Kurapika x Reader One-Shot Collection - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Kurapika
I don't remember ever feeling this nervous. Not even for the hunter exam. As I stand here on stage with my seven colleagues, or rather, fellow band members, I feel a mixture of emotions. We have all worked hard for this. Practicing long hours, sometimes through most of the night, we are ready for this.
For the first time in my life, I feel like the weak link. These guys have worked for this role for most of their lives. I fell into this position by accident. I'm about to perform in front of thousands of fans, singing in a language that took me two weeks to learn. I'll be dancing moves I never knew my body was even capable of doing.
I can hear the crowd scream louder as the stage lights above us turn on. The music fills the arena. I hear it through my earpiece. We are starting with one of our more upbeat songs to get the audience pumped up. I can already hear some of the fans scream my name. A name that doesn't belong to me.
The lights flash above us, changing colors. I'm standing in the middle, waiting for my turn to start dancing. A second later, I start to pump my arms in the air while moving my legs in the opposite direction. I jump a few times. When I land, I thrust my hips while grabbing the crotch of my leather pants. The crowd screams even louder.
My chains are conjured, but not for battle. They have become a fashion accessory. I place my scarlet-colored microphone close to my lips. It's my turn to sing.
Deo ganghan naeil-eul wihae sal-ala.
After my line, we all sing the chorus together.
By the time the song ends, we are all breathing heavily. It's time for our introduction.
I'm the fourth member to introduce myself. I wave my microphone in the air before speaking.
"I'm K-Dream. I hope to see you in my dream tonight," I say with a big smile on my face. I blow a kiss to the crowd.
After the eighth member introduces himself, we all speak in unison.
"We are YOUinverse, and we are happy to be here with you tonight." We bow.
The rest of the concert flies by. The eight of us work so well together. I also have to give credit to our backup dancers. They are amazing. I give the most credit to our fans. They are called Infinities. Without them, we would be nothing.
So why all the apprehension? I suppose it's because for once in my life, I'm enjoying myself. Being in this band has given me a new outlook on life. Yes, I am still a hunter. I always will be. Afterall, that's the reason why I'm here. I'm one step closer to retrieving another pair of my brethren's eyes.
(Y/N)
I hug my K-Dream plushie as I watch the Youinverse concert with my two roommates, Haneul and Ji-Hye. I've never wanted to attend a concert so badly in my life. Tickets prices are outrageous and the little checks I get from working at the cafe isn't nearly enough to buy one. So here I am, sitting on the floor watching it from my apartment.
Haneul teases me when she sees me blush during K-Dream's solo. She takes my plushie away from me.
"Hey, give that back!" I shout.
She pretends to give it kisses. "Aww...how adorable is he?" She tosses it back to me. "Why is his character a rat anyway?"
I catch my plushie. "I don't know. Leave him alone."
Thank goodness we each have different biases. K-Dream caught my eye from the moment I saw a picture of him. He's definitely the hottest one. I read he was scouted right off the street in Seoul because of his unique look.
His beauty isn't the only thing I like about him. I feel like we have a lot in common. He's the quietest one of the group. He also likes to help people. I notice he helps the other members out during interviews since he's the only one who is fluent in English.
I don't know...maybe it's just me, but there's something in his eyes. Like he's keeping a secret from the world.
"Hey, (Y/N)!" Ji-Hye interrupts my thoughts. "What would you ask K-Dream if you won one of those video chats with him?"
I look down at nothing. "Uh...I guess I never really thought about it."
She passes around a box of Choco Pies. I pull one out of the box and unwrap it while thinking about her question. A video chat with him? That would be a dream come true.
I take a bite of my Choco Pie. "I guess I would ask him for a ticket to his concert."
Ji-Hye nods. "Yeah. I hear they do that sometimes."
"Shhh..." Haneul says. "We're missing the concert."
The three of us have our eyes glued to the screen. It's not just the music I like, but their lyrics as well. They sing about being brave enough to go for your dreams. Youinverse has definitely helped me during bad times. I hope they know that.
Kurapika
When the eight of us return to our dorm, I notice thirty missed calls from Leorio. I run my hand through my hair as the guilt builds in the pit of my stomach. I haven't seen any of my friends since I joined Youinverse. I throw my phone on my bed. I'll make arrangements to see them soon.
