The Sunbae Who Paves a Flower Path 25

“Ha……”

Newton’s leader, Nam Jungho, had been sighing since he first heard the news.

<(Radio) 3 PM Michel Time>

Guests: NEWTØNE (Jungho, Eden, Hyunsol, Liam, Yusang – 5 members), Go Won

The host was Michel, a member of Edelweiss belonging to the 5th Division and K-dum’s great sunbae.

He’d been trying not to even run into Go Won at the company for a while, but who knew they’d end up appearing on radio together?

It was clear what kind of dynamic they were trying to create by calling Newton and Go Won from the same agency with similar debut times.

‘That’s why it’s even more of a problem….’

Newton’s debut timing was bad.

Idols, trot, bands, and even dancers. The trend of audition programs was thought to have been exploited until the very last drop was squeezed out, but then the program <Debut Chart! 100> appeared and set off the final fireworks.

One of its main figures was 1st place Go Won who newly wrote the underdog myth. Including him, the trainees who made it to the rankings shone with voting fervor as if evoking nostalgia for the era when audition shows burned bright.

Naturally, the music industry during the broadcast period, especially the boy idol market, suffered.

Newton survived among them as much as they debuted from the major entertainment company K-dum. But they couldn’t deny their bad luck either.

‘<DRIFT>, that was supposed to be your song originally. Have you only experienced songs rotating around inside a big company?’

Executive Director Choi gathered Newton and said.

‘Since it came up, if we’re talking about urgent order, you who debuted last year come first. Would Go Won who can practice more be the problem?’

Newton still didn’t have a representative song imprinted on the public. Executive Director Choi’s words were instigation that precisely targeted their complex.

‘Anyway, there’s a limit to the investment funds the company can use. As a result, Go Won desperately took the song and produced results. So you inevitably have to stand out by other means. No matter what. Only then will support increase for your albums too. Got it?’

‘Yes!’

‘With this incident, the 5th Division got on bad terms with other places in various ways, so don’t do things that get you lumped together and fall out of favor for no reason.’

The last seemed like words warning against any friendship forming with Go Won, who was the same age.

Executive Director Choi’s words were strange if you thought about it even a little, but they were enough to shake the desperate members’ hearts.

Some even seemed to harbor resentment. Didn’t they show hostile reactions immediately when they ran into him at the practice room?

‘…Still, the kids seem to want to work hard even if it’s because they don’t want to lose to Go Won….’

This situation continuing a bit longer should be okay.

Nam Jungho also had complicated feelings about Go Won.

It was natural to feel jealousy toward him who suddenly appeared and made a splendid debut while receiving the halo of great sunbae yACE. But.

‘That star quality too… is real.’

Go Won, that person, was sadly born with talent as an idol.

Even if Nam Jungho himself had appeared on <Debut Chart>, he wasn’t confident he could beat him and win.

“If it was going to be like this, I should’ve just gone on a survival show too. They’re living much more comfortably.”

As if reading his thoughts, the youngest Yusang spoke to him.

At the group center’s arrogant and confident attitude, Jungho swallowed a sigh.

“Yusang-ah. You know you can’t say things like that outside, right? Watch your mouth. There’s no need to act friendly, so just treat him formally. Got it? You have to speak carefully.”

“…Ah, I got it.”

“Still, if you don’t want to talk… I’ll handle it myself. Don’t worry.”

It would be better if he led the talk today anyway.

At the radio table’s main seat sat DJ Michel, and on the opposite side, in seats well-captured by the camera, sat Newton’s popular member Yusang and Go Won who came alone. The side seats were filled by Newton’s other members.

Finally, the opening began.

“Wow~ Is today Michel Time or Sunbae Time? Oh my, what’s happening in the studio today? 3 PM Michel Time with Newton and Go Won. Part 1 starts now. Welcome!”

“Waaa.”

Newton members burst into cheers, and Go Won only clapped with a thin smile tinged with tension.

“So very nice to meet you. Please give us a greeting. Newton first.”

“Yes! One, two, three. Tuning the stage. Hello, we’re Newton.”

“Wow, so energetic. Then our hoobae can’t lose either, right?”

“Hello. I’m Go Won.”

Go Won who bumped his forehead on the mic while raising his bowed head added another word with an awkward look.

“…Please take care of me.”

“Go Won-ssi doesn’t have a slogan because you’re solo, right?”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

“Well. It’s a bit embarrassing to do alone. When I did solo activities, I didn’t do ‘Blooming~ Edelweiss!’ either. Now that I’ve done it, it’s embarrassing again. What about our leader Jungho-ssi? Do you think you could do the slogan alone?”

Surprised that the mic came to him from the start, but Jungho quickly refined the answer he should give as a leader.

“Tuning the stage! Hello, I’m Newton’s Jungho… desuaaa….”

Soon after, he covered his flushed face with the back of his hand. The host burst into laughter seeing that.

“Soooo cute. As expected, young blood is energetic, well done!”

“Hyung’s the best!”

Jungho’s fresh appearance mixed with the members’ active responses created a scene worth smiling warmly at.

“Listeners, from now on, questions you’re curious about for our hoobae-nims, things you want to say. Gather them all and send them now. Where should they send them, Go Won-ssi?”

The sunbae gave an opportunity to receive attention fairly. Go Won flinched and then lowered his head to the prompter in front.

“Please send to #1XX4, short messages 50 won, long messages 100 won, the bulletin board is free. …Then it would be good to use the free bulletin board.”

