episode_0219

Everyone smiles when they decide to pursue their dreams.

Because I enjoy running… and because I enjoy writing.

Become an athlete and a writer.

Oh Ara also dreamed of becoming an idol because she enjoyed dancing and singing in front of people.

but….

Unlike when I first started, the closer I get to my dream, the more the smile disappears from my face.

Because it’s hard.

No matter how much you like it… or how good you are at it.

At the same time every day… .

Moving forward silently is… difficult.

It’s a pain.

Of course, you can’t be happy every moment.

Just now, Oarado… .

It’s just that I had the ambition to show a more complete stage than Ha Ye-rin… but the stage itself wasn’t enjoyable.

But Hayerin… .

She, who was usually so blunt and icy… .

Performing on stage…, standing in front of the fans…, and finishing it all and coming down….

He was smiling innocently, like a child.

‘You really enjoyed the stage… Unlike me.’

At that moment, Ohara remembered what Sua, Python’s producer, had said to all the Python members.

‘The stage isn’t something you just do among yourselves. It’s something that everyone in the concert hall does together. The team members, backup dancers, staff, and even fans have to become one to create a true stage.’

Just now, Ha Ye-rin must have enjoyed the stage with her fans as one heart.

So… rather than Oh Ara, who was alone and worried while turning back time… the fans’ cheers were directed at Ha Ye-rin.

As soon as Oh Ara realized why she couldn’t surpass Hayerin, she couldn’t continue speaking due to bitterness.

And Hayerin looked at Ara with concern… .

“Yerin! What are you doing! We have to go quickly to prepare for the main stage!”

“Ah.”

I took a step at Yoo Seol’s call.

“Ara, unnie. Today was fun. I’ll go change into that outfit right away.”

“… Yeah.”

Oh Ara was lost in thought for a moment as she watched Ha Ye-rin’s back as she left.

What is the best idol according to the status window?

It could be referring to a person who is perfect in every way, like a fairy tale… .

Like Ha Ye-rin, she truly enjoys every moment of every stage… It could also refer to someone who was born to be on stage.

‘I am nothing.’

Oara soon felt that she did not fit into either of these two categories.

“Ara-chan. We have to go quickly too. To change clothes.”

“… Ah, uh.”

Am I ultimately unable to be anything?

Somehow that thought won’t go away… .

Even with Kanna’s urging, Oara couldn’t move her heavy steps easily.

**

When asked why I didn’t use the status window, I answered Oara truthfully.

Because it’s not fun.

The first skill of Cheonma Shingong is Cheonma Hwanok and the second skill is Cheonma Wolyeongbo.

They are all contributors to my journey to this point and I am grateful to them all.

But as I said before, using these is half the fun.

To be precise, the rewards also decrease.

First, the first skill, Heavenly Demon Enchantment.

When I use this, the eyes of the fans looking at me somehow start to become empty.

Of course, I get huge cheers, but sometimes I feel sorry because I feel like I’m the one controlling it.

And the second skill, Cheonma Wol Yeong Bo.

Using this will dramatically increase your dance stats and allow you to move your body freely.

It feels like the bodies are being disposed of through automatic hunting in a game.

So, I feel less pleasure than when I perform on stage myself.

Above all, while preparing for this activity, I realized that the status window is not omnipotent.

I also learned that it is more important to be able to freely control my abilities and to work well with the members.

Of course, if this stage was… , a stage where we really had to give it our all… , a stage where the life or death of the Rookies was at stake… .

I probably would have just been using the status window and throwing out skills.

But this is a special stage.

I just wanted to enjoy the stage, so I didn’t use any skills, and I actually had a lot of fun.

So, I entered the waiting room with Yu Seol and Rookies with a satisfied heart.

and….

“Hey, sisters!”

“Come on, guys.”

“… Change your clothes quickly, quickly!”

“I enjoyed the stage! It was a total hit, wasn’t it?”

… As soon as I entered, I felt a strong aftertaste for some reason when I saw the members welcoming me and Yoo Seol.

Oh, it’s true that the special stage with Kanna was fun.

but….

‘Still, Rookies are the best.’

It seemed like there was nothing more enjoyable than being with our Rookies members.

“I’m back.”

So, I quickly changed my clothes for the main stage, feeling like I was back home after a long time.

**

After finishing everything up to the main stage of Rookies and Python… all that was left was the awards ceremony.

First of all, what our rookies want the most is the Rookie of the Year award.

Actually, I never even considered the possibility that our rookies wouldn’t win the Rookie of the Year award.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s other terrestrial broadcasting station award ceremonies, but this is NANA.

Even though they kicked out the new PD, Rookies is a group produced by Nnet, a subsidiary broadcasting station of NAS Entertainment.

This place is literally like our rookies’ home ground.

Thanks to this, our rookies received a lot of consideration for the stage order and were assigned a lot of staff.

There was no rookie group that left a bigger impact than our rookies…, and the rookie members including me and other idol groups were confident that the rookie award would go to our rookies.

however….

“The Rookie of the Year winner is…! Congratulations! Python!”

“… … !”

Something strange happened.

