MULTIVERSE | ATEEZ & XIKERS

After the red moon rises. | Chapter 11

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 would love and care for it, and as for us, we returned to our world.

Yet, even after we returned, those feelings 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.

–
Since then, three years have passed.
And now we're living outside our dreams. Xikers had returned to their own world and so had Ateez.

Hongjoong
Each of them brought out their savings, gathering enough to rent the most affordable practice room to dance and 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 these 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, the days spent gathered in their 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 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 bestseller, 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 to find his long-lost family members 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 dream 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.

'What is this? This emptiness...'

It was as if he was watching the curtains close after a spectacular performance. Alone in that moonlight-filled room, Hongjoong thought to himself,