In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

It was a joyful day.

Watching Han Tae-hyun’s “Survivor” settle in at fourth place after first through third, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

“Seriously, what kind of day is today? Our main branch is doing great, and so is the branch office.”

“The weather’s nice too.”

At Bi-ju’s remark, we all glanced out the window and laughed.

A blue sky.

Fluffy, lemon-shaped clouds drifted by.

It was as if even the sky was sending congratulations to NewBlack and their “Bulkkotnori” concert with its message.

Ri-hyuk said, “I don’t usually buy into this kind of thing... but today really does feel special.”

“Exactly,” I agreed, then turned to our resident weather forecaster and asked, “Junghyun, how’s today’s forecast looking?”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“...Finally, “Bulkkotnori” is hitting number one!”

We all cheered, “Waaaah!”

Just as we were mentally rehearsing our prepared acceptance speeches for first place, our maknae spoke up.

“Doesn’t it feel strange to you? It’s the usual route to Sangam-dong, but something just feels different.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Is it because we’re wearing these clothes?”

We looked at each other.

We’d chosen to wear the casual outfits we’d worn on our very first music-show commute after debut. Technically, none of the clothes were exactly the same—they were just ever-so-slightly larger sizes.

That was because of something that happened at the dorm a few days ago.

“Hyung! Amazing news! I’ve grown into this girl group top!”

We all burst out laughing at our maknae’s sight, wearing a crop top t-shirt that had become too small as he grew bigger.

“I guess it does look a bit big on me~”

He flashed a mischievous grin and draped his arm over Ri-hyuk’s shoulder.

“Right? Our little cherry tomato boy?”

“...Junghyun hyung, I’ll buy you meat for life if you’d just toss this guy out the window for me?”

“Sorry, that’d be a crime.”

We laughed at their foolish banter as I smoothed down my own shirt.

Every one of us had hit a growth spurt and bought slightly larger versions of the same clothes, and I was no exception. I smiled at the subtle difference in fit.

We hadn’t dressed like this for any special reason—it was simply to share the feeling we’d had on debut with our fans all over again.

“We’re almost there, guys.”

“Okay!”

Min-gi hyung announced we were nearing the K-net building in Sangam-dong, and we did a final wardrobe check.

Just as we were about to snap a few selfies for SNS...

“...”

I felt a peculiar gaze on me. I relaxed my cheeks, thinking maybe my puffy-cheeked selfie style was annoying them, but it wasn’t that.

My younger members were looking at me as if I were some fascinating creature.

“What’s up?”

“Hmm...”

“Is something weird?”

Bi-ju narrowed his eyes at me, then shook his head and laughed.

“No, I’m just realizing again how handsome you are.”

“Oh, really?”

I smiled, pleased by his compliment. The other maknae also nodded vigorously in agreement. It felt like flattering praise too nice to question, so I let it slide.

“We’re here.”

Through the tinted window, I saw the K-net building and the Souffle fans waiting nearby, along with a sea of telephoto lenses. We laughed.

“Let’s go.”

The moment the door opened, the shutters snapped, echoing around us.

At the Sangam-dong K-net building, fans cheered at NewBlack’s early-morning arrival for the pre-recording.

“Hello!”

“We’re here to pre-record “Bulkkotnori”!”

We waved and smiled at the fans, casually chatting as we passed by. Both fans and photogs quickly noticed something different about their idols today.

“Huh...?”

Photographers aiming for Uju’s headshot froze.

“Why is his outfit... intact?”

Sun Woo-ju’s clothes were perfectly neat...!

They hurriedly reframed their shots. These were the same masters of the “headshot” who’d begged, “Please remove Uju’s floral pattern!”—and now they had a golden opportunity.

Meanwhile, reporters covering the comeback of NewBlack on the music shows were equally flummoxed. Those who uploaded photo news whispered among themselves.

“Uju’s outfit looks spotless today...? Did the agency ban that pattern?”

“Doubt it. He has more pull than CEO Park, after all...”

“I feel like I’ve seen these clothes before.”

Just then, an eagle-eared reporter overheard fans chatting.

“Oh...!”

“What’s up?”

“This is the outfit they wore on their first music-show commute!”

“Oh...!”

“So that’s why it’s intact!”

With that revelation, reporters began uploading photo news comparing pictures from two years ago and today:

[NewBlack in their third year: Their growth plates remain open]

[“Now we’re grown-ups,” NewBlack’s Jiho bursts with mature charm!]

[‘Reverse Run,’ the secret behind NewBlack’s music-show commute fashion...]

