#Three K's of Osaka

[dtccompendium]

Episode 239: The Three K's of Osaka Case (Part 2)''

Conan has a baby fit meltdown because Ray Curtis is the murderer, and he doesn’t want him to be. But after shouting at Heiji about it, he finally confronts Ray Curtis. After a very long conversation, he kicks a soccer ball at his face, and discovers that Ray Curtis is no longer the great soccer player he once was. 'He deserves a red card for a loser.' Afterwards, they all go back to Heiji’s house, where Conan sulks until Heiji kicks a soccer ball at his head, and then he’s fine again.

[sound-of-scoups]

Moth To A Flame | JJK & KMG | 01

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader x Kim Mingyu  Genre|tags: Idol!au, series, established relationship, infidelity, love triangle, lots of angst, lots of drama, smut, fluff.  Word count: 9.2k+ Rating: Explicit adult content (MINORS DNI). Chapter warnings: A LOT of angst and tension, explicit language, sexual innuendos, kissing. Lemme know if there's more. A/N: I’m so happy it’s finally out!!! Just a few notes: I don't want to specify an exact date, but the events take place mostly during the second half of 2022, during the PROOF and Face the Sun/SECTOR 17 eras. Also, I'm not exactly sure how many chapters this fic will have, but possibly around 10 to 15 (if i can help it). That’s it! Enjoy the reading and let me know what you think!! Tags: @cherrylovescheol, @lovingkoalaface, @whoa-jo, @marihoneywk

Summary: Four years ago, you crossed paths with a charming member of the K-pop group Seventeen during their tour stop in Osaka. The two of you shared three intense, unforgettable days before life took you in different directions. It was painful for both of you, but you knew you couldn’t take things any further and had to say goodbye. Now, back in Seoul for good, you’re in a new relationship with another idol: Jeon Jungkook—whose charm and stability make him everything you thought you wanted. You are very much in love with him, and as your connection deepens, it feels like your life is finally falling into place. That is, until you meet one of your boyfriend’s best friends and are stunned to discover it’s the same man you fell for in Osaka all those years ago. As buried emotions resurface and secrets begin to unravel, you find yourself torn between these two men, caught in a whirlwind of love and conflict, testing the boundaries of loyalty and the choices that could change everything. 

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Your phone buzzed on the dresser as you stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the strap of your dress for what felt like the hundredth time tonight. You knew it was a message from Jungkook, probably wondering where you were since it was half past nine and you were already late. 

Nice way to make a good first impression, you thought to yourself, staring back at your reflection in the mirror, a mix of excitement and nerves creeping in your chest. 

Jungkook had chosen the dress himself. It was simple yet elegant, a mid red velvet dress—his favorite color on you—with a slight sheen and floral embossed details. The dress has a V-neckline and it’s fitted to the body, creating an elegant and sophisticated fit, perfect for the night. Over the dress, you chose to threw a black leather jacket, which added a cool touch to the look, contrasting with the delicacy of the dress and looking very chic overall. 

You took a step back, after applying a final coat of the deep red shade lipstick, smoothing the fabric of the dress one last time as you studied your reflection in the mirror once more.

If you were being honest with yourself, you had spent more time getting ready than usual, wanting everything to be perfect. 

Tonight marks six months since you and Jungkook started dating, a milestone you both had eagerly awaited. From the moment you met while temporarily working for HYBE as a stylist for BTS’s PTD on Stage first show in Seoul, back in october, you knew it was meant to be. When he started shamelessly flirting while you tried to adjust his clothes, you knew you were a goner. And in the 182 days since he kissed you at 2 a.m. by the Han River, the two of you have been through so much together.

You’ve already done almost everything and anything, absolutely ignoring when everyone said not to rush into things, since you’re both so young. Plans for the far future, matching tattoos, and considering how much time you spent at his place, basically living together. You can name it and find out what you've already done. HYBE already knew about your relationship, and you spent ninety percent of your time together, except when you were both working. He already knew your family and closest friends, and you also knew his mom, dad and brother, his members and most of his friends from school and the industry. 

Well, all except the infamous 97 line. Which basically was your task for tonight. 

You had never met them before, or at least not all of them. However, tonight that would change, as Jungkook had arranged a dinner and drinks to introduce you to them. And from the moment everything was agreed upon, the thought of making a good impression had your stomach in knots. Jungkook was everything to you, and all you wanted was to be perfect for him—to be the woman who would fit seamlessly into his world. 

You really did love him. It was a thought that both comforted and anchored you all day, keeping you steady despite the nervous feeling creeping in your stomach as you finished getting ready. During the time you’ve been together, you've fallen hard for Jungkook, his kindness, his humor, the way he made you feel safe and cherished. He became your world. He’s kind and thoughtful manners, the way he treated you like you were the most important person in his life.

Jungkook had been nothing short of amazing and you loved him deeply. 

But that was not the only thing on your mind tonight. There was something else, something you hadn’t been able to push away no matter how hard you tried. Or rather, someone.

Of course you knew the guys who were part of 97 line—you didn’t live under a rock. For Christ’s sake, you also work for the entertainment industry; it’s basically part of your job to know who they are. And even if they weren’t who they are, Jungkook never stops talking about him specifically. He’s already shown you dozens of photos of the two of them and their adventures during Seoul’s nights.

It had been months since you realized that Mingyu from Osaka was also Jungkook’s Mingyu. 

The worst part, however, was that you hadn’t had the heart to tell him. You knew how angry he would be, how fiercely he loved you, and how much he disliked the idea of sharing anything, especially you; what was his was his only. So, yes, you were terrified of what would happen if he found out. You simply couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, not when you loved him so much, and not when what you had together was the best thing that had happened to you since you set foot in Seoul again. 

That’s the only reason you had kept it to yourself this entire time, knowing this moment would come eventually and you would have no way to escape it, only hoping you could get through the night without Mingyu causing any trouble. You knew he was a discreet guy, and it wasn’t like you were going to see each other every single day anyway from now on.  

Your phone buzzed on the dresser one more time, pulling you out of your thoughts. As you have guessed before, it was another text from Jungkook. 

You smiled, the warmth of his words soothing your nerves, if only a little. Jungkook was the reason you were doing this, the reason you face tonight despite the anxiety gnawing at you. And tonight was about him, and you were determined to make it nice and easy. 

So you took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves as you muttered to yourself, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “It's just one night.” 

Grabbing your purse, you took one last look in the mirror, and headed out the door. Even though it's not that far from your house, the cab ride to the restaurant felt shorter than you expected, your anticipation growing with each passing minute. 

Earlier in the day, Jungkook had insisted on picking you up, but you refused. You ended up working late—your temporary job as an editorial stylist for Elle Magazine had taken more of your time than expected—and you didn’t want to make him late as well. So, you told him you’d take a taxi and assured him it would be fine. But even so, you could tell he wasn’t completely convinced. He'd texted you several times throughout the evening, double-checking that you were okay and reminding you to let him know once you were on your way.

When you arrived, you spotted Jungkook immediately, staging outside the entrance with a wide grin on his face. He looked effortlessly handsome in his dark gray Calvin Klein shirt and dark jeans, his dark hair tousled in that way you loved.

As soon as he sees you getting out of the cab, his entire face lights up. 

“Hey, gorgeous,” he greeted you, bunny smile on full display as he pulled you into his arms to a warm hug, nose immediately dragging against the column of your neck, “I missed you.”

“Hi, handsome,” you replied, a teasing smile on your lips, nerves easing slightly with his touch as you melted completely into his embrace. “It's only been eight hours, babe.”

He shrugs. "What can I say? I don’t think I can last much longer without you, babe." Taking his face from the crook of your neck, Jungkook smiles, leaning down to kiss you softly. You sunk into the kiss, his familiar warmth making you feel safe and more at ease. “Happy six months.” 

“Happy six months, baby,” you replied between kisses.

When you finally pulled away, he kept you close, both hands on each side of your hips, an amused smirk pulling up at the corner of his lips. “You look incredible. Can’t wait to take this dress off of you.”

Your arms rested on his shoulders, circling his neck. “Mhmm… you don’t look so bad yourself.” He smelled really nice too, a wood and ocean scent that was distinctly his. “I have a surprise for you underneath this.”

"Don’t do this to me, doll,” he groaned in complaint, his voice almost sounding like a whimper. “I’d ditch those guys for you in a second.”

His lips met your jaw, trailing a path down to your neck. “And I wouldn't complain.”

You heard someone clear their throat, noticing a lady on the sidewalk staring at you with an unfriendly expression. You giggled, finally pulling away but staying close enough for him to drape his arm around your waist.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t wait for you to meet them,” he sounded way too excited, his doe eyes sparkling with joy. “Ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” you said with a nervous laugh, trying to shake off the lingering jitters.

“They’re going to adore you, I promise,” he said, squeezing your waist reassuringly. 

Jungkook led you into the restaurant, his hand gently resting on the small of your back. The place was cozy and intimate, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over the tables—the exact kind of spot you’d expect idols to gather for this kind of get-together. You could hear the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses as you made your way to the back of the room toward a large table where a group of eight guys were already seated and chatting animatedly. 

As you weaved through the maze of tables, your nerves began creeping back in, your heart pounding in your chest as you approached the table. You forced yourself to focus on Jungkook, on the fact that he was here with you, and that tonight was more about him than anything else. But as your eyes scanned the faces at the table, you couldn't help but search for the one you were dreading most.

“They’re just over here,” Jungkook said, bringing you out of your thoughts as you approached the group. 

And then you saw him.

Heart skipping a beat and breath caught in your throat as your eyes landed on the man sitting at the far end of the table, his eyes downcast as he filled his glass with a cabernet liquid. 

The man you never expected to see again in your life.

Kim Mingyu. 

The sight of him was like a punch to the gut, the air in the room suddenly feeling too thick, too heavy. The world around you blurred, your vision narrowing to just him—the man who had occupied your thoughts for so long after Osaka four years ago, the one you had tried and failed to forget.

It felt like slow motion as all eyes turned to you, and Mingyu slowly looked up from his drink, following suit with the rest of the guys.

Your breath caught in your throat as your eyes locked with his. A flicker of recognition crossed his gaze, his eyes widening slightly before he quickly masked his surprise with a neutral expression. Even though you knew he would be there, nothing could have prepared you for the rush of emotions that surged the moment your eyes met.

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving you breathless and frozen in place. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, the noise of the restaurant fading into the background, and all you could hear was the rapid beating of your heart.

Mingyu held your gaze, a slow, knowing smile curving his lips. In that moment, a jolt of electricity shot through your body—a mix of fear, guilt, and something else, something you didn’t want to name.

“Everyone,” Jungkook’s voice cut through the haze in your mind, pulling you back to the present. “This is Y/N, the amazing woman I’ve been telling you all about, and the love of my life.”

Jungkook’s tone was joyful and proud as he kissed your cheek. You tore your eyes away from Mingyu, forcing a smile and trying to steady your breathing. Meeting the gazes of the guys around the table, you spoke, your voice steadier than you felt. “Hi, it’s so nice to finally meet you all.”

“Babe, this is Yugyeom, Bambam, Chan, Eunwoo, Jaehyun, Seokmin, Minghao… and Mingyu,” Jungkook introduced, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface.

Mingyu stood up almost immediately, one of his long legs hitting the edge of the table, causing the silverware to rattle. He offered you a polite smile, but you noticed the tightness in his jaw, the way his eyes avoided yours as he reached out to shake your hand across the table.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Y/N,” he said, his voice calm and measured, as though nothing was out of the ordinary, giving nothing away.

Your hand trembled slightly as you shook his, the contact sending a jolt of electricity through your body that you desperately tried to ignore. Heart racing, you managed to reply, your voice barely above a whisper as you forced a smile, “You too, Mingyu.”

Clenching your teeth, you fought against the shiver that coursed through your body, your nipples hardening despite your will. Memories flooded back in flashes, like a kaleidoscope of moments—the way his fingers felt inside you, on you, touching and caressing, guiding you to most the earth-shattering nights of your life.

Your hands lingered together for just a moment, you mind racing as you tried to gauge his reaction. Was he going to say something? Did he really remember you?

The rest of the introductions faded into a blur. As everyone took their seats, you found yourself sitting directly across from Mingyu, the small proximity only heightened your awareness of him. You could feel his gaze on you, even though he was careful not to let it linger too long. 

Jungkook sat beside you, his hand resting comfortably on your thigh under the table—a gesture that usually made you feel secure. But tonight, it felt like a reminder of the terrible situation you had suddenly found yourself in. 

You now hated yourself for not saying something to Jungkook before tonight. 

Of course, you hadn’t known Jungkook when Mingyu came into your life, but now that you knew both of them, shouldn't you have said something? 

And what would you even say? 

That his best friend had once stirred feelings in you so intense that they haunted you? That you spent years trying to erase the memory of his touch? That all those years ago, it was as if Mingyu hadn’t just claimed your body but your soul? 

A wave of nausea hit you suddenly, and you swallowed hard, trying to push it down.

As the conversation flowed around, you tried to focus on the others, to be present in the moment. You had to keep yourself occupied, or your sanity would begin to fray. And the other boys were more than happy to help you with that. They were very kind, funny and welcoming, and despite your tension, you found yourself slowly warming up to them. 

Jaehyun was charming and amusing; Seokmin was full of energy, making you feel more at ease with his laid-back attitude; Eunwoo was sweet but a little shy; Chan was outgoing and warm-hearted; Yugyeom was bubbly, relentlessly teasing Jungkook throughout dinner, while Bambam was clearly the life of the group—loud, hilarious, and making you laugh with his playful banter and jokes, easing some of the tension you’d been carrying since you arrived. Minghao, on the other hand, was more subdued but quick-witted, throwing in sarcastic comments and showing a genuine interest in you.

They all seemed genuinely happy to meet you, and you found yourself laughing at their stories, trying to relax.

“So, what do you do for a living?” Bambam asked. “We gotta know if you’re doing something cooler than us.” 

You chuckled softly. “Right now I'm between jobs. I mainly work as a tour stylist, but recently I’ve started getting into some editorial work too, for Elle Magazine.” 

"Oh, so you know Chaeyoung?" Eunwoo asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Chaeyoung?" you echoed, unsure.

"Rosé, babe," Jungkook leaned in and whispered.

"Oh, right! Yeah, I was responsible for her outfits in the Elle June issue. We spent the whole day together—she’s really sweet." 

"She's part of our group too," Jungkook explained with a grin, "but you'll meet the girls another day."

"They're a separate event," Jaehyun joked and you laughed. 

“What do you like more? Touring or editorial?” Yugyeom asked, looking genuinely interested.

“Touring, definitely,” you replied, your face lighting up as you spoke about your job. "It’s incredible, and I get to do the other thing I love most—traveling."

“Wow,” Seokmin outed, sounding genuinely impressed. “What do you do when artists go on tour?”

“The months prior to a tour I coordinate the designers and do the talks with brands for custom pieces or partnerships," you began to explain. “During the tour, I oversee the team of dresses who help with costume changes and ensure costumes are functional for performances.”

“She’s so much cooler than you, Jungkook-ah.” Bambam said, pointing at Jungkook, who just shrugged.

“I can't argue with that.” 

“What artists have you worked with?” Chan piped in, eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Mostly westerners. Little Mix, Dua Lipa, Ariana Gran—”

“So how did you two meet?” The question came up suddenly from the far end of the table, interrupting what you were saying and making your breath catch.

You shifted your gaze toward Mingyu, who leaned across the table with his eyebrows arched, head resting in the palm of his hand. Curiosity—and something more—sparkled in his eyes. Until that moment, he had been the picture of composure, engaging in conversation easily, his voice smooth and confident as he chatted with Jungkook and the other guys, but never with you.

Right now, however, you could see the tension in his jaw and the way the muscles in his forearm flexed, fingers tightened around his wine glass as he said, “Jungkook’s been pretty quiet about it, keeping us all in suspense.”

You hesitated for a moment, his tone sharp and unsettling, the bluntness of his question throwing you off balance. It was exactly the conversation you'd been avoiding, knowing it could lead to Mingyu prying into things you weren’t ready to share in his presence. 

You glanced at Jungkook, who smiled encouragingly and gave your thigh a reassuring squeeze under the table.

“Well, we actually met when I was working temporarily with BTS during the PTD on Stage shows here in the city," you said, keeping your voice steady, though inside you were bracing yourself. You turned your attention to your boyfriend’s face, forcing yourself not to let Mingyu's presence intimidate you, though it was becoming harder with every passing second. "It was supposed to be just for those shows, but I ended up staying with them until PTD in Las Vegas.”

“HYBE really loved her work, but I think I loved it more than anyone,” Jungkook said with a big smile, his hand gently caressing the inside of your thigh. His eyes met yours, and you exchanged a warm smile. “We got to talk one night after one of the concerts in LA, and…”

“It just felt right,” you concluded, smiling at the man on your left.

“Wow,” Yugyeom said with a grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement. You couldn’t help but notice how similar his smile was to Jungkook’s—very bunny-like. “That sounds like something out of a drama.”

“Doesn’t it?” Jungkook said rhetorically, his eyes never leaving your face. 

You laughed softly, feeling the warmth in his gaze. “I guess it does. Life has a funny way of writing its own scripts.”

Tonight was the greatest proof of that, you thought, as Mingyu's gaze seared into the left side of your face. 

You stole a glance in his direction, catching him watching you closely. His expression was unreadable, but the tense set of his jaw gave you all the confirmation you needed—his own question had backfired, and this conversation was clearly affecting him, and not in the "I’m-happy-for-my-best-friend" kind of way. 

Then he abruptly turned his attention away when Minghao leaned in to whisper something in his ear.

"She’s got a point," Jungkook said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk as he pointed at Eunwoo. "You’ve probably started enough dramas to know how this plays out, huh?"

The man chuckled. "To be honest, it does sound like fate.”

Jungkook glanced at you with a smile that made your heart flutter even more. But before you could respond to Eunwoo, Mingyu’s voice cut in, accompanied by a wry smirk. “Real cinematic. Almost too good to be true, right?”

“It really was kind of perfect,” Jungkook said, smiling down at you again and completely oblivious to his friend's ironic tone."Fate or not, I’m just glad it happened."

The boys instantly started imitating Jungkook’s voice, making obnoxious noises and exaggerated smooching sounds. You forced a smile, trying to ignore the way Mingyu’s words lingered above you, heavy with unspoken meaning.

His eyes remained fixed on you, but he leaned back in his chair, feigning casual interest. “I see. Well, it’s surprising that you didn’t run into us at the concert here in Seoul, too, since we were there. I guess fate decided to keep things interesting.”

Once again, his words were tinged with irony, and though he didn’t directly address it, the implication was clear as the day for you. Your heart raced as you fought to maintain your composure. 

“Yeah, I guess.” 

Just then, Jaehyun flashed you a warm smile and asked, “So, Y/N, are you from around here?” 

You shook your head. “No, actually. I’m originally from Gwangju, but I lived in the UK for almost my entire life before deciding to move back here.”

“Really?” Jaehyun said, clearly intrigued. “What brought you back?”

“Just felt like the right time,” you replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “Sometimes you need a change of pace, you know?”

Jaehyun nodded thoughtfully. “I get that. It’s nice to have a fresh start every now and then.”

"How many countries have you visited while working?” Yugyeom asked, taking your focus off Jaehyun. “Must be nice traveling to so many places." 

"Oh, it is. There are so many places that I couldn't name them all at once. The last time I was in Brazil with–”

“Have you ever been to Osaka, Y/N?” Sensing an opening, Mingyu threw the question at you, his eyebrows raised, your name rolling out of his tongue slowly. His smirk didn’t waver as he leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming with the kind of knowledge only the two of you shared. “Osaka is really nice.”

You winced at the chill in his words, desperately searching his eyes for the tenderness that once resided in those brown depths. But all you found were dark, empty eyes that swiftly brought back memories of your time together.

Suddenly, your heart skipped a beat, the memory of those three days in Osaka flashing through your mind like a neon sign in the dark. He didn’t mention it—he wouldn’t—but the way he phrased the question made it clear what was hovering between the two of you. You didn’t know what game Mingyu wanted to play tonight, but it was suddenly driving you crazy. 

Everyone at the table turned their eyes to him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, since he brought up Osaka out of nowhere. 

It was Bambam who voiced the question. “Osaka? She just said she was in Brazil, and you're stuck in Osaka?” he laughed. “You’ve been to Osaka hundreds of times, bro. Let’s hear about Brazil, please.”

Throughout the rest of the dinner, conversation and laughter filled the air. You tried your best to focus, to be present and engaged, but it didn’t matter how hard you tried, it was difficult to concentrate. Your mind kept drifting back to Mingyu, the tension between you palpable, even though neither of you acknowledged it. The others made you feel at ease, but Mingyu’s presence cast a shadow over your excitement.

And as if his mere presence wasn’t enough to overwhelm you, his smooth gestures and deep, husky laughter stirred memories you were desperately trying to forget.

You couldn’t shake the feeling of his eyes burning into you, now and then. Every so often, you would catch Mingyu looking at you, his gaze lingering just a little too long before he looked away. And every time your eyes met across the table, it sent a jolt through your system; your heart skipped a beat again and again, your mind a whirlwind of emotions, a jumbled mess of past and present. You couldn’t believe this was happening—of all the people in the world, Mingyu had to be Jungkook’s best friend.

It was so obvious that you weren’t the only one affected by this. You could see the tension in Mingyu’s shoulders, the way he kept his responses short, his attention drifting elsewhere. He was as shaken by this unexpected reunion as you were, and knowing that only made you feel more unsettled.

You loved Jungkook so much, you reminded yourself over and over. You were with him now, and that was all that mattered.

“Jungkook’s been so happy since you two got together,” Eunwoo leaned in closer, lowering his voice beneath the hum of conversation. His warm gaze focused on you as he whispered, grounding you again. “It’s really nice to see.”

A lump rose in your throat, the warmth of Eunwoo’s words a sharp contrast to the cold tension swirling inside you. Forcing a smile, you replied, “He makes me really happy too. The happiest, actually.”

It was true—you knew that. But right now, it felt like you were trying to convince yourself more than reaffirm it, and you hated yourself for it.

As the night went on, the tension in your chest never eased. It felt like guilt was eating you alive. Maybe you were overreacting—after all, it wasn’t like you had any feelings for Mingyu anyway. Maybe you should have told Jungkook from the start. Maybe he wouldn’t have reacted the way you feared, and everything would have been fine. The two of you would have laughed at the coincidence, and life would have gone on.

Maybe, maybe, maybe. 

But now it was too late, you thought to yourself—you were already here. You and Mingyu had already spent most of the night pretending you didn’t know each other, as if nothing extraordinary had happened four years ago. There was no way Jungkook wouldn’t find the situation strange.

Did that make you a cheater? You had wrestled with the question through the night, guilt gnawing at you, even if there was no betrayal in the technical sense. 

This wasn’t the kind of thing you could confess without destroying everything. It wasn’t something you could admit even to yourself without breaking. But the memory clung to you, no matter how hard you tried to bury it. And the weight of it was unbearable now, sitting in a room with both of them, feeling like you were betraying Jungkook just by being reminded of a past you could never speak of. 

Not with him, anyway. 

Sitting among your boyfriend's friends in silence, you felt like the worst person in the world. Although the rest of dinner flowed with lighthearted conversation, your heart raced every time Jungkook brought up something about your relationship that could give Mingyu space for interrogation.

And that continued until the conversation suddenly shifted.

“So, Mingyu, you still haven’t spilled the details about what went down between you and Sanghee," Yugyeom said, turning all eyes toward his friend. “Spill, already.” 

"Who’s Sanghee?" Bambam mumbled through a mouthful of rice.

“She’s that friend I set him up with on a blind date about three weeks ago," Yugyeom explained and all of a sudden, it seemed like the whole table had remembered a very important topic to be discussed: Mingyu’s love life. “She’s a dancer for YG.”

You took a long sip of your wine, trying to drown the strange knot tightening in your stomach. A confusing mix of warmth and bittersweet unease creeping through your veins, leaving you momentarily disoriented. 

Jealousy? Seriously? 

The thought hit you like a wave, catching you off guard. You had no reason to feel this way, but the unsettling twinge in your chest was undeniable. You shook your head, trying to push the feeling aside. You didn’t even know him anymore. It wasn’t fair to you or him to be feeling this way. But most of all, it wasn’t fair to Jungkook. Yet the thought of Mingyu being with someone else had every muscle in your body tensing, rejecting the idea completely in a crazy possessive way. 

"Wait, you're dating again?" Jungkook asked, genuinely surprised and you lowered your gaze to your plate, trying to tune out the conversation, even though a part of you wondered what he meant with again. "I had no idea, man. That's good for you!"

Mingyu’s tone was sharp, clearly meant as a jab, as he replied to your boyfriend. "Well, of course you wouldn't know. We’ve barely seen you these past six months."

"But for a good reason, so you're off the hook," Seokmin said with a wink in your and Jungkook’s direction, quickly easing the tension. "Anyway, it's awesome that Mingyu's getting back into dating. Four years is a long time."

You froze, a chill running through you. That couldn't be right. You must've misheard.

Slowly, you lifted your head, just in time to catch Minghao wrapping an arm around Mingyu, as if offering quiet support. "He had to move on eventually, you know."

"Seriously, dude," Eunwoo chimed in, shaking his head. "I’m starting to think that girl you met in Osaka is a figment of your imagination. No way you’d stay hung up for four years over someone you only spent three days with."

Mingyu’s face flushed, and it was obvious he knew you were staring—he avoided your gaze, and for the first time tonight, he was looking everywhere but at you. Still, you couldn’t help but watch him from beneath your lowered lashes, struggling to make sense of your feelings right now.

