Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols Chapter 485 - New Year (1)

A tumultuous year drew to a close, and the end of the year was finally upon us. These days, if you wanted to find Spark on the program rundown, you had to scroll past the halfway point.

 

We were nominated for many awards. However, out of professional conscience, I decided not to expect a win.

 

After all, half of our promotion plans had vanished into thin air. I had to be grateful that we managed to make a comeback at the last minute before the year ended and secured a spot on the year-end stage.

 

‘If only it hadn’t been for that hiatus…’

 

The more I thought about it, the more bitter I felt. Next year, no matter what, I would make sure our activity cycle never stopped and turn it into the greatest year in Spark’s history.

 

“Hyung, they say it’s our turn for rehearsal.”

 

“Really?”

 

Kang Kiyeon called out to me as I was burning with resolve. His hair, slicked back perfectly without a single strand out of place, was striking.

 

Stepping out into the hallway, I saw the members of Berion coming out in a line right in front of us. The sight of all those guys gathered together in ornate military-style uniforms decorated with epaulettes, chains, and buttons was surprisingly intimidating.

 

“I saw it during the fitting, but we really stand out.”

 

“It’s because of Spark. Do you know how much effort the stylists put into choosing our shoes so we wouldn’t look like our heights were all over the place?”

 

Yeo Seongchan poured out his complaints into my ear.

 

“There are plenty of tall members in Berion, too.”

 

“What’s the point when our CEO Moon looks like he’s about to sink into the ground!”

 

“Be quiet…”

 

Moon Yeongyu muttered.

 

The group of fifteen in uniform struggled through the hallway to reach the rehearsal stage. Even though everyone had giant name tags attached to them, all I could think was that the camera directors must have had a rough time.

 

After finishing the rehearsal, we took uniform selfies and group shots. Since we were going to change into Spark’s solo stage costumes in the evening, now was the only time we could take photos leisurely.

 

In the midst of this, Choi Jeho managed to snap one of the chains on his outfit after just one rehearsal—a true feat of strength. Thankfully, the stylist quickly fixed it while remarking that at least it hadn’t broken during the live broadcast.

 

“Will they do a countdown today, too?”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon asked in an excited voice while looking at the cue sheet.

 

“Of course. That’s what this event is for.”

 

Personally, I didn’t think it was a very good tradition. It was basically forcing people to work overtime past midnight. Sure, idols and MCs spent a long time waiting around, but not longer than the audience. And what about the staff, who had to arrive earlier and leave later than everyone else?

 

I only put up with it because it was a once-a-year event; otherwise, I would have ranted on a Live or BubblePop about how the entertainment industry needed to wake up, and then I’d be permanently blacklisted.

 

“You wanted to do the countdown?”

 

I hid my rebellious spirit and asked. Counting down those seconds was nothing difficult. If he wanted, I could sit Lee Cheonghyeon in the middle of the living room and count down every D-day or second for birthdays, Christmas, or anniversaries.

 

“You should’ve said so. Then…”

 

“We’ve always just watched it from the dorm before.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon said.

 

“It’s our first time, isn’t it? All of us staying until the very end together. There aren’t any cute little maknaes anymore—just fully grown, stylish adult maknaes. Isn’t that a complete growth narrative?”

 

“That expression only means something when the fans say it.”

 

“In that case, I take it back. Isn’t it a complete… innovative growth story?!”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon’s eyes sparkled. A cute adverb like ‘twinkling’ wasn’t enough to describe the shine in his eyes.

 

“True. It’s an incredible growth trend. I’m quite moved.”

 

“In what way?”

 

“In that Sparklers won’t have to wait through our departure twice.”

 

“That is indeed a very important point.”

 

He agreed with me somewhat habitually. Even so, he stuck to my side the whole time, pouring out his excitement for the event.

 

“I heard you told Seongbin hyung and Joowoo hyung last year not to get distracted by the fireworks and to look at the fan section? The photos came out insanely good. Should Kang Kyeon and I look at the fan section, too? Can we at least glance at the fireworks for a second?”

 

Even though he didn’t turn his head, it was obvious that Kang Kiyeon was eavesdropping on our conversation.

 

“You can just search for the Yeouido Fireworks Festival on MeTube. It’s in high definition.”

 

Choi Jeho, who was sitting on the sofa, offered advice that was kind but completely failed to understand the speaker’s psychology. Lee Cheonghyeon bounced around, protesting that he wanted to see them in person, but after seeing Choi Jeho’s utterly uncomprehending expression, he gave up trying.

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I said you can go ahead and look. You and Kiyeon have pretty jawlines when you tilt your heads up, so the photos will look good if you’re looking at the sky.”

 

Maybe someone would capture a fantastic shot with colorful fireworks reflected in their eyes. When we’d all gone on trips together, I hadn’t been able to take photos like that for them. Because Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Kiyeon’s faces had that much potential, I willingly gave them permission to watch the fireworks.

 

“You’re generous in the strangest ways!”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon poked me in the side before running off to share the good news with Kang Kiyeon. Just looking at their backs, I could tell how excited the two of them were.

 

Getting that excited over just watching some fireworks… what growth? You punks still have a long way to go.

 

* * *

 

≫ Berion x Spark slayed

That group uniform look was insane

└ This was the best kind of performance a large-member group could put on…

└ How should I describe it… Grandeur…? ㅋㅋㅋ ㅠㅠ My vocabulary is lacking so I can’t find the right word, but it was very flashy + disciplined.

└ Both groups are always doing weird things whenever they get the chance, so I expected something funny. Didn’t expect them to come out this seriously prepared.

 

≫ They say uniforms never fail

But there’s a difference between not failing and being a massive success.

