Free Web NovelWhile laughter echoed through the theater.
On the screen, the etiquette fairies began to appear one after another.
With a “Waaa!” the fairies reunited, and the child looked up at them with a “What about me?” expression.
Only then did the fairies speak.
Moments later, in italic lettering, the title floated up: Etiquette Fairies’ Guide to Theater Manners!
The fairies took the child’s hand and entered the theater.
A hulking fairy strode between the seats, clearing a path to escort the child.
In the process, he brushed against a seat, nearly sending the person in front face-first into their popcorn bucket.
With a “Beeep!” the leader of the fairies, who’d been eyeing his minions, turned to the camera with a bright smile.
Then he held up an “X” sign.
[Do not kick the seat in front of you~]
People laughed in bewilderment.
‘They’re your own underlings, fairy....’
‘How shameless.’
Then the fairies scattered, making phone calls to find the child’s seat.
Uju held up the “X” sign again.
[Manner mode is basic!]
[Whisper during conversations in the theater~]
When the fairies who’d found the child’s seat shouted “Enjoy the show!” at full volume, one fairy cried out urgently.
[The police are here! Run!]
Police chased them, blowing whistles, as the fairies scattered.
The title that first appeared floated back up: Etiquette Fairies’ Guide to Theater Manners. The word Etiquette was crossed out in red and replaced with Poor Manners.
The fleeing fairies called out with bright smiles.
[Let’s build theater etiquette together!]
[This campaign stars NewBlack... Ah! Come along!]
As Ri-hyeok panted the last syllable, the NewBlack members dispersed. The screen faded out.
The emergency exit signs in the theater sprang to mind.
People blinked.
‘What is this? Feels more like an escape route than an exit.’
‘It really stands out.’
‘I’ve never focused on the exits like this before.’
Thanks to the clever editing, the audience instinctively scanned for the nearest exit.
Then the screen went dark.
With a “bamm-bamm-bamm~ bam! babababam!” the globe spun furiously, and at last people murmured, “Ah.”
‘Oh right. I came to watch a movie.’
‘I came to see Nostalgia, Nostalgia.’
Shaking their heads, the audience snapped back to reality.
Though it was only a forty-second campaign, NewBlack always left a “Kyahahat!” of vivid afterimages.
Holding a handycam, I asked my younger siblings.
“Today, what are we doing?”
“We’re doing a one-day job at the movie theater~”
“How are we doing it?”
“Well, we’re good at it~!”
We bounced around shouting “Yo-yo-yo!”
Seok-hwan hyung, watching, told the head office staff, “This is just how they are,” and I saw them smile.
Speaking into the handycam, I said,
“Today we’re here for a one-day gig at the movie theater. Ta-da!”
“Ta-da!”
We all stepped back and introduced the staff member standing behind us, and the staff member smiled shyly.
“Hello.”
“Please introduce yourself.”
“I’m Kim Soo-hee, and I work at the Yongsan branch.”
“Waaaa!”
We asked,
“What’s your favorite song?”
“NewBlack’s Nine....”
“Wow. What a coincidence.”
Our amateurish banter must have seemed obvious, because they laughed and asked,
“Have you all put on your uniforms?”
“Yes!”
“Please check that nothing’s missing from your outfits.”
We, dressed in theater staff uniforms, looked each other over and gave OK signs.
Today’s schedule was this surprise one-day job: shooting the etiquette video and promoting the newly released NewBlack popcorn combo.
“First, at the ticket booth....”
Like an orientation, we sat around a table as the crew explained their know-how.
I pulled out my notebook and jotted down important tips.
Meanwhile, Hyung Mingi filmed footage for MeTube with the handycam.
“Whoa!”
Jiho, surprised, covered his mouth with his hand, and the staff member asked,
“Why the sudden...?”
“Oh, I was just making a thumbnail face for MeTube. You need a bit of clickbait expression, you know.”
“Does that affect views?”
“Yes, definitely.”
When I explained that titles like “Five Spooky Secrets Hiding in the Movie Theater” got more views than “NewBlack’s Theater Job Experience!”, they immediately nodded.
“If there’s anything you’re unsure about later, feel free to ask.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
We reviewed our notes and mentally absorbed the emphasized points, then got up with my siblings.
Before going out, we went to greet the PR team member from headquarters.
“But that person....” Ri-hyeok squinted his eyes and whispered, “Don’t you think they’re watching us? Side-glancing.”
“Yeah, a bit.”
The PR team member’s gaze felt... uncanny.
Viju furrowed his brow.
“It really seems that way.”
“Right?”
“Yeah, me too. It just feels....”
Talking like that, we approached the PR team member who was speaking with Seok-hwan hyung.
I smiled and bowed.
“Thank you for inviting us today.”
“Oh, no problem.”
“We’ll work quickly and smoothly as you’ve asked!”
