In a world where beauty is worshipped as much as talent, she had only one thing she could confidently offer her voice.

Raw, emotional, hauntingly beautiful.

Every note she sang wrapped around listeners’ hearts like silk, leaving them breathless, moved, enchanted.

She performed under the name "Kyuttko”, her identity hidden behind glowing lights, shadows,

She never showed her face not once.

Not in livestreams.

Not even in her music videos.

To the world, she was a mystery.

To the industry, she was a phenomenon.

And to herself… she was just a girl who loved to sing but couldn’t bear the world seeing her as she was.

The mirror was cruel.

The internet was worse.

So she hid.

Behind her voice. Behind her screen. Behind the comfort of anonymity.

Yet even in hiding, her voice reached hearts around the globe.

Idols sang her songs.

Fans cried to her lyrics.

And the biggest K-pop boy groups

But would happen when the girl behind the voice step into the light?

When she no longer wanted to hide…

Chapter 1: Morning Chaos

sun had barely risen, casting a faint glow through the tall windows of the LUMEN7 dorm. The apartment was quiet, the kind of peaceful silence that never lasted long in a house shared by seven boys.

The peace didn’t last long.

a voice broke the silence as the front door opened with a loud creak. The manager, Tsukena, stormed in with a clipboard in one hand and a coffee cup in the other, her short bob bouncing with every step.

"Concert. Today. And you’re all still asleep?"

She clicked her tongue, she can't help but to shake her hade.

“Ohh ghod they have a concert today and every single one of you is STILL IN BED?”

Without waiting, she marched to the first bedroom on the left.

Room 1: Ian & Rizen

Tsukena open the first door, revealing a surprisingly cozy room. Soft lighting, a tiny bookshelf, and a humidifier hummed in the corner.

Ian washugging a plush toy ironically a pink bunny with an expression of peace. His calm and cool persona completely melted in sleep.face peaceful . Rizen lay on the top bunk, blanket twisted around him, snoring softly.

Tsukena sighed. “Aigoo, these two are too soft"

She walked over to Ian first. “Hey. Ian. Wake up.”

Ian groaned, blinking. and turned, burying his face in the pillow. “Five more minutes…”

“No we almost missed the vocal check.”

Ian sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. “Fine. I’m up.” He glanced at the plush bunny in his arms and quickly tossed it aside, pretending he hadn’t been cuddling it. “Don’t say a word,” he muttered. His brows furrowed when he realized she was staring at the plush bunny.

“I wasn’t hugging that,” he muttered defensively, quickly pushing it away.

“Sure, Mr. Cool,” Tsukena smirked. “Also, good morning. Now get up before I tell the fans your secret love for stuffed animals.”

Rizen stirred from above, coughing lightly.

Tsukena’s expression softened. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Rizen said in a sleepy voice. “Just a bit dry… Did I sleep through the alarm?”

“Completely. You need your inhaler and warm tea. Move, both of you.”

Ian sat up, already grabbing his blanket. “I’ll get him tea,” he said without thinking.

Tsukena smiled to herself. As always—calm, kind, and secretly a softie.Okay you two get ready I'm going to wake up the other" Ian and Rizen nod at her. She turn her back Ang go to the next room.

Tsukena moved to the next room, knocking once—then barging in anyway.

Room 2: Sohan & Tayden

The left side of the room, Sohan’s, was organized, books stacked, clothes folded neatly on a chair.

The right side, Tayden’s, was chaos. Music sheets, chargers, random snack wrappers, and a pillow on the floor.

Tsukena sighed before entering.

Sohan was already half-awake, sitting at his desk, scribbling something into his notebook.

“You’re up?” she asked.

“I always wake before the schedule,” he replied calmly. “I reviewed today’s venue layout last night. The acoustics might be tricky.”

“And you’re already in work mode. Good,” Tsukena nodded.

She turned to the disaster on the right.

“TAYDEN.”

No answer.

“TAY—DEN.”

Still nothing.

With a huff, she ripped off Tayden’s blanket and pulled out one earphone.

“HUH?! WHAT?! FIRE?!” Tayden jumped up, hair a mess, completely disoriented.

“It’s 7:40. We leave in less than two hours,” she said flatly.

“Oh crap… I was listening to Kyuttko’s I want to be w—”

“As always you listening on your own you should make it loud so I can hear it too ” Sohan sighed.

Tsukena:. “Again?

“its really hit different,” Tayden muttered, rubbing his eyes. He said lazy tone

Sohan glanced over, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. “Agreed.”

Room 3: Mithan & Nayel

Tsukena knocked once. No response.

She sighed. She opened it slowly and revealed a surprisingly elegant room half full of neon posters and plushies, the other decorated like a European hotel.

Mithan, the youngest, was fast asleep, hugging his pillow like a child, one leg kicked out from under his blanket.

Beside him, Nayel was lying back like a prince in a drama scene, arms behind his head, shirt halfway up his abs—like he was waiting for a camera to pan in.

Tsukena :",Guys wake up"

He opened one eye, smirked. “You again? I dreamed of you last night, manager-nim.”

“Save the charm for the fans.”

She turned to Mithan. “Rise and shine, maknae.”

Mithan groaned. “Nooo… I'm still growing... just ten more minutes.”

“You’ll be growing on the floor if you’re late,” she threatened.

Nayel laughed. “You're so mean to him.”

Mithan finally sat up, his hair an adorable mess. “Hyung, help me…”

Nayel tossed him a comb. “Charm your way through it.”

Room 4: Yazen (Solo Room)

Last, Tsukena stood in front of the leader’s door.

She knocked twice. “Yazen.”

No answer.

She slowly opened the door.

