The early June sunlight poured down on the small riverside park.
Local residents, seated one by one on rows of plastic chairs arranged outdoors, curiously turned the small wireless remotes over in their hands.
A high schooler wearing an armband labeled Staff was helping guide the attendees to their seats. Under normal circumstances, she would have been pretending to study at an air-conditioned cram school while scrolling through social media. But thanks to her mother — who had taken a temporary advisory position on the City Park Committee — and her threat that “If you skip this event, you’ll live a life full of regret,” the girl had been forced into labor instead.
After working since early morning, she finally managed to snatch a short break in the afternoon and immediately went somewhere quiet.
Squatting down, she opened YouTube on her phone.
【Hello, this is Seo Hoyun, lead vocalist of the five-member boy group The Dawn.】
“Seo Hoyun’s gone all out.”
Even though the video had only been uploaded recently, it had already surpassed three million views — to which she herself had no doubt greatly contributed. Grinning, the high schooler replayed Woosung Broadcast again, giggling as she watched.
【...—We’re working really hard and preparing a variety of new content.】
[It’s my first time seeing Seo Hoyun open up about having a hard time.. he must really feel comfortable with Juseong T_T]
[He even thanked the staff personally and was so polite... he really seems like a good guy.
└You can tell he’s not the type to lie hehe
└└Rightㅋㅋ He’s mischievous with the members but so respectful otherwise.]
[Juseong smiling at Hoyun!! SO CUTE (heart emoji)]
[He said he was embarrassed to promote himself, that’s so cuteㅠ Even though he acts shameless, he gets all shy when put on the spot.
└Seo Hoyun «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» really seems reserved hehe
└└He probably felt awkward talking about his own group in front of a senior like that~~ The comeback mention at the end was likely the staff’s idea^^ Still, applause for Hoyun for pulling it off professionally!]
[they were so comfortable on this episode <3<3<3]
[Seo Hoyun seems like one of the kindest, most gentle idols out there.]
“Did they all get shot together or something.”
Scrolling through the comments, the high schooler rubbed at her goosebumped arms, unable to adjust to the idea of anyone calling Seo Hoyun “gentle.”
【Please look forward to The Dawn’s upcoming comeback!】
As Seo Hoyun drew a heart in the air, Woosung Broadcast’s signature ending song played. Humming along, she switched over to Twitter, where her feed was flooded with arguments among The Dawn fans about Song Camp tracks.
‘The first broadcast should be starting soon.’
If there was a chance to attend as part of the audience, she definitely wanted to go.
As she absent-mindedly scrolled, she heard her name being called from afar.
“Gayoung! Come help over here!”
So much for her break.
Running back and forth again, she worked until sunset, when the performance was finally about to begin.
Standing at the back row of the audience seats after finishing her tasks, she tugged on her mother’s sleeve and whispered,
“Mom, what’s with this event? Why did they even make us sign a confidentiality agreement? Are you sure this is legit?”
“You worry too much. Don’t you trust your mother?”
“Ugh, seriously! I just signed that thing and it’s freaking me out. It really is QBS, right? The clauses were real?”
Judging by the QBS logos printed on the equipment, it didn’t seem fake, but still — a nondisclosure form? The unease wouldn’t go away.
“I already checked everything, so just sit and enjoy the show.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
She pouted and swatted at the gnats swarming around her in the summer air. Soon, one of the staff members stepped up onstage to explain how to use the remotes, adding that there would be six performances and the audience should vote for their favorite song.
So that’s what all the remotes and the NDAs were for.
As she wondered what kind of broadcast needed all this secrecy, the evening dimmed and the spotlights flared on. Music filled the park.
【You are my love—...】
Under the bright lights, a performer wearing a calf mask opened their mouth to sing.
【Wherever you go, I’ll follow you】
A soft, graceful voice flowed over a trot-style ballad melody.
“...Whoa. They’re really good. Doesn’t this sound like that drama OST you were obsessed with recently, Mom?”
“‘It’s Definitely Love’?”
“Yeah! The one with that singer who always came in during the climax. It sounds exactly like them. Amazing...”
Baek Jijun, maybe?
Tilting her head, the high schooler didn’t notice her mother’s strange look and kept watching the stage.
‘Well, yeah. They’re insanely good.’
For a second, she wondered if it really was Baek Jijun, but quickly dismissed the thought.
If someone that famous were performing here, they wouldn’t have set up such a modest stage. And besides, she’d long since learned that her luck didn’t include “being in the right place at the right time” for things like this.
Probably just a talented unknown singer.
Thinking so, she clapped politely as the calf-masked performer bowed and exited.
Next came someone in a tiger mask.
Doom, doo-doom— doom-doom-doom!
A strong, fast beat echoed, mixing oddly with hints of trot rhythm.
“...Is this a club?”
【Ain’t it fake? Whoa, o’mine
There’s no way I’m all hype】
The tiger-masked performer darted around the stage, spitting rapid-fire rap, completely dominating the space.
But—
【Weakness sucks my dXXk!!】
—considering the crowd was mostly families, including middle-aged and elderly folks, it was... an awkward choice of lyrics.
Sure enough, while people waved their colorful balloons half-heartedly, there wasn’t much applause.
‘Still, that was solid. They give off a K.Voka vibe...’
As she watched the tiger disappear backstage after striking his final pose, she suddenly froze.
‘Wait... Baek Jijun and K.Voka?’
That lineup sounded awfully familiar.
No way. As if.
“Haha, I’m ridiculous.”
Getting carried away with happy delusions again.
