Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 533



Only Noblemtl

Episode 533

“Isn’t it over?”

When Ginger stopped walking, Brian had to force himself to stop as well. He followed her to a better position on the stage.

Joara was approaching the stage.

“Do you want to do more?”

“It looks like that… ….”

“……under.”

Brian burst out laughing without realizing it.

Joara’s legs were shaking as she walked onto the stage. It wasn’t so much her determination as her actions that seemed funny.

You can tell just by looking at him that he’s trembling with fear.

“Is that the manager’s request? Looks like you’re pretty fired up.”

Brian looked at Ginger proudly.

“That’s right. Even a single manager can see that it’s our Nanny… … .”

“Please don’t call me Nanny.”

“… … I’d rather be called Nanny than Ginger, right? Ginger, that’s just like my grandmother’s name. If you were trying to make it sound friendly, then the naming was a great success, haha!”

“If you call me Nanny one more time, I won’t let you go.”

“……huh.”

Brian shrank back and answered, then looked at Joara again with a stern face.

“Even a simple manager could tell that your dance was special. If it had been just a performance, it would have been ridiculous, so he must have forced the artist in charge to come back on stage.”

In America, managers and artists are often referred to as one entity.

It is not wrong to say that an artist’s success depends on his manager. And just as artists depend on their managers, managers also depend on artists.

It can’t be helped, the manager receives about 10% of the artist’s earnings. He desperately cheers and supports the artist’s success.

That was Brian’s idea of ​​a relationship between Seongpil and Joara.

“That’s too bad.”

I have to go on a stage that I don’t want to go on because my manager pressures me. If I go on stage again, I’ll just be compared to Ginger even more.

It’s not just because of Brian’s choreography that KS Entertainment poured money into.

Ginger’s very existence is an insurmountable wall.

“Ginger, wouldn’t it be better not to look?”

“… … .”

“That idol, it’ll be humiliating for you to watch. Unless you want to harass her, just leave like a gentleman.”

“I will see.”

Brian shrugged his shoulders as usual.

“If you wish.”

You can watch your idols get ruined as much as you want.

* * *

A split second of time as you walk to the center of the stage.

Joara was incredibly quick-thinking. She had so many thoughts on the way that it was hard to put them into words.

first.

‘Why do you like Darkest and Caius, sir?’

One of the words that Sungpil uses most often with the members is probably ‘artistry’.

He always emphasized the spontaneity, autonomy, individuality, and creativity of idols. The idols he wants seem to be self-produced, with all members participating in the production.

‘I get that.’

Joara agrees.

There’s something I’ve been hearing over and over again since I was a trainee.

What you think you can express best.

That’s why we’re even doing a project called ‘Our Producing’.

‘But why?’

Why do you like Darkest and Caius the most? There are several self-produced idol groups, and among them, there must be some groups that have achieved success that is no less than Darkest.

It was a question that Joara had always had.

That question was answered at this moment.

It was thanks to Min Si-hwa.

‘That’s an excuse.’

The day I visited her in the hospital, she expressed her thoughts about Seongpil like this.

‘In the end, the ideal world that the creator had in mind cannot be reached. Originally, the ideal world was something that humans could not reach. So, the idea that it was something that he could express the best because he thought of it is a kind of excuse.’

Seongpil likes Darkest.

I love you. I admire you. I long for you. I hope for you.

He still loves the group that is the furthest from the artistry he always talked about, even after they disbanded.

He wants the darkest.

At the same time, he knows that he can’t make Darkest.

‘we are…….’

The Girls’ League is the alternative.

Since the members could not follow producer Park Sung-pil’s ideal, he chose the second best instead of the best.

It’s a second choice called creativity.

‘Hey guys.’

Seongpil once explained the types of producers to me in the past.

Director type, talent scouting type, consultant type, supporter type.

He described the producer’s style as if he were dividing leaders into fox and lion types. And he said this with his own mouth:

‘Me? Aren’t you the director type? Commanding artists and staff with charisma… … .’

The members laughed and said that anyone who saw him would know that he was a support-type producer.

However, Sungpil must have truly thought of himself as a director. No matter what he actually does, his innate nature is that of a director.

He must have something he wants from the Girls’ League.

As a director, there must be an optimal state in which you want to make them completely submissive.

