"Good."

Resting my chin on my hand, I looked into the recording booth.

Street Boys member Yugeon was doing his sing-rap.

"Every single small star is a vast universe."

A beautiful green light flowed in, blending with the pale green sound layered beneath the instrumental.

"Yes."

I pressed the talkback button.

"That was perfect just now. We’ll go with that."

"Nice! Finally!"

Yugeon clenched his fist in triumph and exited the booth.

Meanwhile, I played through the full recording of My Friend so far.

A relatively calm EDM track.

It began with a light guitar riff woven together with trendy drum beats. I had tried to give it a refreshing feel.

As the song opened with main vocal Giwon’s voice, the Sbo members widened their eyes.

"It really is different once you properly record it."

"This is good...."

The ones who had written the lyrics smiled softly.

My Friend.

This song was, quite literally, one of the tracks that musically expressed what I thought Street Boys as a team were.

The direct inspiration had come from the album introduction line.

"There are nine boys here."

A team that started with old-school hip-hop, a somewhat minor genre at the time.

They began with the concept of "boys from the streets" and had walked only the path of hip-hop ever since.

Unlike us, who tried different genres with every new album, their consistent direction from beginning to end was something I respected.

Hip-hop was also known for its strict standards.

At first, they had been criticized with "What kind of hip-hop is that?"

But now, three years after debut, they were recognized by everyone.

Assignments piled like mountains.

Adults stood on the other side.

The world was a vast ocean.

The only one to lean on was you.

Friends who had fought hard to keep making the music they wanted since trainee days.

Friends who still worked day and night.

When I listened to this song, I imagined people sailing across the sea.

Rowing through rolling waves in search of a nearly unreachable ideal.

Laughter by the shore. Cheers at the sight of a distant deserted island. Bright faces under a blue sky. People carving their own route without giving up.

The Sbo members praised it.

"It’s totally different from the guide version. It fits our voices perfectly."

"So this is why people say Wooseon, Wooseon."

They were already imagining fans’ reactions, smiling happily.

That made me feel good too.

"Ahem."

"So next time, hyungs are buying the meal."

...Why were they the ones taking credit?

Watching the underlings giggle about being the "group that owns Wooseon," I shook my head.

"Alright."

I asked the DNS Media engineers to handle the final touches and stood up.

Everyone’s eyes sparkled as if waiting for my announcement.

"You all worked hard. Recording is done for today."

"Waaaaaaa!"

Bang!

Junhyun set off a birthday party popper he had prepared in advance.

"We’re finally free from that wicked composing goblin!"

"I’m happy. So happy."

"Wow! Then can we trash-talk the composer now?"

Hm? Giwon? What did you just—

To make it worse, our maknaes were shaking hands with the Sbo members.

"You worked hard. We know the feeling. He treats people like high-note vending machines."

"Ugh... only someone who’s experienced it would know."

"Exactly."

They were openly talking trash in front of me.

Especially Lee Hyeonjo, who was excitedly saying, "Step on gum on your way home!" and throwing curses around.

"Hyung."

At that moment, Biju handed me the spinning wheel.

I tilted my head at the tool with punishments written on each blade.

"You said we’d punish anyone who went over recording time."

"Right."

"I figured you wouldn’t have time to prepare, so I did!"

Biju smiled brightly.

Everyone who had been talking fell silent.

"...."

"...."

I looked around at the gulping faces and grinned.

Then I flicked the spinning wheel.

Whirrrrr.

It spun in circles and stopped exactly where I wanted.

"Yes."

I smiled brightly at the trembling faces.

"It’s not over yet."

"...."

"We’ll now draw punishments at random."

Street Boys’ fandom, Concrete.

Though no match for Souffle in divine-tier size, they were still arguably the largest fandom in the human realm.

"Bored. Isn’t anyone going to start something?"

"Just try touching us. We’ll set your fandom on fire."

"Even if you don’t, we’ll set it on fire."

Alignment: chaotic evil.

For nearly two years, they had fought over who was the strongest in the human realm, excluding NewBlack.

Teenspirits calling them old.

Wonder Child’s fandom mocking their chart performance.

In 2017, as Street Boys began showing signs of rising just below NewBlack, the checks grew harsher by the day.

While Souffle dealt with media and anti-fandom nitpicking, Concrete fought daily comment wars.

And yet they continued stanning.

