A handsome young man was drenched—his hair plastered to his face, clothes clinging to his frame and revealing the faint outline of muscle beneath. The night air bit at his skin, sharp and merciless, his cheeks flushed faintly pink from the cold.
The staff had taken away his damp blanket, replacing it with a hot pack. There was a single heater nearby, but it was already crowded with the other members, huddled close, chasing scraps of warmth.
He shivered in the corner, teeth on the edge of chattering.
Tired. Cold. Hungry.
For the past month, Kai had survived on less than four hours of sleep a night. Not just filming their music video, but also vlogs, TikTok dances, and endless takes that would later flood the internet when their debut was announced. New clothes, new makeup, new hair each time—masks he was forced to put on and rip off again and again.
And now, just one final scene remained.
He was to stand at the edge of the building, overlooking the city lights. The director wanted "rain," so they had drenched him, flooding the rooftop with water until it glistened. Though the skies were clear, the editing team promised it would look real on screen.
The cars below crawled like glowing insects, streetlights glittering in neat lines across the city. Beautiful, in its own way. But in that moment, he couldn't appreciate it. All he wanted was food. And sleep.
For a fleeting second, he drifted into a daydream: a warm bath, his favorite meal waiting, someone drying his hair before wrapping him in soft pajamas, then carrying him to bed and covering him in heavy blankets. His stomach full. His body safe. His mind finally free.
Heaven.
"Okay, Kai—we're ready whenever you are." A staff member gave him a thumbs-up.
He blinked, dragging himself back. The daydream faded. Straightening his shoulders, he let his face fall into the expression they wanted: weary, hollow, broken. It wasn't difficult. His pale skin, dark circles, and drained lips were already perfect props.
"Very good! 1…2…3… Action!"
Kai gazed out at the glittering city as if it meant nothing—worthless, empty.
"He's very good," one of the staff whispered.
Another nodded. "I know. Look at his face—pitiful, but beautiful."
The camera pushed closer, closer—until his lashes lowered, eyes shutting as though he had surrendered his fate. A scene that radiated resignation.
The staff held their breath. Even the director looked stunned.
Minho stared, lips parted, unable to tear his gaze away. He's really good.
"…Cut."
Applause broke the silence.
Kai snapped back into reality, forcing a smile onto his lips as he clapped along with the others. "Thank you," he said, bowing deeply.
"That was perfect!" the production lead grinned, clapping him on the back. "You're a natural actor!"
"Good work, everyone! We're done filming!"
Cheers erupted.
Minho stepped forward and gave Kai a high-five. "That was good!" he said, grinning.
Kai smiled back, but exhaustion weighed heavy in his eyes.
"Thanks," Kai said flatly. "Now give me food before I eat you."
The corner of Minho's lips rose. He would have chuckled, but he had no energy for that. He was just as hungry.
Together, they walked over to the heater, where the rest of the members were crowded.
"Excellent job!"
"Great work!"
Compliments from staff followed them as someone draped another blanket over Kai's shoulders.
Diego was perched on Tae-yang's lap, his lips devoid of color. His makeup couldn't hide the deep circles under his eyes. Every member looked the same—exhausted, sleep-deprived, and above all, hungry.
And yet, they still managed to bow and thank the staff.
Relief washed through them. Not joy, not triumph—just relief. The scene had been refilmed too many times, not because of Kai's mistakes but because the background or lighting hadn't satisfied the director. They kept reshooting until they decided Kai would be the only one filmed. Every repeat had drained them further. Now, at last, it was over.
When they reached the heater, Diego sighed in English, "I'm so done."
"What?" Minho blinked.
"Nothing," Diego muttered, too tired to explain.
Minho let it go, not curious enough to press.
"Congrats, guys," Tae-yang said quietly, his voice steady but weighed down with exhaustion.
And just like that, the adrenaline of the shoot drained away—leaving behind nothing but tired bodies, empty stomachs, and the rooftop wind cutting sharp through their damp clothes.
Tae-yang glanced around at his members. They all looked drained.
Jiwoo and Diego, usually the most energetic, were silent. Their bright eyes and boyish charm were dulled to nothing.
