Awy huddled together and looked around at the post-it notes. There were words of encouragement all around.
âThey didnât know if we would come or not, but they still put them up?â
âMaybe theyâll collect them all and make a message book after to give us. I heard that from Black Rush hyungs.â
âWow, amazing sincerity.â
When everyone was speechless, Jin said.
Itâs a popular spot.]
âHow much for this?â
For this spot⊠I think itâs around 5 million? Itâll be more expensive if the duration is longer.]
âThatâs crazyâŠâ
Ianâs mouth fell open. Looking at the edge of the electronic display, the name of the home masters were listed in small letters.
Usually, hommas sell goods like slogans and prepare for this kind of thing. If not enough, theyâll pay for it themselves. Judging from the good editing, it seems like they put in a lot of effort.]
If even the pessimistic Jin said this, it must be really good.
âBut, does homma make money?â
Ian suddenly became curious. A hand popped out of Jin and he folded a finger every time he listed something.
Most canât make money. They have to attend everything from music show commutes to fan signings, and even follow along on overseas tours if there are any. If they canât make it for some reason, they have to buy data from others.]
âCanât they just follow as much as they can?â
Those people are just photographer fans. For hommas, whether they attend everything or not can determine whether they become a top seed1 or not.]
âSounds complicated.â
Thatâs why they usually take out a lot of loans. It can be replenished by selling goods like slogans, but sales vary depending on the singerâs popularity.]
Singerâs popularity⊠Ian groaned. This was because he remembered hommas and core fans who followed such a few schedules during Kim Yong Minâs time.
Did they also follow us while in debt? Then, if we want to repay the fans now, we need to become famous quicklyâŠ
âSo are all hommas running without profit?â
Thatâs not it.]
Jin raised his index finger and shook it from side to side.
Top idolâs top seed hommas make a lot of money. Mydear most popular memberâs top seed homma sells at least 5,000 pieces just for one slogan.]
âWow, then how much is it?â
Since itâs 20,000 won each, about 100 million? The higher the quantity, the lower the production cost, so the better the net profit remains.]
âCrazy.â
They need to do their best to support the singer as much as that. But itâs still a profitable business.]
The more you know, the more surprising the world is.
I think the hommas who put this up already showing their support to grab the top seed. If you want to repay them, the only way is to become famous.]
Of course, there is a dilemma when you become that famous. Going inside the airport to take pictures, or riding the same flight. Actions that are no different from sasaeng.
Well, it would be faster to experience it firsthand. Omitting detailed explanations, Jin floated in midair.
Awy stared at the display for a long time. A few women passing by behind paused their steps wondering, âno way?â. Park Dong Sooâs feet fidgeted among the growing crowd.
âDong Soo Hyung, can we take proof photos?â
At Lee Joo Hyukâs words, Park Dong Soo took out his phone.
âIâll take it for you.â
Men in masks posed on both sides of the electronic display.
Someone who appeared to be a fan screamed, took out her cell phone, and pressed the shutter.
âTime to go, guys.â
âCanât we stay a bit longer?â
âThereâs no time. Itâs also getting crowded.â
Awy sadly moved away from the display. Fans gathered near them one by one after hearing the news.
âWhat to doâŠâ
âGuys!â
The speed of gathering was faster than expected. Awy waved to greet the fans.
âToo many people are coming.â
Awy took a step back in fear. Park Dong Soo stopped the fans from getting too close.
âPlease keep your distance, everyone.â
Fortunately, no fans crossed the line.
âWe really have to go.â
âLetâs bet on who gets to the van first. Go?â
âLoser buys drinks. Dong Soo Hyung, go first!â
Jo Tae Woong made another bet. He was followed by the manager and other members. Before also running along, Ian approached the fan who took a video and slightly lowered his mask to show his face. The fans screamed.
âThanks so much for putting up the display. Thanks for the support too.â
Ian grinned and ran away.
âHeoo⊠CrazyâŠâ
The fan who was filming the video opened her mouth wide. Fans around her who looked at the running Awy in a stunned manner approached the fan who filmed the video.
âDidnât you film the video? Please post it!â
âYou canât watch it alone!â
âI⊠Iâll post it right away.â
The fan uploaded the video of Ian to Bluebird.
-The kids came to see the ad display in Hongdaeă ă ă ă ă ă ă ă ă ă
-The kids are all wrapped up, but their physicals are amazing ă ă ă
-Hey, seen the video RTed a lot in Bluebird? Itâs crazyă ă ă ă
ăŽSaw ită ă ă ă ă Ian-ahă ă ă ă ă ă ă
ăŽIâm crayingggă ă ă ă ă ă ă
ăŽCrazy faceeă ă ă ă ă
* * *
âChoi Ian is the last!â
âOh damn it.â
This time, six members except Ian were determined to hold him in check. In the end, Ian sat in the van for the last time and closed the door.
âHyung! Phone please!â
Panting as if still out of breath, Park Dong Soo opened the gallery.
âDong Soo Hyung really took pictures well.â
The members flipped through the gallery. They felt proud as they looked at the big electronic display again.
âWe even got this kind of advertisement⊠We succeeded!â
Everyone agreed with Park Jin Hyukâs words, but Ian added unnecessary comments.
âItâs too early to discuss success.â
âRight.â
Park Dong Soo exclaimed. Ian returned the phone to Park Dong Soo and continued.
âAt least we have to get to the COEX panorama ads to call it a success.â
âThat 100-meter ad?â
âWow, it would be amazing if we could get our ad up there.â
âBut it looks expensive over there. Will there be fans who can afford it there?â
Park Dong Soo encouraged the confused membersâ attitudes.
