The performance was over. Seo Eunchan took the disoriented Seo Jun to the backstage.
Today, Seo Jun seemed a bit off, so he just thought it was one of those days.
"Seo Jun! You really came?!"
"Bro. Why is he like this? He looks spaced out."
"Don't know. He's been like this since morning."
Seo Jun, who had been in a daze, regained his composure and wiped the sweat off his face, then called out to BrownBlack.
"Bro. How was the stage just now?!"
"The stage just now?"
Kevin, who was closest, tilted his head and replied.
"It was good. It felt even better than usual."
"That's right. The dance was better too."
Choi Siyoon, who was stretching, nodded. Park Seojin and Hwang Yejun, who were drinking water, also agreed.
"Your voice was good and everything was fine."
"Yeah. Yeah!"
Seo Jun opened his mouth wide. Even he thought BrownBlack's performance was amazing.
There was no [Orchestra Conductor's Connection]! Why?
"Compared to Christmas Eve, how does it feel?"
"Has it been half a year since Christmas Eve? I wonder if anyone remembers."
Seo Eunchan crossed his arms and asked, but contrary to his expectations, BrownBlack recalled without hesitation.
Christmas Eve was vividly remembered. It was when they overcame their slump and performed something they never imagined.
Park Seojin, who had been thinking, spoke first.
"It was amazing back then too. It felt like someone was directing us from the center. I could sense the direction and think, 'Oh, he's going to sing like this next. I need to go higher.' And I sang accordingly."
"I felt the same. It felt like someone was teaching us where to stand on stage. I thought, 'I can do a solo here.' It just clicked in my head."
All four nodded. Hwang Yejun, who had been tilting his head, spoke.
"Was it a perfect stage? It felt like everything was set and we just followed. Compared to that, the stage just now felt a bit more free."
"Now, we can guess where you are even without that feeling. Yejun's right. It felt a bit stifling before, but now it's different."
Kevin's words made BrownBlack nod.
Stifling. They had been so used to amazing, beyond-imagining stages that they hadn't noticed it before, but today's performance made it clear.
Seo Jun, with a stern expression, asked.
"Which do you prefer? The past or now?"
"Of course, now."
Seo Jun nodded at BrownBlack's answer.
'I see.'
The staff announced the start of the second part. BrownBlack prepared to go back on stage. Choi Siyoon asked Seo Jun.
"Shall we go eat something delicious after the second part? There's a really good seasoned rib place nearby."
"Yeah! I want to go. Bros, do well on stage!"
Seo Jun returned to his seat with Seo Eunchan. Lee Minjun, who was sitting there, greeted them. Seo Jun, without noticing his father's welcome, sat down and fell into thought.
Why? The usefulness of the ability can't be denied. Yet, they prefer now. Why?
Seo Eunchan and Lee Minjun, sitting on either side of Seo Jun, exchanged glances. Lee Minjun asked, "Why is he like this?" Seo Eunchan shook his head.
At that moment, a voice reached Seo Jun's ears. It was a conversation between BrownBlack fans sitting closest to him.
"I think today's performance was amazing."
Im Yeon said, and Park Seongah asked,
"I don't see much difference from the last time I saw it?"
Im Yeon shook her head.
"The previous performance was like a perfectly crafted stage with no room for error. Today's performance, however, showcased each member's individuality. BrownBlack usually doesn't do ad-libs, but there were quite a few today."
"That's true?"
The audience fell silent, all ears. The fans who noticed the difference between the past and today's performance were curious. Why the difference? Someone was about to answer their question. Im Yeon, unaware, smiled brightly and told her friend.
"If the previous performance was like an orchestra where each instrument had to blend perfectly with a 'perfect conductor,' today's performance was like a stage where each instrument, with its unique character, showcased its skills and individuality while still harmonizing with the others. I think today's performance was better because each member of BrownBlack's individuality shone through."
Seo Jun perked up and listened to their conversation.
Stifling.
Was it the feeling of being a small instrument in a large orchestra, unable to play freely and only moving according to the conductor's set gestures?
Seo Jun looked at his left palm. The pattern of [Orchestra Conductor's Connection] shimmered.
When the skill was at its lowest level, he probably didn't feel the limitation of being an 'orchestra.' The skill was weak, and BrownBlack's skills were low.
But as the skill level increased, it became stronger. And BrownBlack's skills improved dramatically over a few years.
The key was the 'time' when the ability didn't activate.
There would certainly be a stage where they had to perform without any freedom, following a set script.
Conversely, there would be a stage where they had to showcase their individuality and lead the performance freely.
And BrownBlack's stage would be the latter.
'I don't need this anymore. I'll put it in the library when I get home.'
On the way to the fan meeting, should he slap the guys? Seo Jun, who was seriously considering it, sighed in relief.
Two months later, BrownBlack made a comeback with a new album featuring a spectacular performance and the members' individuality.
* * *
The long-awaited September finally arrived.
This time, Lee Minjun, instead of Seo Eunhye, was to accompany Seo Jun as a manager and guardian.
Kim Heesang, as promised, adjusted Lee Minjun's schedule. He didn't forget to give Lee Minjun a stack of work that could be handled from the U.S.
The plane, after a long flight, landed in the U.S.
"Hi! Seo Jun!"
