Chapter 28 - They Also Have Battles of Nerves

“I can't! I'm telling you I can't! Waaaah!”

“You can do it. I'm making you do it because you can. Now, one last time.”

“O-One last time... Aaargh!”

“Good. Just one more, as a bonus! This is really the end!”

“Y-You're so mean...!”

Kanade lowered her body, her legs trembling.

Kanade, who had finished her last squat as per Baek Hyeon-woo's demand, collapsed right on the spot.

“Uwaaah... I can't do any more...”

“Now we'll rest a bit and then do the next exercise.”

“So mean... I trusted you, Manager-nim, but to think you'd torment me like this...”

Leaving the whining Kanade aside, Baek Hyeon-woo turned his head.

While Baek Hyeon-woo was acting as Kanade's personal trainer, the other members were each correcting their own choreography.

After having them correct their movements to match the shadow he saw earlier... the silhouette that showed the best possible motion, it seemed the perfection of their dance was improving as time went on.

‘However, it's not yet at a level I would call perfect.’

There are still many parts that do not match the best possible movement.

Moreover, among them, there are parts that are difficult right now due to physical limitations.

I have to keep training them and improve things little by little.

‘Above all, there's a possibility that even the parts that have been corrected well now will return to their original state over time.’

It's the same as corrective therapy in a medical setting.

Even if you diligently pull and press to correct the body's imbalance, after sleeping one night, it returns to its original state.

To continuously maintain a balanced state, you have to perform repetitive treatments to make the body get used to that state.

There is a possibility that even the currently corrected movements will, before you know it, return to their pre-correction state.

To prevent that from happening, there is no choice but repetitive practice.

I have to make it so that their bodies get used to the corrected movements and can perform them even unconsciously.

‘As expected, there is a part that's in line with treatment...’

In the end, Baek Hyeon-woo has to check on them frequently and have them practice constantly.

Using his newly awakened ability.

‘There is a dance trainer, but I'm the only one who can stick by their side all day and guide them.’

Dance trainers are mostly freelancers.

They receive payment from various agencies like Haram Entertainment and provide training for a set amount of time.

Therefore, the time they can receive guidance from a dance trainer is limited.

‘There will be parts that an expert needs to look at, but there will also be parts where my ability is more effective. I'll have to use my ability to raise the quality as much as possible.’

For now, Baek Hyeon-woo decided to call this ability the 'Silhouette Ability'.

If he guides the idols while utilizing the Status Window ability and the Silhouette ability in the right places at the right times, he will surely be able to produce amazing results.

***

“For now, we will take a break. Everyone has worked hard.”

“I-I thought I was going to die...”

“Hwaah, only just now...”

As Baek Hyeon-woo declared a break, members collapsing onto the practice room floor appeared one after another.

It was a hard training session the likes of which they hadn't had in recent times, so everyone was struggling.

Laura and Kanade, in particular, were in a state of being completely spread-eagled on the floor.

‘Laura-ssi and Kanade-ssi are definitely lacking in stamina. I'll have to make them do exercises to build up their endurance too.’

As he was seriously contemplating the future training menu.

Seo Na-eun approached, holding some kind of bag.

“Um… Manager-nim.”

“What is it?”

“This, would you like to eat some with us?”

Seo Na-eun's bag was a cooler bag, and there were sandwiches inside.

“I packed them for us all to eat as a snack today.”

“As a snack...”

“Ah, I made them so they wouldn't be fattening!”

Watching the urgently explaining Seo Na-eun, Baek Hyeon-woo chuckled.

“You made them as well as if they were sold in a store. Did you make them, Na-eun-ssi?”

“Ah, I didn't make them by myself... Jeong-ah helped make them too. So-yeong helped as well.”

At that, Yoo Jeong-ah and Kim So-yeong, who were next to her, made shy expressions.

“Na-eun unnie suggested we make them together, so...”

“I just helped with the wrapping. Because I have no talent for cooking.”

“I see.”

Baek Hyeon-woo nodded.

“But you packed these for yourselves to eat, is it okay for me to have one?”

