Translator: MarcTempest
Editor: Rxel
Chapter 294
Rustle, rustle.
Woojoo saw the faces of the others changing their clothes in the car with grim expressions.
They all looked sleepy as they put on and took off their clothes repeatedly. Jiho lay down on the seat with his hand on the zipper button of his top.
"Ugh…"
"Ouch, my back."
Woojoo rubbed his back too.
"I'm so exhausted. Let's take a break and change our pants later.""Okay…"
The younger ones smiled warmly at his words.
They curled up like worms in the front seat, wearing only the athletic clothes for the Olympics.
They didn't want to ruin their hair and makeup that had been set.
Then they passed out.
"Hey, guys."
"Hmm… pork belly…"
"Guys, wake up."
"Huh. I didn't sleep… Huh… Hyung."
Wiping the saliva from the corner of my mouth, I saw Wonseok Hyung laughing.
The manager Hyung who had been shaking us to wake us up handed us some chocolate with a sour look.
We munched on the chocolate with sullen faces, then made blissful expressions at the sweet taste.
"When did you go to bed yesterday? We told you to sleep early, at least yesterday."
"We slept at one thirty…"
"That's early?"
"Maybe we're more tired because we slept early."
It was a mistake to sleep early the day before the Olympics, thinking we would make our condition better.
Fatigue is a strange thing. If you're constantly tired, you can manage. But if you relax once in a while, you get more tired.
It felt like I had turned a 1.5-liter bottle of water upside down. Once the cap was opened, it poured out like crazy.
My whole body was stiff.
"Wonseok Hyung, I learned an important lesson this time."
"Hmm, what is it?"
"I'll never do a concert and an album preparation at the same time again."
He smirked. Then he said he would buy some snacks and got out of the car.
Meanwhile, we held our pants in our hands with worried expressions.
"Ah, I don't want to change my pants."
"Me neither…"
"Should we just go in like this? I don't think anyone will notice."
"…."
The youngest one said that, wearing red shorts.
We all changed into purple athletic pants.
Our leg muscles were sore from the recent concert choreography practice.
"Ugh…"
"Ugh…"
"Yoo-hoo."
We all burst into laughter because of the trap that came in between.
Unlike us who were screaming, the owner of the top 0.1% body who had been officially recognized by the hospital was fine.
After laughing for a while, I felt my body loosen up a bit.
We changed our clothes and fixed ourselves, then picked up the self-cam. Five faces with makeup on appeared on the screen.
The younger ones sparkled their eyes next to my face with a gray hair and a hairband.
"We're at the Olympics."
"That's right."
Junghyun said with a majestic expression.
"We're getting out of the car now."
"We're going to shoot arrows and run."
"Rihyuk Hyung won't do anything."
"69 points should be quiet."
The younger ones said one thing each and then it was my turn again. I said seriously.
"We're going to win the archery today."
"Good."
"Then we'll tag along."
The expressions on the screen looked like they had already decided to eat me alive.
As I looked at the younger ones who seemed to be full of greed in their hearts, I narrowed my eyes.
Rihyuk, who had been fixing his hair with a comb, asked.
"Why are we talking like this, by the way? Seriously?"
"That's true."
I waved my hand at the self-cam.
“Yes, we have arrived at the parking lot in front of the indoor gymnasium in Goyang City. We are about to enter the filming site.”
“I will do my best and not get hurt.”
“Shall we all cheer together?”
After a vigorous cheer, we handed over the self-cam to the manager Hyungs and got out of the car.
The air was crisp in the morning.
We practiced smiling at each other a few times, and then gave each other the OK sign that our expressions were good.
“Two, three!”
“Hello, we are New Black!”
We greeted the cameraman holding the ENG camera outside the stadium and shouted our group name.
As we headed to the waiting room assigned to us, we exchanged greetings with the idols we met along the way.
“I heard that Sagan was a hit, so I watched it, and it was really fun.”
“I enjoyed Sagan. Number 8, fighting!”
“Do you still keep in touch with the members of Team 1?”
Everyone was mentioning Sagan, and I exclaimed ‘Wow’ in admiration.
I guess I didn’t feel the impact of it, since I mostly stayed in the practice room and the company.
“Oh!”
Baekgyeong, a member of Wild with a tall stature, spotted us and walked over to us.
