Backstage.
Biju quickly averted his eyes from the mbers energetically waving lightboards.
‘Ugh, so embarrassing....’
Why were they all acting so awkwardly?
With his head turned, he peeked sideways using the corner of his eye at ssages like “Our Biju is the best.”
“Heehee, ahem.”
He couldn’t help feeling pleased.
As Biju darted his gaze away, giggled, then looked away again, Apple Team and the dancers burst into laughter.
‘So cute.’
‘How can he be so cute? In practice he’s like a venomous apple villain.’
Just as the dancers were smiling at his adorable expression, the hectic backstage settled and the formal critiques began. First up was choreographer Han A-yun, who took the microphone.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect that. This team had such high expectations—I thought, they’re really going to do well, but....”
Apple Team’s eyes widened.
‘Does that an it wasn’t good?’
Seeing their worried faces, Han A-yun smiled.
“They did even better than I expected.”
“Ahh....”
Fortunately, it wasn’t a negative “not good,” but the “not good” in my head.
The internationally acclaid choreographer pointed out each mont on stage that impressed her.
“Those dancer formations—I should say sword-precision choreography—when that appeared I was in awe. Usually you avoid that in a short-term project, because if synchronization is off it looks ugly.”
The idol mbers in the panel nodded in agreent.
“I was surprised they could execute such precision that normally takes long-term training, seamlessly.”
“Thank you.”
“Just out of personal curiosity, how did you solve that part?”
At that, Ran and Ha ru looked to Biju. He took the microphone and spoke kindly.
“We actually worried about that part a lot. We wondered if we could pull it off in this ti fra.”
“And...?”
“Since we couldn’t find any better thod, we tripled our practice ti!”
Biju answered with a bright smile, and Han A-yun blinked and picked up the mic again.
“You tripled your practice ti?”
“Yes. We just kept repeating it until the synchronization was perfect.”
“I see.”
“Turns out it works if you just do it!~”
His tone and voice were pure kindness, but the content sounded like special-forces orders: if it ain’t working, make it work.
Seeing Ha ru and Ran standing beside him stare off into space with enlightened expressions, everyone laughed.
Before Han A-yun could speak again, male choreographer Kim Seung-cheol, wearing horn-rim glasses, took the mic.
“That was a perfect performance. Especially each mber’s dance line really stood out. Ran.”
“Yes.”
“You really showed what experience ans. I see the skills that co from over ten years of experience.”
As the choreographer raved, Ran smiled awkwardly, and Biju and Ha ru flapped their hands in delight, “Woo-woo~.”
Then Kim Seung-cheol turned to Ha ru.
“Ha ru, you were also very impressive. Those who played the minister role early on were all formidable, yet on this stage you really made your presence known. You didn’t lose to Ran at all.”
“Th-thank you.”
Ha ru looked down shyly, and Ran and Biju giggled and patted him.
As this heartwarming scene continued, the choreographer’s attention returned to Biju, who was beaming at his praised teammates. Then he said:
“Phew... just a mont.”
Everyone focused as he took a deep breath, then, as if to explain:
“There’s so much praise to give Biju, I needed to warm up first.”
Laughter rippled through the audience.
Kim Seung-cheol raised the mic again.
“How do you dance like that? I was amazed watching. I already knew Biju danced well, but what you showed today was really impressive. Sotis I feel, watching a stage, like I want to jump in and dance myself—and today was one of those tis. I also....”
“Excuse .”
MC Baek Sang-joong interjected wittily.
“Choreographer, you should at least keep breathing.”
“Sorry. I have a habit of getting insanely excited when I see great dance, I stand up without realizing it.”
Everyone laughed as he stood then sat again.
“Phew, anyway, it was amazing. A new discovery in Biju. I loved it.”
With that, he concluded.
“You must have had the most worries for this round... great work.”
“Thank you.”
Biju bowed politely, smiling, and Ran and Ha ru flapped their hands, “Yay~.”
Smiles lingered on their faces.
‘Biju really worked hard.’
‘You did great, senpai.’
Though every competitor poured their all into preparing, Biju had prepared beyond that—as if his life depended on it.
The reason was simple.
“NewBlack mbers are competing here...? Really?”
“They show up even here?”
“Then doesn’t competition beco aningless?”
Though those views faded once the show aired, many idols initially reacted that way hearing NewBlack would appear.
‘NewBlack will win first place anyway.’
Competition only works among peers of similar level—and NewBlack’s level in the music industry was far above the rest.
Except perhaps Street Boys, every fandom combined wouldn’t match one Soufflé.