Of course, Python also achieved results good enough to receive the Rookie of the Year award, but… he felt like he was being pushed back by the Rookies.

Even though this place was practically the home base for rookies, Python suddenly won the Rookie of the Year award.

“Python’s representative, please come out and give your acceptance speech!”

Even Python’s leader Oh Ara, who appeared as a representative, appeared on stage at a loss as if he had no idea that they would receive the Rookie of the Year award.

“… Thank you! It’s such an honor for us Pythons, and we’re so grateful to receive this award… .”

Although Oh Ara finished her speech well despite the difficult situation, the atmosphere was not very good, perhaps because there were many disappointed Rookies fans.

“We didn’t get this… .”

“… That could be it.”

“We expected too much. We didn’t leave it up to you.”

The atmosphere within the Rookies wasn’t that good, but we encouraged each other and got through it.

As Yoo Seol said, it wasn’t us who left the Rookie of the Year award up to us.

The only good thing is that even though we missed out on the Rookie of the Year award, we won quite a few other awards.

“The Music Video of the Year Award goes to Rookies’ !”

“Wow-!”

We took pride in winning the Rising Star Award, the Music Video Award, and other minor awards.

Of course, even if you add all of this up, it’s disappointing that the status is lower than winning the Rookie of the Year award.

Still, our rookies pretended to be okay and pretended to be happy about winning other awards, and stayed until the end of the awards ceremony.

And… now, only the NANA Awards Grand Prize remains.

I was tired from the shoot that was taking longer than expected, so I tilted my head back for a moment… .

“Hmm… ?”

I was able to find Director Jeong sighing deeply backstage.

Director Jeong is also a member of NAS, so it is not strange for him to be here.

The only thing that bothered me was his expression.

He had a mysterious expression on his face, as if he was a little tired from work… .

“Director Jeong… !”

“… … !”

As soon as he made eye contact with me, he waved his hand in surprise… .

‘congratulation.’

“… Huh?”

He left behind words whose meaning was unclear based on the shape of his lips.

congratulation.

What are you celebrating?

You didn’t win the Rookie of the Year award, but congratulations on winning other awards?

That was when I was confused.

“Now, let me announce the grand prize of this year’s NANA Awards!”

The host, who had been hesitating for a while, finally raised the microphone as if he was going to announce the grand prize winner.

‘Who will win the grand prize?’

This year, there was no group that achieved overwhelming results, so I was curious to see who would win the grand prize.

Although YW’s Black Bomb, which has Shin Si-woo, was a strong candidate, Black Bomb itself is currently in hiding.

‘It wouldn’t be strange for anyone to receive it this year… Wait a minute… .’

At that moment, an ominous feeling began to form in my head.

To be honest, these are rookies who performed so well that it’s hard to call them rookies.

NANA Awards hosted by NAS Entertainment.

Director Jeong, who seemed to have a slightly awkward expression on his face just a moment ago.

And this is what Director Jeong said with his lips when we made eye contact.

congratulation.

“… Hey, no way. No way… .”

I tried to shake my head and laugh out loud at the absurd imagination that I thought of.

however….

“Congratulations to this year’s NANA Awards Grand Prize winners, Rookies!”

“… … !”

… imagination has become reality.

“… … Huh?”

“… … in?”

We, who attended the awards ceremony thinking of winning the Rookie of the Year award, were completely frozen by the unexpected grand prize.

The scene where Na Hanna yawns and then drops her hand at the news was shown as is.

“Rookies, please come out! And the representative, please give your acceptance speech!”

Hehehe… This might be a bit controversial.

We went up on stage with bewildered expressions on our faces at the host’s words.

I was particularly worried.

“Yerin, let’s go out quickly.”

“Sister…! What should I do…! If I’m suddenly asked to give my acceptance speech for the grand prize, what should I say…!”

Our rookies, who haven’t even debuted for a year yet, are the target…

This is also an awards ceremony hosted by NAS Entertainment.

Of course, our rookies’ performance this year was very good… .

There was no way the controversy over preferential treatment would have been avoided.

When I was embarrassed by this, Yoo Seol smiled incomprehensibly and said,

“Yerin, you worry too much.”

“… Yes?”

“We didn’t lobby, and our grades were good this year. In fact, with our grades, we would have been worthy of receiving the award.”

Whether it was an album or a digital single, they reached number one as soon as they released their music and also won first place on many music shows.

In addition, our rookies have achieved many records, such as reaching number 1 on the Top 100 sites within 24 hours.

Yeah… If you think about it that way, it certainly seems like it deserves to be the target… .

However, since I did not easily loosen my expression, Yoo Seol continued speaking with a slightly bitter expression.

“Yerin, don’t think too hard about it. We’re rookies anyway… .”

And her words left me flinching.

“… There are only about 3 months left.”

“… Ah.”

“Just say whatever you want to say.”

This will definitely be the last NANA Awards for the Rookies.

Thinking about it that way, I felt more proud of receiving the award than worried about the controversy, and I also felt regret that it would be the last award for Rookies.

“Yes… ! Got it… !”

So I clenched my fists and confidently went up on stage.