"Aunt Nara!"
"You always seem to be playing when you come."
Nara, who had come to pick them up at the airport, greeted them with a big wave.
Nara Kim, with her sharp bob and black sunglasses, was still the same. Seo Jun ran up and hugged Nara.
"Seo Jun, you've grown so much!"
The two, who got along well, laughed and spun around, holding hands.
The scene looked so happy that people around them clapped. Lee Minjun, whose face was flushed, covered his face with one hand and sighed. The two, now calmed down, walked up to Lee Minjun.
"I worked hard to come and pick you up!"
"Thank you then."
"Thanks, Aunt!"
Lee Minjun and Seo Jun loaded their luggage into Nara's car and got in. The three fastened their seatbelts and left the airport for their destination.
Seo Jun looked out the window at the new city.
After a while, large buildings came into view. There were many people, both locals and tourists taking photos.
Nara pointed to one of the buildings.
"That's the Empire State Building. It used to be the tallest building."
"Wow."
Seo Jun's eyes sparkled.
The city that never sleeps, New York.
The shooting location for Shadowman 2.
Nara, who dropped Seo Jun and Lee Minjun off at the hotel, gave Seo Jun a pile of gifts.
She said she bought them whenever she thought of Seo Jun while shopping, but it seemed like a year had passed since they last met, and the amount was enormous.
Stacked next to the suitcase, the gifts were taller than Seo Jun. Lee Minjun was puzzled. How would he take this back to Korea?
"Then I'll be off."
Seo Jun asked Nara, who got into the car.
"Aunt, are you going to work?"
"No, I'm going home. Do well with the shooting. Call if you need anything."
Nara waved and took off in a flash. Lee Minjun, holding a box of gifts up to his chin, laughed helplessly.
"You came all the way from LA to New York just to give Seo Jun gifts. Nara is really amazing."
"Aunt is cool!"
"Yeah, she is."
Seo Jun and Lee Minjun, laughing, carried the suitcase and gifts into the hotel.
The next day.
Seo Jun and Lee Minjun, who were rolling around in the hotel to adjust to the time difference and rest before shooting, received a call from director Ryan Will.
Ryan Will, after a brief greeting to Lee Minjun, who answered the call, passed the phone to Seo Jun.
-You didn't have much chance to meet other actors while practicing. How about meeting everyone for a greeting tonight if you're free?
Seo Jun's gaze turned to Lee Minjun. Lee Minjun, who had been listening, nodded with a smile.
"Sure! But who's coming?"
-Evan Block and Richelle Hill. You'll only be working with these two.
"Wow!"
-The place and time will be sent by text. Have you memorized the script?
"Of course."
Seo Jun nodded into the phone, even though Ryan Will couldn't see him.
He had received the script not long ago, but the smart Seo Jun had memorized all his parts.
Moreover, the emotional acting in Shadowman 2 was similar to the one-man play he had practiced for eight months, making it easier for him to perform.
-Understood. See you later.
"Okay."
Seo Jun, after hanging up, excitedly walked around the room, then took out the Shadowman 2 script from his bag.
He seemed to be practicing his lines, but he was actually reading the lines of the two actors he would meet soon, occasionally checking the clock. The hands of the clock seemed to be stuck.
With the clock moving slower than usual, Seo Jun kept urging his father.
"Dad, Dad. How much time has passed?"
"Um. Five minutes?"
This was the third time he asked about the time. Seo Jun, who knew how to read a clock, seemed really excited to meet the two actors.
Lee Minjun, who was reading the script while rolling around on the bed, called out to Seo Jun, who was reading the script and checking the clock.
"If you're bored, why don't we watch movies with the two actors until then?"
"Sure!"
Seo Jun jumped up and sat next to his father. Searching for the actors' names, they found the movies they had starred in.
Evan Block, who played Shadowman, and Richelle Hill, who was new to Shadowman 2.
While browsing through Evan Block and Richelle Hill's filmographies, they discovered an interesting fact.
"They've appeared in a movie together."
"Let's watch it!"
"Should we?"
Lee Minjun and Seo Jun watched the teen movie 'With' and chatted.
Meanwhile, two people were watching a different movie. The two, who had become close through the teen movie 'With,' were munching on popcorn.
"I like this part the most."
Ding! The sound of a bell rang. Richelle Hill, with a look of admiration, gazed at the large TV screen.
"The CG is amazing, but the acting is incredible."
Richelle Hill's words made Evan Block nod. The conversation between the god and the inner self was clearly added later.
No matter how well it was edited, how could it be so natural?
"Last year, you told me you saw Seo Jun Lee's next project, so I found the theater and watched it. I didn't expect the director to send the video. You're really persistent. How did you find it?"
"I need to know what my co-star is capable of."
Richelle Hill shook her head. Evan Block opened the [Seo Jun Lee] notebook from his bag. The black ink filled the pages, making Richelle Hill whistle.
'There's probably a notebook with my name on it too.'
She was curious to see what kind of evaluation he had made, but also afraid of any negative comments. Richelle Hill munched on the popcorn.
"Another analysis session? So, how is it? Jun's acting? People say it's method acting."
"Hmm."
Evan Block stroked his chin and looked at the screen. The golden beast moved around. Evan Block's blue eyes, staring intently at the light, sparkled.