“Ah, I deliberately packed six servings.”

“If you don't eat, Manager-nim, it'll all turn into fat on us, so you have to eat.”

At Seo Na-eun's and Kim So-yeong's words, Baek Hyeon-woo finally nodded his head.

“Understood. Let's all eat together.”

Laura and Kanade were still lying on the floor.

So for now, he decided to eat with just Seo Na-eun, Kim So-yeong, and Yoo Jeong-ah.

“It's delicious.”

“R-Really?”

Hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words, Seo Na-eun made a pleased expression.

“Yes, it's really delicious.”

The sandwich was more delicious than he had expected.

They had put chicken breast ham, lettuce, and tomatoes in a high-fiber rye bread, and whether it was because the combination of ingredients was good, the flavor was rich even though there wasn't much sauce.

“It seems you and Jeong-ah-ssi are good at cooking, Na-eun-ssi.”

“Ah, no. This much is...”

“I just did as Na-eun unnie told me to. Na-eun unnie is the one who's good at cooking.”

Hearing Yoo Jeong-ah speak, Baek Hyeon-woo sneakily threw out a question.

“Jeong-ah-ssi, how is dorm life? Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“Ah, yes, it's very nice.”

Until now, Yoo Jeong-ah had been living in a goshitel.

However, upon officially signing a contract with Haram Entertainment, she got to move into the Newstarz dorm.

“Above all, being able to have room and board...”

“That is certainly an advantage.”

“Thanks to that, I was able to quit my part-time job too. Thank you so much.”

Yoo Jeong-ah expressed her gratitude while bowing her head.

Watching that polite figure, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.

“The company is also doing it out of necessity. We have to create an environment where you can concentrate on your idol activities for good results to come out.”

“Yes, I will work hard.”

“……”

Her attitude really is stiff.

She was better than when he first saw her, but Yoo Jeong-ah still had a stiff atmosphere.

“And... the unnies are treating me well, so I'm living very comfortably. Actually, when I was at DP Entertainment, I couldn't get along well with the other trainees.”

“Ah…”

“I was worried if I'd be able to get along with the Newstarz unnies, but they're all treating me so kindly...”

Saying that, Yoo Jeong-ah bowed her head toward Seo Na-eun and Kim So-yeong.

“Thank you so much.”

“Jeong-ah-ya…”

“I'll work harder to repay the unnies.”

“……”

Her heart itself is admirable... but honestly, her attitude was a bit burdensome.

Baek Hyeon-woo wants Yoo Jeong-ah to relax and carry out her idol activities in a natural state.

Therefore, it wasn't very desirable for Yoo Jeong-ah to show such a rigid side even to her group seniors.

“Jeong-ah-ssi. You don't have to be so polite.”

In the end, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth.

“Speak more comfortably. Because you are colleagues who have to get along closely from now on.”

“Yes… I understand.”

Yoo Jeong-ah nodded and agreed... but it didn't seem like it would be improved so easily.

‘If the members get close to each other, they can make content out of them hanging out in their daily lives like other idols. Thinking about advancing into variety programs or YouTube content in the future, I'll have to make it so they can get along without reserve.’

In fact, it wasn't just Yoo Jeong-ah; Newstarz as a whole were not originally close with each other.

It's not that there's internal conflict, but they are not the type to joke around and chat boisterously with each other.

‘I heard it's been like this ever since the internal atmosphere became a mess after the main vocalist left right before debut... isn't it about time to improve this atmosphere?’

What should be done for them all to get along closely without reserve?

Baek Hyeon-woo was lost in thought.

“Um… but.”

At that moment, Kim So-yeong opened her mouth.

“I'd like to say the same thing back to you, Manager-nim.”

“Pardon?”

“Aren't you, Manager-nim, the one who's treating us too politely?”

Baek Hyeon-woo inadvertently looked at Kim So-yeong.

Kim So-yeong was making a serious expression with her neat facial features.

“I think you, Manager-nim, are the one who should be treating us more comfortably.”

“Ah… I agree with that too.”

Seo Na-eun chimed in from the side.