"Kang Dae, what a night, huh?" Junsu says while slapping me on my rear end.
Kang Dae is the name I gave myself since I don't want the world to know my real name. The rest of the members came up with my nickname K-Dream.
Junsu is the leader. He's extremely talented. He writes and produces a lot of our songs. We share a room in the dorm. The first day I walked through these doors, he could tell I felt out of place. Since then, the two of us have formed a bond.
"Uh...yeah. We all did a great job," I say, rubbing the area he just slapped me in.
He sits on his bed. "What's up? Looks like you have something on your mind."
I sit down on my bed and glance at my phone. "Yeah. I just miss my friends back at home."
He nods. "Why don't you invite them to visit you after our tour?"
My eyes widen. "Really? I can do that?"
He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "Of course. You're entitled to a life, you know? I plan on visiting my grandparents. They're proud of me." He smiles.
I smile back at him. "That's nice." I grab my phone. "I'll text my friends right now."
"Just don't forget about our fan meeting. After that...you're free for a few days."
"Right," I say, texting Leorio.
He gets back up and rustles my hair. "Hey, when you're finished, go downstairs to celebrate with us. There's a case of soju in the fridge."
I check the time. It's already eleven. "Uh...but don't we have an early flight in the morning?"
He lets out a laugh. "You're in Korea now."
(Y/N)
I put in my earbuds to listen to Youinverse while I wipe down the counters after closing the cafe for the night. I look up when I hear someone knocking hard on the door. I tilt my head to the side when I notice it's Haneul.
I take out my earbuds and walk toward the door.
"What are you doing here?"
She pushes me aside and walks in. "Girl, you're never going to believe what I just won."
"What?" I ask, anxious to hear her answer.
She hands me her phone. My eyes widen immediately. "No...no way."
"Yep. We're going to Youinverse's fan signing when they're finished touring."
I jump up and down and scream in excitement. She hugs me and we both jump up and down together like little girls who just won a lifetime supply of candy.
"You're going to meet K-Dream! Can you believe it?"
My heart flutters when she mentions his name. I stop jumping and bite my lip. "No. I can't."
Kurapika
The next few weeks fly by. I flip on the switch to our dorm when we arrive from the airport. It feels so good to be back home. I take in a quick breath. I finally have a home to return to.
We don't have much time to relax since we are expected to meet some of our fans in a few hours. Afterwards, I'm going to meet up with Leorio, Gon, and Killua. I lay down on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I feel terrible for keeping my secret life from them. I close my eyes for twenty minutes. When I open my eyes, I see a small woman standing beside my bed. She tugs at my feet, shouting at me in Korean.
Right...it's time to get my hair and makeup done.
I sit in a salon chair while she gets to work. I don't think I'll ever get used to having people do my hair and...uh...makeup. Before Youinverse, I couldn't tell you the difference between blush and eyeshadow. Honestly, I don't even remember watching my mother do her makeup.
The stylist parts my hair, checking my roots. She almost falls to the floor when I tell her I'm a natural blonde.
When she is finished styling my hair and makeup, she spins me around in the chair to face the mirror. My jaw drops. I look like a completely different person. She transformed me into a Japanese doll. My skin is glowing and she accentuated my angular eyes with shimmery eyeliner.
When I hop off the chair, I'm handed a suit to change into. Finally...clothing I'm familiar with.
"Why are we getting dressed up for a fan signing? Shouldn't we show Infinities our true selves?" I ask Junsu while adjusting my tie.
"Yes, I agree with you. But we have the photoshoot, remember?" he answers, adjusting his own tie.
"Right. I guess that detail slipped my mind."
They seat us behind a long desk after the photoshoot. I'm the forth one. I watch as the arena quickly fills up with people of all ages. I feel the corners of my lips move upward as I think about how grateful I am to them. Without our Infinities, we would be nothing.
I happily sign albums and answer questions. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.
I finish signing one of my pictures when I hear a familiar voice to my right. I glance over and my heart immediately pounds against my chest.
The young girl stops in front of me, wearing a huge smile on her face.
"I don't have a picture of you. Can you please give me one?" Alluka asks me.
I cover my earring with my hair in case she recognizes it. Thankfully, my chains aren't conjured.
