[No, this is like preparing a ritual table for a rain ceremony and then the rain suddenly pouring down.]
As soon as the teaser for the third fan song, ‘Name This Feeling,’ was released, the Noeul who had been hyped up instantly turned noisy.
[Looks like there really is an otaku inside Daepaseong.
Whose idea was it to release a campus-style fan song, huh?]
[Whoa, this has first-love vibes~ Like the super handsome upperclassman from another department vibes~~ (though of course that doesn’t exist in real life) Lee Jihyun... you actually know something...
└Is Lee Jihyun still at Daepaseong??
└└Yeah yeah, that person should stay forever..]
[I honestly thought since Daepaseong got acquired by WH (and wouldn’t release a fan song) we wouldn’t get one anymore, but they’ve been steadily putting one out every year T_T
└Since it’s unreleased and just songs made by the members... This is why it’s so important whether /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ a group has a producing member or not..]
If ‘Will you go to Prom with me?’ had been dripping with teen high school prom vibes, then ‘Orbit’ portrayed anxious yet beautiful youth set against fresh overseas landscapes.
Back when they made the first fan song, it had only been out of lack of capital so they filmed it themselves, but since the response had been so good, from then on self-cam style had become a permanent fixture.
[Hope no kids get illusions about college from this... reality is just shit]
[Why does Seo Hoyun give off dating show vibes even when he’s just standing still?
Your ex-girlfriend did not choose you.]
Since the broadcasting industry constantly reshuffles, trends change from time to time, and lately dating programs had become very hot. Among them, reality shows where couples who had broken up for various reasons gather in one place to meet new people and rediscover love were particularly popular.
That’s why on YouTube, edited videos of The Dawn members—sprinkled with a spoonful of beauty, a spoonful of wistful emotions, and poured over with lingering regret—overflowed with “ex-boyfriend vibe.”
<Your X Seo Hoyun>
Especially, the video compiled only from Seo Hoyun’s natural expressions directed at fans had already easily surpassed 1 million views.
A fleeting moment when his cold face showed slight surprise with furrowed brows, a rare wide smile toward a fan’s camera, or the second he deliberately curved his lips when meeting someone’s gaze—these intersected perfectly.
[Wow... did I break up with Seo Hoyun?]
[.......
I’m heartbroken.
If we were going to end it like this, you shouldn’t have seduced me in the first place.]
More than anything, the background music was a famous British singer’s breakup song, supposedly written after separating from a lover, which only deepened viewers’ immersion.
[I cried so much my head hurts...
Right now he’s probably eating gukbap with Kim Sunghyun... and I know that, but still.... (Likes 5413)]
[Even though I know he’s probably downing SolOnun right now... it feels like when he got scolded for calling me old and stopped drinking in front of me... (Likes 2144)]
[Guys, snap out of it, he’s my ex-boyfriend (Likes 104)]
And before long, the music video for ‘Name This Feeling’ was uploaded to The Dawn’s YouTube channel.
【THE DAWN - Name This Feeling (Self-cam)】
When the Noeul clicked in after getting the notification, the melody of disco-funk blended with synth bass began to flow. The sophisticated rhythm and fast tempo made the tune even more distinctive.
【How do you name this feeling?】
At the same time, under the blue sky appeared the back view of Kim Sunghyun, with a sports bag slung over his shoulder, running up a hill. He greeted a passing friend with a pat on the back, then waved and ran over to Sung Jiwon who was waiting on a bench.
【Hey, please tell me
How do you name this feeling?】
The two laughed and chatted as they stepped onto campus.
Time sped up like a fast-forward effect, and Kim Sunghyun was shown dozing off with arms crossed in the club room. Beside him, Sung Jiwon was diligently working on assignments.
【If we want to last long, we need patience.
So why do you sit next to me,
making me a little nervous with tension?】
The scene shifted, showing Seo Hoyun sitting by a sunlit window scattered with golden rays. Spinning a pen idly with a bored expression during lecture, he brushed his bangs aside as they fell into his eyes. Jung Dajun secretly filmed him on his phone, only to get caught and have his cheeks pinched.
