I thought you said you were busy with a fan meeting in China.

And it’s even a video call.

The members swallowed hard as they stared at the vibrating phone.

“Are you going to pick up, hyung?”

“Of course.”

It’d be silly not to pick up after asking if you’re busy.

I pressed the answer button and the screen brightened.

A pool appeared against a sunny sky.

An upscale scene with parasols, tables, and sunbeds.

A handsome man in a robe grinned from within it.

Then a cheerful voice:

“Hey, discharged soldier.”

Damn.

“How did you know that?”

“My schedule was free this afternoon. I was too lazy to go out, so I just surfed the internet—and your face kept popping up.”

“...You watched?”

“Of course. I shared it with the guys.”

Damn it.

Through the background noise I heard, “Hey who’s Han Tae-hyun?” “Who is it? A girl?” “Is it a girl?”

“He’s Woo-joo hyung. Say hi.”

I rotated the camera, and three people by the pool waved and laughed.

“Hey, it’s Woo-joo hyung. Long time no see!”

“Wow. How’d you get so old in just a few months?”

“Hyung, take better care of yourself!”

Their jokes and peals of laughter came through the phone—and from right beside me—in real time.

“....”

Seeing my expression, Tae-hyun laughed.

“Don’t mind them. They’ll make dumb jokes whenever they open their mouths.”

The other, who’d been downing fresh juice, stretched elegantly.

“So, you called to hang out with me?”

“You’re the one who called.”

“Oh, right. I haven’t been sleeping well lately, so my mind’s fuzzy.”

He shrugged, then his eyes widened as if noticing something.

“I thought you called because you were bored. But you sound like you want a favor.”

“That’s right.”

“So what is it?”

“Wait. First, do you want to say hi to my guys?”

This time I pointed the lens at the members, who scrambled up to greet him.

“Hello, sunbaenim!”

“Ugh, stop bowing so much. It’s awkward.”

Then Tae-hyun rose from the sunbed and bowed in return.

Laughter spilled out on both ends.

Suddenly the mood eased.

Clearly, asking him for fan-sign event tips was an excellent choice.

As a popular idol, he must know exactly how to make people like him.

I explained the situation.

“Hmm, you want fan-sign tips, huh?”

“You look exhausted. Should I call you later?”

“No, it’s fine.”

He waved his hand, then his eyes sparkled.

“If I help you, are you buying me something? A meal?”

“Of course I’ll buy you a meal. But are you, a rich guy, trying to nickel-and-dime me?”

“Screw off.”

“Alright. Let’s hang up.”

“Aaaa! I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!”

He then asked cautiously:

“But you’re buying me the meal, right?”

“I’ve enjoyed this. Thanks, Tae-hyun.”

“I said I’d tell you, you cheapskate.”

At the word “cheapskate,” Ri-hyuk pulled out his phone and started taking notes.

Why is he noting this down?

Of course I was joking—but I did promise to treat him to a nice meal soon, including for that SNS photo trouble last time.

“I don’t tell just anyone. I’ll share because you’re buying. This is real golden advice.”

He puffed himself up as he spoke.

“It’s your first fan-sign, right? Remember only three things.”

He launched into a lecture and the members reacted with impressed “oohs,” listening intently.

It was that useful.

Like a file titled “Three Ways to Survive a Fan-Sign Event.txt.”

Far more practical than the company’s precautions.

As I committed those tips to memory:

“Actually, forget everything I said so far. Just remember one thing.”

“What is it?”

“If you ever feel stuck...”

“Stuck?”

“Just watch what I do. I’ve seen you since trainee days—if you follow me, you’ll do fine.”

“Oh, that’s true. Seriously.”

Bi-ju clapped in strong agreement.

“Right? I’m telling you.”

Even our resident skeptic nodded, and the other two fussed their assent.

I was glad they got along, but it felt weird being praised in such a strange way.

What on earth do they think of me?

Anyway, it was almost time for the pre-recording, so I ended the call.

“Thanks so much, Tae-hyun. Message me when you’re back in Korea. I don’t know if we’ll find time, but...”

“Yeah, hyung, later... #%&^!”

“Why are you so loud?”

I frowned at the noisy background as he rose from his seat, slipping into view.

Then he held the phone over the pool fence.

“...What is that?”

On the hotel rooftop hundreds of fans had gathered, chattering excitedly.

When he waved, the roar nearly burst my eardrums.