She’d been obsessed with The Dawn for years — maybe that was why she kept having fantasies like this.
Shaking her head to clear her embarrassment, she noticed the next performer — a person in a black cat mask, wearing a white T-shirt, sky-blue jacket, and dark jeans.
He held up three fingers toward the audience to show his number, then drew a heart in the air. The cute gesture drew laughter from the crowd.
‘...Oh, no way.’
But the high schooler couldn’t laugh along. She recognized that gesture too well.
“Mom, is this show—”
【—The blazing sun shines on me!】
Before she could finish her question, the first line of the song hit. The slightly husky yet smooth baritone sent a sharp chill down her spine.
【I give thanks for the ground I walk on,
Even if this path is full of hardship, ah ah ah】
It sounded strangely like the folk-rock songs her mom listened to from the 1990s — totally different from the previous stages. The song captured the early-summer night perfectly: the black sky studded with stars, the cool breeze brushing past. It was beautiful—
“...Holy shit...”
—but the high schooler couldn’t take any of it in.
That voice, that flawless rhythm, that atmosphere—
【Because this too is my youth—】
As the song ended, she blurted out before she could stop herself,
“I want a remote too!!! I wanna vote!!!”
“Hey! What are you doing?!”
She should’ve joined as a participant instead of staff!
Dragged back down by her mother gripping her collar, she could only cry inside. Her head was filled with nothing but the black cat mask.
By the time she came to her senses, the remaining performances had already finished, and the audience votes were being tallied.
First place went to the woman in the squirrel mask, who’d wowed everyone with her trot performance. The calf took second. And to her delight, third place went to the black cat.
“Waaah!! It’s Kang Woorin!!”
As the winners returned to the stage in reverse order of their rankings, each removed their mask to reveal themselves.
K.Voka.
LUMA.
Kang Woorin.
The crowd erupted at the sight of the familiar stars on TV. Then, as the acoustic guitar led into the next beat, drums and bass filled the air.
【Even if it seems vague, I can’t give up.
I don’t want to live a life full of regrets.
You don’t have to be afraid so easily.】
The black cat mask tilted back, revealing a man whose sweat-dampened bangs clung to his forehead — yet even that looked like part of the performance.
He brushed his hair back and smiled brightly.
“Oh my God...”
It was real.
The real deal had appeared.
【—The blazing sun shines on me!
Let’s push away the anxiety rising in our chests and smile,
Like a scene from a coming-of-age film.】
“Huh? That guy looks familiar...”
“Isn’t he an actor? Didn’t he appear in that drama with Min Jiheon?”
In her quiet hometown, just ten minutes from her house, standing on a humble little stage — there was the idol she loved most. Her mind detached from reality for a second. Then, as the murmurs spread around her, she snapped back.
“It’s Seo Hoyun! The black cat is Seo Hoyun!! My ultimate bias, The Dawn’s Seo Hoyun!!!”
She immediately clamped her hands over her mouth. If her voice ended up on the broadcast audio, it’d be mortifying.
But it was already too late.
【Feeling the cool breeze of early summer,
I’ll remember today for the rest of my life.】
Maybe he’d heard her, because Seo Hoyun turned his gaze her way and smiled softly.
【Welcoming this dazzling summer,
I’ll cherish this day.】
‘I’ll cherish it for life, holy shit...’
Just hours ago, she’d been whining about how miserable this workday would be — but now she was thankful. Thankful she was born here, thankful her mother worked for the park committee, thankful she lived on the same planet as Seo Hoyun.
‘Mom, I’ll be a good daughter from now on.’
No wonder her usually strict mother had insisted she come today. She must’ve known her daughter was a fan of The Dawn.
When the dreamlike concert finally ended and the park was being tidied after the crowd dispersed, her mother approached, holding a square object about the size of her palm.
“Princess, here. Take this.”
“Huh? ...Oh my god...!!!”
It was The Dawn’s album Wish, signed by every member.
“M-Mom! This is— it’s amazing, but— how did you even get this?”
She was trembling, eyes stinging. It was so precious she couldn’t imagine giving it back.
But part of her worried — had Seo Hoyun been bothered if someone asked for his autograph during such a hectic schedule?
“Well, while I was helping clean up in the back, that boy — Seo Hoyun, right? — came up to me. Asked if the person I was with was family, and if maybe they were a fan of The Dawn. Then he handed me this and left.”
“...Wow, holy sh—”
“Watch your mouth. Anyway, he said he was sorry he couldn’t give it to you directly.”
Even her mother, usually stingy with compliments, said, “He seems like such a nice, polite kid.”
Normally she would’ve argued, but today, the high schooler couldn’t disagree.
‘Seo Hoyun... is he an angel?’
She gently opened the album, stroking the cover. Inside was a handwritten message.
Your strong voice is wonderful~^^
—Blackie
“AAAH!!!!”
“What’s wrong with you?!”
Reading the cheeky note, she realized something once more — Seo Hoyun was, as always, exactly Seo Hoyun.
.
.
.
At that same moment, a new teaser was uploaded to The Dawn’s YouTube channel.
【You pull me like gravity】
Only Sung Jiwon’s clear voice echoed as Seo Hoyun appeared on screen, wearing shorts and wired earphones. Droplets slid down the line of his jaw, falling from his slightly damp hair as if he’d just come out of the shower.
He walked toward a spaceship’s dome-shaped window, where the reflection of his home — Earth — shone in his eyes.
【Between disaster and miracle,
We’re standing hand in hand.】
The full-length album Aeronautics.
Title track: Flight.
Their comeback — nine months in the making.
