Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols-Chapter 212: Performance Presentation (2)

During the ‘MISSION’ promotion period, Spark wore every suit imaginable.
Pilot uniforms, British gentleman-style suits, all-black suits, and even extravagant gold-embroidered suits with frilly lace that often appeared on web novel app pages (the fans called these ‘romance fantasy-style outfits’).
If it involved a shirt, jacket, and slacks, we wore it. The only difference was the variation in length—sometimes long, sometimes short.
Thanks to that, Choi Jeho and I…
≫ So what season is it right now?
The younger members look like they’re dressed for a moderate autumn,
but the older members are having a super hot summer, boiling hot
…earned the nickname ‘idols who defy the seasons’. What an honor.
And for today, the final music show, it was decided that the concept would be ‘office worker’.
I was personally sick of it, but it was decided in celebration of ‘In My Office’ gaining popularity + the fact that the members themselves had never properly done an office worker concept. There were also suggestions that we treat the final broadcast as a special event.
When I played the role of Do Younghwan, I often wore gray suits to downplay my presence, but this time, because the song’s vibe was so intense, I ended up in a pitch-black suit set.
When we took our first profile photos, I had sworn I would make enough money to switch to automatic ties. But even now that Spark had passed the break-even point, we still had to tie our ties manually. Apparently, adjustments were needed for individual styling. However, I agreed with the importance of detailed styling.
Still, having learned once, Jeong Seongbin tied his tie quite well. The black suit with thin stripes also suited him. It brought out the leader’s vibe from the music video quite well.
Choi Jeho decided to wear only a white shirt and a vest. I heard that after he nearly ripped the shoulder of his jacket while raising his arm forcefully in the last broadcast, the stylists had many discussions.
“Jeho doesn’t even need a jacket. His shoulders are like the Manchurian plains!”
The stylist patted Choi Jeho’s shoulders, saying it’d be a crime not to show them off. His styling was completed with a pair of glasses with thinner frames than his usual ones.
Park Joowoo wore a warm-toned gray suit that matched his slightly grayish eyes. Instead of a vest like Choi Jeho and Jeong Seongbin, he layered an ivory knit vest to add a softer feel.
With his white hair, Park Joowoo left a unique impression, like a work fairy who came to help with office tasks.
“Why don’t I have a vest or a jacket?”
“Cheonghyeon, your face will carry the whole look.”
“Man, guess my face is on overtime again today.”
Lee Cheonghyeon maximized a casual office vibe with just a white dress shirt and a navy tie.
His hair was lightly curled to create a narrative of a ‘handsome employee who ran his hand through his hair a couple of times to soothe a headache from complex work’. He was repeatedly told to sweep his hair back neatly without smudging his makeup during the choreography.
It was his typical joke, but he seemed a bit more excited than usual. Probably because his friend was with him in the waiting room.
Lee Cheonghyeon lingered near Kang Kiyeon, who was just starting his makeup, giving the stylist endless requests.
“Noona, give Kang Kiyeon heavy shading on his face. Make only his jawline visible!”
“Cheonghyeon, Kiyeon’s face is already all jawline.”
How could it be otherwise? Kang Kiyeon was the one in this team who was most strict about his diet.
Kang Kiyeon already stood out enough with his teal hair. With his cool-toned tie and suit, and an icy aura practically radiating from his face, the kid now looked like a department head.
“You’re distracting, go away…”
Kang Kiyeon said, moving only his lips since he couldn’t move his mouth much while getting his makeup done.
Today, I had packed the calming drops and Kang Kiyeon’s emergency medicine from the hospital. The preparations were perfect. Everyone had done their best.
Kang Kiyeon’s hand repeatedly clenched and unclenched. He also took deep breaths occasionally.
My hand unconsciously went to the employee ID card hanging around my neck.
There was a time when this necklace, just a plastic case with a card inside, felt so heavy.