âYou just have to work hard enough to make it happen, guys. You guys are doing really well these days.â
âReally?â
âAbsolutely! Director Seo was even wondering how many pre-order albums we should make.â
Album pre-orders donât indicate sales volume, but rather how confident they are in selling them, so many agencies make media plays about how many album pre-orders they provide.
âAh! Come to think of it, we forgot to bring the post-its!â
Kim Ju Young exclaimed in surprise.
âNo. Itâs right not to take them.â
Park Dong Soo said while turning the steering wheel.
âIf they hear that you guys came and took the post-its, the fans will rush to put them up everywhere. Then the fans and staff will argue over it, complaining that itâs messy. If the controversy gets bigger, itâll be even on the news. âFandom culture has gone too far⊠Is this okay?â Something like that.â
âWill it be really like that?â
âYeah. Itâs like a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for fans, but if anything gets too extreme, the noise only gets worse.â
Most of the members tilted their heads as Park Dong Sooâs words seemed to go over their heads. Park Dong Soo arrived at their destination and stopped the car.
âYouâll be going to go through it one by one. Letâs go to work.â
âYep.â
Perhaps because of the electronic display effect, everyone was motivated.
* * *
Awy had a busy time preparing for a comeback and repeatedly changed their schedule in the middle. The recording was re-recorded multiple times while the choreography that had been planned in advance was discarded within a day and started to be choreographed again.
Eventually, the agency withdrew the vacation they had given for Lunar New Year.
âIt seems you guys canât rest.â
âAh⊠It canât be helped.â
The members were disappointed but accepted it. Ian had originally not planned to go home, so he thought he wouldnât be bored alone on Lunar New Yearâs day.
âStill, I heard itâs better to work than to go home during the holidays.â
Ian consoled the members by quoting what he heard from Jin.
âYeah. Letâs buy beef bone soup again and make rice cake soup.â
âNo rice cake. Youâll gain weight.â
Park Dong Soo cut Lee Joo Hyukâs words firmly.
* * *
There was only one good thing about not going on vacation. That everyone could monitor âWith the Legendâ which premiered on Lunar New Yearâs day.
And of course, the members werenât about to listen to Park Dong Sooâs words that they would gain weight. They made up for not being able to go home for to Lunar New Year by eating.
âWho bought this kimchi? Too salty.â
âMy mom made it for us, though.â
âWow⊠Is it Joo Youngâs momâs home specialty? The combination of salty kimchi and rice cake soup is incredibly delicious.â
âKimchi is supposed to have a salty taste, Hyungs.â
After a risky conversation, Kim Hyun picked up the remote control.
âIsnât it time to start soon?â
âThere must get a lot of ads. They keep coming out.â
âWow, Iâm nervous. Ours will come out in two weeks, right?â
Todayâs episode will feature the first meeting of legends and junior singers and how they planned the stage.
âStarting.â
After the last coffee ad ended and the screen transitioned, âWith The Legendâ began.
The first team was Pinky Lady and Lee Chun Ja. Since it was a seat with a strong senior singer, Pinky Lady hesitated and offered their opinion.
(What concept do you think is good, Sonsaeng nim?)
(Well? Havenât you guys thought of anything?)
Pinky Lady smiled awkwardly at Lee Chun Jaâs retort. Even when Pinky Lady presented their opinions, Lee Chun Ja refused, saying she didnât like it.
No wonder the stage was boring.]
The mood was similar to Pluto and Park Sung Soo, who came up next. When Pluto was so motivated that they threw various opinions, Park Sung Soo interrupted and blew the candle.
(After we do the backflips here!)
(Thatâs it! Good!)
M.O.M and Lee Seong Hoâs team had a pleasant atmosphere, overflowing with enthusiasm as they added this and that.
If Awy and Kim Hee Sangâs team felt like a grandfather and grandsons, this team felt like an owner showering love on his dogs. Of course, the dog position was M.O.M.
âWow⊠Did they improvise that?â
âSo badass.â
When Triple Man and Kim Jung Soon sang a few songs without much discussion, the scene where they arranged as if inspired by each other was like a scene from a music movie.
âBy the way, the show is almost over. When are we coming out?â
Said Park Jin Hyuk. He bragged to his relatives that he would be on the air.
âThatâs right. Only 15 minutes left.â
âUh? Coming out.â
(And!)
(Here comes the best legend!)
Along with the narratorâs solemn voice, Awy enters Kim Hee Sangâs studio on the screen.
âWow, Seo Dam shouldnât wear that outfit anymore.â
âI look puffy right, Hyung?â
âUh, you look fat.â
The members laughed, perhaps nervous about being on terrestrial TV during the prime time of the holiday.
âWe look good in the camera now.â
âWeâre celebrities, celebs.â
They also didnât forget to brag.
After subtitles and narration that wrapped up the heartwarming scene of Awy and Kim Hee Sang, it was around the end of the broadcast.
(Sonsaeng nim, do you have any thoughts about dancing?)
The first episode ended with a close-up of Ianâs handsome face.
âHiya, they ended it like this.â
âTodayâs ending fairy is Choi Ian.â
âFairy! Fairy! Please wash the dishes!â
âHuh, nonsense~ Letâs play rock-paper-scissors!â
Ignoring the boos of the members, Ian stuck out his fist.
And after the first episode of âWith the Legendâ aired, the community response naturally exploded.
-Kim Hee Sang really came out?
-Wow, darn handsome.
-Dance lololololol Wonât it be a legend if Kim Hee Sang dances?
-They just threw that out lololololol
-So, who are they?
-If Kim Hee Sang dance, the whole community will explode lol