"Escape room...."

I asked while flipping through the planning brief.

"If it’s an escape room, it’s that thing, right? The one Jiho did in Hongdae with his friends and said it was a blast."

"Right. I went with friends last time."

The youngest flashed a triumphant smile.

"Well. Since my big brothers don’t really know this stuff, if I explain...."

"You solve codes and get out of the room."

"I saw it on Facebook."

"You find clues and if you get out of the room, you win, don’t you?"

The youngest had lifted a finger to speak, then casually swept his hair back like he wasn’t embarrassed, and we couldn’t help laughing.

We did know what an escape room was.

Zombie themes, crime scenes—those. In a studio that recreates a locked-room site, you look for clues and ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) collect the keys to get out.

If you gather, say, three keys, the owner watching on CCTV goes, "Get out!" and that means you’ve escaped—one of those games.

"We started researching the second the offer came up."

We’d been pulling materials ever since talk began about appearing on HBS’s hit variety show.

Biju said while leafing through the brief.

"I watched a few clips on MeTube, and it looks like this show does it really big."

"Didn’t they do the Joseon era recently?"

"Yeah. The one where they escaped from the folk village."

I typed the search term into MeTube and a flood of clips related to <From Now On, Us> popped up.

The most recent special was "Survive in the Joseon Era."

The guest stars were dressed like peddlers and getting chased by soldiers on horseback.

"Senior Lee Gangjin runs fast."

"Oh no. They all got caught by the soldiers."

"If it were Junhyun he wouldn’t have been caught."

The famous actor Lee Gangjin, who’d appeared in , was being caught by soldiers and tortured.

[tickle-tickle]

A constable was tickling his soles with willow switches and our senior was going "heheheheh, heh heh."

"If it were Wooju he would’ve laughed funnier...."

"Agreed."

With every following scene we sighed.

"I could do that better."

"In that moment you can’t break the flow like that... you have to leave a gap for the other performer to come in with a line or you lose the give-and-take."

"That’s not how you laugh on variety...."

We groaned at the clumsy variety laughs of actors who’d come on to promote their films.

Maybe because variety wasn’t their main job, they missed editing beats and laugh points a lot.

There felt like a million ways to make it funnier. It was one of those moments you feel wistful as someone in the industry.

"If the magistrate is talking, a sharp hand lift right there would make it a great edit point, then push a quick close-up."

"If it were Ri Hyuk, he’d have screamed in a higher octave there."

"All the way up to third octave."

We were naturally giving feedback like that and focusing on the video when someone’s voice came.

"NewBlack folks!"

An FD from the music show stuck his face through the door crack.

"We’ll start rehearsal now!"

"Yes...!"

And at that moment.

The five industry people who’d been monitoring the video swept each other with their eyes.

"......"

"......"

Us—in bling-bling pastel styling and a concept that was the very definition of fresh.

Only then did it hit us that we were about to perform "Coin."

"Let’s not forget."

I said, smiling.

"That we’re singers."

"Phew. Almost forgot."

"Sometimes I think we get our fields mixed up."

I nodded with the younger ones, sharing a warm smile.

Well.

People get mixed up sometimes.

The prerecording for the music show wrapped in a warm atmosphere.

Souffles’ chants were one thing, but today was a day you really felt the power of first-week sales at one million.

A first-week million nobody among domestic artists had ever achieved.

"Strictly speaking, it’s nine hundred ninety thousand. Let’s be accurate...."

"Junhyun."

"Yes, hyung."

"When you speak truth to power I, the foolish one, will drag you—mmph! Mmph!"

Maybe thanks to hitting a million.

It felt like the already good treatment had gotten even better. We could basically talk with fans at fan-meeting level.

Smiling contentedly, we got into the van.

We were headed to a Chinese restaurant nearby to wrap a pre-meeting with the <From Now On, Us> production team.

"Hello!"

When we stepped into the room reserved for us, the course dishes were already spinning round and round.

We smiled happily at the aroma of Chinese spices.

The PD and writers of <From Now On, Us> stood and bowed.

"Hello. I’m PD Yeo Hoseok, in charge of ‘From Now On, Us.’ You’ve already met our writers, right?"

"Yes. We met by video call."

We exchanged smiles with the writers who’d done the earlier pre-meeting.

A very courteous mood.

We chatted about whether the prerecording went well, how nice the weather was today, and how they’d been enjoying our recent songs.

"Every time you release a song I look it up and listen and, whew, this time ‘Coin’ is a real jackpot. We use NewBlack’s music every time we lay in BGM... and ‘Coin’ fits like a glove."

It was praise that the signature arcade-game sound made it perfect for background music.

The writers each added a word.

"‘Coin’ really seems huge. Even friends around me who don’t know idol songs are listening to it...."

"When people hear I’m a writer, my nieces and nephews always ask if I’ve seen NewBlack."

"I actually bought stuff at the NewBlack Friday event recently."

We smiled at the writers gushing that they were finally seeing us in person.

It felt like being a legendary Pokémon.

While they asked if we could maybe sign something after, Wonseok hyung smoothly refilled the PD’s teacup.

"Oh no, it’s fine."

PD Yeo, waving his hands, snatched up the kettle and filled our cups instead.

"This was a thank-you invite anyway...."

"Thank-you?"

"A thank-you for appearing."

PD Yeo said.

"<From Now On, Us> is starting to hit a plateau. We’re tussling back and forth with other networks’ shows. Hahaha. But if NewBlack comes on, won’t the ratings be a smash?"

He meant the weekly top-three swapped around, and on our episode they wanted to pull buzz and take #1.

Biju sipped his tea and smiled.

"If you hype us too much, it’s a bit of pressure, PD."

"Oh, sorry. Hahaha!"

At Biju’s gentle way of asking not to burden us, PD Yeo changed the subject.

He’d started by laying it on thick, then after gauging us, he slid into work talk.

"I was nervous coming here because you’re the most famous guests we’ve had. But you’re exactly the same as on TV."

"Hm?"

The youngest cocked his head.

"You haven’t seen us around? People say they’ve all seen us at least once since we’re always roaming around the station."

"Ah."

PD Yeo smiled.

"When NewBlack blew up, you weren’t at HBS...."

"Ah."

Soft laughs went around.

After the year-end stage incident in ’15, we hadn’t gone near the place, so he’d only heard about us by rumor.

Well.

It was only last year we really started dropping by the culture and variety departments to hang out.

"In any case, we’re really looking forward to this. We want to hit #1 in weekend variety at least once."

A note of earnestness flickered in PD Yeo’s eyes.

"We’ll set a big stage so NewBlack can shine, so we hope you’ll go all out."

"Yes. We’ll do our best."

"Then shall we get to the main topic?"

"Yes!"

We kept chatting in the warm mood.

Then I smiled at the Pavlovian minions who were gulping, waiting for my command.

‘Let’s eat.’

‘Yes!’

‘Wooooo!’

At my signal, Junhyun and Jiho happily grabbed their chopsticks.

While we each took a bite with the younger ones and smiled, the PD and writers kept talking.

"The best part of having NewBlack on is definitely this: the viewer message board won’t get carpet-bombed anymore."

"The viewer board?"

"We take guest recommendations. But on the board where viewers leave opinions, it’s like a round robin of ‘If you invite NewBlack it’ll be fun’...."

"Really?"

One of the writers showed us the board on a tablet.

I recommend NewBlack as the next guests!

Please invite NewBlack (crying) guaranteed fun

If NewBlack comes on it’ll get really fun

The other channel already got a ton out of Chief Manager Joo Sunwoo

Quiz time! Q. What do PBS and TBC have that HBS doesn’t? A. NewBlack

PD, be honest, when I think about that scene of Junhyun breaking a wall my heart flutters, am I the only one?

Requests to please invite us were written on and on.

They were posts by general viewers, not fans.

"Well, we’ll have to do well...."

"You don’t need to feel pressured. If NewBlack just does what you always do, isn’t that a hit already?"

As he said that, PD Yeo asked:

"By the way, you know our program format, right?"

"Yes, observation + escape-room variety."

"Strictly speaking, it’s closer to us giving a situation and you reacting to it."

They’d assign specific situations, and the guests would respond; the panel in the control room would observe in real time and either give hints or watch the guests and react—that was the point.

So there were missions like Survive in a bunker after nuclear war!

And Survive an earthquake situation!

"Are we doing a disaster one too?"

At the sparkle in Ri Hyuk’s eyes, the PD shook his head.

"No. Those would be too easy for NewBlack."

"For us?"

We waved our hands.

"We’re really fragile."

"I feel like even a disaster situation would be plenty for us...."

"I was so weak I took herbal tonics as a kid."

At Junhyun’s claim—eyes round—that he’d been a sickly child, the writers burst out laughing.

At our protests, the PD asked:

"Guys."

"Yes."

"You can build a hut... right?"

"We made a lot of those doing the prehistory content. Give us sticks and straw now and we can do two stories."

"And you can make fire."

"Basic."

"And you know how to make a mini purifier to filter contaminated water when it’s scarce."

"Yes."

"This is exactly why we can’t."

"Ah."

While we let out sheepish laughs, the PD gazed off into the distance.

"The key point of our show is creating a sense of crisis and urgency... and there’s very little we can do to make things hard for you. I heard Ri Hyuk even has guidelines on handling radiation emergencies."

"Ri Hyuk packs a go-bag for every overseas tour. He even tried to pack a Geiger counter for Japan."

"......You never know what could happen wherever you go."

The writers, quietly laughing, finally cracked up. Their laughter sounded much more at ease than when we first met.

In that mood, we traded glances with the younger ones and got into more concrete work talk.

"So what concept will we be doing for the special?"

"Ah. That’s a secret. We can’t tell you."

"You can tell us...."

Jiho and I said.

"Wooju and I can act a bit. We can react like we’re seeing anything for the first time."

"For real. I can cry on cue too. Left side, right side—your pick."

"Hyung. Cry once."

I let a stream of tears run down my left cheek, and the writers went heooooo, hands pressed to their lips, delighted.

The younger ones straightened their shoulders, triumphant.

Watching us with a gentle smile, PD Yeo said:

"Even so, the real reaction is different. I suppose every variety PD says this, but... there’s this so-called ‘for real’ reaction. You can’t replicate it."

"Is that so."

"If you’re really curious, how about a quick test? Look at this chili-fried chicken and act surprised."

The moment the PD lifted a piece of chili-fried chicken with his chopsticks, Jiho and I went "Gaaasp!" with believable shock.

"Uwaaah, what is that!"

"Aaagh!"

It was fairly convincing.

A startled waiter came in to ask if something was wrong. The PD smiled, satisfied.

"Not bad."

"Great, then maybe give us a hint at least about the concept...."

"Before that, watch this."

"Sorry?"

On the phone in the PD’s hand, our music video was playing.

We were watching the part in "Coin" where Ri Hyuk winks with one eye and gives a sweet smile when—

"Aaaaaaah!"

A ghost with a face glowing blue shrieked across the screen.

"Yikes!"

"Gah!"

"Huaaaah! Mommm! Wooju hyeooong! Daaaad!"

Exclamations of pure surprise—something acting can’t fake—spilled out of us.

The youngest and Ri Hyuk clung to me from either side.

Only Junhyun propped his chin like he was amused. Biju hid behind him and peeked out.

Waving our hands like "there, there," PD Yeo spoke with a warm smile.

"You see? As you saw, a genuine reaction is different from acting."

"......"

"We ask all guests to understand in advance that we don’t reveal the concept beforehand."

He spoke with a gentle smile, but something in his impression felt a little changed.

A calm kind of madness.

"By the way. I recall hearing through the writers that you said, ‘As long as it’s fun, scary is fine in any amount.’ Is that right?"

"Yes, as long as it’s fun...."

"Then you can look forward to it. Hahahaha. Leave it to me! I’ll excavate a totally new side of you."

Only then did something surface in my memory.

I opened my mouth.

"PD."

"Yes."

"I think I saw this before... the title of the program you did before <From Now On, Us>...."

"Ah. You mean my previous work. Haha."

PD Yeo smiled and said:

"It was called <Horror Tales of the 21st Century>."

"......"

"Is something wrong?"

I could see the last gram of blood drain from Ri Hyuk’s already pale face.

The younger ones and I wilted like overcooked greens.

This is... probably doomed....

HBS Public Hall.

A long line had formed in front of the massive room used only by the top acts.

Live broadcast soon.

Before that, there was someone they had to pay respects to.

—You don’t have to come.

NewBlack had certainly said that.

If you’re busy, you really don’t need to come say hello. We won’t remember faces just because you didn’t.

But for junior artists, that was a meaningless statement.

"What are you talking about? We’ve at least got to make an impression!"

"We have to etch our name in, Wet Tissue...!"

"If not now, when will we see NewBlack."

They were a fascinating celebrity, sure, but more importantly, they were someone whose faces needed to be etched in memory.

They were the senior group reigning like kings over the music scene right now.

There was no downside to stamping an impression or getting the name known. And besides....

"It’s only NewBlack inside, right?"

"Probably."

When NewBlack was making a comeback, there weren’t many other big groups. Agencies avoided the timing for fear of getting buried.

So the middling rookies stood in line, awkwardly greeting one another.

"Come in."

While a manager with a tense face opened and shut the door like a doorman, we heard booming greetings inside.

"Hoo."

Gwak, the leader of Wet Tissue, gathered his teammates.

"Don’t get nervous. Let’s say hello properly and come out. It’s not our first time meeting NewBlack."

"Hyung, what if the seniors talk to us?"

"I’ll answer. You just stay quiet."

They were even rehearsing lines—who would hand over the CD—when—

"Come in."

The members of Wet Tissue went in with rigid faces, shaking.

"Mo-Mo-Moisturizing! Hello! We will be your moisture! We are Wet Tissue!"

"Yes, long time no see."

Just when the gentle greeting from Senior Wooju loosened their nerves a bit—

"Mm...?"

Wooju and the other four members looked different from usual.

For some reason their cheeks looked a little hollow.

Maybe because of dark circles under their eyes, even while smiling they looked weary.

"As expected, when you’re a top group the schedule really...."

Thinking that, the Wet Tissue members tried to hand over the CD quickly and slip out so the seniors could rest.

But....

Their eyes landed on the messy memos strewn across the table.

—types of scary things

—types of Western ghosts

—exorcism

—how not to flinch even when you see scary things

Stopping short at those lines on the memos, the Wet Tissue members gave awkward goodbyes and left the room.

They whispered:

"Are the seniors preparing something?"

"Wouldn’t it be for the next album? Looks like they’re coming out with a ghost concept. Like ‘Dokkaebi.’"

"Jackpot...."

And so the rumors spread from the idols who’d visited the waiting room, including Wet Tissue.

The moment when the word went out that NewBlack’s next album would be ghost and occult.