Chapter 78

Thirty minutes later, a post appeared on New Black's official SNS.

@The_New_Black_Official

We really enjoyed the bento you all sent! When Hyun-woo ate the military food last year around this time, he was so moved that he shed tears. Really. Jung-hyun and Ji-ho even ate an extra one. Lee-hyuk didn't leave any food for the first time.

#ThankYou #ILoveYou

After that, photos of the members eating were posted, along with long reviews of how delicious and good each dish was, as if they were food bloggers.

Fans at the scene also started uploading their own certification photos.

@IiiiII23

I was about to leave the studio, but now I get to eat chicken, thanks guys,

#I_am_becoming_a_pig_again #Diet_falling_apart

The SNS posts by New Black's fans quickly spread to the fan cafe.

- Hahahaha

- I want to spread this to everyone. Everyone, please support our kids. Let's become physically rich, not just emotionally. T_T

- Last time it was a sandwich, but today they went to the studio. Haha

- I'm at the scene, and it's really delicious... I'm giving up on my diet today.

- Chicken is a must.

- Live report) Chicken vs. Eco-bag debate

- Hahahaha

- Live report) Eco-bag wins by a landslide

- Breaking) What if the kids personally hand over the chicken?

- Breaking) 'The kids are the kids, and the chicken is the chicken'—a dramatic consensus was reached.

- Hahahaha

- Wow, is it really that good? They're frying it at the scene?

- Yeah, the company's chef came. Ji-ho's dad works at that company.

- Wow, that's amazing.

Amidst the lively chatter in the fan cafe, the publicity team of Lemon Entertainment was working as usual.

They were reviewing the SNS posts from New Black's members and turning the heartwarming stories of fans and artists exchanging gifts into press releases.

When the busy work was mostly done, the team leader spoke up.

"It's time for the final performance, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

"Turn on the TV. We should watch it live on such a day."

Someone picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

The channel number went up, moving away from the terrestrial channel where the company's actors were being monitored, and landed on 'HBS MTV,' where Showtime was being broadcast live.

While Soul Six was performing, the employees rolled their chairs to gather in front of the TV.

Soon, Soul Six's performance ended, and the final three acts began.

Unlike usual, they were in order of seniority.

"Our kids seem to be the last, but I don't think they'll be mentioned in this way."

"It's fine. There's no fan base big enough to nitpick here. Maybe if it were Teen Spirit."

"True, but still."

"While browsing idol communities, I heard that the first place in this Showtime is a historic honey pot."

Everyone gave a bitter smile, and someone asked,

"Who do you think will be first today?"

"Probably Misty. They have the largest fan base among the three. They've been rising since their last album, and their performance today isn't bad. They've even placed third in other music shows."

"True, their fans have a lot of firepower."

"Joanna could also be a possibility."

"Really?"

"Since she transitioned from a girl group to a solo artist, she has a lot of existing fans. They're a small but very core group."

"But the album sales aren't great."

However, no one thought New Black would come in first.

It was due to the objective numbers.

If it were the third or fourth week, it might have been different, but currently, their various indicators were on the lower side.

Soon.

New Black's performance of 'Fireworks' began.

"Wow."

Someone let out a sigh of admiration.

"Look at the stage quality. No wonder the broadcasting station made it the finale."

"They're really good."

"The makeup today is perfect, and the kids' expressions are amazing. Wow, this is why they feed them expensive meals, I guess."

"Hyun-woo is really going all out."

The members of New Black singing the chorus of 'Fireworks' drew admiration.

Moreover, it was a refreshing song.

"Fireworks is always good. From the first time I heard it, I thought, 'This is going to be a hit.'"

"The A&R team says it's probably because the song is good. It might not make it to the annual charts, but it will stay on the charts for a few months."

"We should promote it more when the official soundtrack of 'Night Sea' is released. It could be a double hit."

"Hey, look at the kids performing."

Someone smiled contentedly and changed the topic.

"When they first appeared in March with 'Something,' they looked so young. Now, they look so professional."

"How are the real-time reactions?"

"There's no explosive reaction, but it doesn't seem bad. There are comments asking about the members' good looks."

At that moment, someone checked a message and asked,

"Team leader, Young Daily wants to set up an interview for tomorrow. What should I tell them?"

"Put it on hold. Say they have other schedules."

While the employee nodded, another asked,

"Other schedules? I don't see any on the management team's schedule except for the music show."

"There's an unofficial schedule. We have a meeting with TBC Broadcasting."

"Meeting?"

Just as someone asked, the performance of New Black ended, and all the artists who appeared today gathered.

The countdown started from 5.

The total scores of each group quickly appeared on the screen.

- Yes! First place goes to Joanna's 'Starlight'! Congratulations!

- Congratulations!

With a squeak, confetti fell from the sky.

- Please share your thoughts on winning first place.

- Uh... Me? Yes.

The solo artist with a ponytail and leather jacket had eyes as wide as saucers.

As she regained her composure and mentioned the staff, the other artists clapped for her first win.

However, the publicity team members were not focused on the first-place speech but on what came after.

"Their expressions are really good."

"Our kids have great reactions."

"Hyun-woo must have briefed them beforehand."

Usually, the most important thing at such moments was to manage their expressions.

In the past, Sixty Seconds faced controversy when a member crossed their arms and looked displeased when TNT won first place.

Well, it wouldn't go that far.

But they were worried about unconsciously showing disappointment.

When the results were announced, and they confirmed the third place, they smiled brightly and clapped for the first-place senior artist.

Despite their high hopes.

As a publicity team member, I smiled contentedly at their professional behavior.

Just then, a loud ringtone sounded.

"Are you here? Yes, I'll go to meet you."

