223 - Upki Girl

<5 Consecutive Weeks of Hong Jin-ho, 5 Consecutive Weeks of Hong Jin-ho> <Album 5%> Flesh Defense Battle: 500 Up-Key Girl: 137 Liz Girl: 69 --- Flesh Defense Battle: 2500 Up-Key Girl: 965 Liz Girl: 386 <Viewer Pre-vote 5%> Flesh Defense Battle: 500 Up-Key Girl: 310 Liz Girl: 121 <Live Text Voting 10%> Flesh Defense Battle: 1000 Up-Key Girl: 571 Liz Girl: 201 <Audio Streaming 55%> Flesh Defense Battle: 5021 Up-Key Girl: 5500 Liz Girl: 4910 ―The winner of this week's first place after combining all the scores is... Yes! It's Flesh Defense Battle! ―Congratulations! The barrier of male idols was indeed high, and among them, Flesh Defense Battle was currently untouchable. Even if Michael Jackson were to come back to life, he wouldn't be able to surpass them, at least in the domestic music shows. Oh, come on. Reality sure knows when to strike meaningfully. The ability granted to me is fantasy, yet reality remains exactly that—reality. "Jang-Woo, it seems we had a sweet dream for a moment. It must be why people keep buying lottery tickets every week, even though they know it’s unlikely." "Hehe, Flesh Defense is quite overwhelming. Still, we did win the audio score, got full marks." "Yeah... It's great to be second in our comeback week." "If Flesh Defense dominates for three weeks and then drops out, maybe we'll have a chance." "Next week, VNF and So Min-Jeong are coming on..." On stage, Flesh Defense's acceptance speech continued. The Up-Key Girl members, not caught on camera, were waving and thanking the fans who had come to see them. Their fans seemed more disappointed, with our girls comforting them, saying it's okay. As expected, we owe our second place to the fans. Comparing to Liz Girl, who finished third, it's clear how much effort the girls put in. Scores in areas where fans directly participate showed nearly a twofold difference. "Hyung, where should we hold the fan meeting?" "Oh, right. We need to decide on a place. Hmm... How about Park Eight? It's convenient for parking." "Yes, sounds good. I'll message the committee to escort the fans there." After music broadcasts from two major networks, except Music Supreme, there's no longer that harmful tradition of lining up to bow to the PD before leaving. Thanks to a staff member who exposed it online, the networks stopped it. Now, we just leave after the broadcast ends. Since today was our first comeback stage, we decided to have a casual fan meeting at a nearby park. The fans had been waiting at the park parking lot, and as soon as the kids got out, cheers erupted. Grateful as I was, it was near an apartment complex, and we often got complaints, so I signaled with my finger for them to quiet down, just as my manager Yona scolded from behind. "Why are you scolding the fans, Chief!" "But... if complaints come in..." "Then we'll be quiet when they do! Geez, you have no flexibility, no flexibility at all!" Why do I sometimes feel like Ri purposely mispronounces words? Is it just me? Am I the only one thinking dirty? "Let’s scream our hearts out! Raaah!" The pterodactyl-like scream from Eun-biti got a raucous response from the fans. Truly, such is the artist, such are the fans. Fortunately, no complaints came in. I thanked the 70-odd fans present, who had been there since the 5 a.m. rehearsal, waiting over eight hours. About 50 were male fans, a relatively high ratio for a girl group. Around 20 couldn’t enter the broadcast station and only joined us for the fan meeting. "We tried to save as many fan seats as we could, but we're still newbies and only managed about 50. As you know, boy group fanbases are prioritized. Apologies to those waiting outside." "It's okay!" "We owe everything to you that we're here now. On behalf of the company, thank you sincerely." "Thank you, Chief Myunoh and Manager Jang-Woo too! Applause!" Cheers and applause were directed at Jang-Woo and me. Moments like these are truly touching. We then broke bread with the fans while sharing easy-going chats with the kids. There were familiar faces from previous signings and new faces as well—evidence of our growing fanbase with the recent founding of our fan club. About ten minutes into our mini fan meeting, 'Up-Ki-Man,' a 31-year-old company employee and vice president of 'Oh Booba' (President being Ri-ah), stepped away to take a call. He returned shortly, escorting a young girl. Middle school? High school? She had a slight build and an awkward gait, which Up-Ki-Man seemed to mind as he escorted her like a bodyguard. Judging by her proudly worn fan club card, she was indeed an Oh Booba member, probably late due to mistiming. Her aura was what caught my eye. Pure. If Eun-biti had an aura of ordinary color, it would likely resemble this—an unblemished and serene blue aura. ―Of course, Eun-biti’s might mix yellow and blue.