Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

Chapter 253: A Lunchbox of Encouragement

The egg soup was coming together—thanks to broth tablets, diagonally sliced green onions, and eggs.

When I asked Park Joowoo to taste it, he said the seasoning was a bit strong, so I turned off the heat. If it was slightly salty for Park Joowoo’s palate, it meant it was average.

Just as I was finishing up washing the lunchbox containers, the rice cooker chimed. The rice came out fluffy and perfect—it put me in a good mood.

“…You’re pretty quick at this.”

Park Joowoo murmured in admiration, watching me move busily.

“It’s not that hard.”

After all, I had lived alone for several years. Even if I was not great at it, I could at least follow a recipe.

“Hyung.”

“What is it?”

After calling me, Park Joowoo was silent for a long time.Then, he finally spoke, with difficulty.

“…Did you make your own CSAT lunchbox too, hyung?”

?

Why was that such a question to hesitate over?

“I bought kimbap.”

“…You did?”

“During CSAT season, if you ask a snack bar in advance the day before, they’ll pack it for you. I took that.”

At my words, Park Joowoo became quiet. Then he silently fluffed the cooked rice with a spatula.

“…Just to be clear.”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t have to think it was because of family circumstances. It’s common for dual-income households.”

I deliberately made an excuse, worried Park Joowoo might become unnecessarily reserved again. To that, Park Joowoo replied softly.

“…Yeah. Okay.”

After that, both of us silently made yubu chobap for a long time. A delicious smell filled the kitchen.

I asked Park Joowoo, who was carefully opening the inari skins.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“No.”

Park Joowoo nodded as he answered. His long, white fingers skillfully pressed the rice grains firmly into the tofu skins.

“You know.”

“Yeah, go ahead and speak.”

“Hyung, don’t you… want to take the CSAT again?”

It was an out-of-the-blue question. Even though he was the one who asked, Park Joowoo couldn’t meet my eyes.

“Not really.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t think I could go through studying all over again.”

It wasn’t a joke. I honestly didn’t think I could do it. The fans seem to believe that ‘our Iwol’ could do anything, but rookie idol Kim Iwol didn’t dare to try and solve CSAT math problem number 30 anymore.

“…I think you’d do well if you tried, hyung.”

“You think so?”

For once, Park Joowoo was talkative. I wondered if he wanted to see me go to college that badly, but then something came to mind.

‘So I’m waiting for my turn. Until we can play in a band together, and sing heavy songs.’

‘…’

‘I can wait until then. It’s not that I don’t have desires or can’t have them… so you don’t have to worry.’

This guy, who loved rock music even before debut, and though he hadn’t realized that dream yet, had consistently clung to his taste.

To Park Joowoo, college for me was probably like his rock music. Something he desperately wanted, couldn’t obtain right away, but hoped to achieve someday.

“If you really wanted to go to business administration… let’s find a way for you to do both. My aunt says life begins at forty.”

At Park Joowoo’s clumsy encouragement, I almost burst out laughing.

I’m sorry, Joowoo, but I didn’t want to go to business administration that badly.

I only chose it because I heard it was good for finding a job. Because I heard it had a lot of employment opportunities.

So, I don’t think I was that happy during those times. I just tried to live each day faithfully.

However, if someday I find something I really want to learn…

“I’ll think about it.”

…Then, after paying back my debt to noona, maybe I’ll enroll in a cram school with the leftover money.

* * *

“What is all this?”

Jeong Seongbin, who had woken up to his alarm, was startled. It was the grand reveal of the three-layered lunchbox Park Joowoo and I had prepared.

“It’s a lunchbox of encouragement. The bottom is egg drop soup, the middle is yubu chobap and stir-fried kimchi. For fruit, we added a banana—since juicy fruits might make you want to use the bathroom during the exam.”

“There’s crab stick yubu chobap too…!”

Park Joowoo added proudly. He had carefully peeled apart the crab sticks layer by layer with such devotion, knowing it was for a friend.

“It probably won’t leak, but just in case, I wrapped it one more time. Still, since there’s soup, don’t shake it too much.”

“When did you make all this…”

“It was quick with two people working on it.”

Jeong Seongbin looked back and forth between the chaotic kitchen and the neat lunchbox that contrasted with it.

The kitchen was in that state because… we hadn’t done the dishes yet as we were about to make our own food. It wasn’t because we lacked time.

Jeong Seongbin took the lunchbox with both hands.

“Did you pack your pens?”

“Of course. I’ll enjoy the lunch a lot, thank you.”

“Okay. Don’t just eat the lunchbox and leave. The manager’s pickup time won’t match.”

At my words, Jeong Seongbin let out a puff of laugh.

“I can’t get all 1s like you, hyung, but is that still okay?”

“Since your vocals are already in the top 4%, the rest doesn’t matter.”

Jeong Seongbin smiled and packed the lunchbox into his bag. He was so meticulous, shifting his pencil case and water bottle around so the box wouldn’t tilt.

“Then, I’ll be off!”

Jeong Seongbin shouted from the entrance. As if they all somehow knew and set their alarms, the other members also came out, rubbing their eyes, to see Jeong Seongbin off.

“Yeah. Be careful with your face, and if there are any problems you know, solve them well and come back.”

The kid smiled at my words. And so, all that beckoned me was the task of making yubu chobaps with the leftover ingredients to feed these guys.

* * *

Was it the afternoon of the previous day? Kim Iwol had sent Bubble Pop messages to his fans.

Iwol

[Have you decided on tomorrow’s lunch menu yet?]

[How about yubu chobap?]

