Part 3: Ateez Story Lore A-World POV Chronological Order Timeline

NOTE 26-05-24: All the Golden Hour MVs seem to show the opposite of reality.

Z-World

In Your Fantasy MV

This is one of the few MVs in the Golden Hour series that shows reality in the form of everything being a dream or fantasy. Sopro is in control instead of ATEEZ (as shown by the Captain ripping his armband off)

Opinion: Halazia and ATEEZ Black Pirates using the crescent moon and Sopro induce a shared dream with all of Strictland to synchronize their feelings and break the citizens free of Z's control. A-World Ateez infiltrates Z's headquarters and with Thunder's help they neutrilize Z and in the process are sent back to A world. (Note: The World Ep. Fin: Will Diaries A. INTRO mentions that Halateez is still captured.)

A-World

Golden Hour: Part 1 Diaries

00. INTRO

After the red moon rises

In the aftermath of Z’s disappearance, there was not a person in World Z who didn’t know of ATEEZ. The people split into two factions-those who decided to free themselves from emotional control and those who chose to stay under it. The Black Pirates and Thunder established a self-sustaining order so that these two factions would be able to coexist.

This world was entrusted to those who love and care for it,

And as for us, we returned to our world.

Yet, even after we returned, those feeling of excitement lingered.

The memories of our adventures and battles together remained vivid in our minds, as tangible as if they had been engraved on our skin.

Making the most of those vivid memories, we decided to dream together once again.

Song: Golden Hour Narration

Since then, three years have passed.

And now, we’re living outside our dreams.

Work MV

NOTE 26-05-24: All the Golden Hour MVs seem to show the opposite of reality.

A-World Ateez has started to work in an attempt to make money to support their Ateez dream. They share a dream of their efforts.

01. HONG JOONG

Each of them brought out their savings, gathering enough to rent the most affordable practice room to dance, sing in. In this world, their home world, the group-ATEEZ-was nobody, but when they looked in the mirror, their reflections reminded them of a time when they were nothing short of heroes in that other world. No, it was more like they were “drunk” on those memories of themselves. And just like the high of a good time drinking always fades when the morning comes, they were left to confront reality with a bad hangover. It takes money to dream, and with the need to work to make a living, their days spent gathered in the practice room became less and less. Even when they did gather, it was rare for all of the members to be present. But it’s not as though Hongjoong could blame them for being busy with work. All he could do to ease his disappointment was to greet them with a bittersweet, “That’s too bad. Let’s do what we have to do now and try again next time!” Everyone knows it’s impossible to live on dreams alone-acknowledging this hard truth is what it means to become an adult. All Hongjoong wanted was to maintain his relationship with the members, yet while he did his best to invite them out to eat for a quick get-together, even that wasn’t easy. Soon, even meeting once or twice a year began to feel like an accomplishment.

During his free time, Hongjoong worked part-time, practiced on his own, and kept a diary. While writing his diary, he suddenly realized that his memories from World Z were beginning to fade. And so, he decided to record his and the other members’ experiences on his personal blog. Inspired by comments like, “Is this a new novel? I’m dying to read what comes next!” what began as Hongjoong‘s travel diary, evolved into a detailed story akin to an epic Science Fiction tale. His blog readers increased exponentially as the story progressed, and it wasn’t long before he was approached by a publisher. Hongjoong’s story was published as a book, which went on to become a best seller, and soon his days were filled with reader meet and greets, special lectures, and appearances on various TV programs.

As Hongjoong gained recognition as a popular writer among young readers through TV and social media, his backstory of how he originally dreamed of becoming an idol to use his fame and find his long-lost family became well known too. And it just so happened, Hongjoong’s newfound fame did reunite him with not one, but two, long-lost family members: his father, who contacted him after seeing him by chance on a TV show, and his mother who looked up videos on the author after reading his book. At long last, his dreams of reuniting with his family came true. Good fortune and a reunited family, a career that he could be proud of, and fame. Hongjoong had clearly achieved all that he had ever dreamed of. He was blessed.

Only when he left the room, sure that the door was completely shut behind him, did his smile slip and a deep sigh unintentionally sweep out of him. The sigh was so loud that it shocked even Hongjoong himself, “Is this what I truly wanted?”

Song: Empty Box works here.

02. Seong Hwa

"My daughter’s crazy about that book, so I gave it a read too, but who in their right mind would put up with 40 years of school just to be a Guardian? The whole thing sounds a bit absurd, don’t you think?” The fire chief said, glancing at the copy of Hongjoong‘s novel on Seonghwa’s desk. Looking at the chiefs expression-he was clearly fishing for Seonghwa’s agreement-but Seonghwa didn’t quite know how to respond.

If he answered honestly, with something like, “It might sound absurd to you, but my friends and I were actually there. We saw an experienced it all, in person”, the chief would think he was out of his mind. As Seonghwa was mulling over the best way to retort, the dispatch bell rang.

For a long time, the memories of all the people Seonghwa failed to save in World Z haunted him. Even if the boy and the boy’s brother willingly joined ATEEZ’s cause, their deaths, along with those of the Black Pirates and the Thunder members who lost their lives to the Guardians’ attacks, as well as the corpses of the Sense Offenders that hung as a warning in the square, remained burned as an after image in his eyes. Each time he saw a similar face or silhouette walking down the street his heart would break again. And every time that happened, Seonghwa remembered her: The girl who left behind the Be Free bracelet and disappeared, the leader of Thunder. What would she have done?

Knowing her, she would have told him to move and find a way to save himself first. Saving oneself is the first step in saving other people. “Fine. Then I’ll start by saving myself from this anxiety.” So, Seonghwa began studying how to rescue people in different kinds of crises. While studying, he came across material made for aspiring firefighters preparing for the firefighter exam. As practice time together with the members became less frequent, it was only natural for Seonghwa to take the test. For better or worse, he passed. Studying was easy enough-Seonghwa had always been systematic by nature and good at planning, and he made it through the Candidate Physical Ability Test easily thanks to his regular exercise and dancing regimes.

That’s how Seonghwa became a firefighter. The hobby he began to calm his anxiety became his job. Sure, it wasn’t his dream, but that also wasn’t a good enough reason for him to give it up. The impact of his job was clear and real compared to the vague dreams he shared with the members, and he just couldn’t find any justification to quit. Fighting flames and rescuing people in crises was more rewarding than he had expected. It didn’t come with cheers and applause like performing on stage, but in their place, he was rewarded with the simple, heartfelt gratitude, and praise of those he saved, and their families.

And, thanks to his welcoming face and striking physique, Seonghwa was selected as the Fire and Disaster Headquarters’ yearly calendar model. Posing for the camera, he felt both pleasantly nervous and oddly empty. For so long, he had wanted nothing more than to be photographed and seen, but could never make that dream come true… How ironic that he could do so now, but only as a firefighter.

That day, Seonghwa returned to his office at the fire department and read HongJong’s novel that had been sitting on his desk.

03. Yun Ho

People gathered around the campfire, listening to Yunho’s singing and the sound of his guitar. With their eyes closed, they savored the melody. “The lyrics of Yunho’s song reminds me of a novel I read recently,” remarked one of the students. Behind the professors and students settled near the fire, a sandstorm raged.

Yunho was currently in Egypt.

At first, Yunho tried his best to attend whenever the members gathered, but he realized early on that it wouldn’t be easy to keep up with their regular meetings. In World Z, they were heroes. That world may have been full of just as many struggles and hardships, but the shared goals were specific, and the enemy was clear-cut. But as for World A, this world here… there was still hardship, but the source of that hardship was elusive and unclear. Uncertain who the real enemy was, at times it felt like the whole world was against them, yet other times it did not. Yunho practiced hard, auditioned, and busked, but as the days went on, he began to see this world as even colder than World Z. People stared at the phones in their hands with apathetic expressions, quickly moving from video to video, always on the hunt for some new and fast stimuli. The human sounds of laughter and crying could only be heard from the other side of those screens. They danced intensely to their music loudly blasting from a speaker, but the people passing by barely spared them a glance before turning back to their phones. The members were taken aback. Had the passerby stared at them without emotion, like the people of World Z, it would have further ignited their passion. But they didn’t know how to react to these people who would stop and watch for only a second or take a short video without listening to their song through to the end. No, to be honest, it hurt. It’s usually like that though. The higher you’ve climbed, the more painful the fall.

Never having experience such pain before, none of the members were able to recognize it as such, leaving them to bear their scars alone. Overtime, Yunho found that he enjoyed singing and dancing with the members less and less. Perhaps the other members felt this way too, but there was no way for him to know.

As the number of times they talked about their dreams began to decrease and the period between gatherings in their practice room gradually grew longer, Yunho’s interest naturally began to change. By chance, he came across the Cromer, something he had thought only existed in World Z, at an exhibition on the Mayans civilization in World A. He was at once fascinated by these mysterious relics and remains. Seeing them, Yunho was sure there were even more relics and secrets somewhere out there, still waiting to be discovered.

As you know, stepped into the ancient pyramid, his thoughts ran wild. Maybe, just maybe, if he could find more other worldly artifacts, he would be able to travel to another world and go on an adventure with the members once again.

04. Yeo Sang

His employees call him, Young and Rich, Tall and Handsome. Yeosang, who built his fortune investing in stock, was finally able to start a business of his own without his father‘s help. Though he didn’t want to admit it, his natural ability to read the flow of money reminded him of his father. The small start-up he generously invested in grew into a unicorn, and through his careful investment skills, he was able to transform the small, one-man business into a large scale operation in just three years.

“So you majored in classical music, and that’s what eventually sparked your interest in pop music, but I’m curious as to what lead you down this path. Was there any specific event that inspired you?” a Business Globe reporter asked YeoSang. “I realized that while blindness is both enchanting and noble, there are times it becomes a trap,” Yeosang answered vaguely before falling into thought.

After returning to this world, Yeosang could feel that the members had subtly, but definitely, changed. It was almost like finally realizing it was time to let go after blindly clinging to a one-sided love for so long. Before meeting the men in the black fedoras – before leaving for World Z – they were boys, and now they’ve come out the other side of the tunnel as adults. Only when he was able to see how the members had changed, did Yeosang realize he too had grown.

Until now, their hard work and efforts toward their dreams felt noble because they blindly excepted those dreams as if they were divine missions entrusted to them alone. It felt like those dreams were the only right path. Therefore, living for anything other than those dreams seemed cowardly and shameful, like excepting defeat, and that is exactly how the members felt before leaving for World Z. They were caught in the trap of blindness.

However, while in World Z, they came to learn just how precious emotions, art, dreams, and hopes all are, and at the same time, just how terrible blind belief can be. Upon returning to this world, the members agreed to continue pursuing their dreams as they always had, each of them holding the seed of new and diverse possibilities in their hearts. Yeosang knew this and believed that the members, consciously or not, must’ve felt the same.

While money might seem contrary to art, art would not exist without money. Historically, art was created for the enjoyment of nobles and aristocrats, and in protest of this truth, even more forms of art were born. Money was the group‘s biggest obstacle in achieving their shared dream, and Yeosang decided to tackle it head-on. In only a short time, he reinvented himself as a leader of the investment world. While he focused on sure profits for the most part, occasionally he would invest in the arts, even if he risked losing money. One of those investments was Hongjoong’s novel.

05. San

"Growing up moving from place to place, I always dreamed of picking a spot and setting down roots for myself somewhere. But thinking back on it now, I think drifting may have been written in my life fortune right from the start.” San said to himself, amid the salty wind of Jeju. The fixtures in the food truck rattled as if they were clapping back at San’s words. His tanned skin showed just how long he’d wandered about.

As he watched the members go their separate ways one by one, San could neither hold them back nor storm out and leave them. He had nowhere else to go. One day, after a lackluster practice- with more than half the members absent as they were too busy with their own lives- San found himself strolling down the alleyway, guided by his empty heart. He sat down on a small bench in front of a discreet old mom-and-pop corner store and cracked open a can of beer. “What do you call that feeling when you’re not quite sad, but not quite happy? When you’re sad but feel like your misery is almost laughable?” As he muttered to himself out of habit, he heard a voice from beside him. “What’s a youngster like yourself doing out here? It’s not even night yet.” It was the old man from the snack stall across the street. Instinctively, San asked him, “Hey Mister, was it always your dream to run a snack stall?” The old man seemed to get mad, retorting, “Dreams? Gah, you do what you can to put food on the table.” San asked again, “Do you think I can get by living without making my dreams come true?” The old man’s eyes met with San’s. “Dreams ain’t bad, but there are lots of other, more important, things in life. Sharing love, eating together, and cleaning up your own messes. Make sure you throw everything away right when you’re done.” At this, San noticed the black bag the old man had thrown at him earlier. Inside the bag were a steamy fresh sun-dae and a roll of kimbap. The sight of a young man drinking beer on an empty stomach must have worried him.

Taking a bite of sun-dae, San began talking to himself again. He decided that he wanted to know more about those other important things in life: “Sharing love, eating together… cleaning up your own messes.” So, San started a food truck. As he wandered around, he saw people eat together and share delicious food with those they loved. And sometimes, San even ate and talked with them, too. He met a wide variety of people - dreamers, dream seekers, those whose dreams had changed or come true, those living outside their dreams, and people with no dreams at all… That is how he came to learn the truth, the truth that most live their lives without ever achieving their dreams. “So why didn’t anyone ever teach us how to live outside of our dreams?” San thought. And he came to an answer of his own. Maybe I need to learn to welcome the reality I’ve been given even if it’s not the reality I wanted.

06. Min Gi

People say, in this day and age, it’s impossible to make it big unless you’re born into good fortune from the start, but MinGi proved them wrong. On his way to the practice room, he got cast on the street by a high-end designer, and in no time had made his debut in a fashion magazine as a professional model. MinGi, who was in a tough spot at the time, thought of it only as a lucrative part-time job, but that very magazine spread quickly caught the attention of famous brands and turned him into an in-demand model. He learned to walk the runway as easily as if it were a new dance. Soon he was walking for top brand fashion shows, decorating the cover of one of the world’s four major fashion magazines, and working as an official ambassador for the global brand that called him their muses. The streets were filled with ads and videos featuring MinGi as their model.