To your surprise, he glanced your way for just a second before turning his attention back to the guys. 

"Could you all shut up for a moment?" His gaze landed on Jungkook, then Yugyeom. "And no, I'm not dating again. Sanghee was a little annoying, to be honest. She only wanted to talk about things that didn't interest me”

Yugyeom let out an exasperated sigh, throwing his head back. "You’re way too damn picky, man. Seriously, just choose someone and date them already!"

"I'm not picky, I just know what I want." He leaned back in his chair with a casual shrug and turned his gaze to you. You quickly looked away, but he pressed on. "I've already said it: I'm looking for someone I can genuinely connect with. Someone kind-hearted and easy-going."

Jaehyun rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like the girl from Osaka."

Mingyu shrugged. "Exactly like her."

You swallowed hard, leaning your head against your boyfriend's shoulder, using him as support to try to erase the thoughts racing through your mind at full speed. 

What the fuck was going on and why was he saying all these things?

"Mingyu met a girl in Osaka, like, five years ago? And he's never shut up about her since," Jungkook whispered, trying to include you in their conversation. "He hardly ever dates anyone because of her, so it’s always a reason to celebrate."

You forced a smile, bringing the glass to your lips as you replied, "She seems like a special girl." 

Jungkook smiled softly at you, leaning down to kiss your forehead. "I bet she is.

The conversation went on and then shifted, turning to the new drama Eunwoo was preparing to film over the summer. When dessert was served, you excused yourself to the bathroom, needing a moment to collect your thoughts and breathe. You slipped quietly out of your chair, walking down the dimly lit hallway outside the restroom, your heart still racing as you closed the door behind you. 

You immediately leaned against the sink, gripping its edge tightly as you stared at your reflection, your pulse thrumming in your ears as you cursed loudly. “Fuck.”

What the hell was going on? Why was Mingyu trying to confuse you with all these things, after everything that happened the morning he left Osaka? What did he stand to gain from this? He was the one who set the boundary, who made it clear that the past needed to stay buried. So why now, of all times, was he stirring it all back up? None of it made sense, and the more you tried to piece it together, the more it felt like the ground was shifting beneath your feet.

You loved Jungkook. You knew that. You were in love with him, with the life you had begun to build together. The perfect bubble you had created around yourselves, one that no one seemed able to burst. You’d spent six months like this—entwined in each other as if your very lives depended on it—and even now, you were still eager to celebrate this milestone by yourselfs the moment you step out of here.

Yet, seeing Mingyu tonight took a toll on you. 

There had always been something about him, something intangible that tugged at your soul in ways you could never fully explain. Now, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t quite remember what it was. It was maddening; the way the memory of him from four years ago slipped through your fingers all night, yet still sent your mind spinning uncontrollably. Deep down, you knew it was the same force that had once made your heart surrender so easily, the same pull that left you defenseless all those years ago.

You splashed water on your face, hoping to wash away your thoughts, trying desperately to clear your mind and come to your senses. But no matter how cold the water was, the anxious feelings remained, stubborn and unshakable.

Drying your face with a towel, you tossed it into the basket and took a deep breath. Closing your eyes for a moment, you tried to pull yourself together before heading back out there to face the rest of the evening with nothing but a big, stupid smile on your face, doing what you seemed so good at: pretending.

You stayed in the bathroom a few more minutes, pressing your palms to your cheeks to cool the flush that had risen as you steadied your breathing. You needed to get back to Jungkook as soon as possible—back to the reality you had chosen, back to celebrating your six-month anniversary together with his friends.

But as soon as you rounded the corner, you almost collided with a solid figure.

“Whoa!” you exclaimed, stumbling back slightly before steadying yourself. “I’m sorry, I—” 

You stopped talking immediately when you looked up and met the one person you least wanted to see right now. Panic coursed through you, and you instinctively dodged, forcing yourself to start walking again without saying a word. 

But you were quickly halted when a hand landed on your forearm. The sudden touch sent a shiver down your spine, a mix of surprise and an unwanted spark of familiarity that you couldn't shake off. It was the faintest brush against your arm, but the sensation lingered, sending your pulse into a wild rhythm. 

How could such a small touch feel so electric? 

You quickly pulled your arm away, but didn’t take a step, frozen in place with him just behind you.

“Y/N,” Mingyu whispered, his voice husky in urgency. “Can we talk?”

Your heart sank. The last thing you wanted was to be cornered right now, especially after everything that had been said at the table just a couple of minutes ago.

Slowly, you turned to face him, heart racing as a flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm you just by a single touch. In that moment, all the thoughts you had tried to suppress tonight came rushing back, and you found yourself caught between the instinct to flee and the magnetic pull of his presence. 

“I… I really can’t,” you replied, voice firm but slightly wavering.

“Please,” he said, stepping closer, the intensity of his gaze making it hard for you to breathe. “I just need a moment. Just to talk.”

You shook your head no, mind fighting with all the reasons why this was a terrible idea. “Mingyu, it’s not a good time. I’m with Jungkook, and—”

“I know you’re with him,” he interrupted, his voice rising slightly. “But that’s not what this is about. It’s about us.”

“What happened is in the past,” you stated, feeling a rush of frustration. “This won't change just because we ran into each other.”

His expression softened, a mixture of regret and longing. “It’s not that simple, and you know it. We…”

He stopped talking for a moment and for a second, just stood there, his gaze fixed on your face with intensity. He didn’t say anything, but the way he looked at you it was as if he hadn’t really seen you until this moment. His eyes roamed over your face, down to the way the red dress clung to your body, and back up again, like he was memorizing every inch of you, like you was something he couldn’t quite believe was real. 

Your pulse thumped loudly in your ears. The proximity between you was unbearable. He was too close, his scent too familiar, the memories flooding back with every breath taken as if the ones that haunted you through this night weren't enough. 

It had been four years, but suddenly it felt like it had all happened yesterday.

Mingyu stepped closer, so close now that you could feel the heat radiating from his body. Your breath caught in your throat, your pulse thudding wildly as his eyes met yours once again. There was something in his gaze, something raw and unspoken, that made the air between you hum with electricity. He was looking at you like he’d been waiting all night just to get this close, like being in the same room hadn’t been enough until now.

“You…” Mingyu’s voice was rough, almost strained, his eyes never leaving yours. “You look… different.”

“Mingyu…” you started, but your voice trailed off, unsure of what to say.

You knew what he meant. It wasn’t about the dress or the fact that your hair had grown long since the last time you had seen each other. He meant something deeper, something you both felt but neither could acknowledge. As you met his gaze, the weight of that understanding settled over you.

“You… look good,” he said, his voice quieter than before, but it still carried the same roughness that sent a shiver down your spine. 

You smiled softly, tilting your head to the side. You wanted to say so many things to him, but all that could come out of your lips was, “Thank you. You look good too.” 

The silence stretched between you, heavy with everything you couldn’t say. You could see the uncertainty in his eyes, the flicker of hope clouded by the reality of your lives now. 

“Mingyu,” you started, unsure of how to express the conflict inside you. “Listen, I…”

But before you could finish, somebody turned around the corner, interrupting your moment, making you jump slightly. Your heart started racing again, the reality of your situation crashing back down on you. Anticipation clenched in your stomach. You had to get out of here. 

“Minghao. Hi.”

Minghao smiled at both of you immediately, stopping in his tracks, his curious gaze locking onto yours. “Sorry about that,” he said with a chuckle, stepping aside to let you pass. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine.” You said, mirroring his smile. “No worries.”

Then you made a move to walk past him, eager to return to the safety of the dinner table, to Jungkook, but Minghao didn’t let you go so easily. His eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, “Everything okay?” 

“Yeah, I just needed to freshen up.” You replied, glancing toward the dining area of the restaurant where you could hear Jungkook’s voice and the others still laughing, still blissfully unaware of the storm that had just brewed in your mind. 

“Are you two okay?” Minghao asked, glancing between you with a raised eyebrow. 

You nodded quickly. “Yeah, we’re fine.”

He didn't look convinced. “Did I interrupt something?” 

“We’re just catching up,” Mingyu replied, his expression shifting, the vulnerability from moments ago replaced by a guarded look. The casualness in his voice stood in stark contrast to the heaviness that had hung between you seconds earlier. “I had to know if she passed the test to be Jungkookie's girlfriend.”

Mingyu let out a light laugh as he spoke and Minghao nodded, though he didn’t seem convinced. There was a curious glint in his eyes, as if he were trying to piece something together. He studied your face intently, his brows furrowing in thought, like a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.

“You know,” he started, his voice thoughtful, “you look really familiar. Have we met before?”

Your breath caught in your throat, heart skipping a beat for what it felt like the hundredth time this evening. The way he said it, the way his eyes held yours—it sent a chill down your spine. The distant familiarity in his eyes unsettled you all of a sudden, and you felt a knot tighten in your stomach.

You quickly glanced at Mingyu, then back at Minghao, swallowing hard, the weight of his gaze suddenly becoming too much for you to handle, because you knew exactly where he recognized you from. 

That day at the airport, the very last day, four years ago. The day you had said goodbye to Mingyu, heart in pieces, believing you’d probably never see him ever again. Minghao had been there, along with the other members of Seventeen. Far away, but there. He had probably seen it. He probably knew.

Panic bubbled in your chest, but you fought to keep your expression neutral. You forced a laugh, shaking your head as you carefully replied, "I don’t think so. I think I’d remember."

“You’d be surprised,” Minghao’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if your reaction to his question had only deepened his suspicion. He chuckled softly, but his eyes stayed on yours, sharp with thought. “I’m terrible with names, but faces? I never forget a face.”

He looked like he was going to say something else, but then he tilted his head, studying your face a little bit more. He glanced at Mingyu slightly and there was a beat of silence between the three of you. All of sudden, you felt your pulse quickening again. This night looked like it would be one that would land you in the hospital with the onset of a cardiac arrest. 

“Maybe we’ve crossed paths somewhere,” you said, trying to sound as casual as possible. “But I don’t think we’ve officially met before tonight.”

“Hmm, maybe,” he mused, glancing past you for a second before returning his focus back to your face. There was something knowing in it, something that made you feel sick. This couldn’t be happening. Then Minghao’s expression shifted, as if a light had just switched on in his mind. “Japan! Ha! Have you ever been to Japan?”

“I, uh…” you stammered slightly, trying to keep your cool. “Yeah, I’ve been. For work.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. You had met Mingyu during your time off while the singer you worked for was on tour.

He nodded slowly, like he was piecing something together. “Right.” 

Minghao's eyes lingered on yours, and you had the distinct feeling that he was seeing right through your attempt at casual conversation. 

But to your relief, he didn’t press the subject further. Instead, he just shrugged. “Well, I’m sure it’ll come to me eventually,” he said, his tone hinting at something unspoken. He smiled as he stepped aside, gesturing toward the dining room. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to Jungkook. Enjoy the rest of your night, Y/N.”

“Thank you, Minghao.” You mumble quickly, as he stepped into the men’s restroom after lightly touching Mingyu's shoulder and smiling at his friend. You took a deep breath, eyes meeting Mingyu’s again. “I should go,” you said, your voice steadier than you felt. “I really need to—”

“Wait,” he interrupted you, his tone suddenly serious. “Can we… can we talk later? Somewhere private?”

You hesitated, the conflict within you flaring up again. Minghao's words and gaze had completely thrown you off balance. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Please,” Mingyu said, his voice dropping to a whisper, a plea that struck deep within you. “I just need to see you again. Just to talk.”

“I’ll think about it,” you replied, taking one last look at him before you walked back toward the table. 

Every step felt heavy, your mind racing with thoughts you wished you could push away as you made your way back to Jungkook. Did Minghao know? Was he just playing with you, or had he already connected the dots? Has he really recognized you? Was it possible that he had seen you in the airport with Mingyu? 

You simply couldn’t afford to think about that right now. Not with Jungkook looking so happy, waiting for you at the table, surrounded by his closest friends. For now, you had to push everything aside, pretend like the past hadn’t crashed into your life tonight. 

As you neared the dining area of the restaurant, the sound of laughter greeted you, and for a moment, the weight on your chest lightened. Jungkook spotted you immediately, his face lighting up as he waved you over. 

You observed that boys had spread out. Seokmin, Bambam and Yugyeom were huddled around the karaoke machine, laughing and dancing to the soft ballad playing in the background. Eunwoo, Jaehyun and Chan sat nearby Jungkook, deep in conversation, while there was no sign of Mingyu coming behind you. 

When you reached the table, Jungkook turned fully toward you, flashing that familiar boyish smile, the one that always made your heart swell. It was effortless, the way he could make you feel safe with just a look, as if the entire world faded away and it was only the two of you.

He extended his hands, pulling you close to seat on his lap, his voice soft and affectionate as he murmured, “There you are. I was starting to miss you.”

You genuinely smiled, the sound of his voice grounding you in the presente, exactly where you should be. You had to focus on him. On your six-month anniversary. On the life you had built together, even if ghosts from your past were insisting on creeping back in. 

He wrapped his arms around you, drawing you as close as he could. “You okay?”

The warmth of his embrace and the tenderness in his words wrapped around you like a protective shield, momentarily easing the tension inside you. You melted into his embrace, resting your head against his shoulder and allowing yourself to sink into the comfort he always provided you, grateful for his touch on your skin. “Never been better.”

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Jungkook whispered, his words filled with sincerity as he pressed a soft kiss to the side of your head. “You make everything better, you know?”

You smiled at him again, though this time it felt fragile, like it could shatter at any moment.

“I’m glad too.” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I love you.”

He smiled big. “I love you more.”

You shook your head, tears suddenly welling up, pushing against your resolve. "No," you whispered, your voice trembling as you fought to hold them back. You couldn't tell what it was. Whether it was the events of  tonight that had left you feeling so overwhelmed, or if it was simply because you loved this man with every fiber of your being that it couldn't be possible for there to be a love greater than that. "It’s not possible."

Everything inside you felt tangled—love, guilt, confusion—blurring the lines between what was real and what you were trying to push away.

“Yes, it is,” he said, head tilted to the side as he examined your face, his eyes and voice soft with concern, while you sank deeper into his shoulder. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

"Nothing," you whispered, forcing a small smile as you blinked away the tears. "They're tears of happiness, I promise. I'm just happy that we're here and together."

“Babe, this has been the happiest six months of my life.”

Your heart clenched. Six months. It was supposed to feel like a celebration, but all you felt right now was guilt weighing on you.

“Mine too,” you whispered back, mind far from settled.

Jungkook pressed a gentle kiss to your temple. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

You laughed, despite the sincerity in his voice, burying more of your face in his neck and closing your eyes to inhale the scent you loved—his. “Are you drunk right now, mister?”

“Just a little bit,” he chuckled. “But that doesn’t make it any less true.”

“I feel the same way, baby,” you said, hoping the words would steady you. 

He leaned closer, moving your hair away from the back of your neck to leave a trail of kisses there, voice a little rough. “And the way you look in this dress? Absolutely perfect and mesmerizing. I’d say you’re turning heads tonight.”

Your heart raced with joy at his compliment, heat rising to your cheeks. “You’re not too shabby yourself,” you teased, letting your gaze linger on him. “So handsome,” You pressed a kiss to his shoulder, the fabric of his shirt soft beneath your lips. “So hot. It’s no wonder Calvin Klein wants you as their new brand ambassador.”

He chuckled, a low, playful sound that sent a thrill through you. “Careful, babe. If you keep complimenting and kissing me like this, I might have to take you somewhere else.” His tone was flirtatious and tinged with mischief, causing a flutter deep within you at the thought.

You bit your lip, lifting your head from his neck as your hands caressed his face, fingers tracing the outline of his jaw and lip ring. Leaning in closer, you raised an eyebrow, your voice soft and teasing. “Is that a promise?”

“Mhmm…” 

Your faces were inches apart, the warmth of his breath sending pleasurable shivers down your spine. There was electricity in the air, a palpable tension that danced between you, wrapping around you like a silken thread. In that brief moment, it felt like you were the only two people in the room, the rest of the world fading away. 

You swept his hair back, savoring every detail—the curve of his lips, the intensity in his eyes, the magnetic pull of his gaze. The urge to lose yourself in him was always so powerful. With a teasing flick of your tongue, you traced his lips, biting his lip ring, and he parted them willingly. A smile played at your mouth as you pulled back provocatively, but his lips chased yours immediately, hands slipping to the back of your neck, pulling you close. This time, you surrendered to him completely, feeling his smirk press against your mouth as you gave in.

Your eyes fluttered shut, breath catching as his soft lips pressed into yours, stealing the air right from your lungs. As you moved in, your tongue met his in a playful, lingering dance. The warmth of the kiss sparked something deep inside, each gentle caress a silent promise to savor every second together.

Still seated on his lap, your hands pressed to his chest, fingertips grazing over the firm planes beneath, as each languid pull of his lips melted you further .Jungkook’s hands squeezed your hips, urging you even tighter against him. The cool touch of his lip ring sent a thrill through you with every brush, a tantalizing contrast to the heat building between you.

Your hands slid up, fingers lacing behind his neck as your nails grazed his skin, slipping into his hair with a gentle tug. But just as you were close to getting more lost in each other, a piece of bread sailed through the air, smacking Jungkook on the head. You both broke the kiss, turning quickly to see where the unexpected interruption had come from.

Eunwoo, Jaehyun and Chan observed you with amused expressions, joined by the others on the other side of the room.

Crossing his arms over his chest, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he stared at you, Jaehyun said, “Aren’t you two awfully cozy over there?” 

“Seriously, get a room!” Yugyeom shouted across the nearly empty restaurant. 

“And don’t forget we’re still here, please.” Chan spoke, raising an eyebrow and grinning.

The others joined in with laughter, their teasing breaking the intimate bubble you and Jungkook had momentarily created. Your cheeks warmed even more as you buried your face in Jungkook’s shoulder again, caught between embarrassment and amusement.

“Yeah, okay, okay!” Jungkook said, laughing as he pulled back slightly, still holding you on his lap. “Can’t blame us for trying to celebrate our anniversary!”

“Right, right,” Eunwoo said, smirking. “Just don’t do it with us watching, yeah?”

As laughter filled the air, you felt the warmth of Jungkook’s arm around your waist, anchoring you to him amidst the joyful chaos.

But just then, you couldn’t help but let your gaze drift across the table. Drawn by an invisible thread, your eyes locked onto Mingyu’s. He was there again, clearly forcing a laugh as he stared at you. Your heart raced, the laughter around you fading into a distant murmur. Mingyu’s expression was unreadable yet charged, a blend of warmth and something profound swirling between you, and suddenly the light atmosphere seemed to shift again.

“Babe?” Jungkook’s voice pulled you back, concern etched across his features as he noticed your distraction. “What’s wrong?”

You blinked, forcing yourself to focus on him again, the affection in his eyes steadying you again. And then you lie, feeling like the worst person in the world again. “Nothing.”

“Are you sure?” Jungkook pressed, his brow furrowing. ”You're not uncomfortable, are you?”

“No. Really, I’m okay.” you insisted, the words slipping out a little too quickly as your eyes met his. 

Eventually, as the night wore on, your head nestled against Jungkook’s shoulder, the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat started to lull you into a sleeping state. He turned to you, a gentle smile on his face. “So, what do you say we call it a night? I think we’ve celebrated enough for one evening.”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” you replied, your heart swelling with affection.

Jungkook pulled you close, planting a soft kiss on your forehead. “Let’s get you home.”

If you liked this feel free to let me know with a like, reblog, comment, whatever you prefer! ❤️

★ TAGLIST

[tomorrowxtogether]

Tomorrow X Together to Continue Journey on New Mini Album ‘The Star Chapter: Sanctuary’

The project is set to arrive in November and follows the K-pop outfit's April EP Minisode 3

TOMORROW X TOGETHER are gearing up for the release of a new mini album, The Star Chapter: Sanctuary, set to arrive Nov. 4.

The K-pop stars announced the new project Monday, Oct. 7, sharing a short, shimmering visualizer, in which the the “X” logo from Tomorrow X Together’s last release, Minisode 3: Tomorrow, transforms into a sparkling star. As of now, however, Tomorrow X Together are only sharing the the mini album’s title and release date, as a track list has yet to be revealed.

The Star Chapter will mark Tomorrow X Together’s seventh mini album, and second release of 2024 following Minisode 3: Tomorrow, which arrived back in April and featured the single “Deja Vu.” The Star Chapter will kick off a new era in TXT’s ongoing story, building upon the narrative set up in previous installments of their musical journey like The Dream Chapter, The Chaos Chapter, and The Name Chapter. (In between these releases, Tomorrow X Together have shared other projects and EPs, like their Minisode series.) 

Earlier this year, after releasing Minisode 3, Tomorrow X Together embarked on a North American tour that included major shows in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and more cities. The band has a handful of additional gigs lined up this year, including three shows at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea in early November, as well as a pair of gigs in Osaka in late November and early December.

Tomorrow X Together have also popped up on American television a couple of times this year. In April, ahead of the release of Minisode 3, they performed “Deja Vu” on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Then in May, ahead of their two-night stand at Madison Square Garden in New York, they performed the song again on Good Morning America. 

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

The Autistic Anime Girls Tournament Bracket!

Here are the matchups. The winners of each group will compete in a three-way finale. Full matchups below the cut! I typed all of this by hand, so if you spot an error PLEASE let me know. My brain was simply Not There after a certain point.

I have the poll visuals for the first half of group one done, I just need to make posts for them. I'll try to finish them up by the end of tonight. I'll be releasing halves a day or two apart, but wait for one group to finish up before releasing matches for the next group. Without further ado...

GROUP ONE:

(Side A)

Tome Kurata (Mob Psycho 100) VS Emu Ootori (Project Sekai)

Yuki Nagato (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) VS Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club)

Maria Ushiromiya (Umineko When They Cry) VS Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury (Sailor Moon)

Tomoko Kuroki (WataMote) VS Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Shouko Komi (Komi Can’t Communicate) VS Mayaya (Princess Jellyfish)

Manami Okuda (Assassination Classroom) VS Athena Cykes (Ace Attorney)

Rina Tennouji (Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club) VS Mizuki Date (AI: The Somnium Files)

Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion) VS Rin Shima (Laid-Back Camp)

Futaba Sakura (Persona 5) VS Kaoruko Moeta/Kaos (Comic Girls)

Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger (Little Witch Academia) VS Tomoyo Daidouji (Cardcaptor Sakura)

Suletta Mercury (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) VS Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer)

Falin Touden (Dungeon Meshi) VS Mashiro Shiina (The Pet Girl of Sakurasou)

Anthy Himemiya (Revolutionary Girl Utena) VS Kanade Yoisaki (Project Sekai)

Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh) VS Penny Polendina (RWBY)

Tae Yamada (Zombie Land Saga) VS Tomori Takamatsu (BanG Dream: It's MyGO!!!!!)

Midori Asakusa (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!) VS Jiji (Princess Jellyfish)

(Side B)

Asa Mitaka (Chainsaw Man) VS Shijima Tsukishima (Shimeji Simulation)

Patty Thompson (Soul Eater) VS Minori Ichinose/Cure Papaya (Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure)

Mako Mankanshoku (Kill la Kill) VS Nami (One Piece)

Ayumu Kasuga/Osaka (Azumanga Daioh) VS Rena Ryuugu (Higurashi When They Cry)

Mitsumi Iwakura (Skip and Loafer) VS Hina Hikawa (BanG Dream! Girls Band Party)

Sawako Kuronuma/Sadako (Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You) VS Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries)

Hikaru Hoshina/Cure Star (Star Twinkle Pretty Cure) VS Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Lain Iwakura (Serials Experiments Lain) VS Banba (Princess Jellyfish)

Himari Arisugawa/Cure Custard (KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode) VS Maki Aikawa (Air Master)

Honoka Yukishiro/Cure White (Futari wa Pretty Cure) VS Milly Thompson (Trigun)

Atsuko Kagari/Akko (Little Witch Academia) VS Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa)

Hitori Gotoh/Bocchi (Bocchi the Rock!) VS Ryou Yamada (Bocchi the Rock!)

Tsukimi Kurashita (Princess Jellyfish) VS Victorique de Blois (Gosick)

Clara Valac (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun) VS Nagi Usui (NEO: The World Ends With You)

Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV (Cowboy Bebop) VS Nene Kusanagi (Project Sekai)

Tsuyu Asui (My Hero Academia) VS Chieko (Princess Jellyfish)

GROUP TWO:

(Side A)

Nico Niiyama (Kiznaiver) VS Ajimi Kiki (PriPara)

Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad) VS Fuuko Ibuki (Clannad)

Kushina Uzumaki (Naruto) VS Nagisa Momoe (Madoka Magica: Rebellion)

Hinata Hyuuga (Naruto) VS Yellow (Pokémon Adventures)

Cibo (Blame!) VS Kuriko Saiki (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)

Vanilla H (Galaxy Angel) VS Himiko Yumeno (Danganronpa)

Nejire Hadou (My Hero Academia) VS Yuuko Aioi (Nichijou)

Tsubomi Takane (Mob Psycho 100) VS Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort (Genshin Impact)

Maya Fey (Ace Attorney) VS Reina Aharen (Aharen is Indecipherable)

Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) VS Orihime Inoue (Bleach)

Don Quixote (Limbus Company) VS Chizuru Hishiro (ReLIFE)

Io Nitta (Devil Survivor 2) VS Miho Nosaka (Yugioh)

Ringo Andou (Puyo Puyo) VS Aoi Akane (Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun)

Mei Hatsume (My Hero Academia) VS Alluka Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Gin Akutagawa (Bungou Stray Dog) VS Izutsumi (Dungeon Meshi)

Sorawo Kamikoshi (Otherside Picnic) VS Three (Drakengard 3)

(Side B)

Satsuki Minazuki (Liar Satsuki Can See Death) VS Yuki Shirakaba (Catulus Syndrome)

Anri Sonohara (Durarara!!) VS Kotomi Ichinose (Clannad)

Nico Yazawa (Love Live!) VS Bocchi Hitori (Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu)

Ahiru Arima/Duck (Princess Tutu) VS Kanao Tsuyuri (Demon Slayer)

Miriel (Fire Emblem Awakening) VS Anzu (Ensemble Stars!)

