The sun had just begun to rise over the third level of Seoul. Soft morning light streamed through the glass windows, brushing the rosy cheeks of the BABYQUEEN girls. The small kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of freshly cooked Vietnamese broken rice.
Breakfast passed in cheerful chatter. Though Layla's hand was still hurting, she smiled as she watched the others enjoy the traditional dish she had carefully cooked since 4 a.m.
The morning meal ended in laughter. The BABYQUEEN girls stood up happily, ready to gather dishes to load into the dishwasher as usual. But when Jennifer pressed the button, there was only a "beep beep"... then silence.
"Huh? Is it broken?" Serena peeked over, raising an eyebrow.
"Crap, probably a clogged filter. I reported it to tech support yesterday, but no one's come to fix it yet," Jennifer said, bending down to check while still holding onto her pink apron.
Sara pouted, glancing at Layla before flashing a mischievous smile:
"Then today, BABYQUEEN will live like normal humans~ Time to wash dishes by hand, Layla!"
Layla laughed and nodded gently.
"Okay, but I'll be the supervisor. With my hand like this… I'll just demonstrate how to do it."
"If you just stand there and pose, I'll splash you with water!" Sara playfully threatened, sending the group into another fit of laughter.
Layla stood nearby, her left hand still bandaged, while her right hand helped Sara stack the dishes neatly. The two teased each other while washing:
"First time seeing the nation's idol washing dishes~" Sara squinted.
"First time seeing a Japanese idol cooking noodles with soda~" Layla shot back.
Their laughter rang through the kitchen, melting away the lingering weight of last night's pain.
After finishing the dishes, Layla quickly returned to her room. She stood in front of the mirror, unwrapped her bandage to check the wound, then carefully replaced it with a thinner gauze more suitable for movement. Her eyes brushed over the still-reddened skin, but she merely exhaled softly, saying nothing.
The makeup brush swept lightly across her skin. Layla chose a natural, elegant tone. Not to shine, but to look as if she had never been hurt.
Meanwhile, in ASTRIX's van—
The van carrying ASTRIX glided smoothly along the aerial highway. Inside, the atmosphere was quiet. Damien leaned his head against the window, eyes absentmindedly watching the city below.
"Are BABYQUEEN ready?" Rayden asked through his earpiece.
"Probably. Six o'clock sharp is the set time," Elio replied, phone still in hand.
He had just called Sara a few minutes earlier, and her lively voice had made him smile. Through her joyful tone, Elio could tell she was in high spirits today…
And somehow, that warmed his heart.
Lucas was checking his camera lens, while Julian tapped out the day's schedule on his device. Only Damien remained silent. But his hand tightened slightly, the image of Layla smiling despite her injured hand playing repeatedly in his mind.
"You're pretending you're okay again..." he thought.
As the van cruised toward the filming studio, the morning light spilled dimly through the windows. Damien folded his arms and leaned back in his seat, his sharp eyes gazing outside as if indifferent, yet inside, his mind was a tangled storm.
He kept seeing Layla alone in the kitchen, bandaged hand cooking rice for the group… her teary eyes still trying to smile when the team came to apologize—those images haunted him.
"Over seven million anti-fans… That's no joke."
Layla's words from the previous night, when she walked back alone to the dorm, still echoed in Damien's ears.
He clenched his teeth slightly, fingers tapping a rhythm on his thigh.
"Everyone..." his low, rough voice suddenly broke the silence, causing the entire ASTRIX van to look his way.
"What is it?" Rayden asked from the opposite seat.
"I think... we should hack BABYQUEEN's social media systems. At least temporarily block the anti-fans from spamming hate."
Julian widened his eyes:
"You mean… lock comments or hide posts?"
"No. Block access from suspicious IPs. Rewrite the comment-filtering algorithm. And if needed… we crash the entire system temporarily."
Elio whistled:
"Well well, cold-blooded Damien with a soft revenge twist~"
Lucas nodded:
"I'm in. Protecting them isn't our mission. It's our choice."
The whole group nodded in agreement—no further words needed.
But deep inside Damien, another worry was growing.
He remembered Layla's face when she talked about her parents—
Her gentle eyes tinged with a fear she couldn't hide:
"If my family reads those comments… I don't know what they'll think of me anymore…"
Damien closed his eyes for a moment. Then opened them—cold, resolute.
"And I'll do one more thing," he muttered, just loud enough for himself.
"I'll hack her family's social media too."
He didn't care about the consequences. If it meant keeping sorrow from Layla's eyes… it was worth everything.
---
An underground base. A fully encrypted area where light existed only in the form of cold LED strips running along the walls. At its center sat a sleek carbon fiber control chair—Vex's throne, eyes glowing with data streaming from holographic charts in front of him.
A chilling female voice echoed:
"Sir Vex, Damien's recent actions deviate from protocol. Unauthorized interference with external social systems—"
"Shh."
Vex raised a finger to his lips, eyes still locked on the 3D image of BABYQUEEN in prep mode.
"ASTRIX are my precious creations. Let them do as they please—as long as… they don't deviate from the trajectory."
AI assistant:
"But—"
"I said it already. Music is the language of emotion. They need conflict. They need to love. To rebel. To tremble. Because when they feel… they become stronger."
Silence hung for a few seconds. The screen before Vex shifted from present footage to a memory.