As his van ran down the road decorated with his pictures - MinGi holding a hamburger, MinGi modeling cosmetics, MinGi in the trendiest new clothes - MinGi was once again preoccupied with his social media accounts. He was uploading the photo he had just taken in Garosu-gil as he moved on to his next schedule. By the time the fashion world had started to pay attention to MinGi, his OOTD looks were already popular on social media. His photos and unique styling that made inexpensive outfits look like luxury goods were popular amoung men as date outfit inspiration, and among women as candid-cool boyfriend shots. MinGi had built a reputation for himself as an influencer. With each social media update came thousands, millions of likes and silly comments such as, ‘You’re so cool!,’ ‘Do you guys know what MinGi’s MBTI is? I.C.O.N.’ Just then, another notification popped up among the rest: he’d just been paid the advertisement fee for last month’s shoot. Even at a glance, he could tell it was a huge amount of money. MinGi was now so rich that his past struggles with poverty seemed like another lifetime ago. Above all, MinGi was glad that he didn’t have to worry about his grandmother’s hospital bills anymore. He might not be an idol, but being an icon like this was good enough for him.

Song: Shaboom works here.

MinGi realized just how narrow-minded and limited his view of the world had been. “Yeah, things are good now,” he muttered to himself, gazing out the van window. He gaze was drawn to a group of boys busking on the street outside. The boys, who danced and sang clumsily but passionately, met each other’s eyes and laughed with each changing movement. MinGi was hypnotized by the group and stared at them blankly. As the red light turned to green and the car started again, the boys faded away into the distance. At that time, MinGi was overcome with the sense that he had crossed a river he could never cross again.

On the far side of that river were those times he had spent running recklessly, passionately toward his dreams, those times when it didn’t matter if anyone acknowledged him, and it was enough to simply have fun. Where MinGi stood now was a place where results and achievements trumped passion and spirit, a place where value could be bought and sold. While MinGi wondered if ‘this is what it must be like to become an adult,’ he couldn’t erase that vague feeling of longing. Just as he opened up his social media to distract himself, a video of HongJoong’s reunion with his family appeared on his feed.

07. Woo Young

If you were to ask him why he chose to be a flight attendant of all things, WooYoung would answer this:

A friend from my hometown once drunkenly said, “Is the stage really that special?

A teachers classroom could be their stage…The old man announcing sales at the

supermarket is on stage...So are the flight attendants giving presentations on

emergency life vests! Idols and actors aren’t the only ones giving performances on a

stage!” Those words stuck with me and before I knew it,

I had signed up for flight attendant training.

And, if you want to call him, insane, he would retort: ‘So what if I am?!’ in many ways, WooYoung wasn’t in his right mind at the time. All he knew was that he wanted a stage of his own, at that very moment. It didn’t matter where.

Maybe it was some kind of post-travel side effect. Using the Cromer to fight Z and the Guardians, constantly moving around and performing, those days were days that filled them with a rush of dopamine and adrenaline. Of course, those performances came with hardship and were part of a greater revolution, but a performance is a performance, no matter what the cause. WooYoung’s jitters were always followed by a wave of excitement that shot energy through his nerves, so much so that he often found himself, wondering, ‘Was that really stage fright?’

But returning to World A, that excitement disappeared, and a looming feeling of anxiety began to take its place. It was as if he had finished an immersive game, and now, turning the console off, had to return to reality. Though WooYoung and the members tried to do what they could, they would never be able to perform as they had as ATEEZ in World Z. Making a stage for themselves wasn’t so easy here. Just when WooYoung felt as though he’d never stand on stage again, his drunk friend offered him those words of comfort.

As someone who hates conflict and prefers to maintain peace, WooYoung was well suited to his job as a flight attendant. His calming, pleasant face matched his uniform perfectly, and he set passengers at ease as he welcomed them with an air of sophistication. While the plane prepares for takeoff, the flight attendants moved to their assigned positions and demonstrate how to wear seatbelts, respirators, and life jackets according to the announcement, but passengers rarely ever pay attention. To remedy this, WooYoung’s airline was planning a new style of announcement more like an event, and WooYoung volunteered to lead. In place of the usual announcement, and exciting melody played over the cabin speakers. Passengers who had been sleeping or flipping through movies, turned and looked with interest at WooYoung and the crew standing in the aisleway. With practiced ease, WooYoung delivered the announcements, including the destination and flight time, through song, rap, and dance. When the announcement was finished, the passengers broke out in applause. ‘Exactly! This is what I made for!’ WooYoung thought with a bright smile. WooYoung’s eyes were drawn to a few people in the crowd who cheered and clapped louder than the rest.

It’s just so happened that YunHo and MinGi were on the exact same plane.

08. Jong Ho

While recording vocal guides as a part-time job, JonHo began studying songwriting and musical composition on his own and spent his days creating original songs. At first, he wrote songs that the members could record and practice together, but, as everyone got busy, it became harder and harder to work together as a group. For his convenience, JongHo began writing solo songs, and becoming an idol with the members no longer seemed feasible, he turned to the path of a singer-songwriter. JonHo had already given up one dream due to injury-his dream of being a basketball player. He couldn’t stand to lose another.

He had posted the songs he created on MusicCloud, when a major music label reached out, impressed with JongHo’s songs. ‘Will I finally be able to debut as a singer?’ JongHo was excited, but as it turned out, the label was interested in an old group song he had uploaded long ago- a song he had recorded with the members- and wanted him to write a track for their upcoming idol group. While it was a bittersweet win, JongHo had no reason to refuse their offer. He would finally be able to make music his career and be recognized for his hard work. Whole JongHo started as a songwriter, it wasn’t long before he was entrusted with the roles of idol vocal coach and producer as well. He was neither an idol nor a singer-songwriter, but he was satisfied. He was working alongside idols and singer-songwriters and that was enough for him. He had found a way to continue working with music. While JongHo was no longer the one standing in the spotlight, he was willing to become the deep darkness that made those on stage shine even brighter.

One day, while recording with a second-year idol group, an argument broke out. What started with one member complaining, “I’m tired. I can’t do this anymore,” soon escalated into a full-fledged fight despite JongHo’s best efforts to de-escalate the situation. “Hey! If you were just going to give up on your dream like this, you shouldn’t have started in the first place!” Another member yelled. This riled up the first boy even more, and he grabbed the member by the collar, spitting back, “What do you know? We might be stuck together every day, but don’t act like you know me!” JongHo stepped in and split up the boys before the fight turned physical, giving them each time to calm down. The boy who had complained burst into tears and cried, “I can’t tell you everything but, my family is going through a really hard time right now, and being away from them like this hurts so much.” JongHo did his best to comfort and sympathize with the distressed boy.

He was reminded of a time long ago when MinGi had threatened to quit, JongHo had gotten so mad that he had punched him in return. ‘I was so young and selfish back then,’ JongHo thought to himself. ‘How is everyone?’ JongHo recalled the other members. Sitting in the empty recording studio, he played that old group song and raise the volume. The sound of the members voices pierced through his heart.

Song: Siren works here

Golden Hour: Part 2 Diaries

1.Share Love 2. Eat Together 3. Clean up your own mess.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you - What's that thing you have stuck on

there?"

A female student, stuffing a piece of buldak kimbap in her mouth, questioned.

"Is it the food truck's motto? Or your's, oppa?"

"Don't call the store owner 'oppa!' Have some respect! I apologize for my

daughter, sir."

"Please, I call all handsome men oppa. And maybe you just came here for

the first time today, Mom, but I'm a regular. Oppa and I are very close."

The mother, embarrassed by her daughter's shamelessness, smiled awkwardly as she met San's eyes. He was busy gathering bite-sized pieces of bulgogi kimbap into a bowl.

San: "It's something the owner of some snack stall told me three years or so ago

when I was worried that my dreams might not come true. Dreams are fine

and all, but there are many other, more important things in life."

"Like...sharing love, eating together...and cleaning up your own mess."

As if pondering the meaning of what San just said, the female student read the memo aloud. For the first time in a long while, San also looked at the old memo posted on the inside wall of his food truck. It was the first thing he stuck to its inner walls after buying the used truck three years ago, when the members, one by one, had started moving on their own paths. He started this food truck wanting to know if - like the owner of that stall said - a life outside of one's dreams was worth living.

"So running a food truck like this wasn't your dream?"

The female student asked.

San: "If I'm being honest, not it wasn't. Not really."

"Does that make you sad? That you're doing something other than your

dream?"

The girl's mother tried to interject, but San just laughed, saying it was okay.

San "No, I like it. Of course, there are still times I miss those moments..."

The girl spoke loudly as if to tell her mother to listen.

"See! So you can live happily without achieving your dreams! My mom

always says you have to achieve your dreams, that a life without achieving

your dreams is a life wasted, and so I have to study! Always study, study,

study. Her nagging drives me crazy."

"Enough, stop eating, and go to your after-school classes! Sorry for all the

trouble, sir. The food was great!"

The mother, no longer able to hold back and wary of the ongoing conversation, finally stood up and urged her daughter away. San watched as the female student stuffed her cheeks full of the remaining kimbap, still chewing it as her mother dragged her away. He smiled.

San  "I used to think that, too."

A new customer approached, and San greeted them with a friendly face. Seeing the expectant faces of hungry customers as they ordered, making food he hoped they'd enjoy, and watching them eat until they were full and happy - There's a kind of happiness in this too, San thought.

Meanwhile, a plane bound for Incheon was getting ready to take off In Dubai. Woo Young, a second-year flight attendant, was busy preparing the special safety announcement he had put together for K Airlines. The airline, concerned that the passengers weren't paying enough attention to the flight attendants' in-flight safety announcement, planned a new event based on an Idea of Woo Young's in place of the usual simple demonstration.

While he knew all he needed to do was match a few small movements to the announcement's song and rap, Woo Young's mouth had gone dry from nervousness - It had been a long time since he'd been on stage. He clenched his hands into a fist, stretched them slowly, and shook them out, but it did nothing to help calm his nerves. Taking a deep breath, Woo Young closed his eyes.

Song: Deep Dive works here

He recalled those times - three years ago from now - when the members, dressed in black fedoras, would perform as they used the Cromer to disappear and reappear in and out of space. It was a time when his stage fright had felt like a distant memory from a past life. Yes, he had acted with a sense of duty, wanting to save the people from Z's control, but it was more then that. Those dreams of his that were out of grasp in World A, were achievable in World Z. There, the world was his stage, and each and every performance was thrilling. The performances of Woo Young and the members reminded the people, whose emotions had been suppressed and controlled, of the feelings they had lost. Their reactions, full of laughter and tears, had ignited Woo Young's heart.

Z, backed into a corner, broke the Cromer in his attempt to flee, and, as a result, Woo Young and the members were thrown back into this world before they could see the climax of their movement. But it was fine. If he could do all that there, there was nothing he couldn't do here, too, Woo Young had a thought. The members came together again and prepared as a performance group. Jong Ho, who was studying music composition, wrote their songs, and Hong Joong and Min Gi came up with the lyrics. Woo Young and Yun Ho put together the choreography. Yeo Sang, who - thanks to his Investments - had the most money to spare, set up their performance room, and Seong Hwa and San oversaw the planning and marketing. Through busking and performances at small, local events, they did their best to make even one fan.

But that was the extent of it. And as days without progress dragged on, the members' motivation slowly began to fade. Their dreams didn't, in fact, lead to any real jobs. Like a long-dead romance waiting for one side to finally let go, their days dragged on in a state of arrested development, and the members' worries only grew. We used to fly high as ATEEZ in World Z, but had fallen into obscurity in this place. It was impossible to stop the members, who urgently needed money to get by, from leaving to look for a part-time job and earn a living. Though no one said it out loud, they all felt that the days when they could persuade each other with the mere promise of their shared ream would soon pass. Back then, whenever he went out to drink with friends from his hometown, Woo Young would whine over and over about how he wanted to be on stage. Then one time, his friend drunkenly shot back:

"Is the stage really that special? A teacher's classroom could be their stage...

The old man announcing sales at the supermarket is on stage...So are the

flight attendants giving presentations on emergency life vests! Idols and

actors aren't the only ones giving performances on a stage!"

Woo Young, thinking this was just his friend's way of shutting him up, disregarded the comment. But his friend went on:

"If you miss performing that much, then stop whining about it and do

something! Go find your own stage!"

Fueled by his friend's call for him to take action, Woo Young's blood boiled and a strange courage overcame him. "That's right! I'll go find my own stage!" The friends cheered together and, before he knew it, Woo Young had signed up for flight attendant training.

Not wanting to waste the money he had spent of FA training classes, Woo Young began attending the flight attendant academy. To his surprise, he was praised for his talent and soon found himself enjoying training. He was proud that the other students applauded him and the school held him up as an example. Yes, maybe it was praise that Woo Young had wanted. Driven by praise and recognition, Woo Young became a full-fledged flight attendant in record time. It wasn't until after this thirst for acknowledgement had been quenched that he remembered what it was that he really wanted to do: music. It wasn't performing on a stage, but music that he wanted to do. To match his voice and movements to instruments, for someone to listen to his story. But when he finally looked back, he was already an established flight attendant. And so, Woo Young recalled his friend's words again: "Find the stage. Find your own stage..." Make it for yourself..."

At that time, K Airlines was in the process of planning a new format for their in-flight safety announcement, and Woo Young sent in a proposal for the project. He suggested a music-based performance, and his idea was adopted.

"Woo Young, we're just about ready to run the announcement."

At the words of his fellow flight attendant, Woo Young opened his eyes. It might not be much, but it was still a stage - the stage Woo Young had longed for. This shaking feeling he was experiencing now was the very feeling he had missed so much. There was nothing to be afraid of. Woo Young stood In the aisle.

Woo Young "We're about to take off. In preparation for departure, please direct your

attention to the flight attendants in the cabins they go over our safety

procedures."

Woo Young's announcement rang over the pre-recorded music playing from the in-flight speakers. Soon, the beat began to change and the announcement transformed into a rap and melody. Passengers who had been dozing off or scrolling through the selection of in-flight movies, and children who had been whining to their parents, all turned to look at Woo Young.

Information on seat belts, life jackets, oxygen masks, and emergency exits was delivered through witty lyrics, and the communicative performance immediately drew the attention of the audience - the flight's passengers. Even those who had laughed out of awkwardness at first, soon joined in on the fun of the performance. Some even stood up from their seats, swayed their shoulders, and clapped. The youngest audience enjoyed the performance the most, as they stopped their crying and laughed along. Some passengers even filmed the performance on their personal smartphones.

Woo Young, who felt like he hadn't performed before an audience in so long, ended the in-flight safety performance by disappearing and reappearing in an instant like he used to in World Z - Of course, without the Cromer it was just a simple trick of diversion planned with a fellow flight attendant.

After a moment of silence, the cabin burst into thunderous applause and cheers. All around, passengers shouted praise at Woo Young, saying, "This is the best announcement I've ever seen!" or "I'm so glad I got to start my vacation with you!" and "I was sad about my holiday being over, but you made me feel so much better!" Woo Young, who was busy thanking - and calming - the passengers who were now more excited than he was, stopped in front of two familiar faces.

