Chapter 301: 1st Anniversary (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 301: 1st Anniversary (2)
I was in the waiting room getting my makeup touched up when Lee Cheong-hyeon approached me.
“Be honest with me. You’re my Manito, aren’t you, Hyung?”
“No.”
This was already the thirtieth time we’d had this conversation. I was ready to blurt out "no" before he even finished the question.
The Manito game was one of the contents planned for Spark’s 1st anniversary. It was a simple game where you had to do one thing to make your assigned person happy before the big reveal.
In the beginning, the guys were suspicious the moment anyone showed even a shred of kindness.
‘Why are you looking out for my sleep schedule? Is it because you’re my Manito?’
‘Are you giving this to me to eat...? I-wol Hyung, are you my Manito?’
Jeong Seong-bin and I, being the ones who nagged the most, were suspected by almost everyone. In modern society, affection and kindness are apparently nothing more than objects of suspicion.
Whether I denied it or not, Lee Cheong-hyeon didn't seem to listen.
“It’s definitely you. You’re looking after my every move; how could you not be my Manito?”
“I’ve always been like this.”
“You’ve been fooling me for two years. Just for this Manito game.”
“I’m not that smart.”
Two years, my foot. I barely know what’s happening two days from now. Lee Cheong-hyeon continued to spout nonsense.
“Do you have any idea who your Manito is, Hyung?”
“Maybe Ju-woo?”
“Ju-woo Hyung? Why?”
“He helped me with my challenge.”
“Is Ju-woo Hyung really smart enough to fool you for two months?”
Useless banter went back and forth. Unfortunately for him, I really wasn't Lee Cheong-hyeon’s Manito. The person I was supposed to make happy was Jeong Seong-bin.
Making Jeong Seong-bin happy was no easy feat. Considering I had almost been "branded" by him not too long ago, the difficulty level was far too high. My best bet was simply trying my hardest not to make him angry.
After bickering for a while longer, Lee Cheong-hyeon finally left.
Come to think of it...
Who is my Manito?
The members of Spark are generally kind. They rarely hurt each other's feelings and are considerate of one another in everything they do.
Because this was their default behavior, it was hard to tell if someone was being particularly nice to just one person. If anything, everyone was just being good to everyone else.
For instance, our leader, Jeong Seong-bin, worried about my sleep schedule day and night. If he saw me tapping away at my laptop in a dark room, he’d turn on the light, saying I’d ruin my eyes. If I was slumped against a wall, he’d toss me onto a pillow, telling me to do my thinking lying down.
He even cooked seaweed soup for me on my birthday. If I hadn't known I was his Manito, I would have mistaken all of Seong-bin’s actions as good deeds for the game.
No one was being a troublemaker, either. You’d expect at least one person to use a "push and pull" strategy, but Spark was peaceful.
“Kim I-wol.”
Choi Je-ho called my name and pointed his thumb toward the studio. It was the signal that filming was about to resume.
“Choi Je-ho, did you figure out who your Manito is?” I asked without much expectation.
“Pretty sure it’s Park Ju-woo.”
“Ju-woo? Why?”
“He told me I could sleep with the fairy lights on.”
“Ju-woo says that every time you go to sleep.”
There was zero progress. All I did was realize once again that Choi Je-ho was an idiot.
“What about you?” Je-ho asked, but I had no proper answer to give.
Dear Manito, please grant me a single ray of joy in this arduous day.
The 1st anniversary arrived in the blink of an eye, almost like a lie. I watched the clock strike midnight, then waited two more hours to watch the self-produced content that had been uploaded. With their idol makeup and meticulously coordinated outfits, it was clear the company had spent a fair bit of money.
In the opening, each member came out one by one to perform a highlight of the choreography from Spark’s main tracks.
It started with the leader Jeong Seong-bin’s 『Flowering』, followed by Park Ju-woo’s 『With List』, Kang Gi-yeon’s 『Market Price Song』, Lee Cheong-hyeon’s 『Third Letter』, and Choi Je-ho’s 『MISSION』. I was the last to come out and perform 『What I Want to Say』. Sigh, I really hate solo dances.
『We’ve really released a lot of songs.』
『Tell me about it.』
Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Gi-yeon spoke as if the realization had just hit them. You guys certainly did go on a crazy comeback spree. If you hadn't, we wouldn't have reached the break-even point, and it would have been hard to convince Cheong-hyeon’s father. I suppose everything is connected in the end.
『Is there a song that stands out the most to you from this past year of promotions?』 Jeong Seong-bin asked.
I expected everyone to agree on the debut song, but their answers varied.
『For me, it’s "What I Want to Say"!』
『Why?』
『Honestly, I feel like it captured my very essence.』
Lee Cheong-hyeon answered with an unnecessarily serious face. Well, the song quality was good, so I suppose that makes sense.
Jeong Seong-bin chose the fan song, 『Third Letter』. Given how many ups and downs he faced before debuting, I thought he’d pick the debut track, but he chose the fan song without hesitation, saying he loved the time he spent personally working on it.
『Me too, "Third Letter."』
『You, Hyung? Why?』
When an unexpected answer came from Choi Je-ho, Lee Cheong-hyeon asked with a look of pure bewilderment.
『Because it was the first time I wrote lyrics.』
『Ah.』
『Hyung really did agonize over it a lot...』 Park Ju-woo muttered, staring off into the distance.
