bexrisa

[bexrisa]

SANA NEW RULES — TWICE 5th World Tour in Fukuoka, Japan

[bexrisa]

risa stood in the dance studio, the faint echo of her footsteps mingling with the rhythmic beat of her racing heart. this week was different. this week, she was determined to conquer her fears, to push herself beyond her limits, and focused hard on what she dubbed her "week of transformation."

as the music began to fill the room, adrenaline coursed through her veins. with a deep breath, she launched into her routine, her movements initially hesitant and unsure. but with each passing moment, she felt herself slowly sinking into the music, her body responding with a newfound grace and fluidity, with something akin to relaxation, comfort even.

day after day, she dedicated herself to training, pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion and then some, days ending and blurring where sometimes she could barely climb the steps to her apartment door, collapsing on the sofa instead of making the extra trek to her bed.

with each hour spent, she could feel herself growing stronger, more confident. she lost herself in the music much like she would when she was singing, instead allowing it to guide her movements with ease. steps and motions that had once seemed impossible and confusing now showed a semblance of natural grace.

on the final day of her self-imposed hell week, risa stepped into the studio with a sense of quiet determination, determination that stubbornly stayed with her as she attempted yet again to complete a full run of a choreo without any mistakes.

with a deep breath, she closed her eyes and let the music wash over her, and then, with a flicker of determination in her gaze, she began. each movement was deliberate, each step imbued with a newer sense of purpose. as the music surrounded her, she felt herself rising to the challenge, her body moving with strength and confidence.

and when the final notes of the song faded away, risa stood in the center of the studio, her chest heaving with exertion and breathlessness, a triumphant smile playing at the corners of her lips.

she had done it. she had pushed herself beyond her limits and emerged stronger and better for it.

as she caught her breath, one of the many coaches that the company employed approached her, a proud smile on his face. "i have to say risa, i'm impressed," he admitted. "you've improved more in this week than i've seen in months. keep up the good work."

a wave of relief washed over risa as she realized that hard work really had paid off. she may not have become a master dancer overnight, but she had proven to herself that she was capable of more than she had ever imagined, and had the validation to prove it.

[bexrisa]

with a grateful smile, risa surrenders her notebook over to cam, taking the opportunity rub her temples and enjoy the fresh water. lyrics were both the most and least enjoyable part of songwriting for her -- most when she could freely use japanese or english, least when it was practically on-demand, and kind of had to be in korean.

"i'm not always a patient person though," she quips with a laugh, thinking of the duolingo levels she skipped, and how ashamed she felt having to restart anyway. "oooohhhh," risa nods dutifully as she peers at the change cam pointed out, noting how it made much more sense in this context than what she had.

"well, yes and no," she shrugs, "i guess maybe thirty percent of my feedback from trainers is that i need to work harder on it. but from other trainees i think it's usually the age card," risa laughs, "not that i didn't expect that or anything anyway."

don't need a translation - besongwritingcamp | @bexrisa

"i have some water and snacks," he slid the open bag further down the table towards risa, a little out of breath from rushing back to their little work area.

cam had respected the other trainee from the first time they had met. it took confidence and an outgoing side to go around a new company like sr media and hand out goody bags like she had. they had gotten on pretty smoothly from there. cam didn't have much time as a trainee there over her but he had been there long enough to show her some helpful spots to get alone time, and what studios had the better mics for playback.

it was a nice little friendship they'd found in each other so it made sense to work together on something for the songwriting camp. cam had a little experience with writing, it was something that was essentially expected of him at the old company and then it was something he dabbled in lightly in between those periods of his life- mostly in the form of poetry in his journal, never really progressing into the stage of formal lyrics. he was getting a bit better with writing his own raps though, practise and dedication had gotten him somewhere at least.

"how's the song going? need me to read what you have yet?"

