Chapter 1202: Soaring (2)

King Sejong Station, Antarctica.

With NewBlack gone and daily life restored, the researchers looked around the now-deserted station.

"The place is so quiet~"

"It was always like this. The last few days were the unusual part."

"It feels strange now that it’s suddenly quiet again. It was fun while they were here……."

The scientists chatted over their meal as they looked around the silent cafeteria.

It felt like an impossibly long time ago that the stars known as the nation’s idols had cooked and sung for them right here only a few days earlier.

No.

Rather than something from long ago, perhaps it felt more like something too unreal to believe had actually happened.

"Hm?!"

Just then, a scream came from somewhere nearby.

The scientists turned to see Dr. Jung Sooyeon, the station’s sole Souffle, spring to her feet.

"What’s wrong?"

"N-NewBlack is coming back to Antarctica!"

"?!"

Everyone hurriedly picked up their phones.

"I-it’s true?"

NewBlack’s name was displayed in the international section of the portal news.

-NewBlack to Become UN Antarctic Environmental Ambassadors… Lemon Entertainment Says, "Under Careful Review"

Apparently, NewBlack would be serving as ambassadors for an environmental campaign affiliated with the UN.

The researchers cheered.

"That’s great!"

"Wonderful. If the UN runs a campaign like this, they’ll gain even more recognition overseas."

"The timing couldn’t be better~"

Someone read the article aloud.

"Let’s see. ‘The environmental campaign currently being planned will include visits to various regions of the polar territories…….’"

"Sounds like they’ll be going farther inland. It’ll be freezing."

They pictured NewBlack.

The members would be huddled together in fur hats, trembling like penguins and screaming, "Aaaaaah!"

"Still, becoming UN ambassadors is a huge deal."

"Of course."

Considering how many Hollywood stars wanted to speak in connection with international organizations such as the UN and deliver speeches on their platforms, it seemed like a good opportunity even if it would be somewhat difficult.

It would be particularly beneficial for NewBlack’s image.

It’s an opportunity to attract attention on the global stage.

It’s time for them to demonstrate an artist’s positive influence and elevate their image beyond that of ordinary singers.

The scientists pondered what would be best for the nation’s idols’ careers like uncles worrying over their nephews.

"But why did NewBlack become Antarctic ambassadors?"

"Hm?"

"Was there any particular reason?"

Until now, NewBlack’s only connections to Antarctica had been the penguin-costume event in Myeongdong and Newniverse’s ratings pledge.

Yet they had suddenly been selected for an Antarctic environmental campaign.

The researchers nodded.

"The causal connection isn’t exactly clear."

"Why them?"

It did not take long to find the answer.

Clues appeared in articles about NewBlack posted on foreign news websites such as CNN and the BBC.

"‘NewBlack recently engaged in an in-depth discussion with Antarctic scientists through their livestream…’ Ah……!"

"Ahhh!"

"Oh, that’s it."

Only then did they understand.

After the meal, NewBlack had held a mini concert and joined the scientists in encouraging interest in Antarctica.

Apparently, the response had been enormous, with countless posts appearing on Twitter at the time.

It made sense why various environmental groups, including international organizations, had taken an interest in NewBlack.

"NewBlack must be pretty bewildered too. Imagine reaching Korea only to be told to go back to Antarctica."

"I bet they all look ready to cry right now."

"Hahaha!"

Everyone burst out laughing as they recalled the personalities NewBlack had thoroughly demonstrated over the last few days.

"But isn’t it our fault they have to come back to Antarctica? Because we insisted on joining their livestream……."

"……."

"……."

Everyone stared off into the distance.

It almost felt as though they could hear someone screaming from somewhere, "Aaaaaah! Everyone! I’m going to curse you…!"

The members of King Sejong Station smiled coolly.

Still, they get to work with the UN because of us.

Take another leap onto the world stage, NewBlack! Kyararak!

The laughter they burst into sounded astonishingly similar to the nation’s idols.

We decided to accept the collaboration with the UN with gratitude.

"It’s a rare opportunity."

"Right, right."

"Deputy General Manager Hong Seoyoung said that after the UN news broke, our positive image in the United States improved dramatically."

