"Everyone, say hello. NewBlack is here."

"Hello!"

Inside the meeting room we entered with Director Kim Ikhwan were about five or six men and women.

They were directors in charge of lighting, sound, technology, and other respective fields.

Among them was a face we recognized well.

"Well if it isn’t you!"

"Director!"

"Wow, it’s been a long time, Wooju."

I stepped forward and gave a light hug to the middle aged man who opened his arms wide.

It was Director Kang Manseok, the music director for the Pyeongchang Olympics.

"Have you been well? It’s really been so long. Isn’t this the first time since Sleep?"

"Has it been that long?"

He scratched his cheek and laughed.

"I see you on TV so often it feels like I saw you yesterday and again today. I see your faces everywhere."

People around us laughed in agreement.

Director Kim Ikhwan, glancing between us and Director Kang Manseok, asked,

"I didn’t expect this combination. So Director Kang and NewBlack already knew each other?"

"Yes."

Biju smiled.

"When we worked on the OST for the drama Sleep, Director Kang was in charge of the OST."

"Ahh. I see."

Sleep, the genre drama that aired on GTV in 2015.

When we worked on the OST for the drama where Jiho made a cameo appearance, Director Kang and I had worked incredibly well together. Just as Ri Hyuk had good chemistry with Teacher Noh Jaehyun, my musical tendencies and tastes aligned closely with his.

Seeing him among unfamiliar faces made him feel especially welcome.

"Shall we take our seats first?"

After organizing the room, Director Kim Ikhwan introduced the directors one by one.

Starting with the director in charge of the closing ceremony production, the lineup was impressive.

"This is Director Lee Baekho, in charge of lighting. True to his role, he shines a bit."

"Haha, nice to meet you."

"And this is our technical director, Yoo Mina."

"Nice to meet you."

We bowed politely in return, then exchanged glances with the younger members in awe.

It really is the Olympics.

This lineup....

It was no exaggeration to say that the industry’s top experts had assembled.

From the lighting director to the choreography director, anyone in performance circles would recognize these names.

"Wow...."

The youngest said,

"We’re having a meeting with people this famous...."

"Pfft!"

The directors laughed awkwardly at our open mouthed amazement. Director Yoo Mina waved her hand.

"What do we do if truly famous people call us famous? Oh dear, that’s embarrassing."

"Shouldn’t it be the other way around? We’re the ones amazed."

"Then let’s say both sides are famous...."

People nodded and laughed at Biju’s shy compromise.

Director Kim Ikhwan tapped the table lightly.

"Shall we begin the meeting?"

"Yes!"

Soon, the meeting about the closing ceremony stage began.

In truth, it was less a meeting and more the directing team saying, "We’d like to do this," and us agreeing.

The stage content had already been confirmed.

"We already sent a draft based on this to the IOC for review. There shouldn’t be any issues."

Usually, Olympic opening and closing ceremony plans are submitted to the IOC about a year in advance for review.

To check for political performances in advance, essentially ensuring nothing offends major powers. Not exactly a righteous standard.

The Pyeongchang Olympics had already sent plans in March for review.

"That said, we can still adjust details. We’d like to freely hear NewBlack’s opinions. An artist’s stage is most beautiful when it’s free from outside interference."

"Can we really speak freely?"

"Of course."

"Really freely...?"

"Yes."

At their encouraging smiles, I looked at Junhyun.

"Junhyun."

"Yes."

"Take it out."

Junhyun unzipped the backpack on the floor and pulled out a thick stack of documents.

Director Kim Ikhwan chuckled.

"You prepared quite a lot."

"Oh, this isn’t all...."

"What?"

"There’s more."

Documents filled with our ideas for the Pyeongchang Olympic K pop stage began pouring out.

As the stacks grew into a tower, murmurs spread.

"How did that fit in the bag?"

"It’s Junhyun. He probably forced it in."

"I’m more impressed by the bag."

We laughed awkwardly, pointing to the tower of documents.

