Not like last time with nearly twenty people, only the people who were absolutely necessary.

It was not a comfortable seat.

First, the A&R team leader and the head of PR.

In Lemon Entertainment, team leader corresponded to department manager in a regular company.

And perhaps because they’d been around longer, everyone instantly corrected their posture.

The A&R team leader greeted us.

“Long time no see, everyone.”

“Long time, Team Leader.”

When I gave a nod to Director Yoon Seok-hwan and hyung Min-gi sitting right next to me, Director Cho, sitting in the seat of honor, spoke up.

“You’ve probably heard this is a meeting. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s not exactly wrong. But think of it more as a time to talk. There are things we need to tell you, and matters we need to ask your opinion on.”

The A&R team leader slid a sheet of paper forward and the meeting began.

“First, let’s talk about the fireworks chart.”

Heads leaned in around me.

On the A4 sheet was a graph with a curve.

Starting at 88 on day one, in the 70s during week one, in the 50s at the end of June, and now in the 30s.

“Unfortunately, from this week on it’ll keep dropping. Soon groups with strong fandoms like MOP’s Daydream will make comebacks, and besides you’ve peaked as high as you can.”

We all nodded.

“And the main point is this: Night Sea is getting good reactions now. Because of that, several composers have reached out. They asked if you’d be willing to work together, Woo-joo.”

“...Yes?”

“They’ve offered you song projects. What do you think? Interested?”

The members’ eyes went wide and they looked at me.

Their looks congratulated me.

But I was bewildered.

With me? Why?

What did they see in Night Sea to ask me to work with them?

It was getting a decent reaction, but it wasn’t an extraordinary song.

And the names of the people making the offers were all famous enough that I knew them.

“Why would such people request to work with me?”

“They found your song fresh.”

The explanation continued.

Ever since Fireworks, industry insiders had been curious, saying Title Track was an idol’s self-written song.

But they hesitated because you were tied up as a composing idol with Han-jo.

They wondered if DNS or Lemon actually had professional composers behind you.

Then with Night Sea they gained confidence.

The reasons for the offers were familiar.

Like when Sun-woo-won senior made Something, it was a fresh element.

Those composers were already skilled, so you would provide them a new perspective or freshness.

It was an offer with no downside.

Actually, it was a chance to learn by watching professionals compose.

My juniors urged me on as if to say do it quickly.

The A&R team leader looked on with subtle anticipation.

“What do you think?”

I paused to think but didn’t hesitate long.

First I needed clarification.

“What exactly does wanting to work with me mean? Are you talking about the next album, or a separate single?”

“The latter.”

“In that case I’d like to say no.”

“...?”

I glanced at the members’ puzzled faces and cautiously expressed my opinion.

“Learning composition and promoting my image as a composer would be good. Personally it’s a great opportunity. But we’re still rookies with a long way to go, and I want to prioritize the group right now.”

I thought it was a good opportunity too.

I was eager to do it.

But I felt it wouldn’t be good for the group.

It might interfere with our group activities because of me, and it could negatively affect our fans.

“Well, if that’s your wish, we can’t do anything.”

As the A&R team leader clicked his tongue, the PR team leader smiled at me.

I turned and almost smiled too.

It was the same reaction as before.

Like when at Eulwang-ri he said we were family.

Especially at the sight of Bi-ju suppressing a laugh.

“By the way, this offer came for Ri-hyuk. After hearing his vocals yesterday, several collab offers came in. From the looks of your expressions, you agree with Woo-joo. Right?”

“Yes, I feel the same.”

Ri-hyuk answered and looked at me.

As if asking if I saw that.

Just as I was smiling approval, the director who’d been listening quietly spoke up.

“Then working together on the next album?”

“That would be great. I don’t know if they’d want that....”

“If that’s your opinion, we’ll consider it.”

“...Yes?”

Was that an OK?

Something felt strange.

During trainee life, the company always told me to do this or that. But the moment I voiced an opinion, they accepted it.

Feeling dazed, I heard the director smile.

