In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

A refreshing melody that cleared the ears.

Under the piercing blue lights, NewBlack—gathered just moments before—began to disperse in time with the accompaniment.

Where could this place be now?

A strange sea, a strange air.

Uju, wearing a blue jacket, pressed a hand to his forehead as if scanning the unfamiliar surroundings, wearing a slightly lonely expression. Then, moving gently across the stage like someone awakening in a truly unknown place, he slipped back—

“Jiho!”

The group’s sub-vocalist popped out. His bouncing choreography—like jumping on a rubber floor—delighted the fans’ eyes. He weaved around the leader, Jiho reaching out with a smile as if droplets # Nоvеlight # were bouncing off him.

“The moment you saw me,

I knew

Under the summer constellations

Why I stood here.”

Like newly acquainted friends growing close, the leader and the maknae moved toward each other in slow, entangling motions. Their visuals matched the choreography perfectly: a beauty like a flower flicked up his lashes to smile, while a flawless-skinned handsome face swept its hand down its cheek.

“Guys...!”

As Souffle shook their lightsticks in cheers at the artists caring so well for the fans, the two who’d finished their sequence slid aside. Then Jiho playfully sent a finger-heart to the camera. It might have seemed frivolous or over-cutesy, but his pacing was utterly natural.

“Wow...”

They knew exactly when to give the lyrics weight and when to relax. Where once there had been rookie fierceness, now confidence and ease filled the space.

And then—

“Bi-ju!”

With the leader and maknae parting to clear a path, Bi-ju appeared like a hero, leading out the other two members. All five stomped in sync, launching dazzling footwork. The precision of fingertips and toes in the formation brought pure thrill, and each dancer’s unique style shone through.

“We were always

Meant to meet from the start.”

Enhanced by earrings and under-eye glitter, the main dancer’s every smile made the stage sparkle. Each time he extended his hands crisply, it felt like afterimages lingered in the air. Souffle watched, eyes wide, as his shirt sleeves fluttered gracefully.

“Did Bi-ju’s vocals change, too?”

For the better. His once-weak points had vanished, and his soft, mellifluous voice carried the lyrics smoothly. Then the rapper emerged, bringing fresh energy to the song.

“Don’t worry about anything,

Just daringly as it comes,

Flowing as it goes,

Coloring our own island (Firework).”

With a mid-low drawl of “Ay,” the rapper finished his verse with rhythmic flair and grinned as he stepped back. Like boys at play, the members danced in turn, joining the formation one by one.

As fans smiled along, the song headed into the chorus. The main vocalist—now wearing an over-sized T-shirt—stepped to the front. He swept his hair back, drew a deep breath, and launched into a soaring high note.

“The spark was already there,

You just have to let it shine,

Show your true colors.”

Gasps of admiration erupted as he hit the note. Yet Souffle felt something amiss: the main vocalist was dancing split-second choreography with ease, while the other members provided backup.

“Ri-hyuk, when did you learn to dance like that...?”

What impressed most was his sense of rhythm: he’d turned his once-staccato moves into precisely timed, fluid fragments of motion. In just two years, he had transformed his greatest weakness into a strength.

“That couldn’t have happened overnight...”

Fans suspected how much hard work lay behind that fresh-faced smile onstage. If there was a standout today, it was Ri-hyuk. The refreshing “Fireworks” concept, matching his personal color, bathed the stage in blue light.

After each member’s moment to shine, the chorus burst forth.

“Look there—our fireworks (Firework),

Our image embroidered on the night sky.”

Led by the leader, the members fanned out, each gesture like a spark bursting into flame. Their radiant smiles lifted the fans’ moods in return. They were truly enjoying the stage.

“Like a firework,

We’ll show you,

Like a firework,

Our colors.”

With free-spirited unity and perfect synchrony, the formation continued. During the chants, the leader and maknae bumped fists and laughed. Bi-ju mimed bursting fireworks with a smooth wave of his hand. Ri-hyuk grinned through ad-libbed flourishes, and Jung-hyun pretended to catch falling glitter in mid-air.

It was like a party unfolding under a pyrotechnic sky. After the bridge’s high notes came a dazzling dance break.

“Waaaah!”

Finishing every move, the five members glided into a single line. Then, like an opening fan unfurling, they sat around the leader in “lackey mode,” the song ending with each of them cheek-resting on their hands in a playful tableau.

As soon as the recording ended, they collapsed into their spots, wiping sweat and waving.

“Thank you!”

Souffle waved back with lightsticks. After two years, “Fireworks” was once again the best stage.

That evening, Souffle across the nation gathered in front of their TVs.

“At last!”

Today was NewBlack’s one and only live broadcast performance of “Fireworks,” due to their overseas tour. Fans couldn’t afford to miss it.

“We’ll make it number one...!”

