At Dorm
A handsome man arrived at the dorm with his spare key and opened the door. He let out a soft groan. Kids are something else. The man closed the door quietly behind him, shrugging off his jacket and hanging it on the rack. It was silent inside—the other members were still asleep. He glanced at his watch. Ah, six.
Well, time to prepare breakfast for the others. He walked to the fridge, taking out ingredients for cooking, then carried them to the kitchen counter. The sound of a door clicking open made him look up.
Beom Seok arrived with his hair still damp from the shower, wearing a dark blue dress shirt but not yet his usual blazer.
Beom Seok noticed him. "Oh, morning, Jaemin hyung!"
"Ah, good timing, Seokie. Can you help me prepare breakfast?" Jaemin said with a smile.
Beom Seok beamed. "Of course, hyung. My status as golden maknae not on-"
Jaemin waved his hand. "Yeah, yeah, acting, idol thing, even cooking. I know, no need to keep bragging about it."
Beom Seok pouted, then undid the button on his shirt sleeve and rolled it up.
Both the oldest and youngest worked together, cooking and preparing breakfast. Beom Seok hummed one of their songs as he worked.
Jaemin cooked a traditional Korean dish, then made warm tea. "Nothing beats a good cup of tea in the morning," he said.
Of course he make some toast and sausage, some member have different taste for food.
Beom Seok, who was putting plates on the table, hummed in agreement.
Ding.
"Seokie, the rice is done," Jaemin said. "Give the usual portion for each plate."
"Okay, hyung."
Then, one by one, the other members emerged, fresh from their baths.
Hajoon wore a white t-shirt with a picture of Ultraman. Nozomu was in a gray tank top. Kangmin had on a loose pink t-shirt, and Minho wore a long-sleeve V-neck shirt.
They greet each other. And sat at the table.
Breakfast Time
The table was a battlefield of last night's leftovers and this morning's chaos. Some toast crumbs, egg yolk stains, and half-empty bowls of soup littered the surface.
Beom Seok sat in his usual seat, neatly chewing his food—back straight, posture perfect, face practically glowing. His appearance was made even more stark by the fact that he was the only one wearing a dress shirt and blazer at the breakfast table.
Minho leaned in with a smirk. "Tch. Look at Seokie—our visual, even while eating. He never stops being hot."
Beom Seok beamed, turning to him proudly. "Right? I always take care of my morning routine."
In one swift motion, Minho had stolen Beom Seok's last sausage. And a few other side dishes.
Across the table, Kangmin palmed his forehead in exasperation.
Nozomu burst into laughter.
Jaemin groaned.
Hajoon blinked slowly, setting down his chopsticks.
"Seokie," Hajoon sighed. "Please. When you eat, focus."
Beom Seok huffed, scanning his plate. "Eh? There's nothing wrong, hyung. I always eat everything clean, I—wait…"
He stared. Half his plate had mysteriously vanished.
Hajoon shook his head. "Yeah. You need to stay alert. That foxy hyung of ours just turned into Swiper."
At that moment, Minho leaned toward Nozomu and whispered, "Foxy, huh? What's the Japanese fox sound again?"
Nozomu, between sips of miso soup, whispered back, "Kon."
Minho's eyes twinkled.
"Kon~"
He grinned and bit into Beom Seok's last sausage with smug satisfaction.
Beom Seok's eyes widened in horror. "HYUNG!!! THAT WAS MY LAST SAUSAGE!"
Nozomu giggled. Kangmin sighed, continuing to eat. Jaemin shook his head. "Aish... children." Hajoon, without a word, pushed his own sausage over to Beom Seok's plate. Beom Seok, who had been pouting, immediately brightened. "Thanks, hyung!"
Minho, who had finished his meal first, chuckled, wiping his mouth. He stood and grabbed his jacket. "Today, I have an early photoshoot session," he smirked. He turned to Beom Seok. "I wish the drama you're doing today was action instead of romance, because then we could have a compilation of you getting punched."
Beom Seok's jaw dropped. "Why do you always want Seokie to get hurt?"
Minho shrugged. "I don't know. It just sounds funny."
Nozomu wheezed with laughter. "Right?! Seokie-chan is always funny to tease!"
Kangmin nodded without looking up from his phone. "You getting wrecked is the fastest way to decrease the vanity quota I have about hearing it from you, each day, Seokie."
Beom Seok let out a small, dramatic whine.
Hajoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Can we eat in peace... please?"
Jaemin shook his head. "Sadly, Joonie... our member... is... chaotic."
Beom Seok sighed, shaking his head. He knew it was all just jokes, but it didn't make the loss of the sausage any easier. He finished the rest of his breakfast in slightly wounded silence, before gathering his own things.
Just as they finished, their manager arrived and knocked on the door.
Beom Seok stood up quickly. "I have to go to the acting set today, hyung. Bye!"
Beom Seok left with the manager.
Hajoon, with a free day ahead, opened his laptop. "Well, since we have some free time and no comeback schedule... and with Tsuburaya making a Showa Ultra show available for free to celebrate, I'm going to binge it."
Kangmin just opened his phone to a manhwa site. "Tch, right, it's not updated yet. Sigh, time to switch my language settings from Korean to Bahasa Indonesia."
Jaemin chuckled. "Haha, Kangmin really became our bilingual member thanks to his manhwa addiction, huh?" He stood up. "Anyway, I'm going to my studio. I know Joonie isn't writing lyrics yet, but making some music will keep my composing skills sharp. So if any of you need anything, just knock harder or just open the door, 'kay?'" He left.
Nozomu stretched. "Hehe, Jaeniki is right. Since there are no interesting dramas to watch, I'm going to go dance. Sayonara~"
On the Way to Set
Beom Seok sat in the passenger seat of the van, his manager driving. He took off his blazer and carefully folded it, placing it on the seat beside him. He then reached for the bag at his feet, pulling out a gray hoodie and a pair of jeans.
With a sigh, he unbuttoned his dress shirt, then took it off. The result of his daily workouts was a toned body that he couldn't help but admire. He glanced at the rearview mirror, and his manager's eyes met his. "Don't wink, Seokie," the manager said. Beom Seok pouted. Man, even his manager knows about his vanity. He quickly pulled the hoodie over his head. As he changed, his thoughts drifted to the contrast. The dress shirt and blazer were his preferred style, his true self—the clothes that made him feel like Beom Seok. But the hoodie and jeans were different. This was the outfit of the character he was going to play, a high school teen being shot today at the park.
Acting Set
The call sheet for the day was a work of art—a tightly packed grid of times, locations, and scenes that felt less like a schedule and more like a battle plan. Beom Seok was used to it. He'd arrived at the outdoor set—a quiet park in the middle of Seoul—just before noon.
His car pulled up to a small crowd of crew members, all bundled in jackets and holding coffee cups despite the early hour. The air was a crisp mix of humidity and the scent of newly cut grass. He stepped out of the car, his eyes immediately scanning the area, adjusting to the organized chaos. This was his space. His uniform today wasn't his usual dress shirt core with the layered blazer. He inwardly pouted. Instead, it was a simple gray hoodie and jeans—the costume of the character he was playing in his latest drama, At Our Seventeen. He felt no objection to the hoodie; after all, it wasn't his. He wasn't Beom Seok here. He was playing a part, and playing a part was something he had always excelled at.
"Bomsok-ssi, you're here!" the First Assistant Director, a woman with a perpetually exhausted but sharp expression, called out. "We're running a little ahead of schedule. Your first scene is with the lead, Nayeon-ssi. We'll be starting with the walking shot by the fountain."
He gave a professional nod. "Got it, Director."
Inside the makeup trailer, he settled into the chair and let the stylist and makeup artist work their magic. They were a well-oiled machine, used to the hectic pace of a live-shoot drama. They didn't fuss over him; they just got to work. His hair, styled just that morning, was now expertly combed into a relaxed but appealing look for the character he was about to play. Thanks to his natural good looks, he was already looking great with just a bit of makeup to enhance it. As there was no late-night schedule, only a touch of foundation to even out his skin tone and a dab of concealer for any minor blemishes was needed. A final touch of lip balm completed the transformation.
He caught his own reflection in the mirror—not the nerdy college student he was when doing his disguise, but a polished young actor, his face a brand, his presence a fantasy. This was the person he was going to play.
The set was a hive of activity. A dozen people surrounded the small fountain, adjusting lights, mic-ing the lead actress, and moving props. The director sat in front of a monitor, his face a mask of intense concentration as he watched the scene being set.
"Okay, Nayeon-ssi, we'll start with you walking toward the fountain," the Director said into his microphone. "Bomsok-ssi, you'll be a few paces behind. You'll catch up to her, and then we'll cut. Just a simple, romantic walking scene. We need to get it right. It's a key part of the opening."
Beom Seok took his place, waiting for his cue. He could feel the weight of his reputation. He wasn't just an actor; he was an idol-actor, a "golden maknae" who had to prove he was more than just a pretty face. His movements had to be precise, his emotions authentic. He wasn't allowed to mess up. Well… that was rare now. After all, he started as a child actor... or rather, a commercial baby. He didn't really know how it happened, but he guessed he was just a natural on camera.
He thought to himself: Then again. Ever since I was a kid, I've always loved the camera. And based on what my appa and eomma say... I would become happy whenever I was being recorded. Man, even in the family, I'm the only one who's this vain about my looks. Unlike them.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, and the director gave him a nod. The camera started to roll.
He walked forward, his expression soft and warm, catching up to the actress just as rehearsed. The moment he reached her side, their eyes met, and he gave a practiced, gentle smile. It was a smile he'd used a thousand times for the camera, a smile that sold the fantasy.
"Cut!" the Director shouted. "That's perfect! Bomsok-ssi, where did that come from? It was perfect! You're on fire today!"
Beom Seok's heart thumped a little faster. He'd done it. The pressure was real, but so was the satisfaction. He felt a quiet pride in the work, in the ability to create and perform.
He walked back to his chair, a small, triumphant smile on his face. He caught his reflection in a handheld mirror and saw the idol-actor staring back at him. This was the version of himself the world loved. The one he was proud to be.
He picked up his phone to check his messages. He had a few from his manager, a few from his fellow members. Nothing out of the ordinary.
He put the phone away, the small smile still on his face, feeling the familiar hum of a day well spent.
####
Jin-ah's Morning
Seo Jin-ah stretched as the first light filtered through her window. She got up, rolled her shoulders, and began her usual routine—some light physical training to kickstart the day. Squats. A few punches. A roundhouse kick. Then more squats.
She smiled to herself. "Nothing wrong with sticking to the routine," she muttered. "Being alone can be dangerous sometimes. Gotta keep myself strong. The only one looking out for me… is me."
She glanced at her phone lying nearby. Kakashi stared back at her from the wallpaper—calm, cool, collected.
She knew he couldn't protect her. He wasn't real. But the message was clear: Protect yourself.
Another set.
Afterward, she hopped into the shower, then put on her usual outfit: a soft, slightly oversized T-shirt layered with her favorite hoodie, the Uzumaki symbol proudly displayed on the back.
She cooked breakfast, ate while rewatching another Naruto clip on her phone, then washed the dishes and cleaned the counter.
Finally, she grabbed her bag, stepped outside, and locked the door behind her.
The sun was warm on her face. She smiled up at it. "Another brand new day."
She checked her phone. Still some time before the ramyeon shop opened. Boss Lady had told her to come in about two and a half hours early to help prep the kitchen. Jin-ah didn't mind. She liked getting there early—it made her feel useful.
But for now? She had one of two choices. Either binge another set of Naruto clips on YouTube… or go to the park.
She shoved her phone into her pocket and turned toward the street. "Park it is. I'm not that addicted," she said out loud to no one. She was human, after all. Even an introvert needed fresh air and real-life people from time to time.
She walked at a comfortable pace, enjoying the quiet buzz of the city around her.
The park wasn't empty. Kids were playing. Dogs were barking. People were laughing. Music floated in the air from someone's portable speaker. And birds—so many birds. Nature's soundtrack, she thought with a grin.
She just smiled to herself and kept walking, feeling oddly light.
The park stirred softly with life. Birds chirped in passing, a light wind rustled the leaves overhead, and cicadas filled the spaces in between with their tireless chorus. In the distance, someone laughed, and a dog barked twice.
Jin-ah made her way down the path, taking in the gentle noise of the world.
And there she was.
Do Areum.
Same bench as always. Same posture—relaxed but upright. A cardigan layered over her t-shirt. Glasses slipping slightly down her nose. Earbuds in. Eyes closed.
But Jin-ah knew better. She wasn't listening to music—not the kind most people meant when they said "music."
Areum didn't dislike music entirely. She just had a very different definition of it.
Auto-tune? Sure, she acknowledged its place. Techno beats? Synthetic layers? She understood their function. But to her, they weren't pure. Not in the way she believed music was meant to be.
She once told Jin-ah, "Music existed before people named it. Before they built devices to record it. It started with breath and bones and the world itself."
Her favorite sound? Whale 54. A solitary whale whose song rang out at a frequency no other whale responded to. A voice reaching through the ocean, unanswered—but honest. That, to Areum, was a song in its truest form.
Second favorite? Human clapping. The sound of recognition. Two hands coming together with no melody, no machine—just feeling.
Third? Whistling. Emotion pushed into air. Unfiltered. Imperfect. Real.
But her love for sound didn't stop there. She once called a thunderstorm "the rock concert of the clouds." Said the wind blowing through a bamboo forest sounded like breathy flutes woven by nature. Said a rooster's crow was "as honest as any opera."
To her, music wasn't something you downloaded or played. It was something that happened—raw and living.
The crow of a chicken. The rustle of leaves. A storm rumbling in the sky. Even people talking—not scripted, just being.
That was the kind of "playlist" Areum carried around in her earbuds. Just life, unfiltered.
Jin-ah never tried to understand all of it. She liked her anime intros and Naruto OSTs. But she respected Areum's view.
They didn't share hobbies. They didn't talk about idols or fictional characters. But they worked side-by-side in a small ramyeon shop, respected each other's silence, and kept showing up.
And that was enough.
She walked up to her and plopped down beside Areum on the bench. Areum noticed Jin-ah and nudged her with a smile.
"Good morning, Areum unnie!" Jin-ah said, bumping her back with a grin.
Areum smiled back, pulling out an earbud. "Good morning, Jin-ah."
"It's another beautiful day," Jin-ah said, tilting her face up to the sun. "I was almost late for it."
"Glad you made it," Areum replied softly, her eyes closed again. "The cicadas and people are in full chorus."
Jin-ah grinned, pulling out her own earbuds and putting them in. "Well, I'm listening to my own kind of chorus." She hit play, and the dramatic opening chords of a Naruto theme song began to play.
The two friends sat there, side by side, listening to their very different worlds while watching people in the park.
Jin-ah moved her finger along with the music in her ear, humming the melody of "Naruto Shippuden Silhouette."
Areum moved her hand, making Jin-ah pause. "Er, unnie?"
Areum flipped her hand over and then put her left hand on her right.
She giggled. "Look, Jin-ah, this tiny spider. How cute."
Jin-ah's eyes followed Areum's gaze and she saw the tiny creature moving on her hand.
Jin-ah grinned. Of course, Unnie always finds living beings cute. Even worms.
Areum stood. "I'm going to put this spider on that tree."
The tiny spider moved and jumped, so Areum carefully put her left hand under her right. The spider jumped to her left hand. She moved her right finger, and the spider jumped to her finger again. She kept moving her hands, a gentle, mesmerizing dance to keep the spider from jumping and getting lost in the wind, until she reached the tree.
Jin-ah smiled, then focused on her song again.
Areum returned and sat back down. She put her earbud back in and closed her eyes. The two friends listened to their own separate soundtracks.
After a few minutes, Areum took out her earbud. "Hmm, it's time, Jin-ah. The ramyeon shop is getting ready for opening."
Jin-ah stood. "Yep, let's go help our Boss Lady."
Areum giggled. "Jin-ah, she's ten years older than us. And did you forget? Don't call her that."
Jin-ah smirked. "Yep, but Minji unnie deserves the title of Boss Lady because she's the boss."
Areum sighed playfully. "Fine, but get ready for her glare if she hears that."
Jin-ah laughed. "Oh no, the glare of doom!"
Both of them laughed as they began walking out of the park.