“Huff, huff....”
Bending over backstage, catching his breath, Seo Hoyun heard Kim Sunghyun’s voice.
“...Good job.”
He didn’t even have the strength to lift his head, so he just nodded weakly. Then Jung Dajun grabbed the hands of the surrounding members, stacking them together.
“Hyungs, did I ever tell you?”
“What?”
“I really love you guys.”
“Pffthaha.”
Still caught in the high of the performance, everyone let out deflated laughter at the maknae’s pure declaration of love.
“Let’s go back.”
Once they had calmed down a bit, Kim Sunghyun started walking ahead.
Outside, the MC continued his speech for the next award.
【About 20,000 digital releases came out this past year, across a wide range of genres and styles.】
As they moved along the narrow backstage corridor, they instinctively greeted every staff member they passed. The staff, in turn, offered words of praise and amazement.
【So, which song was loved the most?】
The closer they got to the exit, the louder the cheers grew. Even though the performance had ended a while ago, the noise still rang out wildly.
The staff guarding the entrance widened their eyes in surprise, then quickly ushered them along.
“The award for the digital category is about to be announced! Please move to the waiting area now!”
Following the instructions, they stepped outside just as the presenter for the digital grand prize walked onto the stage.
Being careful not to interfere with the broadcast cameras, they returned to their seats. A few rookie groups clapped so hard their palms might have burned, cheering for them.
Even with years of experience, the members of The Dawn still felt awkward in these moments.
With shy smiles, they offered polite bows of thanks before sitting down—
【Korean Music Awards
Digital Category Grand Prize】
The VCR rolled, showing the six nominees for the digital grand prize.
Among them was even a rookie in their first year.
“Then, I’ll announce the winner.”
The presenter opened the envelope, peeked inside, and read out the name of the honored artist.
The digital category grand prize went to Jang Sungyoon, a solo ballad singer who had released Flower Rain the previous spring and held the number one spot across several music charts for months.
“Ah, I’m so, so happy to receive this award....”
She cradled the trophy tightly, expressing her gratitude to her loved ones.
Then came the album category.
【Korean Music Awards
Album Category Grand Prize】
A grand orchestral fanfare filled the hall as the president of the broadcasting station hosting the awards and Korea’s top actor appeared on stage together.
“Hello, I’m Min Jiheon.”
For some reason, he looked a little thinner ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) than the last time Hoyun had seen him.
“Thank you so much for inviting me—...”
After briefly chatting with the station president about Before the Moon Sets, Min Jiheon ended with a polite smile, asking the audience to continue supporting Korean dramas.
As the camera captured each nominee for the grand prize, the audience erupted in cheers.
“With so many people waiting, we shouldn’t delay any longer. Jiheon-ssi, could you please announce which album received the most love this year?”
When the president handed him the microphone, Min Jiheon pulled a small envelope from inside his jacket.
“Then, I’ll announce the winner of the grand prize.”
A tense BGM filled the venue.
As he checked the card, Min Jiheon’s expression stiffened for a moment before he smiled again.
“Korean Music Awards...”
It was just a split second—but Hoyun knew him too well to miss it.
“...Album Category Grand Prize.”
He had definitely flinched.
‘...Ah, fuck.’
“Hi-Five, congratulations.”
In other words, I was screwed.
***
【New, New, New, New Thrill】
Screams loud enough to rupture eardrums filled the air as Hi-Five’s title track New Thrill blasted through the hall.
The members of Hi-Five, clearly unprepared for the win, looked dazed and awkward as they rose to their feet.
【Spark bursting at the circuit’s core,
Thrilling and dangerous,
Our private racing,
Make my heart beat louder.】
Other groups cheered in succession, and when the announcer called them to the stage, realization finally hit. They embraced one another, crying out in joy.
The only one who managed to stay composed, Kang Yeonhoo, quickly gathered his tearful members and led them to the stage.
“Hello, we’re Hi-Five.”
Standing slightly ahead of the others, Yeonhoo gripped the standing mic and smiled brightly.
“We’re so stunned and deeply honored to receive such a big award. We still can’t believe it. We want to sincerely thank the CEO and Vice President of WH Entertainment, as well as the dedicated staff and managers who’ve always worked so hard for us.”
He paused, taking a quiet breath as if to choose his next words carefully.
“...And to our Hi-Ri who have stayed with us for the past four years—honestly, we don’t know how to express everything we’re feeling right now. But one thing is certain.”
While Yeonhoo’s speech continued, Hoyun kept his expression perfectly neutral, eyes locked straight ahead, his polite smile unwavering for the cameras.
“It’s because of you that we’re able to stand here today. We’ll return with an even better image. We were Hi-Five! Thank you!”
As New Thrill played again and their VCR highlight reel rolled, the MCs closed the show by thanking all the artists who made great music that year.
Hoyun waved toward the audience and to Noeul with a practiced smile before heading backstage.
“Great work today!”
“Good job~.”
Everyone surely had their own thoughts, but since there were still plenty of ears around, they kept quiet as they walked.
“Uh, hey, that, that!”
