225 - Upki Girl

< Is This Oppa Smiling? > A brief wave of dizziness hit me, but fortunately, it quickly passed. The ringing in my ears vanished too. However, the purple aura that had disappeared from the children did not return to its original state. Only their inherent auras shone brightly. While I had seen Seowon and Yona's auras before, this was my first time seeing the real auras of the other children. Eunbit clearly had outstanding talent as an entertainer and singer, with an aura that was clear and pure. Hongyi, as his stats suggested, was an all-rounder excelling in various fields. Riya's aura was predominantly blue with a hint of yellow, representing her talent in entertainment, but it wasn’t the colors that stood out—it was her unique and charming aura pattern. She was part of Upkick Girl not just because she liked them, but because she genuinely had the flair of an entertainer. Among all the participants on stage, the only ones whose auras could rival our kids' were the war defense battle crew and the female MC, actress Han Somin. "The ultimate music festival with the best singers, Music Best!" "See you next week for more of the best!" With the kids crying too much, the MCs skipped the comments due to time constraints and wrapped up with their closing remarks. The broadcast ended, and Violet's MR played with no voices overlaying the stage. Nowadays, even if the broadcast ends, clips of the encore stage and behind-the-scenes stories are uploaded on portal sites, so you can never let your guard down just because the show is over. The children, not singing, struggled to suppress their overwhelming emotions and belatedly thanked their fans. "Thank you, our bubba fans!" "We sincerely thank everyone who came today! We'll work even harder as Upkick Girl!" I was worried about how the fans of the second-place defending battlers 'LUV UTB' would react, but as expected of fans of world-renowned artists, they showed mature behavior and applauded the Upkick Girl members. The kids, only after reaching the part of the chorus, finished greeting the fans and began their encore song. It was Eunbit who suddenly remembered their pledge for coming in first place. "Oh, right. We have to do our first-place serenade!" You mean ceremony. Because all five Upkick Girl members wore headsets, their conversation was audible over the speakers. Seowoni, pressing her hand lightly against the tears spread across her face, asked again. "Huh? What were we supposed to do?" "Sing while doing a handstand and Yona will write with her butt." "Wow, we just threw that out there without thinking! We never thought we'd actually win first place!" In response to Yona’s urgent voice, worried about having to write with her bottom alone, the audience and staff responded with laughter and cheers. For the kids who had learned acrobatics, handstands were no big deal. Eunbit, looking excited, first stood on her head in a yoga-like pose while the others followed, placing their heads down and lifting their legs. Eunbit wore a fluttery skirt and Riya wore a tight-fitting one, but both had safety shorts the same length as their skirts, so exposure wasn't a major concern. While the four kids sang in handstand positions, Yona wrote her and the members' names with her bottom in turn. At the end, she wrote something long, but after the first syllables 'Director', it became impossible to decipher. *** [Music Best] Third Week of May 1st Place 'Upkick Girl—Violet' Ceremony — AngelicTeacher: Are you guys crazy? LOL — SmilingNoodles: They said it was offhand, but they did it effortlessly. LOL — Lunation: Positions so comfy~ — Gersigi: You crazy Upkick folks! LOL — Timesliper: What did Yona write with her butt at the end? — Nezoth: Not sure what she wrote, but it was genuinely Yona-styled. Obviously YONA. — Uruchi: It's Upkick Girl's debut first win, and they are too busy with the serenade to celebrate... — FreeSoul: Even so, they're naturally calling it a serenade instead of a ceremony... *** In the car, on the way back to the office after a mini fan meeting celebrating their first-place win. The kids did a live broadcast to thank the fans who couldn't be there in person. Yona was particularly upset about not being able to share her feelings because she was crying too much. "Wow, I've had a habit of thinking about my first-place speech every night since debut, but when the moment actually came, I couldn't think of anything." "Why don't we each say something now? This might be our first and last time at first place." "Oh, Eunbit, there's a saying that words have power. Everyone spit thrice. Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!" "Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!" "Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!" "Director and Jangwoo oppa, you spit too." "Hehe, okay. Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!" "I don't believe in superstitions, Seowon." "Then I'll do it for you, Director. Bow-wow-wow!" Nobody questioned why she spat like that only for me. "But, Yona, what did you write with your butt at the end? It seemed like you wrote something other than just names, right?" Hongi asked, and Yona only smiled mysteriously. "Oh... That? Just, you know." "What? Did Yona write something other than names?" "Yeah, it looked like she wrote something long." "Did she? I'll need to check the video then." Eunbit searched her phone, while Seowon replied with confidence. "She probably wrote the names of the company staff. Director, Jangwoo oppa, the CEO, and the teachers. Right, Yona?" "Wow, as expected of Seowon unnie." Is that so…? When you think about it, it probably was something like that. Director, Jangwoo oppa, Representative Yeom… something along those lines. After about 30 minutes of live streaming, the kids said goodbye to their fans, promising to see them at the second week's stage performance tomorrow. "But they really don’t tell us anything in advance." "Exactly. It's completely real." "You only found out we won first place when they announced it, right, Director?" "Yeah, Jangwoo and I initially thought they made a mistake and swapped our name with