‘I can’t do it. Sir, I can’t do it.’

Because of his very fragile personality, he cannot force his ideals on the members.

We do not force training that borders on abuse.

The limits of performance are determined only by the members’ spontaneity.

‘The talent to perfectly imitate what someone else has created… … That is, the ability to perfectly recreate someone else’s ideal is as rare as Michael Jackson.’

As Min Si-hwa said, even imitation is a talent.

Accurately understanding and perfectly reproducing choreography created by others, songs created by others, concepts created by others, and intentions created by others.

That’s probably the kind of group Seongpil wanted.

Like Darkest… … .

But Sungpil chose to create instead of imitating, believing that the members would be much happier that way.

He found a compromise between his dream and the happiness of his members. In fact, he gave up his dream to some extent.

“Are you ready?”

The PD asks.

Joara looked at her hands. They were shaking slightly. Her hands were remembering something.

Min Si-hwa, Seo Yu-seon, Rick Kalman.

‘Ginger.’

Dance.

Dancing isn’t just about dancing.

I learned from Min Si-hwa.

Dance.

‘It’s about appreciating, evaluating, creating, imagining, and only then can it be released.’

Through this project, Joara met choreographers from many different fields.

Meeting them became the basis of this strange feeling, Min Si-hwa’s last dance became gunpowder, and Ginger’s dance became fireworks.

Joara clenched her fists.

“yes.”

It must have been gunpowder and fireworks that met, but Joara felt a chill.

It seems like ice is flowing instead of blood.

weird.

‘I’m always excited before dancing.’

My whole body feels cold, as if my insides are turning. It feels like an ice pick is piercing my spine.

This feeling is… … .

‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to like you.’

But her body and head are unusually cool. The heat does not disturb her senses, and her will extends to her cold body.

My blood is boiling, I’m throwing away that tired word.

My blood ran cold.

“Let’s get started.”

* * *

“The choreography has changed.”

One of the backup dancers, Lee Myung-cheol, said.

He was one of the backup dancers for the Girls’ League during ‘Arabesque’. Since then, he has become close with Jo Ara and participated in this project as well.

“You prepared two versions?”

“There were two versions.”

Seongpil clasped his hands together and watched Joara anxiously. His mind was filled with the future he had just seen.

Joara’s hazy voice resonates faintly.

‘I should have danced it then.’

She was seen reaching out to the moonlight.

‘I should have shown you this then.’

Eyes full of regret looking at Seongpil.

‘Right, oppa?’

From that day on, Joara changes.

Seongpil didn’t know whether it was simply a matter of ability or a matter of belief. It wasn’t something that could be judged in the short future.

But the future Joara was clearly different from now. And the future Joara regretted not going back on stage at this moment.

Seongpil still couldn’t forget the shock.

In the future, Joara’s ‘Bad’ danced under the moonlight.

That appearance was similar to her from her previous life.

“Street style has completely disappeared.”

Lee Myung-chul said it with regret. And although he didn’t say it, he honestly thought the previous version was much better.

He looked down at Seongpil sitting on the chair.

Seongpil just watched Joara dance without saying a word, with his hands clasped and his mouth covered.

‘Not yet.’

I don’t know how far into the future Seongpil saw.

‘You haven’t reached that level?’

Joara’s dance was no different.

There is no way your skills will change significantly in just a few dozen minutes or an hour or two.

Even if you can master one or two techniques, it is difficult to change the flow and style of the entire dance.

‘Then is this just Ara venting her frustrations?’

Seongpil is satisfied with that alone.

“I guess I’ll have to go back to the previous version.”

Lee Myeong-cheol said.

Seongpil also agrees.

As of now, that is the case.

Seongpil is looking at something.

Something sparkling inside Joara.

The starlight that was about to burst out from her.

* * *

‘I’m in pain.’

A dance based on reason, not instinct.

You have to pay attention to every single part of your body.

pain.

It’s like when I danced ‘Arabesque’ at the HPT Music Awards. I felt like I was stepping on the second hand. I felt like I was moving my hands according to a huge rule.

Control your body by following the waves that are too much to handle.

‘What’s at the end of this?’

Is there something I should be looking for in this suffering?

It’s not fun at all.

Dancing must be fun, I’m sure.

