Lucas, playing Dracula, wiped his mouth and asked,

"Billboard?"

"Yes."

"You mean the Billboard Music Awards I’m thinking of? The one with singers like Hailey Blue and Cold Brown?"

"Yes. That Billboard."

A brief silence fell.

While the army stew simmered with a cheerful burble, the theme-park actors stared, dazed.

Biju blinked and asked,

"Isn’t that good news?"

This felt like the moment for a big “wow!”, arms slung over shoulders, maybe even a cancan kick line.

But the Americans were still looking at us with empty, stunned faces.

Ri Hyuk whispered,

"I think we said it way too casually."

"Did we?"

"Honestly, if someone suddenly asked me to share the stage at the Billboard Music Awards, I’d freak out too."

"Ah."

For people without much real on-stage experience yet, this might be a little terrifying.

"Boss! Could we get four new water cups, please?"

"Coming!"

Mr. Hansen, the actor playing the cannibal grandfather, accepted the fresh cups with trembling hands, and Junhyun politely poured water.

"Th-thank you kindly for the offer, but the word ‘Billboard Music Awards’ out of nowhere made my heart drop to my shoes."

"I thought my heart was about to jump out of my throat."

"I just dry-heaved."

Only then did the others crack awkward jokes and regain their calm.

Mr. Hansen asked,

"It’s disorienting when we don’t know the context. Could you explain exactly what this is about?"

Ah.

Right—we hadn’t given them any background.

We’d overlooked the fact that these weren’t Koreans who knew us well, but Americans who didn’t.

Our maknae called to the owner.

"Boss. You know we’re going to the States, right~!"

"You said something Billboard. Las Vegas."

Whereas the folks in front of us didn’t know much about us.

So we laid it out properly.

Last Halloween we released a special track, “Blue Moon,” with Hailey Blue. And it, well, hit the jackpot.

"Oh? You sang that together?"

"Yes."

"No way! I thought I’d heard that voice somewhere... so that’s why."

We continued for the still-astonished faces.

So this time we’re set to perform “Blue Moon” with Hailey at the Billboard Awards. We have to build the stage, and for the “Blue Moon” number we’ve been given a fair bit of creative leeway.

Hailey said she’s waiting for your awesome ideas.

"That’s when we saw your acting and bam—got inspired!"

We said,

"While Hailey and we sing, you perform nearby as Dracula and the three brides, and the cannibals."

“Blue Moon” deals with Halloween’s frightening figures. If these folks acted in the slightly eerie background, it would fit perfectly.

At last, the actors’ expressions eased.

"Thank goodness. So we just need to do some background acting? Not like full-on dancing."

"Right. Dancers will handle the choreography."

"Oh, in that case..."

Hearing that they just needed to lurk behind the singers and go “raaar!” like vampires made their eyes sparkle.

We’d have to hash it out properly with Hailey, but for now, this side seemed OK.

Ri Hyuk said,

"Of course, we can’t promise it’ll happen. It’s a joint stage, so Hailey’s decision matters too."

We didn’t say the rest out loud, but their skill mattered as well.

We have to be at our best, Hailey has to be at her best, and the dancers and chorus joining in have to be top-tier too.

If we try syncing in the studio beforehand and it’s just not it, we have to cut immediately. That’s how seriously we’re treating this stage.

Honestly, we could just hire professional actors separately, but we asked like this because we felt something.

— Don’t you think the guy playing the Northern Grand Duke really stands out?

— I felt something similar. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

There was this curious glimmer.

And overall, their teamwork was good.

A hunch flashed by that they might make our stage even cooler...

"Heh-heh. I’ve got a feeling..."

"Biju."

Biju clamped a wet towel over Junhyun’s mouth.

Either way, our point must have landed, because Mr. Hansen gave a big nod on everyone’s behalf.

"We’ll do our utmost to prepare."

There was real resolve in his voice, and I smiled.

"It’s all done. Shall we eat first?"

"Wowww!"

Everyone ladled out army stew, and the reactions were great.

Which makes sense—Spam tastes good even on plain rice, and this was a bubbling stew full of Spam.

We’d asked for not spicy, and it was just right.

"There are several origin stories, but the common one is that it was made from ingredients that came out of U.S. military bases."

At Ri Hyuk’s explanation, Mr. Hansen went “ohh” and asked this and that. He said his father served in the Korean War, so he had ties to Korea.

That kicked off all sorts of talk with the actors.

Different fields, different nationalities, but a lot in common.

Plus, the entertainment industry is similar everywhere, so we even gave a few tips.

"I’ve heard people say my name doesn’t really stick. That it isn’t instantly intuitive."

Lucas Ronson asked, face gloomy,

"Should I use a stage name?"

"That’s not a bad idea."

"How did you come up with the name NewBlack? It just fits perfectly."

"Mm... we deliberated very, very hard."

No way I’m admitting it was about a “3-minute curry” level of effort.

Our wide-eyed junior looked at us so earnestly that we coughed and put on solemn faces.

Jiho said,

"Sometimes it’s good to use something right in front of you. Like, say, this macaroni here."

"Macaroni... Roni Lucas. Not bad."

While we joked around like that, we kept an eye on Lucas.

Maybe because we’d been sketching out trainee debut plans lately, this rookie actor drew my gaze.

First, he’s handsome.

Black hair, soulful eyes, sipping army stew broth—the owner even asked if he was some famous foreign actor.

And his acting is good.

"Hm? Why so much...?"

"Eat lots of army stew. Lots."

I scooped a big ladle and piled Spam into his bowl.

It felt good, like we’d found a talent.

Not that Lemon Entertainment could sign him or anything, but it’s never bad to invest in a promising sprout.

He’s got a great face and solid acting.

What he needs is exactly one thing: a “good opportunity.” So we hook it up through Hailey, then get our return...

"Ha-ha-ha-ha."

A talk-show scene sprang fully formed in my head.

— How did your acting career begin?

— Oh. The leader of the global superstars NewBlack encouraged me to act. He was truly amazing.

— You mean Sun Wooju.

— Just thinking of him brings tears to my eyes.

I propped my chin, grinning through a happy daydream, and my brothers all shook their heads.

Anyway, with that mindset, I listened closely to what Lucas had to say.

He was very serious by nature, and most of it was career worries.

"I keep failing auditions, and I feel like my confidence is dropping. I’m getting more and more impatient..."

While the three brides beside him went, “Mmm, too serious,” and savored the army stew, we calmly offered advice.

Mostly, we told him to take the long view.

Honestly, I trained for six years, and my debut got axed ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) with one little head-shake from Chairman Park Taejun. Then it took about three years, including my military service, before I met my brothers again.

My members didn’t train as long as I did, but their trainee periods were still long.

But.

That’s the kind of thing you can say only if you were lucky enough to make it to the top, and it probably doesn’t land for someone floundering in the deep.

I offered comfort to a would-be actor in his late twenties.

"It’ll work out."

"Thank you. Actually, after I graduated high school last year and came to LA..."

Hold on.

"Lucas?"

"Yes?"

"Sorry, when did you say you graduated high school?"

"Oh. Last year."

My brothers and I put our spoons down.

"If you graduated last year..."

"I’m graduating this year," Jiho said.

We did the math.

If he graduated last year, he’s around twenty now, right?

Which means it hasn’t even been a full year since he started wandering LA after graduation.

"Lucas? Then are you nineteen right now?"

"Yes. Nineteen."

Lucas, who’d been talking like he’d seen it all, sensed something was off and started watching our faces.

Nineteen in American age.

"Then when did you decide to become an actor...?"

"Oh. I was in the theater club in high school. Around graduation season I decided to become an actor for real."

"..."

So he’s been “seriously active” for a year?

Behind my brothers, I could feel some dark shadow slowly rising.

Me too.

"Phew."

The ultimate old-man spirit sleeping inside me began to wake.

Some time later, Los Angeles.

Inside a cavernous warehouse big enough to swallow an airplane, lively noise echoed.

"One, two! Three! Four!"

A stage dressed exactly like the Billboard Music Awards.

There, a pop star with neatly tied blue hair, wearing a hoodie, was in rehearsal.

Hailey Blue raised a hand as she watched the dancers panting for breath.

"Okay, guys. Let’s take five!"

Her manager hurried over with a water bottle. Hailey chugged and shook her hair loose.

"Technology needs to evolve freaking fast."

The pop star grumbled.

"Then we could just take a pill loaded with the choreography and skip practice. Problem solved. The end."

"If tech gets that far, won’t our jobs be the first to go?"

"Hmm."

When the dancers joked that robots would be dancing instead, Hailey knit her brows, conceding the point.

"Then we’ll go around smashing those robots. We’ll form a resistance."

"Like a Luddite movement."

"Who said that? Jimmy? You’re talking very smart today, like those doctor fish in Korea."

"Thanks for the compliment~ Hailey."

"If you ever meet that ‘friend,’ you’ll realize that was an insult. Tsk, tsk."

Foolish Jimmy.

They traded jokes while the pop star closely checked the dancers’ condition.

"Hailey."

The manager came over.

"The people NewBlack mentioned are here."

"Yeah? Let them in."

Her friends in Korea had said they were sending some very awesome people for her amazing stage.

During “Blue Moon,” they’d do a big “grraaar!” as Dracula in the back, adding stage acting.

A tense old man, three women, and one man came in.

"Welcome to Hailey Blue Land, fairies. Here, my word is law."

"R-right."

"Want some jelly?"

She shook the jelly bag in her hand, and they accepted awkwardly.

Hailey wrapped up the quick get-to-know-you and started the audition on the spot.

They threw themselves into it on stage.

If you asked the Magic Conch what it thought of that acting, the conch would shyly say, “Gooood.”

"Summer!"

Her little girl came pattering over and sat on her knee.

"Tell me your thoughts."

"I’ll tell you if you give me a jelly."

