After finishing the Hawaii vlog shoot, the moon set and a familiar red dawn rose again, yet Joo Woosung was still sulking with his lips sticking out.
“I’m reporting every damn workshop clip and everything from yesterday as soon as they upload it....”
“What did you say?”
“...Nothing. Just, our junior is a broadcasting genius.”
“Be thankful.”
Be glad I wasn’t the one editing.
If I had, your career would’ve ended that very day.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I watched as he leaned against his big suitcase, grumbling, then slowly straightened his back to look down at me.
“Anyway, I’m heading off.”
Even though Black Call wasn’t promoting, he was busier than The Dawn.
His schedule was packed, and even though it was still early morning, he was fully dressed head to toe in luxury brands as an ambassador. The only thing not of that brand was the black cap he was spinning on his finger.
“Yes. Weirdest schedule ever, but travel safe. Let’s not see each other in Korea if we can help it.”
“Don’t act like that. I didn’t enjoy it either, okay? When are your members arriving?”
“Probably tomorrow.”
“So you’re alone today?”
I shrugged half-heartedly, and Woosung stroked his chin before suddenly saying something out of the blue.
“Take care of your members’ mental health.”
“What?”
“I think once the workshop content comes out properly, there’s gonna be backlash.”
What.
Because of you and me?
“I already expected that if it was with you, Joo Woosung-ssi.”
If you’re as famous as Black Call, you might get away with it, but for idols, even the smallest things could stir gossip. They were inseparably tied to fans, and their love was essential for survival.
The fact that the company ordered additional filming meant my relationship with Woosung was more beneficial than harmful. But why did that turn into “watch your members’ mental health”? Narrowing my eyes, I waited as Woosung sighed deeply.
“No, I don’t mean me.”
“Then?”
“Don’t you remember what Lee Jihyun said the other day?”
Hi-Five?
Seeing my expression, Woosung gave a little nod.
“Back in my first year too, once competition was set up, clashes got nasty. Looking back, it’s just memories now, but the atmosphere was brutal at the time.”
“Did you actually get hit?”
“Hey, that’s assault, that’d be straight to the police. But seriously, it was no joke. Things are much tamer these days. Back then, leaving the apartment felt terrifying. You should brace yourself to get cursed out a lot.”
“I see.”
I snatched the cap from his hand.
He’d already styled his hair; he wasn’t going to wear it. Looked like he meant to give it to me.
“Alright. Got it.”
“......”
“I’ll take the cursing and live long.”
I jammed it down on my head. Woosung scrunched his nose, then burst out laughing in disbelief.
“You really are amazing in a weird way.”
Tapping the brim lightly with his fingers, he waved and wheeled his suitcase out of the hotel.
‘Like I have time to care about that.’
Better to practice or work through schedules. Adjusting the crooked cap, I returned alone to my room.
‘A bit tired.’
Dropping onto the sofa, I buried my face into the cushion, then rose and wandered to the balcony. Opening the door, the by-now familiar ocean view spread before me. I slumped at the wooden table where I’d once had breakfast with Woosung, closed my eyes, and let the waves serve as background music.
Maybe it was the spare time.
Suddenly I recalled when I was stranded alone in “Nugu Actor Tycoon.”
“Hey.”
Leaning back, I summoned the system window.
I tapped my finger on the table a couple of times—
Ding!
[It’s been a while!]
The familiar alert popped up, distorted with faint static.
I stopped tapping and asked the question I’d been wanting to confirm.
“Show me my points.”
[Points: 174,000]
A new window overlapped, showing the number.
Between compensation for errors and what I’d earned from “Nugu Actor Tycoon,” it had stacked up nicely.
“...How much for a partial reset of Seo Hojin’s memories?”
This time, the answer appeared instantly, as if preloaded.
Partial RESET
Chance to initialize a limited portion
Required points: 300,000
The blue-lit window flickered, and my throat went dry.
Feigning nonchalance, I rubbed the back of my neck and asked,
“Don’t you care about me anymore? Why aren’t you giving me quests?”
[Why are you phrasing it like that?]
Since my talk with Min Jiheon at the workshop and after securing Seo Hojin’s safety, I’d been thinking about the system a lot.
Quests had been scarce lately, but after returning from “Nugu Actor Tycoon,” they stopped altogether. The sudden void unsettled me.
[Honestly, because it’s hard.]
[To explain more specifically, after coming back from there, I had soooo much to do.]
“Because of Kang Ichae?”
Sometimes silence is stronger confirmation than any answer.
And right now was such a moment.
[...It was unexpected.]
Swallowing hard, I lowered my gaze. Another alert chimed.
[Just because I built the framework here doesn’t mean I can control everything.]
[The advice I can give you is not to forget what happened with Sung Jiwon. There won’t be another chance.]
Is that advice, or a threat?
I stared at the letters.
[Just fulfilling the inevitability of idol ‘Seo Hoyun’ is already a struggle. If the gap widens further, you know very well who will suffer without me saying it.]
The answer was obvious.
If not me, then whoever else was being sacrificed.
“Yeah, well....”
I rubbed my neck.
