Chapter 5

# Episode 005

"Seong-pil, what's that, huh."

Kim Tae-hoon sighed deeply.

"This is a place I set up to clear the air between Sang-yul and you today. But you're quitting the company?"

"Yes, thank you for everything up until now."

"What am I supposed to do if you suddenly leave?"

"I'll complete the handover within a month. Please choose a successor during that time."

Seong-pil had a sense of shame.

If he left suddenly, Success Entertainment would be paralyzed.

It was natural, with the head of management disappearing.

"Is this because of what happened today? I'm sorry. Sit down first."

Kim Tae-hoon's tone was soothing. He even got up from the most inner seat and came to Seong-pil. He tried to make him sit down by grabbing his wrist, but Seong-pil didn't budge.

"Let's talk. It seems like there was some misunderstanding between the two of you. Let's clear it up over drinks, okay? Alright?"

Seong-pil's face naturally frowned.

In the last memory from ten years later, the three of them had come to this place. Back then, Kim Tae-hoon had also tried to soothe Seong-pil by suggesting they drink and clear the air.

This had happened dozens of times.

The ending was always being abandoned.

Seong-pil shook off Kim Tae-hoon's hand. Kim Tae-hoon's face showed confusion.

"Just because of this..."

"Tell him to leave."

Yoon Sang-yul, who had been silent, interjected.

He chewed on the fruit appetizer on the table and looked at Seong-pil with disdain.

"Park Seong-pil. Is this because of what happened today? President, I can't work with such a narrow-minded person. Tell him to leave."

"No, Sang-yul, you too..."

Kim Tae-hoon looked back and forth between Seong-pil and Sang-yul, looking troubled. He still tried to make Seong-pil sit down by pulling his sleeve.

This was a first for him. Moreover, Seong-pil was unusually stubborn.

In his previous life, Seong-pil would have felt hurt but followed Kim Tae-hoon's words. But now, Seong-pil was different.

"If you keep accepting this kind of behavior, it will never end."

"Sang-yul, stop it. He's not being serious..."

"Come on, really."

Yoon Sang-yul roughly got up from his seat.

"I know you and Seong-pil are close, but aren't you being too lenient? I was humiliated in front of the kids. Seong-pil is the head of management or whatever, but I'm the head of production. Shouldn't I be treated better than the head of management? I'm higher in position, experience, and age. If the hierarchy isn't clear, what will the juniors learn?"

Kim Tae-hoon stopped pulling Seong-pil's sleeve. He went closer to Yoon Sang-yul, trying to soothe him.

"I'm not being lenient with Seong-pil. The best thing is for the two of you to resolve this amicably."

This is a battle between the old and the new.

A struggle to see who will take the lead. The future will change based on Kim Tae-hoon's decision.

"Resolving it amicably is good, but this isn't something that can be resolved with a simple reconciliation. If we leave it like this, we'll clash again. Please make a clear decision."

"There's no need for that. I'm leaving Success Entertainment. Brother Tae-hoon, thank you."

Seong-pil opened the door. Kim Tae-hoon stopped him with a troubled voice, but there was no sense of desperation.

After stepping outside and closing the door, Seong-pil stood there for about a minute.

The door didn't open again.

'So many times...'

He had clashed with Yoon Sang-yul so many times.

But Kim Tae-hoon had never once taken Seong-pil's side first.

He always demanded that Seong-pil bend first.

Even this time, despite threatening to quit, Seong-pil couldn't move Kim Tae-hoon's heart.

'If I keep enduring, I'll just end up being abandoned in the end.'

Seong-pil let out a bitter laugh. He was deeply grateful for his abilities.

If he hadn't seen the future, he would have lived most of his remaining life in regret and despair.

The next day, Seong-pil submitted his resignation. But Kim Tae-hoon didn't try to stop him.

Without even mentioning the handover, he let Seong-pil go in silence.

* * *

"Are you completely leaving Success Entertainment?"

"Yes, as of today, I'm completely unemployed."

"Then... you're definitely joining our side, right?"

Seong-pil extended his hand instead of answering.

Hong Gyu-hun smiled and shook his hand.

"Please take care of me, President."

"Please take care of me, uh... let's make you a manager. From now on, Seong-pil will be Manager Park."

Agency employees often go out for business, so they use titles like team leader or department head to make their positions seem higher.

Even so, giving a newly hired person a manager title might be a bit excessive.

"Thank you."