Now, it was so light I barely felt it. I wasn’t sure if it was because I got rid of my superior, because I was recognized by the company, because I said everything I wanted to say while playing the role of the youngest employee, or because I helped Jo Yonghan find peace.
I just felt relieved. Vaguely.
And I had a colleague with whom I wanted to share this feeling.
The stylist was touching up Kang Kiyeon’s bangs, saying they needed one last look. I watched him from behind his back and then spoke.
“Kiyeon.”
“What is it?”
“Do you think Princess Soda will really end up with Prince Menol?”
Kang Kiyeon opened his closed eyes. The word ‘dumbfounded’ was practically written on his forehead.
But a fan couldn’t just ignore it when their interest became a topic of conversation.
“…I don’t know. Doesn’t Menol seem like a two-timer? Personally, I don’t think he’s main male lead material.”
“I’m not the only one who thought that, huh? I thought he was better off with Uron.”
“I think so too.”
“But is that okay? Menol is already engaged to the princess.”
“Anything is possible in the face of love.”
Despite having a face that looked like he knew nothing of love, Kang Kiyeon eloquently preached the power of love. The hand that had been clenched was now relaxed.
“Guys, let’s start moving!”
At the manager’s words, the members all got up from their seats. Kang Kiyeon also rose from his chair.
In the hallway leading to the stage, I asked Kang Kiyeon,
“Who do you want the princess to end up with?”
Kang Kiyeon seriously contemplated my question.
From a distance, the music and cheers from the previous stage could be heard. When the steel door opened, the surroundings instantly darkened. Hot air enveloped our bodies.
The lights breaking through the set illuminated Kang Kiyeon’s face.
“Wouldn’t Blanche be better? Though everyone says he’s definitely the second male lead.”
He smiled faintly.
“Well, a knight might be better than those clueless princes.”
“It fits the ‘MISSION’ concept well too.”
“Are you a monster born from your idol ego?”
“Not as much as you.”
Kang Kiyeon checked if his employee ID was facing the front and if his shirt was properly arranged.
Then he looked at me and said,
“Hyung.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t make any mistakes.”
Wow.
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at his audacity.
“I’ll try.”
“Yes, show me with results.”
The song that was playing ended. I heard someone shout, ‘Spark, you’re up next!’.
“Let’s go.”
I lightly patted his back. Kang Kiyeon headed towards the portable steps without hesitation. Like the dawn sun rising, the lights beyond the stairs shone brightly.
* * *
The downside of pre-recording was that you couldn’t hold up slogans.
In her heart, she wanted to wave a paper slogan that said, ‘Kang Kiyeon, welcome back, you glorious mess!’ but Baek Haewon held herself back with all her might. She hadn’t come all this way to get into the pre-recording only to be kicked out before even seeing the boys’ faces.
Spark’s turn finally came after watching the performance of a group she saw for the first time that day.
At the same time, she saw a tall figure in the distance.
“Waaaah!”
“Guys!”
Screams erupted from all directions. Spark was synonymous with ‘visuals’, and ‘visuals’ were synonymous with Spark. Whether it was someone seeing Spark in person for the first time or the hundredth, everyone gasped in awe at their faces.
Baek Haewon was used to such reactions. Well, she was screaming too. The soul that had been dozing off after sprinting to the pre-recording at dawn had finally awakened.
‘The office worker concept is amazing.’
A feast of well-tailored suits unfolded before her eyes. Why were they even more handsome than the office workers in dramas?
Amidst it all, Baek Haewon instantly spotted Spark’s office-role expert, Kim Iwol.
That haughty and arrogant face, the confident black suit, and even the polished black shoes.
Our Mr. Do Younghwan got a promotion. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Meanwhile, there were others who were crying for real. They were Kang Kiyeon’s fans, who had been worried since their favorite member halted activities right after the comeback.
They burst into tears as soon as Kang Kiyeon appeared with a bright smile. Kang Kiyeon’s eyes seemed to redden slightly at their words of gratitude for his return.
“Sparkler, could you cheer just a little louder than usual today?”