【When you smile at me, I get nervous】
Then, the door swung open as Seo Hoyun entered with his arm draped playfully over Jung Dajun’s shoulder, while Kang Ichae, immersed in his headphones, stopped in his tracks. Discovering Sunghyun sound asleep, Ichae exchanged mischievous glances with Hoyun.
The camera shook as if the one filming was also stifling laughter.
Soon, colorful doodles appeared across Sunghyun’s face.
【I want to shower you with love uncontrollably】
As steady drumbeats played, the bright sky deepened into dusk.
At a university hof, The Dawn crowded the table with side dishes more than drinks, clinking their beer glasses together.
A shot briefly showed Dajun catching corn kernels tossed by Hoyun in his mouth, followed by Jiwon trying and failing miserably.
【Hey, Hey, Hey
Focus on me】
Then came the night view of the campus still glowing with colorful lights even late in the evening.
【When everything feels distant, I only see you.
Swallow the orange light and melt even the pale blue.】
It was a beautiful nightscape, symbolizing youth staying late at school, striving to bloom even in uncertain futures.
On the rooftop edge, Kang Ichae sat smiling brightly.
【My love, I want to see every sky with you.】
The scene changed again: outside a convenience store, Sunghyun, Dajun, and Ichae slurped cup noodles in a row.
【You drive me crazy.】
【I do!】
Stuffing noodles into his mouth, Dajun gulped down broth and raised both arms high, cheering toward the camera. Ichae then placed his fingers under Dajun’s chin like a rice cake skewer, smirking.
【Pull the sunset past dawn】
The camera spun before focusing on Seo Hoyun squatting alone in a dim corner, staring at his phone.
He held something white and long in his mouth—at first looking like a cigarette, but as the camera approached, it was candy.
【From dawn to dawn
with my glow every day and night】
As the members’ rich voices built into harmony, the climax hit.
【How do you name this feeling
Tell me, you know what it is】
Hoyun’s gaze collided directly with the lens.
【How do you name this feeling】
He stood up and reached toward the camera, covering the lens. When it cleared again, he was grinning mischievously.
【Or should I call you first?】
At that moment, Dajun’s sound of tackling Hoyun came from behind, the scene shook violently, and the song ended.
【Song composer/drunkard: Kang Ichae
Corn thrower: Sung Jiwon
Ramen eater: Jung Dajun
Victim of doodles: Kim Sunghyun
Video editor: Seo Hoyun】
Like a UCC, short credit captions followed.
[Did I attend a college like this...?]
The MV preserved the emotions of their first-year days but looked strangely cleaner and more stylish.
[Sorry, I’m a high school senior lol]
[Lol~~~ I also went to Dawn University~~]
[Thinking about assignments again makes me want to die, but for a second I almost wanted to go back to college...]
This time, the issue of ‘Name This Feeling’ even spread actively into other SNS timelines.
[Wow, the coordi really worked hard TT_TT
The major-printed college jackets were adorable.]
[Campus Dawnies are the best T_T]
Media & Communications – Seo Hoyun,
Physical Education – Kim Sunghyun,
Composition – Kang Ichae,
Practical Music – Sung Jiwon,
Dance – Jung Dajun.
In the video, The Dawn’s members each showcased different charms.
[Ugh, I’m pissed...
Seo Hoyun is even good at editing videos.]
[I made an ex-boyfriend Seo Hoyun edit video but I need to delete it.
No way... what do you do when an idol edits better than me? I even have a certificate...
└That’s such a huge smile though
└└Should’ve known since the Soondaegukbap vlog T_T My man’s chic girlfriend aesthetic]
[Seo Hoyun really spoils Noeul.. T_T Even though he must’ve been insanely busy, when did he find time to edit? T_T]
[What about an idol who releases a fan song once a year consistently only for their fans...]
