Opening Author's Notes
What's  up, guys? Hoping everyone's been doing great! Am making progress on the next bonus chapter, but I feel like this second set of Fan Spotlights came together so quickly that I wanted to polish it quickly and spotlight. Again, even  though Wattpad is only allowing one "official" dedication per chapter,  these are the authors who this chapter is dedicated to. They've supported this more than I could ask and are talented authors in their own right and so are the  subjects of this, the second Fan Spotlight chapter (who also contributed  to this chapter):

JEONGYEONS (Gia) – A cool Filipina K-Pop author who is currently living and studying in Japan. She has a set of cool stories including Wrong Sent starring Chaeyeon from IOI and DIA in addition to BTS, Jokbal starring Twice's Japanese contingent (Mina, Momo and Sana) and Letters To Rosé starring Blackpink. She absolutely has the ability to make you laugh and cry and shows it in her writing. (I also can't shake the feeling I owe her money because she told me in comments that she's broken furniture in her house twice while reading this story!)

GoldsberryDiggs (Katherine) – You've already met via a previous chapter, and she is also bringing in SuperDorkyWriter (Lana), who is a teen fiction, short story and poetry author, as a guest character.

-translucent (Anna Marie) – A great Marvel author who is writing a action- and drama-filled story called Transcendent that features original characters in addition to Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch) and Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier) as they appear in the ongoing Avengers films, with appearances from other Avengers characters including Iron Man. Be warned that it features Tarantino levels of gore, but it has a lot more than that, so if you pick it up, I definitely think you'll enjoy it!

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Beginning with the day of the Summer Split finals, we met still more amazing people who had been cheering us on and who left their mark on their us and gave us a shot in the arm. In another of the groups that was exploring New York by themselves after our celebratory dinner following the finals, Seohyun, LemonNation and Sneaky were spending a lot of time in a lit-up Times Square checking out as much they could in that area. While they were doing so, a girl with a Marvel T-shirt and a camera caught sight of them but was unsure of what to do next until she realized that Sneaky had seen her and pointed her out.

Seeing Seohyun and Lemon also turn, she allowed them to see her putting her camera away and said, "Hey, you guys were great at the finals and I hope you're having a great day!"

"Thanks a lot! I wasn't even head coach today – more like an assistant – so I don't know if I deserve credit, but it always feels great." Lemon replied, and they started walking over.

"Yeah, thanks! You know, you're the first person today who hasn't asked us for a selfie or an autograph when they've run into us." Sneaky remarked appreciatively.

"That's because she doesn't want to bother us." Seohyun said, comprehension also dawning on her. She turned from Sneaky back to her and finished, "Thanks a lot for the consideration! That's kind of you, but you wouldn't be bothering us. What's your name?"

"Call me Anna Marie." She replied, continuing in an awestruck tone, "I'm still not sure if I'm asleep right now or if the most iconic people to ever exist are really in front of me. Besides that, I hope you've all had a great time so far in Times Square – it sure is big!"

"Thanks a lot! Although I'm not sure about 'most iconic people to ever exist', though we like hearing that." Lemon said with a small but sincere smile.

"And we are glad you believe in us that much!" Seohyun said, her smile more openly warm.

"Yeah, what the hell could we ever have done to make you think we're the most iconic people ever?" Sneaky asked, laughing as well as smiling.

"You all sound like angels who came down from heaven and look like them too. How can't you be?" Anna Marie asked, her eyes still lit up.

"That definitely fits Seohyun noona, but I don't know about Lemon and me." Sneaky said half-jokingly but with a smile that Seohyun shared.

"Hang on. You said your name was Anna Marie, right?" Lemon asked. A realization appeared to have struck him, and Seohyun and Sneaky noticed that he had noticed Anna Marie's Marvel shirt.

"That's what she said." Seohyun replied.

"You didn't take the name from Rogue by any chance, did you?" He asked, stroking his bearded chin.

Anna Marie's smile wouldn't have looked out of place on the X-Man that Lemon had referred to. She said, "Lemon, aren't you quick to grasp onto facts? It actually runs in the family, but I mean, at least it's better than being named after a citrus fruit."

"Oh, s**t!" Sneaky exclaimed, putting his hand to his mouth. Seohyun also beamed and mimed a gun being fired at Lemon.