When I said “Just leave it to us,” they smiled.
While Seok-hwan hyung hurried over to talk with the road managers, my siblings looked at me.
“Ask them. Right now.”
“Okay.”
Clearing my throat, I asked,
“Excuse me, may I ask something?” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
“Yes?”
When the five of us nodded seriously, they tensed and asked,
“Something to ask...?”
We carefully addressed the staff member who planned our etiquette video.
“0619?”
“...!”
Our debut date.
They froze, eyes widening, then covered their mouth and whispered to us,
“0718.”
“...!”
The soufflé’s birthday.
When we made that knowing look, they glanced away awkwardly and asked,
“How did you know? Can you tell?”
“No. It’s not like that, but we have a certain expression when we find out. We can’t hide it....”
“Oh.”
“Because when Uju sees Grandma, he makes exactly that expression. Like this.”
Jiho placed his hand on his chest, eyes shining, and said, “Deok-soon~,” and they gave a small laugh.
Viju asked,
“So were we...?”
“Oh, no. After we appeared on Music Café, our team leader insisted we bring them along.”
They’d almost said “Uju,” but caught themselves mid-word.
Though we guessed the rest, we played along for their sake.
Then we took a selfie together.
Seeing them smile happily at the photo, we returned warm smiles.
“By the way, what did you say after Uju a little while ago?”
“....”
“I’m pretty sure I heard Uju.”
They answered a phone.
“Oh, a call.”
“It’s not ringing.”
“It just reminded me of somewhere I need to be!”
“Where are you going? No, please tell them we’re not weird...!”
As they walked away in a distant haze, we called out desperately, and Seok-hwan hyung rushed back.
“What did you do now to make them run off like that?”
“Nothing serious.”
Junghyun waved his hand and said softly,
“We just asked if they thought we were funny.”
“....”
“And they left like that.”
Seok-hwan hyung smiled as if to pretend he hadn’t heard the absurd explanation.
Then he looked at me.
As I gathered my thoughts to explain,
“That person is Soufflé....”
“Oh. I see.”
“...?”
“I got it.”
I blinked at the manager who seemed to understand instantly.
What the heck?
I was truly curious what [N O V E L I G H T] image of us and the soufflés existed in their head.
In front of the ticket booth.
After an hour of one-day work, we gathered before the crowd and bowed.
“This has been NewBlack! Thank you!”
“Waaaa!”
Applause rang out all around, and phones were still rolling.
“What’s happening? Is that NewBlack?”
“Dude, no way, NewBlack’s here... actually they’re leaving now.”
“Is that Dan-chu? Him?”
Couples who’d just arrived, people on phones, people pointing at Ri-hyeok and shouting “Dan-chu!”
When we’d started, it was quiet, but in an hour the place had filled.
Maybe because of photos on SNS, so many people gathered in just an hour.
It was so noisy my eardrums tingled.
The theater staff standing behind us looked drained, while we smiled and waved at the telephoto lenses.
Flashes popped.
“We’re heading out!”
Even as we followed the managers, curious eyes watched us.
Conversations about Music Café drifted by.
“Why did they do the theater job?”
“I heard they shot something about silent mode in the theater. Apparently it’s going to come out.”
“That’s Uju, right? On Music Café they called him the old man who slashes songs?”
When I glared at the whispered comments, everyone pretended not to hear.
Because on Music Café I’d shown a lot about composing and such, people were watching me a lot.
But the real star getting all the attention was someone else.
“Oh my, that’s him. Dan-chu.”
“How did someone so slender burst a Dan-chu like that? Amazing. I just have to breathe.”
“What was his name again? Chu Ri-hyeok?”
Every time Ri-hyeok passed, murmurs followed.
Compared to the heroine in Notre-Dame, these days they called the soufflés “the Dan-chu of Music Café.”
If it had been ordinary times, he’d have blushed and thought “I want this world to fail,” but today he swept his hair back and walked.
“Heh heh.”
He wore an unusually smug expression.
‘Look at him, all uppity because he put on foundation.’
‘His coat’s zipped all the way up.’
Ri-hyeok seemed proud, thinking his foundation perfectly covered his flushed face.
At the crowd’s admiration, the corner of his mouth curved, ready to smile.
“Your....”
“Only my ears are red. Check that coverage. I want to ask where that’s from.”
“What foundation do you use!”
“Hey, don’t ask so loud.”
As people burst into laughter, Ri-hyeok covered his ears with both hands and began to run away.
We all laughed too.
After Music Café aired.
We completed the remaining promotion schedule for the etiquette video and Nostalgia.
Our manager had also sensibly booked us on radio shows to perform.
“- Improv composition became a huge topic this time, right?
The radio GIF of the DJ’s reaction circulated.
“- Wow. You guys pull melodies out like noodles. Respect.”
