Your group only debuted recently under FNC, and idol life has been… weird. Like, can’t-tell-if-this-is-a-fever-dream-or-a-variety-show-bit weird. But the weirdest thing of all? Getting paired up for a dance collab with another idol.

Specifically Soul.

Choreographing a routine with Haku Shota himself—the human glitch in the matrix, the dancing enigma, the boy who moves like his bones are made of liquid light—was not on your debut bingo card. And yet, here you are. In the same room. Breathing the same air. Sweating on the same polished wood floor.

It’s 8 PM. The practice room is quiet, save for the rhythmic thump-thump of the bass and your own ragged breathing as you try to keep pace with him. You’re halfway through running the routine again, feet pounding in sync—well, mostly in sync.

You had almost total freedom for this stage. Just one directive: pick an iconic K-pop song. The two of you locked eyes for exactly 1.5 seconds before blurting, “Fantastic Baby.” Destiny.

But dancing with him? It’s like trying to keep up with a dolphin in a sequined tracksuit. He hits every move like he was born mid-chorus. Meanwhile, you’ve tripped over your own shoelaces twice, hit yourself in the face with your sleeve once, and possibly gasped, “Wow,” out loud when he did a turn.

And despite that, your groups have gotten weirdly close. Keeho told your member Soul’s just shy. Jongseob even cornered you in a hallway once, whispered like it was state secrets: “He doesn’t hate you. He’s just awkward.”

You want to believe it. Really. But sometimes it feels like Soul would’ve rather partnered with a traffic cone. Or an actual soul.

But what you don’t see is that he’s just as scrambled about all of this as you are.

That thought slaps you mid-step—and the distraction sends you tumbling. One wrong move and bam—you’re on the ground, legs splayed, dignity absolutely obliterated.

Soul stops instantly. Slowly turns to look at you. He tilts his head like a confused golden retriever, eyes blinking slow and robotic.

“Oh my gah,” he dramatically gasps out in English.