It feels like you’re studying every little thing in a game you started out playing to enjoy, just to win. You’re letting go of all thoughts of having fun and focusing only on winning.

‘Here, in this dance, what on earth is… … .’

What, there is.

Something, I see.

The black shape that she had seen on stage earlier appeared clearly before Jo Ara’s eyes. It was the perfect shape that Jo Ara had drawn.

Also, it was a dance that perfectly suited Joara’s body.

Joara moves towards that dance.

Every second, every minute, we get closer to it.

“……under.”

Joara let out a small laugh.

‘Sir, you lied about your ex-girlfriend making this, right?’

The black figure called Joara became completely one with her imaginary self. What she imagined in her head became reality.

‘Then, that doesn’t make sense.’

This dance suits Joara perfectly.

It exists only for Joara.

As if she had created it herself.

‘It can’t be this comfortable.’

Seongpil only thinks of Jo Ara.

Just thinking about Joara.

Dreaming of Joara only.

Just for me.

‘A dance created by an old man.’

I felt it every time I danced to the choreography of the Girls’ League.

He himself cannot get 100 points.

But there is a way.

‘This dance doesn’t suit me. Fix it so that it suits me… … .’

Then, whether it’s 100 points or 120 points, it’s up to you… … .

‘no.’

Now I know.

Those are all excuses.

Anyway, I had no choice but to stop at 90 or 95 points. That’s why I made an excuse. And I was satisfied with that excuse.

Because, to get 100 points.

‘Because you have to leave me.’

Rather than giving up myself and becoming perfect as an idol, I would rather remain a dancer and an imperfect idol.

Rather than kneeling before others like a dog and wagging my tail, I would rather live as myself, even if it means getting kicked and cursed at.

Rather than surrendering to other people’s standards to get 100 points and dancing like a machine without happiness or joy, I would rather…

But, but, now… … .

‘I want to get 100 points.’

I want to reach the ideal you desire.

Joara took her last step.

Then it appeared.

A view that can only be seen after becoming one with this choreography.

‘This is the scenery that the old man wanted from me, the scenery that the old man saw.’

This is what Sungpil wanted from Jo Ara as a producer.

At the same time, Joara felt as if her entire body was disappearing. The weight of her body was gone. It was as if she was scattering like sparks.

like…….

‘Like when you do street dance.’

Just like when you are just enjoying yourself and doing whatever you want, as much as you want, according to your instincts.

Joara’s body loses weight and turns into flames.

It’s a feeling I had forgotten.

Whenever I danced like an idol, I felt like I was forced into clothes that didn’t fit me. I had to endure the weight of my body and force myself to fit into them.

Suppressing one’s individuality.

Throw away everything you’ve built up so far.

For Jo Ara, it was painful to dance only to the group’s rhythm.

however.

‘no…….’

If you feel this way.

‘I can’t love dancing like I used to.’

Joara submitted to the dance.

Rather than forcing myself into a choreography, I surrendered to the dance with ecstatic joy.

I bowed my head to Seongpil’s utopia and kissed his feet.

okay.

‘I can’t help but love dancing… … .’

Happiness achieved only by throwing away one’s ego.

The ultimate happiness of a monk who has devoted everything to God and achieved nothingness.

Shatter yourself into pieces.

Become a flame.

The final highlight.

‘I am.’

Those few verses.

These few dozen seconds.

Just one moment.

‘It reached.’

Oneness of self and self.

* * *

Seongpil kept his eyes open long enough to become bloodshot. His eyes were bloodshot. But he didn’t try to close them. He didn’t want to miss a single moment.

Joara appeared before his eyes.

Not the current Joara.

‘In a previous life… … .’

I saw Joara from my previous life.

Unlike Sungpil’s fluttering heart, the filming set was silent. For quite some time after the song ended.

* * *

Jiyu learned ballet.

That’s why I hated dancing.

Ballet was so boring because it was like piling up set tasks.

Separately from Jiyu, her younger sister, who was learning piano, said this.

‘Classical piano is like climbing a staircase made of musical scores. You keep climbing and climbing until you reach the top.’

Until then, individuality is not allowed.

It was a word that was connected to ballet.

Jiyu didn’t feel any fun in dancing that was just about meeting the standards set by others.

So I quit.

But the dance I learned after becoming a trainee was fun. Urban dance is a genre that values ​​the individuality of the performer, without any set format or rules.