“I really enjoyed Sagan this time. I watched it during the holidays, but it’s amazing to see it again.”
“Oh! It’s New Black!”
The other members of Wild, Usan and Jeonggun, also joined us and looked at us with a curious expression.
Even Usan, who had recorded with me on Shintoki, looked at me as if I was some kind of strange creature.
I heard an episode that they almost debuted with the team name ‘Big Dog’ because of the members’ unique appearance.
I felt like I was surrounded by large dogs, including Usan, who resembled a Doberman.
“How did you do that, that, the boomerang with the disc?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose, either. You just have to snap it well. Instead of swoosh, it’s more like swish-swish.”
“Wow, swish-swish…”
The three of them imitated my pose at the same time, and I laughed.
Sagan was really popular.
Even the same idols knew the contents of the broadcast well.
As I chatted and laughed with the Wild members, who asked me questions with a fascinated face.
Usan suddenly reached out his hand.
“Hey, can I shake your hand for a moment…”
I wondered why he suddenly asked for a handshake, but it was for Junghyeon.
Junghyeon grabbed his hand with a warm face.
Usan experienced Junghyeon’s grip and laughed with a ‘Wow, as expected’ expression.
We said goodbye after saying that we would talk again later when we recorded.
“People are curious about me. Hyung.”
“That makes sense.”
I agreed.
“We, who live together, are also curious about you.”
“Junghyeon is one of the five mysteries of New Black, along with Woojoo Hyung’s dancing rumor.”
Our reaction made Junghyeon happy.
The staffs were also curious about us, maybe because of the aftermath of the ‘Men Go’ part 3 on Sunday.
Especially Junghyeon, who attracted attention with the examination at the hospital at the end of part 3.
Yeonhoo of Teenspirit, who had agreed to do a brotherhood with Junghyeon at the last Dollympics, came to the waiting room and felt our kid’s arm and left a famous quote, ‘Wow, it’s so amazing’.
“Our kid is so amazing.”
“Yes. Hyung.”
I said to the bear, who was stretching in the waiting room before the 60-meter sprint.
“The most important thing this time is not to get hurt. Don’t run with all your might, that’s not good.”
“Yes. I will.”
Rihyuk, who was diligently tying his shoelaces so that they were symmetrical on both sides, lifted his head and said.
“Ahem, I won the silver medal in the last sprint, so don’t feel pressured. Hyung. Well, just run comfortably and come back.”
“Okay. I got it.”
He was our kid who seemed like he would roll down the mountain even if he was on a mountain bike, but I couldn’t help but worry.
While Bijoo and Rihyuk were nagging at him, we were fixing our clothes before entering.
Knock knock.
We, the manager, and the stylists turned our heads at the knock.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
A middle-aged man in a casual suit entered with the manager and a five-member boy group.
It was a face I hadn’t seen in a long time, but I knew who it was as soon as I saw it.
“Huh, Director?”
“It’s been a while. Woojoo.”
He was the director when I joined TJ, and now he was the CEO of Soom Entertainment.
He greeted our staff politely and handed out his business cards.
And then.
“Hello, we are APLB!”
The five-member idol group also greeted us cheerfully.
Among their four happy faces, I saw a self-portrait-like figure that looked somewhat sad.
His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were moist. He was my junior from the army.
I barely held back my laughter when I saw him.
“I thought it would be polite to greet you in person.”
Jo Dong-wan, the CEO, said to me with a smile.
“Our Eun-sung is going to ‘Men on a Mission’.”
“Really?”
Kiyaho.
“I talked to Do Jun-ki, the PD of ‘Men on a Mission’, and he said you worked really hard to promote Eun-sung. It must not have been easy, even if he’s your close junior.”
“No, it’s because Eun-sung is such a good friend with a great sense of entertainment. I could recommend him with confidence.”
“Right? Eun-sung is a troublemaker, but he has a good sense of entertainment. Haha!”
“Hahaha!”
“Hot hot hot!”
Jo Dong-wan and I laughed together, looking at the sky.
My younger siblings looked at me with their eyes, saying,
‘He’s misunderstanding.’
‘Woojoo Hyung just wanted him to go to the army.’
I asked with an excited expression.
“So, is Eun-sung going to the army? The army?”
“I think I heard he’s either going to the marines or the coast guard.”
“Wow… Ouch, he’s going to have a hard time.”