Kai, with his ethereal face card, looked like he might collapse or snap at any second. His skin, usually porcelain with a soft pink glow, had turned sickly pale. His light brown eyes, once lively, were now flat and lifeless. He looked like a zombie out of some melodramatic drama.
Every one of them was on their last thread of patience.
"Everyone, please come inside, one of the staff made some food," someone called out.
The second the members heard the word food, their eyes lit up.
They crowded onto the floor, bowls in hand, huddled together in a way that felt more like a sleepover than the end of a grueling music video shoot. The staff sat at a table across the room, leaving the boys in their own little circle.
Tae-yang inhaled his meal like a man starved, scraping the bowl clean but still hungry. Diego's lips were pursed, staring down at his empty plate. At least the food had woken them up a little.
Minho, already scrolling on his phone, broke the silence. "Ay—do you guys know the newly debuted boy group from Circle Entertainment?"
Tae-yang's ears perked. "Circle Entertainment debuted a new group?" His voice carried a sharp edge of alertness.
"You didn't know? They debuted a little over a week ago," Minho said, not looking up.
Tae-yang went quiet, then stretched out his hand. "Give me your phone."
Without question, Minho passed it over. Seung-hyun leaned closer, curious. "Do you recognize them?"
On the screen, the group name appeared in bold letters: LoverBoyz.
The first profile to load was exactly who Tae-yang expected.
A good-looking guy, dimples deep even beneath heavy makeup, smiled from the screen.
Hyun-woo
Position: Leader
Height: 178 cm
Nationality: Korean
"He debuted," Tae-yang muttered.
"You know him?" Minho asked, peering over.
Tae-yang gave a slow nod. Hyun-woo had been one of the top trainees—talented, respected, and brutally honest. Always pushing to outshine others, always criticizing those who fell behind. He had a point, but his harshness broke more than a few trainees. Tae-yang had too many unpleasant memories of him, but the truth was undeniable: Hyun-woo's teams always ranked first.
He swiped again.
Hanbin
An exotic face—eyes set a little wider apart than usual, but strangely appealing.
Position: N/A
Height: 176 cm
Nationality: Korean
Then another swipe.
Taki
Classic, chiseled features. A strong jawline, sharp cheekbones, perfectly balanced proportions. His lips curved faintly, like he always held back a smirk. Tae-yang recognized him as the handsome trainee who had joined just two days after he himself had left.
Position: Rapper
Height: 181 cm
Nationality: Japanese
And then—
"Wow," Kai mumbled, leaning in.
"Even Kai thinks he's good-looking," Minho chuckled.
"Let me see," Jiwoo demanded, peeking over his shoulder.
Junho
A slender face with delicate yet defined features. Wide, bright eyes and a gentle smile. His hair was bleached white, almost glowing under the stage lights in his profile photo.
Position: Vocalist
Height: 180 cm
Nationality: Korean
"You've got a good eye, Tae-yang-hyung," Minho said. "Those two—Taki and Junho—are the ones everyone's talking about."
Tae-yang scrolled further, and his eyes widened. Junho's profile listed not one, but two major agencies. Trainee at both SYP and HY-PE. His background was stacked.
Diego suddenly broke into laughter.
Everyone turned.
"Sorry, it's just—Kai's face is—" Diego cracked up again, pointing at him.
The others looked over.
Kai's expression was dumbfounded, like he'd seen a ghost. Tae-yang cracked a smile, Jiwoo and Minho laughed, and even Seung-hyun shook his head with a chuckle.
"Looks like Kai's got some competition," Seung-hyun teased.
But Kai couldn't hear them.
The last time he'd seen Junho, he'd been soft, boyish, almost gentle.
Now… he looked like a grown man. His features sharpened into something timeless, almost classical.
Handsome didn't even begin to cover it.
Kai pursed his lips.
Jiwoo patted his back. "Don't worry, I think you're better looking than him."
"How's their debut going?" Kai asked.
Minho smirked, rubbing his nails against his shirt. "They're doing well. Their song 'My Drip' is going viral—it's all over my For You Page." He grabbed his phone back and scrolled quickly. Sure enough, his feed was filled with LoverBoyz edits.
