In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Paris, AccorHotels Arena.

As the audience exited the venue with excited faces, waiting cameras greeted them. Reporters from Korea and France had come to cover the event commemorating 130 years of Franco-Korean diplomatic relations.

“How was today’s show?”

Faces alight with joy replied in unison:

“The best!”

“The best day of my life. Love you, NewBlack!”

“Yeah, Street Boys!”

Fans of NewBlack waved t-shirts printed with the Street Boys logo or brandished placards. Though the concert was over, the atmosphere still felt like a festival.

The press asked, “What was the most memorable part of today’s performance?”

Answers flew back instantly:

“NewBlack!”

“NewBlack’s fan dance with the fans’ folded fans—so completely new!”

“NewBlack was... honestly the best.”

From Britain, Germany, Spain, and beyond, European K-pop fans of many nationalities all agreed on one name: “NewBlack.” Some even broke into the “Nine” chorus on the spot.

A Korean reporter said, “Wow. Did you know there were so many foreign NewBlack fans?” Fans blew kisses to the Korean media or danced in groups, gripping NewBlack placards or slogans. A TBC reporter pointed at a placard in a photo and asked, “Do you know all the members’ names?”

“Of course!” Fans tapped each face in the picture and recited: “Uju, Bi-ju, Jung-hyun, Ri-hyuk, Jiho.” Some even knew their ages. When a foreign fan pointed to Jiho and said “Maknae,” the Korean press blinked.

“They know us better than we do...?”

The Korean journalists glanced at one another.

“MiTube really works overseas, huh? They’re more famous than I thought.”

“Isn’t that giant sausage stick a NewBlack light-stick?”

“Why is that even here?”

Witnessing the fervor firsthand left the reporters with a strange feeling.

“There’s something to this.”

Like magma bubbling before a volcanic eruption, the site’s unique heat was palpable. As Korean reporters watched closely, French media present were equally amazed.

“Whoa...? Is NewBlack more famous than we expected?”

They’d heard about NewBlack before coming—about that MiTube interview with world-famous pianist Pol Lorang, and that Sun Woo-ju was the pianist’s son and K-pop group leader. Curious, they arrived to find “NewBlack!” chants never stopping.

“What’s that over there? Point the camera!”

“My goodness.”

“Is that the Statue of Liberty...?”

Around a fan clutching a one-meter torch, NewBlack fans danced in circles. One reporter approached.

“What are you doing now?”

“We’re Soufflés—I mean, fans—and it felt too sad to just leave after the show, so we’re having a party!”

“‘Soufflé’?”

“The French dessert?”

“‘Soufflé’?”

They’d asked more, but the fans dodged questions or looked away. The reporters exchanged puzzled looks.

“Why are they acting like that?”

It wasn’t just one person. Wherever they asked why the fandom was called Soufflé, the fans fled. A phenomenon no one could explain.

TBC 8 PM News.

The international segment covered that day’s concert:

「Paris K-pop concert a huge success...」

Quick clips showed NewBlack and Street Boys on stage, French fans sampling Korean culture in convention-hall booths, and man-on-the-street interviews.

[Réna Durel, 29]

(Q: How was the concert?) It was truly phenomenal. As a Soufflé, today’s show was an unforgettable honor for our family.

(Q: What is a Soufflé?) Anyway, the concert was amazing. As a NewBlack fan...

French fans had dodged questions about the origin of “Soufflé.” Against the concert backdrop, the reporter delivered the closing line:

“As part of the 130th anniversary celebration of Franco-Korean relations...”

Something passed by next to him.

“Madre mia.”

“What is that?”

Viewers watching the live 8 PM news blinked in surprise.

“What? What is that?”

Behind one fan holding a giant light-stick, dozens of others trailed behind, brandishing glow-sticks like followers of the Pied Piper. The reporter’s voice mixed with a song on the audio:

“Jiho-ya, Jiho-ya, I’ve got something to say (Neeaaah)!”

It was the so-called “growth song” from an idol show. The reporter’s nose twitched. His eyes darted nervously as fans in the shot shouted Ri-hyuk’s “Neeaaah!” ad-lib. He fought to keep a straight face through his closing remarks.

While viewers at home strained to hold back laughter, clips from the scene flooded idol-fan communities:

[Today’s TBC 8 PM News laugh-out-loud.gif]

(Clip.gif)

“This is even funnier in video form lolol.”

“How did he keep a straight face? I’d have lost it lol.”

“So damn funny lol.”

“How did overseas fans even know about that? Crazy.”

“The Soufflé questionavoid clip was funny too lol every time they got asked, they ran.”