[bexrisa]

at ren's laugh, risa relaxes substantially, tension lifted from her shoulders as she realizes that he finds their situation just as funny as she does. "they would probably turn it into a fantasy concept if we did." she suggests, head tilting as she watches a familiar letter being etched onto her partner's notebook.

as much of a partial punishment or joke it may have been to the lecturer, it seems like risa and ren might be a much better match than anticipated, and that's even more of a relief. "aw, i was going to practice my mandarin on you," she smiles and shrugs the joke away, nodding as she writes his name down on the corner of her own notebook next to partner: "ren, got it."

there's a bit of an awkward silence as risa jots down a few more notes quickly, glancing between the supplementary whiteboard and her notebook, head raising as ren poses a new question. "she looks confused for a moment as she tries to understand the question he's asking, her own embarrassment at the awkwardness of the situation causing her cheeks to redden. oh thank god, she breathes a relieved sigh as english reaches her ears and grins. "i like more indie music." she offers sheepishly, "actually, honestly, punk." she laughs, a bit uncomfortable at the admittance that she's personally not the biggest fan of overly sweet pop tunes that everyone probably expects. "i like complex music that has meaning."

he is pleasantly taken aback by her sense of humor with the entire situation, and how she seems to have clocked exactly what he did with almost the exact same reaction, and it shows on his face. he chuckles, habitually flipping his notebook to the next available blank page and picking up his pencil to inevitably twirl between his fingers.

"right, that's definitely it. maybe that should be our concept," he jokes back, pausing his instinctive fidgeting to put his pencil to its proper use, beginning to doodle a large block-letter English R across the top-left corner of the page.

"listen, i'm lucky they didn't put me with someone who expects me to speak chinese, because i don't do much of that either," he confesses, his shoulders already a little less tense now that he feels less obligated to pretend to be someone he isn't for another company's trainee just so they aren't miserable for the next hour and change.

"also, 'ren' is fine," he adds, "'renyi' always sounds like i'm in trouble." he'll spare his new acquaintance the gritty details, but something tells him she'll understand that much.

"so..." the awkwardness begins to settle in, now that he has to address the only other elephant left untouched in the room, "what's your, like- when it comes to music? what's your, uh," he can feel his sensitivity to the situation, to having to create his favorite thing in the world with someone he's only just met, sinking into the same lobe of his brain where his korean knowledge seems to be stored, gradually erasing the exact list of vocabulary he needs in this moment. so he opts for english, or some strange mixture of it and korean, instead, "what's your, vibe? energy? shit. sorry. i can't remember 'vibe' in korean."

[bexrisa]

"oh you really are wonderful. i'm so thirsty. thank you." risa reaches immediately for one of the waters brought back by cam with a grateful smile. although some might not see it as such, her friendship with cam blossomed quickly, and risa was thankful to have a friend that was the same age as her in such an age-critical environment. it helped to have someone who was dealing with the same sort of scenarios and questions she was.

cam was a good friend, offering pointers and advice on the best spots to decompress, and what days not to get a certain meal from the cafeteria- which kou certainly wouldn't know, or remember for that matter. so being paired with him wasn't nearly as much of a burden as it would be with a stranger.

"it's... okay i think," she admits, "i'm not sure about the pronunciation of these words together if it makes sense with the rhythm we're aiming for." risa sighs, offering him her notebook as she takes a break to rub her eyes. "it's so frustrating sometimes."

don't need a translation - besongwritingcamp | @bexrisa

"i have some water and snacks," he slid the open bag further down the table towards risa, a little out of breath from rushing back to their little work area.

cam had respected the other trainee from the first time they had met. it took confidence and an outgoing side to go around a new company like sr media and hand out goody bags like she had. they had gotten on pretty smoothly from there. cam didn't have much time as a trainee there over her but he had been there long enough to show her some helpful spots to get alone time, and what studios had the better mics for playback.

it was a nice little friendship they'd found in each other so it made sense to work together on something for the songwriting camp. cam had a little experience with writing, it was something that was essentially expected of him at the old company and then it was something he dabbled in lightly in between those periods of his life- mostly in the form of poetry in his journal, never really progressing into the stage of formal lyrics. he was getting a bit better with writing his own raps though, practise and dedication had gotten him somewhere at least.

