Unfulfilled Dreams
Practice ends, and a brief break is granted.
"…Huh?"
Lily keeps staring at her tablet screen. A headline that leaves her mind blank stands out starkly against the white background.
No matter how many times she reads it, she can't believe it. The article blatantly states that despite Han Jimin being a composer, producer, and actor—not a pro baseball player—the Busan Minions are showing interest in him.
Lily swipes down the screen to read the article, then heads straight to the Minions community forum.
Surprisingly, the Minions community reactions aren't bad. The team is such trash that the prevailing opinion is they need any improvement they can get. Plenty say that even half of what Han Jimin showed in Supreme Baseball would make him useful.
As Lily reads through, her feelings grow complicated.
'Should I be happy about this or not...'
During the actual broadcasts, she'd brought up multiple times how great it would be if Han Jimin joined the Minions.
'He was just that ridiculously talented.'
Among all the guys she's seen, no one plays baseball like Han Jimin—not even pros.
So it's no wonder these articles are popping up, but if he actually joins the Minions for real?
She has no idea what to do then.
"Lily?"
Jeong Ria's voice snaps her out of her thoughts.
"What're you staring at so seriously by yourself? Did we get hate comments or something?"
Ria, who's come close, snatches the tablet like it's hers and checks the screen.
The Han Jimin article on display.
"…Oh."
Ria's eyes flicker slightly before settling, but Lily—distracted elsewhere—doesn't notice a thing.
"There's an article saying our producer might go to the Minions."
"So? Didn't you say Producer does baseball really well?"
"Well... yeah, but... then what about our music work and schedules?"
Lily trails off.
She's a Minions fan, sure, but she's also a member of the girl group Foxy.
They'd been in a long hiatus with no satisfying title track in sight, making fans anxious. Luckily, with Han Jimin and Choi Nahee taking over Foxy, the title was set, production wrapped quickly, and they could show their faces to fans again within two months.
But if Han Jimin bails now? Considering his skills and importance, who knows how much their comeback would get delayed.
"Obviously it'll be fine. Does our producer strike you as the irresponsible type?"
"Huh? No, probably not... but you never know."
Lily waves her hands around.
Ria's smile turns mischievous as she watches.
Being Han Jimin's woman, Ria knows the full truth.
The special contract between him and the Minions.
With that in mind, Foxy's comeback has zero issues.
Her lover's even got huge expectations riding on Foxy activities.
But from the members' perspective—who don't know—they can't help but worry.
"Hmm. Should tell Producer when he comes later."
"Ah, no!"
"Kyaa! Wait! Wait! Don't cling! Ugh, you're all sweaty!"
Lily grabs onto Ria.
The other members start gathering around the leader and main vocal horsing around.
They'd been resting freely, but this ties into their future—they can't ignore the conversation.
"Unnie, unnie, heard anything?"
"Uh, yeah?"
Ria finally pries Lily off and turns to the maknae.
Her usual cute face, but her eyes waver faintly. Seems worried about Producer-related news.
'That's unexpected...'
Foxy's popularity won't drop from a slightly delayed comeback.
But with Shine Candy and other mid-tier groups killing it, maybe? The members seem impatient.
In this situation, faith in Jimin could waver.
Her lover was already worried the kids might get rattled by the article, so she figures she should handle cleanup.
"Of course I have."
"Wh-what?! For real?"
"What'd he say? What's Producer planning?"
All eyes lock on Ria.
Even Lily, who'd been wrestling and sprawled out, jumps to her feet.
Ria pats the maknae's shoulder lightly.
"He said he'll only do baseball as a variety hobby until our album wraps."
"Huh? No baseball? For real?"
"Seriously? No Minions signing?!"
Lily asks with a panicked face.
Ria shrugs at the sight.
She'd phrased it that way, but hearing Producer won't join the Minions seems to disappoint her.
Ria doesn't know much about baseball, but she gets how insane a 150km pitcher is.
Choi Nahee Producer compared it to a universe-level male idol popping up out of nowhere without an agency in the idol world—where Universe rules male idols.