Yukbang." "How did no one hear the name being called?" "I thought the male MC was giving me the trophy to pass it to Yukbang, so I almost walked over to them." "Right, right. Your expression back then was hilarious! Haha!" "Why? Did I look really foolish?" "No, it was cute. It might even become a meme." "Haha, that’s okay then!" "But seriously, you did a handstand without a care even though you were in a skirt? Riya's was tight, so it was okay, but yours flipped up, and honestly, it was kind of... revealing." "Revealing? More like sexy. Oh, did it show?" "What? Show what?" "The zipper?" "Pfft! Oh my…" Hearing that while trying to sip on my coffee, I ended up choking, and Jangwoo sighed in exasperation. "Why, Jangwoo oppa? I read online that guys go crazy over those outlines. Isn’t that true?" Šiba, oblivious to what she had said wrong, asked innocently. I couldn’t tell if she was doing it deliberately or if her brain was desensitized by her being so unabashedly bold. Jangwoo cautioned her on my coughing behalf. "You shouldn’t use language like that." "Is it a bad word?" "It's obviously not a good one. It's a term guys use to sexually objectify a woman’s anatomy, so it's not something you should be throwing around. Adults only, adults only." "Oh, I see. I thought it was okay to use since people were raving about bronze and gold zippers online. It would’ve been bad if I mentioned it on a broadcast." "Yeonhong, what cut are they talking about? Do you know?" "I-I also don’t know what that term means." Seowon and Hongyi didn’t know the term at all. "What it means is…", Yona begins to explain in an academic, unaffected tone, as if describing the functions of a heart. “Sometimes when women wear leggings or tight-fit pants, the fabric dips in at certain areas, and it looks like the imprint of an axe. That’s why it’s called that.” “Ohh, that. I was wondering.” “Wow, not a nice term…” Seowon then asks, “So what do they call it for guys, when theirs sticks out? There were times I noticed it on the director…” "Hey, don’t make things up. It never happened in front of you guys. What do you take me for…" "You didn’t, in front? Does that mean you did behind our backs?" "I didn’t do it behind, to the side, or diagonally." "Then maybe there's a health issue, Director. It’s natural for guys even without naughty thoughts..." "I’m very healthy. Maybe it’s because they have nothing to react to with you guys around?" "I want to see Tteok-garae. Anyway, what do they call it for guys?" "I don't know, there's no name for it." "What the heck? Then why do only women have a name for it? It should be fair, make one for guys too. Like mushroom print? Pride print?" "No, no… You don’t need to go and invent one for them…" "Oh, Moon Daengdaeng and Manager Jangwoo are blushing! Their faces are as red as mushroom caps! Naughty people!" "D-disappointment, Director. You didn’t seem phased by the axe print, but the mushroom print makes you blush?" "No, Hong. I was flustered from the start…" "Since you saw my imprint, let's be fair and let me see yours, Director." "No, it didn’t show, Šiba…" "Strange. Why not…?" "Oh, seriously, shut it. Why are you kids reveling in dirty jokes like middle-aged women? If your fans found out, they'd hardly be pleased!" "Yeah, right. They’d totally love it, Satire." Riya’s definitely the ultimate boss in this situation. I gave up trying to respond any further. Jangwoo had already retreated into the stance of a wise observer... In any case, I’m talking and joking around with the kids as if nothing's changed, but an empty feeling still gnaws at my heart. Since the moment the purple aura vanished from their bodies, it's been like this—like breaking up with a first love, a persistent, uncomfortable pressure on my chest refuses to go away. It wasn’t just the purple aura. Even the capability stat screens I could summon at will no longer appear. Most importantly, the bond that allowed me to connect on a deep level with them seemed audibly severed. I used to know their feelings and hidden emotions almost perfectly, but now I can't sense any of that. Now, like with anyone else, I can only infer from their outward expressions or tone. The realization that the purple aura was the thread of fate connecting us became apparent at that exact moment. But why did it disappear? Does achieving first place mean my role here has ended? Is it, as hinted by the window yesterday, suggesting that I search for future artists, another purple aura to connect with? Or perhaps it means the children’s wounds and insecurities have healed. Whatever the case, it's evident that they no longer need me. Wait a second. Then, there's really no reason for this itching feeling in my chest, is there? Because, saying the kids no longer need me also means I’m free from them, and that they aren’t likely to rely on me anymore, right? Not that we’re parting ways forever—we'll still see each other almost daily at the company. Then Jangwoo could step up to become a manager and take charge of Upkick Girl, and I could become the head of rookie development, couldn’t I? Whoa! Thinking like that, the sense of liberation, an overwhelming feeling of freedom, hit me like the cooling breeze from a fan drying you off in the peak of summer. That means I can reconnect with Jaehee and maybe even have some sparks fly with Editor Jeong A-yoon, the queen of black stockings, right? Cool! So cooool! *** Huh…? I must have dozed off, lost in my pleasant daydreams. It feels like we’re just about to arrive at the office. I hear Eunbit speaking close to my face, calling out to Seowon. Her sweet and warm breath is so close I can feel it on my cheek. “Seowon unnie…” “What?” “This oppa is smiling?” “Must be having a good dream.” “Then we should wake him up. Reality's sweeter than dreams right now. Oppa, wake up. We’re here.” “Huh…? Oh…” As I pretended to wake up and opened my eyes, the first thing I checked was the children’s auras. I was worried it might have all been a dream, but thankfully, the purple aura was nowhere to be seen. It would be troublesome if it were still there. Ahahaha, I’m truly liberated! Is This Oppa Smiling? - The End