"Do you have no tact?"
"Hmmm."
"Do you really have to ask if it’s a finished version at a ti like this? Ugh. You’re worse than and I’m the maknae."
The younger ones’ scolding flew in, but I couldn’t help it.
No.
You have to know in advance to decide how to react. If it turns out to be finished and I say, ‘It’ll be great once it’s finished,’ like last ti, that’s a disaster.
"..."
Biju’s eyes thinned as he smiled—the scariest kind of Biju face in my book.
Smiling, I let my words trail off.
"Please pretend you didn’t hear that..."
"No, hyung. I think it’s okay to be curious."
"Right?"
"I just don’t think it’s appropriate for this mont."
"..."
Jiho shook his head.
"Your younger brother wrote a song, and as the older one you couldn’t even start with ‘good job’—you ask that instead."
"I’m sorry."
"Apologize! Apologize!" the younger ones chanted, and I bowed my head.
"I’m sorry. I have sinned greatly."
When I said I’d shut up and listen quietly, the younger ones giggled.
Maybe we’d inhaled beer vapor from the air. Their faces looked extra cute and pretty to .
I was definitely tipsy.
"Alright. Then we’ll play it."
"Yes!"
As the staff got the track ready, Jiho and Junhyun pressed their heads together and bead.
They were imitating music-show MCs.
"A sumr night in the southern hemisphere! A major rookie has arrived with a hot new track~! He’s NewBlack’s signature dancer, right?"
"Yes. Kim Biju’s new song is here. The title is ‘Cases.’ Shall we listen right now?"
"Music, go go go~!"
At the sight of these perfectly in-sync dorks, the writers broke into seal claps, satisfied grins on their faces.
And finally, the music started.
[tss tss tss]—a snare, then a soft pop lody layered in to open the track.
"Ooh..."
If you had to pin down the vibe, it felt sweet.
At the sa ti the lody walked its own calm path. A bit of echo gave it a slightly reflective mood.
Just as I thought the intro was well built, a voice flowed out.
With a word like hello
our story began
through four sumrs
and four winters
to here and now
Biju’s signature clear tenor rang high.
The lyrics moved from trainee days to how we t.
It sketched that awkward first eting,
then, through taphors, our ti in the practice room, debut at last, and that first concert—
and over the drums building the main line, an emotional chorus landed.
"Stay together
till we die
stay together
till the grave"
We all burst out laughing and collapsed.
At the main dancer’s clingy voice promising to go all the way to the grave together, we were sobbing with laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
I laughed on the ground till tears pricked my eyes.
When Biju crooned in his soft voice, "Let’s go into the grave together, yo," I completely lost it.
Looking embarrassed, the man himself said:
"I couldn’t think of a good line. I just sang what ca to mind..."
"Yeah, we should probably change that line."
Wiping my eyes, I sat back down.
Rubbing my belly from laughing too hard, I t the younger ones’ eyes, now dewy.
But they weren’t dewy from laughing. They were the kind of eyes that got dewy from sothing moving.
"..."
"..."
I probably looked the sa.
I thought the laugh in the middle had covered the tear that slipped out, but judging by their faces, not even close.
They sipped their beers.
"Ahem."
"Ahem-hem."
While the staff behind the cara giggled, "Staff cried, staff cried~!", we cleared our throats.
"Yes."
"It was a very beautiful song. ‘Cases.’"
"A little moving."
We wrapped the mont with a small, self-issued round of applause.
Biju fidgeted and asked:
"How was it? Everyone?"
"It was so good."
Shockingly polished, too.
Was it early ’15?
I’d known he’d been studying composition on and off since then, but I didn’t realize he’d co this far.
"I didn’t know our second wrote this well."
"It’s not like that. I think I just got lucky with this one. Producers always say sotis a song just falls into your lap."
"No. This isn’t luck."
"Really?"
I could feel a delicate hand at work in many places.
"Yeah. You made it really well."
"Whoa..."
"Your composing improved a ton. On that note, you should join and Junhyun on the foundation work for ‘Coin.’"
"Sigh..."
Biju covered his eyes like he’d been caught red-handed, and we all burst out laughing.
Red-faced behind his beer, Ri Hyuk chid in:
"I could feel the sincerity. I think I know what you wanted to say to us..."