― But unlike the striking appearance of Eun-biti at first sight, this girl's looks weren't eye-catching. Her aura was merely pure; some inexplicable chronic melancholy permeated her being, reminiscent of my first impression of Seo Won. Naturally, the Up-Key Girl members directed their gaze toward her as well. Yona, holding a Bluetooth microphone, took the lead in acknowledging the newcomer. "Oh? Did you come late?" The girl was startled, covering her mouth with her hand, and suddenly burst into tears. Amidst the collective surprise, vice president Up-Ki-Man laughed, albeit awkwardly, and introduced her. "Those who frequently visit our community page would know, it's 'Yotong Accident.'" "Yotong Accident?" "Ahh!" "Oh my!" Of course, we know her. She's a famous middle school fan known not just to Up-Key Girl fans but since Yona's eye contact era. She survived a hit-and-run accident and was diagnosed as paraplegic, but her story of overcoming her disability through Yona's songs and performances is well-known. Inspired by Yona, she's dreaming of becoming an idol and attending a performing arts school, sharing these updates with us. Because she lives in the countryside, she'd never attended any fan signings or live broadcasts until now. She still mentioned ongoing rehabilitation, and her slight limp suggested she wasn't fully recovered. Reading her story gave off a bright and positive vibe, yet, experiencing her presence conveyed a somewhat contrary atmosphere. "Oh no, what should we do!” Yona rushed over to the sobbing girl upon hearing the nickname 'Yotong Accident' and embraced her as if she'd found a long-lost sister. She gently wiped her tears, speaking in a friendly manner. "I really wanted to see you. Let me see your face. Silly, don’t cry~” Tear-streaked, Yotong Accident wiped her eyes with her sleeve and hesitantly asked, "Is it really Yona Unnie? Is it really you?” “You say you’re my fan but don’t even recognize me?” “No, it doesn't feel real. It’s like I’m dreaming.” “Look, are you much better now? No issues walking?” “Yes. I really pushed through rehab thinking of you, Unnie. Even the doctors and professors called it a miracle.” “Thank you. It must have been really tough, but thank you for not giving up and overcoming it.” This touching scene was being thoroughly documented by the fans' cameras. She tried to apply for the choice fan seats but missed out due to the ordering, so she decided to attend the fan meeting even if it meant coming late. Her home is in Ulsan, and she mentioned it was her first time leaving the city alone without her parents. Hmm... The information window suggested scouting new artists, right? Her aura is just too good. I should note her contact details. Aspiring to be an idol, it’d be best to discuss with her parents first and then consider her as a trainee. Her name is Yerahee. Born in 2003. Following a car accident, she took a year off school and is currently in the second year of middle school. *** The momentum of Flesh Defense Battle was not easily broken. Despite the frenzy in America, you’d think they’d take it a bit easier on domestic activities, yet they tirelessly went back and forth, collecting trophies, as if having two bodies. Skipping Mondays, Up-Key Girl became outstanding supporting acts for them on Tuesday and Wednesday during cable music shows, like a deer becoming an excellent protein source for Bear Grylls. During Daesae Gayo, Flesh Defense Battle couldn’t greet us as they had other commitments between rehearsal and the live show, but on Tuesday, we visited their waiting room, exchanged signed CDs, and formally greeted each other. Past acquaintances Ju-Young and Yona avoided eye contact, meticulously concealing their relationship. Yet, Yona later revealed she had already greeted him during Daesae Gayo. The members were completely unaware, taken by surprise. "Oh my gosh, really? When?" “When everyone gathered on stage at the end.” "Wow, amazing. I was next to Unnie the whole time, when did that happen?" "There are skills, you know." "This is the caliber of a second round indeed!" "But it’s kind of romantic. Meeting as trainees and then reuniting as number one candidates. What did you talk about?" "Just... you know, how have you been, it's great to see you doing well, stuff like that." “Did you hold hands?” “No.” "Contact details?" “I gave but he didn’t take.” "Why!" “What’s the point of receiving it, I won't contact him anyway." "Truly an impenetrable girl!" While Eun-Bit and Ri-Yah gave a thumbs-up, Seo-Won teased me with a sneer, catching onto something. “What do you mean impenetrable. Chief, see? Yona’s like this. Backstabbing type, you’re out, you’re out.” "Hehe, it’s just a hello. It’s not like they committed a transgression. Yona, why didn't you take his contact?" “Not interested.” "If you’re not interested in Ju-Young from Flesh Defense, who are you interested in then?" I intended it as a playful remark, alluding 'Our Yona's standard is high,' yet Yona just remained silent. A little while later, Yona sent me a personal message while the girls nodded off, tired. Yona [Chief, do you want me to stay in touch with Ju-Young?] With Jang-Woo at the wheel, I replied directly. Me [Not really, but there’s no reason to stop you if you do, right?] Yona [Why wouldn’t there be? If by chance a scandal erupts because I keep in touch, what then?] Me [A scandal? Are you saying that meticulous, unyielding Yona who greeted him without even the members noticing, would let that happen? You’re not that careless lol] Yona [No. I’m like that. You may not know, but I’m super clumsy and foolish. If you look closer, I’m worse than Eun-Bit. You better keep a good watch.] Me [LOL] Yona [Don’t laugh. Not joking. Besides being clumsy, I’m extremely risky and provocative, I don’t even know what I’ll do.] So I've heard. People call that “Yonna’s Day.” Yeah, yeah, I get it. I gave Yona the response she preferred. Me: [Yona. Just saying this as a precaution, but you absolutely must not keep in touch with Ju-Young. People may see you as strict and untouchable, but I can see it. Deep down, you're clumsier than Eun-bit and have a scatterbrain quality. On top of that, you're incredibly dangerous and provocative. You might end up in a scandal without even knowing it, so don't contact him, okay?] Yona: [What do you take me for? Rest assured, that won't happen!] Me: [That's a relief ^^] Yona: [Oh? Chief, are you perhaps jealous?] What is this perplexing role play of dual personalities? Could today be one of “Yonna’s Days”? How should I even respond here? Should I claim jealousy? Me: [Ah... well... it's not quite jealousy, but... it's a concern that’s a bit akin to it yet slightly different—a simple worry as your manager.] Yona: [Alright ^^ Don’t worry, I'll handle things so you don't feel that way, lol] Even though there wasn’t a fight, I strangely felt like I’d lost something. *** ―Congratulations to the Flesh Defense Battle! On Thursday’s B-Music’s broadcast, we came in second place behind Flesh Defense Battle again. That's the fourth consecutive second place. With new albums from VNF, Sachoongans, and So Min-Jung coming next week, it'll likely be even harder for us to claim first as our momentum fades. “Well, winning first from the get-go would be boring. You have to have something to strive toward to look forward to tomorrow.” I tried to console the girls with those words, but after riding the second-place lane four times, it was eating away at me more than anyone else. Why isn’t it working? We should’ve overpowered so many of them by now, Flesh Defense and So Min-Jung included. While we are still fluctuating around the third-place mark in both album and audio scores, there’s a noticeable sapping of energy. Even if we lead in audio scores, the gap in album scores, live text votes, and social media scores (views on platforms like YouTube) favored the boy groups too heavily. “Huh?” After the broadcast, I stumbled upon an overlooked piece of information while searching articles in the office. “What?! Flesh Defense’s initial sales hit a million in the first week with total sales at 1.14 million now? How do we compete with that?” For a moment, I thought my eyes deceived me. But no matter how much I looked, it wasn't ten thousand, it was indeed one million. Not the total sales across all albums, but the initial count for a single album within just a week domestically. Ever since MP3s became a trend in the early 2000s, I recall people saying hitting 100,000 was already a massive success, so a million seemed inconceivable. It's surprising the coverage isn't even bigger than it is. Of course, they’re being featured on prime-time news and various media frequently mention the ‘UTB Syndrome,’ but considering it’s about the greatest world star in South Korean history, it feels slightly undervalued. Seeing my questioning face, Yeom explained: “That’s the power of their company. When ‘Spirit’ surpassed one million, it caused an uproar.” “Ah, Spirit surpassed a million too?” “Yeah, but theirs included sales from China, whereas Flesh Defense’s million is purely domestic. Had Flesh Defense been under KU or 3S, they would be promoted almost to Beatles-level. Heck, they might even place a statue between the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-Shin in Gwanghwamun.” “Thinking of it like that makes us feel undervalued too...” "There’s an unspoken rule about it. Big agencies can feel threatened if major artists emerge from smaller agencies, so they subtly thwart them. They might snatch broadcasting or audition opportunities away by offering better deals. Their relationship with networks is such that they create content collaboratively." “Ugh, hearing stuff like this only drains energy, I'd rather not know. Guess it’s time to head home.” “Great work today.” After finishing with the Thursday cable music show, the girls went off to perform at a university festival, and now they're practicing until dawn again. They sleep at the dorms for roughly two hours a night, catching up on rest during travel. Even in the car, they can’t just freely sleep as puffiness or open pores could lead to issues with their appearance. This isn't just us; most idols running album promotions have a similarly punishing schedule. The next day's Music Market would also see Flesh Defense winning first place for three consecutive weeks. Starting from last Sunday's Daesae Gayo, we were on a streak of five consecutive second places. Tomorrow’s Music Supreme will likely be another Hong Jin-ho, as will the second week of Daesae Gayo the following day. This is how people become accustomed to helplessness. I’ve listened to 'Pride' by Flesh Defense so many times that I could easily rap it myself. ―Listening to Flesh Defense Battle’s encore stage, we'll say goodbye here! ―Shop for music, Music Market! ―See you again next week! ―――――――― ★Even Five Times as #2 Deserves Recognition★ Congratulations on securing the Silver Cup for coming in second place five times consecutively. As a reward, here’s a spoiler scene. ―――――――― “Oh my...” A groan slipped out unconsciously. The video playing on the information screen showed Yona kissing me. This time I was awake, and Yona wore stage outfits I hadn’t seen before. <5 Consecutive Second Places, Hong Jin-ho 5 Times in a Row> End