For the first time, dancing was fun.

I’ve always wanted to be this happy.

“Ugh.”

Jiyu sighed as if she felt sorry for Joara.

‘What is that?’

It’s a dance full of desperation.

The Darkest comes to mind.

It was a video I had seen a long time ago, and it was probably Darkest’s debut stage in Japan.

‘You really work hard. You’re amazing.’

Even Ji-yu, who wasn’t a trainee at the time, thought so. All of them had perfect angles, their movements were as clean as a chessboard, and their movements were beautiful and flashy, but they didn’t look happy at all. Like herself learning ballet.

That’s what Joara is like now.

‘Are you so desperate to kill yourself to look good?’

Jiyu never wants to end up like that.

Just dealing with Yoon Sang-yeol makes me want to bite my tongue and die, but I don’t have the heart to risk my life dancing like Jo Ara does.

Jiyu just wants to have fun dancing.

Because I think there is something to be gained from having fun. And, as obvious as it may sound, having fun is happiness.

‘Seongpil oppa used to do that.’

Isn’t it beautiful that so many talented people devote their souls to art, finding other ways to eat well and live well?

Jiyu answered him like this.

‘Not at all.’

At least, I don’t want to end up like Joara.

* * *

Brian barely held his breath. Not a single breath escaped his surroundings.

He has been learning, creating, and dancing for a long time. His aesthetic sense for watching dance far surpasses that of ordinary people.

He couldn’t believe what was unfolding before his eyes.

“haha!”

He laughed briefly. He loves the talented. Because the talented are loved by God.

Brian looked at Ginger with a satisfied expression.

“I see why you fell in love with it! That was it! That’s what it looked like!”

Unlike Brian who was excited, Ginger’s expression did not change. Soon, Ginger’s face distorted.

‘what…….’

Ginger liked Joara.

I admired it.

I’m a fan.

But that was the same attitude as the Olympian gods who loved humans.

He comes down slightly from the clouds and looks at humans with satisfaction. He loves their mortality, their weakness, their arrogance. Like Zeus who came down to earth to love Alcmene, his love is as beautiful as a caring heart.

Ginger realized that only now.

‘That’s… … .’

Only now, when I see Joara, I feel nothing but discomfort. Joara has stepped into Ginger’s world.

The world made of dance is pure white.

The only ones who entered that world were Master Rick Kalman, whom I met at the American Academy, Brian, who is next to me now, or one of the Darkest seniors whom I occasionally ran into at work.

“Would you like to take more pictures?”

The PD asked.

Joara answered, breathing heavily.

“no.”

“Okay. Then, please gather in the conference room in an hour.”

At that time, a vote is held.

Ginger, who had been staring at Joara, soon met her eyes. Goosebumps appeared on Ginger’s skin.

You don’t get this feeling when you see a cute puppy or kitten. What Ginger encountered was a beast. A beast that could bite and eventually hurt her.

But then the beast approaches.

Joara held out her hand, showing a smile that was incredibly intimate and one she had never seen before.

“great job.”

ah.

Ginger’s voice was barely able to escape her throat.

The emotions in my heart were so complicated that I didn’t even know it. The competitive spirit I had never felt before was gushing out like a volcano, and it was mixed with my love for Joara, making me feel endlessly uncomfortable.

“Ms. Ara, thank you for your hard work… … .”

“Hey, Ara!”

Brian spoke to Joara obliviously. He searched through his pockets, took out a business card, and gave it to her.

Joara thought so.

‘I’m an adult!’

Brian, you’re an adult, giving me a business card.

“Contact me later when you have a chance. Okay? Can you speak English?”

“Yes, yes. But who are you?”

“You don’t know me?!”

“Brian, let’s go.”

“huh?”

Brian was taken aback. Ginger was doing something she had never done before: grabbing his sleeve and leading him.

“If you’re going to go, you go first!”

In the end, I was dragged there against my will.

He shouted at Joara as he was being dragged away.

“I’ve also made quite a few K-pop choreographies! They’ll be so helpfuleeeeee… …!”

“Araya, who is that person?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is that the new Ginger manager? Sure, she can do both as a manager and a bodyguard. She’s efficient.”

“Then, since you can be a manager, producer, and bodyguard all at once, you’re 1.5 times more efficient?”

