Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols Chapter 462 - Group Trip (4)

The stories from this hilarious trip were endless. An incident occurred with every step we took. The most surreal moment was when the police showed up because we were allegedly ‘creating a threatening atmosphere’ in an alleyway. If Jeong Seongbin hadn’t explained, ‘We are tourists, and we were simply debating the lunch menu’, things could have gotten very awkward.

 

“That’s why I told you, Choi Jeho, not to furrow your brows in public.”

 

“Is this entirely my fault?”

 

“Who said it was just your fault? I said your presence amplifies the problematic aura. And Kiyeon, take off that leather jacket.”

 

“Yes.”

 

In hindsight, I should have told Lee Cheonghyeon to buy six more of those T-shirts with the hamster dancing under a mirror ball while holding a cola. If we’d all worn those, anyone would’ve seen Spark as nothing more than cheerful young men having fun.

 

After finishing lunch through trials and tribulations and wandering here and there, the final day eventually began to set.

 

“Is anyone tired?” 

 

Lee Cheonghyeon asked.

 

The amateur athletes, tempered by marathons, were not going to crumble from just this much. With our remaining stamina, we headed to a famous urban night-view spot.

 

The best viewing areas were already packed with people. According to reviews, the good spots filled up even before sunset started. Fortunately, wherever we went, each of us was at least a head taller than average, so even from farther back, the view was still pretty good.

 

I deliberately pressed my back against the inner wall. These guys only knew that I had harbored an impulsive thought; they didn’t know the exact method I had planned to carry it out. I didn’t want to dampen the mood, but I also kept my distance from the railing just in case a stray thought crossed my mind again.

 

‘…It’s beautiful.’

 

Instead of a deep river with no visible bottom, endless lights glittered below. Even if I were to fall, it felt as though the densely packed buildings would catch me.

 

“For clearer night photography… adjust the exposure time…”

 

“Joowoo, can you even read that? Want me to shine some light for you?”

 

“No one behind Jeho hyung can probably see anything.”

 

“That’s why I moved behind the people.”

 

“Hyung, am I not a person too?”

 

The main vocalists, Lee Cheonghyeon, Choi Jeho, and Kang Kiyeon chattered incessantly with me sandwiched between them.

 

The yellow lights resembled the ocean of lightsticks I’d seen at the concert hall. Back then, these guys had been beside me too, and the pleasantly warm air had made me feel good. It had been such an overwhelming stage that I’d even forgotten the guilt of standing somewhere I didn’t belong.

 

When I’m surrounded by things like this, I start to feel okay again.

 

So, it wasn’t a delusion to think that being with these guys could make me better.

 

I thought I’d gotten better, but then I fell apart again, believing I hadn’t progressed at all—that I was only walking in circles. But I realized that with moments like this, even if the sadness didn’t disappear, they let me stand back up again.

 

“Hyung, look over here.”

 

Park Joowoo called me. The camera lens was pointed my way.

 

“Don’t move, stay still. One, two…”

 

The sound of the shutter rang out. Park Joowoo put his forehead against Jeong Seongbin’s to check the result. I found myself smiling without even realizing it.

 

***

 

After completing the hot spring course, the members returned to their respective rooms to get ready for bed. They had to pack their bags in advance to check out tomorrow. While busily moving around his suitcase, Kang Kiyeon spotted Lee Cheonghyeon fiddling with something.

 

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you packing?”

 

“I was thinking of filming one last video from the hotel. What if we visit the other hyungs’ rooms first and save ours for last?”

 

It was a good idea. It was still a bit early for the members to be sleeping. Kang Kiyeon changed into pajamas instead of a bathrobe and headed to the next room with Lee Cheonghyeon. Jeong Seongbin opened the door.

 

“What’s up?”

 

“Commemorative interview for our first group trip!”

 

Unlike the maknaes’ room, which was a disaster zone, this room was already tidy, as if they had finished packing. The only items out were the clothes for tomorrow and a small carry-on bag for the flight.

 

“Who’s there…?”

 

“Cheonghyeon and Kiyeon. They’re here for an interview.”

