Free Web Novel“Ssssss—the sound of the meat sizzling is so sweet.”
I was happy. Just watching it made me feel like I owned the world, and I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“Heheh.”
“Hehihi.”
When the maknae sent a finger-heart with “Hyungs, we love you,” we all sent hearts back, saying “We love you.” Then I sent a big heart with both hands to Junghyun, who was grilling.
“Cook it deliciously~”
“Got it.”
Junghyun made an OK sign and smiled solemnly. Originally the staff was supposed to grill, but our meat-proud maknae begged to do it himself.
Bang Moon-soo asked with eyes full of expectation,
“Junghyun grills meat that well?”
“Yes.”
I answered,
“He’s the best meat-griller I’ve ever seen. If there were a meat-grilling contest, he’d win.”
“That’s right. In Hanwoo grilling, he’s basically Mozart level.”
As the MCs chuckled, “Mozart, huh,” Junghyun’s perfectly grilled slices landed on plates, and exclamations rose all around.
“Wow...!”
The MCs widened their eyes.
“It’s one thing that the meat itself is great, but you grilled it beautifully. The juices just burst out when you bite.”
“If he entered a contest, he’d definitely win.”
We had the same reaction.
“Seriously. When was the last time I had Hanwoo?”
“Two days ago?”
“It’s been ages. I’m tearing up.”
When the maknae’s eyes glistened with tears of joy, everyone burst out laughing.
Bang Moon-soo said,
“Come on over and try a piece, everyone. You grilled it so well.”
“Managers, come too!”
The camera operators came over, took a piece each, and gave thumbs-up, saying “Oh!” The managers also picked up pieces with chopsticks and fed them to us. While I fed a wrap to Manager Won-seok, Mingi hyung took a piece from our maknae.
After the tasting corner ended,
“All right. Now it’s time for the next segment.”
Bang Moon-soo held up his cue card and said,
“I hear NewBlack has a new nickname these days.”
“For us? Uh, what is it?”
We looked at each other as if to say, “What mistake did we make now?” when the MC said,
“It’s the ‘Elementary Prez.’”
“Elementary Prez?”
Assistant MC Song-song explained,
“It’s a mashup of ‘elementary school’ and ‘president,’ meaning you’re super popular with elementary students.”
“Whoa, really...”
“Look, they’re getting up again.”
We stood and shouted to the camera,
“Thank you! Elementary school friends!”
“You think we’re really cute, right?”
“Our looks might differ, but our mental ages are about the same!”
We eagerly pitched ourselves to the kids beyond the camera, and the MCs laughed.
Bang Moon-soo said,
“I hear no matter which elementary school you visit, Nine is so popular.”
A cutaway showed some kids at a school cheering “Nine, Nine, Nine” and dancing. Then kids skipping home chanting “Nine, Nine~.”
We, astonished, asked,
“Is this for real?”
“Yes, of course.”
It was moving. Elementary kids, who used to be intimidating, were now singing our song and bouncing around. Korea’s future looked bright.
“A while ago, in a popularity survey of 400 elementary students nationwide, our NewBlack’s...”
Everyone pricked up their ears. As we focused, Bang Moon-soo continued,
“Uju took second place.”
“Yay!”
As my brothers applauded in agreement, I waved my hand in delight.
“They said the reason ‘He’s like our older brother’ was 34%, the highest.”
“Yay?”
I stopped waving and asked,
“Our older brother?”
“It’s written here. Shinseo Elementary, Grade 5, Student Choi says, ‘Onstage he’s so cool, but offstage he’s just like my neighborhood oppa.’”
“...”
“Guryong Elementary, Grade 6, Student Kim says, ‘He’s like my seven-year-old brother, makes me want to care for him.’”
“Puhaha!”
My brothers roared with laughter—first jealous I got second, then relieved they weren’t singled out.
Viju gently clapped and smiled,
“I’m so jealous of his popularity with elementary kids, hyung.”