Yazen, the leader of LUMEN7, sat upright in bed, scrolling through his phone.

“Morning,” he said smoothly. “I’ve been up for a while.”

“Uh-huh,” she smirked. “Then why is your hair still a mess?”

“I was just… reflecting.”

“Reflecting, huh?

He flinched, quickly shutting off the song.

“Your listening to Kyuttko song?” she asked casually.

“I don’t,” he said flatly.

“Right. Just like you didn’t listen to her acoustic cover ten times last night?”

Yazen’s ears turned slightly pink. “It was on auto-play.”

Tsukena laughed. “Keep denying it."

His gaze dropped for a second.

In the living room, Ian poured tea for Rizen while scolding him about using his humidifier properly. Mithan chased Nayel around, trying to fix his hair. Sohan packed the bags, checking everything twice. Tayden searched for his missing sock while humming Kyuttko’s song . And Yazen stood quietly at the window, watching the sun rise while drinking coffee

Tsukena stood in the living room, arms crossed.

“You’ve got exactly one hour before we head to the venue. No more delays. . Got it guys?”

“Yes, manager!” the boys chorused, some groaning, some laughing, all alive now with the energy of the day ahead.

In the background, Kyuttko’s song "Can you treated me like a princess"echoed faintly from thier speaker

None of them knew that the faceless girl behind the voice.

The scent of burnt toast filled the air.

“Ian, it’s burning again!” Mithan shouted from across the living room, holding his nose dramatically.

“I know!” Ian rushed over and yanked the toast out of the mini-oven, sighing at the blackened slice. “Great.”

“I can still eat it,” Rizen offered quietly, peeking from behind Ian with his cup of warm tea.

Ian shot him a soft glare. “You don’t have to eat everything just because it’s offered, you know.”

“But you made it...”

Ian sighed, handed him the least-burned slice, and ruffled his hair. “You’re too nice, Riz.”

“Am I?” Rizen smiled shyly, holding the toast with both hands like it was a gift.

Meanwhile, Nayel entered the kitchen shirtless, looking like a Calvin Klein ad. “Anyone seen my denim jacket? The ripped one?”

“Which ripped one?” Tayden shouted from the hallway. “You have five!”

“The one I wore in our photoshoot with that glossy silver background!”

“Oh!” Mithan chimed in, “I saw it in the laundry... maybe. Or was that Sohan’s jacket?”

“Excuse me?” Sohan appeared out of nowhere, a toothbrush still in his mouth and his tablet in hand. “Nobody touches my jackets.”

“You’re not even done brushing,” Nayel laughed.

“I multitask. Unlike some people,” Sohan said pointedly, disappearing into the bathroom again.

Living Room – 8:10 AM

Tayden plopped onto the couch, mismatched socks on his feet, trying to put in his earrings while singing under his breath.

Yazen, now dressed and freshly showered, passed by and paused for a second. His gaze lingered on Tayden before he spoke.

“You’re singing off-key.”

“No I’m not,” Tayden shot back. “I sound just like her.”

“You don’t,” Ian said as he walked in with a mug, handing another to Rizen.

“I can’t help it,” Tayden grinned, stretching. “Her songs are stuck in my head.”

Inside the bathroom, Sohan was adjusting his contact lenses, his brows slightly furrowed.

Mithan stood behind him, tying a bright pink bandana on his head.

“Why that color?” Sohan asked, glancing at him in the mirror.

“Because pink is cute. And I’m cute.”

“You look like a bubblegum mascot.”

Mithan gasped. “That’s rude! I look adorably dangerous.”

Sohan shook his head with a tiny smirk.

Back in the Living Room

Tsukena clapped her hands. “Alright! sit down!”

All seven boys scrambled like obedient puppies, dropping whatever they were doing to sit on the couch. Some were still fixing their hair, others sipping hot drinks.

Tsukena looked them over.

“You’re going to the venue in exactly thirty minutes. Hair and makeup will be done there.

Yazen “Are we doing a press Q&A after the performance?”

“Yes. "

Everyone scrambled again—grabbing bags, throwing on jackets, collecting mics, chargers, water bottles.

Mithan pulled his denim jacket on backwards, then screamed. “I can’t find the sleeves!”

“Turn it around, genius,” Nayel said while adjusting his own hair in the mirror.

Ian checked his bag again. “Rizen, did you pack your inhaler?”

“Yep. And extra medicine.”

“Scarf?”

“Also packed.”

“Water bottle?”

“Yes, mom,” Rizen smiled.

Ian looked satisfied.

They stood lined up by the door like students waiting for a field trip bus. Tsukena did a head count and nodded.

“Good. Now remember this isn’t just any concert. It’s your first full stadium since your comeback. Be professional. Be sharp.

As they walked out the door, bags slung over shoulders, energy buzzing through the air, a faint sound echoed from Sohan’s phone speaker again:

Kyuttko’s voice.

Verse]

Neon lights flash like a secret sign

Shadows dance in a world divine

Heartbeat whispers

Can you hear mine

[Prechorus]

Every step is a spark on fire

Closer now

Take me higher higher

[Chorus]

Boom boom

The heartbeat symphony

Feel the rhythm

Let it set you free

Boom boom

It's you and me

In this heartbeat symphony

[Verse 2]

Night sky breaks with a melody

Echoes twist through infinity

Every note pulls you closer to me

[Prechorus]

Electric stars in a cosmic choir

Shooting through

Take me higher higher

[Chorus]

Boom boom

The heartbeat symphony

Feel the rhythm

Let it set you free

Boom boom

It's you and me

In this heartbeat symphony

The black van hummed down the road, tires rolling smoothly over the morning pavement. Inside, seven idols sat dressed in casual pre-stage clothes—hoodies, ripped jeans, loose-fit designer wear—and underneath that, the quiet tension only a performer understands.

