Free Web NovelThe sing-along version of “Fireworks.”
It was the final track on our debut single, rearranged to be easy for everyone to join in.
“Oh, that’s why.”
Smiles spread across the Soufflés’ faces.
That sing-along held deep meaning. It was the song we sang when our debut showcase’s sound system failed—a moment that, after Ha Seung-ju’s Music Café appearance, helped establish NewBlack as “talented rookies.”
“This is so good...”
For fans who’d been with us since “Something” and our debut, it was deeply moving—especially those who’d attended that two-hundred-person showcase, eyes wide and hearts racing at how small our audience had been.
Waaaah—
That roar of thousands felt electric. What was once two hundred had become five thousand, all waving light sticks.
“We’ve grown.”
It’s hard to express, but NewBlack felt larger now than ever—like dim, tiny stars igniting into bright constellations. The glow from light sticks and stage lights, combined with our smiles, was a vision Soufflés who’d watched from the start would never forget.
Among them were people who’d known us longest.
“Director, are you crying?”
“Why would I cry?”
Yoon Seok-hwan, removing his glasses to dab at his eyes, shook his head.
“I’m just happy seeing the kids perform—especially Woo-ju...”
“You’ve known him a long time, right?”
Director Yoon nodded. He’d been there since our TJ ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Entertainment trainee days, even personally seeing Woo-ju off when he’d been cut from the debut lineup. Watching NewBlack’s leader now commanding center stage moved him deeply.
“It’s the same for all of us. I’ve watched Woo-ju grow, but also Viju, Junghyun, Ri-hyuk, and Jiho from their trainee days.”
Scarlet members, who’d debuted earlier, remembered dropping in to comfort the male trainees when they felt discouraged. Director Yoon smiled.
“Hearing them sing, I don’t know why my heart’s soaring.”
“Me too, sir.”
“Me... as well.”
Do Won-seok, who’d arrived last but shed the most tears, made everyone laugh. Meanwhile, busy staff in the corridors paused to watch our final number—PR team, stylists, vocal and dance trainers alike, all wearing the same proud expressions.
“Our little brats are doing a full concert.”
“I know, right?”
“Look at them—they seem so happy.”
The faces on the big screens smiled brighter than anyone. Knowing how many sleepless nights everyone had endured over months to prepare, all those who’d helped felt proud and relieved.
And those who’d spent the most time with us felt it just the same.
“Aigho...”
Lady Kim Deok-soon smiled as she watched her grandson sing “firework—” on the screens beside her. It was her first time seeing him perform live since his year-end evaluation days—until now, she’d only ever watched him on TV.
“Watching on TV and being here are worlds apart.”
She realized how thrilling it was to hear such beautiful music in person. The last time she’d felt this way was when her daughter and son-in-law performed in Seoul. Her grandson had truly outdone himself. Each time Woo-ju’s voice soared or the audience cheered, her cheeks twitched with pride.
“He’s done so well.”
Life is full of surprises. Just a few years ago, her grandson had returned to Gunsan saying, “I’m done with idols—I’ll take over the eatery,” breaking her heart. Yet even while helping at the restaurant, he’d never torn his eyes from the TV music shows. She’d mourned his seemingly abandoned dreams... and now here he was, performing for thousands, three nights in a row.
“No more worries—he’ll do great from now on.”
Watching Woo-ju make eye contact and smile at each seat, she nodded.
Other families wore similar expressions:
“My youngest was never this dedicated—but he really gave it his all.”
“Oh, he always said chores were a pain...but look at him now.”
The family’s weakest member, cheered by rap, beamed with pride.
“Hyung looks so happy.”
Even those who usually smiled seriously at home now looked childlike with joy.
“...”
Some watched quietly, wearing tender expressions.
“My brother’s voice is incredible...”
One younger sister, tongue-in-cheek, waved vigorously at the leader.