Yun Ho "Hey, is it really okay for a safety announcement to be this cool?"

Min Gi "I know. I fell for him and nearly asked for his number."

It was Yun Ho and Min Gi.

The K Airlines flight crossed the night sky and the bright lights of the cabin dimmed. Passengers, tired from the long flight, began to fall asleep. Aside from the noise of a few odd people going to and from the restroom, the cabin was quiet. The three men gathered in one corner in hushed excitement.

Woo Young "Huh. What're the odds?"

Min Gi "I was supposed to take an earlier flight home after the fashion show in

Dubai, but it was overbooked. I needed to get back for our appointment

tomorrow, and this was the next best flight I could get."

Woo Young "And there were only economy seats left? What if someone recognizes you!"

Min Gi "I was worried about that too, but this was the last one open before the

weekend. Still, it worked out. Right? I get to see you and Yun Ho!"

Even though they were in the galley, where only flight attendants came and went, Min Gi covered his face with his hat and stayed alert for prying eyes. Within just three years, Min Gi had become the hottest model and influencer in the world.

Back when the members were still practicing together, Min Gi, who needed money for his grandmother's hospital bills and family's living expenses, began taking on a number of odd jobs. On his way to the practice room, Min Gi was cast on the street by a high-end designer - the brand was still in its start-up stage at the time - who was looking for a new face to model for them. Min Gi was selected to star in a pictorial introducing the brand's new collection.

That season's outfits and pictorials became a hot topic in the fashion world online, so much so that Min Gi was even featured on the cover of one of the world's top fashion magazines. He was hailed as a muse to global brands and was chosen to finish their collections' runway shows - though he had no experience walking whatsoever. As the saying goes: Those who can, do. Those who can do it looking good? Well, they go on to rule the world. A YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers posted Min Gi's photos on their personal SNS as an example of their ideal boyfriend's style, and it soon ignited a heated social debate on the use of private images without permission. Like this, Min Gi's pictures naturally gained exposure, and, as the original controversy surrounding them disappeared, he evolved into a famous figure associated in the public mid with the so-called "boyfriend shot."

Yun Ho "After the conference in Egypt, I was on my way back to Korea via

Dubai. When I saw it was a K Airlines flight, I thought of contacting you, Woo

Young, but who knew we'd end up meeting like this! And Min Gi, too."

Yun Ho had started studying again and went on to college, and the Cromer was the reason why. Once he'd learned that the Cromer - something he'd thought could only be found in the mystical World Z - existed here, as well, he became fascinated with relics, ancient ruins, legends, and myths. "There must be more relics out there, just like the Cromer, that can't be explained by our world's history, theory, and research alone," Yun Ho had said.

Woo Young was reminded of a conversation he had one day walking with Yun Ho. If this world is really made up of multiple dimensions, just as the men in the black fedoras had told them, then there must be more relics and artifacts out there that only those who know of World Z can recognize.

"Does he want to go back to world Z? Now that the Cromer's broken, is he looking for some other key that will lead him back?"

Woo Young wanted to ask Yun Ho a lot of questions, but chose to cheer him on instead. Entering the archaeological department must have been hectic enough for him already.

Yun Ho "By the way, you were really cool back there. It reminded me of when we

used to perform together as ATEEZ."

Min Gi "I filmed it all on my phone, so let's all rewatch it together at Yeo Sang's

place tomorrow."

Woo Young "Hey, it's supposed to be Hong Joong's congratulatory party. Don't waste

time watching a video of me."

Yun Ho "Why not? I'm sure everyone will love it. We always end up just talking about

the past when we meet, anyway. If anything, I'm worried your video will get

everyone too fired up and they'll want to start dancing again."

Min Gi "He's not wrong, and you know what? Jong Ho's a producer now. Who

knows, he might just offer you a solo after watching it."

Woo Young "Cut it out. Stop messing with me"

Min Gi smirked mischievously as if to say, "try me," and Woo Young responded with a look of fake hurt. Yun Ho watched them both and laughed. Though it'd been a year since they last met, and though they each now had their own busy lives, in front of each other they transformed into the same young boys they had always been. With silly jokes only they would ever get, they soothed their longing for each other that had long been locked away inside.

At the same time, in Seoul, South Korea. Cursing and shouting, not music, blasted out of a recording studio near Hongdae.

"If that's how you're gonna act, then get the h*ll out already! Stop dragging us into your mess. Do you know how many idols disappear not even a year after debuting? Even if we f*ing risk our lives for this job, who knows how many people will ever actually care!"

"No, that's not what I - For starters, I joined this company because I thought they'd make me an actor. H*ll, like I knew I'd become an idol like this! Ha...Don't act like you know what I'm going through."

The six-month-old group, for which Jong Ho worked as their exclusive producer, was preparing for their upcoming mini album. While in the studio recording songs, all the member's volatile emotions that had accumulated since their debut exploded into an argument, which raged on despite the best efforts of those around them to stop it. An engineer, who could not longer stand to watch the children fight in his recording booth, moved to stop them, but Jong Ho stepped in and held him back.

Jong Ho "It's better they let it all out now than hold it in and suffer in silence."

It wouldn't be easy for family members to work together all day long - let alone young adults, teens who had barely just hit puberty, thrown together only because they share the same goal. Understanding Jong Ho's intentions, the engineer sat down again. And, unaware of the adults watching them, the children continued to fight.

"What?! If you don't want to be part of this, you should have told the company before debuting! Let me guess, you didn't have the guts to start out as an actor and thought you'd take the easy path to fame by debuting as an idol first. If that's what you decided, then take responsibility for that decision! You're an Idol now, so f*ing work to make your face known before whining! You've only just started, and you're already like this?! What're you going to do?"

"What do you think I am? Some kind of machine? I'm human too. I need time to think through all my troubles and decisions. But, it's just work and practice, work and practice every. single. day. I don't have time to think about myself or make commitments. Considering all that, can't I waiver or doubt things a little?"

Jong Ho "At this rate, I doubt we'll be able to finish recording today. There's still room

in the schedule, so let's try again some other time."

The boys' argument showed no sign of slowing down and Jong Ho decided to postpone the recording. The engineer headed out of the studio first, offering Jong Ho a comment of support for his troubles on his way out.

"And you think we aren't just as busy? What do you think the rest of us are doing? Playing around?"

"You've never liked me, even back when we were trainees. Is that why you're acting like this to me?"

"What?!"

"You always listen to the other members whenever they complain about their troubles. Whether it was family stuff, not being able to debut with friends from their trainee days, or anything else."

"...Seriously? How old are you?"

Jong Ho "That's enough. Everyone, get out here."

Once the other members had all left for the dorms, the two boys sat in front of Jong Ho and cried. Jong Ho guessed they each had been holding on to their own struggles.

One of the boys, having come from a difficult family background, was desperate to cling to his idol career - something he had worked so hard to achieve - and the opportunities it might bring. As desperate as he was, he was also probably anxious. And, the only way to relieve his worries in this industry where the future was both uncertain and out of his hands, was to work as hard as he possibly could. He must have hoped the other members would feel the same, and when confronted by his friend who didn't, could no longer hold back his own overflowing anxiety. Although Jong Ho didn't know everything the boy had been through, he did know the feeling of desperation born from anxiety. He had once exploded at Min Gi in a similar way.

The other boy, who dreamed of becoming an actor, must have stumbled across the path of an idol on the way to his real dream. While he may have started this career hoping that, as his face became more well known, it would eventually lead to opportunities in acting, he was probably taken aback by the reality of this world that demands hard work paid in sweat and tears. He was behind in singing and dancing compared to the other members, who dreamed of being idols, and he must have been worried about the choice he made. But, as busy as they were, it would have been hard to even bring up his concerns. Sure, one could criticize the boy for choosing the path of an idol when that was never his dream. But Jong Ho, who had become a music producer as a means to achieving another goal himself, was no different.

As their crying died down, Jong Ho recalled these past three years. Inspired by the Grimes Siblings, Jong Ho began composing music little by little and when they returned to this world, he began studying it in earnest, hoping to make songs the members could sing together. While it was a little awkward, he enjoyed asking the members' opinions and modifying each song little by little. That magical moment, when the members' voices were paired with the melody he'd made, brought a sense of accomplishment he had not felt elsewhere. Even when the other members grew busy with their own lives, Jong Ho couldn't let go of music. Jong Ho had already been forced to give up his dream - basketball - once due to injury, and had worked so hard to find the new one. If he couldn't achieve it with the members, he would find a way to cling to it on his own, even as a singer-songwriter.

That's how Jong Ho was eventually scouted by his current agency, who was so impressed by the songs he uploaded to MusicCould, that they asked if he could write a song for their upcoming idol group. While he was a bit disappointed they hadn't offered to sign him as a singer, he had no reason to refuse the offer. It was a way for him to continue his career in music, and, for the first time, his efforts had been recognize. Jong Ho, who started as a singer-songwriter, soon became the idol group's vocal coach and producer, as well. He was neither an idol or a singer-songwriter, but he had hope that, as long as he never gave up on music, the chance would still present itself one day. For now, he spent his days satisfied with the opportunities given to him.

Jong Ho "From now on, how about we work out from time to time and try building up

our physical strength."

The two children raised their heads and looked up at Jong Ho, confused.

Jong Ho "Neither of you wants to hurt the other, it's just that you have your problems,

and you have yours. Am I right?"

They nodded and, out of the corner of their eyes, scanned the face of the boy sitting next to them. As their irritation faded, fatigue, sadness, confusion, and guilt took its place.

Jong Ho "I heard that kindness also require stamina. You're both so tired that you're

overcome with anxiety and confusion. But it's thanks to all your hard work

that you were able to debut and were offered all these new opportunities,

too. I know it's impossible to really understand each other's struggles, but

let's at least try to be kind to each other. How about it?"

The boys replied "yes" at the same time, and awkwardly handed each other tissues. "They're still just kids," Jong Ho thought as he smiled quietly. The two boys, who had fought so ferociously until just now, were smirking and exchanging friendly banter. Looking at them, Jong Ho couldn't help but he reminded of his own members.

He went to close his eyes for a moment, but fatigue washed over him and, before he knew it, it was 1 am. Jong Ho hurried to organize his computer files, and buried among those numerous files, one in particular caught his eye: It was his first song (Opinion: Song: Enough?). Maybe it was the boy's fight, or that he was going to see his own members for the first time in a while tomorrow, but for some reason, that song - which he had not played even once since they split - called out to him today. "Should I try listening to it again?" Jong Ho hesitated for a moment before mustering up a little courage and playing that first song.

Jong Ho "Hmm...Yeah, I can't do this."

Jong Ho shuddered at the melody which now seemed so unrefined from its very start. In his memory, it had been a pretty good song, but now he realized how much he had glamourized it. Unable to listen anymore, he went to turn the music off, but hesitated at Yeo Sang's soft voice. Then Woo Young's melodic voice followed and Jong Ho gave up on turning off the music. As Yeo Sang and Woo Young, Seong Hwa and Yun Ho, Min Gi and Hong Joong, San and Jong Ho's voices came and went, an image as clumsy as a colorful drawing unfolded in his mind. The members' voices pierced his heart. It felt as though, unknowingly, he had unleashed a certain long-gone and now unattainable past.

Only then did Jong Ho realize that he had unwittingly ended one period of his life and started another. Listening to the music of a past he could never get back, he longed for those clumsy but oh-so-beautiful times, and shed a tear.

It was then, RINGGG! A fire alarm went off and shook Jong Ho form his memories. "Wha - What's going on?!" Jong Ho faltered at the loud noise, and someone burst through the recording studio door. Standing in the open doorway was none other than Seong Hwa - outfitted in fire protective gear.

Jong Ho "Seong Hwa...?"

Seong Hwa "Can't you hear the alarm?! Hurry! We need to get out of here!"

A stray cigarette butt had caught fire to a bag of garbage, which in turn spread to the vines that decorated the outer wall of the building. The fire grew and began eating away at the building's exterior. "Fortunately, a delivery man saw it all and immediately called 119. We were able to extinguish the fire before there was too much damage," Seong Hwa continued as he took off his red helmet.

Seong Hwa "Thankfully, the fire didn't spread too much, but had you stayed there you

might have been suffocated by the smoke. The next time you hear a fire

alarm go off, get out right away. There's nothing more important than your

life."

Jong Ho "Yes, yes, I get it. You're really a full-fledge firefighter now, huh?"

Jong Ho smiled happily at Seong Hwa's nagging, which he hadn't heard in so long, and handed Seong Hwa a drink. Seong Hwa smiled back, as if he had missed these familiar interactions with the group's youngest member. Looking at Seong Hwa's soot-smudged face, Jong Ho asked.

Jong Ho "How's the firefighter job? Do you enjoy it?"

Seong Hwa finished another sip of his drink and seemed to think for a moment, before replying with a smile:

Seong Hwa "It's great! Very rewarding. But more importantly, I get to save people. It's

really great."

Jong Ho understood. He knew that the afterimage of all the people they couldn't save in World Z had long haunted Seong Hwa. The Boy and his Brother that they were unable to save at the Disposal Site. The many members of the Black Pirates and Thunder who had fought bravely alongside ATEEZ only to have their fates changed by the Guardians' attacks. The eyes of those Sense Offenders hung as an example in the square. Jong Ho remembered that the image of Seong Hwa's back, the other member frozen in place each and every time he encountered someone who reminded him of them.

Seong Hwa "Want me to tell you something interesting?"

Jong Ho met his eyes slightly, as if to say that he was ready to listen, Seong Hwa began describing those who had just become firefighters. There is a time when a sense of duty and a desire to save people becomes a kind of "passion in and of itself. During this time, new firefighters - as if they have never known fear - would do anything to save even just one more person. They would dive into the heart of a fire or risk their lives. Then, they make a mistake and realize they might actually die like this. That's when they finally come to understand their seniors' advice, Seong Hwa continued.

Seong Hwa grit his teeth and repeated the words he had heard over and over again as a student:

Seong Hwa "Saving oneself is the first step in saving other people.

Believe it or not, that's why I decided to become a firefighter. I thought that if

I could just pull myself out of my own misery, I would be able to do anything."

At first, he began studying how to rescue people in various crisis situations. Just learning how to react to various emergencies helped calm his anxiety. Then, while studying, he came across material made for aspiring firefighters preparing for the firefighter exam. The members were meeting to practice together less and less, and making use of his new-found free time, Seong Hwa decided to take the test himself. The hobby he began to calm his anxiety, soon became his job. He found its specific demands and tasks were more comforting than vague dreams. And while it didn't come with cheers and applause like performing on stage, in their place, he was rewarded with the simple, heartfelt gratitude of those he'd saved and their families.

