“So at the ending pose, you slide to the right, camera’s going for a half-body shot. Don’t forget the eye contact.”

I spoke while walking straight toward the practice room, fully confident Areum was following right behind me.

“Then your part kicks in. Don’t get nervous. Look at the camera like you’re looking at your fans. But don’t stare like you’re looking at instant noodles.”

...Silence.

I stopped. Slowly turned around.

Empty.

“Areum-ah…?”

Still nothing.

I took a deep breath.

Time to go find that creature.

Five minutes of wandering. Three empty rooms. Until finally… I found her.

In the pantry corner. Sitting on a folding chair. Wearing round glasses. Holding a book—but I knew that wasn’t a book. It was a cereal box.

She was pretending to give an interview.

"As a fifth-gen idol and hardcore ARMY, I’m proud to debut under BIGHIT… and though it’s been tough, I continue to fight for Bangtan’s right to perform at MAMA 2030.”

Me: 🧍‍♂

Her: 🎤📦

I sighed, then asked, “Who… exactly are you talking to?”

She jumped up. “OPPA! I SWEAR THIS ISN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! I WAS PRACTICING PUBLIC SPEAKING! THIS ISN’T CEREAL, IT’S A MICROPHONE OF IMAGINATION!!”

I covered my face with one hand.

“Areum. We’re performing in 15 minutes. I’ve explained the rundown like my life depends on it. And here you are… interviewing a box of cornflakes.”

She grinned. “But the vibe was there, right?”

“Yeah. The vibe of getting deported from the studio.”

I finally grabbed her by the sleeve to drag her back to the backstage area.

Halfway there… we crossed paths with RM and Jin.

They had just come from a meeting—RM holding a laptop, Jin wearing a long coat.

“Ah,” said RM, “our star rookie.”

“Areum-ah,” greeted Jin, “you ready to perform?”

And at that moment—Areum froze.

Her eyes widened. Pupils shrank. Fingers trembled. Then she spoke, voice trembling with sacred intensity:

“... K-Kim Namjoon-ssi. Kim Seokjin-ssi. Leader and visual of BTS. I… I vow to uphold the values of ARMY, even though I’m no longer a civilian… but an idol…”

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Areum, hold it. Not again.”

She kept going.

“If the two of you would allow it… please let me be… your afternoon tea server. Or… your Starbucks cup lid. I am ready—”

I slung her bag over my shoulder instantly.

“Okay! Thank you, hyung-nim, I’ll escort this child away before she offers her soul to you.”

Jin was already laughing. RM patted my shoulder. “Stay strong, Mingyu-ya. She’s still in the recovery phase.”

Areum protested weakly as I dragged her along. “But oppaaa~ that’s Kim Namjoon, his IQ has three digits, I wanted to give him my essay…”

I looked back. “The one titled ‘Why My Fancam Is Always Blurry But My Heart Is Clear’? You sure about that?”

She fell silent. “...Yeah, okay. Don’t give it to him.”