"Look at Ri Hyuk hyung’s face—so red!"
"It’s the booze. It’s the booze."
While the fourth and the maknae bickered, Junhyun bumped a fist out toward Biju.
They knocked knuckles with a soft thump.
Maybe because of Biju’s ‘Cases,’ the air turned warm and fuzzy. The staff were smiling like, How cute, and we were smiling at each other in our own way.
"But Biju."
"Yes?"
"It also kind of sounds like a fan song."
"Ah. It is. It’s about a eting, and not just us—our manager hyungs, producers, the Travel Diary staff."
The staff cheered.
"And Souffle, too... I wrote it with the aning that all these chance etings gathered into who we are now. So ‘fan song’ fits. It’s for everyone."
Looking at our pretty second smiling delicately, I thought for a mont.
Then parted my lips.
"Then how about we put it on this album?"
"This one?"
"Yeah. Honestly, it could go in as-is and not be weird at all. It’d be great as a concert ending song, too."
"Oh, right."
The maknae agreed.
"It’s exactly that vibe. The kind of song you sing while waving goodbye at a concert."
"It does have that mood."
"That’s why I liked it."
At our words, Biju smiled and said:
"If you all like it, I like it."
Sadly, the "tell your heart" corner ended with Biju’s ‘Cases.’
Usually, if soone sings Verse 1, the others volley back with Verses 2 and 3.
But since Biju’s song single-handedly carried it all the way through Verse 4, it felt weird for anyone else to add a speech.
Like a relay story where one person just did the ending, too.
"On that note, we’re going to skip ours!"
"Wooaaaah!"
Biju blurted, flustered:
"No, I wanted to hear the others’ ssages..."
"Wooaaaah!"
"This is unfair. Wow. This is seriously unfair."
At Biju’s deflated, bewildered look, we surrounded him and cheered.
"Since when does it end with ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) only ?"
"Right here~"
Chugging his beer, the maknae leaned on Biju.
"Your ssage was too touching. Honestly, there’s nothing more for us to add."
"Yeah. These should stop at Verse 1 and 2."
"But I still want to hea—"
"Wooaaaah!"
We burst out laughing at our second, lips jutting like a sulky sparrow.
With our hands on Biju’s shoulders, Junhyun and I said:
"Co on. Let’s go see the night sea!"
"Night sea!"
Humming the lyrics of "Night Sea," we left the barbecue site with the younger ones.
About a twenty-minute walk brought us to the shore.
[whoooshhh—]
[swash—]
Waves lapped gently on Kangaroo Island’s beach.
"Wooow..."
Under the full moon, the sand glittered like stars.
And overhead, an astonishing number of stars were scattered.
"..."
It must have been a very moving mont; with his hand over his mouth, Ri Hyuk looked up, on the verge of tears.
"It’s truly beautiful."
We felt the sa.
Gazing blankly, then smiling, Junhyun said:
"So this is what they an by ‘the stars are pouring down.’"
"They say today’s weather is perfect for stargazing."
Since we’d co to Australia, the weather had been clear, but being sumr, there had also been a lot of clouds.
Tonight was a flawlessly clear sky, not a cloud in sight.
"Wooow..."
While the staff murmured in awe, we spread a mat on the sand. Then flopped down on it.
A night where the stars really shone.
Even with the cara lights dimd, the stars glittered like jewels, easy to see.
"Looking at this makes you feel so strange."
Biju said dreamily:
"Soone could be living on one of those stars. And the aliens living there are probably looking at us and wondering, Are there people on that star?"
"True."
"Do aliens really exist?"
As we talked, our science guy slid in with a quiet voice:
"Humans can’t live on those stars."
"Huh?"
"By definition, a star is a celestial body that emits its own light. At that brightness, we’re talking at least several thousand degrees. Most life would vaporize in an instant."
"..."
"If anyone lives out there, it’d be on the unseen planets around those host stars. In other words, the probability of intelligent life on those stars is basically zero."
As the mood froze—not just the staff but us too—Ri Hyuk kept rambling astronomy.
"Ri Hyuk hyung."
The maknae spoke calmly.
"You need to be good to us."
"Why?"
"Because we’re the ones who’ll be your friends."
"..."
If it were anyone else, you’d have to pay him to be your friend—at that, Ri Hyuk bristled.
