In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

The high-speed boat Glory 5.

We took seats by the window.

“Oh ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) my! Oh my!”

“That’s right. Ladies, this is NewBlack!”

“Oh...”

The mothers in hiking gear opened their eyes wide. Other passengers murmured, “Is that NewBlack?” “That’s NewBlack, right?” An elementary-school kid whipped around and almost screamed, whispering “NewBlack!” to her parents. It felt good.

“Ahem...”

Ri-hyeok slicked back his hair behind his sunglasses...

“Hey. Only one person should do that. If we all brush our hair back, we look ridiculous.”

“So what?”

Ri-hyeok shrugged.

“They already think we’re weird anyway. What does it matter?”

“Oh. Fair enough.”

“Exactly—and if someone’s going to drop out, it should be you, hyung. You always get all the attention.”

They whispered and bickered until they felt eyes on them.

“Guys!”

“Hyung!”

“Our bond is just perfect~!”

“I know, right~”

They pretended to be all lovey-dovey, then burst out laughing together.

Chattering, we pressed our noses against the glass to look outside. The East Sea at dawn: waves glinting in the sunlight, seagulls flying in the distance.

“The view is amazing.”

Viju nodded.

“We picked great seats, hyung. Now we’ll get to see the sea as soon as we depart.”

“And the waves!”

“I’ve never been on a boat like this—usually it’s cruise ships or yachts. This is so cool.”

While we admired the view, Ri-hyeok checked the seasickness pills behind his ear and said,

“Laugh now, while you still can.”

“...?”

“I looked it up yesterday just in case. The trip to Ulleungdo is notorious for seasickness.”

Jiho, nibbling morning chocolate, said,

“But you already took pills.”

“Those won’t cut it.”

“True—hyung’s sensitive, this could get rough.”

While Ri-hyeok made a face, Viju giggled and teased him.

“Pretty-boss~ pretty-boss~”

“You know that?”

“Yeah. A friend told me it’s the new slang—pretty-boss~”

Viju blinked and chanted “pretty-boss~ pretty-boss~” to Ri-hyeok, who smiled. Then Junghyun asked,

“Do you even know what ‘pretty’ means in that?”

“Isn’t it the root used by Teen Spirit hyungs plus extra sensitivity?”

“No, no. It means ‘beautiful.’”

“Not sensitive?”

“Nope.”

“Oh.”

Viju stopped chanting “pretty-boss” as soon as he learned the meaning.

“What? You thought it meant sensitive?”

“Uh...? Where’s the plastic bag? Ri-hyeok, you want one?”

Viju rummaged in his bag, feigning ignorance. We clapped and laughed at him.

The mothers by the window approached.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh—yes. Would you like to take a photo together?”

“We wanted someone to take our picture.”

“Sure...”

Junghyun took their phone and snapped photos. The mothers, giggling “Oh my, an idol took our photo!” then asked us,

“Oh, could we take a photo with you, too?”

“Us too...!”

“May we?”

That was the start: other passengers drifted over.

“I wanted to talk to you, but you five were chatting so much, there was no opening.”

“We hear that a lot from staff—that we never stop talking.”

“You look exactly like on TV. I was surprised. Are you filming My Hometown?”

“Yes. It’s the Ulleungdo special.”

During the three-week collaboration on My Hometown, we’d reached the final week. Videos visiting Gangneung’s famous cockle house and local cafés had boosted interest. It was positive attention. People who’d kept their distance now treated us like friendly neighbors.

From a family seated farther back, a grandfather boomed,

“Have you all taken your pills?”

“Yes! Sir, did you take yours?”

“You must. The East Sea’s waves are huge; lots of people get sick.”

“We will!”

We smiled at the grandfather, who offered to buy us pills at the snack bar; his wife scolded him to stop fussing. Meanwhile, people offered us tangerines and snacks until our bags bulged—and we returned the favor.

“All together now!”