"Right, right."

The composers on the producing team patted us on the shoulders.

"First of all, stop crying."

"We’re not crying."

"All of your eyes are glistening."

The composers held up their phones like mirrors.

Our eyes really were damp.

"I guess I’ve gotten more emotional with age."

"How old are you, Wooju?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Hiss!!"

The composers who were approaching or had already passed forty flew into a rage.

After calming the hostile public sentiment, we gathered around a table in the producing team’s office.

"By the way, how is Jihyuk doing? Are his lessons going well?"

When I brought up the promising trainee who was receiving lessons from both me and the producing team, everyone offered an opinion.

"He learns faster than I expected."

"It isn’t just his speed. The kid himself is genuinely impressive. I’ve never seen anyone work that hard to learn. He makes you want to teach him."

"He has talent for arranging too."

I nodded at Hyungseop, my friend of the same age, and smiled with satisfaction.

"Please take good care of him. Jihyuk will probably become the central member of the debut team."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Saltman bowed deeply and began acting out a historical drama.

"We shall serve His Highness the Crown Prince with the utmost devotion, Your Majesty."

"Your words put my mind at ease. Today, I permit you to purchase sirloin with my card."

"Your grace is immeasurable."

The producing team cheered, "Yeah!" at the promise of a meat dinner, while composer Yoo Woong asked a question.

"So, is the new song finished?"

"Almost."

I immediately played the song I had made this time, tentatively titled .

Everyone reacted similarly.

"Uh……."

Team Leader Na Sangyoon raised a hand and rubbed his temple.

"This won’t be easy."

"What?"

"I listened while imagining I was a singer competing against you. Now that I’ve heard it, I feel dizzy."

We burst out laughing, and the composers each offered their thoughts.

"You really nailed the song again."

"It genuinely brings back memories of school."

"Once this comes out, there’ll probably be another wave of fresh, youthful concepts among idols for a while… When are you planning to release it?"

Ri Hyuk answered for me.

"We’re thinking sometime between April and June. It feels like a song that would suit warm spring or summer weather."

"That timing does make sense."

"We may be releasing a project single in March."

"Ah."

One of the composers asked.

"Lemon Aid?"

"Yes."

We were tentatively planning to hold Lemon Entertainment and its subsidiary labels’ joint concert, , around the end of March.

It would be a special concert featuring every artist, including NewBlack, Scarlet, Street Boys, and Daylight.

"We haven’t discussed anything in detail yet, but there was talk before about doing a joint performance. If we have enough time, I think making a group song could be a good idea too."

"Sounds good. Let us know once it’s confirmed."

"We will."

After discussing that and the song submissions for the new album, we rose from our seats.

"Oh, right."

I called out to Team Leader Na Sangyoon.

"Team Leader."

"Yeah?"

"Have you finished packing for the flight?"

"Yeah…."

The composers cheered when Na Sangyoon smiled shyly.

"Our team leader is going to the Grammys!"

"The Grammys!"

Everyone patted Na Sangyoon on the back and shoulders as though they were already popping champagne.

Since had been nominated for a Grammy, Na Sangyoon, who had worked on the song as its producer, would be going with us.

In particular, one of the categories in which it had been nominated, Record of the Year, was awarded jointly to the composers, lyricists, and producers.

"……I still can’t believe it."

"It feels incredible, doesn’t it? That we’re actually going to the Grammys."

"It does. Life really is impossible to predict."

While Na Sangyoon still looked dazed, I held out my card.

"Ah, when you go to dinner today, use this…."

"Aaah!!"

The composers waved their hands frantically.

Jiho asked.

"Huh? What’s wrong with everyone?"

"We’ve had enough free dinners now, guys."

"…?"

"We’ve reached the point where our consciences won’t let us keep eating free beef… Hehehehe."

The composers laughed sinisterly and thrust their phones toward us.

"We became full members of the Korea Music Copyright Association this time. Wooju, that means we’re full members just like you now."

"Ooh."

The list released by the copyright association contained many of the composers from our producing team.

The difference between associate and full membership was income.

