75 - Upki Girl

< Manager's Diary > ―September 1st If an average person loses 5kg in just three days, they would typically be heading to the hospital. But when our Hong was discharged, the dorm turned into a party venue. It was a garden party, approved by the PT trainer, featuring meat and vegetables with no carbohydrates or sugars. Surprisingly, Hong, the star of the show, didn't eat much. She said she didn't want the hard-earned 5kg she lost to go to waste. She got teary-eyed, mentioning it's the first she's dipped below 90kg since she was a high school freshman at 17. When Eunbit jokingly commented that her jawline seemed a bit more defined, we checked, and indeed, it was visibly sharper. Watching a variety show clip, there was a discussion about Romi, currently considered one of the top-tier mainstream idols, being 62kg at her debut. Upon reviewing photos and videos from that time, surprising to say, she looked fine. Of course, she looks much prettier now, but back then, Romi had her own glamorous appeal too. Debut stats: Romi was 167cm, 62kg. Post-transformation target for Hong is 169cm, 64kg. Who ever heard of a girl group member being 64kg? Yet, surprisingly, it wasn't bad at all. Plus, considering Hyosung, the original curvy idol, debuted at 160cm and 55kg, it's not far-fetched. Given her popularity at the time, Hong also stands a chance. Of course, it hinges on having a good face too... ―September 6th Eunbit seems insane. She's a comedy genius, heaven-sent. Recently, she's teamed up with the other members, excluding Hong, to create an UpKeyGirl account, broadcasting live on SNS with her heightened comedic sense, keeping everyone laughing. Declaring it a "daily one-gag practice" challenge, she's been at it, hoping to one day succeed as a female MC, also working on pronunciation and general knowledge. Yesterday, she entertained viewers with the 'Sadala' skit, 'PPAP' dance, and a song from 'Baby Shark'. Today, she introduced a game called 'Nonsense Speed Quiz', played with the team. It’s a speed quiz where one asks questions and the other answers, except the answers aren’t real; they must be funny nonsense, requiring a knack for wit and absurdity. Quiz Master: Seowon Gag Player: Eunbit "The bald guy with eight legs, not the squid!" "Octogenarian!" "What do we drink when we're thirsty? The same thing Hong drank too much that sent her to the hospital!" "Carbon dioxide!" "The device bigger than a smartphone, what do we play music on during dance practice?" "Grandma!" "Noodles, but with soup! Yona craved it madly yesterday!" "Manager's socks!" "I can't do this with Eunbit anymore; it's hilarious! Let's switch partners!" "Hurry, hurry! No time left!" "Our goal here, what do we need to rank first in?" "2018 World Cup!" "Ha-ha-ha! Is Eunbit crazy? Why would we go there?" When they broadcast, there are about 100-200 viewers on average, sometimes reaching up to 500. Needless to say, Eunbit seems to be the charming gateway member for UpKeyGirl. Yona has her existing fans, Seowon's popularity boost from music, making them fine. One surprising thing was Aliyah, despite having no prior recognition, was quite popular. Many found her adorable, with her cutely bossing her older sisters around, appearing just like a youngest sibling. But well, sometimes it's best not to know everything. Personally, I liked that no single member's popularity was overwhelmingly dominant but was instead evenly distributed. Also, it was pleasant to see Yona and Seowon, usually reserved, showing their playful sides. The members seemed to thrive during broadcasts, chatting and laughing with ease. ―Commentaries: ― Godonghwan: Smitten by the adorable Aliyahㅠㅠ ― Gongbaek.: This team will hit it big once they debutㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ ― Managing Director Ham: All four members have incredible charm.. ― Yonnacutie♡: Yona, fighting^^ Always watching with interest ― Oksolin: Eunbit, I've followed you since karaoke daysㅋㅋㅋ As expected, you didn't disappoint, my little turtle ― Ongjol: You've blossomed, Miss Silent Meditator? Your bright demeanor is lovely^^ ― Gold Medal: Great balance among the members. ― Jinkaso: Seowon looks better with some weight, love itㅠㅠ ― Gaesusin: They're too livelyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ ― AnyName: When's the album coming out? ― Corrupt Entertainment: Is this debut lineup of four members final? After wrapping up their daily routines, they usually prep for a concept to broadcast from the dorm. While the girls broadcast live, Hong observes from a distance, pedaling on her bike. Watching Hong, amused and laughing, is delightful, yet it tugs a bit at my heart. As a member herself, how much she must want to join in. Being called a secret weapon is, in reality, more of a seal keeping her away. I apologized for that, but Hong nonchalantly laughed it off, saying she understood. ―September 10th 3rd Engine [Are you asleep, Sir?] Me [Nope. Quitting the company has me wide awakeㅋㅋ Watching YouTube] Me [Can't sleep?] 3rd Engine [Yep. Planning to have a beer to doze off. Care to join?