Jeong Seongbin asked gently. The fans shouted, ‘Of course!’.
“If it’s because of me, you don’t have to…”
“It’s not because of you, it’s because it’s the final broadcast. Right, Seongbin hyung?”
Lee Cheonghyeon chimed in with a playful tone, lifting the mood. The way he had his arm around Kang Kiyeon’s shoulder felt warm and familiar, which made it all the more endearing.
It didn’t feel like they had exchanged many words, but rehearsal time was already approaching. Baek Haewon and the fans held their breath.
At that moment, she could faintly hear the members talking amongst themselves under the blue lighting.
“Fighting.”
“Let’s do well.”
The voices were so quiet that she couldn’t tell who said what. But the warmth and closeness in those words stirred something in Baek Haewon’s heart as she unintentionally eavesdropped.
***
『MISSION』 began with Kang Kiyeon.
For a while, that opening line had gone to someone else, but it had gone back to the original position.
Kang Kiyeon’s voice lifted the darkness of the stage.
『I want to be
The last person
Standing by your side』
Kang Kiyeon’s bright blue hair shone coldly under the lights.
As if diving down, his gaze directed at the camera below, Kang Kiyeon sang in a low voice.
『I want to be that person』
What followed was ‘that’ part sung by Kim Iwol, Baek Haewon’s favorite part.
Unlike the music video or the first stage, the buttoned-up shirt, tightly tied tie, and fully fastened jacket stimulated something deep within her heart.
『I wait with bated breath
For the moment
You call my name』
Blue light fell on Kim Iwol’s pale skin. The shadow cast below his nose made his sculpted face even more three-dimensional.
As Kim Iwol smoothly moved to his position, Park Joowoo, who was waiting his turn behind him, appeared.
A dreamy falsetto, hiding his usual sharp tone, flowed out.
『From the moment I open my eyes
Until I fall asleep
Following your every move with my gaze
Eternally』
Baek Haewon gazed at Park Joowoo turning around as if walking through fog.
When all the members had their backs to the camera, Lee Cheonghyeon casually revealed himself at the edge of the formation.
『I’ll escort you
All the way to the stage
Matching your steps
I’ll be waiting』
Jeong Seongbin took Lee Cheonghyeon’s hand as if leading him. Their fingers intertwined tightly.
『Until that unknown time
Only
For you』
At the same time, Kim Iwol returned to the center.
It was time for
that
smile, the one that contributed the most to the increase in Kim Iwol’s fancam views.
『I have only one goal
To stay by your side
That’s all』
As Kim Iwol smiled brightly on the line ‘That’s all’, a grand musical session burst behind him.
As their part came, Choi Jeho and Kang Kiyeon stood back-to-back. Their backs and shoulder muscles naturally interlocked.
『My admiration
Wherever the path you walk leads
It becomes my path
Please march on with a smile』
And Park Joowoo’s high note marked the beginning of that march.
『I want the highlight
To shine only on you
I want the whole world
To be placed in your hands』
A voice as bright as a highlight, solid enough to fill your hands, filled the stage.
Kim Iwol followed.
『This overflowing feeling
Is more than enough
As a reward』
Jeong Seongbin smiled and made a shushing gesture with his hand as part of the choreography. His lips curved into a gentle arc.
『I’ll stay here
Backstage
With a joyful heart
Until you come』
Lee Cheonghyeon’s harmony layered low beneath Jeong Seongbin’s vocals. A mystical ending filled the stage.
『Hiding my traces, quietly
Behind your back
In the closest place』
Confetti fluttered down. Perhaps because the lighting was blue, the glittering confetti shone like stars. The silhouettes of the six members were visible amidst the confetti.
This sight. This sight of the six of them standing together for the final formation, she had missed it so much.
If it hadn’t been the last broadcast, she would’ve yelled at the staff not to block their faces and to throw out all that trash cluttering the view. Even just watching the stage, Baek Haewon felt tears welling up.