"Shinyu···."

"Sorry, Yunkyung. Was I too loud?"

"No···I just woke up because I was thirsty."

Still not fully awake, Yunkyung scratched at her neck and looked over at Geum Shinyu, who was sitting in front of the computer desk.

'Shinyu really is something else.' 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

She had originally gotten up just to drink some water, but seeing Geum Shinyu fiddling with the keyboard and mouse with thick headphones on so no sound would leak out made her curious.

Yunkyung was sure Shinyu had still been working on music before she fell asleep yesterday, and seeing Shinyu still at it now made her suddenly wonder what time it was. When she checked the phone in her hand, it was already well past three in the morning.

"You should at least sleep well during break."

"I’m going to sleep after I finish this."

During promotions, not getting enough sleep was common, so they needed to get plenty of sleep during breaks like this.

But Geum Shinyu had already spent several nights in a row staying up until dawn, completely absorbed in her work.

As her roommate, Yunkyung couldn’t help worrying about Shinyu.

'If it were Sion, that’d be different.'

If it were someone with monstrous stamina like Lee Sion, Yunkyung wouldn’t even have worried.

-Good morning!

-Captain, you’re up early again today?

-I didn’t sleep.

-What?!

-The water was good in the Rift last night, so I stayed up all night.

Lee Sion had pulled an all-nighter gaming and then acted like it was nothing, talking and messing around all day, and had even gone out running with Lee Gahyeon.

-Lately, you’ve been looking more and more approachable.

-···Fine! I’ll run, okay!!! You and Ryu Ayeon both! You eat more than I do, so why am I the only one gaining weight?!

Provoked by Lee Sion saying she seemed to be in season these days, Lee Gahyeon had joined the run, then come back, failed to even wash up, and passed out immediately.

But Lee Sion, who had run with her, had instead acted like her body had only just started warming up and immediately pounced on Kurosawa Yuri, who had been eating a snack.

Later, through manager Jiu, Yunkyung had heard that Yunsik, who had stayed up all night with Lee Sion that time, had been late to work and gotten chewed out.

'You really can’t copy her!'

That was when Yunkyung had realized once again that Raon’s warning—that no matter what, they should never follow Lee Sion’s lifestyle pattern—was absolutely not nonsense.

"But what kind of song are you making this time that you’re working this hard on it?"

"This? Hmm···PD said a meeting to pick the title track for the next album is coming up soon."

"The next album?"

"Yeah."

Yunkyung, who had been briefly contemplating Lee Sion’s monstrous stamina, quickly turned her interest back to Shinyu’s work.

Ever since becoming roommates, she had occasionally watched Shinyu making songs, but this was the first time she had ever seen Shinyu this focused, so she was curious what kind of song could have her working like this.

And at Shinyu’s answer that there would soon be a meeting to choose the title track for the next album, Yunkyung was startled.

'Right. We have to prepare for the next album too.'

Time had flown by so chaotically that Yunkyung had completely forgotten they already needed to start preparing the next album.

It felt like just yesterday that they had released their last album, DON’T BLINK, but when she thought about it, it had already been three months.

If they didn’t start preparing for the next album soon, the comeback would get delayed and wouldn’t happen until the end of the year.

'That would be the worst!'

Unless there were truly unusual circumstances, releasing an album at the end of the year was a huge disadvantage in terms of results, so they needed to prepare for a comeback in October, or at the very latest November.

"Then are you trying to get your song picked as the title track this time?!"

And only then did Yunkyung realize that the song Shinyu was working on might be used as the title track for Iam’s next album, and her eyes lit up.

'Amazing!'

Whatever other people thought, the Iam members had absolute faith in Shinyu’s composing ability.

And for good reason. Ever since Idol Ground 100, unlike the other contestants, Shinyu had not only directly participated in arranging the performances, but had also brilliantly rearranged VYNNIA’s song for Three Kingdoms and brought them first place.

[Isn’t this whole idol composing thing just cosplay?]

"This time they were really overdoing it with the Geum Shinyu hype.

Honestly, it’s obvious Raon or one of the company composers helped out behind the scenes, so I don’t get why people are making such a fuss."

⤷ It’s probably because of people like you bastards that they keep posting behind-the-scenes footage in their own content showing Shinyu actually working on it lol

⤷ There have always been a lot of people who get weirdly cynical whenever an idol says they’re studying composition

⤷ Well, there were idols back in the day who used that for media play

⤷ But if you listen to the things Geum Shinyu arranged, they’re definitely so good it’s hard to believe an idol did them

⤷ Yeah yeah, I’m still listening to the Geum Shinyu version of Lucid Dive. This one is more my style

⤷ lmao there are a lot of naive people up there. That’s just the company image-building

In truth, the general public’s view of idols composing music was full of distrust.

After one idol member became famous when a song that member had participated in producing became a hit, it turned into a trend for idol members to directly take part in album production.

It was one thing when they had actually participated, but in some cases, putting a member’s name on songwriting and composing credits had really just been that—putting the name on. Composers whose names had been taken away exposed it, and scandals broke out.