“I know.”

Seongpil and Joara looked at each other.

And they smiled with different meanings.

“Well done. That’s great.”

“i know.”

“what.”

A familiar voice was suddenly heard.

“Teacher, teacher!”

Jo Ara ran to Min Si-hwa. Min Si-hwa was with Seo Hak-jun.

“Why are you so late!”

“Sorry, I had something to do. I came late because I wanted to eat dinner with you. Looks like everything is finished?”

“It’s been a while since it ended.”

“it’s a shame.”

Joara looked at Min Sihwa’s leg. She was still in a cast and was using crutches.

But she doesn’t seem that sad. Looking at her clinging to her husband and playing with his hands…

At that moment, Seongpil and Seo Hakjun’s eyes met.

The two of them burst into laughter as soon as they saw each other for some reason. It was really hard to tell whether it was because they felt a sense of kinship.

“what.”

Joara said with a bright smile.

“There’s still time until the vote, but since you’re here, should I show you a dance?”

“Hey, what’s the point of showing it to him if he doesn’t have a stage?”

“Then I will come out.”

“Here?”

Joara grabbed Min Sihwa and whined.

Min Si-hwa sat down as if she had no choice.

‘That’s fortunate.’

I think it ended well.

Joara danced towards her teacher with a bright face.

* * *

Ginger returned to the company. He went to the Management Team 1 office.

The office was deserted as everyone was busy with Caius’s comeback.

Team Leader 1 was sitting on the phone when he noticed Ginger. Then he quickly tried to end the call.

“Oh, what does it have to do with me that your shopping mall is doing well?”

[Sangmok, you asked… … .]

“Don’t call me Sangmok! Stop it. I’m going to be buried here, so if you’re going to say something like that, don’t even contact me.”

[You walked… … .]

“Hang up!”

Team Leader 1 greeted Ginger, a level 1.5 alert target, with a bright smile.

“Oh, what’s wrong with our Ginger? Did the shoot go well? Why do you look a little gloomy?”

Ginger stopped in front of Team Leader 1.

Team leader 1’s expression became serious.

“what’s the matter?”

“… … .”

“Did you, did you lose?”

Several managers who were busy working were shocked. Ginger lost in ‘Aoa’?

“It’s a scam!”

“How much money did you give to that little brat Brian and he lost?!”

“Catch him right now and sue him!”

“Quickly bring Ginger some drinks and snacks!”

“These guys at The Studio are crazy!”

The managers became anxious.

Team Leader 1 looked straight at Ginger. He asked again in a benevolent tone.

“Really, what’s wrong? What’s going on? Huh?”

“… … It’s a draw.”

“ah!”

Team leader 1’s expression relaxed.

“That’s the ‘AoAh’ tradition. Splitting the votes to save face for each other. Oh my, you’re upset that you lost? But in the end, you won. You’ll know for sure when you compare the number of views for the video that comes out a few weeks later, right? So don’t be upset… … .”

“Ms. Ara.”

“huh?”

“Ara-san gave me a vote.”

“Ah, ah! That would be great! You liked Ara!”

“Jiyu gave her vote to Ara.”

“… … .”

Team Leader 1 finally realized the truth behind the incident.

“I, I… … .”

Ginger shed tears.

“Ah, ah, Ara-ssi, I should have given you the ticket, I was going to give it to you… … .”

Then Ginger, you lose.

Ginger let out a loud cry.

She screamed and cursed.

“I didn’t want to lose! I didn’t want to lose! I didn’t want to lose! I voted for Jiyu unnie… …!”

The entire office was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

Ginger cried like a little child.

“I don’t want to lose… … ! I don’t want to lose, I don’t want to lose, I don’t want to… … .”

Ginger fell to her knees and groaned.

Team Leader 1 stood up Ginger. He looked straight at Ginger and said.

“You won’t lose.”

Caius does not support.

“I won’t let you down.”

I will give you victory.

Eternal victory.

“From now on, I won’t let anyone defeat you.”

10 days left until Kai’s comeback.

* * *

“Teacher, are you crazy?!”

“Oh, Ara, you’re here?”

Baek Min-jeong greeted Jo A-ra with a bashful smile. She said as she searched through the shelves in her office.

“Want a snack? What should I get you?”