"Their song is already number four on the charts," Minho added with a grin.
Jiwoo's eyes widened. "That's insane."
"Yeah, they're getting a lot of attention already," Seung-hyun agreed. "I keep hearing their songs all over social media."
Minho leaned forward, excited. "What do you guys think about doing their dance challenge? The song's catchy." Without waiting for an answer, he set his phone down and played their debut stage.
The screen lit up with eight figures taking the stage. A tall, tan guy with sharp, confident eyes stepped forward first, his stride screaming swagger. The group looked like high-fashion models, every eccentric outfit oozing charisma.
Tae-yang recognized him immediately. One. A trainee for six years, famous for his style and powerful presence.
"SO THAT'S on me to decide fit," One rapped, strutting like he owned the world as the members marched in sync. The crowd roared.
"My drip decides the standard. Bastard.
My hip is the drip. No simps are getting my hits.
The girls swooning over my fit. Hit. Yah—DRIP."
"The lyrics and beat are so addicting," Seung-hyun admitted, nodding along.
Everyone found themselves bobbing their heads, unable to resist the infectious energy—the performance, the attitude, the choreography.
And then it came.
That voice.
The face Kai could never mistake.
Junho.
His platinum hair shimmered beneath the lights, his features sharper and more defined than Kai remembered. Those fox-like eyes—once playful, now cutting and confident—commanded the stage.
How did he get even more handsome?
His vocals soared with ease, perfectly steady even as he powered through the choreography. That was Junho—effortless in a way that wasn't effortless at all.
The performance ended with the group striking poses like runway models, flexing their outfits as the crowd erupted in screams.
"That was good," Tae-yang said with a nod.
"They're all talented," I forced myself to say, keeping my voice steady.
"The three that stood out to me were the intro guy, the vocalist, and the rapper who took the second chorus," Jiwoo said thoughtfully.
Minho nodded. "Yeah. The intro guy's stage name is One. The vocalist is Junho, and the rapper's Taki."
"Junho and Taki stood out the most to me," Jiwoo admitted. "They're ridiculously good-looking."
"Not just looks," Seung-hyun added. "They've got serious skill."
"Yeah," Diego chimed in. "Their voices were stable, and their dancing was sharp. But the vocalist really stood out to me."
"I agree," Tae-yang said. "What he did was tough, but he made it look easy."
Kai nodded silently. Of course. Out of all the trainees at HY-PE—the best of the best—Junho had always been the one who could sing flawlessly while pulling off brutal choreography. High notes, runs, stamina—he had it all.
During trainee days, Junho was always second or third. The only one above him was Rowan—untouchable, in a league of his own.
But Junho… Junho was the one who had everything polished. And now the world was finally seeing it.
It was bittersweet. They weren't exactly close—more co-workers than friends—but they got along. And right now, it honestly made Kai happy to see Junho's dream coming true, to watch him set the stage on fire and wave at fans with that big smile.
I'm truly happy for you, Junho. Let's meet again on stage.
"Well, now you know why they're getting the most attention," Minho's voice pulled him back.
"Junho?" Kai asked.
"Junho and Taki," Minho replied. "It's honestly a given. Handsome guys always get the most buzz."
Kai wasn't surprised. He expected this. But it felt surreal when it was his reality. I wonder if he dyed his hair to look like me.
His eyelids drooped, and the emptiness in his stomach still hadn't faded. He stood up, stretching. "Let's go, Diego."
Diego shot up instantly, eager to leave too.
"You guys heading out already?" Jiwoo asked.
"Yeah."
"I was about to say the same. Go ahead—goodnight," Tae-yang waved.
They all exchanged goodbyes before Kai and Diego slipped out.
As soon as the door shut, Jiwoo let out a dramatic sigh. "Those two are getting really close. I'm jealous."
Minho smirked. "Why? Because Kai-hyung's stealing your best friend?"
"A little bit of that…" Jiwoo admitted, pouting. "But mostly—I'm jealous that Diego got so close with Kai-hyung. I want to be close with him too."