Putting our stage experience to use, we waved to the tourists.

“Riding the rocking boat with hearts a-flutter~”

“Taking the ferry to Ulleungdo~”

We practiced the Ulleungdo twist from the show’s opening; passengers clapped and sang along.

“Waaaah—!”

After our pre-departure performance, the captain’s safety announcement played.

“Passengers prone to seasickness...”

Junghyun said,

“Looks like a lot of people get sick.”

“True. They emphasize it a lot. Guess many can’t handle it.”

“But we took pills.”

“Just in case, let’s each get a plastic bag.”

As Ri-hyeok closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the boat roared to life.

Vrrrrrooom—

At that moment, we understood the meaning of “high-speed” on this express boat.

“...!”

A 60 km/h boat cutting through choppy waves.

Crash—!

White spray pounded the windows; the boat lurched up and down like a Viking ride, our legs feeling that stomach-dropping plunge.

In under ten minutes...

“Ugh! Ugh—!”

We all clutched plastic bags and retched silently—managers and stylists alike closing their eyes. Only the My Hometown crew remained serene.

“Waves are okay today.”

“Indeed.”

“When we followed the squid-fishing in Gangneung, that was rough.”

The reporter, assistant director, and writer smiled like they were on a carefree picnic. We envied them.

But one among us was calm:

“I’m closing my eyes.”

He melted into the waves with a Buddha-like smile. A soothing, low-voiced narration:

“Close your eyes and become one with the waves. Life’s ups and downs, like the tides.”

We scowled.

“Hey!”

“It’s not an ASMR session, Junghyun!”

“If you speak, I’ll call you Ri-hyeok hyung!”

“Okay, then I’ll call you Ri-hyeok!”

Faced with our fierce protest, Junghyun snapped his mouth shut.

“Hrrmph! Hrrmph!”

Only poor Ri-hyeok, subjected to that “hrrmph,” cursed under his breath.

Ulleungdo: an island in the East Sea with about 9,000 residents. Its natural beauty...

“Ugh...!”

“Ugh!”

We clutched our trembling legs and disembarked.

“L-land!”

“It’s land!”

I’d never been so happy to touch solid ground. After three hours at 60 km/h, setting foot on earth made tears well up. The managers and crew also took deep breaths.

“My head’s spinning like in Hong Kong.”

As the My Hometown staff smiled warmly, we steadied our queasy stomachs. Especially Ri-hyeok, who looked pale and nearly faint. Passengers patted us on the back.

“Oh dear, your faces look half the size now.”

“You okay? Need any medicine?”

We assured them we were fine and wished them a good trip. After ten minutes, we’d recovered. I asked my siblings,

“Overcome it?”

“Overcome.”

They nodded. While the crew set up, we toured Jeodong Port.

“Wow...”

The clear day made the view stunning: rolling hills behind with guesthouses and fish restaurants, and before us the deep-blue waves foaming under the bright sky. The salty sea air whipped in the cold wind.

“It’s wonderful.”

From Yongin in Gyeonggi to Chungcheong, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and finally Gangneung in Gangwon, our three-week mini-theater tour had ended yesterday. Today was the ultimate finale: the Ulleungdo special.

“....”

Knowing we’d leave here and return to Seoul left us both relieved and wistful. We stood together at the port, taking in the winter sea, then snapped photos.

“But our Supples in Ulleungdo—when we suddenly appear, they’ll freak out, right?”

“They’ll love it.”

“Maybe not. Only one person submitted a story. If it were me, I’d feel pressured...”

“But still...”

I smiled.

“They won’t know we’re coming.”

“True.”

Holding the mini-flags from the crew, we heard murmurs and saw over a hundred residents watching us.

“...?”

Some looked like they’d just been cleaning squid; others had come from their boats. Voices whispered, “NewBlack...” Then,

Flutter—

A mid-aged man stepped forward through the crowd, unfurling a banner:

[★Welcome to Ulleungdo’s Beloved Pop Group NewBlack★]

The crew said,

“The county governor is here.”

