[sfx: tang tang]
The glossy noodles, the mouthwatering broth, and the perfectly set egg ford a perfect trio.
“Wow...”
In the huge pot of ran cooked in bulk, the six of us bead triumphantly from behind the rising mist.
“How is it?”
“You really know how to cook ran.”
“Please have so, hyungs.”
Junghyun smiled in bliss as he ladled out so broth.
With tongs, each of us lifted our noodles, and we all took a bite at once. The spicy broth tasted sweet on the tongue.
“...!”
The mont I tasted it, the greasiness from Arican food that had lingered in my body vanished in an instant.
Yeonhu offered a plate of kimchi.
“Hyungs, this kimchi is delicious, but try this too. My mom bought it at the supermarket herself, and it’s insanely good.”
“Oh, your mother... the supermarket?”
We laughed and bit into the kimchi. The crunch and the savory-salty flavor filled us with joy.
“Aaaah...”
The maknae, his lips glistening with ran oil, closed his eyes in happiness.
“This is so good. I could die here and have no regrets.”
“Don’t die at our place.”
“Then let die at your place, ehehe.”
Teen Spirit teased, and Jiho shot them a sideways look.
For a mont, we devoured the ran without a word.
During our four or five days in Arica, we had no idea how much we missed this ran and kimchi.
“By the way, is this tap water or filtered water? I prefer cooking ran with filtered water.”
At Ri Hyuk’s question, the Teen Spirit mbers smiled kindly.
“Brother.”
“...?”
“Just eat it without complaining. You’re making angry...”
As Ri Hyuk grumbled, we clapped and burst into laughter.
While we ate ran, Teen Spirit unpacked the souvenirs we’d brought or munched on snacks.
“This is tasty.”
“This is that cheese snack they eat on sofas in Arican movies. The orange powder sticks to your fingers.”
“Oh. Lady Liberty chocolate... Junghyun hyung packaged this, right? The head’s all smashed.”
Considering age and taste, we’d mostly bought snacks, and as expected, they were extrely pleased.
While Hwiyeon examined the souvenirs, she asked,
“I heard you guys made a big splash in Arica. Your news was on TV.”
“It was on the news?”
“Yes. They said you had an insane number of fans in New York.”
“...There really were a lot.”
Though only a few days had passed, the scene felt dreamlike and distant.
Ha Hyun, who had lost spectacularly to Jiho in our college entrance exam quiz, asked,
“How was Arica? You were on a talk show, right?”
“It was our first ti too... but it didn’t feel much different from Korea.”
At my words, Bi Ju nodded.
“They just call us out, we talk, sing, and it’s over.”
“In English? Weren’t you nervous?”
“Of course I was...”
When I admitted I had been shaking, our neighbors burst into laughter. Then they went serious.
“We know you killed it.”
“You all say you were nervous, but you look so relaxed on the broadcast.”
When they asked when the talk show would air, we said,
“I think next ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Monday and Wednesday.”
“I’ll watch once subtitles appear on MiTube. Soone will post a thumbnail in red letters like ‘NewBlack’s national pride is off the charts.’”
As Yeonhu spoke, Teen Spirit’s maknae Woobin said,
“But we can’t watch anyway. Friday is KMA.”
“That’s right.”
Next Friday was the day of the KMA awards.
As talk turned to the awards and whether preparations were going well,
“Hyungs.”
“Yes?”
“We wanted to ask you sothing.”
Teen Spirit mbers, looking troubled, asked us,
“How do you deal with people you’re awkward around?”
“Don’t et them.”
“If you can’t avoid them...?”
I answered,
“I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
Then I smiled and asked,
“Why, is soone awkward to you?”
“Um... Serenity.”
“Serenity?”
“We won Song of the Year this ti, so it’s awkward. They smile and call us sunbaenims at the company, but I feel so embarrassed.”
Teen Spirit nodded.
“You know that feeling? They’re fine, but I feel like a total jerk.”
“Not sothing we did wrong, but we feel like bad guys? We’re bad at Korean, so it’s hard to explain.”
“Anyway, it’s that kind of feeling, but it’s really awkward.”
Watching them speak so earnestly, I laughed. I thought they had a deep problem, but it was just awkwardness with a junior group at the company.
Junghyun said,
“But it’s not your fault, is it?”
“Imagine you wrote the song and got the royalties and awards.”
“Sounds good...”
Junghyun stroked his chin. Teen Spirit fell silent, trying to think of an example.
“Ah, damn, I should’ve studied Korean more. How do I explain this...”