After sharing stories and small talk about each song, a medley of the group's choreography filmed in the studio was shown under the title: "Spark’s First Year: Re-watching with the Behind-the-Scenes Stories!"
As I scrutinized their faces one by one, I locked eyes with myself on the screen.
‘My dancing has improved.’
Back during the 『Flowering』 fancam, I was so busy trying to keep up with the choreography for dear life, terrified people would say a cuttlefish had wandered into an aquarium. I obviously didn't have the luxury to worry about advanced things like "dance lines."
Dancing 『Flowering』 again with my current proficiency, the difference was stark. It reminded me once again that nothing is impossible if you put in the effort.
The other members’ gestures, facial expressions, and body movements had also become much more natural. Choi Je-ho was naturally a show-off, so the difference wasn't as jarring, but the growth of Jeong Seong-bin and Kang Gi-yeon was remarkable.
I even felt a sense of catharsis when their leg angles and footsteps synced up perfectly. As expected, people who are good at their main jobs are the best. There was nothing to nitpick. I’m still not used to seeing myself dancing on screen, though. Life is truly unpredictable.
After the segment looking back at Spark’s official year, we moved on to a corner reflecting on their private year.
The main goal was to hold hands and say "I see" (Is that so?) to empathize with and comfort each other regarding things that were disappointing or difficult.
To ensure the younger members felt free to speak their minds, the maknaes were given the right to speak first.
Kang Gi-yeon—the youngest of Spark’s youngest, the ultimate maknae, the "king cute" maknae, the one who looks at you with triangular eyes but will be a maknae forever—he...
『Je-ho Hyung, come out.』
『Me?』
...He summoned Choi Je-ho. And then he proceeded to gleefully tear into his hyung.
『You said you’d teach me how to work out, but why didn't you say a single word when I followed you? Are we communicating via telepathy?』
『I see.』
『And I wish you’d produce an output that’s actually different from the input.』
『I see.』
『This is exactly what I mean! You’re not just supposed to say "I see"!』
『I see... then what am I supposed to do?』
Choi Je-ho fully displayed his lack of intellect, driving Kang Gi-yeon to frustration.
『Excuse me, you’re not just supposed to say the words "I see," you have to talk about your future resolutions as well!』
It was expected that the situation would improve with Lee Cheong-hyeon’s mediation, but...
『I see. But when I’m teaching you how to work out, isn't it enough to just show you the form?』
『Forget it.』
It was a miserable failure. It is truly difficult for a mere citizen to fathom the mind of His Majesty the Emperor.
Next, Lee Cheong-hyeon summoned Park Ju-woo.
『What kind of things do you think I called you out here to say, Hyung?』
『...』
『Hyung.』
Lee Cheong-hyeon gave off a quite serious aura.
『You know better than anyone that just because you can play the piano doesn't mean you can handle a synthesizer.』
『...』
『You have to say "I see." Are you protesting against the maknae right now?』
『I see...』
『Repeat after me. "I see now that a pianist and a keyboardist are different."』
『I know that a pianist and a keyboardist are different...』
『It’s even worse if you knew and still did that.』
Park Ju-woo got a proper scolding. Nevertheless, they managed to create a heartwarming ending with Lee Cheong-hyeon saying, "I did want to try learning the synth, though!"
After being thoroughly scolded by Lee Cheong-hyeon, Park Ju-woo called me out.
『...I really enjoyed the song you played for me during my birthday live stream, Hyung.』
『Thanks.』
The start was definitely warm. Right up until Park Ju-woo grabbed my hand as if he were trying to squeeze the life out of it.
『I can’t forgive you for only playing rhythm parts all this time when you’re capable of playing like that...』
『Ju-woo, I think my hand is going to break.』
『I heard Cheong-hyeon asked you to do a session for him and you turned him down too...?』
『Ju-woo, my hand.』
『I added ad-libs when you told me to, I hit the high notes when you told me to, and I even stacked harmonies with Seong-bin...』
The "disappointment revelation time" showed no signs of ending. My palms were starting to sweat.
『...You were in the wrong, weren't you, Hyung?』
『Yeah, I guess so.』
『Then tell me what you’re going to do from now on.』
『I will work hard to let Ju-woo hear some wonderful songs.』
『And the sessions?』
『...I will actively participate if needed.』
『Thank you...』
Park Ju-woo smiled with a look of pure innocence. I was the only one left feeling physically and mentally tattered.
Finally, Jeong Seong-bin summoned Kang Gi-yeon. A waterfall of nagging from an older brother to a younger one poured out.
『Gi-yeon, what did I tell you when you started rooming with Cheong-hyeon?』
『To make sure Lee Cheong-hyeon goes to sleep on time.』
『And how is it now?』
『...』
Ever since they got caught staying up all night chatting, Jeong Seong-bin had become a bit more relentless.
『Should we do another room-switching content? Do you want to share a room with I-wol Hyung?』
『No, I’m sorry.』
『Wait, why me?』
The sparks flew toward me, even though I was just standing there.
『I’m not noisy in the room. I turn off the lights when it’s time to sleep.』
『I see. I’m sorry, Seong-bin Hyung.』
『I’m asking why!』
Kang Gi-yeon never gave an answer. The two of them shared a deep, reconciling hug, leaving me standing there completely stunned.