193 - Upki Girl

< Our Fans Are Our Parents > After the baseball stadium event, the main recording session for 'VIOLET' kicked off in the humming recording studio. Before we started recording, Riya called me out of the office for a moment. "MmGodMoonmoon, can I skip recording the title track with Aliya?" "Huh? Why?" "Well, it's just... like I felt during 'Hug Me,' I wonder if I really need to sing..." "What are you talking about? Of course, you should." It was an odd thing to say, especially since we had perfectly rehearsed the divided parts and it was recording day. Is she still feeling guilty about leaving Ripple Girl? "Are you nervous? You've practiced a lot." "No. Let's just give it a shot." I didn't say anything more. I simply patted the shoulder of the person forcing a smile. "Emperor God God Moonmoon, you've become such a warm manager. Aliya is so proud. It would've been perfect with a hug, but this is good too—90 points." "Hey, I did that on purpose. If you get 100 points now, there's no room for improvement." "Tsk tsk, a little praise and your head swells up. Society doesn't wait for Moonmoon to improve." "You mean arrogant. But when I saw you dancing at the baseball stadium earlier, it seemed like your foot completely healed. You could even rejoin Ripple Girl." "I'm not quite there yet. It's better to ensure full recovery and proper care rather than reinjuring myself by pushing it. The four of them are doing fine without me, and jumping in now might just mess up the choreography." "Alright. Still, it would be great if you could join for the finals." "I'll try my best." Despite the lack of confidence, Riya gave her all and completed the recording skillfully within her abilities. *** The next day. With the still-buzzing pitcher duo, Siba and Shippalsekki, a signing event was scheduled with the official clothing sponsor of Replay Girls. It was one of those events where the Replay Girl teams rotate attendance, and Unplugged Girls were first up. "Heyo, hello, let me introduce myself, my name is Yu Eunbit, profession is a fan-signing goddess, crack caw caw, loaded with sexy instead of aegyo pew pew pew pew~ Jungjungmori Eotmori, it’s my fault for being born sexy, and it's Kim Yoonho's fault for falling for my legs." After Eunbit, who entered with a rap from the famous hip-hop show 'High SchooL Rapper,' all five children gathered in the dance studio for a meeting. Perhaps because it had been a while since their last fan signing, everyone was excited. The event format was up to us, and they wanted to break away from the usual signings by creating a new experience for fans. "The fan signs you've done before weren't all that ordinary." My words were drowned out by Yona’s suggestion. "In Japan, they do handshake or hug events. A hug might take too long, so why not a handshake? I think a handshake event would be nice." Sewon opposed. "A handshake lacks meaning. It's something we already do. If we're doing something, a hug is better." Hongyi agreed with her peer. "I-I also think a hug would be nice." The youngest sided with the handshake. "Aliya isn't ready for hugs with strangers. A handshake is just right." These guys definitely have a 'dramatic performance' obsession. They always split 2-2, leaving it to the last member to decide. This time, the decision-maker was Siba. Pensively, he folded his arms, contemplating with a heavy sigh as if he bore all the world's burdens alone. “Hmm...” “Lightlight unnie, Aliya doesn't want to hug.” “Hmm...” “If Riya doesn't want it, we have no choice. Let’s just do the handshake then.” “Yeah, handshake it is.” Eventually, Sewon and Hongyi considered Riya's feelings and shifted to support the handshake. Just when it seemed settled as a handshake event... “Foot washing...” Was Siba about to make another outrageous suggestion? “What?” “To express our gratitude, we'll wash the fans' feet. And sign on their feet or toenails. It’s a surefire way to hit trending, don't you think?” I wanted to see what was inside Siba's head instead of a brain. His peers shook their heads in disbelief. “Seems like you're obsessed with trends. This isn’t a fan sign, it’s a punishment. Why would we wash their feet even if they're fans? We haven’t even washed the director's feet.” “I agree, Eunbit is obsessed with getting trending.” “Why? It’s truly a good thing. Seriously, which singer—no, which girl group—would wash fans’ feet? Even Japanese idols haven’t done this, I'll bet.” “Though the meaning is good, fans might feel uncomfortable. That's Aliya's thought. Even if I did enjoy a foot massage from MmGodMoonmoon.” That led to you and I ending up in the hospital. Even with Riya opposing, reluctantly... “Foot washing... a foot-washing event... hmm, I like it.” Unexpectedly, yon leader gave a positive response. No, she went ahead and decided unilaterally. “This