Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

Chapter 302: 1st Anniversary (3)

The ‘I see’ corner was aired in full, with minimal editing. This was because not only was there rarely a dull moment in a Spark broadcast, but it was also one of the contents that fans were disappointed about when it got cut for broadcast. Things like a phone call with family or stories from a company dinner.

Choi Jeho called out Jeong Seongbin. He was not the type to live with a grudge, so I wondered what he was going to say.

『Why aren’t there any pictures of Kim Iwol on our official account?』

『Huh?』

『The ones I took at your graduation.』

It turned out he was protesting that the pictures he had taken hadn’t been uploaded to social media. He sure talked big after snapping a picture of me that looked like a frigging horse mackerel.

『I see. I’ll definitely upload them today.』

Why do you have to upload them…

『How many pictures did you take back then, hyung?』

『Three.』『Then we can just add one more and upload them. Anyone want to be the cover photo?』

『Wouldn’t it be best to put in one of the pictures of Seongbin hyung that Iwol hyung took? One that hasn’t been uploaded.』

And so, an unreleased photo of the graduating Jeong Seongbin, and a photo of my passionate struggle to take a picture of Jeong Seongbin, were uploaded to the official Spark account.

I naturally got paired with Lee Cheonghyeon. The guy’s eyes sparkled brightly.

『I nag Cheonghyeon a lot on a regular basis, so I don’t have anything special to say.』

『See, even you think so, right?』

Lee Cheonghyeon smiled confidently. His shoulders were also puffed up.

『Still, since I’ve got the chance, I’ll say one thing.』

『Go ahead.』

The guy was being generous. I opened my mouth without feeling burdened.

『Cheonghyeon.』

『Yeah, hyung.』

『Did you dislike the nickname ‘Cute Pretty Visual’ that much?』

Lee Cheonghyeon was greatly surprised. He had been caught by me trying to change his nickname on Bubble Pop a while ago, but he probably didn’t think I would mention it separately.

『If you didn’t like it, you should have told me. I didn’t even know and tried to solidify your nickname as ‘Cute Pretty Visual’.』

『No, that’s not it!』

Lee Cheonghyeon hurriedly waved both his hands, but it was no use. It couldn’t be helped. Since I had seen it with my own two eyes.

Still, it would be a problem if he really hated the nickname. Sparkles had cherished it for ages. I’m in the middle of transmitting it as an intangible cultural heritage; how dare you try to change it.

『I didn’t even know you disliked that nickname, and I was the only one who had my display name set like that. I’ve been worried about it all this time.』

『It is not ‘I see.’ It’s a complete misunderstanding!』

『Just say ‘I see.’ I’ll change your nickname for you.』

『I see! You misunderstood, thinking I didn’t like my nickname! That’s not it at all!』

『What keyword should I put in your next nickname?』

『Saying that I’m cute, pretty, and beautiful is enough!』

『Well, that really does cover it all?』

From the side, Kang Kiyeon chimed in, chuckling. Thanks to the subtitle staff who didn’t miss adding the subtitles, everyone watching also knew that Kang Kiyeon was messing with Lee Cheonghyeon. Lee Cheonghyeon’s face turned bright red.

The guy, after yapping for a long time, finally said with a distressed expression.

『I will explain myself on the live.』

This is payback for the fan meeting, you brat.

* * *

Next up was the long-anticipated reveal of the secret ‘Manito’ game.

『Who’s my Manito?』

As soon as the corner began, Kang Kiyeon shot up from his seat and asked.

『I couldn’t figure it out at all.』

『Really…?』

Park Joowoo asked with wide eyes.

『Yeah. When I woke up, there would be something on my pillow…』

『Like what?』

『A keychain and other things. I thought my Manito gave it to me, so I put it on today.』

Kang Kiyeon waved the strap attached to his jacket. A small, cute, black star-shaped keychain was hanging from a hole in the strap.

『Do you have anyone in mind?』

『Lee Cheonghyeon? Because it’s easiest for him to leave it without getting caught.』

While Kang Kiyeon was seriously contemplating, Park Joowoo said in a dejected voice.

『It’s me…』

『Really?!』

Park Joowoo, the quietest member in Spark, smiled bitterly.

『I’m sorry, hyung. I really didn’t know. Because you were so meticulous.』

『…I did a good job as a Manito, right?』

『Of course. You did so well that I got completely fooled.』

Kang Kiyeon hurriedly comforted Park Joowoo. To think that his hyung, who didn’t even go out of the dorm, secretly went out to buy a keychain to be his dongsaeng’s Manito. Everyone, including Kang Kiyeon, would know how much effort the extremely introverted Park Joowoo had put in. Everyone except Choi Jeho.

『Since the Santas gave gifts on Christmas, this time I wanted to do it…』

『Through this way?』

『That’s some excellent foreshadowing payoff, hyung.』

Praised by his dongsaengs, Park Joowoo’s face flushed so red it was visible even through the screen. It was a sign of joy.