Their first stadium concert since their comeback. Over 30,000 seats, sold out in minutes.

And every one of those fans would be screaming for LUMEN7 tonight.

“Hyung, what if I trip?” Mithan mumbled, nervously adjusting the bracelet on his wrist.

“You won’t,” Ian said firmly, seated beside him. “You’ve practiced that footwork a hundred times.”

“But there’s stairs! And smoke! What if I slip in the fog machine again?”

“You’re not a baby deer, Mithan,” Sohan said from the front seat, calm as ever. “Just land with your left foot first. Not your right.”

Mithan blinked. “Huh? I thought it was right?”

Sohan turned around slowly. “...You’re joking, right?”

The van burst into laughter.

Tayden nearly choked on his vitamin drink. “He’s gonna swan dive off the stage like a boss.”

“No!” Mithan protested. “Don’t jinx me!”

Rizen leaned forward, gently patting Mithan’s shoulder. “Just follow the lights. I’ll be right behind you during the dance.”

Mithan visibly relaxed. “Thanks, Riz.”

Yazen sat near the back, earphones in, staring out the window as buildings blurred past.

Kyuttko’s voice echoed faintly from his phone again—another secret play. He didn’t react, but his fingers tapped silently in rhythm with her melody.

Concert Venue back stage

The LUMEN7 van pulled into the underground entrance of the stadium. Staff waited with earpieces, clipboards, makeup kits, and hot packs in hand. As the boys stepped out, they were immediately surrounded.

“Welcome! Right this way!”

“Hair and makeup to Room 2!”

“Final tech check in 30 minutes!”

Tsukena kept up beside them, already directing staff like a general at war.

“Yazen, mic check after styling. Ian, coordinate with the sound guy about your headset. Tayden

On stage, rows of empty seats stretched endlessly. The lighting crew worked fast, syncing flashes with beat drops.

The boys stood scattered across the vast stage, in-ear monitors in, testing mics and checking movement marks.

“LUMEN7 Soundcheck—Opening with ‘Gravity Rush’, then ‘Flicker’, then talk segment,” the stage director shouted.

Ian tapped his mic twice. “Check. One. Two.”

Mithan’s voice echoed. “Why does my voice sound so high? Is this broken?”

“No, that’s just your voice,” Nayel teased.

Rizen stood near the fog machine nervously. “Please don’t let this thing blow in my face again…”

Tayden spun in a circle near his spot. “We should open with a backflip. Like boom—HELLO Luminia!”

“You’ll die on stage,” Sohan said without looking up from his iPad.

Yazen was silent, staring at the empty arena.

Behind his stoic face, his heart beat louder than the bass from the speakers.

The sun had set. The lights inside the stadium dimmed. A low rumble vibrated through the ground as the fans screamed, tens of thousands of voices in unison.

The boys waited backstage, heartbeats in sync with the rising intro music.

Tsukena stood beside them. “This is your moment. Stay focused. Give them something real.”

The intro to Gravity Rush boomed.

“Positions!” the stage manager yelled.

Each member stood behind the lifting platform, fog swirling at their feet.

“5… 4… 3…”

They glanced at one another—nervous but electric.

“2… 1…”

Boom.

The platform rose.

LUMEN7 appeared under the spotlights.

The crowd erupted.

“LUMINIA!” Yazen shouted into the mic. “ARE YOU READY?!”

Lights exploded.

The music dropped.

They moved as one—synchronized, powerful, alive.

Ian’s voice soared.

Tayden’s voice hit hard.

Mithan spun with wild energy.

Sohan was sharp, flawless.

Nayel winked at the crowd.

Rizen, focused but glowing in the center

Yazen held with cold charisma.

Mid-Set Talk Segment]

The music faded. The lights dimmed to a soft blue. The boys stood, slightly out of breath, staring into a sea of glowing light sticks.All seven members stood at the front of the stage, catching their breath. Their skin glistened with sweat under the lights, hearts still racing from the choreography of “Flicker.”

“Waaaah!” Mithan panted. “You guys are loud today!”

“They love us,” Nayel smiled. “Of course they’re loud.”

Tayden took the mic. “Has anyone listened to our new cover yet?”

Fans screamed.

Sohan smiled. “It’s a ballad we all voted to release. Inspired by… someone special.”

The crowd murmured. Phones raised.

All seven members stood at the front of the stage, catching their breath. Their skin glistened with sweat under the lights, hearts still racing from the choreography of “Flicker.”

“Waaah! You guys have no idea how good this feels!” Mithan shouted, waving to the fans. The crowd screamed in return.

“They’re seriously loud tonight,” Nayel smirked, running a hand through his damp hair. “I think someone out there screamed my name twice.”

Rizen smiled shyly and took a sip of his water bottle, waving to the crowd. “You’re all amazing. Thank you for cheering so hard.”

Sohan raised his mic. “Tonight isn’t just special because of the crowd… it’s because we’re going to sing something we’ve never performed live before.”

The audience’s collective breath hitched.

Tayden bounced in place, practically vibrating. “YES! I’ve been waiting for this!”

Ian gave him a look. “Don’t scare the fans, Tayden.”

“No, seriously!” Tayden turned to face the audience, eyes shining with excitement. “This next song—it’s a cover, but not just any cover.”

He paused dramatically.

“We’re covering a song by Kyuttko!”

The crowd exploded into screams and cheers.

Even some staff backstage gasped.

Tsukena, who had been drinking water, nearly spit it out. “Here we go again"

Nayel raised his brows. “Did you just announce that without warning?”