"You are close," Tae-yang pointed out. "You're always hanging off him, hugging him. You practically use him as a pillow."
Jiwoo pursed his lips, unconvinced.
"I get it," Seung-hyun admitted quietly. "Honestly, I'm a little jealous of Diego too—"
"I heard they sleep in the same bed!" Minho blurted.
Seung-hyun grimaced. "Okay, that's weird."
"You're so lucky, Tae-yang-hyung," Jiwoo muttered. "You're the same age as him. You guys can talk casually."
Tae-yang smiled faintly. He agreed. Kai was easy to talk to—somehow, in less than two months, he'd become one of his closest friends. Making friends had always been hard for Tae-yang. Naturally quiet and nonchalant, he could connect with people but rarely built deep bonds. Yet Kai, despite being the most qualified among them, treated him as not only a friend but also a leader—and respected him deeply.
For the past month, Kai's house had practically become Tae-yang's second home. It was close to the company, and Kai's family had welcomed him without hesitation. Diego had grown close with them too, even Alejun. They never minded his presence.
(Though Alejun could definitely use some mouthwash.)
"I'm using the shower first," Kai muttered in English as soon as they walked in.
–
The staff giggled and murmured amongst themselves.
One of the makeup artists was red in the face, unable to hide it.
A middle-aged man stepped in.
"Are you done? We're starting soon."
The staff instantly straightened, composure snapping back into place.
"Yes, sir. We're almost done," the flustered makeup artist said quickly.
"Make it less than two minutes," he ordered before leaving.
As soon as the door shut, the staff exhaled in unison.
"Yujin, I think we're done," someone whispered.
Yujin sighed, guilt flickering across her features. "I feel bad waking him up…"
The others nodded. They'd long since grown immune to the charms of idols and celebrities. In this industry, beauty was everywhere. But occasionally—very rarely—someone appeared who broke through their practiced detachment. Someone so unreal that even seasoned professionals found themselves spellbound.
And right now, that someone was lying asleep in front of them.
His platinum hair, untouched by bleach damage, was soft and glossy under the lights. His porcelain skin was flawless, not a blemish in sight. His lashes were long and dark, his lips both thin and plump, his jaw sharp, his features perfectly balanced.
Even asleep, he was dizzying—an angel carved into reality.
Reluctantly, Yujin reached out and shook him awake.
The young man stirred, opening his eyes.
The staff gasped softly.
He was even more breathtaking awake. His eyes—soft jade—shone drowsily under the lights. In Korea, such eyes were rare. Most idols faked it with contacts, but his were natural. Their pale green shimmer paired flawlessly with his ethereal features.
"Thank you," he murmured, blinking the sleep away.
"It was our pleasure," several staff members said at once, unable to hide their admiration.
"Your manager is with your members," Yujin added quickly.
Rowan bowed politely before slipping out.
He wandered down the hall until he spotted the door labeled in bold letters: ARCADE.
Pushing it open, he stepped inside.
His members were scattered about—some taking selfies, some scrolling through their phones, others sprawled lazily across the couches.
"Good, you're here," their manager said with a relieved smile.
"Rowan-hyung, you look tired," came a gentle voice.
It was Woojin, their fifteen-year-old maknae. With his big doe eyes and boyish softness, he was the perfect picture of innocence. Everyone in ARCADE doted on him. Right now, he was peering at Rowan with pure concern.
"I just took a mini nap, that's all," Rowan replied warmly, ruffling Woojin's hair.
Woojin's ears turned red at the affection.
"How long did you sleep?" another voice drawled.
It was Jae-hyun, lounging on the couch with his usual swagger. Legs spread, one arm thrown over the cushion, his sharp eyes smoldering. He looked like he'd stepped straight out of an anime.
"Not much. Only twenty minutes," Rowan admitted, sinking down beside him.
"That's not good," Jae-hyun muttered. "You haven't properly slept in three days."
Before Rowan could reply, staff rushed over to mic him up.
"We're heading backstage any second now," the manager called.
The members rose to their feet. Rowan shut his eyes briefly, savoring one last moment of stillness.