With determined faces and clenched fists, they text-voted.

“Please let “Fireworks” take first placeㅠㅠㅠ”

“If we don’t win today, I’ll go crazy”

“Amazing!! Even the Zuffle are mobilizing their forces!!”

Even self-professed “useless” Zuffle rolled up their sleeves. While they prepared the groundwork for that number-one spot,

“Come on, everyone—let’s toast and shout together!”

“Burst forth, Fireworks!”

Lemon Ent. staff had started their own evening party. The NewBlack TF team, production team, and A&R staff grilled beef together.

“Sizzle...”

They looked up at the ceiling lights in awe.

“Thank you, CEO Park...!”

Praises continued for the great power of the corporate card.

“Since it’s a good day, everyone leave early. Eat some meat.”

As they happily grilled, Kim Hyung-seop said, “Oh, it’s starting.”

Staff turned to the TV. The newbie opening act had just finished and the MCs were bantering.

“Summer! Haha! It’s summer!” they joked, then:

“Get ready for stages that will cool your midsummer!”

“Han Tae-hyun returns with his first solo album in six years—his sexy vocal in “Mood”!”

“The nation’s idols! NewBlack return with “Fireworks” after two years of reverse-run glory!”

“We’re so excited!”

“Shall we meet this week’s number-one nominees?”

The three nominees flashed:

[NewBlack – Fireworks]

[Teen Spirit – Demonic]

[Street Boys’ – Anagram]

The staff smiled at the modest lineup. No boy group could currently beat NewBlack in streaming. Someone on screen asked:

“But Street Boys are still nominees—haven’t they ended activities?”

“They exploded this time.”

“Their streaming is even better than Teen Spirit’s.”

If they hadn’t released simultaneously with Teen Spirit, Street Boys might’ve clinched first on music shows. They’d sold 180,000 first-week units—career high—and ranked among the top four in the idol scene. Not quite A-list, but far ahead of the rest as a hip-hop idol group.

“That’s impressive.”

Everyone nodded, but felt no real threat.

“If only they hadn’t overlapped with our kids...”

If rivals showed remarkable growth, NewBlack’s had been insane. It was like our side grew to a hundred million while the enemy had only a million. Staff exchanged warm smiles.

“Glad they came to Lemon.”

“Our kids are too strong...”

“At another agency, we’d be chain-smoking every day.”

They felt fortunate that an ‘environmental toadfish’-level idol was on their side. Then:

“Kyahahaha!”

At that familiar laugh, everyone paused mid-chopstick. Instinctively they realized it was coming from the TV and set down their utensils with “Aigoo~.”

On screen, the “composer demons and lackeys” appeared.

“We’re so happy “Fireworks” is a nominee! Hahaha!”

“We love you, Souffle! Milky white! Souffle!”

“...If possible, I’d like to do the interview alone.”

Their sandcastle teamwork sent the staff roaring with laughter. They looked like chattering kids in fresh, clean visuals and a refreshing concept. The MCs asked:

“You’re nominees—heard you have a special promise if you hit number one!”

“That’s right!”

Bi-ju took the mic.

“We actually made a promise during “Fireworks” promotions—what we’d do if we became nominees.”

“We danced in penguin costumes in Myeongdong back then.”

At the mention of two-years-ago’s mascot-dance, Manager Hong and others remembered the giant plush-head performance and laughed. The members pulled out penguin headbands they’d hidden behind their backs.

“This time, if we win, we’ll wear these penguin headbands for the encore!”

Each bandmate held a different penguin style. Uju proudly displayed a crown like an emperor penguin, while the lackeys eyed it with envy. The MCs could hardly contain their laughter.

Manager Hong revealed, “It was Uju’s request—he wanted them customized.”

“Really?”

“He said the crown had to be big enough to make the juniors jealous.”

Staff laughed along. The interview wrapped, and soon NewBlack’s stage began. The producing team nodded at the members exuding idol freshness in the cool concept.

“The hard work paid off...!”

Seeing them nail the rearranged track was deeply satisfying.

“The online response is amazing, too.”

While NewBlack performed, staff scrolled through idol communities and SNS:

“Song’s really good... was it always like this?”

“Nope, feels rearranged.”

“Kudos to the producers who toiled day and night on the “Fireworks” remix.”

“This will still sound modern in ten years.”

“Can’t believe it came out two years ago lol.”

All praise for the song—and:

“Idols’ true calling, bb.”

“They’re insanely good... I discovered NewBlack during “Mango” marker performance.”

“Bi-ju’s moves amaze me—crazy choreography but he makes it look easy.”

“Ri-hyuk’s legendary todayㅠㅠㅠ.”

“They should just drop a full album—too good for a one-off.”

“22, guys, just pick a date and come back—Uju deserves two comebacksㅠㅠㅠ.”