Rinku Aimoto (Dig Delight Direct Drive DJ) VS Yuri (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Mako Wakamiya (Do Chokkyuu Kareshi x Kanojo) VS Biscuit Krueger/Bisky (Hunter x Hunter)

Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail) VS Maria Inomata (School Babysitters)

Akane Kurashiki (Zero Escape) VS Sayo Yasuda (Umineko When They Cry)

Sonia Nevermind (Danganronpa) VS Mai Minakami (Nichijou)

Miki Naoki (School-Live!) VS Ai Mie (The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses)

Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind) VS Lynne (Ghost Trick)

Sumireko Usami (Touhou Project) VS Lucina (Fire Emblem Awakening)

Shouko Sano (Colorful) VS Shizuku Murasaki (Hunter x Hunter)

Kon Ishimori (Kemono Jihen) VS Marcille Donato (Dungeon Meshi)

Anisphia Wynn Palletia (The Magical Revolution Of The Reincarnated Princess and The Genius Young Lady) VS Hayate Tendo (Dig Delight Direct Drive DJ)

GROUP THREE:

(Side A)

Ai Enma (Hell Girl) VS Kaoru Seta (BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!)

Jun Naruse (Anthem of the Heart) VS Kanna Makino (Tamako Market)

Eve Wakamiya (BanG Dream!) VS Chouko Shizuhata (Oddman 11)

Hikari Kagura (Revue Starlight) VS Croix Meridies (Little Witch Academia)

Miko Iino (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) VS Nafra Ampsey (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Sana Futaba (Magia Record) VS Momoko Hanasaki (Wedding Peach)

Mei Misaki (Another) VS Valerie (Pokémon)

Kanade Tachibana/Angel (Angel Beats!) VS Akashi (The Tatami Galaxy)

Miku Hatsune (Vocaloid) VS Manatsu Natsuumi/Cure Summer (Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure)

Katarina Claes (My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!) VS Sayaka Kanamori (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!)

Hana Tabata (A Bouquet for an Ugly Girl) VS Richeh (Witch Hat Atelier)

Saki Hanajima (Fruits Basket) VS Myne (Ascendance of a Bookworm)

Tohru Honda (Fruits Basket) VS Konata Izumi (Lucky Star)

Shizuku Mizutani (My Little Monster) VS Ran-Mao (Black Butler)

Miyuki Hoshizora/Cure Happy (Smiley Pretty Cure!) VS Tsubame Mizusaki (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!)

Kyouka Izumi (Bungou Stray Dogs) VS Franziska von Karma (Ace Attorney)

(Side B)

Nico Robin (One Piece) VS Tsubasa Katsuki (Comic Girls)

Penny (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) VS Alice Carroll (Aria)

Sora Kajiwara (Sketchbook: Full Color’s) VS A.K.I. (Street Fighter 6)

Maya Yamato (BanG Dream!: Girls Band Party) VS Sucy Manbavaran (Little Witch Academia)

Kiyoko Shimizu (Haikyuu!!) VS Sen (Hakumei and Mikochi)

Arle Nadja (Puyo Puyo) VS Mai Mishou/Cure Egret/Cure Windy (Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star)

Omoharu Nakanaka (Komi Can’t Communicate) VS Sora Naegino (Kaleido Star)

Yor Forger (Spy x Family) VS Li Tianxi (Link Click)

Maho Hiyajo (Steins;Gate 0) VS Kirie Motoba (Himouto! Umaru-chan)

Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist) VS Eula Lawrence (Genshin Impact)

Miae Hwang (After School Lessons For Unripe Apples) VS Ruby Rose (RWBY)

Nanami Hiromachi (BanG Dream!: Girls Band Party) VS Lotte Jansson (Little Witch Academia)

Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia) VS Bulma (Dragon Ball)

Witch (Puyo Puyo) VS Power (Chainsaw Man)

Kanna Kamui (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid) VS Tooru Taki (Natsume's Book of Friends)

Suzuno Kamazuki/Crestia Bell (The Devil is a Part-Timer!) VS Yoo Iseol (Return of the Mount Hua Sect/Return of the Blossoming Blade)

[heffy1111]

°☆Cherry Unlimited ☆°

Own gg dr.

Debut: 20th March 2024.

Introduction: "Hello, we are Cherry Unlimited."

Concept: lovesick.

↳ Kprofile

Cherry Unlimited.

Cherry Unlimited profile and facts.

Cherry Unlimited ( ) is a ten member K-pop girl group originating in Seoul, South Korea. They are under the company Team Wang Korea. The group consists of ten members; Holli (홀리) Hayami (速水 / 하야미) Vivien (비비안) Lihua (梨花 / 리화) Shūhuì (淑惠) Mali (มะลิ) Pensri (เพ็ญศรี) Su-a (수아) Seo-yeon (서연) Ha-eun (하은).

Fandom name: pips

Official fandom colour: Deep red.

Socials:

Cherry_unlimited_ on insta and tiktok

WWW:https//Cherry_unlimited.//

No personal socials as of yet.

Member profiles:

Holli (홀리):

- born in Cymru Bach in Incheon to Welsh Expat parents.

- biggest idols in the industry are exo, mamamoo and nuest.

- started training at 17

- debuted at 21

- leader of cherry unlimited

- first trainee under the company ever.

- hates snakes (literal and metaphorical)

- helped CEO Jackson wang reorder his files. which led to the discovery of Hayami (速水 / 하야미).

Hayami (速水 / 하야미):

- born in Osaka, Japan.

- lived there until she was 15 when she moved to South Korea to try out for any talent agency possible with her background in ballet.

- gets scouted after two months by Team Wang Korea.

- trains for three years.

- debuts at 18.

- can do anything but focuses her talents on rapping.

- biggest idols are itzy and nct.

- really really hates mint ice cream.

- didn't know jackson wang was an idol in Korea before opening his talent agency. (He still is one in both China and Korea, so that's funny)

Vivien (비비안):

- born in Los Angeles to Vietnamese Parents.

- lived there until she was 18.

- came to Korea to train, and after 11 months, she debuted at 19.

- her idols included super junior (or well, they did until Holli provided a slideshow presentation on their controversies) so now she really likes Kard.

- she is a sub Vocalist and sub dancer.

- despises the sound of people obnoxiously chewing.

- big fan of GOT7. However, she was disappointed not to see her Bias Mark Tuan for the first few months.

Lihua (梨花 / 리화):

- She was born in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

- Lihua has cited IU and Taeyeon as her biggest idols.

- Lihua trained for several years under different companies, which included time spent training in China and Korea.

- lihua is a powerhouse Vocalist.

- didn't know jackson wang had member and thought he was a soloist.

Shūhuì (淑惠):

- Shūhuì is known as the main rapper and sub-vocalist of Cherry Unlimited.

- She was born in Taichung, Taiwan.

- Shūhuì has mentioned CL of 2NE1 and Lisa from BLACKPINK as her biggest idols.

- Shūhuì is multilingual, speaking Mandarin, Korean, and English fluently.

- she debuted at 21.

- she really appreciates that Team Wang Korea as a label does not debut people who are too young.

Mali (มะลิ):

- She was born in Bangkok, Thailand.

- Mali has expressed admiration for Lisa from BLACKPINK and Sunmi

- Before debuting in cherry unlimited, Mali was a well-known dance cover artist in Thailand. Her dance covers of popular K-pop songs gained her a significant following, which eventually led to her being scouted and trained in Korea.

- she likes Korean food but maintains that spicy Thai food is better.

Pensri (เพ็ญศรี):

- She was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

- Pensri holds the position of lead dancer and sub-vocalist in KISS OF LIFE. She plays a crucial role in enhancing the group's choreography

- Pensri has a passion for traditional Thai dance and often incorporates elements of it into her choreography.

- she likes sticky mango rice

- idol used to be hyuna now she's her number one anti.

Su-a (수아):

- She was born in Seoul, South Korea.

- Su-a looks up to Taeyeon from Girls' Generation and IU

- Su-a has a keen interest in fashion design. She often experiments with styling and fashion in her personal life, and she enjoys incorporating her fashion sense into her stage outfits and public appearances.

- Su-a enjoys Korean comfort foods like bibimbap (mixed rice) and kimchi stew. She also has a fondness for sweet pastries

- debuts at age 20 after two years training.

Seo-yeon (서연):

- She was born in Busan, South Korea.

- Seo-yeon is a skilled calligrapher. She developed an interest in calligraphy during her school years and often uses it as a relaxing hobby

- her got7 bias is yugyeom

- Seo-yeon enjoys Korean barbecue and spicy noodles. She also loves tteokbokki

- Seo-yeon is the main rapper and lead dancer of cherry Unlimited.

- debuts after six months at age 22.

Ha-eun (하은):

- She was born in Gwangju, South Korea.

- Ha-eun admires Ailee and Hwasa.

- Ha-eun has a passion for photography. She often takes her own photos during tours and events

- Ha-eun enjoys Korean comfort foods such as kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew)

- she is an all rounder and can do everything like Holli.

- she debuts at age 23, making her the oldest.

[limi-pie]

Like a butterfly part 3

A/N: HI GUYS!🤠 IT’S BEEN A WHILE. ANYWAYS, finally chapter three is here!

So sorry it took so long, I hope you still have a lot patience for this fanfiction🙏🏽

I’m starting to get some ideas for the plot and the chapters, but in all honesty I was also on a small vacation, and another thing is: I’ve been working my ass off. Right now, I’m just really in need of some money because I’m fucking tired of this broke ass bitch (me) and this dumb ass inflation making me bad, sad and MAD🤬

We’re not going to discuss or talk about the constant

mood swings I had while writing this bitch while on my period, OKAY?👹😪🗿🥵💀💔💫

Anyways‼️ as always thank you for bearing with me. And thank you for liking, commenting, and reblogging my shit🌺

I very much appreciate every single one of you💞

🦋< Previous part ��� Next part >

Pairing: Nakamoto Yuta x Female! Reader

Contains: Non-idol! AU, Tattoo artist! Yuta, Librarian! Reader, Bruises, Comedy, Drama, Friends to lovers, Flirting, Nudity, PDA, Photography, Romance, Teasing

Warnings: Abusive toxic relationship, alcohol, bad language, cigarettes, cursing, drinking, fighting, friendship, friends with benefits, lots of JEALOUSY‼️ mixed feelings, smoking, violence; Yuta punching a few fuckbois cause Y/N’s being sorta sexually harassed, also him beating a random dude up... it’s not that bad though :T, violence.

Wordcount: 10,4 K (rip💀)

🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢

Disclaimer: The reader I’ve created in this fanfiction is a woman of East Asian descent and she has certain features and looks a certain way. The reason for this is that I wanted some more East Asian representation in Kpop fanfics! Some of these relationships between said persons are only meant to be considered fictional, in no way do I ship them in real life. They’re just there to add dynamic to the plot. (Also, because my multi fan ass just wants to have fun.) Please keep in mind that the way I’ve described the idols in this story is in no way real or representative of how they behave in real life, this is just based on my imagination.

Also in this fanfiction, some said persons are involved in an abusive, unhealthy and manipulative relationship. Please keep in mind that this is all fanmade and fiction. I don’t encourage this kind of terrible relationship and if you are in one, please seek help. Never put yourself second to anyone; remember that you’re loved. 💚

🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢

“Want to dance with me?” Yuta said, holding his hand out to you. You looked up and smiled, “Yes, I would love to,” you took hold of his hand and walked back to your friends.

Everyone looked at you two dancing happily. You smiled brightly as Yuta spun you around, and you giggled. The DJ suddenly changed the music and played the song “You Make Me Feel…” by Cobra Starship ft. Sabi. You hummed to the song, looking at Yuta as he did the same, “la, na-na-na-na~” The two of you began dancing and laughing.

And finally, you had fun at this party.

Suddenly Chaeyoung and Somi walked over, joining you in dancing, “where are the others?” Yuta asked, “Jungkook and Johnny are outside smoking,” Somi explained. “The two of you seemed to have a lot of fun,” Chaeyoung giggled, “of course we are, I mean it’s been a while since we last attended a party,” you chuckled when Yuta was looking at you and smiling. (Chaeng’s outfit)

Somi elbowed Chaeyoung’s arm and giggled at the way Yuta was obviously admiring you. “What’s so funny, Chaeng?” You asked, tilting your head in curiosity, “oh nothing! It’s just… you and Osaka Prince look so good together,” she winked as Yuta smirked, “almost like a cute couple~” Somi added, giggling with her. You blushed at the idea of you and Yuta being a couple, you were nothing alike or similar. “Yo what’s up, guys?” Mark asked, resting his elbow on Yuta’s shoulder.

“Oh, nothing much, Marcus, just pointing out how much these two look like a couple,” Chaeyoung added playfully, “Chaeng, we’re not a couple…!” You protested stubbornly as everyone chuckled. “Omg, I just noticed! Mark, you got an eyebrow piercing now!” She patted Somi’s shoulder and giggled, “yeah, you look so cool now, Markie!” She added, “thank you, Yuta-Hyung did it for me,” he chuckled and smiled.

“Let’s go and get something to drink, I wanna dance some more!” Somi said, waving her arms up as Chaeyoung nodded. You looked at her as she smiled, “a Margarita or Pina Colada, right Unnie?” You nodded a slight smile on your face, “thanks Chaeng,” Mark spoke, “just grab a beer for me and Scotch Whiskey for Yuta-Hyung. Thanks, Chae, and Somi.”

“So did you and Yuta-Hyung recently start dating?” Mark asked as your mouth dropped slightly, “oh no, Mark. You got it all wrong, me and Yuta-san aren’t dating, Bryce’s my boyfriend…” You explained as Yuta put his hands into his pockets, his jaw clenching in slight jealousy, “so that means you’re still seeing Miyawaki, huh?” You looked at him as you heard her name.

Miyawaki…?

Yuta rubbed the back of his head, “I’m actually planning on,” he moved closer to you, “–breaking it off with her.” He locked eyes with you. “I’m done with fixing things that can’t be fixed.” Johnny and Jungkook walked towards you, “where are Chae and Somi?” Jungkook asked, rolling up his sleeve.

“–Here with your drinks!~” Somi smiled, holding three drinks in her arms, “ah thank you, Somi,” you smiled, taking your Pina Colada and drinking a little. “Do you guys wanna grab something to eat after this?” Chaeyoung asked, looking at us all. “That’d be awesome! What should we eat, Chae?” Somi asked, drinking her blueberry Soju, “hmm, I don’t know, maybe we can order some pizza or fried chicken?”

You had to use the restroom but there’s still a lot left from your delicious Pina Colada. You walked over to Yuta, “Yuta-san, can you please hold my drink? I’m going to use the bathroom,” you asked politely as he nodded and held your drink. “No worries, just take your time,” he gave you a reassuring smile as you went to the bathroom.

You finished using the bathroom stall as you washed your hands while checking yourself in the mirror. And finally, you fixed your hair a little and left.

You went to the dancefloor to look around, in the hopes of finding your friends but you couldn’t spot or see any of them.

Strange… They were here just a few minutes ago…

You walked around a bit before finally deciding to lean against the wall, crossing your arms and checking your phone when someone was approaching you.

“–Saw you earlier on the dancefloor, you were quite wild,” a random guy said, staring at you up and down inappropriately as you started to feel uncomfortable by his presence, “say why don’t we have fun at my place tonight?” You looked down and shook your head.

“No thanks. I have a boyfriend…” You managed to voice out clearly although your voice was full of uncertainty. “Boyfriend?” He looked over at his friends before scoffing. “You seem quite lonely and single to me, the name’s Seth,” he pinned his arm against the wall forcing you to look at him as he began to speak, “why don't we have some right now?” He chuckled, playing with your top as he slowly lowered its strap. “Stop it…” You said sheepishly as Seth chuckled when somebody poked him on the shoulder as he turned around.

“–What the fuck?!” He groaned when Yuta punched him in the face, he walked closer to you as Seth looked at him. “Yuta…” he wrapped an arm around you as he held you close, your head meeting his chest, “are you okay, Y/N?” You nodded as he glared at the group of guys around you. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” Seth rose and spat, “do you know them, Y/N?” You shook your head, and hugged his arm, “I don’t know them, Yuta,” you said, looking into Yuta’s warm eyes.

“I suggest you fuckers leave her alone.” Yuta demanded, “huh?” Seth scoffed as Yuta cleared his throat, “you were making her feel uncomfortable, so apologize to her now.” He repeated, “who do you think you are?” Seth scoffed, staring at him. “Me? I’m her fucking boyfriend, you bastard.” Yuta scoffed, patting your back as you looked at him, he gave you an understanding nod. “Your girlfriend’s dressed like a slut, I thought she came to this party to have sex with a bunch of guys,” Seth scoffed, staring at your chest as you pulled your pink top a little in an attempt to cover up, you looked down feeling ashamed of your body. (Y/N’s outfit but she’s short black miniskirt instead or you can choose your own outfit.)

Why did you dress out of your comfort zone? You feel so ashamed of your body…

You felt his hand move away from your back as Yuta walked over and punched them, you were taken back. “Yuta-san!” You yelled, “scumbags like you should watch the bullshit that’s coming out of your mouth,” he took hold of Seth’s shirt before punching him again, “my girlfriend can wear whatever the fuck she wants to, after all, I can fight,” Yuta scoffed as he walked over to you. “Are you okay–?” You asked when he hugged you close, “I’m okay, let’s get back to the others,” he reassured, wrapping an arm around you as you walked outside to the others.

“There you two are, what happened?” Chaeyoung asked, walking away from Jungkook’s back hug as she returned your Pina Colada. “Sorry, Chaeng, we ran into a bit of trouble…” You bowed shyly, taking hold of your drink. “Trouble…? What happened, Unnie?” She asked in concern, “a group of assholes were harassing Y/N and saying nasty things to her, so I stepped in and pretended to be her boyfriend. Until they finally left her alone,” Yuta explained, taking a sip of his Whiskey as you simply nodded.

“Wah, thank goodness handsome Osaka Prince saved you there, Y/N-Unnie!” Chaeyoung teased as Somi giggled, “yeah, thank you Yuta-san,” you added, smiling at him. “Alright, let’s go and get some food, I’m starving like crazy,” Mark chuckled, putting his arms behind his head, “oh my god, me too, Marcus,” Somi laughed, “good thing, Yuta was there. There can be some real assholes at this nightclub,” Johnny added, smoking and exhaling.

Yuta wrapped an arm around you, and whispered something into your ear, “ehh?” You said, looking into his eyes, your foreheads practically touching, “can I have a taste of your Pina Colada?” You nodded, before taking a small sip and handing it to him. He took a big gulp and licked his lips, “mhm, it’s really delicious,” he smirked as you felt a bit shy about his flirtatious behavior.

“Do you wanna try mine, Y/N?” He lifted his glass filled with the golden liquid, your eyes looked in a slight curiosity, “is it strong…?” You asked, holding the glass, “maybe a little, but I can water it down a little with a kiss~” Yuta whispered, lifting your chin and you could clearly tell he was a bit tipsy. “Stop teasing me, Yuta-san…” You pouted, feeling his thumb on your bottom lips. You took a big sip as you covered your mouth, “mmh…! It’s super strong…” You whined as he chuckled, “sorry, you’re so cute. You’ve never tried a Scotch Whiskey before?” You shook your head, “not really… I always drink Soju or Margarita…” You confessed as he leaned in.

His fingers were on your chin, the thumb gently caressing your bottom lips. “Should I water it down with my kiss now?~” Your eyes widened by his reply, “stop playing with me Yuta,” you said, entirely flustered by him.

Chaeyoung snickered, elbowing Jungkook at the sight of you two trying each others’ drinks. “Yuta-Hyung has really fallen hard for Unnie, heh,” he chuckled, “of course, I mean she’s pretty and the best!” She added, hugging his arm.

We left the nightclub and started walking around in Hongdae…

“Let’s just order Korean fried chicken or fast food,” Somi suggested, scrolling through her phone in the search for restaurants. “Yeah, what are you guys in the mood for?” Johnny asked, walking in front of the group, “I’m down for anything honestly,” Mark said, putting his arms behind his head as he looked at us.

You didn’t see Bryce for the rest of that night, but you felt that it was better this way. He was probably getting high or taking drugs anyways.

“Should we go for fried chicken? I’ve really been craving it,” you said, looking at everyone with a smile, “alright, Y/N-Unnie. Let’s do that,” Chaeyoung nodded and giggled. You walked towards the subway and headed downstairs.

“Should we eat at the restaurant or just at our apartment?” You asked, looking at them, “hmm, it’s up to you guys, I don’t care. What do you guys think?” Chaeyoung answered looking at the guys, “I guess since it’s quite late, let’s just get takeaway,” Mark suggested.

“Alright, boys you go order the fried chicken while we’ll get some drinks and snacks,” Somi ordered, locking arms with you, “deal,” Johnny gave a thumbs up.

You, Chaeyoung, and Somi walked inside the 7/11, looking for drinks and snacks for the rest of the night. “Should we buy more of the standard Soju or the fruit-flavored ones?” Somi asked, holding the basket, “hmm, Johnny and Yuta prefer the standard ones,” Chaeyoung responded as you placed two bags of Kkokkal Corn Snack and chocolate almond LOTTE Pepero sticks. “Oh my god, I missed drinking these,” you giggled, opening the refrigerator and picking 4 bottles of Mogu-Mogu, “wow~ Unnie you must really love the litchi-flavored ones,” Chaeyoung chuckled, placing 3 bottles of strawberry Ramune into the basket.

“Alright, I think we got everything we need,” Somi said, placing 2 bags of Nongshim Honey Twist Snack and a few bottles of banana milk into the basket, “maybe some orange juice for breakfast,” you added, getting your wallet out ready to pay. “Got it,” Chaeyoung said, placing the things onto the checkout counter belt.

The three of you went home, then Somi and you got two mattresses onto the floor in the living room. “Right, good thing your apartment’s so big that we can have sleepovers like this,” she chuckled as Chaeyoung had a cheeky smile. “You and Jungkook better not wake us up when everyone goes to sleep,” she scoffed sassily as you giggled a bit.

“–Yah Jeon Somi!” Chaeyoung yelled as the door opened and the guys were also there.

“Hope you’ve ordered the spicy, sweet, and sour version that I love,” Chaeyoung folded her arms, winking at Jungkook, “of course, we got both since we didn’t know which one you prefer,” he added and placed the plastic bag on the table. “What drinks did you buy?” Mark asked, looking through the plastic bags, “lots of Mogu-Mogu, Soju, banana milk, Ramune,” Somi replied, packing the snacks out.

You gathered on the floor in a circle around the food, “can you pass me the pickled radish, Chaeng?” You said, eating your crispy and crunchy piece of chicken wing, “of course, here Unnie,” Chaeyoung passed over the bowl, “wah, it’s so good, forgot how much I love fried chicken,” Somi hummed, “so good,”  Mark nodded. “It’s super delicious, good choice Y/N,” Yuta said, smiling at you. Johnny nodded, eating sweet and spicy chicken, “agreed, we should leave all the food decisions to your roomie, Chae,” he chuckled.

“Of course, not only is Unnie a big foodie - she’s also an excellent cook!” Chaeyoung added, “you guys make me so flustered,” you fanned yourself shyly, being complimented like this was a bit too much.

“Never knew that your roomie is such a cutie, ahaha,” Mark chuckled as you looked over at him. “Woah, woah. I guess Mark got a crush on Y/N-Unnie!” Somi cheered, drinking her blueberry Soju when Chaeyoung decided to speak up. “I already told you guys that Unnie’s–”

“–Back off Y/N, Mark, I saw her first,” Yuta sneered in jealousy as everyone looked at him, “I knew it - so you two are dating!” Mark said tipsy, “we aren’t!” You protested, you didn’t want to mention his name tonight so that’s all you said. You rested your clenched hand under the table, visibly frustrated that Bryce wasn’t even here beside you tonight. He noticed you were upset, he moved closer and placed his hand on top of yours when you looked up slightly.

Yuta gave you a comforting look as you nodded slightly, you let him hold your hand as it reassured and warmed you. Thank you, Yuta… You smiled with your eyes as he smiled.

“Now that we finished eating should we play karaoke or truth or dare?” Johnny suggested, “how about like karaoke and then only play K-pop songs?” Somi added.

Suddenly Yuta’s phone rang as he let go of your hand to answer. “Hey, Nakamoto-kun, do you wanna meet up tonight?” You heard what seemed to be a Japanese-speaking woman’s voice from his phone, “–I wanna make it up to you this time…” She told him on the phone as he sighed, getting up. “–Listen, I thought we already made things clear between us,” he went outside just to speak with her.

That must be Miwayaki-san…

“Woah, who’s that Osaka-Prince’s chatting with?” Somi elbowed Chaeyoung, “it’s Miwayaki Sakura, his former fwb,” she whispered to her as you felt your heart ache. “Yeah, I don’t know what has been going between them,” Johnny added as Mark noticed your rather depressing energy, “yo guys, let’s talk about something else.”

“–Right!” Chaeyoung clapped, “Unnie, which song should we play?” she smiled, looking at you. “I don’t know,” you said in a monotone voice and got up. “I’ll just need to use the bathroom,” you excused yourself.

You wish that the girl’s name didn’t bother you as much as it sadly did.

