System Error: Stardom

The mirrored studio was already abuzz when Damien slipped in. A dozen trainees milled about in loose shirts and worn dance sneakers, stretching or chattering.

A few of them glanced up when Damien entered. Among the overly eager rookies, he recognized a couple of familiar faces from the orientation he attended months ago.

One boy offered a polite nod, while another whispered behind her hand. He just nodded and walked past them, moving to an empty spot near the back.

He set his bag down and observed the group under his lashes. There was a different kind of energy here. It was a kind of raw eagerness that was less polished but vibrant. A couple of trainees were already practicing dance moves in front of the mirror. Over in one corner, two boys stretched and murmured to each other, stealing curious glances at the new arrival.

The intermediate class definitely feels different... He commented.

Taking a slow breath, he stretched, rolling back his shoulders to release some tension. As much as he was relieved not to be in the same class as Hajoon, he felt a little reluctant to let go of the advanced class. Well, he expected this, especially after his subpar performance the past few days.

His ears perked up as he caught snippets of hushed conversation.

"That's him—the one from the advanced class."

"Why's he here?"

"Probably because of what happened after the evaluations. Don't you know? He—"

"Alright everyone, let's get started!" The practice room door swung open and the instructor arrived, calling everyone to gather. "Line up into rows!"

Damien joined the forming lines. The class began a familiar warm-up routine, the same ones he used to do in his previous class. As they moved into choreographed steps, Damien found a fragile focus.

In the mirror's reflection, he saw determination on his face—jaw set, green eyes narrowed beneath a loose strand of brown hair—and just behind him a few of the newbies were casting admiring looks his way.

It felt strange; he was no role model right now. In fact, he was far from it. Was it perhaps he was in the advanced class before?

All of a sudden, the studio door swung open with a loud thud, and in walked a young man with a bit of a hurried stride. He was on the shorter side—perhaps just a few centimeters shorter than Damien. His hair resembled the night sky, styled into a slightly tousled fringe that somehow managed to look effortlessly stylish. His complexion was pale and cool-toned. From his youthful baby face, he appeared quite young, but his striking features were already making an impression: high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a defined jawline.

But it was his eyes that definitely captured Damien's attention.

They were the deepest shade of jet black he'd ever seen. Those eyes swept across the studio in one confident arc.

As the newcomer moved further inside, Damien wondered who he was. When the boy stepped into the room, it felt as if the atmosphere had changed.

System: [Host, that boy is Miyagawa Yuki. Age 14. He was originally a Japanese snowboarder gold-medallist but left his field to become an idol. He auditioned for Starlite Media and passed seven months ago. He currently ranks top 12 in the monthly evaluations.]

"...So that's him."

As soon as Damien heard Yuki's name, he immediately knew who he was. Being in the company for a while exposes you to some weird rumours. Even just by passing the halls you hear some crazy things. One recent gossip that had been circling around was about the "Big Four." They were the trainees of the company. The ones with flawless faces, excellent skills, and that effortless "main character" vibe that apparently made even walking down the hallway feel like some kind of movie set.

The Big Four were practically idol royalty—Kian, with his gentle charisma and terrifying sharp instincts; Li Xingyuan, also known as Seongwon, who danced like he was meant to be on the stage; Yuki, the mysterious and cold beauty who progressed so fast in just half a year; and Hajoon...

As if that jerk belongs with the others. Damien scoffed internally.

Yuki bowed to the instructor and apologized for his lateness. "Sorry, it won't happen again." His voice was unexpectedly deep, a rich baritone that contrasted his looks.

The intermediate class instructor, a sharp-eyed man, looked up and acknowledged Yuki's arrival with a brief nod.

He moved to take a spot and ended up right beside Damien.

Damien kept his gaze straight ahead. He had expected that someone from the "Big Four" would be in the advanced classes. Perhaps Yuki's skills were good, but didn't match the seasoned trainees above just yet.

Oh, how mistaken he was.

As soon as the class started, Damien noticed from the corner of his eye how perfectly Yuki breezed through the choreography. As he danced, a few trainees shot him impressed looks.

He was excellent.

Damien concentrated on his own performance, but couldn't help being aware of Yuki's presence. It truly made him wonder... Why wasn't Yuki in the advanced class yet?

After nearly an hour of intense drills and corrections, the instructor clapped his hands. "Alright everyone, take ten. Hydrate, then be back here."

A collective sigh and laughter rippled through the group as trainees relaxed. Some headed to their water bottles while others stepped out the room. Damien crouched down, trying to catch his breath. As he reached for his water bottle, he noticed Yuki stepping closer.

Instinctively, Damien straightened. Ever since his interactions with Hajoon, he'd started to become careful of who he interacted with. Although he didn't feel anything off with Yuki, it was best to limit their interaction.