"Ever since we were selected as main performers, we’ve held daily idea meetings. If you’d like to refer to these...."

"Of course. Ideas are always welcome."

While the head director smiled warmly, Director Yoo Mina tapped her keyboard.

"With this volume, it would’ve fit on a single USB. It’s just documents, not large files."

"......."

"Wouldn’t bringing a USB have been easier? Not that we’re inconvenienced, but for you carrying it...."

"......."

We had not thought of that at all.

We stared blankly, then quickly smiled brightly.

"I it’s for security."

"Ah~~"

"In a situation where security is important, a USB could pose a risk if lost."

"Ah~~"

They clearly didn’t believe us.

Seeing them suppress laughter, I confessed.

"That was foolish of us. We didn’t think that far."

"It happens."

The directors took our documents divided by field and nodded.

The head director said,

"Good timing. We’ve been struggling with NewBlack’s stage. We’re production experts, but we don’t specialize in K pop. So it’s been a bit of a headache."

As they reviewed the documents—

"This idea is good. If not for the budget...."

"Oh dear. This one’s tough budget wise."

Many ideas were rejected due to budget constraints, but overall the evaluation was positive.

Ri Hyuk asked,

"Is the budget that tight?"

"Well, the public is worried. After Rio, people said the economy collapsed after the Olympics. The government is cautious too. The budget’s tight."

Compared to Sochi four years ago, the opening ceremony budget was about one tenth.

The head director smiled.

"That’s why we’re grateful to NewBlack. You’re essentially appearing without guarantee."

Most famous singers appearing at the Olympics perform without guarantee.

Like a Beatles member who accepted one pound for the London closing ceremony, we only exchanged a symbolic contract fee.

I smiled.

"It’s the Olympics. Honestly, it’s a stage you might only do once in a lifetime. It’s an honor to be invited."

"We’re really excited."

"Just thinking about performing that day makes my heart race."

The directors laughed heartily at our response.

"It’s the Olympics."

"It is."

For performers and artists, it might truly be a once in a lifetime stage.

Jiho said seriously,

"If not now, we’d be performing at the Olympics when we’re grandpas."

We imagined five old men trembling onto the stage with canes and burst out laughing.

When I added that we might not even be five members then, the room filled with laughter again.

It was cheerful.

As we were wrapping up, Director Kang Manseok turned to me.

"Wooju."

"Yes, Director."

"Could you arrange a NewBlack song for the opening ceremony? For the athletes’ entrance."

So one of our songs would play in the K pop medley during the parade.

I gladly agreed.

As we chatted afterward, I asked the head director,

"By the way, who are the other three teams?"

"Ah. TNT will join on the boy group side, and Daylight on the girl group side. Many teams couldn’t match schedules."

Daylight and TNT, considered top second generation groups. A lineup anyone would accept.

The director whispered,

"I wanted to thank you for that too. Originally, singers were hesitant."

"Really?"

"After the Asian Games, people criticized it as a K pop concert. So everyone was cautious. But once NewBlack stepped up, recruiting became easier. Suddenly everyone wanted in."

"That’s good."

Perhaps other agencies thought NewBlack would shield potential criticism.

In any case—

Just thinking about sharing the stage with seniors like TNT made my heart flutter.

Seeing us smiling quietly, the director suggested,

"The meeting’s done. Want to see the stage?"

"Yes!"

The younger members’ faces flushed. Mine probably did too.

The Olympic stage we had dreamed of.

We decided to visit the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.

Whooooo—

Whoooo—!

"......."

"......."

A wind so strong that if you spat, it would fly like a bullet.

Standing in the middle of the stadium, feeling wind slap our faces like a backhand—

"I think I get it now."

Ri Hyuk sniffed.

"Why there’s such a large wind farm in Daegwallyeong."

"Right...."

"It’s a dream stage, sure. Didn’t know it was a nightmare...."

Whoooo!

Is this wind for real?

The managers hurried over and draped coats over us.

"T thank you."

