“What’s with the envelope?”

“I’ll open it!”

Inside the traditional Hanji envelope was a letter that looked like it belonged in a museum. As we untied the string and spread out the paper, a message written in brush calligraphy resembling a period drama prop was revealed.

“‘To the members of Spark, who have run forward with one heart and mind until now, we grant you free time. Share the warmth with your colleagues and open up your hearts!’ ...That’s what it says.”

Even though Spark opened up their hearts just last week while folding laundry? Even though we already reached an agreement for Kang Giyeon to inherit Choi Jeho’s clothes because Jeho threw shrinkable items into the washing machine, turning them tiny?

Still, a true professional does what needs to be done. While Jeong Seongbin carefully tucked the letter back in, Lee Cheonghyeon pulled his legs toward himself and adjusted his posture.

“Don’t we share warmth too often? I recently saw a compilation of comments saying ‘Spark is a bugged Kkuyo-kkuyo.’ Usually, when three gather, they’re supposed to pop, but we don’t pop; people just keep getting added.”

“Calling it a bug is a bit sad, so how about calling it an upgraded version? The difficulty level just got higher.”

Thanks to Jeong Seongbin’s sweet suggestion, we went from ‘Glitched Kkuyo-kkuyo’ to ‘Expansion Pack NEW! Kkuyo-kkuyo.’

Usually, when a broadcast like this aired, fans looked forward to the hidden inner thoughts or unreleased anecdotes of their idols.

But Spark, whose members rushed to Bubble and social media the moment anything happened, hardly had any unreleased stories to begin with. Just this morning, we’d already revealed our commute playlist and Lee Cheonghyeon’s GPA from the first semester of his junior year.

“I’ll make one honest statement since we’re in front of the camera.”

While I was wondering if there were any interesting stories left that hadn’t been revealed to the world, Kang Giyeon beat me to it.

“I wish the members would stop watching my fancams at the dorm.”

“Why? That’s the hottest content in our dorm.”

“Watch your own!”

Lee Cheonghyeon cackled at the sight of Kang Giyeon’s reddened face.

“You guys watch it to an excessive degree! Lee Cheonghyeon has the volume turned up in his room, and when I go out, Iwol hyung is watching it on the living room TV!”

“The members did it out of affection, Kiyeon.”

“What about my human rights?”

Kang Giyeon shot back as if my words were absurd. I didn’t bother answering.

With Kang Giyeon opening the floodgates, the others began to bring up topics one by one.

“Seongbin, you kept feeling sorry for me after you went out for the position battle... but I wish you wouldn’t. I’m just proud that our members are out there promoting under our team name.”

Park Juu, comforting the friend who had been carrying that weight on his heart, was particularly impressive.

“And there’s still more left to show...!”

Park Juu didn’t just stop at sentimental comments. Seeing him subtly slip in a spoiler made me almost laugh.

“We did a lot of new things this season, didn’t we?”

“That’s because you insisted on doing a musical.”

“And that’s why I did the jazz dance without a single complaint~.”

The conversation flowed with banter that dealt zero actual damage to anyone. While Lee Cheonghyeon and Choi Jeho performed their comedy routine, Jeong Seongbin managed to claim a cushion to enhance the cozy atmosphere.

“What was the most memorable moment for everyone during IDC?”

“For me, it was Kang Giyeon during the reveal ceremony.”

“Ha...”

Kang Giyeon sighed at Lee Cheonghyeon’s blunt answer.

“I’m serious! The last time I saw Kang Giyeon do traditional dance was at a competition. I felt bad that there was no way to show the fans anything other than digitally degraded old videos, so I’m glad we got a stage that fit the program’s concept so well.”

Kang Giyeon didn’t argue against his friend’s following words. Lee Cheonghyeon was the one who had watched him since his days in traditional dance, which was the foundation of Kang Giyeon’s life. No matter how embarrassed he was, he couldn’t speak harshly to a friend like that.

“Everyone gave a lot more input this time too.”

The guys nodded at my comment. Last season, I mostly pitched the ideas and the members added details. This time, nearly everyone took turns leading stage planning.

“Speaking of inputs, I actually feel a little sorry for asking the members to do a musical.”

“Why...?”

“Everyone suffered so much. I found myself thinking, ‘Did I insist on it too much?’ I feel like I made the hyungs and Kang Giyeon work too hard to produce that result.”

Lee Cheonghyeon gave an awkward smile. He only relaxed after hearing us say, ‘When else would we get to try such a challenge?’

“Seongbin and Juu, you spent the end of your teens and the start of your 20s with IDC. How do you feel?”

The production staff even threw in a question that would be great for the final edit. If you staff members have any sense, please get us a decent venue for the finals.

“Even though it’s just a one year difference, it feels huge. Maybe it’s the wording? Personally, I do think I’ve grown a lot.”

“Physically?”

“Physically, I didn’t grow that much...”

Jeong Seongbin’s voice trailed off at the question from Lee Cheonghyeon, who had shown overwhelming physical growth.

“Jeong Seongbin worked hard. Managing the practice schedules and all.”

Choi Jeho praised the leader’s efforts. I was running around filming a drama, Lee Cheonghyeon was running around filming ads while arranging music. On top of that, he had to look after Park Juu and Kang Giyeon, who had individual stages. It must have been an extraordinary burden.