“Isn’t it not a Korean problem but a head problem?”
“We need to edit the Wikipedia entry. Teen Spirit is a six-mber brain-dead group that debuted in 2012 in Korea.”
As harsh remarks flew, I thought about what advice to give them, but nothing ca to mind. If an award ant for Scarlet ca to us, we wouldn’t know how to handle it either.
Ha Hyun said,
“We wanted to ask hyungs because you’re adults...”
“You have an adult too.”
I gestured at Hwiyeon; Teen Spirit asked,
“This one?”
“He’s the hyung, you idiots...”
Clenching her teeth, Hwiyeon smiled at .
“As you can see, I’m hardly an adult. Being with them, you can’t be an adult.”
“You suggested we speak informally. I’m really hurt...”
“You said I was the eldest, yet on reality shows you fart first in haunted houses. Fans call you Run Hwiyeon.”
“Run?”
“Yeah, Run Hwiyeon.”
While soone’s face twisted, we all burst out laughing.
After three seconds of pondering Teen Spirit’s problem, the maknae added rice to the ran and said,
“So the conclusion is this: Mango did sothing wrong.”
“That’s right.”
Watching their two-line acrostic jibes, we finished our ran.
After eating and cleaning up,
Neighbors who saw us off at the door said,
“We’re releasing a repackage in December. Please buy it. We bought Empire too.”
“Okay.”
“You need to buy six copies. Six.”
“Do we really have to...”
As we questioned needing so many, Teen Spirit gripped our shoulders and smiled.
“Please buy them...”
“When we say sothing nice, buy six copies...”
The difference of one copy on day one must have stung. Seeing the boys glare, we laughed.
K-Net Music Awards, the year-end popular music ceremony, had idol fans on edge.
[This Year’s KMA Daesang Predictions ( Attachnt)]
Album of the Year: Teen Spirit
Artist of the Year: NewBlack
Song of the Year: Serenity
Including sales and votes, predictions center on these three groups.
Serenity’s votes lol Song of the Year is 100% theirs
Girl group fans got mad and voted in block
Having exactly three winners is so neat
I’m clueless, but didn’t NewBlack have more first-week sales..?
LOL you really don’t know
It’s based on total physical sales. NewBlack’s full album ca out late October, so it wasn’t counted
If they win, K-Net’s credibility will be reviewed
Seeing online reactions, souffles nodded.
‘Artist of the Year does seem likely.’
Unlike Mango Chart, which only considers digital, the awards include physical sales. K-Net’s judging period for Album of the Year ends late October; Teen Spirit’s full album ca out mid-October, making them likely winners.
‘At least we can breathe easier this ti.’
Unlike Mango’s forced manipulations, KMA results looked clear.
Of course, we stayed vigilant.
‘We must be ready for anything....’
Reflecting on the U.S. incident, souffles thought that if overseas fans were that passionate offline, they too must rally the broadcasters online.
@Cute_Bbozack_Souffle
(Selfie of a fan at New York’s “Path of Light”.jpg)
Dear beloved Korean fans, you were right! Offline domination brought down the broadcasters too.
It was a proud statent that deeply moved fans. Stories circulated that if you’re going to stan, you should be prepared to destroy the broadcasters.
That U.S. event energized souffles greatly.
‘Can we go even higher from here?’
We were already huge; fans wondered if we could climb further.
Having risen, they felt they must now defend our position—but it felt like a new path had opened overseas.
U.S. chapter needs firepower!!!
Where should we hit?
Allen Dale Show’s official account tweeted about us
Gyuho, what are you doing? Aren’t you leading?
Nah, just paying is best. If Gyuho starts doing sothing, that’s more trouble
First, let’s catch those spreading racist rumors on SNS
Perhaps because of U.S. buzz, so were trying to sar NewBlack with racist rumors using cleverly captured TV stills, hoping to bury us before the issue broke.
But...
Strong. U.S. branch..
Indonesia branch strong too
Thailand branch hits hard, too—who said that fanbase did nothing?
What’s our role?
We’re the spiritual pillar for souffles worldwide..
Like the U.K. in the Commonwealth
Responsible for cuteness? (Daringly)
Overseas fans fluent in English joyfully smashed rumors, coordinating with other countries—a new and rewarding experience.
‘New bait...!’
Fans posted photos of NewBlack preparing for Blue Moon on the Larry King show. Likes shot up quickly. Soon videos of NewBlack leaving the station appeared on MiTube.
‘Great, great.’
