[Ah fuck, are they insane???] [He seriously refused to dye his hair for three years straight and now he finally did it, thank you thank you thank you so much Hoyun, I’m losing my mind] [He’s really 1st-tier material] Just one concept photo had dropped, and instantly Seo Hoyun’s name shot up into the trending searches. SNS and anonymous communities refreshed into new posts every second. Noeul teared up as she typed her friend a message. [Me: Who wants to drink] [Me: Hoyun dyed his hair] [Fan friend: Ah fuck yes let’s go] They rushed to meet up and spent ages screaming about his hair. Fans could spend all day talking about a single concept photo. “But don’t you think reactions to The Dawn feel weird lately? I don’t get why people are hating so much.” In the past, when comeback news dropped, the Noeuls would dominate discussions, joined by a few hardcore K-pop fans. But lately, it felt like everyone had their eyes on The Dawn. On the surface, some greeted them warmly while most ignored them. But in the communities, the sabotage was insane. “This feels... like when Black Call first started rising.” “Yeah. Ah... you weren’t that into idols back then.” For Noeul, The Dawn was the first idol group she had ever liked, just like she’d written in her letter to Seo Hoyun. She didn’t know how the industry worked. Black Call had broken records immediately after debut, their preorder numbers skyrocketing every comeback, securing their spot in 1st tier almost overnight. Her veteran fan friend patted her shoulder and showed her some posts. [Title: The Dawn, 1st tier? lol Just because their preorders sold a little, look at them deluding themselves with happy theories lol This generation’s album inflation is insane anyway. └ Hey... does that look like “a little” to you? └└ Fans fainted when they saw those preorder numbers... └ Isn’t this all media play? We’ll see when the first week sales come in. Noeuls always do the same delusions, kind of pitiful lol. └└ Hey... have you seen their YouTube views? └ Comparing The Dawn’s preorders to other groups coming back, it’s not even inflation... └ Even the fans are shocked right now. These nitpicking posts just prove they’re popular :) Thanks~!] Well, it was true—the preorder numbers for this full album were jaw-dropping. Her friend spoke with excitement. “When people start fighting over preorder numbers? That’s the beginning.” “Wait. Now that I think about it, even kids at my academy are talking about them.” “For real? No wonder, look at this post.” He showed her another thread. [Title: What’s happening this time Where are all these new fans coming from;; Thought the market already maxed out the K-pop veteran influx... Where are they appearing from? └ People are saying it’s rising among the school kids lately. └└ Seo Hoyun and Kang Ichae are insanely popular with all ages. └└ Especially among high school girls, Sung Jiwon and Jung Dajun... they’re the cute healing types. Crazy third-years are into Kim Sunghyun... └└ Ah fuck lol I get why high school seniors like Sunghyun lolololol └└ Lololol because he looks like the type who’d be the perfect supportive husband, plus he’s got the body.... ^^] Seeing posts about their popularity across age groups—not just hardcore fans or old stans—lifted her mood from rock-bottom. After chatting for a long time, she happily went home. At 1 PM, The Dawn’s full album music video dropped. That night, Noeul and her friends rented a small place nearby to watch together. Since she was a cram school teacher and couldn’t rest easily, her friends arranged it. They’d all already sneak-watched it once—at work, in bathrooms, hiding from their bosses—but they hadn’t gotten to really enjoy it. “Fuck!! Why am I shaking when I already watched this?!” “Hey hey hey, can we vlog this?” “Do it, do it! Ah! Turn off the Arabic subs, that pisses me off, hurry!” One friend started filming on their phone, calling it a “Noeul-log,” and hit play. ‘God, I’m nervous....’ The video opened on a baroque palace, gold walls shadowed in darkness. The members crouched together, shadows blending into a single mass. “This set looks expensive as hell!” “Shit, did Daepaseong finally make money?!” The beat dropped, unexpectedly bright against the grandeur, but layered with sticky bass tones that gave it an eerie texture. “Wow, listen to that beat. Kang Ichae is god.” “I knew it from the highlight medley. The song’s a masterpiece.” The scene shifted from the palace to a bare concrete house, abandoned long ago. The camera panned through the living room, the kitchen, then pulled back a shower curtain. Seo Hoyun lay sprawled in the bathtub, leather jacket clinging to him. “Holy shit he looks so fucking good!!” Droplets ran down his violet-tinted hair as his eyelids lifted, lips parting. Even though they’d seen it already, goosebumps exploded across their skin. Suddenly, someone grabbed his hand and pulled him up—Kim Sunghyun. Pushing his wet hair back, Hoyun sang. Like you once promised Soft high notes filled the start. The camera cut from Hoyun to Sunghyun, standing by a window, biting his lip as he peered outside. “Shit, are these lyrics insane?! They’re trying to kill us!” They all screamed “oppa,” though every single member of The Dawn was younger than them. Emotions mounted as another face overlapped Sunghyun’s—Sung Jiwon, gazing out a window in a navy-gray school uniform. “I told you in chat earlier, didn’t I? It looked like a school uniform in the concept photo!” “I never thought they’d actually put them in one! Jiwon looks way too good! Is he really twenty-five?!” They had expected a purely mature, decadent vibe from the teasers. “Daepaseong, those clever bastards!” Instead, the MV juxtaposed nostalgic school memories with the group’s sultry image. Soon the members, in slightly varied uniforms, danced together, holding hands in a circle. 【Our youth that will never return Whatever, I don’t care Come before I bite you You promised on the night of the shooting star】 Next appeared Jung Dajun, sparkling sparkler in hand, grinning wide in an oversized sports jacket. Beside him, Sung Jiwon smiled at him. Colorful fireworks burst around them, raining like stars. They looked like real stars. 【Our dawn that will never return I don’t care even if the sky falls Come to me before you change your mind】 The members’ foreheads pressed together, faces glowing. 【You promised on the night the Milky Way poured down】 Kang Ichae appeared, black shirt, seated on the palace staircase. The flashback ended. He wound a star-engraved music box, smirking slyly. 【Like something broken, circling you again and again How can I live without you? With a flick, he tossed the music box over his shoulder and descended the stairs. 【Come whenever you want Just smile in my arms Anyways, always love you Hoyun picked up the discarded music box. Covering his mouth with his hand, he sang. 【Can you hold me?】 Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽 As he lowered his hand, smoke spilled from his lips. “Fake smoking—legendary scene right there!” Hoyun’s eyes narrowed slyly. “Won’t that get flagged by the censors?” “I’ve been wondering the same since last year.” Where Sunghyun’s verse was sharp, Hoyun’s version dripped with sensuality. Noeul scratched her ears just like the first time she saw it, unable to look away. Whisper ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ faith to me Like you once promised】 Through a burning corridor walked Sung Jiwon in a white suit. The flames died in his wake. He glanced up at a painting, sighed softly, and touched his forehead—then turned as if hearing someone call. Smiling brightly like he’d found someone dear, his face filled the screen before fading to black. The title appeared: 【Our Shining Dawn (From dawn To dawn) – The Dawn】 Ending with Sung Jiwon’s gaze was brutal. They sat stunned, staring at the blank screen. ‘This time it’s happening.’ It had to. There was no way it wouldn’t. ‘They showed the past and present, innocence and purity, maturity and sensuality, all at once.’ And with luck, Hoyun in a school uniform—legally. Already, the possibilities for stage outfits made her heart race. ‘And the beat wasn’t too heavy.’ Lately, songs were all pounding with power beats—catchy, yes, but lacking broad public appeal. But The Dawn’s song was fast, with masterful rhythm control, polished like an overseas production. ‘Even the MV analysis posts were insane.’ Noeul’s heart pounded harder than when she first watched. “Hey, should we watch it again?” “Is that even a question?” Her friends insisted on at least twenty times, looping until they fell asleep. But Noeul shot up from her seat. “I’m buying more albums.” “Holy shit, she’s high on endorphins.” Her gut screamed at her. ‘Our Shining Dawn’ had kept The Dawn’s unique sentimentality but pushed their public appeal sky-high. This album would be their career peak, their defining era. Even if she didn’t know much about the idol world, her instincts told her so. ‘Forgive me, paycheck.’ With no hesitation, she dove online and ordered more copies. Meanwhile, The Dawn’s MV views were skyrocketing.