Chapter 54

# Chapter 054

The members came to the gym to receive their physical examinations.

Seong-pil and Han Goo-in listened to the trainer's explanation.

"First, there's not much to improve for member Ishikawa. You can start your activities right away."

Han Goo-in smiled brightly and looked at Seong-pil, who also smiled back.

To put it bluntly, the two were like parents to the members.

Is there a parent who isn't happy when their child is praised?

"I was really surprised to see her do thirty push-ups in one go without even touching her knees. Among all the trainees in girl groups, she has an extremely rare level of strength."

Rika also received professional management at KS Entertainment. As one of the closest to the debut group, the company paid attention to her.

The habits from that time carried over well to Garo Entertainment.

She must be a person with great determination.

"All I need to do is provide detailed guidance and manage her diet. Next is member Baek Seol-ha. Her chest and pelvis are large, so focusing on her abdomen would be good."

Seong-pil looked at the detailed items on the examination sheet.

2-3, abdominal fat percentage.

Waist circumference and hip circumference...

Although she often wore pre-sized clothes, the numbers were impressive.

Perhaps her body shape is why she prefers pre-sized clothes.

People's gazes might bother her when she walks down the street.

"I'll work to make her waist thinner and give her a toned look like someone who exercises. If we make her too thin, it might not look good for her body type."

"Please do."

"I think it will be quick. I heard she has been consistently training her core."

Next was Jang Ha-yang.

"Member Jang Ha-yang... needs to gain weight. She is very, very thin."

"That's right."

"If she kept dancing with this body, her back must have hurt a lot. Did she mention anything about it?"

"I haven't been a trainee for long."

"Still, it must have hurt a lot."

The trainer said that if she had continued such intense practice, Jang Ha-yang would have ended up with some kind of illness.

"Still, this type of person is the best for bodybuilding. It feels like creating something from nothing. Ultimately, I'll give her a firm, solid look. Like this."

The trainer showed an example.

It was a photo taken in black and white lighting.

"Can Ha-yang look like this?"

It was a body that perfectly fit the word 'solid.' The skin would feel rubbery and soft if pressed.

Can the current delicate Jang Ha-yang transform into this?

"Yes. If she follows my guidance well, she can. Lastly, member Jo Ara. She needs to lose weight."

"Really? Is Ara overweight?"

"As you know, by idol standards, yes. Her upper body is fine, but her lower body. Overall, she is very well-developed. If she were a regular person, there would be no problem. In fact, this would be an ideal body type for someone like Jo Ara."

Jo Ara often does strength training.

Combined with her intense dancing, her fat has been reduced and her muscles have developed.

This led to a peculiar result.

Since muscles are heavier than fat, she is the shortest in height but the heaviest in weight among the members.

"However, Jo Ara's hips are larger than her bust, and so are her thighs. If both were prominent like member Baek Seol-ha, it would be different. But in her current state, her lower body will look fat on camera. You'll see if you do a camera test."

They had done a camera test a long time ago.

However, since they always saw Jo Ara in person, it was hard to spot the issues on camera.

They had become too familiar with her real appearance.

She looked healthy and good...

"Jo Ara will focus on losing weight overall."

"Understood."

"That's all I have to say. The basic premise is an idol's body. A body that fits clothes the best. If you plan to use diet injections or anything, please let me know."

Seong-pil and Han Goo-in left the consultation room with a fresh shock.

The members stopped talking and closed their mouths when the two appeared.

"Let's go."

The members followed behind Seong-pil and Han Goo-in.

Jo Ara, unable to hold back, asked,

"What did the trainer say?"

"You'll find out later."

"Then why not tell us now?"

"...Everyone."

Seong-pil turned around and looked at the members.

"The trainer's standards are for idols. He evaluated your body conditions based on the narrow standards of idols. So don't let it lower your self-esteem too much."

"I need to lose weight?"

"..."

Seong-pil couldn't help but nod at her persistent question. She would find out anyway once the training started.

Jo Ara walked slowly, feeling depressed.