Lemon was also smiling as he said, "You got me. I didn't get the name all by myself, though – Lemon's actually my middle name."

"And who said having a nickname of a fruit is a bad thing? We've got Mango with us and he's won Smash at EVO twice!" Sneaky pointed out.

"Ha ha, well, a great voice, amazing looks and cute personalities." Anna Marie responded. "Could it be?"

"Well, I know this much. The first time I was called an angel, it motivated me to keep doing my best for the fans and I know we share that drive. So thank you so much – we'll keep doing our best!" Seohyun said brightly.

"We sure will. Who are your favorites in SNSD and C9?" Sneaky asked. Seeing the look on her face, he added, "It's not us, is it?"

At Sneaky's question, Anna Marie had looked caught in an increasing dilemma until she looked horrified. She exclaimed, "There is no favorite of mine!! You alll are – I can't just pick like that!!"

Seohyun smiled kindly at her and said, "Don't worry, we won't force you! But we would like to give you something. Did you want us to sign something for you?"

Anna Marie said nothing, seemingly frozen stiff.

"Could I see your camera?" Seohyun asked.

Anna Marie nodded and handed Seohyun her small digital camera. Quickly, Seohyun stepped beside her so that as many of the Times Square lights, billboards and screens as possible were behind them, and Sneaky and Lemon quickly joined as well.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

"As I'll ever be!" Anna Marie replied excitedly, sounding almost unable to believe what was happening.

"Don't worry, you look great!" Seohyun replied, as they all smiled in preparation. Then she counted in Korean, "Hana, dul, set..."

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The first week of Worlds also yielded another great fan encounter that gave us a lot of energy. We were in Paris for the group stage, and Jessica was bringing an Asian girl over to a café table where Tiffany and Sooyoung were seated.

"Tiff! Sooyoung!" She called. She motioned to the girl next to her and said, "This is Gia, a fan of ours who's visiting Paris. She's Filipina but currently living and studying in Tokyo."

"Hi, Gia! We're glad to meet you!" Tiffany said, waving at her.

"Come and have a seat with us! Have you liked Paris so far?" Sooyoung asked, pulling out one of the seats at their table for her.

"Omo, yes! I've liked it a lot so far,  the cafés are good! And the people here are hella friendly! Glad to meet you unnies!" Gia replied excitedly, shaking hands with Tiffany and Sooyoung as she sat down in the seat Sooyoung had pulled out for her.

"We're glad to hear that because you were telling me that you'd been wanting to visit Paris. Isn't that right, Gia-yah?" Jessica asked.

"Yes!" Gia replied wholeheartedly. "Paris is one of the places I really wanted to visit someday, but guess what? I'm here!"

"We're really glad you are!" Tiffany said, and she got out of her seat to hug her before she sat back down. and asked, "Have you been seeing any of the surprise and semi-surprise performances we've been doing around the city?

During Worlds, the other idols in the SM team, including Girls' Generation, during Worlds, had been planning and performing surprise and semi-surprise gigs around the Worlds host cities, starting with Paris, and they had been a big success thus far.

"Yes!" Gia said, smiling. However, her face then fell slightly as she added, "But sadly, I haven't gone...Because my mom has been wanting me to go places here." She managed a small laugh as she finished.

"We understand, don't worry! There's so much to see and do in Paris that we wouldn't want people to alter their travel plans just because of us." Sooyoung said consolingly. "Although..".

She then leaned closer to Gia and whispered, "Are you going to be busy tonight?"

"Thank you, unnie, for understanding..." Gia replied, and then she also lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "Aniyo (No), I'm not, why?"

"It's about tonight's secret gig." Sooyoung said, still whispering. "We'd like to tip you off. I trust you can keep a secret unless you find someone like you who's been looking for us?"

"Really? Oh, my God, unnie, I'd love to!" Gia replied, her excitement tangible even though she was whispering. She then added with a chuckle, "To be honest, I don't know someone who's been looking for y'all."

"That's okay! Is there a song you were hoping to hear us do?" Jessica said at normal volume. "It doesn't even have to be one of ours. No guarantees we'll do it, but we'll definitely think about it."

"Mr. Mr., juseyo. (Please.)" Gia answered meaningfully, also at normal volume. "I've always wanted to see you unnies singing it even though I could watch it online because you did promotions for that song." She laughed as she finished.

"We'll see what we can do!" Tiffany replied, smiling.

"Aigoo, thank you, unnie! looking forward to it!" Gia responded cheerfully.

"Tell you what, come to Le Zénith. We'll take you to where we're surprising people after the C9 game." Sooyoung said, lowering her voice again and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Jinja?" Gia asked. She was hardly able to sit still from excitement as she quietly exclaimed, "Waaaah, daebak (awesome), I'd like to goooooooooooo!"

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Sure enough, she came to Le Zénith for our second group stage game. After we won – which was even more important since we had the next day off as well, Tiffany was leading me over to Gia.

"Oh, is this Gia, the Filipina you guys were telling me about?" I asked. When she nodded, my smile grew and I finished as I shook her hand, "Pleased to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you too!" Gia answered, smiling and finishing with a happy chuckle, "I'm also a fan of C9 – I'm fangirling on my inside right now."

"Are you serious? Salamat po ('Thank you' in Tagalog) – you're too kind!" I said.

"Walang anuman! ('You're welcome' in Tagalog)" Gia answered, smiling further. "Yes, I have wanted to watch you guys to play but never got the chance because of my parents!" She laughed as she finished.

"Really?" I asked, now even more interested.

"Did we make it worth the wait tonight?" Hai asked, having also come over with the rest of the Cloud 9 players and coaches behind him.

"Yes, glad to see you guys here!" Gia replied happily, clapping as she saw them and smiling. "Seriously, you guys are the best!"

"Thanks a lot!" Hai replied, also shaking her hand.

"Yeah, thanks!" Aurora said as she did so. She then asked, "Sica unnie was saying you wanted to hear Mr. Mr. tonight. Are you ready?"

"Welcome!" Gia said with a cheeky grin. Then she said, "Yes, Aurora unnie, I want to hear Mr. Mr.! Yessss, ready to get slayed as always!"

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It was a charity concert at the Palais des Congrès de Versailles – walking distance from the palace that had historically housed French royalty – to benefit Doctors Without Borders. A variety of performers did one song each, and Heechul, Red Velvet, F(x) and EXO were also on the list, so the SM team was there in full force.

Gia was already very excited as Girls' Generation was reeling off a great performance of Mr. Mr. as she'd requested – and was also wondering who the boy who had appeared onstage and who they appeared to be singing to from time to time was. He didn't have a spotlight on him, so he just appeared to be standing with his hands clasped. The Soshis were all wearing the same outfits they'd worn when they'd performed it at KCON the day we'd met – black and white short sleeveless dresses with cufflinks, bowties and slightly flared skirts styled a bit after tuxedos, plus high heels.

[Sooyoung/Yoona] (Jigeum sesang ane)
[Taeyeon] Oh, ni ape
[Sooyoung/Yoona] (Nuguboda meonjeo)
[Taeyeon] Neol deonjeo
[Sooyoung/Yoona] (Deo chiyeolhage)
[Taeyeon] Deo chiyeolhage
[Sooyoung/Yooan] (Mr. Mr.)
[Taeyeon] Mister
[Hyoyeon/Yuri] (Ojik geudaemani)
[Tiffany] Irweo nael
[Hyoyeon/Yuri] (Dan hana)
[Tiffany] Naeil ape neo
[Hyoyeon/Yuri] (Geu ane saragal neowa na)
[Tiffany] Mister wow

English
[Sooyoung/Yoona] (In this world)
[Taeyeon] In front of you
[Sooyoung/Yoona] (Before anyone else)
[Taeyeon] Throw yourself
[Sooyoung/Yoona] (More intensely)
[Taeyeon] More intensely
[Sooyoung/Yooan] (Mr. Mr.)
[Taeyeon] Mister
[Hyoyeon/Yuri] (Only you)
[Tiffany] Can fulfill
[Hyoyeon/Yuri] (Just one thing)
[Tiffany] For the tomorrow
[Hyoyeon/Yuri] (That you and I will live inside)
[Tiffany] Mister wow

Tiffany then pulled out something – a gold locket with an elongated chain – and placed it around the neck of the boy. A spotlight then shone on him, and the whole audience was excited, but Gia was most of all when she saw it was me. I was wearing the same clothes as earlier, but this time with the Blanc dress uniform shirt over my jersey, so I was wearing the same outfit as I'd worn at KCON and the summer finals.

