"We're ready to show how much we've grown on stage!" said Steven with confidence.

AH9 returned with a more mature image, presenting a coming-of-age story inspired by Pinocchio. Moving beyond their debut freshness, the members exuded calm assurance and stage command during their second mini album showcase, held on November 4 at Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul.

From Boys to Artists

Their new album The Passage expands on AH9's youth narrative — the transformation of incomplete boys into confident young men. The six-track record includes AH9, The Start of a Shining Number, Run at 1.5x Speed, Pinocchio Hates Lies, So I Won't Lose You Again, and Sleeping Diary.

Title track Pinocchio Hates Lies expresses the honesty and confusion of youth navigating mistakes and emotions. Its choreography cleverly mimics Pinocchio's growing nose, symbolizing truth and self-acceptance.

Cha Woong-ki shared, "If our debut song showed boyish charm, this time we wanted to portray the raw, uncertain energy of growing up."

Musical Maturity and Teamwork

Members actively contributed to the creative process — Steven co-wrote AH9, The Start of a Shining Number and So I Won't Lose You Again with Park Han and Cha Woong-ki. The fan song So I Won't Lose You Again delivers a heartfelt message to their fandom, "POHA," promising eternal companionship.

JL added, "It's a song dedicated to our fans, so it holds special meaning for all of us."

Global Recognition and Ambitions

Since debut, AH9 has gained international attention, winning three music show trophies within 10 days and holding their first solo fan concert in Manila last August.

Steven shared, "After the concert, I dreamed of meeting fans from even more countries — especially visiting my home, Australia, as AH9." Daisuke added with a smile, "I can't choose just one country; I want to see the world through a full tour."

The Message of Growth

Member Seo Jung-woo said the group's greatest strength is "teamwork." He admitted, "I felt pressure to show improvement over our last album, but the members' encouragement helped me regain confidence."

Zhang Shuai-bo highlighted their progress in performance, saying, "We filmed the music video in one take with no NGs. That alone shows how far we've come."

Looking ahead, Steven expressed big goals: "We want to achieve an all-kill on music shows — to hold trophies from every stage." Cha Woong-ki added, "With year-end season approaching, we're aiming for as many awards as possible, including Rookie of the Year."

With The Passage, AH9 embraces the turbulence of youth and transforms growing pains into strength, marking another confident step in their journey toward maturity.