In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Gwanghwamun Square special stage.

-Thank you!

-NewBlack’s friends, Street Boys, are coming back next week with a new album! Please look forward to it~!

Street Boys finished their energetic rap and were about to step down.

Then NewBlack members came up onto the stage, and a massive cheer exploded.

“It’s NewBlack!”

It wasn’t even the main performance, just rehearsal, but the atmosphere surged as if the real show were about to begin.

Even the police officers moving busily through the crowd stopped mid radio call and stared blankly.

“Hmm?”

Street Boys’ leader Hanjo approached Wooju, threw an arm around his shoulder, and flashed a V sign.

As if to show off to the crowd.

-What’s with him? Why’s he doing that?

Wooju, holding the mic, openly recoiled in disgust, and people burst out laughing.

“They must be really close.”

Wooju was famous for being so polite and kind that his members called him “King of Hypocrisy.”

Every time a rumor about his personality surfaced online, heartwarming stories would flood in to refute it.

Some people even said:

-Just assume all personality rumors about Sun Wooju are fake. Don’t believe in his personality, believe in his ambition.

-For real, trust Sun Wooju’s ambition.

-He’s not the type to leave something like that lying around.

-We can’t know celebrities’ real personalities, but he’s definitely not the type to leave flaws behind lol

-The only semi believable rumor was that in elementary school he drank two chocolate milks when everyone else had one.

-Two chocolate milks crosses the line ㅡㅡ

Sun Wooju never went near anything that could damage his career.

That was why he usually smiled brightly even in front of people known for bad personalities.

So the fact that he openly looked disgusted meant they were truly close. It was an expression he only showed to his members.

-Sun Wooju’s best friend Lee Hyeonjo.

-Why are you suddenly doing this?

-I’ll be going now.

-Hey.

Hanjo went down the stage with a sly grin and a V sign. Wooju blinked after him.

But only briefly.

With his sharp instincts, Wooju glanced around the audience once or twice and grasped the situation.

-Aha~

NewBlack members’ eyes sparkled as they looked at the crowd gathered at Gwanghwamun.

Biju, in a long padded coat, lifted the mic and smiled brightly.

-Did you perhaps come to see us?

“Yeeees!”

-Oh my.

Biju’s shy “Oh my” made the crowd laugh.

“It’s really NewBlack!”

They looked like tiny dots from far away, yet strangely their features seemed clear.

Partly because they were handsome, but also because people had seen them so much that their faces and gestures were imprinted in their minds.

It was as if the brain filled in what eyesight couldn’t.

-But today Glenn Davis or Hayley aren’t here......

From somewhere came a shout.

-We came to see you!!!

Laughter rippled through Gwanghwamun Square. NewBlack members looked at one another and smiled.

Junhyun scratched the back of his head.

-We didn’t expect this many people to come. We’re really embarrassed.

-Wow.

The maknae looked over the audience and spoke into the mic.

-But you cheered so well earlier. We were so impressed backstage.

“Waaaaaah!”

-Please cheer well for us today too!

Jiho winked, sending a message with his eyes.

‘Please cheer well overall today!’

‘Got it.’

The crowd nodded.

They had come mainly for NewBlack, but they understood concert etiquette.

-In that case, special service! Please enjoy Ri Hyuk hyung’s national anthem. Citizens, place your hands over your hearts......

“Seo Ri Hyuk! Seo Ri Hyuk!”

From afar, a white dot flushed red.

Unable to ignore the crowd, Ri Hyuk sighed.

-Then just one line.

“Waaaaaaah!”

Thousands were thrilled to finally hear Seo Ri Hyuk’s dolphin national anthem.

But the moment he lifted the mic with a composed expression—

The East Sea and—

Overwhelming volume.

It felt like a shockwave erupted from the main vocalist.

“Crazy.”

“Seo Ri Hyuk, you’re not human, you’re a brass instrument.”

“S-stop......”

As the massive sound wave blanketed Gwanghwamun, people raised their hands to cover their ears.

After their stage and the full cast ending rehearsal finished.

“Great work!”

Rock bands, veteran singers, rappers, idols.

They bowed to each other and came down.

“Waiting, waiting, waiting~ endless waiting~”

“Endless waiting~”

Humming along with the maknae, I put on my padded coat.

It was early November, far colder than the concert just days ago.