The idea had been set in motion when Jessica told me something she'd found out from Gia after our game.

"She actually enjoys you rapping as well." She told me with a smile, before she asked, "I know this is short notice, but is it possible that you could put something together for Mr. Mr. tonight?"

"It may be short notice, but I'd definitely love to since that's the song you performed when we met at KCON last year and I've got a soft spot for that too as a result!" I replied. "It's just a question of if I can pull it off. I'd definitely love to do something special for Gia since she's a Filipina."

"I know you can. Gia believes in you – as do I." Jessica said encouragingly, giving my shoulder a quick but firm squeeze. "You've got this – just let us know if you need time or space to focus."

Thankfully, it had only taken me 30 minutes as I'd listened to Mr. Mr. almost on loop – which meant I'd finished before the other game in our group (which we stayed to watch) ended, at which point we'd left Le Zénith to head to Versailles. And so I smiled first at Tiffany and then all of them before I said, "I got you. Let's get it done together."

"Gladly. Talk to 'em!" Tiffany said. I needed no further encouragement and went into my verse with them and the audience looking on,

Rap
[Me] We shine bright like the City of Light
'Cause we burn brightest in the darkest night
So people look to us – they feel we can't fall
When others get scared, it's time to ball
We won't rest, though we sweat, cry and bleed
When we got SM looking at us to lead
And fans here and back home to hold down
This is Versailles – it's time to earn the crown

People cheered and clapped at that reference, and Gia saw Girls' Generation then go back into the chorus and accompanying dance. The difference from the usual was that they were revolving around me as if I was in the eye of a storm of Soshi magic as they each took turns to meet my eyes and convey a bit of her own energy.

[SNSD] Deo dangdanghage neon
[Jessica] (Mr. Mr.) Nal bwa
(Mr. Mr.) Geurae baro neo neo neo
[SNSD] Nal gaseum ttwige han
[Jessica] (Oh you are)
[Hyoyeon] (Mr. Mr.) Chwegoye namja
[Jessica] (Mr. Mr.)
[Hyoyeon] (Mr. Mr.) Geuge baro neo
[Taeyeon] (Ooh oh)

English
[SNSD] Be more confident
[Jessica] (Mr. Mr.) Look at me
(Mr. Mr.) Yes, you, you, you
[SNSD] You make my heart race
[Jessica] (Oh you are)
[Hyoyeon] (Mr. Mr.) The best man
[Jessica] (Mr. Mr.)
[Hyoyeon] (Mr. Mr.) That's you
[Taeyeon] (Ooh oh)

The Soshis had come closer again, looking at me to respond, and I smiled and met their eyes in turn as I went into a brief follow-up.

Rap
[Me] Yo, I'll be brave and be a Mr. Mr.
Because I know you got my back, sister
Can we leave something for France so dear?
[SNSD] Oui, mon chér, avec plaisir!

Gia wholeheartedly joined the oohs, aahs and cheers that resounded at that bit of French as Girls' Generation launched into the conclusion.

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As we all greeted the audience afterwards, Gia came running up to us, clapping and jumping excitedly.

"That was great!" She exclaimed. "Carlo rapping is life, you guys slayed! Good job, thank you for performing Mr. Mr.! I loved that song so much."

"Oh, thank you, Gia-yah!" Sooyoung replied, giving her a hug. "We're so glad you liked it!"

"I have to confess..." I said, slightly red but smiling, "I normally can't write rhymes that fast but you being there and giving us your energy helped us pull it off. But Girls' Generation are the real heroes because it's their song."

"Aw, Carlo, you're too sweet." Tiffany said, giving me a quick hug. "We might have had the lead but you helped make that stage what it was."

Gia, who was still in Sooyoung's arms, beamed and nodded at me in agreement to underline that point.

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Yet another such story took place the month before that. While we were back in Korea, Tiffany went on JTBC's 100 People, 100 Songs with me in the audience. For those who haven't seen it, it's a contest where the contestant picks a number between 1 and 100, and each corresponds to an audience member. Each audience member has a song that he or she has chosen and starts it off – and it's up to the contestant to then sufficiently contribute to the song in order to clear it, with only jumbled lyrics onscreen as clues.

Jang Yunjeong, the popular trot (Korean folk) singer, was the host for the day, and asked, "Good start, Fany-ssi – time to pick your second number. Which will it be?"

