—

When Spark’s participation in IAD was first confirmed, there was exactly one thing that Lee Cheonghyeon and I had agreed on in advance. It was a discussion regarding the final stage.

This topic was officially announced during our first unofficial meeting, held to refine our mindset for the program.

"If we end up doing a live broadcast again, there’s a stage I want to do for the finale. Can I suggest it?"

"What is it?"

Kang Giyeon, who hadn’t been briefed beforehand, showed immediate interest.

"Since we’re appearing on a broadcast instead of doing second-half promotions, I want to deliver something with at least music-show-level quality."

At my words, Park Juu’s typing speed increased. Park Juu probably carried the entire group’s average typing speed on his back.

"This time, I want to fully take advantage of the fact that it’s a live broadcast with a big audience."

"So, what do you want to do?"

Choi Jeho asked. I turned to look at Park Juu as I posed my question.

"What genre do you think creates the best synergy when it feels raw and present, can capture a refreshing vibe, and truly shows off the charm of a live performance?"

Park Juu froze for a split second as if he had glitched. He looked around, saw Lee Cheonghyeon with the corners of his mouth pushed up to his ears, and wore a look of pure shock.

Then, as if reaching a sudden realization, his eyes sparkled as he shouted:

"A band...!"

In that moment, the date was set for the fulfillment of Park Juu’s long-cherished, precious wish.

—

Band practice was carried out simultaneously with IAD preparation and filming. It was incredibly difficult to keep it a secret from the fans. At least so far, no one seemed to have caught on.

For the final stage, Lee Cheonghyeon began composing the song before the IAD recordings even started.

He claimed the preparations were already done because it was a song meant for our second-half activities anyway, but I knew it couldn’t have been easy.

We didn’t just rush into it blindly, either. Since the members already had a basic grasp of their respective instruments, it was a decision made after measuring the odds dozens of times.

Nevertheless, because basic skills alone weren’t enough to reach the level of perfection we aimed for...

"Cheonghyeon, the sheet music is completely black."

"Mine is too, so just bear with it."

...The experienced members, Cheonghyeon and I, decided to play until our fingerprints wore off. For once, I was truly grateful for the synchronization feature.

And as for Park Juu? There was no need to even ask. He spent three months in a state of extreme happiness. While the other members were busy with the group reveal ceremony or the position battles, he steadily built up his strength.

He didn’t need to change his vocalization like in a musical, nor did he need to match tones with the other members. Unlike our first stage, his lines weren’t sparse. Meeting a song that fit his taste perfectly resulted in...

"...How was it?!"

During our first ensemble practice, Park Juu managed to ignite a sense of crisis in the rest of Spark.

Is it even possible for a kid who just turned twenty this year to be like this? Even if the genre is different, can his explosive power really get this great?

I wasn’t the only one flustered. While Park Juu was overjoyed, saying how cool it was, everyone else stood frozen like ice sculptures.

"Please let me sleep in the practice room today."

"Yeah, I’m sleeping here too."

Kang Giyeon and Jeong Seongbin muttered with empty eyes.

Our predictions were way off. Originally, my plan was to put both beginners, Jeong Seongbin and Kang Giyeon, on guitar to fulfill the visual flashiness expected by the audience while Cheonghyeon reinforced the sound with his keyboard. I intended to cover the drums for Choi Jeho, who was also a novice.

However, Park Juu rendered all our efforts moot. This wasn’t something that could be fixed by a few members helping each other out. Everyone had to move past the basics and reach a certain level of proficiency.

After that, it was nothing but practice, practice, practice. Lee Cheonghyeon set up a two-tier keyboard, and I changed my bass strings three times. The guitar beginners spent their time in the car pressing down on chords until their fingers developed thick callouses.

After passing through that long period of penance, today was the day.

Lee Cheonghyeon pulled up a band image on the monitor.

"Spark, let’s go for the Band!"

"Whoo!"

The meeting room became a crucible of excitement. The writers’ eyes went wide as if they were trying to send some sort of signal, but Lee Cheonghyeon’s slide moved naturally like flowing water to: "Instrument Layout Proposal on Stage (1)."

"Are you really doing a band? For real?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Yes!"

"Did you already know how to play instruments?"

"We started this year."

"There’s a huge difference between practicing and actually doing it on site. Experience is crucial for a proper band sound..."

As soon as the recording ended, Spark was showered with concern from the writers. Well, it was a provocative choice.

Still, it was a stage we’d always wanted to show our fans at least once. There would never be a better opportunity to go all-in with a band. We did our best to reassure them before sending them off.

"The finals are finally here."

Lee Cheonghyeon, who had been running nonstop, sounded oddly sentimental.

"A lot certainly happened along the way."

"I wonder if there’s a vacation after IAD? It might be hard since we had one not long ago, right?"

"Even if you get a vacation, don’t you and Kang Giyeon have to go to school?"

Choi Jeho hit Lee Cheonghyeon right where it hurt. Facing the start of a new semester, Cheonghyeon clutched his aching heart.

