LE Entertainment’s music channel, Music Wave.
And the awards ceremony they host, MWMA.
Right now, the last choreography checks for the singers are in full swing.
While checking the equipment, a staff member took advantage of a moment without the chief producer’s radio call to lean against the stage and rest with their junior female colleague.
“Did you see it earlier, senior? I locked eyes with Min-seo, and wow, she was seriously a jackpot of beauty.”
“Yeah, Min-seo is really pretty.”
“Right? Wow, I can’t believe I’m a MWMA staff member. Just last year, I was in the audience waving a glow stick.”
“Make sure to take in the sights now. By the time you wander around until dawn, you won’t even notice anything.”
“Come on, but the pay is good, and I get to see the idols; it’s like killing two birds with one stone!”
“Is that so?”
Considering he was probably the same way at first, he couldn’t say he didn’t understand his junior.
Though she’d surely be exhausted eventually as they ran around past midnight.
“Hey, senior, have you ever seen Debonaire?”
“Debonaire? Why, haven’t you?”
“Nope, he’s never even come to our broadcasting station since I started here. So, I’ve never had a chance to meet him. So when people fuss over Do-se-min, I can’t even compare since I’ve never seen Lee Do-hee… they say he’s a visual god.”
“Yeah… that’s true.”
“So, have you seen him?”
“Well, I haven’t seen Debonaire, but I have seen Lee Do-hee and Kim Seo-yoon a few times when I was filming programs with Seven.”
“Seriously? What are they like?”
“Everyone in Seven was nice. They might be rookies, so that could be why.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, Lee Do-hee always drags Park Ye-eun around, greeting everyone with a smile first, and she’s quite polite when she speaks.”
“Come on…”
“You’ll find out eventually if you work here long enough that it’s a big deal. We just receive greetings, but they have to do that with dozens or even hundreds of people every day.”
“That’s not what I meant; I wanted to know more details…”
“Well, Kim Seo-yoon and Lee Do-hee had a playful rivalry. They were fun, but that’s all I have from seeing them from a distance.”
“Is that how it usually is? So what’s your ranking of visuals you’ve seen?”
From what he heard, his junior was a devoted fan of some boy group, yet she seemed to show more interest in girl idols.
Well, if it’s top-tier popularity, it would be a common interest regardless of gender.
“First off…”
What he remembered about Kim Seo-yoon was that “puppy dog” look fit her better than anyone else.
Her features were pronounced but leaned toward cute rather than strong, making her appealing to everyone without any biases.
“And… and what else?”
On the other hand, Lee Do-hee had a unique vibe he had never experienced during his career in entertainment.
It was a unique atmosphere that Seo had never experienced until now.
“I’m not just talking about appearances, but how should I put it…”
With a cute face that still had baby fat reminiscent of when she was a middle schooler, her glamorous look coexisted with her tall stature and exceptional presence, which was already well-known.
However, unlike the image of being the cute youngest, there was an adult-like charm that made you feel she was playfully trying to put others at ease, especially when she smiled during filming.
“Anyway, there was something about her from the start that felt different.”
Suddenly, Seo became curious about the recent real-life appearance of Do-hee Lee, whom they had seen in videos.
She had debuted as a debonaire and was said to have matured into a more defined face.
“Oh, I saw recent reviews, and everyone says she looks just so, so different. I’m totally excited today! I heard Debonaire is coming today too, but when will she arrive?”
However, it remained a mystery why Debonaire was attending the awards.
“She’s probably not going to win anything anyway, so why come?”
“Huh? Debonaire really can’t win? Looking at the situation, she seems to have a chance at the grand prize. Of course, Ailee is first in the charts, but Debonaire is right up there in second, third, and fourth place. She should at least be in contention for Artist of the Year, right?”
“Well… if you look at the numbers, she does have a chance for Artist of the Year.”
But still likely wouldn’t win.
“She’s famous, you know. The relationship between her agency and ours is not great.”
“Is that the reason?”
“Honestly, that’s how it is. LE comes from a big company that ranks close to the top 10. It’s a bit cheeky for a non-major entity like Topist to act like this.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, Debonaire’s appearance could maybe be a gesture of reconciliation. Even so, I doubt they’ll get anything meaningful—just some random minor award to fill awkward gaps.”
“Hello, FD!”
“Huh?”
The junior’s eyes went wide.
A voice that called out from behind him.
The staff couldn’t help but stiffen like ice.
“Oh, Do-hee? Haha, hello!”
Because that familiar voice just belonged to the very person they were talking about.
‘…Did she hear us?’
Turning around, Do-hee Lee greeted him with the same smile as before.
That playful yet mature smile.
“Hey, FD, you can just call me Do-hee like before, you know.”
