In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Because of the gas storage tanks, jumping is prohibited at Kyocera Dome.

As we stood there full of worry, a Kyocera Dome staff member smiled brightly and said,

"Don’t worry. That won’t happen."

"Why not?"

"Because it’s never happened even once!"

What a truly comforting answer.

This building won’t collapse. Why? Because it has never collapsed.

Faced with that invincible logic, Ri Hyuk looked like his eyes were about to roll back.

"I can’t do this. I can’t perform here."

"Calm down, Ri Hyuk."

"Ughhh... I’m really scared of stuff like this."

While patting the trembling Ri Hyuk to comfort him, we followed the staff member.

Biju nudged Junhyun in the side, who had his arm around Ri Hyuk’s shoulders, giving him a look that said, say something nice.

"It’s okay."

Junhyun said to Ri Hyuk in a gentle voice.

"If it explodes, it’ll all be over in an instant anyway. You won’t even know it happened."

"......."

"Everything depends on fate......."

At Junhyun’s Buddha-like, benevolent smile, Ri Hyuk massaged his temples, and Biju let out a small sigh.

As we followed the staff member, Teen Spirit’s words kept echoing in our heads.

-If you want to die, then jump. Hahaha!

......I won’t let those brats off when we go to record. Not a chance.

Just as I was waving my hand, feeling like I could hear cackling laughter from somewhere.

We entered the venue, weighed down by worry and anxiety.

"This is it."

The Kyocera Dome staff member gestured.

"Kyocera Dome."

And the first Japanese dome we ever saw was.......

"Wow."

"Whoa... I’ve got goosebumps on my arms."

"This is insane."

It was unbelievably massive.

Was there any solo venue we’d ever performed in that was bigger than this?

The endlessly soaring ceiling gave the impression of stepping into a gigantic temple.

The sound echoed like a cavern, and countless seats welcomed us.

"Wow......."

We looked at each other.

What the neighbor boys had told us a few days ago came back to mind.

-Even if you’re scared, the moment you step into the dome, you’ll get chills all over your body.

They were right.

"Le-let’s at least go up on stage. Together."

Ri Hyuk, who had been whining that he couldn’t do it just moments ago, ran ahead with a dazed expression.

"Hyung! Come on!"

Jiho followed after Ri Hyuk, and we ran too.

From behind, we heard the managers laughing and shouting, "Careful!"

"Wow......."

The moment we stepped onto the stage via the backstage stairs.

With the open view before us, tens of thousands of seats came into sight all at once. A true spectacle.

"Woooooah!"

Biju screamed with his hands cupped around his mouth. Then, smiling widely, we hugged each other and shared the joy.

"It’s a dome!"

"A dome!"

"A real dome, better than red sea bream!"

So this is a dome.

Now I understood why singers cry when they finally enter a dome on a Japan tour.

It wasn’t just the joy of achieving a goal—the venue itself inspired awe.

Biju pointed toward the seats.

"Imagine Dalbong filling all of that, hyung."

"That’d be insane..."

"The stage is huge too. We’ll probably have to spread out a lot with just five of us. The runway is really long."

Proportional to the venue’s size, the stage was long and massive as well.

Two days of concerts—it was going to be intense. Just getting to the runway would probably take dozens of seconds.

While an excited Biju bounced around taking selfies with Jiho, I walked over to Junhyun, who was shading his eyes and gauging the distance.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking at the seats."

For some reason, Junhyun seemed excited in a different way.

"Did you think of something fun?"

"I was thinking how exciting it’d be to watch baseball here. It’s a baseball stadium originally."

"Oh. Right."

"I was kind of jealous. Thinking, people watch baseball in a place like this."

When it comes to performance venue culture, there are definitely times when Japan is enviable.

We do have places like the Sangam World Cup Stadium that can hold up to 60,000 people, but when it comes to the number and quality of large venues suitable for concerts, Japan is far ahead.

"Should we make money later and build a venue ourselves?"

"Should we?"

"A dome. Call it the NewBlack Dome."

"Then I’ll have to buy a baseball team. Rename it from KG to the Junhyun Dragons."

Junhyun and I burst out laughing.