“You’re now artists in your own right. We won’t order you around like trainees anymore. Especially in music, the performers’ opinions are even more important.”

It felt like another promotion.

After Something’s success, getting a studio meant I was recognized as a promising composer.

But this meeting felt like we were communicating with the company on equal footing as artists.

Seeing our faces full of moved awe, everyone laughed.

The meeting continued in a whirlwind.

I even had to take notes to remember the content.

It was full of surprises.

Meetings were underway with various companies—for example, uniform suppliers—about advertising.

Sponsorships were being discussed with clothing brands.

I heard negotiations were happening with terrestrial broadcasters about appearing on variety shows.

Of course we were told not to expect the last one. It was literally just talk.

From the looks of it, Seok-hwan hyung had been working day and night, smelling of alcohol, on that project.

Every time a company employee spoke, our mouths let out impressed oohs.

Director Cho nodded as if pleased.

“Great work. You achieved more than expected.”

Those words made me feel strange.

It was amazing and satisfying.

During the debut showcase and two weeks of non-stop music shows, behind the curtain so many things had been happening, and I could finally see the path our first album activities were taking.

When we were only doing music shows, it didn’t sink in.

What a successful rookie truly is.

“Manager Yoon, is everything from management delivered?”

“Yes.”

“Phew, it’s about time to talk.”

The PR team leader joked and laughed cheerfully.

Then he brought up /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the matter that seemed to be today’s main agenda.

“This Sunday is the fan signing event, right?”

“Yes.”

“At that time we’ll open submissions for the fandom name and put it to a vote. First, though, we’ll ask you to shoot a message to fans about that.”

Ji-ho had mentioned it earlier.

“We’re planning an event for the fan signing.”

“An event?”

“Nothing grand. Like the small gifts you gave at the debut showcase.”

“Oh, yes.”

I remembered the tiny snacks and photo cards we’d given the fans.

“We’re not asking you to prepare those yourselves. We just want you to brainstorm ideas. Even if the ideas are the same, our production’s and your genuine ideas feel different.”

I understood what he meant.

Even if you hire a professional to plan a proposal that’s flashy, it’s better to have something simple and heartfelt.

He added one more thing we mustn’t forget.

“Record the discussion process and send it in.”

“You read my mind.”

He smiled in satisfaction.

With the PR team leader’s story, the meeting ended.

Watching everyone file out like a receding tide led by the director, I took a deep breath.

“Wow....”

I turned and saw my juniors with exhausted faces.

They’d been tense in front of the team leaders, and the shocking news had drained them.

Above all, it seemed they felt proud.

When they couldn’t sort that complex feeling and swallowed it down, Jung-hyun spoke up.

“Our album must really be doing well.”

Looking back, there was no better summary.

On Lemon Ent’s MeTube account.

The ‘New Black’ category was overflowing with videos.

From the year-end review to Something’s recording process, behind-the-scenes of our first music show win, Music Cafe practice videos, and more.

The trickle of videos had surged since DNS Media’s media play began.

Since then, self-produced reality, practice, and daily life videos went up like crazy, and the most recent was a five-part series titled “Woo-joo & Ri-hyuk, Composing Night Sea.”

Part one showed us in the studio wearing masks as I bickered with Ri-hyuk while we worked.

Parts two through four covered writing lyrics and practice.

Part five finally showed what the completed live version of Night Sea looked like.

Part five, an a cappella “How a Rookie Handles a Sound Incident” live video, alongside it, ranked second in views after the Fireworks MV.

-It made me cryㅠㅠㅠ

-I like this more than the title track this time

-It makes me sad but warm

-Lyrics ㅜ

-I’m obsessed with this song these days it’s so goodㅎ

-They’re live music royalty

-First time hearing them they’re amazing ㄷㄷ rich vocal colors

-eng sub plz

Compared to other videos, it had an especially high view count and lots of comments.

I was reading them contentedly when a white hand clapped in front of my eyes.

Oh. I almost jumped.

“Hey, mister. Focus.”