As Hong Da-ri got up busily, others asked,

"Who's here?"

"Oh, the mascot costumes for Myeongdong. They just arrived."

* * *

"......"

When we returned to the company, there were some monstrosities in the practice room.

"Oh, surprise."

Lee-hyuk pretended to be excited and hid behind us.

We weren't that surprised, but we showed similar reactions.

"Am I seeing things?"

"Hyung, what are these?"

"They're really ugly."

"Surely these aren't the mascot costumes we'll wear...?"

The youngest member looked at us with pleading eyes, but we had no words to offer.

I felt like crying.

We had been laughing and chatting just a moment ago.

But seeing those, all thoughts of being first-place candidates and the fun mini fan meeting flew out of our heads.

All we could think about was hoping that those things weren't the mascot costumes we'd have to wear.

The youngest member, tilting his head, said,

"Hyung, I think these aren't the ones we'll wear. If they were, there would be five of them."

There were only three costumes.

"Oh, right."

While someone muttered hopefully, Biju said,

"Maybe they're samples. We're supposed to choose one from the three."

"......"

"Why, Hyun-woo?"

"It's nothing."

Thinking it might be a hidden camera, we scanned the room for mirrors or tracks, but found nothing.

Could these people be serious?

"Let me explain each one."

Did she order them herself?

While we managed our expressions, she led us to the first one on the left and began explaining.

First, the sausage-like bald figure.

"This is a finger puppet."

"Finger puppet?"

"Yes, it's originally a set of five. From the thumb to the pinky, there are five, and you're also five."

She showed us a complete set on her tablet, but the sight made us want to vomit.

I don't know how to describe it.

"Da-ri."

"Yes?"

"Maybe it's just me, but doesn't the middle finger look a bit long...?"

While I was choosing my words, the most straightforward member blurted out,

"When they stand in a line, it looks like a middle finger, Da-ri."

"......Oh."

Da-ri looked flustered.

"You're right. I didn't think about that, but it could be seen that way."

"If there's a side member bending their knee in the choreography, it could be a disaster. There are many foreign tourists in Myeongdong... "

"I'm sorry. Actually, I didn't choose these."

She revealed the backstory.

"The CEO sent these, saying they might be useful for the mascot costumes. He wanted to contribute to the kids' performance."

"......"

"By the way, I think it's best to avoid controversial things."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Then, there's only one left. Should we order again? What about this one?"

The last one, the murderous teddy bear.

If it had a bloodstained T-shirt and a knife, it would be a perfect Halloween costume.

Why did they put teeth on a teddy bear?

It seemed to say, 'I'll chase you to the ends of hell.'

After a long awkward silence, Jung-hyun stepped forward.

"Wait a moment. I know a designer, so I'll ask them."

Jung-hyun picked up his phone and called someone. When we asked who it was, he said, "My cousin."

Is our aesthetic sense that off?

The designer praised all the costumes, saying the third one, the teddy bear, was the best for the public.

He said he'd show it to his kids.

Immediately, two children appeared on the video call.

A cute boy and girl, around seven and five years old.

"How is it?"

Jung-hyun suddenly held the teddy bear close to the screen, and immediately, a loud cry erupted.

With a screech, the presumed mother's shrill scream and excuses, and the sound of slaps, the call ended.

"......"

After a moment of silence, we asked,

"Da-ri, do you have any other options?"

"Hmm... Oh!"

She made a call, and soon, an intern from the publicity team brought down a large costume.

A chicken in a red T-shirt.

"Oh, it's cute."

We couldn't help but say it.

The chicken in a T-shirt that read 'Hoho Chicken' was genuinely cute.

"Did our dad send this?"

"Yes, your dad sent it, saying to use it if you need a mascot. It's cute, but the problem is the trademark... "

"What if we take off the T-shirt?"

"We already tried. Let me show you why it wasn't a candidate."

They took off the T-shirt.

"Hmm......"

"Ugh......"

"This chicken is too... explicit, isn't it?"

Lee-hyuk's sophisticated expression was quickly translated by the youngest member.

"The chicken is too sexy."

* * *

In the end, we couldn't choose a mascot costume that day.

When Da-ri said she would look into it again, we tried to stop her, almost vomiting.

Once we said we would look into it.

"Isn't there a lot of good stuff...?"

While checking the profiles of costumes available for rent, the youngest member sipped his caramel macchiato and said,

"But they're all too common. Fans are posting guesses on the fan cafe, and they say a teddy bear is too cliché... "

Our efforts to create a great stage had backfired.

Even for a simple mascot costume, fans were expecting something spectacular, like a parachute jump from a helicopter.

Hearing the negative comments about the teddy bear, we swallowed our tears and deleted the set of eight teddy bears from our wishlist.

"All the good ones are already rented out..."

While swallowing our disappointment and browsing the site, we heard Seok-hwan hyung calling us from a distance.

"Hey, they're here!"

He checked his phone and straightened his clothes.

We were in the TBC Broadcasting Station's internal cafe.

Seeing Seok-hwan hyung and someone walking towards us, we all stood up, tense.

The reason we had been desperately trying to relax was because of this meeting.

"Hello! We're New Black!"

"Hey, hello."

Koo Jae-young PD.

The person who created the popular variety show 'Around the World with a Dice.'

Maybe because of his high standing in the industry, he was tall and had a fierce appearance, making me flinch involuntarily.

Just as I thought he looked scary,

As soon as he sat down, he asked something unexpected.

"Before we start, I have one question."

"Yes, PD sir."

"Which member here has been in the military?"

"It's me, PD sir."

"Oh, I see. If you've been in the military, then you... "

Struggling to find the right words, he finally asked,

"Are you good at digging?"

...What kind of special feature is this?