"I have lots of friends."
"Na who. Not Sbo’s Giwon or Namu hyung."
"Uh..."
"No Teen Spirit!"
"Th-then..."
"Cha Woohyun sunbae doesn’t count either."
"..."
With Ri Hyuk speechless, we burst out laughing.
While soone kept grumbling in the background, I pushed myself up on the mat.
"It’s getting a bit chilly. Let’s head back."
"Okay!"
But then the kids...
"Uuup we go..."
"Oof."
"Uuungh."
Sothing was off as they stood.
Only Junhyun popped up easily; the rest clutched their temples with a groan.
I went over to a wobbling mantis nad Ri Hyuk.
"Ri Hyuk. What’s wrong?"
"Uh... is this an earthquake?"
"Huh?"
"The ground’s shaking."
"What are you talking about? Why would the ground shake?"
Right then—
Jiho, who’d been sprinting across the white sand, stopped and said:
"Huh?"
As if a shocking truth had dawned on him, surprise spread over the maknae’s face.
"What now?"
"I-it’s really shaking!"
"Huh?"
"Is this what it ans that Earth is rotating? Is this what it feels like when Earth turns?"
We looked to the staff, but they only shrugged, clueless.
I turned to Biju, who at least looked the most normal.
"Whoa. The ground is shaking."
He was weird too.
Just as I was growing suspicious at the younger ones suddenly talking nonsense—
[whooo]
A sea breeze blew in, and a faint sll—like alcohol—drifted by.
"..."
Only then did I realize.
When Biju’s song played, they’d felt awkward and kept sipping. While I was drinking cola, they were drinking beer.
Judging by what’s gone, it looks like at least a few cans per person.
"Kya-hahahaha!"
While Biju, Jiho, and Ri Hyuk held hands and danced, shouting, "The Earth is spinning! Wow! It’s turning!", I looked to Junhyun.
"Junhyun."
"Heh heh heh."
"Junhyun?"
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
He stood like a wooden totem pole, cackling, cheeks flushed.
"Kya-hahahahaha!"
"..."
"Ukyakyakyak!"
"..."
Ah. We’re dood.
And then...
"Ugh. Why is the ground spinning."
Maybe it was the alcohol on their breath.
My head went fuzzy and the ground began to turn.
The world spun round and round; a strange first-ti sensation took over . My gaze drifted to the bright moon.
"Huh?"
Soone was there, overworking the rabbit on the full moon.
"Grandma...?"
And—
That was my last mory.
The next morning.
I woke from a dream with a pain like my head had split in half.
In the dream, leeches kept chanting, Compose, compose, as they stole my ideas and ran off to found Leech Company.
"Whew..."
First, the bright sunshine stabbed my eyes.
Parched, I grabbed a water bottle lying nearby and chugged. Only then did the inside of a cabin with bedding laid out co into focus.
"What is this."
I had no mory of coming here.
No mory of laying out the bedding either.
"..."
While I was wondering what on earth had happened, the sleeping breaths around turned into the younger ones waking one by one.
Mostly the sa reactions.
They grabbed a water bottle with trembling hands, then, "Huh?" as they ca to.
"Hyung."
The maknae asked:
"Why are we here?"
"..."
"What is this? I swear we were watching the stars on the beach."
Rubbing his temples, Ri Hyuk said:
"Let’s each say the last thing we rember."
"The Earth spun."
"Before the Earth spun?"
"We watched the stars..."
"And before that?"
"We drank."
"..."
"..."
Our faces grew grave together.
"Ah..."
With a gloomy face, Biju said:
"Why did I do that. This is so unprofessional."
"We really need to reflect on this."
Even if it’s a trip, this is a shoot. I felt self-reproach and regret for getting drunk.
Rolling his eyes, Junhyun asked:
"We didn’t make any mistakes, right?"
"Who knows."
We all groaned, contorting.
I felt incredulous.
"None of you know your limit?"
"You have to drink often to know your limit."
"You’ve never even been drunk?"
"No."
"You’re always calling a lightweight, but a few cans and you were gone."
"It was because of Biju hyung’s song... If I didn’t drink, my face was going to explode."
Since they hardly ever drink, none of them seed to know their limits.
I said to the younger ones:
"First we should go find the PD and apologize if there was any problem. That part’s on us."