At least tonight, I'll get to rest.
They shuffled behind the curtains just as SBS's newest rookies, LoverBoyz, burst onto the stage with My Drip—the viral anthem sweeping TikTok, streets, and practice rooms alike.
ARCADE clustered around the backstage monitors.
The beat dropped—and then a soft, angelic voice soared above it, effortlessly cutting through the heavy bass.
"Oh wow!" Hae-jin exclaimed, eyes widening. "That was beautiful."
The others murmured in agreement.
Rowan felt Seojun's gaze on him. Their eyes met for a brief, electric moment before both looked away.
The voice belonged to Junho—the boy they had once trained with. Much had changed. His once-youthful features had sharpened; fox-like eyes now gave him a masculine edge, and the boyish charm of old had evolved into magnetic charisma. Junho was always good-looking, but now… he was breathtaking. His flawless dancing, expressive vocals, and effortless street-style flair had the audience screaming as if possessed.
Even the SBS staff couldn't help sneaking glances at the monitors.
"Did he get plastic surgery?" someone whispered.
"He's really good at singing," another murmured, almost begrudgingly.
Across the room, a sharply dressed man with perfectly gelled hair and skin that gleamed with expensive moisturizer froze in place. The voice pouring through the speakers wrapped around him like silk. He moved closer to the monitors, drawn in, and when the camera angle shifted to Junho's face, his breath caught.
"He'll be perfect for our show," the man murmured
ARCADE's members were no different.
"He's really handsome," Woojin admitted honestly.
"These days, rookies are on another level," Rain said, flipping a strand of his magenta hair. With his blue contacts and striking looks, he resembled a sci-fi anime lead himself, but even he couldn't hide a note of awe. "They just keep getting handsomer."
"He's got the face and the vocals," Seojun added quietly.
"Don't worry, we're all good-looking too—especially Rowan," Dae-hyun teased, his grin cocky. With his ace-basketball-star visuals, he had the casual confidence of the school's most popular boy.
"I keep seeing Junho and another member—Taki—going viral," Hae-jin said. "People can't stop talking about their visuals and live performance skills."
"Same," Woojin nodded. "They're all over my FYP. I even checked his profile. His name's Junho—he trained at HY-PE for four years."
At that, the members turned toward Rowan and Seojun.
"You two were at HY-PE. Did you know him?"
Both nodded.
"He was one of the top three trainees there," Seojun confirmed.
The room buzzed with impressed murmurs.
"No wonder," Jae-hyun said, whistling low. "Did he quit, or did HY-PE eliminate him?"
Rowan shrugged. "I don't know. I left before I found out."
"I bet he quit," Dae-hyun muttered. "HY-PE wouldn't cut someone that talented."
"Woojin, how old is he?" Hae-jin asked, his sharp features making him look like he'd stepped straight out of a manhwa panel.
"He's eighteen," Woojin replied.
Jae-hyun's brows shot up. "For that age, his skill far surpasses it."
Meanwhile, stylists swarmed ARCADE for last-minute touch-ups, cheeks pink as they fussed over the rookies' impossible visuals. The air felt heavier than before, a mix of admiration, competitiveness, and the quiet reminder that the industry had no shortage of stars.
Moments later, LoverBoyz wrapped up their stage. The audience erupted—a tidal wave of sound. Junho closed with a cheeky peace sign and tongue-out pose that sent the fans into a frenzy, their screams rattling even backstage.
But as LoverBoyz filed offstage, they walked straight into one of the hottest idol groups of their generation: ARCADE.
The rookies froze. It was like stepping into an anime—sharp features, commanding auras, and visuals somehow even more unreal in person than on camera.
ARCADE bowed first.
"Good job," Jae-hyun said coolly.
"T-thank you," Hyun-woo stammered, bowing back, his voice cracking under the weight of the leader's godlike visuals.
The LoverBoyz couldn't stop staring, especially at Rowan. He didn't look real.
Except for one.
Junho's eyes flickered, then dropped. He pretended to fix his jacket, lips pressed thin, before offering only the smallest bow.
ARCADE's gazes sharpened, tracking him like hawks.