“...?”

“We sent an official notice yesterday, so he came.”

“Does the governor usually show up?”

The assistant director flinched.

“No. We’ve seen village chiefs, but never this.”

We wondered if the residents knew we were coming. Before we could ask, the governor of Ulleung County laughed and approached.

“Oh-hoho! NewBlaaack!”

“Hello!”

“My, what tall, handsome figures! You’ve come to boost Ulleung County’s economy today...!”

Embarrassing praise sent our gazes bouncing. We were here to meet fans, not rescue the economy. The onlookers seemed ready to cheer “Region’s economy?!” if we held up the mic.

“Pop stars like NewBlack...”

“Yes...”

Each time he said “super-popular, world-class artists,” my hands curled like a T-rex’s, and Ri-hyeok’s face blushed crimson.

“In any case, thank you for today!”

“Now—group photo!”

For some reason, we took a commemorative photo with residents, then, the crew joining, we all pumped fists shouting, “Ulleungdo! Fighting!” Immediately after the warm welcome, we hopped into rental cars with the crew and fled.

“Phew, that was awkward.”

We sighed, stretching fingers stiff from cold and embarrassment. Being called “popular idols” wasn’t false—but most of us prefer subtle attention; we had no resistance to this intensity.

Mingi, driving, said,

“It’s because your recognition has jumped so much. Other idols wouldn’t get this.”

“Really?”

“When we first appeared on My Hometown, your favorability and recognition among young and older audiences were different. If someone in their twenties didn’t know you, they’d be an alien. For the middle-aged, My Hometown is top-tier.”

“...It went as we wanted, but it’s embarrassing.”

Young fans saw us on MyTube; older fans on the show or local news. Our winter mini-theater tour served to boost public recognition, and it ended successfully. Even people who knew nothing about idols said, “NewBlack—must be huge!”

However... we started with the ideal of spreading our name widely.

“...I think we got more attention than we expected.”

None of us—including the company—anticipated this level of response. It stemmed from one key moment.

“This is all because Junghyun said moo.”

“Me?”

“Right. From the moment Junghyun went ‘moo~’, your recognition skyrocketed.”

“Well, isn’t that good?”

“Rain helps crops, but a flood ruins them.”

We all agreed with the maknae’s perfectly apt analogy. We’d hoped for heavy rain, not a flood.

“Phew, phew...”

“I’m a show-off. I can adapt.”

We shook off the burden of “boosting the local economy” and headed to the next location. A banner caught our eye:

[Cong★Popular 5-member NewBlack Visits Ulleungdo★Congrats]

A wave of unease washed over me.

“Maybe our Supples’ town doesn’t have that banner.”

“Right.”

“This is a big town; they must’ve put it up.”

While we talked, the loudspeaker announcement echoed:

“Aaah—Residents—Today, popular group NewBlack visits Ulleungdo for PBS’s My Hometown filming, with fan-service performances—Please cooperate—We repeat—”

Silence fell in the car.

“...”

We pictured our nervous Supple. Only one fan in Ulleungdo had submitted a story—me. She’d crossed six hours of sea to meet her one and only idol.

“...We’d better hurry.”

My siblings nodded.

Nickname “Squid Princess” sat on her bed, taking deep breaths. Seventeen years old. She’d never fluttered like this.

“Calm...”

NewBlack’s smiling faces floated across the ceiling.

“Aaah!”

There was no way to stay calm. That morning’s broadcast kept announcing NewBlack’s arrival; she’d forced herself to smile through it:

“Other fans must be here too.”

...Until she got a text from Lemon Ent. It said the members would visit this evening and asked for “Squid Princess”’s address.

“Aaah...”

She regretted choosing that nickname. Who knew it would go like this? She’d assumed winners would gather in Gangneung, not take a three-hour boat ride.

