[Ha, Seo Hoyun, fuck....
Sung Jiwon’s face is insane...]
[Why do they always get all wistful and even better-looking when they head to Japan...
└ Because that’s idol law...
They become beautiful the moment they leave your side....
└└ He’ll be back in a few weeks though....
└└ “National Treasure, on loan.”]
The Dawn, Day 2 in Japan.
【THE DAWN – Our Glorious Dawn MV (Japanese ver.)】
Almost as if they knew the fandom was on the verge of losing its restraint, the Japanese version of Our Glorious Dawn music video dropped at the perfect moment.
[Finallyyyyy it’s out!!!!]
[OuChanSae! OuChanSae! OuChanSae! Whisper faith to meee just like you promised Can you hold meeee hug me tightttt!!!!!]
[The start of this year’s legendary three-in-a-row... OuChanSae...]
[They actually filmed a new MV hahaha I thought they’d just reuse the old one]
[Black-haired Seo Hoyun in OuChanSae, thank you... thank you... thank you.....]
Back when The Dawn first promoted Our Glorious Dawn, Seo Hoyun had ditched his trademark black hair for a bold transformation: silvery ash-gray, tips brushed faint violet. Fans loved it then too, but now, with the record preserved once more in deep blue-black, they were beyond satisfied.
[Ahhh, I’m full...]
[That was a feast.]
After fans chewed, licked, sucked, and replayed the MV a thousand times until they’d memorized the Japanese lyrics, just as their attention started to wander—
【[SPECIAL] THE DAWN – ‘Superhero’ Band Live Session】
[Oh fuck]
Without warning, the group’s official YouTube channel uploaded a live band session of “Superhero,” one of their B-sides.
[What the hell?? Wait, what?!]
[Are they insane!!!!!!!!]
[A Japanese release live band session?!?!]
Click play: a rooftop, the sunset glowing red.
[Ah, that sky... must’ve been filmed in Seoul beforehand. No time in Japan...!!]
[Isn’t this WH’s rooftop
└ lmaoooo how the hell do you even know that LOLOLOL
└└ Exposed yourself as a WH-otaku]
Dajun, in light jeans and a loose hoodie, spun his drumsticks once before crashing into the cymbals to start.
[Shit, my mouth’s already watering]
[The intro vibe is insane]
Then Jiwon’s fingers danced over the keyboard, Sunghyun and Ichae’s electrics rang out, and Hoyun’s bass rumbled underneath.
【Just meeting your eyes makes me tremble
Like a fool, I stutter】
Ziiing—, Sunghyun plucked a long note, grabbed the standing mic, and opened the song with his low voice.
【Even though my hands shake, I still want to hold on
Even if this moment never ties us together
Can you promise again?
That we can chase our dream once more】
The wistful start flipped 180 degrees as it passed to Dajun’s part, bright and hopeful.
【Because I can find you
Among the countless people at the crossroad
I can spot you!】
The moment his sticks blurred with passion, Dajun’s lips curled into a grin. He tossed a stick high, caught it, and pointed it straight at the camera.
【LOCK ON!】
Jiwon bobbed his head in rhythm, synths filling the track.
Behind them, the sun spilled across the sky as it sank.
Jiwon’s cheeks caught red from the light. Watching him, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Hoyun smiled faintly and sang.
【I want to be your superhero
Even if I wander strange roads to find you
I want to be your superhero
An ordinary me becomes, for you,
A hero who can do anything
I want to be superhero】
After the chorus, Ichae’s electric solo screamed through.
Ziiing—.
With a flourish, he tossed the guitar aside and snatched Hoyun’s mic.
【Maybe my effort wasn’t enough
Maybe the timing was bad】
Hoyun gave him a look like “What the fuck,” but Ichae grinned, flashed a finger-heart, and rapped.
【Don’t say words that only hurt to hear
Better not spit out anything uncertain
Whatever the conditions, whatever the situation,
I want to be your superhero】
Sunghyun burst out laughing at the sight.
【It’s too soon to say goodbye so lightly】
Piano soared, Jiwon’s voice riding high.
【I want to be your superhero
Even if I wander strange roads to find you
I want to be your superhero
An ordinary me becomes, for you,
A hero who can do anything
I want to be superhero】
Hoyun’s rougher mid-low tone layered in, harmonizing—
【The dreams we painted behind the stage】
The camera swept in a circle around them.
Sunghyun’s guitar now led the way.
【The colors that dyed my once gray world】
Drumsticks flashed in the sunset, crashing down. Jiwon’s hands blurred across the keys, Ichae snapped chords, Sunghyun’s pick slashed the strings—
【Melting into twilight, lighting my world】
Sweat rolled from Hoyun’s chin, splattering across the bass. Sunghyun’s dimples deepened as his lips curled.
【You know what I will say....】
The world fell silent for a beat.
【I will be your superhero!】
.
.
.
“It hurts.”
