Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

I returned to 9 years in the past with nothing but a small suitcase.

 

In that suitcase, there was a bankbook and a few basic clothes.

 

And there was no school uniform in it. On top of that, my family home had disappeared somewhere.

 

‘Should I buy a school uniform now? Will I be able to get a name tag sewn on before the final broadcast?”

 

It was obvious that there wouldn’t be many uniforms in sizes outside the average in stores. Especially now that the school admission season was over, there would be even fewer left in stock.

 

“So, everyone, can you prepare one set of clothes by this weekend? Seongbin, Cheonghyeon, and Kiyeon, make sure to wash your extra shirts.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Everyone answered cheerfully, but I couldn’t open my mouth.

 

Why on earth did they tell me such an urgent matter only when the deadline was already close?

 

I felt like I was about to foam at the mouth.

 

I calculated in my head which would be faster: finding a used uniform or buying a new one.

 

Then, suddenly, I came up with a faster and more certain solution.

 

‘System, you piece of sh*t, come out right now.’

 

Then the system popped up.

 

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[SYSTEM] Work instructions from your ‘superior’ have arrived.

 

▶ You want to have a meeting? Assistant Manager Kim, does it really have to be right now?

 

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If you don’t want to see Kim Iwol dancing in a three-stripe tracksuit alone on the final broadcast, you better cooperate.

 

The system would give me absurd KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), but it would also provide me with the preparation process I needed in the form of tasks.

 

In other words, it could said that the system wasn’t there to harm me, but rather to help me achieve my KPIs.

 

And on top of that, it was using the Hanpyeong Industry and Manager Nam’s framework? With rules similar to labor laws?

 

In that case, I had no choice but to demand something from this so-called superior.

 

‘Give me my school uniform.’

 

+

 

[SYSTEM] Work instructions from the ‘Superior’ have arrived.

 

▶ Assistant Manager Kim, do you really need that for work? Have you thoroughly thought about whether there’s a better way?

 

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Whatever, it’s necessary for work, so just give it to me.

 

If you’re a company, you should at least provide the minimum support so that workers can do their job.

 

Furthermore, I was just asking for stuff that the system had one-sidedly thrown away, so there was no way this unreasonable system, which could boost people’s abilities with a snap, couldn’t give me one shabby school uniform.

 

They might not have expected this situation when they signed the contract as the superior, but since I was living as the subordinate now, I would fight for my rights as a worker.

 

When there was no particular response from the system, I thought to myself in the system’s direction.

 

‘I really tried my best to be an idol, but the system isn’t helping me… I was even willing to wear a school uniform at my age… such a shame…’

 

The system kept remaining silent to my words, but when my inner thoughts reached ‘If that’s how you’re going to be, stop taking paycheck too, you b*tch’, it changed its attitude

 

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[SYSTEM] Work instructions from the ‘Superior’ have arrived.

 

▶ I’ll give you a list of supplies, so choose from them.  You should appreciate that no other company takes care of you like this, Assistant Manager Kim. Tsk.

  

A freshly ironed uniform that looks like it just came from the uniform shop. Spotless. Name tag not included.

  

A well-worn uniform with a great fit, as if you’ve worn it for three years. Realistic. Name tag included.

 

▶ Choose what to purchase and report back. Oh, and you can’t use it for personal purposes.

 

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Why would I use this for personal purposes?

 

It would look better for the fans if I wore a brand-new uniform but—

 

It felt odd to be the only one in a brand-new uniform when all the other handsome guys would be wearing more lived-in ones for the sake of realism.

 

After much deliberation, I closed my eyes and chose my uniform. I consoled myself by thinking it would be fine since I didn’t dirty my uniform much back in school.

 

Though it had an annoying habit of making things difficult, the system was undeniably capable.

 

It was so capable that when I arrived at my dorm, there was already a familiar fabric of non-woven material already waiting in my suitcase. Truly a magical system.

 

Taking advantage of the moment when Choi Jeho was in the shower and Lee Cheonghyeon was studying composition, I half-opened the suitcase to check the condition of the uniform.

 

A crisp white shirt was neatly wrapped in a deep green jacket.

 

Below that was a pair of pants with a thin red checkered pattern.

 

‘What a striking color.’

 

It was indeed the uniform that earned the honorable nickname of ‘Walking Kimchi.’ The thought of dancing in this spicy outfit among the pastel-colored schoolboys made me want to cry. It was all because the kimchi was too spicy.

 

As expected, the uniform was spotless. It didn’t have stains. But…

 

‘Kim Han?’

 

There was a name I didn’t recognize on the chest of the jacket. No, didn’t it say ‘Your school uniform’?

 

Was there a kid named Kim Han at my school? Then again, I didn’t have any friends back in school.

 

Anyway, since Park Joowoo had agreed to just sew on a name tag on a plain sweater vest, I figured I could sneakily replace this name tag with mine.

 

Up until this point, I had no interest in who this Kim Han person was.

 

But the identity of that unfamiliar classmate Kim Han was revealed faster than I thought.

 

* * *

 

“Wow. I feel like if I had met you guys in school, we wouldn’t have been friends.”

 

“Why do you say that, Cheonghyeon? We even did a group project together.”

 

Lee Cheonghyeon burst out laughing at my words. His laughter was full of mockery.

 

This b*tch. Who was the one who ironed your uniform for you since dawn?

 

The current students at the arts high school didn’t have much to prepare. Their uniforms were already neat and stylish to begin with.