As if winter had kicked autumn aside and declared, I have arrived!

“I have arrived!”

I narrowed my eyes at Street Boys casually trailing us.

“Hmph.”

“Come on, just because I acted close. Friends can do that.”

“Then you should’ve acted well normally.”

“Don’t I?”

Grinning, Hanjo handed me a hot pack.

“Here.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Holding a mic bare handed in the cold wind had frozen my fingers.

Junhyun shook his hot pack—

Pop!

“Ugh!”

Black powder scattered from Junhyun’s hand.

LB marveled.

“Anything he holds becomes a weapon. Even a hot pack turns into a smoke grenade.”

Junhyun blew the powder away. Biju sighed and handed him his own.

We chatted holding hot packs with Street Boys.

“Achoo!”

“C-can we have one too?”

A six member boy group joined the hot pack gathering.

Claiming they used to play coin games in school, they shook the packs skillfully.

Huiyeon spoke first.

“We watched your concert live. Hyung.”

“Really?”

“No. Just being polite. We’re dying preparing for our comeback......”

Everyone laughed at the confession.

Apparently the concert was a hot topic even among idols.

Street Boys’ Rex asked.

“It was huge. How much did you pay to invite those people?”

“Come closer.”

Nine and six.

Fifteen leaned in and bumped heads. People nearby laughed.

Yeonhu suggested forming a scrum and put his arm around no one.

“No one’s responding. I’ll link arms with the air.”

Ignoring him, they gathered around me like penguins to keep the sound from leaking.

I told them roughly the amount.

“Whoa!”

Gasps everywhere.

“That amount’s insane.”

“Are you a mayfly of concerts? Feels like there’s no tomorrow.”

The six were °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° horrified.

“With that money, just invite us. Four hours easy. Persimmon Tree can even dance like a clown.”

“I dance well.”

Hip hop fairies demanding the money instead.

They had envied the performance earlier but now shook their heads.

We talked about the concert for a while.

“Hmm?”

Teen Spirit’s Eungeom looked around, met someone’s eyes, and bowed.

Then he asked us.

“Scarlet noonas have been hovering around. Something up?”

“No. Nothing.”

I cleared my throat.

Peeking out, I made eye contact with the four circling us. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Leader Ara and maknae Daisy spoke with their eyes.

‘Let’s talk.’

‘You’re dead.’

They couldn’t approach because of our Street Boys and Teen Spirit shield.

Hahyun narrowed his round eyes.

“Obviously. You sinned, right?”

“Rather than a sin... just......”

We showed them the video of the “NewCalet” stage from the concert.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Teen Spirit nearly collapsed.

“This is hilarious.”

“You nailed the annoying points. Should’ve gone full cross dressing.”

I would’ve turned to dust.

Scarlet circled like vultures and finally slipped away with a “We’re watching you.”

“Whew.......”

They laughed at our relief.

Brats.

They should experience it once.

Meanwhile, Scarlet’s new song I composed became a hot topic, and talk turned to B sides.

“Our B side battle’s happening too.”

Each album had a track I composed.

Teen Spirit said confidently.

“We’ll probably win the B side battle.”

“Why?”

Street Boys bristled.

“We made offerings to the Wooju Church. As thanks, we offered ten massage chairs.”

“Hohohoho.”

“What did you do? We fed this lucky charm and gave offerings.”

Hanjo whipped his head around.

“Massage chairs?”

“They sent ten to our company.”

“Ten?”

Teen Spirit shrugged.

“Isn’t it obvious? One per dorm, one per company. Five members, times two, that’s ten.”

“M-A-T-H. That’s called math, hyungs.”

“Nice calculation.”

I almost told them we already had twenty five chairs.

But I couldn’t crush their innocence.

Nor mention three were shoved into the CEO’s office.

“Anyway.”

Our meddler chimed in.

“That has nothing to do with a song’s success. It’s not logical. Just because you treat us well, the song does well?”

“Hmm......”

“Think logically.”

Street Boys nodded.

Then whispered among themselves.

“Need anything?”

“Want appliances? Got a styler?”

“Should we buy you a stone bed?”

I waved them off.

The massage chairs were received due to a multiplication mistake. If they’d known five times five was twenty five, we wouldn’t have accepted.

“.......”

The wound from Ri Hyuk stings.

“Five times five is twenty five! You idiots!”

Smiling faintly, shaking my hot pack.