“Of course!” Tayden beamed. “Everyone needs to know how much I love her music. Kyuttko, if you’re watching this live, I Your songs saved me from bad dance practices and depressing ramen nights!”

Ian . “Oh god…”

Tayden kept going, holding his mic with both hands now. “She’s mysterious, she’s soulful, she never shows her face but we don’t care! Her voice is full of emotion. That’s real talent!”

The fans roared again, some chanting her name. "Kyuttko! Kyuttko!"

Rizen looked around nervously, mouthing to Sohan, Is this okay?

Sohan smiled. “Well… he’s not wrong.”

Mithan clapped. “Tayden hyung’s a real fanboy, huh?”

Yazen stood quietly to the side, microphone resting against his chest, his expression unreadable. He didn't speak but he didn’t need to. His eyes had softened slightly. Just a flicker. No one noticed

The stage lights dimmed again, and soft piano notes floated through the arena.

The crowd held their breath.

And then, LUMEN7 began to sing.

(Verse 1)

I see the sky paint itself in pink and blue,

The wind whispers secrets I never knew.

Every step feels lighter when I think of you,

Is this a dream I’m walking through?

Or just a world colored by you?

(Pre-Chorus)

I want to be with you,

Just you, only you,

Every moment feels brand new,

I want to be with you.

(Chorus)

Hold on, don’t let go,

You’re the rhythm to my soul.

In this dance of hearts, we’ll find our way,

With every strum, I hear you say,

“I wanna be with you.”

(Verse 2)

The sun dips low but it doesn’t fade,

Your shadow lingers in the evening shade.

Every echo of your voice is a serenade,

Tell me, do you feel it too?

The universe pulling me to you.

(Pre-Chorus)

I want to be with you,

Just you, only you,

Every moment feels brand new,

I want to be with you.

(Chorus)

Hold on, don’t let go,

You’re the rhythm to my soul.

In this dance of hearts, we’ll find our way,

With every strum, I hear you say,

“I wanna be with you.”

(Bridge)

Underneath the stars, we’ll chase the night,

With every heartbeat, everything feels right.

In this melody, our dreams align,

Forever yours, forever mine.

(Chorus)

I want to be with you,

Just you, only you,

Every moment feels brand new,

I want to be with you.

(Outro)

Hold on, don’t let go,

You’re the rhythm to my soul.

In this dance of hearts, we’ll find our way,

With every strum, I hear you say,

“I wanna be with you.”

Just you, only you,

Forever, it’s true.

The concert ended with a final explosion of lights and confetti. The members stood on stage, bowing deeply to the roaring audience.

“THANK YOU, LUMINIA! WE LOVE YOU!” they shouted together, breathless but exhilarated.

They waved as they walked off stage, some still smiling, others collapsing the moment they passed the curtain.

The moment they entered the backstage hallway, Mithan dropp

Silent Pop-Ups

The room was pitch black.

Not a single light leaked in from the windows, and the curtains were drawn tight like they were afraid of the outside world. The only sound was the low hum of the air conditioner and the occasional creak from the old walls. Somewhere in the darkness, under a heap of blankets, a shape lay still.

She hadn't moved in hours.

Her bed was a cocoon a small seefortress she had built around herself. Pillows piled up around her, the blankets tangled over her body like vines. Only the very top of her head poked out—dark strands of hair messy and pressed flat from hours of lying still.

Then—

Pop.

Pop. Pop.

Her phone lit up again from the edge of the table again. And again.

The glow pulsed against the darkness, casting shadows on the ceiling like ghosts passing through.

She didn’t react at first.

Pop.

Another message.

With a sluggish movement, finally reached for it, her hand sliding out from under the blanket like a ghost hand from the grave. Her fingers wrapped lazily around the phone and pulled it closer. A tiny glow hit her face—pale skin, blank eyes, slightly chapped lips. Her face looked like it hadn’t smiled in days.

The notifications filled her lock screen.

She stared at them. Every word.

Her lock screen was filled with notifications.

> Shosho App: "You've been invited to the LUMEN7 Exclusive Collab!"

Shosho App: "Your fans miss you, Kyuttko! Come say hi!"

Shosho App: "1,326 new messages in your fan chat."

She stared at them. Her thumb moved lazily, swiping down to reveal even more.

> Shosho App: "Congrats! Your last clip reached 1 million likes!"

Shosho App: "Fans are waiting in your lobby, . Ready to go live?"

Shosho App: "You’ve been invited to ‘Midnight Moods’

Her screen glowed, waiting for her to react.

just stared.

There was no flicker of excitement. No sense of urgency. Not even a twitch in her lip. Her gaze drifted from one notification to the next, but they all blurred together. Empty words. Just noise.

She locked her phone.

The screen went dark again.

The glow disappeared, swallowed by the room.

She let the phone slip from her hand and fall softly onto the bed beside her. Then she pulled the blanket back over her head, covering even the small sliver of her face that had been exposed.

She shut her eyes—not to sleep, but to escape.

The world of Shosho could keep spinning.

The fans could keep asking.

The app could keep sending alerts and invitations and digital hearts.

But for now…

She just wanted the silence.

She rolled over, away from the phone, her back to the glowing screen that kept trying to reach her. She pulled the blanket tighter over her head, burying herself again in the quiet.

{author Pov)

The next morning came too quickly.

The previous night’s performance of Kyuttko’s song had gone viral.

By the time they reached the company building, over 20 million views had already been counted across social media. The hashtags #KyuttkoCover, #LUMEN7xKyuttko

But that wasn’t what bothered them.

What did was that… still… Kyuttko hadn’t reacted.

No post.

No live.

No update.

Just silence.