Jong Ho "That's good to hear."

Jong Ho meant that sincerely. He looked at Seong Hwa's face in the clear light. Seong Hwa stared back at Jong Ho in the same manner. Jong Ho, the baby of the group, suddenly looked all grown up. "Even Jong Ho's an adult now. It's strange. It makes me feel proud, but also sorry." Seong Hwa thought quietly to himself.

Jong Ho "You're coming tomorrow, right?"

Seong Hwa "Nope."

Jong Ho "Wait, really? Why can't you come? This'll be our first time getting together in

nearly a year."

Seong Hwa "It's already past midnight. So yeah, I won't be going tomorrow, but I'll be

sure to make the party today. It's Hong Joong's party - there's no way I'd

miss it."

Jong Ho "Oh, come on!"

In Jong Ho's face, now annoyed at the older boy's mischief, was the echo of the maknae Seong Hwa knew. Only then did Seong Hwa put his arm around Jong Ho's shoulders and ruffle his hair, as if happy to finally reunite with the group's youngest.

In an antique villa, far removed from the city center and hidden by lush trees tinted by the pink light of golden hour, laughter echoed about. Inside the villa dining room, eight men dressed comfortably sat around a large table decorated with all kinds of dishes from land and sea. Eight wine glasses collided in the air.

Yeo Sang "I really put a lot of thought into this menu for you guys, but all you've been

eating is San's stuff, I'm hurt."

San "That's bold coming from the guy who just swiped another piece of my

kimbap."

Yeo Sang "Well, you know. You can't beat this kind of nostalgic flavor."

Woo Young "Come on guys, let's try one of the other dishes before Mr. Fancy Villa Owner

gets upset."

Hong Joong "How did you manage to look this sexy on a plane? I thought I was watching

a performance of Britney Spears' Toxic or something."

Woo Young "Hey! I thought I told you guys not to show them that!"

Min Gi and Yun Ho, shrugging in fake remorse, explained how they had no choice but to show the others Woo Young's video, which had already begun spreading on social media. Woo Young's ears were red with embarrassment, but he looked through the video's comments in high spirits, and San took the opportunity to tease Woo Young again. Hong Joong, who had been watching the members with a smile, suddenly remembered the books in his bag and hurriedly took them out. He passed a copy to each of the members, who had flipped through them with thrill. On the first page was a simple letter with Hong Joong's handwritten signature.

Yun Ho "So book no. 2 is finally out! Congrats, Hong Joong! You did great!"

Min Gi "I heard you were already offered licensing deals in 30 countries or

something? I saw it in an article."

Hong Joong "It's all thanks to you guys. If anything I'm sorry. It's our story, but I'm the only

one making money off of it all."

Jong Ho "What're you saying? You're the only one of us who'd ever be able to retell it

all in such an exciting way like this."

The others nodded in agreement. For no reason in particular, Hong Joong touched the cover of his book. On the cover was an image of Z's office, with Z and the Guardians on the right, and the Thunder members and Prestige Academy students on the left. In front were eight men wearing black fedoras, engraving with the name ATEEZ. That's right - Hong Joong's novel was based on their real adventures. In short: it was his and the member's travel diary.

One day, after returning to this world, Hong Joong suddenly realized that his memories from World Z were beginning to fade. Perhaps that's what it meant to live in the present. What were once vibrant and colorful memories, would soon be condensed into a single color and simplified as "good past times." And so, Hong Joong began writing. He wanted to retain those magical moments that he could never visit again as vibrant memories. His diary, a blog, was soon filled with comments like, "Is this a new novel? I'm dying to read what comes next!"

For the fist time, Hong Joong began to consider how the series of events he had experienced with members might seem to others. "Most people would probably assume this is a science fiction or fantasy novel, not a travelog." What began as Hong Joong's diary, evolved into a detailed story akin to an epic novel, and his blog readers increased exponentially as the story progressed. It wasn't long before he was approached by a publisher, and his story was printed as a novel, which went on to become a bestseller. Before he knew it, Hong Joong built a name for himself as a famous writer beloved by young readers.

His days were filled with reader meet and greets, special lectures, and appearances on various TV programs. On a talk show that introduced writer's personal lives, Hong Joong said, "I originally dreamed of becoming an idol, hoping vaguely that, if I became famous enough to appear on TV, I might meet my long-lost family again. But I never imagined that this would all happen to me as a writer." His sincere story - and the dance he showed off at the request of the host - became a hot topic. Hong Joong's father, who happened to watch the show, and his mother, who learned about him through his novel, reached out to him. At long last, his dream of reuniting with his family finally came true.

Hong Joong "My mom is so into Min Gi these days. She even follows you on social

media."

Min Gi "Really? Do you want me to surprise her with a video call or something? I'd

be more than happy to."

Seong Hwa "In that case, would you mind calling my fire department chief, as well? Ever

since he found out we're close, he's been too nice to me."

The members burst into laughter seeing Hong Joong's mother fangirling over Min Gi on the phone. Seong Hwa tried to contact the department chief for a video call with Min Gi, as well, but, busy as ever, he didn't answer his phone. Min Gi left a little video greeting for him instead.

San "I saw so many ads with Min Gi on my way here today. He's everywhere! Do

you know what it made me think of?"

Jong Ho "What?"

San "It's so over the top, it almost reminds me of Z."

Jong Ho, looking around Yeo Sang's villa, laughed at San's joke. It was an inside joke that only made sense to those familiar with World Z and the nature of Z's rule. It also meant that Min Gi's star power was so great that it was akin to brainwashing.

The dining room let out into a short hallway that connected to the living room. Beyond a large window framed by curtains was a dark, blue night. Next to the window, in an antique cabinet, a familiar frame and broken glass object caught Woo Young's eyes.

Woo Young "Hey, isn't this the Cromer?"

The remaining pieces of the broken Cromer, which Yeo Sang had taken back with him, had reconstructed decently well. It looked almost like a piece of modern art. When the Cromer shattered and the members were forced back to this world, Woo Young had thought Yeo Sang odd for picking up its useless broken pieces. Now, Woo Young felt as though he were the odd one.

Yun Ho "Huh? Wait, I think I recognize that. It's that thing Left Eye gave us!"

Yun Ho cried out, looking at a ruby-colored stone in a compartment next to the Cromer.

Jong Ho "It's that thing! That - He gave it to us saying it was something thrown away

at the Strickland Disposal Site along with the voices of the Grime Siblings."

San "Yeo Sang, you mean you took this without telling the rest of us?"

Yeo Sang "What're you talking about? I asked you over and over which one of us

should take it."

Everyone was shocked by Yeo Sang's sudden remarks. Yeo Sang continued, "I asked you all again and again in both World Z and World A, but either you weren't listening or changed the subject on me. I had no choice but to bring it back myself." When the members questioned "When? When did you ask us?" Yeo Sang replied:

Yeo Sang "Don't you remember me asking you all 'What should we do with Sopro?"

[Sopro, Portuguese for 'breath,' 'a gust of air.']

Woo Young "Sopro?"

At that, the members finally recalled Yeo Sang asking them, "Who's going to take care of Sopro?" "What about Sopro?" "Guys, Sopro..." None of them knew at the time that he was referring to this ruby stone, and they all had brushed him off. Now feeling bad, the members touched Sopro aimlessly and changed the subject.

San "You know, Yeo Sang, your villa really is huge. It's so nice! You can really tell

you make a lot of money."

Seong Hwa "I know. You've got enough room to play soccer in here."

The members chided Seong Hwa for his old man-like comment, and looked around the living room.

In just three years, Yeo Sang had become the definitions of Young and Rich, Tall and Handsome. Having built his fortune investing in stocks, Yeo Sang was finally able to start a business of his own without his father's help. The start-up he generously invested in grew into a unicorn, and through his careful investment skills, he was able to transform the small, one-man business into a large-scale operation. Though he didn't want to admit it, his natural ability to read the flow of money reminded him of his father. While money might seem contrary to art, art would not exist without money. Historically, art was created for the enjoyment of nobles and aristocrats, and in protest of this truth, even more kinds of art were born. Money was the group's biggest obstacle in achieving their dream, and Yeo Sang decided to tackle it head-on. He reinvented himself as a leader of the investment world.

The members, who had naturally moved to the living room, shared stories with each other, drank wine, and drunkenly reminisced about their times in World Z, their memories spread out on the table before them. Their uncensored true faces, which had grown used to hiding behind their masks as refined members of society, burst out wildly. The members were as excited as if they had just moved through space with the Cromer - as if they'd gone back to their days as the men in the Black Fedoras.

Yeo Sang "Do you guys remember that time? Back during our performance at Prestige

Academy, when Min Gi missed the beat and his colored smoke bomb went

off first?"

San "Yeah. I was worried that I was the one who messed up our rhythm."

Hong Joong "To be honest, I was worried that we wouldn't be able to make it home. I kept

thinking, what if one of us got injured or something happened...Everything

seemed so hard at the time, but looking back on it now - things were good

back then."

Woo Young "I know, I remember that first time I got injured and how the Grimes Siblings

helped me. The first time we met Left Eye...I almost even miss the Guardians

now."

San "I hope Thunder's doing okay. It's a shame we never got a change to say

goodbye."

Yun Ho "I wonder what happened after we left. Were the people finally able to break

free of control, did the rebellion succeed...Do they still remember ATEEZ? Or,

do you think we've already been forgotten?"

Min Gi "Maybe, you never know. Time keeps moving over there, too. We might

already have become a thing of the past. It's not like we spend all our time

thinking about ATEEZ either."

Jong Ho "Even if that's the case, it's still a little sad to think about."

There was a moment of silence. Although they were all here in the same place, each member was immersed in their own thoughts. Music filled the room, breaking the silence. It was Jong Ho. He played a song from the music he had kept from their performances in World Z. Excitement filled the room again. Some members even started to dance, saying they remembered their choreography from back then. A few other songs played, and finally, the first song Jong Ho had written for the members upon returning came on.

This time, a different kind of silence came over the members. ATEEZ, who had been nothing short of heroes in World Z, had been thrown back into World A and forced to live as commoners again. Still, they had been so sure they could make it here, too. After all, just think of all they had accomplished in World Z! However, the lingering thrill of their adventures had faded faster than they had hoped. This song was one they sang together at the very end of that time. They hadn't understood just how much they had changed before and after leaving World Z, but now they all did.

Woo Young "Why don't we give it one last try?"

Woo Young blurted out the thoughts no other member had the courage to speak, not even as a joke. Sipping his drink by himself and listening to music, he looked very drunk. Hong Joong responded as if to soothe him:

Hong Joong "Ahahaha, yeah, that might be fun. You know, a reader actually said the

same thing at a book concert of mine a while back. They said they'd heard

us perform at a local event a long time ago. They were a fan. It kind of made

me sad to hear that."

Yun Ho "You know, Yeo Sang makes a lot of investments in the arts. He could

probably handle our production. And Jong Ho can make our songs. And

Min Gi will be our center?"

"It's so nice getting together like this. We should really do It at least once a month. Hey, you know let's go on a trip together sometime!" The others tried to brush aside Woo Young's words with their usual drunken promises, but this time Jong Ho responded seriously:

Jong Ho "To be honest, I like the idea. I already have some songs written."

Woo Young "Looking back, I always wondered if we really did everything we could. At

first, we all had our own family problems, and because of that, we ended up

drifting apart before we ever really started. Then, the next time we got

together and tried and it didn't work out, we all gave up so easily and moved

on to our own jobs. Let's do it for real this time. Give it one last go. Doesn't it

bother you? To just accept defeat like this?"

Woo Young thought he had been adjusting well to his life as a flight attendant. But when he danced and sang to the in-flight safety announcement, he realized that was not the case. He had been forcing himself to eat tofu, when what he really wanted was steak. Sure they were both proteins, but they were not the same.

Yeo Sang "I don't consider my current life to be 'defeat.'"

Woo Young "So, then, you think we've all achieved our dreams?"

Yeo Sang "Let me put it this way: You think any life that doesn't follow your original

dream is a failure, then? Something to be ashamed of?"

The members grew pale at the suddenly charged atmosphere of the conversation.

Yeo Sang was frustrated with Woo Young, who clung blindly to his obsession with dreams. And while blindness is at times both enchanting and noble, there are other times when it becomes a trap. The reason why hard word and effort put towards one's dream feel so noble, is that dreams can often seem like a sort of divine mission - and many people blindly accept them as such.

If you believe that the only way to live is to follow your dreams, it's only natural that anything else would feel frightening and shameful, like a failure. The sense of defeat the members felt before arriving in World Z, was that exactly - the trap of blindness. But what they learned in World Z was not that they could be heroes, but the importance of emotions and art, dreams, and hope. And that blind belief in anything leads to grave consequences. At least, that's how Yeo Sang saw it, and he had hoped the members felt the same.

Yeo Sang "Grow up. How long do you plan on acting so recklessly?"

Song: Selfish Waltz works here.

"Until we fail for good, I want to keep giving it my all" "We never really tried," "You're just running away, afraid to face the fact that we've fallen this far, and using the need to 'make a living' as an excuse." "Your real failure is being afraid to fail." Those words echoed in Woo Young's mind. But, Yeo Sang's cold and cynical retort shattered him before he was ever able to sort though his thoughts.

Woo Young "Maybe it's that you don't even have the courage to be reckless. But the

others might. Why are you getting in my way without even listening?"

Yeo Sang "Can't you tell?"

Yeo Sang stood up from his seat as if to say, "Go ahead. Ask." Woo Young looked at the other members, believing that at least one of them would respond positively, "Let's try it again together." But each member only turned their eyes away from Woo Young's gaze. Woo Young felt like a fool.

Jongh Ho "Woo Young, I really did meant it. It want to...but let's organize our schedules

first and then..."

Woo Young "No, forget it. This was supposed to be a celebration, and I messed

everything up. I'm sorry, guys. I'm just a little drunk...I'll head out first..."

Pressing back his tears, he kicked away his seat and stood up. The members rushed over to comfort Woo Young and his broken heart, but it was too late. Woo Young walked away quickly into the darkness.

There were two hours left before the first train. Woo Young, forced to wait until then, shivered as he sat on the bench at the train station. "Ugh, why does he have to live so far out of the city." It was late spring, but the night was still cold. Woo Young regretted running out of Yeo Sang's villa so hastily. He debated buying some apology snacks at the convenience store and returning to the villa, but no matter how he thought about it, returning to Yeo Sang's house would only hurt his pride.