“We said it's okay for you to speak informally, but you keep using formal speech...”

“The previous managers all used informal speech, but you're the only one who uses formal speech, Manager-nim, so honestly, it feels a bit distant.”

At Seo Na-eun's and Kim So-yeong's words, Baek Hyeon-woo was at a loss for words for a moment.

“I'm sorry. It's because when I worked at the hospital, I always used formal speech with the patients...”

“Manager-nim.”

At that moment, Kim So-yeong said in a serious voice.

“We are not customers.”

“……”

“Patients are hospital customers, so it's right to be extremely polite, but we're people who go through thick and thin together with you, Manager-nim.”

Hearing Kim So-yeong's words, Baek Hyeon-woo realized he had been thinking wrongly.

“I see.”

On this point, Kim So-yeong's and Seo Na-eun's point was correct.

“I had thought that I had to be polite to respect you all... but it turns out I was actually drawing a line with you.”

Baek Hyeon-woo bowed his head.

“Understood. Then from now on, I will speak comfortably.”

“Hehe, that's a relief.”

Kim So-yeong smiled gently, and Seo Na-eun also made a pleased expression.

“What, so you've decided to use informal speech from now on?”

At that moment, Laura, who had been lying on the floor, lifted her head and reacted.

“When I told you not to use formal speech, you didn't even pretend to listen... but when So-yeong unnie says it, you listen right away. Isn't this discriminatory treatment? Does what I say sound like a joke and what So-yeong unnie says sound persuasive?”

“No, that's not it...”

Just as he was about to explain to the grumbling Laura, this time Kanade lifted her head and muttered.

“M-Maybe this is a chance to establish the hierarchy and train us even more harshly? To become a coercive manager and put us all through hell training...”

“I see you want me to do that?”

“Ah, ack! I take back what I just said...!”

As Kanade urgently shouted, laughter burst out from here and there.

‘Yes, if there's a wall between the members and they can't get close... maybe it would be good for me to actively act friendly and break down that wall.’

This wasn't to establish a hierarchy.

It was for Baek Hyeon-woo to open his heart to the members first and form a close relationship with them.

If he does that, won't it also have a good influence on the relationship between the members?

‘Of course... they'll still have to do the hell training, though.’

Hiding such thoughts, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled and swallowed the sandwich he was eating in one bite.

***

“Laura, your arm didn't come up properly. Is the muscle going to be stimulated properly like that?”

“O-Oppa, it's the last set now, give me a break...”

“Since it's the last set, you have to be even more precise. There are five reps left now, so let's do them properly.”

“Weren't there two reps left?!”

“The ones you didn't do properly have to be removed from the count. Now, this time, let's raise it to a 90-degree angle.”

“Ah, seriously...!”

While he was making Laura do lateral raises, he felt a presence from outside the practice room.

Team Leader Park Yeong-ho was looking inside the practice room with a dubious expression.

“What's this? Did you open a gym?”

After also looking at the other members who were doing other exercises in the corner, Park Yeong-ho tilted his head.

“Why are you suddenly making the kids do weight training? Did the trainer tell you to?”

“No. I told them to.”

Baek Hyeon-woo made Laura continue exercising and then approached Park Yeong-ho.

“It's because I felt there was a need to strengthen their basic muscular strength.”

“Ah, muscular strength...”

Because Baek Hyeon-woo usually pointed out problems with muscles or ligaments, Park Yeong-ho was quickly convinced.

“You didn't make them do this kind of thing before. Did your mindset change after becoming a full-time employee?”

“Yes, I think that's probably it.”

If Baek Hyeon-woo's guess is correct, then the reason the new ability appeared was because his mindset had changed.

Because he became an official manager and also received an Assistant Manager business card, he thought that he had to play a role befitting that, and so the new ability appeared.

Since he could now see with his eyes what needed to be done to show a better performance, he had to train them according to that with his own knowledge.

“Since Assistant Manager Baek knows a lot about things like muscles and ligaments, you can also play the role of a PT. Can I perhaps ask you for a favor later too? If I get coached by Assistant Manager Baek, would a muscular body be possible?”

