Chapter 300
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 300
Chapter Title: Heroes, Assemble!
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July.
The bustling month of May, filled with fan meetings, passed, and summer vacation had arrived.
“What are your friends doing for summer vacation, Seojun?”
Seojun, who was pulling his suitcase, answered Seo Eunhye's question.
The students of Mirinae Arts High School spent their vacation in one of two ways: internal or external lessons. Those who found the school's classes sufficient stayed at school, while those who took private lessons during the break went to academies.
“My school has great instructors, so the internal lessons are usually enough. Some kids do both internal and external lessons if they feel they need more. But with auditions and filming schedules, I think everyone's going to be incredibly busy.”
Special lectures, auditions, filming. The group chat was already filled with friends lamenting that they would be even busier than during the school semester.
“I see.”
“The head of the music team from the play I was in said some students from the music and art departments go on short overseas camps.”
With numerous competitions and contests, the art and music students were busy as well.
At that, Lee Minjun spoke up.
“Does that mean you're going to an overseas camp too, Seojun?”
Seojun and Seo Eunhye laughed at Lee Minjun's words.
Just as he had told his fans, Seojun had come to the United States with his mom and dad for summer vacation.
“But the acting department doesn't really go abroad much.”
“Really?”
Seo Eunhye, who was looking for the exit, tilted her head at Seojun's comment.
“I don't know about the other departments, but acting majors usually stay and work in Korea unless it's a special case. Besides, it's hard to work abroad unless you're really good with your lines in another language.”
As they chatted and exited the airport, a familiar face was there to greet them.
“Welcome!”
“Aunt Nara!”
The ever-cheerful Nara Kim welcomed Seojun and his parents.
They had arranged to stay with Nara Kim during their vacation. Although they had talked on the phone often, it had been a year since they last saw her in person, so Seojun and his parents smiled brightly.
* * *
Arriving at Nara Kim's mansion, Seojun and his parents unpacked their luggage in the room they always used.
“It's still the same.”
Seojun looked around the room after entering.
The overall atmosphere hadn't changed, but small props and the bedding were different each time he visited. Seeing Aunt Nara's thoughtfulness, Seojun couldn't help but smile as he put away his clothes.
After unpacking, he went down to the dining room to find the table already laden with food. His parents came down soon after.
Nara Kim, Seojun, and his parents took their usual seats.
“This is from a famous soft tofu stew place in LA.”
“It's delicious!”
“You're right. It wasn't here last year; it must be new.”
The four of them chatted over dinner, sharing stories they couldn't tell over the phone or through messages. His parents, Nara, and Seojun all laughed and enjoyed their meal.
* * *
The next day.
Having adjusted to the time difference, Seojun and his parents went around meeting friends as they had planned back in Korea.
Seojun also went to Richel Hill's mansion to meet with her and Evan Block.
“Ta-da!”
Seojun's eyes widened at the photo card Richel Hill showed him. Evan Block shook his head from side to side.
“I applied for one too! It even has an autograph.”
It was definitely Seojun's signature. Richel Hill chuckled as she waved the photo card proudly.
“Evan applied too, but he didn't get one.”
“Here, Jun. Sign it for me.”
“Evan Block!”
Seojun burst out laughing at the sight of Evan Block calmly holding out his photo card and Richel Hill yelling at him for his trickery.
“This is the version without the signature.”
The photo card Evan Block held out was the unsigned version, which had gone on sale after Sprouts suggested they'd rather pay for them. It was sold year-round on [From the Sprouts] for just the cost of production and shipping.
“But isn't it too cheap?”
“It's just right. At first, I thought about giving them away for free. But then someone pointed out that if they were free, people who didn't really want them would get them too.”
Evan Block and Richel Hill nodded at Seojun's explanation.
“I bought them too. All eight.”
“It was nice seeing Jin Natra from *Shadowman 2* again after so long.”
The photo card Evan Block was holding was a picture taken of Seojun in front of the snow leopard enclosure during the filming of *Shadowman 2*. Seojun smiled, remembering how he had played there for a bit after filming wrapped up.