“That’s fine, but what’s with the banner outside the building?”

Joara came to ‘You Know Dance Academy’ after a long time. As soon as she arrived, she was shocked and lost for words.

Joara’s face was engraved in large letters on the building’s banner. It even said, ‘We are waiting for the second Joara.’

Joara’s face turned bright red and she shouted in frustration.

“Take that down immediately. What the hell are you doing!”

“Hey, isn’t it good for publicity? There are a lot of people walking around here. You have ‘Yu-No Dance Academy’s Pride Girls’ League Ara’ written under your face. The publicity effect is really… … .”

“I’ll tell the company and have them delete it!”

“You got permission to go to Garo Enter? You even paid the proper amount.”

Joara was in despair.

“Ugh.”

I was so desperate that I lost the will to protest and just sat down.

Baek Min-jeong’s office has become larger than before. It was originally a space shared by several instructors, but has been changed into her own private office.

“Teacher, you’re doing well.”

“This is the prime of my life. It’s all thanks to you. Where, how are the trainees we sent you doing? Do you think you’ll debut?”

“I don’t know.”

“The second Joara? Is it out?”

“I’ve never seen the kids properly in my life.”

“Please pick our kids so we can build one more building!”

“If you want to ask a favor, go to me and ask me!”

Joara barely managed to shake off her teacher’s petty pleas.

“And if you just get picked as a group, will you succeed?”

Joara showed a proud expression.

“You have to be at my level to be successful.”

“Wow, that’s unlucky.”

“… … Really, I’m not a student at this academy anymore? So you’re going to treat me rudely?”

“No, no. I love our Ara. I just like seeing her. Much more than before… .”

“Are you brimming with confidence?”

“Come to think of it, it’s the same. You used to ignore your seniors too. Oh, it’s been a while since you did that.”

Baek Min-jeong made a mocking expression. Then she did a humorous imitation of Jo Ara’s voice.

“’You’re doing well, Bbaengnyeong. If you tease me, I’ll show you how to do it.’ Ahahaha! I thought I was going to die laughing at that moment!”

“When did you say that… … .”

Joara blushed and ignored Baek Minjeong. Baek Minjeong patted her shoulder with a friendly expression.

“Let’s go eat.”

“What do you want to eat? Do you know a good restaurant?”

“Weren’t you the one living?”

“No… … What… … But the teacher is an adult… … .”

“You earn more than me. If you release one album, you get hundreds of millions. No? Huh? No?”

“Okay, I’ll buy it. I’ll buy it. Don’t come here again.”

“Just kidding. Let’s go. I’ve already made reservations for you wherever you want to go.”

“I love you, teacher.”

“Excuse me… … .”

As the two were about to leave, a student who looked to be in his last year of middle school came into the office.

“What about today’s homework?!”

The student let out a pterodactyl cry as soon as she saw Joara. She shook her hands and feet and fell to her knees.

“Ah, ara, arararara, ararararara!”

“Who is that?”

“He’s your fan. He’s a huge fan. He came to register as soon as you put up the banner. He’s aiming to be the next Jo Ara.”

“Oh, really?”

“How dare I aim for Ara, Ara-ssi, Ara-nim’s next step! Ara-nim, Ara-senpai!”

The students’ attitude was almost cowardly.

Joara stood her up herself. Then she trembled as if embarrassed.

“So, why did Minjeong come?”

“Huh? Her name is Minjeong?”

“Yeah. Isn’t that strange? Our names are the same.”

“It’s Minjeong!”

“Oh, Minjeong.”

“… … Sigh.”

Baek Min-jeong felt strange.

“Oh, I have a question about your homework.”

“Um. How about our senior help us with our homework?”

“Oh, I’m so embarrassed!”

Joara looked at Baek Minjeong as if she was dumbfounded. Baek Minjeong tried to explain away the matter.

“Yeah, well, should I take a look?”

“Oh, thank you, your kindness is truly infinite!”

Minjeong was almost fainting. Even though she was on the verge of fainting, she ran out of the office faster than Hermes and cheered.

“This is the best day of my life!”

Joara laughed loudly.

“Teacher, how old is he? 16? 17?”

“13 years old.”

“… … You’re in 6th grade?!”