They all agreed about Ri-hyuk’s dancing growth. Just then, the screen cut to black on the group’s final flower-pose, snapping staff back to reality.

“Not the time for this.”

They set their jaws.

“Let’s vote.”

Soon the number-one announcement would air.

Backstage.

While Mr. Han Mo was dancing “I’m so sexy” onstage to cheers, all the performers gathered backstage for the number-one reveal.

“Hello!”

“Hi there.”

Though seniors occasionally stopped by, now that we were in our third year, plenty of juniors greeted us as if to congratulate the win. We responded with smiles.

“Phew...”

Ri-hyuk took a deep breath, trembling. I quietly asked, “You nervous?” He nodded.

“Junghyun.”

“Yes, hyung?”

“Calm him down, will you?”

“Uh, no need—Aaaah...”

As Jung-hyun stroked Ri-hyuk’s acupressure point, his expression softened to Buddha-like serenity. Other idols watching began to mimic the technique.

“That’s the wrong spot. Here.”

Like trainees at a workshop, they all followed along. As Junghyun eased his anxieties, the others pitched in: Bi-ju copied Tae-hyun’s stage moves, and Jiho dangled from Junghyun’s back, making stress relief noises.

And—

“Hyung, you okay?”

“Yeah.”

I was extremely nervous—cool onstage, but my heart pounded at the number-one moment. I closed my eyes and made a wish.

“Please let us win first place today. I’ll live well from now on.”

“Uju, we...!”

Sorry, production team, you can’t. As I muttered wishes, I felt warm presences gather around. My juniors clung to me, sweetly trying to reassure me.

Prrrrr...! Rrrrrr...! Zzzzz...!

Multiple vibrations jolted me.

“...”

Five of us trembling together like vibrating pagers, we heard suppressed laughs from around. When our “reverse-run, cool senior cosplay” failed, we felt sad.

“We’re going up!”

At the staff’s cue, those of us at the front ascended the stage. Tae-hyun—standing with the MCs—waved, and we nodded in return.

Of the nominees, we were the only group appearing on the broadcast. As we stood beside the MCs, “Survivor” pre-recording played on the screen.

“Say hello to our fans.”

At Tae-hyun’s prompt, I bowed to the TNT fans waving dynamite lightsticks. They, in turn, bowed waist-deep as if meeting an industry legend.

“Please continue to support us, sir...” We all laughed. Then, while we waved to Souffle,

“Yes!”

The MCs’ cue lit a red camera light.

“Here are the results for the fourth week of July, the number-one group!”

“First, the digital sales scores.”

At a whopping 4,500 points—higher than the combined total of the other two groups—someone gasped behind me.

“Global fan voting scores.”

The highest of the three metrics. Including the remaining scores, “Fireworks” was winning by an overwhelming margin.

“Finally, the live SMS voting score! The glorious number one today is...”

When that “one” appeared onscreen alongside our thumbnail, it felt like an eternity.

“...!”

Jiho and I looked at each other with round eyes as fireworks burst with a “BANG!”

“Congratulations! NewBlack’s “Fireworks”!”

“Waaaah!”

Souffle cheered, and surrounding artists applauded. We hugged each other, laughing. Though expected, it felt incredible. As the tension melted away, tears sprang unbidden to my eyes. We handed bouquets and the trophy to the juniors, then I took the mic.

“Thank you so much.” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

My voice trembled for the first time in ages.

“Th-thank you for giving us this happy moment. Three days ago was the second anniversary of Souffle, and it means so much that “Fireworks” hit number one at a time like this.”

Even though we always win, I was a bundle of nerves—felt like my past self was speaking through me. I’m not even sure what I said: love to Mrs. Kim Deok-soon, CEO and director are the best, our production team—please continue to support us.

While I mumbled, the juniors each took the mic.

“We did it—number one~!”

Finally, the maknae shook the trophy and sent a hand-heart to the camera. Then the “Fireworks” intro for the encore began.

“Congratulations!”

“Congrats!”

Tae-hyun led other artists in hugging us before exiting. We rubbed our eyes and looked at each other.

“Should we wear them?”

“Yeah.”

We placed the penguin headbands given by Won-seok hyung on our heads. As we fought back tears—

“Th-thank...”

The maknae, wearing a soft baby-penguin headband, suddenly burst into sobs.

“Thank you...! Waaah!”

“Hey, crown-penguin Jiho, don’t cry... sob!”

“Stop crying, guys.”

Like dominoes, our tears started flowing.

As Souffle laughed from the audience, I—crowned as emperor penguin—grabbed the mic.

“It’s... it’s... where are we now?”

“Waaah!”

Though I sang my best, the fans couldn’t stop laughing.

And that night, our encore stage surged into real-time search trends.

“...”

“...”

Search rank number seven: “Tears of Antarctica.”