Woo Young "Is being reckless a crime? There are so many reckless people in the world.

Like all the people who fall in love knowing they'll break up in the end. Does

he think they're all just immature fools? And why is recklessness immature?"

He talked to himself and tried to calm his stormy heart. Yeo Sang's words were made even more painful by the other members' gazes. They seemed to imply: "We are not the same." It was as though he alone remained trapped in a long tunnel and the members looked back at him from the other side, as if saying, "Why are you still there?"

Woo Young "Since when did they all become so spineless? Their passion, spirit...where

did it all go?"

Woo Young tilted his head back and looked up at the night. Even in the murky sky, starts shone. "Could one of those lights be World Z?" As he thought that, a reddish star appeared, twinkling through the clouds.

Woo Young "Sopro."

Woo Young unconsciously was reminded of the ruby-colored stone. The stone that sat in the living room cabinet of Yeo Sang's villa.

"Sopro is a sort of magical spirit that synchronizes the feelings of those who

hold it with those who draw breath around them. According to legend, one of

the four priest guardians of Halazia gathered the breaths of all of Halazia to

create it."

Left Eye turned Sopro carefully in his hand and explained. They were sailing to the Android Guardian's bunker to look for the lost Cromer. One of the younger Grimes Siblings, reaching for the stone without hesitation, chimed in: "Then, we should use it to awaken the emotions of the people and Guardians!" Left Eye stopped him and offered a cautious thought.

"Why was something as precious as this thrown away at the Strickland

Disposal Site [dump]?"

An elder sister of the Grimes Siblings replied to Left Eye:

"It must have been swept up and thrown away along with the countless

particles of emotion or our voices. I doubt they knew what it was and just

tossed it away."

Left Eye turned his head to the side and examined the stone which shone the enchanting color of blood.

"Legends are just legends. It might be dangerous. Let's only use this as a

last resort."

Woo Young, returning quietly to the villa where the members slept, headed to the living room, he passed a table covered with empty bottles and leftovers, went to the antique cabinet, and picked up Sopro.

Woo Young "So if I use this...I can sync my and the members' emotions?"

Sopro's red light wavered as though in response to Woo Young's question. Holding the stone tightly in his fist, Woo Young brought his hand to his heart and earnestly prayed: "It's as though they've all forgotten what it was like to be happy. Reignite our passion like it was back then, and let us be happy together again. Please."

Song: Man On Fire works here

Red light spilled from the gaps of his fingers, a ruby aurora dancing throughout the dark room.

Sagittarius MV

Wooyoung's wish on Sopro.

Golden Hour: Part 3 Diaries

I am alive. If anyone were to ask why, I honestly could not answer. For as long as I can remember, I have always been alive. I was not brought into existence by my own will. I had lived without thought until one day, I suddenly became aware – aware of the fact that I had been born. But then, where did I come from? Who am I? What am I?

Only I existed in my world, so there was no way for me to know what I was. I have nothing to look at as a comparison. This world consists of only the world itself and me.

"Who am I?"

I shouted out to the world, hoping the world might answer me.

"Who am I?"

The world echoed back the same question. It sounded just like my own voice.

"So, you don't know who you are either?"

I asked the world again. And once again, it responded the same.

"So, you don't know who you are either?"

I tried asking other questions as well, but each time, the world only echoed my words in a voice much like my own. I would learn nothing from talking to the world. So, I stopped asking questions and began to think for myself. What am I? Why was I born? Why do I exist? Why I... I...

At some point, I stopped thinking. Because I couldn't come to any answers on my own, and the world wouldn't give me one either. I floated aimlessly in the world, existing without a thought.

That day was no different. It was a day of simply existing-until, all at once, the liquid surrounding me began to heat up intensely. At last, the world was changing. I floated, still hoping the world might finally give me an answer. Then, without warning, an unending light appeared and I was swept away by it – Once again, not by my own will.

When I finally came to my senses, I had a body. I felt joy – It was pure joy! For the very first time since my birth, I experienced the emotion of joy. I felt like I could do anything.

Lemon Drop MV

NOTE 26-05-24: All the MVs seem to show the opposite of reality.

A shared dream/illusion between A-World Ateez members. Seems to depict Sopro's trapping of the members in its emotions as depicted by the tampering of the heat in the car, locking Hongjoong in the car, Wooyoung seeing the mirror shatter, the members starting to drown on the elevator and in the pool. This shows actions might not be entirely in the members' control, as they are doing things they wouldn't normally do and being overwhelmed by emotions Sopro is forcing on them.

Opinion: The first song that Jongho wrote upon their return to A-World?

It was a peaceful morning. Technically, it was already past noon – too late to call it "morning" by most standards. But for Woo Young, who'd only gone to bed at 8 a.m., it was. He was in such a good mood, it almost made him wonder if he'd ever greeted a morning feeling this refreshed.

He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. As he squeezed toothpaste onto his toothbrush and began brushing his teeth, he hummed a tune absentmindedly. Looking into the mirror, He felt an unexpected sense of warmth.

Woo Young     "Hi, Jung Woo Young."

He examined his face from every angle, as if seeing it anew. "You know, I'd say I've got a pretty good-looking face," he muttered softly, then burst into laughter at the pleasant embarrassment. After finishing his shower, he changed into a breezy outfit and stepped outside. Woo Young had made plans with San to attend Hong Joong's book signing event together.

Just before dawn that day, just as he finally arrived home after managing to catch the first train out, a series of texts flooded in from the other members. The wording varied, but the message was the same: They all agreed with Woo Young.

Jong Ho           "I've always related to how you felt. I kept thinking we should come back

together as a group, too. Let's try this, hyung^{[note 1]}!"

Yun Ho            "Honestly, I was a little scared. But after what you said last night, I realized –

there's nothing we can't do. I'm in."

Min Gi "I woke up this morning feeling like we could do anything. I guess I was just

tired last night and got a little grumpy. Let's give it a shot."

Seong Hwa      Let's see it through this time. As far as we can go.

San                "I'm always on your side, Jung Woo Young. You know that, right? I'm with

you."

Hong Joong  "I guess we were all a little afraid, since we'd gone too far down our own

paths. But, somehow, I'm sure now – We can really make it this time. Let's

make it happen Woo Young."

Yeo Sang         "I think I said too much. I don't even know why I did that. After sleeping on it,

I couldn't help but think, was there really anything more important than our

dream? Anyway, I want to be part of this, too."

It was for real! Woo Young thought as he received the members' texts. He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction, realizing that the earnest hope he had placed in Sopro, despite his doubts, had really come true. For now, it might just be a spark Sopro ignited, but if they really made it this time, Woo Young had no doubt the members would be happy too.

The night before, Sopro had emitted a fierce light. It had traveled through Woo Young's mouth, into his body, then vanished completely. Until now, he had been skeptical about whether Sopro had worked properly. But seeing the results now, he was sure.

After meeting Hong Joong at the signing event with San, the other members were about to join them to discuss their plans for the road ahead, so Woo Young hurried over. The weather was as bright as his mood. This time, it truly felt like nothing could stop them. Woo Young was sure of it. Things were already looking up. Some members had become famous in their fields; one could produce music, and another had the means to fund it. It was no longer like those earlier days when all they did - and all they could do - was work hard in vain.

Oh no! A reader receiving an autograph from Hong Joong accidentally spilled their tomato juice. It would've been fine if it had just landed on the book he was signing, but, instead, the juice splashed upward, drenching Hong Joong's head. Woo Young, who had been about to greet Hong Joong excitedly, ended up being taken aback.

Hong Joong    "Hahaha, it's fine. If anything, I think it snapped me out of my food coma."

NO1 Song MV

The effects of Sopro on Hongjoong

Hong Joong smiled warmly, reassuring the reader who had spilled the drink. 'Same as ever. I doubt he even knows how to get mad,' thought Woo Young. Hong Joong had always been like that. He instinctively put others' feelings before his own. Whenever Woo Young had to deal with a difficult passenger, he'd think of Hong Joong – someone born for this kind of work. Had the same thing happened to Woo Young, though he might be able to say "It's fine," he doubted he could have kept the discomfort from his face. Regardless of how gracefully Hong Joong handled it, there was no excuse for the person who spilled the juice not to feel sorry. Woo Young frowned on Hong Joong's behalf and shot the person a sharp look, waiting for an apology.

"Hahahahaha! It's like you get to experience Spain's tomato festival right here in Korea! Isn't it great?"

Huh? What kind of nonsense was that? That was definitely not the kind of attitude you'd expect from someone who should be apologizing. Woo Young stared in disbelief. He couldn't hold it in any longer.

Woo Young     "Hey, jokes are fine and all, but don't you think you should apologize fir-"

Woo Young was cut off. Because, all at once, the room burst into laughter. People glanced at one another, grinning.

San                   "Woo Young!"

Woo Young, still not understanding why everyone was laughing, felt relieved to see San. It almost felt like the whole room was in on something he wasn't – a joke he'd been left out of. He turned to San, hoping to let out his frustration, but even San was laughing as he looked at him.

Woo Young     "Why are you laughing?"

San                   "Why? Obviously, because I'm happy. Hahahahaha."

When Woo Young asked what exactly he was so happy about, San simply replied, "Nothing! Do I need a reason?" Hahahahahahahahaha. The sound of laughter filled the bookstore. One of the readers waiting in line for an autograph suddenly flung their drink just like the person who had spilled their juice earlier. Both the one who threw the drink and the one who got hit burst into laughter as they looked at each other. At this, others began to copy them. Both Hong Joong and San laughed as they watched the chaos unfold. Then, someone ripped a page out of their book and stuffed it into their mouth, chewing. The room burst into laughter at the sight. Soon, more people started doing the same. They were like children. Hong Joong reached for the book in front of him and tore out a page. But just before he could put it in his mouth, Woo Young snatched it out of his hand.

Woo Young     "Hyung! What the heck are you doing? Pull yourself together!"

Hong Joong    "Hahahaha. Isn't this hilarious, Woo Young? Hahahaha."

"Isn't this hilarious?" Woo Young couldn't wrap his head around what Hong Joong meant. But for some reason, Woo Young was laughing too. Woo Young's reflection in the glass was laughing. Hahahahahahahaha.

What Woo Young thought and what he actually felt were completely different. The sense of dissociation made him nauseous, and the nausea made him sick. As dry heaves overtook him, Woo Young decided to head for the bathroom and turned away. Just then, as the sixth wave of nausea hit him, a bright, ruby-red light suddenly poured from his mouth. Unsure of what he had just thrown up, Woo Young stood frozen, staring at the ruby light floating in the air before him. It was Sopro. It hovered before Woo Young for a short moment before whizzing around him a couple of times as if to say, "it's nice to meet you," and then flew straight into San's open, laughing mouth. The people around them watching began to laugh even louder at the sight. Hahahahahahaha. The laughter was unending. Woo Young, wanting to check if he was still laughing himself, touched his face with his hands. It was a face devoid of laughter. Yet he did not know if this was a good thing or not. In the middle of the laughing crowd, Woo Young stood alone with a grave look on his face.

Creep MV

Sopro's effect on San's emotions. Note: The MV has heavy references to In Your Fantasy MV with the wine glasses, the same club, the keyhole, etc. Opinion: The red is the same as the "ruby red" of Sopro, this signifies Sopro's influence.

The group had made plans to meet Seong Hwa at the nearby fire department after the book signing. But Hong Joong and San were laughing so hard they could barely walk, and it took them an entire hour to make it a mere 600 meters. They laughed at the bright sunlight, at the birds chirping, and at the deep green color of the leaves. Had it just been Hong Joong and San laughing, things might not have been so difficult, but each and every person they passed erupted into laughter, as well. People out walking would break into grins at the sight of each other. They high-fived and laughed together like old friends with everyone they met. Struggling to keep things under control, Woo Young dragged Hong Joong and San along until they finally reached the fire department where Seong Hwa was on duty...yet Seong Hwa was nowhere to be found.

Seong Hwa's boss, the fire chief, whose daughter happened to be a big fan of Min Gi, greeted them instead. Unsurprisingly, the chief was also laughing, and his unusual laugh cracked Hong Joong and San up to the point that it literally had them on the floor. Woo Young was exhausted and, now resigned to the fact that Hong Joong and San were still laughing, turned to the chuckling fire chief. He asked about the whereabouts of Seong Hwa. Woo Young was told that a major fire had broken out at the printing factory, and Seong Hwa had been dispatched there. When asked if they would wait for Seong Hwa at the fire department, Woo Young responded by asking if the printing factory was far away. Hearing that it was only a 15-minute walk, Woo Young decided to head there. It seemed that the fire chief - and all the other firefighters at the station - were too busy laughing. At that moment, Woo Young wanted nothing more than to find someone who felt the same as he did. He had a faint hope that Seong Hwa of all people wouldn't let himself get caught up in this strange phenomenon. After all, he had never seen Seong Hwa laugh hysterically before.

Seong Hwa      "Gyahahahaha! The fire's being extinguished. It's going OUT! Hahahaha."

Skin MV

Sopro's effect on Seonwha's emotions.

Woo Young's hope vanished along with the rapidly fading fire. While it was great that they had the fire under control, the sight of firefighters laughing uncontrollably at the charred remains of the building, its framework exposed, was unsettling. Even the person who seemed to be the owner of the printing factory stood behind the firefighters, laughing, as well. Woo Young's head throbbed. As much as he tried, he couldn't think of a way out of this odd situation. He was starting to feel like he was the weird one for acting so serious despite everyone else's joy and laughter. Frustrated, Woo Young shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped back. He was beginning to feel like he would rather give up and just be an onlooker than try to be a hero. He wanted to run away, but knew that he couldn't. He couldn't ignore the fact that everything happening was somehow linked to him. Sopro.... He should have never placed his hopes on that damn Sopro.

Just then, something caught in his hand. Woo Young pulled it from his pocket – It was a crumpled piece of paper. When he unfolded it, he realized it was a page from the book Hong Joong had torn earlier. In other words, it was a page from their time in World Z containing Z's brainwashing speech made to control people's emotions. As he read it, Woo Young felt a strange sense of irony. How odd, he thought, to find himself relating - even just a little - to the words of Z.

Woo Young     "A small error is a crack, and cracks lead to pain. Pain. Pain is an unnecessary

emotion and a negative element in life. We want to protect you all."

In the face of the paradoxical situation he was currently trapped in, Woo Young was stunned. Without thinking, he began to read Z's words out loud. That was when, though it lasted only for a brief moment, Hong Joong, San, and Seong Hwa stopped laughing. The laughter quickly resumed, but Woo Young was sure that it marked a meaningful shift. Ever since the laughter began in the bookstore, it hadn't stopped. Not at the fire department, not even after arriving at the printing factory. Not until now. Wanting to confirm whether it had all just been in his head, Woo Young continued reading Z's speech.

