[...W-what did you just s-say—.]
Jung Wonha’s stammered voice spilled raw through the phone.
Seo Hoyun calmly spoke again, deliberately fanning the flames.
“You were dating back then, weren’t you.”
[What! That never—!]
“You think I was the only one who noticed? Your group members were all looking around nervously.”
He hadn’t seen it clearly, but there had been a cautious air among TEW’s members back then. He had just thrown it out as a guess, but judging by the silence now, it must have hit close.
[......So what’s that got to do with you deliberately running your mouth?]
“Well, what do you think my reason was?”
[Obviously. To screw me over. What else.]
“Pfft, excuse me. What merit would I get from screwing over Jung Wonha?”
[You snatched first place in the competition, didn’t you.]
Hoyun’s laughter faded, his voice sharpening.
“I was confident I’d win first without that.”
It was true.
If Jung Wonha hadn’t messed with Jung Dajun, Hoyun wouldn’t have interfered either. The outcome would have been the same.
“Honestly, Jung Wonha-ssi, did you even flop because of that? You’re still working fine, aren’t you.”
Hoyun sighed between his tired words.
“Think rationally. Why would I bother bringing this up, when I could just ignore you.”
[...]
He left the rest unsaid, to give Wonha room for his own imagination.
With the right mix of fact, pretense, and fiction, bullshit could sound convincing.
“...The reason I even picked up a call I could’ve ignored wasn’t to insult you.”
[...Then what?]
“Just—...”
Running his mouth like this was Hoyun’s specialty.
Like now.
“—Because you’ve been on my mind, Wonha.”
He trailed off, soft, almost embarrassed.
[W-what? Wh-what did you say?]
Wonha’s voice shot up, trembling.
[Good grief, what nonsense, are you sleep-talking... You’re seriously weird, you know. Khm...]
Sprawling back on the sofa, phone to his ear, Hoyun waited patiently. On the other end, Wonha’s voice gradually settled.
Hoyun smirked faintly.
Jung Wonha judged people by popularity, weak against attention from someone more famous. Now that The Dawn towered above TEW, he couldn’t easily brush aside Hoyun’s words, even while guarding himself.
[Anyway! Even if you say that, I can’t completely believe it.]
That’s enough.
He seemed properly simmered, so Hoyun decided to toss out bait.
“Really? That’s a shame. I was about to share something good.”
[Huh?]
“Composer Cheongbeom seems interested in TEW—or more precisely, in you, Jung Wonha. Well... if you don’t want it, then never mind.”
[Y-you’re serious?]
Lim Hyunsu had just texted “Jung Wonha? What’s that?” so it wasn’t a complete lie.
“I happened to hear—.”
Dropping Lim Hyunsu’s name, Hoyun spun the pitch.
Though still doubtful, Wonha’s voice wavered with intrigue.
[—So you mean Composer Cheongbeom wants to give a song to us... to me?]
“Try reaching out.”
[Hm... I’ll handle it myself.]
Still keeping a wall up, Wonha added primly,
[Anyway, The Dawn must be having it tough too. Carrying deadweight. How did Jung Dajun even pass the audition?]
“......”
[Well, if he causes trouble, tell me. Since you shared info, I’ll help as much as I can.]
Hoyun chuckled and threw his own words back at him.
“Well, I’ll handle it myself.”
[What?]
“That’s all. Goodbye.”
[Wait, hey, just a—!]
He cut the call and immediately erased the record, placing Dajun’s phone back on the table. Then he picked up his own and texted Lim Hyunsu.
[Me: Composer-nim, TEW will be contacting you soon. Give them your warmest welcome, in your style]
[Lim Hyunsu: 🖕]
[Me: Japanese cigarettes]
[Lim Hyunsu: 🖕🖕]
[Me: Plus sake]
[Lim Hyunsu: Add cigars with the sake and it’s a deal]
[Me: Deal]
[Me: Be careful not to leave a trail]
[Lim Hyunsu: Fuck off, I’m Lim Hyunsu lolol]
Boasting like that, yet folding at alcohol and smokes.
“Going around in circles is a pain.”
At least the groundwork was laid. If Wonha was cautious, nothing might come of it, but if he took the bait and approached Lim Hyunsu with hope, he’d plummet all the harder when those hopes burst.
Part of him wanted to bury him so deep he’d never rise again. But his job, so publicly visible, made that tricky.
Hoyun only hoped this would serve as a warning. To show Wonha what it would feel like if he dared touch Jung Dajun again.
“Haa....”