As in typical survival shows, if first place were decided by audience or judge votes, NewBlack would inevitably win.
Any format would favor a top star.
But that burden weighed on the perforr too.
If they didn’t deliver performance matching expectations, recognition would be difficult.
“I really want to do well this ti.”
That determination, voiced from the first eting, stayed in everyone’s ears.
He ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) vowed to deliver a flawless stage that no one could criticize—and that intention succeeded.
“It felt like watching a work of art. I didn’t expect you could handle this genre...”
“When Biju opened his hand...”
“When this airs, many will be shocked. That’s what I think.”
Now everyone was truly impressed, with no need to act.
Each ti they complinted him, Biju smiled bashfully.
“Woo-woo~”
At that, Ran and Ha ru flapped their hands.
“Eheehee!”
Whenever soone praised Biju, the four NewBlack mbers in the panel flapped about like lively insects.
“NewBlack, sorry, could you let others speak for a mont?”
“Sorry....”
“We can’t contain ourselves....”
Everyone laughed as MC gently restrained NewBlack.
The main dancer looked so happy to be praised, his smile stretched ear to ear.
MC asked them:
“How was it for NewBlack?”
Wooju took the microphone, and the other three gathered beside him as if to say, this is our answer.
“It was an amazing performance. Without dialogue or lyrics, they conveyed everything through movent alone. Everyone on stage shone like stars.”
The composed leader of NewBlack then turned to his mber.
“And personally, I want to say to Biju—you worked so hard. Today’s performance will be unforgettable.”
eting his gaze, Biju smiled quietly.
Though brief, it felt like ample reward for nearly two weeks of practice.
A reward more precious than first place.
Wooju handed the mic to the youngest.
“Our hyung is always our pride.”
From the audience ca a chorus of “Ooooh~.”
Biju wiped a moisture at his eye corner, and when panel comnts ended, MC Baek Sang-joong shifted focus.
“Before you go, one comnt each on today’s stage, please.”
Ran took the mic.
“First, our team worked so hard, and to our dance crew who lit up the stage with us!”
Below, dancers in court-attire jumped and cheered, “Waaaah!”
Their joyful energy made everyone smile.
As the team leader praised them, they cheered, and Biju took the mic.
“This was the happiest stage.”
The dance crew cheered.
“I wish we’d had a bit more practice ti, though....”
“Aaaah!”
“Huh... am I saying the wrong thing?”
Startled, Biju, and the dance crew shouted, “Stop practicing!”, everyone burst out laughing.
After our second mber’s stage ended, the final Waterlon Team performance and then the ensemble finale followed.
We saw how Eratreia unfolded after the prince’s death.
[You are...]
The king, mingling among dancers, discovered the princess hidden among them was his daughter.
Truths erged.
The king realized the guard was his son, the princess learned the one she loved was kin.
In that revelation, the king gathered himself again.
But....
[It’s already too late.]
He realized the kingdom had been ruined by the corrupt minister in his absence.
Believing himself unworthy, he abdicated the throne to the princess.
Then, he departed westward.
[They say there’s a mysterious herb in the west, said to revive the dead...]
To find a way to revive his son, he abandoned the throne as a wanderer.
Thus, in the new era of Eratreia, golden dawn arrived.
And it was no longer the king’s era.
“Ooo...?”
At the finale’s end, the cast lined up.
From nobles on the far left to commoners on the right.
It hinted at what the distant future might hold under the new monarch’s rule.
A noble placed a crown on the king’s head; like dominoes, even the final commoners donned crowns.
‘Is this rebellion?’
‘Democracy.’
Eratreia ended suggesting an era where everyone becos king.
I rembered Biju’s elegant gesture placing the crown on his head and felt awe—he truly was our second.
After today’s performances concluded—
“Now, only the announcent of first place remains. The winner receives a Hanwoo set!”
Our expressions turned serious.
“But how do they decide first place?”
“Probably by the cast vote.”
Since many idols appeared, the production seed to have thought it through.
To avoid criticism, they devised every possible asure.
With judge or audience votes, the fandom size would dominate, so they delegated to the cast.
“Please pick the one team you think did best, excluding your own.”
Not ideal but fair enough.
In these formats, first place stirs debate no matter what.
Fans often use tactical votes—denying the favorite team first place to block them.
But that happens in viewer voting; in a show where nas and faces are shown, no one would make such foolish choices.
So everyone would pick the performance they genuinely thought best.
‘Biju’s team will get first place.’
‘Yeah, they will.’
Ri Hyuk and I exchanged glances and nodded as all perforrs returned to the stage. MC Baek held cue cards and announced with a smile:
“The team that received twelve out of fifteen votes is....”
