Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 790



Only Noblemtl

Episode 790

Fighting six alone.

At first glance, it seems like a way to ignore Bugbug. However, Miyoko thinks that this confrontation is not particularly disadvantageous to Rika.

‘It’s just a battle between solo and group.’

Solo musicians may be fewer in number than groups, but that doesn’t mean they shine any less.

Rather, solo musicians have a different level of power in that they can shine alone, which would otherwise be the case when the entire group comes together.

However, if we were to predict the winner, the odds are in favor of Bugbug.

‘Of course, Ishikawa Rika has no experience on a solo stage.’

It’s not common for a musician to fill an entire stage by himself. Don’t pop stars also hire back-up dancers and actors to fill their stages?

Standing on stage alone requires a certain amount of ability and courage.

‘Even Ishikawa’s place is in the part where the five should have been originally standing.’

Standing alone in that space would be more lonely than you can imagine. It might even be scary beyond loneliness.

But there is no fear on Rika’s face.

A future that could easily turn into a dull performance awaits them, but they don’t even show any sign of being shaken.

‘That means you’re confident.’

The mindset that it doesn’t really matter whether there are six or a hundred rookie underground idols.

Miyoko recalled a word from Rika’s attitude.

‘I alone am worthy.’

A saying that Siddhartha spat out as soon as he came out of his mother’s womb, pointing to the sky and the earth.

It’s so arrogant… … .

‘I was curious too.’

Does the Girls’ League really have the qualifications to act as seniors to Bugbug?

To pretend to have that kind of attitude.

Miyoko glanced at the camera and smiled.

“Are you okay, Mentor?”

“This is my assignment! What could be wrong with it! So, what about the leader of Bugbug? If the assignment is too much to bear, tell me now!”

“I think so. The greatest ability a politician has is the ability to become a politician.”

Miyoko felt that all eyes were on her.

For once, Rika volunteered to be the villain that needs to be defeated. As an idol, it’s third-rate to bow your head under the pressure of a mentor.

I will make the best use of the plan laid out by the production team and Rika to produce the picture they want.

“Doctors excel at being doctors, and professors excel at being professors. They didn’t become professionals because they excelled in politics, medicine, or teaching.”

“… … .”

Rika smiled broadly.

“So, the greatest ability I have is not the talent of an idol… … .”

“The ability to become an idol.”

It was an insult.

That was also a considerable insult.

It felt like even the staff, who should have been cheering, were holding their breath when they saw such a fun and stimulating scene.

“Your abilities as an idol are proven only after you become one.”

“Then I haven’t been proven?”

“It’s been proven. And it’s our turn to prove it.”

“Are you Miyoko?”

“Bugbug. The reason we didn’t make it to the major leagues was because we had no luck or opportunity. I realized this after living as an idol for over a year. We have the qualifications and the ability. I think this project is an opportunity to prove that.”

“You’re so confident!”

Surprisingly, Rika’s expression did not stiffen or her reaction was slow. She clapped her hands and laughed as if it was really funny.

“Miyoko, show us the skills you’ve honed as a bugbug! I’ll be waiting!”

“As much as you want.”

Miyoko turned around and shouted loudly to the members.

“Guys, let’s work hard!”

* * *

“What are you thinking?!”

The fussy Wakana let out a shout that was definitely not fussy. The target was Miyoko.

“What if you just declare war? You’re an opponent that’s too weak to even lie face down on the ground!”

“Have I been too easy on you lately? You’re talking back to me informally.”

“……sorry.”

I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

“What should I do… … .”

“There’s nothing to say. Just clear the assignment. Judging from the information I have so far, I won’t give you an assignment that you can’t solve. And you guys watched the broadcast, right?”

The main plot used by Main PD Junpei is a reversal narrative.

Bugbug, who had been suffering and frustrated, makes an effort for some reason and finally overcomes his difficulties.

Junpei often uses plots that utilize emotional fluctuations.

“From a storytelling perspective, that’s gotten old. This time, the structure has completely changed.”