Clicking his tongue, he ruffled his hair, staring at the ceiling.
He hadn’t expected Dajun to be so upset when told to handle things himself.
One day, the kid would have to stand alone anyway....
‘Still, this much is fine.’
It wasn’t as though the quests were finished.
There was still time to watch.
Even knowing it was just self-justification, Hoyun buried it.
Just then, the door burst open again and Dajun came in, arms full of shopping bags.
“Hyuuung! Didn’t you see my texts?! Why didn’t you reply~!!”
Collapsing onto the floor, cheeks pink from the cold, he started pulling out snacks.
“Look, look, this is the one you said was good last time~! And this bread has cream and red bean together, so I grabbed it! And... uh, what’s this one? Looked tasty so I just bought it....”
Staring blankly at the babbling maknae, Hoyun pinched and stretched out his plump cheek.
“Ahh! W-what’s that for!”
“When’s this baby fat going to disappear?”
“Ow! Why’re you picking a fight out of nowhere?!”
When Dajun whined, Hoyun grabbed the other cheek too and tugged.
***
While The Dawn worked hard on schedules in Japan, little bits of news trickled back to Korea.
[Did they # Nоvеlight # learn shadow clone jutsu in Japan or what? How are they packing schedules this tight?]
[Stopped by The Dawn popup store—stage outfits on mannequins, fucking adorable... But seriously, their proportions must be insane. I’m tall, but the pants came up to my ribs.
└There’s a reason they’re called model-dols.
└Height inflation is real lololol]
The special popup store for their Japan single album opened in four locations, including Tokyo and Osaka.
≪Quietly dropped by~!! (smiley emoji) #DAJUN≫
At the Shibuya popup, Kang Ichae and Jung Dajun snapped proof photos and uploaded them on Beolstar. Wearing loose hoodies and casual clothes, faces hidden with caps, beanies, and masks.
[Did they split up just in caseㅠㅠㅠ so cute TT_TT]
[Sis... turn around, please...]
[Aaaaa I couldn’t catch them T_T]
They might have thought they blended in, but an idol’s aura couldn’t be hidden.
[Of course we knew. What are the chances two tall, handsome guys show up at The Dawn’s popup store...]
[Bundled up, but still gave off that vibe. And Dajun... was bouncing around.]
[Pretended not to notice (lol)]
As talk of the popup store heated up inside Noeul, The Dawn’s official YouTube channel uploaded a promo video for their documentary film.
【THE DAWN BEHIND – From Dawn to Dawn Group Viewing】
[Haaa the official channel just dropped the movie promo!!!!]
[Group viewing!!!!]
The clip began with The Dawn entering a building in busy Tokyo. They’d rented out the entire theater, and sat lined up in the middle row of empty seats.
[Look, they even brought caramel popcorn and churros LOOOL]
[lol too cute]
The footage wasn’t much different from the documentary already shown on YouTube—scenes of practicing, messing around, laughing.
【......Ah, the voice was so nice I dozed off.】
[Shameless hahaha]
[Still cute tho lololol]
【Well, I’m the most handsome in The Dawn! Cool and good at writing songs too!】
Whenever someone got picked as a target, they all ganged up in an instant to tease him, bursting into laughter even at their own antics.
Near the end, glimpses of preparing the Last Round album appeared.
[So cute]
[Can’t wait, hurry up and release it~~~]
[I’ll laugh like crazy and then cry at the end of that doc]
[Meanwhile, Japanese Noeul are like, ‘Oi oi, to see my bias’s face huge on the big screen... kuso... tears are flowing’ LOOOOL
└Those fans are dead serious]
Expectations for the film were sky-high.
【At first, all I thought was—I have to get it together. I have to do well.】
Near the end, Hoyun’s interview appeared.
【Maybe I was foolish. No one can do everything alone. From the start, each member was so capable I relied on them a lot, and they’re all so good at handling themselves. Maybe that’s why....】
Then the camera lingered on each member’s face as they looked at him.
【Now I feel relieved, like they can handle anything without me.】
It ended on Hoyun’s serene profile, gazing at the screen.
【It’s a dawn I have to let go of, without regret.】
That subtly strange expression vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual dazzling smile as the film closed with The Dawn’s cheerful plea for support.
[What the... I feel weird]
[Everyone else is smiling but I... got nauseous and turned it off]
[Glad it’s not just me. Felt uneasy. Like the credits rolled and I was left alone]
As fans replayed the clip uneasily, the music industry was rocked by a new wave.
【HiFive - New Thrill Official Music Video】
Hi-Five had made their comeback.
