These days, Ye-eun Unni has been acting so spoiled.
After the “Unsatisfied” activities ended, we had a relaxing day at the dorm with no special schedules.
It was a rare day for the members to attend school, except for the three of us: the adult Hana, Ha-rang Unni, and me, who dropped out.
In the afternoon, after finishing lunch, I settled on the sofa to enjoy some leisure time while reading a book. Hana Unni suddenly asked,
“Is it fun?”
It’s the title of the book I’m holding, “The Good People Who Discriminate.”
“Well, not really.”
Though it was recommended by a Korean university, I felt more like it was just a bunch of nonsense rather than being persuaded.
But why am I still reading it?
Well, I might be able to use it later.
‘Besides, it makes me look smart, doesn’t it?’
“But why isn’t Ha-rang Unni eating anything?”
Ha-rang Unni screamed that this was the privilege of being an adult when we, the members, were going to school in the morning, and she hasn’t gotten out of bed ever since.
“I guess she’ll eat when she’s hungry.”
‘But I want snacks.’
“Unni, do you want to eat chicken?”
The strict Hana Unni hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Just a little, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll order one whole.”
Even though I usually have a small appetite, I still seem to eat quite a bit during this growth spurt.
‘When you’re growing, you usually eat three servings each meal.’
Before I knew it, my chest was puffed up, asserting its presence.
C cup, I guess this is a nice line for now.
As I was staring at my chest, Hana Unni snickered with a sly expression.
“By the way, our youngest has really grown up, hasn’t she? Should I check?”
She approached with a creepy grin.
“Don’t!”
.
.
.
About 30 minutes later, the intercom in the dorm rang.
It seemed like the delivery guy was calling.
Not long after, I heard the sound of the elevator outside the front door.
– On the 17th floor.
As I headed towards the front door to grab the chicken left out front, the door lock clicked and the door opened by itself.
The face I saw beyond the door was Ye-eun Unni, dressed in the uniform of Hanlim Arts High School, often called the Idol Training School.
“What’s this, you were waiting for me? Hehe.”
When our eyes met, she made a strange smile.
“Did you miss me that much?”
What is she even saying?
“Forget that, isn’t there chicken in front?”
There was no chicken in sight at the entrance.
Apparently, I must have missed the delivery guy.
She would be coming back up in the elevator she just went down.
“Are you embarrassed? Hehe. Well, that’s understandable. Middle schoolers still need me.”
“Why are you acting like this?”
Her mouth was curled up, showing off her dimples in that wide grin.
Even though she’s shorter than me, she seems to be looking down at me at a weird angle, full of superiority.
Park Ye-eun’s annoying antics have been often spotted since the entrance ceremony.
“It’s okay, Do-hee. It’s still allowed to be like this as a middle schooler. Hehe.”
“You have no chicken.”
Sure, on the day of the entrance ceremony, she was like, ‘How do I make new friends?’ all nervous and worried.
Yet just weeks, maybe days after starting school, that obnoxious expression started showing up.
Was it just because she became a high schooler?
‘Or did her classmates boost her ego…?’
The latter seems more plausible.
Seven has successfully passed the audition.
The staff are bustling around, helping out.
People recognize them no matter where they go.
They’re the most popular kids at school.
Winning awards at various music shows and ceremonies.
Naturally, Kim Ye-eun Unni, who was originally lacking in confidence, had her ego swell.
‘How am I supposed to train this kid?’
I’ve thought about it often, but celebrities receive such extravagant treatment that it’s way too easy for them to catch celebrity syndrome — granted, this mainly applies to celebrities who have some level of recognition.
There are plenty of names of actors and idols I’ve heard about who are already showing signs of this celebrity syndrome.
The staff often complain.
“Someone is rude.”
“Someone’s personality is a complete mess.”
“Someone is always late,” and so on.
Anyway, for the sake of Kim Ye-eun Unni, we need to rein her in now, before she ruins her own reputation.
“Pfft… Park Ye-eun, you’re really becoming an older sister now. Hehe.”
I feel the need to give her a bit of a reprimand as an adult.