“The snow leopard really liked you, Jun.”
*Maybe it felt a kinship with me because of my ability.*
“Oh, Jun. Have you seen the indie film Jonathan shot?”
“No. It wasn't on Plus+ or any other sites. I asked Jonathan for it, but he said he was too embarrassed to show it to me and wouldn't give it to me.”
Seojun pouted.
“...He didn't show the film to Jun? Is Jonathan planning to cut ties with you?”
Richel Hill burst out laughing at Evan Block's deadpan joke. Seeing Richel laughing so hard she teared up and Evan's serious expression, Seojun spoke up.
“Hey, is that really my image?”
“Yes!”
“It is.”
At the two actors' firm responses, Seojun finally broke into a laugh himself.
Richel Hill, after laughing her fill, said.
“I got a copy. Let's watch it together later. It's okay not to win an award. I don't know why he's being so timid about it.”
“Well, his track record has been pretty good so far, and this is the first time he's had a result like this.”
“That can't be helped. Even Director Ryan didn't always win awards when he made indie films.”
Was there anyone who knew of the *Shadowman* series and Director Ryan Will who didn't know that?
*'It was even mentioned in pamphlets and used for promotion.'*
Then and now, Director Ryan never seemed to care about such results, but it appeared Jonathan was different.
As they were chatting, Richel Hill's eyes sparkled.
“Since it's been a while, how about we throw a party!”
“That's a great idea. Filming for *Assemble 4* is done, so Davis should be free these days. We should invite Wyatt, too.”
“And Director Ryan and Director Sarah!”
“And Mr. Swalin!”
And so, a welcome party for Seojun was hastily arranged.
* * *
That same afternoon, at Richel Hill's mansion.
Seojun Lee's acquaintances from the film industry had gathered in one place.
Catherine Miller, who had filmed *Over the Rainbow* with him, was on an overseas trip with her family, and Paul Ogden couldn't make it because he was in New York.
“I was planning to meet them next week.”
He hadn't expected a welcome party to be thrown so suddenly. Director Sarah Rothe nodded at Seojun's words and looked around at the attendees.
“Somehow, all the Marine Company heroes have gathered.”
“It seems so.”
As Seojun was catching up with Director Sarah Rothe, whom he hadn't seen in a while, Richel Hill spoke up with a bright expression.
“We will now begin the screening of Director Jonathan Will's independent film!”
Jonathan Will, standing next to Richel Hill, gave a smile that was part sad, part resigned.
“Oh, a movie?”
“Those film festival entries haven't been released yet, have they?”
The actors and directors, their faces filled with interest, began to take their seats.
Jonathan Will facepalmed upon seeing Swalin Anem and Director Sarah Rothe talking with Uncle Ryan. Seojun took a seat next to Jonathan Will.
“...Maybe I should have just sent it to you, Jun.”
Seojun nodded in satisfaction at Jonathan's words.
Now that he knew things would escalate like this if he didn't show his work, he would probably be more willing to share it in the future.
“So what did Richel say to you?”
“She said it's a rare opportunity to get feedback from actors and directors like these... that I could get a good sense of both an actor's and a director's perspective.”
Seojun nodded at Jonathan's explanation.
He could see why Jonathan had agreed to the sudden screening.
“Alright, let's begin!”
Light shone from the beam projector, and the film began to play on the screen set up on the wall. The actors and directors became engrossed in Jonathan's independent film.
When the movie ended, followed by short critiques from the directors and actors, Director Jonathan Will, who had been bracing himself, was left emotionally tattered. Seojun joined in on the criticism too.
“Jun... you too...!”
“Haha.”
This kind of advice would serve as fertilizer, helping him grow into an even better director.
* * *
“Davis, what are you going to film next?”
At Seojun's question, the former Redbone, Davis Garret, shrugged. With *Assemble 4* already filmed, the entire series was now truly over.