Besides the keyring, Kang Kiyeon pulled more items out of his bag like a pawnshop owner, proving just how hard Park Joowoo had worked at delivering gifts. Kang Kiyeon said he really liked the gifts and praised him as the best Manito.

On the other hand, there was also a guy who had correctly guessed his Manito. It was Lee Cheonghyeon.

『What did Seongbin do for you?』

『Since I was too busy with composing and preparing a challenge, hyung separately gave me reminders. Normally that’s more Kang Kiyeon’s thing.』

『You guessed that Seongbin was your Manito just from that?』

Lee Cheonghyeon wasn’t the type to be convinced by just that.

And sure enough, he had more evidence.

『Remember I asked you if you were my Manito?』

『Yeah.』

『Huh? You asked Iwol hyung too?』

This guy had laid out bait for all the members and observed their reactions.

『Honestly, I thought it would be either Iwol hyung or Seongbin hyung. But you never know, so I poked around and observed.』

『Does that usually give you an answer?』

Choi Jeho muttered skeptically.

『You heard earlier, right? Who gets nagged the most by Iwol hyung? Me!』

『That’s right.』

『So I thought he might be my Manito. Because there’s a bit of a difference between the happiness that hyung thinks of for me and my actual happiness.』

『That’s true.』

Kang Kiyeon agreed.

『I subtly poked hyung during a break, and he said he thought his Manito was Joowoo hyung. After hearing that, I knew it wasn’t him.』

『What made you so sure?』

『It’s strange that he would specifically point out Joowoo hyung when Seongbin hyung is the one who cares for him the most, right? The fact that he excluded the obvious Manito-like Seongbin hyung from the list of Manito candidates is proof that he is Seongbin hyung’s Manito. If he were someone else’s Manito, he would’ve lied that his Manito was Seongbin hyung just to throw people off. That way, everyone would’ve been fooled.』

『You’re really something else.』

Choi Jeho praised him. Even his style of praise was unique—he was definitely born to be a center.

『The other people acted as usual. The only one who did something out of the ordinary was Seongbin hyung. Does that answer your question?』

Lee Cheonghyeon smiled proudly. And as a reward for finding his Manito, he received a crown.

Up next was Jeong Seongbin, who had been swept up in the Manito controversy. Although Lee Cheonghyeon had dropped the bomb earlier, Jeong Seongbin looked confused.

『Uh… actually, I didn’t think Iwol hyung was my Manito.』

『Why?』

My dumbfounded expression was captured in a big shot. Jeong Seongbin’s face was no different.

『I was nice to you.』

『I didn’t notice, but could you please tell me what good deeds you bestowed upon me…?』

I’d tried to sleep properly. Ate all my meals. Went to the gym without skipping. All to save Jeong Seongbin the trouble of branding me.

But thinking about it, this was beneficial to my health, not to Jeong Seongbin. Claiming he should be happy because I had relieved him of his worries—wasn’t that just completely self-centered?

『…On second thought, I don’t think I was nice to you.』

『No, of course, you’re always nice to me, hyung.』

『No. I’ll do better.』

『I’ll accept your pledge.』

『You’re not refusing, I see.』

Jeong Seongbin and I hugged each other. It was our second reconciliatory hug.

Needless to say, Choi Jeho did not guess his Manito. Choi Jeho’s Manito was revealed to be Lee Cheonghyeon.

『That’s harsh, hyung! I took so many pictures of you!』

『…Did you?』

『I followed you around from morning to night and took pictures! Weren’t you happy to see your perfect shots?!』

『They all look the same to me, what can I do?』

This is why handsome guys are no good. There’s no earnestness in their pictures.

At this rate, no one would be able to guess their Manito except for Lee Cheonghyeon.

『…I know who my Manito is.』

Park Joowoo dropped a bombshell.

『Really?』

『Yeah.』

『Who is it?』*

『…Kiyeon.』

Kang Kiyeon’s mouth fell open.

『You two were each other’s Manito? That’s amazing.』

『How did you know?』

Ignoring Lee Cheonghyeon’s comment, Kang Kiyeon asked. Seeing his look full of surprise, it seemed this guy also thought he had hidden the fact that he was the Manito well.

『A while ago, Kiyeon said he had a spare Bluetooth speaker and gave it to me, saying it was compatible with my headset.』

『That’s right. I even peeled off all the seals.』

『The product smelled new.』

『It took a week to get the smell out, and you’re telling me it still smelled new?』

The maknae had prepared thoroughly, but he couldn’t fool Mr. Nose Park Joowoo.

『But thank you so much… I’m using it well.』

『I’m glad you’re using it well. I hope the smell goes away soon.』

A heartwarming third hug followed. A crown was also given to Park Joowoo, who had guessed his Manito. The screen was filled with a friendship-filled scene befitting a 1st-anniversary content.

『All that’s left is Iwol hyung…』

Jeong Seongbin said, alternating his gaze between me and Choi Jeho.

Right, if everyone else had learned their Manitto, then the one left must be mine.

I get that, but…

『I’m Kim Iwol’s Manito.』

…why are you my Manito, Choi Jeho?