Chapter 51

The journalists were surprised by the opening that seemed to have cost a lot of money.

‘Wow, Lemon really put in some effort.’

Judging by the quality of the CG, it wasn’t just a video made with a few pennies.

It could be compared to the level of major production companies.

‘If the highlight is good too, this could be a hit.’

While they were thinking this, the music video continued to play.

The content was simple.

Five young men are suddenly crash-landed on Earth by an unknown girl.

At first, they are bewildered by the unfamiliar environment and people, but soon they are captivated by the beautiful scenery and weather, and their guard begins to drop.

Before long, they are laughing and playing together.

It was a refreshing song, but it also had a warm touch.

Listening to it, it felt like the song was beckoning you.

Come here and play with us.

The song was approaching its highlight.

With a blue background, a member with a cool vibe began to sing in a clear high note.

The spark was already there

You just need to shine

Show your true colors

The highlight part then hit the journalists' ears.

Look over there, our firework (Firework)

Our appearance adorning the night sky

The fireworks launched into the night sky described the unique colors of each member, blending together.

With the refrain ‘Like a Firework’.

After the first verse, the journalists' fingers started moving busily, writing reviews of the music video they were watching.

Most of them were positive.

Especially those who were preparing to compare NewBlack with Street Boys were giving higher ratings to NewBlack’s song.

Of course, it was unreasonable to simply compare a hip-hop concept with a summer seasonal song.

They were completely different genres.

However, there was a fundamental difference in the new songs presented by the two groups.

NewBlack’s song had a strong sense of their own color.

Warm and joyful.

Everything, from the atmosphere of the song itself to the lyrics, fit the members like a custom-made suit.

Listening to it, you could tell, ‘Ah, this is their song.’

This aspect stood out when compared to their competitors.

The more they thought about it, the more curious the journalists became.

‘What kind of kid is this leader?’

When Jang Soo-won and "Something" came out, everyone thought it was just beginner's luck.

It was clear that they had hit a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck with the songwriter.

But listening to this song now, it didn’t seem that way.

Unlike Street Boys, who had been heavily promoted but lacked substance, this group felt genuinely talented.

Perhaps because of this, some of them looked at each other with a strange sense of anticipation.

‘Until now, idol self-composed songs haven’t achieved much success...’

Maybe this time it would be different.

They quietly waited for the main performance of "Firework," filled with countless questions.

* * *

The debut showcase proceeded smoothly.

Like any other rookie showcase, it was neither particularly good nor bad, just routine.

Questions about how NewBlack got their name, what it meant, what the members' specialties were, what interesting stories happened during the album production, who their role models were, and what the album concept was, and so on.

The main focus was on the album, just like with other groups.

The difference, if there was one, was our ease?

We had been well-prepared since "Something," so we could handle the showcase comments.

Of course, we were still nervous about the performance.

“A little nervous, but excited. Right?”

Backstage, just before the main performance of "Firework."

I smiled, and Ri Hyuk replied.

“Well, less nervous than at the music cafe. It’s doable.”

“Bro, your legs are shaking so much.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not nervous at all.”

...But his legs were trembling as he clung to his partner.

I couldn’t help but laugh at how cute it was, but Ri Hyuk glared at me, displeased.

While Biju was trying to calm Ri Hyuk down, Jung Hyun, who was loosening up, asked.

“Ri Hyuk, do you want to take a calming pill?”

“Huh? Do you have one?”

“No, I was just asking.”

The rapper’s casual words made the main vocalist’s mouth drop open.

Biju, who was checking if the members’ mic packs were properly attached and if their in-ear monitors were working, said,

“It feels more nerve-wracking than with 'Something.' Back then, I was nervous but also excited. Now, it’s a bit... scary.”

“That was after you had already become popular.”

I laughed.

“'Something' was already at the top of the charts, so you had a rough idea of how people would react. Now, we’ve only released the music video. We don’t know what the reaction will be, so it’s natural to be scared.”

“Aren’t you nervous, bro?”

“I had a good dream last night.”

Actually, I was nervous too.

I was reassured that the song was good, as the company people had told me, but I didn’t know what the journalists would think.

There was also the pressure to make a good first impression.

It was impossible not to be nervous.

But if I showed my nervousness, how anxious would they be?

It was the first time I had seen the kids so tense, their lips dry, since the year-end evaluation, so I turned the dream our Kim Deok-soon lady told me into my own.

“In the dream, I was floating in the sky. The sun and moon were shining together, sparkling. Below them, there was a mountain, and dragons were circling around an apple orchard. It’s a completely good omen.”

While the others exclaimed in delight, Jung Hyun tilted his head and asked.

“That sounds like a pregnancy dream, bro.”

“...”

Amid the laughter from the junior line, Biju wiped his face, looking like he was about to explode.

“Hey, Kim Jung Hyun, stop talking nonsense.”

“Our grandfather said that if apples and dragons appear, it’s a dream about having a son.”

While the main dancer was scolding his friend, Ji Ho, who had been yawning, asked.

“Bro, you don’t believe in superstitions, right?”

“You have to believe in them when you need to, Ji Ho. Life is about swallowing the sweet and spitting out the bitter.”

“Wow, my dad said the same thing.”

With a subtle feeling, the on-site staff called us.