"We’ll go with you, hyung."
"Get dressed first. Wash your faces."
We were just stepping out of the cabin after getting dressed when—
The door opened, and the managers were standing there. Hyung Wonseok, plus Minsu, Jongwan, and Jiwun.
"Are you up?"
The managers respectfully handed over hangover redies.
"Seems you overdid it last night."
"Ah. Thank you."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
Answering dazedly, I asked:
"Did we, uh, make any mistakes yesterday?"
"..."
The managers shook their heads, smiling.
"No."
"Then why the faces?"
"It’s nothing."
Taking the bottle back from , Minsu said:
"It’s an honor to be NewBlack’s manager."
"Sorry?"
"If you head to that cabin, the PD is waiting."
"Ah, okay."
Without knowing why, we headed for the cabin with the PD.
We t the staff along the way as they packed up gear and made preparations.
When we greeted them with awkward faces—"Hello..."—the staff burst out laughing and nodded.
"Good morning, our Black boys."
"Uh. Yes."
"Let’s power through the shoot today."
"..."
The maknae swallowed and asked:
"Did we make so huge mistake yesterday? It sounds like you’re trying to cheer us up."
"Auuugh..."
What on earth had happened?
We kept asking, but they only laughed and dodged.
[knock knock]
"Co in."
We opened the door. Inside, the PD and writers were looking at a map.
They burst out laughing the mont they saw us.
"Why... why are you laughing?"
"It’s nothing."
"No, seriously—did sothing happen yesterday?"
"It’s a secret."
"Please tell us. We’re begging you..."
"Secret."
"Find out when it airs," the PD said, and we clutched our heads in agony.
What on earth had happened?
"NewBlack’s Travel Diary Season 2"
The scene of NewBlack pleading for rcy rippled away, and the picture shifted to a flashback.
Under a full moon, the five of us sat huddled.
Our eyes were a little glazed as we laughed.
Wooju: I love you.
Junhyun: too. I love everyone.
Biju: Love you. Heehee.
Jiho: My hyungs are always the best. Hee-hee-heet.
Then Ri Hyuk suddenly sprang up and stood against the full moon.
Wooju: What is it. I love you.
Junhyun: I don’t know what it is but love.
Ri Hyuk: Everyone, listen up.
Eyes wide, Ri Hyuk made a strange motion, then shoop—drew a big heart.
Then he went pop and added a Cupid heart.
Ri Hyuk: I love you a lot.
mbers: Liar!
Ri Hyuk: I an it. Hold on a sec. With this vibe, I have to read this once.
Swaying, he began reading from his phone mo, which he said he’d prepared for the reality.
Ri Hyuk: To my beloved mbers.
mbers: He said beloved mbers! Heekeke!
Ri Hyuk: I know I’m clumsy at expressing myself!
mbers: He knows!
Chattering back and forth, the mbers finished the reading, then hugged each other.
Wooju: You really are my world. Each of you is my truly beautiful world.
Biju: Am I a beautiful person?
Junhyun: Oh. The world turns, turn turn—sh-should we go eat pork cutlet later?
Ri Hyuk: Let’s go to Namsan. I’ve never ridden the cable car.
Jiho: On Namsan stands that pine tree~ armored in iron~ I am a Korean~ Wooooow!
Ri Hyuk: Look at that. King Jiho is drunk~
It was a jumble of babbling and shouting I love you! Love you! at each other, letting our true feelings out.
After sitting quietly for a bit—
Wooju: Let’s go. See Grandma.
Jiho: Grandma?
Wooju: Yeah. I have to see her in a dream.
Jiho: If I try hard, could I see Grandma too?
Wooju: Not easy.
You could practically sll alcohol wafting out of the screen.
"Let’s go dream!"—the mbers marched toward the cabin like a line of ants and even laid out the bedding neatly.
Then they stepped back out, went to the staff and managers, and began thanking them, saying they loved them.
One by one, holding hands, the mbers listed things they were grateful for from Season 1, and the staff wept along with them.
A wistful caption appeared below.
[That day, NewBlack shouted “love” a total of 492 tis..☆]
It was the birth of the clip Seo Ri Hyuk most wants deleted—and the mont that led the NewBlack mbers to declare a ban on drinking.
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