Because of that, at some point, the current situation had become that whenever an idol said they composed, people started by doubting it first.

'Shinyu is different!'

Geum Shinyu couldn’t escape those suspicious looks either, so even now there were still plenty of antis online mocking Shinyu and saying she was just pretending to be an artist.

But Yunkyung had watched from right beside her, so she knew better than anyone just how much passion and talent Shinyu had for composition.

Even on the last album, Geum Shinyu had written and composed a fan song herself for the fans, and it had become one of the songs both the fans and the members liked.

"It probably won’t happen."

But unlike Yunkyung’s faith, Geum Shinyu answered without confidence.

"What? Why not?!"

"This time PD just said we should try putting one of my songs into the meeting for title track selection. She didn’t say she’d pick it."

"If you made it, it’ll definitely make it!"

"PD Raon will be submitting something too, and there’s Lucas too. And on top of that, they said this time they’re also taking songs from outside composers."

"Hmm···."

Yunkyung wanted to agree and say it would definitely be Shinyu, but even with her high capacity for empathy, faced with a lineup that stacked, the words didn’t come easily.

Raon, who had handled the debut album, and Lucas, who had handled the follow-up album, were already outstanding producers. Hearing that the company still wasn’t satisfied and was even scouting outside composers too made it hard to casually say Shinyu would definitely get it.

"I guess the company is really putting a lot into our next album."

"Because it matters that much."

Considering Iam’s current status at its peak, the quality of the next album would determine whether they soared even higher, barely held the line, or started declining, so this album carried unusual importance.

The company knew that too, which was probably why it was paying a lot of money to get songs not just from the existing producers, but from outside composers as well.

"Still, the fact that PD Raon gave you a chance means she believes you can do it!"

"···Yeah."

"How finished is the song?"

"Want to hear it once?"

"Yes!"

Sleep had long since left her.

At Shinyu’s question asking if she wanted to hear the song she was making right now, Yunkyung nodded energetically.

"Have you let the others hear it too?"

"I let Sion hear it once, but···."

"But···?"

-Excellent. I have nothing more to teach you. You may descend the mountain.

As always, Lee Sion didn’t know much about music, but whenever Shinyu said she had made something, Lee Sion would stick her thumb up before even listening, so when it came to judging songs, she wasn’t reliable.

'The Captain really is especially soft on Shinyu.'

When Yunkyung had betrayed them, Lee Sion had, as a matter of course, started calling her Im Wiyeon, and had even made her do the now-infamous traitor declaration.

The amazing part was that that was actually on the lighter end of punishment for betrayal.

In Kurosawa Yuri’s case, someone fully worthy of being called Lee Sion’s chief enemy, Yuri had been bullied by Lee Sion until quite recently just because of a record of betraying the old team and going over to the content team.

Yuri wasn’t someone who lost to anyone in sheer viciousness either, but against Lee Sion’s endless day-and-night offensive built on infinite stamina, Yuri had eventually dropped to her knees and been forced to say she would do anything if only Lee Sion would forgive her.

And yet, despite all that, the only member Lee Sion treated with little more than mild pouting even after betrayal was Geum Shinyu.

-Shinyu, if you keep that up, you’ll grow up into a bad Yuri.

-I’m sorry!

Lee Sion, who would forgive Shinyu almost immediately with just a little pouting and an apology—

-Why is Sion-chan only soft on Shinyu-chan?!

-Seriously! If one of us had done that, you would’ve bullied us for a whole month!

-Captain, this is member discrimination!

The other members, who had suffered under Lee Sion, had complained when they saw that favoritism, but Lee Sion had been shameless.

-If I tell someone here to go over and smack Seo Ryujin on the ass, Shinyu is the only one who can carry that out.

-That’s right! Even if it’s ten times, I’ll go do it!

-Shinyu?

Lee Sion, who trusted Geum Shinyu unconditionally, and Geum Shinyu, who would unconditionally carry out whatever Lee Sion said.

Looking at the two of them, Yunkyung sometimes wondered if this was what the sworn brothers Lee Sion always talked about looked like.

Anyway, for that reason, it was obvious that Yunkyung was a much better judge when it came to evaluating songs.

Slip.

Yunkyung put the headphones Shinyu handed her over her ears.

Soon, music filled them.

***

"Ugh···I’m tired."

"You got dragged off again yesterday?"

Just because it was a break didn’t mean the managers got to rest.

Of course, once the promotion period ended, they were given a short vacation and spared the harder work for a while, but they still had to come in and help with miscellaneous tasks.

So once again today, Yunsik and Jiu had come to the company.

Looking at Yunsik, whose face was caked with exhaustion, Jiu could more or less guess what had happened.

"It’s better if you just go quietly. You know how much of a grudge Lee Sion holds."

"That’s true."

"At least she has a conscience. During promotions she lets it slide with just complaining, so that’s something."

Yunsik, who had been chosen as Lee Sion’s Rift partner, had lately been spending every other night gaming with Lee Sion until dawn.

Since gaming had originally been Yunsik’s hobby too, apparently at first he had enjoyed it well enough.