"What fat do I have to lose..."

Jo Ara massaged her abs.

* * *

Garo Entertainment, as November came to a close, was busy but not too busy.

Although the debut was less than a year away, they were tense when they went to bed, but the unchanged daily routine allowed them to laugh and chat as usual.

7:30 AM.

"Get in quickly!"

"Ugh..."

Seong-pil picked up Jo Ara and headed to her school. Jo Ara's head nodded off in a daze.

He turned up the radio and handed her a thermos of coffee.

"Thanks... ugh..."

"Hey, you're spilling coffee! Wake up!"

Seong-pil shook her shoulder vigorously, and Jo Ara's eyes opened a little.

"What do you do every night to be like this every morning? Try to go to bed on time."

"Ah, I'm tired. Try living like me, Mr. Seong-pil. See if you're not tired."

She repeats dance, vocals, and exercise every day.

At least Jo Ara was in a better position than the other members. She could rest at school.

"I know it's tough. But try to go to bed on time."

"Rika keeps talking to me."

"Go to bed."

"Then I get depressed and suffer alone."

"Are you a dog?"

"Kids get lonely. She came to Korea alone, you know."

Now that he thought about it, Jo Ara was an angel.

Rika was full of energy every morning, while Jo Ara was always exhausted.

Jo Ara drank half the coffee in one go.

"Ah, I'm starting to wake up."

"Aren't you cold? In winter, you should wear leggings or something."

He left out the part about her short skirt.

Seong-pil increased the heater's temperature.

"I'll manage."

Jo Ara took out a palm tree friends knee blanket from the glove box and covered herself.

Seong-pil's car had become Jo Ara's personal space.

"Are you doing well with your studies? I heard you took a mock exam recently."

"Same as always. My English improved a bit thanks to the doctor."

"What grade?"

Jo Ara smiled and held up three fingers.

"Really?"

At this level, Han Goo-in could enter the private tutoring market for the college entrance exam.

From grade 8 to grade 3?

In just a few months?

Jo Ara crossed her legs arrogantly.

"English isn't that hard. I don't understand why kids find it difficult."

"Really impressive. What about the other subjects?"

"Shh."

"Detective Park Seong-pil's guess: 8, 8, 8, 8."

"What do you think of me?"

"Then?"

"...5, 8, 6, 7."

"Korean history?"

"I'll manage. Are you my dad?"

"Our Ara. Your dad cries every night. Study a bit. It's all useful in society."

"I'm annoyed."

Jo Ara smiled and looked out the window. The streets were filled with students going to school.

"Do you have friends at school?"

"I have friends from the academy."

"Any at school?"

"I just sleep there. What friends?"

"Are you being isolated or something?"

"I keep my distance. Do I need school friends?"

Seong-pil shuddered.

Can the words 'friend' and 'need' be combined in a sentence?

It's a truly terrifying way of thinking.

"You just need to be with the right people, right?"

Jo Ara looked at Seong-pil and smiled.

Seong-pil thought of Baek Seol-ha's tears.

If she had made more friends in school, played more, and lived a fulfilling life, how much better it would have been.

She cried as she said this.

"We're here."

Jo Ara wrapped herself in the shawl Seong-pil had given her and got out of the car.

"I'll be back."

"Come back well."

Jo Ara ran quickly to the school gate.

"Jo Ara, you brat! What's wrong with you?! The teacher said to wear your uniform properly when coming to school!"

"Ahh! I'm sorry!"

Jo Ara was caught by the student affairs teacher and disappeared into the school.

'School...'

Jo Ara leaves school before lunch and comes to the company.

Is this right?

Trainees from large agencies are usually encouraged to attend school normally unless they are in a specialized high school.

Garo Entertainment naturally required Jo Ara to leave early.

'When Jo Ara finishes her idol activities...'

What will be left?

Maybe she won't regret this era.

* * *

Christmas is coming soon.

Looking at the swaying branches through the glass wall, it really feels like winter.

Seong-pil is not usually sentimental about natural things. He is more sensitive to people than nature.