"20." Tiffany replied. She was wearing black heels and a short blue dress with short sleeves.

A girl in the audience held up the number to show that it was her, visibly beside herself with excitement. She hugged the girl next to her and then got up and almost skipped to the stage out of excitement. As she did so, we could see she looked American and younger than both Tiffany and me, with her outfit including a skirt, shoes with no-show socks and a gray Schuyler Sisters T-shirt.

"Welcome to the show! What's your name?" Yunjeong asked as the girl enthusiastically shook hands with Tiffany and was given a wireless mic.

"Katherine, ma'am." She replied.

"Glad to meet you, Katherine! Are you visiting us from abroad?"

"Yes, I'm from Washington State." Katherine revealed.

"Pleased to meet you!" Tiffany said, visibly happy that Katherine was American. "Are you a Hamilton fan?"

"Oh, the musical?" Yunjeong asked.

"Yes." Katherine said almost breathlessly. She made sure she made eye contact with both Tiffany and with me in the crowd as she finished, "And I did also see what Girls' Generation and Cloud 9 did with History Has Its Eyes on You at KCON with Taeyeon and Hai in the lead and I was freaking out because it was that cool, so thank you. It meant a lot since we started cheering for you guys last year and we hope you do great in Europe."

"Thanks a lot!" Tiffany said, shaking their hands again. Katherine also looked up at me and saw me bowing my head in thanks and giving them the thumbs-up.

"Nice! I see someone up there who you hugged before coming down – did she come with you?" Yunjeong asked.

"Yeah, that's my friend Lina!" Katherine answered.

"Ah! Lina, come down here too – I get the feeling you two should be here together." Yunjeong said, and the crowd applauded to encourage her to do so – and she was all too happy to.

"Oh, are you another Hamilton fan too?" Tiffany asked as Lina reached the stage and was given a mic. She could see Lina was also wearing a skirt, shoes and no-show socks, but her shirt was a red Hamilton "Young, Scrappy and Hungry" tee.

"Yes, I am! It's how Katherine and I met and befriended each other." Lina said, and the two of them beamed at each other.

Yunjeong smiled at that and then then asked Katherine, "I can only imagine the song you have picked out is from Hamilton – I know no matter what, it'll be exciting if that's the case. What did you have in mind?"

"It's from Hamilton, all right." Katherine replied with a smile. "My pick is Wait For It."

"All right!" Yunjeong said, beaming along with everyone as she said, "Let's get this started and take a little trip to Broadway!"

Katherine kept smiling as the instrumental started up and then her focus became visible. Even though she wasn't the contestant, it was clear that she wanted to do a great job because it was Hamilton and because she was singing with Tiffany. She then began one of the highlight Aaron Burr songs with the quiet but no less tangible emotion of the opening,

[Katherine] Theodosia writes me a letter every day
I'm keeping her bed warm while her husband is away
He's on the British side in Georgia
He's tryin' to keep the colonies in line
But he can keep all of Georgia
Theodosia, she's mine

Love doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners and the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep loving anyway
We laugh and we cry and we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there's a reason I'm by her side
When so many have tried
Then I'm willing to wait for it
I'm willing to wait for it

Tiffany was smiling brightly at her the whole time – and took only once glance at the screen before she began, with Katherine and Lina backing her up,

[Tiffany] My grandfather was a fire and brimstone preacher (Preacher, preacher, preacher)
But there are things that the homilies and hymns won't teach ya (Teach ya, teach ya, teach ya)
My mother was a genius (Genius)
My father commanded respect (Respect, respect)
When they died, they left no instructions
Just a legacy to protect

A shadow had poignantly passed over her face at "My mother was a genius", and we all understood why. To say it made things that much more real and poignant was indisputable, and it ensured we watched with rapt attention as the two of them sang,

[Tiffany / Katherine] Death doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners and the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep living anyway
We rise and we fall and we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there's a reason I'm still alive
When everyone who loves me has died
[Tiffany] I'm willing to wait for it (Wait for it)
I'm willing to wait for it

"Wow!" Yunjeong exclaimed as the crowd cheered and applauded even before the screen flashed "Clear". "Thank you for that – both of you. That made me forget where I was for a moment."

"Oh, thank you!" Katherine said as Tiffany smiled kindly at her.

