“Haah....”
Newton’s leader, Nam Jeongho, had been sighing ever since he first heard the news.
<Radio: Three O’Clock Mitchell Time>
Guests: NEWTØNE (Jeongho, Eden, Hyeonsol, Liam, Yusang—five members), Gowon
The host was Mitchell, a member of Edelweiss under Division Five and one of K-Dom’s most senior artists.
Jeongho had been trying not to run into Gowon at the company for a while, only for them to end up appearing on the same radio show.
It was obvious what kind of dynamic the program hoped to create by inviting Newton and Gowon, artists from the same agency who had debuted around the same time.
That’s exactly why this is a problem....
Newton had debuted at a bad time.
Idols, traditional-pop singers, bands, even dancers. Just when everyone thought the audition-show trend had been milked so dry that not a single drop remained, <Debut Chart! 100> appeared and set off one final firework.
One of its central figures was Gowon, the first-place winner who had written a new underdog legend. The other highly ranked trainees had also reignited the fever of public voting, almost as though reviving the nostalgia of audition shows at their peak.
Naturally, the music industry during the broadcast period—especially the male-idol market—had been left groaning in agony.
Since Newton had debuted under the major agency K-Dom, they had survived better than most. But no one could deny that they had been unlucky.
“ was supposed to be your song. Do you think he’s the only person who’s ever had a song reassigned inside a big company?”
Executive Director Choi had said that after gathering Newton together.
“Now that we’re talking about it, you debuted last year, so you’re the more urgent priority. Gowon could have trained a little longer. It wouldn’t have hurt him.”
Newton still had no signature song that had truly imprinted itself on the public. Executive Director Choi’s words had been carefully calculated to target that insecurity and drive a wedge between them.
“Anyway, there’s a limit to how much investment money the company can spend. In the end, Gowon fought tooth and nail to keep the song, and he produced results with it. That means you have no choice but to get noticed some other way. No matter what. Only then will the company increase support for your albums too. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“Division Five has made enemies in several places because of this incident, so don’t get yourselves lumped in with them and fall out of favor.”
That last warning had sounded almost as though he were wary of them befriending Gowon simply because they were close in age.
Executive Director Choi’s argument fell apart with even a little thought, but it had been more than enough to shake the desperate members.
Some of them even seemed to feel genuinely wronged. Hadn’t they reacted with open hostility the moment they encountered Gowon in the practice room?
...Still, it looks like they’re working harder because they don’t want to lose to Gowon....
It should be fine if the situation continued a little longer.
Jeongho’s own feelings toward Gowon were complicated.
Of course he felt jealous of someone who had appeared out of nowhere and made a spectacular debut under the halo of Young Ace, the most distinguished seniors imaginable.
But.
That star quality... is real too.
Gowon—that man—had, unfortunately, been born with the talent to become an idol.
Even if Jeongho himself had competed on , he could not say with confidence that he would have defeated Gowon and won.
“I should’ve just gone on a survival show too. He’s got it way easier.”
As though he had read Jeongho’s thoughts, the youngest member, Yusang, spoke up.
Jeongho swallowed another sigh at the brazen confidence of the group’s center.
“Yusang. You know you can’t say things like that outside, right? Watch your mouth. You don’t need to act friendly with him. Just be formally polite. Understood? You need to choose your words carefully.”
“...Yeah, I get it.”
“Still, if you don’t want to talk to him... I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
It would probably be best if Jeongho took the lead during today’s conversation.
Mitchell, the DJ, sat in the main seat at the radio table. Across from her, in the positions most visible to the camera, sat Newton’s popular member Yusang and Gowon, who had come alone. Newton’s other members filled the side seats.
At last, the opening began.
“Wow! Is this Mitchell Time or Senior Time today? Goodness, what is happening in this studio? Three O’Clock Mitchell Time with Newton and Gowon. Part One begins now. Welcome!”
“Woo!”
