In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

At the training center gate, a fine mist of rain was falling. Reservists meandering in stopped in their tracks when they spotted cameras.

‘What are they filming?’

A group of celebrities stood there. Most shrugged and walked on, but a few recognized their faces, eyes widening in surprise.

‘It’s NewBlack.’

They texted friends, “Hey, I’m at reservist duty and just saw NewBlack,” along with photos. When friends replied, “Go say hi,” these onlookers hesitated.

‘The vibe’s weird.’

The NewBlack members wore looks of utter defeat, as if a storm cloud hovered over them. Only Uju, in uniform, stood smiling brightly.

‘Uniform? Is he reservist too?’

They remembered the ShinTokki episode where they trained rookie idols in the military. So Uju being a veteran wasn’t shocking. But the scene puzzled them.

‘Why is the one about to enter reserves the happiest?’

As spectators’ heads tilted, more joined the crowd. Soon multicolored umbrellas formed a mushrooming canopy, and strangers started gossiping.

“What are they doing?”

“Dunno. Probably filming for a network... TBC maybe.”

“Oh—look, that’s the PD from Men on the Go.”

“Sagan?”

“Yeah, that crazy PD.”

One familiar face stood out—the PD the show’s regulars always shouted “PD Do!” at in exasperation.

Someone said, “Didn’t they say Uju and someone else were going to the military on ShinTokki?”

“Right! He’s here.”

“Ooh, look—there’s a roulette wheel too.”

In Uju’s radiant joy, the members’ gloomy faces, and the named roulette wheel, the truth clicked.

Reservists’ eyes lit up.

‘We came for duty, not to watch guys...’ They’d been annoyed but now couldn’t look away.

‘Gotta see this.’

On the morning of their reserve training induction, unexpectedly entertaining content had arrived.

‘They got us again...’

The NewBlack members looked around, but there was no escape.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Getting wet? Here, let me share my umbrella.”

Uju blocked their path, and Hanjo held a giant umbrella over them. Outwardly, they looked protective big brothers, but with expressions like waterlogged ghosts. As they backed away, PD Do from Men on the Go hurried forward.

“Good morning, everyone!”

“....”

“Lovely morning, isn’t it?”

Perhaps the rain falling now was seconded by theirs hearts.

“Thank you sincerely for appearing on our Men on the Go special.”

“We are?”

“Yes.”

PD Do beamed.

“You know Uju and Hanjo are here, right? We’re adding one more NewBlack member!”

“Waaaaah!”

The two leader-PDs tapped hands in applause.

“As you can see, we’ll select at random. Whoever wins here will train with Hanjo tomorrow. And then appear in the broadcast recording.”

“Waaaah!”

Uju and Hanjo waved their umbrellas in cheer. Rihyeok, rain speckling his face, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Jiho raised his hand.

“How do we draw? Roulette? Lottery? Not sure, but I’m confident I’ll sell these guys well.”

“Jiho, selling your brothers....”

Viju, looking wounded, spoke to the PD.

“PD-nim, my parents once tried to send me to Cheonghak-dong school. Military might also be a good experience?”

“Kim Viju here cooks well. How about making you a mess cook?”

“Physical tasks are Junghyun’s forte.”

“Rihyeok knows war history well—soldier material, right?”

“...W-what are you talking about? I don’t like history.”

Despite having zero camaraderie, they eagerly offered themselves for training, and the PD smiled.

“What lovely brotherly love. But selection is purely by luck—through this roulette wheel.”

“So it is roulette?”

“It was intended, but setting up in the rain was tricky—had to mount it and everything.”

As the members listened in rapt attention, the assistant director handed Uju something. Uju grinned at them.

“Everyone~”

Their four eyes narrowed.

‘Just once, I want to punch him.’

‘He’s impossible.’

‘If we can’t trust Uju, who can we trust...?’

Unfazed, Uju’s face glowed with delight.

“Your destiny rests with me.”

“....”