These photo news items spread through idol communities at once, accompanied by a post titled:

[NewBlack K-net Commute]

Alongside pictures from two years ago, comments poured in:

┕ “Junghyun’s going to give you CPR”

┕ “I’m healed now...”

Just as comments about their grown-up looks filled the thread, another set of comments erupted—this time over someone’s unprecedented beauty tonight:

Without any elaborate styling, Uju’s radiant eyes and gentle smile had fans and non-Souffle idol-lovers alike saving his photos in awe. They soon realized the reason:

They laughed at the debut-era outfits—stylist-provided looks—and then, as if jolted by a knock, Souffle members began getting DMs:

[Knock, knock... can I get that legendary shot?]

I’m shook by Uju’s beauty tonight... anyone have the iconic pic? 😭

Soon Souffle members were swiftly sending select photos, crying tears of joy as they saved these new legendary shots.

‘Just giving him a normal outfit makes it legendary...!’

Fans looked back wistfully at the days when Sun Woo-ju had no fashion freedom. Though lately he’d followed his juniors’ suggestions, random grandpa bus driver outfits still popped up now and then.

“...”

Though they’d support their bias no matter what, sometimes fans had limits.

‘Please keep taking away our child’s fashion freedom.’

They made that wish with warm smiles.

As soon as we arrived in the waiting room, a familiar face popped in.

“Aigh-go, Mr. Woo!”

“Welcome, Han.”

“Thanks to you, sir, my debut was a great success...!”

Mr. Han Mo grasped my hand politely and patted it, making us all laugh.

Tae-hyun greeted the juniors with a smile.

“Thank you for lending me this precious one.”

“Use me lots in the future~!”

I shook my head at these lackeys treating me like a songwriting machine.

Just as I was wondering how to politely show them the door—

“Hello.”

Tae-hyun greeted our staff.

“I’ve been hugely indebted to you, hyung. Have you eaten yet? I brought lunch to show my gratitude...”

“Oh, no need for that...”

“They’re special lunchboxes.”

“Tae-hyun...!”

At the luxury lunchboxes handed over by Tae-hyun’s manager, our staff’s eyes practically rolled back. Warm smiles curved at their mouths.

“Rest up, Tae-hyun.”

“Hey, Uju—grab that cushion over there.”

“...You really are going to spoil me like this?”

We laughed at my incredulous look. Amid the noisy laughter filling the waiting room, Tae-hyun plopped down on the sofa, grinning.

“See? I told you we’d meet again.”

“I remember.”

I recalled when we parted at TJ Ent., he’d predicted we would reunite soon.

“How did you know?”

“I’ve been in this business a while. Chart estimates showed our dates would overlap.”

“I see.”

“But that was obvious. As soon as Teen Spirit’s kids drop off, your song rockets to number one.”

He laughed, then asked, “Mind if I hang around a bit?”

“Sure.”

“I also wanted to personally thank you. Seeing the chart really lifted a weight off my shoulders...”

I laughed at his tousling of his hair. He'd clearly been under huge pressure—as a solo act, failure lands squarely on you rather than being spread among a group.

“Yesterday, all the producer brothers and I cheered when we saw the charts. I thought if I just cracked the top ten, I’d be grateful.”

“And did you do better than you expected?”

“Well, it’s not just better—it’s right below Nakhwa.”

I laughed at his “ghost-blessed” song ranking. Tae-hyun’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and the fatigue of months showed in his eyes.

“Thank you so much, hyung.”

He stared off with a wistful expression that made passerby wish to donate him ten thousand won—so pitiful yet in need of care. I just smiled.

“Tae-hyun.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m learning to act these days.”

“...”

“See that—no more wistful looks.”

Jiho clapped, imitating him wiping away that sentimental expression. Tae-hyun muttered:

“I was gonna play the sad card to beg for a song.”

“As if you’d get away with that.”

“Look around the industry. Name one artist your caliber out there.”

“Cha Woo-hyun, Yoon Chan-hyuk, and Han Tae-hyun... right?”

“You really know how to recruit people with words.”

He was the weakest 7-year idol standing beside the vocal legends.

Just then, our juniors sidled over.

“Sunbae.”

“Yes?”

“Please try this.”

They offered chopstick-picked bites of side dishes with affectionate eyes.

“This is like grilled mackerel—try it.”

“They say grilled tomatoes are so healthy—try this too.”

“Want some abalone?”

Tae-hyun blinked at their eager feeding. I turned and fought back a laugh. They cared so earnestly, like “If the branch office does well, so does the head office!”

“Thank you... I’ll eat well.”

Watching him secretly enjoy the food, I recalled his branch-office quip. His pride in TJ Ent. meant he probably wouldn’t like me pointing it out...