“I never planned on that anyway.”
Impossible.
Leaning back, I closed my eyes. Fatigue weighed down my body.
Seo Hojin’s memories, Kang Ichae’s suspicions, The Dawn, Woosung’s advice, rivalry, awards....
Threads tangled tighter and tighter until I even wondered what would happen when the game ended.
“......”
Muttering through unappealing possibilities, I stood and walked back inside.
Bang—the sound of the sliding door.
.
.
.
“―...Hyung’s totally knocked out―.”
“Guess he’s tired―...”
I must’ve dozed off again without meaning to. Still hazy, my sharp hearing picked up whispers nearby.
“He really sleeps well on the sofa.”
“Shh, don’t wake him.”
“Come on, Jiwon-hyung! I know better than to wake someone sleeping peacefully~.”
Then a jolt hit.
“...Just kidding!!”
“Argh!”
A weight crashed over me—Jung Dajun had slid onto me, grinning. Pinned beneath the elephant-sized maknae, I groaned.
“Good morning, Hoyuhou!”
“Get off, damn it....”
“Yep!!”
Cheerfully taking the curse, Dajun winked and rolled aside, then whined about how rough I treated the maknae these days. He looked exactly like a certain rapper while doing it, and I couldn’t help but sigh.
Checking my phone, I realized only a few hours had passed since Woosung left.
“Weren’t you supposed # Nоvеlight # to arrive tomorrow?”
“We came a day early! Surprise!”
Sung Jiwon smiled brightly.
“...Looking like that?”
Jiwon tilted his head innocently, while behind him came Dajun, Kim Sunghyun, and even Kang Ichae—all red-faced, wearing Hawaiian shirts with flower necklaces. For the others it made sense, but Ichae was clearly doing it just for fun.
“Don’t come near me.”
“Eh~, why?! I’m sticking to you, Hoyun-hyung!”
“Embarrassing. Walk at least 10 meters away.”
Jiwon scratched his cheek sheepishly, adding softly,
“It’s my first time in Hawaii too...!”
“...Yeah. The flowers suit you.”
“Woo! Woo! Why’s your reaction different for me?!”
While they bustled, my phone buzzed. A message from Joo Woosung.
[Joo Woosung: https://moonjin.co.kr/article/G18550130]
[Joo Woosung: Aren’t you embarrassed?]
《The Dawn’s Group Departure ‘Already Carrying the Fragrance of Hawaii’》
The article showed pictures of The Dawn smiling brightly, waving at the airport in sandals and flip-flops.
What the hell were those three stripes on Kim Sunghyun’s cheek.
“Let’s get acai bowls!”
“No.”
“Seo Hoyun, you already had one, didn’t you!”
“So petty, so petty~!!”
Ignoring Dajun and Ichae’s shouting, I sprawled back on the sofa.
But the members wouldn’t leave me alone, circling noisily.
“Had fun playing with Joo Woosung sunbae!”
“Don’t care about us anymore!!”
“Hoyun the deserter of Hawaii, awaken! Awaken!”
“Fine, fuck, I’ll go!”
10 meters. I swore again I’d walk at least that far from these idiots.
***
[Guys, The Dawn’s going to Hawaii too LMAOOOO]
[Seriously what... Aren’t you on break? Why? New album? MV shoot?
└But too few staff for that....
└└Still, they look way too excited to complain.
└└LOOL true, even Kim Sunghyun looks thrilled.]
[Overseas + live hotel streams = boy group overseas rule
└Have a good trip
└Someone edited Hoyun into a school trip photo hahaha
└└Ah hahaha used his rotten expression, cute as hell hahaha]
[All five of them posted on PopPop eating acai bowls together, flashing Vs! You guys really get along hahahaha
└Looks like nieces sending photos of their fun trip
Auntie here~!!! ^^!! Call me!]
News that The Dawn had flown to Hawaii spread quickly across SNS and communities.
[The Dawn overseas trip + short break = legendary content, that’s the rule]
[Going around debut day too, this means something big’s coming]
[Omg is it a fan song? They release one once a yearㅠ]
As fans’ anticipation swelled, the official The Dawn Neotube channel uploaded a teaser.
【THE DAWN - Name This Feeling (self-cam)】
A short clip, about 20 seconds.
A guitar melody like the blue dawn of summer.
A clear voice blending with it.
【Yes I’m asking you】
Lyrics echoing “Will you go to prom with me.”
Kang Ichae and Jung Dajun, arms wide, drawing hearts in the sunlight.
Kim Sunghyun lying on grass in a white-and-blue varsity jacket, smiling.
Sung Jiwon turning with a radiant grin against an orange sunset.
Moments captured like the members themselves had filmed them, filled with youth and feeling.
【When you smile, I get nervous】
Then the screen shifted.
On a dim street under sparse lights, Seo Hoyun squatted, sucking on a lollipop, staring at his phone. The camera closed in.
Curling his lips into a faint smile, he held the candy and looked straight ahead, beginning to sing.
【How do you name this feeling
Tell me, you know what it is】
“Name This Feeling.”
The third fan song, for Noeul.