That reminded me of something I’d momentarily forgotten because of the word “baseball.”

"Ri Hyuk!"

"What?"

"They do baseball games here too."

"So?"

"They sing the national anthem at baseball games. When you rehearse your solo later, try some image training in your head."

"Good idea."

Ri Hyuk nodded readily.

After taking commemorative selfies on the empty stage with the members and filming VCR messages for the fans.

We were called over again by the Kyocera Dome staff before rehearsal.

"Hand printing?"

At our question, the staff member nodded.

"On the second floor of Kyocera Dome, we display handprints of famous stars who have visited."

"Oh......."

"Think of the handprints displayed on Hollywood Boulevard. That’ll make it easier to understand."

As an example, they showed us TNT’s handprints displayed on the second floor.

Palms imprinted, with Taehyun having drawn a cute little heart next to his.

"I can’t lose. I’ll draw an even prettier heart."

"Please don’t get competitive over weird things."

"I’ll draw a tomb mural."

Soon, the staff brought out the boards for hand printing.

As we prepared to place our palms, the Japanese staff gave instructions.

"Please press firmly. Since it requires some strength, you have to press very firmly for the print to come out well."

Just as we were about to press down hard.

Crack!

Junhyun put in too much force, and his hand punched straight through the board. It felt like drilling through the mantle and hitting the outer core.

"......."

Junhyun blinked and glanced around awkwardly.

"You told me to use force......."

"Junhyun, just... a bit more gently would be fine."

In the end, Junhyun got a new board.

While we happily did our handprints, the staff also gave us something like toothpicks.

They said we could write any phrase or message we wanted.

While the lackeys wrote things like "Souffle♡," I took a deep breath and moved my hand quickly.

"Ooooh!"

Poke poke poke poke poke!

Like someone carving sugar candy, I engraved my masterpiece into the plate.

"Good heavens......."

"At this level, you could’ve entered the animation industry."

Poke poke poke poke!

Good thing I’d watched videos of world-famous woodblock artists beforehand.

I carved in a stylized illustration of our characters, then wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"So? What do you think? My masterpiece."

The watching lackeys and staff applauded with satisfied smiles.

On each of my fingers, tiny illustrations of the lackeys popped up.

The maknae asked,

"Painter Sun Wooju."

"Yes."

"What do the younger brothers on each finger symbolize? That no finger you bite doesn’t hurt? Precious younger brothers like your own fingers? Does Ri Hyuk hyung being on the middle finger mean something else?"

"Heh heh heh. Not at all."

I held up my palm and declared,

"It means you’re all little runts living in the palm of my hand!"

"......."

"Hahaha! Ow!"

Smack! Smack!

The lackeys charged at me with clenched jaws, smacking my back as everyone around burst into laughter.

NewBlack’s final performance in Japan.

To see that finale concert, Japanese Souffles began to gather in Osaka.

"Oh my."

A familiar Korean exclamation.

A Souffle studying abroad in Osaka, Kim Charcoal, rode the subway escalator up and marveled.

[Kyocera Dome Osaka]

Kim Charcoal’s eyes widened.

‘I’ve lived in Osaka all this time, and this is my first time here.’

As she reached the top of the escalator, Osaka Dome came into view.

And then.

"Wow......."

It looked like every Souffle in Japan had gathered there.

Seeing the crowd already swarming around the dome, Kim Charcoal admired the Japanese fans.

‘Japanese fans really don’t hide it. They’re decked out in merch head to toe.’

As she walked carefully, nearby Japanese Souffles cast sparkling glances her way.

‘A Souffle from the homeland.’

‘She’s carrying two king lightsticks under her arms. Incredible muscles. Developed deltoids.’

‘She’s even wearing the Daegil T-shirt!’

Noticing their stares, Kim Charcoal pouted.

‘......What. Are they staring because I’m Korean?’

Then she got in line to buy merch.

Something unusual caught her eye.

[No Jumping!]

Even Osaka police were walking around holding [No Jumping] signs.

The signs were posted everywhere.

When she asked locals, she was told they always do that when there’s a big concert.

‘No jumping. Confirmed.’