Still, Seong-pil wasn't in a bad mood.

That's how the number of employees at Garo Entertainment became three.

"Do you like Chinese food? Since it's your first day, I'll treat you to something good."

Hong Gyu-hun lowered her voice as soon as the position was decided.

Although she was younger, she was the boss, so Seong-pil couldn't be in a bad mood.

"Yes, I do like it, but..."

"Why? Not in the mood today?"

"How did you know?"

"Ah, are you curious about that?"

Hong Gyu-hun smiled widely and turned her back. She fiddled with a shelf.

It seemed like she was stalling for time because she had something to say.

At that moment, Han Goo-in interjected.

"Didn't you tell me yesterday that you like Chinese food?"

"I did...?"

"Right! That's it! Manager Park told Manager Lee. You heard it, right? How's that for a good memory?"

Actually, it was information she had learned from investigating Han Goo-in.

Hong Gyu-hun had just blurted it out without proper filtering.

She fanned her face and handed Seong-pil a Chinese restaurant menu. He took it reluctantly.

'You said you'd treat me to something good, but it's delivery food. Well, the company's situation isn't good, so it makes sense to save on food expenses.'

If managers eat delivery Chinese food, what will the future employees eat for lunch?

Seong-pil chose jajangmyeon with a subtle feeling.

"Which do you think is better, girl groups or boy groups?"

The three of them talked about work for the first time while eating.

"Girl groups."

"Of course, all men say girl groups. Manager Lee said the same thing."

"It's not just because I'm a man, but girl groups are cheaper to produce."

"That's true."

Boy groups take longer to build a fanbase, so they need to be active for a longer time to see results. The longer the activity period, the more money is needed.

Hong Gyu-hun sighed deeply, as if the ground had opened up, while eating sweet and sour pork. She looked up at the ceiling and muttered.

"I wanted to make a boy group..."

She had dreamed of a drama with handsome men and lots of fighting. But her first business failure turned her dream into a bubble.

"You can make one after we succeed."

"Right? I like that you're positive, Manager Park. So, our first goal is to find trainees. How do you plan to find them?"

Garo Entertainment's recognition is at rock bottom.

There's nothing to attract trainees.

Holding an audition under the company's name is out of the question.

Even if they forced one, trainees would come, but the quality would be questionable.

"We can look at monthly or weekly evaluations at acting or vocal academies. There are also dance competitions and modeling agencies. Local beauty pageants are also worth considering."

"It will take a lot of time to check all of those."

"Right."

Normally, it would.

But for Seong-pil, who knew the future, such a process wasn't necessary.

"The best way is to wait for a large agency to debut a girl group."

"Why?"

"Large agencies have dozens of trainees. If one group debuts, the remaining trainees will..."

"Ah, they'll all leave? The next girl group won't debut for 4 or 5 years."

"Right. It's like a flood of gems. Other good agencies will take some, but we'll have a chance too."

Seong-pil was aiming for one of those gems.

He closed his eyes for a moment and recalled a future memory.

A pink background, cherry blossoms flying, a woman in a white dress walking through them.

The camera shows only parts of her, like her feet, side face, or shoulder.

It then zooms in on her lips, painted with light pink lipstick, and shows her under a cherry blossom tree.

In the last moment, her face is revealed.

A beauty that could be compared to an angel or a fairy from heaven.

She says briefly,

"Sakurabana (Cherry Blossom)."

A seasonal brand of a famous Japanese cosmetics company.

An idol who became a legend in the Japanese idol industry with just that CF is currently a trainee in Korea.

Why is she called a legend in the idol industry?

'Because she's beautiful.'

She's incredibly beautiful.

* * *

Ishikawa Rika.

She was standing at a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The next girl group from KS Entertainment, which was slowly preparing, was on the line for Rika.

Every moment and every minute was spent practicing.

'Maybe I have talent?'

She had been a trainee for 1 year and 6 months.

If she was selected for the debut group now, it would be a very short period compared to other trainees.

Despite such a short period, Rika had built the skills to be in the debut group.

It was proof of her talent.

Rika recalled the moment she decided to become an idol.

'You'd be better suited as an idol than an actress.'

Rika, who admired Korean entertainers, had learned Korean in a year through self-study.

After graduating from middle school, she came to Korea to prepare as an actress, but her life took a different turn because of that comment.

Or, it could be said that it took a better turn.

'I wonder how that person is doing.'

Rika had a dream.

