Little Pink Starfish

“Team Leader Park.”

“Yes.”

“What’s with this bastard? Is he seriously trying to pick a fight?”

In response to CEO Choi Daeho’s question, his ever-loyal right-hand man, Team Leader Park Seungwon, opened his mouth.

“I looked into it personally…”

“And?”

“It seems Han Sion believes that Fade is connected to Choi Jaesung’s accident.”

“What?”

Just because he’s a CEO doesn’t mean he knows all the fine details of the company.

In fact, it often means he knows less.

So this was the first time Choi Daeho was hearing rumors that had been quietly circulating among team leaders.

“Is that for real?”

“There’s no physical evidence, but it’s enough to form a suspicion.”

“Explain in detail.”

“After their Japan promotions, they were supposed to take a break, right?”

Fortunately for Choi Daeho, Take:Scene had achieved decent success in Japan.

It was hard to believe they’d practically fled the country because of Sedalbaekil.

Overseas fans often respond very differently than Korean ones.

There are cases where B-tier celebs in Korea receive top S-tier treatment in China, or mediocre idols in Korea explode in popularity in Japan.

Take:Scene was one of those cases.

Especially the main vocalist Joo Yeon and the main rapper Reddy—they were wildly popular.

Reddy, despite his free-spirited style and looks, had a deep interest in Go and calligraphy thanks to his parents, and that image worked incredibly well in Japan.

In contrast, Fade was in a weird spot.

He was an idol with great stage presence and spontaneous acting ability—overflowing with natural charisma.

But in Japanese, he couldn’t fully express that charm.

So unlike in Korea, he became one of the least popular members, and he resented it.

He was already the type to rebel, and with no popularity in Japan, he stirred up trouble and became dissatisfied with the company’s plan to continue promotions there.

And…

“The reason we started Japan activities in the first place was Sedalbaekil—or more accurately, Han Sion, right?”

“Can’t deny that.”

“When managers have smartphones, we routinely monitor YouTube algorithms and search histories, and a lot of things related to Sedalbaekil kept popping up.”

“Like what?”

“You know those gossip YouTubers who peddle negative news?”

“Like the rumor that Han Sion intentionally caused his parents’ accident?”

“Yes. That kind.”

“But why target Onsaemiro? Why not attack Han Sion directly?”

“Seems like he was scared of Han Sion. And there’s a really baseless rumor that Han Sion hit him.”

“What? With a fist?”

“Yes.”

Choi Daeho took a moment to recall Han Sion’s image.

He didn’t seem like someone who’d resort to violence—but in an extreme situation? He wouldn’t hesitate.

“Hm…”

Neither Park Seungwon nor Choi Daeho seemed to realize it, but they had both already accepted it as fact that Fade had pulled something.

To be honest, Choi Daeho never liked Fade much.

Bringing back a guy who had already been cut from the debut lineup meant there was a reason he was cut in the first place.

And that reason was mainly attitude.

Constant complaints, grumbling, and an urge to vent his stress somehow.

Even so—he was his guy now.

In showbiz, when your artist gets wrecked in public, it’s the parent (agency) that gets called an idiot.

That’s what management exists to win.

The problem was…

“Something’s fishy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when that recording leaked?”

“Yes.”

Somehow, Han Sion had leaked an old recording of Take:Scene.

And it flipped public opinion completely.

Because the leak was of a song performed during Coming Up Next’s final stage.

“We never found the culprit, right?”

“No. We searched thoroughly, but found nothing.”

If even the competent Park Seungwon couldn’t find it, then it’s one of two things.

Either the leaker didn’t even realize when they leaked it…

Or they were perfectly paired with Han Sion and covered their tracks well.

Choi Daeho had initially believed the former.

It was hard to think a mere 20-year-old Han Sion would plant someone that meticulously.

Most leaks, after all, happen due to careless mistakes, not malicious intent.

But the way Fade was being targeted now—it felt off.

Some of the scandals from his time in Japan—ones Lion Entertainment had buried—were resurfacing.

And with surprising accuracy.

Information that would be hard for random YouTubers or reporters to dig up on their own.

“Feels like we’ve got a rat.”

“I think it’s likely.”

“How do we catch it?”

“It won’t be easy.”

“That’s it?”

Choi Daeho frowned slightly.

That wasn’t the answer he wanted from Park.

“…I’ll try to catch it.”

“Good. Make sure you do.”

“What about Fade?”

“Start by leaking the Choi Jaesung accident. Remember that old interview his brother gave?”

“Oh, right. The one where he said he hated his family?”

“Yeah. Push that story—emphasize the ‘family’ and connect it to Choi Jaesung.”

Choi Daeho had lost to Han Sion, but he still had cards he hadn’t played.

