episode_0103
by admin
#103
“The most radiant in the world! If you purchase our 4th album now, we’ll sign it for you~!”
“We’ll also take photos with you if you buy photocards, lightsticks, or any other merch!”
A corner of the first-floor lobby in the broadcasting station.
Se-Ah and Sarang were loudly calling out to passersby in front of a makeshift table.
Behind them, countless albums and merchandise were stacked in boxes.
Strictly speaking, this was also a fan signing event, but the atmosphere was closer to that of a flea market.
“U-um, if I buy an album… will you sign it?”
“And you’ll really take a photo with me, right?”
Still, some passersby and a few fans recognized them and gathered around, occasionally buying items.
Originally, staff were supposed to handle sales, payments, and photography, while the idols only gave autographs or took photos.
But currently, didn’t even have that kind of support, so the girls were handling everything from promotions to card payments themselves.
Knowing this situation, I left the production office and immediately rushed toward the girls.
“Ah, Hogu oppa!”
Sarang waved at me from afar.
“Hurry! Come here quick! The card reader isn’t working!”
“I’m coming!”
I’d already shown them how to use it… but it seemed something went wrong.
Upon checking, the connection had been disconnected. I quickly fixed the issue and processed the payment for them.
“Thank you!”
Once the problem was resolved, Se-Ah immediately called me over.
“Oppa! This person asked if you could take a photo.”
“Okay!”
Taking a fan’s phone, I got ready to take the picture. The fan was a stereotypical idol otaku—wearing glasses, with bad skin and overweight. His shopping bag was filled with various merch. He’d bought a lot.
“H-hehehe… Se-Ah, could you move a little… this way?”
“Ah… haha… sure…”
Fuck. Disgusting bastard.
Little by little, he tried clinging to Se-Ah. His shoulder brushed against her arm.
Despite this inappropriate physical contact—especially from a visibly repulsive otaku—Se-Ah maintained her professional smile and posed alongside him.
“…Taking it.”
I had no choice but to take the photo for him.
This bastard would undoubtedly go home, stare at the picture, fantasize about Se-Ah, and jerk off.
*Click! Click!*
I took several shots as they adjusted their poses.
Looking at the photos… the bastard’s eyes were clearly turned toward Se-Ah’s chest.
But… there was nothing I could say about it.
If I started picking at every little thing, there’d be no end to it, and I couldn’t exactly start a fight with a fan in a public place.
Right now… we had to sell as much merch as possible.
“…Thank you.”
I handed the phone back to the otaku and bowed slightly.
“Huhu, huhuhu…! You too, Se-Ah. Good luck with the performance later…!”
“Ah… haha. Yes! Please continue supporting !”
Even now, Se-Ah remained professional, waving with a smile.
“Um, excuse me… Can I also… get a photo…?”
Before I could catch my breath, another fan approached, holding out their phone.
Their hands were full of yet another pile of merch.
“Ah… Yes! Come here.”
“Kgh… T-thank you. Uh… i-is a… heart sign… also possible…?”
“…Huh?”
“O-oh, if not… never mind… Kuh, kuhuhu… I-I’d like a refund then…”
Fuck…
They were outright admitting they bought the merch just to take photos.
I *could* give them a refund…
But judging by the merch piled in their hands, they’d spent at least 100,000 won.
It was hard to refuse someone who’d spent that much.
“Ah… I-It’s fine! Uhm… a heart sign? Like this?”
Se-Ah glanced at my expression before forcing a smile and stepping right next to the fan.
She made a half-heart with one hand toward the fan.
“Kgh, kghuhu… R-really…? Kuh… Then… can you say ‘I love you’?… Film it for me…”
“……”
Pushing their luck the moment you give them an inch—typical otaku behavior.
Under normal circumstances, such requests should be denied…
But behind me, more fans were already lining up to buy merch.
I spoke loud enough for the others to hear.
“…Since you spent a lot, we’ll make an exception. You know this isn’t normally allowed, right?”
“Kgh, kghuhu! Y-yes! Thank you. Then…”
This bastard also stepped right next to Se-Ah and mimicked the heart sign with her.
Subtly, his other hand moved behind Se-Ah’s back… grasping her shoulder.
“……Uhk.”
I could see discomfort flash across Se-Ah’s face.
Her eyes silently pleaded with me to do something.
But I couldn’t pick a fight here over physical contact.
“…Rolling.”
I pressed the video recording button on the phone.