“ninth……?”

“Before, we were strictly students. But now, we’ve taken the form of a confrontation. Do you know what I mean?”

The production team wants to show more than just Bugbug’s growth. They want to intuitively show how much they have grown.

“That’s why it’s not ‘learning’ but ‘fighting’. I acted according to that intention. And judging by the flow up to this point, we have no choice but to produce our victory in the end. If we don’t act like shit, we can win.”

The BugBug members were speechless.

For them, who had only seen the microscopic perspective of understanding the relationships between individual humans, it was difficult to follow Miyoko’s story.

The intention of the broadcast itself… … .

“Can we, as mere performers, predict that…?”

One of them, who had been banging his head against the wall like a woodpecker, asked timidly.

“This could really be an assignment that was given to us to kill ourselves… … .”

“Who likes that? The flow of the program changed after five episodes. The main characters of this program are us. Our growth is the biggest story. And where is the writer who writes a story where the main character loses? Even if they lose, they plant the seeds of awakening or victory. Of course, this is reality.”

There is no such thing as a seed of awakening or victory.

If you lose, you just lose miserably.

There is no such thing as a bug bug reaching enlightenment and ascending to a higher level after failing to solve a task.

The staff would know that better than anyone else.

“But then… … .”

Nishino said with a sullen tone.

“Shouldn’t we be careful? If we want to create a confrontational structure, Mentor Rika will have to peck us. Won’t that be even harder than it is now?”

“We did it. Both Ara Mentor’s assignment and Seolha Mentor’s assignment. They were both very difficult, but we finally solved them. It would be easier if we were to openly criticize them. I trust you. You did a good job, right? Of course.”

Miyoko stretched out her hand. The members placed their hands on top of hers.

“You have to be prepared. Don’t get too hurt even if your mentor nags you. We’re just doing what we have to do.”

I knew how to say that and shout slogans.

However, Miyoko just stared blankly at the folded hands for a while. Only when someone next to her grabbed the hem of her clothes did Miyoko come to her senses.

“We… … will become famous after this program ends. We might even be able to make a major debut. No, we will. So no matter how hard it is, let’s endure it.”

Bugbug fighting!

After shouting “Fighting”, the members’ troubled hearts were eased a little.

Miyoko has been leading Bugbug like this for over a year.

There were times when I wanted to give up because the reality was different from what I had expected, but Miyoko somehow held onto the team.

Miyoko’s leadership was clearly demonstrated even in extreme program environments.

“We’ll do it. Makuhari Messe, Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo Dome. We’ll definitely go.”

* * *

“Then Eri-chan, Noah-chan, bye-bye!”

Rika ended the video call with her laptop and immediately collapsed on the sofa. She clung to Sungpil with a tearful face.

“Mr. Park, my whole body aches… … .”

“Want a massage?”

“Are you going to do it for me?”

“No, I asked if you were going to go get it.”

“It takes a whole month to go to Tokyo and come back!”

Rika rolled her shoulders and sighed deeply. Then she glanced at Seongpil.

Seongpil was simply checking the dance performances of Erika, Rika, and Noah that had been recorded earlier.

Rika sighed again.

“When Atashi (Je) was a trainee, he would even massage my shoulders… … . But his affection for me has cooled down… … .”

“That was when you were a kid. If you were to offer me a massage now, I’d only sense suspicious intentions.”

“It’s more suspicious when you touch me when I’m a kid! I’m fine, so just touch me!”

“… … If you think about it.”

Seongpil closed his laptop.

“You don’t treat me any differently than you used to. I try to treat you in a way that befits your higher status.”

“Director Park is Director Park!”

“Yeah, that’s it!”

“to?”

“When I go out, everyone supports me. They don’t even joke around about asking me to rub their shoulders or feet like you guys do.”

“Who asked you to rub their feet? Did you rub them?!”

“Just as I treat you with care as stars, I hope you treat me with care as the CEO of Garo Entertainment.”