“NewBlack, get ready to go on stage.”

“Okay!”

The atmosphere, which had been lightened by the jokes, quickly turned tense.

The members looked at me.

I met each of their eyes, hearing their shallow breaths, and then smiled, extending my hand forward.

“Thanks for following this demanding leader all this time.”

“We’ve suffered a lot, worrying about you.”

Ri Hyuk placed his hand on mine, and I laughed.

“Yeah. This stage will be great, so just trust me and go with it.”

“Right. Our song is good, so it will do well.”

As Jung Hyun said it would do well, the junior line showed a sensitive reaction, so I interjected.

“Yeah. Let’s do well today and break Jung Hyun’s jinx. Honestly, this is just ridiculous.”

While Jung Hyun nodded, the staff signaled for us to go on stage.

“Alright, let’s do one last cheer.”

After placing our hands together and giving a small cheer, we went on stage.

* * *

The stage was dark, with all the lights off.

The faces of the journalists, illuminated by the laptop screens, floated like ghost eggs in front of the dark stage.

We formed our positions.

With me in the center.

Biju and Ri Hyuk on either side.

Jung Hyun and Ji Ho at the wings.

I gently placed my hands on the shoulders of the two juniors, who were breathing heavily.

Three, two, one.

As the countdown ended, the lights suddenly turned on, illuminating the stage brightly.

Amid the dazzling lights, the instrumental of "Firework" began, with a variation of the highlight.

A strong and fast beat.

It was a 30-second dance break before the main performance.

We started dancing together.

The group choreography, where we came together and then dispersed, repeated a few times.

We regrouped from various spots on the stage.

Breathing heavily.

Just as we were waiting for the intro of the song in a close formation, like at the beginning.

Now, the refreshing deep house-style intro was about to play...

‘Huh?’

Something was off.

-Static.

I could feel Biju and Ri Hyuk, who were standing close to me, flinch.

‘What’s wrong with the audio?’

At first, I thought it was just static, but the audio quality quickly became bizarre.

The intro slowed down.

To about 0.4 speed.

We had already missed half the timing to start the choreography with the song playing in slow motion.

Looking down at the stage in a panic, chaos had already erupted.

The staff in charge of the audio were flustered, moving around in confusion.

What do we do?

My heart was pounding, and my mind started spinning.

What is this?

How should we handle this situation?

As the leader, I was still a rookie with only a month of experience in music shows.

We had performed at events with "Something," but I had never experienced this kind of audio accident.

I didn’t have to worry because senior Jang Soo-won was always there.

What should we do?

For 2 seconds after the audio accident, the eyes of the other four members were all on me.

When something difficult happens, they always look at the most reliable person.

The problem was that I was also flustered.

Uh...

A cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.

It was a problem that could be solved with calm thinking, but I couldn’t keep my composure in this situation.

I had been so focused on the stage movements, expressions, and other aspects that I hadn’t anticipated this at all.

My mind was blank.

It felt like my brain was stuck in a loop, like when you open Task Manager on a computer and it keeps showing ‘Not Responding.’

Just as I was panicking, a familiar phenomenon began to occur with a strange sensation.

Just like in the university hospital.

The scenery in front of me changed.

* * *

The scenery changed before I could even realize what was happening.

Distant thumping music.

I, from the past, was sitting in a shabby waiting room.

Where am I?

I was pondering when I remembered.

It was a festival site in Gangwon Province where Between had been called after their appearance at the music cafe.

“Oh, now that I think about it, it’s quite surprising.”

In front of me, Jang Soo-won was sitting with her legs crossed, eating a soufflé.

“What is, senior?”

“Well, during the 'Something' activities, there was never a single audio accident.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Not at all. Usually, it’s better to have a minor accident. It’s like a jinx; if there’s no small accident, a big one is bound to happen.”

Past me, who didn’t believe in superstitions, laughed, and Jang Soo-won gave a wry smile.

“You don’t believe me?”

“No, I do.”

While I was wondering why I was experiencing this memory, past me changed the subject.

“Senior, I have a question. What should we do if an audio accident happens? We need to know in advance to prepare for emergencies.”

When Jang Soo-won spoke, both past me and present me focused intently, listening to her advice.

Her answer was simple.

“If an audio accident happens, it’s simple. Unless it’s a major accident that could collapse the stage, you must never stop.”

“Why not?”

Past Ri Hyuk asked, not understanding.

“Shouldn’t you wait until the audio is fixed and then continue? That would be the best, right?”

“It might be the best for you, but not for the audience.”

The senior in the music industry said.

“The flow of the stage is crucial. If the audience is hyped up and then it dies down, it takes a long time to get them excited again. Unless it’s a solo concert, the given time at an event is usually not enough to recover the momentum.”

“So, you mean we should perform a cappella?”

“If you have the skills, you should. If not, it’s a different story.”

Skeptical, Jang Soo-won burst into laughter. Then she looked at us with a fond expression.

“You’ll understand once you experience it.”

With those words, the scenery in front of me changed again.

It had only been a second.

I didn’t have time to wonder why this strange phenomenon was happening.

Just before the murmurs from the audience could be heard.

With the members looking at me, I swallowed hard and took a step forward onto the stage.

Until just now, I didn’t know what to do.

But now, I knew what to do.