I looked up at Ri-hyuk sitting opposite me with a sulky face.

Today was Tuesday.

We were in the green room for HBS MTV’s music show It’s Showtime.

“I still can’t think of an idea. I’ve been looking through the videos on our MeTube.”

The PR team leader had asked us to think of a simple idea, but nothing clear had come up yet.

I couldn’t pinpoint the perfect thing.

We agreed to give a gift to fans, but what exactly? We couldn’t unify our thoughts.

“How about handwritten letters?”

...Bi-ju’s suggestion was immediately dismissed.

There were a hundred people and handwritten letters felt overly sentimental.

Too burdensome.

“How about all of us going to eat after and grabbing meat?”

“Um, Jung-hyun.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s think again. Together.”

Jung-hyun said okay and nodded, then started racking his brain.

No, Jung-hyun.

I didn’t mean you should think of another idea.

I was anxious about what would come out of his mouth next.

“How about giving a song as a gift?”

“Oh, that’s good.”

“That’s great? It’s just the right size.”

The main vocal’s idea was practically good.

As I jotted it down on paper and caught the seniors’ glances, the maknae spoke as if waiting.

“For me, it’s sandwiches.”

“Sandwiches?”

“The sandwiches they sell on Inkga.”

“Ah....”

“I thought of that in the shop earlier. I wondered what you could give that money can’t buy. Then I remembered those sandwiches.”

“True. There were those sandwiches.”

That was a good idea too.

The sandwiches sold at the HBS hit singer’s snack bar every Sunday were famous for their taste.

Lately they’d been trending on SNS.

Fans would all know them.

But this time Ri-hyuk objected.

“Hey, that’s not bad but it’s vague. It’s something you could give as a tribute to fans waiting for us at the concert hall, but at the fan signing? It’s not like we made them ourselves.”

“Hmm, hadn’t thought that far.”

Ri-hyuk’s point made sense.

Sandwiches were a good idea, but they were too plain to say we were giving them ourselves.

Too modest.

We all kept wracking our brains, but nothing was satisfying.

Was there no gift that would make us go Yes! the moment we heard it?

Something meaningful.

Something that would make fans feel how much we thought of them.

As we continued fretting, Bi-ju changed the subject.

“But shouldn’t doing well at the fan signing be more important? I think attitude matters more than gifts....”

“Right. I’m worried too.”

Jung-hyun being worried meant he was really worried.

“Me too. The company said they’ll tell us precautions soon, but they’re just precautions. We have to learn how to do it by going there, and I’m nervous about making mistakes.”

“Me too. We can’t just do what we do with friends at school. But being too formal isn’t it either.”

Everyone seemed anxious about the fan signing.

I felt the same.

I wanted to give advice, but I needed experience first.

“Oh. How about asking senior singers?”

At Bi-ju’s suggestion everyone looked at me.

“Why me?”

“You have the most connections among us, and lately everyone’s been trying to get close to you.”

“I doubt it.”

I muttered while scrolling contacts on my phone.

“My network isn’t that wide either. I have numbers from TJ days, but I haven’t contacted them in a long time. Oh, you guys are close with Scarlet, right?”

“We’ve been busy so haven’t been in touch.”

I understood their relationship.

When we passed on the street they’d greet us excitedly, but they didn’t actually contact us.

“How about Sun-woo-won senior? You were on Sugarfish.” 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“Jung-hyun.”

“Yes.”

“If we ask someone who likes us, would they get mad asking about their disbanded group days?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe isn’t the right word,” I thought, grabbing my forehead in frustration while they laughed.

Then a contact caught my eye.

Oh, right.

“I did message someone a few days ago.”

“Who?”

“Taehyun.”

“No way, that TNT guy?”

“But he’s probably busy. I heard he’s in China doing fan meetings or something. Well, I’ll leave a message just in case....”

As I closed my phone after sending a “Are you free?” text, there was a buzz—

On the screen appeared the name TNT_Han Tae-hyun and everyone blinked at me.

Embarrassed, I added,

“He must be free right now.”