“You’re getting cocky. But… … I don’t really feel like anything has changed since the old days! Director Park still lives in the rented house, the car is still the same, and the clothes are a little better! That expensive watch was a gift from designer Mahara!”

“Once I become rich, I will have to buy everything, including my house, my car, and my clothes.”

“… … Now that I think about it, does Director Park make as much money as we do?”

“Not really?”

“It’s a black company?!”

Rika shuddered.

Who would have thought that the lovely and cute Hong Gyu-heon had such a dark side?

“Until the time comes, I’m taking the minimum.”

“That’s a tactic that black companies often use! They say they’ll give you a bonus once the company stabilizes, but they plan to exploit you until everything falls apart! What good is a worker’s representative director business card for? Complain immediately!”

“It’s okay. If all my plans work out, I’ll be rich.”

“Get the money now and move! We could live in a better house if we got just 1/100th of what we make!”

“No, later.”

“If you draw a big picture, it will tear!”

“Because it’s a painting worth risking being torn apart.”

“How rich will you become…?”

“Ten thousand.”

“to?”

Seongpil confidently drew a V sign.

“1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000) won. When all my plans succeed, I will become a trillionaire.”

“This can’t be happening, even to the point of delusion… … .”

“Why are you so cynical?”

“There are only a handful of people in the world who have earned 1 trillion won through cryptocurrency speculation, and they only did it by running a company for a few years… … .”

“Okay. How could a sparrow know the will of a phoenix?”

“Maa (what), don’t worry even if we go bankrupt! I can give Director Park as much money as he wants to move into Silvertown!”

“That’s assuming I become homeless.”

“In the future, Atashi (I) will buy a four-bedroom house with a view of the Han River! I can give you two of the rooms there! Use one as a dressing room and one as a bedroom!”

“Just hearing it makes me happy.”

“Ah, I took back what I just said!”

“Oh, why? Why am I suddenly annoying?”

“I’ll buy a house in a downtown Tokyo! I’ll rent a room there! The condition is that you become a Japanese citizen!”

It was a promise that I did not want to hear as an empty promise, as it was so feasible and overflowing.

“Then I’ll buy villas in all the famous tourist destinations in the world. I’ll let you use them especially.”

“I’m going to buy 100 supercars! I can give you one!”

“I have a private jet.”

“I’m going to buy a high-rise building! It’s called the Ishikawa Building!”

The two who had been throwing empty checks around like that were laughing together before they knew it.

“Well, let’s both work hard.”

“Hi (yes)!”

Rika looked at her watch, then jumped up and stood in the center of the practice room. It was time to practice again.

“Isn’t it hard?”

“It’s hard! Japanese schedules, overseas schedules, Samurai Girls, our producing, and the ‘Girls’ League X Bugbug Invasion!’! It’s such a tough schedule! Because of that, I’ve only been able to practice ‘Prom Queen’ a few times!”

“Are you okay?”

Rika smiled brightly and took the starting position.

“If I practice once, it’s much faster than if Bugbug practices 100 times!”

To teach, you must first know.

Rika plans to practice today and teach Bugbug tomorrow. In reality, Bugbug has spent much more time practicing ‘Prom Queen’.

Still, Rika wasn’t worried.

It was a true fact, without any exaggeration, that Bugbug’s 100th practice was Rika’s 1st practice.

“I’m really just going to practice now! I don’t have time to play with you, sir!”

I’ll complete the outline today.

Rika’s outline would be close to perfection for Bugbug, so that would be enough.

‘No, it’s not enough.’

Rika will go as far as she can.

‘The task is a confrontation.’

I will never support you.

Beyond not supporting them, it will completely break them.

* * *

“Each!”

One sneezed and covered his arm with his hand. This morning, I went out to the track to run, and it was strangely cold.

‘Why is it like this?’

Did the fur fall out of the padding?

It’s particularly cold today.

“Mr. Hana.”

A voice called out through the silence. One of them turned around with a happy face as soon as he heard the voice.

I saw Seongpil approaching.

“Producer!”