No Minions fan wouldn't be bummed.
'Well, not a lie.'
Different from the truth, but her words aren't wrong.
He did say baseball only as variety hobby until the album ends.
Foxy debuts early to mid-February. Pro baseball starts in March.
In other words, Jimin plans to wrap Foxy debut and his perfect male idol run before going pro alongside.
Of course, only she and one other know that.
Anyway, once the girls stop chattering about Producer's future and head back to their spots, Ria looks at Lily.
She's focused on the tablet again, reading baseball news as usual.
"Can't write about Producer?"
"…I know that much."
She says that and starts furiously deleting what she'd been writing.
Ria asks in a playful tone.
"Not bummed he won't sign?"
"Huh? No. Actually, good thing. Minions wouldn't win even with Producer. And our Foxy matters more than Minions."
"Not disappointed 'cause you won't see him as much once he starts baseball?"
"…H-huh?"
Lily shuts her mouth without thinking, staring at Ria's meaningful expression.
Ria sticks to her with a naughty face.
"Why the overreaction? How far'd you two go?"
"Uh, uhh... no, it's not like that..."
Lily's eyes dart around, no escape in sight.
Thinking of skinship with Han Jimin makes her face burn.
They hadn't had sex, but they'd done every other intimacy young lovers could.
Lately, even...
She's been learning ways to make a man feel good.
"Really? Nothing at all?"
Ria smiles, savoring the harem maknae's reaction.
Not just teasing—her smile reveals hidden calculation and confidence.
"Lily."
Ria lays her hand over Lily's, whispering low.
"Just muster a little courage. Might create a good opportunity, no?"
"…Huh? What do you mean?"
"Wasn't thinking the Supreme Baseball vibe might happen off-camera too...?"
Lily's face heats up again.
In Supreme Baseball, she and Han Jimin were the flirty couple sharing a baseball hobby.
The image stuck from what he said before the Minions game, nearly perfect. Surprisingly, baseball fans loved the youthful romance vibe, so variety kept playing it up.
'And in reality...'
They were sucking and kissing.
"You two seem extra close lately... Anyway, unnie's rooting for you?"
"……Y-yeah."
Lily drops her head and looks back at the tablet.
Ria smiles lightly at her dongsaeng.
Once hooked on Han Jimin's charm, Lily's direction is obvious.
And Ria's curious what reaction she'll have once she learns everything.
"This good enough?"
He double-checks the new track's quality.
System rates it S with some A+ mixed in—a mini-album that could sweep music charts now.
But honestly, not satisfied.
'Through this album, Foxy needs to break out domestically and overseas.'
Promise with Cha Serin aside, it's time to spread "Han Jimin" worldwide.
Most promising path: producer.
His cheat skills bought at game start focused on composing and producing.
But producer skills alone won't hit the ultimate goal of "Entertainment Management."
Even after grinding the game multiple times, his entertainment empire never topped the era.
So this time, different plan.
Dominate entertainment and various fields to etch "Han Jimin" in everyone's heads globally.
With Genius Face (SS) and the IP Shop system for skills, it's feasible.
'Gotta farm tons of IP.'
That's why Foxy's success is crucial.
Supplying tracks to Shine Candy and mid-tier groups, IP earned varies by their performance and popularity.
As he checks the tracks again, his phone on the table buzzes.
"…?"
Screen shows Lily.
'Calling about the Minions article?'
A bit surprising. She rarely initiates contact.
More the type to stew alone than show emotions?
As he goes to answer Lily, a message arrives.
From Ria.
Messages arrive one after another like scheduled.
He scratches his head watching.
Looks like Ria egged Lily on somehow...
Just as his tuning of Lily was getting on track, he'd planned to push things forward decisively.
They haven't known each other long, but after three rounds of dick-taming sex, the chaebol 3rd-gen acts like his girlfriend.
Never seriously discussed the future, but she assumes she'll be his woman naturally.
Well, setting aside flat chest drawback and chaebol premium, she's a decent girl, so he's keeping the relationship.
Could help run management later.
With everything set, he calls Lily back—his phone had hung up from other chats.