“Wow. Really jealous~”
“Next news: Candidate Sun Woo-ju won the ‘Elementary Prez’ title for his down-to-earth charm...”
Watching us shiver with pride alongside the MCs, I asked again,
“Any other names?”
“There are.”
“I knew it.”
They read out more funny survey answers. Ujin said,
“Next in NewBlack is Junghyun.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Reason: He looks badass. Feels like he’d beat up my enemies.”
We laughed and applauded. Other brothers chimed in with gems like “He’d cook me good meals,” and we all cracked up.
As the laughter settled, I asked,
“So what’s this segment?”
The script said “Elementary Prez Project,” but we only knew details from that.
“To help NewBlack become the true Elementary Prez, our staff prepared a special corner!”
“Elementary Prez~”
“Project!”
Curious, we watched the studio’s metal door at the entrance.
Creak—
With the door opening came about twenty adorable elementary students streaming in.
“Wooooaah!”
They looked around the studio in wonder, then spotted us and froze in place.
“Huh?”
One pointed at us,
“Huh! Huh!”
“Kyaaaa!”
A piercing shriek erupted among the kids—enough to make the audio director shed tears. We felt our eardrums getting pounded.
Soon the teacher-in-charge guided the kids to us.
“Waaaaah!”
“Uh, h-hi...”
They looked up at us like minions, eyes sparkling.
“Ulalalala!”
“...Ryayaya!”
“Kollolololo!”
They chattered so loudly we couldn’t make sense of it—like thousands of bees buzzing around. As we waved at them, Bang Moon-soo said,
“These are our elementary student judges for today’s shoot.”
They’d brought tour groups of students from a visit to the station. We asked,
“So you’re all from the same class?”
“Yessss!”
“Do you know us?”
“Yessss!”
A riot of chatter followed.
“We always listen to Nine! Nine!”
“Nine is my favorite song ever!”
“Do your funny bit, please! Hehahat!”
When Junghyun raised then lowered his brows, the kids gasped with delight. The audio director took off his headphones for a moment. The teacher gulped a Tylenol with water and got the kids seated at desks set up like a classroom.
“Woooaah...”
As we sipped water, ‘oooaah’ sounds rose. When my brothers struck cool poses while drinking, ‘ooooh!’ followed.
“Jiho, why wink while drinking water?”
“Mm-hmm~”
I watched Viju flip his hair and sip, smiling warmly. Then I tilted back and drank.
“Wooooah...”
I felt my heart swell seeing the kids staring at my face with bright eyes.
The MCs giggled,
“The popularity contest begins already.”
“Yes. The next game is prepared for that popularity battle.”
At “game,” we panicked,
“A game?”
“Um... we’re not competing against the kids, right?”
“Our chemistry with elementary kids isn’t great.”
Thankfully it wasn’t a face-off.
“An ‘adoration fancam’?”
“Yes. To attract fans, you shoot a fancam—show off talents, deliver a cool line, do aegyo.”
“Ohh.”
“At the end, we vote, and the member in first place wins.”
The prize was a T-shirt made by Idol High. Black with a pretty blue flower on it. I didn’t know the overall design, but I had to have one. They gave two—one with a pink flower—perfect for Grandma Kim Deok-soon and me.
My brothers’ eyes shone at the pretty design. Then,
“Who goes first?”
“Me!”
Viju pumped his hand, stepped in front of twenty kids, and greeted, “Hello!”
“You can’t exclude dance from performance, right? I’ll show you a dance I’ve been practicing.”
“Wooooah!”
“Director, cue the music!”
Viju danced to a TeenSpirit song the kids loved. Every graceful flick of his fingertips drew dolphin-like squeals. Even the teacher smiled, leaning on her desk like a sunflower.
The MCs chimed in,
“You reimagined the song’s vibe.”
“A bit rough style—totally different from TeenSpirit’s fresh image.”
“A delinquent look. Skipping after-school class to go to PC bangs.”