“Here it is.”

Seongpil held out his scarf.

One looked at it blankly, wondering what it was.

“……ah!”

I wondered why it was so cold today, and then I realized I didn’t have a scarf.

“I forgot to give it to you yesterday.”

One of them had lent Sungpil a scarf. After finishing the exercise, they both forgot about it and a day passed.

“Oh, thank you… … .”

One looked at Seongpil’s neck. There was another scarf wrapped around it. It was a rough-knit scarf, with threads coming out and almost frayed.

A hand that was about to receive the scarf stopped.

After a while she laughed hysterically.

“Take it. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

“yes?”

“Producer, I think your scarf is old… … . Ah, is it rude to give you something you’ve been using… … ?”

“It’s not rude.”

Meanwhile, Seongpil handed Hana a scarf.

“It’s old, but there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“… … Well, still. I want to give it to you.”

“Ms. Hana, aren’t you cold? You were saying “Echwi!” earlier, right?”

One blushed.

“Oh, you’ll get warmer if you run anyway! T, t, you’ve given me so much, so I wanted to give you at least that… … .”

“It’s okay. It’s just harder to see Hana-ssi cold.”

“… … Then, if you really don’t hate it, would you accept it as a gift when I pass the assignment?”

Surprise appeared in Seongpil’s eyes.

“To that extent… … .”

“I kept thinking about it. I want to repay you, but I have nothing to repay you for… … . I hope you think of it as fan service goods… … .”

“Oh, was this a gift for a fan?”

When Seongpil burst into laughter, Hana awkwardly laughed out loud.

Fear began to creep in, not knowing how the other person would perceive it.

“Yes, then I’ll take it as a souvenir. If Hana passes the assignment. It’ll be a luxurious gift.”

“Oh, yes! Later, when I make a major debut and earn a lot of money, I’ll buy you even better things!”

“I’ll ask you when things get better. Okay, then.”

Seongpil handed Hana a scarf. Hana took the scarf.

“If you get sick, it’s a big deal, so dress warmly and go out. I’ll go.”

“Yes, yes.”

One looked at Seongpil’s back as he walked away.

The girl who still doesn’t know how to express gratitude has one more reason to win.

* * *

I decided to get a scarf if I passed the assignment.

However, Seongpil had no intention of receiving the scarf. It wasn’t that he was not receiving it because he was thinking about his health.

It was something I didn’t think I would be able to receive.

The final evaluation date for Rika’s assignment.

Rika stands alone at the front of the stage, while Bugbug stands back.

“Let’s get started!”

‘Prom Queen’ was played with a signal from the staff.

In the space where all the Girls’ League members should be standing, only Rika is there.

Rika, who has been active as a member of an idol group, steps confidently and stretches her arms without even a hint of loneliness.

Her singing fills the cold auditorium with warm light.

‘light…….’

Sungpil sees the light.

It’s probably a mistake.

Seongpil is the only one who feels that way. Nevertheless, there is nothing that can express that appearance except light.

To Seongpil, ordinary people are darkness.

No matter how crowded the street is, he seems to be walking in the dark.

Sometimes, some people stand out.

Just a tiny spark.

If you keep moving forward while taking in such intermittent light in your eyes, you will eventually encounter it.

A big light.

Candles, bonfires, it’s hard to express it with words like fire, it’s light itself, it’s life force itself.

‘Rica.’

You will meet that kind of person.

The ending pose where the Girls’ League and Bugbug should line up left and right like the two wings of a bird.

On the left, only Rika stands. However, the six bugbugs on the right are so splendid that they are hard to see.

Rika winks slowly at Seongpil.

‘This is it too.’

They are no match for each other.

* * *

One glanced at Rika on the right. She knew that since it was the ending pose, she should look forward, but she couldn’t help it.

When I look at Rika, I instinctively frown.

‘I feel like I’m going blind.’

It is light, so I can’t catch it with my hands. I keep closing my eyes, so I can’t even tell where it is.

That shining idol is made up of something other than itself.

