night.
"I will."
And somewhere inside, the last quiet part of me wondered how long I could keep that promise before there was no one left to keep it.