The one standing alone on the stage.

It was none other than NewBlack’s main vocal, Ri Hyuk.

‘Wow.’

A neat black suit. A black tie.

He had changed outfits in the meantime; Ri Hyuk approached the standing mic in a sharp formal look.

His gentle hand gripped the mic stand, and his soft lips parted.

It’s time to turn back for a moment

Beyond that mirror

To find the starlight of that dark metropolis

I’ll return to you

Perhaps because the lyrics were in English, they sank easily into the ears.

His beautiful voice blended with acoustic guitar and wrapped around the venue.

As Ri Hyuk finished his line and melted into the darkness, the spotlight shifted elsewhere.

‘Oh?’

It was the opening set from Coin.

The place where children had been playing arcade games while adults fought.

Now, instead of children, adult dancers stood there.

Dressed in dull gray suits.

‘Ah.’

It felt like they were showing the destination mentioned in the lyrics—“turning back for a moment.”

Everyone has moments when they reflect on themselves.

How they’ve lived.

What they should do next.

And in those reflections, childhood occupies the greatest portion. What you loved back then. Whether you still love it {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} now. Looking back and reassessing yourself.

The stage seemed to be telling those people—

Going back to childhood isn’t the answer.

‘Hm?’

As the lights slowly brightened, dancers in similar suits began moving around.

It resembled a busy train station, like Grand Central.

Then, in the center of the darkness, the silhouettes of five figures appeared, and cheers exploded.

"Waaaaaaa!"

That was the moment.

A futuristic intro with future bass elements poured out, and the Souffles screamed.

‘Finally, METRO!’

As fans shouted the fanchants—Sun Wooju! Kim Biju! Kim Junhyun!—their voices covered The Forum.

The members, crouched low, began rising to the rhythm of the intro.

With each beat, their limbs snapped and twisted sharply.

"Waaaaaaa!"

Amid gray-suited backup dancers, NewBlack in black suits tilted their heads.

Wooju, standing in the center, brushed off his sleeve and walked forward. Screams followed.

Just as all eyes locked onto him, Jiho slid out in front, gesturing toward the audience with a smile.

"Hello, VMA—"

Glitter shimmered under his bright eyes like a cluster of stars.

He quickly stepped back, and Wooju began singing in a low tone, nodding slightly.

I’m used to the dark

Especially this dark tunnel

This shaking

It’s just daily life to me

Choreography cleverly portrayed the sway of subways and public transit.

With hands stretched out as if holding straps, they laughed lightly and tilted from side to side.

As the handsome man in the striped suit stepped back, the main vocal came forward.

Should I hide or not

If I hide in this darkness

Scars and wounds won’t show

But that’s not what I want

Ri Hyuk sang in his clear tone, scratching his throat lightly at the end, drawing cheers.

He adjusted his tie in choreography and slid aside.

Without a gap, Junhyun stepped forward, limbs flowing smoothly in the backup choreography.

His hand cut through the darkness, leaving afterimages.

Faint lights

Darkness wrapping around

Glass becomes a mirror reflecting me

What fills these shining eyes

Is a maze of the heart

Countless versions of me

The metropolis of my heart

His mid-low rap matched his bold features, while the members delivered refined movements behind him.

The futuristic sound continued evolving.

It began calm, rising gradually toward the chorus.

‘This is good.’

It felt like a train emerging from a dark tunnel into light.

Junhyun and Wooju clasped hands to form a bridge.

Jiho slipped through between them with a grin, brushing off his shoulder and riding a smooth wave.

It was choreography that made you feel good just watching.

It won’t take long

Just while passing through this tunnel

That’s enough

Close your eyes—

As the high note rose smoothly—

At the chorus, Biju slid out from behind and released his signature soft tone.

It’s time to turn back for a moment

Beyond that mirror

To find the starlight of that dark metropolis

I’ll return to you

His tie swung like a pendulum from the force of the intense choreography.

