In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

After three days and two nights of reserve training, I returned to reality.

I took a group selfie with the guys from my squad, said our goodbyes, and then looked for the people waiting for me.

“Hey everyone, it’s been a while!”

Their reactions, however, were strange.

The PD crew holding cameras and my younger siblings with “Find Jinmin” placards all stared at me, eyes wide.

Viju pointed at my face.

“Hyung, your face is...”

“My face? What’s wrong with my face?”

“No, your face...”

He spoke with a stunned expression.

“In just three days it’s improved so much. Your skin looks so smooth and has that glow.”

“Wow. Even the dermatologists couldn’t manage that, but reserve training did.”

“You really threw me off. You look so different.”

I laughed. As someone who loves attention, I enjoyed the compliments, but really it was just from eating three solid meals a day and sleeping soundly for three nights. I felt energized all over.

“If you’re jealous, you can join reserve training too. PD-nim, any spots left?”

“Of course.”

When the assistant director said yes, I turned back with a “Well?” and the three of them waved their hands in mock horror. We all laughed. Since I was in a great mood, everyone else cheered up too—and the sky was perfectly clear.

After the “Men on the Go” crew shot the scenes they needed, I checked my phone for the week’s schedule.

“I feel amazing. What’s next? First, I’ll check in with the A&R team and the composers about the progress...”

“You won’t be able to meet the A&R team. They all took annual leave starting today.”

“Why all today? That’s too bad.”

Then I’ll just meet the composers. I’d given them studio time and asked for final tweaks while I was away. I couldn’t wait to see the results.

“This is great! Haha!”

“...You sure you’re okay? You didn’t bump your head on anything in there?”

“Let me check.”

They inspected my head from every angle, then declared:

“But your head shape is really nice.”

“Uju hyung’s head is so round from any angle...”

“Head shape? It looks like a pea.”

Even Ri-hyeok’s backhanded compliment made me smile. The younger siblings looked refreshed too, as if they’d slept deeply for three nights. Everyone seemed bright.

Only one thing felt off.

“It’s weird without Junghyun.”

“Right? It feels empty without him.”

“Well, we’re going to pick him up first thing.”

We all nodded. The first item on our packed schedule was to welcome Junghyun.

At a military unit in Gyeonggi Province, the “Men on the Go” staff and we stood with our hands over our hearts.

“It should be time for them. Why aren’t they out yet?”

“I hope everything’s okay.”

“I wonder if their training went well... I’m worried.”

We must’ve looked like parents pacing in front of a CSAT exam hall. But we weren’t worried about Junghyun.

“I heard Han-jo’s stamina is weak, like a flea.”

“Right? He might shrink if he drinks too little water.”

“We’re really worried.”

We whispered among ourselves, conscious of the crew filming us.

“When are they supposed to come out?”

“They said they’ll be a bit late. The new manager punched in the wrong navigation.”

As Jiho checked his phone, the writer smiled at our anxious faces.

“You must really care about Junghyun.”

“Ah, right now we were worried about Han-jo.”

The writer looked surprised—“You look out for other groups, too?” We only exchanged glances: she must not know Junghyun’s reputation. The guy could knock down a utility pole if he tripped into it...

Then we heard voices beyond the guard post. Our main vocalist perked up.

“It sounds like a bear talking in a cave.”

“That’s Junghyun!”

We grabbed our “Junghyun & Han-jo, thanks for your hard work” placards and prepared to wave. Two trainees and an instructor emerged, surrounded by cameras.

“Junghyoooohn!”

“Han-jo!”

They turned toward us, but only gave stiff nods—like brand-new recruits who’d just left boot camp. Han-jo looked tense; Junghyun looked relaxed, more like a freshly commissioned officer. Every time the instructor spoke, Junghyun smiled leisurely.

As they passed through the main gate, we ran up to them.

“Junghyun!”

“Han-jo!”

We surrounded Han-jo and did our ganggangsullae chant—“ya-ya, ya-ya-ya!”—to welcome him back. The instructor observed ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) and called out:

“You all did well.”

“Yes, sir!”

“You performed excellently. I hope you show that on ‘Men on the Go,’ too. And Junghyun...”

“Yes, sir.”

He gave Junghyun a thumbs up.

“You’re the best soldier I’ve seen. If you weren’t an entertainer, I’d have asked you to stay in my unit.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You’re the first perfect soldier I’ve ever seen. Every move was at the perfect angle, and you’re full of soldier spirit. What a shame...”

He looked at Junghyun covetously, talking about soldier aptitude. We stared at each other, stunned. I was less surprised—I’d heard about this at reserve training—but my siblings looked like—“What... what’s so special?”

Perfect angles aside, soldier spirit? My kid is more suited to free lunch than martial discipline.

While we froze, Junghyun introduced me: “This is Uju hyung.”

“Uju?” the instructor muttered. He snapped his head around like a tank turret, startling me. He approached, eyes alight.

“Uju?”