[ LUMEN7’s Company Building – Dorm Lounge]

The living room of Astra Company’s private dorm floor wasn’t glamorous — beige walls, mismatched pillows, a low table covered in snack wrappers, and the occasional rogue sock. But it had what mattered: warmth, silence, and seven exhausted idols spread out like melted popsicles after yesterday’s concert.

The TV played a low-volume replay of their performance, but no one was really watching. They were too tired. Or too lazy to get the remote. Maybe both.

Rizen had claimed the floor and was curled up in a hoodie like a sleepy cat. Ian sat cross-legged with a laptop on his knees, typing something with the precision of a scientist. Tayden was lying upside-down on the couch, head hanging off the edge, stuffing sour gummies in his mouth one by one while listening Kyuttko song

Yazen leaned back on an armchair, arms crossed, sunglasses still on indoors. Mithan sat between the couch and the table, tapping beats on a soda can. Sohan was neatly folding a towel for no reason other than it was bothering him how it was draped over the chair.

Mithan: “Do you guys hear that?”

Tayden (mouth full): “Hmm?”

Mithan (dramatic whisper): “That... is the sound... of freedom. No rehearsal. No schedule. No camera. Just air.”

Rizen (muffled in hoodie): “You forgot soreness. That’s the other sound.”

Yazen: “And tinnitus. You screamed directly into my in-ear monitor.”

Rizen: “Because the confetti machine scared me!”

Tayden (laughing): “You flinched like a soap opera actress.”

Sohan: “I thought he twisted his ankle again.”

Ian (not looking up): “No. I checked the footage. It was a dramatic spin, not a fall.”

Mithan: “You checked the footage? Already?!”

Ian: “I log our performances. It’s how we improve.”

Yazen: “It’s also how he knows who messed up.”

Tayden (groaning): “Don’t name names…”

Ian: “Then stop dancing half a beat early.”

Tayden rolled off the couch and lay face-down on the carpet.

Tayden: “It’s my artistic instinct.”

Mithan: “Your instinct is always to eat snacks, not hit beats.”

Tayden (lifting head): “Snacks are beats if you chew in rhythm.”

Everyone stared.

Yazen: “Never say that in an interview.”

---

The door to the living room slid open. A staff member peeked in, holding a tray.

Staff: “Morning drinks.”

Sohan (standing quickly): “Thank you. I’ll take them.”

He returned a minute later with seven drinks — black coffee, milk tea, banana juice, iced americano, sweet soy latte, energy drink, and water.

Mithan (accepting banana juice): “Hyung, how do you always remember who drinks what?”

Sohan: “I live with you all.”

Yazen (taking coffee): “He’s secretly your mom.”

Sohan: “And proud.”

Tayden (grabbing soy latte): “This is love. Real love.”

They sipped and sighed like a commercial ad.

Ian: “Speaking of yesterday… the Kyuttko moment. You all good with how it went?”

Rizen (smiling softly): “It felt special.”

Tayden: “You think she saw it?”

Everyone paused.

Mithan: “Hard to say. She hasn’t posted in forever.”

Sohan: “But if she checked her app…”

Yazen: “Don’t assume too much. She might not care.”

Tayden: “Still. I hope she felt it. That moment.”

Ian didn’t say anything, but he minimized his editing window — where a slowed clip of their “I want to be with you” performance was paused at the final chorus, when Rizen and Mithan’s harmonies overlapped the glowing stage lights.

He watched it silently.

The elevator dinged, and moments later, the door burst open.

Momoji: “GUYS!!"

Yuxin (walking in calmly): “We knocked.”

Momoji: “I kicked the door. That counts.”

Dualight entered like thunder and balance — Momoji carrying three bags of snacks and Yuxin holding a perfectly folded picnic blanket.

Tayden (from the floor): “You brought snacks. I forgive you.”

Mithan (grabbing chips): “You’re just in time for post-concert pain bonding.”

Yuxin: “You guys looked amazing last night.”

Momoji (mock gasp): “Amazing? That Kyuttko cover was criminal. How dare you do that without her number one fans!”

Rizen: “ number one fans?”

Yuxin (smiling softly): “He means me.”

Ian: “It was a last-minute choice. No time to warn anyone.”

Mithan: “Besides, it had to feel spontaneous. Honest.”

Momoji: “It felt real, alright. I got chills.”

Yuxin (soft): “She’d be proud.”

Yazen: “Assuming she saw it.”

Momoji: “Don’t be such a realist."

They spread out, forming one messy circle of idols around the living room floor. The air smelled like honey chips, melon soda, and sweatshirts.

Sohan: “You two want to join next time?”

Yuxin (sipping juice): “Only if we’re busy”

Mithan: “ohg"

Tayden (mouthing lyrics): “‘i wanna be with you…’”

Rizen: “Stop, I’ll get emotional again.”

Yazen (teasing): “Did you even hit the right notes last night?”

Tayden (grinning): “I hit something. Might’ve been nerves.”

Ian (half-laughing): “You hit me. During the spin.”

More laughter echoed in the room.

Momoji: “So what’s next? Are we collaborating or what?”

Ian: “We have variety show filming next week.”

Yuxin: “Yeah my manager told me that”

Sohan: “Same episode.”

momo:"thats was unfair the manager didn't told me hmp" pouting

Mithan (leaning forward): “Let’s destroy the games. Iconic chaos incoming.”

Tayden (raising fist): “May the foam swords be in our favor.”

Yazen: “No Kyuttko covers this time.

Momoji (smirking): “Too late. You already woke the internet.”

