In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Chapter 51

The reporters were surprised by the flashy opening that looked like a lot of money was invested.

‘Wow. Lemon really went all out.’

The CG quality was not that of a cheap music video.

It was comparable to a big-name agency.

‘The internet reaction will be good, right?’

They momentarily stopped typing their articles to watch the video.

Five boys lying on a foreign sandy beach.

They looked confused.

They didn’t know where they were, why they were here, and who these people in front of them were.

Soon, the face of the leader, Seon Woojoo, was zoomed in.

The video effects and his mysterious expression made some of them gasp silently.

Where am I right now

Strange sea strange air

Where are you

I woke up in a remote place

Then, the youngest member with a cute appearance, Wang Ji-ho, appeared.

The introduction of the two members who were good at facial expressions ended, and the atmosphere of the reporters changed.

They became more serious and evaluative.

The music video quality was good, but the song itself was good too.

Even considering that their expectations were low from the start, New Black’s debut song was beyond expectations.

The reporters were experts as well, since they had been in the entertainment industry for a long time.

They naturally developed a sense of what songs were good and what songs would do well, after listening to idol songs and attending showcases every day.

This song was a pass.

‘If the highlight is good too, it will be a hit.’

As they thought that, the video continued.

The plot was simple.

Five young men crash-landed on Earth by an unidentified girl.

At first, they were bewildered by the unfamiliar environment and people, but soon they were captivated by the beautiful scenery and weather, and their guard towards each other faded.

They started to laugh and play together.

The song was refreshing but also had a warm touch.

It felt like the song was inviting them.

Come here and play with us.

The song reached the highlight.

A member with a cool vibe and a blue background started to sing a high note.

The spark was already there

You just have to shine

Show your true colors

Then, the highlight part hit the reporters’ ears.

Look at that, it’s our firework (Firework)

Our appearance that decorates the night sky

Fireworks shot up in the sky, showing the different colors of the members.

Along with the chorus, ‘Like a Firework’.

The first verse ended, and the reporters’ fingers became busy. They wanted to upload their evaluations of the music video they just watched.

Most of them were positive.

Especially those who were preparing articles comparing them to Street Boys, they gave New Black’s song a higher rating.

Of course, it was unfair to compare a hip-hop concept and a summer season song.

They were completely different genres.

But there was an essential difference between the two songs.

New Black’s song had their own color.

Warm and cheerful.

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

It made them think, ‘Ah, this is their song’.

This was noticeable when compared to their competitors.

That made them more curious.

‘Who is this leader guy?’

When he came out with Jang So-won and the song Something, everyone thought it was beginner’s luck.

He had met the opportunity of a lifetime as a composer.

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

Unlike Street Boys, who had a lot of promotion but not much substance, this group seemed to have real talent.

Maybe that’s why.

Some of them had a strange anticipation in their eyes, shining brightly.

‘There has never been a great success for an idol’s self-composed song…’

They quietly waited for the main stage of the fireworks, wondering if this time would be different.

Along with countless questions.

***

The debut showcase went smoothly.

It was just like any other showcase for rookies, nothing too good or bad.

They asked about the team name New Black, what it meant, what the members’ talents were, what funny episodes they had while making the album, who their role models were, what the album concept was, and so on.

The main topic was the album, just like any other group.

The difference was our relaxed attitude.

We had trained so hard for Something that we could handle the comments at the showcase.

Of course, we were still nervous on stage.

“I’m a bit nervous, but excited. Right?”

Backstage, before the fireworks main stage.

I smiled and asked, and Ri-hyuk answered.

“Well, I’m less nervous than at the music cafe. It’s manageable.”

“Hyung, your legs are shaking like crazy.”

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

…He said, but his leg that he propped up was trembling.

I laughed because he was cute, but he glared at me.

While Bi-ju was relaxing Ri-hyuk’s nerves, Jung-hyun, who was warming up, asked.

“Ri-hyuk, do you want a mint or something?”

“Huh? Do you have one?”

“No. I was just asking.”

The rapper said casually, and the main vocal spat fire from his mouth.

Bi-ju, who was checking the mic packs and in-ears on the members’ waists, said.

“I feel more nervous than at Something. Back then, I was nervous but also excited. But now, I’m a bit… scared.”

“That’s because we were already popular then.”

I laughed.

“Something was already number one on the charts, so we had a rough idea of how people would react. But now, we only released the music video. We don’t know what kind of response we’ll get, so of course we’re scared.”

“Are you not nervous, hyung?”

“I had a good dream last night.”

Actually, I was nervous too.

I was relieved that the company people said the song was well-made, but honestly, I didn’t know what the reporters would think.

There was also the pressure of having to button up the first button well.

I couldn’t help but be nervous.

But if I was nervous too, how anxious would they be?

This was the first time I saw them so tense that their lips were dry since the end-of-year evaluation, so I borrowed the dream that Mrs. Kim Deok-soon told me yesterday.

“I was floating in the sky in my dream. And the sun and the moon were both up at the same time, shining brightly. And there was a mountain below, and dragons were flying around the apple farm. This is a lucky dream, you know.”

The others oohed and aahed, but Jung-hyun tilted his head and asked.

“Isn’t that a conception dream, hyung?”

“…”

The youngest line burst into laughter, and Bi-ju wiped his face with a look of despair.

“Ah, stop talking nonsense, Kim Jung-hyun.”

“My grandfather said that apples and dragons mean a son’s dream.”

While the dancer was scolding his friend of the same age, Jihyo opened his eyes wide and asked.

“Hyung, I thought you didn’t believe in superstitions.”

