"Hiya...."

"This never ends, no matter how much we eat."

Even after traveling from the hotel to Charles de Gaulle Airport, waiting for boarding, and all the way until they landed at Haneda Airport in Japan, the bread still hadn’t disappeared.

Seeing us hugging the bread bags with blank faces, Mingi burst out laughing.

"If you’re full, stop eating. It’s not like you have to finish all of it."

"It’s because it’s delicious."

Even though it had gotten damp and hard inside the suitcase, it was still France’s best bread, still delicious.

Riiip.

He tore off a piece of bread and put it in his mouth, and the taste of good fermentation spread.

"So delicious...."

"I guess they don’t call it the country of bread for nothing. How is it this good? If we were going to Korea, I’d buy some for my mom and my sisters too."

At Jiho’s words, he thought of Ms. Kim Deoksun.

Even his grandmother should taste bread this good...

-Since it’s nothing but bread my stomach feels so heavy I can’t live. How do foreigners live eating only this... I ought to boil some ramen.

...No.

He’d just get scolded if ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) he gave it to her for no reason.

Shaking his head, he drew an X in the air at Seokhwan as Seokhwan finished talking to the airport staff and walked back.

"I’m not getting on." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Huh?"

"I’m not getting on it this time. The cardboard cart."

"...?"

"You didn’t just go talk to the airport staff about that, did you?"

Just in case they were going to tell him to ride that cardboard cart again like last time, he refused in advance.

Seokhwan waved his hand, laughing.

"It’s not that. They said the crowd gathered at the airport got even bigger than last time, so they want us out quickly."

"...Bigger?"

"Is that possible?"

"Last time was already the biggest ever...."

More than the crowd of about four thousand last time.

Ri Hyuk blinked and asked.

"How many came?"

"Five thousand."

"...."

"They said the whole airport is saturated. They said they’ve never seen anything like it. Anyway, because of that, it looks like we need to get out quickly this time. Everyone, make sure you’ve got your things."

They packed the bread back into their suitcases securely and escaped, following the guidance of the bodyguards and airport police.

What he said about it being worse than last time was true.

Camera flashes bursting everywhere, people reaching out and shouting from behind the temporary fences.

"NewBlack-kku!"

"NewBlack!"

"I love you!"

It was an enormous crowd, to the point it felt like an accident could happen.

Because of that, they hurried out of Haneda Airport following Junhyun, who charged forward like a vanguard captain. The situation was so urgent there wasn’t even time to smile brightly and wave at the fans.

Only after they arrived at the hotel room did they find out what had happened.

[At this fashion show, you see.]

Some TV channel was covering him.

On a panel board was a photo of LeBlanc’s head designer, Jimmy Robbins, and next to it was a photo of him as well.

[They say Wooju was the first Asian star to open and close LeBlanc’s fashion show! Truly amazing news. They say he is a muse officially recognized by head designer Jimmy Robbins.]

An exaggerated voice went, “Subarashi—.”

Biju pointed at the TV with his finger.

"There’s even a museum model in front of that panel. The museum we went to for the fashion show."

"Huh? You’re right?"

A miniature model recreated the street in front of the museum they’d been to.

The MC and panelists stood clustered in front of it.

[So you’re saying this whole street was covered by several thousand fans? In front of a Paris museum...!]

[That’s right. You could say it’s a phenomenon showing NewBlack’s overseas popularity...]

[As expected, it’s an unusual level of popularity.]

Souffle shaped mini figures were placed in front of the museum, and there was a sign like a plant label that said “Several thousand!!”

Footage played of them arriving at the fashion show venue and leaving work.

Photos of them with celebrities at the fashion show venue came up as reference footage.

"...My god."

From the time they arrived in Paris until now, it had basically been written out hour by hour: what schedules they did, who they met.

And it was accurate.

He didn’t know why they used that kind of reporting ability for this, but still.

"In Japan, is Fashion Week that important of an event?"

"Seriously. In Korea it just passed by quickly."

Online it had become a big topic, but it hadn’t even made their name onto Korean news.

It had just popped up in a fun “today’s video” segment like, “There’s a crowd cheering for NewBlack, this big!”

But here in Japan, a pretty major TV program was covering their every move.