"Uh...sure." I deepen my voice.
Oh...no. Killua runs up and grabs his sister's hand.
"Do you really have to talk to every member? We've been here forever," Killua says, annoyed.
"Of course I do, Big Brother. I want all of their autographs." She claps her hands.
I try my best to avoid eye contact with them.
Killua rolls his eyes.
"Here you go," I say while passing her my signed picture.
"Thank you!" She puts the picture on the bottom of her stack. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Uh...of course." I can feel the sweat drops forming on my forehead.
"What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't an idol?"
Seriously? Out of all the possible questions, why did she ask me this one?
I scratch the back of my head. "Hmm...good question." Suddenly, every single occupation falls out of my head. I just need to answer her question so she can move on to the next member. "I like to help people so maybe...a firefighter?"
She smiles. "One more question."
My throat suddenly feels dry. I pray her next question is an easy one.
She tilts her head to the side. "Was Korean your first language?"
I can't answer her question honestly. Especially with Killua standing next to her. Damn...I hate lying.
Since I can't tell her my first language was the one of the Kurta, I go with my second.
"Actually, it was Japanese."
"Oh, okay! Thank you." She moves on to the next member.
I let out a sigh of relief. Killua glances my way. He squints his eyes at me as if he is trying to figure out where he knows me from. I look away, paying attention to my next fan.
I sign a few more autographs before I notice this mysterious girl standing in line. I do a double take. I've never seen her before, but...it feels like I know her. I watch as she walks closer to the table. I interact with the fan in front of me while taking glances at this girl. I feel my heart rate accelerate as she gets the autographs of the first three members. I'm next.
I've never been a believer of love at first sight; however, as this girl stands in front of me, I feel a burning desire to get to know her. To say she's beautiful would be an understatement. She's different from all of the other Infinities I've met today. She's acting like she doesn't even know who we are. Is she here because her friends dragged her along? Or maybe she's waiting to meet her bias. It couldn't possibly be me...I can tell by the way she keeps avoiding eye contact with me.
"Would you like me to sign a picture for you?" I ask her with a smile.
She tucks some loose strands of hair behind her ear. "Umm...yes." She places a stack of photos on the table.
I notice all of the pictures are of...me.
She passes one in my direction. Our fingers briefly touch, but it's enough to send electric shocks down my spine.
I grab my marker. "What's your name?"
She finally makes eye contact with me. I can see a hint of glimmer in her eyes as she smiles. "Oh...it's (Y/N)."
Dear (Y/N),
I hope to see you in my dream tonight.
Love,
K-Dream
They are the same words I write on all of my photos. I so badly want to write something different for her.
"I can sign another if you'd like."
She gives me a surprised look. "Yeah? I don't want to hold up the line."
She's putting others first. I like that.
"They can wait," I say.
She fumbles through her stack of photos.
I pull out a photocard of myself from the pile next to me. "I have one for you. It's rare. I've been saving it for my favorite fan."
Her face brightens. Maybe I am her bias.
My (Y/N),
Keep showing off your smile. The world needs to see it.
Love,
Your K-Dream
Her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink as she reads the card.
"Oh my goodness...thank you so much," she says, smiling like a schoolgirl who was just asked to the prom by her crush.
I lift up my hand and make the peace sign. "Now...I mean those words."
She bows in front of me. "Thank you...again."
I don't want her to leave.
"Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
"Umm...what's your favorite song to perform?"
I place my chin in between my thumb and index finger. "Hmm...that's a tough one." I place my hands on the table. "I'd have to go with 'Castles in the Air.' I love the lyrics and it has a great beat to it."
Her jaw drops. "No way...that's my favorite song!"
I extend my hand. "Well...do me a favor."
She gently shakes my hand. "Yeah?"
"I want you to listen to it tonight and think of me."
"I will," she says.
I hesitate to let her go. "It was a pleasure meeting you, (Y/N)."
She bows again. "You as well, Kang Dae."
I hold in the urge to tell her my real name.
She steps aside to greet the next member. I notice she's not as enthusiastic as she was with me. I feel elated about that.
A sudden wave of sadness washes over me as I watch her leave the arena with her friends. It is safe to assume that I'll never see her again.