“Creating a cool body isn't my specialty, so I think it would be a bit difficult.”

“Sigh, and here I thought I could get free personal training.”

After joking like that, Park Yeong-ho smiled.

“Anyway, it's a relief that Assistant Manager Baek seems to be doing well. At this rate, I'll be able to concentrate on my other duties.”

Currently, Park Yeong-ho is busy meeting with people from broadcasting stations and media companies.

He was in the middle of laying the groundwork in advance so that the reborn 5-member Newstarz could create a sensation.

Because he had many other duties and had to run all over the place, he was in a state where he had virtually entrusted the on-site management of the Newstarz members to Baek Hyeon-woo.

“Assistant Manager Baek, I'll be counting on you to manage the kids from now on too.”

“Yes, don't worry.”

“Yeah, and...”

Park Yeong-ho's expression became slightly serious.

“Do you by any chance have something important to say? Should we move to another spot?”

“No, let's do it here.”

Park Yeong-ho shook his head.

“Girls, you all come and listen too. Because it's a story you all need to know.”

At Park Yeong-ho's call, the members stopped their exercises and came closer.

“Team Leader, is there by any chance a problem with the Newstarz reorganization plan...”

“No, there's no problem with you guys. It's more of an external problem.”

Seo Na-eun asked cautiously, but Park Yeong-ho shook his head.

“You all remember that you're going to the Night-Bomb Festival next month, right?”

“Yes, we know.”

“As I said last time, Newstarz is scheduled to go on as the fifth act on the second day.”

The Night-Bomb Festival takes place over two days, and Newstarz was scheduled to appear on the second day, which mainly features female artists.

“There's no change to that, but there has been a change in the other performers.”

“What do you mean?”

“Originally, She's On's stage was scheduled right before our turn, you see?”

She's On, the popular girl group that ranks within the top three in Korea.

Hearing that name, Baek Hyeon-woo got a rough idea of what this was about.

“It seems She's On's appearance was canceled.”

“Yeah, it seems Yuri's ankle hasn't fully healed yet.”

Yuri ruptured her ligament while dancing unreasonably with a bad ankle.

Baek Hyeon-woo had witnessed that scene firsthand.

If it's just a light ligament injury, resting for a few weeks is enough to recover, but if the rupture is severe, it takes a long time.

Because cases of rehabilitating for more than half a year are common, it will take more time for Yuri to make a comeback.

“Actually, they could go on stage without Yuri. But since the Night-Bomb Festival is such a big event... it seems they're not really feeling up to going on stage with Yuri missing.”

“It would be one thing if it were a small event, but the Night-Bomb Festival is a high-profile event.”

“Yeah, because agencies also have battles of nerves with each other under the surface.”

A battle of nerves.

When he mentioned that word, Park Yeong-ho slightly frowned.

“Anyway, as She's On dropped out, that spot became empty. So I thought they would just fill that time with the MCs' talk or some kind of show, but it seems a new performer was cast.”

“If it's a new performer...”

“About that.”

Park Yeong-ho said, still frowning.

“I heard that DP Entertainment's Choux-pop is going in as She's On's substitute.”

“……!”

Hearing Choux-pop's name, Yoo Jeong-ah lightly held her breath.

Choux-pop is the girl group that DP Entertainment debuted the year before last.

Yoo Jeong-ah, who had been a trainee at DP Entertainment, once aimed to get into Choux-pop but was ultimately eliminated.

However, it wasn't just Yoo Jeong-ah who felt complicated emotions at the name of Choux-pop.

“What did you say?”

Laura's eyes shot open as she spoke in an angry voice.

The other members' expressions had also stiffened.

“The Choux-pop that the traitor Joo Ga-hee is in is appearing right in time for the stage where we are being reborn as a 5-member group? Aren't they doing this on purpose to screw us over?”

The traitor, Joo Ga-hee, who had left Newstarz right before their debut.

Choux-pop, the girl group she is currently a part of, had cut in to throw ashes on the stage of Newstarz's rebirth.