I could barely hold back a laugh.

The maknae—his rice-cake face—let tears drip down, then tilted his head back to swallow the tteokbokki broth.

Slurp—

We all bit our lips. If any of us laughed, we’d give him away.

Ri-hyuk was practically thumping his head against the wall each time he heard the sound.

“Hyung, what should we do?” Bijoo showed me his phone’s notepad.

I took it and was about to type something when Jun-hyun urgently tapped my shoulder. Behind him, Ri-hyuk was pointing down.

Uh-oh...

Jiho, having finished the tteokbokki, was creeping up the stairs—one quiet step at a time.

Before anyone could move first, we all bolted—tiptoeing, making no sound.

As Jiho climbed from the first floor to the second, we found ourselves trapped outside the dorm room door.

“It won’t open!”

“What the—why won’t it open?”

The smart lock’s keypad lights dimmed, then went out. We frantically pressed it again, but there was no response. The battery must be dead.

Of all times...!

Footsteps behind us stopped abruptly.

“Huh?”

Jiho blinked at the cluster of us by the door. “Hyungs, what are you doing there?”

“I told you a dozen times it was time to replace the battery. Since last time, one by one... I think this is the fourth reminder.”

“Okay, okay.”

“How many laps did you run looking for a battery?”

“Let’s eat first and talk. Ri-hyuk, or they’ll all get an upset stomach.”

“...Fine.”

Ri-hyuk, looking sulky, nibbled at his fries. Soft jazz played around us. It was 1 AM, and the burger joint was nearly empty. We’d wandered around hunting for the right battery, then ended up here starving.

Jun-hyun, chewing a burger, said, “How can no place have that rectangular battery? Every spot says they’re out. I thought convenience stores would definitely have them.”

“Exactly,” I said.

“But at least we bought some. Now we won’t have to call the director.”

Everyone relaxed at Bijoo’s remark.

“Just thinking about calling him... ugh.”

“I don’t even want to imagine it.”

“Why are you guys shaking in your boots? I’m the one who’d get scolded.”

“I hate it.”

“Me too—it’s just the atmosphere.”

I chuckled at their dramatics, then glanced at the one who hadn’t said a word—our maknae, quietly eating his burger.

He’d normally be chattering excitedly. Now he just rolled his eyes, looking part-apologetic, part-embarrassed that we’d gone on a battery run because of him.

I offered him a fry. “Don’t worry—have some.”

“...Thanks.”

Ri-hyuk handed him a big handful. “Hey, Jiho. Did you do something wrong? We’re the ones who forgot the battery. If anyone’s at fault, it’s all of us.”

“Still... because of me...”

“It’s not your fault,” Bijoo squeezed ketchup onto his plate. “So just eat.”

“Jiho, you’ve got something on your face.”

Jun-hyun gently brushed crumbs from Jiho’s lips. As we all comforted him, Jiho bowed his head and let more tears fall.

“Heavens, why’s he crying again?” Ri-hyuk muttered.

“Hyung, Jiho’s crying.”

“Jiho, what’s wrong?”

Earlier, his tears seemed from sorrow—but now they looked like a different kind of upset.

“...I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For everything.”

He sniffled and started crying in earnest. After blowing his nose nearly ten times, Jiho finally calmed down. His sharp little nose was bright red.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, we all waited as Jiho spoke.

“I’m sorry for making you guys go through all this. Tomorrow we have to go to the broadcast station, and today’s lesson was hard....”

“Don’t worry about us,” I said. “It’s not your first all-nighter. Sleep’s no big deal. What matters is you’re upset. Right?”

“Right.”

“You matter way more.”

Jun-hyun handed him a tissue, and after wiping his eyes, I quietly asked,

“I wanted to ask earlier but things were awkward—was it because of something that happened in today’s acting lesson?”

“...Yes.”

“What part upset you so much?”

I had an inkling but couldn’t jump to conclusions. It seemed more complicated than I’d thought.

“...I used to aim to be an actor, then became an idol. So my trainee period is shorter than yours. I’m the worst singer, second-worst dancer, and just... not very skilled.”

“Now you’re picking on me in the middle of this?”

“You’re right.”

Ri-hyuk clicked his tongue. Jiho continued,

“Every time we did activities, I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious.”

“Because you thought you were the worst?”

“Yes—I never helped, except by goofing around. I couldn’t really do anything.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Jiho went on,

“When we prepared for the year-end review, or sang, or composed—because I knew I couldn’t do anything, I always hung back. I thought maybe this time, with acting, I could help. I wanted to be useful, but you guys were all so good—and the teacher was so hard on me—.”