‘A dance I can’t do. A song I can’t sing. An expression I can’t make.’

An idol made up of everything that isn’t me.

It is so beautiful and splendid that the light it holds seems like trash.

He is a candle that can barely be protected by holding it with his hand. But that thing standing next to him needs nothing to shine.

It just exists as if it were a given.

Unlike my insignificant self.

‘Can I shine like that?’

Are we left to wait for someone else to pour in the oil and scatter the sticks and coals?

Can’t I burn on my own and have to rely on someone else’s help?

“Ugh… … .”

One day, when Sungpil came into view, she groaned without realizing it. Her heart ached as she saw the worn-out scarf wrapped around his neck.

Above all, his eyes are turned to the side, not to himself.

I was so angry that I wanted to cry, but I was even sadder and more frustrated.

‘What are you talking about? You compromised in the end.’

Something a friend of mine said a long time ago comes to mind again.

One of them finally accepted it.

‘Yes, I compromised.’

The choices that resulted from that compromise created this outcome.

‘More than a million light years away from my dream… … .’

I know for sure now that I’m standing on stage with my dream.

‘All my choices were wrong… … .’

Eventually, tears welled up in my eyes.

‘Idol. It’s just the same name, I haven’t put any effort into my dream… … .’

* * *

All the staff voted for Rika.

It was an overwhelming defeat for Bugbug.

“I just lived in a different world!”

Rika put her hand on Miyoko’s shoulder.

Miyoko, whose legs gave out after seeing the results, sat down on the floor. When a hand touched her shoulder, she looked up at Rika.

“Another world… …?”

“Korean and Japanese idols have different demands! Miyoko-san just dipped her toes into this world! The world Miyoko-san was in had nothing to do with professional performance… … .”

Rika took her hands off Miyoko’s shoulders. She placed the index fingers of both hands on the corners of her mouth. Then she raised them into a smile.

“It’s just cute! But.”

The laughter disappeared as soon as Rika lowered her index finger.

“I don’t know if it’s particularly cute or friendly or anything. As of now, I feel like I lack both the qualifications and the ability.”

Rika passed Miyoko and stood next to her.

“The assignment is a failure. If you keep doing this, you’ll just embarrass yourself in front of 13,000 people, so practice harder. The results will show. I’m declaring this here and now. If you don’t do it to your satisfaction, I won’t let you go on stage at all.”

It was a bombshell announcement.

The staff were taken aback by Rika’s sudden behavior and watched the next scene with bated breath.

Bugbug had no way of knowing that Rika was speaking impulsively.

It just feels like a new rule has been added.

Miyoko looked at Rika with trembling lips.

“No, I’m trying. The result… … is… … from the beginning… … unfair, unfair… … .”

“Isn’t that unfair?”

“We’ve only practiced for two and a half months… … and they’re asking us to meet the same standards as the Girls’ League… … We’re trying hard too. We’re not playing around… … If we can’t even get on stage, then why are we doing this… … .”

“… … .”

Rika tilted her head as if she had heard something strange. She knelt down to be eye level with Miyoko.

And just like Shin A-reum did in the first mission, he grabbed Miyoko and his pin mic with his fist.

“Are you stupid?”

“……to?”

“Capitalism, this world has nothing to do with effort. It doesn’t reward effort. One hour for someone is 800 yen, but one hour for someone else is tens of millions of yen. Rewards have nothing to do with effort. Don’t talk about effort while living in a place like this. Rewarding effort is just a dream.”

Miyoko felt that Rika’s accusations were not simple accusations. They came from experience.

That was indeed the case.

Rika has seen her efforts betrayed countless times. It was when she was a trainee at KS Entertainment.

My older sister, who had been a trainee for over 10 years with excellent grades, eventually left the company in tears.

My older sister, who was acknowledged by everyone as a capable person and a model student, eventually disappeared as if she was kicked out.

Ginger, who had not even been here for a year, became a caesarean. And what about Kim Min-joo, Erica, and Jin So-yu?