“Ughk…”
“Kgh, kghuhu! Se-Ah, I love you…!”
He tightened his grip on her shoulder, pulling her closer while spouting nonsense.
Se-Ah couldn’t hide her displeasure… but forced a smile and spoke.
“I-I… love you too…”
*Ding.*
Though only a short clip—Reels-length—it felt agonizingly long.
After taking a few more photos, the bastard’s turn finally ended.
Next up…
“M-me too…! Please pose with me…!”
Another fan, arms full of merch, grinned creepily.
*
After repeating sales and photoshoots nonstop for about 40 minutes, we finally got a short breather.
“Phew… Good work, girls.”
“Ugh… I’m exhausted~.”
Handling payments, autographs, merchandise handouts, and photos—Sarang, who’d dealt with everything, plopped down onto a flimsy plastic chair.
“Oppa, I’ll be right back…”
Se-Ah gestured vaguely with her hand.
She was heading to the bathroom.
I nodded silently, and she immediately made her way to the staff-only restroom backstage. The public ones weren’t safe…
That left just me and Sarang there.
“Haa… Hogu oppa, you worked really hard.”
“…You did too, Sarang.”
She had struggled with the card reader—which she wasn’t even good at—but still scraped through diligently.
“Do you know how much we sold? Can’t you check on the app?”
“Curious?”
“Yes! I feel like we sold several million won worth?”
“Let’s see…”
Opening the card reader app, I checked today’s sales.
3,235,000 won.
“Wow~. We made this much in less than an hour?”
“…Better sales than I expected.”
“That’s because~! Everyone was buying tons just to take pics with me and Se-Ah. Especially after you started filming those videos. People bought 100,000, 200,000 won worth just for that, right?”
“…Yeah, that happened.”
There had been a lot of onlookers, but the actual number of people who bought merch or albums wasn’t that high.
The high revenue came from individual whales dropping big sums.
A high-value sale, but still.
“Ugh… Do the unnis even know how hard we’re working…?”
“…They should. If not, I’ll make sure they do.”
“Hah~! Oppa, you really pick up on things fast. You *have* to brag to them about it, okay?”
I wasn’t sure if this was something worth bragging about.
Right now, Harin and Eun-chae were probably…
I didn’t want to think about it.
I didn’t, but… the image kept surfacing in my mind.
Park Dong-chul, grinning smugly with Harin and Eun-chae tucked under each arm.
What were they doing right now?
What… kind of things… were they doing?
I was curious, but there was no way to know right now.
But soon enough… I’d find out.
“…I’ll film it for you.”
Harin had told me that yesterday.
“…What?”
“A video. So PD-nim can see it too…”
“N-no, but that’s really not necessary…!”
“No. You’ll be busy then. I’ll record everything I do… and show you later.”
“Ughk…”
I should’ve told her not to.
There were risks of leaks, and more than anything…
The thought of seeing it myself was just too…
“…You’re not telling me not to…?”
“Urgh…”
The truth is… I *had* been hoping for it.
That’s why I couldn’t firmly refuse.
“…Tomorrow. Watching me get defiled… will turn you on, won’t it…?”
And so, against Harin’s teasing…
I had grudgingly nodded.
Right now, without a doubt…
Whatever they were doing—filming it…
“Hogu oppa. What’s wrong?”
“Huh…?”
“You okay? Your face looks weird. Like a pervert.”
Before I knew it, Sarang had leaned in and was staring straight at me.
“…Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
“You’re acting strange. Why’s your face red? Embarrassed?”
“…Not that.”
“Are you… jealous? From watching us do hearts and pics with fans?”
“………”
It wasn’t *jealousy* exactly.
Maybe a little annoyed, but…
“…Not jealous?”
“……..A little.”
“Pfft…! That’s a relief. At least Hogu oppa thinks about us a tiny bit. I thought you only cared about Harin unni.”
“…Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I think about you guys too.”
Sure, Harin was my girlfriend.
But my job was to care for all of .
Sarang… Se-Ah too.
They were just as important.
“…Mm. So you *do* think about me a little. …That’s a relief.”
“……?”
Huh?
Something felt off about Sarang’s tone.
Turning to look, I saw her wearing a slightly bittersweet expression.
Almost as if… she had something weighing on her.
“…Sarang-ah?”
Then, Sarang…
Carefully took my hand and spoke quietly.
“Hogu oppa. There’s something I need to tell you…”
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