"We'll make sure to show you our growth on stage!" — Steven
AHOF returned with a more mature look. Inspired by the fairy tale Pinocchio, the group unfolds a new page of youth — a journey from boys to men.
Instead of the innocence from their debut, the members displayed composure and confidence. Performing on the same stage as their debut showcase, they proved how much they've grown in just four months.
Their performance, in particular, became more intense yet refined. With diverse stage formations and musical-like storytelling, AHOF showcased their signature strength.
Cha Woong-gi explained, "If our debut song expressed boyish charm, this time we focused on sharper, more powerful movements. It captures the anxiety of youth."
AHOF held a showcase for their second mini album The Passage on November 4 at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
The Passage — A Story of Growing Pains
The Passage expands AHOF's youthful narrative, depicting the journey of an unfinished boy growing into adulthood. The album includes six tracks: 'AHOF, The Beginning of a Shining Number', 'Run at 1.5x Speed', 'Pinocchio Hates Lies', 'So I Won't Lose You Again', and 'Sleeping Diary'.
Cha Woong-gi described it as "rough youth," adding, "It's about finding confidence through growing pains."
The title track, 'Pinocchio Hates Lies', conveys the emotions of a boy who wants to confess his feelings honestly, even amid confusion and mistakes.
The key choreography also references Pinocchio. Park Joo-won said, "We express his nose with our hands. It's a fun and direct way to bring the song's message to life."
Music and Emotional Growth
The members' artistic growth also stands out. Steven took part in writing the lyrics for 'AHOF, The Beginning of a Shining Number' and co-wrote 'So I Won't Lose You Again' with Park Han and Cha Woong-gi.
The intro track 'AHOF, The Beginning of a Shining Number' rearranges the narration from their previous outro 'AHOF, The Number That Shines' into a melodic version.
Steven shared, "The intro represents a fresh start for AHOF. The lyrics express our genuine feelings toward youth."
'So I Won't Lose You Again' is a fan song. Park Han said, "We wrote it for POHA (the fandom). It's a promise to always stay together."
The members picked the fan song as their favorite. JL noted, "Because it's dedicated to POHA, it naturally became the song we're most attached to."
From Debut Glory to Global Ambition
AHOF drew global attention right after their debut, winning three music show trophies within just ten days. They also held their first solo fan concert in Manila, Philippines, last August.
Joo-won recalled, "I'll never forget the cheers and energy from local fans. It made me want to experience that heat again, wherever we go."
Steven added, "After the fan concert, I set a new goal — to meet fans in more countries. Especially, I want to visit Australia, where I grew up, as AHOF."
Daisuke smiled, saying, "It's hard for me to pick just one country. I'd rather go on a world tour and visit as many places as possible."
What Has Changed in Four Months
It's been about four months since their last comeback. When asked about their biggest growth point, Seo Jung-woo answered, "Teamwork. Now we can understand each other just by looking into each other's eyes."
He admitted, "I sometimes lost confidence because I felt pressure to show improvement from the last album, but the members encouraged me a lot."
Jang Shuai-bo said, "For me, it's performance. We filmed the music video in one take without any NGs, and that really made me feel our progress."
Looking Ahead
The members also shared their new goals. Steven said, "We want an all-kill on music shows this time — to win trophies on every broadcast."
Cha Woong-gi added, "Since the year-end season is coming, we're also hoping for awards — especially Rookie of the Year. We want to take home as many as possible."