"Mom doesn’t do negotiations. That’s why I married your dad."

"Tch."

Pouting, Summer still said she liked them. Hailey handed over the jelly bag and nodded.

‘Not bad. We’ll build the performance with the dancers, and while we sing, station them in back for the background effect.’

The pop star stroked her chin, ended her deliberation, and opened her arms to welcome the newcomers.

"Welcome aboard the Blue Moon."

"Hoooh!"

Dancers cheered the welcome, and the actors clutched one another with tearful joy.

As always, when others rejoice, someone has to rain on it—a crooked smile tugged at the pop star’s lips as she turned her gaze.

‘Is that kid the rookie Sunny told me to watch?’

She decided to take a closer look. Talk of potential in acting had piqued her interest.

"Hey."

"Yes, ma’am!"

Lucas Ronson snapped a reply like a fresh recruit, and Hailey went hmm.

‘Snappy.’

He was glaring with all his might, posture ramrod straight—as if he’d had a massive dose of mindset training somewhere.

"I am happy!"

"Mm? Congratulations."

Blurting out that he was happy made her tilt her head.

Even drinking water, he seemed ready to shout, “I am a happy person because I can drink water!”

Like someone from the Bible, grateful for everything.

‘What is this?’

The old man—Hansen—supplied the answer.

"Heh-heh-heh. After talking with NewBlack, the lad brightened right up."

"Oh-ho."

"He used to have a gloomy air about him, but his personality seems to have turned quite cheerful. Heh-heh-heh-heh."

"Oh."

She didn’t know exactly what had happened, but her friends in Korea had clearly brainwashed him somehow.

That sincere attitude of thanking the universe for everything.

"Jelly tastes bad, Mom."

"......"

"Mom?"

Seeing his mother staring at him, eyes narrowed like she was pondering something, the little girl yelped and ran.

It was a sunny afternoon about three weeks before the awards stage.

The day after we’d had a cheerful meal with the American actors—and a separate, serious talk with Lucas Ronson—

"Ughhhhhhhh..."

"Urrrk."

"Mom... Wooju... Dad..."

—we rose at the lodging like zombies.

Maybe because we’d sprinted all over Dragon Castle the day before, every muscle in our bodies was screaming.

We shuffled downstairs from the second floor and collapsed over the living-room sofa, writhing like grubs.

"Seriously, what kind of lunatic schedules variety filming the day before an awards show..."

Muttering, my brothers groaned, “Exactly.”

How did the recording schedule end up like this?

Well...

— Honestly, after the Europe tour we’ll be exhausted, so let’s just get it over with fast.

— Yeah. Let’s do that.

— Let’s just knock it out quick!

It was our own fault.

The company suggested we record at a relaxed pace, and we threw a fit about doing it fast.

It was a reasonable thought—we can’t focus on other projects with a big variety show looming—but...

Waking up the next day, it was no joke.

"Nggh."

"Uuuugh."

"Junhyun, why are you groaning? Is that a bit?"

"In my dream, the Sack Man chased me holding chicken skewers..."

So the dream had been ominous.

"Hueeuh."

"Hueh."

"Ugh. I’m dead..."

After flailing like that, we were hauled off to hair-and-makeup by our managers who arrived a little later.

We had an important domestic engagement.

"Hi, subscribers."

I smiled into the self-cam.

"We’re on our way to COEX right now, to attend the 53rd Korea Arts Awards today."

"Waaah!"

"We’re really grateful to be nominated in three categories."

Individually, I was up for “TV, Best New Actor (Male)” for the role of Kim Uju.

As a group, NewBlack was nominated for Best Male Variety.

And our MeTube series History Expedition was up for TV, Best Educational/Cultural Program. Since it had an educational purpose, a few cable channels had aired it, which is probably how it ended up in the TV category.

Honestly, our chances... I’m not sure.

Best Male Variety felt like a sure thing, but the other two were a coin toss.

"It’d be amazing if we won all three, but we’ll attend with humble hearts today."

"Fighting!"

"Fighting!"

We cut the self-cam there and took in the scenery around COEX.

The Korea Arts Awards, considered one of the nation’s “big three” film-and-TV award shows.

Since it’s broadcast live on TV, I was thinking, let’s power through the day, when—

"Only good sights today, only good thoughts..."

[ding-dong!]

"Hm?"

A message came in, and I tapped to check.

It was from HBS.

"HBS sent something?"

"Yeah?"

The HBS head of variety messaged asking if yesterday’s shoot went well, “let’s do great, love you, love u mwah mwah.”

And then—

"Yikes!"

A photo arrived of two middle-aged men wearing “Director” and “Deputy Director” badges, faces flushed, forming a heart with their hands.

Along with the caption: [This is our love♡]

"Ah!"

"Ugh!"

Our maknae covered his eyes with his hand.

"......"

"......"

"Man... seriously..."

We appreciated the kindness.

But... well...

How should I put this.

I was starting to wonder if making peace with the network had really been the right call.