Hi-Five’s Complete was a full album that included the title track New Thrill—crafted with Blue Tiger’s utmost effort—plus five other songs produced by renowned composers and lyricists.
【HiFive - New Thrill Official Music Video】
The music video opened inside a Romanesque-style art museum, shadows flickering across its vast space. In the silence, the steady sound of leather soles echoed. The towering arched ceiling loomed, heavy with grandeur.
In the center stood an enormous demon statue, utterly out of place.
The camera panned back, showing a man in a white silk shirt walking slowly toward it.
The scene zoomed in, revealing Hi-Five’s main dancer, Lee Sehyeon.
He carefully clasped the demon’s outstretched hand and gently closed his eyes, pressing his lips to the stone fingers in reverence.
Boom!
The statue exploded into fragments. One shard flew into the screen—suddenly, the scene shifted to a neon-lit city at night.
【Brrrr...】
Under the blue glow appeared Kang Yeonhoo, leaning against a red sports car.
He wore a white shirt, black vest, and leather harness layered in belt-like straps.
Loosening his tie, Kang Yeonhoo delivered the opening line.
【New Thrill—】
The funky rhythm shot outward.
【—I can’t pretend to stay calm before you
I’m swept up in even greater excitement】
As he tilted his head, his black-dyed curls fell across pale skin, sharp eyes curling upward.
【New New New New Thrill】
The upbeat rhythm bounced, keeping Hi-Five’s trademark refreshing energy while adding a subtle, sexy edge.
【A spark bursting in the middle of the circuit
Thrilling, dangerous
A racing just for us two
Make my heart pound even more】
Vroom—the engine roared into the melody as rapper Jung Chaehyeong removed his helmet at the racetrack, smirking.
【A thrill that takes my breath away】
Then came the group choreography.
Cool voices soared as controlled point moves slotted together, dance and song blending into something sharper, more magnetic.
【We don’t need brakes
My savage heart is calling you
You are my new thrill】
A lush, polished sound; lyrics comparing love to a car race; a glamorous visual feast.
[This Hi-Five comeback is legendary, holy shit ,,,,,,,]
Success was already in the air.
[I love Hifap’s “New Thrill” so much TT_TT]
[Jung Chaehyeong, I thought he was a baby angel, but look at him now... His physique is insane... And Yeonhoo with black hair?? Too hot, fuck..]
[Riyoung’s face is cute but his deep voice is unreal;;;]
[I love the shortie duo Riyoung and Chaehyeong... They’d hate being called that though lol]
[Lee Sehyeon’s abs are real?!]
Just last year, Hi-Five still lived in Black Call’s shadow.
But with Black Call’s entire schedule canceled this year, that image flipped. WH Entertainment’s backing helped, but more than anything, Hi-Five’s raw talent exploded on stage.
Above all, Kang Yeonhoo’s transformation was overwhelming.
[Yeonhoo is insane]
[Kang Yeonhoo is a god of K-pop]
[You can tell he’s a long-term trainee. WH, get all the hidden veterans out and debut them now haha]
[No, that’s not just from long training. Kang Yeonhoo is simply the real deal...]
Unmatched vocals. Calm responses in crises. Strict toward others, yet harsher on himself.
Fans loved all of it.
[Yeonhoo is so damn lovable]
But most of all, what charmed fans was the rare glimpse of his pure side.
The growing rivalry with The Dawn made people wary to mention it, but that’s why the program Wanna Sing With Me?—where Yeonhoo appeared with Seo Hoyun—was considered a treasure by Hi-Ris. In that show, Yeonhoo’s ears turned beet red on camera.
[By my standards, the person who looks most different on stage vs. off stage is Yeonhoo!]
[He knows exactly how to look best for the camera. His experience shows... I love you]
[Idols need a bit of bite to be lovable... Kang Yeonhoo... you drive women crazy]
Even before full promotions, New Thrill’s popularity was skyrocketing.
【Congratulations! First place goes to Hi-Five’s “New Thrill”!】
Each music show, Hi-Five claimed new trophies, confetti raining down.
[I’m losing it TT_TT I’m so happy right now]
[At this rate, “Song of the Year” is locked]
[This year really is the golden age of boy groups. Haaah this song’s amazing, Yeonhoo, your hard work shines..]
They were also scheduled for the Tokyo K-POP concert, wrapping their promotions earlier than expected.
Even though it was technically just an “event,” the annual stage had grown more lavish each year, raising fan expectations.
[So hyped for Hifap’s K-POP concert TT_TT we’re gonna crush it
└The Dawn’s going too
└└Ah...]
