Kang Woojin froze.
For a split second, everything in his head went blank. The composure he had maintained until then slipped, and his gaze lost focus.
'What am I even looking at right now?'
"...This is insane! What is this?!"
The camera flashes stung his eyes, but this was not his first time experiencing something like it.
The most recent example had been the 『Boy Friend』 press conference, where his blunt honesty had stirred up major buzz. But this time was different. The scene in front of him was far more chaotic.
Papapapapak!
Papapapapapapak!!
There were far more cameras than before. To the right side of the arrival hall where Kang Woojin had appeared, a fenced-off section packed with reporters stretched endlessly. There had to be around a hundred of them. Behind them, ordinary Japanese citizens crowded together, watching.
The reporters held cameras. The spectators held up their phones.
So what was all this for?
More than five hundred people were frantically taking pictures of Kang Woojin and Hwarin as they stepped out.
Among the crowd—
"Are those people crazy?! Kyaa! Did all these people really come to see our oppa?!"
A familiar face stood out.
It was Kang Hyuna, Woojin's younger sister. She was not alone either. She had come with her friends as a representative and staff member of the fan club.
"Hyuna!! Hold my hand, hold my hand!"
"Did you get a picture of Woojin oppa?!"
"He's too far! I can't see him properly!"
"Just take whatever you can! We have to upload it to the fan cafe!"
"The Kang's Heart members are here too!"
Hard to spot, but members of Kang's Heart were mixed into the crowd as well. Including them, the mass of people moved like a crashing wave.
"Is that really Kang Woojin?! Oh my god, he's handsome."
"Please look this way!!"
"Korean actors are seriously so good-looking!!"
"Doesn't he look even better in person?!"
"Woojin and Hwarin look amazing together!"
The lights made Woojin's eyes ache, and the overlapping screams in Japanese felt like they were tearing at his ears.
"Over here! Over here! Mr. Kang Woojin!"
"How do you feel about coming to Japan?!!"
"Mr. Kang Woojin! Will you be meeting Director Kyotaro Tanoguchi during your stay?!"
"Would you take a photo with Hwarin?!"
"When were you cast in 『The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice』?!"
"Did you study Japanese separately?! When is the Ametalk Show recording?!"
"Is 『The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice』 your first leading role?!"
"Is this the start of your full-scale activities in Japan?!"
"Please share a brief comment about 『Boy Friend』!"
The questions overlapped so badly they were almost impossible to understand. Korean was occasionally mixed in, which meant Korean reporters were among the Japanese ones.
Standing to Woojin's right, Kim Daeyoung stared blankly.
"...This is insane. I've never seen anything like this. I didn't know Japanese people could be this intense."
Only after looking at Woojin's face did it truly sink in.
'Is this guy really a star now?'
He wanted to shout, 'What kind of nonsense is this?!' but held it in. He would deal with it later in their private group chat.
Meanwhile—
'I feel sick. I seriously want to run.'
Woojin's head was starting to go numb from the pressure.
From another perspective, this meant the attention surrounding Director Kyotaro, writer Takikawa Akari, and 『The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice』 was massive. For a rookie actor, this level of interest was unheard of.
'This is no joke.'
He had expected something like this. Choi Sunggeon had warned him on the plane.
'Woojin, there'll probably be quite a few reporters at the airport. Articles are already out about your Japan schedule with Hwarin. It might get a bit loud, but just act like you usually do. Stay calm and maybe wave your hand.'
But this—
'A bit?! This is what you call a bit?!'
It felt like something out of a drama. His legs trembled.
The security guards and even Hwarin, however, looked completely unfazed. Woojin forced himself to focus.
'No, get it together. Just walk. Kang Woojin, move.'
As he steadied himself, the security team began to move. Woojin, Hwarin, and the rest of the group started walking forward.
At the same time, fans behind the reporters reached out and tossed unidentified gifts toward them.
Woojin did not approach them.
'This is scary. Yeah... this is actually scary.'
And honestly, that was the right reaction. In a situation this heated, getting too close could easily turn dangerous.
So—
He glanced at Hwarin, copied her, and gave a moderate wave toward the cameras and crowd. While doing so, the group quickly moved out of the arrival hall.
Then—
Whoosh!
From the crowd, someone suddenly rushed forward. A man of average build charged straight toward Hwarin.
"Hwarin!!"
He was stopped immediately by security.
At the same time, Woojin instinctively moved, shielding Hwarin with his body. It was almost reflexive. His body reacted before his thoughts did.
Looking at her—
'What the hell, that startled me.'
Their eyes met.
Woojin remained expressionless, but Hwarin's pupils were wide, her shoulders stiff.
Only then did he realize what he had done.
"Ah, sorry."
He removed his hand from her shoulder.
Hwarin answered in a dazed voice.
"No... it's okay. Thank you."
Right then, Choi Sunggeon called out to Woojin.
