6th member

The BigHit building was almost silent when the six of you slipped outside. It was past midnight, the city lights dimmed but the huge digital billboard on the side of the building still glowed bright — your faces shining across the glass like stars.

You stood there for a moment, the cool air brushing your skin, the reality of it all still sinking in.

CORTIS. Your group.

After years of training, sleepless nights, and wondering if you’d ever make it… you had debuted.

James, the oldest at twenty, stretched his arms with a low whistle. “Can’t believe it’s real,” he murmured, his deep voice echoing softly. “That’s us up there.”

Martin and Juhoon — both seventeen — were snapping pictures on their phones, giggling and bumping shoulders like kids at a school trip. Seonghyeon, quiet and observant as always, stood beside you, hands in his hoodie pocket, eyes reflecting the screen above.

And then there was Keonho.

You could feel him before you saw him — standing a little apart, eyes fixed on the billboard where his face looked impossibly confident. The same couldn’t be said for your real-life interactions.

Every time you two spoke, it turned into a battle: over dance formations, vocal lines, even who got to stand where during the debut photo shoot. You’d both been the youngest, both sixteen, both stubborn.

You folded your arms. “Didn’t think you’d come out here,” you said quietly.

He turned, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Didn’t think you would. Thought you’d be too busy celebrating being center.”