He's really good-looking, Woojin thought, startled. Wait—did he just ignore us?!
Rowan dipped his head politely as Junho passed, but his lips tightened when Junho didn't so much as glance at him. His eyes lingered on the younger boy's retreating figure before tearing away.
Once the groups passed, Rain frowned. "Was it just me, or was there some tension back there?"
"Focus," Rowan said flatly. "We're next."
They stepped toward the stage.
The screams hit instantly—a tidal wave that rattled the walls. Rowan flashed his practiced smile, but his thoughts clung stubbornly to Junho.
The lights dimmed. The roar sharpened into silence.
Dark. Quiet.
Not a breath. Not a sound.
Then—
A sharp whistle sliced through the dark.
Woooo, woooo—whooo, whooo.
"Na na na na na, la la la laaaaa—"
The stage exploded with light.
On the giant screen, a magenta-haired idol appeared, piercing blue eyes locking the audience in place. Rain's presence was magnetic, dangerous.
The camera panned out as the others snapped into formation, every move razor-sharp, every vocal flawless—live, yet indistinguishable from the studio track.
The audience went feral.
"JAEHYUN! RAIN! ROWAN! HAEJIN! SEOJUN! DAEHYUN! WOOJIN!"
The arena pulsed with their chant, each name booming like thunder.
Backstage, LoverBoyz lingered to watch ARCADE's stage, their faces lit with awe.
"Woah," Taki breathed, eyes glued to the screen.
The camera cut to ARCADE's leader. With a fluid spin and flawless vocals, Jae-hyun smirked into the lens, executing the choreography like water before throwing in a perfectly timed wink.
Gasps rippled through LoverBoyz.
Woojin, the infamous maknae, appeared next. He flashed a grin—equal parts sexy and boyish—singing his lines while dragging a finger playfully across his lips.
Woojin wasn't the typical handsome type. His charm came from his soft, almost anime-like features: big eyes, gentle smile, a warmth that radiated innocence. Everyone adored him for that balance. His kind, empathetic personality—captured in countless behind-the-scenes clips—only reinforced the image. No matter the concept, he always fit it, while still staying true to himself.
Then came Seojun. His glossy hair flipped like a shampoo commercial as he slid into center, his cool nod syncing with the beat. The crowd erupted as he nailed the viral move with effortless precision.
"They're all so good," Hyun-woo whispered in awe.
His members nodded, equally entranced. Even Junho—despite himself—felt his chest tighten.
Seojun… you've grown so much. Back then, I was a little better than you. But now—you command the stage.
The performance built to its finale. Rain closed the song with the ending fairy, a sly smirk and a wink delivered straight into the camera. The fans lost their minds as the lights cut.
LoverBoyz clapped instinctively, buzzing with secondhand excitement.
Their manager appeared, phone in hand. "You're up for a collab. You'll be filming a TikTok challenge with ARCADE."
Hyun-woo's eyes widened. "Seriously?! Can we do that?!"
"They're extremely busy," the manager said with a smile. "So you'll probably just teach and record one of the easier dances."
As they walked down the collaboration hallway, Riku tilted his head at Junho. "By the way, what was that?"
Junho blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Earlier—you acted kind of cold toward ARCADE," Riku said.
"I noticed too," Jisung added. "You're usually so bright. But you barely acknowledged them."
Junho's jaw tightened. He didn't want to answer. He didn't want to admit the storm boiling in his chest.
Seeing Rowan Park again—his old teammate, his old friend—had ripped open wounds he thought had healed.
Rowan, who left them. Rowan, who killed their chance to debut together. Rowan, who got away unscathed.
As Junho walked offstage earlier, his eyes had landed on Rowan—still devastatingly handsome, haloed by stage lights like some untouchable angel. His new members surrounded him, glowing just as brightly. The sight burned. It reminded Junho of everything he lost, everything Rowan chose to throw away.
The only one he could bear to look at was Seojun. The others… especially Rowan… he couldn't.
Junho swallowed hard, forcing a casual smile.
"They were too good-looking, so I looked away," he said lightly.