"how's the song going? need me to read what you have yet?"

[bexrisa]

the quick transition from darkened room that nearly puts a person to sleep and the sharp, fluorescent lighting as its switched on again has her a little bit thrown off her focus. risa is still processing the numbers and analytics and trend predictions for the next year when partnering is announced, and her own cheery mask slips momentarily, smile exchanged for a grimace and thinly veiled eyeroll.

she loves working with other aspiring artists, she really does, but preferably ones that might actually have a semblance of similarity in taste and composition interests. it's more challenging to do with strangers, though she suspects that's exactly what the lecturer intended with this little partners ploy.

the icing on top of the metaphorical shit sundae is when her name is read alongside someone else's who is also not korean, and risa bites back a half amused scoff. of course they pair the foreigners together, it's classic- and chances are, the difference between the two of them is night and day, and they'll be hard pressed to actually present anything remotely decent together.

"hi," she smiles kindly, politely bowing her head in return as renyi introduces himself. her brows furrow at his apology, as she had started to say the same thing, and instead laughs. "japenese yes, and it's okay," she assures, "i'm sure they put us together because we both have names that start with 'R', right?" risa jokes before leaning forward and lowering her voice so as not to be caught by the lecturer. "because i don't think 'iron sharpens iron' applies here."

our backs to their cool_|

@bexrisa

"alright," the lecturer announces, as the lights switch on and the projector shuts off, charts and numbers and trends stowed away in ren's head like a swarm of wasps making a nest of his skull. he knows this stuff is important, knows there is no succeeding as a songwriter in the kpop world without, well, quantifiable success. but at the risk of being a quantifiable hipster instead, he can't help but cringe at the thought of wondering if every song he ever writes from here on out is hashtaggable, or dance-challengeable, or has a title that's catchy in at least three different languages.

"you're going to be randomly paired off now - take the next hour in your groups and see what you can come up with in the way of titles, lyrics, concepts. remember everything we talked about today: can you create an intangible piece of art that can be marketed as a tangible commodity? and can you do it while working with someone else whose likes and dislikes might be wildly different from your own?"

ren can tell he isn't the only one made uncomfortable by this concept by the groans and murmurs that circulate throughout the room. it's not that he doesn't work well with others; he was his overwatch team's captain after all. but he is so utterly particular about his music, his finished works more precious to him than anything else in the world. and he already has a team, in his own company, with friends he trusts with his craft. what's the point of pairing up with someone he will very likely never work with in this context again?

"zhou renyi and takahashi risa."

it takes everything in him to stifle an eye roll. of course they've found the two most foreign-sounding names in the room and thrown them together, with little regard for style or taste or musicality or anything else that might give them an advantage (or disadvantage) in a creative environment.

"hi?" he greets, with a bow of his head as he slides into the chair across from his new writing partner, setting his backpack on the floor by his feet and his notebook on the small table between them, "i'm sorry in advance for my korean," he apologizes, automatically, as he's been trained into doing until he no longer sounds like an accented child when speaking it, "and for not speaking...japanese? right? 'takahashi'?"

[bexrisa]

"ohhhh," is the best response that risa can manage at first, quickly realizing that nayoung might be the type to prefer a rigid outline than a 'you're creatives, just come up with something' approach. "sorry," she quips, "i didn't mean it like that if it helps." she pauses to jot down a note before she forgets it and then sets hers down.

"write something like based on the feeling of a food or something?" she offers, then grimaces, realizing she didn't exactly word that well either. "like strawberries, they're red but they're also refreshing.. so you could like... write about the freshness of a feeling, or a new experience.. kinda like that. it doesn't have to mean anything beyond the surface. you've heard some of the stuff today."

she's a little embarrassed at how stupid the idea sounds, but does want to help. they're partnered after all, and if only one half of them has anything done, it would look bad on both of them.

risa is far too...friendly? happy? something...for nayoung's liking. nayoung calls something she clearly enjoys stupid, and risa just smiles. nayoung didn't necessarily want a fight, she just finds people that are so chipper annoying. probably ideal in an idol, though. nayoung tried to be that way once. never again.

she almost says no, you don't get it. risa seems to think nayoung thinks it's stupid that she can't think of lyrics or something. at least that's how nayoung interprets it. does she want to go into a rant with this other, relatively new, trainee right now, knowing it may piss her off? honestly, she has more important things to do than that. she does need to have at least some stupid lyrics written by the end of this thing to meet the coaches' expectations.