ㅋㅋ] Me [That's quite the bad habit] Me [But, sure] 3rd Engine [Come to the first floorㅋㅋ] Me [How about outside? Enjoy the Han River view] 3rd Engine [+_+] In the quiet dawn, with the Han River visible in the distance, I sat with Yona, sipping beer on the first-floor garden terrace. It was the first time drinking with an UpKeyGirl member. As we chatted about the kids, the conversation drifted to the K-Noah concert. Standing on stage, Eunbit and Seowon looked incredibly impressive and enviable. "Do you want to be on stage too?" It was a casual question, but Yona's response was surprisingly heartfelt. "Yes... a lot..." I've heard that being on stage can be addictive. Those who've experienced the cheering and clapping of the crowd find it hard to forget the thrill. During the Eye Contact activities, the stage and the fans' support kept Yona going even when physically and mentally exhausted. She eventually grew weary of it, but now, more than ever, she yearns for it, offering a bittersweet smile. "It seems you only appreciate something when you've lost it." "But you sing during live broadcasts." Yona wrinkled her nose, as if to dismiss my comment. "Sure, that's enjoyable in its own way, but performing properly in front of fans, with makeup and wardrobe, that's where the real fun is." She gave a little huff of amusement. "Do you prefer dancing or singing?" "Sometimes I like dancing more, sometimes it's singing... I love both. They have different kinds of appeal." "How about we ask Yeom if you could try busking?" "Wow, I really want to try busking." I had three cans of beer, Yona had two, and then we went off to our respective rooms. We promised to drink together more often in the future. It was a perk, a privilege, of being the leader. ―September 15th We began collecting songs to include in the UpKeyGirl album. We've received submissions from around ten teams so far. The plan is to choose the song that all the members and producers agree is the best for the title track and album concept, but we haven't found the perfect title-worthy track yet. Hyungdong and the youngest are composing one with Hum the Tune. If the song turns out great, it'll be selected via a blind test. We reached out to top-ranking composition teams recognized in the idol scene, but all declined for various reasons. Yeom mentioned that it probably doesn't interest them to provide tracks to rookies, unless it’s a rejected or lower-quality piece they've been unable to sell elsewhere. The kids, hearing this, gritted their teeth with determination, saying they’ll show them once they become famous. ―September 17th There was a proposal to release a solo album for Yona before the team debut. The idea came from me, naturally. After hearing Yona talk about how much she missed the stage, I thought it might be good to do this instead of busking. I looked into it, and with no prominent female solo dancers aside from Remi these days, Yona—with her singing, dancing, looks, stage experience, and personal fanbase—seems to be a promising contender. While everyone was mulling over the idea, "Do it! Do it! I want to see it!" Aliyah waved her arms enthusiastically. She regularly attends staff meetings in her capacity as an investor. Yeom said as long as Yona was okay with it, there were no objections. The plan was to link Yona’s two-week digital single release directly to UpKeyGirl's debut, potentially boosting awareness and interest, according to Yeom. ―September 21st Living under the same roof, constantly interacting, it seemed Alyia's hostility—once thought unending—has gradually lessened. Instead, she has started treating me as her personal assistant. If she needs a glass of water, she always asks me, and it seems my name gets called more than Cassie's now. Even her titles for me have shortened to "Mr. Kim," "Mr. Quark," "Quark Manager," eventually evolving to her preferred pronunciation, "Quack." "Quack. My water is lukewarm now. Please replace it with a cold one." "You're closer to the fridge than I am." "Really...?" She would then deliberately move farther away from the fridge. "Now Quack is closer, right? Water. Cold water, please." If I start complaining or refuse, she teases about pulling her investment or returning to England with hollow threats like that. Of course, these are just jokes, but if I either take them seriously or laugh them off, she might react aggressively, so I just go along with it. The other members have learned not to meddle between Aliyah and me. Though, with only some differences in expression, the others behave quite similarly to Aliyah. "Can you hold my phone, I fear I might lose it." "Excuse me, Manager, could you give me a shoulder massage?" "Manager, could you make me a shake with water instead of milk?" "Quark Manager, my back hurts, and I can't bend down. Could you help me put my socks on?" "Quack, I’m getting sleepy. Carry me to bed." "Me too." "And me." "I'll go myself for now... But once I lose more weight, please carry me." Even if each of them makes just one request, that's