Woo Young "A world without cracks is always beautiful. You, living your life in your

position, are the world itself."

It wasn't just his imagination. As Woo Young read Z's speech aloud, the three stopped laughing and clutched their heads, as if struck by a wave of pain. San even began to gag. It was working!

Woo Young     "Don't doubt yourselves. You're always right."

He recited the words "Don't doubt yourselves" over and over, and Hong Joong, San, and Seong Hwa began to show signs of confusion. San kept gagging until Sopro was finally ejected from his body. At the same time, Hong Joong and Seong Hwa screamed in agony from the intense headaches. Sopro, still floating in the air, flew rapidly around them as if it were scanning everything around it. Like a bee, it buzzed past the burnt factory, the bright-red fire truck, the blue sky, and the lush trees.

HWUP! Taking in a deep breath, Hong Joong, San, and Seong Hwa looked around like they had just woken up from a deep sleep. They were no longer smiling. Finally!

"Woo Young!"

As the three spotted Woo Young and headed toward him, Woo Young suddenly jumped up and yelled out in alarm.

Woo Young     "Don't laugh! I swear if any of you laugh one more time-!"

Woo Young spoke with a stern look on his face. It was the look of a policeman shouting, "Put down your weapons and step back. If you don't, I'll shoot!" Pfft. The absurdity of it made the three of them laugh, despite themselves. Ahhhh... Thinking he had failed, Woo Young slumped down in despair.

Seong Hwa      "It's not what you think. It's just... the way you said 'don't laugh!' with such a

serious look on your face..."

San                   "Seriously. How much trouble did we put you through with our laughing?"

Only then did Woo Young finally look up and examine the members' faces. While they were smiling, they weren't laughing hysterically like they had been before. Woo Young studied the crumpled paper in his hand.

As soon as he felt the relief of having the members back to their usual selves, a question arose in his mind. Since Sopro was an item from World Z, he wondered if it might be reacting to Z's words.

Woo Young     "Does this mean that Z saved us?"

Hong Joong    "When you were reading that, flashes of the events we experienced in World

Z began appearing in my head. It was as if my mind were a giant popcorn

machine, and our memories were the popcorn bursting inside."

Seong Hwa      "It's not so much that Z saved us, but that Z's speech brought back memories

of our time there. It caused this burning pain in my head, but then, all of a

sudden, my mind cleared."

While there was no way to know for certain, they were sure Seong Hwa's theory was likely to be right. All the people around them, everyone except the members, were still laughing uncontrollably. Only the members who knew of World Z could recall those memories. The others didn't even know what World Z was. So how were they supposed to help them...

San                   "By the way, what caused all this in the first place?"

Just as Woo Young was hesitating, trying to find the right words to answer San's question, Sopro, which had been buzzing around like a bee, chose its next target. While the members kept their eyes fixed on Woo Young as he nervously bit his lip, Sopro slipped unnoticed into the mouth of the printing factory owner. The man, who had been laughing hysterically as he watched his life's work go up in flames, swallowed Sopro and instantly stopped laughing.

The world I had existed in up until then was small. And for the longest time, that world was my only conversation partner, my entire universe...everything that existed apart from me. Yet now that I've stepped out of that tiny universe, it means nothing more to me than 'the place where I used to be.' Just like a bird turns its back on the hard shell it once called home after emerging into the greater world, so do I.

They say that when a baby bird does not know how to break out of its shell, the mother bird will gently make the first crack with her beak. Maybe the one who made the first crack in my world lent me a bit of their strength after seeing how long I had remained trapped there. Just like a mother bird. They showed me the real world. And what a great, wide world it is.

I was so happy. It felt like my chest might burst, and laughter just spilled out of me. People called this feeling - this sense of saying yes to everything - joy. Some called it delight, or amusement, or excitement. Joy, joy, joy. The word sounded so pretty, I couldn't help but say it over and over.

Everything felt new – the water splashing into the air, the sunlight sparkling all around, even the simple act of breathing in and out. The crinkle of smiles at the corners of people's eyes, the trees swaying as if waving back. It was all so strange, so beautiful... so exciting, so delightful, so funny, so full of joy. How had I gone my whole life without noticing any of it?

Had I been too excited? My mother bird spat me out so quickly. But I wanted to feel this emotion just a little longer! As I was savoring the feeling of joy through the second person's body, I was suddenly hit by something complex and disorienting. It was too tangled to call joy. It was as though a rainbow of colors were being painted atop of me. It was odd. And so, this time, I chose to leave the host of my own accord. I looked at the world as myself. Though it was just as beautiful as before, I did not feel the intense joy that I had felt when I had a body. I could not touch anything, but I wanted to feel more. To do that, I needed a body.

It was then that I noticed him, a person who looked just like an empty shell. He wasn't far from the first two hosts I had entered. The man was sitting on the ground, laughing at the sight of a burnt building. And so, I dove toward him. Splash. The sensation was akin to diving into a deep, dark sea. I lost all sense of direction, unsure of which way was up or down. I wanted to escape, and so I kept swimming. After a while, I began to wonder whether I was swimming toward something or simply sinking.

Woo Young's ears turned red. He had been so sure in his decision to use Sopro at the time, but now, trying to explain it under the bright midday sun, he couldn't help feeling embarrassed. That said, it wasn't something he could hide. All the strange events that had happened so far were clearly connected to Sopro. Recounting the events of last night back to the members, he was reminded of Yeo Sang's words: "Grow up. How long do you plan on acting so recklessly?" Part of him felt so wronged. Is it really so reckless to still be chasing a dream? Is it such a childish thing to do? Embarrassment and frustration fought inside him, and, for a moment, he felt as if he might cry. But he didn't. His ears just burned a deeper shade of red instead.

San                   "So you think it synchronized our emotions? That sounds half-right... but also

half-wrong."

Hong Joong    "Sopro didn't come inside me, so I don't really know much about that. What I

felt was more like... this overwhelming surge of happiness and joy."

Seong Hwa      "I guess you could say it was kind of like being a little drunk. Sort of like when

you're already in a good mood and the alcohol just makes you even more

giddy."

Hong Joong    "Yeah, exactly. But unlike alcohol, it didn't mess with my memory or anything.

It was just the emotion, vivid and clear, like it was all I could feel."

Woo Young had expected the members to scold, if not blame, him for what had happened, but, to his surprise, they focused only on analyzing the situation with Sopro instead. This made Woo Young more nervous, if anything – If he was going to be slapped and told off for this, he wanted to get it over with quickly.

Woo Young     "Sorry. It's my fault you all got dragged into this mess."

Seeing how visibly deflated Woo Young looked, the members began confessing their own wrongdoings one by one, looking as though they had no other choice.

Hong Joong    "You know, three years ago, when we were all starting to get busy on our own

and drift apart, I thought about using Sopro myself. I even went to see Yeo

Sang about it, but ended up turning back empty-handed."

San                   "Back when I first started setting up my food truck, I needed money, so I went

to ask Yeo Sang for help. That day, I saw Sopro at his house and also thought

for a second that maybe I should use it to bring us back together. But

honestly, I was too afraid to even touch Sopro, so I never did."

Seong Hwa      "I think it was some time around the start of this year? I was drinking with Yeo

Sang, and he pulled out Sopro. He said he still feels guilty whenever he thinks

about how his father's opposition split us apart. Now that he's strong enough

to protect us, he wondered if we could come together through Sopro – at

least in spirit."

Woo Young had been sure that Yeo Sang thought that any dream of being together was futile. He had no clue that they had really been thinking the same thing until recently. But looking back on it, he remembered how Yeo Sang had been the one to sacrifice himself and break the Cromer for the sake of the members. He had always valued and believed in their dream.

Seong Hwa "Using the buzz as an excuse, we were actually planning to activate Sopro. I

also really missed our time together a lot. But then, suddenly, Yeo Sang said

something."

"Hey, hyung... What if what the guys are doing right now becomes their dream?"

Seong Hwa recalled how Yeo Sang's words snapped him back to his senses. Lost in the past, he had momentarily forgotten about his dream of becoming a firefighter. Seong Hwa liked his job as a firefighter. While it may not have been his original dream, that didn't mean it lacked any meaning to him.

"What if – and these are all just 'what-ifs.' What if the guys have found new dreams? If we were to use Sopro now, and go back to how things were in the past, wouldn't that mean I'd be robbing the members of their dreams again?"

Seong Hwa      "Your first love isn't your only love. And that is why, in the end, we put Sopro

back in its place."

Though the red hue in his ears had faded, Woo Young felt even more embarrassed than before. He realized that Yeo Sang was definitely so much more mature than himself. Even the fact that he had felt resentful for a brief moment made him feel ashamed now.

Woo Young     "I had no idea. That Yeo Sang felt the same way I did, and that, like an adult,

he chose to maturely accept things after thinking everything over."

As Woo Young hung his head, San put an arm around one of his shoulders. Seong Hwa also stepped closer and placed an arm around his other shoulder. Hong Joong took a step forward and spoke:

Hong Joong    "We're not saying all this to make you feel bad. What I wanted to say is that we all wanted to use Sopro, too. There's no need to blame yourself."

Hong Joong gently tousled Woo Young's hair. How could Woo Young not love these kind-hearted, understanding friends of his? It made him realize once again that, while he did want to make music and perform and dance on stage, the most important part of that dream was being together with the other members that he loved so dearly. Looking at the three pairs of feet gathered around him in a circle, Woo Young clenched his fists. This was no time to wallow in self-pity. He was the one who awakened Sopro, and it was up to him to find a way out of this.

Woo Young     "Left Eye said that according to legend, Sopro was made by collecting the breath of Halazia. It probably reacted to our memories of World Z since it's from there."

The members nodded in agreement with Woo Young's theory. It was true that the memories of World Z had effectively woken San, Hong Joong, and Seong Hwa up. But it was unclear whether Sopro had reacted because of that.

Hong Joong    "If it was Sopro that responded to those memories, shouldn't that mean that everyone, not just us, should have woken up as well?"

San                   "Wait, everyone stopped laughing."

At San's words, the four of them turned and looked around. The people who had been laughing ceaselessly until just a moment before had stopped. Yet the members weren't sure if it was because the emotional resonance ended when San spat Sopro out, or because Sopro had disappeared entirely. All while they were still trying to make sense of what had happened, a fire hose suddenly fell to the ground with a thud. The firefighter, who was wrapping up, let go of the fire hose and slumped to the floor with a heavy sigh. Waaaaahhhh. He groaned, and soon after, he burst into tears. His crying grew louder and louder until it was a sorrowful, heavy sob. It sounded both deeply painful and sad. Wahhhhhhh Waaahhhh.

The sound of crying erupted all around them like a water dam breaking into a flood. The whole city - its shops, apartments, house-lined streets, and public squares - filled with sadness. The members, who had been making their way out of the alley and looking around the main street, seemed momentarily overwhelmed by the grief and paused for a moment, holding their breath.

Woo Young     "I don't see the printing factory owner!"

Woo Young, still standing before the burnt building, called out to the others. Only then did it hit them that Sopro, after disappearing, must have gone into the printing factory owner's body. The source of the sadness had to be the printing factory owner. It was the sadness of the printing factory owner, whose lifelong savings and hard work had gone into creating that shop, only to have it consumed by flames in an instant.

Woo Young     "We need to find him. Sopro's inside of him now."

The members began running around in search of him, sure that, immobilized by sadness, he couldn't have gone far.

Laughter had disappeared from the streets that, just moments ago, had been filled with people doubled over in joy. Now, some slumped to the ground, pounding it as they sobbed, while others lay motionless, crying quietly. A few stood still, their faces buried in their hands, sobbing softly. It had been hard enough dealing with the hysterical laughter, but this, now - the way people wordlessly cried like wild animals - was much worse. Walking down a street filled with nothing but wails felt like walking through hell. It was as if the whole city was one big funeral. The members waded through that hell, looking for the factory owner with no clue as to where he might be as he drowned in his despair.

San stretched out his arm and pointed. There, on the other side of a glass window, stood Yeo Sang, quietly weeping.

San                   "Look. Over there. Isn't that Yeo Sang?"

Seong Hwa      "He must have been on his way to Jong Ho's studio."

From the look of it, he was heading for Jong Ho's recording studio when he was hit with the resonating sadness. Yeo Sang forgot where he was heading and stood frozen in place and lost in despair. The image of Yeo Sang standing there on the other side of that glass window reminded them of how he had looked trapped by the Guardians and desolate of hope. It seemed as though while Yeo Sang's body was here in World A, his mind was still stuck in that moment, in that place in World Z. Tears flowed from his empty eyes.

Woo Young     "Yeo... Sang."

At the sound of his name being called, Yeo Sang lifelessly turned to look at Woo Young standing outside the window. Seeing the deep, dark despair clouding Yeo Sang's eyes, Woo Young felt his breath catch in his throat.

Legacy MV

Sopro's effects on Yeosang's emotions.

Back then, after the others had finally made their way back to World Z and saved Yeo Sang, it was as though he'd lost his voice – as though he were someone who had lost all feeling, devoid of emotion and showing no reaction even to the members' words. It wasn't until much later that Yeo Sang began to open up about that time.

"I thought there was no way out. At first, I tried to find ways to survive, to escape, but before long... I realized there was no way. I don't know if the Guardians stole my emotions from me, or..."

Yeo Sang swallowed his words and left the thought unfinished, but the members knew what he meant to say. Though they wanted to fully understand what Yeo Sang had gone through during his time trapped alone there, they also knew that there are times when effort alone is not enough. The most they could do for him was to hold his frozen hands and hope that the warmth might reach his heart. No words felt right – no words were enough. As if he understood everything without needing it to be said, Yeo Sang simply smiled, bright and gentle, and continued:

"Still, I like who I am more now, after having gone through all of that. I used to think that there was no way out, but it turns out that was just something I decided when I was lost in despair. There's a huge difference between living with that understanding and living without it, don't you think?"

After going through all of that, Yeo Sang would sometimes joke that he was, by far, now the most mature of them all – If anything, they should all be calling him hyung. And so, the members believed that Yeo Sang had overcome his pain and that they understood, at least to some extent, the pain that he had endured.

But that was all only an illusion. In Yeo Sang's dark, tear-filled eyes, the wounds left by despair and fear were still there, raw and unhealed. Someone once said that even a speck of one's pain feels heavier than the vast pain of others – that it's the same for everyone. And now, Woo Young felt like he finally understood what that meant. The pain he had thought was unbearably heavy was, in truth, so small compared to what Yeo Sang had endured – or was perhaps still enduring.