(Y/N)
Haneul does my makeup while Ji-Hye picks out an outfit for me.
"Don't you think you're going a little overboard with the makeup?" I ask her.
She presses a large makeup brush against my skin. "Girl...you're about to meet your K-Dream. You want to be the prettiest one there."
I push her arm down. "I want to look like myself." I look in the mirror. "This isn't me." I reach for a tissue and start to remove some of my makeup.
She shrugs her shoulders. "Whatever. Don't come home crying because he didn't notice you."
I slide my favorite lipgloss across my lips. "He's not like that. From all the interviews I've seen of him...I can tell he's more interested in someone who is honest and respectful."
"Sounds boring. Anyway, do you think he's good in bed?" Haneul asks while a mischievous smile spreads across her face.
I blush. "Uh...I don't know."
She rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. Don't act like you've never thought about it."
The temperature in the room suddenly increases. I cover my face with my hands to hide my embarrassment. "Can we hurry up? I don't want to be late."
When we finish getting ready, we take the train to the arena. My heart races the entire time.
The line starts from outside the arena. I bite my lip, wondering what I'll say when I finally meet K-Dream.
When we finally make it inside, I search the room for him. He's the forth one sitting behind a long desk. He looks so handsome dressed up in a suit. I grip my stack of photos against my chest. I couldn't decide which one I wanted him to sign so I brought them all.
I feel his gaze on me as I get autographs from the first three members. Why does he keep glancing my way? The butterflies in my stomach must have huge wings because I feel like I could throw up.
I slowly step up to him when it's my turn. I want to jump on the table to give him a big hug, but I decide to keep my composure. I'll just pretend I'm not his biggest fan.
I'm finding it hard to look into his eyes. I'm afraid I'll cry if I do.
"Would you like me to sign a picture for you?" he asks me with a smile. His voice is so angelic.
I tuck some loose strands of hair behind my ear. "Umm...yes." I place a stack of photos on the table.
I chose one for him to sign. Our fingers touch as I pass it to him. This is surreal. I've watched so many of his interviews, I feel like I know him.
I watch as he grabs his marker. "What's your name?"
I look up into his enchanting eyes, offering him a smile. "Oh...it's (Y/N)."
He signs my photo. I read it as soon as he passes it back to me.
Dear (Y/N),
I hope to see you in my dream tonight.
Love,
K-Dream
It's the same line he uses when he introduces himself.
"I can sign another if you'd like," he says.
I give him a surprised look. "Yeah? I don't want to hold up the line."
"They can wait," he says.
I might just die right now. I fumble through my stack of photos.
He pulls out a photocard. "I have one for you. It's rare. I've been saving it for my favorite fan."
I'm his favorite fan? No way. He's just trying to be nice.
My (Y/N),
Keep showing off your smile. The world needs to see it.
Love,
Your K-Dream
I feel my cheeks turn a bright shade of pink as I read the card.
"Oh my goodness...thank you so much," I say, smiling so big my cheeks start to hurt.
He lifts up his hand and makes the peace sign. "Now...I mean those words."
I bow. "Thank you...again."
He keeps smiling at me.
"Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
I'm at a loss for words. After Ji-Hye asked me what I'd ask him if I won a video chat, I came up with so many questions for him. Now, as I stand in front of K-Dream, I can't think of any. "Umm...what's your favorite song to perform?"
What's wrong with me? Out of all the questions I could possibly ask him, I chose the most generic one.
He places his chin in between his thumb and index finger. "Hmm...that's a tough one." He places his hands on the table. "I'd have to go with 'Castles in the Air.' I love the lyrics and it has a great beat to it."
My jaw drops. "No way...that's my favorite song!"
He extends his hand. "Well...do me a favor."
I gently shake his hand. "Yeah?"
"I want you to listen to it tonight and think of me."
"I will," I say.
Now I'm glad I asked him that question.
He shakes my hand for a few more seconds before letting go. "It was a pleasure meeting you, (Y/N)."
I bow again. "You as well, Kang Dae."
I feel we had a real connection so I called him by his real name.
I step aside to greet the next member. I love them all, but not as much as K-Dream.
I leave the arena feeling warm and giddy. I know I'll never see him in person again, but for now, I relish the moment.
This is what being high must feel like.