After Tiffany gave her a quick hug and shook hands with Lina before the two of them returned to her seats, Yunjeong said, "Okay, time to pick your next number, Tiffany-ssi. Which one will it be?"

"4." She replied.

As I realized that was my number and held it up, I got the feeling that as stunned and excited as the room was, I was the most shocked person in the studio even as I saw Tiffany almost doubled over in shock, although I could see she was still smiling.

I was also surprised by the cheers I got as I came to the stage, where I hugged Tiffany and shook hands with Yunjeong before I was handed a mic. I was wearing my black Nikes, tan khakis, a dark blue polo and a white Cloud 9 hoodie.

"Did you think you were going to get picked, Carlo?" Yunjeong asked.

"Well, I knew it was a long shot, but we definitely practiced in case it happened." I replied earnestly. "Even if I wasn't picked, I wanted to be here to support Fany noona and watch her sing."

The crowd clapped and cheered at that, and Tiffany blushed slightly but beamed at me and murmured, "Thank you."

Yunjeong, meanwhile, said, "Oh, that's fantastic! So which song did you have in mind, Carlo-ssi?"

"I do have a request to go with that...We need Katherine and Lina back down here because it's actually from Hamilton too." I said, looking back up at them as I finished.

Katherine and Lina were, if it was even possible, even more stunned and psyched than before as they heard that and came down. The crowd cheered as they made their way back to the stage and were given mics.

"Oh, my gosh! All right, what song from Hamilton did you pick out, Carlo?" Katherine asked.

"It's one that Fany noona and I identify with and practice – My Shot." I replied with a smile that Tiffany mirrored and then some as some in the crowd, who recognized it, murmured in excitement.

"Oh, my God! We'd love to – did you want us to back you up?" Katherine asked.

"We would. We were also wondering if you could you get us started too – and there's only one way to do that." I replied.

Tiffany and I then grinned at each other and saw Katherine and Lina smiling and nodding at each other and then at us.

The audience was cheering again in anticipation, and Yunjeong was also visibly excited as Katherine said, "Gotcha. Are you ready?"

"Hit it." I replied. I then went still but was looking right at them as they began,

[Katherine] Ooh, who are you?
[Lina] Who are you?
[Katherine] Who are you?
[Katherine / Lina] Who are you?
Ooh, who is this kid? What's he gonna do?

I smiled at that and then heard and felt how much more I was putting into my voice and my gestures as the music got started.

Rap
[Me] I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
[Tiffany / Me] Hey, yo, I'm just like my country – I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot

"Whoo!" Tiffany cheered just as I set off.

If I wasn't ready to go in beforehand, I definitely was after looking at her as we were doing that bit together. Katherine's and Lina's eyes were wide, and that also gave me further energy.

Author's Note – King's College was the original name of Columbia.

Rap
[Me] I'mma get a scholarship to King's College
I probably shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish
The problem is I got a lot of brains but no polish
I gotta holler just to be heard, but every word, I drop knowledge
[Tiffany] I'm a diamond in the rough, a shining piece of coal
Trying to reach my goal, my power of speech (Unimpeachable!)
[Me] Only 22 but my mind is older
New York and Seoul streets get colder

[Tiffany] We shoulder every burden – every disadvantage we have learned to manage
I don't have a gun to brandish – we walk these streets (Famished!)
The plan is to fan these sparks into a flame
But oh, it's getting dark, so let us spell out the name

Those opening parts – the opening chorus and those first twelve lines – were what had hooked Tiffany and me specifically when SNSD and C9 were listening to the songs after Taeyeon and Hai had picked up the soundtrack in New York. Tiffany said it reminded her of when she came to Seoul alone from Diamond Bar, California at the age of 15 to chase her dreams of being a singer, while I said it reminded me of fighting through the Challenger Series with C9 Tempest alongside Aurora as an unproven talent before we got our chance.

And, of course, there was the fact that Tiffany had texted me during Worlds reminding us specifically to take full advantage of our shot to do something none of our peers in North America had done before.

While we were practicing it for fun, Tiffany had smiled and told me, "When I sing my parts there, it takes me back to those days, but this time, you're by my side."

Back in the present, with that taken care of, we moved on to the second half of the verse, where we got to the more historical part and got to have a bit of fun.

