153 - Upki Girl
< ㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇ > 153. "Minmin, please check the spelling of what I just sent on KakaoTalk and post it together with the announcement." A week ago. While writing a recruitment announcement for supporters of the "Replay Girl" sports competition to post on the official cafe, Riya, as the fan club president, insisted she wanted to add her own message. ―――――――――― Hello, this is Kim Yoon-ho, humming manager of Sound UpkeyGirl. UpkeyGirl's second mission on SBS's 'Replay Girl' has been decided as a 6-sport athletics & esports event. Since all of our UpkeyGirl members will be participating in each category, fans who wish to join as cheerleaders should fill out an application. Next is a message from Jin Riya, who will become the president once the fan club 'Eoububa' is formed. Hi everyone. It’s Ally here as the Eoububa president. This time Riya and the sisters are joining a sports event, planning to crush it, so we really need your enthusiastic support. The recording starts early in the morning and is said to finish by dawn, but the broadcasting folks insist we can't leave in the middle. The president tried to negotiate that, but it was a no-go. Instead, the president will cover taxi fares and will diligently provide meals and snacks. For Eoububa members from out of town, accommodations will be arranged so you can stay over. If any regional members are coming the day before and need travel or lodging, please mention it in the application. No matter what, I will take responsibility for accommodation and meals. So, no worries, just come and cheer for our sisters and Ally a lot. ―――――――――― ―Najara: Love how you guys are so generous, but please, don’t spoil us like thisㅠㅠ. I can get there myself... I’m a full-fledged adult... ―Moomoory: Even if our Upkids don’t win, let's make sure no one gets hurt. ―lainor: Where is the application form? ―Philion: No groups do this. I remember struggling last year cheering for a different fan group and getting unfairly criticized... ―Irota: Shibakobuk, Oppa will bring your favorite Together ice cream! ―iring0707: Every time you spoil us, I’m confused about whether I'm your fan or you’re mine. *** The recording venue was the Olympic Hall located in Deungchon-dong. Although the recording standby started at 7 AM, fandoms reportedly arrived at the gym by 5 AM—before the sun rose—to hang banners and prepare for cheering. We arrived at 6:30 AM. As we had anticipated, the parking lot entrance was bustling with fans and reporters eager to catch a glimpse of the artists’ arrival, similar to the commute scene for music programs. In front of us, a team outfitted in Replay Girl’s official sponsor sportswear disembarked from their vehicle to greet their fans. Unable to see clearly from my angle, I asked Jang Woo. "Who is it?" "It looks like GIG. No, it’s Promise Twelve." Before Jang Woo could finish speaking, a sharp, sarcastic comment flew in from the back seat. "Some are lucky enough to see the sky first thing upon arrival." "Yoo Eun-bit, what's with your manners? Call her Sky-nim." "Shouldn't the manager buy a lottery ticket today?" "I hope Sky, I mean Sky-nim, competes in wrestling today." "Jang Woo, what are you doing? Hurry up and get inside. Are you going to take responsibility if Ally and the sisters’ conditions worsen?" "It seems like we should wait here until Promise’s photo time is over." "We should just push our way through. Without that much guts, how can you be a manager?" No, no, that's not guts; that's just inhumane. ―One, two, three... "Sweet, moist, and soft. Promiss Twelve..." Mimicking the cheer of Promise Twelve that echoed outside, resulted in another round of sarcastic remarks. "Wow, you memorized all that?" "Why not just be a manager for Promise?" "Chief, if we compete in the finals against Promise, who will you support?" "I wish it were a wrestling final with Sky-nim..." "Minmin, how about you officially join Promise’s cheering section at this point?" "Guys, no matter how it looks, Seo-won is the light, and for me, Yeon-hong is the truth. Sky is just a bonus." "Enough, just go join the sweet, moist, and soft Promise." "Wow, but Sky is truly beautiful. Her smile is so charming..." "Nonsense. That smile looks entirely insincere to me. Yoo Eun-bit, your smile is the real deal." "Oh, really? Seo-won unnie would be the center there. Visual center, vocal center." Are they self-sustained and complimenting each other? "Hyung, Promise is done." "Yeah. We should get out