As staff, families, and long-time fans felt moved by our debut-to-concert journey, the sing-along “Fireworks” continued. Its slower tempo naturally invited choir-like singing from the audience:
Look there—our fireworks
(Firework)
We decorate the night sky—
Under gentle guitars, thousands sang in the darkness. Beneath ocean-blue lights, NewBlack members with handheld mics sang softly. Our main vocalist’s clear, gentle high notes drew delighted gasps:
Like a firework freēwēbηovel.c૦m
I’ll show you
Like a firework
Our colors—
Traversing the catwalk, we made eye contact and smiled at fans in standing and second-floor sections. As the verse-two intro played, the band’s guitarist added harmonica lines. Then, at long last, the moment the fans had awaited:
A one-meter giant light stick emerged onstage. Junghyun hoisted it like a club, waving it slowly amid bursts of laughter and cheers.
Then came the verse-two chorus:
Just now we sang to the stands and the seats, now reach out toward the sky—
The fans’ sing-along filled the empty arena. Jiho cupped his ear, urging them to sing louder with a playful wink. Viju grinned and called, “Everyone!” Woo-ju and Ri-hyuk circled, clapping to lead encouragement. Junghyun, holding the giant stick high, hummed along in rhythm.
As their chorus peaked, we resumed our mics, blending our voices with the fans’:
Like a firework
I’ll show you—
We moved from our places toward center stage in sync with each lyric. One by one, members gathered around Woo-ju, revealing that the formation mirrored our joining order—except in reverse. It symbolized not us coming to him, but him drawing us in.
Together, we took a step forward:
Like a firework
Our colors—
Over the verse-three lyrics, members spoke or waved:
“Thank you!”
“I treasure you!”
“I’ll work harder than Junghyun!”
Laughter followed, then the farewell: fans cheered fiercely as we neared the end of our first concert.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Well done!”
We bowed to applauding staff, then burst into giggles.
“Man, we nailed it!”
“Hyung, you worked so hard—rearranging the songs and everything.”
“Let’s take a photo—Day One!”
We gathered, each raising an index finger, smiling wide. We felt cleansed—tension, fatigue, and worry all seemed to vanish. It was like finishing a marathon—our hearts raced with exhilaration. We could’ve bounced for hours more.
“Junghyun, turn it on—flash mode.”
“Just a sec.”
He set the giant stick to glittering mode, and as we linked arms and bounced, the staff laughed.
“Remember, we have concerts tomorrow too. Calm down, everyone.”
Seok-hwan hyung’s words brought us back. As we each drank from two-liter bottles to quench our excitement, a commotion announced the arrival of family.
“Mom!”
“Sis!”
“Dad’s here, Jiho.”
Our sweat-soaked maknae ran to his mother and sisters like a happy puppy. His father, trying to join, was gently nudged aside.
“Dad!”
“Mom, you came?”
“Grandma!”
While everyone reunited with family, I dashed at lightning speed to Lady Kim. As my grandmother’s face drew closer, my heart pounded.
“Grandma!”
“Oh, you smell like sweat!”
I hugged her shoulders.
“How was I?”
“You were amazing. I knew you’d do well—why did I keep calling you, ‘Grandma, I’m so nervous’?”
“Hehe.”
I loved her praise.
“I thought my ears would bleed—you had fans shrieking like startled birds every time you flipped your hair.”
“I deserved it, right?”
“Of course.”
On any other day, she’d sound demure like Ri-hyuk—but tonight, Grandma was elated. I could tell she was so proud of her grandson.
As we reminisced, I noticed she was holding a bundle.
“Grandma, what’s all that?”
“A gift from your fans.”
“Our fans...?”
“They gave me cushions for my back—and snacks, and tissues...”
Apparently, the Soufflés had looked out for my elderly grandmother, gifting her things so she could enjoy the show. Touched, I was about to thank them—when Grandma suddenly scolded me.
“They all say they know me, that I’m famous?”
“...”
“Let’s talk about that later.”
Her playful rant erased my gratitude. I resolved to track down the pair in black and yellow shirts in Section 38 to thank them personally. But before her admonishment could get too long, Uncle Sook-ja burst in.
“I’m here too!”
“Aunt Sook-ja!”
My grandmother’s friend from the diner slipped her arm through Grandma’s and greeted her warmly.
