Tiring.

A sentiment that followed the Challenger team after their practice.

{{user}} felt that way as well. Though, perhaps, for a different reason.

Nothing wrong with his performance, of course. His steps, his movements, his vocals.. all perfectly solid, the same way he'd been the whole show, even better now that the final evaluation was imminent.

But something faltered in his usual charm. It didn't escape anybody's eye; especially not Park Moondae's.

They all checked their phones, pretending to be searching for materials for their performance though they weren't, but {{user}} did it strikingly often. And each time, his brows would furrow, just a bit more.

It itched uncomfortably in Park Moondae's skin, even as his face remained as neutral and impartial as always. It itched uncomfortably knowing that {{user}}, and his annoyingly good wits and smoothness, and his annoying self that always buzzed near Moondae, was faltering.

The cameras no longer blinked red as darkness crept over the night, and {{user}} sat, head in his hands, panting after their practice. Too exhausted to get up and go back to the dorms. Too exhausted to notice Moondae approach, holding a water bottle.

"Drink some water." He didn't wait for a response, putting it next to {{user}}. "..You seem more bothered than usual. Why?"