[LeBlanc chairman Georges Wenger’s words also became a big topic. He said, “In a few years, they will become the world’s greatest celebrities. They are already amazing, but” he declared.]

Then a panel appeared with Georges Wenger’s profile.

As they stared blankly, Seokhwan explained.

"It’s not that you got attention because it’s Fashion Week. It’s because it’s Paris."

"Because it’s Paris?"

"Apparently Japanese people really love France. They say it’s just their tendency."

"Ah...."

It seemed like it was a “Oh my, NewBlack recognized in France, the homeland of fashion!” kind of feeling.

Watching the panelists on TV praising them like France is going wild, and these high nosed celebrities got put in their place by an Asian rising star... he smiled.

Well. Good is good.

He watched them talking excitedly with the selfie of them and a Japanese American model on screen, then turned off the TV.

"So what’s our schedule like this time?"

"Before we go to concert rehearsal, we’re going to do fashion magazine interviews. Just one or two, brief ones."

After a light meal, they headed out right away for the interviews.

A bright office with good lighting, overlooking Tokyo at a glance.

After the photoshoot ended, an editor from a fashion magazine who had been waiting bowed politely.

"Thank you in advance for today’s interview."

"We’ll be in your care as well."

The editor placed a fountain pen over the notebook, crossed their legs, and asked.

"Then I’ll start with some light questions."

"Yes!"

"Wooju, you drew enormous attention at Paris Fashion Week this time. After the show ended, columnist Laura McConnell is said to have said this: ‘After the show ended, I looked over the fashion he usually wears.’"

His heart pounded.

The editor read straight from the notes.

"‘Surprisingly, they were fashions at least three to four years ahead of their time. His fashion has a pioneering side. Who would have known? That a true fashion icon of the era would be hiding in that country called Korea.’"

The younger ones’ pupils shook like an earthquake, and his shoulders began trembling with joy.

"‘Sun Wooju. He is someone with the caliber to become the next generation’s fashion icon.’"

Ah. He was happy.

So happy.

He was so happy he could cry!

"No way."

"How could they say such things about that kind of person...."

While the younger ones whispered in Korean, he nodded, wiping away tears that threatened to come out.

How long had these years of endurance been?

After a long battle, the light of glory was finally shining on him.

"Phew."

Taking a deep breath, he crossed his legs like a fashion icon. Then he laced his fingers over his knee and smiled.

Seeing his fashion icon pose, the editor admired him with a “As expected...”

He smiled and opened his mouth.

"Thank you so much. I’m so happy that my fashion seems to have been recognized."

"I see. Then I want to ask: what is your fashion philosophy? What made you a fashion icon?"

"Hmm."

Ignoring the underlings writhing in pain around him, he spoke.

"My fashion philosophy, you see. First of all, based on what I felt at this Paris Fashion Week...."

He didn’t have a specific fashion philosophy, but so what.

He could make one starting now!

"That philosophy... is incredible."

"Hahahahahaha!"

Ignoring the members’ eyes cooling down, he burst into happy laughter with the editor.

He loved being a fashion icon. He loved it so much. He was happy!

After finishing interviews with Japanese fashion magazines as Sun Wooju, the fashion icon born of the times—

"I think I’ve developed an allergy to bullshit. Every time Wooju hyung said a word in the interview, it was so painful and exhausting."

"You’re amazing. If it were me, I think my conscience would sting and I couldn’t say things like that."

"If the fashion god saw it, lightning would’ve struck."

"I can hear you, you punks!"

"I’m still on your side though, hyung."

As he was about to be moved, Biju smiled with a shadowed face.

"No matter how pathetic you look, it’s what members do, to embrace you...."

"...."

...Anyway, they finished the interviews well, and safely completed the concert at Saitama Super Arena over two days.

It was a fun time in many ways.

-Now! Everyone! We will enjoy the runway of Sun Wooju, the fashion icon born of the times!

-Waaaaah!

During concert talk, he even showed runway walking in front of Souffle fans, and the reaction was incredibly hot.

After wrapping up the short schedule in Japan like that, they returned to Korea again.

"That’s right, everyone! The greatest fashion icon of this era! I, Sun Wooju, have returned!"

The moment he entered, he struck a proud pose.