There are many people who have worked much harder and developed their skills than them, so why those four?

Then, who will compensate for the years, or even decades, of sweat and tears shed by dozens of trainees?

No one compensates.

There is no causal relationship between effort and reward.

“Effort alone is not enough. No matter how high you build the tower, if you are missing the last brick to reach the sky, it is no better than not building at all. You have to reach it. Either by luck or by ability.”

Rika waved her hand and left. Miyoko touched the ground where she had left. Then she curled up like a maggot.

Her hair was pulled down like a curtain, so her face was not visible on camera.

But I could tell what kind of feeling it was.

“It was just cute, but… … .”

Despair.

* * *

“How was Atashi (me)!”

“Rika is the best! Please debut as an actress!”

“Praise me more!”

When Seongpil clapped his hands and praised her, Rika spun around in place.

They say praise makes even a whale dance.

Rika showed off a performance that went beyond just dancing.

After that frenzied barrage of compliments, both of them were left gasping for breath.

“Whew, I know it’s just acting, but I’m worried! Did I say something too harsh?”

“Go and comfort her. Off the record.”

“Then your will will become dull!”

“Your will must have been broken, not just dulled. Were you sincere? It was absolutely brutal.”

“There’s no way Atashi (Je) could honestly say such a violent thing! I’m delicate and kind!”

“Rika is not kind… … .”

“Why are you trailing off!”

“no.”

I can’t say that even if I die, I remember the argument I had with Shin A-reum. That incident was a kind of taboo between Rika and Seong-pil.

“But if your will is broken, it’s a big problem! Bugs, bugs, what if you guys run away saying, ‘I’m quitting being an idol!’!”

“Then it’s a big problem.”

“Is that all?!”

Rika sat down on the sofa, covering herself with the hood of her padded jacket.

“I don’t know what the production team is thinking! It’s clear that they don’t have a human heart!”

“It’s a plot I initiated.”

“You are definitely a genius at directing! Then, genius at directing! What should we do next? The member who will teach Bugbug next will have a hard time!”

“Well, next up is not a mission or task. I’m going to give Bugbug a vacation.”

“… … A vacation? Well, I haven’t had any time off. But if I rest now, wouldn’t the mood be more relaxed?”

“It’s literally a real vacation. I’m going to have you spend four days outside of the idol training center. It’s going to be a simple filming, like a Bugbug holiday. Also, I’m going to meet the parents of the Bugbug members and give them a lot of compliments.”

“I believe Director Park’s compliments, but… … .”

Rika crossed her legs and looked up at the ceiling.

“I’m worried. I was worried that I would lose my willpower, so I didn’t even see my family when I was a trainee! Bug, bug, if I receive comfort from my family, I might really break!”

“Why do you keep saying bug bug like that? There’s no final consonant either.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Well, don’t worry about it. In fact, going outside will help more.”

“Help?”

“Yeah. Once you get back from your vacation, you’ll never be able to quit, right?”

You’ll be surprised.

After experiencing firsthand how famous they have become.

“I can never quit.”

This vacation will be more than just motivation.

* * *

Even though she was on vacation, Wakana seemed to be going to school diligently. She uploaded photos she took with her friends to the Line group chat and sent messages in a very excited tone.

[I signed 100 autographs today, my wrists hurt!]

Besides that, other members said they were surprised when people around them recognized them, gave them service at restaurants, or said they cheered them on.

He gave me such good news.

Miyoko lightly glanced at the messages that appeared on her phone. Then she put the phone in her back pocket and looked at the door in front of her.

There is a nameplate.

[Miyoshi Ryusei]

Miyoko stood still in front of the door for a moment. Behind her, she could constantly hear the sounds of nurses, doctors, and patients passing through the white hallway.

Miyoko opened the door, having mentally prepared herself.

“Brother.”

Wipe away the pensive expression you had on your face when the door was closed.

“I’m here.”

Miyoko showed a bright smile.

My brother, lying as if dead, welcomed me.