Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

After that, we kept darting all over the daycare like kids whose phones had just been fully charged.

I had newfound respect for preschool teachers nationwide. I don’t know how they do labor this intense every day—and still keep that kind, gentle attitude.

I can barely keep my patience steady shepherding just the five punks in Spark. Clearly I’m a long way from becoming a saint.

Still, it was a relief that the kids warmed up to our faces. We got close enough to prank each other a little.

A few of the bolder ones even tried a shoulder ride on Choi Jeho. He had to dip his knees pretty far so their heads wouldn’t hit the ceiling, but everyone safely managed to ride the 187 cm “piggyback tower.”

Watching Jeho serve as a human mount while the rest of Spark ringed him on all sides just in case, I asked the boy sitting next to me.

“Jaeyun, don’t you want a shoulder ride?”

Jaeyun shook his head. Then he nestled up beside me and focused on a picture book that didn’t even have ten words on a page. It was about a cat and a child going on an adventure down an alley.

‘Is he shy around strangers?’

Seeing how he sometimes chatted with his friends, not necessarily. But with a bunch of unfamiliar adults suddenly flooding in, I figured it couldn’t feel great, so I decided to keep quiet.

Away from the bustle, the soft flutter of pages turning reached my ears.

Then the sound stopped.

“Teacher.”

Jaeyun called me. His fingertip pointed to a spot in the picture book.

A small black cat that had followed the protagonist to the end of the alley was drawn there.

“It looks like you.”

Jaeyun grinned.

It was the purest smile.

At first, I worried about when this ordeal would end.

The moment to say goodbye came quicker than expected.

“Teacher, are you coming again tomorrow?”

A kid holding a magic wand in one hand and a transforming car in the other asked.

“You have to say bye-bye to the teachers now.”

At the teacher’s words, the kids’ eyebrows folded into sad parentheses. One of them was on the verge of tears.

“Then the teacher’s not coming anymore?”

That was the cue for someone to burst into loud sobs. Choi Jeho picked up a child who’d started crying with a runny nose and watery eyes.

“Why are you crying? We promised you’d copy our dance when you see us on TV next time.”

You made a pact like that? Jeho’s fan management is no joke. There’s a reason he’s the center.

After he patted the kid’s back a few times, the child sniffled and calmed down in his arms.

‘This really is a tough gig...’

Adults might be used to brief meetings, but the kids accepted us and gave us a bit of their heart. I didn’t feel good about leaving. Guess I got attached too.

As we tried to send the tearful kids home one by one, something tugged at my pant leg.

Jaeyun was looking up at me.

“It’s time for you to go home too, huh? Did you have fun today?”

He nodded. His quiet way really reminded me of our Park Juu.

“I’m glad you had fun.”

I smiled as brightly as I could and buttoned his outerwear. Then he handed me something.

A piece of colored paper, folded and creased.

“It’s a cat.”

He whispered in my ear.

Then he took his guardian’s hand, said a small “bye,” and left the daycare.

I looked back and forth—once at Jaeyun’s departing back, once at the colored paper sitting squarely in my palm.

If he hadn’t told me what it was, I might never have guessed the shape. But that black cat kept catching my eye.

Since I started this job, I’ve felt like all I do is receive.

So I keep wondering how I’m supposed to repay all this affection in full.

On the way back, we savored the happy time we’d just spent with those adorable kids.

“How are their shoes all that tiny? Did you see them lined up perfectly in the cubby?”

Compared to those shoes, Lee Cheonghyeon’s front hair roots are probably in an even straighter formation.

“I honestly thought they were toys. The shapes are all so cute. We only shuffle around in slippers.”

“Don’t tell me you actually came out in slides today?”

I snapped my head around; Cheonghyeon pulled his feet back in the rear seat. Thankfully, he was wearing punchy navy Converse.

“Why are you glaring like that!”

“I was worried you’d forget you’re an idol and commit the crime of scraping around set in flip-flops.”

“You checked us in front of the full-length mirror before we left for the salon anyway.”

“There’s always such a thing as just in case.”

As I faced forward again, my eyes met Jeho’s in the rearview mirror.

Right—can’t leave him out.

“Jeho, you did well today.”

“What?”

“I said you did well. Didn’t expect it.”

He knit his brows. Somehow, even when I compliment him, his face won’t relax.

“Try being squeezed from above and below. You’d be stiff too.”

The throwaway line made the air turn awkward. Come on, has my family history really become that off-limits?

While I, newly crowned vibe-killer, and Jeho both shifted our eyes around, Cheonghyeon cut in at a perfect moment.

“I’m a second child too.”

Kind face, smart head. If the world ended tomorrow, I’d put you on top of Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Let at least your face make it into orbit.

“Jeho, do you get along with your sibling?”

Kang Giyeon asked. I guess he had trouble picturing it.

“Just normal.”

“Aw, for that you looked way too used to handling kids. You were like a seasoned drill instructor!”

Cheonghyeon kept sprinkling MSG without pause. Giyeon didn’t stop him, but silently nodded along.

“Choi Miho throws huge tantrums if something isn’t to his liking. To avoid hearing that, I end up spoiling him...”

“Your sibling too? Jeong Seongjun also...”

And then Jeong Seongbin suddenly joined in. Like he had a bone to pick, he started spilling stories about Seongjun. It was brother drama to the max.

“Still, Seongjun and Miho are nice. My family’s humans are... ugh.”

“Have you even met Miho?”

“Yeah. Back when you didn’t speak to me for three weeks, Chanyeong called me in to translate.”

That happened? That bastard really was beyond saving.

“Why didn’t you talk?”

“Why else—something didn’t match with Kang Giyeon again.”

“Why bring up old stuff.”

“Yeah. Over something I barely even remember.”

Jeho and Giyeon grumbled in unison. Times like this, their chemistry is annoyingly perfect.

“But I get both your sides too. I’ve got a younger brat Giyeon who won’t listen and throws fits.”

“Why am I your younger anything?”

“Did you forget our birthdays are only eleven months apart? Honestly, I’m closer in age to Juu.”

Cheonghyeon snickered.

“Aww, our Giyeon! Say ‘big brother’! Go on!”

“Come to our no-honorifics day and I’ll deal with you first.”

Spine-chilling threats started flying. Seongbin struggled to play cleanup, telling us to get along.

Meanwhile, I ended up making eye contact with Park Juu in the passenger seat. He’d been watching the back with great interest; when our eyes met, he flashed a sunny smile.

Even after giving it our all at the daycare, we still had to practice.

Seongbin’s “You all napped at daycare, so you’ve still got energy, right?” gave me drill sergeant flashbacks from my army days.

Only me and Cheonghyeon hadn’t napped, so we got the short end. We trained until the sky looked yellow. I need to put some muscle back on fast. Maybe buy more PT sessions.

By the time we finished working out, most of the members were cooked. All the way back to the dorm, we kept saying what a long day it had been.

Without anyone needing to say it, whoever was ready first went straight into the bathroom; as they came out, they dried their hair, finished skincare, and flopped onto their beds.

When I finished last and stepped out, the place was dead quiet. Not even the rustle of someone fixing their bedding.

‘No wonder—they’re wiped.’

We had a full slate of events coming. Spark’s schedule had no gaps for the next three months.

If not now, who knew when we’d sleep like this again? I turned off the kitchen and living room lights the guys forgot, switched on Jeho’s mood lamp, and headed into the room.

As I lay down, deep breathing came from above and beside me. A peace that could’ve pulled me under in seconds.

But I couldn’t sleep yet. My day wasn’t over.

I summoned the system I’d left untouched for a while.