As Woojin turned away, Hwarin watched his back and quietly placed a hand on her chest.
'What was that just now? That strength...'
Her heart was racing even faster than when she first saw the massive crowd.
'I almost hugged him. No... I should've just hugged him.'
──────────
Later.
After barely escaping the airport, Woojin got into one of the waiting vans. There were three vans and a minibus.
Woojin and Hwarin rode separately.
As the van started moving, Choi Sunggeon, sitting beside Woojin, opened his planner and chuckled.
"About five hundred people, maybe? That's a bit less than I expected."
Less?
That alone had already been overwhelming. If it had been double, Woojin might have actually fainted.
Unaware of his thoughts, stylist Han Yejung chimed in.
"Yeah, it was a bit disappointing. There should've been more! With Hwarin there, it should've been at least two thousand!"
"The airport probably controlled it. I saw security holding people back near the edges."
"Still, a lot of people came."
"That's about average. The articles and SNS posts will spread soon."
"Looks like Woojin oppa was a bit disappointed too? That's why you looked calmer than usual."
Woojin stayed silent.
What exactly were they expecting?
At that moment, Choi Sunggeon checked the schedule and sighed.
"Whew, Woojin. I expected it, but this schedule is tight."
"It's fine."
"You might be fine, but the rest of us are exhausted. After filming, we'll head to the hotel, eat quickly, go to the salon, then move to the 『Boy Friend』 event. Netflix Japan will be there too..."
That was enough.
Better not to listen any further.
After explaining for a while, Choi Sunggeon added—
"There's been a slight change to the schedule. We added a few promotions and interviews."
"You were supposed to meet Director Kyotaro on the 27th, PD Shinjo on the 28th, and record Ametalk Show! on the 30th. But the director's schedule overlapped, so you'll meet PD Shinjo tomorrow, record on the 29th, and meet the director on the 30th instead."
"Understood."
Woojin nodded calmly.
"Offers are pouring in right now. Broadcasts, YouTube, ads. Almost double compared to 『Hanryang』. Thanks to you and Hyeyeon, we're even considering expanding the company. What about the scripts coming in?"
Projects.
Dozens of scripts had already piled up.
Normally, it would take months to read them all.
But for Woojin—
'A week would be enough if I wanted to.'
Still—
'Is this too much?'
He had changed. Even if only slightly.
'Don't burn yourself out chasing everything.'
But showing weakness did not fit his concept.
"For now, I'll focus on the projects already planned. Put the new ones on hold."
"Good. I agree. Your schedule isn't normal. Most people couldn't handle it. But you make it look easy."
"It's not difficult."
"Right, right."
Even so—
'I'm reaching my limit.'
He kept the act going.
'Maybe people only grow when they're pushed this far.'
Choi Sunggeon spoke again.
"Let's talk about projects after 『Boy Friend』 and 『Drug Dealer』 release. October onward will be busy."
Right. Year-end season.
Events, broadcasts, ceremonies, festivals.
"I haven't felt this good in a long time. Woojin, you're going to get offers everywhere."
There was no avoiding it.
He would be pulled into all of it.
──────────
A few hours later.
After dinner near Tokyo Station and a stop at the salon, Woojin arrived at Netflix Japan near Tokyo Tower.
The interior felt similar to Netflix Korea.
But—
"Nice to meet you. I'm John Craig, executive director of Netflix Japan."
A foreign executive.
They shook hands briefly before moving into the event meeting.
"Shall we head out?"
They moved to a nearby venue.
The schedule was tight but efficient.
The 『Boy Friend』 event was held in a studio building.
"Mr. Kang Woojin, Ms. Hwarin! We'll start with the photo session!"
The event, combined with a press conference, began with photos.
About thirty reporters were present. A 『Boy Friend』 poster hung behind the stage. An MC stood ready.
Then—
Papapapapak!
Papapapapapapapak!!
Despite it being his first overseas schedule, Woojin moved almost mechanically.
He barely had time to think.
His gaze drifted briefly toward the refreshments.
'That looks good.'
That was it.
On stage, Woojin wore a casual suit. Hwarin wore a check-pattern two-piece outfit.
They posed together for about ten minutes.
Then they sat.
The arrangement was MC, Woojin, Hwarin, interpreter.
Woojin remained calm.
'This is smaller than Korea.'
Aside from the language, it felt manageable.
Soon, the MC began.
"Shall we begin? Mr. Kang Woojin, Ms. Hwarin, hello."
"Hello, I'm Kang Woojin."
"I'm Hwarin. Nice to meet you."
As the event officially started, Netflix Japan staff at the back began whispering.
Some pointed subtly at Woojin.
Meanwhile—
Choi Sunggeon watched.
'Maybe I should've dressed him differently.'
Then—
A team lead suddenly shouted in Japanese.
"What?! One million subscribers in just one week?!"