“I'm planning to take a break and then think about it. After filming a series, your image gets fixed, so rather than solidifying it with something similar, I'm thinking of trying a completely different genre.”
Richel Hill asked.
“Like a romance?”
“That could be good.”
“Redbone is over, and *Assemble* will be done next year. Are there no more hero series now?”
“Haven't you heard? Marine Company is making new hero movies.”
Wyatt Carter responded to Evan Block's comment. Seojun's and the other actors' eyes turned to Wyatt Carter, who was holding a large mug of beer.
“Oops. You all didn't know?”
“Well, since the series ended, I haven't been paying much attention to news from Marine Company.”
Richel Hill and Davis Garret agreed with Evan Block.
Seojun's eyes sparkled at the mention of new hero movies.
“To be fair, I only heard about it at a bar.”
Wyatt Carter, a known lover of drink, chuckled.
“It seems like they're planning to start over from scratch, creating new hero movies and turning them into a series, just like they did with *Redbone 1*. They'll gather the new heroes and make something like *Assemble*. It's the dawn of a new hero generation.”
“Then the kids of today will grow up cheering for new heroes, just like we did.”
The other actors nodded at Seojun's words.
“They're definitely smart. Once the second generation is over, they'll probably create a third.”
If Redbone, Greenwing, Shadowman, and the Assemble were the first generation, then the next heroes would be the second.
“If they create good hero characters, it's a method that could last for a long time.”
“They'll have to create good characters and cast the right actors.”
“True. It wouldn't have been this successful without us.”
At the words of Davis Garret, who played Redbone, the central figure of the first generation, the gathered Marine Company heroes burst into laughter. Director Sarah Rothe of the hit *Greenwing* and Director Ryan Will of *Shadowman* also showed faint smiles.
“Let's take a picture! Jun! Directors, come over here too!”
At Richel Hill's energetic call, Seojun, Ryan Will, and Sarah Rothe moved. Wyatt Carter, Davis Garret, Swalin Anem, and Evan Block also stood before the camera. Jonathan Will stood next to Seojun.
“One, two, three!”
* * *
[Richel Hill]
[(Photo) Heroes, assemble!]
#BelNatra #JinNatra #TulNatra
#Shadowman #Redbone #Greenwing
News of Richel Hill's social media post reached all the way to Korea.
-OMG. Looks like Seojun is in the US.
-Wow, look at Seojun Lee's connections.
-All the real heroes are gathered.
-Director Ryan is there too. And Director Sarah Rothe!
-You can totally tell Richel Hill's order of affection from the hashtags lol
=Same. Scrolled back up after reading this comment lol.
-We'll probably never see them all together again ㅠㅠ
The internet buzzed over the heroes' party, and articles were published one after another.
In response to Seojun's unwavering influence even while he was out of the country,
“Well, this is nothing new.”
the staff of Cocoa Entertainment's Team 2, dedicated to actor Lee Seojun, answered the constantly ringing phones with practiced ease.
* * *
Two days later.
In front of Nara Kim's mansion.
As he waited for a moment under the warm sunlight, wearing a hat, a familiar car pulled up to the gate.
As Seojun approached the car, the passenger-side window rolled down to reveal a friendly face. Jack Smith waved.
“Hurry up and get in.”
“Is that how you say hello? Hello, Eric.”
“Welcome. I wish our Jack was half as polite as you, Jun.”
Seojun, getting into the back seat, burst out laughing at the words of Jack's father, Eric Smith. The Smiths' car drove off with Seojun inside. Jack Smith turned around.
“I saw Richel Hill's post. You're causing a stir as soon as you got to the States, huh?”
“It's the usual.”
Seojun shrugged at Jack Smith's comment. Jack Smith scoffed at the sight of the superstar, so relaxed even when the internet was in an uproar.
“Just watch the game closely today. I'm gonna hit a home run.”
“You never hit one when you say that.”
“I'm gonna hit one today!”
Eric Smith burst into laughter at the children's petty squabble. The two boys had grown up so much, but to Eric Smith, they were still the brave little Jun and the crybaby little Jack.