To meet that person again someday and say,

"Thanks to you, I decided to become an idol! Thank you!"

But it was quite an old memory, and now even her face was blurry.

She seemed to be a manager somewhere, but the chances of finding her even if she tried were slim.

"Ah, it doesn't really matter."

If she met her later, she would express her gratitude, but it wasn't something Rika, who hadn't even made it into the debut group, should worry about.

"The debut group will be announced. Thank you all for coming this far, and remember that you all have the qualifications. Not making it doesn't mean you're not shining."

The debut group was announced.

"Ah!"

Rika, hearing that she wasn't included, fainted on the spot.

When she woke up in the hospital, the doctor greeted her.

"Koko wa doko desu ka?"

"Ah, hospital."

"Hospital?"

" Hospital."

"Did I faint?"

"Yes, you lost consciousness due to sudden shock."

"Shock? Me? Why? Do I have a disease?"

"Well, the debut group..."

"Ah!"

She fainted again.

The next day, Rika felt as if the world was collapsing.

No, it actually did.

She remembered a novel her younger brother had recommended long ago.

It was about some otherworldly being invading Earth and fighting. She wished the world would be in that state.

Thinking of it, she bought and read it.

"Hehe, it's fun."

There was nothing better for escaping reality.

"This isn't the time for that!"

After the debut group was announced, more and more female trainees started leaving KS Entertainment.

It would take years for the next group to debut.

Even if they stayed until then, the chances of being in the debut group would be close to zero due to their age.

Rika grabbed a sister she was close to.

"Sister! What will I do if you leave?!"

"What will I do if I stay? Let me ask you. What should I do?"

The sister cried.

Rika, flustered, tried to soothe her.

"You'll be fine. You got a scouting offer from somewhere else, right?"

"Uh-huh... thank you, Rika..."

She left.

Rika suddenly thought,

'No one ever gave me a scouting offer...'

It had been 2 years since she came to Korea.

Rika shivered in the winter wind and sniffled.

In a place without her parents, she felt lonely for the first time in a long while.

Her close colleagues had scattered, and her future was shrouded in fog.

"Should I go back to my hometown..."

* * *

Seong-pil drove to the KS Entertainment building with Han Goo-in in the passenger seat. He parked near the door where the trainees exit and waited.

"Manager Park, isn't this a crime?"

"Why? What did we do?"

"Well, it's not, but..."

"If it bothers you, I can do it alone."

"Ah, that's not it. Phew."

Han Goo-in seemed quite nervous.

Two strong men waiting for a teenage girl to come out could look suspicious to others.

"It feels like we're detectives, making my heart race."

"..."

Han Goo-in's face was slightly flushed, and he peeked out the window like a criminal.

Seong-pil, ignoring his strange words, recalled the first time he met Rika.

'Sakurabana. I was really surprised when I saw that ad.'

Two years ago.

Seong-pil had met Rika.

He had taken a Success Entertainment actor to an audition, and there was a girl who clearly should be an idol.

So, he started a conversation with her, saying, "You could be an idol."

'If I had taken her to Success Entertainment then... No, it was better not to. She was also selected as a trainee for a large agency like KS Entertainment.'

Listening to Han Goo-in's intermittent breathing, the sun quickly set. Then Rika appeared.

She was wearing a hat and loose clothes, but Seong-pil's sharp eyes didn't miss her.

Seong-pil opened the door and approached her.

"Hello, I'm from Garo Entertainment..."

"Eeeeh?! Kimi (You)!"

Rika pointed at Seong-pil.

"Ah, you remember me..."

Rika's heart was boiling with anger.

'You put me on the path to being an idol and are living so carefree? Some people want to die because they didn't make the debut group! How can there be such an ungrateful person?'

She felt like she would awaken with the power of anger like the protagonist in a novel she read a few days ago.

Rika was about to burst with unreasonable anger, shouting, "Why did you tell me to be an idol?!"

"I didn't make the debut group!"

But what came out was a sticky cry.

Rika knelt down and burst into tears.

The sadness she couldn't express to anyone exploded as soon as she saw Seong-pil.

Soon, Han Goo-in also approached Seong-pil.

Seeing Rika kneeling and crying, Han Goo-in looked at Seong-pil with disdain.

"No, no."

Nearby pedestrians also started looking at Seong-pil.

"No, no! I didn't do it!"

"You made me like this!"

"No, no!"

Seong-pil shook off Rika's hand, which was gripping his pants.