“Yes, I’m Uju...”

“Oh, you’re the Uju I’ve only ever heard about!”

He grabbed my hand, praising how wonderful it would have been if I’d served in his unit during active duty, talking at length. What on earth?

As I stood dazed, the instructor turned back to the trainees.

“Well, if I see you again, see you then. Thanks for your hard work.”

“Salute!”

Han-jo and Junghyun saluted; the instructor returned it and strode away. Han-jo finally exhaled, and we greeted him with cheers.

“Great job!”

“Thanks for everything. That must’ve been tough.”

“How was it, the army? Tell us.”

Han-jo, surrounded by curious siblings, smiled as if enlightened—his soul entering and exiting with each breath.

“Uju...”

A voice with clenched teeth called me. Eek. I tried to dodge but failed; my siblings pushed me forward. I ended up face-to-face.

“Ha-Han-jo...”

“Uju.”

“L-let’s calm down. Let’s speak in Korean.”

“Can I grab your collar?”

I nodded. Han-jo grabbed my shoulder and shook me gently.

“Aaaah. I really won’t let you off.”

“I’m sorry...”

Even his revenge was gentle; my siblings looked deflated. Han-jo spoke sadly.

“At first I thought this was like a retreat. I was ready for that kind of kiap...”

“It wasn’t?”

“Not at all. This...”

He didn’t finish, but his eyes said it all—aware of the cameras.

While we made a fuss to cheer up lonely Han-jo, the two vans we’d been waiting for pulled up. The doors slid open at once, and mischievous faces popped out.

“Here I come...!”

They shouted and teased Han-jo—someone called him “tree guy”—and then the muscle squad piled out.

“Lee Hyun-jo!”

“Hyun-jo, are you okay?”

“What happened?! Your face is so sunken!”

Han-jo muttered with that enlightened look.

“...They don’t even call me hyung anymore.”

Eight friends charged in, greeting him with “wooaaah!” As the cameras caught their reunion, we gave wave-goodbyes and led Junghyun away.

“Junghyun, have some jelly.”

“Oh, thanks.”

He accepted the jelly with a warm smile, opening all the bags at once and munching happily.

“How was it? Did it go well?”

“Hmm...”

He thought back, then nodded.

“Yes, it was better than I expected.”

“...Tasty?”

“They even gave me sausages for the broadcast. The crew loved my eating reactions.”

“No, I mean the training...”

“Ah-ha.”

He thought hard.

“It was doable. The instructor’s eyes sparkled when he praised me every time. He even said he wanted to do bayonet drill with me.”

“He probably meant the fixed-bayonet stance.”

“Isn’t that bayonet drill?”

“...No. I’ll explain at the dorm.”

“No, wait.”

Our crane-flap sibling chimed in.

“It’s not home; it’s the dorm.”

“Ri-hyeok, stay in the car with Namu hyung.”

Ri-hyeok pouted. As we headed back to the van, I remembered something.

“Hey, wait. Junghyun.”

“Yes?”

“What did you say to him earlier? His reaction was weird.”

“I didn’t say much. I only mentioned you a couple of times during training.”

That reaction still didn’t fit. Junghyun’s known for poor explanations, so I let it go. I just squinted at him as he munched jelly and said, “Jelly is good.”

“You didn’t say anything that could mess up my image?”

“Of course not.”

He looked up at me with pleading eyes.

“I only said good things about you.”

▶ [Men on the Go – Junghyun & Han-jo Basic Training Tape #1]

#1

[Junghyun stands proudly before the instructor, having flawlessly performed the required PT moves.]

Instructor: Well done, trainee.

Junghyun: Thank you, sir.

Instructor: Your form was perfect. Are these moves you practiced often?

Junghyun: Yes, I learned them from Uju hyung in my group!

Instructor: Uju...?

#2

[During pre-shooting training (PRI), the instructor pauses as Junghyun assumes the prone shooting stance.]

Instructor: Did you learn this stance beforehand?

Junghyun: Yes, I learned by watching Uju hyung during the prize shooting game.

Instructor: ...You went prone just to win a stuffed toy?

Junghyun: Yes! I held it level for him!

Instructor: ...

#3

[After training, Han-jo stands in a daze. The instructor, lecturing on soldier spirit, looks at Junghyun standing at attention.]

Instructor: Trainee, what were you thinking earlier?

Junghyun: I wasn’t thinking anything.

Instructor: Nothing at all?

Junghyun: Yes, sir! I just thought I must do as the instructor says.

Instructor: ...Excellent. Where did you learn that spirit? Was that also from Uju hyung?

Junghyun: Yes, that’s right.

Instructor: (satisfied)

As these scenes flashed on the monitor, silence fell in the editing room. The assistant director blinked.

‘What on earth is happening inside NewBlack?’

For some reason, an image of Uju whipping the members—“Ha-ha! Obey my orders!”—came to mind. Of course, it wasn’t true... but for someone, maybe it was.