Meanwhile,
[Ah... my ass, fuck, I’m pissed]
[T_T Can’t be helped... This time the push was for Hifap... but we’ll dominate the year-end stage instead... yeah right Shut up The Dawn has to be number one.]
[Hi-Five is cute, I admit. But The Dawn is global K-pop stars.]
[Being #1 in my heart isn’t enough. The Dawn, let’s go.]
As Hi-Five soared, Noeul’s fighting spirit blazed higher.
.
.
.
“What’s the order.”
The setlist the manager handed over didn’t sit right.
The Dawn’s name was third from last. After a Japanese singer’s special stage, the final act was Hi-Five.
Clicking my tongue, I felt Kang Ichae suddenly shove a piece of chocolate into my mouth.
“Eat this and chill.”
I knew The Dawn had gotten heavy company push during “Level S2.” Now it was Hi-Five’s turn.
Knowing didn’t mean I had to like it.
[Quest arrived!
This Tokyo K-POP Concert is your chance to cement The Dawn’s status!
Among the performance clips uploaded to the official K-POP YouTube channel, achieve the highest views with The Dawn’s stage.
Success: 10,000 points
Failure: No year-end stage in December]
I eyed the new quest, brushing back my still-unset hair.
I had no grudge against Kang Yeonhoo, but I was staking my life on this idol business. I couldn’t look kindly on rivals.
As if on cue, Hi-Five entered the hallway.
“Hello!”
“Please take care of us today.”
‘Look at them shine.’
Their faces gleamed with polish, like Black Call’s aura still lingered on them.
Other idols swarmed Yeonhoo instantly.
“Whoa, look who it is! Yeonhoo-hyung! Long time no see~”
“Haha, right. Have you been well, sunbae?”
They were clearly buttering him up. Yeonhoo surely knew, but he still wore his relaxed smile, treating them warmly.
Meanwhile, his members fidgeted, glancing around nervously, before dragging him away.
‘...What’s that about?’
Suspicious. But the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) manager urged me to rehearsal, so I stripped off my jacket and stepped on stage.
【...—Don’t ask, just come dance, Babe
As if it’s our last...】
We’d drilled the choreo hundreds of times, but the long thrust stage changed the spacing. We carefully checked positioning and ran through it.
After one run, Kim Sunghyun wiped his jawline and gathered us.
“Guys, we can move a little more forward.”
“Right, hyung! This stage is huge!”
“Yeah, after the band ends, let’s spread wider.”
Adjusting as he directed, we wrapped rehearsal safely. Joking around, we returned to the waiting room—until New Thrill’s intro thumped from the stage.
“Hyung, want something to drink?”
“No.”
I tousled the sweaty maknae’s hair and slipped out. The vibe around Hi-Five earlier nagged at me.
Sure enough, backstage I found Hi-Five huddled in a circle, Yeonhoo in a loose silver sweatshirt at the center, looking troubled.
“—Good work—”
“Hyung, your foot—okay—”
“Then that choreo—maybe—”
He waved them off with a sigh, and their faces fell.
Turning away, they spotted me and immediately straightened, bowing.
“Oh! Seo Hoyun-ssi! Hello.”
“Hello.”
“Good luck on your stage today, The Dawn!”
Only then did Yeonhoo notice me, brows twitching.
I walked closer.
“Congrats on your comeback.”
“Yes, thank you.”
His face was clear, but oddly pale.
Glancing down, I caught the swelling beneath his rolled-up hem—his left ankle.
“The smell of medicated patches reaches even the waiting room.”
“...What, do I owe you an apology?”
“Injury?”
He hesitated, then nodded slowly.
‘So he can’t move properly.’
That’s why he sent his members away.
“Got hurt rehearsing?”
“...Yeah. Sprained bad right before coming here.”
His wary gaze locked on me. No trace of his usual easy smile.
‘He wants to go on stage like that?’
But as Hi-Five’s leader and pillar, dropping out last-minute would stir chaos.
‘Why even rehearse?’
He was sharp enough to manage with just blocking. Judging by his breathing, he’d danced the whole set.
“Why rehearse? It’ll just swell worse.”
“Seo Hoyun-ssi.”
He rubbed his flushed ankle, then pulled his pants back down.
“Of course I had to. Not managing my condition is my fault. But this is work.”
“......”
“I have to do it.”
Oh, is that so?
I swallowed my irritation and shrugged.
“Alright. Do your best.”
“...Thank you for your concern.”
Taking one slow step, his face twisted in pain.
I grimaced instinctively.
‘So it’s pure stubbornness.’
The kid was still young, but packed with grit.
I watched Kang Yeonhoo limp away, then turned back to our waiting room.
It wasn’t my problem anyway.
