Chapter 892: You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you? (21)

The reason we chose “Firework” as the opening song was simple.

There was no better track to showcase how much we had improved.

We had promoted “Firework” twice.

Once during our debut in 2014, and again in 2016 when it climbed back up the charts through the hit variety show Mister Producer.

Which meant it was the perfect song to show how much we had grown between 2014, 2016, and now in 2018.

‘What do you think. We’re better now, right?’

It was a bit cheeky, but more than anything, we wanted to show Souffle just how hard we had worked.

The singers you raised with your money and love.

We practice like oxen!

Paaang—!

As the fans sang the final chorus together, fireworks shot up into the sky one after another.

A dazzling display.

The Souffle in the first floor seats had stopped waving their lightsticks, staring up at the sky instead.

“So pretty...”

“Waaaaaah!”

After the heated atmosphere carried through another track from the debut album—

While we drank water to wet our throats, the youngest shouted first.

– Hellooooo!

The crowd roared back.

He pointed at the audience.

– Wow... how many people even is this? One, two... even if I count one per second, it’d take an hour.

– If you count one per second, it’d °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° take almost 12 hours.

– Wow. You heard Ri Hyuk hyung, right? That’s how amazing you all are.

The audience burst into laughter.

Seeing the youngest getting carried away, I cut him off.

– Hey. Greetings first.

– Ah. Right.

– Since Jiho started talking first, let’s go from the youngest.

Jiho waved both hands.

– Hello, everyone!!! I’m NewBlack’s cute youngest who has now grown into a cool man—

Laughter exploded.

– ...who wants to grow into one! I’m Wang Jiho! Nice to meet you!

Our youngest was seriously hyped today.

Actually, it wasn’t just him.

Ri Hyuk was visibly excited, and Junghyun looked like he might start bouncing in place.

There was no way we wouldn’t be excited.

“Wow...”

Every time we spoke, the lightsticks rippled in each member’s color.

Junghyun’s eyes sparkled.

– Wow. It feels like I’m standing on a lawn. Green is the best.

As he smiled at the green ocean—

The crowd shifted to gold as Biju introduced himself, then gradually turned purple.

“Hello, everyone! I’m Wooju.”

He waved energetically.

“First time at the main stadium, right?”

– YEEES!

“To be honest, I didn’t really think the stadium was that big. After rehearsing for a few days, you get used to it. And an empty stadium doesn’t actually feel that large.”

But now—

Everywhere I looked was filled with people.

This massive stadium, at this moment, belonged to us and Souffle.

“But now that you’re here... it looks huge. It’s honestly such an incredible sight... can we get a drone shot again?”

A drone rose into the sky, capturing the entire stadium.

The Han River stretched in the distance.

A breathtaking view.

“You really have to see this from here. You don’t realize how amazing you all look...”

“YOU LOOK BETTER!”

Someone screamed, and laughter followed.

I thanked them and stepped onto the extended stage.

“Since we met again after last year’s Sangam concert... if anyone came expecting guests like Haley Blue, Glenn Davis, or Broadway actors...”

A ripple of anticipation.

“They’re not coming.”

A pause.

We said it in advance, just in case.

To build a different kind of expectation.

“But we do have special guests today.”

– Please look forward to it!

– They’re really incredible!

After sharing a few thoughts about performing at the main stadium—

There wasn’t much else to say.

‘It’s the main stadium.’

‘Exactly.’

After briefly speaking—

“Just like we started our world tour at Gocheok Dome last year, today marks the beginning of our new world tour. And for this first concert, we’ve prepared some truly amazing stages.”

This concert would follow our journey from debut to now, in chronological order.

After explaining that—

I smiled.

“No need for long speeches, right?”

Then—

“Let’s have fun today.”

A thunderous roar marked the true beginning of the concert.

Souffle screamed and jumped.

‘This concert is insane.’

‘Even if today were the last day, I’d be satisfied.’

The stage composition was truly crazy.

Last year’s encore recreated 2017.

This time, it recreated everything from debut until now.

[Hello everyone! This is Jang Sowon!]

Jang Sowon appeared and performed a duet with Ri Hyuk.

Then—

“Night Sea,” filled with childhood nostalgia, washed over the audience through Wooju and Ri Hyuk’s harmony.

Then the youngest said—

[This time it’s my song. Please cheer louder than for my hyungs.]

Souffle laughed.

[At least beat Ri Hyuk hyung’s volume!]

Then—

A ridiculous vocal showdown happened.

And Ri Hyuk absolutely crushed it.

[Hehe. Is that all you’ve got?]

‘So unfair.’

‘A pro bullying amateurs...’

After laughter—

The legendary rookie award stage was recreated in the same outfits.

Souffle burst into tears.

‘Jiho...!’

‘He’s grown up...!’

Back then, as a minor, he couldn’t fully pull off a fatal charm.

Now—

He radiated it.

And then—

The dancers from “Wind Flower” staggered offstage, exhausted.

Biju’s performance followed.

His solo stage was mesmerizing—

Flowing ribbons attached to his costume fluttered like butterflies.

‘So that’s Flower Dance...’

A stage like spring itself.

Then came “Nine.”

Still sounding fresh.

‘This song is insane.’

Then—

Sweet Potato appeared.

The audience cheered.

Meanwhile, some casual attendees stood frozen.

‘Wait... am I a Souffle?’

They realized—

They knew all the songs.

Everywhere they looked—

They had already been part of NewBlack.

Then—

Special guest stages began.

Veteran singer Noh Jaehyun.

Top ballad singer Cha Woohyun.

And—

[Hello! This is Kyeon Seonghwa!]

The lineup—

It wasn’t random.

It was the same artists from the Olympic closing ceremony.

Then—

NewBlack returned in black suits.

‘The Olympic finale!’

The EDM ending was recreated.

The crowd went wild.

People danced.

Even the audience got tired before the performers.

After the stage—

“METRO” started.

Everyone stood again.

Then—

Finally—

‘It’s time.’

The new song.

“White Night.”

The VCR played.

Comic-style scenes appeared.

Then—

A punk rock guitar riff.

‘Whoa...’

NewBlack rose on lifts.

Villain concept outfits.

Biju stepped forward.

“Hello. It’s me.”

His voice was seductive.

Wooju followed—

“Even if you close your eyes...”

Junghyun rapped—

“There are times you need darkness... like now.”

The song spoke of insomnia.

Of pressure.

Of endless light.

A world where night never came.

Then Jiho—

“So once again... hello, it’s me.”

Ambiguous.

A message to oneself.

Then—

The chorus.

“Cause you’re a villain—”

Gunshot choreography toward the sky.

Like shooting down the sun.

Creating night.

The crowd roared.

The energy exploded.

‘They’re so beautiful.’

Pink-haired Wooju.

Black-haired Jiho.

Red-haired Ri Hyuk.

Everything was perfect.

And most of all—

‘This is fun!’

The crowd jumped.

Sang.

Shouted.

“Cause we’re villains—!”

By the end—

The stage went dark.

But the excitement didn’t.

Soon—

The screen lit up again.

Sweaty members drinking water.

Wooju smiled.

[How was White Night?]

Cheers answered.

[Do you like it?]

“Yes!”

[We arranged the concert chronologically partly to show this song better. An album is like a snapshot of that time.]

Souffle understood.

[This song... was written during a time we couldn’t sleep because of pressure.]

[We wanted to tell ourselves—it’s okay. Even if we fall, we can try again.]

That was why—

Villains.

Not defeated—

But always returning.

[While the others rest, I’ll sing you something.]

Wooju smiled gently.

[In Korean, it means a lullaby. The song is called Lullaby.]