Yuki walked towards him but stopped a polite distance away. For a second, neither spoke. Up close, Yuki's expression was cool and composed, with a stillness that made him feel untouchable—like a snow-covered lake that keeps its depths hidden from view.

Then, Yuki broke the silence first—with a sudden, broad grin. "Hi there! You used to be in Kian-hyung's class, right?"

Damien's mouth nearly gaped. In a heartbeat, his frosty aura shattered completely. Yuki's eyes crinkled at the corners, sporting a bright genuine smile completely at odds with the his cold features and deep voice.

It was like seeing a different person entirely.

"Uh... Y-Yeah. I was." He said, momentarily at a loss.

Yuki rocked back on his heels excitedly. "Thought so! That's so cool. Is Kian-hyung strict in class too? He always scolds me..." Then, he put on a stern face, folding his arms and mimicking a deep voice, "'Again. From the top. No mistakes. That's how we do it in the advanced class.'" He laughed at his own imitation.

He continued, "I mean, hyung looks intimidating, but he's actually really kind. What was it like training with him?"

Damien opened his mouth, but no words came out at first. He was caught off-guard by the torrent of questions and Yuki's overall... energy. The contrast was almost comical.

He's like... a golden retriever.

"Uhm... Kian's not strict at all. We only had vocal classes together, but from what I could tell he's really dedicated."

"Really?" Yuki's eyes sparkled. "Man, that's good to hear. I was a bit scared I'd get into his class and he'd breathe fire at me if I messed up." Then he paused and laughed. "Wait... he already does that. I shouldn't be scared, should I?"

Whilst their talk, Damien couldn't help but think that Yuki and Yejun were very similar to each other.

So... bright. Surely they'll click well if they meet each other.

It was hard for Damien to deal with energetic people. They were just so... opposite of him.

"I don't think you should be worried. You breezed through today's choreography. If you keep this up, going to advanced classes wont take long at all."

"But, I'm dying though," Yuki chuckled. "Dancing is way harder than boarding. At least, here, nobody's expecting me to do flips off a half-pipe, right?"

"Is dancing really harder than snowboarding?" He questioned. "And, I'd pay to see someone try snowboarding moves in this studio." Damien's lips subconsciously quirked up in a faint smile.

"Don't tempt me. I might bring my board to practice someday just for fun." He laughed again, then stuck out his hand. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Miyagawa Yuki but you can just call me Yuki. And you're Damien, right? I hope we can be friends. I don't really know many people here yet. I moved to Korea only half a year ago, so my Korean's still a work in progress."

Friends.

The word hung in the air.

I was going to be careful... But look at him. His gaze landed on Yuki fidgeting with the towel wrapped around his neck, looking endearingly nervous. Damien felt the last of his wariness thawing. Yuki's outward appearance—sharp, and cool—hid a playful, affectionate nature that practically wagged its tail at anyone friendly.

Damien sighed inwardly. I trust Kian. If Kian and Yuki are close enough for them to use 'hyung', I'll trust him. I just hope I don't regret my decision.

"Sure. We can be friends." He managed a small smile. "And if you're having troubles with Korean, let me know. I used to live in Japan for a while, so I can help you out."

Yuki's face lit up. "Woah! You used to live in Japan? Awesome! Where—"

"Break's over! Everyone back in position!" The instructors voice echoed across the studio.

"Let's talk again later." Yuki whispered as he took his spot.

The rest of the session passed in a blur and evening slowly approached. Finally, the instructor dismissed the class for dinner. The trainees dispersed, chatter picking up instantly.

Yuki called out his name. "Damien! Do you... um, are you heading to the cafeteria now?"

Damien grabbed his bag. "Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Cool, cool. I was just—if you're okay with it—I thought maybe we could eat together? Only if you want!"

For a second, Damien simply blinked. He hadn't expected the invitation, especially since they just met. But curiosity nudged him. Yuki was unpredictable, and Damien wanted to know him better. So he decided to go for it.

"Sure. Let's go eat."

"Yes!" Yuki gave a tiny fist pump of victory, then quickly cleared his throat as if to cover the burst of excitement.

Damien bit back a chuckle at the sight.

...

A few minutes later and the duo entered the cafeteria. The large hall was alive with clattering trays and the lively conversations of trainees. The savory aroma of food made Damien's stomach rumble slightly.

"Over there! The table's empty!" Yuki chirped, pointing toward a long table near the centre. Damien would have preferred a quiet corner, but Yuki was already making a beeline to it. Smothering a sigh, Damien followed with his tray of food.

They sat down across from each other. The overhead lights gleamed off the polished tables, and multiple voices echoed off the high ceiling. Trainees were scattered around, shoveling down their dinner before the next set of classes. Damien tried to tune out the noise as he picked up his chopsticks. He hadn't realized how mentally drained he was until now—his mind foggy from the long day.