The managers handled the pickup schedules, but the people closest to you knew your condition and work status best. And Jeong Seongbin was the kind of leader who didn’t turn away from that.

Choi Jeho must have been quietly watching over his struggling dongsaeng in his own way. Jeong Seongbin blushed but didn’t forget to express his gratitude.

He used to react like that when I praised him. These days, no matter what I said to him, he just said, “Yes, hyung, thank you, now please get inside and go to sleep”. Time is so cruel.

“There’s no one better at holding the team together at critical moments like Seongbin. Just like during the Season 1 finals.”

Jeong Seongbin’s eyes went wide at my words. He probably didn’t expect me to mention that period on broadcast.

But this guy needed his solid track record known. That way, even if Jang Junhoo got jealous again and tried to drag him down, Seongbin wouldn’t crumble under external attacks.

After quietly listening to me, Jeong Seongbin quickly redirected the topic to the younger members. He said it wasn’t hard at all because they followed his lead so well.

“Do you really think that? Haven’t you ever wanted to smack us?”

“Why would I smack you!”

Jeong Seongbin hurriedly denied Lee Cheonghyeon’s words.

“You’ve never thought we were cheeky? Not even once?”

Finally, even Kang Giyeon joined in. Jeong Seongbin broke into a sweat, cornered by his dongsaengs.

“Not at all. I don’t think I’ve ever been stressed because of you two...”

“Then, as expected, it was because of me and Jeho...”

“No, hyung!”

Jeong Seongbin waved his hands frantically. I was sure my image laughing after teasing a much younger member would air as the most villainous version possible. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“What about the hyungs? Was there ever a time you were upset because of the younger ones?”

Jeong Seongbin asked, refining the wording slightly. Even in a ‘be honest’ segment, the wrong phrasing could spark rumors of discord. Since the cameras were rolling, we couldn’t say nothing, but it was impressive how [N O V E L I G H T] he laid the groundwork so that even if it became an issue, it could be explained away as lightly as possible.

“Not particularly.”

Choi Jeho’s answer was so simple that Jeong Seongbin’s efforts weren’t even needed. My opinion wasn’t much different.

“You guys don’t even speak casually to us even when we tell you to. Juu and Cheonghyeon dropped the honorifics but are still incredibly polite.”

“Me?”

Lee Cheonghyeon asked back.

Living in a group, none of them acted like dorm villains, and there were no kids better than them.

“Even if there was something upsetting, it wouldn’t necessarily be because of the younger ones, right? I’m sure you guys have had a hard time because of the hyungs, too. Seongbin or Juu might have had it tough being stuck in the middle.”

“I... have never had a hard time.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Park Juu explained with difficulty.

“In the first place, if you or Kang Giyeon crossed the line, wouldn’t Jeong Seongbin have handled it?”

Choi Jeho delivered a heavy fact. Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Giyeon nodded without rebuttal.

“I’m glad there are no hard feelings. I was worried. Since everyone is so kind, I wondered if you’d just hold things back when everyone looked busy.”

“Our members do have that kind of image.”

I agreed with Kang Giyeon’s words.

“What should we do then? Change the weekly meetings to daily meetings? Should we have two meetings a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon?”

“We concluded there’s no problem. Why increase the workload?”

“When higher ups see no problems, they assume you’re free and pile on more work. Conversely, if there are problems, they pretend not to see so the work doesn’t increase.”

“Hyung, I think you should stop going on those sharing worries programs...”

With Park Juu’s heartfelt plea, the filming wrapped up. It was a time that left both body and mind at ease.

The broadcast of the 3rd competition aired on time without any issues. I had wondered if a slot would be replaced by another program if the drug scandal escalated, but it seemed they avoided a major fallout since no more drug offenders were identified.

≫ Didn’t IDC just screw over Han Gawoon?

Out of all people, he was on stage with Spark, and anyone could see Seongbin carried him, yet they still gave him the win.

└ It’s those over the top fans who did the screwing... poor guy.

└ Still, isn’t it unfair to call Han Gawoon a freeloader? He’s a good singer.

└└ True, Parte did wrong, but the forced hate right now is a bit much... Didn’t everyone agree Han Gawoon was a Tier 1 Main Vocal until Spark debuted?

└└└ I can’t cover for him as ‘not a freeloader’ because the balance was off... The gap in class was too big, so Han Gawoon looked relatively lacking. The other teams where members were similar in skill felt more stable.

≫ Vocals, I acknowledge.

But the danceㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ How is the Taekkyeon team 3rd? T_T This makes no sense.

└ When you say Taekkyeon team, you mean Taekhwan and Kiyeon? They’re 3rd?? Aren’t there only three teams???

└ Even from the live audience’s perspective, the Taekkyeon team was legendary... I thought the broadcast edit was good too...ㅠ

└ Spark’s weakness really is their agency.

└ Was this filmed before the drug thing broke out? Song Minil is being so extra.

Viewer reactions shifted from ‘The production team must reflect’ back to commentary about the episode itself.

However, once the buzz grew, it didn’t die down. Even people who weren’t fans, or fans who avoided survival programs because they were emotionally exhausting, began watching ‘IDC’.

From hunting down drug involved idols, public attention had shifted to a variety show.

When something like this happened, there was a non negligible chance that...

≫ Exposing the corrupt relationship and power abuse between NBC and MYTH

...Public discourse erupted. Driven by the whistleblowing of an internal source.