Ronan is completely lost in the moment.
Truth is, he still hasn't quite gotten used to the in-ear monitors. It's like singing underwater—his own voice feels like a faint distraction, something he needs time to adjust to and get comfortable with.
But at the same time, there's a part of him that kind of enjoys it. The enclosed feeling from the in-ears wraps around him, pulling him fully into his own little world. It's like belting out a song in the bathroom while showering—no one else can hear, so he lets loose completely, singing like he's the king of the stage.
It's a weird contradiction, but it feels so real.
Ronan doesn't even notice what's going on around him. Other people's reactions don't matter right now. He's all in on the rehearsal—that's the only thing that counts. He turns to Cliff, giving a slight nod. "Could you play a bit of guitar for me? 'Just the Way You Are.' I want to feel how the notes come through the in-ears."
Cliff throws him an "OK" gesture and starts strumming lightly.
The melody flows through the in-ear monitors, surrounding Ronan completely. He closes his eyes, feeling his pulse slowly sync with the rhythm, beating along with it. It's like sunlight breaking through the dark, brushing his skin with a faint, warm tingle. His heartbeat joins the flow.
"Ah, ahhh… ahhhhh… ahhh…"
Ronan hums along, as if he's exploring the world through sound—a brand-new world built from notes. The gentle rises and falls take shape in his humming, the soft vibrations in his throat hushing the rest of the world. Dust particles dance like little sprites in the sparse light, weaving into the form of musical notes.
For a fleeting moment, Oli swears he sees a beam of light pierce through the venue's roof, spotlighting Ronan and brightening the entire stage. All eyes are drawn to him, unable to look away.
There's something magical about Ronan up there. He starts to glow.
Before they know it, everyone's caught up in his humming, feeling light and free. It's like pushing open a golden door to a breathtaking view—towering mountains and vast oceans stretching out endlessly. Arms wide, they could hug the whole world and dive headfirst into that boundless blue.
Ronan raises his right hand in a signal, and Oli catches it perfectly, dropping a heavy drumbeat right on cue. Sure, "Just the Way You Are" isn't one of King for a Day's original songs, but it's been a massive hit over the past year. They've played it countless times at commercial gigs and street performances—it's more familiar to them than their own tracks.
Oli kicks it off, then Maxim joins in, and the band's performance locks into gear.
The first song King for a Day rehearses? Bruno Mars' breakout hit, not one of their own. It's a unique vibe.
Julio's left scratching his head: They're not seriously planning to perform this at the concert, right? This isn't some jab at Bruno, is it?
Luckily, Julio's worries don't last long—
After a quick adjustment to the in-ear effect, King for a Day shifts into full rehearsal mode, running through the setlist they'll perform as the opening act.
Truth be told, none of the four have fully adapted to the in-ears yet. It's their first time, and controlling the space and rhythm isn't as easy as it seems—especially with the venue's sound system being totally different from what they're used to. The finer details still need work.
But rehearsal has to start for real, and Ronan knows they've got a ton to do. So, they dive in, getting used to it as they go.
Concert rehearsals happen in stages: first round for mics and sound, second for lighting, third for stage performance. Every round means running through the full setlist because, at a professional show, sound engineers, lighting techs, and everyone else need to tweak details for each song to set the vibe just right.
Take the chorus, for example—if the guitarist rips into a wild chord progression, the lights need to spotlight them, not leave them in the dark.
Or the intro—if it starts with the drummer, the lighting has to match the song's mood and set the tone for the whole live experience.
Stuff like that. The crew needs to understand the stage layout and each song's style to make the right adjustments.
Details make the difference. It's not like a Full Moon Party where you cycle through a few lighting presets and call it a day.
For a top-tier concert, lighting and sound engineers are non-negotiable—and pricey—because their skill decides how the show looks and feels. That, plus stage design, costumes, and makeup, are all key pieces of the puzzle.
A great concert is a full-on audiovisual feast.
So, King for a Day has to nail their 30-minute set, making sure every song clicks for the crew.
Since they only joined the tour lineup today, everything's starting from scratch—and with the actual show creeping closer, there's not much time left. The band and staff alike are in crunch mode, pulling overtime to keep the tour on track.
They've got a mountain of work ahead.
But the band quickly zeroes in, throwing themselves into rehearsal. It's hectic and heavy, but they're loving every second.
Julio breathes a little easier watching them.
A clattering sound comes from behind—not jarring amid the blasting music, but enough for Julio to glance over instinctively. A smile creeps into his eyes as he steps forward, pulling the newcomer into a big hug. "I was starting to think you weren't showing up today."
"An afternoon phone interview got delayed," the guy says with a playful groan. "Supposed to be at two, didn't start till four. I already hit the sauna and got a massage at the hotel, and I still didn't miss it." His tone's light, but the annoyance in his eyes is clear.
Julio raises an eyebrow, surprised. "Who was it…" Before he can finish, the guy spills it. "Who else? Miss 'Butterfly' Mariah Carey. Word is, her little dog's tummy wasn't feeling so hot."
He rolls his eyes, painting the picture perfectly.