Flap! Flap flap flap!

Whoooo!

Director Kim Ikhwan and the others laughed as if used to it.

"The wind’s gentle today."

Gentle?

This?

If this was gentle, was fierce a storm?

We stared blankly at the forty thousand seat stadium.

"This used to be a place where pollock were dried. So the wind blows well. Hahaha."

"......."

"When the wind blows hard here, even a tiny car could fly. And there’s no roof. Installing one costs too much. In winter, you just freeze. Hahaha!"

It was a strangely detached laugh.

The directors laughed.

"Hahaha."

We gathered around Junhyun. Like Count Dracula, he spread a giant blanket and we huddled under it.

"Isn’t it September?"

"This doesn’t feel like fall."

It felt like winter wearing a fall mask and swinging a blade.

Biju’s trembling cheeks lifted hopefully.

"Still... maybe this much wind is manageable?"

"Right!"

Director Kim Ikhwan smiled brightly.

"With willpower, you can overcome this!"

"R really?"

"But remember, it’s September now. The Olympics are in February...."

"......."

"Hahahaha!"

We laughed along, then looked at the massive stadium with watery eyes.

Ah.

Is there dust in the wind?

Why are my eyes blurry?

"I can already see our future. Dancing in a blizzard...."

"The average daily temperature has gone down to minus nineteen."

"We won’t die."

"Just freeze to death...."

Even singers who had performed at freezing New Year’s stages would learn true cold here.

Junhyun smiled warmly like a mother kangaroo under the blanket.

The youngest snapped his fingers.

"I have a great idea."

"Restrain yourself."

"It’s really good! Just hear me out."

He whispered.

Our eyes widened and we nodded.

Director Kim Ikhwan looked curious.

"Director."

"Yes?"

"May we perform a ritual? The opposite version of a rain ritual."

Laughing, he told us to go ahead.

Junhyun held up his tumbler of coffee.

"Heaven. Heaven."

"Heaven."

"Please grant good weather for the opening and closing ceremonies. If you help, we’ll be grateful. If not, we’ll resent you."

"We’ll resent you."

Seeing us pray solemnly, the directors joined.

"Please, good weather!"

"Please!"

Junhyun chanted like a priest while Biju danced as if performing a ritual to please the sky.

And then—

"Um... dark clouds are gathering."

"......."

"......."

The sky filled with heavy clouds began to churn.

Junhyun scratched his head awkwardly.

"Ah."

"What?"

"......We should’ve prayed the other way."

"Ah."

Right.

We smiled ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) warmly and began praying in reverse.

The next morning after returning from Pyeongchang—

We received astonishing news.

Billboard Hot 100

Divine Rules - Cold Brown

Metro - The New Black

Stay - Rogan Smith ft Louis Leight

Metro was ranked second on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Guys—!"

I slipped while running out of my room but managed a half flip before pounding on doors.

"Guys!"

"What!"

"We’re number two on Billboard!"

"What?!"

We jumped up and down.

"Number two!"

"In America!"

"I’ve never ranked second in English before!"

"Waaaah!"

It was a refreshing start to the day.

Biju whistled while serving rice beautifully.

We had risen from fourth to second.

The fact that we climbed rather than peaked meant American audiences were responding.

The internet was flooded.

NewBlack Metro rises from 4 to 2... highest ever

NewBlack sets new record... Billboard Hot 100 number 2

Will Metro hit number 1 next week? Netizens say stop jinxing it

It was good news from morning.

At the company, congratulations poured in.

Even Teen Spirit had sent a gift.

A shirt reading Billboard Singer.

At the office, a red carpet led to the meeting room.

The CEO stood holding a cake with an LED sign.

Billboard number 2!

Number 1 in my heart!

We laughed and danced.

After cake was distributed, we asked,

"What’s this business presentation about?"

Director Jo Gyuhwan smiled.

"It’s about a business related to you."

We followed his pointing finger.

And—

"Ah!"

We all exclaimed at the title on the slide.