I Became the CEO of an Idol Company in a Game Chapter 25

<Episode 25>

 

Spade Joker stood on stage, waiting for the announcement of first place.

To hide their trembling legs, they tensed their bodies tightly.

Sora couldn’t keep his hands still, repeatedly clasping and unclasping them in nervous fidgeting.

Zen, who stood next to him, lightly tapped his hand as if telling him to stop. At that, Sora pressed his hands stiffly against his sides.

Just moments ago, during the first-place nominee interview, they had said it would be fine even if they didn’t win… but now that the announcement was imminent, they were so nervous they felt like they might lose their minds.

“Now, it’s time to meet the winner of first place.”

At the MC’s words, Zen ran his tongue over his dry lips.

Clover, too, was in no different a state from Spade Joker. They clasped their hands together and prayed desperately.

‘Please… please let Spade Joker win first place.’

“If Spade Joker wins first place, I’ll really live a good life. I’ll donate a lot and volunteer often from now on. So please, just give Spade Joker first place.”

One fan even voiced their prayer out loud in desperation.

“Both groups are so strong that it’s really hard to tell who will take first place this week.”

Clover desperately wished the MC would stop the small talk and just announce the winner already.

At this rate, it felt like their blood would dry up from anxiety.

Like chanting a spell, they kept repeating, ‘Spade Joker first place.’

“And this week’s first place is… congratulations! Spade Joker’s [I]!”

Clover grabbed the hands of those next to them, reveling in joy.

“Waaaaah!”

“Our boys got first place!”

“It’s really first place! First place!”

The MC handed the trophy to Spade Joker.

At the same time, fellow idols congratulated them with applause.

“Please give your acceptance speech.”

Leader Cain raised the microphone on behalf of the group.

“First, Clover. Without Clover, it would have been impossible for us to come this far. Thank you so much, and we’re sorry. We’ll work even harder from now on. We’ll repay all the love we’ve received, so please wait just a little longer. We love you.”

“And we’d also like to thank our families who believed in us and supported us, saying we would succeed someday. Lastly…”

After Cain, Juseok hesitated briefly before continuing.

“CEO, thank you for giving us a new opportunity. Like this time, we hope we can continue to do well together in the future.”

At Spade Joker’s heartfelt speech, Clover burst into tears.

“Waaah… why do they always say they’re sorry? We’re following them because we like them…”

They quickly wiped their tears with their sleeves.

Spade Joker, too, tried to hold their expressions steady to show smiling faces to their fans.

But they couldn’t suppress the rising tears.

Thick droplets rolled down their cheeks.

At that moment, the instrumental began to play.

Even while crying, they couldn’t abandon the performance, so they gripped their microphones tightly.

[When I look around, it’s nothing but darkness

I can’t see anything]

Heeseo’s part was taken by Juseok.

Even though they had switched parts, their skills were so strong that it didn’t feel awkward at all.

[Our boys… even while crying, even switching parts, they still perform perfectly.]

The next part originally belonged to Cain.

[Pitch-black sight

I see myself buried deep underground]

But the one who started singing was Zen.

[Look around]

Leejoo’s part was taken by Sora.

And so, the members exchanged each other’s parts.

[Something falling down

Presses me down

But still, I won’t sink]

They didn’t stop there; they even danced lightly.

That’s how sincere Spade Joker was about their performance.

Clover, watching them, cried with their eyes while smiling with their mouths.

It was a very strange sight.

‘They’re just too cute… what am I supposed to do? I’m perfectly normal. Anyone would be like this right now.]

Clover justified themselves like that.

[Toward that sky

Woo Woo hoo

Toward that sky

Woo Woo hoo]

“Woohoo! Woohoo!”

Just as Spade Joker didn’t neglect their performance even while crying, Clover fulfilled their role, projecting their voices with strength.

Like idol, like fan.

[Shall we go until the end]

 

***

 

Watching Spade Joker perform their encore stage through the tablet, he nodded with satisfaction.

“Shortest time to reach first place ever.”

Across all iterations, this was the fastest Spade Joker had ever achieved first place.

A smile naturally formed on his lips.

“And they even mentioned me in their speech.”

He hadn’t expected Spade Joker to mention him at all.

Even in the previous timeline, where things went the best, it took about a year before they thanked the company.

So his surprise was natural.

‘Is this also because I appeared on ‘Reverse Perspective’?’

Thinking back, before appearing on that show this time, he had never really had a serious conversation with Spade Joker.

He had only said vague things about doing better going forward.

‘So this is why deep conversations matter.’

He turned off the music show and opened SNS.

 

[Spade Joker first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place! first place!]

↳ LOL, you can tell how excited they are.

↳ LMAO okay we get it, you’re excited, calm down. This is madness.

 

[Why doesn’t Spade Joker’s pitch shake even while crying? Don’t idols usually sound like goats during encore stages after winning first place? My former bias did…?]

↳ Sorry to say this, but maybe your former bias just lacked skill…

↳ …That’s true, I can’t even argue.

↳ It just shows how amazing Spade Joker is. Crying, dancing, switching parts, and still no awkwardness? That’s insane.

↳ Isn’t Heeseo originally the rapper? Why does he sound so sweet?

↳ Heeseo’s a rapper but also a strong vocalist. He used to be a vocalist but switched after getting interested in rap as a trainee.

↳ You can see their determination to perfectly perform the encore even while crying lol.

 

[This is truly a tearful first place. You couldn’t even write a drama like this. It’s a historic moment. Our boys suffered so much and are finally shining. First place in their 4th year since debut.]

↳ I’m so happy. Isn’t today basically a festival? Let’s all celebrate.

↳ I was holding back tears, but the moment they said sorry, I lost it. Tears just poured out.

↳ Why do they always apologize… it makes me so sad.

 

[Spade Joker basically proposed to me, right? “First, Clover… We love you.” If that’s not a proposal, what is?]

↳ LMAO, you’re interpreting it like that?

↳ It is a proposal… to all Clovers.

↳ They really love their fans so much. You can feel that they don’t take it for granted.

↳ Idols like this are rare. So many just act entitled and refuse fans’ requests.

 

“Spade Joker really does have exceptional love for their fans.”

Knock knock.

At the sound, he put down the tablet.

“Yes, come in.”

The person who entered the CEO’s office was none other than Han Youngjoo.

He stood and gestured for her to sit at the small table.

“Thank you.”

He sat across from her.

“Do you need something?”

“Well… I’ve composed a new song.”

“You already made a new song?”

How long had it even been since finishing [I]?

All he could think about was how incredible she was.

“Watching Spade Joker perform gave me constant inspiration. When inspiration strikes, you have to work on it. If you hesitate and forget it, that would be a disaster.”

Han Youngjoo smiled softly.

“So… would you listen to the song I made?”

“Of course.”