DREAM STAGE

Will you let me join your agency?

I can't stand working for Choi Ki-young anymore.

That has nothing to do with us!

Go to another company...

Let's hear the details.

As I promised Mr. Choi, TORINNER achieved first place

in the debut song ranking.

But he said their sales amount doesn't justify the expenses

and that's akin to a betrayal.

No way...

So you got fired for overspending.

Just shut up and listen.

I understand he's stressed out as the CEO

but he calls me incapable and useless every day.

That's so mean!

Like I said, it's none of our agency's business.

And like I said, just shut up and listen.

I've devoted my entire life to producing artists.

This job is the only thing I have.

But Choi Ki-young has influence all over this industry

so I can only come here to escape from him.

True, he does hate our guts. Clever thinking!

How is that clever thinking, Minase?

Have you forgotten all the trouble this woman has given us?

That's true!

Besides, this woman stole the TORINNER members from us

and presented them to Choi Ki-young.

Now that NAZE's career is starting to take off smoothly

this traitor wants to come back here?

No way!

That makes sense.

I am very sorry.

What?

Please let me work with you again.

Wait...

But, we already have Mr. Azuma as our producer...

Okay. Let's do it together.

She's the best person we could ever hope for

if we want to help those bumbling fools get better.

Wait! Do you have no dignity?

Training NAZE properly is my dignity.

NAZE's current goal is to win the Best New Artist Award at MAMA

the music festival that is garnering worldwide attention.

So, the next song we release must beat TORINNER and get first place.

Ms. Park was the one who trained TORINNER

so her social network and strategy will be useful, don't you agree?

You're right. This is a dream collaboration.

Hey, Nam. Tell me how you feel.

I'm pissed off.

Okay, it's decided.

Are you okay with this, Ms. Nam?

I'm not okay!

But I have no other choice.

Feel free to give us any suggestions. I look forward to working with you.

I look forward to working with you, Mr. Azuma.

Good.

Ms. Park Ji-soo will join our team starting today.

A round of applause.

What? She's joining us?

Mr. Azuma and I will turn you into top stars together.

I look forward to working with you.

"Together"?

How about that? This is the birth of the strongest duo!

Today, we're holding a welcome party for Ms. Park.

- Yay! - Yay!

What's this?

Yaminabe, the only dish Mr. Azuma is good at making.

You're supposed to eat it in a dark room, though.

Japanese people sure are weird.

Most Japanese people don't even know about something this obscure.

Hey, that's rude to your producer.

Today's hot pot tastes good, too.

Okay, let's eat.

You know, you don't have to force yourself to eat.

Shut up.

Wait a minute. It's delicious.

Right?

Okay. Dig in, everyone!

- Yes. Let's eat! - Yes. Let's eat!

It looks delicious!

It looks delicious!

He never served me food before.

Mr. Azuma, do you cook for them yourself?

Occasionally. It tastes different every time, though.

Do-hyeok, eat your veggies!

No, I'm good.

- Eat it! - Eat it! It's good for your health.

You lied to me.

Incompetent people deserve to die. You're worse than leftovers.

I'm not complimenting you.

Get out!

- Eat! - Eat more!

- Eat! - Hurry up!

Wow!

- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm fine.

It's warm.

Sure is. It's hot pot, after all.

Right.

What? Do you guys sleep here?

Yes, it's the only room.

We sleep next to each other like fish in the market.

You can leave if you don't like it, jerk!

- Nice catch! - Mr. Azuma, do you sleep here too?

These aliens have disrupted the peaceful life of an innocent man.

You feel lonely living alone.

I don't feel lonely.

Hey, stop playing! Go and take a bath now.

- Yes! - Yes!

I told you to use the rag when you wipe!

It's okay. I can use this.

Mr. Azuma is a strange person.

Look who's talking.

I agree, he's quite unusual.

I'm very interested now.

What? Is that...

What kind of interest are you talking about?

My interest in him as an individual, of course.

I'm leaving first. We have an early day tomorrow.

What's with her all of a sudden?

Or rather, I should say he's an interesting person to study.

Is Ms. Park serious about coming back to us?

Of course she's not.

She must be plotting something.

What's wrong, Yuya?

It's nothing.

Just that I haven't been able to get a hold of Ryo for days.

What? Ryo isn't calling back? That's weird.

TORINNER must be so busy since they're superstars.

Yeon-woo, are you okay?

Who said you could help him?

Is that your limit already?

That guy who just fell...

I don't know his name

but he's a member of TORINNER, right?

Are you okay?

Mr. Choi.

As you instructed

we've been having lessons since this morning without a break.

Could you please let us have a short break?

I haven't taken a break either.

Now that Ms. Park is gone, I'm responsible for you guys.

If you feel that as strongly as I do, you wouldn't have fallen.

Continue.

- Hey, let's do it. - Yes.

Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four...

Do-hyeok!

You got it wrong again!

- What? - Why?

Get your act together!

Once more!

This is it.

What?

They're close, cute, and innocent.

Oh, that?

That is the team's strength

as well as their obstacle.

Obstacle?

Let's have a meeting.

NAZE's strength is that they support each other as friends

and they're earnest.

They exude boyish innocence...

They're honest and very good boys.

But they'll never beat TORINNER if that's all they have.

What? What did you say?

- Ms. Park is right. - What?

It's nice to show respect out of friendship

but fans will find it too predictable.

She has a point.

It's good enough to select songs matching the group's concept

before they find their own identity.

But if we want to reach out to a wider audience

it would make sense to expand their repertoire in a different direction.

Did I get that right?

But our members are fixed.

This isn't easy to achieve.

They're losers if they can't do it.

Watch what you're saying!

If they don't change or challenge themselves

and stay in their comfort zone

people will grow tired of them soon.

I'm impressed, Ms. Park.

Thank you.

What do you think about specific ideas like these?

You work fast.

I summarized the concepts and visual images of new songs

by their patterns.

Overall, I think the ideas you gave were great, Ms. Park.

I can't come up with ideas anyway.

That reminds me.

What's the matter, Mr. Azuma?

Ms. Park says maybe we can try adding Korean zucchini to Yaminabe.

Go do some grocery shopping.

So, the costumes...

Darn you!

Why do I have to buy groceries and cook?

I'm not your domestic helper.

Minase, are you angry?

You're emanating a very negative aura.

Sorry. I couldn't help saying my thoughts out loud.