Meeting room on the 45th floor of DYG Entertainment's headquarters was brightly lit, the large glass panels opening up to a glittering view of the city in the afternoon glow. The members of BABYQUEEN sat around the long table, not yet guessing why Chairman Lee had called them up in the middle of their packed filming schedule.
Chairman Lee entered, wearing a perfectly tailored gray suit, his steps slow yet full of authority. He placed a stack of files on the table, his voice warm yet firm:
Chairman Lee: "I have an important announcement. BABYQUEEN will have a new member."
The room fell silent for a few seconds, until Sara was the first to react:
Sara: "What? We… haven't heard anything about recruiting someone new."
Serena: "Hasn't the group's lineup already been set?"
Lilia: "The fans are definitely going to be shocked…"
Layla remained silent, eyes down on the table, fingers fiddling with her necklace.
Chairman Lee didn't let the pause last too long.
Chairman Lee: "I understand your concerns. But she has 7 years of training experience, Korean nationality, and is human. Her singing and dancing skills are both top tier. More importantly, she has leadership qualities. We are in need of an official leader."
Jennifer tilted her head, her gaze sharp:
Jennifer: "If she's really that good, then at the very least, we'd like to meet her before making a decision."
Sara added:
Sara: "And… if she joins, the practice schedule should be adjusted so everyone can sync up. We don't want the feeling of a 'newcomer' being forced in."
Serena folded her arms, her tone slightly challenging:
Serena: "If… she respects the group, and the company doesn't force us to change our image too suddenly, then I agree."
Lilia nodded in agreement, turning her eyes to Layla:
Lilia: "Lay, what do you think?"
Layla looked up with a faint smile:
Layla: "I trust everyone. If the group's fine with it, I'm fine too."
Chairman Lee smiled slightly:
Chairman Lee: "Good. Then let me introduce… Sofia."
The door opened, and a girl walked in , long, sleek black hair, slender figure, but eyes full of confidence. She bowed:
Sofia: "Hello. I'm Sofia. I look forward to working with you all."
The atmosphere was a bit hesitant at first, but eventually, each person nodded in return.
---
On the way back to BABYQUEEN's dorm, the girls chatted excitedly as they walked.
Sara: "I think Sofia might make the group stronger."
Serena: "Yeah, her attitude seems good. What matters is seeing how things go in practice."
Jennifer: "I'm guessing the fans will split into two sides. Hopefully the company handles the PR well."
Lilia: "At least she's human, not AI , the fans will find that interesting."
Layla stayed quiet, eyes gazing out the car window.
No one noticed, but up ahead, ASTRIX's car had also just stopped. Damien got out, meeting Layla's gaze through the tinted glass. A brief moment , just enough for him to sense she wasn't particularly thrilled about this 'new breeze'…
---
The evening was calm, with only the sound of the air conditioner and the scent of jasmine tea Sara had just brewed. Astrix had been invited over, but in reality, both groups sat facing each other like in an unofficial meeting.
Jennifer (sitting cross-legged on the sofa, eyes bright):
"So… our group really is getting a new member, huh?"
Serena (unwrapping cookies with a grin):
"I heard she's trained for seven years. I'm curious."
Lucas (resting an arm on the chair, asking):
"Sofia, right? What's she like?"
Sara (nodding):
"Human, not AI, Korean nationality. Chairman says she's expected to be the group's leader."
Julian (raising an eyebrow):
"A new leader? Does that mean BABYQUEEN will change the current position?"
Serena (shrugging):
"Not sure. But maybe it's to lead a new image."
Damien (leaning back, tone calm):
"Strange. Adding a member now? Aren't you afraid of fan backlash?"
Lilia (cheerful):
"I think fans will just be surprised at first, but if Sofia's good, they'll like her."
Layla had been silent from the start, fingers spinning the glass of water in front of her. Her gaze wasn't focused on the conversation but drifted toward Damien ,only for a few seconds before she looked down as if to avoid it.
Jennifer (leaning forward naturally):
"By the way, did you guys know anything about Sofia before the Chairman's announcement?"
Rayden (glancing at Lucas before replying immediately):
"No. This is the first time we've heard."
Julian (nodding):
"Yeah, no idea. Guess your company kept it secret really well."
Jennifer's eyes narrowed slightly, as if probing.
Jennifer:
"Really? I thought Astrix's intel was faster than the news sites."
Damien (calmly, looking at Layla instead of answering):
"Just trust the official announcement. Don't speculate."
The mood dipped a little. Sara quickly tried to change the topic.
Sara:
"Anyway, I think Sofia will bring new colors to the group. I'm curious to meet her already."
Serena (leaning back):
"Still feels a bit uneasy. Adding someone new out of nowhere… we don't know how the fans will react."
Jennifer smiled, trying to keep things positive:
"If we stick together, we'll be fine."
While everyone kept talking, Layla received a message from Chairman Lee on her hologram necklace.
Chairman Lee:
"Layla, the group is decided, right?"
She looked around the living room, seeing BABYQUEEN members chatting comfortably about Sofia. They had decided. She took a deep breath and replied:
Layla:
"Yes, the group agrees. BABYQUEEN accepts."
Her fingers typed slowly, each word weighing heavily in her palm. Once the message was sent, she quietly turned off the screen. That sorrowful gaze met Damien's once more. He said nothing, only tilting his head slightly as if trying to read something from her silence.
---
Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, spilling across the living room where the group had just woken up. Everyone's phones rang at once , notifications, messages, tags on social media flooding in faster than they could keep up.
Sara, freshly washed, ran in holding a tablet:
"Everyone! Chairman Lee just uploaded a new video on the group's official channel!"