It seemed we’d gained genuine recognition for our composing and producing side.
Thanks to Music Café, our song “Fireworks” even climbed into the top 80 on the charts.
Not exactly a resurgence, but enough proof our broadcast drew huge interest.
Our manager summarized the online response.
“The promo team commissioned an external agency for data analysis, and your image definitely changed.”
“Oh?”
“Keywords like ‘music’ and ‘composition’ got added to your image.”
A 180-degree transformation wasn’t possible, but at least our musical side was embraced.
Of course, it wasn’t just thanks to Music Café.
The real star making our broadcast stand out was the Nostalgia OST, “Thousand Dreams.”
After two weeks of solid response, it suddenly caught fire in the U.S. in week three.
I’d heard it had a higher budget than the action blockbusters released at the same time but underperformed, so they’d been worried.
Word of the Korean box-office surge circulated online in the U.S., sparking more buzz.
Whatever the case, thanks to the film’s success, we had cause to celebrate.
- (new) Thousand Dreams – The New Black
Our OST had entered the U.S. Billboard charts alongside the film’s popularity.
When I first heard, I was stunned.
I’d thought it might chart because the film was popular, but I never expected it.
Not just on the OST chart, but on the main chart too.
Even Rupert, who entered at No. 49 with “Falling Stars,” sent us a congratulatory message.
“This feels really weird.”
“Told you. I don’t even know how to describe it.”
Though it wasn’t our title track, seeing our contributions recognized like this was emotional.
Yet it all still felt surreal.
I never imagined our name would appear like that a few months ago.
If someone said, “You just made background music for a foreign film, and now it’s charting in the U.S.,” I wouldn’t have believed it.
Especially on both the OST and main charts.
“This is so confusing.” freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
“Should we just be happy?”
So we decided to be happy.
“Yay!”
“Our OST is spreading all over the world!”
“Listen to the OST and discover the artist!”
I wondered how many people would search us after hearing the OST, but I was glad nonetheless.
Good things breed good things.
Once we charted in the U.S., domestic media coverage ramped up.
- NewBlack-produced Nostalgia OST charts on U.S. Billboard
- Who is Uju of NewBlack, composer of Nostalgia OST?
- NewBlack in hot water for old cosplay of Little Witch, netizens say “As expected of NewBlack”
Articles read like reports on national athletes’ overseas achievements.
Interview requests poured in.
Along with Reporter Oh, whom we often spoke with, we shared quick impressions with several journalists.
The 9 o’clock news culture segment even featured our OST’s chart success.
Overall, the reaction around us was bigger than ours.
Even the A&R team, who rarely summoned me, called me into the office.
“Uju.”
“Yes.”
“Look at this.”
They showed me my overflowing inbox.
“What is this?”
“All the requests you’ve received.”
“Everything?”
“Almost all of them. After Music Café, orders flooded in, and they increased even more after the OST news.”
They were asking me to compose OSTs for dramas and other artists.
We’d had requests since being promoted as a composition-idol, but nothing like this volume before.
My heart raced at the thought of working on all these projects.
“Team leader.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Can I take all of these?”
“I don’t think the producing team can cover all of them. My stamina can’t handle it. Uju. Stamina.”
“I’m fine.”
“Not your stamina—my stamina, Uju....”
The A&R team joked “We’re going to die,” and told me to choose only a few carefully.
“With the U.S. charting and all, you’ve cemented your composing image.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s pick wisely. Once you shape that image, messing up even a bit will have everyone tearing you down.”
I nodded.
“The better we do, the more positives we gain.”
“True.”
“I’m also a bit pressured about the next projects... but I’m thinking of just enjoying it these days.”
The team leader looked at me sympathetically just as I started gathering the papers from his desk.
Thunk.
Hands including his thick one clamped on my wrist.
“Uju.”
“Yes.”
“Just take a few. Only a few.”
“Yes....”
“If you take them all, it’s heavy. What if you sprain your wrist? Your body is your asset.”
Others agreed.
“Right. You need to know when to let go.”
“Here, relax your grip.”
They cajoled me like a dog with a bone, making me take only some of the requests.
When they’d sent me off alone, I thought, Next time I must bring Junghyun.
“By the way, aren’t you going to the Philippines and Indonesia? Tomorrow?”
“No, the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we only have domestic promotions.”
“Promotions?”
“Yes. We got another commercial.”
I told them about tomorrow’s event schedule, and the A&R team’s faces twitched.
Inside the department store event hall.
Amid a gathered crowd, the host smiled and took the mic.
- “They’re the talk of the town these days. Every time they appear on air, they show off those dazzling visuals. Today, they’re here for the launch of our new foundation. Please welcome NewBlack!”
As the crowd oohed, the five handsome men in suits entered holding flower baskets.
They then created their own flower path and continued their entrance.