---
Three months ago. The same underground base. The five ASTRIX members sat around a round table, faces still holding traces of doubt.
Vex stood, hand on the table, voice sharp as steel:
"Your mission is to become idols. Get close to BABYQUEEN. Communicate. Compete. Defeat them if needed. But remember—do not let genuine emotions interfere."
Elio frowned, arms crossed:
"Why? Why not just attack the government's core? We're powerful enough to do that."
Damien looked at Vex for a moment, then turned to Elio:
"In 2100, humanity changed. They live by emotion. By music. By AI."
"Music became the language of healing, of unity, of peace. But at the same time, if you control music, you control the world."
Lucas nodded:
"And BABYQUEEN is the first symbol of that. A fusion of all: AI, humans, emotions, rhythm."
Julian added:
"They haven't debuted yet but already have over 12 million supporters. Broadcasted on every global channel. Recognized as a miracle by scientists."
Rayden shrugged:
"And we need to outshine them. Become the next 'emotional addiction.'"
Vex clapped softly, eyes gleaming:
"Good. You understand. Learn to manipulate emotions—not be ruled by them."
A global mood chart flashed on screen. The AI assistant reported:
"Jennifer and Lilia's emotional states were hacked last night. Per your directive."
Vex smiled. The shifting lights made his face resemble a demon born from data.
"All according to plan. To remind them—this is a game where I write the rules."
At the corner of the room, five 2-meter-tall glass chambers lit up. Inside each stood a perfect AI replica of every ASTRIX member: Damien, Rayden, Julian, Elio, Lucas—cold, emotionless, but identical in voice and face.
AI assistant:
"The AI doubles are being sent to promotions and performances. No fan suspects a thing. Not even BABYQUEEN."
Vex stood, smirking:
"Because the real ASTRIX… have always been here. Watching every step, every camera angle, every rehearsal, every move of BABYQUEEN."
The screen changed. Layla washing dishes with Sara. Jennifer adjusting sound levels in the studio. Serena gazing out the window, eyes flickering with suspicion.
Vex grinned:
"Every emotion they have… lies in the palm of my hand."
The lights shut off. Only the system's cold echo remained.
---
September. Snowfall.
In the 28th century, climate chaos had grown so bizarre that no one trusted calendars anymore. Snow in Seoul during September was no longer a miracle—but a chilling reminder that Earth was no longer as it once was.
In front of BABYQUEEN's dorm, a dark self-driving vehicle pulled up. The door opened, and through the fine snow mist, ASTRIX stepped out—like characters from a winter film.
They wore winter outfits straight from the pages of luxury fashion: Damien in a long black wool coat and storm-grey scarf; Rayden in a crisp white leather bomber; Julian in a playful wine-red sweater; Elio exuding artistry in a dark brown trench; and Lucas, effortlessly charming in a cream fleece hoodie.
Snow landed gently on their hair, shoulders. The wind swayed their coats. The light reflected from the snowy ground made them seem to glow.
The dorm door opened. BABYQUEEN stepped out.
Layla led, dressed in a knee-length white coat, hair tied up revealing her delicate nape, a beige knit dress paired with a thin silk scarf. Jennifer walked beside her in a shimmering silver-blue dress, her AI lenses reflecting soft violet hues. Serena stood out in an oversized black fur coat and tall boots. Sara looked graceful in a brown cardigan and vintage-print long skirt. Lilia bounced beside them in a white bomber and pleated skirt.
The two groups stopped at the gate. No one spoke first.
Snow kept falling. A gentle wind lifted Layla's hair. Her eyes unconsciously met Damien's. He looked at her—unblinking, silent.
Layla gave a small bow:
— Hello, sirs.
A polite, proper greeting. Yet in her heart, something skipped a beat.
Damien nodded. He didn't reply—but his eyes stayed on her. A few brief seconds… but longer than an entire song.
Layla turned to walk but suddenly slipped. A hidden patch of ice beneath the snow made her lose balance. She gasped:
"Ah…!"
Immediately, a strong hand caught her waist. Quick. Firm. Warm.
Damien.
Layla froze. She could feel her heartbeat through her coat, while his gaze remained calm:
"Are you okay?"
"I… Thank you." Layla stammered, her hand resting on his chest for a second before pulling away.
"I'm sorry—I was careless."
Damien said nothing more. He simply watched her—as if memorizing every detail.
Jennifer walked up, smiling:
"We were just heading out to enjoy the snow. Didn't expect to run into ASTRIX here. What a coincidence."
Sara quietly stepped behind Serena. She felt Elio's gaze on her—like a silent current.
Serena glanced at Julian, lifting her chin:
"What's with that weird hair color?"
Julian grinned:
"This is 'red velvet snow.' Gotta stand out, right? Don't you think it suits the vibe?"
Serena smirked:
"A bit flashy. But matches your personality."
Lucas and Lilia unconsciously ended up side by side. Both turned at the same time—meeting each other's eyes.
"Your coat…" Lilia whispered. "…is so ugly."
"And yours looks like alien sleepwear."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
They both laughed. But didn't look away.
Rayden stepped forward calmly:
"Shall we go? We're late for filming."
Jennifer nodded:
"Let's go, everyone."
Layla turned back once more. Her eyes accidentally met Damien's again. He still stood there, hands in his coat pockets, gaze capturing her image.
Snow kept falling. Light. Thin. Cold. And achingly gentle.