“Oh, I did that without thinking… haha.”
In a moment, he couldn’t help but resent Do-hee’s nature of greeting others first.
“Wow, you’re really even prettier… I genuinely love Debonaire!”
“Oh, really? Thank you!”
“I have like three photo cards of Do-hee at home!”
The junior next to him leaned forward proudly showcasing their fan heart.
“Let’s start!”
“New writer and FD, please take care of us today! We have to go check the movement lines.”
With a quick greeting, Do-hee Lee joins her members.
“Wow, Senior, you’re way prettier in real life… by far the prettiest person I’ve ever seen!”
The staff pretends to be nonchalant.
“Must be because you matured… definitely prettier now.”
They breathe a sigh of relief, thinking she probably didn’t hear that over the noisy stage.
*
“Do-hee, why do you look so upset?”
“My heart just suddenly ached.”
“Really? Did someone say something bad?”
“Woo-ah Unni’s cuteness is too much and it’s making my heart… ugh.”
“What the~ Do-hee, are you trying to flirt with me lately?”
“Why are you two always doing that? Let me join in too!”
“No way.”
“And Woo-ah was originally my couple, anyway!”
“I don’t know~ Do-hee keeps trying to seduce me~”
I knew there’s a chance I might not win an award, but with the staff chattering like that, I had to give up any hopes I had.
Of course, I didn’t show that to the older sisters.
“Hmm, my love can only be received by good people.”
“If I’m not good, then who is?!”
“Hmm…”
Before the first award ceremony, MWMA, the members in the waiting room were half excited and half nervous.
“You’re really good at talking. Right, Na-eun Unni?”
“You go and have fun too~ It’s the same thing~”
“…Unni? Excuse me?”
Even though I had given a heads-up that I probably wouldn’t win anything, it felt strange not to expect at least one award with these results.
Still, our leader approaches me and says,
“Do-hee, no matter the results, let’s not doubt that we worked hard this past year.”
“Huh? Out of the blue?”
“Yeah, but we did work hard, right? We’ll work hard next year too.”
Did I let on, even a little?
“I’m just saying this because I know you always put in the effort more than anyone else.”
“But Unni, that’s me! I’m a person with clear self-objectivity. I walked seven steps right after being born and shouted ‘I am the best in heaven and earth’!”
“Right, right. Okay everyone, let’s all gather and shout ‘Fighting’ together!”
“No way, Na-eun Unni, that was my line! I even came up with some awesome phrases!”
“What’s this ‘awesome’ thing…? Then let’s have Chiyo try again.”
“No! That would ruin the excitement!”
Na-eun Unni, trying to act like the leader, failed miserably managing our carefree members.
But the atmosphere was still pretty good.
“By the way, we still end with our simple Debonaire Fighting! We need to come up with a rallying cry or something, right?”
Kim Seo-yoon, who never misses a chance to chime in on such discussions, hummed while checking her tone until she showed up.
I was fully aware she was exaggerating because I kept rejecting those cringey rally cries.
“Do-hee! We should do something like Wake the Seven! Right?”
“Oh, was that the Seven’s rallying cry!?”
That grin she had said it all.
“Right? I really wish we had something. A team should have at least one rallying cry.”
“…If Na-eun Unni says that much, then I guess.”
“Sigh, Do-hee, I seriously want to give Na-eun Unni a good scolding someday.”
“Unfortunately, Kim Seo-yoon is a bit lacking to earn my respect.”
While everyone was lost in this chaotic situation, Chiyo Unni suddenly raised her hand.
“Alright, everyone, what do you think of this rally cry?!”
“What is it?”
“Debonaire! Debonaire! Debonaire! Debonaire! Debonaire~ Fighting!”
“…Wow, oh my gosh.”
And she comes up with a terrifying rally cry.
“Just so you know, Do-hee is the youngest, so Debonaire is No. 5?”
“Honestly… not bad.”
“Creativity is a solid 100.”
“Yeah, come on, let’s go with this!”
Everyone seemed to be losing their minds with nerves before the award ceremony.
How can we arrive at a positive conclusion with such a rally cry?
“No, this can’t be it, seriously.”
“Alright, everyone, please take care of us moving forward! Na-eun Unni, go ahead!”
Kim Seo-yoon forcibly grabbed my head.
She made a circle and tucked my head inside.
“A rally cry that even a sports person would find romantic.”
“Okay, let me try? Debonaire!”
But please, not that kind of rally cry.
“Debonaireeeh!”
Is this funny?
“Debonaire~”
“Debonaire, it is!”
Seriously, what the heck.
“Hey, hurry up.”
“Debonaire…”
【Fighting!】
Seriously, what the heck.
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