“I think Y/N’s bothered by Miyawaki,” Mark mumbled, drinking his Soju, “yeah, let’s not mention it, she also fought with Bryce earlier,” Somi added, eating her honey twist chips.

You tried dialing Bryce’s number but he didn’t answer at all. “The person you’re trying to reach - is unavailable–” You sighed in frustration, looking at yourself in the mirror as small tears started to fall on your cheeks.

Mark looked at which song he should choose for karaoke. “Omg, Mark you should totally do “Rap God” by Eminem!” Somi laughed loudly and pointed at him, “yah, Somi, you’re too loud! I don’t want my neighbors to complain about me!” Chaeyoung elbowed her, “the only ones who are loud are you and Jungkook in your bed–” before Somi spoke another word, she got smacked by a pillow.

“Oh my god, you two sure are drunk and feisty,” Johnny chuckled and Jungkook finished his original Soju. “Hey, Babe shuffle the playlist for Mark-ah,” Chaeyoung snickered, “oh God, it’s “Tell Me” by Wonder Girls…” Mark let out a small laugh, “good luck, Mark,” Somi giggled, drinking her blueberry Soju as Chaeyoung handed him a hairbrush. “Go perform, Minhyung.”

You got out of the bathroom after fixing yourself. It seemed like everyone was super drunk or sober. You sat on the mattress by the couch before texting Bryce.

Bryce (my boyfriend)

You: “Sorry, for earlier…”

You: “Can we talk in the morning?”

“Ah, is that “Tell Me” by Wonder Girls?” You said and stood up eagerly, “it’s my favorite song! You said, dancing as Somi applauded. “Go Unnie! Go Unnie!” Chaeyoung cheered as Johnny started filming you and Mark performing.

“Tell me, tell me, tell tell tell tell tell tell me~” you and Mark sang while smiling, “omg here comes the dance break!” You exclaimed eagerly and began dancing while Chaeyoung and Somi clapped repeatedly. “Omg, Unnie’s so good at dancing!” Jungkook chuckled while filming as Johnny laughed, taking pictures of you with Chaeng’s Polaroid camera. “Omg here comes the rapping, are you ready Mark-ah!” Chaeyoung exclaimed, holding Jungkook’s hand. Mark rapped, “Hit me one-time baby dashi hanbeon, okay banggeumhan geon aljiman tto hanbeon!” he finished rapping flawlessly as Johnny laughed, “holy shit dude, you killed it!”

“Next song, Chaeng!” Somi pointed at the TV screen, “coming up, shuffle… Let’s go!” She said as the song started playing. “MIROTIC” by TVXQ was the next song when the three guys stood up in seriousness, “jogeum dacheodo neon gwaenchana Oh~” Johnny sang as Jungkook held the hairbrush. “Neon nareul weonhae, neon naege ppajeo, neon naege micheo, heeonal su eopseo~” they all sang, “I got youuu under my skin,” Jungkook harmonized. “You guys are so amazing!” You exclaimed, filming them as they continued singing.

“Okay, I dare you, girls, to do a song together!” Mark chuckled, shuffling Chaeyoung’s playlist. “Miniskirt” by AOA started playing as Somi hit Chaeng softly, cackling like crazy, “oh my God, no way,” you said, covering your mouth, “come on, ladies. You can’t back down now,” Mark teased as Johnny nodded, handing you the hairbrush.

You sighed, getting ready to perform. “Hey hey hey AOA, hey hey hey! Brave Sound. Drop it!” Chaeng sang, performing just like Shin Jimin, “nal baraboneun siseoni~ neoneun yejeon gatjiga anheun geol~” Somi laid down on the floor like Shin Hyejeong. “Woo! Go, Jeon Somi!” Mark cheered as Jungkook, crossed his arms trying not to die of laughter. Johnny chuckled, filming this to his Instagram story. “Jjarbeun chimareul ipgo~ naega gireul georeumyeon modu nareul chyeodabwa,” Somi sang as you soon joined, covering Park Choah’s part when Yuta opened the door to see you lift your black skirt as the guys whistled, “jjarbeun chimareul ipgo~ geunde wae hapil neoman nal mollajuneunde.” You sang, wiggling your ass with Chaeng and Somi when he watched you closely.

“–I see that I missed quite a lot while I was gone, huh?” Yuta scoffed, looking at Johnny as he nodded. You continued, performing and trying not to look in his direction. “Didn’t know Y/N could pull off sexy concepts like this one, she’s full of surprises,” he said, smirking.

“この女…” (This woman…) “nan jeomjeom jichyeoga,” Chaeng sang, grabbing the chair as Somi did the same, “nal baraboneun geu nunbitmajeodo,” she said. “Wae geuri chagaunji moreugesseo,” you sighed, clearly feeling the song’s lyrics. “Ije byeonhal geoya oh oh!” You sang, performing with the ladies around the chairs you’ve gathered.

Yuta smirked, watching you have fun and clearly distracting yourself from your previously hurt feelings. “Let me perform the next song with Y/N,” he said as everyone was stunned to speak, “fine,” you crossed your arms as he poked his cheek with his tongue, standing there with his hands in his pockets. “Now” by Trouble Maker started playing, that iconic melody made you recognize the choreography immediately. “Omg, Chaeng, they’re going to perform “Now!” Somi wheezed, finally finishing her blueberry Soju, “I think it was Yuta-Hyung’s idea from the start,” Jungkook whispered to Chaeng as she smirked, “Yah, Unnie! Don’t lose to Osaka-Prince!”

“I won’t, just give me a second, Chaeng,” You said, walking inside your bedroom to remove your black mesh shirt, “are you ready?” You asked, folding your arms as you were left in your skirt, black stockings, and that hot pink top. “I was born ready, Y/N-Princess,” Yuta chuckled, smiling as he held his hand out to you. “Ooh ooh ooh ooh tell me now now now,” he sang, standing close to you, “ooh ooh ooh ooh tell me now now now,” you said, looking into his eyes. They were filled with sadness, you began singing and performing Hyuna’s part. Everyone was amused and focused on you two performing so professionally. “You’re still recording this,” Mark whispered to Johnny as he nodded, watching you.

“Uri gachi inneun i mirosoge” Yuta sang to you, “gidael su inneungeon neoppuniya” you sang expressively, stroking his shoulder and forearm as you touched his hand. “Nungama naege angyeo,” you both sang, looking at each other deeply. “Naeireun tto eobseunikka,” you both sang full of emotions as you danced elegantly, he held your hand and spun you.

Yuta spun you back into his arms, making you look into his eyes as you suddenly felt your heartbeat race. The two of you danced elegantly during the dance break of the song. “Woo! You two were incredible!” Chaeyoung yelled, finishing Jungkook’s original flavored Soju.

“FANTASTIC BABY” by BIGBANG, started playing as Jungkook stood up, “woo this is a banger!” he grabbed the hairbrush from Mark and began to sing along. “Nananana nananana, wow fantastic baby!” Mark and Johnny hyped him up as you clapped while laughing. “Dance I wanna dan dan dan dan,” Chaeyoung sang along, dancing with him, “dance wow fantastic, Chaeng,” Jungkook chuckled as she danced wildly.

Yuta sat down next to you as you pressed your lips together, “what’s wrong?” you hugged your knees, “nothing…” you mumbled, trying not to think of the way Bryce ignored you. “It’s that asshole - isn’t it?” He glared as you looked away, “I’m so pathetic…” You sighed, looking down as he took hold of your hand, “you’re not. He’s the one losing such a gorgeous woman,” he said before kissing your hand as you blushed red.

“Boom shakalaka, boom shakalaka, boom shakalaka!” Somi clapped her hands before filming them while laughing, “you guys are so crazy, ahaha!”

After an hour or two everyone fell asleep, Johnny was completely wasted on the couch while Somi and Mark were next to each other on the mattress. “Good night, sleepyheads,” you giggled, covering them with a blanket and a pillow underneath their heads.

“Mhm, night’ Unnie,” Chaeng yawned, walking into her room with Jungkook, “night you two,” you whispered, walking to the bathroom to brush your teeth. You checked your phone one last to see that Bryce didn’t even read your texts. You sighed, starting your night skincare routine. You finished and headed out when the door to the apartment opened.

“Ah, Yuta-san, you went outside?” You asked, standing in front of him as he took his shoes off, “yeah, I was just outside smoking,” Yuta explained as he looked at you.

“Were you worried about me?” He added, scratching the back of his head. “A little, I was wondering why you weren’t sleeping with them,” you hummed as he looked at your face in the dim moonlight’s glow.

“Everyone’s still sleeping…”

“But you’re awake.” Yuta reached his hand and stroked the back of your hair gently. The gesture made you feel soft as you looked at him with a small smile.

“I had to use the bathroom and then I heard someone by the door,” you replied, rubbing your arm as Yuta nodded. The awkward silence between you was heavy. But somehow you couldn’t stop looking at each other.

“–We should probably sleep too, it’s almost 4 AM,” he rolled his neck back and walked to the living room. It was dark but Somi and Mark were sleeping next to each other on the big pull-out mattress. It was as if they were almost cuddling. Johnny slept on the couch, his feet hanging by the end of it.

“Damn, these two crashed the big mattress,” Yuta whispered and chuckled, “guess I’ll sleep on the floor,” he sighed, grabbing the blanket and sitting on the cold wooden floor. “If you want to, you can sleep in my room. I have a couch too,” you suggested as he took your offer.

“You sure that you don’t mind me sleeping in your room?” Yuta asked, sitting on your couch, “it’s fine, I don’t mind. Besides the floor’s too cold to sleep on,” you insisted and handed him a warm blanket and a pillow. “Thank you,” he said, lying down and pulling the blanket. “Goodnight, Yuta,” you said, turning off your lamp, “sweet dreams, Y/N,” he whispered and closed his eyes.

Never would’ve thought that I would be sleeping in Miyoshi Y/N’s bedroom, huh…

The next morning… “Yah Suh, you’re leaving so early? I haven’t even made breakfast yet,” Chaeyoung mumbled, crossing her arms, “sorry Chae, I gotta open the studio at noon,” Johnny chuckled, rubbing the back of his blonde hair. “Besides that, I also need to go home and change into an outfit that doesn’t reek of cigarettes and alcohol,” he chuckled.

“You guys can drop by at lunchtime if you wanna bother us,” he waved and left, “see ya, later,” Jungkook chuckled and waved. “Where is Yuta-Hyung? Did he go home already?” Mark asked, rubbing his morning hair, “yeah, I didn’t see him sleep here with us,” Somi added, putting her hair in a messy bun.

“Yuta’s sleeping in Noona’s room,” Jungkook smiled before sipping his banana milk, “–what? No way you’re lying,” Chaeyoung exclaimed as Somi giggled, “–I guess it’s a possibility, heh,” Mark rubbed his chin and chuckled.

You were still sleeping, you were pretty exhausted from yesterday’s partying and dancing. Yuta was already awake, he woke a while ago but he didn’t want to disturb your sleep. “Such a pretty woman,” he mumbled, caressing your cheek as he moved the strands of hair away from your eyelids. The mixed feelings from yesterday between your lovers somehow brought you two closer.

Sleeping beauty… Yuta thought, admiring your face in the dim sunlight. He leaned in and whispered into your ear, “hurry up and break up with that asshole, I’m getting impatient.”

You slowly opened your eyes as you saw Yuta’s face, you pursed your lips, “mmh, Yuta-san?” you murmured still half asleep, “おはよう, Y/N-姫,” (good morning, Y/N-Princess,) he chuckled, gently caressing your cheek.

“おはよう…” (Morning…) You responded awkwardly, he was really close and you tried desperately not to look into those dangerous eyes.

“Did you sleep well?” Yuta asked, pinching your cheek and letting go, “mhm, I slept okay, what about you?” You nodded, looking at him. “I slept wonderfully in your bedroom,” he smirked when the door opened as Chaeng peeked her head in, “ah mornin’ lovebirds~ breakfast is ready~” she snickered, “what’s so funny, Chaeng?” you got out of bed as he helped you, “oh nothing~ must be nice to sleep in her bed, huh Osaka-Prince?” She bit her lips as he chuckled, “–that’s not what happened, Chaeng!” You blushed red at the thought of it.

Your phone rang as you answered,  “もし-もし,” (hello,) you put on your watch, “ah, could you watch Ayaka while I’m out doing some urgent errands?” She asked as you were about to head out for work, “sure thing aunt Asami, what time do you pick her up?”

“Maybe late in the evening, I’ve so much to take care of,” she added as you nodded, “that’s okay, you can drop her off at the library at 1:30 PM. Ayaka-chan can have fun reading books in the children’s reading room or playing in the kids’ space downstairs,” you added, putting on your high heels as you headed out.

You sat down and placed your books and notebook on the table. You started to memorize a few kanjis, aunt Asami would always test you whenever she was visiting. She would always praise you for working so hard and you didn’t want to disappoint her.

“Yo Y/N,” Yuta cooed, leaning against the bookshelf as he stood across from you, “Yuta-san, what are you doing here?” You asked, adjusting your glasses and looking at him.

“Paying you a little visit, Princess,” he chuckled, walking over to pinch your cheek, “well, I’m too busy for your little visit,” you replied, looking at the kanji. “Ah, I see. You’re learning kanji, huh?” He looked at the piece of paper as you nodded. “I thought re-learning Japanese was hard but memorizing kanjis is even worse!” You groaned, resting your head on the table. “Then get a Japanese boyfriend, that’ll make it easier,” Yuta smirked, patting your head as you pouted, “not funny, besides I already have a boyfriend,” you protested.

“So where do you want to eat lunch, Aya-chan?” You asked, looking at Ayaka’s drawing, “I don’t know, maybe something Japanese,” she mumbled, coloring her turtle. “Okay, what about some udon noodles?” You asked eagerly as she nodded, “yay! I would love that, Onee-san,” she hugged your arm and giggled.

“Onee-san, is Nakamoto-kun your boyfriend?” Ayaka asked as you waved your hands rapidly, “no, no, Aya-chan. Yuta and I are just friends,” you smiled, “Bryce’s my boyfriend, remember?” You looked at her as she shook her head, crossing her arms as Yuta chuckled, “do you want me to be Onee-chan’s boyfriend?” He teased, poking his cheek cutely.

Ayaka nodded immediately, “mmh! Nakamoto-kun’s much more fun and handsome than Bryce!” She confessed as you dropped your jaw. Yuta hugged her and chuckled, “I guess this little Miss knows the truth, I like her.” You crossed your arms, you knew these two together could be up to nothing good.

“–Onii-san, do you want to eat lunch with us?” Ayaka asked all of a sudden.

You were rather surprised to hear her ask such a question. Since Ayaka’s usually not fond of new people but she has somehow taken a liking to Yuta.

“Aya-chan… I think Nakamoto-san’s busy–”

“–時間があります.” (–I have time.) Yuta replied, putting his hand up as Aya smiled happily.

“Besides I would love to eat lunch with you,” Yuta had a sly smile while looking at you. “Yay! Onii-san is going to eat lunch with us!” She chanted happily and jumped eagerly. “I’ll pay for the lunch - so what do you want to eat?” He asked, holding her hand as she smiled brightly, “I want to eat Sukiyaki, Onii-san!” She exclaimed as you sighed. “Ms. Irene I’m off,” you said as Irene smiled and waved, “what a strange couple, heh-heh.” She giggled seeing the three of you off.

You walked inside the restaurant “NEGI” in Gangnam-gu. “A table for three please,” Yuta walked up to the counter, “ah yes sir, please follow me,” the waiter said.

“So Onii-san, how long have you stayed here in Korea?” Ayaka asked in curiosity, looking at him. “Mhm, I’ve stayed here quite a while now. I believe for almost 6 years I’ve stayed here,” Yuta nodded and smiled, “wow, that’s so long, Onii-san! Do you ever miss Japan?” She asked, waiting for his reply.

Yuta stirred the thinly sliced well-marbled beef as it began sizzling. “Of course I do, I get homesick quite often, I miss my mother’s cooking. But thanks to Miyoshi-san, I don’t feel so lonely anymore,” he confessed with a soft smile as you looked away for a split second. The pot was boiling as he served her a bowl with the udon noodles.

“Onii-san, do you like Onee-san?” Ayaka looked at him deeply as she chewed on a piece of maitake mushroom. “Yes. I like her a lot,” Yuta conveyed, glancing at you with a small scoff as he ate a piece of beef. You could feel your cheeks burn up by how flustered you were. “Aw, sorry Onii-san! Onee-san already has a boyfriend~” she teased, slurping on the udon noodles. “I know. It’s such a shame, Onee-san’s a very pretty woman,” he rested his cheek in his palm, winking at you. “You’re such a naughty girl, Aya-chan,” you chewed on the tasty shiraki noodles, looking at her. “Hehe!~” Ayaka giggled, sipping the soup base. “Ayaka-san just enjoys teasing Y/N-Onee~” Yuta chuckled, drinking his Ramune. “Here, since you love them so much,” you added extra enoki and shiitake mushrooms to her bowl.

“きのこが好きですね?” (You like mushrooms, don’t you?)

“はい! そうですおにさん!” (Yes! That’s right Onii-san!)

You smiled at them, eating some shiitake mushrooms and a piece of broiled tofu, “how long are you staying in Korea, Aya-chan?” Yuta chewed on the meat as she looked at him, “me and Mommy are staying here for 2 weeks, hehe,” Aya smiled sweetly as she ate some chrysanthemum greens, “wah… You’re not staying here for too long that’s too bad,” he pouted, finishing his Ramune. “I know! I really wanted to stay longer but I have school…” She sulked, slurping the broth as she finished eating. “Maybe next time, you can stay longer… and spend more time with me and Yuta-san,” you smiled, eating a piece of burdock root.

“ごちそうさまでした、 おにさん!” Aya smiled and bowed, “hehe, you’re welcome,” Yuta chuckled as she held his hand, “yeah, thank you. It was very delicious,” you nodded and bowed softly.

“The three of you walked, hands held together as you walked to the bus stop, “oh my God, what a young couple…” a woman whispered to her boyfriend passing by us. “I guess everyone is different,” he chuckled as Yuta scoffed a bit, thinking about the fact that you were the boyfriend and father of Y/N’s child. “What’s so funny?” You raised an eyebrow as he chuckled, “oh it’s nothing…” You and Aya sat down on the bench, waiting for the bus.

“People think Onee-san and Onii-san are my parents, hehe!” Aya pointed out, kicking her feet. You blushed red, “Aya-chan that’s not funny!” you said, feeling so flustered as Yuta chuckled. “Ah, there’s our bus, Onee-san!” she said, hugging your arm.

“おにさん、 またね,”(Onii-san, see you,) she said hugging him as he smiled, “気をつけて、アヤちゃん.” (Take care, Aya-chan.) You smiled proudly, “take care, Yuta-san, okay?” You said, walking inside the bus as she waved.

“Where are you going?” Chaeyoung mumbled, stretching out, “I want to get healthier, so I’m heading to the fitness center,” you said enthusiastically as she smiled, “okay, have fun, Unnie,” she waved, snuggling in her bed as you left.

You went inside the women’s changing room, “it’s really clean in here, I’m rather surprised,” you mumbled to yourself as you headed out. You scanned the area, stationary bicycles, dumbbell sets, treadmills, powerlifting equipment, bench presses, lat pulldown machines, and many more.

You felt a bit anxious, wearing some loose jogging pants, an open hoodie, and a sports bra. But everyone was rather focused on themselves to even look at you, everyone was working hard to reach their goals and it filled you with motivation.

Which one should you try? Or you could go and look for an instructor.

You felt a hand on your shoulder as you turned around, “–Y/N, good to see you here,” Johnny chuckled, “ah hi, Johnny are you also working out here?” He nodded, “yeah, I’m here with Yuta, we arrived here 30 minutes ago.”

So he’s here too, huh…

“Good morning, Yuta-san,” you greeted him as he was lifting a dumbbell. When Yuta heard your voice he looked up to meet your eyes, “what a lovely surprise to see you here, Y/N-san,” he smiled, looking at you.

“Wasn’t expecting to see the two of you here, it’s my first day,” you said, tying your hair into a ponytail. “Oh, so you want to start working out, or are you here for the yoga classes?” Johnny asked, “here to stay fit and healthier!” You smiled as Yuta nodded, “I can show you around if you’d like,” you nodded, “thank you, I’d love that.”

“I wanna see how the treadmills work,” you said as Yuta nodded, following you. “Step on it, here you adjust the speed,” he pointed, adjusting the speed as you began to walk at a slow pace. “Do you want to go faster?” You nodded, “yes, please. I want to run!” He chuckled and increased the speed as you began to run fast, “woah! This feels great!” You smiled brightly as Yuta smiled.

“These are dumbbells, some of them are heavy while some of them weigh less,” Yuta explained, lifting one as he was flexing his arm. “You’re so strong, Yuta,” you said, watching him as he chuckled, “I’ve been training for a while now, heh. Although I've been wondering Chae already has a fitness membership, how come you haven’t joined her earlier?” He asked, looking at you.

It’s true, you’ve always listened to Bryce’s words. One sad memory you recalled was him telling you not to get a fitness membership because he feared that guys might harass you while working out. Especially if you wore leggings and a sports bra, you didn’t mention this to Chaeng.

“I wasn’t quite sure of myself, but thinking again. I finally want to do the things I want to do. So here I am,” you confessed, hands on your hips as you had your head up high. “That’s my girl,” Yuta chuckled proudly, patting you on the shoulder in support. “Welcome to fitness, Y/N,” Johnny smiled, wrapping an arm around you as you smiled, “thank you two.”

Not listening to Bryce was so unlike you, in a way you felt free and so relieved. Finally doing things on your own… You were delighted with that decision to follow your heart.

The three of you were jump roping for 10 minutes, you were sweating but it felt good. You felt energized and so fresh. “Woah! This is amazing, I feel so good!” You said, smiling as Johnny smiled, “you’re doing incredible, keep up the good work, Y/N,” he added.

About 45 minutes had passed as you were done for today’s workout. “Thanks a lot for today, Johnny and Yuta-san,” you smiled, loosing your ponytail as you let your straight light brown hair down. “No problem, Y/N,” Yuta smiled and reached for your shoulder, “well done, I’ll see you next time?” You nodded, “if you want to, you can have my number and text me anytime you want to work out. We can do it together.” He said, looking at you as Johnny chuckled, “really, won’t I bother you?” You asked, holding your phone as he grabbed it, “not at all, now we can be gym buddies,” he smiled. “Yeah, you can also have my number in case Yuta bothers you too much,” Johnny chuckled and added his number to your phone.

You smiled and nodded, “thank you two, so what are your plans for now?” You all slowly walked towards the changing room, “we’ll grab some breakfast and get back to the studio, what about you?” Yuta drank from his water bottle, “yeah, I’m heading to work too,” you smiled, patting your hair down.

“If you want, you can stop by the studio later for lunch. We plan on ordering some boba,” Yuta said, wiping the sweat off his hair as you nodded, “I would love to, I’m off work at 2:00 PM, I’ll text you once I’m there,” you smiled.

You went inside the women’s changing room and began to shower, that morning workout energized you for work. You exited the subway station and walked inside the library, “hello Ms. Irene,” you waved as she adjusted her glasses, “hi Ms. Miyoshi, you seem a lot fresher today,” she smiled, writing down new arrivals of books. “Oh well, I just started working out in the morning. It really does something to you,” you explained.

“So what do you want me to start on, Ms. Irene?” You adjusted your glasses as Irene held a notebook, “I need you to do some computer work, so bookings, meetings, events, author signing, and orders.” She told you, with a small smile, “I’ll go around and clean the shelves and adjust books.” You began using the computer in the office, planning events and reservations for newly arrived books. You were multitasking and doing your work faster than usual.

“Ah Ms. Irene, I’m done,” you bowed as she came down from the ladder, “ah already? That was quick,” she folded her arms. “This is what happens when you work out,” you giggled, “alright, alright you can go on lunch break, Ms. Miyoshi,” she nodded.

“Ah, Ms. Irene, do you want me to get something for you?” Irene hummed, “if you can get me a cappuccino from 7-11, I would appreciate that,” you nodded, “okay, will do. See you later, Ms. Irene.” You waved and left to get her drink, you got yourself an iced caramel latte.

“Ah where’s Yuta-san?” You asked, looking around the room, “ah he’s inside the private room, you can just go inside,” Johnny smiled as Ten looked over at him, “dude.”

You shrugged your shoulders and walked inside, “ah Yuta-san, are you in here–?” You mumbled, walking inside as he was in the middle of a tattoo session on a gorgeous blonde hair woman, she was only wearing a bra and a pair of skinny jeans. Yuta was finishing the final details of the tattoo on her hip bone.

“–Ah Y/N, how long have you been standing there?” He asked, turning around as the woman sat up, “omg Oppa, that looks so great, I love it!” She hugged him closely when she got eye contact with you. “Who’s that girl, Oppa?” She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck in a flirty manner.

“–I’m so sorry for bothering you!” You worded manically and bowed your head, heading out in sheer embarrassment.

How embarrassing to be walking in on Yuta and his lover… You sighed, leaning your head against the door. “–Did you enjoy the nice surprise?” Johnny teased you, “not funny, Johnny!” You pouted and crossed your arms, “next time please warn me if Yuta-san’s lover is here…” You mumbled, staring at the ground flusteredly.

“Yuta’s lover? That is just one of his beloved customers,” Ten explained, “beloved customers…?” You repeated, “yeah, Yuta’s quite popular with our female clients and he tends to do a lot of private sessions with them since most of them prefer him over us.” Johnny explained briefly.

“Private sessions…? Do you mean that Yuta and the clients–” Your mind went crazy and wild with those exaggerated what-ifs scenarios.