She didn’t know why, but if they said not to, then not doing it was basic courtesy.

After buying a pile of merch and entering Kyocera Dome, Kim Charcoal looked up at the high ceiling and toward the stage.

"The ceiling is insanely high......."

She’d heard the acoustics weren’t great.

Thinking that, she breathed in the cool, distinctive concert hall air when—

"Are you Korean?"

The Japanese Souffle sitting next to her showed interest.

"Ah... yes. Are you Korean too?"

"I’m Japanese. I studied Korean hard to watch NewBlack videos."

"Oh!"

"My favorite is Seo Ri Hyuk."

"Huh? Me too!"

The awkwardness vanished instantly.

They high-fived, and as she excitedly talked about Ri Hyuk with her newfound concert buddy.

The show began, and her endorphins and adrenaline shot through the roof.

‘This is insane!’

The centrally controlled lightsticks rippled across the entire venue, and NewBlack’s Nine exploded onto the stage with the dancers, drawing screams.

"Grrr... wooooah!"

"Kyaa... wooooah!"

This is a concert.

This is a performance.

She bounced on her feet, waving her lightstick. The only regret was her seat.

‘They look like dots.’

Beautiful dots, if anything.

NewBlack could’ve put stand-ins on stage and sung from backstage, and no one would’ve known.

That was why she was endlessly grateful for the big screen.

"Riiiii Hyuuuuuk!"

"Ri Hyuk-kuuun!"

"Kyaa... waaah!"

When it was Ri Hyuk’s turn during the greetings, Souffles who favored the main vocal went wild.

Ri Hyuk, already drenched in sweat, looked adorable like cotton candy.

Avoiding the eldest hyung’s hand trying to gently brush hair from his forehead, Ri Hyuk grabbed the mic.

-I’m truly happy to be here at Osaka Dome. Are you happy too?

"Yes!"

-Unfortunately, jumping is prohibited at today’s concert. So even if you’re excited, cheer with your ears, your voices, and by waving your hands!

"Yes!"

-No jumping!

From then on, every time it was his turn to speak, NewBlack’s main vocal reminded everyone not to jump.

-This song was my solo stage, but since jumping is prohibited.......

-You can’t jump, but you can wave your hands!

-Even if I tell you to jump, don’t do it.

Souffles smiled warmly.

‘He’s scared the gas tanks might explode. Ri Hyuk.......’

‘Our kid’s mentality is like ricotta cheese.’

‘Scared Ri Hyuk is cute.......’

On the first day.

The real-time SNS trend started by Souffles who attended the Osaka Dome concert was:

‘Number of times Ri Hyuk shouted no jumping: 53.’

The dome concert felt even better than I’d expected.

"Woooooah!"

It was incredible.

It was the first time we’d ever performed solo in front of this many people, and I was hyped the entire time.

Now, the very last segment of the final concert.

"Ready?"

"Yes!"

"Move carefully!"

"Yes!"

Because the venue was so huge, Souffles looked like fireflies unless you were close.

So we borrowed equipment often used at dome concerts.

The flying stage.

A platform that lifted up and moved toward different sections of the audience.

Climbing the moon at midnight

You cast a spell on me

Ri Hyuk, dressed like Tinker Bell, sang Hailey’s part, and cheers erupted.

It was a fan event segment.

Halloween was still far away, but we sang Blue Moon with a pre-Halloween concept.

"Kiiiyaaah... woooo!"

The maknae, wearing a Gryffindor scarf, pushed up his glasses and hit the high notes.

Junhyun, draped in a No Face cloak, wiggled his body, drawing laughter everywhere.

Biju, who had a fear of heights, sat in front of the candy house wearing a red hood.

"Ohohohoho."

And I, dressed as the witch from Hansel and Gretel, stood atop the candy house on the flying stage.

"Children who are picky eaters shall be turned into candy!"

I cackled, then focused and sang my part.

Then I cackled again and waved.

It must have been hilarious, because Souffles burst into collective laughter as Blue Moon continued to play.

"Early Halloween!"

"Thank you so much for coming to today’s concert!"

We tossed the candy from our baskets into the air.

