DREAM STAGE

It's finally about to begin.

We're here...

In Tokyo.

This will be your dream stage, NAZE!

Eh?

Excuse me, whose house is this?

Surprise! This is the home of the genius producer, Mr. Azuma

and you're going to live with him!

Eh?

Why my home? I don't like this.

Shut up.

If you're unhappy, complain to that traitorous woman.

Ouch... I can't breathe...

Everything failed.

No Korean media, including TV, the internet,

and magazines is willing to cover NAZE.

They're leftovers, after all.

Hey!

I'm sure it's this woman

That woman Park Ji-soo is definitely pulling strings

behind the scenes by using her agency's money and influence.

You darn coward!

Now that it's come to this...

I'll have to use my ace in the hole.

Ace in the hole?

I'll bet

on the potential of the Japanese market!

My house has nothing to do with that!

Why not? You have a house in Tokyo.

Let us use it for a while.

Stingy!

Okay!

This is the beginning of a dreamy life of

being surrounded by hot guys.

A genius producer lives in a house like this?

Is it haunted?

Shut up.

It's called rustic charm in Japan.

It looks more run down than rustic.

That was pretty witty, you fool.

Listen.

I'm letting you stay for free.

If you don't like it, go back to Korea. Your answer?

Understood.

Leave your stuff here.

We'll start practicing right away.

Okay.

Thanks for having me!

It's low! Like my grandma's home!

Thank you, Mr. Azuma.

What?

Huh?

The relationship between Kun and his mom improved because of you

and now you're even letting them stay at your house.

I'll help you as much as I can.

No need.

Yes! I'll do my utmost...

I don't need you.

It's faster to do everything myself

than to have you get in the way.

Even so, I want to help the boys...

How long are you going to make me wait?

Let's hurry to the practice studio!

Apparently, NAZE ran away to Japan.

What? I don't think they ran away.

They're K-pop idols, but they want to work in Japan.

Isn't that ridiculous?

But I get why they ran away. People compare us to them.

A hundred jumping burpees, and a hundred push-ups!

What, exhausted already? You have no time to feel tired!

Oh, no...

The water in the pantry won't turn off! Do something!

- Turn off the water yourself! - I can't!

Why are you always doing this when I'm busy...

Guys, don't slack off!

Ouch! It hurts!

She's our lifesaver!

It's too intense right off the bat!

Mr. Azuma told you not to slack off.

- You don't need a phone... - What?

- Seriously? - What happened?

TORINNER is appearing at a live event!

What?

TORINNER makes history

as the first group to take the stage at K-FLARE

less than a year after their debut.

K-FLARE is a huge K-pop event, right?

Yeah, rookies normally aren't allowed to participate.

Big agencies sure have leverage!

I want to shine brightly like them, too!

Ryo is charismatic and has good looks.

He naturally draws in fans...

You're so different from your brother.

It doesn't matter.

TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION TO BE HELD!

What? Is this an event in Japan?

So cool!

TGC is very famous. Now that we're back in Japan,

I want to perform on a big stage like this.

You dream too big. It's impossible.

I'm sure you...

We'll make our dreams come true!

Let's go to TGC!

Our house and studio are so shabby.

How can we have dreams?

True. At this rate, I doubt we can even debut.

That's why you have to practice...

It's hopeless.

What are you doing? I told you not to slack off!

If you don't have the motivation,

I'll disband the group immediately!

- Yes! - Sorry!

Sorry. I know I was supposed to supervise them.

I did try to warn them, but...

Didn't you say you were going to give it your all?

I guess it's only as much as an ant can do.

Hey, where are the towels?

An ant?

That manager is so useless, though.

It's Endo Minase.

Minase didn't plan on working in showbiz at first.

Is that so?

When she was in high school

that poor girl was bullied and had a tough time.

That's why she left Japan after that

and entered Seoul National University.

Seoul National University, hear that?

She's extremely outstanding!

She's good at studying

but she doesn't seem to have confidence in herself.

Her job hunting didn't go well either.

So you deceived the poor girl

and lured her into this cash-strapped agency?

Watch your mouth!

Mr. Azuma.

You again?

My name is Endo Minase.

I'd like to tell you something...

I won't listen.

This is TORRINER, a group that trained with NAZE.

They will be performing in a big event in Korea.

The boys all got upset when they found out.

There it is! A major agency's money and influence!

I want to do everything I can for the boys.

Is there anything I can...

No.

They never listen to you anyway.

Then, at least have a look at this.

This is a compilation

of all the ideas I had on how to promote them.

I've been thinking about it for a while.

Wow! When did you do this?

And this is a record of their daily lives.

Once you get to know their wonderful individualities

you can use that to produce...

Not necessary.

I don't like people telling me what to do.

Besides, you've been coming up with ideas

to promote them for a while?

In that case, why haven't you put them into action?

That's because...

You didn't have the resolve to take responsibility yourself

so you wanted to rely on me. Am I right?

You don't want to fail and get hurt.

Producing artists isn't a simulation game.

If you aren't prepared to be responsible for their lives

our team doesn't need you.

You are right.

But...

Even so, I want to find something I can do.

If I carry on like this, I'll have nothing.

Minase, it's okay. Don't be so hard on yourself.

- You're helpful... - You'll have nothing?

I've never had confidence in myself.

I could only do what others told me. But...

You want to change your useless self

so you plan to stake their futures on a gamble?

How arrogant!

NAZE PROMOTION MATERIALS

How can you be so mean?

You didn't have to go that far!

It's crueler to keep her tied to a job she's not suited for.

How do you know what would make Minase happy?

Do you have the right to belittle her life?

Are you going to abandon us now?

Are you okay with ruining our lives?

Oh, sorry.

You know she sometimes has trouble communicating

but she's trying really hard.

See? Look at this!

Not many people can be as detailed as her!

This is for Younki.

Wait, for all of them?

An honest person who truly love idols

is more suited to be a manager than a competent liar.

Yeah, you can almost call her a stalker.

It's love. Love!