“–Private sessions are just tattoos done on either private body parts or just when our client doesn’t want to be seen by someone while being tattooed,” Yuta replied, standing behind you. “Where’s your special client then?” You asked, looking at him.

“Right here~” The lady said, wrapping an arm around Yuta as she practically pressed her breasts against his arm. “Yuta-Oppa, who’s this girlie?” Her accent sounded different like she was from the USA. She looked at you up and down, her arms and thighs were filled with several tattoos. “Mindy, this is Y/N,” he smiled, “Y/N, Mindy,” looking at you obviously being slightly jealous by her presence. “I’ll just clean the room, Ten please file her payment,” Yuta said, closing the door as she stood in front of you.

“Y/N?” Mindy cooed, walking up and staring at you intensely. “Yes…?” You mumbled, rubbing your arm, “are you a foreigner too?” She asked eagerly. “Ah, no. I was born and raised here in Korea,” you answered.

“Ahh, I see~ you’re so pretty! I, myself am from Las Vegas in the USA!~” Mindy giggled, “anyways, ready to pay Ms. Mindy?” Ten sighed, waiting at the cashier. “Right, right, I’m sooorry~ Ten Lee~” She walked over to swipe her credit card, “yah, don’t I get any discount today Mr. Lee?” She scoffed, tapping her long pedicure nails on the counter. “No, not this time, Missy,” Johnny added, scoffing sassily.

“Bye-bye guys~” Mindy waved as she left the studio. “Finally she’s gone, that girl’s voice drives me crazy,” Ten shook his head, “Yuta-Oppa~” Johnny laughed while imitating her nasal sassy voice. “Isn’t Mindy your beloved customer?” You asked, sitting on the couch, “she’s mostly here because of Yuta, she knows places that have lower prices for tattoos. But insists on going here each time in hopes to see him.” Ten chuckled.

Yuta has many admirers… He’s probably a player. You crossed your arms in tiny frustration. “So should we get some boba?” Yuta peeked his head at the door, “all done cleaning the mess in the room?” Johnny asked as he nodded, rolling his neck, “that darn girl made me work in such an uncomfortable position,” he hissed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You should get a massage,” Ten nodded, “maybe Y/N call help with that,” Johnny chuckled and winked, “what?” You said cluelessly, “I would love that,” Yuta smiled, sitting on the couch with both his arms on the side.

“Great, we’ll get boba tea and you two watch the studio,” Ten waved, “wait a second…” you mumbled, “you want a Matcha milk tea with strawberry nata de coco, and for Y/N…” Johnny hummed, “I’ll take a Jasmine milk tea with tapioca pearls and no ice, thanks.” You smiled, checking your phone.

“The cultural event is in a few days…” You mumbled as you saw Yuta doing some weird exercises against the wall. “Oi, what are you doing?” You asked, staring at him, “my back really hurts from earlier…” he replied, rubbing his neck.

“Then… let me massage you.” You suggested as he smiled, “thank you,” Yuta smiled as he lay flat on the couch. “Yah, how am I going to massage you when you’re lying like that?” You poked his back, “you can just sit on top of me,” he smirked and chuckled.

“ちがいます!” (That’s not right!) You crossed your arms, “then what do you think we should do?” You sat on the couch as Yuta sat down on the floor in front of you. “The floor’s too cold…” He pouted as you pushed a pillow to his lap, “here, sit on it.” He sat on it and rolled his neck.

“Ready…?” You mumbled, “I’m ready,” Yuta nodded, closing his eyes as you began to massage his shoulders as he hummed. “Do you want me to be rougher?” You asked, nudging your thumbs in circles on his shoulder blades. “Mhm~ wah… that feels wonderful,” he hummed as you rubbed your elbow in circles on them.

“This is what you get for messing with my girlfriend, you punk,” Hisashi scoffed, punching Yuta in the stomach as he coughed. “Then learn to fucking take care of her, asshole,” he spat before punching him in the face.

You were sleeping on the couch when all of a sudden your phone was buzzing. “Mmh… Hello, who’s this…?” You asked, answering it as you heard a familiar voice, “Y/N… Please help me–” Yuta panted into the phone as someone was beating him up, your eyes widened as you checked the location and ran.

Yuta… You idiot… Just what are you doing…!?

“Stop it! Please stop it!” You begged, pulling the guy away from Yuta as he was on the ground, bruises all over his face. “–Who are you?” He asked, scoffing and staring at you, “–that’s not important, why are you hurting Yuta-san!?” You yelled as he clenched his fist about to hit you when Yuta pulled him by the ankle, “stop it, Hisashi… She has nothing to do with this,” he coughed, “don't hurt her…” you flinched at the sight of his hurt body on the ground.

“–Learn to not fuck around with someone else’s girlfriend, punk-ass,” Hisashi scoffed before walking away when he stood in front of you, “–and you. Don’t get involved with this guy if you don’t want to end up like him, girlie.” He warned you as you stood there speechless.

“Yuta…” You whimpered, tears slowly falling from your eyes, “I’m sorry for… dragging you into this…” You shook your head, taking hold of his hand, “don’t say that…! Just please be okay, you idiot!” You voiced as he sat up, you looked into his eyes before hugging him close.

“You idiot… Why did you put yourself in danger like that!?” You demanded as Yuta chuckled, “I’m sorry, but thank you… for saving me,” he spoke, patting your hair.

You two sat on the floor in front of the couch. “Oww, oww,” Yuta grunted. You treated his wounds on the face and hands, “this is your fault for being a bad boy!” You scolded him, putting bandages on the knuckles. “Mhm, but you like bad boys,” he added cockingly, “I like smart bad boys, not stupid ones.” You scoffed sassily, crossing your arms when he took off his shirt.

“I can be like that too,” Yuta smirked, flexing his abs as you pursed your lips slowly reaching out for them when he took you by the wrist. “Mmh…” You blushed red, feeling the touch of his strong abs, your eyes wandered over to his butterfly tattoo, “that asshole punched me here too,” he scoffed, standing as you looked at him deeply. “Let’s treat it then,” you said, patting the bruises on his abdomen as he hissed. Looking at you from his point of view gave him the absolute wrong thoughts, and he threw his head back.

You placed an ice pack on his abdomen as you looked up, fluttering your eyes, “does this feel better?” Yuta licked his lips before cupping your cheek and scoffing heavily, “much better, Princess,” he smirked as you got up.

“What’s with that smirk?” You folded your arms, sitting on the couch, “nothing I just didn’t know you were so good,” you looked at him, “–good at treating wounds.” He chuckled. “Well, I’m used to it, Bryce always gets into stupid fights…” You said as he glanced at your pink lips, “do you want something to drink?” he nodded, “can I have some hot green tea?”

“Thank you for saving me earlier…” Yuta bowed, drinking his tea, “why did he beat you up?” You asked, hugging your knees, “it’s a long story, I uh… his girlfriend and I used to sleep together.” He rubbed the back of his neck as your heart sank, “we didn’t fuck but we had something,” he explained as you held onto your knees in frustration. “But I ended it. We were not meant to be together. We used each other and didn’t respect each other’s lives. And we hurt ourselves,” Yuta confessed, sighing heavily.

“That girl he was referring to is Miyawaki Sakura, right?” You said, feeling hurt and jealous as he held your hand, “that’s true but I ended it all with her a few days ago, I don’t care about her most slightly anymore,” he looked into your eyes.

You don’t want to believe those lies even if Yuta was being honest…

“Please believe me,” Yuta begged, you closed your eyes, “I don’t, I don’t know why… my heart hurts so much when I heard her name…” you confessed, tears falling from your eyes, “even though I’m with Bryce… it hurts… to see you in so many bruises and pain because of her,” you cried as he pulled you into his chest, “I’m so sorry, I’m really an asshole.”

Does seeing my bruises bring you so much pain…? Those pretty eyes filled with tears because of the fucked up things I do… Y/N, you’re really a woman who needs attention. I feel bad…

You blushed red, pulling back as he looked into your eyes deeply.

Looking at this man, Nakamoto Yuta… He reminds you of Bryce but the complete opposite of him… Yuta protected you from guys that would harass you and even comforted you when everyone else was drunk…

You fluttered your eyes as he wiped the tears away before kissing your forehead. “But thank you, Y/N.” You blushed red, looking down before thinking about your relationship with Bryce.

If I couldn’t get away… would you become mine?

Yuta lay on the couch, sleeping heavily. 20 minutes went by as you made some Nongshim Soon Veggie ramen noodles, “careful it’s hot,” you said as Yuta sat up, “thank you for letting me stay here,” he slurped the delicious noodles and bit a piece of the soft-boiled egg. “Is it good?” You giggled as he licked his lips and nodded.

“What do you want to do?” You asked, eating your Nongshim Shin Ramen noodles, “I don’t know,” Yuta replied, finishing his bowl as he looked at your lips. “Want to watch anime?” He smirked.

“Wah, this anime is kinda relatable…” you hummed, drinking litchi-flavored Mogu-Mogu, “that’s what I told you,” Yuta scoffed, sipping some juice from your bottle. “I usually only watch romance and slice-of-life animes, this anime is surprisingly good,” you nodded as he chuckled. “You should watch season 2 after you finish season 1,” he smiled, leaning a bit closer to you and resting his arm behind your neck. You just finished watching episode 1 of Noragami, you continued watching a few more episodes as you slowly fell asleep.

Your head was resting on Yuta’s shoulder as he chuckled, “fell asleep already? Heh, I guess I did put you through a lot of trouble today…” he mumbled, feeling bad about earlier, “I’m sorry.” He whispered into your ear as you hummed in your sleep. He carried you in his arms, walking you to your bedroom.

It’s a good thing, you’re not so heavy, Princess. Yuta thought, smiling as he placed you on your bed and covered you with the blanket. “Mmh…” You mumbled tiredly as he glanced at you, “sweet dreams, Princess,” he whispered before leaving your room. He lay on the couch as he fell asleep too.

After an hour you woke up and looked around, “oh? How did I end up here…?” you hummed before walking to the living room to see Yuta sleeping heavily on the couch. You walked over and tugged him with a warm blanket before admiring his cute face.

Yuta’s sleeping, I bet he’s exhausted from earlier… You moved some of his black hair away from his eyes, caressing his cold but soft cheek.

“Don’t pretend to be a bad boy,” you whispered before kissing his cheek softly, “おやすみ、ユタ.” (Good night, Yuta.) You whispered, patting his hair.

“Unnie, I’ll be away for a few days in Busan looking for inspiration to my art project, I’ll be back soon.”

Chaeng🍓 (My strawBae)

Chaeyoung: “Take care of yourself & don’t skip any meals”

Chaeyoung: ”Call me if need anything💖”

“A lot of people are here - it’s so nice!” Irene giggled, fixing her Hanbok. “So we’ll start with the Chinese Lunar New Year at 5:45 PM, next is the Korean autumn festival at 6:15 PM, and lastly the Japanese tea ceremony at 6:45 featuring a special guest…” you hummed, checking the event list. “Right, could you please hang these flyers around the area?” She said, handing you a stack of them.

You climbed the ladder, to add some origami on top of the bookshelves as time went by. “Alright, good evening ladies and gentlemen,” Irene held the microphone and spoke. “We warmly welcome you all to the National Library of Korea’s cultural event, I’m your host, Ms. Bae,” she added and bowed as the crowd applauded. “We’ll start the Chinese Lunar New Year in 5 minutes, please go and look around in the meantime.”

You were in the wardrobe putting on a red Cheongsam, “ah, Ms. Park, should I have my hair done in Chinese space buns or just a simple bun?” You looked at your reflection as she chewed on bubblegum, “Y/N-Unnie, you can call me Sooyoung, no need to be so formal,” Sooyoung giggled, brushing your long silky light brown hair. “You’re so pretty with your hair down, Unnie~”

“Thank you, Sooyoung-ah,” you smiled as she started to style your hair, “have you gotten yourself a new boyfriend now?” She asked, “ah no. It’s still Bryce,” you answered as she sighed heavily, “yah, Unnie you’re too pretty for a loser like him,” Sooyoung clicked her tongue.

“I didn’t know this dress would be tight and this short.” You turned around, checking yourself in the mirror, “no, you look just fine, Unnie~” Sooyoung added, patting your back. “Thanks, Sooyoung-ah.”

“晚上好大家,” (Good evening everyone,) You spoke into your earpiece, smiling softly. “Yah. Sooyoung, you need to put this on Tik Tok live,” Irene murmured to her, “okay, okay Eomma,” she scoffed and started to film before giggling. “Today’s event is about the Chinese Lunar Year, we’ll start introducing the traditional clothes.” You said, walking and pulling the curtain to reveal other women wearing the Hanfu and Cheongsam. “This is Hanfu, which literally translates to ‘Han Chinese’s attire’ and consists of a robe, jacket, and a skirt.” You explained as the model turned around to showcase the Hanfu.

“–That woman in the red dress is unbelievably hot,” one guy mumbled, “she has beautiful long legs,” a girl added. “–She looks foreign, I bet she’s not Korean,” a couple whispered.

Heh, it seems like Y/N’s a real crowd-pleaser.

Yuta chuckled, fixing his clothes. I won’t get beaten by you either, Princess. “Are you ready for your event, Mr. Nakamoto?” Irene asked and looked at him, checking the list.

“And now to the Cheongsam which means ‘long garment’. Also known as Qipao, they can be sleeveless like this red one I’m wearing. But they can also be long and have different shapes of the neckline.” You added, opening your fan and walking onto the stage. “Now to finish off, please enjoy some tea and some delicious mooncakes,” you smiled, bowing your head.

“谢谢大家,” (Thanks everyone,) you walked off the stage as Irene smiled, “well done, you were shining up there Miyoshi,” you nodded, “thank you, Ms. Irene.”

You sat down by the table when you noticed one of Chaeng’s familiar friends in the distance, “Annyeong Y/N-Unnie,” two women greeted and sat with you, “Dahyun-ah and Tzuyu-ya, long time no see!” You exclaimed and smiled. “What brings you two here?” You asked, serving them Oolong tea and a plate with mooncakes, “Chaeng really wanted to be here for you but couldn’t - so we came here instead of her,” Tzuyu smiled as Dahyun nodded, taking a bite of the mooncake.

“Aw that’s so sweet of you two, I hope that you enjoy the event so far,” you bowed, smiling softly. “The Cheongsam you’re wearing is so gorgeous,” Tzuyu said, smoothing the red silk fabric as Dahyun took a picture of you with her camera, “thanks Tzuyu-ah, it’s such an honor to wear this attire.” Ms. Irene began speaking again, “and now for our final event is the Japanese tea ceremony and our special guest Mr. Nakamoto!” Yuta walked on the stage, bowing while wearing a beautiful black Kimono.

“こんにちは、みんなさん,” (Hello everyone,) he smiled and waved, a woman wearing an orange Kimono as she began pouring tea into the cups.

What’s Nakamoto Yuta even doing here…?

“Wow, he’s super handsome,” Tzuyu whispered to Dahyun as she agreed. “Don’t you think so, Y/N-ah?” She elbowed you as you were slightly annoyed, “he’s alright, I guess…” You mumbled in frustration.

“Alright please give a round of applause for Ms. Yabuki’s Kimono showcase and Nakamoto’s Kanji reading,” Irene smiled as the crowd applauded and cheered. “If you’d like, Mr. Nakamoto will do free henna tattoos on table number 26,” she added and pointed.

“Ms. Irene you never told me about this special guest…” You whispered to her, taking a quick glance at Yuta, “well, to be fair Nakamoto insisted it to be a surprise since he knew you after all,” she chuckled, sipping her white wine glass. “You should head over to Mr. Nakamoto and get a henna tattoo, Y/Nssi,” she giggled.

“You look incredibly pretty tonight, Princess,” Yuta cooed, drawing a black henna flower on your forearm, “why are you here?” You asked all confused and flustered by his cool and collected presence, “I was the special guest for the Japanese event, remember?” He chuckled, looking at you deeply.

“これは好きですか?” (You like this?) You looked at him and then at the tattoo, it resembled your favorite flower, “mmh it’s so beautiful, it’s a ‘Forget-me-not’ right?” You smiled as he nodded before whispering into your ear, “but do you know the Japanese meaning behind the flower?” He smiled as you blushed red when he leaned closer. “I– don’t…” You mumbled shyly as he took a bite of a mooncake. “I’ll tell you later, Princess.”

You leaned against a bookshelf. “I’m here because I want to know how you feel,” Yuta mumbled, looking at you as you fluttered your eyes. “I don’t know what kind of person you truly are,” you replied as he pinned his arm next to your face. “I can be whatever person you need me to be,” he smirked, caressing your cheek as you felt your heartbeat race. “What time are you off?” He whispered, “7:00 PM,” you replied, blushing red.

“Sweet, I’ll wait for you.” Yuta chuckled, walking off, “wait! You don’t have to,” you insisted, pulling his sleeve. “It’s rather dangerous this late at night, besides I can drive you home,” he smiled. “Just stay here, let me just get changed,” you said to him as he nodded, you turned around to release your hair from the tight buns and walked to the changing room.

You finished changing as you were wearing a knee-length beige skirt and a white shirt underneath your black coat, “should we go, Princess?” Yuta smirked, fixing his black leather jacket and holding his hand out to you. “Thank you, Yuta-san,” you mumbled, taking his hand as you went down, exiting the library.

“Where are we going…?” You asked, sitting on the back of his motorcycle as he gave you a helmet and stood in front of you, “to my place, Princess~” Yuta whispered into your ear as your eyes widened, he started the engine and drove off quickly.

🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢🦋✨🐢

A/N’s note: The Cheongsam Y/N’s wearing is shorter (around knee length but I couldn’t find any pictures) Thank you so much for supporting and reading my fanfics, hope you don’t mind the many languages and pictures ehehe. ^^"

– Author L. out

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[myonelian]

where i get my plushies! ( ^ω^ )

online

taobao or aliexpress

plush wonderland

for taobao/aliexpress i got dolls like xie lian, san lang, hua cheng, shen qingqiu, luo binghe, lan zhan, and wei ying. you can buy them officially from the taobao minidoll store or get them from a reseller on aliexpress (just make sure to check the reviews, and the doll quality.)

i also get my “ugly” dolls from there, from sellers with reviews. they are usually not as high quality as regular dolls, and have less of a softer feel than cotton (which is the standard for 20cm dolls.) also they’re not as consistent.

some other official companies for danmei dolls are rua. i got my gu xiang & cao wei ning 10 cm dolls from them and my legend of exorcism dolls also. they have good quality and packaging as well.

for plush wonderland, you are able to purchase them OFFICIALLY from dokidoki on aliexpress. i wouldn’t trust the resellers since that’s their official partner on the app. however they have a website, which i find decently priced. this is where i got my genshin plushies. they have a variety of other fandom plushies as well, i generally trust their dolls since they have good quality!

in-store/in-person

capcom store

amiami (akihabara radio kaikan 4th floor)

k-books (akihabara radio kaikan 3rd floor)

lashinbang

animate

capcom store is your go to place for plushies relating to the company’s games. i got my big dante plush and my small nero plush from there. they have three locations, tokyo, osaka and umeda. their tokyo location is in shibuya parco on the 7th floor (i believe) and the one thing about their location is that they almost seem to be out of plushies, especially resident evil and devil may cry. just be careful and check the other locations! i find that the plushies have a different feel to them and might not feel as “high quality” as a 20cm cotton plush but they are plenty soft.

akihabara radio kaikan is my go-to for much smaller plushies, like crane game plushies or larger charms. it is located right out of denki town gate in jr akihabara station.

your best luck with cheap yet good quality plushies is k-books on the third floor. it’s all used anime goods, with pretty much every popular franchise or anime. but despite being used everything is packaged like new and generally prices are really cheap compared to new anime goods! i find it worth going through the baskets below all of the goods and searching for a plushy you might like! it’s where i’ve gotten several gojo charms and plushies. and my aki plushies as well.

amiami is located on the fourth floor, and everything there is new/packaged anime goods. i find their selection pretty good if you want to find something a bit more niche. but i mainly highlight them because lately their small danmei selection has OFFICIAL minidoll plushies! (the prices are actually cheaper than some aliexpress resellers!) i saw a 40cm hua cheng sitting doll, and the special outfit hualian dolls as well. it is worth checking out for their danmei selection alone, even tho it is pretty small. however danmei goods is more plentiful in ikebukuro’s stella worth, although no plushies are there. 

lashinbang has several locations in japan, but i typically visit the one in akihabara. i also visited the one in sapporo hokkaido, which is where i got my 40cm yuta and gojo sitting plushies for approximately $7. i really like visiting lashinbang because their baskets have some variety of plushy, although i would say that the condition varies on which store you visit. however they do tend to keep their prices low, unless the plushy itself is on demand. i like to get jujutsu kaisen plushies from there.

last of all, is animate! animate is a store where pretty much in-season anime and very popular anime gets goods. i typically don’t find plushies, maybe plushy charms occasionally but it’s not very often that i do. however it doesn’t hurt to check since animate is very convenient, as there is a few locations in tokyo and in other major cities. you’ll find standard anime goods prices here, as it’s a store for anything new.

hope this helps! i might add more ways to find plushies.

[airanddust]

Eight days in Tokyo

After three years we finally made it to Japan. Back in 2020, Robert and I originally planned to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and then you-know-what came along. Fast-forward to this year, when, while checking my airline miles, I found I had enough to book us (awful, but virtually free) roundtrip economy tickets for an eight-day trip to Tokyo—so we went for it in mid-September.

Note to self: wait until REAL autumn to go to Japan. I’m pretty sure I got heat exhaustion during our trip. The humidity was suffocating and made the real temp feel like 99º F and was severely tiring. 

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Dormy Inn Korakuen in Bunkyo City, right by the Tokyo Dome. It was reasonably priced in a quiet part of town. They sold me on the amenities, which included an onsite onsen—accompanied by a yogurt drink in the morning or ice cream bar at night—along with free ramen in the evenings, a massage chair (which we discovered far too late), and an extensive manga library.

We got a double room, and while I was preparing for it to be incredibly tiny based on what I’d heard about Japan hotel rooms, it wasn’t quite as small as I expected and held all our things with room for us to still move around. 

What we planned

Months ago we started compiling a Google map of all the places we wanted to go, made a reservation at a mini pig cafe, and bought a three-attraction pass using Klook primarily to visit Tokyo DisneySea. (There is apparently no other way for foreign tourists to get Disney tickets unless you have a Japan mailing address.) We later added the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise and TeamLab Planets, which meant we had four scheduled events and were free to explore the rest of the time. 

What we did

Day 1: travel day

From Narita airport we took the Skyliner to connect to another train to our hotel, which took over an hour and a half, but actually longer than that overall because the ticketing was confusing and we were jet lagged.

Finally we figured out we needed both a Suica card (which you can use on almost every train) and a dedicated Skyliner ticket to get to Tokyo proper. From there we used Google Maps, our most trusted ally, to navigate to Bunkyo City.

The trains in Japan are clean and efficient and most stations play cheery recordings of bird songs. People line up in orderly fashion to board. The thing that most stood out to me, being from Seattle, is that there was not a hint of urine in any of the station elevators or hallways. Every place we went felt safe even at night. The trains seemingly go everywhere in the city and they’re easy to use with Google Maps, which even tells you which car to board for the best transfer. 10/10.

Day 2: Bunkyo City, Toshima City, and Harajuku

We got breakfast at 7-Eleven, which carries all manner of food and drink and even blenders to make your smoothie and a microwave to heat up whatever food you bought. We accidentally ate in without telling the cashier. (Turns out you pay 10 percent tax to dine in vs 8 percent to take out, which we didn’t realize because the sign was in Japanese in the back of the seating area.) In addition to food, konbini stores like 7-Eleven also have fax machines, ATMs, and the ability to replenish your Suica card, which is something we did a lot. 

After our 7-Eleven experience we explored the manic overwhelm that is the 24-hour mega-mart Don Quixote, grabbed some pastries at BOU’LANGE, and walked around Koishikawa Korakuen garden to take pictures. 

We rode the train north to the Sunshine City Mall where we hit the Pokémon Center and Gashapon Ikebukuro, the world’s largest capsule toy store.

We noticed a bunch of teenagers crowding around the mall’s central atrium and found out it was because a K-pop band called CIX was about to perform. We were going to stick around to see how it went until we found out there was an aquarium on the roof (?!?) and went there instead. We saw rare Baikal seals, which are the only mammals that live in Russia’s Lake Baikal, the deepest body of water in the world, along with river otters, penguins, pelicans, sharks, and a bunch of other fish. 

That night we had a reservation at MiPig Cafe Harajuku where we got to hang out with baby pigs for about 40 minutes. (We booked an hour, but their system is such that you spend about half an hour sitting on the floor, then the rest of the time getting up to leave and checking out.)

One little pig fell asleep on me before another one came over to bully him off my lap. The staff explained many of the pigs are siblings, and there are lots of rivalries. Sure enough, we saw the same pigs start fights multiple times while we were there. It was adorable but also left me wondering what happens to the pigs after they grow up…? Maybe I shouldn’t think about that.

Day 3: Yokohama

We took the world’s longest train ride (only slightly exaggerating) to Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, which is kind of like a distributed theme park on an island about an hour and a half outside the city. 

We saw a SeaWorld-style show with beluga whales and dolphins and wandered labyrinthine hallways of aquariums. I rode a dinky little roller coaster called Surf Leviathan while Robert went to the Umi Farm, where he caught a sea bream they then cooked and served him. 

A dolphin at the up-close-and-personal FUREAI Lagoon chucked a basketball to me—I was so surprised—and after I threw it back, he chose Robert next and then continued down the line of people standing along the wall. 

We had yakiniku at Satsuki in Bunkyo City that night, up three flights of tiny stairs in a cramped building that was very cozy. 