“When I told the kids I was going to a NewBlack concert, they were so jealous—said you’re famous at school.”
“Is that so?”
“They said to take lots of pictures.”
And so we took photos together—Grandma, Aunt Sook-ja, and me.
“Hello, sir.”
“Ha! Woo-ju, long time no see.”
I greeted my uncles and aunts, taking family group shots. Meanwhile, Viju whispered to me:
“How’s it looking?”
“I’m not sure—hard to read what they’re saying.”
Jiho peeked between us.
“From my acting experience, they look embarrassed rather than cold.”
“I can see that—his dad’s ears are glowing.”
Sure enough, Ri-hyuk’s father’s ears were rosy as he spoke with calm composure. Jiho rested his chin on Junghyun’s head:
“I can hear everything.”
“Really?”
“I wore my in-ears so I wouldn’t.”
I ruffled his antennas in triumph. Spotting us, Ri-hyuk’s family turned away with surprising stealth—lining up behind me as I bowed awkwardly. Ri-hyuk beckoned me:
“Me?”
I nodded, and the others did too, prompting us to shuffle forward.
“One, two, three!”
“Hello. We’re NewBlack...? No, wait—Hello, Dad and Mom. I’m Woo-ju.”
My bungled greeting made them smile—they looked like a portrait split down the middle in features. His mother, stylish like a CEO; his father, scholarly in appearance—a striking pair.
“You’re in business in the U.S.?”
“Yes.”
A surprise: Dad was a professor at a university in Gyeongnam, Mom living in the U.S. with his sister. Their dynamic felt distant—yet supportive.
“You look well.”
“You too, Dad.”
Dad awkwardly referenced an email conversation, then:
“Nickname ‘Daegil,’ right?”
He knew our group name but only bits about us—clearly interested but not deeply informed. As he concluded, Mom chimed in:
“I’ve only heard about Ri-hyuk over the phone. You’re all so lovely.”
“Thank you.”
At Jiho’s cheeky “I think I’m adorable,” she laughed.
“I worried about you living alone in Korea, but work kept me away. So I prepared something.”
She handed out four letters labeled “To. Woo-ju of NewBlack.” Ri-hyuk cleared his throat as we accepted them.
She puzzled:
“I’m old-fashioned—do letters make me too outdated?”
“No, not at all.”
We reassured her, and she beamed, offering letters to Ri-hyuk too. Dad joined in, and we stifled laughter.
We backed away to let them catch up.
“I don’t know the full story, but does that seem okay?”
“I guess.”
I wasn’t sure what their relationship was—perhaps I’d learn from Ri-hyuk one day. For now, he looked happy.
“Alright, time for a photo!”
“Yes!”
Each of us stood with family for a commemorative shot. As the shutter clicked, I hugged Grandma from behind, both of us smiling. Then the members gathered center stage for a final frame:
“This is wonderful.”
Ri-hyuk whispered over my shoulder:
“I hope tomorrow’s show feels just like today.”
“Me too.”
We all shared that hope, in every sense.
—After yesterday’s concert when Ri-hyuk said “I love you,” I’m still crying...
—Our little kitten...
—He said it on Day One, so I got up to wash my ears.
—I’m washing mine too.
—He’ll say it again today, right?
—One love per day, please.
—No way he only loves Day One fans—right?
—Maybe he will...?
—[Breaking] ‘Fairness’ controversy at N group concert: member S claims “I only love Day One fans”... W absconds to Taiwan.
—Move aside—I want love too.
—I want Ri-hyuk’s love more than my dog’s.
Back in the waiting room before Day Two rehearsal:
“...”
Our maknae mimicked someone covering their face after checking a tablet:
“I hope tomorrow’s show is just like today—teehee!”
Woo-ju smiled warmly:
“Ri-hyuk—remember.”
“...”
“The concert is three days.”
As someone whimpered “Oh no!” the rest of us burst into giggles, singing in unison:
“The concert is three days~”
Woo-ju hummed the “덕순아” line, wiggling his finger:
“Lo-o-ve is said three times~”
“Shh!”