—(Gif of a fan’s uneasy eye-shakes when asked about Soufflés)

“I wouldn’t be able to answer either lol ’cause my bias... um, uh, hmm.”

Soufflés who’d lamented “why only overseas?” burst into laughter at the news.

“So relatable lol.”

“There’s more holes on the outside than in the inside... fandom is global.”

“Oppa, English plz.”

┕ Give me back my feels lol

“Let’s unite the world through NewBlack.”

“I’m so proud of our babies 😭.”

New Soufflés drawn in by “Nakhwa” watched in wonder: “Whoa!” Longtime fans, who knew where the overseas Soufflé culture came from, fell silent. There were still many MiTube videos online:

“Jiho-ya~ Jiho-ya~”

“‘Neeaaah’ is the firefly—with no friends~”

“Let’s go! To Hogwarts—Lumos!”

They remembered their own wild energy after the Gymnastics Arena concert and smiled warmly at the French fans’ clips.

“You’ve become such wonderful fans, you guys....”

But honestly, I wish they’d learned only the best things...

After returning from France, we resumed our usual music-show schedule. On week two, the long-awaited news greeted us:

“On Music On!’s live broadcast for the first week of June 2016, we’re down to the #1 announcement!”

“Please reveal the scores!”

On screen flashed Girls of Autumn’s “Sky Garden” and our “Nakhwa.” The combined scores across categories appeared. Autumn Girl’s 5,000 points were doubled by our haul—well over 10,000.

“Wow, the fans... they’re powerful.”

“We have to stay humble from now on.”

As I exchanged looks with the others, Ri-hyuk tensed in anticipation of fireworks. On screen:

[1 st place: “Nakhwa (낙화)”]

With a “pa-ang!” burst, gold foil rained down. Hearing the announcement we’d most wanted, we grinned widely and bowed to the staff.

“Congratulations, NewBlack!”

I smiled at Soufflés waving slogans in the audience and shared my thoughts on being #1. The trophy and bouquet in my arms gleamed warmly. After the MC’s farewell, we exited via the descending stage while performing the “Nakhwa” encore choreography.

“Thank you!”

“I feel amazing! Wish you all blessings~!”

We celebrated with a mini fan-meeting outside the network after the show. Though it was early summer, to us it felt like spring. Good news reached us at every turn:

—“NewBlack wins double crown on music shows; all-kill on streaming charts”

—“‘My Hometown Now’ clip surpasses 110 million views... NewBlack SNS: celebrations in order”

—“NewBlack enters Billboard 200 at #47... highest ever for a K-pop group”

One odd headline aside, all were good news. Our previous Billboard peak had been #109; now #47 proved our overseas fanbase had grown massively since late last year. Reflecting that rising status, we were main performers at Saturday’s Find Dream concert at Sangam World Cup Stadium. And the artists to close the finale with us were...

“Hey, hyungs! Big greetings from us!”

They were bright as ever. Even brighter, and I feared my eardrums might break, but they were still the cheerful next-door boys.

“Hello, sunbaes.”

“Ah.”

Teen Spirit members looked hurt.

“We told you to speak casually, not formal.”

“Oh, right.”

“We’ve been hanging out for months, and you still use formal speech.”

I laugh, thinking I use it only with them... Watching them chug Laputa-brand juice like soju, I smiled. We caught up and chatted happily.

“You’ve got a comeback soon, right?”

“Yeees.”

“Ugh,” Teen Spirit groaned.

“I’m super stressed about it.”

“I can’t sleep.”

I asked, “Super?”

“As in ‘damn + er’....”

“Oh. Comparative.”

“That’s what you call it? Wow.”

They marveled at my academic vocabulary. The mood stayed upbeat.

“So it’s a strong concept this time?”

“Yes, it’s damn intense.”

“How intense?”

“Like angels turned into furious demons, absolutely intense.”

I got the gist: angelic idols turned into fearsome seducers. Their third full album would pivot from their usual bright style to a darker, more serious concept. I was intrigued.

“Really new territory.”

“Yes.”

Hwiyun answered with a gloomy face.

“That’s why I’m so stressed—fans will probably love it, but...”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I want them to love it so much.”

“....”

“I want them to go ‘Wow, shit, Teen Spirit!’ after listening...”

They searched for the right words, so I smiled encouragingly. Then Yeon-hu exclaimed,

“I’ve got an idea! Hyung, since we’re talking, will you hear our song?”

“Me?”

“You make songs so well.”

The other Teen Spirit members burst into applause.

“Wow, the best idea ever from Yeon-hu.”

“He nailed it.”

“Einstein was right—he really uses only one percent of his brain.”