The audience roared through the chorus.

And the crowd’s mouths fell open.

‘Wow....’

The choreography had seemed flashy throughout METRO, but the chorus was on another level.

Their limbs curved gently, then scattered around Biju at the center.

As if he were a mirror, they split into two pairs, performing symmetrical mirrored movements.

Like narrowing and widening a decalcomania image, the suited singers moved with ties fluttering.

Their wrists and ankles twisted fluidly.

‘...This is insane.’

It looked brutally difficult.

During Coin, they had only shed a few drops of sweat.

Now, by the end of the first verse, their faces were drenched.

For most people, it would be enough to collapse.

Yet they were smiling brightly.

You almost wanted to ask what was so fun.

Maybe because of that effort—

"Waaaaaaa!"

By the second verse, the relentless choreography and addictive METRO had the venue fully heated.

Starting from Coin, the energy kept climbing.

The cheers and heat filled the arena.

Celebrities in their seats now nodded along to the chorus rhythm.

Then came the bridge.

The members stepped away from formation, moving to the stage edges, singing toward the jumping crowd.

Ri Hyuk, looking stifled, threw off his jacket, straightened his shirt, and sang:

To find the starlight in this dark city

The Souffles shouted, “Metro!” in response.

Looking back at the road I’ll one day return to

Other members tossed off their jackets too, singing one line at a time.

The bridge built higher.

As if on cue, dancers and members slowly gathered center stage around the leader.

And then—

The members performed a dazzling group dance in one tight formation.

"Waaaaaaa!"

Red and blue lights crossed, shadows scattering.

Jiho rode a wave despite sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead.

Ri Hyuk snapped sharply into precise movements.

Junhyun, unaware his tie had fallen off, continued smooth gestures.

Biju moved as if dancing a different dance entirely.

And—

‘Oh my....’

At the center stood NewBlack’s leader.

Now it was clear why he was the center.

His long arms carved lines and shapes, anchoring the formation.

He cut strength and softness cleanly, directing the audience’s focus.

Energy seemed to explode from his fingertips.

With him at the center, the members’ varied lines created the image of a giant bird spreading wings.

After about thirty seconds of dance break—

"Waaaaaaa!"

Sweat-soaked faces tilted back as they gasped and waved.

"Thank you!"

The Korean greeting came out unconsciously, but the intention was clear.

Applause poured from singers and audience alike.

It sounded like fireworks.

Like their debut song.

Like applause hinting at the future of what they had shown.

Team Manager Yoon Seokhwan clapped.

"It’s done! We did it!"

"We did it!"

Hearing the applause at the venue, it felt like success.

The TF team and staff who had held their breath embraced.

Something heavy swept cleanly away.

"Whew...."

The final stroke.

Like placing the perfect finishing dot on a major project.

Seokhwan regained composure and checked reactions.

‘It’s a success.’

Everyone had poured immense effort into this VMA stage.

Hair, makeup, outfits, choreography, vocals—Lemon Entertainment’s full capacity.

The TF team had handled strategy.

-Americans like stages with stories. If it’s about a breakup, they build a set like a house and sing inside it.

-Our boys should do something like that.

To appeal to American audiences who treat stages as spectacles, story was needed.

NewBlack had a weakness.

‘They’re performance-focused....’

They were so busy dancing that props and story were hard to show.

So the TF team brainstormed with the members.

Make it feel like there’s a story.

First, introduce Coin properly.

-We know it’s part of the Empire-Dokkaebi-Coin trilogy, but Americans don’t.

-Should we adjust the context?

They shifted Coin’s context toward broader social conflicts.

That was the opening with children.

Then linking Coin and METRO.

-METRO is about self-reflection. It’s different from our past songs.

Wooju’s voice echoed in memory.

-We’ll connect it like this. You become an adult and look back at your childhood self. But that child isn’t there anymore. Only the adult you.

