episode_0091

#91

“From now on, our company will focus solely on the new group.”

“……….”

Everyone falls silent as they stare at the screen.

“So we no longer have the resources to support . All trainers and staff will be reassigned to the new group.”

“…Th-then what about us……?”

“Please consider this your final activity before disbandment.”

“…Excuse me? But…!”

“This decision is final. There will be no changes.”

CEO Novia cuts off the conversation firmly.

He turns his head, his gaze fixed solely on the monitor.

Seven contestants on the screen.

The CEO’s eyes were already locked onto them.

Like with Luna earlier.

The fact that these seven were chosen means other trainees already had their “auditions.”

I don’t know exactly what he’s been doing, but it’s obvious…!

“CEO-nim.”

Then.

Harin steps forward.

“……Yes?”

As her shadow falls over him, the CEO glances up at her.

His pupils roll up and down, scanning her thoroughly.

Harin notices his gaze but ignores it, keeping her tone polite as she continues.

“What we heard from the director earlier seems somewhat different.”

“How so?”

“According to the director, while financial support might decrease, ’s activities would still continue if revenue remained stable. Did your stance change from what you told him?”

A slightly irritated voice.

She delivers her words clearly and firmly.

“Hmm… Harin… was it?”

“Yes.”

“I’m afraid things changed. At first, I intended to proceed as planned, but after running the numbers, it just wasn’t viable. I’d prefer the director to oversee the new girl group too. So will end here…”

“And it has nothing to do with Luna?”

Harin glares down at him.

The CEO avoids her gaze, dodging the question.

“……What do you mean?”

“I heard everything earlier. Whatever you and Luna were doing in here.”

“Th-that… What about it?”

“That’s why you’re doing this now, isn’t it?”

……Harin.

“Am I wrong?”

Harin doesn’t hold back.

Of course, she knows exactly what the CEO was doing with Luna.

Backdoor deals are common in the entertainment industry.

Even Harin herself… has done it before.

But by unspoken rule, everyone pretends not to know.

And Harin knows that too.

………

“Answer me. CEO-nim.”

Harin is desperate enough to break that unwritten rule.

Her words are icy and hard, but beneath them, I sense an unspoken urgency.

Right now, Harin will do anything—use any means—to protect .

“And if it *is* because of that? ……What will you do?”

The CEO seems momentarily startled but quickly regains his composure.

“……What?”

“I said, what will you do, Harin?”

Instead, he smirks.

Though briefly thrown off by Harin’s boldness, it doesn’t take long for him to realize:

The power to control ’s fate still lies in *his* hands.

“Even if everything you said is true… what exactly can *you* do? Can you overturn my decision? I’m the one who holds the authority in this company.”

“……”

He wasn’t wrong.

With 80% of the company’s shares, it was practically his personal business.

That was the reality of the company we belonged to.

A fact known by all employees and trainees alike.

“……Well, *if* I were to change my mind… things could be different.”

“……Tch.”

*Sweep.*

He looks Harin up and down again.

The leer in his eyes was unmistakable.

It was obvious what he was thinking.

“Frankly, I doubt that’ll happen…”

“Ugh……”

“Why don’t the rest of you speak up too? There’s nothing you can do, right?”

This time, his gaze shifts to the other girls.

Every time his eyes land on them, they avert their gaze slightly.

“Yes. Luna and the others… They were all so eager. Desperate to debut. Begging to be chosen. Bargaining for favor. Clinging to me outright during auditions. Hehe…”

A disgusting chuckle slips out.

Just that much is enough to guess what happened during those “auditions.”

The CEO stands and walks toward us.

“A girl group should have passion, shouldn’t they? As CEO, I have no reason to support those lacking drive. I’m only human—of course I’d want to help those eager to succeed…”

He stops in front of Harin and abruptly grabs her shoulder.

“……But frankly, I have no interest in pushing those who just stand there expecting favors.”

“…Nh!”

Harin’s shoulder trembles.

Everyone in the room understood exactly what he meant.

“Isn’t that right, ?”

His eyes roam over the others again.

This time, openly staring at their chests.

Eunchae, Sarang, Sea… His gaze lingers on each of them before he pats Harin’s shoulder again.

“Heh… I like passionate people. ……Wouldn’t you agree, Director?”

Then, he turns to me.

He strides closer, his potbelly swaying.

Standing shorter than me, he tilts his head tauntingly.

“So tell me… how passionate is ? Hmm~?”

“…That’s…”

“I need to *see* that passion for myself. Only then can I think, ‘Ah, these girls are worth investing in.’ Don’t you think so, Director?”

………

Though he phrases it as a question to me, I can’t answer.

This isn’t a question for *me*.

It’s an order—for me to *tell* the girls what to do.

Agreeing here would be…

No different than commanding them to “show their passion” to the CEO right now.

“Hmm~?”

“…W-well.”

He waggles his eyebrows expectantly, but no words come out.

No matter what.

No matter how badly I want to save .

I can’t just outright tell the girls… to flatter him now.

……

I turn my head, meeting the eyes of each girl.

All of them—Harin, Eunchae, Sarang, Sea—watch me with quiet expressions.

*It’s okay.*

…That’s what they seemed to say.

“…CEO-nim.”

“Hehe… Yes?”

Ah.

Once again, I—

—am about to sell out my idols… to save .

I offer up these girls’ dreams—their wish to continue as idols—to this filthy pig right in front of me.

“Our members… will show you the same passion as any rookie group… right before your eyes.”

*

“……Director. Then… I’ll contact you when we’re done.”

I’m kicked out of the CEO’s office.

Those are Harin’s last words before the door shuts behind me.

*Click.*

Even the lock turns.

Now, no matter what happens inside, I can’t stop it.

………

The hallway is quiet.

After all, plenty of girls have come and gone from the CEO’s office today.

The other employees know better than to linger near it.

“…Gulp.”

I shouldn’t be here either.

I should wait in the office… and only see the girls again after Harin contacts me.

But I can’t move.

Instead, I cautiously… step closer to the door.

A firmly shut door. A locked handle.

But I already know—from earlier—that the soundproofing is weak.

Again… I press my ear against the CEO’s office door.

“Hehe…! To think a once-popular idol would end up like this… Buying this company was the right choice. Don’t you think?”

………

The CEO’s voice is repulsive.

But the girls’ voices are silent.

Only faint rustling sounds occasionally break through.

“Quit hesitating. Won’t you show me? ’s… *passion*…?”

“…Y-yes… Of course…”

“Under… stood. CEO-nim.”

Eunchae? And… Harin?

I couldn’t be sure exactly what was about to happen.

But… I could guess.

“Heh… Line up here once you’re ready.”

“……Hng. I-I’m ready.”

“Me… too.”

“Oho… Well now. One-on-one auditions were fun, but… seeing all four of you together like this isn’t bad either.”

“……Then. is…?”

“Too soon to say~. I haven’t *confirmed* your passion yet.”

“Passion…”

“What… must we do?”

Even Sarang…

Her voice, usually firm, now carries reluctant resolve.

“Heh… If you heard Luna’s audition earlier… You already know what must do, don’t you?”

………

They knew exactly what was expected.

That’s why they hesitated.

For the first time…

All four of them would have to… *serve* him together.

“Then… let’s start with introductions again, shall we?”