[Kei]
The music was loud.
Too loud.
It filled the entire practice room, sharp and rhythmic, echoing off the mirrors—
but it didn't drown anything out.
"…again."
Kei missed the beat.
Not completely.
Just enough.
Enough for it to feel wrong.
"Hyung."
He didn't respond immediately.
"…again," the choreographer repeated, this time firmer.
Kei exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he reset his position.
"From the top."
The music started again.
Counts.
Steps.
Turns—
And for a few seconds, it worked.
His body moved automatically, clean and precise, exactly how it was supposed to—
until—
"…you hesitate a lot for someone who doesn't care."
His step faltered.
Just slightly.
But this time—
everyone noticed.
The music cut abruptly.
Silence dropped hard.
"…Kei."
"I said I got it." Kei snapped back sharply.
The room went still for half a second.
Then movement resumed, quieter this time.
Careful.
"Five-minute break," someone called.
Kei didn't wait.
He stepped away immediately, grabbing his phone without thinking.
Locked screen.
Nothing.
No reason to check it.
Still—
he stared.
Thumb hovering.
It was as if he was scared of something.
The articles?
The fans finding out?
A quiet breath left him.
Then—
"No."
Like a reflex.
Like shutting a door before it could open.
He locked the phone again, jaw tightening slightly.
This was ridiculous.
"…when are we going to meet again?"
"I dunno."
That thought made his lips curl up, which he didn' like.
His grip tightened slightly around the phone.
"…stop."
He let out a quiet scoff, leaning back against the wall.
"…don't think about it."
A pause.
Then, quieter—
"…seriously."
But his eyes still drifted—
to the door.
☆☆☆
[No-Ah]
"You're thinking about him."
"I'm not."
"That was too fast."
"No, it wasn't."
Yun-Ra leaned across the desk, grinning like she'd been waiting for this exact reaction all day.
"Okay, say it again. But normal this time."
No-Ah didn't even look at her.
"I'm not thinking about him."
"…wow."
"What."
"That sounded worse."
No-Ah exhaled slowly, turning her head toward the window.
The sky was too bright.
Annoyingly bright.
"…you're annoying."
"And you're deflecting."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
A pause.
Then—
No-Ah dragged a hand down her face.
"…why are we still talking about this?"
"Because," Yun-Ra leaned back
dramatically, "you met him and are acting like it meant nothing."
"It didn't."
"Right. Because helping an injured idol in an alley is just a daily activity for you."
No-Ah's expression didn't shift.
"…I didn't know it was him."
"But you do now."
A beat.
"…so?"
Too flat.
Too controlled.
Yun-Ra narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…you seriously don't care?"
"I don't."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
Too quick.
Again.
No-Ah felt it this time.
The slip.
Small.
But there.
Her fingers tightened slightly against her sleeve.
"…don't," she muttered under her breath.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Yun-Ra leaned forward, eyes sharp now.
"…what did he say to you?"
A pause.
And just like that—
"…No-Ah."
Her name.
The way he said it.
It made the tip of her ears feel hot for some reason.
Slow.
Like it mattered.
No-Ah blinked once, her gaze dropping to the desk.
"…nothing."
Yun-Ra didn't believe her.
Not even a little.
☆☆☆
The crowd was louder than usual.
Not chaotic.
But restless.
Excited.
"Did you see the article?"
"They said he was around here yesterday—"
"No way, seriously?"
"Yeah, people are still looking—"
No-Ah walked straight through it.
Head down.
Unbothered.
At least—
that's what it looked like.
"…persistent," she muttered under her breath.
Her pace didn't slow.
Didn't change.
But her eyes moved—
quick.
Sharp.
Scanning.
Just in case.
She turned a corner.
Quieter street.
Better.
A breath she didn't realize she was holding slipped out.
"…this is ridiculous."
And then—
footsteps.
Not rushed.
Not loud.
Just—
there.
Close.
Too close.
They both stepped at the same time—
and collided lightly.
A small impact.
Shoulder to shoulder.
"—sorry."
Soft.
Automatic.
No-Ah stepped back immediately.
"…it's fine."
Flat.
Quick.
The other girl nodded slightly.
"…yeah."
A pause.
Not long.
But not nothing.
Something about it—
felt off.
No-Ah didn't look at her properly.
Didn't need to.
Didn't want to.
She adjusted her sleeve slightly and stepped past.
Didn't stop.
Didn't turn.
Behind her—
the other girl slowed.
Not enough to be obvious.
Just enough.
Her gaze followed No-Ah's back—
sharp.
Focused.
Like she'd been looking for something—
and just found it.
"…wait."
No-Ah stopped.
Not fully.
Just enough to glance back, brows knitting slightly.
The girl stepped closer this time, expression calm—almost polite.
"Sorry," she said, voice soft. "Can I ask you something?"
No-Ah didn't answer immediately.
A pause.
"…what."
The girl held her gaze.
Studying.
Careful.
"Your name."
Simple.
Direct.
Too direct.
No-Ah's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…why."
A small smile.
Faint.
Unreadable.
"Just curious."
A beat.
No-Ah looked at her for a second longer—
like she was deciding something.
Then—
"…No-Ah."
The name left her mouth flat. Casual.
Like it didn't matter.
But the moment it did—
something in the girl's expression shifted.
Barely.
Almost invisible.
"…I see."
She repeated it quietly.
Like she was memorizing it.
"No-Ah."
A pause.
Then she stepped back.
"Thanks."
And just like that—
she turned and walked away.
No-Ah watched her go for half a second.
Something about it—
didn't sit right.
"…weird," she muttered, turning back.
And kept walking.
Behind her—
the girl didn't look back again.
☆☆☆