Finally, Viju split his legs wide in the finale and asked sweetly, “How was it?” The kids cheered. He strutted back like a triumphant pageant winner, scattering petals.
The MCs said,
“By the vibe, he’s a shoo-in for first place.”
“Started too strong.”
“Who’s next? Ri-hyuk?”
Ri-hyuk nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. Then,
“Give me a beat.”
To the nursery rhyme, he began simple hand-motions and a hop on one toe, spinning both hands in circles. His pale face flushed bright red.
“Hehahat!”
As we clapped and laughed, the kids cooed, “So cute!” Still, the response wasn’t quite as strong as for Viju. Then—
“Ughhh!”
Ri-hyuk sat down mid-routine, covered his face in self-doubt, and we cracked up.
“Ri-hyuk!”
“Hyung, you okay?”
We lifted him like a turtle, and the kids giggled from afar.
“Congrats, Ri-hyuk. You scored sympathy votes.”
“...Shh.”
“Geez, celebrities can’t be shy, hyung.”
Ri-hyuk guzzled water and hid his head under his shirt. While we teased him,
Next up was Junghyun.
“I’ll recite a line from a drama that captures the heart.”
“Ohh.”
Junghyun stood before the kids. At his strong, goat-like shoulders, the kids gasped, the teacher smiled. Then Junghyun lowered his gaze and said,
“Kids.”
His outstretched shadow fell over them. He spoke quietly,
“Let’s go.”
The kids’ pupils trembled. As the MCs applauded, we dashed forward and pulled Junghyun back.
“Hey hey! Where are you going?”
“Kids, don’t follow scary uncles!”
“Sorry for causing trouble!”
“...That’s not the reaction I wanted.”
Junghyun looked puzzled.
“That’s a cool line. In ‘Fox Beads,’ the hero extends his hand to the heroine as he departs.”
“Oh, that one?”
Jiho mimicked the exact scene, hand extended. Soon tears glistened in his eyes and he wore a poignant smile like someone who’s walked long in the rain.
“Let’s go.”
“Kyaaa!”
“Heh, thanks! That was it?”
“Yeah, that one.”
The acting maknae blinked, bewildered. Meanwhile we said,
“So Junghyun is last place!”
“Last place~”
“Confirmed!”
While Junghyun glumly begged the kids for “just one vote,” I stepped up. My brothers watched me warily.
“It’s Uju’s turn.”
“The idol ranked second with elementary students. Let’s see what he’ll show.”
I looked at the sparkling kids and said,
“Everyone.”
“Yes!”
I grinned,
“Please give me your precious vote~”
“Yesssss!”
I high-fived each child with a bright smile, and the MCs laughed.
“Wow, he’s going all-out on his looks!”
“After Viju and Ri-hyuk spent over a minute on dance, he’s doing it all with his face.”
“The members look utterly deflated.”
I gave my teasing brothers a sly grin. Then I glanced at the T-shirt. Soon it would be mine. My brothers looked resigned, and the MCs were already betting on my victory.
“Everyone~” freewebnovёl.ƈom
But today’s winner was neither me nor any of my brothers.
Jiho, strolling casually, rummaged in his pocket, then pulled out a wallet with both hands.
“What could this be?”
The kids glanced at one another and said,
“A wallet?”
“That’s right. What’s inside?”
“...Money?”
“No.”
Jiho shook his head.
“Inside this is chicken—for you.”
Their eyes became brighter than ever.
“Who wants to try two-for-one chicken?”
An earth-shattering roar followed.
“...”
“...”
Our maknae spun gracefully and smiled. The champion of vote-buying elections since elementary school let out a triumphant laugh.
@The_New_Black_Official
(A short video of NewBlack bouncing around with elementary kids at a chicken shop, chanting “Class 2-3 is the strongest!”)