No sooner had they landed in Japan than they were thrown into rehearsing Superhero live. This morning at 7 a.m., they’d already filmed a live broadcast and only now had a short break.
Instruments clicked elsewhere—Jiwon and Ichae jamming happily. Dajun had gone out for snacks.
I sprawled on the sofa, examining my swollen, blistered hands. Fresh blood welled here and there.
“Hey, Hoyun, your hands still bad?”
Sunghyun poked his head in and tossed me a towel. I caught it without answering.
“Want me to grab a bandage? Not sure it’s enough. Wanna hit a hospital?”
“Quit fussing. It’s nothing.”
The idea to stage a live band version had been Lee Jihyun’s.
If they’d done American high-teen, why not Japanese youth band?
So, with just a week, we’d been forced into it. For Jiwon, practically a pro on piano, or Ichae, who could play anything, it wasn’t much trouble. For the rest of us...
<The usual K-pop ‘Japan advancement’>
<Is this really a 7 a.m. live?>
<Zoom in, Sunghyun’s guitar-calloused hands T_T>
The response was positive, so the pain didn’t feel wasted.
[Idk about the playing but holy fuck the live vocals LOOLL look at the panelists’ faces changing]
[Who sings like this at 7 a.m.? They must train like maniacs]
[That red-haired kid... insane on electric;;;]
[Passing by, hobbyist guitarist here. Carrying on now.]
YouTube comments, SNS, everywhere was full of praise.
[Dajun two years ago was faking on drums, now look.... T_T]
[Ichae’s electric is god-tier... Jiwon too. The others sound raw still but those two are nuts. Legendary.]
[Jealous as hell of Japanese Noeuls... fuck... do a band live in Korea too...]
[They nailed the vibe... ~^^ I want to brush it off coolly but damn]
[Give us The Dawn back. Return them immediately.]
I shut off my phone and tossed the towel to the floor.
Sunghyun was rummaging in the suitcase despite me saying I was fine. I nudged him with my foot.
“Hey, talked to Dajun lately?”
“Dajun? Because of Jung Wonha?”
That’s why it’s easier talking to someone quick on the uptake.
I raised my brows. He tilted his head.
“Not really.”
“Hm......”
“Oh, one weird thing—after that, he said the manager scolded him. I went to check on him.”
“And?”
“He was fine. No, that’s what was weird. He kept mumbling to himself, like... he’s scared of himself now or something....”
What is this, “the dark flame dragon sealed in my right hand”?
No matter how I thought on it, something stank.
Stronger, more mature, yes—but at the core he was still Dajun. After being chewed out by the manager, he should’ve run straight to us, whining about how unfair it was.
‘He’s definitely hiding something.’
I was weighing how to handle it when—
“I’m back!”
Dajun’s cheerful voice rang out.
He stumbled in, arms laden with bags of snacks.
“Hoyun-hyung, want some? I tried one on the way, it’s so sweet it numbs your tongue! Totally your taste!”
He dumped the bags on the table, pulled out a small box, and shoved it at me. When I just stared, he pretended he’d eat it himself, mouth open wide, packaging untouched.
I patted the seat beside me.
“Maknae.”
He froze mid-babble.
Before he could react, Sunghyun cleared his throat.
“Ahem, Dajun! Didn’t you say you had to call your parents?”
“Ah, ah! Y-Yeah! That’s right! I did! Totally!”
Not so fast.
“It’s not even lunchtime yet. Call later.”
“......”
“......”
“So, what was so tasty?”
I smiled sweetly. Dajun looked desperately at Sunghyun for rescue, but Sunghyun just shook his head: too late.
I took the box from his hand, watching every twitch of his face.
“Our maknae buying snacks just for hyung, I’m touched.”
Inside was pudding. I scooped up a spoonful and held it out.
“Here, airplane~ open wide.”
He didn’t budge.
My smile dropped. My voice turned cold.
“Not eating?”
“...W-Waahh!!”
Shaking, he finally opened his mouth. I fed him several spoonfuls, then shoved the spoon straight into his mouth before standing.
“...We’ve still got time before the next schedule. I’ll rest a bit.”
“Y-Yeah, go, hurry.”
Sunghyun, pale, hurried me out like he was afraid I’d turn on him next. Behind me, I heard him whispering.
“Your cheek okay? Dajun, did you do something to Hoyun? Why’s he being so mean? He stabbed at you with the spoon...”
“Ughh, it hurts here....”
I left them and slipped into an empty room.
‘I get it now.’
Testing him confirmed it.
Normally, if you were nice to him, he’d freak out, suspecting ulterior motives. But now, like a guilty puppy who wrecked the house, he cowered and played submissive. That meant one thing: he was hiding something.
Sound takes two hands clapping—so Jung Wonha wasn’t the only one who provoked him.
‘Fine. That’s all good, I understand....’
But why lie?
I thought of him squirming, terrified, and chuckled at the ceiling.
“So you’ve grown up a little, huh.”
Alright then. Let’s see how far you go.
