Dawn of Apollo Chapter 1 

Special commentary

[To celebrate the publication of Dawn of Apollo, our chief editor and Apollo's lead manager, Park Yunsu, has convened the members to give their impressions of each chapter!]

[A burly man with a high and tight haircut appears. He is plainly dressed, as if he just popped out from the gym.]

YUNSU: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.

Welcome...to a special talk corner presented by APL Entertainment, in partnership with our esteemed collaborator, Serio! Webtoons. Who...do they even know that we're doing this segment? Well, we are, so don't die of shock.

...Right. This is a limited series in 8 instalments, and you can follow along from your home or your school or wherever you can stream videos without being a public nuisance. 

If you're here, it's because you're a smart cookie - you managed to click into the QR code from our deluxe CD insert like a real problem solver. Now, that same booklet contains...this novel. 

[Yunsu is holding up the physical booklet, which features a shimmering blue cover.]

YUNSU: We'll be reading from this and giving our impressions.

We've got all 5 of the boys here, and we're gonna have them introduce themselves. 

[We pan to the right to see the 5 members of Apollo sitting in what look like home theatre seats. They have their casual day clothes on, as if they were diverted from practice, and look visibly amused at the whole situation. Each person has a copy of the novel in hand.]

JUNGMO: Hello, I'm the leader of Apollo, Seo Jungmo. Thank you for purchasing our EP! 

JACOB: I'm Jacob Lee, sub vocalist and another pretty face! Well, I'm not super convinced that you've actually purchased our EP, but that's cool. We like a freeloading friend here. 

YUNSU: Uh, no, we don't. 

HYUNTAE: I'm Hwang Hyuntae. 

[The others burst into laughter after an awkward pause.]

SUNNY: "I'm Hwang Hyuntae. I'm just here."

HYUNTAE: I'm Hwang Hyuntae, and I rap and I bring the sizzle. I act as the oldest, I mean, I am the oldest.

JACOB: Hyuntae holds all the years. 

MINHO: I'm Kang Minho and I sing. 

SUNNY: ...And I'm Sunny MC and I aim to please!!

[Now the entire group explodes in laughter for some reason.]

YUNSU: Guys...that was absolute dog shit. Stick it in a fire, it's done. We didn't teach you that. I hope this isn't a portend of what the rest of your reactions will look like.

[For some reason Yunsu's comments did not immediately result in a reduction in giggles.]

JUNGMO: Sorry, Yunsu. We'll try to bring a higher calibre. 

YUNSU: So. What did you all think? 

If your memory's failing you...book's right here.

[A pause, as everyone silently spars over who would go first with their eyes.]

JACOB: ...What, me?

...Well, uh, first off, a huge thank-you to APL and Serio! for taking a chance on such - such an interesting collaboration, to really expand and broaden the way our fans experience the universe of Apollo!

Like our Muses, I am also learning a lot about our fantastic backstory, and the world of possibilities that our "powers" open up.

I thought this chapter was...very...well written! I could see the real Sunny in it.

SUNNY: I could see the real me, too. 

Mr. Park!! You wrote this?

YUNSU: E-di-tor. I edit what they give me, that's what "editor" means. 

SUNNY: Shit, now that's talent!

YUNSU: Sunny can you talk a bit more like a person who influences the younger generation...

SUNNY: Sorry, sorry. 

YUNSU: Let's hear from an adult please. 

HYUNTAE: Uhhh, well, I - bugger -

[There's a little static as Hyuntae holds up the mic right to his lips - why would he do that? - and immediately breaks the plastic clip.]

YUNSU: C'mon, genius, would I be talking to you? Go suck on a bottle. Jungmo.

JUNGMO: [To Hyuntae] It's OK, dear. 

[To Yunsu] I think it's an intriguing opening gambit! We're not quite sure what's going on yet, but the sense of being unmoored in more ways than one is palpable, and I think that having Sunny as the protagonist will be infinitely relatable to our Muses. 

And, I like the dog. 

YUNSU: You like...the dog.

JUNGMO: Yes! There's just one thing though. I'm not sure that even a fictional version of Sunny would have a 2.9 GPA -

SUNNY: Oooh, ahh, well. 

Hold your horses there, Leader. I never did show you my report card from high school. 

Ha-ha-ha!!

MINHO: But he does know about your college entrance exam results.

SUNNY: Well look who decided to join the conversation!!

YUNSU: [to off-camera] Has this been 5 minutes yet?

Okay. We're moving on.