Because the boys were cute.

One photo. One stage clip. Everything melted.

As long as joy outweighed anger, fandom continued.

"Hyunsik, release new content."

Perhaps their prayer was answered.

A new photo update appeared on Street Boys’ SNS.

"It’s Namoo!"

Main rapper LB, popular for his gentle and goofy side.

Concrete froze.

What?

LB was shoulder-to-shoulder with Wooseon.

[Wooju hyung came to help with our B-side recording!!! Thank you!!!!!♡]

LB looked more polished than usual thanks to a filter.

That wasn’t the issue.

The issue was next to him.

Why was ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Wooseon glowing?

If anything, filters should make a handsome face look overdone.

But instead—

He looked evolved.

Concrete collectively blurred their vision and focused on LB.

Namoo is cute.

And then more photos appeared.

Punishment photos.

Members posting two-shots with Sun Wooju.

Concrete gritted their teeth.

Wooseon....

And smiled.

Thank you.

Then—

A portal headline.

NewBlack Wooju participates in Street Boys’ new album. Netizens: "Amazing."

Follow-up articles.

"When is Street Boys’ new album?"

Positive comments flooded in.

Cheering comments.

And when a hate comment appeared—

It was crushed instantly.

Concrete felt moved watching adults strike back at haters.

Meanwhile—

DNS Media staff were astonished.

Just adding NewBlack’s name changed everything.

Even internal promotions couldn’t compare.

In the CEO office, Im Hyunsik quietly stared at the proposal.

An alliance with Lemon Entertainment.

After long hesitation—

He pressed the contact saved as Bald Guy.

"Bye!"

"See you on Mango next month!"

We waved from the parking lot.

Hanjo tapped my window.

"What’s that?"

He handed me a small box.

"Snacks from the overseas tour."

"Thanks."

"Eat sparingly. They’re rare."

He grinned.

We bumped fists.

As our van drove off—

Fatigue hit.

"Are you okay?"

Biju asked.

"Let’s rest."

"No. Strike while the iron’s hot. I’ll finish everything today."

I checked the next schedule.

[Teen Spirit Recording]

Maybe two sessions in one day was greedy.

I used eye drops.

"Ugh...."

"Who schedules two recordings in one day?"

Ri Hyuk scolded.

I waved him off.

"Junhyun. Any eye stretches?"

"Yes."

"Close your eyes. Sink into the seat. You are a sweet potato planted in a field."

I lay back.

"And then?"

"Relax every muscle. Or just sleep."

I opened my eyes.

"You said eye stretches."

"Sleeping is best."

"...."

"MOP is still far. Just sleep."

"I’m fine."

Lie.

My body was tired.

My brain wouldn’t sleep.

Falling asleep at 6 AM lately.

Guilt if I slept early.

"I should try milk."

"Can’t sleep lately?"

"It’s nothing."

They were the same.

Jiho reading scripts.

Ri Hyuk reading.

Junhyun watering plants.

Biju doing ballet-like motions alone at night.

"Let’s focus on Teen Spirit."

MOP Entertainment.

Founded by former actor Park Min Oh.

Youngest of the Big Four.

But now leading.

Their specialty: visuals.

Teen Spirit and Serenity.

Only beauty mattered.

Training came after.

"Hyung almost joined MOP, right?"

"Almost."

"If you did, you’d be Teen Spirit Wooju."

"That’s horrifying."

Teenage mental care.

No thank you.

"I love you guys."

"Me too."

Soon—

MOP building appeared.

Six moody-looking pretty boys came to greet us.

Excited.

Like a friend visiting school.

They gave us a tour.

Bathrooms better than hotels.

Water purifier.

Snack bar.

Then—

A large room.

"And this! Our CEO’s new ultra-power massage chair!"

"Oh?"

"Try it."

I lay back.

It was heavenly.

"I could sleep."

"You sleepy, hyung?"

"This is amazing."

I took out my phone.

Maybe I should buy one for the members.

That day—

At the luxury massage chair flagship store—

An employee frowned.

Five duplicate orders.

Lemon Entertainment address.

Top-tier model.

Five each.

Kim Biju — 5

Kim Junhyun — 5

Seo Ri Hyuk — 5

Sun Wooju — 5

Wang Jiho — 5

What kind of loving brothers are these?

The employee debated whether to call to confirm.