“These days, kids are growing well. I was with middle schoolers walking home from school last time. But they’re all bigger than me. Is it because they eat well and grow up?”

A generation born when South Korea was unprecedentedly prosperous.

That average height is close to that of the Western world!

Maybe all future idols will be tall. It’s not that we specifically pick tall people, but rather that they are tall on average.

The future of the Republic of Korea is bright.

Mainly in terms of appearance.

“Minjeong is a particularly special person, though.”

“That’s right. Minjeong is special.”

“… … .”

“Why, Teacher Minjeong?”

“Uh, no… … .”

The three came to the empty practice room.

Minjeong held her phone with trembling hands. Then she looked for the assignment song.

It was a pop song commonly used as a dance practice repertoire.

“I, I, dare, I, y, dare to, dance, let me dance, senior Ara!”

“Do you want to dance together?”

“Huh?!”

“Let’s do it freestyle.”

As the song started playing, Joara leisurely moved her hips. Minjeong said, covering her eyes with her loose hand.

“Hey, sexy… … .”

“Are you a real person? You even know about the sexy challenge.”

“I even went to a concert holding my dad and mom’s hands!”

“… … Oh, you said you were 13. Anyway, let’s go.”

“Yep!”

The two of them completely forgot about their homework and started freestyle dancing. Unlike Jo Ara, Minjeong didn’t seem to have learned street dancing.

All you can see is the technique that has been thoroughly trained for urban dance. It seems like they are probably aspiring idol trainees.

“Oh, you dance well?”

“Ara, senior, you’re on another level! What a mess.”

“Is that so?”

Joara gradually began to demonstrate increasingly difficult techniques.

Then, I quit. I quit, and just moved my body as my heart told me to.

A gentle happiness enveloped her.

‘Did the doctor tell you?’

Picasso once said:

Since I was little, I only drew pictures of adults. But now I can finally draw pictures of children.

‘Picasso must have reached the end.’

Only after I reached the end, I was able to draw whatever I wanted like a child.

Joara has just begun her journey that will eventually reach its end. So… … .

‘This happiness through dancing will end now.’

Until she reaches the end of the dance, dancing will be pain to her. A homework assignment that she will have to hold on to and solve forever.

Still, Joara can’t give up dancing.

It’s painful, but I also love it.

No, it can’t be called love anymore.

‘It’s an obsession.’

At the beginning of that obsession, Joara danced a dance that came from instinct, as if decorating the end of her youth.

Lastly, just have fun.

* * *

The terrace outside the Garo Enter entrance. There, Seongpil and Joara sat facing each other and drank.

“Finally, the old man is keeping his promise.”

“Are you okay with something like this?”

Seongpil kept his promise with Jo Ara.

I decided to buy you a drink.

But Joara chose the area in front of Garo Enter as the place to drink.

Since all the employees have left work, there is no need to worry about what others think. However, the terrace in front of the company is used as a place to relax, so drinking alcohol is a bit… … .

“Take it.”

Joara filled Seongpil’s glass with soju.

Seongpil also filled Joara’s glass with soju.

“But didn’t you say you only drink beer?”

“I just feel like drinking soju these days.”

“This is a big deal.”

The two clinked their glasses and poured the alcohol into their mouths.

“It’s quiet, should I play some music?”

“Okay.”

“I’ll play whatever you like.”

Jo Ara played Darkest’s ‘Your Star’. Sungpil was impressed by Jo Ara’s song selection.

“mister.”

“Huh? Are you lacking side dishes? You ordered a large portion of pig’s feet and you’re saying it’s lacking is a bit… … .”

“Are you lying about having a girlfriend?”

Seongpil opened his eyes wide as if he was wondering what it meant.

“You lied because my dancing was so bad that you wanted to fix it, right?”

“… … What are you talking about? Do you think I’m the kind of person who would make up such ruthless lies?”

“But, the ‘Bad’ choreography. No matter how much I dance it, it doesn’t feel like it was made for old men.”

“Uh, um, really?”

“It looks like the perfect outfit for me. Didn’t the old man desperately draw my face on the ceiling to make it?”

Seongpil chuckled.

“Araya, it’s not a very plausible story that I’m not a choreographer and that I’m creating dances. Yeah, I’m sorry for lying.”

“I’ve been a fan of idols for over 10 years, so why isn’t it working?”