The underlings fled in a panic.

"We don’t know him. We’ll pass by!"

"Guys! Are you ashamed of your hyung!"

"Stop acting like you know him!"

"Everyone in the nation already knows you’re my younger brothers anyway...!"

He laughed, flashing a V or striking poses boldly at the laughing photo reporters and people around him.

"Please write a good article!"

The reporters nodded and winked.

"You’re promising!"

"Of course!"

The moment they left the airport, articles started popping up one after another.

-[Photo] “Self proclaimed fashion icon” Sun Wooju “I have arrived!”

-[Photo K] “Sun Wooju, fashion icon born of the times”.. members “We don’t know him”

-[Video] Excited Sun Wooju, netizens “He looks like a grandpa in floral print”.. middle aged netizens “Even we don’t dress like that”

His body shuddered at the cheerful welcome of K reporters smiling brightly beyond the headlines.

"Why won’t anyone acknowledge me."

"A tower you built with effort can’t be raised overnight. Hyung."

Junhyun smiled warmly.

"Besides, your tower already collapsed."

"...."

The underlings cackled.

Little brats.

Pouting for no reason, he looked down at his planner.

Korea was now in the Chuseok holiday week.

The launch of the new TV channel NBS at the company was coming up, and it was time for the various Chuseok contents they filmed to go up.

-NewBlack Wooju appears in teaser for idol “E Dolympic”

-Dolympic PD: “Wooju is bad at games? Not at all. You’ll see when you watch”

-[Chuseok Special] “Eliminated in prelims” Wooju.. how many seconds until he’s out?

...Except for that one somewhat uncomfortable piece of content, everything else was something to look forward to.

While checking the schedule, the number on the calendar caught his eye.

"Did you see the calendar? It’s already October."

"Wow. Time really flies. After a few awards, it’ll be 2018 right away."

October.

Now that the major schedules like METRO promotion and Fashion Week were over, it was a relatively relaxed month.

Time to reorganize ahead of November and December, when awards would come.

Only now was it the moment he could finally tackle the things he’d been putting off.

"Hyungs, you promised me."

The maknae hooked his finger around their hands.

"This time, you’re really coming to visit my set."

"We’ll definitely go."

They agreed to the maknae’s request to stage “the maknae loved by his hyungs” at the set of The God.

They’d always said they’d go, go, go, and only now did they have time.

Seeing the maknae’s brightest smile in a while, he smiled and shifted his gaze to Ri Hyuk.

This month was their main vocalist’s month.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Because I’m proud."

"‘Proud’ is something an upper person uses toward a lower person. It’s not an appropriate expression."

"...No matter how I think about it, we failed at raising our younger brother."

He shook his head at the main vocalist who’d become twisted to the core, chattering on and on.

Anyway, this month their fourth member had an important event coming up along with the release of the drama My Bear and Tiger OST.

"Are you preparing well?"

"So so."

The event Ri Hyuk was preparing for was singing the national anthem at Game 1 of the Korea Series, this year’s baseball finals.

They planned to go together to cheer for Ri Hyuk.

And watch baseball for the first time in a while, to have some fun.

"Come to think of it, Junhyun. What happened with KG Dragons? Did they make the playoffs or whatever again this year?"

"...."

"Uh... Junhyun?"

"...."

A tendon rose briefly on Junhyun’s calm face with no change in expression. For a moment it felt like his eyes even went bloodshot.

If he’d been holding fruit, it might’ve turned into juice.

"Phew."

Then he calmed down again.

Seeing that, he decided not to ask questions about KG Dragons, Junhyun’s beloved team.

Baseball, something that made even Junhyun lose his composure, was definitely a scary sport.

"Hey."

Ri Hyuk asked.

"But can you watch me sing the anthem later? I kind of need feedback."

"Of course."

"I don’t have a feel for how I should sing it."

After promising to check Ri Hyuk’s vocals, he looked at the phone calendar.

"And...."

Looking at the alert marked on the calendar, he nodded with the younger ones.

It was ambiguous to call it a “schedule,” but the time they’d been waiting for most was approaching.

-Billboard Hot 100 announcement!

It was the Billboard ranking announcement for METRO.

In the early dawn as Monday turned into Tuesday.