“I’ve got an event nearby tonight.”

We all looked stunned at the K-star’s casual smile.

“What? A delay?”

Just before the pre-recording, the network told us of a delay.

They could’ve told us sooner.

We’d finished styling and were about to head out.

“How much longer do we have to wait?”

“I don’t know.”

Hyung Min-gi answered.

“It’s raining outside, so they’re slow to change sets. And there was an accident at Street Boys’ recording just now.”

“Accident?”

“They said a singer and a camera collided on stage.”

“Whoa, is everyone okay?”

“I ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) heard the camera broke.”

“Oh dear...”

We imagined someone bleeding in our minds.

Min-gi said:

“The camera broke.”

“Really?”

“The person’s fine, but the camera’s ruined.”

“Oh...”

I guess that other group has a tough member.

When our eyes shifted, Jung-hyun rubbed his nose with an embarrassed smile.

“I’m bummed. My condition was perfect.”

I nodded at Ji-ho’s mutter.

We’d pumped ourselves with energy to meet fans, but it felt like flat soda.

“I wonder if the fans outside are okay in this rain?”

Bi-ju said, staring out the window.

Drip-drip-drip—

Heavy raindrops pelted the glass.

The driving rain misted everything into blur. Only car headlights scattered across the road.

My palm scraping away the fog on the window felt icy.

“No one brought umbrellas in this nice weather. They must’ve taken cover somewhere.”

“Probably. They’ll be safe.”

Ri-hyuk scratched his cheek.

“Sangam-dong has lots of places: burger joints, cafés. Fans will be in one of those.”

“Should I buy umbrellas with my own money and send them over?”

“How sweet, our maknae.”

I reached to pat his head, but only tapped his shoulder to avoid messing his hair and makeup.

Sweet thought, but impossible to execute.

If someone asked who’d fetch umbrellas, it’d have to be staff—and there’s no way Min-gi hyung would volunteer.

“Hyung, we’ll pay. Could you buy umbrellas for the fans?”

Ridiculous.

All we could do was hope the downpour ended quickly.

“But...”

Jung-hyun, still staring out the window, said:

“The fans who show up here are amazing. I couldn’t do it—coming every day just to watch a pre-recording.”

We all nodded.

Really.

It’s no small feat.

The schedule changes daily.

Anyone who watches music shows might wonder once:

It’s called live, so why isn’t there a gap between performances?

That problem is solved by pre-recording.

They record in advance.

At broadcast, when Singer A finishes verse one, Singer B goes on, and verse two of A airs from the recorded take.

It used to be a sign of fame only top acts could do pre-recording, but now with so many segments, even rookies do it.

The issue is the recording time is unpredictable.

If you’re lucky, it’s quick in the morning; if unlucky, it’s at dawn—there’s no set standard.

Jung-hyun said:

“For us, it’s a scheduled gig. But for fans, it’s not.”

“Right. They don’t have to do this.”

If we had to name one reason:

Because they love us.

Just to cheer us on, every time.

“I couldn’t do that.”

Who am I to expect fans to wake up at dawn?

“Me neither.”

Bi-ju agreed.

“Me too. I wouldn’t have made it.”

“Same.”

“I can’t even wait for rocket delivery. I really couldn’t do this.”

Through the window I saw another group’s fans—a colorful mushroom patch of umbrellas.

I thought of the sea of fans Tae-hyun showed me.

In China or Korea.

No matter the country, fans always wait.

Perhaps a fan’s time is always time spent waiting.

At that thought:

“...Ah.”

My sudden exclamation drew the juniors’ gaze.

“What is it, hyung?”

“You look like you just had a strange thought. What is it this time?”

I gathered my thoughts, then spoke.

“Guys.”

A good idea had come to me.

“I know what to give as the fan-sign event gift.”

Sunday, July 13.

A multiplex cinema in Yeouido.

[New Black 1st Single Album ‘The New Black: First Chapter’ Fan-Sign Event]

The small theater’s seats began to fill one by one.

A private fan-sign for 100 fans chosen from those who bought the album.

The atmosphere was hushed.

If you could net words floating in the air, they’d be anxious, excited, tense, thrilled.

Face to face with the idol they’d only seen from afar.

No fan could help but tremble.

And each had their own way to calm that heart.

Some logged into fan cafés or messaged friends, some fiddled with camera settings, a few chatted with neighbors.

“Hi there.”