“With my darts.”

He brandished three darts in his hand with a flourish. After a moment’s silence, Rihyeok asked,

“Wait—this crucial decision is up to darts?”

“Any objections?”

“Uh, no! O-obsession... excellent choice!”

As Rihyeok scrambled to recover, Uju smiled.

“The rules are simple. You’ll throw three darts at the wheel. Whoever hits two or more wins.”

Then, with an innocent tilt of his head, he said,

“See? Totally random, right?”

“....”

“Truly depends on luck~”

As he toyed teasingly with the darts, reservists whispered around:

“It really is random.”

“If you get two hits, you’re out.”

“They’re just kids—kids. Gosh, they’ll suffer.”

“Hope someone gets lucky. If they catch it....”

Though feigned concern laced their tones, their voices brimmed with laughter. But what truly irked NewBlack wasn’t that.

‘This isn’t luck!’

Only someone who didn’t know Sun Woo-ju would call this luck. He was perfect for any “Master of the Day” segment: archery, basketball, martial arts—even dice control. He’d once watched a “Darts World Championship” video.

“All right, let’s proceed to the draw.”

Uju loosened up by twirling his right shoulder, the crew backing away with the wheel.

Blowing on his darts, he turned to the members.

“Anyone have anything to say to me?”

Jiho stepped forward anxiously.

“I’ve always admired you, Uju hyung.”

“How much, Jiho? How much do you admire me?”

“Uh... sky and earth....”

“Wrong. I’m Uju. Sky and earth seems odd, don’t you think?”

Jiho trembled as Rihyeok, wearing an awkward smile, said,

“I just don’t express it often, but always....”

“Then you should’ve expressed it more often, right?”

“....”

“Ha ha ha!”

Jiho beckoned Rihyeok closer; the youngest line under that umbrella shivered together.

“Viju?”

“U-Uju hyung! If you don’t pick me, I’ll give you extra meat dishes every day!”

“Whoa. That’s intense....”

As he teased his brothers for broadcast, a fleeting look of genuine worry crossed Uju’s face. Viju beamed.

Clearing his throat, Uju turned to Junghyun.

“How about you, Junghyun?”

He winked.

“...Did you just wink at me?”

“Is that strange?”

“You seem low on magnesium.”

With alternating winks from his left and right eyes like a playful bear, a writer couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle laughter. Junghyun gave a warm smile.

“You know how I feel, right, hyung?”

“I’d rather not, but I’ll hear you out.”

“It’s hard to put into words....”

“You have no thoughts right now, do you?”

“No.”

Thrown off by that calm, Uju shook his head to refocus.

“I heard every last word. Now I’ll throw!”

The playful glint left Uju’s eyes like a receding tide. He looked every bit a darts competitor—ready, practiced stance.

Whoosh.

The first dart arced weakly through the air.

Thwack!

“Ah!”

It landed on “Wang Jiho,” and the maknae screamed.

“Nooo! Mom! Sis!”

“It’s only one dart, Jiho. Don’t worry—if you get two, then you can cry.”

As Viju comforted him, Uju threw the second dart.

This time it hit “Seo Rihyeok.”

“...Phew.”

Thankfully, the third dart struck “Kim Junghyun,” so fortune spared him from reserve duty. Spectators wore looks of exhilaration. Meanwhile, Uju quipped to the PD,

“This is surprisingly tricky, PD-nim.”

“Shall I move closer?”

“No, I’ll stick with this distance.”

Jovial earlier, Uju smiled at them. Hanjo thought hitting would be tough, but the members knew Uju was enjoying himself—and grabbing great footage.

“All right, I’ll throw even better this time! Fighting!”

“....”

Uju, alone shouting “Fighting!,” turned to hear the members desperately cheer back, “Fighting!”

The first dart of the new round flew—

“Oh, that’s me.”

Junghyun stroked his chin. The second dart swooshed—

“Ahh, why do they do this to me?”