Ri-hyuk tried to speak, but I shushed him. Hwiyun rifled through his phone while their manager’s lips moved. I said carefully,

“Playing an unreleased track for outsiders might be....”

“Don’t worry. We’ve thought it through.”

He offered me one earbud. I hesitated, then listened—

Stooot!

It stopped after one second.

“...?”

They all laughed at my bewildered expression. Hwiyun bowed:

“Security is everything—so just a second.”

“Ah... okay.”

“Well? Hyung, impressions? Just the feeling.”

I recalled that single second in my mind. A dark dance track, and recalling Teen Spirit’s usual title patterns, I pieced together that opener’s melody.

“Something like this?”

I hummed a makeshift version. Their manager on the couch sprang up; their staff gaped. The boys jumped, then exchanged stunned looks.

“...Shit.”

“Shit, that’s spot on.”

“It’s better than ours.”

They gaped at each other, then turned to me:

“How did you know?”

“I just felt it.”

“Wow...”

Teen Spirit clapped in rhythm—“Wooooah!”—and proud juniors clustered around me.

“Ahem.”

“Uh-huh.”

Bi-ju cleared his throat, hands at his mouth. But my spotlight-seeking brothers were shoved aside by the eager junior idols pressing in.

“So? Do you feel it? Is it a hit?”

“Hey, don’t rush me. So—hyung, do you have a hunch?”

“Wha—You do?!”

With them urging me, I nodded. To deny a strong vibe now would have set them ablaze like the Namu seed. Seeing the six junior idols perk up made me laugh.

“Oh my!”

I couldn’t tell why their managers and staff cheered too, but the mood was clearly lifted. Teen Spirit, thrilled, said,

“Hyung, thanks—you loosened us up. We were super stressed about opening for your guys tonight.”

We exchanged puzzled glances.

“‘Opening act’?”

“Huh? Hyung, did you get more subordinates besides us?”

“‘Subordinates’? Oh!”

Then a sudden realization made me laugh heartily—as to whom they referred.

A few days later—

Tuesday, June 7th.

Reporters with camera bags began arriving at a live hall near Gwangnaru Station. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation. Among entertainment reporters there was talk:

“This June will be the hottest month in the music industry.”

There were reasons. First, NewBlack had comebacked with the all-time track “Nakhwa.” Second, Teen Spirit and Street Boys were also returning. Street Boys had strong domestic momentum, and Teen Spirit needed no introduction as Korea’s top group. Lastly, today was the debut showcase of ATEN. Formed through the Mister Producer project, they were the group the whole nation was watching.

“Wow—” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Reporters shivered at the size of the press corps.

“It looks like every entertainment reporter in the country is here.”

“I’ve never seen numbers like this.”

“No matter how fast we publish, it won’t matter—competition’s insane.”

They knew no one could out-pace them in clicks, but the fray was fierce. On the showcase hall’s screen scrolled concept photo teasers of ATEN’s six members.

“They’re really debuting, huh.”

“Unbelievable they pulled this off in two months like roasting beans over lightning.”

“I thought, ‘Can they really?’ but here they are.”

Early doubts over whether one could debut a full idol group in two months vanished as they watched polished concept shots.

“They look major-label level.”

“The lineup is nuts—CEO Heo Gang-min, choreographer Han Ah-yun.”

“Well, they’re the producers...”

That drew laughter. Behind the Mister Producer group were visionaries who’d planned what seemed impossible.

“After the press conference, they’re doing a 1,500-person fan showcase—think NewBlack will attend?”

“Rumor is they will.”

“I had to win tickets—for NewBlack too.”

“I lost too. Competition so fierce even influencers couldn’t get in.”

They’d all applied and failed due to massive demand—so steep that jokes said touring Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory would be easier.

“I really want to see it.”

“Me too.”

Though covering celebrities was their job, they were viewers at heart and curious about Mister Producer’s next steps. They wanted to hear “Attention” and the other fan submissions live. The consolation was they’d see the MV first at the press conference.

“I wonder how ‘Attention’ will chart?”

“Well, ‘Nakhwa’ is super strong now.”

“But this is a variety-show pick—at this hype it’ll debut at #1.”

That was everyone's expectation. A title track from an idol-special variety show with projected 30% ratings. As predictions for June’s music scene swirled, an announcement invited everyone to take their seats. Reporters hurried to their laptops, ready to break the story the moment the pre-released MV played.

“Come on! Hurry up!”

Entertainment reporters rubbed their hands as the “Attention” MV finally began. At the opening shot, every laptop-typing journalist burst into laughter. They’d heard NewBlack would cameo—

Dun-dun!

A spaceship emblazoned with NewBlack members’ ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) faces soared through the sky as the video began.