 

The problem was the non-high school students and the liberal arts high school graduates.

 

Park Joowoo ended up just getting his name tag re-sewn, but surprisingly, Choi Jeho, who seemed like he’d be done after receiving a package, ran into a big problem.

 

I sent him into the room to try on his uniform, but he came back out in his pajamas after only five minutes.

 

‘What are you doing? I told you to try it on.’

 

‘It doesn’t fit.’

 

‘Then at least try on the pants.’

 

‘It’s too short. It was already short when I graduated.’

 

While everyone else was studying, Spark’s genius center was growing. His uniform pants had become cropped.

 

In the end, Choi Jeho had to buy new pants and shirts in similar colors.

 

As for Lee Cheonghyeon and I…

 

‘Cheonghyeon, is your school okay with uniform alterations?’

 

“Not at all. For now, I’ll have to tailor my current uniform, and after the activity period, I might have to wear the uniform I inherited when I was a freshman, just in case.”

 

‘I see. Your uniform will get a lot of adjustment this time.’

 

‘Hyung, I don’t think you’re in a position to talk.’

 

I had to watch as the stylists tore apart and refitted our uniforms right in front of me. Even when I was a student, the most I ever did was lengthen the sleeves. This was my first time seeing how such alterations were done.

 

As the silent battle unfolded in one corner, Lee Cheonghyeon came up to me and said, 

 

“It feels weird that it’s already the final broadcast.”

 

“Yeah. It’s kind of sad.”

 

Jeong Seongbin nodded in agreement.

 

Compared to Spark’s previous debut schedule, the current Spark had been handling a lot more activities.

 

It must have been difficult but they said something like that. Their passion was truly admirable.

 

I looked at these impressive kids and said.

 

“What’s there to be sad about? As soon as the activities are over, we’re going straight into meetings for personal content and live broadcasts.”

 

“Personal content?”

 

Kang Kiyeon asked, pretending not to know, though it was obvious he did.

 

“Yeah. Since we mostly move as a group during our activities, we should upload a lot of individual content during our breaks.”

 

“Hyung, what you watch every night, is it for checking references?”

 

“No, at night I’ve been monitoring the reactions to the music videos and performances. I’m not smart enough to do two things at once.”

 

I answered, but I was slightly surprised to hear Lee Cheonghyeon casually use the word ‘reference’—such an adult-like term. Could it be that he picked it up from me?

 

“…Hyung, you really don’t think about anything other than work, do you?”

 

Park Joowoo muttered next to me. I almost replied that I wished UA would give us some extra pay for that but held back.

 

“Alright, stop chatting. It’s almost our turn.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The members responded loudly to Choi Jeho’s instructions.

 

As we started walking backstage, Jeong Seongbin approached me and called softly.

 

“Hyung.”

 

“Yeah. What is it?”

 

“We can finish the last episode well, right?”

 

That remark contained a hint of worry, but also a light hope that everything would go well.

 

And transcending those complex emotions was an underlying confidence.

 

“Yeah. I’ll make sure not to mess up and do my best.”

 

That was all I could say in response.

 

* * *

 

“Hey, at your age, you still watch idol shows?”

 

“So what about it? Stop picking a fight and go play the game you love so much.”

 

In the living room of an ordinary household, a friendly conversation was exchanged between siblings.

 

The ones having this conversation were Baek Haewon, who was waiting for Spark’s turn on the music show, and ‘Baek Haein’, her brother who had come out to get some ice (Baek Haewon never understood why this guy liked to eat ice all day long).

 

“Haewon, you’re a high school student now, so stop watching these things and study. When are you going to graduate from being a lazy slug?”

 

“Yeah, shut up.”

 

Baek Haewon responded mechanically, not even bothering to look in her brother’s direction.

 

From what Baek Haewon knew, she could count on one hand the number of days that guy had actually studied during his three years in high school.

 

“Is ‘Loraile’ performing today too?”

 

“Oh, get lost already! If you start talking when Spark comes on later, you’re dead!”

 

As Baek Haewon, who was on edge, glared at him, Baek Haein just shook his head as if to say, ‘Geez’.

 

Baek Haein couldn’t understand why his sister would wait through all those long commercials for her band’s turn. Couldn’t she just watch the performance videos on MiTube?

 

‘What’s so great about idols anyway?’

 

Baek Haein shrugged. At that moment, Baek Haewon let out a high-pitched scream.

 

“Ah! Seongbin’s purple school uniform is here! The XX outfit is amazing!”

 

The couch cushion in Baek Haewon’s hands crumpled like a wet paper cup. Baek Haein started to get a little scared of his sister.

 

Baek Haewon’s rambling didn’t stop there.

 

“Who choreographed this part, seriously… This intro is legendary…”

 

“Joowoo’s name tag is so cute… F*ck, shouldn’t this be illegal? Oh, my forehead is going to break.”

 

“Choi Jeho, this *****, this fox guy, you *************.”

 

Baek Haewon was ready to heap endless praise on every guy who appeared on the screen.

 

Sure, they were all good-looking, but was it really something to get this excited about?

 

Just as Baek Haein was about to leave, puzzled, Baek Haewon grabbed him.

 

“Hey, isn’t that your school uniform?”

 

“What?”

 

At Baek Haewon’s words, Baek Haein looked at the TV.

 

“Huh?”

 

Sure enough, the dull and familiar uniform of his old school was prominently displayed on the screen.