now. Guys, wear your padding before you step out. Don’t cover the logos." Our outfits were also sponsored items: jerseys, leggings, long padding, and running shoes. Following Promise Twelve, our kids stepped onto the photo line. "Wowww!" "You look stunning as always, Yona! Even prettier than yesterday, all of you!" "Seo-won unnie! Please look here just once!" Not just the members but Jang Woo and I were taken by surprise. The cheers were much louder than on the 'Hug Me' music show arrival path. The number of fans, once thirty at most, had noticeably increased, and there were many more shouting the members’ names from the back, too far from the photo line. "Kobuk, I brought some Together!" "Hong, why did you lose so much weight?" A playful exchange between Riya and a fan in his twenties elicited laughter. "Jin Riya, please take me!" "Where do you want me to take you!" "Anywhere is fine!" "Not necessary!" "Still love you!" "Tsk..." Riya's demeanor noticeably warmed toward male fans. Still, Riya wasn't in a bad mood; she brushed her nose with her finger and sent a finger heart towards her conversation partner. "One, two, three!" "The girl group you raised, UpkeyGirl!" "Wowww!" "Well done! UpkeyGirl!" After finishing their official cheer, the girls struck a few poses for a few minutes before reluctantly retreating to the gym’s waiting room. *** "Hello to all the girl group enthusiasts and our 50 million viewers nationwide. I'm your MC for the Legal Athletics Games, Jeon Seong-mu." "I'm MTT Jen. Hello!" "Yes, we have special commentators who will provide expert commentary for each sport, and we’ll introduce them as the games progress. But first, next to us is a lovely special MC. Jen, since she’s from your company, why don't you introduce her?" "Sure, it’s Seoin, who’s risen from the youngest of Lovemelody to a proud solo artist!" "Hello, I'm Seoin of Lovemelody. Please take care of me!" 8 AM. Except for swimming, the events will take place in the main stadium, with large banners supporting each team adorning the entirety of the spectator stands. The competition had seemingly already begun, given the size of the banners and the scale of the cheering squads. Groups like 'Power of Girls' or 'Ladybug,' which have yet to establish official fan clubs, have clearly had their companies produce and affix banners. Using somewhat tired internet slang like 'Let’s Go' or 'Is This for Real?' Our UpkeyGirl has not yet had an official fan club inauguration either. However, just by looking, the size of our cheering squad was among the top three, with a large number of fans showing up. "Jang Woo, did you see our banner?" "Heheh, yes. Seems like our fans are quite something." Jang Woo and I couldn’t help but snicker upon seeing the large banner created by Eoububa. To a layperson, it might as well be a bunch of curses. <Overly Obsessive Fanatic Idol Yonna!> <High-calorie rapper Yeonhong - who doesn’t even eat lunch!> Heh, that’s so UpkeyGirl-esque. If it comes to this, we’re heading straight to the Blue House! Before recording, the participating groups visited their respective fan sections for brief fan meetings. One of the reasons the previous Asiad Games were criticized was due to the poor treatment from the production team and management companies towards fans who participated for hours, even spending their own money. Perhaps aware of this, the Replay Girl teams showed extra effort in their fan service, such as providing packed lunches for their fans. However, compared to the gifts and hospitality provided by Ally for Eoububa, others felt a relative deprivation. "Look at that. Unbelievable..." "Must be nice having a rich company." "Even during music shows, their reverse gifts were something else." "I hear they distribute goods for free?" "Really?" Ally, who boldly promised no worries about accommodations. The production team limited each team’s cheering section to a maximum of 100 members, but Ally arranged hotel residences for the 40 or so regional fans who came yesterday, and a breakfast buffet was prepared for fans and staff who came at dawn. The buffet truck was adorned with five different banners written by our kids for their fans. <Joining the fandom is free, but leaving isn’t — Sexy Diva Eunbit> <What are you looking at, look at me — Obsessive Hell Seowon> <We’ll become a group that fans can be proud of — Leader Yoona> <I won’t lose weight, don’t go — High-calorie Rapper Yeonhong> <Is it really that nice? — Eoububa President Riya> "Staff members, please take turns to eat!" "Thank