Jennifer, still wrapped in her blanket, yawned but pulled up the hologram screen immediately.
The screen lit up with Chairman Lee, dressed in a formal suit, sitting in front of the DYG Entertainment logo.
Chairman Lee (voice deep, slow):
"Hello to BABYQUEEN fans around the world. Today, I'm pleased to announce the addition of a new member, Sofia. With many years of professional training, Sofia will take on the role of Leader of BABYQUEEN, guiding the group into its next chapter."
The moment the video ended, social media exploded. Streams of comments scrolled across the 3D display:
"New leader? What about Layla?"
"Sofia is beautiful… but why not just make Layla the leader?"
"Center vs Leader… which is more important?"
"Layla's fans, where are you? Speak up!"
Serena pulled out a chair and opened the second introduction clip. In it, Sofia appeared in a spacious practice room, surrounded by turquoise light. A narration played:
"Sofia is BABYQUEEN's new Leader. 7 years of training. Outstanding in both vocals and dance. Exceptional leadership skills."
Sara swallowed:
"Wow… strong profile."
Jennifer tried to smile but couldn't hide the tension:
"Fans are already comparing us…"
Lilia stayed optimistic:
"This could be a good thing. Layla's the Center, Sofia's the Leader. They'll complement each other."
Serena folded her arms, looking at Layla:
"But the online split is happening fast…"
Layla stayed silent. Her phone kept buzzing, most of the messages and tags asking:
"Was Layla demoted?"
"Is Sofia now the face of the group?"
"Does Center even matter anymore?"
She set the phone down, poured herself some water, eyes down, voice barely above a whisper:
"Everyone just focus on Sofia… don't bother about me."
No one replied right away. From across the table, Damien glanced over. His expression was unreadable, but deep inside there seemed to be something unsettled.
---
The DYG Entertainment press hall was bright with camera flashes. The hologram text "BABYQUEEN COMEBACK 2100 and NEW LEADER ANNOUNCEMENT" floated in the air.
A long row of tables covered in white cloth bore the BABYQUEEN logo in silver at the front. Six chairs had been neatly arranged.
From backstage, BABYQUEEN appeared: Layla, Jennifer, Serena, Sara, Lilia, and… Sofia. Sofia wore a fitted white suit, her black hair tied high, her smile flawless. Layla stood beside her in a flowing pastel dress, her expression calm.
The clicking of cameras and the clatter of reporters' keyboards filled the room.
MC (smiling brightly):
"Hello everyone! Today, DYG Entertainment is proud to introduce BABYQUEEN's new comeback and to welcome the new member, Sofia, the group's Leader!"
Applause mixed with cheers.
MC:
"First, Sofia, could you share your feelings on officially joining BABYQUEEN?"
Sofia (clear voice, gaze sweeping the room):
"I've trained for seven years for this moment. Becoming BABYQUEEN's Leader is a great honor, and I will do my best to lead the group to even greater heights."
MC:
"Thank you, Sofia. Next, a question for Layla you're currently the Center, while Sofia is the Leader. How will these two roles work together in the upcoming comeback?"
Layla looked up with a faint smile, her voice warm but low:
"I think both Center and Leader are equally important. We'll support each other… for our shared goal: BABYQUEEN."
A reporter from the middle row raised a hand:
"But social media is comparing the two of you. Layla, do you feel pressured when Sofia is introduced with such a strong profile?"
A brief silence. Layla kept her gentle gaze:
"I just want the audience to focus on our music, not on comparisons."
Sofia glanced sideways, smiling slightly as if to reassure her.
MC:
"Next question about the new comeback concept. Serena, could you give us a hint?"
Serena (leaning back with a half-smile, half-mystery):
"This time, people will see a BABYQUEEN that's both powerful and full of emotion. We'll tell a story fans have never heard."
Sara chimed in:
"And the title track will be one of the hardest songs we've ever done."
The following questions covered choreography, MV location, and comeback outfits. But amidst the flashes and noise, Layla's eyes occasionally dimmed, still lingering on the reporter's earlier question…
---
A dark room, lit only by the blue glow of dozens of hologram screens. The main screen streamed BABYQUEEN's press conference live Layla and Sofia seated side by side, answering questions.
ASTRIX sat in a row before the screens. Damien in the center, Rayden with arms crossed, Lucas leaning against the armrest, Elio and Julian silent.
At the back, Dr. Vex stood against a control table, beside him the holographic form of Sigma, a semi transparent AI with cold golden eyes.
Damien (tilting his head, eyes sharp):
"Dr. Vex… Sofia's appearance. Is that… part of your plan?"
Vex (turning back, lips curling slightly):
"No."
A short, fast, decisive answer. But right after, Sigma let out a light chuckle, like metal scraping.
Lucas (narrowing his eyes):
"If not, why do your eyes look like… you're enjoying a game?"
Vex didn't reply immediately. He stepped closer to the screen, staring at the image of Layla smiling at the reporters, while Sofia held her calm leader's posture.
Vex (low voice, slow):
"It's just… her presence will make this play… more interesting."
Julian (frowning slightly):
"Play"? What do you mean?"
Vex (turning, eyes gleaming):
"Just keep playing your roles. The more audience, the better the show."
Sigma tilted its head, whispering just loud enough for ASTRIX to hear impossible to tell if it was a joke or not:
"And in this play… not everyone survives until the final act."
The air grew heavier. Damien clenched his fists, but stayed silent. He glanced at the screen again, where Layla bowed her head slightly, unaware that from the other side, a gaze was fixed on her without wavering.