[Seo Hoyun is so kind it’s cute.
The most absurd thing is, even though his personality is prickly (obvious), he looks at whatever Noeul does so warmly,
like he’s some lofty grown-up...
Oppa, you don’t know what I’m thinking when I look at you, do you?
└Even if he knows, he’ll cover for you anyway... because you’re Noeul.
└└T_T kissing spree incoming]
Not long after the MV dropped, a live alert popped up.
【[THE DAWN] How do you name Debut Day Celebration?!】
[Debut day celebration is... called debut day celebration.
└LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]
As soon as fans connected, they were greeted by The Dawn standing on a lush Hawaiian beach, each holding a mic and smiling dazzlingly.
[Wow, look at that budget]
Playing the fan song was just the start.
With Ichae improvising chords and Dajun singing “I Hate Homework,” the fun live continued on for a long time.
.
.
.
“I hate homework~, professor... I don’t only listen to your class~, ah ah~.”
“Don’t copy-paste from group assignment wikis~~.”
Never even went to college, yet full of things he’s just picked up.
Even long after the live ended, Dajun and Ichae kept muttering those odd lyrics.
I swear someone must’ve spiked the poke bowls before we started.
‘Why did they all come here in the first place?’
I had said I could just go back to match the debut day, but they insisted on coming anyway, buzzing with strange excitement.
Dajun, who hadn’t let go of the mic once, pointed a finger-gun at Ichae.
“Kang Ichae-ssi~! Congratulations on your debut! And also on being born!”
“Thank you! Thank you! It’s an honor to be born handsome.”
“Wow~. Though it seems you were born scary!!”
Cackling, Ichae ruffled Dajun’s hair wildly. Jiwon and Sunghyun sat on the sofa, replaying the fan song.
“This part is really cleanly edited. Amazing.”
“Right? Didn’t he also edit our vlog beautifully last time?”
“Oh yeah... that gukbap video...”
The soondaegukbap vlog had been one of the highlights of teasing Sunghyun, so his face instantly went pale.
With his lips curled higher than usual, Jiwon poked me and asked.
“How are you so good at editing?”
“...I’ve always been good at everything.”
I dodged with a vague excuse and moved toward the cake, but Dajun jumped up first, shouting.
“But we came all the way to Hawaii!! And today is not only debut day but also Ichae hyung’s birthday! Isn’t it a crime not to go to the beach?!”
“Hey, hey! Wipe the cake off your mouth first!”
“Last one there goes into the water!!”
These days, shows that make participants get thrown into the water get called outdated and tasteless.
Dajun wiped the cake smudge with the back of his hand and bolted out of the hotel. He looked no different from when he went wild during last Christmas live.
“Ugh, seriously... Hey, Seo Hoyun, let’s go.”
“Want to dunk Dajun?”
“Deal.”
Grumbling, the members trudged after their hyper maknae.
‘Well, better than being alone.’
It was chaotic being with them.
At the beach, they first dunked the clowning Dajun, then I snapped a photo of the reddening sunset sky and posted it on PopPop.
As I smirked at the wave of congratulatory messages pouring in, water droplets suddenly splashed from the side. A completely soaked Kang Ichae was shaking his hair dry as he walked over.
“What, why are you so wet?”
“Cold... ugh, they dunked me because it’s my birthday.”
Grumbling, he grabbed the towel Sunghyun handed him and wiped his face.
“Hoyun hyung.”
“Yeah.”
Since the whole CD fiasco—whatever his name was—Ichae had been acting more laid-back, so I was just idly scrolling my phone.
“Can I ask you something?”
“No, you can’t.”
“Come on, let me.”
I should’ve been wary the moment I heard that low, smooth voice.
“When did you learn to edit?”
Slowly lifting my eyes, I found Ichae staring right at me with his chin propped on his hand.
“Why?”
I forced a calm reply, but his lips curved upward.
“Because I want to know if my hunch is right?”