Every year, the copyright association selected some of the associate members who had earned the highest royalties and promoted them to full membership. It appeared that many of our composers had been promoted this time.

We smiled and congratulated them.

"Congratulations!"

"It’s all thanks to you. Who else would have made us full members?"

As we and the composers exchanged credit with one another, Na Sangyoon waved his hands.

"That’s enough, everyone. I’m buying the meat tonight. The Grammy nominee should pay."

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

Na Sangyoon wrapped his arms around our shoulders.

"You guys should come too."

"Us too?"

"You must have enough time to eat some meat. I’ll treat you."

"Well……."

"What? You don’t feel like eating meat?"

"No, it isn’t that."

We asked cautiously.

"Are you sure? Even with us there?"

"It’s fine. Eat as much as you want."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

A benevolent smile spread across Na Sangyoon’s characteristically gaunt face.

That was the last smile of his I remembered.

A meeting about the new song.

A meeting about the new Newniverse project.

A meeting about Lemon Aid.

Meetings, meetings, meetings….

After finishing countless meetings immediately upon returning from Antarctica, we dragged our exhausted bodies back to the airport.

-NewBlack’s Wooju to Attend Grammys… Considered "Likely" to Win Major Grammy Award

It was because of the awards ceremonies that the press was putting so much pressure on us over.

The Grammys and the Academy Awards.

We boarded a flight to the United States to attend what were respectively considered the greatest awards ceremonies in the music and film industries.

On top of that, Jiho and I had film shoots scheduled.

As for Biju….

"I’m planning to meet some dancers in Los Angeles. Several dancers from Clay Tyler Studio applied."

"Ah, those people? They were incredibly good."

"Right? Los Angeles definitely seems to have that tendency. It feels like the best dancers from all over the world gather there."

Apparently, Biju needed to travel around Los Angeles to recruit global crew members for VCS.

Meanwhile, Junghyun and Ri Hyuk spoke.

"Hehe. I don’t have any schedules."

"I’m going to see Yein and my mom. I still feel bad that I only saw them through a video message last time…."

We nodded when Ri Hyuk said he planned to visit his younger sister, who was attending university in the United States, and his mother.

Ri Hyuk asked me.

"What about you, hyung?"

"Grandma’s on her way."

I spoke while trying to calm my trembling heart.

Today’s flight would be different from usual.

There would be several guests, including Team Leader Na Sangyoon and his family, but one of them was more special than all the rest.

-Do… do I really have to go?

-Yes, Grandma.

The Academy Awards had a plus-one rule.

Nominees attending the ceremony were allowed to bring a family member, friend, or romantic partner with them.

That meant there had never been any question about whom I would bring.

My only family.

But bringing that family member was not easy.

-Oh, goodness. Me….

It had not been easy to persuade Grandma when she hesitated throughout our entire phone call.

She was afraid of airplanes too.

-All right. …Let’s go.

She had finally agreed, but I could imagine how nervous she must have been.

I had felt the same way the first time I boarded a plane.

Feeling myself grow even more nervous for no reason, I stepped out of the car and entered the lobby of the airport business center.

There stood the face I had missed for months.

Grandma wore stylish sunglasses over a thick coat.

"Grandmaaaaaaa!"

"You’re here."

I swept Madam Kim Deoksun, who was much shorter than me, into my arms and rocked her from side to side.

"How was the drive?"

"There wasn’t any traffic at all. I wanted to leave nice and late, but…."

At that moment, my underlings, who had been waiting behind me, rushed toward Grandma as well.

"Grandma!"

"Have you been well?!"

"My goodness, it’s been a while for all of you too. Let me see. Ri Hyuk, you’ve lost weight again."

I could only look aggrieved when Grandma scolded me to make sure the boy ate properly.

Biju greeted her demurely with a shy expression.

"Hello, Grandma."

Grandma smiled warmly and took Biju’s hand.

"My goodness, our lovely Biju."

"Hehe."

Why did my grandmother love Biju the most out of all the members?

"Grandmaaaaaa! It’s me!"

"My goodness, you’re driving me crazy with all that noise!"

"Hug me toooo!"