"i feel like rules would be better," nayoung grumbles in response. "at least it might give me some sort of idea. no guidance is just like..." her voice trails off, and she shrugs. not helpful. too much. something.

[bexrisa]

while most of the trainees were starting to grow bored of sole focus on songwriting and composition, risa continued to power through- eager to make sure that none of the shared knowledge would be wasted on her. she was attending every workshop and acitivity possible, sometimes twice if she could get away with it.

the mission for the day: delving into the art of lyric writing and exploring the latest music trends. armed with her well-loved and worn writing journal, risa was eager to absorb every morsel of knowledge that could give her the next great edge in composition.

the instructor leading today had a certain way with words, using visuals to illustrate the evolution of lyrics. risa was captivated, scribbling down notes that she hoped would liven up her own projects. the session delved into the intricacies of crafting compelling lyrics and their impact on listeners, leading into a discussion of the power of social media in sharing these lyrical creations, and subsequently the 'meme' viral lyrics that were quickly becoming a bit trendy.

activity challenges peppered the class, providing everyone with a chance to share their creative sparks. risa enjoyed more in-depth discussions about how lyrics could weave stories not just within a single song but throughout an artist or group's career, furthering a theme or concept throughout different eras. it was hard to pin down just what part of the workshop she enjoyed the most, or if it was merely a different environment than her normal seminars for university that made everything seem so much more impactful.

exiting the room after an arduous hour later, risa found herself feeling like she was finally starting to fit in with other trainees, and was armed not just with constructive notes but a trove of ideas ready to blossom into masterpieces.

[bexrisa]

"oh please," risa rolls her eyes with a laugh as kou dramatically raises his hand to block the light from her phone. "i have so much energy because i feel like we joined the company at such a good time." she expresses emphatically.

"ahhh not fair, don't bring up my age again. it's already embarrassing having to listen to discussions about premature aging with the stylists." she whines, "plus, i could run circles around you anyday, cat allergies." risa teases in return. "while you're half blind from your allergies, i'll be faaaar ahead, you wait."

kou's question is a good one though- enough to give her pause. "huh," she says, genuinely thoughtful for a moment. "i mean i didn't read anything about it yet but... maybe?" her lips purse as she takes her phone back and scans over the notice again. "should we ask?"

he doesn't get lost as easily anymore. which is great, really. and it's only really taken him about a good month to get used to this schedule – wake up, train, go to school, train, go home, contemplate life. still, it really does him no favours to get to training right after he's finished his college classes, if anything kou remains feeling like a walking zombie, trudging through the hallways of the axis building.

daifuku... daifuku would be good, he's lost in thought, thinking about what to snack on later once he gets home, when he's snapped back to reality by a more than familiar voice. it's risa, she's bouncing up to him – looking a lot more alive than kou feels. he blinks at her, and it takes him a second to react. "ah, too blinding," he replies, purposefully using a hand to cover his eyes. "how do you have so much energy."

still, he can't seem to get away from the phone shoved in front of his face, and hanging out with risa a lot more pleasant than standing around the building alone. he lets her speak ( kou's never been much of a talker anyway, always a better listener ), and then laughs. "for a moment, i almost forgot you were older than me," he teases.

"it does sound fun though," he's still laughing, risa's reaction to the songwriting camp is too funny. "honestly i'm pretty excited too. do you think they'll let us write songs in japanese? i don't think i'd be able to express myself well enough in korean," he confesses – though truth be told kou's never been one to actively express himself if at all ( mostly because he didn't quite find anything he needed to express himself for ).