As they passed down the hall toward their waiting room, they noticed a crowd forming nearby.
When they got closer, they saw the members of Hi-Five awkwardly standing outside their dressing room, unable to go in, comforting someone who was crying.
“Hyung, don’t cry... it’s a happy day today.”
“Yeah! Hyung, come on, stop, it’s okay!”
Tears streaked down Kim Chaejun’s cheeks as he clutched the trophy tightly, but seeing someone else cry harder seemed to make him stop.
“Why do you keep crying, Yeonhoo-hyung?”
Surrounded by his worried members, Kang Yeonhoo lowered his head and clenched his jaw, trying not to show emotion—but the trembling of his chin betrayed him, tears dropping nonstop.
“...Man, I must’ve lived long enough to see Yeonhoo cry. He was so composed during the speech, too.”
“He really went through a lot, though.”
“Yeah... that’s true. No argument there. Still, I wish he wouldn’t cry.”
Since The Dawn had to pass this hallway to return to their room, they stopped, awkwardly waiting for the moment to calm down. Once Hi-Five noticed their presence, they flinched slightly and bowed politely.
Normally, The Dawn would’ve just bowed back and passed by, but right now, that would look bad. With so many eyes on them, ignoring their rivals’ win could easily start nasty rumors.
Kim Sunghyun, who hadn’t quite managed to hide his earlier disappointment, put on a composed smile and stepped forward first.
“Congratulations on the grand prize.”
“Ah, th-thank you! The Dawn was amazing too!”
Jung Dajun, who’d been peeking nervously from behind the others, and Sung Jiwon, who looked sympathetically at Yeonhoo, both offered congratulations. Only Kang Ichae remained silent.
Kang Yeonhoo wiped his face with the back of his hand before speaking.
“...Thank you for your hard work today.”
It was a clean, polite response, but Hoyun could see the emotional turbulence behind those tear-streaked eyes.
He almost joked that at least Hi-Five wouldn’t get hate now that they’d won the grand prize—but decided against it, worried it might sound like mockery.
“Yeonhoo-ssi.”
Instead, he simply smiled.
“Congratulations.”
Yeonhoo lowered his gaze slightly, then bowed once more.
Hoyun didn’t want to prolong the encounter and quickly walked away.
Back in the waiting room, he changed clothes and prepared to head to the parking lot when one of the staff members who had been guiding The Dawn throughout the show approached quietly.
“Um, there are still a ton of people outside. Security’s controlling the area, but everyone’s pretty worked up, so please be careful.”
“Ah, thank you.”
As they approached the back exit the staff had pointed out, the members closed in around him.
“Let’s go home~.”
“Time to clock out~.”
Before Hoyun could tell them to spread out, the door clicked open—proving the warning true as a deafening roar hit them like a wave.
Under the guards’ protection, they moved quickly toward the van—when a single, thunderous shout cut through the chaos.
“YAAAH!!!”
The guard froze, scanning for the source. Far away, someone raised both hands high, waving a slogan banner like a madperson.
You’re my rising dawn.
It was Noeul.
“You bastards!! Listen up!!”
Jung Dajun, walking beside Hoyun, widened his eyes.
“—You’re my grand prize!!!”
The staff rushed to restrain her, but the fan kept yelling at the top of her lungs, “You swept the whole Grammophone in my heart! My babies are the best!”
The members had to grit their teeth so hard their jaws tightened—but once they got into the van, they finally burst out laughing.
“Wow, incredible.”
“How does she have lungs like that?”
Kim Sunghyun and Sung Jiwon kept laughing, genuinely impressed rather than upset. Though the loss stung, there wasn’t much bitterness left in their faces.
Leaning forward, Kim Sunghyun spoke quietly toward Kang Ichae, who remained silent.
“Guys, honestly, it’s frustrating and a little disappointing, but... I don’t think our effort disappears just because we didn’t win.”
He muttered even more softly after that.
“...I truly believe we did well.”
“Of course! Days like this happen!”
Jung Dajun quickly agreed, nodding hard.
“Yeah. One step back for two steps forward. Next time, next year, we’ll work harder and get it.”
Smiling, Sung Jiwon joined in, then suddenly suggested,
“...Should we order late-night food when we get back to the dorm?”
“Chicken? Chicken?!”
“Yes! Let’s order everything good tonight!”
“Hell yeah!!”
They’d been on strict diets for consecutive award shows, holding their meals to barely two adult portions each day, so Dajun was ecstatic, chattering about what kind of chicken to get. He was probably exaggerating his cheer a little to lift the mood.
“Manager-nim, great work today!”
“Yeah, get some rest!”
When they arrived at the dorm, everyone piled out—but Hoyun stayed in his seat and turned on his phone. In the company chat app, one user was still marked “online” even at this hour.
Resting his arm on the driver’s seat, he asked,
“Manager-nim, are you stopping by the office before heading home?”
“Ah, yeah. I’ve got some documents to pick up.”
“Drop me off at the office too.”
From near the car, Kang Ichae, who had been lingering silently, suddenly turned around.
And for the first time since the ceremony began, he finally spoke.
“...You’re not coming with us?”