Fans’ strategy was simple: every ti new content appeared, clap and like endlessly to show interest. The talk show staff thrilled by this attention could feel it across the Pacific.
[Haley Blue & The New Black – Blue Moon]
When the local Larry King show aired, the Blue Moon clip showed every carefully staged mont.
Wooju looks good with his natural hair and shaved head
Rember when you wore shoes in the Louvre and broke a statue?
That’s not it
Blue Moon stage is amazingㅠㅠ
Hailey Blue dancing shyly is cuteㅋㅋ
You’re watching the stage of Billboard No. 1 artist NewBlack
Soon Korean comnts will be buried, so I’ll write many before that
Clips of Hailey praising NewBlack’s song and composition skills, or staff asking Burbank fans their favorite points, all appeared online.
‘Nothing special?’
They seed eager to show content, but nothing truly special—definitely rushed.
Anyway...
‘I hope this helps promotion.’
As new fans flowed in, the much-awaited Allen Dale Show broadcast approached.
11 PM.
Aricans turned on their late-night talk shows with yawns.
‘Who’s on tonight?’
As usual, viewers habitually watched famous talk shows, though ratings were a bit higher than normal.
“Who’s coming on?”
“I heard Hailey Blue.”
“Hailey Blue? What’s up with that?”
A rare celebrity appearance on a TV talk show.
Soon the ads ended and the title “A Very Nice Night with Allen Dale” appeared.
“There’s another guest.”
“NewBlack?”
“Today, Hailey Blue and NewBlack are both here!” Few viewers recognized the na.
‘Sounds like a band na.’
As viewers thought that, Allen Dale moved from monologue to introducing the first guest amid recent hot topics.
“-Please welco Hailey Blue!”
Viewers loved the beauty tucking her blue hair behind her ear. The pop star, also a fashion icon, was popular for speaking bluntly without malice. Once considered rude, over ten years it beca her trademark.
“-Your new album is coming out soon. Is this appearance for that?”
“-Of course. Why else would I sit quietly?”
“-Honestly, sitting here scares a bit.”
“-Don’t worry. That era is over.”
Recalling almost grabbing a talk show host by the collar over rude questions, Hailey laughed warmly.
After talking about her family, conversation shifted to her hit single Blue Moon.
Then the host introduced the new guest.
“-They seem insanely popular. Let’s show our viewers the scene.”
With a “Broadway” caption, an incredible sight unfolded.
“Whoa...”
“Is that a new phone launch?”
A crowd worthy of Black Friday or a new phone sale filled Broadway, waving glowing sticks or strange flags.
Glen, one of the show’s codians, road with a mic.
[Annie Wilkins] I’m from Lincoln, Nebraska! I camped out since yesterday in an Um-Mak to see NewBlack.
[Glen] What’s an Um-Mak?
[Annie Wilkins] It’s NewBlack rch... an item for light camping. Easy to set up.
Fans laughed as she explained how to use it.
Next, a middle-aged man in plaid got the mic.
[Glen] How did you get here?
[Freddy Watson] My daughter insisted so much...
[Glen] Where are you from?
[Freddy Watson] Texas. I don’t even know who they are, but...
His elentary-school–aged daughter nudged him angrily. Freddy grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
[Freddy Watson] NewBlack is the world’s best boy band. Okay?
[Tiffany Watson] Good job.
The audience laughed again.
Glen approached a fan with a giant stick.
[Glen] What is this?
[Casey Scott] It’s a King-Bong. Not a weapon but a lightstick for cheering NewBlack.
[Glen] Does it light up?
[Casey Scott] Close your eyes.
[Glen] Why... ahhh!
[sfx: explosion of light]
For a mont, the audience and viewers laughed at the magical disappearance all around. Police then rushed in to restrain it.
“I don’t know what that is, but I want one.”
“Great for ergencies too.”
In the humorous 30–40 second clip, the final shot showed a vehicle approaching.
“Waaaaah!”
The cheers were so intense the caraman flinched.
‘Is this a trending star?’
As thousands on Broadway gave that impression, NewBlack’s vehicle door opened, and their feet appeared on cara, ending the clip.
“Ah...”
It felt like a horror film’s villain reveal.
Viewers who had no interest were now curious. Allen Dale, seated at his desk, held up a Dalbong and said,
“-Let introduce tonight’s stars who turned Broadway into Woodstock. NewBlack!”
Their unique entrance music played as the live band perford a lody unknown to Aricans: “Welco to NewBlack World... You can’t leave.”
“...?”
With a swish, the curtain opened and the NewBlack mbers appeared.
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