“....”

Pressure multiplied. She was thrilled but panicked at the thought of facing all five members alone. She’d never done an offline schedule.

And what if they were totally different people from how they appeared on TV or MyTube? Teen Spirit hyungs were rumored to be fierce off-camera.

Click. Her mother opened the door.

“Hey, Heewon. When’s NewBlack coming?”

“Huh? They said this evening.”

“I should make something to eat. You might be hungry.”

She didn’t know what to say, so she stayed silent.

“Aaah...”

Meanwhile, her classmates’ group chat buzzed: “Someone saw NewBlack!” “Caught a big fish.” “They’re running across the mountain!” Community Supples posted “Ulleungdo live lol” with photos. News of NewBlack coming to her island sank in.

Just then: crunch—

A car drove across the gravel into the yard. Her heart pounded. Ding-dong—

She raced to the front door. A silhouette of handsome shapes glowed in the backlight, with cheerful laughter.

“Are those the singers or whatever here?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, they even found our house.”

Her father opened the door with a click, clearly annoyed. But as the door swung open, bright light flooded in. The silhouettes of handsome faces and clear voices:

“Junghyun, switch off the light stick.”

“Yes, hyung.”

The blaze of the light sticks—Torches in the dark—went out. In front of Junghyun, waving a cheering baton, NewBlack’s pale faces appeared.

“Tada!”

All five spread their hands like “Surprise!” from the doorway, as if saying, We’re the gift.

“We’ve come!”

“Oh—uh...”

“O—”

They hesitated on her nickname. Uju said, “Oh,” and greeted,

“Hello, Princess Hanchi.”

“Uh.”

“Father, Mother, pleased to meet you. Hello!”

Their handsome faces lit the room. As her mother exclaimed, her father silently watched, then said, “Come in.”

In the living room, a fruit spread was laid out. The atmosphere was awkward. The members knelt politely.

“Well... I heard my daughter likes you.”

“Oh, yes.”

Her father’s face showed unexpected warmth, perhaps drawn by Uju’s gentle smile. Uju bowed and said,

“We are your daughter’s singers, Father.”

“I grant permission.”

“...Pardon?”

“Come in.”

The slip of the tongue sent laughter through the room, easing the mood. Meanwhile, the members explained the purpose of the mini-theater tour and why they’d come here.

“It wasn’t easy to come to Gangneung, so we thought it’d be rude to just appear.”

“We really wanted to see Ulleungdo, too.”

“Just in case, we brought some gifts...”

They rustled envelopes forward.

“For you, Father, we prepared alcohol.”

“Oh my!”

“For you, Mother, a cosmetics set...”

“Oh!”

Her parents’ eyes widened at the thoughtful gifts; they always said, “Who likes those TV people?” but now beamed with delight.

“Since you’ve got booze, will you join us?”

“We’re minors. I can only have one sip, Father.”

“Huh. No drinking—good.”

Her father’s face brightened further. She felt embarrassed by his doting look, her body going limp like a squid. But their sparkling eyes soon turned to her.

“By the way, who do you like best among us?”

“Uh...”

“I’m not forcing you to say me, but you have to pick someone to speak.”

“Ri-hyeok oppa.”

“Excellent choice.”

Uju, NewBlack’s main vocal, smiled and held out an invitation.

“Princess of Hanchi and your family, we invite you to NewBlack’s mini-theater tour ‘Encounter’—the final Ulleungdo performance!”

Her face lit up at being a VIP guest. She’d worried they might sing just for her at home, but this was even better. Her seat in that empty theater filled, happiness washed over her. She thought, Please don’t end this moment.

At the crowded venue, flags flew in the breeze:

[Special Performance for the Winning Fan—Princess! ]

Hearing “Who’s the princess?” made me dread leaving the car.

“Why not just call me Squid?”

That’d be worse!

My overcautious heart began to ache with embarrassment.