The Newton members cheered, while Gowon merely applauded with a faint, nervous smile.
“It is so, so good to have you here. Please introduce yourselves. Newton first.”
“Yes! One, two, three. Tuning the stage. Hello, we are Newton.”
“Wow, so energetic. Our other junior can’t afford to lose, can he?”
“Hello. I’m Gowon.”
As Gowon lifted his head from a deep bow, his forehead bumped lightly against the microphone. Looking embarrassed, he added one more sentence.
“...Thank you for having me.”
“You don’t have a slogan because you’re a soloist, right?”
“Yes... that’s right.”
“True. It would be a little embarrassing to do one alone. I didn’t say, ‘Blooming—Edelweiss!’ when I was promoting solo either. Although saying it now is embarrassing too. What about our leader, Jeongho? Do you think you could perform your slogan alone?”
Jeongho was slightly startled to have the microphone turned on him so early, but like a proper leader, he quickly refined the response he needed to give.
“Tuning the stage! Hello, I’m Jeongho of Newton....”
He immediately covered his burning face with the back of his hand. The host burst out laughing at the sight.
“That is so cute. Young blood really is energetic. You did great!”
“You’re the best!”
Jeongho’s fresh embarrassment and the members’ enthusiastic reactions combined to create a heartwarming scene that naturally invited smiles.
“Listeners, from this moment onward, send us everything you want to ask our juniors and everything you want to say to them. Where should they send their messages, Gowon?”
The senior host gave him an equal opportunity to receive attention. Gowon flinched, then lowered his gaze to the teleprompter in front of him.
“Send them to #1XX4. Short messages cost fifty won, long messages cost one hundred won, and the message board is free. ...In that case, I recommend using the free message board.”
“Wow, Gowon. You’re incredibly thrifty. Everyone, that last line was not in the script. Oh, Listener 1357 just sent, ‘This rookie is so unpredictable. He’s adorable.’”
“Ah, thank you....”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what else you do today. First, let’s hear what our guests have been up to.”
The first scripted question began. Yusang, Newton’s youngest member, delivered the line he had prepared.
“Yes. Newton successfully completed our first fan concert. We prepared performances not only for the title track but for many of the album tracks as well, and it was a meaningful opportunity to communicate closely with our fans.”
“Goodness, that must have been so much fun. But I hear you have something to boast about.”
“We sold out both days! Then they added a Friday performance, and that sold out too!”
Hyeonsol shoved his face in front of Yusang’s and shouted the answer. Gowon had received praise for improvising, so apparently he wanted to try the same thing. Mitchell briefly raised an eyebrow, then responded with practiced ease.
“Congratulations! Was there a particular moment that stayed with you?”
“Near the end of the concert, we gave a spoiler about our comeback. When we heard the fans screaming....”
Newton’s interview continued for a while, and Gowon remained seated, listening attentively. Mitchell changed the subject at an appropriate moment.
“Thank you for telling us. Then what has Gowon been doing lately?”
“I safely completed promotions for my debut album last week. Every moment I spent onstage felt like a dream.”
“Oh, you sound so much like a rookie.... The timing is a little late, but I’ll give you a brief opportunity to promote your album.”
Gowon hesitated for a moment, then smoothly recited his answer.
“My debut single is , which shares my name. Of the two title tracks, <Unlimited(∞)> was written and produced by Senior Hanzel.”
“Wow, so it was a Hanzel song. Hanje really hasn’t lost his touch. Incredible. It isn’t easy to keep producing sophisticated songs that suit the times for more than ten years.”
At the mention of Young Ace, who had shared all their hardships and triumphs with her, Mitchell’s interest naturally shifted in that direction.
Anxiety entered Nam Jeongho’s eyes. He did not mind the topic changing, but it would be troublesome if Gowon’s share of airtime increased.
“Oh, speaking of Senior Hanzel, I remembered something! Is it true that during K-Dom’s early days, the CEO gave the stage names Hanzel and Mitchell to the best male and female vocal trainees because he said they had heavenly voices?”