[bexrisa]

perhaps slightly uncharacteristic for her age, risa seems to be one of the most excited trainees attending the whole songwriting camp. not that she's complaining- after all, she is the one that decided going for a masters in music composition on top of being a trainee was a good idea. it's exhausting and exciting both, and somehow, risa manages to stay energetic and engaged enough to simply never stop learning.

during the lyrics workshop, she ends up paired with nayoung, whose (lack of) enthusiasm is clear, but risa doesn't intend on letting it change the experience. still, it's awkward silence for the first few minutes, risa quietly working on the task to create their own song that's supposed to be finished before the end of camp and stealing glances at nayoung until the younger breaks their tense silence.

she's not one to be pushy (depending on who you asked, honestly), but risa can tell that there's something particular about this that nayoung is just not enjoying, and the curiosity has been gnawing at her for days now.

risa sympathizes, really, recalling writer's block after block that's she's dealt with herself, but this is different, and at nayoung's grumble, a slightly bemused, sympathetic smile sneaks its way through. "it definitely can be," she concedes, agreeing that out of the whole process, lyric writing is probably the most ardous, even for her. "at least there's not rules for this. that would suck."

* ❁┆sour

nayoung is a good trainee. she's very sure of that! she works very hard to ensure that. she's the ideal idol, as far as she's concerned: pretty, can dance, can sing, can rap, can act.

can she write songs? no. does she think she needs to be able to for the sake of her career? absolutely not. she personally thinks this entire songwriting camp is a huge and boring waste of time. what is the likelihood that sr media would ever let her release an original song with them if she even wanted to? how would she be able to do that when she's pretty sure eunae and yuji are good at all that? literally, what do they need her to know this shit for?

she, as she does, remains polite during lessons, and tries to focus and do her best, which is quite frankly bad. it's frustrating, too, not just because she thinks this is useless, but because she's simply not good at it.

when the instructor starts breaking them off into pairs, she's partnered with risa, who nayoung is pretty sure is also good at this shit, only further proving her point.

after exchanging small talk and sitting in an awkward silence, just staring at their notebooks for a few minutes, nayoung finally grumbles, "this is so stupid."

❁┆@bexrisa

[bexrisa]

the room buzzes with energy, a mix of anticipation and excitement as other trainees chat about what sort of software they might be getting a glimpse of, what they hope to learn and who the instructors for this particular activity could be. would it be one of delta's famed producers, or would they bring outside experts too? as risa makes her way to a seat comfortably to the front middle, she's practically on the edge of it with her own eagerness to learn. she had messed around with production software before, especially when releasing on soundcloud, and her classes did cover some of these, but to have technical knowledge and hands-on from a genuine professional, it was experience that couldn't be ignored.

as the producer in charge stepped forward, a large screen behind him flickered to life, showcasing the sleek graphical interfaces of the latest software and promotional videos for it. everything looked flashy and cool, but equally as complicated- he talks about synthesizers and layering and how they're incorporating AI into some of the products, and risa is enamoured with it all.

as the first demo officially began, the room fell quiet, all focused on learning as much as they can. the instructor seamlessly navigated through intricate controls, demonstrating the art of shaping sound with the precision of a master. risa found herself just like the trainee next to her, leaning forward engrossed in the fusion of art and technology.

as each software tool was unveiled, risa felt more and more inspired, and finally like she might be able to manage all of this herself one day. the once daunting array of buttons and sliders now seemed like the keys to a kingdom of creativity, just begging to be used.

after presentation and at the first chance for a hands-on experience, risa dove headfirst into everything she possibly could. the rhythmic clicks of her mouse echoed the beats of her imagination as she explored the features, her mind buzzying with every possibility laid out in front of her.

the atmosphere in the room shifted from attentive silence to collaborative buzz. trainees exchanged tips, shared discoveries, and collectively marveled at the possibilities. risa found herself caught in the infectious enthusiasm, realizing that this shared passion for innovation was the heartbeat of AXIS.

as the session drew to a close, risa felt a newfound excitement when it came to music composition, similar to when she first fully realized that this was her passion. the world of music production had opened its doors wider, inviting her to explore and push the boundaries of her creativity. armed with the knowledge gained from the demos, she already had big plans for her future projects, and nothing really stood in her way either. as the room emptied and everyone began filtering out, risa lingered, gazing at the computers that still had the software up, waiting for the next demo. the day she got her hands on this software would be the day that she declared herself practically unstoppable.

