In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

While NewBlack was entertaining the baseball fans like a dash of spice in a medicine cabinet, there was one group that couldn’t laugh.

“.......”

They were NewBlack’s antis.

Those who had been searching for the slightest thing to criticize now looked hollow.

‘They nailed it.’

From the moment they heard NewBlack would throw the first pitch, they had been itching to pick apart every detail.

Hairstyle, makeup, any slip in their interview lines.

If they had even mentioned album promotion, these antis had their posts ready: ‘Did they come just to promote their album?’

‘No opening at all. Seriously.’

But NewBlack gave a clean fan-service greeting and then prepared to pitch.

When Junhyun threw a blazing fastball and Wooju cracked a hit, they cheered.

“It looks too dangerous;”

“Isn’t a swing-and-miss customary for the first swing..?”

“You’re overdoing it again”

“I know they want attention, but this is too much haha. There’s a broadcast camera and a mascot—why risk hitting the ball so hard?”

“What if someone got hit?”

“They’re not pros. Ordinary people shouldn’t try to swing a bat just to get attention.”

...Those were the reactions the antis had lined up, but they all fell silent.

‘It flew really well.’

As the ball soared almost to a home run, the forum filled with “ㅋㅋㅋㅋ” and “Wow.”

Meanwhile, clever plays kept the fans laughing.

Sensing the mood shift, the antis turned their attention elsewhere.

‘Any fandom slip-ups?’

They looked for news of fans leaving in droves after the pitch, or of obstructing other spectators, but found nothing.

Since the celebrity first pitch and swing had been overwhelmingly well received, the only leftover target was the fans themselves.

They waited on anonymous boards for someone to post “Those fans are such nuisances...” but—

“.......”

There was nothing to exploit.

Instead, they found:

[Right now at Jamsil Stadium Gandalf.gif]

(A NewBlack fan waves a staff in full costume.)

“What is that? How did they bring it in?”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Security: Huh?”

“It’d make a better bat than an actual bat.”

“It’s so radiant... looks like holy light.”

“But why is their team playing so poorly?”

“These guys buffer everything; their gameplay is debuff level.”

“Back-to-Backs merch is nice.”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ who cheers like that from the first inning?”

They didn’t know much about baseball, but their cheering alone was funny.

‘Too farfetched to fabricate.’

Usually such smear campaigns rely on numbers, but NewBlack’s fandom was too big for flimsy rumors to stick.

Ordinary users posted comments and even snarky articles, but none trended enough to use.

Most gave up, but some stubbornly stayed, hunting for ammunition.

‘...Could this work?’

They had a half-baked idea.

“But why was NewBlack invited for the KG Dragons first pitch?”

“They should have called a [N O V E L I G H T] celebrity associated with the team, someone who’s actually a fan.”

They posted that to criticize, but it backfired.

If NewBlack were a minor act, maybe it would’ve stuck—but their recognition was massive.

Instead, they found the opposite reactions.

“Isn’t NewBlack big enough to throw out the first pitch at the Korea Series?”

“Usually yes.”

“I was surprised too haha. I kept thinking, why not the Korea Series? haha”

“It’s the new trend since last year haha. Now they invite socially meaningful figures.”

“That’s right. Last year’s lineup included a 40-year-old superfan, a youth baseball team, and retired players.”

“Too bad haha. If it were any other year, they’d pitch at the Korean Series too.”

People argued that the first pitch belongs at the finals, but the debate died down once photos of NewBlack watching the game spread.

[next post: Kim Junhyun enraged.gif]

(Junhyun crushes a soda can in his hand like a coin.)

(Junhyun flings his hair in frustration after the third inning ends scoreless.)

(Junhyun slams down his chopsticks in anger after consecutive errors.)

Ta-da~

That was the majestic power of Korean baseball making Junhyun angry.

“Why is his face so red?”

“Literally angry bird.”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s the first time I’ve seen him so mad.”

“I like him even moreㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“You can’t help it; baseball is baseball.”

“Lift your head! You’re a proud Dragons fan...!! Lift your head! You’re a proud Dragons fan...!!”

“But Junhyun has every right to be mad. He’d do better than that if he were in there.”

Alongside those comments, people highlighted Junhyun’s past interviews where he confessed to loving the KG Dragons.

“So he really had a healing personality...”

“Enlightenment levelㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“I get it. After watching games, you don’t get mad at small mistakes anymore. Oh shit! He missed it again!!”

“All the emotions, only anger remains.”

“When was the Dragons’ last championship? Wasn’t it around when Junhyun was born?”

“Dude, stop fact-bombing...”

“But our Dragons are great at volunteer work and fan service... they just can’t play baseball.”

“In the US someday, ???: My mental secret? Thanks to the KG Dragons.”

“You’re something else, Junhyun. I’m cheering for you, bro.”

Seeing those genuine fan-like expressions brought warm smiles to Dragons fans.

‘I know that feeling....’

