Hallway corner.

Six idols holding their breath.

It was Trickster.

"We’re screwed."

Leader Seulhyung muttered, grabbing his hair.

"It totally showed that we were running away, right?"

"It definitely showed. We might’ve gotten on Wooju sunbae’s bad side even more."

"Ah. We’re doomed."

Seulhyung swallowed and glared at the others.

"Why did you all agree to run in the first place!"

"Well, that’s......."

While the members scratched their cheeks awkwardly, Seulhyung quickly regained composure.

If you thought about it, it was no one’s fault.

No one even remembered who started it. Someone just shouted, "Hey! Run!" and everyone sped up together.

The leader, who had been scolding them, sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Forget it. It’s no one’s fault. We were ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) just flustered."

Everyone nodded.

Then they all let out deep sighs again.

"We’re doomed."

"Completely doomed."

"I heard Wooju sunbae’s personality is no joke."

Before debut, Trickster had once sat huddled together in the practice room while their seniors gave advice.

One piece from Han Taehyun.

-You’d better be polite to that hyung. You’ll handle it yourselves, but if he thinks someone’s not it, he can be really ruthless. He’s softened a lot lately, though.......

That was why Trickster bowed ninety degrees every time they saw NewBlack.

Of course, it was not just that.

NewBlack’s status as the top idol group in Korea played a role too.

If living legends were right in front of you, anyone would react the same.

‘We cannot get marked!’

That mindset had guided their careers.

But then.

The chairman suddenly pushed an English song project, and everything twisted.

-Trickster.

-Yes!

-Here’s a knife called “English song.” Take it and charge into Souffle’s ranks.

-What the hell!

It felt like being told to decorate yourself in gunpowder and jump into flames.

Trying to throw a challenge at the industry’s top boy group was absurd for their weight class.

If an egg hits a rock, what happens?

It becomes what it was. An egg.

"Ughhh."

The members clutched their heads.

It was the first real crisis since debut.

‘Wooju sunbae is really going to hate us.’

And recently, TJ Entertainment had publicly criticized NewBlack for producing Scarlet’s song.

Rationally, artists and agencies were separate, but would NewBlack sunbae think that way?

"We’re doomed."

"Completely doomed."

All six squatted on the floor.

If they had had a stick, they would have carved something like “Chairman idiot” into the ground.

"Hoo......."

A sigh heavy enough to sink the world.

If this had been another boy group, someone would have joked, “Hey! Let’s just greet them!” But unfortunately, despite their playful image, Trickster was full of serious types.

That was why they were named Trickster.

-You’re serious in real life, so be playful on stage.

Then the rapper, K Six, spoke gravely.

"I’ve been thinking. We can’t stay hiding in this corner forever."

"Right."

"Let’s find an emergency exit."

"!"

"Go down a floor, take the elevator, come back up."

The members hurriedly searched for a building map, but nothing helpful appeared.

"......Should we just apologize?"

"No. What if they ask what we’re apologizing for? It’d be weird to apologize for the company."

"Right. That would make our company look stupid."

"But it was kind of petty."

Just as they were debating how to face NewBlack naturally—

Footsteps.

"Someone’s coming."

"Probably staff. Let’s greet them."

A staff member in a gray hoodie approached.

The typical broadcast posture. Slightly hunched. World weary gait. Staff badge hanging from the neck.

If anyone had sharp eyesight, they would have noticed the badge read “Honorary Souffle: Sun Wooju.”

But they did not.

"Hello!"

They lined up and bowed deeply.

The staff stopped in front of them.

They saw only shoes.

Confused, Trickster cautiously raised their heads.

‘Who is it?’

Deja vu.

"Excuse me."

"......Yes?"

"Don’t be startled."

"Yes?"

Then—

Crack! Crack!

Something inside the hood twisted violently.

"......!"

As if an alien were about to burst out, the figure writhed.

"Ahhh!"

"Ta da. Sun Wooju has arrived."

"Aaagh! Aaaagh!"

"Wait, hold on—!"

Members panicked, throwing lollipops and candy from their pockets.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

"I’m not a weird person!"

He pulled off the mask.

Trickster’s eyes widened.