[bexrisa]

to write the right -- @kouxbe

when the words songwriting and camp fall from the trainer's lips, risa is beyond excited to have been signed when she was. what could be considered a lifetime opportunity, and the option to shirk the regular training to attend it, has just fallen in her lap.

in the days that come, her excitement is palpable, and the morning of the official start, risa has already found kou and excitedly thrusts her phone towards him. "look! look what we get to do!" she beams, "oh kou this is so cool! did you see who's lecturing? some of the songwriters for my favorite groups."

she pulls him to the cafeteria, continuing to prattle on. "i have so many ideas already and the timing of this is just so good. it's a chance to be recognized for creative talent, it's perfect."

[bexrisa]

hellloooooo everyone!!! this is a plot call for songwriting camp!

risa is an aspiring singer/songwriter and has been studying for her masters in music composition so this is 1000% the event she is HYPED for!! and i would love to take advantage of it and plot with any fellow trainees that would be interested!!

just like this and i'll find you in your dms!

[bexrisa]

"i wonder if there's a reward for getting to the center," risa muses with a laugh. "oh my god, you might be right. i've read about those. definitely better than a maintenance closet or stairwell i guess." truth be told, her brother had told her once that he had to pick up emi from practice when she called him crying from a bathroom, but that was the japanese industry, not korean, so risa couldn't be too sure if the same thing was likely to happen here.

taking a few steps forward to the nearest door, she presses her ear against it. "it sounds quiet, maybe this one is just storage or something." risa pauses thoughtfully, "or maybe it's where old stage outfits get put or something. like a massive wardrobe. that would be cool."

she grins, but the mention of coffee is definitely more important. "but we should definitely find out if the coffee is good first." she points in the opposite direction, "and i think the cafeteria is that way."

when haein first heard about the merge of the three companies into axis, she didn't imagine that it'd result in a building so massive. it was impressive, to say the least, and all she could hope for was being able to stay for as long as she can. "it's definitely like a maze," she admits with a shake of her head.

hearing the other's words, she looked around them to the many empty rooms that were surrounding them. "they look like vocal rooms, but i'm not entirely sure. maybe trainees go in there to cry," she says with a slight chuckle. it wouldn't be completely unheard of as she's seen it happen before in her old company. of course, they didn't have as nearly as many rooms as this building did.

"i wonder how the coffee in their cafe tastes. do you think it's free for the trainees? even a discount would be great." it's not that she was here for the freebies, but she thinks it'd definitely help if she had to train late at night.

[bexrisa]

TWICE 8TH ANNIVERSARY MD Behind - SANA

[bexrisa]

”oh no,” when haein responds by saying she doesn’t have anything prepared, risa grimaces with a laugh and shakes her head. so far, it remained to be seen whether or not her idea would pay off, or bite her later. “it might not be smart..” she says cautiously, though a hint of mischievousness still creeps into her tone before she grins confidently. “but i guess i’ll find out.”

sparkling new, haein tells her, and it’s almost like a weight lifted from her shoulders - it wasn’t just her and kou that were still newcomers, and this one seemed equally nice. “what a relief to meet someone else that’s new.” she admits. “uh, absolutely yes.” she laughs “the building is a little bit like a maze. and what do you think half of these rooms are even for?”