Today, NewBlack’s members felt especially relatable.

Meanwhile, there was one reason no matter what smear they tried, it couldn’t stick to NewBlack today.

That reason was...

“They wontttttt”

“Phew, I knew it haha (trembling)”

“The Dragons are strong”

“Who said they were weak?”

“That was us”

“Motors... did you really think you’d beat our Dragons?”

Because once they win, baseball fans don’t care about anything else.

As Dragons fans celebrated the 2–1 lead in the playoffs, posts about today’s victory charm started appearing.

[Look at that. Professor Snape is casting a spell...!]

(Junhyun clasps his hands and mumbles before a Dragons batter’s hit.)

(Again before another hit, Junhyun mumbles.)

Lip-reading guesses: 1) Fighting fighting 2) Fuck fuck 3) Jelly jelly

“Thank you so much, Professorㅠㅠㅠㅠ”

“Professor Junhyunㅠㅠㅠ”

“A new victory totem?”

“Our professor is casting a buff.”

“Becoming the victory fairy before anyone else even calls him that...”

“I love it. You should be my idol.”

“Funny how pumped he was today haha.”

“They probably worked harder because they thought they’d be roasted if they did worse than other celebrity pitchers.”

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋ first pitch (130) first swing (home run)”

“Come back and do it again, NewBlack.”

“As expected, the Dragons deliver the best output.”

The Dragons’ last championship was in ’97. Fans were overjoyed: one win away from the Korean Series.

After the game, full-length articles about the Dragons’ victory appeared on sports portals.

Naturally, they mentioned NewBlack’s pitch.

“‘Truly NewBlack-style’... the peculiar first pitch that shook Jamsil Stadium”

“‘Watch it roll~’... Back-to-Backs score a run”

“NewBlack Wooju’s ground-rule double... Players: ‘They actually did that.’”

TBC Sports quickly posted highlight clips, making latecomers laugh.

‘130 and almost a home run...?’

They were stunned by the non-amateur speed and then by Wooju’s near-home-run hit. Even the on-site casters unconsciously referred to them as players: “Both athletes played wonderfully!”

Soon the story aired on terrestrial sports news.

[National idols NewBlack threw the first pitch and swing in Game 3 of the playoffs. People said, ‘Isn’t that talent stolen from Taereung?’ Truly unexpected! Monday night sports news.]

Accompanied by sports-news BGM, they broadcast Junhyun’s blazing pitch and Wooju’s crack of the bat.

“...?”

Regular viewers rubbed their eyes.

“Why are they on there?”

“Do they ever not show up?”

“True. Wow, he throws well.”

Though the scene was extraordinary, adding NewBlack made it feel natural.

Meanwhile, at one family’s home:

“Look at that.”

“Goodness, they’re really feeding the kid well? Look how skinny Junhyun is. The poor thing’s skin and bones.”

“Why would someone so frail choose to be a singer....”

They clicked their tongues at Junhyun’s shaky appearance on TV.

When Junhyun’s grandfather popped open a beer bottle cap with his thumb, they all gasped.

“Whoaaaaa!”

They worried aloud: “Be gentle with Wooju!”

“If he hit him, Junhyun’s idol life would be over.”

But then Wooju cracked a grounder to the wall, and the family burst into warm smiles. Junhyun’s grandfather laughed heartily.

“Yes. That’s how a leader should be.”

They smiled, relieved that his life wasn’t in danger.

‘As long as he’s healthy.’

Though still frail enough to need tonic, they were happy to see their grandson, son, and nephew thriving.

While one household applauded, today’s iconic screenshots spread everywhere.

[Baseball fans vs. ordinary people.gif]

The Dragons leading, Junhyun rubbing his temple in frustration, and NewBlack beaming on the jumbotron.

“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Baseball newbies could do that haha”

“My husband’s just like that lol. He laughs at the error while I’m fuming.”

“So cute.”

“Look how Junhyun peeks at the screen while fans cheer. He’s thinking, ‘Did I do something wrong?’ haha.”

“All fandoms look comedic from afar, tragic up close.”

“The fans are mad but the muggles forgive—that applies here too.”

“Ordinary: ‘It happens.’ Baseball fans: ‘Those idiots!’”

Just as with the baseball fans, Junhyun’s fiery expressions circulated everywhere.

And the attention to NewBlack’s pitch wasn’t limited to Koreans.

The Major League homepage featured the news.

[K-POP Superstar Turns First Pitch into Home Run]

“A K-pop star who’s singer, actor, entrepreneur, comedian, and YouTuber, NewBlack, put on a spectacular show.”

“There it is!”

“I told you to search NewBlack! Every week there’s something new!”

“This week, it’s this.”

Like mystery shows digging for Hitler or UFO topics, foreign media rejoiced at the search term “NewBlack.”

As international outlets frantically searched for their story, the YouTube video buzzed with foreign viewers.

“Good job, algorithm.”

