The New York street air, thick with the smell of hot dogs and exhaust, hit SHINee as they stepped out of their SUV near Times Square. “Okay, deep breaths," Key muttered, adjusting his mask. “Remember the plan: blend in, but not too much. We don't want to cause a stampede."

*Minho, ever the athlete, was already scanning the crowd.+ "Blend in? With our hair? Good luck with that, Key." He gestured to his own brightly colored locks. "Besides, a little attention never hurt anyone."

Onew, usually the most observant, seemed a bit lost. "Is it always this loud? I feel like my ears are ringing already." He bumped into a woman carrying a stack of tourist maps, mumbling an apology in Korean before switching to broken English.

Taemin, trailing behind, was watching a group of buskers. "Hyungs, check this out," he said, pointing to a dance crew attempting a hip-hop routine. "It's like everyone here is trying to make it big."

Key rolled his eyes. “Everyone except us. We're already big, Taemin. Remember?"

"Yeah, but even they're struggling with the basics," Taemin persisted, a thoughtful look on his face. “I saw someone trying to do the 'Lucifer' point dance, and they completely missed the timing."

Minho snorted. "Serves them right. That choreo is brutal. I still wake up in a cold sweat sometimes, remembering the comeback stages."

"Seriously," Key chimed in. "Lee Soo-man was trying to kill us with that one. My knees haven't been the same since." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Maybe we should start a 'Lucifer' bootcamp. Charge a fortune for the secrets."

Owen chuckled, finally navigating the crowd with a bit more confidence. “Don't give away our competitive edge, Key. Let them suffer. Besides," he added, "it's kind of flattering, right? That even years later, people are still trying to master it."

Taemin nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I guess. It's like a badge of honor. A really painful, exhausting badge of honor."

As they continued their walk, dodging selfie sticks and aggressive Elmo impersonators, the initial awe faded into a more grounded sense of reality. New York was chaotic, overwhelming, and a little bit absurd. But as long as they had each other, even the most challenging choreography – and the most crowded streets – felt a little bit easier.