“Uh... hello.”

After a moment of awkward greetings, people bonded instantly over shared love.

“What are you watching?”

“The live Night Sea from Wonderful Night.”

“Oh, I listened on the way here. Their tones are so beautiful, right?”

“Right. The more I listen, the more it sinks in.”

“Seriously, our kids sing so well. Our fan-café membership jumped after that a cappella live at the showcase.”

As one spoke and another agreed, someone sighed:

“There’s so much content. Weekly practice videos, reality during debut prep, nonstop videos—it’s great but so much.”

“Someone joked in the comm: New Black has so many teasers, you need supplements to catch them all.”

A light laugh and gentle chatter filled the room.

As the fan-sign about to start, the theater lights dimmed.

‘Huh?’

I tilted my head.

The projector whirred and a video played.

‘Do they usually show VCR at fan-signs?’

That thought vanished at the full-screen face.

Close-ups of Sun Woo-joo inspecting something had someone gasp.

“Is it working?”

He examined the camera, then turned back.

“Think it’s okay?”

“Looks like it.”

“Are we on? Are we?”

“Guys, come gather over here.”

Fans smiled at the warm voices.

New Black members in track suits gathered in the cramped living room set.

They frowned at the shabby set, then laughed at Kim Jung-hyun sitting like a statue, holding a sketchbook labeled “D-5.”

“Jung-hyun hyung, you look like a Mafia statue.”

“Mafia?”

“The Moai, hyung. Ji-ho, what do you know?”

“Wow, you really say whatever...”

“Guys, we’re filming messages for fans. Be quiet. Woo-joo hyung, I think it’s your turn.”

Sun Woo-joo, watching his juniors with amusement, looked at the camera with a different expression than usual.

“Hello, fans. You must be pretty confused right now. What’s this? Why are we suddenly here?”

He continued:

“We’re filming this because we prepared a gift for you. Rather than just giving it, we wanted to show those who came this far how we made it. Shall we begin?”

“....”

“You aren’t cued?”

“Hyung, who was supposed to do the cue?”

“Right.”

“Wasn’t it Ji-ho? If he forgets, it’s Ji-ho or Jung-hyun hyung.”

“Why pick on me... you cuties...”

“Is it you?”

“Yes, it’s me...”

Sun Woo-joo laughed at the bickering siblings, picked up the camera, and moved.

“Hyung! Where are you going?”

“Off to share secrets with fans, punks.”

He smiled at the camera.

“Please forget my juniors’ clumsy selves. Now, shall we journey into the making film together? Tada~”

He struck a pose for three seconds, then glanced down at the camera with an embarrassed look, murmuring, “Is it recording? It must be?”

The video began. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The first scene was again in the dorm living room.

They gathered to draw.

Each sketched their favorite animal as a caricature, then assembled them into one picture.

A forest of animals.

Under it they wrote “The New Black” in charming script.

They each wrote two letters, then argued over who would write the final K.

“K is for Kim, so Kim should do it.”

“Agreed.”

“No way. K is for King, so Wang Ji-ho should.”

“Really, debating this? Anyone can write it.”

“Then exclude Ri-hyuk.”

“Why? I have the best handwriting.”

“Hey, guys.”

Sun Woo-joo sighed and said:

“Why don’t we just add ‘from’ at the front?”

“...!”

Though trivial, fans watching grinned.

Then the design went to the company.

D-4, D-3.

While waiting for the result, scenes showed the members peeking at fans through the lobby windows, practicing autographs, reading fan letters with delight.

Finally D-1.

They received the result and cheered.

Eco-bags printed with the rough drawings.

They placed snacks and photo cards inside.

Though a short reality-style video like any company release, the gift resonated deeply with fans.

Not only those at the signing, but fans who’d later watch online.

It felt as though they said:

“We’re waiting for you, too.”

As long as you wait, we wait for our meeting with you.

Throughout the VCR, that feeling came through clearly.

The eco-bag was only the medium; the process itself was the gift to fans.

Then the green room appeared again.

“Tonight we’ll finally meet you in person. Even while this video plays, we’re waiting at the door. When we enter, you’ll greet us, right?”

Fans glanced toward the entrance.

“Let’s meet with smiles.”

“Let’s!”

The video ended there.

As the VCR’s afterglow hovered, the clear prelude of Fireworks played and the door opened.

The five members appeared.

It was New Black’s second official meeting with their fans.