fan sign will have a foot-washing concept.” Even the proposer, Eunbit, was surprised. “Huh? Really?” “Yes, I think both the intent and reaction will be good. How many did you say we were picking?” “A hundred.” “What, are we actually doing this?” In response to Sewon’s question, Yona calmly explained. “It should help with the star disease rumors about us and Riya. Washing someone's feet is difficult unless there's genuine affection or respect involved. Let's show our fans that we approach them with such humility.” The character controversy involving Sewon and Riya did tarnish Unplugged Girls' image a bit. The two had no excuses for that part, no matter how much they wanted to speak up. Thus, the fan signing event's concept was leaning toward a foot washing ceremony. It seemed a bit bizarre, but I was intrigued to see how the media and fans would react. Imagining the kids washing fans' feet already had me chuckling. "Heh heh, I'll have to ask the PR team to prepare a press release about this." Just as I was heading to the office, Eunbit, the original proposer, chimed in with an additional suggestion. "How about expressing our gratitude not only to fans but also to the managers and teachers this time?" It was a proposal to conduct the foot washing ceremony for us first. The kids seemed to agree with the idea earnestly. I was the only one dumbfounded, laughing in disbelief. "Pfft, I swear, you're driving me crazy, Siba." "Why? Material gifts are nice, but sometimes these gifts from the heart are better, right? I'm really touched right now. Oh, what do I do, I feel like crying already." "Aliya feels the same. It's strangely touching." It wasn't just the two of them. The other three seemed genuinely invested in the act they were about to undertake. "Are you guys serious? Why a foot washing all of a sudden?" "Oppa, before this feeling flies away, gather everyone quickly. Riya, let's go grab some washbasins, towels, and soap with unnie." Shortly after... The training team hadn't arrived at work yet, so we decided to do it separately in the evening. For now, CEO Yeom, Jangwoo, and two PR team members were gathered in the dance studio. A perfect 5-on-5. "What's with the foot washing?" "Sigh, I don’t know. They say they want to express gratitude to the staff." "I’m opting out. Why are you guys being all creepy all of a sudden?" "Come on, don’t be like that. Sit down, I'll take care of you, CEO." Eunbit promptly seated Yeom in a chair. Then Riya beckoned to Jangwoo with her fingers. “Jangwoo, come here.” “Uh...?” “You’ve been taking good care of Aliya all this time.” “Oh...” Chosen by Riya, Jangwoo sat with a face close to tears of gratitude. It seemed they had paired up amongst themselves. Yona and Hongyi assigned themselves to PR members Mijeong and Hye-eun, respectively, while Sewon and I linked up naturally. “Take a seat.” I chuckled as I sat on the empty chair. With one knee on the floor, Sewon removed my shoes and socks. “I’ve tried all sorts of things in my life now.” “Accept it when I'm offering.” “Alright, thanks.” “Is the water temperature okay?” “Yeah, it’s warm, just right.” “Wow, I didn’t notice before, but your feet are huge up close.” She grasped my right foot with both hands, manipulating it diligently. “Hey, that tickles.” “Hold still for a moment.” “It tickles, I said.” Glancing around, I saw all five pairs prepared in similar poses. The scene was almost sacred. Everyone seemed joyful, laughing together, and taking videos with their phones as if they planned it. I, too, pulled out my phone and was about to press the record button when I noticed Sewon’s loose T-shirt neck through the screen, exposing her cleavage and bra. Never mind. “Sewona, you might want to adjust your T-shirt.” “Why?” “Your chest is visible.” She quickly covered her front and looked up sharply. “If it bothers you, don't look. Why would you anyway?” “What do you mean? I was filming, and it was distracting.” “Oh dear, listen to you.” Seemingly displeased by the word "distracting," she clenched her grip on my foot. Her nails slightly pricked my sole, causing discomfort. “Ow. Do it this way for the fans tomorrow too. Guaranteed to start a fight.” “My fans actually like me to do it this way. It’s just people who don’t know me would complain.” “You're all a bunch of weirdos, I swear...” *** Three days later at Hanam Starfield, the fan signing event. <‘Replay Girl X Gentley’ Special Fan Signing 1st Session ‘Unplugged Girl’> The grace of our fandom is like the sky Higher as we look up Pretty and cute, praised and adored Our fandom are like our parents Ah, thank you for the love, fandom Ah, we shall repay your grace, fandom "What’s this song?" "Heh heh heh." "These kids are something else." As the satirical version of "Teacher's Grace" titled "Fandom's Grace," recorded by the