“YouTube: Here’s the video you wanted / Me: NewBlack? / YouTube: Yep.”

“Watching NewBlack again. They’re seeping in.”

“Is it hard to survive as just a singer in Korea?”

“I saw something weird in related vids. Koreans flocking to rest-area cooking like cultists. A bald guy like Lex Luthor on a banner.”

┕ Hello. I’m Korean. That’s ‘New-Back-to-Backs.’

┕ What’s the difference between NewBlack and New-Back-to-Backs?

┕ One’s people, one’s food.

┕ Oh. Makes sense.

┕ That’s YouTube for you. Meet all the fools in the world from your bed.

“128 km is about 80 mph. Wow.”

Amid the confusion, the most bewildered were—

“Knock knock. American Souffle here. What is this Ddeok-bob? I envy you Koreans fangirling in another language.”

They were NewBlack fans who’d just heard their idols hit a home run at a baseball stadium.

‘What on earth happened...?’

Watching these foreign Souffles, the Korean Souffles laughed.

“We don’t really know either... they just did it.”

“Aha. Got it.”

Neither side fully understood, but they united in warm smiles under “Because it’s NewBlack.”

After attending the game in person:

“Heaaaah...”

We collapsed on the dorm living-room floor.

“Baseball is tiring, huh.”

“My butt’s so sore. Ri Hyuk hyung, you okay?”

“Neee... I’m fine.”

I rolled around and said, “It drains more stamina than I thought.”

“It’s hard.”

With unfocused eyes, Wooju said, “It feels like the players out there did all the running.”

At first, when we ate chicken and cheered, we thought, “Baseball stadiums are so fun!”

But the game was incredibly long. The fans cheering nonstop were amazing.

Of course it wasn’t that grueling for our schedule, but—

“Ow, my cheek...”

I laughed so much my cheek trembled.

Like at awards shows, cameras everywhere forced us to guard our expressions. A single wrong shot could embarrass us.

So we lay on the floor, humming and shaking out our cheeks.

Then we looked at someone still flushed.

“Junhyun.”

“Yes.”

I saw Junhyun smiling dreamily.

“How was it?”

“I’m happy.”

“Good. As long as you’re happy.”

Earlier I thought his face might crack from smiling, but I realized even calm Junhyun loses his composure in the face of baseball.

As Junhyun pressed his hand to his cheek and laughed—

“Out! Double play~!”

A commentator’s line during the game made Junhyun nearly spring to his feet.

Ri Hyuk said with interest, “That’s an effective wake-up call. We should use it tomorrow.”

“No tomorrow for him?”

“Hey!”

We just laughed, watching the maknaes bash each other with their feet while sprawled on the floor.

It had been a fun schedule. We’d done many concerts, but never an event like this. It was new and exciting.

“Maybe next year we’ll pitch at the Korean Series?”

The managers were so hyped by the atmosphere they said tomorrow’s morning news would be all about us.

Checking the internet, we saw stories everywhere. Some giggled, others prepped for tomorrow’s schedule.

“All right, let’s wrap up today.”

We gathered in the living room to review feedback from today’s event, checking for any shortcomings.

Then the maknae, scrolling his phone, asked, “Hyung Junhyun, why did you switch from baseball to here?”

“Hmm.”

I was curious too. Junhyun scratched his cheek as if pondering.

“It just happened.”

“Didn’t any coaches try to stop you?”

“They did. But I didn’t stay.”

“Oh....”

For some reason, I pictured a chase scene. Ri Hyuk and Wooju shook their heads too.

Junhyun laughed heartily.

“That was a long time ago.”

He seemed to want to drop it, so we laughed and moved on.

He’d loved baseball so much. Even during first-pitch practice and his reunion with Song Yoonho, he seemed thrilled.

“.......”

As we chatted, I couldn’t help but notice Junhyun replaying his pitch video on his phone.

He felt a little different today.

“Well, I’m off to sleep~! Good night, everyone! Dream of me!”

“I won’t have nightmares.”

“I’d be happy if I dream of Ri Hyuk hyung.”

“...Why?”

“In dreams, hyung is my servant...!”

“Yaaaah!”

Wooju and Ri Hyuk raced up the stairs with loud thumps, and Wooju glared at me, as if saying, hurry up.

‘I need to talk to Junhyun for a minute.’

‘Okay.’

Wooju nodded and waved as he headed to his room. I headed to Junhyun’s room on the first floor.

I wanted to check if something was wrong. From experience, when someone speaks less, they need care.

“Junhyun...”

I opened the door.

“......?”

I blinked at the sight before me.

By the terrace, lying on his side like a shrimp and smiling warmly, was Junhyun.

“Hyung, you came?”

“What are you doing?”

“I was imagining what it’d feel like to live as a shrimp.”

He fluttered like a shrimp greeting me, wearing that warm smile.

“How is it?” he seemed to ask.

“.......”

Thud.

I closed the door again before I knew it.