“What? Goodness. Where did you hear that? Wow, I haven’t heard ‘Hanzel and Mitchell’ in ages.”
Mitchell laughed as though horrified and pretended to rub goosebumps from both arms.
“Both of you did become the main vocalists of your respective groups.”
“Oh, my face is burning from talking about ancient history. On that note, let’s freshen up the mood again and hurry into today’s first song. The fans have been requesting it passionately, so let’s listen to Newton’s !”
While the song played on the radio, Mitchell, still unable to contain her laughter, quietly spoke to Jeongho.
“But did you know? Hanje... Hanzel isn’t Young Ace’s main vocalist.”
“What? Really? Senior Hanzel?”
Jeongho’s eyes widened. Some of the reaction was exaggerated to show enthusiasm toward a distinguished senior, but considering Hanzel’s vocal ability, it genuinely seemed strange.
“Originally, Hanzel and Yunjin shared the main-vocal role. But when Hanje was around seventeen, he must have heard something strange somewhere, because he suddenly insisted that a producer-member shouldn’t hold a main position and that Jin should be the permanent main vocalist.”
“Wow... Why would he do that?”
“Exactly. Everyone at the company gathered around and tried to comfort our youngest member, asking whether something had happened, but he just said it was his instinct. Even Jin told him he could keep the position, but Hanje practically threw himself on the floor and refused to budge. In the end, he handed over the main-vocal title and even made a surprise announcement to the fans. ‘I am Young Ace’s producer, and Young Ace’s main vocalist is Yunjin!’ Isn’t that a funny story?”
Mitchell had clearly begun speaking while looking at Jeongho, but her gaze gradually shifted toward Gowon.
And it was understandable.
Jeongho appeared interested, but ultimately his reactions were formal. Gowon, on the other hand, was so completely absorbed in the story that even a child encountering media for the first time would not have stared with such wide eyes.
“The song’s almost over. Let’s return to the conversation. ...Yes, that was wonderful!”
Mitchell smoothly wrapped up the brief off-air discussion and continued with the next segment.
“Listener 7890 sent this in. ‘Newton and Gowon, the new generation of K-Dom, home of legendary boy groups. What were your first impressions of each other?’ Oh, first impressions. What did everyone think?”
Gowon and Newton had met exactly once.
It had happened only recently in a company practice room, and the encounter had lasted no more than a few minutes.
Gowon’s gaze met Yusang’s. When Yusang frowned and started to open his mouth, Jeongho hurriedly spoke first.
“We haven’t actually met at the company yet. As for my first impression... well... I saw him on a certain audition program, and I thought he was very impressive.”
“Oh, so you’ve had no personal contact at all?”
“No. We’re in different divisions too.... I was already disappointed that we hadn’t had a chance to greet each other.”
Good. For now, at least.
He had stopped either Yusang or Gowon from saying anything ridiculous.
Just as he finally began to relax, the message board, which had been scrolling at a moderate pace, suddenly accelerated.
Negative messages began appearing at the same time.
Even if you’re in different divisions, isn’t it all the same building? How can he not even greet his seniors?
Oh, did Gowon only suck up to Young Ace while ignoring everyone else? LOL.
Jeongho, don’t say things like that. It only makes you look badㅠㅠ It’s not like you’re deliberately trying to screw him over, but who even obsesses over formal greetings in 202X?
“No, that isn’t what I meant. I think I expressed myself badly. I meant that I wanted to become friends with him. Gowon, I’m sorry.”
“...It’s all right.”
A moment later, an instruction appeared on the teleprompter.
DO NOT REACT TOO STRONGLY TO THE MESSAGES.
Only then did Nam Jeongho abruptly come to his senses. He tried to make his voice sound as calm as possible as he asked,
“Gowon, what was your first impression of us? I’m nervous even asking, but please be completely honest!”
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