“...”

“You all do everything well, but I felt like someone who didn’t contribute.”

I had dozens of comforting things ready to say, but each one fell away the more he spoke.

I’d thought it was mere jealousy over someone succeeding in his field—but I never imagined something so deep.

I’d always seen him as naive, but never knew he carried thoughts like this.

The others reacted similarly—Bijoo rested his chin on his hand, Jun-hyun stood with his arms folded, and Ri-hyuk sighed.

“Hey.”

Ri-hyuk was the first to speak. “How are you useless, dummy?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I call you that because you are that. What should I call you otherwise? Useless? Me being useless would make more sense than you.”

“Why you? You sing well.”

“What else do I do? You know they have to adjust choreography because I can’t dance. I’m always sorry.”

“...”

“Quit your whining.”

Bijoo chimed in, “You’re not the only one who feels useless sometimes, Jiho. Don’t be down. Honestly, I’ve thought that whenever Woo-joo hyung does something—I have nothing to help with.”

“You ever feel like that, hyung?”

“Of course.”

After a moment’s silence, Jun-hyun said, “We really care about you, Jiho.”

“....”

“It’s not because you’re good at acting. It’s just... because you’re you. That’s why we like you. So don’t think you’re useless.”

It turned into a sort of heartfelt letter session, and naturally all eyes turned to me.

“Looks like my sin is the greatest.”

“No, hyung,” Jiho waved his hands. “It’s not because of your acting today—I mean, my own worries...”

“No, it’s different.”

“Huh?”

“Since the year-end review, I’ve felt like I left everyone to handle one thing each, but I never gave you something. I feel like I excluded you by accident.”

“....”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve paid more attention.”

“No—it’s not that...”

I scratched my cheek and continued, addressing the whole group,

“And I’m only hearing this now.”

“About what?”

“That you all thought you were a burden, that you weren’t contributing to the group.”

That was exactly what I’d worried every night when I made the TNT debut team.

“...I used to worry about that too—whether I was really helping the group. Well, I still do....”

“Hyung?”

Jun-hyun looked incredulous. “Without you, we wouldn’t be here.”

“Right—what nonsense is that?”

“...You kidding?”

“Why would I think that?”

I laughed at his protest. “I’ll turn that right back at you.”

“....”

“Honestly, without any of you, would I have a successful career? If not for Ri-hyuk, how would ‘Night Sea’ exist? Without Jun-hyun, no ‘Fireworks.’ Without Bijoo, no choreography.”

And,

“Jiho—you might think you do nothing, but without you, our vibe would be so empty.”

“...Really?”

“Alone, we’d be so boring.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“I think we’re so lucky the five of us met. Talented and good-hearted people rarely come together. You all know that from TJ, right?”

TJ was notorious for strict character vetting and endless scandals.

Meeting in this combination was like winning the lottery.

“I know that,” Jun-hyun said. “I heard you fought with those three trainees before you joined us.”

“Right.”

So let’s end the idea that anyone here is useless. I don’t see a single useless person. And—

Looking at Jiho, I said, “I’m sorry I didn’t look after you better. From now on, I will.”

“Don’t say that. I’ll try harder.”

“Come here.”

I held him close and patted his back. Then the others crowd-hugged us like penguins. I felt eyes on us, but in that moment I didn’t care.

[“I’m so shocked right now...”]

McDonald’s at dawn, doing homework when suddenly an idol walks in.

– Idol??

– OP: Yep—just wearing sweats, but you could tell.

– More details!

– OP: Five of them... so unbelievably handsome. Pure beauty.

– Pics!!

– OP: Wow... brown hair’s crazy. Wait—

– OP: uploaded_photo.jpg

– All kinds of crazy: perfect features, crazy fashion.

– Who wears teal floral sweats?

– Can’t tell, but one stands out.

– Outfit’s wild.

– That’s the ultimate fangirl moment.

– LOL.

– ?

– Could it be my bias... NewBlack? LOL. Gotta post in fan café.

[Additional) Idol Sighting]

– Thanks to the commenter who said it was NewBlack.

– But they look so dark.

– The youngest is so nervous and the mood’s tense.

– You can feel it from afar.

– Feels like they’re scolding the maknae;;;

– ?

– Did they fight?

– Release your inner Sumerzz lol.

– He’s our age, right?

– OP: I tried eavesdropping but too far.

– Where are the NewBlack fans?

– Here.

– Do you know what’s happening?

– No idea. They’re not usually like this... fans in the café are confused too.

– LOL popcorn time.

[More) Warm atmosphere]

Suddenly they give him fries, ketchup... what’s happening;;

– ??

