"...Huh?"

On the Y-app screen we were watching, Ri Hyuk was running for his life.

-[Nuaaaah!]

Along with him, the comment window shot up fast.

-[Hunting Ri Hyuk from the start]

-[Arapaima Lv.7]

-[“Seo Ri Hyuk used Flee... it was super effective!”]

-[lololololol what are you doing, oppas]

-[so cute]

-[lolololololol]

-[lolololkkkgkg]

-[Chaos from the opening... this is why I love you]

Blinking at those reactions, we traded looks with the younger ones.

"Uh... this isn’t it."

This wasn’t the reaction we wanted.

Creepy drones lurking in the dark were supposed to flex their latest tech and rush at Ri Hyuk, and then he’d go, “Sniff!” and get moved to tears.

-"New tech! It’s new tech...!"

He’s the kid who polishes a robot vacuum with wet wipes, eyes sparkling.

So we thought when ribboned drones swarmed him, he’d cry happy tears and scoop them up.

Junhyun laughed.

"I guess we underestimated how easily spooked Ri Hyuk is."

"He turns on the robot vacuum himself and still gets mad when it comes near him."

"He’s the guy who forgets he’s washing his face, looks up, and jumps at the mirror."

Only then did the dopey moments that didn’t quite fit his cool, cerebral image pop back into my head.

Watching Ri Hyuk still sprint up the stairs, I scratched my cheek.

"What do we even do with this."

Staring at the mix of “What is this?” and “lololol” in the chat, we smiled.

"Since it’s come to this, let’s just catch him."

"Sounds good."

"Snacks for whoever tags him first!"

"I’ll herd him that way, so you swing around over there."

We went hard on the remotes and started the chase.

In the end, the one who bagged Ri Hyuk was our maknae.

Maybe it was all those hours on PlayStation and Xbox—his joystick control was possessed, and the maknae’s drone pinned Ri Hyuk.

"Hahaha! See? See? I told you I’m cracked at this. Now you elder brothers owe the great King Jiho some snacks..."

"Hey. Get over here."

"Aaaah! Ri Hyuk hyung is bullying me!"

Smiling, I watched Ri Hyuk grab the maknae’s shoulders and shake him.

Our silly Jiho.

While I was grinning wholesomely, Biju whispered to me.

"I followed your teaching this time."

"Good."

"Funneling the anger meant for all four of us onto just one guy... that technique is amazing."

Watching our maknae take the fall for what we all should’ve been scolded for, we older ones shared a look and smiled.

After that little commotion—

"Okay! Souffle, it’s midnight now, right? That means it’s officially our cutie main vocalist Seo Ri Hyuk’s birthday!"

[ba-ba-ba-ba-BAM!]

Junhyun hit the BGM.

"Con-gra-tu-la-tion~ con-gra-tu-la-tion~"

"Happy biiirth-day to you! Ba-bam ba-ba-bam~ bam!"

The fun of a birthday song is everyone yelling the last “ba-bam” together.

With karaoke BGM piping, Biju plopped a party cone on Ri Hyuk’s head, and Jiho and I carried out the cake.

"Ugh, you’re always so noisy..."

He started to gripe, but then he saw the cake and shut his mouth.

A blush rushed up his face.

"Huuuh..."

Yep.

It was a custom cake topped with a mini-me Ri Hyuk in a king’s dragon robe.

It came as a special gift from the bakery that blew up after we handed out three hundred cakes last time. We hadn’t even told them what to make; they sent a mock-up like, “How about this—right up Ri Hyuk’s alley, no?”

Hand to his mouth, Ri Hyuk looked dazed.

"This is my cake?"

"Yup."

The maknae offered him a knife.

"Now you just split it in half starting with your head. Ow!"

He got a smack on the forehead with the flat of the plastic knife, and both the chat and we burst out laughing.

Anyway—he’s our vitamin. Our maknae.

Last year we went all-out with a “Taechwita” performance at the party, but with schedules, we kept it simple this year.

Instead—

"Yeees! Not something that comes every day—welcome, everyone, to NewBlack Karaoke!"

"Yeah! Welcome, welcome!"

"If you’ve got requests, say the word."

The chat sparkled.

-[Sing “Nine,” please]

-[Marker]

-[nak hwaa]

-[lolololol look at his face]

We laughed.

"It’s his birthday—let’s not talk shop..."

"You’re cruel."

"As you all know, there’s no ‘halfway’ when we sing our own songs. If we do ‘Nine’ and it’s even a bit off, we’ll be here all night..."

They remembered how, back on the Jeju reality, every time our song came up we’d be like, “Please don’t talk about work...”

Scolded by Souffle’s teasing, the requests switched.

"Okay, Ri Hyuk. Pick one and sing."

"It’s my birthday? Aren’t you singing for me?"

No such thing.

So there we were in the late-night practice room, and when he hit the high note on “Because I’m a cruel womaaaan—” Souffle lost it.

After about an hour on Y-app past midnight, we wrapped.

"Happy birthday, my brother~"

"Ugh, get away."

"Our Ri Hyuk is the best~"

Like a flock of emperor penguins spotting a baby penguin, we enveloped him.

It wasn’t even that warm, but his face was beet-red as he fanned himself like crazy, and we all laughed.

Cozy vibes, even with the AC on.

I loved that even while busy, we took care of each other like this.

"If only we could stay like this to the very end..."

I thought I heard a goosebump line from somewhere, but I ignored it.

Nibbling the barely touched cake we’d poked at while chatting with Souffle, we sat in a circle.

Outside of the daily METRO choreo block, everyone was slammed with their own schedules, so naturally the talk drifted there.

"How’s everyone doing with work...?"

"Don’t ask like you’re wistful."

Ri Hyuk laughed.

"People would think we hadn’t seen each other in days. We’re together over twelve hours, then split up for five..."

"There are days we split for longer."

At my comment, Biju bobbed his head hard. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

We finished the cake and moved on to bossam and jokbal, chatting over snacks.

That sweet jokbal smell tickled my nose when—

"Hyung."

Junhyun asked,

"How’d it go for you? Are the songs for Scarlet done?"

"Yeah. All finished."

Curious about our seniors, the maknae’s eyes sparkled.

"How is it? Did it come out good?"

"I think it came out just right."

"So it’s insanely good. You hardly ever say that."

It came out good, in my book.

The songs are strong, and the choreo’s great.

I was sure no one would be saying Scarlet sank because of the composer.

Biju smiled.

"I’m relieved to hear it. I was really hoping they’d do better this time."

"Whenever we ran into them before, they wore worry on their faces. Lately, they’re smiling again."

True enough.

They always laughed, but you could see those specific expressions people get when their heads are crowded with the future.

These days, their faces looked a lot lighter.

Biju smiled.

"They’re genuinely good people. So kind."

"Even when our debut got canceled and we kept training, those noonas came and bought us meat. Back when even pork belly felt like a luxury, if Scarlet showed up, we went to a beef place."

"We mooched a lot of meat, we did..."

Looking at the kids getting all earnest about paying back the favor of that top-grade ribeye, I asked:

"But I’m the one who wrote the songs, so how is it you paid the favor back...?"

"Because we lent you out."

"You’re our private property."

I laughed at the parade of leaps in logic and sophistry.

The maknae stretched.

"Jealous though. So you’ve got free time now, hyung?"

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do?"

I’d already been thinking about it.

Stuff I came up with while shooting the Rest Diary that airs next month.

"When we filmed <Sun Wooju’s Rest Diary> this time, you guys gave me special care."

"Right~ we took such good care."

"So now I’m going to flip it and care for you."

"..."

"As Manager Joo Sun Woo, I’m planning a project where I take care of your every move. For MiTube, I’ll film behind-the-scenes for your solo activities... and the title—oh, that’s good."

To my younger ones, whose faces had mysteriously lost all color, I said:

"How about ? Or ?"

Isn’t it the perfect project?

Since <Sun Wooju’s Rest Diary> includes the making of METRO, we can only drop it one to two weeks before the album.

That’s how you juice buzz.

Which leaves a dull patch in between... If I follow their personal schedules then, I can promote them; Souffle gets real-time crumbs; the kids get promo; everyone’s happy.

Expecting squeals, I turned my head.

"Well?"

"...Either way, I’d like to decline."

With a sour face, Ri Hyuk gulped zero-cola.

"So it’s not ‘care’—you’re saying you’ll shadow us all day and nag."

"It’s not nagging. It’s heartfelt advice and counsel that wells up from wanting you to thrive."

"I nominate ."

"Junhyun."

After handling the maknae, I asked the others.

"Is it that bad?"

"I’d love anything if you’re with me, hyung."

"Right? I knew you, Biju—"

"But you haven’t fully recovered from gastritis. I think you should rest while you can."

Biju spoke gently.

"Since the song camp, you haven’t taken a single day off. With tour prep coming, use this window to get your body right."

Translated into Lady Young-Miss speech: “Quit showing off and take care of yourself.”

Worried about my stomach, Biju had a point. I nodded.

"That does make sense."

"Get proper rest, hyung."

"I still can’t totally switch off, so I’ll practice at least. Been lacking on vocals lately."

[plop]

Ri Hyuk dropped the piece of jokbal he’d picked up; shrimp sauce splashed.

"I think I’m a bit short on the METRO choreo, too. Since I’m visiting Clay anyway, I’ll ask a few things and drill them."

[clack]

Biju set his chopsticks down.

"Maybe I should work rap and acting too. We do vocal and dance every day, so... no, I’ve got time—why not work on everything?"

"..."

"..."

"What’s with you guys?"

Suddenly they all put their hands over mine.

"Hyung."

"Mm?"

"Thinking it over... your show sounds fun. ."

"Really?"

Nod nod! Nod-nod-nod-nod!

Their heads bobbed so hard their jaws clicked. I was a little confused, but it felt nice.

"Okay then, I’ll take good care of you this time."

The kids wept tears of “gratitude.”

And so we began filming the personal-activity behind-the-scenes series .

MiTube content "Kind Spaceship" Ep.01

[rustle]

With a fussing sound, the self-cam turns on. A face so handsome anyone would gasp and hold their breath.

Wooju: Too close?

Brushing the fringe down to his brows, Wooju moves the camera in and out, laughing.

Wooju: How is it. Too close?

Ri Hyuk: I don’t know.

Wooju: Souffle, wanna see my nostrils?

Ri Hyuk: !

He snatches the self-cam in a panic. "Why are you like this?" "Seriously, have some dignity..." Their bickering echoes.

"Fight! Fight!" the producing-team staff cheer.

Flopped on the sofa, the self-cam captures two grade-schoolers whacking each other with cushions.

[beep]

(A mini-me Wooju in a spaceship whooshes by and pops up a logo reading .)

The cool-featured main vocalist and the glamorous lead vocalist press their faces together and beam.

Wooju: Don’t misunderstand. We made up.

Ri Hyuk: We’re besties~!

Then, every time one talks, the other’s in the back making faces—eyes rolled up, mouth going “blblbl,” or squinting and glaring.

Like two handsome Shin-chan idiots.

Wooju: Right. Today we’re here to obs... observe Ri Hyuk’s OST recording.

Ri Hyuk: You mean interfere.

Wooju: Can you hold still? Your elder is speaking.

Ri Hyuk: (mouths “authoritarian”)

After a quick plug for the drama featuring Ri Hyuk’s OST—

Wooju winks and swings the camera.

Wooju: Shall we watch how an OST gets made together~?

While we set the self-cam and kept rolling—

I skimmed the lyrics for the OST Ri Hyuk would record, then looked at the camera and filled Souffle in.

"The drama where Ri Hyuk will sing the OST is , slated for this year’s third quarter."

A well-known cable channel drama.

It’s by writer Oh Jeonghee, who won the TV grand prize at the Korea Arts Awards this year—a star who tops ratings with everything she touches.

When singers choose OSTs, ratings are the top concern, and ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) this OST is for a show like that.

Getting offered the main, most important OST—that alone is huge for Ri Hyuk.

"Hmm."

I checked the synopsis.

It takes its motif from the Dangun myth: descendants of a bear tribe and a tiger tribe, endowed with magical powers, still clash in the 21st century.

And then they fall in love.

"Ah."

Forgot a note.

"The production company kindly approved the promo, so we’re allowed to mention it like this~"

If you don’t say that, people get mad in the comments.

Some folks will actually call the production office like, “NewBlack promoted your show without permission!”

I turned to Ri Hyuk, who was exhaling over the lyric sheet.

"Not clicking?"

"Vocally I’m set. I just don’t get the narrator’s feelings..."

"What feelings?"

"The bear and tiger hate each other but also can’t live without each other."

"So, a love-hate thing."

"I can’t tell what approach to sing it with."

I remembered, back when we recorded "Night Sea," how he’d said, “I don’t have memories like that, so I don’t get it.”

He’s the type who values his own experience when he sings—so it bugged him.

"Two people spending long years, hating and loving..."

"That’s it."

Hyungseop, getting the booth ready, chimed in.

"Batman and Joker."

"Hyungseop, see yourself out."

"Tch."

The producing-team maknae’s line made everyone laugh.

It’s a romance.

Mingi hyung raised his hand.

"If it’s love, I can advise."

"Mingi hyung, your longest relationship was...?"

"..."

"I’m genuinely curious. Why the sudden tears? It’s okay. There, there. Our Mingi’s a good boy... good boy."

One of the producers raised a hand.

"If it’s love-hate, we married men know all about it."

"This is going on MiTube."

"Love you, honey!"

Laughter again.

While I searched my head for a good example, the right one popped in.

A wrinkled Yubaba face.

"Ri Hyuk."

"Yes."

"If there’s someone like that around you, sing while picturing them."

To the focused Ri Hyuk, I explained.

-[For god’s sake.]

"Someone who talks to you snappily most days, but actually cares about you more than anyone."

-[Picked this up on the way. Eat it or don’t.]

"Always giving you something, always grumbling—but thinking of them makes you smile. And when they’re not around, you feel empty."

-[I’m going on a trip with Sukja. Don’t throw a fit if I answer late.]

People ooh-ed, wondering who I meant, and I wrapped it up.

"Your very own Kim Deoksun."

Everyone burst out laughing.

In the middle of it, the only one sunk deep in thought—Ri Hyuk—spoke.

"Hmm... got it."

"Really?"

"Yeah..."

But for some reason, his face didn’t look great.

Hours later.

The composer from the OST side swallowed.

"Obser...vation?"

"Yes. You heard, right?"

"Yes..."

He’d heard they were filming NewBlack content, but he hadn’t expected Wooju to be sitting there smiling.

‘Figured only Seo Ri Hyuk would be here...’

He’s a composer with a career that bows to no one, but somehow this was... pressure.

With the top composer in the country at present watching from behind... yeah.

"Ahem."

And the lineup of composers sitting next to Wooju with arms folded like the Three Generals—nothing to sneeze at.

"Ahem, let’s begin recording then."

-"Yes."

"Hu-u-waaah," Ri Hyuk warmed up, his clear voice spilling everywhere.

The composer reset himself to direct like a pro—when it happened.

"Wow..."

At the very first line, the composers murmured.

They didn’t even need multiple takes; what he sang could go straight to release.

And the power.

"This is insane."

The composer clicked his tongue in awe.

"So this is why people keep saying NewBlack, NewBlack."

On top of that—emotion.

With a possessed vocal, Ri Hyuk poured feeling into it; his features seemed to glow gently.

The composer, who hadn’t been there earlier, could only be impressed.

"How does he convey emotion that well?"

Maybe the emotional guy who sprinkles handwritten letters and shouts "I love you" when drunk—maybe that’s the real him.

Watching Seo Ri Hyuk tremble slightly with eyes closed as he sang, the composer applauded in his heart.

Seo Ri Hyuk trembled.

Two echoes circled in his head.

-"Ah. Why. What should I help with."

‘Someone who talks to me snappily most days, but actually cares about me more than anyone.’

-"I bought this with rocket shipping for you, hyung. Dried sweet potato slices. You don’t like it? Then don’t eat it~"

‘Always giving me something, always grumbling—but thinking of them makes me smile. And when they’re not around, I feel empty.’

-"I’m going to see friends. When will I be back? I’m twenty—do I have to report that too?"

‘My very own Kim Deoksun...’

With his eyes gently shut, Seo Ri Hyuk anchored his emotion in the person that surfaced from his subconscious and, consciously, refused to face reality.

"That was crazy!"

"Ri Hyuk, you’re the best."

"..."

Eyes closed, trembling—Seo Ri Hyuk.

He was a professional.