It’s not that I have a disdainful expression or anything.
And soon enough, a good schedule came up to correct Park Ye-eun’s swollen ego.
It was time for the Manager’s schedule briefing.
“We’ll be leaving for Japan next week.”
“Eh!? We’re going to Nippon!?”
“Eeh!? Really!?”
“Dohichan is so cute~”
Sigh…
On the other hand, Park Ye-eun Unni looked anxious and quite worried.
“What should I do… I don’t know Japanese…”
In a big entertainment agency, basic English and Japanese conversation lessons are provided.
Aside from Kim Ye-eun and Hana Unni, the other members all had at least some basic conversational skills.
Of course, I’m fluent in Japanese, but…
Hana Unni and Kim Ye-eun Unni weren’t as proficient due to not being in a big agency.
They could practice basic conversation easily, but…
Fortunately, there wasn’t an urgent need to master Japanese just yet.
The Manager explained:
“We’re not debuting in Japan; we’re simply…”
Currently, Seven being a top-tier girl group in Korea naturally had some global recognition thanks to the K-pop craze.
And they also had decent popularity in Japan.
To be fair, on my birthday, Japanese fans even pooled money together to put up a birthday advertisement in Shinjuku.
‘I often get comments in Japanese on Instagram too.’
However, there were no plans for an official debut in Japan.
As a project group, there were time constraints, and to enter Japan, local agencies needed to be involved.
If sharing profits with a Japanese agency, the revenue would likely yield lower expectations compared to focusing on activities in Korea, making their current agency less inclined towards a Japanese debut.
Still, it was impossible to overlook Japan, the second-largest market after North America, so there were a few interviews, photo shoots, and appearances on popular Japanese talk shows lined up.
‘Is it finally time to show off the Japanese skills I’ve been developing through self-study and agency lessons?’
Ironically, it’s my lack of flaws that’s the problem here.
“Don’t you dare think about anything else.”
“No, I’m not.”
Does my expression give it away?
Kim Seo-yoon’s intuition can be quite frightening at times.
*
< I Asked While Stuck in a Swamp >
This is a program introducing popular celebrities.
This well-rated Japanese variety show has been quite comfortable for Korean fans to watch.
Many responses indicated that it looked comfortable to watch.
It wasn’t a provocative show made up of countless comedian MCs and guests, but rather a talk show with just two male and female MCs.
Still, upon hearing about Seven’s sudden schedule in Japan, Seven fans worried about the possibility of aggressive questions, given the nature of Japanese programs.
This concern was equally shared by Seven fans in Japan.
“Are we just going to Japan to get hurt…?”
“MCs never touch angels!!!”
“This is an international matter!!! It’s about Do-hee being hurt.”
“Seoyoung and Sara-chan are absolutely cute (laughs). I’m a bit embarrassed.”
“Cheyri, I absolutely support you!”
“Can the members speak Japanese?”
Above all, the most important thing was the members’ Japanese proficiency.
Even if the MCs supported them, if the conversations didn’t flow, the show could easily flop.
Fans had no choice but to watch the broadcast anxiously, full of worries.
The broadcast started with the members’ performance of “Unsatisfied.”
After the stage ended, the screen transitioned to profile introductions.
A Seven billboard shining brightly on the streets of Tokyo.
The Seven goods pop-up studio on Ikebukuro street.
Seven posters and songs laid out on the Shin-Okubo Hallyu street.
[The world is paying great attention to SAVEN]
A simple profile introduction that it’s also a hit in Japan.
After an interview with citizens who purchased Seven’s goods at the pop-up studio.
[Points of interest!!]
[A thorough analysis of Seven's charm!]
Back in the studio, the screen showed the members who had taken their seats.
[-I’m in seventh heaven. Good evening, Seven!]
The broadcast officially began with the members’ greeting.
The two MCs started a conversation.
[-That’s amazing. How did you reach out?]
[-Do you like Seven?]
[-I really like them!]
The atmosphere in the studio relaxed as the female MC declared herself a Seven fan.
The members confidently introduced themselves fluently in Japanese.
[-I’m Do-hee, the youngest of Seven.]