“Calm down, Pirarucu.”

Rihyeok wailed. Finally, the third dart shot forth.

Whoosh!

Spectators, members, crew, and Hanjo all followed its path in unison.

Thwack!

“Nooo...!”

The dart embedded itself on “Seo Rihyeok,” and he collapsed wailing as if exiled overnight. His lament, “How could I end up in military entertainment... in the military...!” rang out like an epic sob. Reservists giggled.

“But it’s barely on the edge.”

“Is that Junghyun? Or Rihyeok?”

“Looks like Rihyeok, but it’s right on the boundary.”

At first it seemed “Seo Rihyeok,” but a closer look showed it sat on the line between “Kim Junghyun” and “Seo Rihyeok.” PD Do approached to adjudicate.

“Hmm....”

Then he smiled and announced,

“All right, it’s decided! The NewBlack member joining our Men on the Go special is....”

He called out,

“Junghyun!”

“Waaaaah!”

As Uju and Hanjo sang “Welcome to Army,” Junghyun scratched his head, smiling warmly.

“Huh, I got picked.”

At his laid-back reaction, PD Do looked slightly stunned—and so did the reservists. Normally they’d be wailing, but Junghyun seemed serene, as if hearing today’s lunch menu.

“When do I go?”

“Uh, that... we’ll let you know shortly.”

PD Do, more flustered than Junghyun, thought, ‘This isn’t making the right scene...’ But suddenly, his worry vanished. Someone else was generating footage.

“Oh dear...!”

“Rihyeok hyung! Rihyeok hyung!”

“I can’t believe I’m in a military show... in the military...!”

While being declared out, Rihyeok sat crouched and sobbed so deeply he probably didn’t hear. Jiho shook his shoulder.

“Rihyeok hyung, Rihyeok hyung.”

“Whaaat...!”

As Rihyeok glared at him, “I’m about to go to the army!” Jiho gently said,

“Hyung, it’s not you they picked.”

“...Huh? Oh...?”

His usual sharp gaze softened into a goofy, round expression.

“Not me?”

“No.”

“Waaaah...!”

Rihyeok alone pumped his fist in triumph—until he noticed the sudden hush around him. He looked up at all the eyes on him: the reservists’ lips pressed together, Uju holding Hanjo’s shoulder laughing, the members snickering.

“...!”

In his crouch, he bowed his head deeply. Tucked into his shell like a turtle, everyone burst into laughter.

After seeing off the Men on the Go crew, the maknae said with a pout,

“You meant to take Junghyun all along, right?”

“Huh? I don’t know what you mean.”

“I know it all. They say three years’ time teaches a village dog the tune—you were my servant for a year, I know.”

I only smiled at Jiho’s words. Indeed, from the start we’d planned for Junghyun. Rihyeok and Viju were out for physical reasons: our lightweight members wouldn’t handle the training. Jiho passed physically, but I didn’t want him going—he should stay beloved maknae. Just like his mom and sisters raised him, I wanted him to see only good things. That left Junghyun: strong-bodied, strong-minded.

“Oh, I get to go to the military again. My hyung always talks about it, so I wanted to try.”

“Your brother is a soldier, right?”

“Yes. A career soldier—right now.”

I smiled at Junghyun’s excited anticipation.

“Let’s do well together, hyung. Daegili Season Two, go-go?”

“Go-go.”

His only lacking skill was situational awareness—so before entering the training center I quietly asked Hanjo,

“Hanjo.”

“Yes?”

“Please look after Junghyun. He’s good at everything but sometimes misses the mood....”

“Don’t worry. I’m better than anyone at watching out for my juniors.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

I’d been overconfident before a leader with eight younger siblings. Smiling, I entrusted him again,

“I’ll trust him to you.”

Time at the training center passed swiftly. Unlike last year—felt like a Prison of Time—it was almost a legal vacation. Working slack in the office felt guilty, but with reservist duty as pretext, resting felt justified. If the country says rest, rest. Above all, escaping minute-by-minute schedules and catnaps to sleep nearly seven hours for three nights in a row was bliss.