I almost clenched my fist and said ‘Yes!’
Jo Dong-wan waved his hand at my words.
“Hard time? It’s hard for a rookie idol to get on one entertainment show, let alone be grateful. Right, Eun-sung?”
Eun-sung, who was acting like a child dragged by his mother, turned his head to me.
He took a deep breath and shook his lips.
“Thank you… Sunbaenim…”
“Huh? I can’t hear you.”
“Oh, I’m really really grateful!”
Everyone burst into laughter at his intense thank-you. Jo Dong-wan also laughed as if he couldn’t stop.
“‘Men on a Mission’ is really hot right now, and everyone is trying to get in when he got in well.”
“I’m glad it worked out.”
I meant it.
I understood how Tae-hyun felt when he recommended me to the ‘Men on a Mission’ production team.
I knew how hard it was to get a chance in this industry. I knew how precious it was to get one entertainment show when I was a rookie.
He knew that, and he looked at me with his eyes changing every second.
‘Thank you.’
‘No, I’m not thankful for this!’
‘Thank you, Hyung…’
‘No!’
I just smiled warmly at his colorful eyes.
Good luck. Marines.
He left his junior alone, who was shaking and thanking him, and then confused about his identity.
Jo Dong-wan looked at his wristwatch and said.
“Oh, I took too much of your time.”
“Oh, no.”
“Anyway, I came to thank you and give you a little gift.”
The manager of APLB handed out boxes to our members and staff.
“Wow…”
The boxes contained snacks and drinks for the staff to eat, and blankets to use during the waiting time.
Everyone thanked him for the sensibly prepared gift boxes, and Jo Dong-wan came to me separately and said with a smile.
“Thank you very much.”
“No, thank you.”
“I don’t know what I can do for you, but if you need anything later, let me know.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
He smiled like a genie who gave me a wish and left with a polite greeting.
I felt it since TJ Enter, but he was really good at business.
“Well, we’ll be going too. Sunbaenim.”
The members of APLB also bowed to us and followed him.
At the end of the hall, Eunsung greeted us cheerfully.
“See you later, seniors!”
“Yes, see you!”
“I’ll tell you a very interesting story later. Promise?”
“Promise!”
Eunsung, who winked at our kids, turned his head to me and said in a businesslike tone.
“…I’ll see you later.”
He seemed to greet me like that to show a clear difference in temperature, but I just laughed.
“Eunsung.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not scary at all when you say that in a fluorescent uniform.”
“Hey!”
Then he closed the door more carefully than anyone else, and our staff burst into laughter.
This year’s Chuseok Olympics was divided into eight teams.
They were divided into eight colors like a rainbow, and we were the eighth team, the ‘Look at Us’ team, in purple uniforms.
The same team members included DNS Media’s girl group Lavi En Rose, rookie boy group Iris, and others.
“This time we’re on a different team.”
In the dark corridor.
While preparing to enter, a four-member girl group in a crimson uniform dressed up stylishly and spoke to us with a regretful expression.
“We wanted to be on the same team.”
Scarlet’s leader, Ara, said with a regretful expression.
“We have to win and get meat from the boss…”
“But we only have two events this time, sis.”
I answered with a smile.
“We won’t be much help anyway.”
“Oh, right. You’re having a concert. Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
We replied with a shoulder dance to the company senior group who congratulated us on the concert while dancing cheerfully.
When people around us laughed and said, ‘The Lemon kids are so energetic…’, Scarlet’s Rina, who had been cracking her neck, whispered.
“Originally, we and you were supposed to be on the L team this time.”
“But why…?”
“They said the balance was off.”
“…”
I thought it was strange.
Most of the other agencies were grouped together by their agency, but some companies and we were separated.
We were separated because of the balance issue.
The Scarlet members who said that exchanged determined glances before entering.
“Then, since it’s like this, we’ll win.”
“Let’s go, sis.”
Scarlet, who was burning with desire for meat, started to enter as the leading group.
We cheered them on, saying, ‘Eat meat, eat a lot.’
Meanwhile, a boy group that had been on the same team as Scarlet, the ‘Red Strongest’ team, passed by us.
They were Street Boys.
As the younger ones laughed, Hanjo and I avoided eye contact. We coughed at each other.
“Uh… hi.”
“Hi.”