"Ohhh," the members chorused, buying his excuse.
"But seriously—they looked like characters straight out of a game or anime," Hyun-woo said.
"Yeah! That guy with the magenta hair looked like a sci-fi hero," Hanbin added.
"The leader—Jae-hyun, right? That guy is ridiculously handsome—"
"ROWAN PARK!" Jisung, Tanaka, Woosung, Taki, and Riku all shouted in unison.
Hanbin clutched his hair dramatically, collapsing into his seat. "OH MY GOSH! He's so handsome!"
"The cameras don't do him justice. He's even better in person!" Hyun-woo said, still awestruck.
Junho wore a bitter smile. He hated hearing Rowan's name. Every time Byung-ho, Kai, or Si-hun brought him up, Junho wanted to spit venom. Yet he couldn't blame his members now. Rowan's looks were undeniable.
He remembered the first time he saw him. Rowan's chestnut-blond hair framed porcelain skin, soft green eyes glinting with effortless charm. Junho had just been promoted from the lowest trainee group to the elite. The moment he stepped into that practice room, Rowan had turned and smiled at him—perfect, cinematic, like something ripped out of a high school movie. Even then, Rowan had blown him away.
"It's honestly not fair! My parents should've tried harder!" Tanaka groaned.
"I bet we'd all look ugly standing next to him," Riku sighed.
"Honestly, only Taki and Junho stand a chance against them," Jisung said matter-of-factly.
Before Junho could respond, ARCADE's members appeared in the hallway, their presence filling the narrow space with quiet star power.
LoverBoyz's manager quickly stepped forward. ARCADE's manager greeted him with a professional bow, and the two exchanged a few hushed words.
"Will they agree to film a dance video with us?" Woosung whispered, eyes wide with hope.
Before anyone else could respond, their own manager turned back.
"Junho, Taki—you'll be filming a collab video with Dae-hyun."
Junho and Taki nodded without hesitation.
"The rest of you, head back to the room," the manager instructed.
Junho and Taki exchanged a quick glance before turning toward ARCADE. A tall figure stood waiting at the end of the hall.
Junho's breath caught—but then he saw clearly. The chestnut-blond hair, the green eyes he dreaded… weren't there.
It's not him. Relief washed through his chest like air after being held underwater too long.
He and Taki bowed deeply.
"Hello, sunbaenim."
Dae-hyun returned the gesture with a warm, easy smile. He was tall and broad-shouldered, the kind of man who could walk straight onto a K-drama set and steal the spotlight without even speaking a line.
He's even better looking in person, Junho and Taki thought simultaneously.
They're not bad either, Dae-hyun observed, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
It took Dae-hyun less than five minutes to pick up the choreography for the trending challenge, My Drip. His memory was sharp, his movements fluid—professionalism wrapped in charisma.
The three lined up, Dae-hyun in the center, Junho and Taki flanking him. As soon as the beat dropped, their heads bobbed in sync before the choreography snapped to life.
Sharp angles. Explosive jumps. Smooth kicks. Rolling waves of movement that made body rolls look effortless.
Every move landed with precision, their synergy surprising even the staff. What was supposed to be a lighthearted collab looked like a polished stage performance.
When the music cut, the staff erupted in applause, some grinning behind the camera, others whispering in awe.
From the corner, their manager watched with quiet pride.
Then came a voice behind him.
"Is that Junho? The main vocalist of LoverBoyz?"
The manager turned.
Standing there was a man in his late thirties, perfectly put together—gelled hair, tailored blazer, skin that gleamed with expensive moisturizer. His expression was calm, but his eyes lingered on the screen with sharp interest.
"Uh—yes," LoverBoyz's manager answered, bowing politely.
"He's a really good singer," the man said smoothly.
"He is," the manager replied, offering a cautious smile. He could tell immediately this man had connections—but whether those connections were worth his artist's time was another matter.
"I think he'd be a strong fit for our program," the man continued, voice low and deliberate.
The manager's smile tightened, polite but ready to refuse.
Until—
"Have you ever heard of the show Unmasked The Singer?" the man asked with a soft, knowing smile.