Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols-Chapter 214: Performance Presentation (4)

I thought I was prepared for every possible situation—but there was exactly one thing I hadn’t planned for: Spark’s award acceptance speech.
I had thought about congratulating others on their first-place wins, how we’d thank our fans if we won, and even how to express gratitude just for being nominated…
But I hadn’t imagined we’d actually win first place and be given the chance to speak.
You might ask, ‘Isn’t it contradictory to not even think about what to say if you won, since you’d even thought about preparing a pledge?’ But I couldn’t help it. It was my principle to prepare even for the impossible when it came to our fans.
“Spark, please give us a few words!”
In the midst of the commotion, the MC handed the microphone to us. Since I was at the end of the line, it ended up in my hand.
The problem was—there was no one I could pass it to.
Our leader, Jeong Seongbin, was bawling. No, bawling was an understatement. It was full-blown wailing.
The hardships he’d endured must have hit him all at once. How difficult must it have been for him, so young, to lead amongst strong-willed older and younger members? The frequent issues Spark faced must have been a heavy burden for nineteen-year-old Jeong Seongbin to carry.
Kang Kiyeon was crying just as hard as Jeong Seongbin. Tears streamed down his face even as he wiped them away.
He’d wanted to be an idol ever since he was old enough to know what that meant. He’d always been ambitious, so he probably didn’t think simply debuting meant he had achieved his dream.
That was why I felt like this first-place win gave Kang Kiyeon validation. It was proof that all his struggles had been worth it.
Next to the crying Kiyeon, Lee Cheonghyeon was doing his best to console him. But his own sleeves were completely soaked with tears.
Getting praise from those around you was different from getting public recognition. How anxious must Lee Cheonghyeon have been while Spark released songs and navigated the music charts?
Besides these three, the only ones left were Park Joowoo, who was looking worried as he patted Jeong Seongbin’s back, and Choi Jeho, who was wearing a blank expression as if he hadn’t fully grasped the situation.
Damn it. I’ve got a fish in my hand and nothing but cats around me. Everyone’s too caught up with their own emotional drama.
I tossed the microphone to Park Joowoo, who was closest. He looked flustered, but he used one hand to pat Jeong Seongbin’s back and the other to firmly grip the microphone.
“Thank you so much for this first place. We, uh, didn’t expect this at all…”
Park Joowoo struggled to continue. His voice was so shaky that anyone could tell his words were true.
“Sparklers, our families, and the UA staff… thank you. We’ll work even harder, thank you.”
Park Joowoo bowed deeply as soon as he finished speaking. His voice had trembled at the end, so he must have been holding back tears too.
Maybe we looked so pitiful that it tugged at people’s hearts, or maybe the production team just wanted a more moving shot, so instead of wrapping up, the MC handed the microphone back to us after receiving it from Park Joowoo.
“Spark, could we hear from one more member?”
Well, Spark’s acceptance speech should be given by a Spark member.
Having no other choice, I was about to hand the microphone to Choi Jeho, but he gestured to me.
It meant he wanted me to do it.
‘Me?’
I mouthed the word, thinking, ‘I’m screwed,’ knowing that these few seconds were being broadcast.
I wanted to force the microphone on him, but Choi Jeho’s situation wasn’t ideal either. He was practically holding both Jeong Seongbin and Park Joowoo in a comforting embrace.
I hesitantly took the microphone. Words couldn’t come easily.
First things first—gratitude. Say thank you.
“Thank you to all the Sparklers who worked the hardest for Spark’s first place.”
I wasn’t even sure if my voice was coming out properly. Trying my best not to make a mistake, I put strength into each word.
“I know we wouldn’t have received this award without our fans. Thank you for giving us this precious memory and for being as happy as we are about our first win.”
The sound of my heart pounding filled my head.
To act professionally, I should thank the staff who worked hard alongside us, mention Music World who gave us this award, and give a flawlessly stable encore performance…
“And…”
I knew all of that, but then I saw them.
Jeong Seongbin, who had suggested to bow deeply if we won first place, was now kneeling with his head down, his legs having given out.
Kang Kiyeon, bent over with his hands on his knees, unable to lift his head, and Lee Cheonghyeon, sobbing with his face buried in Kang Kiyeon’s shoulder.
Park Joowoo, who had tried to lift Jeong Seongbin but ended up kneeling and crying alongside him, and Choi Jeho, biting his lip as he comforted the younger members.
“…Our members worked really hard.”
That must be why. The reason I mentioned them instead of the stakeholders I should be thanking.
“I’m honored to receive this valuable award with these members I am proud of.”