"You should rest a bit when school starts, Cheonghyeon. Jeong Seongbin and I will handle the album work."

"Oh right, Seongbin hyung is on leave for the next semester."

"..."

At Cheonghyeon’s words, Jeong Seongbin averted his gaze.

"Hah, my dongsaeng is a high school senior, yet the hyungs can’t even foster a proper academic atmosphere..."

"Good point. Want us to really foster one?"

I asked with full sincerity, but Lee Cheonghyeon didn’t react well.

"Cheonghyeon’s a self-directed learner, so it’s fine."

"No, as the hyungs, we should help you with your studies. Seongbin, can you add 'Study With Me' to the Dotion list?"

"No! Why do I have to study at school and at the dorm?!"

"You study on your own whenever you have free time anyway."

"Doing it voluntarily is different from /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ being forced!"

Lee Cheonghyeon shrieked. Jeong Seongbin watched his dongsaeng with a smile as he wrote "Study With Me" into the self-produced content items. Cheonghyeon collapsed onto the floor in despair.

"Is the premiere date for Exclusive Report confirmed?"

Jeong Seongbin asked while organizing the Dotion.

"Yeah. The second Saturday of September."

"That’s right after IAD ends, isn’t it?"

Tell me about it. There isn’t a day where Kim Iwol isn’t on TV.

"We have to throw a festival this time. Film self-produced content for the live premiere of Episode 1, and do a UA Company skit too!"

Lee Cheonghyeon shouted, rising from the floor.

"Why go that far?"

"When In My Office aired, we just let it pass quietly. This time we need double the fanfare."

"There’ll already be articles everywhere..."

"Hyung, stay quiet. We’re in charge of the promo."

Perhaps they were still hung up on the fact that we only promoted the OST work last time; Lee Cheonghyeon and Jeong Seongbin disappeared with a tablet, leaving me behind.

The day of the live broadcast was busy from dawn.

To be precise, it had been busy since the previous afternoon. This was because Choi Jeho’s hair had been in the process of being dyed since then.

"He has to be at the very back for the full four minutes, so we have to do something. He’s our team’s center!"

In the end, we gave him a two-tone hairstyle so he’d look pretty whenever the camera caught him. Choi Jeho’s hair follicles were as resilient as his body, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

Park Juu went through another round of bleaching to make his hair white. We judged that no color suited a "youthful, otherworldly, genius band vocal." To differentiate it from his white hair during MISSION, we added a light silver tint to the tips to give it a cold feel.

I returned to black hair. It was a color that brought peace to my mind and body. In the end, only black hair made me feel comfortable.

We even took photos together, wearing matching white T-shirts and jeans. Standing in front of the concrete walls of the broadcasting station, we really looked like fresh-faced band rookies who had just started music. It was worth the effort of searching for places that felt like a live cafe.

"The bracelets are clearly visible."

Kang Giyeon said. Lee Cheonghyeon wore a smile full of pride.

As Giyeon said, each member had a bracelet around their wrist. They were all silver bracelets of the same design.

This was the second friendship item Spark had acquired, following the all-black practice clothes that had long since worn out.

"Members, gather around for a second."

Last night, after calling all the hyungs together—including Choi Jeho, who had just come out from washing his hair—Lee Cheonghyeon had brought out six small boxes.

"What’s this?"

"Cheonghyeon is giving a gift to the members who worked hard until the final broadcast."

These bracelets were what came out of the accessory boxes Cheonghyeon opened. He handed them out one by one, light bracelets made of thin chains.

"Why bracelets all of a sudden?"

"I told you. It’s a gift from Cheonghyeon!"

For Park Juu, he put a wristband on his wrist first, then fastened the bracelet over it. It was for the hyung who didn’t really like things other than clothes touching his skin.

"Bands usually have something like this. It gives you a sense of unity."

Park Juu accepted his dongsaeng’s kindness happily without a single word of complaint. Choi Jeho, who also wasn’t fond of accessories, accepted it without a peep.

However, Jeong Seongbin and I couldn’t simply be proud of him, thinking, "Aigoo, look how much this kid has grown..."

"Cheonghyeon."

"Yeah?"

"Please tell me... are these sponsored? No, it would be a bigger problem if you got a sponsorship without telling us. No, but..."

While I was rambling, Jeong Seongbin placed a hand on Cheonghyeon’s knee. Veins popped up on the back of the leader’s hand.

"When did you spend this much money?"

Jeong Seongbin asked with a gentle smile, interrogating Cheonghyeon. Cheonghyeon avoided his gaze.

"What do you mean 'this much money'? It’s not even pure gold."

As Cheonghyeon made his excuses, Jeong Seongbin held up his own gifted bracelet with eyes devoid of light and said:

"Do you really think we haven’t been keeping up with your pictorials?"

The newest release from L’aînesse sparkled brilliantly. Park Juu turned pale and tried to take his bracelet off, but Lee Cheonghyeon desperately stopped him.