“You have to believe when you need to, Jihyo. Life is easier when you swallow the sweet and spit out the bitter.”

“Wow, my dad said the same thing.”

I felt a strange feeling, and the staff called us.

“New Black team, get ready to go up.”

“Yes!”

The mood that was loosened by the joke was gone, and the tension came back.

The members looking at me.

I heard their faint breaths and met their eyes one by one. Then I smiled and reached out my hand.

“You guys worked hard following the leader who was always against you.”

“We worked really hard, making us worry.”

Ri-hyuk put his hand on mine and said, and I laughed.

“Yeah. Let’s trust me and go for this stage. It’ll be great.”

“That’s right. Our song is good, so it’ll be good.”

When Jung-hyun said it’ll be good, the youngest line tried to react sensitively, but I intervened.

“Yeah. Let’s break Jung-hyun’s jinx today by doing well on stage. Honestly, this doesn’t make any sense.”

While Jung-hyun nodded his head, the staff gave us a signal to go up.

“Okay, let’s cheer up one last time and go.”

We all put our hands together and shouted “fighting” softly.

Then we went up to the stage.

***

The stage was darkened by all the lights.

The faces of the reporters, illuminated by the laptop lights, floated like egg ghosts in front of the stage where we stood in formation.

In the center, I was the focus.

On both sides, there were Bi-ju and Ri-hyuk.

On the wings, Jung-hyun and Ji-ho stood.

I gently placed my hands on the shoulders of the two younger brothers who were breathing hard next to me.

Three, two, one.

As the countdown ended, the lights turned on with a bang and brightened up.

In the dazzling light, the MR came out with a variation of the highlight of the fireworks.

A fierce and fast beat.

It was a 30-second dance break that we would show before the main stage.

We all gathered together and started dancing.

The choreography that came together and scattered a few times.

We, who were scattered around the stage, gathered again.

Our breathing was ragged.

In a close state like the first time, we waited for the intro of the song.

Now the refreshing deep house-style prelude would come out…

‘Huh?’

Something was wrong.

-Zzzt.

Bi-ju and Ri-hyuk, who were pressed against me, flinched.

‘Why is the sound like this?’

At first, I thought there was a crackling noise mixed in, but soon the sound condition started to change strangely.

The prelude slowed down.

About 0.4 times.

With the song going in slow motion, we missed half of the timing to start the choreography.

In a hurry, I looked down at the stage and saw that it was already a mess.

The staff in charge of the sound were running around with panicked faces.

What should I do?

My heart was pumping and my head started to spin.

What the hell.

What should I do in this situation?

I’m a leader, but I’m also a rookie who has only a month of experience in music broadcasting.

I did some events with Something, but I’ve never experienced this kind of sound accident before.

There was always Sunbae Jang So-won, a pro singer, by my side, so I didn’t worry.

What should I do?

Two seconds after the sound accident, the eyes of the other four were all directed at me.

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

The problem was that I was also confused.

Uh…

A drop of cold sweat ran down the back of my neck.

I could have found the answer quickly if I thought calmly, but I didn’t have the mind to be calm in this situation.

I was only focused on other aspects, such as stage movement, expression, etc., and I didn’t expect this at all.

My head was blank.

It was like opening the task manager on a computer and seeing no response from Seon Woojooju’s brain.

As I was panicking.

A familiar phenomenon began to appear with a strange sensation.

As it had been at the university hospital.

The scenery in front of me changed.

***

The scenery changed without me noticing what was going on.

The thumping music sounds from afar.

The past me was sitting in a shabby waiting room.

Where is this?

I was wondering, but I soon remembered.

It was the scene of a festival in Gangwon-do that we were invited to after Between performed at a music cafe.

“Oh my. Come to think of it, it’s amazing.”

Jang So-won was sitting cross-legged in front of me, eating a souffle.

“What is it, sunbae?”

“No, it’s just that. There was never a sound accident while we were doing Something, right?”

“Isn’t it better to have nothing?”

“Not at all. It’s usually better to have something happen at least once. It’s like a jinx, you know. If there are no minor accidents, a big one will surely happen.”

I laughed, not believing in such superstitions, and Jang So-won gave me a sly look.

“You don’t believe me?”

“No, I do.”

I wondered why I was experiencing this memory, unlike when I was with Professor Choi Yongjae.

I changed the topic.

“Sunbae, I have a question. What should we do if there is a sound accident? I think we should hear your advice beforehand, so we can prepare for emergencies later.”

As Jang So-won opened her mouth, I focused my attention on her words, both in the past and in the present.

Her answer was simple.

“It’s easy if there is a sound accident. Unless it’s a major accident that collapses the stage, you must never stop.”

“Why?”

Ri-hyuk asked, not understanding.

“Isn’t it better to wait until the sound is restored? That seems like the best option.”

“That’s only the best for you.”

The Sunbae in the music industry said.

“Stage flow, you can’t ignore that. The audience was excited, but then they cool down. It takes a long time to get them back to that level. Maybe if it’s a solo concert. But usually, you can’t even fill the time given at the venue.”

“Then do you mean we should do it acapella?”

“If you don’t have the skills, I don’t know, but you should do it even without accompaniment.”

“Wouldn’t that be awkward? It would be weird.”

As we hesitated, Jang So-won laughed. Then she looked at us as if we were cute.

“You’ll know once you experience it.”

With that, the scenery in front of me changed again.

The past time was one second.

I had no time to question why this strange phenomenon happened in front of me.

Just before the murmurs from the audience reached me.

As the members looked at me, I swallowed my saliva and took a step forward.

I didn’t know until a moment ago.

But now I knew what I had to do.