If Han Sion wanted to go after Fade, they could fight back.

Especially for a group like Sedalbaekil, which did fewer public activities—a single hit to their image could last a long time.

But there were two things Choi Daeho didn’t know.

First, Sedalbaekil had completely changed their promotional stance.

Second…

“We’ll catch the rat too.”

“Understood.”

…that the rat wasn’t someone to take lightly.

---

Onsaemiro made a decision.

It was a method even I hadn’t thought of—he wrote a will and sent it to his parents.

Naturally, it included a clause ensuring they wouldn’t receive a single cent.

I’d thought it before, but once again—it’s true that family knows you best.

No amount of coaxing, comforting, or threatening from me had worked.

But as soon as they saw the will, they immediately brought up the name “Fade.”

Honestly, the situation was more ridiculous and absurd than I had imagined.

Fade had stirred things up.

But not with the cunning I had assumed.

I thought he had carefully studied our team’s movements, or timed things when I wasn’t in Korea.

But no.

He just wanted to get back at Sedalbaekil for “stealing his spot,” and he egged Onsaemiro’s parents on.

Do you even know how much money Onsaemiro makes?

His account probably has hundreds of billions in it.

And how much have you received?

Simple logic—that nothing causes more trouble for a celebrity than family.

Turns out, he didn’t even know the details of Onsaemiro’s personal life.

He just knew they had a bad relationship.

The rest? Pure misfortune.

I just happened to not be in Korea.

The other members weren’t around.

And it happened to be Jaesung and Onsaemiro who responded.

So when Jaesung got hurt, he panicked and ran off overseas under the guise of a “vacation.”

It’s murky.

Legally, it’s a weak case—too indirect.

It would need to be handled through public opinion, but that would drag Onsaemiro’s parents into the media.

“I’m ready.”

Onsaemiro said that, but I shook my head.

“You can be estranged—but let’s not make it irreversible.”

Not that we needed to go that far anyway.

I can get what we want through my own means.

Besides, even the employees at SBI Entertainment are gleefully selling me out while attacking Fade.

There’s so much dirt on Fade that I’m still deciding what to use.

Honestly, it feels like the “evil nature” theory is true.

The staff hesitated before crossing the line—but once they did, they seemed excited.

Well, when else do you get to completely bury someone?

In the meantime, we released news of Choi Jaesung’s accident to the press.

We didn’t go into detail.

No mention of Onsaemiro’s parents, or that Jaesung wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

If we didn’t mention the parents, it could be perceived as Jaesung’s own negligence.

So we just said it was an unfortunate accident during a work-related commute and that he was taking time to recover.

We also included a statement that Sedalbaekil would be focusing on individual activities for now.

-What? Solo activities?

-Isn’t that just PR talk? Probably to avoid criticism that they’re inactive because of Jaesung.

-They’re already showing up everywhere though. Ugh, my blood pressure;

-Well, they did miss out on promoting their hit second album because of Jaesung… that’s a fact.

-Get lost.

-I’ve analyzed Sedalbaekil’s press releases. When they say something, they usually mean it. Probably actual solo activities.

-It’d be fun if Taehwan did his own variety show.

-Ieon could just walk through Myeongdong and that’d count as solo activity.

-Huh? Why?

-Because he’d get swarmed by reporters and fancams.

So even though TT was confused, fans seemed cautiously excited.

Honestly, individual fandoms are usually stronger than full-group ones. So aside from Jaesung’s fans, that vibe was in the air.

Thankfully, even Jaesung’s fans didn’t seem upset.

A lot of them were saying they hoped the others did well so no one would blame Jaesung for missing promotions.

I think Jaesung probably lay in that hospital bed thinking about all of it.

How to hurt the fans the least. How to make things easier on himself and us.

At the time, I was caught off guard by his proposal.

But in hindsight—it was a good one.

Solo albums from team-bound artists still count in the demon’s system.

I’d have to produce them, of course.

Still, no one would expect my solo activity to be Show Me.

I still didn’t get why Jaesung suggested that show to me.

But his closest friend, Onsaemiro, explained it.

“He wants confirmation.”

“Of what?”

“Whether he really has talent for rap.”

“What does me winning have to do with that? My victory doesn’t magically give him talent.”

“…You seriously…”

“But he does have talent for rap, though?”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Then go out there and win. Make it true.”

I still don’t quite get it.

His talent is in his DNA—how does my win prove anything?

But for now, I’ve decided to go along with it.

And then…

-Please. Seriously, please. Please, please. Just come back to the U.S. one more time. Your friend is said to be doing better too.

It’s finally time I dealt with the situation in the States.

The U.S., which I had left after recording Ronnie and Bonnie’s Sound Pact podcast…

“Uh, hmm.”

Was a lot more chaotic than I’d expected.