episode_0235

After all the Rookies members gathered, Kang Hyung-man filled in many things as if he was taking over the Rookies from the NAS days.

Among them, the most representative one was….

Ring ring.

Squeak.

“ and… … .”

“I never thought I’d come back here.”

It was the Rookies’ previous accommodation that they took.

ZZ Castle located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The lake number remains the same, 3802.

Of course, all the furniture was gone, but Kang Hyung-man filled the room with expensive new furniture.

NAS Enter and Hyungje Planning are different in size, being a large corporation and a start-up respectively… .

Kang Hyung-man was the only one who took the utmost care to ensure that we did not feel deprived compared to the past.

“It seems like Rookies didn’t disband since they’re still in their original dorm.”

“… Okay.”

The company has changed, but the members are the same, the dorm is the same, and even the exclusive producer is Han Si-woo.

Thanks to that, we felt as if the Rookies had never disbanded.

But soon after, we experienced an incident that made us feel deeply that Rookies had completely disbanded.

“I don’t think I can use the name Rookies.”

“… … Yes?!”

We were taken aback by what Han Si-woo said in the suddenly opened meeting.

That would be true… .

‘We can’t use the name ‘Rookies’?’

A name is something important that determines the identity of a team.

After NaaA ended, we were active under the name Rookies for a year and made many memories and gained many experiences.

We are rookies and the rookies are us, but we can’t use that name.

“… Sir, what’s going on?”

“… … .”

Unable to contain my embarrassment, I asked Kang Hyung-man, and he sighed and answered.

“… Did you tell me that you entered into copyright negotiations with NAS Entertainment?”

“… Yes, you did.”

Since the Rookies members all reunited, Brothers Planning has been in close contact with NAS Entertainment.

This was because there were many things to discuss with NAS Entertainment if Hyungje Planning wanted to take over Rookies, such as the team name Rookies and the copyright to the music.

For example, our rookies’ main songs such as , , , and could not be used or performed in concerts or festivals without NAS Entertainment’s permission.

But I thought it was okay because NAS Entertainment was being friendly… .

“We were allowed to use the old songs on the condition that we would share the stage profits later. However… , the name was also stubborn on their side. No matter what conditions we put in place, they wouldn’t let us use the name Rookies.”

“Why… .”

As he muttered his regret towards NAS Entertainment, Han Si-woo, who was next to Kang Hyung-man, answered on his behalf.

“After all, Rookies hit it big at NAS Entertainment. From their perspective, it would have been difficult to hand over the Rookies trademark to Hyungje Planning.”

“Ah… .”

“To be honest, NAS Entertainment has made a lot of concessions regarding music copyrights. Since we are starting from a new company… I think we will have to start over with a new name.”

“… … .”

If Han Si-woo says something like that, then there’s nothing we can do.

We nodded our heads at this, but… .

‘it’s a shame….’

I couldn’t bear the regret.

Not only me, but the other members’ faces also darkened as if they felt regretful.

“It’s unfortunate, but it could be a good thing.”

“… … Yes?”

Only Yoo Seol spoke calmly.

“To be honest, the name Rookies felt a little ambiguous.”

“Why? Rookies… Honestly, the team name was pretty?”

“What is the direct translation of rookie?”

Rookie literally means… newcomer.

As we recalled the direct translation of Rookies and exclaimed, “Oh no,” Yoo Seol continued.

“Even after 5 years, even after 10 years… . The moment we have the name Rookies, we won’t feel like veterans.”

“… … .”

“We can’t be rookies forever. It’s a shame that we can’t continue the name of rookies… , but we also have to grow.”

… Yes, if you are assuming a long run, the name Rookies may not be suitable.

As if to add some basis to Yu Seol’s words, Han Si-woo added his words.

“That’s right. Nnet, which originally named them Rookies, assumed that they would be a project group that would disband after a year and named them that way. The name Rookies… , it’s a shame, but we have to let them go.”

“Then what will be the new team name… .”

“That’s….”

At the question of giving a new name, Han Si-woo smiled slightly and looked at Kang Hyung-man.

“The representative will decide. Usually, these kinds of monumental names are usually given by the representatives.”

“Ah… .”

“That’s right. Usually, the representatives do a lot of these things.”

The other members didn’t seem to have any complaints about Kang Hyung-man naming the team.

Looking at it, it seems like the representatives often come up with the original team names.

but….

“The boss is naming it?”

… I was the only one who flinched when I heard those words.