Pushing aside the thought that they needed to look for the factory owner, Woo Young rushed to pull open the glass door. He couldn't bear to see Yeo Sang trapped anywhere any longer. Woo Young held Yeo Sang's hand. It was cold, just as it had been that time. He prayed that the warmth of his hand might reach him. 'I finally understand your dream now, Yeo Sang. You wanted to be free. From the cage your father put you in, from the Guardians' glass room... And you are, Yeo Sang. You made it. You built a world of your own, and you found the strength now to protect both yourself and everything you hold dear. You're amazing, you know that? Truly incredible.' Woo Young spoke with his heart as he clutched Yeo Sang's hand and looked into his dark eyes, praying that his feelings would somehow reach him. And at that moment, he saw it – a small flame flicker to life in Yeo Sang's once lightless eyes.

Hong Joong    "Let's head to Jong Ho's recording studio first."

While his face remained sad, the tears that had flowed down Yeo Sang's face had stopped. Woo Young, pulling Yeo Sang along by the hand, followed Hong Joong, Seong Hwa, and San into Jong Ho's studio.

Jong Ho           "Oh, you guys made it."

They opened the door to Jong Ho's studio, worried that they would find him crying as well, but to their surprise, he greeted them with a calm expression, perfectly fine. Was his mindset so strong that not even Sopro could affect him? Despite his cute appearance, Jong Ho could be almost frighteningly incredible.

Jong Ho           "I just got lucky. I was listening to ATEEZ's music when it all happened."

Late last night, after texting Woo Young that he had agreed with him, Jong Ho went straight to the recording studio. The members had promised to meet there and discuss what kind of music they would create together from now on, and he didn't want to wait a second longer. At first, Jong Ho had also been under Sopro's influence and, laughing, excitedly played ATEEZ's music from a performance of theirs in World Z. Upon hearing the song, his head was struck by an immense pain, and he came to his senses immediately. The youngest's luck was truly amazing.

To Be Your Light MV

Song that Jongho uses to wake up Yeosang.

Jong Ho           "Yeo Sang hasn't woken up yet, right? Hold on..."

Hearing from the other members what had happened, and seeing Yeo Sang drowning in sorrow, he decided to use the same method that had worked for him. Like a doctor diagnosing and treating a sick patient, Jong Ho calmly played ATEEZ's music for Yeo Sang. For a moment, Yeo Sang held his head in pain, just like the other members had, before life returned to his eyes as he regained consciousness. Woo Young pulled Yeo Sang in for a tight hug, sorry that he had misunderstood and resented him for so long. Though a bit awkward, but not unpleasant for him, Yeo Sang gently patted Woo Young's back a few times, before quietly asking:

Yeo Sang         "So what exactly is going on?"

Haaah... Woo Young let out a long sigh. Seong Hwa, Hong Joong, and San looked at Woo Young and quietly laughed.

Woo Young     "Just how many times am I going to have to atone for my mistakes today? Can we maybe find Min Gi and Yun Ho first before I explain myself again?"

Yeo Sang, who was staring at Woo Young with a straight face, sighed and responded:

Yeo Sang         "Jung Woo Young, I knew this would happen. You touched Sopro, didn't you?

Damn you, Kang Yeo Sang.... Woo Young thought.

"Taking coffee orders. Anyone who doesn't respond in 5 minutes is getting an Iced Coffee."

"lol!!! Song Min Gi look behind you"

"Met up with Yun Ho at the café. We'll head over together."

Those were the last messages Yun Ho and Min Gi left in their group chat. It was clear that the two were together and at a café somewhere nearby. Jong Ho copied ATEEZ's music onto his phone so that it would be ready to play to the crying members once they found them. But first, the group put their heads together and tried to sort out what they knew about Sopro.

San                   "At first, it was like Woo Young said – I felt like my emotions were resonating with something. But it was different after Sopro went inside me."

San, after hearing Woo Young recall his experience absorbing Sopro, explained that his encounter was a little different. After Woo Young first held Sopro in his hand and prayed that the members would all feel the same emotions as he did, he felt a sense of relief. It was the kind of relief you feel after sharing your true hopes and desires. It felt so natural that Woo Young was not aware at all that Sopro had gone inside of him – The only unusual thing he noticed was the bright, ruby red light. Then, when the members texted him saying they wanted to try out being a group again, all he felt was pure joy and elation. And just as he had hoped, the other members had felt the same way, like they could do anything, fueled by an overwhelming sense of excitement and joy. But it was different when Sopro moved to San.

San                   "How should I put this... It didn't feel like all my emotions were being

amplified, but that one, specific emotion within me was heightened more

than anything else. Like someone was forcing me to throw away every

emotion except for joy."

It was as if the only emotion that had ever existed was "joy," as if every other emotion had never existed at all. San recalled how he felt as though he could only feel happiness, and how, at the time, it felt natural. But, as soon as Sopro left his body, the other emotions that had been suppressed hit him like a wave, and he became aware that something had been manipulating him.

Yeo Sang         "So what Left Eye told us about Sopro was wrong?"

Jong Ho           "Maybe it's not the emotions of the person using Sopro that are

synchronized with others, but the emotions that Sopro chooses to feel

instead."

Seong Hwa      "But that wasn't what Woo Young experienced. When it was inside Woo

Young, we were sharing his feelings."

While Sopro went inside both of them, what Woo Young and San had experienced was clearly different. What caused that difference? The members were deep in thought.

Woo Young     "It was such a chaotic moment, and everything happened so quickly, so I'm

not sure, but..."

Woo Young hesitated, and the others waited in anticipation of what he would say next.

Woo Young     "When Sopro left San, it looked a little bigger. At least compared to when it

left me."

Woo Young spoke with uncertainty, unsure and suggesting that he might have been mistaken. Meanwhile, Hong Joong, who had been leaning against the wall listening to the other members talk about their experiences, seemed to gain some certainty after hearing Woo Young's words of observation.

Hong Joong    "Could it be that Sopro is getting stronger? The only difference between

Woo Young and San's experience was the order – Woo Young was first, and

San was second."

The other members looked at Hong Joong with expressions that clearly said they didn't understand what he meant. Hong Joong, pushing himself off the wall and taking a step closer to the members, continued:

Hong Joong    "Try to remember what Left Eye said. According to the legends of World Z,

Sopro is a magical spirit born out of the breath of Halazia. It's not a magic

stone, battery, or anything like that. It's a spirit (靈). Do you understand what

this means?"

It's not an object, but a spirit. What does that even mean? The members pondered the meaning of Hong Joong's words. After a moment, they all answered in unison: "It has a will of its own?!"

Yeo Sang         "It seems like the most plausible theory for now. If Sopro is a spirit with a will,

then everything that happened makes sense."

Woo Young     "When the spirit first awoke, it was weak."

San                   "And by the time it moved to me, it was a little stronger."

Jong Ho           "What about when it switched from joy to sadness?"

That's probably because Sopro is now residing inside the printing factory owner's body. Having just lost his life's fortune in a fire, the man was probably overwhelmingly sad. Why was Sopro resonating with that emotion, instead of forcing him to feel joy like it had done to San earlier?

Seong Hwa      "Could it be learning different emotions?"

The other members' eyes widened at Seong Hwa's words.

If, as Seong Hwa said, Sopro is experiencing and learning emotions, that would explain their current situation.

Hong Joong    "To sum everything up, Sopro is a spirit (靈) with will, and it needs a vessel to

contain it, like a body. And each time it moves bodies, it gets stronger."

Yeo Sang         "While doing so, it learns the main emotion each vessel is feeling in that

moment. It can also force or impose any emotions it wants to feel onto its

shell."

Woo Young     "In other words, Sopro is growing."

At Woo Young's words, everyone looked at each other with their mouths agape. In such a short period of time, it had already made its way through three bodies, and its power had grown to the point that it could force people around it to instantly synchronize with a particular emotion. Like Woo Young said, Sopro was growing – and it was growing fast.

Jong Ho           "Something's happening."

They all turned their heads toward Jong Ho. Without any further explanation, he held out his phone. The screen was open to Jong Ho's social media feed, and they could see people's posts were disappearing in real time. Jong Ho looked up Min Gi's account. It read "No Posts." Min Gi, an influencer with over 10 million followers, now had an empty account. They kept refreshing the page in disbelief... then Min Gi's account disappeared.

Roar MV

Sopro's effects on Mingi's emotions.

Slide to Me MV

Sopro's effects on Yunho's emotions, evidence of him not being entirely in control, worrying about someone waching him, shutting the door on the person, his reflection being left behind, and a similar motif of drowning like lemon drop.

San                   "We need to find Min Gi and Yun Ho!"

Golden Hour: Part 3 Diaries “In Your Fantasy Edition”

They found Yun Ho and Min Gi in a nearby café. Thanks to the music Jong Ho had prepared beforehand, they were able to wake them up without much trouble. This once again confirmed that it was the members, not Sopro, who were reacting to memories of World Z.These "shared memories" are what freed the members from Sopro's control. It would seem that the memories of people close to them awoke emotions buried in their unconscious that fragmented Sopro's control and allowed them to break free.

As soon as the members left the recording studio, they understood why Min Gi had hidden his social media posts. The people who had been sad, crying, and drained by despair were now standing awkwardly, hugging their arms as if insecure in themselves. They were flushed from head to toe like Red Humans of World Z, and they scurried out of sight like stray cats. They hid behind cars, trees, and buildings, and only stepped out into the open after carefully peering outside. They walked fast, and when they ran into another person, they would let out a small scream and then hide again. It must have been because of this "embarrassment" that people began deleting their social media posts. Photos of themselves at the gym, photos proudly taken after passing an exam, selfies photoshopped to be prettier than real-life, posts sharing snapshots pf delicious food... The people were embarrassed by these expressions of themselves and either hid or deleted their posts, or deactivated their accounts altogether.

The café Yun Ho and Min Gi were in wasn't far from Jong Ho's recording studio, but it had been surprisingly hard for the other members to find them. At each café the members visited, people were hiding. And so, like playing a game of hide-and-seek, they had to find the people hiding in the café and check them one by one. They found Min Gi first, stomping his feet and hiding behind a sign, embarrassed at all his pictures visible around town. Then they found Yun Ho hiding under a café table.

Hong Joong    "It looks like it learned a new emotion...which means it must have also moved

to a new person."

Once again, Woo Young had to confess that he had awoken Sopro, and Min Gi and Yun Ho, now aware of the situation after hearing the whole story, turned serious. They had to find Sopro quickly before things got out of hand.

Yun Ho            "It feels like something just changed slightly. Do you think it could have

moved from 'embarrassment' and onto someone else?"

Come to think of it, the air inside the café had changed. Up until the moment they found Yun Ho and Min Gi, the people's embarrassment had a spoonful of curiosity mixed in it, as well. Now, it had turned into something different than the kind of shy embarrassment you get when you accidentally make eye contact with your crush. The people's faces had turned red, and their breathing had grown heavier. They bit their lips and clenched their fists, looking like they were desperately holding back the urge to run away. It was an emotion that looked like embarrassment but with an undertone of restraint. What was it called again? Oh! That's right!

Woo Young     "Shame."

That was it. The people were now ashamed.

I feel like I'm dying. I'm so sad. Depressed. Why is this only happening to me? What the hell did I do wrong? It's so painful. It's too hard. I'm lonely. How am I supposed to keep on living like this from now on?

I sank into despair and endlessly poured out painful thoughts. "Sadness." The feeling of it was so overwhelming that I was at a loss. It was the first time I had experienced sadness. Back when I was alone in that world for so long...had I been sad then, too? Had I been lonely, depressed, and distressed? Not once had I thought I was sad back then. Because I had never learned how to feel sad in the first place. But now I feel sad when I think of myself back then.

Upon entering the body I chose, I fell into a deep sea. I wanted to escape this body as fast as I could, but I couldn't find a way out no matter how much I swam. I was suffocating and in pain. I didn't know what 'death' meant for me, but I felt like I truly was going to die.When I struggled to breathe, my body began to shed tears. It wailed as it cried. Then, strangely, the water in the sea where I was drowning began to decrease. Little by little, slowly. The sea of sadness receded like the tide. As the water level went down, I began to see the surface beyond the sea. Light poured in. Maybe to cry is to let the sadness out, like opening a faucet. I thought that if I stayed there any longer, I would surely drown, so I quickly swam out toward the light.

I escaped that body and looked around. I could see a river — it was the Han River. Its water glistened in the scattered sunlight. The river looked like a huge, long dragon. I flew low and lightly touched the dragon's scales. The scales created small ripples, which disappeared and then reappeared. Then, from the other side of the river, I heard a woman laughing. It was a different kind of sound from excited, joyful laughter. I grew curious. I moved in the direction of the woman's laugh.

The woman was walking with a man along the river. The two walked side by side, bumping shoulders, and as they waved their arms back and forth, their fingertips brushed naturally. "The weather is so nice." "Ah, there are so many bugs here. I think one just got in my eye." They chattered about nothing in particular and laughed nonstop. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Even from far away, I could hear the man's heartbeat. I was sure the woman heard it, too, but she only smiled softly, pretending she didn't know a thing. At the end of her smile, her cheeks were red. I was curious about the emotion behind that smile. I wanted to feel that emotion that was clearly different from the joy I had felt when I first entered my mother bird. I dove into the woman's body.

The woman was walking with a man along the river. The two walked side by side, bumping shoulders, and as they waved their arms back and forth, their fingertips brushed naturally. "The weather is so nice." "Ah, there are so many bugs here. I think one just got in my eye." They chattered about nothing in particular and laughed nonstop. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Even from far away, I could hear the man's heartbeat. I was sure the woman heard it, too, but she only smiled softly, pretending she didn't know a thing. At the end of her smile, her cheeks were red. I was curious about the emotion behind that smile. I wanted to feel that emotion that was clearly different from the joy I had felt when I first entered my mother bird. I dove into the woman's body.

I was dropped onto a cushion of cute, puffy clouds. I rolled around in the soft fluffiness. This emotion seemed to consist of subtle clusters of feelings, rather than an endless expanse. When I tried jumping on the clouds, they propelled me upward with a bounce, and I was able to move higher and higher. At some point, I stopped and took a bite of another cloud fluttering by. It was sweet. I grew tipsy. A soft pink color began spreading throughout my deep red body. Was what I just ate poisonous? While I was a little worried, the thought didn't bother me too much. I was just drunk. Who cares if it was poison? Right now, my heart is fluttering, and I feel good.

The man took the woman's hand, and the woman carefully curled her fingers around his. Then the whole world shook, and the clouds shot me up even higher. Everything moved dizzyingly fast.

He'll smell my sweat if he gets this close, I'm sweating so much... Is my makeup okay? It didn't melt off, did it? There's a pimple on my right cheek. What if he sees it? I should have put on perfume. I ate so much at lunch... My stomach won't show, right? He said earlier that he likes intelligent and respectable girls. I need to make sure I come off like that. I should clean up my social media accounts tonight. Oh, god, my hands are sweating. What should I do? I hope he doesn't think I'm gross. Should I pull away for a second and try to wipe my hands? But then, how do I take his hand again? Wouldn't he take it as a rejection?

In a short moment, countless worries passed through the woman's mind. But when the man brushed a stray lock of hair out of the woman's face, she turned red again, and all her thoughts stopped. It felt like being propelled back and forth uncontrollably on a rollercoaster. While the woman liked the man, she was also overcome by the desire to run away and hide. Yet, at the same time, she didn't want to leave him either, and was worried about how she looked to him right now. She felt good, but also a little nauseous as if she were motion-sick, or perhaps hungover. Then, a new group of people appeared in front of the couple.

"Look who it is! Who's that next to you? Your boyfriend?"

The group approached them cautiously. It seemed that they knew the woman. The woman's body grew stiff at their greeting, and when asked if the man holding her hand was her boyfriend, she shook off his hand entirely. As if they were strangers. The people in the group covered their faces with their hands as if they were embarrassed, but continued to talk, glancing at the woman through their fingers.

"I couldn't tell it was you at first."

"Don't you think those clothes are a bit too tight?"

"I mean, I know you lost 20kg, but really."

"What's with your makeup?"

They looked at the woman and spoke sheepishly as if they were embarrassed by her. At that moment, I fell from the clouds. The clouds disappeared, and the space around me slowly darkened. I landed with a thump in the center of a crowd of hundreds, thousands, and hundreds of thousands of people. Everyone was wearing masks that mimicked laughter. In unison, the crowd turned to me and pointed their fingers. Click. A spotlight fell on me. I was in the light, and the crowd was outside of it. I was alone, and they were the majority. I wanted to get out of the light and hide among them, but they blocked my every escape.

I'm so embarrassed. What the hell do they even think of me? Why did I have to run into them here? The woman thought, and I thought the same. I want to run away, I want to disappear. The woman continued to think: I want to run away. How embarrassing. I feel sick. I'm sure he's disgusted by me now, too. The woman and I thought at the same time: I want to disappear. I want to disappear.

The woman ran away. She ran, leaving the man and the group. I also ran away from the spotlight that followed me. I squeezed into the group, in between the masked people, and ran recklessly. It didn't matter where I was headed. My only goal was to get out of there. The woman and I ran wild. So that the spotlights and masked crowd couldn't catch us again. It was then. Thwack! I hit something and fell.

Yun Ho            "I found it."

A man pointed the gun at the woman. No, on closer inspection, it wasn't a gun. It was something that looked like a gun. It shot a light at the woman and beeped - screamed - as if to make an announcement.

Min Gi              "It really worked. The spirit scanner."

Yeo Sang         "To think someone studying archaeology would have such a pseudo-scientific

thing. I don't believe it."

Yun Ho            "Thanks for the input, but don't you think we should focus on catching it right

now?"

Just as the man carrying the so-called "spirit scanner" finished speaking, the remaining seven men rushed to me and the woman. As I struggled to keep away from them, I looked behind me. I was afraid that the masked people I had just been with might still come after us.

Seong Hwa      "Oh, Sorry. Sorry about this."

San                   "We're not trying to harm you. We're just looking for something that we think

might be with you right now."

Yeo Sang         "Please stand still. We don't want to hurt you."

Hong Joong    "This must all be so shocking. We're really sorry. Please operate for just a

moment."

Woo Young     "I'm sorry. I think you might have something I lost."

A tall man pulled a phone out of the bag that the woman had dropped. The man, who unlocked the phone with the woman's finger, began searching through her photo album. What were they doing? I used the woman to ask sharply.

"Just what do you think you're doing right now?"

Yun Ho            "We're trying to help you. We're looking for a way to force out Sopro, that

thing that snuck inside you and is messing with your emotions."

Sopro? Does he mean me? Is my name Sopro? How did this man know that I'm inside her? No, wait. First of all, I never messed with this woman's emotions. I was just curious. I just wanted to know how she felt. So why is this man misunderstanding me? I used the woman again to speak.

"No, you've got it all wrong. No one's messing with my emotions."

San                   "You only think that way because Sopro's inside you. Sopro has the power to

control people's emotions as it pleases."

Hong Joong    "Just a moment ago, you felt ashamed, right? I don't know for sure if that's

what Sopro felt, or if those emotions were purely yours... But, because you

have Sopro in you, those feelings are  infecting everyone around us. Look."

The man stepped away so that he could see the people around the Han River. People stood, their faces red and on the verge of tears, shaking as they held back their shame. Was this because of me? I had only intended to go into the woman's body and feel her emotions, but was it because of me that everyone else was also feeling the same thing?

Min Gi              "Should we try this?"

The man who had been looking through pictures on the woman's cell phone held it up. Everyone nodded in agreement as if to say yes. Then, the man held out the cell phone in front of the woman's face. A video played on the screen.

Yeo Sang         "Hey, hey. The sound. Turn on the sound."

At that, the man holding the cell phone tapped the screen a few times before holding it out again. This time, a sound played along with the video.

"Give me your hand! Hand!"

The woman in the video spoke in a bright voice. A puppy approached happily and held out his paw to the woman. The woman burst into laughter.

"Good boy! You're such a good boy, aren't you?"

The woman held out her hand, and the puppy nuzzled its face against her. The woman laughed and petted the dog, and the dog happily enjoyed the affection.

My head felt as though it might crack. The woman crouched down and rubbed her temples. As she did so, the men who had been holding her let go.

"Come! Follow me."

The woman in the video ran backwards, filming the dog. Then the dog ran towards the woman. The woman here outside the video began to heave.

A vortex sped toward me. If I got caught in that vortex, I would be forced outside again. I had this feeling that I shouldn't go outside, not now. As I ran away from the vortex, the dog from the video began running toward me from the opposite side. The woman must be recalling memories of her dog. But, unlike the bright image in the video, the dog snarled at me, showing its fangs. He barked and growled loudly, as if trying to protect the woman and telling me to get out — now! He was telling me that if I ignored his warning, he would attack. I backed up. At that moment, I was swept away by the vortex from behind.

Hong Joong    "It's out!"

Woo Young     "Look! It's definitely bigger than before."

Seong Hwa      "Woo Young, quick!"

The woman threw me up. I was overwhelmed by the weight of the gaze of the eight men surrounding me. It was more oppressive than the gaze of the masks I felt inside the woman. The huge men were looking down at me as I lay on the floor. I felt both shame and fear. I need to get out of here, right now. It was then — Someone stepped on me.

Woo Young     "I...I got it!"

It hurt. I wanted to tell them it hurt, but without a body, I had no way to talk. The intensity of the man's step gradually increased — Perhaps he was afraid that if he lightened up, I would get away. While I was also saddened by the fact that I was being stepped on and couldn't move, the fact that it was my mother bird, of all people, who was causing me to suffer came as a much bigger sadness. I felt a much bigger mixture of emotions that felt both like the sea of sadness and what the woman felt running into friends she didn't want to meet. It was fear. And resentment.I wanted to run up to my mother bird and be adored like the puppy and the woman. So why was he hurting me like this? He stepped on me even harder, and dirt flew up from the ground. I was pushed deeper into the dirt. Deeper, deeper... Would I be pushed underground?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The mother bird won't be able to catch me. Because when he finally takes his foot off to look at me, I won't be there. I've already run away...down...

Peaceful days followed. The people who had experienced those sudden fluctuations of emotion speculated that it all might have been caused by some abnormal climate phenomenon. Experts on TV cited seasonal depression as an example, and said it may have been due to the weather warming faster than usual, adding to the people's conviction. The problem was that the abnormal phenomenon was not limited to just one country. Modern science could not explain why the world's population all felt the same thing at the same time. Some groups viewed the event as a religious phenomenon, and others thought it might have been something similar to the instinctual group reactions of birds and rats right before a disaster.

We still felt uneasy. We were still unsure if Sopro had disappeared on its own or if we had eliminated it. If only someone could answer this for us, but unfortunately, as this was not World Z, it wasn't like we could reach out to Left Eye or Thunder for advice. As the members went on with their lives, they couldn't erase this feeling of subtle anxiety. It was then that we all received a call from Yun Ho saying he had found someone to consult with, and we got together again.

Yun Ho, currently majoring in archaeology, had been studying history and artifacts unexplained by science without his supervisor's knowledge. Knowing what he did about World Z and the Cromer, he was curious. However, he hid this curiosity from the other students and professors in his major. He was worried about what they might think of him, and Yun Ho himself wasn't confident that he could explain his rationale to them either. After the incident with Sopro, Yun Ho stayed in the library studying day and night as he looked for similar legends and artifacts recorded here in World A. By accident, he discovered a section of the library that was not on the book record map, and began reading through the books there as if he were possessed. He found a book by a scholar specializing in legends and myths based on the theory that the universe is composed of multiple dimensions. As soon as he read the introduction to the book, Yun Ho knew he needed to meet him. This was the introduction: 'It is a great error to assume that the artifacts of our world can only be interpreted by the logic of our world.'

Jong Ho           "That man... Isn't that Left Eye?"

Jong Ho cried out when he saw the scholar introduced by Yun Ho. None of the others could answer him — They just stood there frozen, staring. Only Yun Ho smiled. Yun Ho himself was quite surprised when he first met the scholar, who looked nearly identical to Left Eye, and he understood the members' reactions. The man, who had heard about Left Eye and their similar appearance from Yun Ho, greeted the members warmly.

"I've heard that I look very similar to someone you met in a place called World Z. It seems that must be true."

They weren't just similar in appearance. Even the fact that they both had one daughter was the same. In the corner of the lab was a family photo of Left Eye and his daughteri looking very much like family. Seeing how the members' gaze lingered on the family photo, the scholar began to prepare tea and spoke fondly:

"Fortunately, my daughter is doing very well."

Only then did the members, who were suddenly aware that their behavior might have been somewhat rude, clear their throats and enter the lab. The Left Eye-like scholar placed his unpublished thesis on the table. He spoke carefully as the members looked at the thesis.

"As a scholar, I am very grateful for the knowledge that my theory doesn't have to end as just that. To think you've all been to World Z..."

The members took their eyes off the paper for a moment and looked into his eyes. Despite everything, they were glad to know that there was someone, other than themselves, who believed that World Z exists, and that they had been there. Sensing that, the scholar spoke up again, more confident this time.

"For the longest time, I've been thought of as a lunatic, an oddball, an 11-dimensional human being even in my own field. I am truly grateful to have met witnesses who say I am not crazy."

They all felt the same way. The members smiled in response."This all gives me a little more confidence that my theory just might be right. Not only regarding dimensions - worlds - A and Z, but many other dimensions beyond that."

The scholar explained that there could be even more dimensions and universes than just the two worlds. And none of the members could refute this hypothesis as an ungrounded assumption. The moment that we, who had until that point World A was the only world, stepped into World Z, our understanding of the "one and only" universe was flipped completely upside down.The existense of two dimensions also meant that more universes could very likely exist.

"A long time ago, a tomb that appeared to belong to an ancient king was discovered. Until then, I thought that the king was only a figure of legend, but the discovery of that tomb turned 'legend' into 'history'. As part of the research team, I was elated at the thought of finding relics at the tomb. But it was too late."

Seong Hwa      "It was too late?"

"Thieves had already stolen a lot of the artifacts. And so those relics remained 'legends', not 'history'. Everything that could prove their existence was gone."

The scholar turned the page to a picture in his research paper. It was a picture of an ancient king. From the king's neck hung a necklace made of wowen reed grass. Its pendant was embedded with a jewel of a brilliant ruby color... A jewel that looked particularly similar to Sopro.

"Legend says that it was a gift given to the king by a huge bird — a spiritual creature. As a stone with the ability to move the hearts of all things, it was gifted to the king as a symbol of his love for the people."

Min Gi              "Hearts... Yeah, that does sound like Sopro."

The members examined the paper again. Below the picture was the following text:

"Legends such as these often come with warnings. The nature of this stone is like a child, and the king in possession of this stone becomes the parent of that child. Therefore, if the king has an evil heart, the child will learn that wickedness, and if the king has a good heart, it will learn goodness."

Woo Young     "A child."

The line comparing the nature of the stone to a young child caught Woo Young's eye.

"I took this warning to mean something along the lines of 'Those who lead must protect their hearts from evil.' And though I never thought this legend to be something limited to World A, I never had enough evidence to support my theory. There were no relics I could turn to either. Then I met Yun Ho and thought: Maybe this legend originated in World Z. If not, then maybe it's a legend that involves both worlds."

Perhaps the scholar's words were true. Parts of this legend and what we knew about Sopro lined up almost too well. In both the legends of World A and World Z, Sopro was described as not an object but as a "being with will, a spirit (靈), and a child". So, as a being with its own will, just where did Sopro go? Did it really just disappear?

Their feeling of uneasiness remained, and their worries grew even more complex. Just then, Yeo Sang, who was searching for information related to Sopro on his tablet, shouted out urgently.

Yeo Sang         "It didn't disappear, it was just hiding!"

Yeo Sang turned his tablet to the members. On the screen was a live clip of a video creator searching for true ghost stories. He talked while walking through a graveyard. A statue that didn't exist until yesterday suddenly appeared overnight, and monsters were rising from the ground. The bust statue, made of corpse, bone, soil, and grass, had grown into a human shape. With a shriek, its eyes shot open. It looked enraged. People watching the live video called it "the resurrection of Frankenstein".

Not long after, a war broke out over there.

ASH MV

Opinion: The Japanese albums all seem to be about Halazia crew. We can see Yeosang observing another ATEEZ on a movie theatre seat reminiscent of the ones seen in In Your Fantasy, which to me implies that he is from the Halazia crew who was seated in the audience of that MV. The other ATEEZ seems to be beaten and broken, stranded even, possibly Halateez who as of this point are still detained on Z World. Could this be depicting Halazia rescuing or even resurrecting Halateez (as Mingi seems to twitch back to life at the end)?

Conversely, this could be Halazia crew having suffered a loss on their journey and are on the brink of death. They are visited by their future selves (Halateez) and spurred back to life.