The cafe was tucked between a university gate and a stationery shop, its windows fogged lightly with warmth. That was where Yuna-ssi was studying in college, she suggested the place for its selection of pastries. Inside the cafe, the air smelled of butter and sugar. A glass case near the counter displayed rows of choux pastries turned into bears, rabbits, cats, each with tiny faces piped in chocolate. Seungho chose a rabbit, filled with chocolate cream.
I hope I can eat this. It would be sad if it turns out I can't enjoy the taste of chocolate anymore.
The music was soft, acoustic, something with a guitar and a voice that didn't try too hard. Tables were scattered with drinks, textbooks and laptops. He hadn't been in a student cae since his university days.
It was a nice cafe, wide rooms with soft lights and student art hanging that changed every month.
They picked a table on the top floor fitted into a nook. A banner stretched across the wall: "Congratulations Princesses' Puppy!" in orange letters, unevenly hand-painted. Gifts piled on the table with a card with too many signatures to read.
"Congratulations on 585 members!" they chanted in unison, applauding and cheering loudly. A flood of positive emotions. Seungho was already feeling good after the run, but now he felt welcome, connected to these people he had only met a few days ago.
"Those are approved members. There are as many more awaiting approval."
Wow, so many people. I can't even get into my head what so many people look like together.
"Now, we need to act fast. The video is viral today, it might get buried within a couple of days. We need a small event that can be set up quickly."
"For momentum," Sangmin specified Sangmin
"I thought of a Meet&Greet format, small, something cozy, just a few fans..."
"How many is few?"
"Hmmm, like 30ish."
"That sounds like a lot," said Seungho bluntly.
Sangmin didn't say anything, just sipped off his glass of melon soda.
"Does it?" Said Yuna a little embarrassed.
"With so many members in your fanclub that number is right for the event," said Hana pointing at the banner with a serious expression, defending her sister.
"These are the funding members. To celebrate those who were there from the beginning. It is important to setup layers early on, so people don't get upset later because they didn't know there were layers they could access," Yuna continued.
"I guess it is ok then," again sounding unappreciative.
Hana puffed her cheeks visibly annoyed.
Yuna took methodical notes, confirming each detail at every turn. It did really look like tons of work to lead a fanclub.
Getting he just made the situation awkward, he nodded confirming every detail, he didn't care about to know how it all worked.
I can't tell them that.
"We need a new fandom name, because the demographic has changed. Now there are so many diverse people, including older and male too, we need to include them." Said Yuna confidently.
"And you also need a light stick." Added Hana always supporting her sister's endeavors with her longer standing in fanclub founder.
"I will design one and show you some ideas to turn into mock-ups."
Then Hana nudged Yuna, inviting her to ask the question.
"What is it?" Asked Seungho without thinking.
"Well I need your approval for being the president of the club. You can hold off to picking one right now, but it would make a great difference to me if you approved me now."
Yuna blushed biting her lips because of nerves.
But Seungho was so sure he didn't want to have to deal with any of this, he just approved her on the spot. Plus Yuna seemed to be so through and through.
Yuna was so relieved she became emotional for a moment.
Did I miss something here?
But he didn't care, one less weight off his chest.
"When shall we have the event?" said Hana excited to Yuna.
"I'll help," Sangmin volunteered lifting his hand.
Before we discuss that…, there is a mistake in the description, I don't like that color.
Oh, sorry I just guessed. That is one of those things that has to be there from the get-go. We can change it now."
"What if fans complain?"
"You can say you used to like this color and now you like another one. You are allowed to change your mind. Fans understand that."
"Orange."
"Perfect!" Sangmin said encouraging Seungho.
After delivering the news to Hwang-manager about officially getting approved as club president, Yuna also get approval on the spot for holding the event the following day. While talking she had already sent out a small survey and the selected fans were eager to meet the upcoming gallant hunter.
Seungho started sweating.
That is incredibly fast! On the other hand, it is better earlier than later.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of everything, including clothing and makeup."
"Makeup??!!"
"It is standard," Sangmin promptly added.
"Ok then." Seungho had to trust Sangmin's experience.
After finishing up agreeing on details, they split as Yuna needed time to prepare the event and Hana wanted to help her. Sangmin went home too.
Seungho didn't need to be reminded this time, he sent a felt message thanking Yuna for her hard work with his fanclub and how glad he was she was such a capable fanclub president.
***
While Seungho was making Yuna's his fanclub president, scientists in Entre were presenting results about Seungho's performance.
.
"The subject presents an unsteady mana flow, unusually large. We can't confirm how it will stabilize, in what shape, so to speak."
"What about his body?" Entre's CEO Seo Yeju asked.
"He's responding well to the therapy. We're confident he's healing."
"Will he remain stable?"
The scientist hesitated. "It's still too early to say."
The CEO turned to the red-haired woman. "Go Haneul-ssi. What did you see while he was running?"
"He controlled the layers."
Silence.
"We need him to break the Second Seal."
***
.
At home, Seungho sat on the couch. The rabbit pastry was still in his bag with an icepack. He'd forgotten to eat it at the cafe with all the thrills of fanclub activities. He got the icepack after Sangmin had left in a hurry. He didn't want to sit alone in the cafe. He used to be invisible, but now it wasn't like that.
He said he was going home, but it didn't sound true. But he didn't leave with Hana-ssi either….
Sangmin went wherever Sangmin went when he wasn't being watched.
Seungho put the rabbit pastry on a plate.
Why not eat it properly.
The cream had settled. The shell was too soft for his taste, but it wasn't about liking it.
I hope I can eat this.
He took a bite.
The cream was warm. Sweet. The sugar hit his tongue.
I can taste this.
The chocolate not quite yet, but the sugar. The comfort got into his his system.
Seungho closed his eyes and played with the food in his mouth a little longer.
He took another bite. His hands were steady.
He finished it whole. Wiped his fingers and looked at his phone.
.
Yuna: Thank you for putting your trust in me. I won't disappoint you!
.
Oh, right. Yuna-ssi will take care of everything. … How dramatic. She must really care.
He smiled he was so happy someone else was doing that for him.
He put the phone down. Lolled on the couch.
He checked his screen. Still locked.
.
[ STATUS: UNDER REVIEW ]
[ ACCESS: RESTRICTED ]
.
Same as before.
The apartment was quiet.
Tomorrow. They'll tell me something tomorrow.
***
The following day, a Thursday, Seungho headed to the training facility as usual. There he was told his schedules hadn't changed.
More running attached to tubes. He wanted to make a snarky comment, but he thought better of it.
His teammates, if he could call them that, were nowhere to be seen.
This is the third day of running. Should I start worrying?
.
As he was getting changed in the locker room, more messages from Yuna. The Meet&Greet was schedules with 37 fans in a cafe in Apgujeong. He had never heard of that specific cafe, but he wasn't used to hanging out in such an upbeat area either.
Hwang-manager would take him there by car, so he needn't to worry. Hair, makeup and wardrobe were all booked. He just needed to show up in the next building over from the gym for that. It was like Yuna knew the place, the Entre buildings, better than he did. Which was about right.
Later in the evening...good. That gives me time to prepare mentally for that.
And he wasn't kidding.
He went running. Same routine as the previous days. Afterwards, he felt good about himself.
Can't complain this sensation is amazing. I hope those fluids are not drugs.
He laughed to himself.
Right outside the locker room, when Seungho opened the door he found Minjun on the other side. It was unexpected. Seungho genuinely surprised stepped backward. Minjun stared for a moment. Then his mouth molded slowly into a smirk, as if he had practiced it in a mirror. He wanted it to land.
But what? What does it mean?
Seungho waited for him to come out. He didn't want anymore trouble. But, the truth deep down was he hadn't prepared any snappy remark to get back at him. He just hadn't had the time and now regretted it.
Minjun walked slowly out, he followed Seungho with his eyes. He laughed softly when passing next to him, and without saying a word picked up the pace and left.
Seungho was stunned. He knew this was worse had him spoken.
What is it? What is it that he knows?!
Seungho entered the locker, not he was in a panic. As he took a shower it occurred to him, that maybe Minjun knew about him checking his stats non-stop. He wanted to punch the wall, but that was not a good idea, not with the event just a few hours away.
Then he wanted to die. Some heinous thought started to take shape in his mind. He stayed under the water a few more minutes.
Better now than when it's too late.
"Screen."
It was worse than he expected.
.
[ STATUS: UNDER REVIEW ]
[ COMBAT HUNTER RANK: PENDING DEMOTION ]
[ IDOL RANK: E ]
[ E-CLASS ]
.
That is why Minjun-ssi was laughing.
He got out of the shower soap in hand, and sat on a bench. The water was still running.
I've been running for three days. I have been doing everything they told me to do. And I'm being demoted.
His mouth agape, he couldn't believe it.
I suck.