you for the meal!" Even in this festive atmosphere, there was an element that made me uneasy. While nearly 200 staff rotated for meals, I observed the mood at the table where PD Jang Ho-joon and the main production team sat. They were checking cue sheets while eating food brought by the assistant writers. Did CP Jin Sang-yoon, whom I took a hit at yesterday, give any orders? Probably. That kind of humiliation would’ve been a first for him. Especially from a manager with less than a year in the field. Some retaliatory measure was expected, but no peculiar signs had appeared just yet. Even if there was backlash, it didn’t matter. My grand scheme already took that into account. ―Now, before the oath ceremony, we'll proceed with the athletes’ entrance. They will enter in alphabetical order. Here they come! Amidst the fervent cheers from fans, the unique trio group DNA is making an appearance! ―Due to the fairness regarding the number of members, DNA is participating in conjunction with 'Power of Girls' in all events. ―Following DNA's entrance, the team Love One is arriving. With all 15 teams having made their entrance, the oath ceremony was taken by Lipbalm's oldest member, Haeun. And the first event began: swimming. "Heung..." Eunbit’s expression was understandably disappointed upon seeing the swimsuits prepared by the costume team. Because... "I can’t believe you actually prepared this... Is this real?!" The joke I made about the traditional Korean diving suit came true. Stylists had long since fled to the cheering section with the other four members, leaving only a clunky rubber suit hanging on the rack. Jang Woo and I filmed the pouting haenyeo-girl Eunbit with her cute turtle logo while suppressing our laughter. But seeing her miserable tears eventually made us burst out laughing. "What is this?!" "Hahaha!" "Don’t laugh, Kim Yoon-ho, you devil! I didn’t expect a bikini, but this is too much! Please tell me this is a prank, isn’t it? Huh? Huh? Jang Woo oppa!" "I'm sorry..." "Aaahhh! Aahhhhhh!" "Hahaha! Oh, this is hilarious!" "Don’t laugh!" Sitting on the floor, Eunbit clutched the haenyeo suit, wailing loudly. Sure, it might be a prank, but she had to wear the haenyeo suit for now. However, a different swimsuit was prepared for the finals. "Alright, alright. If you make it past the preliminaries, I'll let you change into the swimsuit." "Really?" "Yeah, I’ve got a pretty one ready for you." "Pretty...?" "Yeah." "Bikini?" "Not that. One-piece." "High-leg?" "Just keep wearing the haenyeo suit." "No, no, sorry. (sniff) Let me see..." "Make it past the preliminaries first. Those who don’t reach the finals have no right to see the swimsuit." "Alright, you devil. I’ll change, so both of you get out." A little while later, a small murmur began in the stands at the end of the aisle and spread like a wave. A commotion erupted upon discovering what that ruckus was about. "What’s with that contestant?" "Pfft, hahahaha!" "It's UpkeyGirl’s Eunbit! Now that I think about it, she was once on a show as a haenyeo girl before debuting; she came out wearing haenyeo gear, proving her status as a next-generation entertainment queen!" "Haenyeo? Seems like she might be a strong contender for victory, no? What do you think, commentator Park Taeyoung? Could her experience as a haenyeo help her?" "Well... this is my first time seeing this, but one could argue it won’t be entirely useless, right?" The swimming event features 24 contestants who will be cut down to the top 6 competing for medals in the finals. Due to the short preparation time, the swimming style is up to each participant. Eunbit’s coach suspected most would choose freestyle. Eunbit was in the first heat. Even though Eunbit loved attention, wearing a haenyeo suit among the girl groups in pretty swimsuits was apparently quite embarrassing. Although she tried to keep her composure, a fundamental shyness was evident on her face. Once all six lanes were introduced, the athletes took their positions on the starting blocks. "Tense moment..." "Each contestant is allowed up to two false starts, so they must react carefully to the starting signal." "Ready..." Bang! "They're off!" "A fast start, with Johee in lane 1 being the quickest!" "Contrarily, Eunbit, who drew the most attention in lane 4, had the slowest start." "Wait, what’s happening? Five swimmers have completed their underwater phases and surfaced, but Eunbit is still underwater!" "But she’s fast!" "Indeed!" < ㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇ > End