Dawn had awoken, and the dorm was quiet.
Haneul's phone buzzed slightly. He glanced at the screen, stiffening at the name: Mother.
"Congratulations," her voice called out, calm and full of elegance but strict like a military commander. "You passed the first round. I watched your video; you can do better in your legwork. Your team wasn't bad. Good thing you have members to help you. As a reward, I'll unfreeze your credit card. Don't waste it. Continue, and your account may just be given to you soon."
Haneul kept quiet, his heart relieved, angry and annoyed at her tone, but he couldn't say anything because she had leverage over him. "Thanks… I guess." The line clicked off before he could say more. He sighed, sliding the phone back into his pocket.
The first person to wake up after Haneul's call was Jiho.
"Are you okay? Is anything bothering you?" he asked, his voice tired but full of concern and worry.
"Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. How about you go back to sleep?" Haneul reassured him.
"Okay, but if something bothers you, you can talk to us and we will help," said a half-awake Jiho.
"Sure, thanks."
Haneul didn't say anything after that, but that memory would stick in Haneul's head.
Later that morning, Section D gathered in the practice room to brainstorm their next concept. Jiho had a notebook filled with ideas, while Seojun leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"We need something bold and dark like Section B's performance," Seojun said.
"Something fun," Eunjae countered. "Fans loved the 'Fresh!' energy. Let's double it."
"Something emotional," Chanho added. "We should show emotion, not just youth."
The debate spiraled quickly. Hyun suggested balance, Daehyun argued for visuals and something theatrical, Jiho tried to keep notes, and Eunjae kept interrupting with jokes. Eventually, they realized they had wandered outside the company building, still arguing, and were now lost in the streets of Seoul.
"Leader-nim, we're literally lost in our own concept," Hyun deadpanned.
Chan groaned. "How did we end up here?" "Because Eunjae insisted we walk while brainstorming," Jiho muttered.
"Walking helps creativity!" Eunjae protested. "Look, we're surrounded by inspiration."
"Inspiration or traffic?" Seojun pointed at the honking cars.
Just then, Chan's phone rang. He answered, and his mother's voice filled the air; she was complaining to Chan, even though her voice was warm. "You never visit, you don't even pick up my calls! Come home, at least once."
The members perked up, grinning. "Leader-nim, scolded by mom!" Eunjae teased.
"Hyung, she's right, you do not call. What kind of leader doesn't check on their parents?" Hyun added with a smirk.
"I check on my mom every day," Eunjae added.
Chan flushed red, snapping, "Shut up!" before softening his tone to reassure his mother. "I'll visit soon. I promise."
On the other end, his siblings overheard and erupted in excitement. "Oppa! Visit us now!" The maknaes seized the moment, chanting, "Busan trip! Busan trip!" Jiho, ever practical, leaned in. "Maybe we'll find inspiration at your hometown."
Chan groaned, but the idea stuck. Within hours, Section D had packed their bags for Busan.
The train ride was long but filled with laughter. Eunjae immediately claimed the window seat, pressing his face against the glass. "Look! Mountains!"
"They're just hills," Seojun muttered, but even he couldn't hide a smile.
Jiho tried to keep everyone in order, but the group was unstoppable. They sang songs off-key, teased each other relentlessly, and pointed out every delight along the way — the city faded into countryside quiet, rice paddies glistening under the sun, children waving at the train not to be seen again.
Daehyun pulled out his phone, recording videos. "Fans will love this. Section D: chaotic on stage, chaotic on trains." "Delete that," Chan groaned.
"Too late," Daehyun smirked.
Hyun, usually quiet, surprised everyone by humming a folk song. Eunjae joined in, turning it into a loud duet. Jiho rolled his eyes but eventually added harmony, and soon the entire carriage was filled with their voices. Passengers smiled, some even clapped.
Haneul watched quietly, silver-gray eyes softening. He didn't quite detest this kind of engagement.
As the train sped south, conversations deepened.
Seojun admitted he once ran into his parents when they were making love and they punished him.
Daehyun confessed he once cried because his hair gel ran out before a performance in middle school.
Eunjae bragged that he could perform the Yoyo plant at the age of 16.
Hyun revealed he doodled smiley faces whenever he felt overwhelmed.
Jiho admitted he developed OCD when he peeped on himself in daycare after everyone was laughing at him.
Chan shared stories of him being a troublesome child when he was young.
Haneul listened, occasionally adding blunt remarks. "You're all insane," he said, but his lips curved faintly.
By evening, the train pulled into Busan. The air smelled of salt and pine, fresher than Seoul's air, which was filled with smog. Narrow lanes lay between tiled roofs and stone walls. Children played with paper kites in the distance, and elderly neighbors greeted Chan with warm smiles.
His family home stood at the end of a quiet lane — a modest two-story house with whitewashed walls, a sloping tiled roof, and a small garden bursting with chrysanthemums. The wooden gate creaked as Chan pushed it open, revealing a courtyard where his siblings had already gathered, waving excitedly.
The members paused, taking it all in.
"This… feels different," Jiho murmured.
"Feels like home," Daehyun added softly.y.