“Oh. Then I’m the first branch, huh?”

“Yes.”

“What luck...!”

I was lost for words at how in sync they were.

“Shall we toast to being Branch No. 1? After all, this is a bond that should be deep and long-lasting.”

“Sounds good!”

We laughed, celebrating Tae-hyun’s Branch No. 1 status. When I gave him a look saying, “And where did proud TJ go?” he whispered:

“Hyung, I’ve been around this block over six years.”

“And?”

“Money’s everything.”

A brilliant answer—one President Park Tae-joon himself would recognize.

“By the way, did you know the planning team’s funeral-like atmosphere?”

“Because of this?”

“They all seemed to think if you’d stayed at the agency...”

A bit of poetic justice, perhaps.

As we whispered among ourselves, the music-show staff informed us of our rehearsal time. Although there was plenty of time, with final run-throughs and checks ahead, we wrapped up lunch.

Tae-hyun, glancing slyly at us, suddenly rose.

“Heading out?”

“Gotta practice choreography too.”

He stretched and said, “Oh—and if you need anything, just call me. I’ll repay you properly.”

“Thanks.”

He was useful enough for many things. I congratulated his solo debut again.

“Congratulations on your solo debut.”

“Congrats on your comeback, hyung, and congrats to us for “Bulkkotnori” hitting number one!”

“Thank you!”

We waved goodbye as he left.

“Let’s get ready, lackeys.”

“Yes.”

We began our final run-through for the pre-recording. After confirming our timing a couple of times, we changed into our stage outfits and checked microphones and in-ears.

On debut, I’d been fumbling with the pack wire at my waist. Now the maknae deftly wound his wire pack behind him like a pro.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Nothing. Really.”

We all finished self-checks, then stepped into the elevator. Our steps felt lighter. The “Bulkkotnori” stage that used to terrify us was now something we eagerly anticipated.

And it seemed the Souffle waiting in the studio felt the same.

“Waaaah!”

Their cheers rang out the moment we stepped onstage. Our footsteps felt winged.

It was our time now.

At the same moment, Souffle held their excitement barely in check.

‘“Bulkkotnori” is finally...!’

The long-awaited return of “Bulkkotnori” to the music shows at the height of a reverse run.

And word was first place was likely tonight.

Souffle’s happiness circuits were overclocked and sparking.

‘What is this, seriously.’

Fans who’d been supporting NewBlack since “Bulkkotnori” felt especially nostalgic.

‘...So many people now.’

The fandom that had once been mocked as “a handful” now rivaled Teen Spirit.

“Aaah!”

“Turn down the brightness, please!”

“Sorry! I think my dad set it too high!”

There were torches blazing like first-magnitude stars.

‘We even got a proper lightstick design.’

The feel of the new Souffle lightstick in hand felt unfamiliar. They remembered when they’d only had mini glowsticks and screamed themselves hoarse, worrying the network would scare them off.

‘But now...’

NewBlack was so successful the networks no longer scared them. Even HBS’s troubles couldn’t stop the NewBlack boom.

As Souffle looked on with teary eyes—

“Waaaah!”

The members took the stage, smiling brightly—the same expression they’d worn below. Fans who’d supported them for years shared that moment.

‘Wait...?’

It felt like Uju’s eyes met theirs. Just as they thought maybe it was their imagination—

The leader swept his gaze across the audience, paused, and said:

“Yes!”

Cheers of joy erupted ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ from the fans.

Uju chuckled.

Fans laughed.

As the members offered their thanks, Souffle smiled back, sharing these memories. Wearing the same outfits from their first debut music-show stage added a sentimental touch tonight.

The leader smiled and said:

Together, artist and fans cried, “Fighting!” and the pre-recording for “Bulkkotnori” began in earnest.

Lights shifted to stage mode.

Whoosh—

Like a cool July sea breeze, a wave of sound washed over the stage. Blue lights scattered across the floor as Jiho, sporting a red hairband, winked under it, sending fans into a frenzy.

On the screen behind us appeared the words:

Bulkkotnori

Written in Ri-hyuk’s handwriting.

Then the intro began, and the fans let out a roar.

“Sun Woo-ju! Kim Bi-ju! Kim Junghyun...!”

With the same cheering method from two years ago, the deep-house beat surging in from the start sounded crisp and refreshing.

‘Wow....’

Souffle widened their eyes as the arrangement hooked them.

‘They re-arranged it!’

While fans cheered that Uju was a genius, the pro-level backing track—crafted by a dozen producers—rang like a beautiful bell.

And with the leader at the center, the members came together. After two years, the “Bulkkotnori” stage on music shows had finally begun.