“Wow, Go Won-ssi. You’re very frugal. Everyone, the last sentence wasn’t in the script. Wow, just now listener 1357 sent ‘a rookie you can’t predict where he’ll bounce, so cute.'”

“Ah, thank you….”

“I look forward to today’s performance too. First, let’s hear about our guests’ recent activities.”

Following the script, the first question began. From Newton, the youngest Yusang brought out his prepared comment.

“Yes, our Newton successfully completed our first fan concert. We prepared not only title track but many b-side stages too, and it was a meaningful time being able to communicate closely with fans.”

“Wow, goodness. How fun must it have been? But I heard you have something to brag about.”

“We! Both days sold out and even the Friday additional session that opened was packed!”

Member Hyunsol pushed Yusang with his face and answered almost shouting. Since Go Won got praise for ad-libbing, he seemed to want to follow. Michel briefly raised her eyebrows but soon responded skillfully.

“Congratulations! By any chance, is there a memorable moment?”

“We spoiled the comeback at the concert’s end. The fans’ cheers at that time….”

While Newton’s interview continued for a moment, Go Won stayed in his seat listening attentively to the story. Michel cut off the topic at an appropriate moment.

“I listened well. Then how are Go Won-ssi’s recent activities?”

“Last week I safely wrapped up my debut album activities. Every moment standing on stage felt like a dream.”

“Oh, so much like a rookie…. The timing’s a bit late, but I’ll give you a short time for album promotion.”

Go Won hesitated briefly then soon answered fluently.

“My debut single is <Go One>, the same as my name. Among the double title tracks, <Unlimited> was produced by Henzel sunbae-nim, who also took charge of producing.”

“Wow, it was Henzel’s song. Hanje’s sense really hasn’t died. Amazing. Making sophisticated songs fitting the times for over 10 years isn’t an easy thing.”

As yACE’s story came up, with whom she’d shared joys and sorrows, Michel’s interest naturally gravitated that way. Anxiety settled in Nam Jungho’s eyes. Moving topics was fine, but Go Won’s airtime increasing was troublesome.

“Ah, speaking of Henzel sunbae-nim reminds me of something! Is it true that in K-dum’s early days, the CEO gave the stage names Henzel and Michel to the two male and female trainees who sang best, calling them heavenly voices?”

“What? Goodness. Where did you hear that? Ah, it’s been so long since I heard Henzel & Michel.”

Michel laughed as if horrified and pretended to rub the goosebumps on both arms.

“Aren’t both sunbae-nims actually the main vocals of your groups?”

“Phew, my face is all flushed from stories from when tigers smoked cigarettes. In that sense, to make the atmosphere fresh again, shall we quickly listen to today’s first song? Newton’s <As I Want>, which fans enthusiastically requested, let’s listen right away!”

While the song played on the radio, Michel who couldn’t contain her burst of laughter sneakily spoke to Jungho.

“But you know what? Hanje… Henzel isn’t yACE’s main vocal?”

“What? Really? Henzel sunbae-nim?”

Jungho’s eyes widened. Though there was exaggeration to show active reaction to the great sunbae, thinking of Henzel’s vocal ability, it was truly a strange thing.

“Originally Henzel and Yunjin shared the main vocal role, but when Hanje was about seventeen? I don’t know where he heard something weird, but he suddenly insisted that producing members shouldn’t take main roles so he’d fix it as Jin.”

“Woow…, why, did he do that?”

“Exactly. Even when all the company people gathered to comfort our youngest asking what’s wrong, he just said his intuition was like that. Even when Jin said just you do it, he stubbornly insisted lying down, eventually gave up the main vocal title and even made a sudden announcement to fans. I’m yACE’s producer, and yACE’s main vocal is Yunjin! Like that. Funny episode, right?”

Clearly she started looking at Jungho while speaking, but Michel’s gaze gradually moved to Go Won.

For good reason—even if Jungho pretended to listen with interest, it was ultimately formal. In contrast, Go Won was so absorbed in the story that even a child encountering media for the first time wouldn’t open their eyes that wide.

“The song will end soon. Let’s go back into the talk. …Yes, listened well!”

Michel who skillfully wrapped up the short chat continued the next segment.

“Listener 7890 sent this. K-dum, the prestigious boy idol company’s new era Newton & Go Won. I’m curious about each other’s first impressions. Ooh, first impressions. How was everyone?”

Go Won and Newton had met exactly once. That too recently at the company practice room, for just a few minutes.

Go Won’s gaze met Yusang’s. As Yusang frowned and tried to open his mouth, Jungho hurriedly spoke first.

“We’ve never met at the company before, and for first impression… uh… when I watched a certain audition program, he was really cool.”

“Ah, so you have no connection at all?”

“Yes. We’re also in different divisions…. I was already disappointed we couldn’t exchange greetings.”

Done, for now. He stopped either Yusang or Go Won from talking nonsense.

As he barely wiped his chest in relief, the bulletin board that had been coming up at a reasonable speed suddenly picked up pace.

At the same time, negative messages began to stand out.

Even if divisions are different, isn’t the building one? No matter what, living without even exchanging greetings with sunbaes

Ah did Go Won pick and choose people and only fawn super hard over yACE? lololol

Ha Jungho don’t say things like that, only your image gets worse ㅠㅠ It’s not like he’s deliberately ignoring them, what greeting talk in 202X…

“Ah, no. I think I misspoke, I meant I want to get close. Go Won-nim, I’m sorry.”