“I’m so happy....”

Laughing constantly, people initially avoided me. But happiness, I always thought, came from carbs and sleep. Someone at the mess asked,

“So, you’re definitely appearing on Men on the Go?”

“Yes.”

“That sucks.”

“Ugh, just thinking about it creeps me out.”

I chatted with fellow reservists who’d warmed to me. Despite being a celebrity, they treated me normally. This reservist duty was ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the epitome of comfort. Meanwhile, I checked off a bucket-list wish.

“Excuse me.”

I spoke to a drill instructor I’d befriended; he greeted me with a smile.

“Yes, senior.”

“I have one request....”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“May I call you ‘Instructor’?”

“Um, yes.”

“Instructor~”

“...Is that something you wanted to try?”

He blinked as I nodded. I really did—I’d seen other soldiers calling instructors “Instructor~” with ironic respect. Too polite to call strangers “hey you,” this was my chance. To thank him, I bought snacks at the PX and chatted—mostly about how things had changed.

“Any trends... or what’s different about army life now?”

“Army life... remains the same, sir.”

Relieved, since I’d scribbled notes for Junghyun on what to watch for. I explained why I asked.

“Oh, my brother’s in the military.”

“Your brother?”

He glanced at me, then stared into space. His eyes flickered, lips moving as he muttered something. Then, hesitantly,

“...Is that possible?”

I couldn’t help laughing. I’d need to stop saying “my brother” in front of strangers.

“Sorry—my brother... I mean, my junior.”

“Ah. Your younger brother’s in the army?”

I needed to fix that too.

“My member—my group member.”

“Oh, I see.”

When I explained about Men on the Go, he got it immediately. Then, hearing our group’s name was NewBlack, he tilted his head.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Is your group called NewBlack?”

“What?”

“A friend of mine at the new recruit school said a celebrity joined via DM—said a NewBlack member came to train.”

“Really?”

I widened my eyes.

“What did he say? Is he doing well? Not injuring himself running into things?”

“Um?” 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“He’s someone we worry about.”

He looked at me as if to say, “What?” then said,

“He said he’s an S-class recruit—first time he’s ever seen someone like that.”

“Uh?”

“Perfectly FM—flawless.......”

I blinked.

“My group member?”

In a certain base in Gyeonggi Province:

“Recruits, even when it’s hard, do not make noise.”

“Ugh....”

“You’re not the only one struggling. Recruits, understood?”

“Yes!”

In camo, Hanjo rolled on the ground, eyes burning each time.

‘Sun Woo-ju, I will destroy you....’

After one more roll, he corrected himself.

‘No. I mustn’t think bad thoughts.’

Crawling under concertina wire, he accidentally got dirt in his mouth and flinched.

‘Sun Woo-ju, I’ll smash you....’

Each movement saw his reason teeter. When he finally got past the wire, a sunglass-wearing instructor spoke low.

“Recruit, do you take this seriously? On the battlefield, if you crawl like that, your comrades will die.”

“Sir, sorry!”

“You there—watch another recruit and learn.”

His glare said, “Is that all?” and Hanjo felt wronged.

‘I did my best...!’

But he couldn’t argue, because...

“...”

Standing in his place like a military-recruit-advertisement model, with broad shoulders and a perfect fit in uniform, was Kim Junghyun. With a cool expression, he adjusted his chin strap and dropped into prone crawl under the wire.

Ssslk, ssslk, ssslk!

As if born a robotic vacuum cleaner, he crawled with uncanny speed. Hanjo could only watch, mesmerized.

The instructor’s stern face twitched in surprise.

‘What a talent. A true talent.’

When Junghyun finished crawling and rose with regal speed, I nearly burst into applause.

Fifteen years in the military. He was the most flawless recruit the instructor had ever seen—standing proudly like a regal beetle.