Day 4: Shibuya + Ginza

We headed over to Shibuya and popped out of the subway right into a festival at Shibuya Crossing, then traversed the famous crossing for ourselves. 

We made our way to Flipper’s for soufflé pancakes (well worth the hourlong wait) before nearly sweating to death walking through Yoyogi Park to Meiji Jingu, a shrine where we accidentally crashed not one but two weddings. At this point it was so hot I didn’t think I could make it to the next train station. The humidity was demoralizing. 

We hit up Ginza next and walked around what felt like a never-ending indoor mall, then got custom-printed drinks at Nissan Crossing. I got the chocolate latte and Robert ordered the lemonade and both were delicious. 

The flagship Muji store had been on our list for a while and we were excited to check out all seven floors (plus hotel and food?!?) but it turned out three floors were closed for renovation, so we didn’t get to witness all of the store’s glory. Probably for the best because we ended up bringing home an extra suitcase of souvenirs anyway. Instead we got in line at Tsuru TonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie for dinner, which took over an hour. The udon was decent but I probably wouldn’t return. 

Day 5: Tokyo DisneySea

We went to Tokyo DisneySea, which we thought would be less crowded on a Monday than a weekend, but it was so busy I can’t imagine how bad it would have been on a weekend. It was also so hot there were announcements about taking breaks and drinking water, which I’ve never heard at a theme park before, even having grown up in Florida. At one point I couldn’t even muster up the energy to move across a sunny walkway—I had to stop and sit for a few minutes before my body would let me go on. 

Many hours were spent in line for Indiana Jones, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and 20,000 Leagues of the Sea, and our feet paid the price. I’m not a huge fan of Disney rides—I appreciate the theming, but the thrill level isn’t there for me—so I don’t think they were worth waits of that length, but I’m still glad I rode them since these rides are Tokyo-specific. I heard someone compare Tokyo DisneySea to Universal and it did feel more like that than a typical Disney park. The seaside theming and landscaping is really on point. 

Day 6: Akihabara + Ueno

On Tuesday we explored Akihabara and Ueno, where I’m pretty sure I got heat exhaustion because I was tired and confused and barely able to finish sentences. After taking a break I was ready to give it another shot. Ueno is stuffed with signs, shops, souvenirs, and shrines, and was probably the biggest sensory overload of the trip for me. 

We stopped at Pastel Caffe for honey toast and a caramelized banana parfait that revitalized me for our self-guided tour of Ueno Park and the Shinobazunoike Benten-do temple, where a lady randomly approached us and proceeded to, uh, bless us?

After being…blessed?…we went to Monster Hunter Cafe, which Robert had been wanting to check out after a renewed interest in their mobile game. The city’s many vending machines already had me hooked on strawberry milk but Monster Hunter’s version took it to another level (or maybe it was the heat exhaustion 😅). 

Ueno boasts a great many souvenir stalls and brightly lit claw game shops, where Robert won an Oshi No Ko stuffed character. He also ran into a guy from the States who asked for a picture together since they were both wearing LA Rams gear. 

Day 7: Ginza + Bunkyo City + TeamLab Planets

On our last full day, we got reservations at the six-seat Michelin-starred ramen shop Chukasoba Ginza Hachigou (h/t Koes!). You line up at nine a.m. to get tickets for a timed entry, then return at the time they assign you. While we waited for our slot we ventured over to Roar Coffeehouse; Ginza’s Pokemon Center; a shopping mall; and Ginza Petit Custa. When we returned to Chukasoba, we were served the chef-recommended "ravioli" ramen we'd ordered earlier. I'm no food expert but the ramen was pretty dang good. 

With souvenirs piling up (cough Pokemon Center cough) we needed a suitcase to take back home, so we went by Ginza Karen (which, to my disappointment, was not staffed entirely by Karens), apparently a well-known luggage store. We settled on a Japanese-made bright yellow roller bag. 

That night I wanted to ride the Thunder Dolphin coaster that was basically across the street from our hotel, but, true to its name, it was closed due to thunderstorms so instead we went up to the neighboring Bunkyo Civic Center observatory (for free!) to take in nearly-360-degree views of the city. 

We shopped for some more souvenirs and Japan-specific skincare products at good ol’ Don Quixote before grabbing the abalone course at Grow in Bunkyo City, which was delicious. I wish we’d had time to finish the entire course but, alas, we had to miss the garlic rice and dessert because otherwise we’d have been late for our TeamLab Planets reservation. 

Speaking of TeamLab Planets, I wasn’t sure what to expect because reviews were mixed, but it was a fun experience. It bills itself as an interactive art museum, and most of the exhibits offer completely unique experiences that will never be recreated. In the koi room you wade through knee-deep water while virtual fish swim around you in real-time projections that are based on your movement and the amount of people in the room. Our favorite was the flowers in space projection, another unique exhibit where it feels like you’re floating through a universe of flowers and butterflies.

Our last stop was Lawson’s for plane snacks and a final serving of strawberry milk, because I’m addicted and convenience stores back home are trash compared to Japan’s.

Day 8: back to the States

Our flight home from Haneda was delayed because…drumroll, please…the captain forgot his ID in his hotel room back in Tokyo. Our completely full plane waited on the tarmac for over an hour as some hapless soul fought traffic to retrieve the captain’s passport before we were allowed to leave. I guess on the bright side, the timing meant we got to see a Pokémon-themed plane as we taxied off, so there’s that.

Tokyo was a feast for the senses and I can’t wait to go back and explore more of Japan (although first I need to learn more than two Japanese words). I already miss the convenience stores, vending machines, trains, and bathrooms—seriously, they’re next level.

Random observations

Generally, walk on the left side of the sidewalk/escalator/etc

DOWNLOAD GOOGLE TRANSLATE! I mean, unless you are fluent in Japanese…

Don’t go in the summer unless you want to get heat stroke

Despite the heat, people mostly wear pants, dresses, and skirts, and everyone dresses much more formally than they do in the States (particularly in Seattle)

Almost no one wears sunglasses—I saw maybe three other people wearing them the whole time, and one of them was a tourist

There’s no tipping in Japan, but there is a two percent tax difference between dining in and taking away

You can apparently only pay cash to reload your Suica card…? Or at least, that was our only option

No one locks up their bikes—it was a shock to see dozens of bikes just sitting around freely, because bike theft apparently isn’t a thing there

There are actual telephone booths around the city

[mjohnso]

Quarterly Debut Review: Q2 2023

Quarterly Debut Reviews are a supplementary series to my biannual Periodic Rookie Group Reports, which are published quarterly. Each installment covers three rookie groups that debuted over the past three months. For this second installment, I covered ANTARES (April), RedPlum (May), and Two Sisters (June).

As always, a full list of rookie groups that have debuted thus far in 2023 is available here: 2023 Rookie Groups Debuts

April / ANTARES Debut: April 16, 2023 Debut Song: “Runaway”

Measured against the definition of a rookie group, ANTARES qualifies, albeit with an asterisk. While the boy group only made their official debut in Korea this past April, they have existed since at least 2019, their history a tangled knot of lineup shuffles, name changes, and identity shifts. In their early years, they busked on the streets of Hongdae under the banner of the male dance group KingdomS, only to disband by mid-2021. Then last year, J-Star Entertainment resurrected the group, promoting them in Japan, before having them make their proper Korean debut.

That a rookie group that had not even built a brand, let alone officially debuted in Korea could find an audience in Japan, speaks to not only the strength of the k-pop brand, but also two important developments. The first of these is the k-pop indie idol scene in Japan—which predates Korea’s own live idol scene—that emerged just as the bottom fell out of the k-pop market in 2013. The second is the appearance in Japan of what I call k-pop specific “infrastructure.” By this I mean the boutique labels like Kiss Entertainment and k-pop specific venues like K-Stage O! and FC LiveOsaka and FC LiveTokyo, which both contributed to as well as grew alongside the burgeoning indie scene.

ANTARES would take advantage of both developments when they launched their career in Japan in June 2022. Following the promotional schedule typical of other groups promoting within the scene, they would usually perform daily, shows at the same venue punctuated by a few days or weeks off, before doing it all over. Case and point, their schedule earlier this year in January 2023 at FC LiveOsaka in Osaka. The group held shows from January 5 through January 9, followed again by shows from January 12 through January 22. Several of these days were themed (“Personal Property Signing Day”, “Love Letter Day”), and offered fans the opportunity for controlled interaction with the members for the price of a ticket. Multiple theme days over the course of their promotions encouraged fans to attend repeat performances.

This builds the sort of relationships between fan and a group that the indie idol scene runs on. Some k-pop groups have even built their careers on it, promoting almost exclusively in Japan as a k-pop group. That option is certainly open to ANTARES if they choose, an unconventional choice for a group whose history has been anything but conventional.

May / Redplum Debut: May 26, 2023 Debut Song: “Come With Me”

In the previous Quarterly Review, I noted that when it comes to the naming conventions of the Future Idol Asia groups, they tend towards the generic, the cliché and the repetitive (Redplum is the fifth group whose name references a color, and the third group named after food). This is done purely for taxonomic reasons since these groups are not destined for traditional idol careers, or at least not under Rainbow E&M. They are temporary groups whose members aspire to be picked by bigger agencies and whose group names exist in service to this goal. By naming, they differentiate a group like Redplum from a group like Closer, who otherwise may be identified only by a number. It also makes it easier for agencies to identify those they are interested in from one of the many groups.

And there are a lot of Future Idol Asia Groups, most of them girl groups. Since the project started in 2020, 34 groups—3 boy groups, 31 girl groups—have debuted in total, with 6 having done so in the first half of this year. Notably, all but one of those groups were girl groups.

It is no mystery why Rainbow E&M has debuted more girl groups than boy groups; they are upfront about their numbers. According to the numbers on their website, their Girl Crush audition has received 1,098 applications, while their Cutie Girl audition has received 1,578 applications, for a combined total of 2,676 applications. Meanwhile, the Boy Group Audition, which has only one option, has received only 79 applications, a 180% difference. With numbers like this, the gap between girl groups and boy groups that exists is all but inevitable.

Much as there is no good answer to why boy groups have vacillated between decline and plateau even as girl group numbers have not, there is no good answer as to why boys are not auditioning for the Future Idol Asia project. There could be a lack of interest on the part of boys or a doubling down on girl groups by Rainbow E&M, but that is only speculation. Anyway, this is not an issue they appear to be trying to solve, as it does not change the terms of the game. That is the whole project is about numbers, with a preference for quantity over quality. They are not holding out for specific trainees that fit their vision as much as finding the greatest number of promising trainees to funnel into their groups. In turn, this increases the chances that an agency will find someone to recruit to their agency, which leads to a need for more trainees and groups. And so the cycle continues.

June / Two Sisters Debut: June 19, 2023 Debut Song: “Love’s Macchiato”

“As is evident from this example, cable television companies do not want to experiment with new programs and ideas, but instead replicate the same programs that survived the test in the previous season.”

— Ingyu Oh and Hyo-Jung Lee, “K-pop in Korea: How the Pop Music Industry is Changing a Post-Developmental Society”

I come back to this line in Ingyu Oh and Hyo-Jung Lee’s 2013 paper, “K-pop in Korea: How the Pop Music Industry is Changing a Post-Developmental Society,” about the risk-averse nature of cable television companies because it has proven again and again evergreen. Just sub survival show or the hybrid subgenre trot survival show for live audition show, and it is as if they are talking about 2023, not 2013. Indeed the resurgence of trot music in 2019, coupled with the blending of trot with the survival show format has led to a glut of the safe cookie-cutter shows in the model of TV Chosun’s Miss Trot and spinoff Mr. Trot.

A byproduct of this trot survival show trend has been an uptick in the debut of new trot singers, like the duo Two Sisters. Although the group formed independently of any show, both members have a history with their ilk. Kim Heejin competed in the first season of Miss Trot, while Yoon Seoryeong participated in KBS’ National Trot Festival. Neither would win their respective competitions and before teaming up, both would use their time on the show as a springboard for launching their respective solo careers as trot singers.

Theoretically, this is how it is intended to work. Survival shows sell themselves as being a beneficial opportunity even for those that do not win, as they are supposed to be able to trade on their association with a given show to boost their careers. And yet multiple survival shows have shown that the aftermath rarely, if ever, works out this way for many participants.

Even if survival shows could fulfill the promise they make though, it would not solve the problems facing groups like Two Sisters, that are specific to the trot industry. As detailed in a May 2023 report on Daum, due to the effects of the pandemic and the budgetary constraints, local government-sponsored events that are the bread and butter of the industry have not kept up with the expansion of the industry. In turn, this has meant that while there are more singers vying for these spots, the pie, as one trot singer put it, has remained the same.

In a way, Two Sisters is a unique workaround to this problem. Instead of both members pursuing solo careers, and thereby competing against not only other trot singers but each other, teaming up eliminates some competition. Furthermore, as a duo, both can each benefit from each other’s name recognition and brand. Given the current state of the industry, that is certainly not nothing.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] The Mnet Asian Music Awards kicked off its first night of the grand event, welcoming artists to headline the night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. This year, the MAMA Awards have been extended to a three-day schedule, with the venue moving to the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, on November 22 and 23. The winners for Day 1 have been announced — check out the list. Winners of the 2024 winners list Category Nominees Winner Best New Male Artist 82MAJOR, ALL(H)OURS, AMPERS&ONE, NCT WISH, NOWADAYS TWS Favorite Global Performer Male RIIZE Best New Female Artist BABYMONSTER, MEOVV, QWER, UNIS, YOUNG POSSE ILLIT Inspiring Achievement J.Y. Park Best Dance Performance Male Group NCT 127 – Fact Check, RIIZE – Love 119, SEVENTEEN – God of Music, Stray Kids – LALALALA, ENHYPEN – Sweet Venom TWS – Plot Twist aespa, BLACKPINK Jennie lead MAMA awards nomination This year, SM Entertainment’s girl group aespa is leading the nominations at the award ceremony with an impressive eight nods. They’ve secured multiple spots in major categories, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Group, Best Choreography, and Album of the Year. On the other hand, BLACKPINK’s Kim Jennie, who launched her solo career earlier this year after parting ways with YG Entertainment and founding her own agency, OA, has earned seven nominations. She earned recognition in prestigious categories such as Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Artists such as Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, SEVENTEEN, (G)I-DLE, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and RIIZE have all earned multiple nominations in the major award categories this year. Additionally, solo artists like BIBI, Hwasa, Jennie, Sunmi, Taeyeon, Jungkook, Jimin, Taemin, Key, and others have received key nominations as soloists in various categories. MAMA Awards Day 1 highlights On November 21st, the red carpet at the MAMAs was ablaze with stars. Celebrities such as Eric Nam, Young Posse, KATSEYE, Lee Isaac Chung, and PARK bo Gum graced the event, turning heads with their stunning outfits. The ceremony began in Los Angeles with a press conference featuring J.Y. Park and the rising K-pop group, RIIZE. Park offered a glimpse into his upcoming collaboration with Anderson.Paak, hinting “at an improvised, vibe-driven performance with his go-to drummer,” according to the Billboard. Meanwhile, RIIZE teased a Michael Jackson-inspired stage, with members Shotaro and Wonbin promising an “eclipse”-themed dance sequence. A special collaboration between TXT’s Beomgyu and Hueningkai, ENHYPEN’s Jay, and ZEROBASEONE’s Kim Taerae and Han Yujin is also on the cards for Japan’s lineup. Additionally, Lee Youngji and PLAVE are set to deliver an iconic performance together. [ad_2] Source link

[dtccompendium]

Episode 238: The Three K's of Osaka Case (Part 1)

Heiji invites Mouri, Ran, and Conan to the opening of the Three K’s Restaurant in Osaka. The three K’s stand for the three famous athletes who are opening the restaurant: a boxer, a baseball pitcher, and Ray Curtis. Conan only goes because of Ray Curtis, who was a great soccer player, and Ran gets him to sign a jersey for Shinichi. Kazuha thinks that Heiji is having an affair because he keeps talking on the phone with Conan, and saying weird things like: “Have you been exposed yet? Are you alone?” Anyway, while they’re outside turning on hotel room lights to make a giant K on the building, somebody shoots a reporter who specializes in reporting scandals, and ruining athletes’ careers.

[sound-of-scoups]

Moth To A Flame | JJK & KMG | 02

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader x Kim Mingyu  Genre|tags: Idol!au, series, established relationship, infidelity, lots of angst, lots of drama, smut, fluff.  Word count: 10.6k Rating: Explicit adult content (MINORS DNI). Chapter warnings: Mentions of BTS hiatus and the military service (yes, it’s a warning), mentions of reader being older than Jungkook (just a couple of months), domestic af, SMUT, oral (f receiving), fingering, petnames, explicit language. If there's more, please let me know. A/N: Chapter three will probably be released at the end of december. At the moment, I’m focusing on something I think you’ll really enjoy, and I want to finish it as soon as possible, which will leave me with little time to edit chapter three. Anyway, enjoy reading! Tags: @mansaaay, @nbjch05, @nejiiiiiiii, @cherrylovescheol, @ninigyuuu, @roseki, @callmemadhatter, @rosewithlxv17, @amandatrain

Summary: Four years ago, you crossed paths with a charming member of the K-pop group Seventeen during their tour stop in Osaka. The two of you shared three intense, unforgettable days before life took you in different directions. It was painful for both of you, but you knew you couldn’t take things any further and had to say goodbye. Now, back in Seoul for good, you’re in a new relationship with another idol: Jeon Jungkook—whose charm and stability make him everything you thought you wanted. You are very much in love with him, and as your connection deepens, it feels like your life is finally falling into place. That is, until you meet one of your boyfriend’s best friends and are stunned to discover it’s the same man you fell for in Osaka all those years ago. As buried emotions resurface and secrets begin to unravel, you find yourself torn between these two men, caught in a whirlwind of love and conflict, testing the boundaries of loyalty and the choices that could change everything.

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It was early in the morning when you found yourself in Jungkook’s kitchen with Bam at your heels, preparing breakfast for the two of you. From where you stood, you could hear the sound of water running and Jungkook’s voice belting out a perfect high note from the bathroom, filling the entire apartment.

You moved around the kitchen with ease, the familiar surrounding comforting as you scooped rice from the cooker and moved it into two bowls on the counter. Bam, ever the eager assistant, watched you closely, his thin tail wagging as he caught the scent of Jungkook’s mom's kimchi leftovers from last night when you opened the container.

“Are you hungry, Bamie?” you asked playfully, giving him a gentle scratch behind his ears. As if he understood you completely, he responded with an enthusiastic bark, making you laugh. “Just a minute, buddy.”

A whole week had passed since the night you met Jungkook’s friends, and consequently, a whole seven days since you’d last seen Mingyu. Since that night, you simply hadn't allowed yourself to think about it at all, not wanting to waste a single minute reliving his words or his reactions to your presence, or even the way your body had responded to his. 

You've filled every second of your day with work and Jungkook, not giving yourself time to process the events of last week. You chose to completely bury the feelings from that night, convincing yourself that staying busy was the best way to cope.

The rush of photoshoots, meetings, and moments like this, preparing meals with Bam at your feet, the routine and domestic life with Jungkook has kept you from overthinking everything—and so far, it has been working perfectly well for you and your anxiety around the subject.

The only times your thoughts drifted back to Mingyu and that night at the restaurant were when you tried to summon the courage to tell Jungkook everything.

On the nights when you were alone in your apartment, lying in your bed and staring at the ceiling, you weighed the idea of coming clean to him, of laying everything out in the open, hoping he’d be able to understand. Yet, each time you got close to letting the truth spill out, the words seemed to vanish from your brain before they managed to escape your lips.

Maybe it was the fear of shattering the world you’d built together, losing him forever, or turning nothing into something. You just knew that whatever it was, the mere thought of losing the peace you had with Jungkook felt like more than either of you could bear. So, you let the conversation slip away and bury it once again.

But every now and then, in your quietest moments, you feared even more that the dam you’d built around your emotions might crack sooner than later. You were so afraid Mingyu would be braver than you and decide it to tell Jungkook everything, the thought simply gnawed at you, knowing you had no control over it.

So far, he has been silent. Very much different from your mind, that was still tangled with questions you didn’t feel ready to confront yet. Although, before you even could allow yourself to find the answers to them, you decided it would be better to push all the thoughts about Mingyu away. 

You told yourself that whatever had happened, whatever had flickered to life in that brief moment with Mingyu that night, was insignificant. It was easier this way, to concentrate on Jungkook and your relationship, to keep your world with him simple and untouched by secrets or memories from your past.

Why risk igniting questions or insecurities over something you were convinced had no relevance in your future?

Besides, even after everything that night, you still felt no need to look back or reconsider your relationship with Jungkook. There was no reason to dwell on fleeting moments, feelings or people you had long since moved on from.

Right?

As you were setting the food on the small kitchen dining table, you could hear the gentle hiss of the shower shutting off, signaling that Jungkook was done and would join you in a couple of minutes. 

You poured the freshly brewed coffee into your two usual mugs, the aroma mingling with the scent of kimchi and rice, making your stomach rumble. At the same time, Bam let out a soft whine, his eyes flicking from the bowls to you, clearly hoping for a bite.

“You’re so hungry, aren’t you?” you leaned down to kiss the dog’s head, voice shifting to the soft, affectionate baby tone reserved exclusively for him. He licked your face in response. “Yes you are, my baby.” 

You got up again and made your way down the length of the pantry toward the cabinets where Bam’s food was stored. He trailed behind you eagerly, his tail wagging when picked up on what you were going to do, his excitement growing with each step you took. 

Quietly, you moved around, passing neatly stacked jars and spices until you reached the right cabinet, shaking the package slightly to tease him. Bam's tail wagged furiously, another whine escaping him as he danced around your legs.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry, baby,” you chuckled, crouching down to scoop out his breakfast in his bowl. The sound of kibble hitting his bowl was music to his ears, and he immediately dove in, devouring the meal like it was the best thing he’d ever tasted.

"Is your eomma being mean to you, Bamie?" you heard Jungkook’s voice behind you, sensing his warm presence close by. “Does appa need to punish her?”

Looking over your shoulder, you found him leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his bare chest, his abs on full display, droplets of water still clinging to his skin. His dark hair was a damp mess, falling into his eyes, and yet he looked absolutely radiant, a perfect blend of boyish charm and irresistible allure. His posture was calm, peaceful, completely different from the tense one he had carried so often these past few days.

So much has been on his shoulders lately. The past few weeks had been a blur of busy days and late nights with BTS latest comeback, and though Jungkook tried his best to keep his energy up, you could sense the weight of the things he was carrying floating in the air between the two of you.

You caught the strain in those brief moments when he thought you weren’t watching, because, not so unfortunately for him, you were always watching, just as he did with you.

You noticed it in the subtle signs he couldn’t quite hide—the sadness lingering in his eyes, the tension in his shoulders, the rare moments when his smile didn’t quite reach those warm, sparkling doe orbs, the pauses mid-sentence as though he was carefully weighing what he could reveal to you. Everything was there and you could see it perfectly, because you knew him like the back of your hand.

You respected his need for privacy, of course, but it hurted your heart to see him bearing his struggles with the way the media was handling the news of BTS hiatus all on his own. And as if that wasn't enough, there were the on-going conversations about military service and the pressure of his up-coming solo projects.

Everything had left you wishing you could share the weight of his burdens, to let him lean on you the way he so effortlessly allowed you to lean on him.

You’d tried encouraging him to open up, reminding him he didn’t have to go through it alone. But Jungkook had a way of steering the conversation away from his worries, brushing off your concern with a gentle kiss, a reassuring smile, a quick joke, or a change of subject, as if he were trying to convince you that everything would be fine, forgetting that it was actually him who needed that reminder.

You’d never push him; you knew Jungkook well enough to know he would talk when he was ready. So, for now, you decided to keep things positive and light, to be his summer Sun, a respite from everything else in his life.

Which meant not thinking about Mingyu and not thinking about the past.

Watching Jungkook, seeing the effort he put into maintaining his usual brightness lately, you decided that this subject could wait—Jungkook's happiness was more important than anything else.

You watched as Bam, mid-chew, paused to glance between the two of you, his tail wagging in earnest now that both his favorite people were in the same room. 

Jungkook walked over to you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind.

“You know you’re just jealous because I’m his favorite,” you scoffed at him, looking down at the dog, your tone of voice shifting again. “Right, Bamie? Who’s your favorite?”

Bam barked once and rubbed his head on your legs as if confirming your statement, and Jungkook let out a dramatic groan, throwing his head back. 

“Traitor,” he muttered, but you could see the way his eyes crinkled with laughter. “You like pretty girls who give you treats, huh?”

You laughed, leaning back into his embrace. “Well, if you wagged your tail like he does, maybe I’d give you treats too.”

“Careful, I just might,” he whispered into your ear, his voice low and playful. “Good morning, doll.” 

“Good morning,” you replied, your smile widening as he nestled you even closer into his warmth, you both walking back to the kitchen like this. “How’d you sleep?”

His fingers slowly started to trace gentle patterns along your hips. "Perfectly, with you here,” he planted a kiss on your shoulder. “How long have you been awake?"

"Not long," you said with a shrug. “My bio clock woke me up earlier than usual, so I took the opportunity to prepare breakfast early.”

Jungkook hummed softly in response, pressing another kiss to your shoulder, his lips lingering against your skin as if he couldn’t bear to pull away. “Feeling anxious?” 

You pouted, nodding your head. “Just a little bit.”

“How is your day looking?” he asked, brushing your hair to the side so he could rest his head on your shoulder.

"Busy,” you answered with a soft sigh, leaning into his touch. “I’ve got (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi’s photoshoot for Elle’s July issue, lunch with my brother, and later in the afternoon, that meeting with the head of Hybe’s fashion department.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his thumb brushing lightly against your hip bone. “Wow, look at you, all busy and important,” he said, his voice dripping with playful admiration. “Did they tell you why they contacted you during the phone call?”