Sparkling eyes.

A sharp nose crafted by divine investment.

Cherry red lips.

Beauty that brightened the surroundings.

"Long time no see."

Like an alien from the stars, their sunbae stood smiling.

Arrest complete.

"Come out."

"Yes!"

The minions emerged like assassins.

Right.

We were Korea’s greatest assassin guild—no, not that.

"Sunbaenims. Hello!"

Trickster still looked dazed.

"How have you been?"

"We have not been well!"

"We have been uncomfortable!"

We had only asked how they were.

Junhyun gave me a look.

‘Maybe feed them something.’

‘Good idea. Assassin three.’

I looked at Trickster.

They were obviously hiding.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes! We had Newbulbaek!"

"You haven’t had snacks yet, right?"

"Yes."

"Come on. I’ll buy you something."

Leader Seulhyung flailed.

"We didn’t mean to ask for that!"

"I know."

I laughed.

The youngest eased the tension.

"Hyung scared you, right?"

"No. It was a fresh experience."

"We were shocked too. He watches weird stuff on MyTube all the time. We should block him to kids content."

They glanced between us, unsure how to react.

At the snack shop, we bought them snacks and sat down.

Sugar worked wonders.

"Hmm."

I searched for a common topic.

"How’s Taehyun?"

"He’s doing well. Preparing an album."

"He talked about you a lot."

"Really?"

"He praised you. Said you’re talented juniors."

"Ah, no......."

They looked awkward at the praise.

"We liked your song."

Biju smiled.

"The music video was great."

"Thank you! We watched VMA too!"

"You did?"

"Yes! When you danced in suits... we took notes."

Their eyes sparkled.

We shared American stories.

The mood lightened.

Then Ri Hyuk asked casually,

"Why were you hiding earlier?"

"Ah......."

They lowered their heads.

"We called you to say don’t worry. We’re not the type to nitpick."

"Yes......."

They looked almost teary.

"We see each other often. No need to be uncomfortable."

"Yes!"

We chatted more.

An unexpected discovery—

"We’re producing merchandise related to global warming."

"Really? What kind?"

"For replacing daily items......."

They and Ri Hyuk clicked instantly.

Serious people discussing global issues like 21st century leaders.

The rest of us muttered.

"Nice weather."

"Zoo would be great today."

"Want to watch baseball."

"Thinking about chicken."

After exchanging numbers, we stood.

"See you later."

"Yes!"

"Don’t hide next time—"

That was when.

A familiar silhouette entered the snack shop.

Daisy from Scarlet.

We immediately ducked under the table.

Trickster’s legs trembled.

"Sunbaenims?"

"Shh."

"Didn’t that sound like Wooju?"

"I wanted to congratulate him."

Clap!

Shockwave.

‘Why are we hiding?’

‘You want to fight four against one?’

‘I’ll hide.’

After Scarlet left laughing—

We crawled out.

"Anyway."

I smiled.

"Next time, greet us comfortably."

"Yes......."

Their gazes seemed different now.

Maybe just my imagination.

Sugar revived us.

We practiced in the large K net waiting room decorated with flowers reading “The Universe’s Greatest Idol NewBlack!”

Then we approached our fan managers.

"Ready?"

"Almost here."

The gifts for Souffle.

Outside K net.

Four hundred Souffle gathered.

Lottery level pre recording.

"Line up!"

Fans chatted.

"They look tired though......."

Concern mixed with excitement.

Then—

Huge trucks arrived.

"What is that?"

The first truck displayed VCR.

[Suffle! Hi!]

Screams.

[This is live!]

[Did you enjoy VMA?]

"Yes!"

[We wanted to thank you.]

[So we brought gifts from America!]

Trucks opened.

Giant cheese balls.

Mountains of Pop Tarts.

"My diet......?"

[Diet starts tomorrow!]

[Laughs]

[What did we say?]

"Zero calories!"

Then the final truck.

Burger smell.

[We brought Mr. Mark Weber from America.]

Cheers.

[Ri Hyuk checked the legal details.]

An elderly man waved.

[If you can’t go to America—]

"We bring America here!"

[Hahaha!]

The singer and the fans were alike.