 

Apparently one shower after the hot springs hadn’t been enough, because Park Joowoo emerged through a cloud of steam looking freshly showered again. Jeong Seongbin handed his warm friend a carton of milk with a straw already inserted.

 

“First off, Seongbin hyung, you worked hard!”

 

At Lee Cheonghyeon’s words, Park Joowoo clapped. Kang Kiyeon also applauded as sincerely as possible without shaking the camera.

 

“How does it feel, taking five members around?”

 

“What do you mean, ‘taking around’? Everyone had their own role. I don’t think I was the one leading everyone.”

 

“If it weren’t for you, hyung, we would have been arrested long ago.”

 

“Truly…”

 

The atmosphere turned solemn in an instant. Jeong Seongbin didn’t even argue with that point.

 

“Joowoo hyung, your most recent trip was to a deserted island. Comparing the two trips, what was the biggest difference?”

 

“Um… modernization…?”

 

“Make sure Iwol hyung doesn’t hear that last remark.” 

 

Kang Kiyeon added seriously. Park Joowoo gave a bright smile and left a review saying both trips were enjoyable.

 

“Did you guys get a good change of pace?” 

 

Lee Cheonghyeon asked, adjusting the zoom to capture both Jeong Seongbin and Park Joowoo in the frame.

 

“Totally. It felt like a trip between friends. Right?”

 

“Yeah… I’m glad I came.”

 

Jeong Seongbin showed off a bookmark he received as a gift from a bookstore, and Park Joowoo boasted about a CD the record shop owner had recommended. While putting the CD away, spare change spilled out of Park Joowoo’s bag. The camera captured the sight of two men over 180cm tall crouching between the beds to pick up coins.

 

The filming continued for about ten more minutes. After getting enough footage, Kang Kiyeon pressed the stop button. Lee Cheonghyeon checked the video length and spoke with a satisfied face.

 

“We’ll end the recording here. Thanks for cooperating!”

 

“Did you go to the hyungs’ room, too?”

 

“Not yet. Joowoo hyung sleeps early, so we came here first. We’re going now.”

 

Jeong Seongbin checked the time. Even if Kim Iwol and Choi Jeho filmed as much as they did, it seemed like they would finish much earlier than their usual bedtime.

 

“Have fun filming. The hyungs are probably tired, so don’t stay too long.”

 

“Got it. Goodnight!”

 

“Goodnight.”

 

“Sleep well…!”

 

After the warm farewell, Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Kiyeon headed to the next room. After knocking and waiting, Choi Jeho opened the door.

 

“What?”

 

“Final day commemorative interview. Can we come in?”

 

“I don’t care, but Kim Iwol is sleeping.”

 

“He’s sleeping?”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon’s eyes widened. Sure enough, only the light by the window-side bed was turned off.

 

“Why is he sleeping so early?” 

 

Lee Cheonghyeon whispered.

 

“I guess he was tired.”

 

“Should we go?”

 

“Just stay. He didn’t even wake up when I dropped my suitcase earlier.”

 

Having received permission to stay, Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Kiyeon sat side-by-side on Choi Jeho’s bed.

 

“I would have come here first if I’d known.”

 

“Did you go to Seongbin’s room too?”

 

“Yeah. Because Joowoo hyung sleeps early.”

 

Kang Kiyeon captured the back of Kim Iwol’s head peeking out from the blanket. Kim Iwol was sleeping soundly without moving a muscle.

 

“Maybe he was tense.”

 

Choi Jeho suggested.

 

“Iwol hyung was?”

 

“He said it was his first trip abroad.”

 

Choi Jeho gestured toward Kim Iwol with his chin. If the tension had only finally worn off near the end of the trip, it wouldn’t have been strange.

 

“True. An unfamiliar environment must have been hard for someone so meticulous about everything.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon accepted the explanation easily. While the trip was intended for rest, it likely brought a certain level of fatigue for Kim Iwol as well.

 

While chatting a bit more with Choi Jeho, something suspicious caught Lee Cheonghyeon’s eye. A few tissues were lined up on the table in the room. When he approached, he saw cat figurines lying in a row under the tissues.