A near-unanimous decision.
“Apple Team!”
“Waaaaah!”
Golden confetti fell as the MC handed over the “Hanwoo set.” We all rose and applauded.
With Apple Team’s reaction and collective cheers, the recording ended, and in the hallway we reunited.
“Bijuyaaaaa!”
“Wooju hyuuung!”
As we dashed over and Biju spread his arms, soone said:
“Look at that in his hand. Is it really a Hanwoo set?”
“Seeing that marbling makes my mouth water.”
“We need to take this ho quickly—since it’s midsumr, it might spoil.”
“....”
At Biju’s pouting face we laughed.
Then we four surrounded him.
“Did you enjoy the competition?”
“Do you think you did well?”
Biju smiled, cheeks still flushed, and replied brightly, “It was so much fun. Really. I never expected to win first place, but they all voted for us....”
“They definitely deserved it.”
“You did great, hyung.”
“Congrats on winning Hanwoo.”
At Ri Hyuk and Junghyun’s words Biju laughed.
Perhaps from performance excitent, his cheeks were slightly rosy. As we prepared to say more—
“Biju!”
“Bijuyaaa!”
Voices calling him ca from all directions.
Apple Team and the dance crew beckoned, and other teammates called out too.
Startled, Biju looked embarrassed and we said:
“You said you’re going to the after-party?”
“Yes.”
“Have fun.”
The Apple Team and dance crew seed to be gathering for a al. We nudged Biju’s back and urged him to go.
Soon he mingled in.
Watching him smile brightly among them, we felt proud.
‘Yeah. Go shake up those people.’
‘Not us—go shake them up, hyung!’
Thinking if he released that tension there, maybe in the practice room he’d be a bit less driven.
Then—
“Aaah!”
Biju ca running, handing a trophy.
Each Apple Team mber received one for first place.
“Can you put this in the dorm display case?”
“Sure.”
“How does it feel to be first place, hyung? Feels good, right?”
At the youngest’s words, Biju shook his head with a smile.
“No.”
“...”
“I still have five more to get....”
He laughed softly, eyes full of determination, then waved, “I’m off!” and left.
“....”
I thought one trophy would be enough, but hearing he intended to sweep the rest almost made clap.
As we saw him off—
“Damn it! Get out! All of you get out!”
“Burn it up~!”
“Go away!”
Joining Street Boys in their usual mock outrage, we herded him out.
Though late, our schedules hardly aligned, so we had dinner together.
As Hanjo pulled out his wallet, everyone cheered. Watching the sidekicks dash out, Hanjo asked :
“Sothing good happen? You look so happy.”
“Of course. My brother took first place.”
“No, not that.”
Hanjo narrowed his eyes at my expression.
“That look. Rember when we did that joint stage and you said you had a great idea?”
“You rember that?”
“It felt ominous. So wicked energy.”
What did he take for?
I smiled and said, “It’s nothing. I just thought of a good idea.”
“First, tell when you’re coming back... seeing your face, I better avoid that ti.”
I laughed and looked back at the dancers leaving chattering enthusiastically.
Today’s competition was a triumph for Biju personally and for our team—but I’d gained sothing else too.
A few days later.
Lemon Entertainnt’s NewBlack TF eting room.
With the sidekicks, Wooju, and staff seated, the A&R director looked intrigued.
“You chose a song title?”
“Yes.”
Wooju spun his laptop around to show them.
“The title track is called Empire.”
“Empire?”
“We were inspired by Biju’s competition. Our album the is conflict and harmony, right?”
“Right.”
Wooju smiled.
“And the strongest conflict is conflict over power.”
“Exactly.”
“So I thought we could symbolize that—like princes fighting over the throne.”
“But... isn’t that too serious and heavy?”
At that, the mbers spoke up.
“That’s why I thought we could borrow a chess or janggi concept—like chess pieces battling for king and queen.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Visually it could be fun.”
As staff nodded and offered opinions on the mbers’ idea—
“Also, for the music video or stills, I want to try sothing.”
“Yes?”
“I want to use this.”
mbers’ eyes lit up. On the laptop screen was a fashion model wearing a glittering golden crown.
“A crown?”
“Yes!”
Sparkling.
As Biju smiled shyly, the other four glowed at the idea of wearing a crown too.
Staff smiled warmly at their enthusiasm.
‘They really want it.’
‘That look when your daughter asks for a princess dress.’
‘They wanted to try a crown, huh.’
Bright eyes.
4Black, enviously admiring Biju’s crown.
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