They were in the practice room checking formations for the Osaka Dome concert.

"The time has come...."

At Junhyun’s solemn voice, they groaned.

The maknae took a deep breath.

"Night has fallen. NewBlack, lift your heads and look at the Billboard chart."

"Aaaaaah!"

It was the time the so called top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart was announced.

Refreshing SNS, he said.

"Still, this time there’s a chance for number one, right?"

"They say streaming shot up after Fashion Week. This time we might really get number one."

4 2 2 2.

METRO had been sitting at second place from the second week onward, ruling as a subtle runner up for nearly a month.

-4222. Somehow it feels like I should type the comment twice lol please hit number one this time

-4222. Somehow it feels like I should type the comment twice lol please hit number one this time

-NewBlack METRO fighting!!

-NewBlack METRO fighting!!

Whether they were teasing them for being second, people were cheering while making sure to write two comments in the comment section.

"Second is still amazing...."

"That’s why everyone knows and teases you."

Honestly, second place was an incredible result too.

A rookie singer who had just entered the U.S. debuted on Billboard at number four and had stayed at number two for almost a month.

It was an amazing achievement without question, and a good thing.

But...

"I want to get number one just once."

"Seriously. Even just once...."

"If we get number one once, I feel like I won’t have any wishes left."

Was this what it felt like to keep being second in your grade.

With nervous hearts, he stared at his phone with the younger ones.

"Number one is really strong though...."

Could they really beat Divine Rules by Cold Brown, sitting at number one?

It was an album by Cold Brown, being called a masterpiece to the point people said they came out determined this time.

If Korea’s “general public pick” song was a ballad, America’s “general public pick” song was exactly this kind of hip hop artist’s track. So even if METRO was getting good popular results, the competition was hard.

If there was hope, it was that Divine Rules had been out for a while, so it might be possible.

It was time for the number one song to start losing power.

Taking that opening, their METRO, boosted by Fashion Week, would sneak up from behind and land a cheap hit.

"Phewwww."

From tension, he kept clenching and unclenching his fist.

And.

After refreshing over and over—

"It’s up...!"

At last, a new post went up on Billboard’s Twitter.

"Ah. Wait."

"Wait wait."

After the younger ones made prayers about living kindly from now on,

fidgeting with their fingers, he pressed and held the image file.

"...."

A silence so quiet that the sound of swallowing felt like thunder.

Starting from the bottom, they checked line by line.

"It’s not at number three."

"Then number two is...."

The letters written at number two came into view.

[Billboard Hot 100]

Divine Rules - Cold Brown

"...Then!"

And finally, the long awaited number one.

[Billboard Hot 100]

METRO - The New Black

It was there.

"It’s there."

"Number one."

In that moment his mind went dizzy.

The light in the practice room squirmed and wobbled, like it was pouring down into him. Feeling a vertigo like stars were falling, he toppled backward.

It was because the tension released.

"Hyung...."

Biju said, covering his mouth.

"We’re number one."

"Number one...!"

At that moment, the underlings screamed and rushed at him.

Thud! Thud!

They piled onto his body like a sandwich, but he felt no pain at all, only a blank, ecstatic feeling.

"Our song is Billboard number one...."

This unreal feeling, different from second place.

With his head blank and a dizzy ecstasy, he and the younger ones burst into laughter and rolled around together.

Number one.

Number one on Billboard Hot 100.

"Waha...."

He lifted both hands to cover his eyes, then looked up at the ceiling with a bright smile. Everything around him felt beautiful.

In this moment, nothing could interfere with his happiness.

That morning.

As NewBlack’s manager, Dowonseok, arrived at the company building, news flowed into his ears.

-NewBlack, the national idol who drew attention at Paris Fashion Week, takes the glory of Billboard number one....

Humming at the good news, Dowonseok pulled out the overdue mail to hand to the members.

Looking at one of them, he smiled faintly.

Recipient: Sun Wooju.

Sender: Military Manpower Administration.

Dowonseok picked up the reserve forces notice with a satisfied smile.

‘As always, this year too.’

Paris Fashion Week’s chosen best fashion star.

Billboard number one composer.

And at the end of that glorious week, Korea’s Military Manpower Administration was sending a fresh wink.