The thought of Christmas came to him when he saw Jang Ha-yang.

"You've improved a lot."

"Hehe, it's not going as well as I thought."

Jang Ha-yang knitted whenever she had time.

The frequent change in yarn colors suggested she often failed.

"Do you have a goal?"

"To make a sweater like Ara's."

That would be difficult.

No, very difficult.

Ara's sweater is so intricate that it's hard to believe it was made by human hands.

It's not just flat; patterns are embroidered with yarn...

It's a level that makes you admire the skills of Ara's mother.

"Are you learning rap well?"

"Yes. The rapper teaches me well."

There's a biased image that rappers are promiscuous (Seong-pil's prejudice).

Since they often use alcohol, romance, and drugs as themes in their lyrics, it's understandable.

That's why a male was not assigned as Jang Ha-yang's rap instructor.

Even with a no-dating clause, if a dedicated person makes a strong move, one might easily fall for it.

"Yesterday, I tried writing my own lyrics. Veni vidi vici, things are many, my name is long, you are faint, easy, I am the winner, more to say, veni vidi vici."

"..."

Jang Ha-yang blushed, embarrassed.

"Strange, right? The rapper said I can rhyme with vowels. So he suggested I try with Veni vidi vici. I tried my best, but the meaning doesn't connect..."

"No, I understand. So... I have a lot of work because I'm successful. My name will be remembered for a long time, but your name is faint, so you should immigrate. I've won this game. Is that the meaning?"

"Yes."

"But what does it mean? Veni vidi vici?"

It sounds like a diss.

With 'bitch' in it...

"It's Latin for 'I came, I saw, I conquered.' It's a quote from Caesar."

"I see. You're knowledgeable, Ha-yang. You'll catch up to Han soon."

"Ahaha."

Jang Ha-yang continued knitting.

Seong-pil, feeling a vague sense of emptiness, looked out the window.

A season of fading life.

He thought only of what humans live for.

"Did it just snow...?"

"Mr. Han, are you asking Santa for a gift...?"

"You speak first..."

"Mr. Han, you speak...?"

"..."

"..."

Their lips slowly curved upward, and soon they burst into laughter.

"Did it just snow? But maybe I saw it wrong."

"I asked what gift you wanted from Santa."

"Santa doesn't exist."

"I know."

"You know. Hmm, if I had to receive something, it would be good karma. It would be even better if she were beautiful."

"Ah, maybe me?"

"Yes. You are all my gifts. I was too greedy."

"Ahaha."

He came to the company on a weekend with nothing to do, and found Jang Ha-yang there. He thought she might be practicing, but she was only knitting.

Seong-pil asked gently, not wanting it to sound like a demand.

"Are you going to practice and then leave?"

"Later. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering when you'd leave. I'll come to pick you up later."

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes. I don't have anything to do."

"Is there something to do at home?"

"Not really."

"Can you be my conversation partner while I knit? If you have time, of course."

"Sure? I'm not Mr. Han, so I can't share interesting knowledge, but..."

"Ahaha, Mr. Han shares a lot of interesting things. Yesterday, I learned about Marx and Weber..."

At that moment, Seong-pil's phone rang.

He apologized and went outside to take the call.

"Yes, Mr. Writer. How are you?"

The caller was an 8-year veteran TV writer.

He was skilled and could soon aim for a main writer position if he had a big hit.

Since he and Seong-pil had the same career length, they were close.

After exchanging pleasantries, they got to the point.

[You left Success Entertainment, so I thought I'd contact you separately.]

"I don't have the energy to recommend celebrities anymore."

[But I heard you joined an idol agency and are training trainees?]

"Yes. I'm living day by day like that."

[I have a program I'm in charge of. Do you want to have your agency's trainees appear on it?]

"Trainees?"

Why would he need trainees for a TV show?

Is he planning to put them in the audience of an educational program?

No, if that were the case, there would be no need for trainees.

'At this point, maybe...'

That's it.

A trainee survival program.