“No, they didn’t give much detail,” you explained, turning to face him fully and wrapping your arms around Jungkook’s neck as his immediately founding their way to your hips. “Just said it was urgent and that they’d explain everything in person. Something about a group, but I didn't quite catch it.”

Yesterday, you received a call from Hybe’s fashion department requesting a meeting with you at the company building this afternoon. You were in the middle of changing models outfits for the magazine photoshoot in a spot with poor reception, and you could barely make out what the woman on the other end was saying. All you’d understood was that it was urgent and had something to do with one of their group's demands.

The email wasn’t much more informative, simply stating that you had an interview scheduled for today with Kim Injae, the head of the department, and it left you unsure of what to expect or how to prepare for the meeting.

You watched as Jungkook tilted his head, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “A group? What do you think they meant by that?”

“I’m not sure,” you admitted, a small frown forming on your face. “Maybe they want me for a collaboration or a campaign?”

He leaned back slightly, his dark eyes deep in thought. “Could be,”  he murmured. Then his face lit up, a grin spreading as if he’d reached a brilliant conclusion. "Do you think they will bring you back to work with us?"

Your eyes widened at Jungkook's suggestion, and you let out a soft laugh, shaking your head. "Highly doubt it. We both know why I left, and I don’t think they’d want to revisit that."

It wasn't that simple, even though you wish it was. Hybe was a very strict company when it came to the line between personal relationships and professionalism. You being with Jungkook was exactly why you’d stepped away in the first place. You doubted they would give you the position back now that the lines were already blurred.

Jungkook tapped his fingers lightly against your left hip, his thoughtful gaze never leaving yours. Then he raised one hand, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear as he stared at you with a knowing look. 

“Well, Soobin told me last week that TXT was looking for a new stylist. Maybe you’re it.”

Your breath hitched slightly at the suggestion. The possibility had crossed your mind, but you’d pushed it aside, not wanting to place expectations. 

“I don’t know. It’s possible, I guess,” you shrugged. “I hate being left in suspense. It could be something big or it could be nothing at all."

You weren’t much of a fan of suspense, and the lack of information they’d provided was making you anxious. It wasn’t as if this was your first job interview or anything new in your field. Still, an inexplicable sense of premonition crept into your nerves, and you couldn’t quite figure out why.

Trying to shake off the unease that was building in your chest, you let out a slow breath. It didn’t make sense to be so on edge—after all, you’d been in this industry for long enough to know that these things were par for the course. 

“All I know is that it’s urgent, since they stressed that they needed to see me today.”

“It’s something big, I’m sure,” Jungkook encouraged you, planting a kiss on your temple and intertwining his fingers with yours. “You’ve been killing it lately, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted to work with you on something major.”

You just loved the way he was your number one fan, always encouraging you no matter what. A smile crept onto your face at his words. “You really think so?”

His expression softened. “I’m sure of it. Whatever it is, you’ve got this. You’ve done this job before, and you’re damn good at it. They’d be lucky to have you back.”

His words made you smile, easing some of the tension in your chest.

“I just wish I knew what to expect.”

“Do you want me to investigate? I'll call Namjoon hyung and—”

You laughed, cutting him off with a shake of your head. “No, absolutely not. You are not calling Namjoon to dig around for me.”

Jungkook’s lips curved into a mischievous grin. “Why not? He owes me for covering for him in the last practice.”

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t help but smile. “As tempting as that sounds, I think I can handle this on my own. Besides, the last thing I need is for them to think I’m sending you in as my spy.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, untangling your fingers to raise his hands in mock surrender. “But if you change your mind, just say the word. My investigative services are always available for you, free of charge.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” You offered him a small smile, pressing your forehead against his. "And I appreciate the vote of confidence. It means a lot knowing you've got my back.”

“Baby, I’ll always be right here to celebrate your wins, no matter how big or small.” His voice was calm but firm. He squeezed your hand, his thumb brushing gently over your knuckles.

Your heart softened again at his words. "Thanks, Kook," you said quietly, meeting his gaze. "That means a lot."

"Always," he replied simply, his voice steady and sincere.

Sometimes, you wondered if leaving Hybe to preserve your relationship with Jungkook had been a terrible decision. But it was moments like this that reminded you the reason why you didn’t regret it for a single second. He would always be your choice—again and again.

“Oh, man!” he groaned, throwing his head back. “I'm going to have to warn those kids to stay the hell away from you. Yeonjun is a charmer!”

You snorted, shaking your head at Jungkook’s dramatic reaction. “Oh, please. I’ll be there to work, not to be swept off my feet by some gen z heartthrob.”

He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at you. 

“I’m just saying. Yeonjun’s a smooth talker, and if you’re not careful, he might try to charm his way into your good graces. I know how those guys operate. And since when do you think he's a heartthrob?"

You rolled your eyes, leaning forward to poke his chest. “Are you jealous, Jeon Jungkook?”

“Me? Jealous?” He scoffed, though his ears turned a suspicious shade of pink. You couldn’t help but smile at the slight whine in his tone. “I’m just being protective. Big difference.”

“Right,” you said, drawing out the word teasingly. “Well, you don’t have to worry. I’m immune to charm when it comes to work. Plus, I already have someone way more charming than Yeonjun could ever hope to be.”

Jungkook tilted his head, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Oh yeah? Who’s that?”

You grinned, running your fingers through his still damp hair. “This buff tattooed dude I know.” 

He let out a soft laugh, pulling you closer by your waist, the heat of his bare chest warming you through the shirt you were wearing—his shirt. 

“Yeah?” 

“Mhmm. Besides, I don’t even like younger guys.”

Jungkook chuckled, eyebrows arching as his gaze sharpened with amusement. Pulling you even closer, he teased, “Oh, really? You do realize I’m four months younger than you, right?”

With a soft laugh, you brushed strands of hair from his forehead, feeling his arms tighten around you. 

“The only exception."

A quiet groan escaped him as he leaned into your touch on his face, his shoulders relaxing as your fingers gently threaded through his hair, eyes slowly closing. 

“Good. Because I was about to say, I’m pretty sure I’ve already ruined you for anyone else.”

You rolled your eyes again, your laughter filling the kitchen. “Cocky much?”

He smiled genuinely with his lips almost closed, only the upper front teeth showing, his cheeks pushing up and nose wrinkling a bit, making your heart squeeze in love. His eyes stayed closed, but his expression was unmistakably Jungkook, full of fondness and something so inherently him that you couldn’t help but stare, savoring every detail of his face. It was your favorite kind of smile on him. 

"Well," his voice low and teasing as he lifted your left leg to hook on his hip, pressing your back to the kitchen island. “I like the idea of being the only one in your life.”

You bit your bottom lip, suppressing a smile, your heart thudding against your ribs as Jungkook’s words sent a thrill through you. His fingers tightened slightly on your thigh, holding your leg firmly against his hip, his body pressing you deeper into the counter.

You shook your head, letting your fingernails trail along his jaw. "Pretty sure you already are, you know, since I’m in love with you and everything."

He peeked at you with one eye, a playful grin tugging at his lips. Then he fully opened his eyes—those soft, doe-like eyes sparkling as his tongue teased his lip ring. His gaze lingered on yours for a moment before dropping to your lips. 

“I love hearing that.”

"And you know," you murmured, tilting your head to the side, your voice breathless as your hands traveled up his chest. "I’m already yours."

His eyes darkened, a pleased smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yeah?” he whispered, his lips grazing the shell of your ear. “Guess I just like reminding you.”

Before you could respond, Jungkook’s hand found the back of your neck, his fingers threading gently through your hair as he closed the little space between you and captured your mouth in a kiss. His lips claimed yours, lifting no room for hesitation, only raw, unfiltered need. You responded instinctively, arms wrapping around his neck again as his tongue slipped between your parted lips, his mouth exploring yours with an intensity that sent heat straight through you.

The way he kissed you—like he was starving, like you were the only thing he ever craved—made your mind spin. You wanted nothing less than to be devoured by him.

Jungkook moved with purpose, hands skimming down your back until they landed on your hips, his fingers gripping with just enough pressure to pull a quiet gasp from you. In one smooth motion, he broke the kiss and lifted you, setting you onto the counter, his body fitting between your legs as if it belonged there. Now at eye level, he looked into your eyes for a heartbeat, his own dark and searching. His hands slipped under the hem of your sleeping shirt and then his mouth was on you again, trailing down your jaw to your neck, leaving a line of warm, open-mouthed kisses that made you shiver.

Your head tilted back, breath hitching as his lips continued their slow exploration down your throat. The way his fingers traced your bare skin sent a shiver through you, your nipples hardening instantly, and you could feel his smile against your neck, clearly amused by the effect he had on you.

His fingers danced just shy of where you desperately craved his touch, teasingly tracing the curve of your breasts without quite making contact. Each barely-there caress sent sparks of desire racing through your veins, and you could feel his growing hardness pressing against you, igniting something primal deep within. 

Heat pooled inside you as his hands tightened around your waist, anchoring you against him. You rolled your hips instinctively, drawing a low, guttural groan from him that reverberated between your kisses and sent a throbbing ache straight to your core.

Your hands found their way to his chest, feeling the firm planes under your fingers as you held him close. He let out a low, appreciative hum, your lips meeting again as you draw his lower lip between yours to feel the cool press of his piercing against your mouth. That was all the encouragement he needed to collide your lips completely, holding you steady as he took the kiss deeper. 

His hand slid up your thighs, their warmth igniting your skin as they circled your waist before settling possessively on the soft curves of your ass. The sensation sent a thrill through you, and his hand, still resting on your ass, pulled you closer, pressing your clothed clint against the hardness of his crotch and making you moan. 

“Kook, fuck…” you cursed against his lips, fingers curling into his hair, wanting him closer, wanting more.

When his fingers started to travel south, you could already feel your panties soaked and sticking to your pussy. The effect Jungkook had on you could probably be studied by experts and still, no humanly explainable answers would be found.

“Are you wet for me, doll?” 

Jungkook's voice was low, a teasing edge to it that sent a shiver down your spine. You knew it was a half rhetorical question, because not much later his thumb hooked under the edge of your lacy panties and moved them aside to check it himself.

You bit your lip, trying to suppress a whimper, but it only made his smirk grow wider. 

“I asked you a question,” he murmured, his breath warm against your ear. “Are you wet for me?”

Slowly and deliberately, his fingers parted your slick folds, his touch both teasing and tempting. His thumb hovered over your clit, not quite touching, just lingering there, driving you wild with anticipation.

Your breath hitched, and you nodded, your voice barely above a whisper. “Fuck, yes!”

“Good girl,” he said, his tone dark and dripping with satisfaction, starting to rub your clit nice and slow. “Such an obedient little doll. Always so wet for me.”

A shiver coursed through you as his thumb circled your most sensitive spot, sending waves of pleasure through your body. When his first finger slipped inside you with ease, a soft moan escaped your lips. When he added a second, stretching you just enough to make your head spin, your breath hitched, voice trembling as you moaned his name again. 

“God, how are you so tight?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. His voice was low and rough. “So perfect for me. Just for me, yeah?”

Jungkook's dark eyes never left yours, watching your every reaction closely as his fingers worked you with a precision that left you breathless. He wasn’t asking you a question, he was making a statement and you knew it: you’re his and no one else. 

His thumb circled your clit again in quick movements, while his fingers curled inside you, hitting just the right spot with each thrust.

“Baby,” you gasped, your voice breaking into a needy cry as he found that perfect spot deep inside you, sending a surge of ecstasy through your trembling body.

“Feels good, doll?” 

“So good, Kook. Fuck!”

Your hands gripped his shoulders as ripples of bliss rolled through you. His name fell from your lips like a prayer again and again, each moan driving him further into his focused rhythm. His pace quickened, his movements more insistent as he watched every reaction your body gave him. 

Your back arched, and your breath came in short gasps, the tension inside you coiled tighter and tighter, every nerve alight with anticipation. And then he stopped, pulling back just as you teetered on the edge. 

A desperate whimper escaped your lips.

“Kook, what—” 

He chuckled softly, the sound low and teasing, his breath warm against your skin. “Calm down,” he murmured, his lips curving into a wicked smile. “I want to taste you. Lay down for me, baby.”

Jungkook’s command sent a rush of lust through you, leaving no room for hesitation. You leaned back against the counter, your body already trembling under his intense gaze as he dropped to his knees in front of you. His hands gripped your thighs gently but firmly, spreading them more apart as he trailed kisses along the sensitive skin.

He leaned forward, his breath ghosting over your core and you couldn’t help but gasp. Hooking his fingers into the waistband of your panties, he pulled them down slowly, his eyes never leaving yours. The tension in the air was thick, each second stretching into an eternity as he took in the sight of you laid bare before him.

“Do you have any idea how gorgeous you look like this?” he murmured, his voice and eyes thick with desire. 

Before you could even respond or shy away under his gaze, his jaw parted, and his pink tongue darted out, licking a bold stripe from your entrance to your clit with deliberate, agonizing precision.

A curse and a moan escaped your lips, your body arching into his touch. Your hands slid under the oversized shirt you wore, desperate to grasp your neglected breasts, fingers tugging at your sensitive peaks.

Your image makes Jungkook’s hands tighten their grip on your thighs, pulling you closer to his eager mouth and you gasped, a surprised yelp escaping when you slid down slightly on the counter beneath you. 

A breathless laugh tumbled from your parted lips but melted into a new moan as his own wrapped around your clit, sucking it hard. The cold press of his piercing against your sensitive skin sent a delicious shiver through you.

“Jungkook,” you whimpered, voice trembling. “So good, I–”

Jungkook swirled his tongue, letting you feel the precision of his attention. One of your hands tangled in his dark hair, tugging hard and making him groan, vibrating against your clit. The sensation was so overwhelming that for a moment, your breath escaped you, mind consumed entirely by the pleasure he gave you.

“You taste so sweet,” he declared against your core, his voice rough. “I could have this everyday for breakfast.” 

As his finger slowly slid back into your dripping heat, his lips and tongue worked together, lapping at your clit to coax your body into pure relaxation. The pleasure was intoxicating, and you couldn’t stop yourself from rocking your hips against his face and the rhythm of his finger going in and out of you. 

When his middle finger joined in, your mind dissolved into pure bliss. Jungkook’s tongue traced a sinful path again, licking you up and down, savoring every drop of your slick. He sucked greedily at your folds before returning to your bundle of nerves, flicking it just enough to make your walls clenched tightly around his fingers, drawing him deeper, your body completely at his mercy.

“Gonna cum, baby. Fuck!"

“Let go for me, doll,” he urged, his voice low and commanding.

The pressure built steadily, your body trembling as the coil in your stomach tightened, ready to snap. Jungkook seemed to sense it, his pace quickening as he focused on the spot that made you cry out, your body writhing beneath him. 

His hands slid up to hold your hips in place as your body shook above him, and with one last flick of his tongue, your release finally hit, crashing over you like a wave, consuming every part of you in its intensity. 

Your cries echoed through the kitchen as your body shook uncontrollably, every nerve ending alight with sensation. He held you through it, his hands firm and reassuring as he lapped up every bit of your pleasure, savoring you like you were his favorite meal.

When you finally came down from the high, he pulled back, his lips glistening and his eyes dark with satisfaction. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, leaning up to press a kiss to your inner thigh. “I’ll never get enough of you.”

Jungkook began to trail soft kisses up your belly, his lips brushing against your skin with a tenderness that made your breath hitch slightly again. Your hands instinctively found their way back to his hair, your fingers threading through the dark strands, combing them carefully as his mouth continued its slow way up.

“You’re perfect,” he whispered, his voice gravelly with affection. “I love having you’re here.”

His lips were warm and soft against your skin, lingering at the curve of your waist, breath hot and comforting against your ribs as he nuzzled closer. 

“I love being here,” you replied, melting into him once more. 

You felt Jungkkok smiling against your skin, his hands slid up your sides, his touch firm but reverent, like he was memorizing every inch of you.

“I love mornings like this and you're so good with Bam. Having you here… it feels right,” His voice held a quiet sincerity, his gaze warm as he looked up at you. “Like this is exactly where we’re supposed to be.”

You felt your heart swell at his words, matching his tender expression. “I know what you mean. Being here feels like being home.”

You closed your eyes, fingers tightened in his hair as he kissed higher, his lips brushing just beneath your collarbone. Junkook smiled again, his hands shifting to cup your cheeks as he leaned in to capture your swollen lips again. The kiss was slow, deep, and filled with a yearning that made your heart ache.

As he pulled back, his thumb traced your jawline, his gaze searching yours. “Let’s make this our thing, every day.”

“What do you mean?”

“Move in with me.”

“Alright everyone, let’s take fifteen!” 

Those were the exact words Mingyu needed to hear from Hoshi right now, causing everyone else in the room to let out groans of relief as they immediately dropped to the floor.

Mingyu himself let out a long exhale, running a hand through his damp hair, waking to a corner of the practice room and watching as the mirrors lining the wall reflected his restless expression, sweat glistening on his forehead and neck.

He grabbed a towel and dabbed it against his face, trying to catch his breath as he sat down on the wooden floor, away from the rest of the members. As usual, the room buzzed with casual chatter and the sound of sneakers scuffing against the floor as the others stretched or joked around.

Mingyu, on the other hand, remained silent, leaning against the wall with his gaze fixed on his hands, completely locked in thought. His chest heaved with fatigue, his shoulders sagging slightly.

It wasn’t just the practice that had drained him. No. The physical exhaustion was manageable, something he’d long grown accustomed to.

The problem was that no matter how much he tried to focus on the rehearsals, on the music, the choreography, the shouts of encouragement from his members, in the fact that the first show of the tour was getting closer and closer, his mind kept drifting back to you—to the silence that has been haunting him since that night a week ago. 

It was exhausting. 

All Mingyu wanted was to talk to you, to make sense of everything that happened since the day you parted ways at Kansai International Airport to the moment you saw each other again in that restaurant. He wanted to understand how you were suddenly back in Korea now and, most important, of all the people in the world, how you ended up becoming Jungkook’s girlfriend.

What kind of sick twisted joke was the universe trying to play on him?

He simply couldn't understand. 

Additionally, you had said to him that you would think about talking, but a week had gone by, and nothing.

Seven long, torturous days, and still, his phone remained silent. Every time it buzzed with an unknown number, his heart would lurch, hoping it was you, but it never was. He didn’t even know why he expected you to try to contact him, or how that could possibly happen, since you didn’t exchange numbers.

Yet, despite everything, he still held onto the hope that you would. 

So far, all he’d gotten from you was silence and it was killing him, making him absolutely restless. He hated himself for it, hated how he’d become the guy waiting around for a message that would probably never come. It was pathetic, really.

He rubbed a hand over his face, frustration gnawing at him. Part of Mingyu wanted to reach out to you first, to demand an answer, even though he wondered how he could even do that.

He didn't even know if you had told Jungkook yet. Were you planning to tell him? If you already had, how did he react? Was he angry with Mingyu now? Was he angry with you? What did it mean if you hadn’t said anything? Should he have been the one to say something to his friend? 

He had so many questions swimming around in his brain and he just wanted to find answers to them.

The other part of him, however, was too afraid of what he might hear. 

What if your silence was already the answer? 

Mingyu rested his arms on his knees and lowered his head, letting out a bitter, quiet laugh, shaking his head as if he could somehow remove the thoughts from his mind.

Why do I even care? he thought to himself, even though he already knew the answer very well. 

Goddammit. 

He hated how much power you still held over him, how even now, after all this time, you had the same effect on him as you did four years ago. How he found himself stuck, unable to move past the hope that you’d reach out, that you’d say something—anything—that would prove he hadn’t been a complete fool for waiting for you to show up again all these years.

“Alright, man,” Minghao’s voice cut through his thoughts as the red haired man settled down next to him. “Spill it. What’s up with you today?”

After days of watching Mingyu zone out during practice, Minghao couldn’t hold back any longer. He’d noticed his friend's unusual restlessness during this week’s rehearsals—his gaze darting around the room, his mind clearly elsewhere. Mistake after mistake on his moves, even on the simplest parts of the choreographies, and Hoshi had been scolding him every five minutes to get things right.

It wasn’t like Mingyu to be so distracted; he usually approached every song with relentless focus, always going the extra mile to ensure every move was perfect, especially with a tour just around the corner. So, of course, something was wrong with him; Minghao just couldn’t figure out what it was.

He mimicked Mingyu’s kicked out puppy posture, looking at him with his eyebrows arched.                

Mingyu glanced over, his expression caught between irritation and reluctance, but the look quickly softened when he noticed who was sitting next to him. 

“What do you mean?” he asked, though his tone was more deflective than curious.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” Minghao replied, nudging his friend’s shoulder with his own. “You’ve been off all week. Something’s definitely on your mind. So, what’s going on?”

Mingyu blinked, finally realizing he hadn’t masked his mood as well as he’d thought. He straightened, a faint forced smile appearing on his face as he shrugged it off. "Nothing,” he muttered, but even as he said it, he knew it was a lie. Minghao clearly wasn't buying it either.

"You’ve got that look on your face," Minghao said, waving his hand in front of Mingyu's face. "The one you get when you’re carrying something heavy. Come on, talk to me."

Mingyu let out another sigh, running a hand through his hair and wiping his face with the towel again, leaning his head back against the wall. 

“Just a lot on my mind. You know how it is.”

Minghao nodded slowly, his head tilting as he watched his friend carefully. “Yeah, I do. But usually, you’re one of the members keeping the rest of us calm. What got you rattled?”

Looking away and glancing over at his members, laughing and messing around the room, Mingyu hesitated. He wanted to brush it off, to tell Minghao it was just the anxiety pre-tour, or that he was tired. But he knew Minghao better than that. His friend had an irritatingly sharp sense for when things weren't right, and Mingyu didn’t have the energy to lie anymore. 

Except that he couldn't tell the truth either. 

So instead, he chose to be evasive.

“Just… life stuff,” Mingyu said finally, trying to keep his tone light, though even he knew it sounded forced. 

“Family stuff?” Minghao pressed. He shook his head no. “Did you fight with one of the members?”

“No.”

“Girl problems?”

Mingyu rolled his eyes, but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he let out a slow breath, tossing the towel onto the ground and rubbing the back of his head—why did he suddenly sound like a fifteen-year-old? 

“Something like that.”

Minghao’s eyes narrowed the way they always did when he was trying to see straight through Mingyu’s defenses. He tilted his head again, studying him for a small second, then gave a small, knowing smile.

"Oh?" he faked gasped, leaning back on his hands. "You? Having girl problems?"

Pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes, Mingyu groaned. “Can we not call it that?” he muttered, but even he couldn’t keep the frustration out of his voice. 

Minghao just laughed softly. “Alright, alright. Let’s call it... romantic confusion. Better?”

Mingyu let out a reluctant chuckle, dropping his hands to his knees. 

Ironically, it was actually the perfect way to describe his current situation.

“You make it sound like I’m a teenager, but sure, whatever.” He paused, taking a deep breath and hesitating again for just a moment before gathering courage to ask, “Have you ever had someone just… show up again in your life, out of nowhere?” 

“Someone important, I’m assuming?” Minghao asked back thoughtfully, a hint of intrigue in his face. 

Mingyu nodded but offered nothing more. 

Then Minghao decided to venture, an amused gleam in his eyes now. “So… I’m assuming that ‘something like that’ has something to do with a girl from your past that is now back.”

Mingyu stilled, jaw clenched ever so slightly, considering whether he should even respond to it. But he was the one who had allowed the conversation to go this way in the first place, he might as well respond to Minghao's question. 

He shrugged, watching his reflection in the mirror as if might offer him a better answer. “Maybe,” he finally admitted. “It’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” Minghao chuckled slightly. “But to answer your question: no, it’s never happened to me.”

There was a pause as they both watched as Seokmin dragged Chan across the room by his legs, the rest of the members laughing to a joke they’re both unaware of. The silence stretched between them until Minghao shifted as if preparing to ask a question he’d been holding back, his curiosity far from satisfied. 

Mingyu could feel the shift in Minghao’s posture, the way his friend leaned just a little closer, eyes flickering with that signature curiosity that always meant he was about to dig deeper. The background chaos of the practice room continued—Chan was now flailing dramatically while Dokyeom cackled, and the other members egged them on—but to his surprise, it all felt distant. 

“Can I ask you something?” Minghao finally questioned, his tone soft but very probing. “Not related to this.

Mingyu met his gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he sensed something coming. “Go ahead.”

Minghao seemed to hesitate for just a second, his voice dropping a notch. “What really happened to that girl from Osaka? I know you said she was unattainable once, but four years it’s a long time, man.” 

Mingyu exhaled, trying to mask his shocked expression, wondering why Minghao was bringing that up now—four whole years later. Though he suspected it was no one’s fault but his own. He hated how he was an open book with his feelings, and hated how easily Minghao could read him. He’d spent years avoiding this question, brushing it off whenever his friends brought it up. But now, with everything coming back so suddenly, it was getting harder to ignore. 

He ran a hand through his hair again, his fingers tugging at the roots as if that might somehow pull the words out of him. “Well, for starters, she’s no longer unattainable.”

Minghao’s eyebrow arched in surprise. “Why do I sense a but coming?” 

Mingyu let out a humorless laugh. “But she’s now completely off-limits.”

He hadn’t realized how much he’d been carrying until the words left his mouth, how the weight of it all felt like was pressing his chest. 

Of all things, he couldn’t help but feel selfish for barely acknowledging, even after these seven days, the full weight of this fact: you were now off-limits because you were with someone he cared deeply about—someone he would never risk hurting.