It didn’t take long before the room transformed from a post-concert crash pad into something much more alive. Someone had turned on background music — a lo-fi playlist with subtle beats and soft synths. Tayden was already halfway through opening every snack on the table, while Mithan carefully sorted them into salty, sweet, and “dangerous mystery flavor.”

Momoji (pointing at green chip bag): “That one makes your tongue go numb.”

> Mithan (dramatic): “Add it to the adventure pile.”

Yazen leaned back and snapped a photo of the chaotic spread, sending it to their private group chat titled “LUMEN7 Core Brainstorm Chamber” — which no one used for brainstorming anymore.

Yazen: “Caption: ‘We survived the stage and now face the final boss: Tayden’s snack addiction.’”

Tayden (chewing dramatically): “I carry this team. Spiritually and snackrificially.”

Yuxin (grinning): “He really said snackrifice.”

Ian (still typing notes on his laptop): “I regret allowing this fusion of words.”

Rizen (leaning into Yuxin): “You used to be the quiet one. What happened?”

Yuxin: “I’m still quiet. I just enjoy your chaos.”

Momoji (snatching chips): “He says that while instigating behind the scenes.”

Sohan quietly stood and walked to the kitchen corner. A few seconds later, the kettle whistled.

> Sohan: “Anyone want warm tea?”

Mithan, Tayden, Rizen (in chorus): “YES.”

Momoji (teasing): “You’re the real leader, aren’t you?”

Sohan (smiling): “I just keep them hydrated. It's damage control.”

They drank and munched like old friends, even though they’d only really gotten close over the last few months. The concert had been the catalyst — but moments like this? This was where real chemistry brewed.

Momoji clapped loudly, cutting through the post-lunch calm.

Momoji: “Alright, serious moment. We’re doing a friendship game.”

Rizen (mouth full of cookie): “Why do I feel like this isn’t going to be serious?”

Momoji: “Because it’s not. But it is a bonding game.”

He pulled out a wrinkled notepad and announced the game:

“Friendship Thief!”

Each person would write a secret about themselves on a slip of paper and toss it into a bowl. One by one, they’d draw and guess whose it was. Whoever guessed wrong had to wear the “Thief Headband” — a cat-eared, neon pink disaster that Tayden found in a variety show dressing room once.

Ian: “This is juvenile.”

Yuxin (passing paper): “That’s the point.”

After scribbling and folding, the secrets were mixed. Rizen volunteered to go first, pulling a slip and reading:

Rizen: “I once snuck into a movie theater by pretending to be my older cousin.”

Mithan (gasp): “You criminal.”

Rizen (thinking hard): “It’s not Ian. Not Sohan. Momoji?”

Momoji (grinning): “Wrong. It’s Yuxin.”

Everyone burst into laughter as Yuxin gave a small bow.

Yuxin: “It was an experimental phase.”

Momoji: “Put on the ears, baby idol.”

Rizen groaned and wore the cat-ear headband like a crown of shame.

They continued.

Tayden (reading): “I once got caught in a revolving door and cried.”

Tayden: “This is obviously Mithan.”

Mithan (offended): “It was Sohan!”

Everyone turned. Sohan looked down in defeat.

Sohan: “It was raining. The door spun back. I panicked.”

Tayden (dying): “Hyung! Why does that make me love you more?”

Ian (smirking): “Because he’s human. And so are we.”

The game brought out laughter, teasing, and a strange sense of comfort. Even the ever-serious Ian cracked up when Yazen misguessed and had to wear the pink ears while drinking tea with the elegance of a 19th-century countess.

After rounds of teasing and playful betrayal, the game fizzled out into soft chatter.

Momoji and Mithan were trying to make chip-tower art. Yuxin, Sohan, and Ian sat talking about music production ideas. Rizen had curled into the beanbag near Tayden, both scrolling through memes on their phones and occasionally shoving screens at each other.

Yazen sat by the window, eyes half-closed, listening quietly to it all.

Yazen (quietly): “It’s weird.”

Mithan: “What is?”

Yazen: “How normal this feels.”

Tayden: “You want it to be weird?”

Yazen: “No. I just forgot how it feels to sit like this. With people who get it.”

Everyone paused. Even the chip tower collapsed gently.

Ian: “We needed this.”

Sohan: “No stage lights. No cameras. Just... this.”

> Momoji (raising imaginary glass): “To just this.”

All together, softly laughing: “To just this.”

Ordinary is Perfect

{Wenalin's POV}

My alarm buzzed at exactly 6:00 AM.

I ignored it.

The sun leaked lazily through the white curtains of my room, casting golden streaks across the polished floors of my house yeah, it’s big. Too big for just one person, honestly. Every footstep echoed like I was in a hotel lobby, but I liked the quiet.

Morning in the province was always slow, just the way I liked it.

The faint crowing of a rooster in the distance. A motorcycle passing by on the gravel road. Birds, cicadas the usual chaos trying to sound like peace. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, hair a total mess, hoodie sliding off one shoulder as I stared at the time on my wall clock.

6:17 AM.

“...Ugh.”

I threw off the blanket and dragged myself out of bed.

First stop bathroom. I turned on the light, squinted at my reflection in the mirror, and brushed my teeth like the toothpaste had personally wronged me. Then I washed my face, pulled my hair back into a loose ponytail, and A quick shower, oversized white hoodie, ripped jeans, and black sneakers. That’s it.

No lashes. No makeup. No Perfect

I padded across the cold floor and lpicked up my phone from the side table.

I opened my food app and tapped on the only thing I ever ordered.

noodles. . Extra egg.

Then I sat by the living room window a wide, tall glass panel that gave me a perfect view of the sleepy road outside and waited. No TV. No music. Just the soft hum of the aircon and my thoughts quietly existing. in. a few minutes

The doorbell rang.