Of course, it wasn’t because I hated Kang Hyung-man.

However… it was because I couldn’t trust Kang Hyung-man’s naming sense.

To tell this story, I had to go back in time to yesterday.

**

yesternight.

“Oh, I left my charger in the boss’s room.”

In Brother Planning, I was more vague than Kang Hyung-man and anyone else.

Because the sofa in the CEO’s office was soft and nice… I spent a lot of time there, often talking with Kang Hyung-man.

That day, I realized I had left my charger in the CEO’s office and headed to the empty office.

and….

“Hmm… ?”

I was about to leave with just the charger, but then I saw a piece of paper on the desk in the CEO’s office and stopped in my tracks.

I wasn’t really trying to peek, but… the content written inside the A4 paper was so unique that I couldn’t help but keep looking at it.

-Example) Seoul Sisters… Eunbangul Sisters…

-Idol Dol-i A-dol-i

-Ah… What should I name it…

“… What is this?”

Of course, I didn’t know what it was yesterday.

Only now I can realize what Kang Hyeong-man had in mind when he wrote it.

Kang Hyung-man has been thinking about a new name for our rookies since yesterday.

‘But why are you including the Seoul Sisters and the Eunbangul sisters as examples when naming 21st century idols?!’

It must have been Kang Hyung-man who originally named the company Brother Planning.

I’m used to it now so it’s okay, but how did you feel when you first heard the company name, Brother Planning?

I was really surprised at how they named their agency like that when they didn’t even seem like some kind of gangster company.

But is that Kang Hyung-man the one who names a girl group…?

“Why, Sister? Don’t you like it when the boss names you?”

“… No, that’s not it.”

It’s not that I don’t trust Kang Hyung-man.

I can trust everything else about Kang Hyung-man.

I just don’t trust his naming sense.

but….

“Ahem, then I made a group name. Do you want to listen to it?”

“Wow-! I like it!”

Kang Hyung-man finally coughed and smiled proudly, as if he had prepared for it.

‘No… why do you like it so much… ?’

If you make such a happy expression just by giving me a name, how can I object?

I had no choice but to listen to the name that Kang Hyung-man had come up with.

“Okay, then the name of our brother planning’s first girl group is… .”

‘Please give me a normal name! And don’t give me a gangster-like name!’

I prayed inwardly and waited for Kang Hyung-man to say the new team name.

And finally, the new team name that Kang Hyung-man calls is….

“Isis.”

“… … .”

“How about ISIS as a new team name?”

“… Isis?”

…it was more ordinary than I thought.

… No, I thought it would be a gangster-like name like Brothers Planning, but it’s Isis.

I don’t know what it means, but… it looks trendy.

“What is ISIS…?”

“… What mythical creature is that? I think I’ve heard of it.”

“Boss, what does ISIS mean?”

In the end, when Seo Yu-jin, unable to contain her curiosity about the name Isis, asked, Kang Hyung-man answered with a slightly blushing face.

“Idol… , Sisters… .”

“Idol Sisters? No way?”

“Yes, Idol Sisters. Shortened to ‘ISIS’.”

Are they Idol Sisters?

Honestly, is it because I didn’t have any expectations?

It sounds pretty good.

“Isis…, is it okay?”

“Me too.”

As the other members nodded, Kang Hyung-man said with satisfaction.

“Actually, we were going to name it Idol Brothers after Brother Planning, but you guys are a girl group.”

“… … .”

“That’s why Idol Sisters. I made it Isis. Idol Brothers should be the name given to the boy group later.”

…Idol Brothers.

If you reduce it, it’s an eyebrow.

…what a truly miserable name.

‘… ISIS is better after all.’

Although it was unfamiliar, the name Isis wasn’t bad compared to Ibra.

“Then let’s name the group ISIS?”

“Let’s do that.”

“I like it too.”

So our new team name became ‘ISIS’.

of course….

“Isis… . The name doesn’t really stick.”

It felt quite unfamiliar, perhaps because it was overshadowed by the familiar name of Rookies.

“But like Seol said earlier… I can’t be a rookie forever.”

“That’s… , right.”

The memories and names of the Rookies will forever be engraved in our hearts.

but….

You can’t be a rookie forever.

That’s how we shed our past name of Rookies and were reborn as ISIS.

The one who looked the happiest at this moment was Kang Hyung-man.

“I’m glad everyone likes it. Actually, I couldn’t cancel the showcase because I reserved it in ISIS’ name.”

“… … Yes?”