– What?

– Suddenly so sweet??

– OP: Someone even wiped his crumbs off.

– What is this...

[More) Back to serious]

– What.

– He gets serious while eating fries.

– ??

– What situation is this?

– Spilled ketchup?

– Ugh, frustrating.

– LOL this is so funny at dawn.

– Fans? Reactions?

[Breaking) They ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ hug]

They suddenly start hugging. Happy ending...

In case anyone doubts, pic attached.

– LOL

– Abrupt happy ending lol.

– What is this?

– Go have the courage to ask.

– Can I post like this?

– Check views... so many awake at dawn.

– Where’s the pic?

– OP: Deleted to avoid trouble. Should I delete this post? Never seen such high views in anon room;;

– Yup delete it.

– If the company takes legal action, you’re stuck.

– Repost the pic first.

[Deleted posts.]

[Regarding last night’s events]

Hello, fans. This is Woo-joo.

I know you’re all worried about last night. Please don’t be—it wasn’t anything you’re imagining.

...(omitted)...

We’ll work harder as NewBlack.

P.S. Please forget my floral sweats.

P.P.S. I am not your grandma.

P.P.P.S. If you call me grandma again, you’ll be removed.

P.P.P.P.S. Grandpa?? Show yourselves, both of you.

P.P.P.P.P.S. I warned you.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S. You saw last night, right? I’m scary.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Please...

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I won’t come back to the fan café again.

In the car en route to the event after pre-meeting with the TBC “Jusehan” team.

The pre-meeting ended warmly. The writers liked us—and loved the photos from last night.

They joked we’d be fun to dress in rural work pants.

I swallowed my pride and tears.

“Seriously, why were you wandering around at that hour and caused all this?”

“Seok-hwan hyung.”

“What?”

“Couldn’t you have just scolded him instead of laughing?”

“I refuse.”

Seok-hwan laughed and asked Mingi, who was driving, “Mingi, did you see his photo?”

“Yes, I did. I checked entertainment forums this morning—our names were all over.”

“No publicity like it. How did our swallow bring back such a catch during break?”

Among the laughing managers, the juniors teased me too.

“Hyung, I told you to buy new clothes.”

“Right.”

“Why did you choose those sweats when it was urgent? Ungrateful.”

“It’s not like that—I’m so grateful, okay? Puhaha! Aah...”

I pinched the maknae’s cheek.

The mood was good. Someone at the store that night must’ve live-blogged us, racking up high views. Photos of our warm group hug spread everywhere.

Curiosity: “Why are they hugging?”

A clickbait site headlined, “Why did an idol group embrace at midnight?” with “No one knows the secret.”

The PR team was delighted, and our manager was grinning. They’d gotten several calls from entertainment reporters that morning.

Thanks to the lighthearted reaction, the issue passed with just a brief scolding.

“I told you there are always eyes on you, so be careful.”

“I know, hyung.”

I felt that lesson more than anyone—never expected anyone to blog us from that empty store.

Fans said they laughed, then their hearts raced halfway through the post. Good it ended sweetly—I almost had a heart attack.

Without our dorm, there’s nowhere safe.

I glanced at the juniors as I reminded myself of the lesson.

“Hey, check the views on the clip featuring Lee Gun-woo.”

“There are so many articles.”

I looked at the portal’s entertainment headlines:

– “Lee Gun-woo Joins ‘Jusehan’ as Chuseok Guest”

– “Hallyu Star Lee Gun-woo... Hot Reactions to Street Missions”

– “Largest-Scale Chuseok Special ‘Jusehan’: Who’s the Remaining Guest?”

Last night’s Lee Gun-woo appearance was dominating. They’ve been doing a “Around the World by Dice” segment and preview each episode’s guest at the end.

We’ll meet the “Jusehan” team at our CF shoot in a few days to film promo clips—some talk, some missions. I’m a bit nervous.

– “Heard a rumor newbie idols are guesting on ‘Jusehan’;;”

– “That’d be so boring”

– “LOL who’d do that?”

Our main PD did. I scratched my cheek reading comments; hope this goes well. If it flops, we’ll catch a lot of heat—has happened before.

Scrolling through worried comments, I decided to focus on other tasks.

“Hyung, let’s rehearse the storyboard again.”

“Okay.”

I patted the maknae’s head and picked up the CF storyboard. Worries vanished, my mind at ease. I felt confident about the commercial—every time we practiced the lines together, I had a strange certainty.

Something’s telling me, “This is going to be good, hyung.”

“...”

“What?”

“Nothing—just nothing.”