five trips for me. However, the reason I tolerate it is clear—these kids are working incredibly hard. Though they enjoy it, almost all their waking hours are taken up by training, with no rest days. Someone like Hong even sacrifices her sleep to ride her bike for an hour both in the morning and before bed, not missing a single day. And her current weight? ―September 22nd "Manager, I’ve officially reached the 70 kg range. I'm at 79 kg." "Wow, really?" "Yes. Even I was shocked." "Wow, losing 15 kg in less than a month? That's incredible, Hong!" Everyone was genuinely proud of Hong. And rightfully so. Despite the constant professional guidance, the psychological stress and frustration from the extreme dieting must be no joke. Yet, Hong quietly and diligently adhered to her schedule, like an ox plowing a field, without a single complaint. How exemplary of a member must Hong have been for Trainer John Yoon to give her a personal gift? He gifted her a lovely dress, telling her to wear it once she reached her target weight. Hong hung it in her room like a charm and cycled in front of it. As her facial features became more defined, the nose and eyes that had been hidden under the weight were now visibly prominent. Yona did her makeup and took selfies from flattering angles, which she posted in their Hum the Tune group chat. No exaggeration, no one recognized her. It was clear the reveal of the secret weapon was not far off. ―September 25th Yona’s plan for solo activities was set. Yeom had a group song that was rejected by Plan L in the past, but since the song itself wasn’t bad, they decided to rearrange it for a solo version. The lyrics didn't match current trends, so they decided to commission a professional lyricist, and they planned to add a rap section, inviting a participant from the recently concluded rapper audition program to feature. "Aliyah, you want to choreograph this? I'm going to do it! I want to do it! Nobody touch it. I'll make sure Yona is the coolest and most beautiful out there!" This talented rascal is really on a roll. Having learned dance formally for only a month, she had already reached a level where she could create her own choreography. Yeom mentioned that because of this, Roojoo seemed a bit discouraged. She had grown up hearing she was talented, but seeing a true genius in front of her made her realize she was just average. However, she seemed to derive more enjoyment than frustration from the experience. Seeing her teach and interact with Ri-yah showed just how much fun she was having. ―September 28th The final lyric revisions for Yona's solo song, handed to a professional lyricist for remake, were completed. Seowon guided the recording of the song. Yona began preparing for the album recording and choreography simultaneously. For other kids, Jang-woo assisted, while I managed Yona's solo schedule. ―September 29th While learning choreography from Aliyah, Yona suddenly stopped and frowned. Her previously injured ankle was acting up again. "Are you alright? Do you need a hospital?" "No, I don't think it's that bad. It was just a sudden twinge... I'm fine." When another kid says they're fine, they usually are, but Yona isn’t the same. She has a tendency to persevere until a problem festers and bursts, so I needed to check immediately. "Take off your shoe and let me see. Are you sure it’s not swollen?" "Seriously, I'm fine." "Should Aliyah call the doctor?" "No way, it’s not that serious. I know my body better than anyone. Let’s just rest for a minute." Knowing her is not just about trust. ――――――― ★Condition: Extremely poor. Rest is needed ――――――― Even without the warning from the info screen, I would have checked. I knelt in front of Yona to gently untie her shoes. "Let me see." "Really, I’m okay..." She didn’t refuse outright. "Oh, Quack. For the first time, you almost looked vaguely cool... almost. But you're still Quack after all." I took off her shoes, placing the warm foot in my hands and gently pressing on her ankle. "Ah..." "See, you’re in pain but pretending you’re not. You’re stubborn in the wrong areas." "Doctor, doctor. Emergency. Quack, could you grab Aliyah’s cell phone? I’ll call the doctor." "I'm in the middle of this. You fetch it." "I see why Seowon wants to mess with Quack. You can be irritating in a slightly annoying way. I'll get it this once, even though it’s dirty and humiliating." "Don’t call the doctor, Aliyah. There's no real treatment for this. It just needs rest..." "If only you'd taken a break and rested when you were in the cast back then... But it's not your fault, this is all because of that damn CEO." As I felt her ankle, it seemed slightly swollen... or maybe not. Just as I was about to remove her socks for a closer look, Yona covered my hands with hers and started stuttering intensely. "I-I-I’ll do it myself..." Her entire face was flushed crimson. "What, do your feet stink?" "No! They don't!" "Then why?" "Oh, hear him talk to a lady like that. No wonder you're still single, Quack. Destined to be alone forever." < End of Manager's Diary >