This is all your fault, you know. Because you guys are just crying and can’t give your speeches, my screen time is getting longer and I keep saying things I wasn’t going to say.
But still, I have to say this.
“Lastly, Kiyeon.”
Looking at Kang Kiyeon felt difficult. So I kept my gaze fixed forward. Instead, I gently placed a hand on his back.
“Thank you for doing your best to stand here with us today. It’s all thanks to you that we could receive this award together. Really, thank you.”
Kang Kiyeon covered his face with his hands. I held onto his collapsing arm, so that he could at least lean on me.
Kang Kiyeon didn’t lift his head in the end. Since the two main vocals were crying like children, I had to sing and Choi Jeho had to rap.
Compared to the video of Spark’s first encore stage I’d once watched, this was a total mess. Truly.
***
I hadn’t realized Spark were such crybabies.
They cried and cried. Jeong Seongbin was practically dehydrated and needed water.
Kang Kiyeon wasn’t much different. Lee Cheonghyeon’s eyes were bloodshot from rubbing them so much, and Park Juwoo had tissues stuck under his eyes.
Getting these overgrown kids back to the dorm was exhausting. The manager was the one driving, but I felt more exhausted than him.
Even the staff, who had been suggesting a celebratory party for our first win, told us to just go home and rest.
“Why cry on stage? You should be focused on looking good.”
I scolded them non-stop while putting cold sheet masks on their faces. Choi Jeho, since he hadn’t cried, was spared from joining the forced skincare session on the living room floor and was instead recruited as my assistant.
Lying like a salted fish in a row on the makeshift bedding on the living room floor, Lee Cheonghyeon grumbled.
“An android like you wouldn’t understand our feelings.”
“Don’t talk until I say you can.”
At that, Lee Cheonghyeon shut his mouth tight.
“What makes you think you can pout like that? You’ll get wrinkles around your mouth. Now that you’ve won first place, you should only show your handsome side from now on. You think first place just an empty label? Does the title of ‘number one singer’ mean nothing to you?”
“Ugh…”
The word ‘first place’ triggered Jeong Seongbin’s tears again. I barked at Choi Jeho to get an ice pack, and Choi Jeho trudged back with a towel-wrapped pack, face full of annoyance.
Still, I had to hand it to him for not crying and helping to manage the others. If he had started bawling too, I would have cried too for a different reason. And the video of Spark’s first win would have been titled ‘Idols Burst into Tears After Winning 1st Place’.  Not that we didn’t already flood the place with tears.
Considering his contribution to preventing a disaster, I decided to extend a kind hand to Choi Jeho today.
“Lie down in the empty spot. Since you’re older, I’ll give you a special anti-aging pack.”
“Uh, you put it on yourself.”
And I was flatly rejected.
My life is already anti-aging, you punk. If skincare companies knew how many years I’ve been rejuvenated, they’d be lining up with endorsement deals.
“Hyung.”
I was wondering what to do about Choi Jeho, who wouldn’t lie down even when asked nicely, when someone softly called out to me.
Jeong Seongbin was looking at me with half-lidded eyes.
“What?”
“Will our swelling go down by tomorrow…?”
It was a little funny hearing that question from Jeong Seongbin, who had been crying like the world was ending just a while ago. He was so diligent. He didn’t forget about tomorrow’s schedule.
“Of course. Why do you think I’m doing all this this late at night?”
“Right…”
Jeong Seongbin smiled faintly, as if embarrassed. Or maybe his face was just stiff from the mask.
After adjusting the heating and washing my hands, I returned to find some of them dozing off. They must have been exhausted after all the crying.
Choi Jeho and I brought blankets from our beds and covered each member. Park Joowoo, who was a light sleeper, woke up briefly, but seeing everyone else asleep, he lay back down and closed his eyes.
“What should we do now?”
Choi Jeho asked as I turned off the living room lights.
“What else? Go to sleep. I won’t let you off easy if your face is swollen tomorrow.”
“We have to wipe off their masks.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
“Let’s split the work.”
“Are you confident you won’t step on them while wandering around here in the dark?”
Looking at the dark living room, Choi Jeho didn’t argue. Instead, he quietly went back to his room. I heard the rustling of blankets and then silence.
A dimly lit living room. A quiet dorm with everyone sound asleep.
The first-place trophy on the dining table, which Jeong Seongbin had clutched tightly even while crying.
I could still feel the moment the mic landed in my hand.
Just thinking about it made my heart race again. The feeling that time had stopped when Spark’s name was called.
A swelling in my chest…
A memory I wouldn’t forget.
There was a mountain of things to do tomorrow, and too many thoughts racing in my head for this to be pure happiness.
But it was a peaceful feeling. At least for tonight.