[If you need soup, egg drop soup!]

[For dessert, let’s have a banana. :)]

Would she be able to wake up for lunch tomorrow? Iwol, high school students can sleep for 18 hours a day, you know.

Still, Baek Haewon dragged herself to the supermarket. Since it was the CSAT, school was off anyway, and it just didn’t sit right to skip the meal her bias idol had suggested.

She even bought enough ingredients to make four servings, keeping in mind the useless freeloader at home. That guy didn’t do anything but still ate a lot.

When lunchtime came, she was determined to boast to Iwol that she followed his lunch recommendation.

With only that thought in mind, Baek Haewon woke up at 11:30 AM.

Although, instead of going through the trouble of carefully packing rice into the fried tofu pockets, she mixed all the rice with the ingredients and then tore the fried tofu pockets into small pieces and sprinkled them on top. In any case, as long as the fried tofu and rice went into the stomach together, it was fine, right?

Baek Haewon took a photo of her masterpiece. Then she attached it to a post on SNS.

≫ Iwol, this yubu chobap is what you meant, right?

I woke up at 11 just to make this, I’m so tired

I think I really love you

People certifying their yubu chobap started appearing one after another on Baek Haewon’s timeline.

≫ Miheon-nim, the ready-made yubu chobap is really good these days

└ If I had time to go buy that, I would have already made a Iwol plushie

└ Miheon-nim, you’re going to make an Iwol plushie for us? Thank you

└ Wait, how did it turn into that?

≫ Miheon-nim, look at the yubu chobap I bought, aren’t you jealous

└ How can there be salmon in yubu chobap?? How?????

└ Ah, I should meet up with our Miheon-nim to feed her some yubu chobap

└ Do you really think I’d meet you just to eat measly yubu chobap? You’re hilarious

There were also people who went to sushi restaurants just to grab a plate of yubu chobap, and people who finally used the pack of tofu skins that had been sitting in their kitchen for two months… Anyway, no one was in their right mind.

Baek Haewon, having taken her share from the mixing bowl, placed kimchi on the table and sat down. She had no intention of waking Baek Haein and sharing a peaceful meal together.

Just as Baek Haewon was about to take her first bite. Spark’s live CSAT lunchbox mukbang started without any prior notice.

≫ @spArk_official

It’s time for our leader, who’s taking the CSAT, to have lunch!

Let’s eat together too!

[Spark] 2X11XX Today’s lunch is a CSAT lunchbox

What.

You guys are eating lunch to match Seongbin’s lunchtime?

* * *

Five members, excluding Jeong Seongbin, were on the live stream. The practice room floor was filled with deliciously prepared yubu chobap.

It was the first time Spark had been seen eating such a feast since the ‘ISDl’ group training camp.

『Did we always have this many food containers at the dorm? Why did you bring so much?』

Lee Cheonghyeon asked in surprise. The side dish containers, of various sizes, were full of yubu chobap. Kim Iwol replied as he opened a container.

『The mothers often make us side dishes. This container is from Kiyeon’s mom—it used to have gim-bugak.』

『Oh, right. My mom told me to bring it back.』

『When was that again?』

Lee Cheonghyeon asked his friend. Kang Kiyeon looked up at the ceiling as if trying to remember, then muttered.

『…Beginning of the year?』

A conversation that would make Kang Kiyeon’s mother’s blood boil ensued.

『But is it okay to do a livestream without Jeong Seongbin?』

Choi Jeho asked as he picked up the largest side dish container placed in front of him. Who put that there? She would have to rewatch this later.

『True. It’s rare for five of us to do a stream.』

An awkward silence followed Lee Cheonghyeon’s words. While it was common for a few members to do live streams together, it was rare for only five of them to stream unless someone was sick or had a schedule conflict.

Even then, Spark usually didn’t have that many individual schedules yet, and they made a point of showing up together for group content whenever possible.

Perhaps because of that, a broadcast with five members felt awkward to both the members and the fans. Sensing the awkward pause, Kim Iwol smoothly picked things back up.

『Seongbin’s probably eating right now too. We can’t be with him in person, so let’s at least eat together in spirit.』

『To think that’s my future in a year, I can’t swallow my food…』

Looking at the dejected Lee Cheonghyeon, Kang Kiyeon said.

『For someone saying that, you’re already on your third crab stick yubu chobap, aren’t you?』

『You were counting?!』

Lee Cheonghyeon covered his mouth and shrieked in horror. Kang Kiyeon, disgusted, moved away from Lee Cheonghyeon.

『What are you all eating today?』

Choi Jeho asked, looking at the camera. One of his cheeks was puffed out, presumably with yubu chobap.

The chat window was flooded with yubu chobap. Some oddballs mentioned plain sushi or yubu hotpot, but most were on theme.

『Is today some special day? Everyone’s saying they ate yubu chobap? Are we in sync or what?!』

Lee Cheonghyeon’s joy was short-lived as Park Joowoo read a chat explaining the truth.

『Iwol hyung gave a menu spoiler yesterday…?』

『Yeah. Eating the same thing makes it feel like we’re eating together.』

At Kim Iwol’s words, Baek Haewon looked down at her own yubu chobap bibimbap in the mixing bowl.

I’m sorry, Iwol. I don’t think we’re having the same menu.

More importantly, these kids really didn’t search online. People were talking about yubu chobap all day yesterday.

Just as Kim Iwol and Park Joowoo’s cooking story was wrapping up, a new comment popped up in the chat.

It was a chat asking Kim Iwol, the only one who had taken the CSAT, about his CSAT experience.