[Tiffany / Me] We are the (A-L-E-X-A-N-D-
E-R) – we are meant to be...
[Me] A colony that runs independently
Meanwhile, Britain keeps crappin' on us endlessly
[Tiffany] Essentially, they tax us relentlessly
Then King George turns around, runs a spending spree
[Me] He ain't ever gonna set his descendants free
So there will be a revolution in this century

[Tiffany] Enter me!
[Katherine / Lina] (She says in parentheses)
[Tiffany] Don't be shocked if your history book mentions me
[Tiffany / Me] And I'll lay down my life if it sets us free
[Me] Eventually, you'll see our ascendancy

I then jumped back because to allow Tiffany to be front and center alone, which was important because she got unleash her voice.

[Tiffany] I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country – I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot

She then motioned to Katherine and Lina, inviting them to join in. They were shocked that they were being asked to do so but beamed and joined in wholeheartedly.

[Tiffany / Katherine / Lina] I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country – I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot

[Tiffany] (Everybody sing!)
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh, yeah"
[Katherine] Let's go!
[Tiffany / Katherine / Lina] "Whoa, whoa, whoa"
[Lina] (Shout it to the rooftops!)
"Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh, yeah"

"Talk to them, Kath!" Tiffany called, still smiling at her.

"Got 'em, Tiff!" Katherine replied, smiling back, and she launched into a John Laurens segment, with Tiffany and Lina soon joining in. The screen already read "Clear" and the music had cut out, but the rest of the audience was still clapping on beat and thus lending that much more to an impromptu acapella bit.

[Katherine] Rise up
When you're livin' on your knees, you rise up
Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up
[Tiffany / Katherine / Lina] When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up, rise up?

"Wow!" Yunjeong cheered as the audience went nuts at the end of the song. "I don't know if Lin-Manuel Miranda watches this show, but I hope he considers you if you consider getting involved with the play!"

"Thanks a lot!" We told her almost simultaneously.

"Then again, what can I say except we're 'Ham for Ham'?" Katherine said, still visibly and audibly excited. "They're that good and they make it that much easier to memorize because it just imprints itself into your memory."

"That it does." Tiffany said, nodding along with Lina and me.

"Speaking of that..." Yunjeong said, "The PD is telling me he has a special challenge for you given how well you've done so far. We're going to pick another song from Hamilton and see if you can pull it off – and we'll give you one clue so you can prepare. This song is set in 1781."

Our eyes widened and we quickly and quietly chatted with each other to discuss possible songs and ideas. After about two minutes, we nodded at Yunjeong.

"Ready?" She asked us. When we nodded again, she said, "Okay, let's see it!"

The music started – the record rewind sound effect followed by the first piano notes, which we instantly recognized as Yorktown.

All of our eyes lit up, but Katherine's arguably lit up the brightest of all as she said with relish, "Yorktown, Virginia. The decisive battle of the American Revolution."

Lina was also smiling as she came up to Tiffany and put on a French accent since she was playing the Marquis de Lafayette – she had volunteered when we deduced that we were going to need a Lafayette.

Rap
[Lina] Monsieur Hamilton!
[Tiffany] Monsieur Lafayette!
[Lina] In command where you belong!
[Tiffany] How you say "No sweat?"
We're finally on the field – we've had quite a run
[Lina] Immigrants?
[Tiffany / Lina] We get the job done!

Katherine and I cheered as Tiffany and Lina high-fived just as Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton did at that moment of the song before they continued. Everyone could feel the energy go up yet another notch from My Shot as they continued,

Rap
[Tiffany] So what happens if we win?
[Lina] I go back to France
I bring freedom to my people if I'm given the chance
[Tiffany] We'll be with you when you do
[Lina] Go lead your men!
[Tiffany] I'll see you on the other side!
[Lina] 'Till we meet again! Let's go!

We then came together and launched into an adaption of the My Shot refrain:

[All] I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country – I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot
[Katherine / Lina] I am not throwing away my shot
[Me] 'Till the world turns upside down
[Tiffany / Katherine / Lina] 'Till the world turns upside down

Tiffany and Katherine then went front and center and then did Hamilton's first solo octet of the song, but split up between the two of them and talking to each other.

Rap
[Katherine] I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory
This is where it gets me – on my feet, the enemy ahead of me
[Tiffany] If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me
Weapon in my hand, in command, and my men with me
[Katherine] Then you remember, "My Eliza's expecting me...
Not only that, my Eliza's expecting!"
[Tiffany] We gotta go, gotta get the job done
Gotta start a new nation – gotta meet my son!