…
[-I’m Ye-eun, whose charm is her dimpled smile!]
So far, everything was going smoothly.
The MCs calmly followed the script and proceeded with the questions.
[-Was the audition tough?]
[-Yes, it was just days of practice without my phone.]
If they answered the questions they had practiced beforehand, there wasn’t much difficulty.
[-Do-hee-chan speaks Japanese really well, huh?]
[-Oh, really?]
[-You seem like a local!]
[-Actually, since I was 8 or 9 years old, I had a lot of interest in Japanese and learned by myself.]
[-Eh!!! Really? No way!]
[-Do-hee-chan is also a genius with excellent grades? (laughs)]
But then, it was time for real viewer questions.
From the real-time incoming questions, the MC picked one, and the members wrote their answers on a board.
[-If you could be reborn, what member would you want to be?]
[-Ah~ This one, I definitely want to be famous!]
With the MC’s question, Do-hee translated.
[What are you writing?]
[They say they want to write your name in Japanese, Do-hee.]
The youngest was leading them to write her name.
The youngest compelling everyone to write down their names.
[What the heck? If you could be reborn, what member would you want to be?]
Chae-rin, having the best Japanese skills among them, corrected Do-hee’s translation and confirmed the real question.
The members complimented each other while trying to choose different members.
[- I’m Sara-chan. Sara, your voice is so pretty!]
[- I’m Do-hee. Isn’t it crazy that she’s 15 years old in Japan? Her height is wow, she’s a complete package.]
[- I wrote down Ha-rang Unni… Ha-rang Unni is always confident, fun, and cool…!]
Of course.
[- Me. I really like myself.]
There was a minor issue, but the biggest topic came with the next question.
[- Have the members ever fought?]
Do-hee, who understood first, answered fluently.
[- Of course, we fight every day, but I tend to calm things down like an adult.]
Mixing in some difficult vocabulary, just in case Chae-rin could understand.
[- Eh~ That’s a lie!]
[- Even with food in the fridge, we often squabble over pudding and sometimes argue about clothes, but I still see myself as the one who mediates.]
The members, who had trouble with complex Japanese, simply smiled and nodded along to Do-hee’s words but felt something off from the host’s response.
[- Are the members serious?]
[They’re asking if everyone gets along.]
[- Yes! We really get along!]
[- Eh~ Do-hee’s so mature!]
Do-hee faced a round of teasing from the members after the broadcast aired.
*
Fans worried about the lack of Japanese speaking skills.
However, once the show aired, it turned out to be a false alarm.
Instead of going cold, the entertainment was filled with warmth and laughter.
Naturally, the audience’s reactions were positive.
– Everyone is cute! They dance really well, sing well, and are just adorable.
– Their faces are (so) small!!
– Wow, why is everyone so cute?!
-(laugh) Do-hee chose herself wwwww but it’s hard to disagree
– How is Do-hee so good at Japanese? She’s way better than my idiot at home!!!
– Seven’s Mannyeo is super cute
– Mannyeo Hidoui-chan is definitely a rabbit (laugh)
– wwww the members totally didn’t get it!
└ Mannyeo-chan is scary wwww
Many posts popped up in the Korean community as a bonus.
[Girl group member who self-studied Japanese]
[Girl group member who scams on Japanese variety shows]
[Do-hee lying on Japanese variety shows]
*
Training Park Ye-eun.
The reason Do-hee thought the Japanese schedule was good was simple.
After the plane from Gimpo International Airport arrived at Narita Airport in Japan.
“Ye-eun.”
Do-hee put her arm around Park Ye-eun’s shoulder.
“Huh…? Ye-eun…? I’m older than you!”
“We’re the same age here. Didn’t you know Japan counts age differently? You’re born in August. We’re friends, okay?”
“No way…! I’m Korean…! You should call me Unni…!”
“Forget it, let’s just go to the bathroom.”
“Hana Unniiii! Do-hee is bothering me again. Hee-ing.”
“Lee Do-hee! Why are you making Ye-eun cry again!”
Ye-eun’s stardom complex was probably prevented.
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