As I was dragged out like a cat being grabbed by the scruff of its neck by the boss, the first-generation members puffed up their cheeks and strode toward me.
I figured I’d be laid down on the floor and get my back smacked to oblivion, but to my surprise….
“Unnie, if you were preparing something like this, you should’ve told us beforehand.”
“Exactly!”
“I was seriously so shocked~.”
“I mean… I did get a little pissed. But, it was good. Good job.”
The four of them wrapped around me in a group hug from all sides.
A full-blown encirclement.
Save me, guys.
I’m short, so I’m getting smothered here.
“Guys, Jia’s gonna suffocate.”
Even my mouth was covered, so I couldn’t even speak properly. But at the boss’s words, all four of them backed off at once.
140 cm—direct impact to the chest.
I seriously almost died from asphyxiation just now.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and soon, Maru lowered her voice.
It was the same tone she had when she apologized after the “I’m Wolf” collab last week.
“I’m sorry… We tried to do a prank, but we almost ended up just hurting you….”
“A prank?”
“All that ignoring you at meals—that was all part of a hidden camera thing. If that upset you, I sincerely apologize. It was all my idea, and they just went along with it. It’s my fault the most….”
Majia, unexpected victory.
So that was supposed to be ostracizing me?
Honestly, I was just happy to quietly enjoy my perfectly cooked shrimp.
Wait, does that mean back in school, I was actually being excluded too?
I thought I was just a voluntary loner.
Either way, Maru looked so downcast that I instinctively blurted out an apology of my own.
Rule #1 of Maru Management:
If Maru gets teary-eyed while apologizing, always pretend both sides are at fault.
Luckily, I had also prepared a little surprise, so I had something to say.
“It’s okay. I tricked you guys too, just to show you this. So it’s fine.”
But I was in no condition to comfort her any further.
The shrimp had helped me recover a bit, but the exhaustion from being showered with compliments by the members all afternoon hadn’t fully worn off.
Now that I felt like I had wrapped up everything I needed to do, the fatigue hit me all at once. My eyelids started to droop.
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand, and Maru gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Are you sleepy?”
“Yeah. I’m starting to feel it.”
“Already?! No way. Just stay up a little longer.”
“…Do we still have filming left?”
At that, Maru fidgeted and rubbed her hands together awkwardly.
“Not exactly… We actually prepared something too….”
There’s no way they prepared something just for my birthday.
They must have planned something for the one-year anniversary.
Yeah, that makes more sense.
A little fireworks show or something—that’s how you celebrate a first anniversary.
Vlogs are more fun when filmed at night too, with a beautiful night view in the background.
“Want me to help? Just tell me what you need.”
At that moment, I saw the boss shaking her head at me from afar.
Maru echoed the same sentiment.
“No, it’s fine. Just sit here and rest.”
A little disappointing that they don’t need my help, but if the boss says to stay put, then I should.
“Alright. I’ll be here. Call me if you need anything.”
* * *
Majia sat in front of the crackling campfire, staring into the flames.
For the six others, that was the signal—the moment to put their plan into action.
She had spent the whole time running away, avoiding the spotlight, but now, for once, she sat still, fully accepting her place as the main character.
A little distance away, the six of them quietly set up a cake on the table and gathered the gifts they had prepared.
Laine smirked.
“Boom. I thought this was gonna be a total disaster, but honestly? Not bad.”
Komari chuckled in disbelief.
“Well, it’s not like we expected it to go smoothly from the start.”
“Oh, so you’re blaming me again?”
“Why are you getting defensive, unnie? I didn’t even say anything yet!”
As Komari and Maru bickered, Dora mumbled to herself.
“Anyway, I’m just glad we managed to do this at all~. Let’s hurry and give her the gifts! I hope Jia likes them. Hehe.”
And so, Dohee and Team Leader Kang lifted the disposable table with the cake and carried it toward Majia.
The rest followed, holding their gifts and breaking into song.
“Happy birthday to you~.”
Jia, who had been zoning out in her chair, suddenly shot up.
She blinked at the cake approaching her, looking genuinely startled.
Her round eyes darted between the cake and the others, then, after a moment of hesitation, she clapped along with the rhythm.
Seeing that, everyone’s faces lit up with smiles.
“Happy birthday to you~.”
And finally, the climax.
“Dear Jia, Majia, Jia-nim Happy birthday to you!”
The different ways they addressed her got all mixed up, but this was Jia they were talking about. She was used to sorting through overlapping audio from watching multiple streams at once.
It wasn’t until that moment that she realized the cake was for her.
Her eyes shifted from side to side before she cautiously asked,
“This… is mine?”
Dohee set the table down and ruffled Jia’s hair.
“Yeah. Blow out the candles. Make a wish.”
At that, Majia let out a comment that made everyone simultaneously sigh.
“Oh, so this isn’t the first-anniversary cake?”
She said it as if that was somehow more important than her own birthday cake.
Everyone was dying to say something in response, but no one wanted to be the one to kill the mood.
So naturally, the responsibility fell to Dohee.
“You seriously saw us bringing gifts and still thought that?”
Majia tilted her head.
“Wasn’t the first-anniversary thing supposed to be us preparing random gifts for each other?”
“?”
“…?”
Dohee stared intently at Jia, and the first-generation trainees exchanged glances but ultimately had no choice but to look at Majia.
Because, logically speaking, what Majia just said was completely incomprehensible.
I mean.
It’s her birthday.
She could clearly see the cake and presents being prepared.
And yet, she doesn’t even consider that they’re for her?
Dohee, smacking her lips, let out a deep sigh and muttered.
“If we were doing a gift exchange, we would’ve told you to prepare something too…”
“Why would I? I’m not even a first-generation trainee.”
“Oh, come on. Then why do you think Kang Team Leader and I prepared something?”
“Well, you two see them all the time…”
“So do you?! The only people in this company who see these four in person are you, me, and Kang Team Leader, that’s it!”
As if her head was starting to hurt, Dohee snatched the box from the top of the gift basket Maru was holding and forcibly shoved it into Jia’s arms.
“Just take it. It’s your birthday present.”
“Ah wait, no.”
Majia tried to refuse, but the flood of presents completely overruled her protests.
“Shut up and take it.”
“Take the present!!”
“Birthday bonus incoming~.”
“Here, Happy birthday!”
“Congratulations, Jia Part Leader.”
Holding an armful of gifts, Majia muttered.
“Um. I don’t have enough hands to carry all this. My bag’s already full, too.”
“Ugh!”
Grumbling, Cheon Dohee yanked out the hologram projector and battery pack from Majia’s practically bursting bag. Then she set the now-empty bag down next to Jia.
“That projector’s pretty nice. I’ll buy it off you secondhand. I wanna set it up at the company entrance for security. Now, your bag’s empty, right? You can put your gifts in there. Problem solved?”
“Huh? No, but that’s my projector—”
“I said I’m buying it. Just name your price.”
For the first time, despite having an armful of gifts, Majia finally smiled.
“If you come with me to a gaming café this weekend, I’ll just give you everything.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. Whatever, just open the presents first.”
“I… don’t think my reaction will be that great. Can’t I take them home and open them alone?”
Cheon Dohee shut her eyes tightly.
If she let Majia have her way, this wouldn’t be a birthday party it’d turn into a negotiation and persuasion session.
“Either take them home, open them, and write replies to all the letters the trainees wrote, or open them here, say thanks, and read the letters at home. Your choice.”
Thankfully, Majia was someone who listened to Dohee.
“I’ll open them here.”
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