"Hello~"
The broadcasting station's conference room, which I'd arrived at for the pre-meeting with the MCs of SBC's music program, Yuhaeng Gayo, was filled mostly with familiar faces.
"Do Hui, you're here~?"
Main and assistant PDs, and writers I'd become acquainted with during my time in Seven.
And there were people I didn't know, too.
The male MC.
Someone I'd brushed past at award ceremonies and music shows alike, but had never exchanged introductions with.
* * *
A pre-interview commemorating the MC appointment.
Sitting in a chair in front of a panel plastered with Yuhaeng Gayo logos in the hallway, I faced the camera alongside the male MC, answering questions.
"Hello, I'm Ju Seungbin of Averstu, the new MC~"
I clapped and searched my memory for Averstu.
'Averstu... weren't they under Repro?'
Repro, the agency of NND.
As a boy group under Repro, Averstu was fairly well-known.
But this time, it seemed he'd come out to build some recognition as an individual member.
"Here's..."
As I was lost in thought like that, Ju Seungbin suddenly passed the microphone to me.
"Ah, hello. I'm also the new MC..."
Because I was distracted, I hadn't had time to think about how to introduce myself.
"...new MC... what am I?"
I probably shouldn't say Seven.
Should I just say Lee Do Hui...
—Pfft.
Then, the sound of someone stifling a laugh.
Before long, bursts of laughter erupted all around me.
"Puhahahahat!!"
"Oh my gosh! So cute!"
The PDs and the writers alike.
The male MC beside me was holding it in, too, but sniffling.
My face grew hot in an instant.
Only then did I grasp the situation.
I reflexively stammered out an excuse.
"No... I mean, it's because I used to go to music shows as a Seven member..."
But the people around me kept bursting into laughter, as if they heard me or not.
"But it's my first time at a music show since the disbandment, so I got confused for a second... I-I was wondering whether I should say my new group name..."
The PD even gave a thumbs-up.
"Funny, good! As expected of the youngest MC!"
...Damn, I feel like I'm gonna get teased again when this airs.
"I want to do it over..."
* * *
The interview resumed after receiving a promise that they would edit it out.
'They'll edit it out for real, right...? They always air stuff like this, though.'
Still, with a feeling that I just had to trust them, I looked at the question card the PD in front was holding up.
Ju Seungbin took the mic first.
"Yes, I'm 19 years old. I debuted in April '22 with Averstu."
It's a relief that he's the senior, at least.
"I'm 17. I debuted in October '22. Waaah~"
If I had been the senior, addressing him would've been tricky.
Next question.
"A nickname...?"
"Ah, a nickname."
Unlike the flustered Ju Seungbin, I opened my mouth comfortably.
Since there was bound to be a title that lumped the MCs together anyway.
You just have to think simply.
"How about this? We take our surnames. I and Ju combined to make Iju. It has a nice ring to it when we host, too. 'Introducing Iju's comeback!' Like that."
"Oh, that's nice?"
Following Ju Seungbin's nod, the writers sent signs of approval.
"Right, it's good!"
"There'll be plenty of places to use it!"
The PD gave an OK sign.
"Okay. You two will be the Ijus from now on. We'll put together a segment for you, too. Then, next question."
Ju Seungbin smiled brightly.
"I'd only heard that there was good news, but I was told I got the Yuhaeng Gayo MC spot this morning on my way to work, so I'm still dazed."
This morning?
Seems like they kept it hidden until the very end for confidentiality.
They told me outright, though.
'Was I the only one pre-selected?'
More than that, I wonder if keeping it secret is even possible.
The top-idol unnies know, too.
And I blabbed about it to the Seven members.
'I don't think it's exactly classified information, though...'
The Seven unnies wouldn't talk about it anywhere, anyway.
They're not so inexperienced that they'd spoil someone else's news.
Then the current members.
'Maybe I should rein in Chiyo unnie when I get home today.'
That sounds kind of fun.
Hehe.
"The director called me and said I absolutely had to do it, so I realized I was chosen. I suppose I felt determined to do my best."
"Okay, then here's the last question!"
* * *
"What's the occasion, Do Hui? Is this unnie truly so precious? Hm-hm."
"Yeah, of course."
"Uwa must be massively jealous of Chiyo now... Do Hui has fallen for my femme fatale charms too, hm-hm..."
What a riot.
"I got it, so lie down. Your muscles seem really knotted."
"Come on! Give me a massage right away..."
I pressed down hard on her calf muscle.
"Aaaack, it hurts!!!"
Chiyo unnie immediately kicked me away and ran to the bed.
I followed her onto the bed and, despite getting kicked, stubbornly grabbed her calf.
I think my arm has a bruise from being kicked.
Still, I pressed down on the muscle hard.
I've had this done to me once before, and it really hurts here.
"Aaaack!! This isn't a massage at all!"
"Are you going to blab or not?!"
"Aaaack!! Why are you doing this to meee!! Ack!"
* * *
Ju Seungbin stood up from the chair with a smile.
"You're here?"
The place I'd arrived at was Ju Seungbin's agency.
I greeted him and held out a refreshments set.
"Ah, you didn't have to buy something like this."
Ju Seungbin took it with both hands, making an embarrassed expression.
From first impressions, he seemed like a polite person, at least.
"It's just to say I look forward to working with you."
Either way, we're going to be seeing each other every week for over a year.
We should get along.