Today on K-Net’s “Show! Show! Show! Idol High School,” big thanks to Shinseo Elementary Grade 2-3 for joining us! If you want to know what happened next, be sure to catch the broadcast live!
#AgeDoesntMatter #WeAreFriends #WeMightLoseIfWeFight #10sAnd20s #HyungsAreCuteRight
After finishing the “Show! Show! Show! Idol High School” recording at K-Net, we spent Monday through Wednesday—days without music shows—on a busy schedule.
“Now it’s time to welcome today’s special guests: the group coloring the charts with the number Nine.”
“Hello! We are NewBlack!”
Every morning and evening we went on radio to promote our new single. In between, we shot commercials—both for a famous pizza brand and a telecom company, thanks to our recent streaming success.
We filmed scenes of us walking down neon-lit corridors.
“That’s right!”
I sat elegantly on a plush sofa, spinning my phone with one hand and smiling. Jiho walked down an alley, slipping off his sunglasses and tossing them aside. Junghyun wore headphones, listening to music. Viju balanced a skateboard under his arm and strolled. Our laughter echoed on set.
We were happy to film a telecom commercial—only top idols get to do that—but for another reason too.
“Thank you!”
“Huh?”
To the advertiser on set, we said with misty eyes,
“This is our first ad where we look so cool and trendy.”
“It’s my first time walking like this in a commercial.”
They laughed at our wistful lines. Though graphics and music would finalize the vibe, the raw footage looked great. We’d definitely send it to the TNT rookie hecklers who always teased, “When will you get a cool ad?”
Meanwhile, week two of music-show promotions—the last one—approached.
“-Will NewBlack’s Nine or TeenSpirit’s Feel So Good take this week’s No. 1?”
“-Congratulations!”
We knocked TeenSpirit off the top spot—after their four consecutive wins—and claimed No. 1 on the show. We’d expected it, since we’d held first on daily charts, but it felt incredible. frёeωebɳovel.com
“Thank you!”
We peeled golden flakes off our brothers’ heads and laughed. We’d topped the charts with Wind Flower before, but No. 1 always felt special. We beamed at the sea of lightsticks in the audience.
“Congrats~”
During the encore, as we sang Nine, TeenSpirit came by to congratulate us.
“Want to join us for a bit?”
They mouthed, and we nodded. Since last time, they’d been itching to do Nine’s choreography—so they helped us with the opening moves. While I rapped, they danced beside me with playful “joh-na” expressions.
We bowed low, and they waved brightly. After the encore, as we left the stage,
“Oh, man.”
We saw TeenSpirit grumbling as they packed in the waiting room.
“What’s this? Second place.”
“...”
“Ah, geez.”
I sneakily hid our trophy behind my back as my brothers laughed, while the teen boys of TeenSpirit voiced their frustration.
“Aaah! What about the fans who voted so hard?”
“Fans of the second-place artist?”
“Who was that?”
“It was me.”
At leader Hwi-yeon’s deadpan “it was me,” a member grumbled but conceded,
“It happens.”
“Yeah, it happens—you’re all whining now.”
“Ah! But I’m really sad. The fans worked so hard, and we couldn’t even get first.”
They were truly sorrowful teenage boys, unable to meet their fans’ hopes. As they sulked, their eyes met ours strolling down the hall.
“Congrats on No. 1.”
“We’re just really sad, please understand.”
“Our congratulations are genuine.”
I pulled out some hidden chocolate and handed it over.
“Want something sweet?”
“Yes.”
As they melted chocolate and mumbled “So sweet, damn...,” I laughed and bowed. Top idols trading farewell smiles with moody teens—what a scene. Then,
“Congrats!”
In the waiting room, our managers and staff ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) popped confetti cannons and presented a cake.
“Thank you! Great work, everyone!”
While we each ate a slice and chatted, my phone buzzed. It was a text from our director:
[9/21 10:30 AM: Director Jon Edwards and entourage expected to arrive]
It was about the upcoming Korean visit for the musical film “Nostalgia.”