The Street Boys side made a ‘kyaa!’ sound like a dragon, and our younger ones rubbed their arms as if they had goosebumps.
“Ugh, so awkward!”
“Seriously, why did you say we should talk informally next time?”
“…”
I forgot then.
“I didn’t know we’d meet right at the Olympics…”
“You’re kind of stupid, you know. These guys.”
“I don’t want to hear you call me stupid, Jiho.”
By the way, it’s really awkward.
I got along well with Scarlet’s Rina, who was the same age as me, and Daisy, who was younger than me.
But it was awkward to talk informally with Hanjo, who I had interacted with a lot.
“Uh, hi. Woojoo.”
“Ha, Hanjo.”
“Uh, should we talk informally?”
I ignored the younger ones who followed us and laughed.
I watched as Teen Spirit, who was part of the ‘Let’s Make a Splash’ team with APLB, walked away with a bad gait.
“…”
Everyone stepped aside at the sight of the rough teenagers walking with a ‘don’t block my way, you bastards’ expression.
They had just returned from an overseas tour yesterday.
They must have been exhausted, since they were called in right after the concert ended.
Three seconds later.
Teen Spirit’s disgruntled walk became smooth, and his bent back straightened up.
It felt like watching the end of a twist movie, where the lame guy walks away slowly.
And his expression changed to that of an innocent boy.
“…”
It was a miraculous sight every time I saw it.
After the seventh team in navy uniforms entered, it was our turn.
The senior group went ahead with the flag, and we followed them into the stadium.
“Wow!”
Our faces were close-up on the huge screen in the center.
The voices of the MCs who were in charge of the broadcast rang out.
-Yes, the eighth team is entering. It’s the ‘Look at Us’ team. La Vie En Rose, and New Black are coming in.
-They are a team with powerful dark horses.
-Woojoo, please wave your hand to the broadcast booth!
I waved my hand to the broadcast booth.
Then I waved my hand to the seats where the Soufflés were sitting.
Compared to the last time during the New Year, the section had expanded almost twice, and the Soufflés were shaking their light sticks.
I felt proud and waved my hand hard.
As we smiled brightly and waved our hands, the Soufflés changed their light sticks to a sparkling red.
The pose looked like they were expressing their pounding hearts.
As the camera captured that scene on the screen, I smiled at the fans who were doing the wave.
After we finished entering, the 60-meter dash, the pre-opening event, began right away.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Junghyun got up as the men’s preliminaries were about to start. We cheered him on and said ‘fighting’.
As Junghyun stood on the starting line, Rihyuk looked worried and said.
“I think it would have been better if I ran.”
“Huh?”
“You know I’m faster at short distances. Junghyun Hyung is not a short distance style…”
That was true.
Rihyuk was the expert at running fast and recklessly, while Junghyun had an image that suited more endurance.
While everyone else was tensing up and swallowing their saliva, Junghyun kept waving his hand to us with a gentle face.
As I looked at LB who was breathing heavily next to him, the Street Boys next to me told me.
“Since Rihyuk is not running this time, Namu is very confident.”
“Yeah.”
“He said he would win this time for sure.”
I looked at LB who was shining with determination.
Well, he was pretty fast too.
But next to him was Caleb from Soul Six, who won first place last year.
As LB and Caleb glanced at each other and took their positions, Junghyun also casually took his stance.
And then.
The sound of the whistle signaled the start of the race.
“Wow…!”
As the fans in the stadium seats screamed and shook their cheering tools, we stared blankly.
“…”
“…”
We rubbed our eyes.
“He’s fast.”
“He’s the fastest.”
While everyone else was running with all their might, there was one guy who was running with a peaceful face.
His legs were so elastic that it seemed like he had springs on them.
Every time he bounced, it looked like he was jumping several meters.
While everyone else was gasping, Junghyun crossed the finish line first with a calm face.
Bijoo stared blankly at the screen and said.
“He broke the Dolympic record.”
“Uh…”
As we blinked our eyes at the screen, Junghyun waved his hand to us with a warm smile.
We burst into laughter at his sight.
Rihyuk stared at the record with a frustrated face, saying “That’s impossible.” He looked exactly like LB and Caleb right now.
“How could this happen…”
And then Jiho approached him with a bright smile and said,
“Hyung, you lost both Japanese and running.”
“…”
We burst into laughter at the sight of Rihyuk trembling.