kids, played as background music, laughter erupted first from the press section. Riya’s concern about the fans finding it overwhelming proved unfounded. Thanks in part to Unplugged Girl's reputation for fun fan gatherings, the event, billed as (supposedly) the world’s first foot-washing fan sign, drew unprecedented buzz and audience size. Both the press seating and winner's sections were filled to capacity, with fans packed outside the photo line, making passage difficult. The staff struggled to keep paths clear. While our past fan signs were free with first-come, first-served draws, this time, it was the first paid event. Every 30,000 won spent on Gentley brand clothing granted an entry ticket, with the possibility of multiple entries if one spent more. Though it was a random lottery event held across eight metropolitan locations, so the exact number of entries wasn't tallied, an insider suggested that the entry boxes at all locations were nearly filled, with sales surging fivefold to fifteenfold in some stores. Since entries were limited to metro areas, fans from other regions and overseas flocked to specific stores. The event's organizers noted that Unplugged Girls had amassed a fanbase rivaling that of top-tier GBG generation groups like Charming Carpet and Liz Girls in terms of passion and fervor. Seeing familiar Unplugged Girls fans among those gathered outside the photo line suggested that many present were fans who hadn't won tickets and were referred to as "OhBooBa" fans for their persistence. Watching the scene unfold, any online criticisms or negative comments seemed like the hollow words of keyboard warriors. "And now, let's welcome the stars of today we've been waiting for!" After a simple gift-giving event led by the MC, it was time for the kids to make their entrance. "The girl group nurtured by Replay Girl and Gentley! A charm rainbow that can't be captured in one word—Unplugged Girls!" "Hello!" "Wowww!" The kids appeared alongside the intro of their mission song from Replay Girl. Riya, who had been steadily undergoing rehabilitation training and was free from mobility issues in daily life, joined the performance on stage. Fans who hadn't seen Riya on TV made beastly sounds, their excitement visibly mounting at the complete group's appearance. "It's Riya of Dances, It's Riya, ohhh!" "To me, you are the truth!" The 20-something fan with a signature thick voice declaring his undying devotion was there. "Riya, take me! Please, just take me!" Hearing his trademark chant, Riya located him and mouthed towards his camera, 'Even if you take me, I’m no use!' Though she only mouthed it, she quickly formed a finger heart and posed specifically for his camera. Not to be outdone, personal fans of other members started loudly expressing their devotion. "Seeba Turtle! Seeba Cute! Seeba Love!" No, that's not a curse. "Sewon-ah, pull out my toenails today! Torture me!" A common request from Sewon’s extreme M-fans. "Yon-na is yonh-nah yonh-nah!" Understood, like Jeolla dialect’s ‘Thingy doing thingy’ or Busan dialect’s ‘Gaga gaga?’ "Absolute Hong on the mound! Hong-ten exploding today!" Somehow it feels like I should shout ‘Yes!’ like a new catchphrase. The journalists and fans continuously laughed and enjoyed the free and open fan-signing atmosphere. Their expressions said it all—‘Just as we'd heard.’ Importantly, the main event hadn't even begun yet. While the kids sang, Jangwoo and I prepared the stage for the foot washing ceremony with help from onsite staff. To ensure hygiene, we set up a children's inflatable pool with water for washing and another for draining, placing towels generously. I couldn’t help but chuckle, wondering what scenes and reactions would emerge. After the opening song ended, the kids introduced themselves, and the unprecedented foot-washing signing event began in earnest. The BGM was ‘Fandom’s Grace’: The grace of our fandom like the sky above "Squee." Growing higher as we look up "Ahaha!" Pretty and cute, praised and adored "*Squeal.*" Our fandom is like our parents "Hah, that tickles, noona!" Ah, thank you for the love, fandom "Snort-laugh!" Ah, we shall repay your grace, fandom "Aah, Sewon-ahhh!" Here and there, soft moans and writhing bodies. For spectators, it was the ultimate entertainment. Today too, it's a hit, with endless high-quality clips to come. "Hahaha, look at Yo-na's fan." "Hehe. It's epic." Around the 40th spot, two men approached me. "Excuse me. Are you Mr. Kim Yoon-ho?" "Yes." "Could we have a word?" One was a handsome Southeast Asian with tanned skin and deep, bold eyes. The Korean who addressed me carried a vibe of being a diaspora, seeming like the Southeast Asian's interpreter or secretary. "Sure… What’s this about?" "It's regarding the princess. Let's step aside for a moment." < Our Fans Are Our Parents > The End