For adults, adult concerns matter.

-Looking back isn’t the answer. Reflecting on who you are now is.

METRO marked the beginning of a new album series.

After singing about “you and me,” now they sang about “me.”

"Great start."

Seokhwan smiled.

Then checked reactions.

‘That’s what matters.’

Deep analysis was for fans and insiders.

What mattered was whether it was fun.

And from that perspective—

It was a perfect score.

However...

‘Oh?’

The intention wasn’t fully delivered.

American viewers and artists interpreted it differently.

‘It’s about teenage struggles!’

Americans nodded.

‘Right.’

‘Teen angst.’

‘Riding the school bus through tunnels, thinking deeply.’

They saw it as adolescence.

NewBlack reflecting on themselves as teens.

Spokesmen of youth.

‘No wonder teens love them!’

Americans applauded.

‘Teenage years are tough.’

To them, NewBlack looked like late teens.

...A misunderstanding born from their unbelievable baby faces.

Their legs trembled.

From effort—but also relief.

"Haah...."

"Huff...."

They gulped water backstage.

Wooju felt dizzy, hyperventilating slightly, and sat on the cool floor.

American staff voices asked, “Okay?”

"What are they saying?"

Seokhwan laughed.

"They’re asking if you’re okay. If they should call medical staff."

"Tell them we’re fine."

In Korea, it was common.

Singers collapsing backstage wasn’t strange.

"Hyung."

"Yeah?"

"Did we do well?"

"You did incredibly well. Beyond words."

"That’s a relief...."

The anxiety vanished.

Like usual after awards performances, they lay scattered, recovering.

"Let’s go."

"Yeees...."

Biju and Ri Hyuk wobbled like jelly monsters.

"Hyung, I’m so happy...."

"Stay conscious."

"I’m sleepy now that the tension’s gone."

Jiho climbed onto Junhyun’s back.

Ri Hyuk stared at Wooju’s back.

"What."

"Nothing."

"Want a piggyback?"

"Your back’s soaked with sweat. That’s why."

He tossed a jacket over Wooju’s shoulders.

They walked down the hallway, smiling.

"Ah, we survived...."

"Feels like we did."

Like finishing final exams.

Just joy.

After fixing makeup and changing outfits, they reentered the venue.

"Waaaaaaa!"

They waved to Souffles and returned to seats.

Other singers reached out, praising the stage.

Their expressions felt familiar.

Like trainees at TJ Entertainment who used to look down on him—until they heard him sing.

"I have to ask."

Hailey returned during a break.

"You prepared a stage like that, and still came in astronaut outfits to get attention?"

"Yes."

"You’re insane in multiple ways."

"Compliment or insult?"

"Compliment. That was an insane stage. The ones performing after you must hate it."

They laughed.

Now they could relax.

Awards remained.

Best Editing—Cold Brown’s “CO2!”

VMA meant Video Music Awards.

It wasn’t about songs—but music videos.

Not as solemn as the Grammys.

"Sour grapes... sour grapes...."

"If so, just wish to win."

"No. I used today’s wishes on Grandma Kim Deoksun’s health and the stage."

Then—

Viewer’s Choice.

Revived this year.

"And the winner is... NewBlack!"

Like pocket money to take home.

"Grrrrrr!"

"Kyaaa!"

They went up again.

After thanking company, family, and Souffles—

‘Shall we?’

They exchanged looks and smiled at the camera.

At the same time in Korea—

-There are so many people to thank. You may not know, but we receive incredible love in Korea.

Koreans smiled.

‘That’s right!’

Wooju looked at the camera.

-We can’t name everyone, so we’ll draw a few names from those who left supportive comments.

-Tada!

-We’ll pick three.

Suddenly it felt like a lottery drawing.

Junhyun held up a tablet showing cute mini NewBlack avatars spinning.

In Korea, people watching TV began sweating nervously.

A wave of tension swept across the country.