As we shouted Trick or Treat, Souffles cheered and bounced— 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"No jumping!"

Ri Hyuk shouted urgently, tossing candy.

Amid that atmosphere, our flying stage slowly swept across the audience.

And then.

"Uh......."

Maybe we’d thrown too much candy in excitement—my hand grasped at empty air in the basket.

I looked to the other members for help, but the lackeys were just as flustered.

‘This was enough during rehearsal......!’

‘Uh oh.......’

The audience reached out with desperate eyes, shouting that Souffles needed candy.

Our stock of special NewBlack logo candy was gone.

It felt like telling a regular café customer, ‘We’re out of beans,’ after they came just for that.

"......!"

The lackeys looked at me urgently.

The flying stage was still moving, Souffles still reaching out, asking what we should do.

My heart raced.

Then a voice surfaced in my mind.

-Pork stir-fry? We’re out of that, but how about bulgogi and kimchi stew? I’ll make them really well.

Kim Deoksun, warmly smiling as she offered other dishes to regulars who came only for pork stir-fry.

That was it.

If there’s no candy, give them something else.

‘Let’s see.’

I ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) hefted the basket to gauge its weight, then lightly tossed it to the Souffles.

"Woooooah!"

But there were only five baskets.

As Blue Moon played on, the lackeys and I locked eyes.

"......!"

And at the same time, our gazes turned.

Toward the candy house.

‘Noooo!’

Kim Charcoal screamed.

‘I want one too!’

She saw people in the front rows cheering, clutching handfuls of NewBlack candy.

She’d felt safe seeing the huge baskets like Santa’s sack, but she’d underestimated NewBlack’s massive hands. Moderation had never been their thing.

‘I want candy too.......’

She stomped her feet in frustration.

But then!

"Huh?"

The members threw the baskets to the Souffles.

With a roar, one Souffle grabbed a basket and struck a triumphant pose as applause erupted.

Then the members moved quickly.

‘Huh? Junhyun?’

The candy house, built from styrofoam panels.

Junhyun and the members approached and began smashing the styrofoam into pieces. Hugging armfuls of styrofoam chunks, they started throwing them.

Candy house demolition!

As pieces of the candy house rained down, Souffles cheered and laughed.

-Candy house! Take this!

-It’s not candy, but still......!

-Take it!

As the members’ warmth spread, the candy house gradually lost its shape.

Smiling brightly like Hansel and Gretel after defeating the witch.

That was when Kim Charcoal burst out laughing.

"Whoa!"

A chunk of candy house thrown by Seo Ri Hyuk.

To catch it, Kim Charcoal tensed every muscle and let out a roar.

"Kraaah!"

At the surrounding looks of ‘don’t,’ she puckered her lips cutely.

"Waaaaah!"

But screaming cutely caused her to lose focus.

That was the problem.

Flailing her arms, she accidentally swung the hand holding her lightstick.

Thud!

A sound like a ball hitting a bat.

The styrofoam chunk struck Dalbong and flew back toward NewBlack.

‘Oh—!’

Junhyun caught it neatly and gave a thumbs-up, praising the swing.

‘No, that’s not it! No!’

Japanese fans around her burst out laughing.

As the stage drifted farther away and she reached out in despair, tears welling up.

Seo Ri Hyuk noticed the sad fan and removed the Tinker Bell wings from his back, handing them to Junhyun.

‘Huh......?’

Kim Charcoal’s eyes went wide.

Junhyun struck a baseball pitcher’s pose and lightly tossed them.

The wings fluttered like a butterfly and landed against her chest.

Plop!

When she came to, Ri Hyuk’s wings were in her arms.

"H-holy crap!"

So shocked she nearly stopped breathing, Kim Charcoal raised the wings like Simba.

Japanese Souffles around her gaped in awe.

‘I should’ve batted it too!’

‘That was a real home run. A grand slam.......’

Enjoying the jealous looks, Kim Charcoal screamed.

"Kyaaaah!"

A home run earned with a single swing, winning Seo Ri Hyuk’s wings.

That day, Kim Charcoal earned the nickname:

‘Osaka Dome Cleanup Hitter Number 4.’