"But this place is really spacious, isn't it?"
The Repro building, Averstu's practice room.
A TV, a bed, a sofa, desks...
It was so spacious that it felt vast.
"Everyone who comes to film challenge videos says the same thing. It's really big, right?"
As expected of the richest agency among the Big Four.
"Yes, and the ceilings are high, so the air circulation seems good..."
"On the contrary, because it's so big, the air conditioning can feel weak at times."
If we do well like NND, can we move into a building like this later, too?
I'm suddenly curious what Repro's revenue is.
Ju Seungbin had me sit on the sofa.
And he opened the packaging of the refreshments.
"Let's talk while eating what you brought first. Ah, and there's a café inside the building, so if there's a drink you'd like..."
"Ah, thank you. Then I'll have a chocolate latte..."
"Yes, chocolate latte. And Manager-nim...?"
Ju Seungbin looked at Manager Yeongho beside me.
"Ah! Then I'll have an Americano, please."
While Ju Seungbin stepped out briefly after taking the orders.
"Manager-nim, this place is really spacious, isn't it?"
"Right? This is why they're called a major corporation."
I took out my phone and searched.
[Repro annual revenue]
—Repro's annual revenue surpasses 1 trillion won.
—First entertainment company to join the ranks of major corporations.
'Damn, how the hell did they pull this off.'
I'm reminded once again just how enormous NND's scale is.
But Jaehyeon of NND and I are both Cartier ambassadors.
That's me.
'Hehe...'
As I was looking up the revenues of the other Big Four agencies on my phone like that, Ju Seungbin quickly returned with the drinks.
"You came back super fast?"
"Ah, it's because with the employee-only app, you can order in advance and go pick it up."
I'm jealous.
"Then can you also pre-order meal menus and stuff?"
"Ah, yes. Lunch, dinner, too..."
"The menus...?"
"They have different categories of menus... more than five each..."
Major corporations are really insane.
So freaking jealous.
* * *
Sitting side by side on the sofa, enjoying refreshments with our drinks.
The managers set up a behind-the-scenes camera without the slightest sense of responsibility and left.
The suddenly awkward atmosphere felt like it could pierce right through the camera.
In elementary and middle school, the boys were so young that instead of approaching me with any real romantic sense, they'd either confess out of nowhere or act annoying just to get attention. I avoided them to the point of not talking to them at all, so this situation feels even more unfamiliar.
'Should I just treat him like a friend?'
"Um..."
Ju Seungbin opened his mouth.
"Ah, yes."
"Let's figure out our titles first... shall we?"
"Yes, yes."
It's really been a while since I replied with just yeses.
I only do this in front of Director Sohyeon sometimes.
Only, in Director Sohyeon's case, she gives me the choice that it's okay to just say yes.
With him, it's just awkward...
"When we're MCs, we'll call each other formally like 'Do Hui-ssi,' but doing that in private is a bit..."
I put on a bright, slightly fake smile and spoke as if agreeing.
"Yes, since we'll be seeing each other constantly from now on. For now, I'll call you 'Seungbin sunbae-nim,' but please feel free to speak comfortably to me!"
"W-would that be okay?"
"Yes, yes!"
He looked burdened by it.
Should I just tell him to speak casually once we're closer...
"Understood..."
Silence fell again.
Maybe out of things to say, Ju Seungbin bit his straw.
"Ah, then... Do Hui, you're a first-year in high school... right?"
"Yes, Hanseong Arts High."
"Ah, Hanseong Arts High. I go to Seomunye..."
"Yes, that Seoul Culture Arts High, third-year..."
"Ah, you knew..."
"Yes, I looked it up because I was curious."
"Ah, I see..."
Ha, damn.
I never thought my extrovert nature could feel this powerless.
It feels like the first day of a new semester where my desk partner is someone I'm seeing for the first time, and the surrounding seats are all filled with that person's friends.
* * *
"But actually... I'm a really big fan of yours, Do Hui-ssi."
"Th-thank you?"
"I mean it. I even looked up your piano performances. It was so cool that I sought out and listened to what you played at concerts, too..."
"Ah, really? I'm a fan of Averstu, too. I really like your songs. I listened to 'Sticky Stigma' a lot, and 'Mundeuk,' too..."
"Huh? 'Mundeuk' is a b-side."
"I'm the type to look up and listen to all the b-sides, too. The beat was so good that I kept listening to it."
"Ah, I see. That really makes me happy. Thank you."
"Haha... yep."
I just brought up work talk.
I believe time will fill in this awkwardness on its own.
"Sunbae-nim, did you happen to bring your song selection?"
"Ah! Yes, yes. Shall we pick and start practicing?"
It was customary for music show MCs to put on a special stage on their first broadcast day to commemorate their appointment.
If the MCs were actors, the production team would pick the stage song for them, but since both of us are idols, we had decided to choose the songs ourselves.
At the first meeting, we'd agreed to each pick a song by the next practice day.
Since it's summer, something refreshing and cool.
Of course, the song I picked was a boy group song.
My wish to perform a stage with a boy group song.
Can I make it come true now that I've left Seven?
Ju Seungbin opened his mouth first.
"For me, it's an old song... how about 'The Sea'?"
...This punk picks songs better than me.
"Ah, I picked that, too. We're on the same wavelength."
"Haha, really?"
"Yeah, haha..."
"......"
"......"
"Shall we practice?"
"Yes, yes."