 

“Aren’t these the ones I pulled? Didn’t you give them to Iwol hyung?”

 

“I did. He set them up like that.”

 

“Why?”

 

“He said even cats deserve the right to a good night’s sleep.”

 

Choi Jeho replied indifferently. Only then did Lee Cheonghyeon realize the tissues were blankets for the cats.

 

Kang Kiyeon filmed the figurines peacefully resting after their ‘shift’ in place of the sleeping Kim Iwol. He thought he should add a caption saying, ‘The owner is sleeping, so we are replacing him with this video.’ Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Kiyeon carefully straightened the tissue blankets over the cats before quietly leaving the room.

 

***

 

Baek Haewon, who had just finished her semester, was incredibly busy. Spark didn’t stop releasing contents even as they entered their hiatus period. After their group trip, they went all out, releasing a series of ‘normie-friendly’ wallpapers and ‘guy-in-the-next-class’ style memes.

 

 ≫ Spark members are truly something else.

 Look at them backing up high-res photos on the fan cafe because they know saving photos from Insta can be a pain.

 └ They’re the only idols who insist you download the high-res version so the quality doesn’t break.

 └ Giving them out in zip files so we don’t have to click multiple times is legendary.

 

 ≫ Spark members all have great casual style.

 Fans must love checking their Insta

 └ There’s a very sad story behind this…

 └ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 └ A certain Mr. Kim, the Boy of Justice, apparently committed theft in the members’ closets.

 └ The funniest part is that he doesn’t steal them to wear them himself, he just keeps hiding them somewhere.

 

≫ What’s with the flower-shirt squad ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Is that a class T-shirt or something? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 └ Honestly, if you ignore their faces and physiques, they look like guys you’d find in the next classroom.

└ They totally just look like students on summer vacation ㅋㅋ

 └ Kim Iwol actually allowed this?

 └└ Apparently, he made a deal involving a marathon.

└└└ What kind of insane story is that???

 

It had been a great decision to upgrade to the newest phone model after entering university. Every time she looked at the generous storage space, Baek Haewon felt reassured. It was said that an idol fan could never have enough money or phone storage.

 

Just as she was about to observe each new photo for 30 minutes each, an alarm rang. A Bubble Pop had arrived from Kim Iwol.

 

 ≫ Iwol

Hunter… I am so sorry. I fell asleep early on the last day and couldn’t film the interview. I should have woken up in the middle, but I must have been in a very deep sleep. Instead, I’ll upload lots of travel photos to the fan cafe!

 

Leaving aside the fact that he forgot to change her name from Hunter to something else again—an interview?

 

As Baek Haewon tilted her head in confusion, her phone vibrated again. A notification appeared saying a new video had been uploaded to Spark’s official MeTube account. The title was: ‘!CAUTION: SHORT! Spark is on Vacation.’

 

The video was more a collection of 30-second clips than a polished production. Since all the footage was filmed by the members themselves, it was clear it wasn’t intended for professional content.

 

‘If they’d brought the self-content filming team along on vacation too, Sparklers would’ve sent protest trucks for sure.’

 

It was obvious they’d simply gathered little moments they’d filmed for fun because they wanted to show fans something. The comfortable atmosphere and simple structure made Baek Haewon feel like she was catching a glimpse of their private holiday.

 

At the end of the video, an interview asking for impressions of the trip appeared. Behind Choi Jeho, who was answering the questions, the back of Kim Iwol’s head was visible. Over his head, a drawing of a star and the words ‘Dreamland’ were written.

 

In the segment where Kim Iwol’s story should have been, a close-up shot of the sleeping cat figurines played instead.

 

『The interview owner is sleeping, so we are replacing it with this video. (Written by Kiyeon)』

 

『Instead of words, we deliver the touch of Iwol hyung, who carefully tucked them in with blankets. (Written by Cheonghyeon)』

 

Handwritten captions from the younger members appeared across the screen. Bubble Pop notifications rang incessantly. It seemed Kim Iwol was going on a rampage sending photos. Baek Haewon laughed until she cried at the consistent nature of her favorite idol.