We weren’t the only ones who were taken aback by his sudden, shocking remarks.

“No, sir. Why are you reserving a showcase venue when the song hasn’t even come out…?”

Producer Han Si-woo asked with his eyes wide open for a rare moment, as if it was news he had never heard before.

As if trying to reassure Han Si-woo, Kang Hyeong-man answered with a small smile.

“Don’t worry too much, Director Han. The showcase date is four months from now.”

“4 months… . That doesn’t seem like a lot of time. But why do you reserve a showcase venue 4 months in advance?”

“That’s….”

Han Si-woo is right.

The showcase location is important, but… why on earth did you reserve it so early?

We will solve this question in Kang Hyung-man’s next words… .

“Gocheok Sky Dome where the Rookies concert was held.”

“… … !”

I was in a new state of shock.

“That’s where ISIS’s first showcase took place.”

Kang Hyeong-man was a big shot.

Beyond our imagination.

**

[Rookies reunion? Reborn as a new group ‘Isis’… .]

[Brother Planning Where is that place? Reporter Kim found out.]

“Isis… , I don’t like it… .”

At some point, Yerin Suho, who had been locked in a corner of the room and only used the internet, saw an article about Rookies reuniting as Isis and bit her lip.

The name ISIS… I don’t like it.

Above all… .

[Hyungjegi Planning CEO Kang said, “Isis will become a girl group that surpasses Rookies.”]

“This thug bastard… . He’s that bastard from back then… .”

This guy named Kang Hyung-man, the representative of Brother Planning.

That was the kid who beat up Yerin Suho back then.

“… This fucking thug. Because of him… .”

Even though she had surgery to remove the scar, there is still a large scar on Yerin Suho’s face.

This was made by Kang Hyung-man.

Yerin Suho forgot what he had planned to do to Ha Yerin and only deepened his anger and resentment towards Kang Hyungman.

In addition to that… .

[Anonymous: Didn’t you know? Ha Ye-rin and that gangster boss are like that.]

Anonymous provocative messages have been continuously sent to him for over a month.

At first, Yerin Suho did not believe the anonymous words… but as an entertainment industry worker, his words showed several grounds.

[Anonymous: Ha Ye-rin is originally famous for being a rag. There must be no one in the entertainment industry who hasn’t eaten it, right?]

[Anonymous: How did Yoo Seol and Seo Yu Jin come to the Brothers Project this time? It’s all because Ha Ye Rin played a game with JJ and the SAV CEO.]

If these anonymous messages are true… .

“You bitch… .”

Yerin Suho trembled at the overwhelming sense of betrayal towards Ha Yerin.

Before I knew it, the anger that had been directed only at Kang Hyung-man was divided and directed at Ha Ye-rin.

“That rag bitch… . I liked you. I loved you… .”

I’ve been living locked up in a corner of my room because of you four years ago… .

Are you living comfortably while exposing your body in a dirty way?

…I can’t forgive you.

My life is doomed anyway… .

Yerin Suho wanted to somehow return the misfortune he was experiencing to her.

That was when.

Tiring.

[Anonymous: Should I tell you the address of the place where Hayerin lives?]

“… … !”

Yerin Suho read the newly appeared anonymous message with bated breath.

and….

He quickly gathered his thoughts and made a decision.

“… I don’t like the idea of Yerin working under that thug. … She’ll just be a rookie for life.”

His eyes were empty as he muttered like that.

**

A dark room like Yerin Suho’s room.

Shin Si-woo, who had lost his former appearance and was exhausted due to withdrawal symptoms and stress, sent the address of ZZ Castle, where he had lived since he was a member of Rookies, to Yerin Suho and leaned back in his chair.

“… … .”

As he lay back, he saw a large quantity of sleeping pills at the end of his vision.

Finally, the police gathered most of the evidence against Shin Si-woo… and he was pushed to the edge.

The rumors have already spread and fans are leaving… and the company is turning its back on them.

It might have been the best decision of the rest of his life if he had just swallowed the sleeping pills all at once.

but….

“… Just hold on a little longer.”

He didn’t do that.

It was because he wanted to see what kind of fruit the apple tree he planted would bear.

“I want to die on the same day as Yerin.”

Shin Si-woo closed his eyes as he thought about that.

Boom bang bang-!!

“Mr. Shin Si-woo, this is the police! Open the door!!”

He couldn’t sleep because of the intruders, but in his dark vision with his eyes closed, he could picture the ending he wanted.