Casual Clears and Special Meeting Spectacle
One of the great perks of regressing? Honestly, there are too many to count. But if I had to pick something trivial from that bunch...
'I get to conquer Ori and the Blind Forest at its peak popularity.'
Clearing games that were impossible with a kid's physique. Stuff like beating the final skateboard boss with the gun in Daddy and Me, helping the kid escape the room after being kidnapped by aliens, guiding the sleepwalking old man home without waking him, or assisting the ninja with the baseball bat to craft the golden baseball statue unscathed. Games you couldn't beat without a guide. Or ones so tough you gave up even with infinite coins. I breezed through them all with an adult's physical prowess.
'Easy.'
I relived those nostalgic vibes a few times. Then, glancing at the calendar to check my schedule, it hit me.
'Special meeting tomorrow, huh.'
I had no idea how the timing lined up so perfectly. We'd just had the Brilliant Special Meeting last Saturday, and now Thursday of the following week was the release of Endless Frontline.
Back in this era, promo options were limited, so marketing was always a headache. But with a fan meet-up falling right before the movie's release? It was perfect—impossible not to promote.
Hell, audiences dying to see Endless Frontline might be even more desperate for these tickets. A chance to meet the star before the stage greetings? Everyone would kill for it.
'Boss said around 50,000 applied.'
Curating from that number was the real feat.
'This isn't turning into a movie promo instead of a uniform event?'
'No way, Coach got in too?'
From Hye Dream Concert to this—our coach's luck with draws was insane.
++++++
The day of the Brilliant Uniform Special Meeting.
Han Seongmun, president of Brilliant, stared at the scene before him and chuckled in disbelief.
"This the scale for a uniform event?"
They'd doubled the spots from the usual 20 to 45. What should've been a casual chat had turned into an idol fan meet venue.
"We didn't expect this either, but anything less would feel wrong, honestly."
Han Seongmun nodded at his subordinate's words.
"True enough."
Kim Donghu—the guy who'd turned reclaiming the top spot from a dream into reality and guaranteed this hype—deserved all the gratitude. A little extravagance was nothing.
"First time running something like this... hope we don't screw up..."
The worry was just messing up and eating backlash. They had to nail it.
That's when—
Thud, thud.
"...?"
Someone approached from afar. Shark-like build, killer vibe like he'd offed someone. Just walking, but he dominated the space.
'What the hell?'
Why was that guy at a uniform event? Fear from the unknown filled his head; gotta stop him before he ruins everything—call security—
"This the Brilliant Special Meeting spot?"
"Y-yes? Yes, yes."
The booming shark voice snapped him back.
"I'm number one, so I got here early. Too early?"
The invite with number 1 confirmed it.
'...One of our attendees?'
Why'd he buy our uniforms? No clue, but VIP customer—everyone smiled.
One thought hit everyone: With him here, no worries about terrorists.
And sure enough, as the crowd grew near start time, his aura kept everyone compliant.
Thirty minutes to kickoff.
Whoosh!
"Honey, you're popular now, huh?"
In the unseen waiting room, Ryu Jaerin hugged Kim Donghu tight again.
"What if someone sees?"
"Who? No one's barging into the models' room."
"The managers...?"
"Came alone, no manager."
Trainees always did. Kim Donghu scratched his head awkwardly at her casual tone.
Who'd think this girl becomes a world-conquering idol later? Life's unpredictable.
"Why didn't you invite me to the VIP premiere?"
"...Only for industry folks?"
"We're close enough, right?"
"Kindergarten buddy's an idol trainee, and we're modeling uniforms together?"
"Hmm... maybe?"
Ryu Jaerin dodged, eyeing him from bottom to top. Those sparkling Puss in Boots eyes scanned a few times. Once he looked shy, she stepped back two paces.
Push hard, but pull back sometimes—that was key.
She glanced at her watch with a faint smile.
"That's it for today. Not our last anyway."
That's it? What was that even?
She laughed off his puzzled look and scampered out first.
Most attendees were here for Kim Donghu anyway. She had to stake her claim early or get buried.
"Hi, I'm Ryu Jaerin!"
Cold stares greeted her greeting.
"..."
Expected. Unknown trainee idol? No welcome wagon.
Then—
Clap clap clap!
The shark guy clapped loud, and—
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Applause erupted instantly.
'Rules by fear?'
As Ryu Jaerin's eyes widened—
"Hi, I'm Kim Donghu."
Woooaaah!
Cheers and screams exploded for his laid-back entrance.
Han Seongmun watched warmly from behind. 'Renewal next year—whatever it takes, lock him down.'
He vowed to supply every uniform Kim Donghu wore henceforth.
"Welcome to the Brilliant Special Meeting, everyone! Skipping the fluff due to time—straight to two-shots!"
The MC kept it smooth, like echoing the vow.
Uniform intros? Yawns. But fan meet time? Butts lifted in excitement.
They craved even a word with Kim Donghu. One minute max, but hey—blessed.
"Now, the moment you've waited for—fan meets! Line up orderly, one by one! Please!"
"Yes!"
Roaring response kicked off the fan meets.
Kim Donghu was flustered from the start.
"...Coach, you really came?"
"Think I'd fake it? Gotta see my Donghu for real."
"Uh... happy... marriage?"
"Donghu, I don't ask much. Just like old times—light 10K daily run. Cool?"
"..."
This why you entered? Text works fine!
Facing true madness, Kim Donghu's mind reeled.
++++++
It'd hurt to say, but the Brilliant Special Meeting crushed it. Next Thursday—
"Sorry, no tickets on site."
"Nothing at all?"
"Yeah... uh, next Monday 6:30 AM, one A-seat far left. Help book?"
"...No, pass."
Theater staff were swamped. Knew Endless Frontline was hyped, but this?
Dealing with crowds, popping corn—death.
'Wrong gig.'
'Past me deserves a beating.'
'Low-pay spots exist for a reason—why'd I bite?'
Worse: This theater had stage greetings.
As they scrambled—
"Great work. Grab burgers—eat in shifts."
A hat-and-mask figure shoved food at the counter.
"...Y-yes?"
Brief shock. Front staff froze at his eyes.
'Th-th-th-th-the h-h-h-han... Kim...!'
Eyes screaming impossible handsomeness. Galaxy-star gaze that mesmerized instantly.
"Th-tha-thank yoooou..."
Snack from Kim Donghu—thud. Legs gave out, sat right there.
++++++
Box office talk? Opening day numbers were key.
They predicted 10 million or bust.
Thump thump thump.
Studio Geumgang CEO Park Geumgang couldn't believe the figures.
"This... our movie?"
"Yeah. Jaw nearly dropped for me too."
Director Kang Woo-su (mustache) shook his head, laughing hollowly. Still unreal.
"Might hit 10 mil as director—early congrats?"
"M-me too, 10-mil producer CEO... congrats me?!"
Endless Frontline opening day: ~500K viewers.
The 10-million signal fired.