“By the way......”

Gi Won asked.

“Why are we all standing here instead of going to the waiting room? My nose is about to run......”

“Oh.”

Teen Spirit answered.

“Because our close people are here?”

Street Boys replied.

“We’re here because they’re here.”

Our minions said.

“We’re here because Wooju hyung is here.”

Fifteen plus four.

Nineteen gazes fell on me.

Why was I here?

I smiled.

“I’m MC today. I’ll be going up again soon.”

“.......”

They shivered in betrayal.

A staff member called.

“Wooju, please get ready!”

“We were used......”

“Betrayed again.”

I smiled brightly.

“It would’ve been boring alone. Thanks for keeping me company.”

“.......”

“I’ll be off to MC. Goodbye everyone!”

Imitating an anime voice, I laughed and buttoned my suit jacket.

I waved at my friends.

Their eyes cursed me.

“Haha.”

Not my problem~

-Live in one minute. MCs standby.

The PD’s voice in the in ear.

HBS announcer Son Bomhee glanced at the handsome man beside her.

“He’s really handsome.”

The most handsome she’d seen at the station.

Wooju greeted politely.

“Please take care of me today, Announcer.”

“Likewise.”

He warmed up his lips.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes. Aeiou. Aeiou.”

She smiled.

‘He’ll do well again.’

Other than games, she couldn’t imagine him failing at anything.

-Standby. Ten seconds!

After the countdown, Hong Saetbyeol and Jo Yuri Band’s duet began.

Cheers erupted.

Then the camera turned to the MC desk.

Even louder cheers.

-Yes! The 2017 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Torch Relay Commemorative Concert!

-One passion, peace and future. The concert marking the opening of the Olympics has begun!

Son Bomhee delivered her lines smoothly.

Then Wooju’s turn.

White shirt, black tie.

A handsome man in a Leblanc suit lifted the mic. Cheers erupted.

-Today, distinguished guests have joined us for this Olympic concert.

‘Oh?’ she thought.

He’s good.

His voice was smooth and slightly lower than usual, giving weight and trust.

Even to a professional announcer, his pronunciation and pacing were flawless.

He had practiced intensely.

During rehearsal, he had asked detailed questions about vowel length and numbers.

Now, while she glanced between cue card and camera, he glanced briefly at the cue card and spoke as if memorized.

-The next stage is by the girl group that heated up this year. Returning with “Candy Love,” Serenity!

After the camera light went off, she turned to him.

“Didn’t we get the cue cards together?”

“Yes.”

“You spoke immediately.”

“Oh.”

“I memorized them during rehearsal.”

“.......”

“Not all. Just little by little.”

She smiled.

Whatever he did, he would succeed.

Online.

-Wooju’s hosting well

-So smooth???

-He’ll probably sniff when the camera’s off lol

-Better than expected

-Good at everything except games lol

Restaurants and spaces echoed similar comments.

“He’s good.”

“Members say his mouth skill is max level.”

Meanwhile.

-Yes. Next is... you’ve been waiting for this moment, right?

The announcer introduced the next stage.

-Recently returning after achieving Billboard No. 1. The national idol NewBlack!

Scene switch.

Members in blue fusion hanbok.

“Hello everyone!”

“We are NewBlack!”

The crowd jumped.

First song, Dokkaebi.

Then they shed their outer robes, sang METRO in shirt and tie, then Nine.

“That’s why it’s NewBlack.”

“I told you they’re good.”

Suddenly everyone was an expert.

Warm gazes turned toward the national idols.

‘They worked hard for Pyeongchang.’

They promoted Pyeongchang everywhere.

Even on American talk shows.

Then.

-Are you ready?!

As Nine shifted.

A picture perfect rearrangement.

Lemon Entertainment’s arrangement genius Kim Hyungseop’s work.

“Wait......”

Then.

“Pyeongchang~ Pyeongchang~”

Laughter erupted.

“It’s the Pyeongchang dance!”

The challenge video.

Cheesy waves.

Camera cut.

-Look at the organizers’ faces lol

-Why do they look so sentimental

-They look sad lol

Though it contributed greatly to promotion, it was embarrassing.

“Hahahahaha!”

NewBlack danced confidently.

The crowd went wild.

Foreign guests stared in culture shock.

Olympic officials smiled wistfully.

Everyone burst into laughter.