I grabbed the brown paper bag from the delivery guy, gave a lazy nod, then sat on the kitchen island with my noodles steaming hot. I slurped them slowly, not rushing anything. hit just right, and the egg was runny the way I liked it.

"It's really yummy",” I mumbled.

Once done, and slipped out the front door. The house locked with a satisfying click behind me.

I walked the same path I always did. My street was quiet, lined with trees and a few barking dogs behind gates. Nothing exciting. A kid on a bike waved at me. I wave back.

It took about twenty minutes to reach school. I passed by the corner store, the laundry shop with pink walls, and the campus gate that always creaked when pushed. The weather was already hot. My hoodie stuck slightly to my arms, but I didn’t care. I liked being covered up.

I stepped inside the classroom, and there she was.My bestie Gia Sitting at her desk humming to herself with a box of cookies open beside her. Her ponytail was messier than usual, her blazer was half-on, and her face lit up the second she saw me.

“WENALIN!” she called out, waving like a traffic officer.

I walked over with a sigh and dropped my bag on the seat beside her.

“You missed school yesterday, again. I had to suffer math alone. Do you hate me?” she said, dramatically putting a cookie on my table like a peace offering.

“Maybe I just hate school. Or you.”

“Aww, she missed me,” Gia cooed, linking her arm with mine.

“No not really,” I answered.

She gasped and clutched her chest.

"You’re so cruel to me.”

“You deserve it. And your cookie’s stale.”I took a bite anyway.

She laughed, completely immune to my sarcasm by now. That’s what I liked about Gia. She wasn’t annoying. She was... persistent. Warm. The type of girl who’d force feed you halo-halo in winter season and still nag you for not drinking water.

“Anyway!Guess what I watched last night?!”

I shrugged. “Your neighbor’s cat fighting ghosts again?”

“No, dummy! The LUMEN7 concert!”

I knew where this was going.

“So, listen. You know the concert I was freaking out about? THE concert?”

I nodded lazily, looking out the window.

“LUMEN7… covered Kyuttko’s song!”

“And?” I asked, picking dirt from under my nail.

“Wen, I’m not kidding—IT WAS SO GOOD! I was screaming. My mom even hit me with the broom. But it was WORTH IT!”

“Okay. And?”

“And!!! THEY COVERED A KYUTTKO SONG!!”

“Yes! ‘Heartbeat symphony !’ Girl. Rizen sang really good!. It was heavenly. I think my soul left my body and asked for an encore.”

“Sounds like a religious experience.”

“It WAS. And the lights! And the way they bowed after... Wen, I think Kyuttko herself would’ve cried if she saw it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

Gia nodded, full of passion. “YES. Kyuttko’s songs are so precious. She’s the reason I survived math class last year. And the way she disappears and appears randomly?? UGH. Icon.”

I smirked. “You stan a ghost.”

“A stylish ghost who sings like a goddess,” Gia shot back

I laughed quietly. She didn’t notice.

“She’s weird.”

“You’re weird.”

I cracked a smile.

She pouted, grabbed her cookie box, and muttered something about “soulless humans.”

I smirked.

“You still like me though.”

“Only because no one else will sit beside me.”

“Exactly.”

The teacher was late again, so the noise in the room rose like wildfire.

Gia and another girl were now watching the concert again on her phone. Rizen’s voice rang softly across the room.

"I wanna be with you"

My song. My lyrics.

Sung by someone else.

Sung for the world.

The teacher walked in. Everyone quieted down. Gia scribbled in her notebook while I leaned back, arms crossed, my mind drifting as the lesson started.

I stared outside the window, watching the trees sway, eyes dull, heart still

I wasn’t really listening. I wasn’t really trying.

Honestly, I was just… here.

And that was enough.

(Author pov)

The warm afternoon sun poured into the Astra Entertainment lounge like honey, but the peace it offered never stood a chance.

Inside, the usual chaos reigned supreme.

“STOP HOARDING THE CHIPS, RIZEN!”

“THEN STOP BREATHING ON MY NECK, MITHAN!”

The two boys rolled over the floor like hyper puppies, their fight over a nearly empty bag of shrimp chips creating an echo of giggles, yells, and one thud as they knocked over a throw pillow tower.

At the side of the couch, Ian typed calmly on his laptop like nothing was happening as he reviewed schedules with exact precision.

“Rizen,” he said without looking up, “if you break Mithan’s nose, we’ll have to cancel tomorrow’s shoot.”

“I’m the victim here!” Mithan groaned, dramatically flopping onto the carpet.

“You crushed my wrist!”

“You were trying to eat with one!”

Yazen, seated in the corner armchair, stirred his coffee slowly. “This is why we don’t have guests over,” he muttered.

Not far from them, Nayel sat cross-legged on the floor, tablet in hand, stylus moving furiously. He was sketching again — but not stage outfits this time.

“Okay, hear me out,” he said excitedly. “What if we had a summer collab with Mira-tan, and we all dressed like her ?”

“No,” Yazen said instantly.

“Yes!” Nayel beamed. “She’s an icon! A goddess! Look at her twin tails — they bounce with emotion!”

“I don’t even know who that is,” Mithan muttered.

“Exactly!” Nayel huffed. “You live in darkness.”

Meanwhile, Tayden was curled up on the rug, head resting on Sohan’s lap. Sohan scrolled through his phone with one hand while gently flicking Tayden’s forehead with the other.

“Quit squirming.”

“I’m trying to find a comfortable spot,” Tayden yawned. “Also… can you turn the volume up? I can’t hear the intro.”

A soft melody drifted from Tayden’s phone speaker. It was unmistakably her — Kyuttko’s “Heartbeat Symphony” played for what had to be the fourth time that day.