The visual blessing was crazy

No matter who came on screen, it was just handsome guys

└ Spark, please do a comeback with a full-group uniform concept just once… If I write this, Iwol will read it and prepare 57,293,861 uniforms, right?

└ Our Jeho has literally become an emperor… Iwol, please.

└ Uniform lovers’ timelines are going crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ Forget the timeline, just look at this place, it’s a mess right now

 

≫ I finally understand why the unnies liked ‘manly’ boy groups

I was foolish…

Spark… thank you for wearing uniforms with our boys…

└ A million Cherries are crying after seeing the uniforms

└ The ‘unnies’ who went from Blider to Spark are the real deal. Their picks never miss.

 

≫ The Part 1 Strawberry Park stage is best viewed from an aerial angle

(Photo)

(Photo)

There are so many formation changes and unique layouts, but you can’t see them well from the front, so they seem to have captured it from above.

(Photo)

Closing with the 15-member synchronized dance clip, objectively the most satisfying thing ever

└ The camera work was good ㅋㅋㅋ What’s gotten into them?

└ Is it called Strawberry Park because it’s Berion + Spark?

└└ I was wondering what that meant ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ Those formations are terrifyingly precise.

 

≫ Who wouldn’t love a combo of full-slicked hair + uniforms + combat boots?

Well, I’m obsessed

Please sell a DVD

└ I’m just waiting for the stage video to be uploaded ㅠㅠㅠ Upload it quickly…

└ Seriously, I couldn’t believe this stage doesn’t have solo fancams.

 

Even though I only saw the reaction briefly while touching up my makeup in the waiting room, it was positive. Since we had to change and go back out, I couldn’t check the video uploads, but I felt proud.

 

The ‘seriously determined’ performance the fans had been anticipating was scheduled for our own stage. Thanks to that, the makeup took unusually long today. The key point of the solo-stage styling was makeup that was less cosplay-like than the Dreamer music video but darker and heavier than Alight.

 

“Is this… okay?”

 

Kang Kiyeon, who was sitting next to me, cautiously asked around. His eye makeup, seen through the mirror, was the most intense yet. It was scary enough with all the accessories on his turtleneck, but with that eyeshadow, it looked like people wouldn’t even be able to make eye contact with him.

 

“Out of everyone I’ve seen this year, you’re the scariest after Iwol hyung during the Alight era.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon said, patting Kang Kiyeon’s shoulder. I had no idea why he was acting as if I had been that scary.

 

Park Joowoo grabbed a blanket and covered himself, saying his shoulders were cold. It was the pizza blanket I had gifted to Choi Jeho. They’d dressed him in nothing but a vest and jacket over bare skin, leaving his neck and shoulders completely exposed. It was harsh to be dressed like this in winter, but this styling suited Park Joowoo perfectly since he became a ‘dreamy rocker with a mysterious charm’ after Speaker and Genre Swap.

 

Choi Jeho, who willingly gave his blanket to his dongsaeng…

 

“Hyung, do you want the blanket back…?”

 

…his entire back had been left exposed, earning even more sympathy from Park Joowoo.

 

Taking inspiration from the previous incident where Choi Jeho’s outfit had nearly burst its buttons and shocked audiences, this time the stylists had avoided fastening the front completely. Instead, they opened the back of the jacket in a diamond shape resembling a playing-card suit. To fully showcase the back muscles he had built through diligent effort, they also minimized how much area was covered by the narrow harness crossing his back.

 

“It’s fine, I’m not cold.”

 

Choi Jeho casually declined. However, Park Joowoo seemed deeply concerned about his hyung’s back, so he sat next to Choi Jeho and spread the large blanket to share it nicely.

 

Just as I was putting on my chest guard prop, one of the straps started rattling. Everyone looked busy, so I was trying to adjust the length myself when Jeong Seongbin approached.

 

“Should I help you, hyung?”

 

“Can you just tighten the waist part? It’s loose, so it keeps rattling. I think the sound might bleed into the in-ear monitor.”

 

At my request, he meticulously adjusted the knots. He even slipped a finger underneath afterward to make sure the guard wasn’t pressing too tightly against my body.

 

“How about you? Is the choker uncomfortable?”

 

“Maybe because I wear it often, I’m used to it now.”

 

Jeong Seongbin laughed bashfully. The guy who used to complain that chokers felt suffocating whenever he had to hit high notes had now become such a professional idol that he could comfortably wear elaborate layered-chain designs.

 

“Did the kids bring their heat packs? Once Part 2 starts, we won’t be able to go back to the waiting room. We have to stay outside the whole time.”

 

“I prepared them before we leave. We also brought out blankets just in case.”

 

“Don’t let them bring the pizza blanket.”

 

“Why? This one is fine.”

 

Choi Jeho, who had supernaturally overheard our conversation from afar, jumped in.

 

“It doesn’t match the outfits.”

 

“Oh, and plaid blankets do?”

 

“It’s less ugly than a pepperoni pizza.”

 

“Then why did you buy me an ugly blanket in the first place?”

 

For once, the brat fired back without backing down. I was about to snap and ask if he’d ever seen the ‘Useless Gift Contest’ content, but I held back. Who could I blame? The pizza blanket itself was at fault for being so warm and cozy that it had completely won over its owner’s heart….

 

The start time for Part 2 drew near. After all that arguing about blankets, the members ultimately decided they wanted to maintain their style even in the singers’ waiting area and only took small hand warmers with them.

 

At this rate, once the music festival ended, there’d probably be another post online saying: ‘Spark’s dedication is legendary, they’re showing so much skin but they won’t even cover up with a blanket’.