At this point, the instrumental fast-forwarded to "We negotiate the terms of surrender", but we didn't miss a beat because we were that far in. Lina and Katherine, like Hamilton's French soldiers, were leaning closer to me and especially closer to Tiffany, and with all of us ducking slightly, it looked a lot like we actually were performing the Yorktown scene as Tiffany and I continued,

Rap
[Tiffany] Take the bullets out your gun! (What?) The bullets out your gun! (What?)
We move undercover and we move as one
Through the night – we have one shot to live another day
We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away!
[Me] We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it
It's either that or meet the business end of a bayonet
The code word is "Rochambeau", you dig me? ("Rochambeau!")
You have your orders now – go, man, go!

I then dropped back and Tiffany came forward with Katherine and Lina flanking her. She started to sing softly and then gained power as the two of them joined her and the music built.

[Tiffany] The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down
[Tiffany / Katherine / Lina] The world turned upside down
The world turned upside down

The three of them then took turns coming forward – which made it more dynamic than the play scene in my opinion – before I rejoined them during the conclusion, by which time it was nothing short of rousing.

[Katherine] Down, down, down, down
[Lina] Freedom for America, freedom for France!
[Tiffany] Down, down, down
[Katherine] (To Tiffany) Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet your son!
[Lina] Down, down, down
[Me] We won!
[Lina] We won!
[Katherine] We won!
[All] We won!
[Tiffany / Katherine / Lina] The world turned upside down

The screen instantly said "Clear" as they finished, but we didn't need to see it because the audience was so loud and we were excited and celebrating with each other knowing deep down that we had just done the song, the play and ourselves proud.

------------

"I still can't believe we got to do that – and that you invited us here and gave us these!" Katherine said fervently and almost breathlessly, holding the Girls' Generation / Cloud 9 jersey that the seventeen of us had donned as we'd arrived back in Seoul.

Lina was nodding enthusiastically next to her. They had been invited to SM headquarters as Tiffany's guest, and she, Jessica, Krystal and Wendy had welcomed them and taken them to one of the practice rooms, where a piano was set up. They'd then given the two of them jerseys.

"Hey, it's our honor!" Jessica said, smiling at them and making them blush.

"We also wanted to share one more song from all of us." Krystal added. "Feel free to join along – my guess is you'll know it quickly. Wendy?"

As she finished, her eyes turned to Wendy at the piano, but she was already smiling back and already proverbially warming up the piano before she began to play and sing, with Tiffany, Jessica and Krystal also joining in.

[Wendy] I may not live to see our glory
[Jessica / Tiffany / Krystal] (I may not live to see our glory)
[Krystal] But I will gladly join the fight
[Jessica / Tiffany / Wendy] (But I will gladly join the fight)
[Jessica] And when our children tell our story
[Tiffany / Krystal / Wendy] (And when our children tell our story)
[Tiffany] They'll tell the story of tonight

Katherine and Lina instantly recognized it, and their faces lit up all over again like the lights on Broadway. Katherine later said that as they listened and then joined in when cued to, both she and Lina felt as if their hearts had grown wings.

[Jessica] Let's have another round tonight
[Krystal] Let's have another round tonight
[Wendy] Let's have another round tonight

[Katherine] Raise a glass to freedom
Something they can never take away
[Katherine / Lina] No matter what they tell you
[Jessica] Raise a glass to the four of us
[Jessica / Tiffany] Tomorrow, there'll be more of us
[Jessica / Tiffany / Krystal / Wendy] Telling the story of tonight
[Katherine / Lina] (They'll tell the story of tonight)

--------------

Closing Author's Notes
What  do you guys think? Just with the first Fan Spotlight, I hope this is a fitting salute to these great  authors – I highly encourage you to check them out! I also hope this  gets you more excited for what comes next.

As a related clip, here's a video that involves Wendy actually singing Broadway. In 2011 (so before she even auditioned), she was attending Richmond Hill HS in Toronto and performing with the school's show choir, Vocal Fusion. This is one of their appearances at the Canadian National Show Choir Championship preliminaries, including a performance of Rent's Seasons of Love. (Check out the 2:52 mark if you want to see Wendy!)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]