Yuki, of course, was unfazed. The younger boy was cheerfully mixing his rice into a bubbling bowl of kimchi stew. "Eat up, Damien-hyung!" He chimed, using the familiar term for the first time with a cheeky grin. "...Can I call you hyung?"

Damien nodded. "I'm fine with that." He took a sip of the soup. "But make sure you actually eat too. We only have an hour before the next classes start."

"Okay, hyung!" Yuki looked determined as he took a huge bite of rice and stew, puffing his cheeks like a chipmunk. Then, he continued a muffled stream of chatter which made Damien laugh lightly.

Damien was just about to take a bite of his food until he noticed a shadow looming at the edge of the table. Without a word, Kian set down his tray and eased onto the metallic bench beside him. The sudden presence of the tall, broad-shouldered trainee silenced Yuki mid-ramble, his eyes going wide in surprise.

Damien looked up quickly. "Kian..."

Kian gave him a small, warm nod. "Mind if I join you two?"

Yuki nearly choked and swallowed hurriedly. "K-Kian,-hyung!" He shot to his feet so fast that his knees banged the table. "Argh... ouch."

"Yuki!" Damien jumped slightly at the impact. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry! I'm alright. I'm alright." Heat crept up to Yuki's face. "H-Hyung, we don't mind. You can sit with us."

Kian's features softened just a touch. "Evening, Yuki. Why are you so surprised?"

"W-Well..."

"Not talking bad about me, are we?"

"N-No! Never! Promise, hyung."

Watching their interaction, Damien couldn't help but laugh.

He felt a bit anxious about what to say, especially since he hadn't talked with Kian since the locker room incident. However, it looked like Kian picked up on his unease and made an effort to lighten the mood.

Kian studied him for a moment before saying quietly, "Long time no see." There was a note of concern underlying his words.

"Yeah," Damien replied. "It's... good to see you." Despite his churning mix of emotions, he found he was genuinely glad Kian was here.

And, any awkwardness between them was quickly sidelined by Yuki's energy.

Kian gave a slight smirk. "Kid, don't tell me you've been bugging Damien?"

Yuki's jaw nearly dropped. "No!" Then he turned to Damien, his eyes pleading. "R-Right, hyung?"

Kian laughed. "Since when did you start calling Damien your hyung? It hasn't even been a day."

Damien shook his head. "It just happened somehow."

Yuki pouted and poked at his food, somehow feeling wronged. Damien couldn't help but picture him with droopy puppy ears. "But, if I could ask, how do you two know each other?"

"Ah..." Kian placed a hand on the back of his neck. "We're dormmates."

And they were roommates...

"Oh. I see."

"Hyung! I really didn't bother Damien!" Yuki, who still was sulking, decided to stand up for himself.

Kian's eyes crinkled in amusement. He was about to say something else when—

"Found you!"

Damien looked up in time to see Yejun sliding onto the bench next to Yuki, plunking down and blowing out a sigh. "Yah, Kian! Why'd you run off on me? You know how many places I looked for you?"

"I didn't run off. I just chose a table, that's all." Kian lifted his brow at Yejun's words.

"Yeah, and leaving me in the dust while your at it." Yejun retorted, though the grin on his face showed he wasn't truly offended. Then he shifted his attention to Damien. "Hey, Damien. It's been a while. You okay?"

Damien nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm fine. And sorry if I hadn't been replying to your messages. I just needed... some time."

Yejun's eyes flicked over Damien, as if checking he was truly alright. "But... silence for three days? I was this close to going to your apartment myself." Despite the joking tone, Damien could hear the genuine worry underneath.

"My bad... I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Yejun smiled warmly. "You can start by introducing me to your new friend here." He nodded at Yuki who was observing with open curiosity.

"Oh! Right." Damien gestured between them. "Yuki, this is Song Yejun, a friend from my previous classes. "Yejun, meet Miyagawa Yuki."

"So you're Miyagawa..." Yejun said, placing a hand on Yuki's shoulder. "The snowboarder, right? You know, I saw your performance during the monthly evaluation and it was awesome."

Yuki grinned at the praise. "Thanks! And your the guy that did the cover of THB, right? Your voice was so stable and strong. How did you do it?"

"Well..."

As Yejun launched into a lively back-and-forth with Yuki about dance styles, Damien allowed himself a moment to breathe by just letting them talk. He resumed eating in relative peace, tunning out the chatter.

But that peace was short-lived.

Yet another figure strolled up to their table—tall, with stylishly tousled red hair and a mischievous glint in his honey coloured eyes. Li Xingyuan stood beside Damien, tray in hand, surveying the crowded bench with a smirk.

"Well, well. Mind making room for one more?" Li Xingyuan asked. Without really waiting for permission, he squeezed next to Damien, completing what was now a very full table of five. "Your table looked incredibly interesting from over there, I just had to join."

Damien: "..."

Here comes another one... He sighed inwardly.

Couldn't he just eat in peace?