But—

-Lee Sion is seriously not human.

Along with that vivid testimony that Lee Sion in the Rift was not human, Yunsik had now reached the point where even hearing people talk about {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} games made him flinch, because once Lee Sion got in the zone, she would mercilessly keep playing all night.

'They should use Sion for anti-gaming-addiction ads.'

Watching that, Jiu found herself thinking that maybe if every parent in the country worrying about a kid addicted to games got gifted one Lee Sion each, the problem would solve itself.

"You’re here?"

"Yeah, sister, you’re already at work?"

"Like I only have one or two things to worry about. Ugh···seriously, shouldn’t I get a break period too?"

"Still, it’s more relaxed than when you were at your busiest before."

"That was only because I was young enough to survive it. If someone told me to do it again, I’d run."

Talking about Yunsik’s abduction into the Rift by Lee Sion, they headed into the company, and even though it was early, they could see employees already busy moving around.

Producer Raon looked busy too, holding an Americano in one hand while discussing something with the staff. Then she spotted Yunsik and Jiu, who had just come in, and exchanged a few words with them.

"Did Shinyu’s situation get resolved okay?"

"Yeah. I got word yesterday that the contract was finalized. Shinyu’s with KJ Entertainment now."

"That’s a relief. Then that means there are five left now···."

"No, four. Yunkyung’s renewal is done too."

"Already?"

"Daewon Planning already talked it over with Yunkyung and sent the paperwork."

"They’re being really cooperative."

Jiu nodded in agreement with Yunsik’s answer.

Honestly, the member’s contract wasn’t even something Daewon Planning, the original agency, needed to concern itself with, so the fact that it had stepped in to handle it definitely wasn’t normal.

"The CEO over there is famous for being a good person."

"CEO Ahn is definitely known for being decent."

Anyway, thanks to Daewon Planning’s cooperation, three out of the seven members had already completed their renewals.

'There’s still a mountain of work left.'

But even so, Jiu was slightly overwhelmed by how much still remained to be done.

Recently, KJ Entertainment had been going through a period almost as busy as Iam’s promotion cycle.

That was thanks to Iam’s renewal—once thought impossible—coming into view. Because of that, everyone in the company was currently starting over from the planning stage for Iam’s future activities.

Since they had originally thought of Iam as a one-year short-term project, there were all kinds of things they had overlooked that they now had to revisit, so KJ Entertainment had unintentionally become busy in a hurry.

The one silver lining was that Sanghyeok, the CEO, had supported Iam broadly from the beginning with an eye on the future instead of making the group operate like a short-term project group.

If Iam had been active just to squeeze out short-term profit the way everyone else had predicted, then even if renewal had become possible now, there would have been no real point in renewing.

'Or maybe not? Maybe renewal only became possible because they handled it that way.'

Even as someone with only half a year of experience so far, Jiu knew very well that what KJ Entertainment had accomplished this time had absolutely not been easy.

From Sanghyeok, the CEO, to Raon, the producer. Beyond that, it was a miracle made possible because every employee had poured in passion and sincerity.

And every time Jiu thought that she herself had surely contributed to that miracle too, she felt proud.

At first, there had been a lot of times when she struggled because of the Iam members’ unpredictable antics.

-It’s true managing the kids isn’t easy. Last time they secretly ate ramen without telling us.

-What? That’s the hard part?

-Huh?

-Isn’t the hard part when you have to catch a member sneaking out to the convenience store from the broadcasting station waiting room right before filming, or when you have to stop them because they tied one member up in a blanket and started beating that member up among themselves···.

-What kind of thing is that.

-You don’t have members calling you at dawn to ask if you’ve watched a historical drama?!

-What a joker. What kind of kids would do something like that?

-···.

Every time she heard about difficult experiences from other entertainers or idol managers she’d met through this job, Jiu realized that the suffering she’d gone through was completely different.

Of course—

-Go buy it again.

-The convenience store is sold out of that right now, so···.

-It’s your job to buy that! You should’ve stocked up in advance. Do I have to think about that too?!

Compared to entertainers who casually insulted their managers as people, the Iam members were still kind enough that Jiu could endure it.

-Zero cola? Jiu, did I do something wrong lately?

-Oh! Right, Sion just wanted regular cola!

-Kyaaaagh!!! Since Jiu says I’m no longer useful, what is even the point of living any longer!

-It’s okay, Jiu. Guys, grab Lee Sion! Our unni went out of the way to buy it for us and look at her, not even grateful. I’ll just pour the cola straight down her throat.

Even when Jiu made mistakes sometimes, the Iam members were the kind who would laugh and fix things themselves instead.

They might make her work a little harder than other idol managers had it, but it also felt much tighter-knit.

That was why Jiu liked KJ Entertainment and Iam.

"All right, let’s head into the meeting now."

"Yes!"

Jiu, who had been briefly thinking about the Iam members, snapped back to her senses at Raon’s voice saying it was time to go into the meeting and answered quickly.

The reason the staff had come in early this morning and were all busy moving around—

was because it was time for the Iam management meeting.