@bexrisa

while making friends has always come easily to her, approaching potential friends yet competitors is still a skill that risa hasn't yet mastered. nerves spike as she sets off on her self-imposed mission, introducing herself to her fellow trainees with the intention to start off on the right foot. however things ended up going, she was at least here for the next three months, spending most of her waking hours with these people. she might as well give it her best shot at making a good impression if the rumors of long training hours were true. as she reached one of her fellow trainees, a moment of doubt flashed in her mind, wondering suddenly if this was way too tacky or school-age. but it's too late to back out now. with a warm smile and a genuine desire to connect with her new peers, risa extended the bag of goodies (electrolyte packets, honey chestnuts, rice snacks, and face masks). "hi, i'm risa," she introduced herself with a friendly tone. "i just recently signed with sr media and thought i would introduce myself," she offered, hoping to break the ice and make connections with her fellow trainees.

it was weird, to say the least.

this was a moment haein's been dreaming for years and yet it didn't feel real. this wouldn't be her first time being a trainee. no, she's gone through that back when she first came to korea, but this time it felt different. this time, it felt like she really was going to achieve something.

she's wandering around the building, trying to get accustomed to the place when someone sparks up a conversation. she's a bit startled by the goodie bag, but she takes it with a beaming smile. "it's lovely to meet you!" haein exclaimed before gently shaking the bag handed to her to express her gratitude.

"unfortunately, i wasn't as smart as you were and i don't have anything to hand to you," she said with a slight pout on her face. "i'm haein. sparkling new as well." she's seen instances in her past company of trainees only thinking of others as competition, and she was afraid that would be the case here as well. however, meeting someone like risa gave her assurance that this time it could be different.

"have you looked around the building yet? if not, would you like to take a tour together?"

[bexrisa]

ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜᴍᴘ, ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɪs ʟᴀɴᴅ --

Sʀ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴀ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ Rᴇsᴜʟᴛs -- ᴏᴄᴛ ²⁹

We saw something special in you and as such, we have decided to extend an offer for a probationary position in our idol trainee program.

We hope that you decide to join us on this incredible journey.

though hopeful, and mildly expected, the glowing notification '1' above the email app on her phone stills her heart for a moment. risa hadn't been paying attention well enough to see if the subject revealed her fate, only that it was the same hwang taemin that extended a formal audition after her first submission -- that in itself meant enough to make the world feel like it stopped spinning.

she excuses herself from her meeting, having not been paying much attention today anyway (after all, it was one of those could've been an email meetings meant to sate an elder's distaste for technology), and steps into an empty room to scan through the email. the audible gasp that follows next was loud enough to cause a coworker to look into the room strangely, making sure there wasn't a life or death emergency before shaking her head and closing the door politely.

she did it, she was in, and everything that she had been working towards for the past 7 years was suddenly realized. a lone tear makes its way down her face as her fingers dial the first person she thinks of, her confidant in the darkest moments and her pep-talker, her older brother.

tatsuya answers after only two rings, the tone in his voice concerned, "hell...o?" he questions, and risa stills herself with a deep breath. "oniichan," she begins, "i have to tell you something." cue the nervous laughter on the other end of the line. "is this an 'i need to tell you something and you should help get me out of trouble again'?' or is it something else?"

"that was one time," she whines, remember fondly the embarrassing moment that she ended up stranded in the states and in trouble with local police, with only her brother four hours away to help her. "and don't distract me. it's important." risa can almost see her brother's eye-rolling in her mind's eye- so what, everything was important to her, sometimes. she was serious. "i had an audition..."

"right."

"and... i mayhavemadeitintoacompany" the words rush out quickly as risa's own volume rises, a contrast to the stunned silence that falls on the other end of the phone. after a few moments, tatsuya sucks in a breath, and breathes out a long exhale that for a moment, has her doubting if she should have shared the news. "i can't believe you didn't even tell me you were auditioning again," he chastises, though his tone has its usual playful demeanor back. "good job. i'm proud of you." and with only a beat between, he adds, "and i'm sure mom and dad would be too. whenever you decide to tell them." though the suggestion is lighthearted, risa knows now that there's even more of a ticking clock on when exactly she'll have to tell them what she's been up to since moving to seoul. "i will, i will.. just... not yet." she pleads, "you know how they responded last time i told them.

tatsuya sighs, "yeah... well we can't all be emi. they'll have to accept it at some point." he laughs, "maybe wait until next holiday when you visit, that'll be fun."

"oh yeah, so i can give them a heart attack? no thanks," risa laughs with him.