“Fan-watching and learning and making things are different.”

“Really? Well, let’s say that’s true.”

The two emptied their glasses again.

“Then why did you break up with your ex-girlfriend? Tell me more specifically.”

“Is this doubting adults?”

“Hurry up. If you don’t tell me, I’ll assume you were thinking, ‘Your dancing sucks, so I need to change it.’”

“… … .”

Seongpil rolled the paper cup around in his hand. Then he looked at Joara. She was backlit by the moonlight. It was as if a halo was shining softly.

“Because of the age difference….”

“Was that person tall? Or was he an old man?”

“I was older. There was quite a difference.”

“Was it tea? Oh, like that.”

“I got it.”

Joara smiled as if it was unexpected.

“It’s starting to sound like a lie. How much of a difference was there?”

“12 years old.”

“Are you crazy?! Sir, at that age, the other person would be around 20 years old or in their early 20s!”

“therefore!”

Seongpil burst into laughter, rarely, cheerfully and without any shyness.

Joara became serious.

“You’re not a minor, are you?”

“I was an adult. Yes, I was an adult. I said I was a choreographer.”

Just because you’re a choreographer doesn’t mean you’re necessarily old.

There is currently a person in Korea who is a hit choreographer at the young age of 20. People in their early to mid 20s are also quite common.

Talent blossoms regardless of age.

“What if there’s a 12 year age gap… … .”

Joara took a sip and then filled her glass with soju.

“There are many, but it’s a bit odd to break up just because of the age difference. Did you break up with him? Or did that person just suck up all your money?”

“A 12 year age gap… … Araya.”

Seongpil also filled his own glass with soju.

The two emptied their glasses again.

“The generations are different. The places we stand on and the landscapes we see are different.”

“Why are you being so serious? No, you really did have an ex-girlfriend? You didn’t make it up, did you?”

“Think whatever you want.”

“Oh, what is it? Please answer properly.”

Joara pretended to be upset and filled her glass again.

“So, what did your girlfriend say when you told her to break up?”

“I said no.”

“But?”

“What the heck.”

“You were tired or something… … right?”

“Rather than that, there’s a better future for that person. A much better future than someone like me… … .”

“I really can’t listen to you. Are you writing romance novels? Those are all excuses.”

“Yeah, it was scary.”

“Are you scared?”

“I’m an old man now. I was afraid of being abandoned.”

“… … .”

“And there is a better way ahead for him… … .”

“No shit.”

Jo Ara seemed to think Sungpil was making up stories. She grumbled, saying that he was being too serious for nothing.

“Sir, do you want to watch a movie later?”

“Haa, this is really flirting… … .”

“At my brother’s studio. On DVD. We can all watch it together. It’s just that I don’t think we’ve ever watched a movie together before.”

“Well, that’s fine. Is there anything you want to see?”

“no.”

“What is your favorite genre?”

“Action! The movie of my life is ‘Old Boy.’”

“Laugh, and the whole world will laugh with you. Cry, and you will cry alone.”

“When you say ‘Old Boy’ to real people, they all pick that as their famous line. I’m sick of it, I’m sick of it.”

“This is too much… … .”

“As someone who has re-watched ‘Oldboy’ 27 times, that’s not really a famous line.”

“then?”

“I love you, sir.”

Seongpil’s whole body literally froze.

I barely raised my gaze from the glass I was pouring. Joara was smiling bashfully under the moonlight.

“Oh, the titles are confusing. I’m not talking about you. It’s a line from a movie.”

“What the… … I almost ran away… … .”

“Should I change my title? To oppa?”

“what?”

“You said you didn’t like being called ‘Mister’. Now that we’re on the subject… … .”

Joara filled the glass.

The glass is slowly overflowing.

But he continues to tilt the bottle of soju.

“Shall we do it, oppa?”

Seongpil looked at the overflowing glass and said with a smile.

“No. Keep calling me uncle.”

“……why?”

“That’s the name you call me by now. It’s the name only you call me by.”

Jo Ara’s stiff expression faded and she let out a drunken laugh as soon as she heard Seongpil’s answer.

“what…….”

Glasses were passed around in silence. The silence was filled by Darkest’s voice.

[I am your star

One person who makes me shine

The only one who burns me… … ]

‘Artist of Artists’, the end.