He watched as Minghao studied his face for a moment, the significance of the confession settling between them. The noise of the practice room seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the tension of their conversation hanging in the air.

“What do you mean, ‘off-limits’?” Minghao asked quietly, his eyes never leaving Mingyu’s. There was a softness there, an understanding. “I thought she had disappeared.”

“She did,” Mingyu's voice was barely a whisper when he answered. “Didn’t think I’d see her again.”

Mighao watched him with a mixture of surprise and sympathy. “But now she’s back?” 

Mingyu nodded, his jaw clenched. 

“It’s her, isn’t it? The someone importante who’s back in your life?” When Mingyu didn’t say anything, Minghao pressed on. “What’s stopping you now?”

Mingyu swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor. “She’s... she’s with someone else now. Someone who... well, let’s just say it’s not exactly someone I can compete with.”

Minghao stayed serious for a few seconds, staring at Mingyu with a contemplative expression. Then, suddenly, he burst out laughing, as if Mingyu had just told the funniest joke in the world.

“You’re bullshiting me. If anything, this someone else is the one he can’t compete with you.” 

“It’s not just about competing with someone else,” Mingyu said, his voice tinged with frustration and defeat. “It’s about competing with someone I care about deeply. Someone I would never hurt. Ever.”

Someone he couldn’t hate even if he wanted to, he taught. 

Minghao’s eyes widened slightly as he leaned back, his lips quirking up into a faint smile, though there was no humor in it.

 “Ah,” he said simply, the weight of Mingyu’s words sinking in. 

Mingyu had spent hours, days, months, and years imagining what it might be like to see you again—to touch you, hold you, kiss you, and finally ask the question that had haunted him since the day you vanished from his life. Every single one of these scenarios painted in his mind with a romanticized curiosity. 

And yet, no amount of daydreaming could have prepared him for the cold, harsh nightmare of reality. When the moment finally came, it felt like he was the butt of the world’s cruelest joke. Everything he’d built up in his mind crumbled in an instant, the weight of shattered expectations burying him beneath the wreckage.

Jungkook was one of his closest friends—hell, one of his best. Their bond had been forged through years of trust and loyalty, long before the day he saw you. To Mingyu, Jungkook was more than a friend; he was practically family.

But he still couldn’t help but think that it was unfair; he had seen you first. 

“Well,” Minghao’s voice broke his thoughts again. “I just don’t think you can sit there and pretend you haven’t spent the last four years waiting to see her again.”

Mingyu took a deep breath, turning his gaze away to watch the other members across the room as they bantered and laughed, feeling as though he’d just been punched in the stomach. Minghao’s words carried an honesty he wasn’t sure he was ready to face.

The worst part was that there was no way you didn’t hear his friends laughing and joking at how he had spent the last four years waiting for you to come back.

And even then, a week has gone by with you in complete silence. 

It was like he had been transported back to the moment he realized that no matter how much effort he put in, finding you wouldn’t be as easy as he had hoped.

He exhaled through his nose, his voice low and bitter when he finally spoke. “What good would that do, Myungho?” he muttered, his eyes still fixed on the scene in front of him but not really seeing it. “Waiting doesn’t mean anything if the outcome’s already decided.”

“Maybe not. But waiting says a lot about how much she matters to you.”

Mingyu let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. 

“And what does that matter now? She’s with someone else. End of story.” His voice cracked just slightly on the word someone, and he cursed himself for it.

Minghao’s expression softened, but there was still a sharp edge to his words. “If it were really the end of the story, you wouldn’t still be sitting here, torturing yourself over it.”

It was because, for him, it wasn’t. Not really. 

Since that night in the restaurant, memories kept flooding back—flashes of laughter, stolen glances across the hotel bar, long and late night conversations in the quiet of the hotel room. He’d spent three days with you, but those moments had burned deeper than some entire relationships he had before. And then… nothing. You were gone, and he’d convinced himself he could just move on.

His silence spoke volumes to Minghao.

“So… answer my first question. What happened between you two, really? Why’d it end in the first place?”

“That's the worst part; I don’t even know, man," he started, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. "She told me she was moving here and we decided we would give it a try once she was settled. But on the last day, she disappeared."

Minghao nodded slowly, waiting for more, his silence encouraging without being pushy.

Mingyu continued, his voice growing softer. “After looking for her everywhere I could, I thought... if I let her go, it’d be easier. For both of us. I mean… maybe she disappeared by her own choice, you know? I even asked Daeho hyung for help to find her at the time, isn't that ridiculous?” 

He could still remember how stupid he felt when he asked their former manager for help. He felt even more embarrassed when he was scolded for focusing on things he shouldn’t have—distractions, as Daeho liked to call them—rather than focusing solely on Seventeen’s career.

Stopping for a second and closing his eyes, Mingyu let out a shaky breath, as if releasing the weight of the memory.  

“But as you know, I couldn’t let it go, no matter how much I told myself to,” he laughed, but it came out hollow. “Every time I thought I was moving on, something would remind me of her. It’s pathetic, really.”

Minghao frowned, his gaze steady but kind. “It’s not pathetic, man.” He leaned forward slightly, his tone serious but gentle. “It looks like you never got any closure.” 

“I didn’t. And now that she’s back…” He paused, his jaw clenching as he fought to steady his emotions. “It’s like everything I tried to bury is crashing down on me all at once.” Mingyu shook his head, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. “And the worst part? I can’t even hate her for leaving. Not when I don’t know the whole story.”

“Maybe that’s what you need, then…” Minghao said, his expression thoughtful. “ to find closure.”

Mingyu looked at him, his shoulders tense, the vulnerability in his eyes raw and unguarded. “And what if the closure doesn’t change anything? What if it just... makes it worse?”

“Then at least you’ll know. At least you’ll have an answer. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll finally be able to move forward.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” But even as he said it, the uncertainty lingered, heavy and unresolved.

His gaze swept across the room, taking in the other members, until it landed on someone he had almost overlooked: Vernon, sitting in a corner, fidgeting and lost in his own thoughts.

Mingyu already knew what was on his mind; it had been the topic of discussions all week—the possibility that his girlfriend, the latest, and now former, Seventeen main stylist, might be fired for having a personal relationship with someone she worked for. 

They had been accidentally discovered by the company’s fashion department supervisor last week. Since then, the group’s stylist position had remained vacant, with only a few days left before their tour began. Vernon was just as restless as Mingyu, haunted by guilt over what had happened while the company discussed under the covers his girlfriend’s future. 

Mingyu wanted to help him, but his own muddled thoughts left him incapable of offering any support. 

“Look, Gyu, I know it’s a tough situation,” Minghao said gently. “But be honest with yourself. You don’t have to rush into anything, but if she really matters to you, don’t let fear, or anything else, stop you.”

For a moment, Mingyu just stared at Minghao, his friend's words hanging in the air between them. He hated how Minghao always had a way of cutting through the noise and getting straight to the heart of things.

"You don’t have to figure it out all at once, man. But don’t lie to yourself about how you feel. She’s already here, right? That’s gotta mean something.”

With that, Minghao stood up and made his way across the room, heading toward Vernon, leaving Mingyu to process alone the weight of his words in the quiet that followed.

You smoothed the fabric of your blouse again, trying to calm your nerves as you stood in the sleek conference room. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of the city, but it did little to settle your anxiety. The weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air, and the buzz of your thoughts traveling back to the events of this morning only grew louder with every passing second.

You had been waiting for a few minutes, and the girl sitting at the table outside the room had already come in three times to offer you coffee. Finally, you politely accepted, hoping it would stop her from coming in and looking at you nervously.

Not that you wanted to be alone. The last thing you needed right now was to be alone with your thoughts, replaying Jungkook’s gaze when you left the kitchen this morning. But at the same time, if she wasn’t planning to start a conversation that could distract you, you didn’t want to be faced with that glazed look that would only make you anxious.

When the door clicked open again, a tall, sharp-suited woman stepped in this time, clipboard in hand. She offered you a polite smile and you immediately stood up, offering a slight bow to the woman as you returned her warm smile.

“Thank you so much for joining us on such short notice, Miss Kang,” she said as she approached you, extending her hand. “I’m Kim Injae, the head of the department.”

You shook her hand, her grip firm but not overpowering, the kind that transmitted confidence without arrogance. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Kim. Thank you for having me.”

“Oh, honey, please, drop the formalities and call me Injae,” she said warmly as the two of you took your seats acroos from each other by the glass-top table. Her tone softened slightly, though her professional edge remained. “I’m sure you’re wondering why we called you here today.”

You offered another smile, folding your hands in your lap. 

“The thought did cross my mind, yes,” you admitted, keeping your tone light despite the undercurrent of curiosity—and, admittedly, nervousness—that you felt.

Injae leaned forward slightly, her well-manicured hands resting elegantly on the table, as she opened the folder she brought with her. If there was one way to describe her, it would be like staring at a brunette, Korean version of Donatella Versace—elegant, sharp, and undeniably commanding.

“Well, we’ve been following your work for some time, Y/N. When Hyejin brought you in last year to work with the Bangtan Boys, we were really impressed with you,” she paused, her sharp gaze meeting yours. “We would have liked to keep you with them as their lead stylist, but given the personal circumstances between you and one of their members, we couldn’t.

Your stomach dropped slightly at her words, though you kept your expression neutral. Have you been called here to respond to a disciplinary lawsuit?

It couldn't be. Two months ago, when you deliberately decided to quit your job here so you could stay with Jungkook without having to hide your relationship, it was still a secret. The two of you only came clean when you were no longer associated with the company or BTS in an employment capacity. 

And luckily for you, it was right at the time when Elle Magazine Korea offered you the position as their editorial stylist, so everything ended up working out perfectly.

Deep down, you knew that you loved working as a tour stylist and designer more than anything else, second only to your dream of designing your own clothing brand. Which is why the decision wasn’t as easy as you made it seem at the time.

“I understand,” you replied carefully, maintaining your professionalism. “It was an incredible experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I had.” 

Injae nodded, her expression unreadable as she leafed through the pages carefully. “It’s unfortunate when personal and professional lines blur,” Then she stopped for a second, looking back at you with a smile. “But the heart wants what it wants, right?” 

Her words lingered in the air, a delicate balance between acknowledgment and understanding. You felt your cheeks warm slightly but maintained your composure, offering her a polite smile in return.

"I guess so," you admitted cautiously, unsure of how much to reveal.

“That being said, I do recognize talent when I see it,”  Injae said, keeping her tone steady. “and you, Y/N, are undeniably talented. Which is why we’re sitting here today.”

Your heart skipped a beat as you processed Injae's words, feeling yourself relax in the chair now that you knew you weren't being prosecuted or punished. She had a way of being direct yet warm, and her casual remark made your stomach flutter with hope.

Still, you held your composure, giving her just an appreciative smile. “I’m honored to hear that, honestly.”

“You study at Central Saint Martins, right?” she asked, fixing her glasses on the tip of the nose. You simply nodded and she continued. “That’s amazing. And not only that, I’ve gone through your resume before and I must say, your experience is impressive.”

Injae’s words washed over you, her tone carrying a mixture of admiration and curiosity that made you sit a little straighter, your head held high with humble pride. You knew exactly what your accomplishments in your chosen profession were, and no one was prouder of them than you. Still, it wasn’t every day someone showered you with compliments like this, listing them off with such genuine admiration.

So you managed another polite smile, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear as you nodded once again and she carried on, leaned forward and resting her elbows on the table. 

“It’s amazing that at such a young age, you already managed to work with multiple international artists and you were even responsible for making the big brand ambassadors.” 

Her words made another flush of pride rise in your chest, though you maintained your professional demeanor. “Thank you so much, Injae. I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible teams and artists.”

“Fortunate, yes,” she agreed, “but talent and hard work don’t go unnoticed, and yours is evident.” 

Injae’s sharp gaze softened just slightly, and she tapped a perfectly manicured finger on the glass table.

You inclined your head slightly in gratitude. “I’ve always believed in pushing boundaries and challenging myself. Fashion is constantly evolving, and I love being part of that evolution, creating pieces that not only reflect it but provide it to others.”

“Precisely,” Injae said, her approval evident. ”It’s why I believe you’re the perfect fit for the spot that recently appeared in our department.”

“I’m honored that you think so,” you said earnestly. 

Her lips curved into a small smile, and she leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. “For obvious reasons, you can't work with BTS. Which I assume you already know.”

“Yes,” you answered, almost whispering, remembering yourself to take a deep breath each time you were reminded of the consequences of your choices and the reasons you had made them in the first place.

Injae’s smile widened just a fraction, the glint of intrigue in her eyes. “But, that doesn't mean you can't work with any other group in the company.”

Your heart skipped a beat for a second, anticipation swirling inside you as her words hung in the air like a hopeful promise. You straightened in your seat once again, your fingers lightly grazing the edge of the polished table to hold yourself together from bursting with excitement over something she hadn’t even said yet.

“One of our groups recently lost their lead stylist,” she began, her tone now practical. “And we need someone with experience, creativity, and adaptability. Someone who can handle the intensity of a global tour while elevating their image and branding. In short, we want you to fill the spot.” 

Your heart raced against your ribcage as her words echoed in your mind, leaving no room for doubts. The implications were clear: this could be your chance to step back into a role you’d thought you’d left behind—a role that allowed you to do what you loved most. This wasn’t just a job, it was a massive opportunity.

“Oh, wow,” you said, overwhelmed, carefully trying to keep your tone steady and not squeaky. “It means a lot to me, being recognized like this.”

Injae smiled warmly, her sharpness softening just a fraction. “You’ll be the lead stylist, which means that you’ll also be the one setting the tone, overseeing an entire team of stylists, designing the group tour outfits and getting brands to collaborate with the artists,” she explained. “It’s a leadership role, and it’ll test your ability to balance artistry with management.”

You nodded again, the gravity of her words settled over you, the enormity of this opportunity both thrilling and daunting. This was more than anything you had ever done or dreamed before. 

“Their tour starts in two weeks,” she said, continuing her explanation, looking down at the pages in front of her again. “Don’t worry, though, most of the pieces are already finished, and just some of them still need to be finalized, adjusted, and selected. After that, they’ll have a month off, and you’ll have plenty of time and resources to make any changes or create whatever you feel is necessary.”

Your mind was already spinning with possibilities. Two weeks to finalize styling for a tour was tight, but it wasn’t unfamiliar territory. “It is a tight schedule. But I’ve worked under similar constraints before. I’ll make it work.”

“I had no doubt you would,” Injae replied with confidence. She closed the folder in front of her with a decisive snap, then leaned forward slightly. “That’s why you’re here. But that's not all. I’ll have my assistant email every detail and everything that will fall under your responsibility as the lead stylist. As well as the contract and an overview of the team and current wardrobe inventory.”

You nodded, your mind already spinning with anticipation and plans. “Thank you. I’ll review everything as soon as it comes through.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone softening. “Y/N, I know stepping back into this world might feel like stepping back into the past actions, but I trust that you’ll use all of your experience, both personal and professional, to excel here.”

You couldn’t ignore the double meaning in her words. Though your chest tightened slightly at the thought of past entanglements, you focused on the opportunity ahead.

Besides, what were the chances of finding yourself in a situation like the one before? You were happy with Jungkook and weren’t looking for a boyfriend or anything else in that area. 

As you’d said before: he was the only exception.

“Of course,” you said sincerely. “I won’t let you down.”

“Good,” Injae said simply, her tone cool and authoritative. “Because this group isn’t just any group, they’re at the peak of their careers, and the eyes of the country are on them. Your work will define part of their image, and in turn, their legacy.” 

“I understand,” you replied, meeting her gaze directly. “May I ask what group we are talking about?

A hint of amusement flickering in her sharp gaze, realizing that she had forgotten the most important part. “Oh, did I not mention?” she tilted her head slightly. “Are you familiar with Seventeen?”

If you liked this feel free to let me know with a like, reblog, comment, whatever you prefer! ❤️

★ TAGLIST

[tomorrowxtogether]

TOMORROW X TOGETHER Take a Sunny Road Trip in ‘Over The Moon’ Video: Watch

The K-pop boy band's visual is for the English-language version of the single from their "The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY" mini-album.

The clip directed by HEADHEAD for the group’s latest single from their seventh mini-album, The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY, finds the gentlemen looking for love in all the right places, while chilling in the grass and munching on oranges, climbing trees to listen to tunes, taking a drive on rural roads and riding a bicycle through verdant fields. 

“You bring me back to myself/ I’ better and stronger because/ You’re the sunlight, when the day is gone/ Yeah, you know you are my favorite/ You know you got it baby/ Shining on me like the moon and the stars,” they sing over the song’s bouncy, jazzy rhythm.

TXT released The Star Chapter on Monday (Nov. 4), which dropped seven months after minisode 3: TOMORROW. “The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY will open a new chapter in Gen Z Icons’ one-of-a-kind narrative, building upon the intriguing saga established throughout The Dream Chapter [2019] The Chaos Chapter [2021] and The Name Chapter [2023],” read a press release in reference to three of the group’s previous studio albums.

The group has been criss-crossing the globe this year on their ACT: PROMISE run off gigs, with just two more tour dates left on their roster this year, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 gigs at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan.

Check out the video for “Over the Moon (Our Sanctuary ver.)” below.

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

AUTISTIC ANIME GIRLS ROUND TWO MATCHUPS!

Each group will last for one week.

List below the cut:

GROUP ONE:

Tome Kurata (Mob Psycho 100) VS Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club)

Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury (Sailor Moon) VS Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Shouko Komi (Komi Can’t Communicate) VS Athena Cykes (Ace Attorney)

Rina Tennouji (Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club) VS Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Futaba Sakura (Persona 5) VS Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger (Little Witch Academia)

Suletta Mercury (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) VS Falin Touden (Dungeon Meshi)

Anthy Himemiya (Revolutionary Girl Utena) VS Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh)

Tomori Takamatsu (BanG Dream: It’s MyGO!!!!!) VS Midori Asakusa (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!)

Asa Mitaka (Chainsaw Man) VS Patty Thompson (Soul Eater)

Mako Mankanshoku (Kill la Kill) VS Ayumu Kasuga/Osaka (Azumanga Daioh)

Mitsumi Iwakura (Skip and Loafer) VS Sawako Kuronuma/Sadako (Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You)

Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist) VS Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)

Himari Arisugawa/Cure Custard (KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode) VS Milly Thompson (Trigun)

Atsuko Kagari/Akko (Little Witch Academia) VS Hitori Gotoh/Bocchi (Bocchi the Rock!)

Tsukimi Kurashita (Princess Jellyfish) VS Clara Valac (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV (Cowboy Bebop) VS Chieko (Princess Jellyfish)

GROUP TWO:

Nico Niiyama (Kiznaiver) VS Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad)

Nagisa Momoe (Madoka Magica: Rebellion) VS Yellow (Pokémon Adventures)

Kuriko Saiki (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) VS Himiko Yumeno (Danganronpa)

Yuuko Aioi (Nichijou) VS Tsubomi Takane (Mob Psycho 100)

Maya Fey (Ace Attorney) VS Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)

Don Quixote (Limbus Company) VS Miho Nosaka (Yugioh)

Ringo Andou (Puyo Puyo) VS Alluka Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Izutsumi (Dungeon Meshi) VS Sorawo Kamikoshi (Otherside Picnic)

Satsuki Minazuki (Liar Satsuki Can See Death) VS Anri Sonohara (Durarara!!)

Nico Yazawa (Love Live!) VS Ahiru Arima/Duck (Princess Tutu)

Miriel (Fire Emblem Awakening) VS Yuri (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Biscuit Krueger/Bisky (Hunter x Hunter) VS Maria Inomata (School Babysitters)

Sayo Yasuda (Umineko When They Cry) VS Mai Minakami (Nichijou)

Ai Mie (The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses) VS Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

Sumireko Usami (Touhou Project) VS Shizuku Murasaki (Hunter x Hunter)

Marcille Donato (Dungeon Meshi) VS Anisphia Wynn Palletia (The Magical Revolution Of The Reincarnated Princess and The Genius Young Lady)

GROUP THREE:

Kaoru Seta (BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!) VS Kanna Makino (Tamako Market)

Chouko Shizuhata (Oddman 11) VS Hikari Kagura (Revue Starlight)

Nafra Ampsey (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun) VS Sana Futaba (Magia Record)

Valerie (Pokémon) VS Akashi (The Tatami Galaxy)

Miku Hatsune (Vocaloid) VS Sayaka Kanamori (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!)

Richeh (Witch Hat Atelier) VS Saki Hanajima (Fruits Basket)

Konata Izumi (Lucky Star) VS Ran-Mao (Black Butler)

Tsubame Mizusaki (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!) VS Franziska von Karma (Ace Attorney)

Nico Robin (One Piece) VS Penny (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet)

Sora Kajiwara (Sketchbook: Full Color’s) VS Sucy Manbavaran (Little Witch Academia)

Kiyoko Shimizu (Haikyuu!!) VS Mai Mishou/Cure Egret/Cure Windy (Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star)

Omoharu Nakanaka (Komi Can’t Communicate) VS Yor Forger (Spy x Family)

Kirie Motoba (Himouto! Umaru-chan) VS Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Miae Hwang (After School Lessons For Unripe Apples) VS Lotte Jansson (Little Witch Academia)

Bulma (Dragon Ball) VS Power (Chainsaw Man)

Tooru Taki (Natsume’s Book of Friends) VS Suzuno Kamazuki/Crestia Bell (The Devil is a Part-Timer!)

[news365times]

[ad_1] The Mnet Asian Music Awards kicked off its first night of the grand event, welcoming artists to headline the night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. This year, the MAMA Awards have been extended to a three-day schedule, with the venue moving to the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, on November 22 and 23. The winners for Day 1 have been announced — check out the list. Winners of the 2024 winners list Category Nominees Winner Best New Male Artist 82MAJOR, ALL(H)OURS, AMPERS&ONE, NCT WISH, NOWADAYS TWS Favorite Global Performer Male RIIZE Best New Female Artist BABYMONSTER, MEOVV, QWER, UNIS, YOUNG POSSE ILLIT Inspiring Achievement J.Y. Park Best Dance Performance Male Group NCT 127 – Fact Check, RIIZE – Love 119, SEVENTEEN – God of Music, Stray Kids – LALALALA, ENHYPEN – Sweet Venom TWS – Plot Twist aespa, BLACKPINK Jennie lead MAMA awards nomination This year, SM Entertainment’s girl group aespa is leading the nominations at the award ceremony with an impressive eight nods. They’ve secured multiple spots in major categories, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Group, Best Choreography, and Album of the Year. On the other hand, BLACKPINK’s Kim Jennie, who launched her solo career earlier this year after parting ways with YG Entertainment and founding her own agency, OA, has earned seven nominations. She earned recognition in prestigious categories such as Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Artists such as Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, SEVENTEEN, (G)I-DLE, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and RIIZE have all earned multiple nominations in the major award categories this year. Additionally, solo artists like BIBI, Hwasa, Jennie, Sunmi, Taeyeon, Jungkook, Jimin, Taemin, Key, and others have received key nominations as soloists in various categories. MAMA Awards Day 1 highlights On November 21st, the red carpet at the MAMAs was ablaze with stars. Celebrities such as Eric Nam, Young Posse, KATSEYE, Lee Isaac Chung, and PARK bo Gum graced the event, turning heads with their stunning outfits. The ceremony began in Los Angeles with a press conference featuring J.Y. Park and the rising K-pop group, RIIZE. Park offered a glimpse into his upcoming collaboration with Anderson.Paak, hinting “at an improvised, vibe-driven performance with his go-to drummer,” according to the Billboard. Meanwhile, RIIZE teased a Michael Jackson-inspired stage, with members Shotaro and Wonbin promising an “eclipse”-themed dance sequence. A special collaboration between TXT’s Beomgyu and Hueningkai, ENHYPEN’s Jay, and ZEROBASEONE’s Kim Taerae and Han Yujin is also on the cards for Japan’s lineup. Additionally, Lee Youngji and PLAVE are set to deliver an iconic performance together. [ad_2] Source link

[softeninglooks]

• when the light comes in. badminton coach!oikawa x volleyball coach!shoyo. ?k. ongoing.

In which the high school badminton team that professional athlete Oikawa Tooru now coaches decided to pick a fight with the rival volleyball team. Or in which Shoyo reminds Tooru what all of this is for.

“They begin with a practice round so that he can assess the team’s level. The cloudless sky showers them with light streaming through the large window panes, and flasks of fresh water are lined up at Tooru’s feet. After a few months of living in Rio, he is growing used to noticing the heat less and less, to appreciating the early rise of dawn and the lingering of the late sun on warm evenings; in Brazil, days barely seem to come to an end, in tune with Tooru’s packed schedule. He draws his cap over his forehead, shielding his eyes from the merciless sunlight falling his way, and claps his hands together.”

• great adventures (come with a prize). post time-skip. summer holiday!iwaoi. ?k. ongoing.

In which the epiphany that he might be in love with his volleyball rival and childhood best friend Oikawa Tooru hits Iwaizumi Hajime at age 25. And what better occasion than a summer vacation together before the Tokyo Olympics to try and make these feelings known to Tooru? Including an interview in Osaka, a visit of Nachikatsuura, and hiking along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail.

“I think…” The truth is, deep down, Hajime must have always known; has always felt it. It just took him around ten years, and the three most nerve-wracking days of his life, to realize the full implications that came with the fact that he is probably in love with his childhood best friend and fated rival, Oikawa Tooru. He can barely face Matsukawa and Hanamaki’s intent gazes, and the immensity of his own stupidity holds Hajime back from rambling on any further. “I think I know how I feel.”  “Then talk to him. Now would be a good time.” “I— What would I even—” “If you can’t say it yet, have him understand some other way.” “Flirt back.”