…Then again, I could probably guess.

After sharing warm family affection for the first time in ages, I took Grandma’s luggage.

"What about Nabi?"

"I left her with Sookja. I told her I was going away, but that little thing wouldn’t even look at me. She was too busy having fun……."

We continued talking as I matched Madam Kim Deoksun’s pace.

As we walked toward the boarding gate, I felt Grandma’s steps gradually slowing.

Like a child who had reached the entrance of a hospital.

"Should we wait for a little while?"

"……."

Grandma hesitated in front of the boarding gate.

Strictly speaking, the fear of airplanes that Grandma and I shared was not a fear of the aircraft itself.

It was not as though merely looking at a plane made us nauseated. It was the fear of boarding one and taking off. The worry that something might go wrong during the flight.

Some people tried to reassure others by saying that the chances of an airplane crash were lower than the chances of being struck by lightning.

But those words meant nothing to someone who had lost family in a plane crash.

Because it really had happened.

"Grandma."

Her wrinkled eyes turned toward me.

"It’s truly fine, so tell me even now if you don’t think you can board. You might have thought you would be all right before coming, only to realize you can’t do it once you’re standing in front of the plane. I really won’t mind."

"Is that so……."

"Yes."

Grandma stood before the aircraft door for a long time, looking at the two sides divided by the threshold.

I took her hand.

"But if you do decide to board, I’ll keep holding your hand the entire time."

"……."

I could feel the conflict and anguish in her trembling fingertips.

Madam Kim Deoksun kept her eyes closed for a long time before taking a deep breath.

"All right. Let’s go."

"Okay."

"Myeongeun and your father are receiving an award. An old woman can’t miss it just because she’s afraid of an airplane."

Holding Grandma’s hand, I carefully led her onto the aircraft.

The uniformed captain greeted her.

"Hello, ma’am. I’m the pilot who will take you safely to Los Angeles today. Let me introduce you to the aircraft."

Just as someone had done when I first boarded a private plane, the captain explained several aspects of the aircraft’s safety.

Grandma did not seem to understand all of it, but she looked slightly reassured.

After escorting her to her seat—

"H-how do I fasten this thing?"

"One moment."

Grandma tried to buckle her seat belt, and I raised the hand I was holding.

"Grandma. I need this hand for a second."

"Ah."

She looked too flustered to manage it, so I fastened her seat belt for her and then took her hand again.

Her hand was hot and damp.

[Good morning, passengers.]

The captain’s announcement came over the speakers as the aircraft’s massive body began moving with the roar of its engines.

Flinch.

Grandma’s grip tightened sharply around my hand.

Vroooooom—

As the plane entered the runway, I felt as though I could hear Grandma’s heartbeat.

A fierce, pounding rhythm.

Whoooooosh—

The aircraft accelerated, and the hand clutching mine squeezed even harder.

Her grip, strengthened by a lifetime of running a restaurant, was powerful enough to make my hand cramp, but Grandma only sat beside me with her eyes tightly shut.

Then the plane lifted into the air.

"Grandma. We’ve taken off."

"…Have we?"

"They say takeoff and landing are the hardest parts. It’s okay now. The plane is flying smoothly."

"……."

"Would you like some water?"

I handed her the bottle of water Ri Hyuk passed me, and Madam Kim Deoksun wet her throat.

Her face looked strangely blank.

Just then, Jiho leaned forward from the seat behind us and tapped us.

"Grandma, look out the window."

"What’s outside…."

Madam Kim Deoksun could not finish her sentence.

Instead, her small eyes widened as she stared outside.

The blue sky.

White clouds spread beneath the airplane’s wing.

"……."

What was Grandma feeling right now?

What did the sky look like to someone who had spent nearly seventy years on the ground since being born in Gunsan?

[Passengers, our aircraft has completed takeoff safely and is now en route to Los Angeles. Today’s weather conditions are….]

As the captain’s announcement continued, I leaned toward Grandma.

"What do you think, Grandma?"

"I…."

A girlish smile blossomed across Grandma’s reflection in the airplane window.

"It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life…."

But to me, Grandma’s smile looked even prettier.