“I’ll never get tired of this song,” Tayden sighed, eyes closed. “Her voice is like… strawberry marshmallows.”

Sohan didn’t respond right away. He just closed his eyes, letting the song play. When the chorus hit, he whispered along under his breath — not too loud, just enough to feel it.

“Second verse hits better every time,” he said.

“I know, right?”

Ian glanced toward them and raised a brow. “You two are addicted.”

“I accept that,” Tayden said proudly.

“She has technique,” Sohan added. “Real depth. And no, we still don’t know who she is.”

“Her mysterious silence is poetic,” Nayel added from the floor, dramatically holding his drawing of Mira-tan. “Just like my queen Mira-tan in episode 7 when she chose her destiny over her love!”

“You really need help,” Yazen said.

Rizen flopped onto the couch next to Ian, hair a mess and face flushed from wrestling. “Can we play a game? Like something totally dumb?”

“I thought you were exhausted,” Ian replied.

“I recovered.”

“Uno?” Mithan suggested.

“YES—”

“NO,” Ian cut in. “Every time we play Uno, someone ends up crying or swearing loyalty to Satan.”

Mithan snickered. “That was one time.”

“And it was Tayden,” Yazen added, sipping his coffee.

Tayden just hummed as the next Kyuttko song began — this time, “Can You Treated Me Like a Princess.”

“Play that again,” he whispered.

Sohan, now leaning back on the couch with arms folded, looked relaxed. “It’s oddly comforting. I think she’s our official cooldown playlist now.”

Nayel immediately nodded. “Kyuttko × Mira-tan collab when?”

Yazen smacked his forehead.

Despite all the noise, chaos, and weird obsessions, there was something deeply comforting in the room. They each had their own rhythm — their own “normal.”

Ian and Rizen: opposite energies who somehow always moved in sync.

Mithan, Nayel, and Yazen: the creative triangle of drama, obsession, and restraint.

Sohan and Tayden: quiet shadows with shared headphones and hidden playlists.

They were still glowing from the concert, still feeling the after-buzz, and now... just being themselves. Loud. Soft. Annoying. Hilarious. LUMEN7.

(Wenalin Pov)

The classroom buzzed with low murmurs as the teacher scribbled some formula on the board. Something about angles, or was it velocity? Who knows. I wasn’t listening.

Gia was. Her pen scratched across the paper like she was solving the universe. I peeked at her notes.

“Why do your ‘4s’ look like upside-down hammers?” I whispered.

She stifled a laugh.

“Why are you looking my notes if you’re not even copying?”

“Because I’m judging them.”

She poked my arm with her pen. I slapped her hand away without even looking.

Outside, a few birds were hopping around the ledge. I wondered what it’s like to be one flying off the moment something gets annoying. Must be nice.

The teacher called someone to the front.

Not me, thankfully.

The bell rang, and chaos began. Chairs scraped. Laughter erupted. Food wrappers crinkled.

I stayed in my seat.

Gia leaned in again, cheeks puffed out like she was holding back squeals.

“Okay, I saved this part for break time.”

“You didn’t have to save anything.”

“Too bad. Listen. During the concert, when LUMEN7 did Kyuttko’s ‘i wanna be with you ’—you know that part where the lights dim and there’s that soft falsetto? Rizen NAILED it!I swear I got goosebumps.”

I didn’t react.

“And Nayel? He looked like a literal prince. I almost cried. Tayden was dancing like the stage was his bedroom—chaotic but beautiful!”

“So,” I said slowly, “your dream now is to marry a fictional version of seven different people..”

She laughed loudly, slapping the desk.

“You’re such a hater.”

“No. I just live in reality.”

Gia clutched her chest again in mock heartbreak.

“Okay, but tell me this. If you had to pick one—like, life-or-death scenario—who’s your favorite in LUMEN7?”

“The lighting technician.”

“WENALIN.”

I smirked and rested my chin on my hand.

She tossed a cookie at me. I caught it with my mouth.And then we walk

I didn’t pack lunch. I never do.

Instead, I ordered again the same app, same order: noodles with egg. I ate in the corner of the campus garden while Gia ate her packed rice meal beside me. We didn’t say much. I liked that.

Until, of course, she opened her mouth again.

“Do you think Kyuttko’s going to come back?”

I froze slightly.

Just a flicker.

“Why would I care?” I muttered, stirring my noodles.

“Because you’re a human being?” she rolled her eyes. “She hasn’t posted anything new in like forever. And yet, her app lit up again. You saw it, right?”

“Saw it. Ignored it.”

“You're the weirdest person I know.”

“Thank you.”

“Not a compliment.”

I kept eating, eyes on my food, mind… somewhere else.

---------

The teacher talked about history. Something about revolutions. I half-listened, half-doodled in my notebook. Gia passed me a note.

“You wanna walk home together later?”

I wrote back.

“Do I look like someone who enjoys human company?”

She grinned. I grinned.

Of course I was walking with her.

[Dismissal]

We stepped out of the classroom together. The sun was sinking low, casting everything in warm gold. The air smelled like dust and after-school snacks. Gia skipped beside me, still rambling about her favorite idols.

I didn’t interrupt.

I just walked, quietly, my bag slung lazily over one shoulder, eyes half-lidded from boredom and heat.

Another day. Same noise. Same world.

But with Gia beside me?

I guess it wasn’t that bad.

When I got home, I threw my bag on the couch, took off my shoes, and opened my phone.AND NOTIF ON MY SHOSHO APP.

I deleted them all.

Then I flopped on the couch and stared at the ceiling.

“Another normal day.”

And honestly?

That was all I ever wanted.